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IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
August 24, 2007
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Wild birds have residents talking turkey JUSTIN BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
There’s a new gang loitering in our neighborhoods, taking to the streets and cavorting around town like they own the place. One resident even saw them peering in her bathroom window while she was showering. But you can’t exactly call the Clayton police on these “peeping toms” and transients. They would be tough to round-up, handcuff and throw in the back of a police car. These wild turkeys are appreciating the hospitable town and bountiful yards, appearing in the cool mornings and afternoons to march the streets and trails and harvest yards. Clayton residents have been buzzing about these wild animals. There have been sightings in Regency Woods and Regency Meadows, Dana Hills, Marsh Creek and the Clayton trails. Wild turkeys are not indigenous to California. They were
BILL WALCUTT
MAYOR’S CORNER
Slow it down and lock it up Money magazine gave Clayton a grade “A” for public safety. This is because we have one of the lowest crime rates in the state. Maintaining a high score for public safety is not easy. It takes a team effort between the police department and the community, and we are fortunate to a have a great team. It is critical, however, that we continue to be diligent about public safety and be aware of what’s going on around us. We have some great tools that we can use to help keep our crime rate down. A Neighborhood Watch program is very effective, and several areas have already started one. If you would like to start a Neighborhood Watch in your neighborhood, contact the Clayton Police Department. We still have a lot of convenience thefts occurring in Clayton. These highly sophisticated/lazy crooks go around looking for open garage doors, unlocked cars and unlocked homes to do their shopping. Don’t turn you home or car into a “convenience store” for the crooks – lock up. Besides an occasional spike in residential burglaries and thefts, one of the biggest police issues we face is speeding. This is especially problematic on residential neighborhood feeder streets, such as Mountaire Parkway and Circle, Keller Ridge Drive, Windmill Canyon Drive, Regency Drive and El Molino Drive. The problem is not isolated to any particular neighborhood and there are many more streets I have not mentioned.
Photo by Gary Napper
WITH
FEW NATURAL PREDATORS,
proliferating flocks of wild turkeys are becoming a nuisance to homeowners.
New MDES principal excited about job Council BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
When someone suggested to a young Bob Dodson that he go into teaching, he did just that – and he has never regretted the decision. Although he moved into administration after 15 years in the classroom, he still does his job “for the kids.” “I just love the kids. They’re incredible,” says Dodson, the new principal at Mt. Diablo Elementary School in Clayton. He replaces Linda
Hutcherson, who is now principal at Foothill Middle School in Walnut Creek. For the last seven years, Dodson has been principal at Pleasant Hill Elementary School. He decided to come to Mt. Diablo because he’d heard good things about the school and he felt he’d accomplished his goals at his previous post. On his list are the Pleasant Hill school being named a California Distinguished School, the completion of $3.7 million in Measure C construction and the
says ‘tear down that wall.’
improvement of student achievement and attendance. The Bay Area native brings to Clayton five goals: accelerated achievement, increased attendance, improved school facilities, advanced technology and promoting a positive learning environment. But at first, he plans to be a “casual observer” while he learns about the community. “I invite parents to come in and talk and get to know me,” he says.
See Principal, page A6
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
MDES principal, Bob Dodson
Cause of Chupcan Place fire undetermined TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
See Mayor, page A4
What’s Inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Readers Forum . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Directory of Advertisers . . . .A5 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6 Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . .A8 Look Good, Feel Good . . . .A8 Theater Review . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 CVHS Reporter . . . . . . . . . .A10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .A11 Minding Your Business . . . .A11 At The Movies . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Food for Thought . . . . . . . .A13 SECTION B Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Sharing History . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Tax Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Paws and Claws . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Crossword Solution . . . . . . . .B7 Community Calendar . . . . . .B8 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .B10
See Turkeys, page A8
Photo by Jim Vestal
DIANE MASSONI LOOKS AWAY as firefighters mop up after fire destroyed her Chupcan Place home on Aug. 2.
Fire investigators have been unable to determine the cause of a two alarm fire that destroyed a duet home at 406 Chupcan Place and damaged the unit next door on Aug. 2. The fire, which started in the garage, spread rapidly and caused the second story to collapse, said Contra Costa Fire Protection District (CCFPD) spokesperson, Emily Hopkins. “The garage was so destroyed that they couldn’t determine a cause,” said Hopkins. Arson is not suspected. According to fire investigators, owner Diane Massoni, had gone to pick up her car at the shop and was only gone a short time when the fire broke out. She returned to find her home engulfed in flames that reached as high as 20 feet. Massoni was unavailable for comment. The owner of the second unit, Grace Maes, was in Salinas on a teaching assignment when
she got word of the fire. “I didn’t want to come home, “she said, “I was in complete denial.” Fire damage to Maes’ home was confined mainly to the garage and front bedroom where the ceiling fell in due to the weight of the water on the roof. The smoke damage, however, is extensive making her home uninhabitable. Maes’ has moved to a Residence Inn in Pleasant Hill until the repairs, which could take several months, are complete.
A six-foot retaining wall with a six-foot fence atop, referred to by a neighbor as “the Great Wall of Clayton,” must come down, says the City Council. The project has a long history with the city staff, the Planning Commission and the City Council. The project was built based on administrative approval by Community Development Director Jeremy Graves. When he discovered that the wall and fence were out of compliance with zoning regulations, he withdrew administrative approval and required a Planning Commission hearing. The commission ruled that the wall could stay, but the fence must be moved back three feet. The homeowner, Ruth Reed, was unwilling to move the fence and appealed to the City
See Wall, page A3
REPORTER/FEATURE WRITER NEEDED The Pioneer is looking for a Clayton resident with reporting or feature writing experience (in the AP style) to cover local news, events and people. If you love being in the thick of things, have excellent language skills, are computer savvy, available to cover evening and weekend events and are competent with a camera, this may be the spot for you. (A sense of humor is crucial for maintaining sanity.) This is a part time position with somewhat irregular hours (roughly 20-30 hours per issue) requiring a flexible schedule. Send resume and writing sample to tamara@clayton pioneer.com, or mail to PO Box 1246, Clayton, CA 94517, or drop off at the office, 6200 F Center St.