Happy Holidays
from the Clayton Pioneer
IT’S YOUR PAPER
www.claytonpioneer.com
December 8, 2017
Let the season begin
JiM Diaz
Progress made on police chief, senior living plan
See Mayor, page 9
Despite heavy rains and heat, Clayton finds time to celebrate BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
MAYOR’S CORNER
This article is my final Mayor’s Column. Prior to the Pioneer’s next publication, my term as mayor will be complete and the City Council will have elected a new mayor for a oneyear term. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as your mayor for this past year. I trust that you have found the information about Clayton and the immediate community in these monthly columns to be interesting and informative. Thank you, again, for this wonderful opportunity.
925.672.0500
Pete Barra
LOCAL KIDS PILED INTO THE GAZEBO TO GREET SANTA after the annual Tree Lighting last Saturday. The event was moved to The Grove this year after the city’s official tree at the west end of town succumbed to a spider mite attack. Plans for replacing the living tree are up in the air, says Councilwoman Julie Pierce. The official site for the tree is on the property where plans to build senior housing are underway. The council is looking at alternate sites for the official tree.
Morgan Territory slide repair complete TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Contributed photo
Morgan Territory Road residents celebrated the opening of their road at an unofficial ribbon cutting and neighborhood pot luck on Nov. 18. The residents were left without access for months after a major landslide closed the road in February.
A rebuilt Morgan Territory Rd. finally opened to through traffic on Nov. 18 after a huge landslide closed the road last February and residents celebrated with a pot-luck and unofficial ribbon cutting. Last winter’s brutal rains caused many mudslides along Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek, frequently closing those roads for a few hours or a day. But the severest damage was caused when a stretch of the hill one mile south of Marsh Creek began to slide, taking out water and power and most of the road. The landslide slide was more than
400 ft. long and 40 ft. deep. More than 400 residents living south of the slide were stranded with no way in or out except over a one-lane, storm-damaged mountain road to Livermore. To cope, most residents parked one vehicle on the north side of the slide and walked across the slide zone, schlepping groceries, water, supplies and kids. Volunteer veterans brought in golf carts and ferried neighbors across the slide for several hours every day. In June, Public Works and the property owners along privately-owned Leon Dr. reached an agreement which allowed a temporary access
See Slide, page 8
Downtown Clayton was a hub of activity in 2017, from the civic-minded Clayton Cleans Up and Relay for Life to always popular festivities like the Art and Wine Festival, Farmers Market, Classic Car Shows, Fourth of July Parade, Concerts in the Grove and Oktoberfest. But weather issues hampered Clayton residents’ plans over the year. Winter’s heavy rains led to a slide and extended road closure on Morgan Territory. Then summer hit with long heat waves and smoke-filled skies in September. Here’s a look at some of the year’s top stories, from a local vantage point.
JANUARY Field of Dreams. A fundraising group announced plans to renovate the playing field at Mt. Diablo Elementary School. “The field is dangerous,” said committee co-chair Nancy Salmon. “Between the lack of regular maintenance and watering over the years and the gopher population, the field just seems to worsen over time.” According to cochair Pat Middendorf, the school district is considering spending “a considerable sum” on the field. The MDES Playfield Project has almost $300,000 pledged and raised for the project. “Fundraising will continue soon, once we have the firm costs and commitment from the school district,” Middendorf told the Pioneer last week. A good soaking. During the first few weeks of 2017, our area was buffeted by a nearly continuous series of storms. As a result, the drought for the northern half of the state was downgraded from severe to either slight or drought-free. “We may grow weary of the
See Year-end, page 6
Healthy meals offer a lifeline to seniors KARA NAVOLIO Correspondent
What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Community Calendar . . . . .15 Directory of Advertisers . . . .9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
On Nov. 21, seniors who can no longer drive or cook received a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie as well as meals to last through the holiday until the next week. Across Contra Costa County, more than 800 seniors get meals each weekday from Meals on Wheels – 150 in Concord and Clayton. Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) has been operating here since 1968. This year, nearly 1,500 volunteers made sure that homebound seniors receive healthy meals each weekday and get a friendly check-in. Concord resident Fred Pardella has been delivering meals for 10 years in
Concord and Clayton. “All the clients are so nice and appreciative of what we do. I’ve become friends with some of the people,” he says. “When they stop receiving meals because they may have to move into assisted living, I miss them.” “Our volunteers might be the only person some of our seniors see each day,” says Susannah Meyer, community engagement director for MOWSOS. “Our volunteers have saved lives on occasions when they might notice something amiss. Many seniors don’t have local support or family nearby.” The meals, designed by a registered dietician, are nutritionally balanced and tastetested. Each weekday, the staff at Bateman Community Living
in Antioch prepares nearly 1,200 meals. The majority are for Meals on Wheels, with the remaining for six C.C. Café locations where seniors can gather for a meal and a social activity. The Concord Senior Center, one of the C.C. Café locations, serves on average 58 seniors each Monday through Friday. Entrees are varied and include dishes like pork carñitas, roast beef, tuna casserole and stuffed peppers. Clayton resident Jane Peterson, 94, started getting Meals on Wheels when she broke her leg. “The meals are delicious and nutritious. There are always fruits and vegetables and quality meats,” says Peterson, who no longer drives. “I know that I will have a meal five days a week. I won’t have
to just fix beans and hot dogs” and the volunteer can’t reach She says the volunteers are me, they call my kids. They friendly and she appreciates See MOW, page 9 the staff checks. “If I’m gone
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Meals on Wheels volunteer Fred Pardella delivers a hot meal to Clayton resident Jane Peterson, who is grateful to be part of the program.
Postal Customer ECRWSS
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