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Editor’s Corner
Pioneer office hit by vandals Sometime during the night of August 3 or the early morning hours of August 4 vandals smashed the front window of the Pioneer office at 6200 F Marsh Creek Road. The damage was discovered around 8 a.m. when Julie Dunn of Lynne French Real Estate opened their office next door. As Julie pushed their door open, the shattered glass in our front door fell to the floor. From the way the glass shattered, we guess it was hit by a hammer in two or three places. At any rate, it was a destructive and senseless act, and we are REALLY MAD. We are just one of scores of victims of the stupid, destructive violence and vandalism that has been plaguing our community for months. The same night our window was smashed, vandals slashed Ed Moresi's (Ed's Mudville Grill) and his next door neighbor's tires in Dana Hills; and the same night a car belonging to one of Ed's employees had its tires slashed in Lower Easley. In the past couple of months, we have seen not only slashed tires, but car windows smashed out, vehicles sprayed with fire extinguishers and 17 American flags stolen from downtown. This isn't funny and it isn't acceptable. Council member Pete Laurence is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever stole the flags after the July 4 Celebration (see page 5). This is
See Vandals, page 7
August 20, 2004
925.672.0500
Village Market sues insurance company
Michael Carson is an officer with the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Department and his wife Graciela (Grace) owns Clip n' Clean pet groomers in
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer VILLAGE MARKET OWNER, SAM SANDHU, left, talks with Contra Costa County Vector Control Technician, Steve Fisher about the extermination efforts at the downtown store.
Sam Sandhu claims Farmers Insurance has acted in bad faith TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Since an early morning fire destroyed the upstairs rooms of the Village Market on January 16, owner Sam Sandhu has been waiting for the insurance company to pay off on the claim. In a lawsuit filed July 20,
Sandhu charges that Farmers Insurance has acted in bad faith by stonewalling the process. He claims that Farmers has repeatedly refused to proceed with his "examination under oath," or to accept documentation substantiating the claim and has continually made unreasonable demands for more time for processing. Sandhu claims that Farmers hopes that by "sitting idly by," they could claim that he failed to provide them with sufficient information to settle the claim. His
suit further asserts that their actions have damaged his reputation in the community. He is suing for $1,000,000. The insurance money is not the only thing Sandhu is waiting for. Contra Costa Consolidated Fire has not completed their report either. Chief Fire Investigator Randy Champion explains that, with 135 cases on his desk, "this fire is a priority, but not as high a priority as a fire with injuries or a fatality. And," he continues, "it's an ongoing investigation with multiple
agencies and attorneys involved, all of which increase the time needed to complete the report." According to Sandhu, Champion told him in April that the fire did not look like an accident, and that he suspected arson. Because of the ongoing investigation, Champion was unable to comment. Without a final report from the fire department, or a completed investigation by the
See Market, page 7
Concord. They have two children, six-year-old, Michael Junior and eight-year-old Cassandra. Like most Claytonians, they lead busy lives. However, they make time for their passion…Peruvian horses. The Carsons own a small
ranch in Diablo Downs in Clayton where they share living space with Blue, their Rottweiller, and three horses, Cara Linda (“Beautiful Face”), Maya Magica and Suspiro R.L.S (“Breathless”). As a family,
See Carson, page 7
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
MICHAEL AND GRACIELA with their two children Cassandra and Michael Jr. and horses Maya and Cara
Juror back to work after three months on Helzer trial TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
RHONDA BASORE
Former Planning Commissioner, Jim Diaz will share the ballot with the incumbents in a race for three seats on the Clayton City Council in November. Julie Pierce, Bill Walcutt and Gregg Manning have all filed papers to run on November 2.
Jim Diaz has been a resident of Clayton for 25 years and served on the planning commission from 1997 to 1999. He served on a special committee to select the police chief in 1999 and as Commanding Officer of the Clayton Police Department's Reserve Division from 1991 to 1996. An active member of the CBCA and a member of the board of directors of the United Way of the Bay Area, he holds a BS and BA degree from the University of Redlands in Southern California. Diaz is married with three grown children.
The Carson family rides together…Peruvian style JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Like most of us, Rhonda Basore had been summoned for jury duty before. And, like most of us, work and family were higher on the list than civic duty, so each time, she requested a postponement. But, when the summons came in the mail last April, she didn't call for a postponement. Her government position as Clayton's City Clerk guaranteed that her
regular salary would continue while she was out, and her kids were older. Duty called and this was a good time. So, when Basore reported to the courthouse in Martinez on April 5, she was prepared to serve. And serve, she did. The 40-something mother of three was one of the ten women and two men (whittled down from 500) impaneled in the Justin Helzer murder trial, a high profile and intense three part trial stretching over more than three
months. Justin Helzer was on trial for the brutal and gruesome murders of five people unlucky enough to end up in the sights of self proclaimed "The Children of Thunder," a twisted trio of Justin Helzer, his charismatic older brother Taylor and their roommate Dawn Godman. Their plan to save the world from Satan by spreading peace, joy and love was to be financed by extortion, prostitution, pornography and anything else
that might bring a little money their way. Taylor Helzer and Dawn Godman had already pled guilty to the murders. Taylor was awaiting sentencing and Godman was serving 38 years to life, having traded a possible death sentence for her testimony against the brothers. Justin Helzer was pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. This was no ordinary, garden variety murder trial. First,
See Juror, page 7
Gregg Manning has been active in civic affairs since he moved to Clayton 25 years ago, first volunteering with the Fourth of July Committee and serving as parade chairman for two years. He is currently vice mayor and has served as mayor. He has served on the city's Financial Committee and on the Planning Commission. Manning holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Babson College in Massachusetts and is a Certified Financial Planner. He is married and has one daughter.
Julie Pierce has been a resident of Clayton for the past 20 years and is our city's current Mayor. She has been a councilmember since 1992 and is recognized for her leadership on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and as chair for the Shaping Our Future Committee. Pierce cochaired the effort to build the new Clayton Community Gym and has been instrumental in negotiating local transportation and land use measures. She is married and has two children.
B i l l Walcutt has lived in Clayton for 22 years. He has served on the City Council as a council member and mayor, and has sat on the Planning Commission. He is also a past Vice President and Treasurer of the Dana Hills Homeowners Association. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice Administration and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University. He’s married with two grown children.