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East Bay Regional Parks Activity Guide
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IT’S YOUR PAPER December 9, 2016
925.672.0500
Roundup of 2016’s biggest stories
HowarD Geller
MAYOR’S CORNER
BEV BRITTON Clayton Pioneer
Mayor looks to next chapter
Time waits for no one and being 70 years old, I have made some major decisions that will affect my life. Retiring from public service was a difficult choice, as I thoroughly enjoyed being on the City Council for the past eight years. It was an honor to be selected by my peers to the positions of vice mayor and mayor twice during my tenure. I will always treasure memories of the many ceremonies I attended just this year, representing Clayton at events like the Veteran’s and Memorial day services, the 12 Mayors’ Conferences, the fourth of July, Eagle Courts and Clayton Cleans Up, to name a few. It was my pleasure to serve our residents. I will miss being on the City Council. Working with the city staff has been an experience I will never forget. I wish to especially thank city manager Gary Napper for the tutelage and guidance he extended me, using his 33 years of experience. I believe Napper is the best city manager in the county. He is the driving force who runs the city’s dayto-day operations. I thank all the Clayton residents who have stopped me in the street, acknowledging and accepting my decision to retire. I am humbled by your kinds words. Several people even told me they voted for me as a write-in candidate. I have said it before and I will say it again: Local city politics is the truest form of the democracy we each cherish. Many people have asked about my plans. I will continue to produce the 10 Saturday Concerts in the Grove Park. I will keep current on all Clayton happenings and attend as many events as I can. It will be a new experience to sit on the other side of the dais at council meetings and voice my opinion as a Clayton resident. I hope to encourage other Clayton residents to get more involved. I plan on taking a year sabbatical from volunteering for new organizations and work on some of my home
See Mayor, page 3
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Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Community Calendar . . . . .16 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Pete Barra
THE MT. DIABLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHORUS OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON in Clayton last Saturday with a few Christmas songs at the Gazebo. The animated performance was followed by Santa’s arrival before leading the crowd (unofficially, the largest ever for this event) down Main Street for the countdown and Clayton’s Tree lit up the night sky. Donut holes and warm cider served by Clayton Community Church and provided by the CBCa, completed the community event.
CVCHS settles legal challenges: In January, the board of Clayton Valley Charter High School announced that the suit with former administrator and charter drive leader Pat Middendorf had been settled in favor of the school. Middendorf agreed to drop the lawsuit and ask the court to rule in favor of CVCHS. She also said she would withdraw a separate Department of Fair Employment and Housing complaint, pay the charter $50,000 for attorney fees and court costs and forgo the opportunity to bring forward any other lawsuit. That same night, the Contra Costa County Board of Education heard from county administrators as they closed an investigation of complaints made by stakeholders about CVCHS. An advisory report had listed 39 critical issues, and school officials had met with officials to review them. CVCHS directly responded to six issues by revising or clarifying issues in the student handbook and board policies. County staff expressed appreciation for “CVCHS’s willingness to colPHOTO COURTESY CLAYTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY laboratively address these FR. RICHARD MANGINI, PASTOR OF ST. BONAVENTURE’S Catholic church and descendant of one issues for the benefit of its of the area’s pioneer families, readies his historical ranch house for the Clayton Historical students and stakeholders.” Meanwhile, former Society’s annual Holiday Homes Tour, Dec. 11, noon to 6 p.m. CVCHS speech pathology Meanwhile, the tiny home Add a few carolers, a and you have a wonderful way instructor Laurie Arbour’s features a beautiful view of Grinch and even a mouse, to celebrate the season. See Roundup, page 9 Mt Diablo. The homeowner recently downsized and finds she loves the simplicity of her elegant but compact space. The cozy home is decorated with garlands, greenery and strings of lights throughout. Though small, the home includes a few special family pieces. Other homes offer many Once again, Clayton is a special trees, large and small. One has stop for Santa and Mrs. Claus as they a large collection of creches prepare for their busy holiday season. from around the world. There Visit with the famous couple at the are whimsical themes, includannual Clayton Business and Commuing fancy, fantasy or undernity Assoc. Dessert with Mrs. Claus, Sat. the-sea trees to kitchen bakDec. 10 from 11a.m. – 2 p.m. at ing, creme de mint or candy Endeavor Hall in downtown Clayton. cane trees for those with a Mrs. Claus definitely has Santa’s ear, so sweet tooth. There are golf, this is the time to make your wishes cat and Winnie the Pooh trees, along with scenes from known. The event is free for children “A Christmas Carol,” a under 12 (if accompanied by an adult). Christmas train and DickenDonations, however, are gratefully sian and Alpine Dept 56 accepted. winterscapes.
Big or tiny; old or new: CHS Holiday Homes tour dazzles JULIE PIERCE Special to the Pioneer
The seventh annual Clayton Christmas Homes Tour includes a “tiny home” of just 400 sq. ft. as well as an 1889 home from a founding family. At five beautifully decorated homes, visitors can share the warmth of the season and get plenty of creative ideas. Tours will be noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the tour. Tickets are available online at claytonhistory.org, using PayPal or credit card. An additional sixth Christmas home and after-party are available for an additional $20 ticket, which can be purchased at the museum. If the museum is closed, look for a bin outside with the form. At the after-party house, tourgoers and friends will enjoy dinner and wine with the homeowners and friends. The Christmas Homes Tour begins at the Clayton Museum and is a major fundraiser for the Clayton Historical Society. All proceeds go toward maintenance of the vintage Clayton Museum and programs for the schools and community. The completely renovated 1889 home is a place of hospitality for family and friends far and wide. It’s sought after for auction prize dinners and family dinners. Family folklore reports that the previously unfinished upstairs was used for Saturday dancing in the early 1900s. The house and barn are a bit of paradise at the edge of the bustling city, surrounded by several hundred acres passed down to grandchildren from their great grandparents.
As the year draws to a close, plans are in limbo for a senior residential facility and more commercial space on Main Street. Meanwhile, Clayton residents gathered downtown throughout the year to splash in the Grove’s new water feature, honor the late Skip Ipsen with a bocce tournament and indulge at a wildly popular Rib Cook-off. The town also rallied for cancer in a double play of a reformatted Clayton Roundup along with the annual Relay for Life. Here’s a look at the year’s top stories, in chronological order:
Santa finds the sweet spot
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