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East Bay Regional Parks Activity Guide
Assisted living, retail shops proposed for Main Street
www.claytonpioneer.com
HowARd GelleR
MAYOR’S CORNER
IT’S YOUR PAPER August 12, 2016
925.672.0500
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Relay for Life a moving fundraiser for cancer research
The Relay for Life will kick off for the sixth time in Clayton at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 at Mt. Diablo Elementary School. Participants and donors from all over the Bay Area join together to make this one of the most successful relays in the state. This 24-hour walk concedes cancer never sleeps and neither will each team, as they walk to stomp out cancer in our lifetimes. The walk takes on a celebratory atmosphere as walkers cheer on those who have conquered a personal battle. Bands play all day long, there’s food to buy and many incredible baskets to win. The mood turns more somber in the evening as luminaries are lit, remembering those who lost their battle. Everyone’s life is impacted in some by way Rendering courtesy Pacific Union land cancer. The event ends at 10 a.m. A FTER TWO YEARS OF MARKETING THE VACANT LOT IN THE TOWN CENTER, the city has struck a deal with Pacific Union Aug. 14. Join the community for an land Investors who is also buying the adjacent church property. Pacific Union will combine the two parcels and proposes a senior assisted living facility and 10,500 sq. ft. of retail space fronting Main Street.
See Mayor page 6
CBCA brings national attention to Clayton with KCBS Rib Cookoff
CBCA member and recently KCBS certified judge Wendy Moore was surprised how difficult judging can be. Judges award points based on very strict rules set by KCBS, disqualifying any that don’t meet the exacting standards. “It’s unbelievably intense,”
Moore said. There were at least four winners in three categories in both the amateur and professional division for each ribs, chicken and pulled pork. Clayton based Bad Dads headed by Alan Bender walked away with the Grand Champion prize.
The team from Grocery Outlet in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center won second prize of $250 in the amateur rib division. Owners Darrell and Tami Smith promptly donated the check back to the CBCA. An estimated 3500-4000 people turned out to munch on ribs provided by Bonehead Texas BBQ and Sloe Hand BBQ. Much to the disappointment of many, rib sales by contestants was prohibited by the health department. Event chair, Rory Richmond said attendance surpassed projections. “We had food for 1500 and ran out of everything.” Next up for the CBCA is the annual Oktoberfest, Oct. 1-2. The CBCA mounts the community events as fundraisers. Profits are returned to the community in the form of grants, donations and scholarships. For membership information, go to www.claytoncbca.org or call the office at (925) 672-2272.
Gentlepeople, start your engines, er, pedals. The 13th Annual Labor Day Derby and Custom Car Show is fast approaching. The Sat., Sept. 3 event is produced by Clayton
Community Church with the support of local vendors and merchants. This combined event draws hundreds of kids and classic cars downtown for some low-
speed races down Main and friendly competition in the Custom Car Show. The soapbox-like Derby will start at 9 a.m. at the clock on Main Street. The partici-
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
What started out as a modest membership drive in the backyard of the Clayton Club six years ago, this year moved out onto Main Street and into the big leagues. The Clayton Business and Community Association’s Annual Rib Cook-off last Saturday boasted 48 entries judged by professional judges certified by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Several locals who attended the KCBS all-day judging certification class in May were among the judges that awarded cash prizes to winners for the best chicken, the best pulled pork and the best ribs. Other judges traveled from Oakley, Clovis and Southern California.
What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Community Calendar . . . . .15
Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
School News . . . . . . . . . . . .8
MAIN STREET WAS WALL TO WALL RIBS AND CHICKEN last Saturday as 48 BBQ hopefuls vied for cash prizes and bragging rights in the CBCA Rib Cook off. Clayton teens Patrick Cogo and Jack Clough sampled a few of the offerings, grateful not to be vegetarians.
At long last, Clayton is on the way to seeing some commercial action in the Town Center. A Danville developer is literally doubling down on downtown with the purchase of two parcels on Main Street owned by the city of Clayton and Clayton Community Church. Pacific Union Land Investors, LLC has signed an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with the city of Clayton to purchase its 1.67 acres on Main Street for $1.65 million. At the same time, Pacific Union has signed a Letter of Intent to buy Clayton Community Church’s adjacent parcel — approximately 0.8 acre. The two parcels combined will be the site of a 90-unit senior residential facility and about 10,500 sq. ft. of commercial space fronting Main Street. While not exactly the bustling “Sonoma-like” retail center many had hoped for, the project will bring up to eight storefronts for small businesses
See Main St., page 18
Ipsen ready to medal in Rio
Photo courtesy of the Ipsen Family
Clayton’s Kristian Ipsen (right) and fellow American diver Sam Dorman enjoyed being part of the USA team marching in the Parade of Nations in Maracana Stadium at the opening Ceremonies of the Rio olympics last Friday. Ipsen was participating in his second opening Ceremonies and is competing in the three-meter springboard looking to medal for the second time. He won bronze in 3M synchro four years in london and anticipated going to Rio in the same event with dorman as his partner before the USA diving coaching staff placed them with separate partners a couple months before the US olympic Trials. The de la Salle High and Stanford grad competes this coming Monday (preliminaries) and Tuesday (semi-finals and finals) in the 3M springboard. Ipsen will have to overcome the favored Chinese and Russian divers to get on the podium.
Labor Day Derby and Car Show back for 13th year pating children, ages 7 to 14, will be divided into three age categories and will each race twice. The best combined times will be awarded trophies. No driving experience neces-
sary. The custom made little soapbox-type cars, all sponsored by local merchants, are provided free to the kids.
See Derby, page 9
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190