See Inside
East Bay Regional Parks Activity Guide
IT’S YOUR PAPER
Water, water — everywhere
www.claytonpioneer.com
February 10, 2017
925.672.0500
WOODY WHITLATCH Weather Words
JiM Diaz
MAYOR’S CORNER
Working out the bumps in the road
The first quarter is well underway, and we are enjoying the beginnings of a strong year for the city of Clayton. On a practical front, Uretek’s field work has completed injecting polymer fill underground of the bumpy roadways to lift the pavement. City engineer Rick Angrisani is meeting with Intermountain Slurry Seal next week to discuss the schedule and the next steps related to this cost-efficient program. His meeting will provide a quick plan for a grind and repave on El Portal through the stabilized area under a change order for the surface treatment contract. This will also likely include the necessary curb and gutter repairs on Pine Hollow Road near El Camino. Angrisani needs to analyze our anticipated costs and relate them to the approved funding sources. He will send our city manager a suggested disbursement plan in the next couple of weeks. Sufficient funds already exist in the Gas Tax and Measure J accounts to proceed with this work. Meanwhile, Clayton residents should have received the Residential Services Guide from Republic Services. This pamphlet is an excellent resource to determine what to do for recycling, handling yard waste, garbage and bulky items that include furniture, refrigerators, televisions and mattresses. These larger items also
See Mayor, page 6
Scott Hein
WITH THIS WINTER’S HEAVY RAINS, CREEKS IN THE VALLEY AND ON THE MOUNTAIN ARE BURSTING THEIR BANKS. Hikers by the hundreds are heading up Mt. Diablo between storms, eager to brave the mud for views of the rare rushing waterfalls. (See more Scott Hein photos at photos.heinphoto.com.)
You can hear the whispers all around the Bay Area. People know they shouldn’t say it, but they can’t hold it in any longer. It’s just that … (shhh) we’re all really sick of the rain. Of course, anyone who dares speak their mind is quickly filled with remorse and adds, emphatically: “But we really needed the rain.” Because California’s Mediterranean-style climate includes a persistently dry late spring to early fall, we look at precipitation totals on a wateryear basis – not a calendar year. We’re currently in the middle of the 2016-’17 water year. Northern California enjoyed a healthy start to this water year in the final months of 2016. During the first few weeks of January, our area also was the beneficiary of a nearly
See Water, page 6
‘School Days’ exhibit takes a page from the past JENNIFER LEISCHER Correspondent
A new exhibit at the Clayton Museum provides a wellrounded history of what community schools were like in the late 1800s and early 1900s, “School Days: A Celebration of Historic Schools of the Clayton Area” focuses on three community schools: the original Mt Diablo Elementary School, also known as “the Clayton School,” Morgan Territory School and Lime Quarry School. “I’m so excited to share this exhibit with the commu-
Camellias & tea at the museum Feb. 12
The guests of honor at this year’s 40th Annual Clayton Historical Society Camellia Tea on February 12 will be the army of museum garden volunteers from the Historical Society and Clayton Valley Garden Club. Each year, the annual event celebrates Clayton’s pioneering families with high tea at the Clayton Museum. Camellias will decorate every surface in the historic building, originally the home of Clayton’s founder, Joel Clayton.The event is free. The garden volunteers will pour tea and coffee from 14 p.m. 6101 Main Street, Clayton.
nity,” says museum curator Renee Wing. “The exhibit will provide a wonderful history about our schools and share a glimpse of what school was like 130 years ago.” Many residents are familiar with the Mt. Diablo Elementary site on Clayton Road. The original school opened its doors to students in 1863, situated on the current school’s playing field. In 1890, the two-room wooden building enrolled 111 children and employed two teachers and one headmaster. The school closed in 1947, after 84 years of operation, and was rebuilt in 1955 in its current location. A monument on the school property is dedicated to the memory of former students, teachers, principals and trustees and to town founder Joel Clayton, who gave the land for Clayton’s first “public school.” Morgan Territory and Lime Quarry Schools were
Days,” a celebration of early education in Clayton, See Exhibit, page 3 “School which opens at the Clayton Museum Feb. 15.
Peregrine Patrol helps keep birds safe STACI HOBBET On the Mountain
What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Community Calendar . . . . .11 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .8
open around the same time as Mt Diablo, educating children during the height of Clayton’s mining and agricultural prosperity in the late 1800s. The Clayton Museum has had a small room dedicated to school life for some time. Many existing pieces will be incorporated into this exhibit, along with newly acquired items. The exhibit features a large framed photo of students in front of the original Mt. Diablo Elementary School taken in 1914, plus student report cards, classroom furnishings, the coat of a headmaster and a desk bell with an antique, but sternsounding chime. These intimate objects were generously collected from schools and community members, as well as documents and photos from the Contra Costa History Center. Another valuable resource is a group of “old timers” who come togeth- CLAYTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEER, CARIN KAPLAN, and er once a month to discuss and museum curator, Renee Wing pull together items for
THE
Dirk Muehlner
PEREGRINE FALCON finds safe haven in Mt. Diablo State Park ENDANGERED
A volunteer team of people from several organizations, including the docent crew in Mount Diablo State Park, is gearing up for the peregrine falcon nesting season in the pinnacles of Castle Rock Park. For the last two years, this team has helped keep climbers and hikers out of the closure zone – which encompasses the rocky spines and humped outcrops of this eye-popping formation. The area protects the falcons while they court, mate,
nest and raise their young. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on earth, capable of diving at more than 200 mph to capture smaller birds – their main prey. It’s quite a sight to see a peregrine dive, especially in light of the drop in peregrine populations when the pesticide DDT was used widely in the United States. It was banned in 1972, but not before the birds disappeared across large parts of the country. Only one nest could be found in California in 1970. Peregrines have recovered slowly but steadily. California
now has 400 nesting pairs, helped along by humans. Now they nest every year in one rocky concavity or another at Castle Rock, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Last year, the eggs never hatched. It could have been due to infertility, parasites or human disturbance. Whatever the answer, this year takes on deeper significance. The Peregrine Patrol Team will work to reduce human disturbance of the birds, the only potential cause
See Falcons, page 6
Postal Customer ECRWSS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190