FEB 19 The Pioneer 2021

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February 19, 2021

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Concord OKs Hampton hotel near downtown PETE CRUZ The Pioneer

Pete Cruz/The Pioneer

Proposed site for the new hotel in Concord—this view is looking northeast from Clayton Road just before the Highway 242 entrance ramp. The hotel entrace will be on Pine Street on the opposite side of this lot.

The City Council has approved plans for a new Hampton by Hilton just off the Highway 242 exit onto Clayton Road/Market Street.

The hotel will be built on an empty lot bordered by Clayton Road, Market Street, Willow Pass Road and Pine Street. The council approved a zoning change for the site, previously zoned for a car dealership.

Construction is expected to begin by the end of April on the four-story hotel, which will have 86 rooms in a 48,100 sq. ft. space. There will be 76 parking spaces, including four electric vehicle charging stations and four bicycle parking spots. The designers drew inspiration from the Salvio Pacheco

See Hotel, page 5

At 100, Clayton’s first mayor still likes what he sees in full swing and next door Concord was looking to expand.

In a classic David and Goliath move in 1963, Concord announced its intention to annex Cardinet Oaks, the best part of Clayton.

TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer

Every morning around 11 o’clock, Bob Hoyer drives the short half mile from his house to the Clayton Post Office.

Three things are extraordinary about this. First, he drives a 1999 white Cadillac half the size of the QE II. Second, he pulls his mail out of Post Office Box #1. Third, Bob Hoyer will be 100 years old on Mar. 11, a fact that surprises even him.

“I just got my driver’s license renewed for five years,” he chuckled.

When Bob and Eldora Hoyer moved to their hillside acre above downtown, Clayton was mostly open land. Lot sizes and trees were big and

HOYERS LEAD PUSH FOR CITYHOOD Not so fast said the Hoyers, who stepped up to lead the push for independence. On Mar. 18, 1964, the tiny rural town became a general law city and Bob Hoyer was rewarded Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer with a seat on the first City Council and was the first At age 100, a robust Bob Hoyer is optimistic about mayor. He remained on the the future. Hoyer shepherded Clayton through its incorporation in 1964 and was the town’s first mayor. council until 1980.

On the eve of his 100th horses were still a regular sight tion was less than 1000. birthday, an introspective on Main Street. The populaThe post WWII boom was Hoyer looks back on the past

57 years and, overall, is pretty pleased with what he sees.

“It’s not that we were against growth,” Hoyer told the Pioneer. “We could see it coming and we just wanted to do it our way.”

“Our way” included requiring developers to dedicate land for open space along Clayton’s creeks to create an award-winning trail system.

After his retirement from the council, Hoyer went on to work on his dream for a downtown park. The Grove opening on Jan. 12, 2008, is on the short list of his proudest moments.

It’s difficult to believe that Hoyer will hit the 100-year mark next month.

He recalls dates, names, events and places with acuity

impressive in someone half his age.

“People love to pick his brain on history,” says longtime friend JoAnn Caspar.

“If he can’t remember something, he’ll just say it’s in the black hole and if he could ever find the black hole, he’d find all kinds of stuff.’”

Quarantine has been hard on him. Since his wife died in 2011, he has relied on his friends for emotional sustenance.

He’s very social and adventuresome,” Caspar said. “He never missed a Wine Down Wednesday, even when we had to bring our own wine and meet in the museum garden.” And he plays bocce downtown.

See Hoyer, page 9

49ers great, Hall of Famer Charlie Krueger dies at 84 JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Charlie Krueger was one of the longest serving members of the San Francisco 49ers, playing for the local National Football League team from 1959-73, but his wife of 48 years Kristin was the couple’s biggest football fan.

Krueger, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame for his career at Texas A&M playing for immortal coach Bear Bryant, passed Feb. 5 eight days after his 84th birthday at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek following a long illness.

Kris and Charlie Krueger moved to a new Regency Woods home in Clayton in 1975 after they opened Krueger Liquors

Next issue, Mar. 19, Deadline, Mar. 10

They were vocal in sparring with the Seeno Company when the builder unveiled plans for development in and around Regency Woods that they felt were not good for the area. Long-time councilwoman Julie Pierce says the couple were “constructively vocal and had a positive way of addressing their concerns to the planning commission and city council.”

Pierce recounted a story from former Planning Commissioner George Webb. Charlie Krueger was very concerned about the plan to develop Clayton Community Park across the street from their subdivision.

Years later the two men encountered one another walking and Krueger told Webb how wonderful the playfields turned out for the community and his original concerns about traffic and noise impacting the quality of life proved wrong.”

Pierce added that the Krueger’s “helpful comments often led us towards improving projects.”

Regency Woods neighbor Dee Jakel said, “We will always LOCAL INVOLVEMENT remember Charlie as a good In Clayton, the Kruegers friend and neighbor. We met 45 were staunch supporters and years ago and shared so many guardians of their community. good times and made memories on Clayton Rd. in Concord that year. They operated the business until 1989. The retired NFL star was a regular presence in the store unless “he was birding or on the backroads” when his wife ran things.

The couple met under less than romantic circumstances.

They were each with friends at a Redwood City Hofbrau when Charlie, then a star defensive lineman for the 49ers, made a snide comment about Kurt Herbert Adler, the head of the San Francisco Opera. One of his friends informed the football player that Adler’s daughter Kris was sitting at the adjoining table.

He tried to apologize by saying he was in the process of removing his rather large foot from his mouth. They eventually married in 1972 and, as Kris says, “I had four years of football and 44 years without.” After he retired Charlie Krueger rarely attended or even watched games on TV. Many times, fan Kris would relay game scores to her husband, who was a voracious reader.

that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. We bid you farewell ‘old 70.’ Hold that line.”

Until his football injuries took a final toll on his legs, Charlie Krueger was a regular walking on local trails and went to the YMCA in Pleasant Hill, where his wife said he would park his truck so he could keep an eye on the four dogs he brought along with him.

Kris Krueger says she never knew when he would come home from walking with a stray he had found, including the dog Charlie rescued from living under the construction trailer when Diamond Terrace retirement community was being built. Not surprisingly, one of the charities suggested for donations in his name is the Animal Rescue Foundation of Walnut Creek.

TEXAS NATIVE LOVED CALIFORNIA Krueger was born Jan 28, 1937, the second of eight children in Caldwell, Texas. His family was poor and after high school he went to Texas A&M, where he was a two-time allAmerican playing 1955-57 for Bryant with teammates including Heisman Trophy winner

Photo courtesy the Krueger family

Kris and Charlie Krueger established a New Year’s Eve tradition having dinner with friends each Dec. 31 at Moresi’s Chophouse in Clayton, their hometown since 1975. Charlie Krueger passed Feb. 5 at age 84.

John David Crow (who later played with Krueger on the 49ers), future NFL All-Pro linebacker and coach Jack Pardee and future Aggies coach Gene Stallings.

The 49ers made him the ninth pick of the 1958 draft and Krueger played his entire pro career for the 49ers, earning two Pro Bowls berths. He missed the 1958 season due to injury.

“Charlie would say the best thing that happened to him in pro football was moving to Califor-

nia,” his wife said.

An ironman defensive tackle, he played 198 regular season games and five more in the playoffs following the 1970-71-72 seasons, all ending in losses to the Dallas Cowboys.

Krueger was so highly regarded by the team that his jersey number 70 was retired a year after his 1973 retirement. From 1960-67 a defensive line teammate was Mt. Diablo High grad

See Krueger, page 12

Postal Customer ECRWSS PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190

Page 2

BART prepared to work with city on construction plans around Concord stations The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

CHRISTOPHER HOWLEY Correspondent

Jesse and Ruby Christensen of Clayton are celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on February 18, 2021.

They are members of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church and have lived in the area for more than 50 years. They are incredibly kind individuals who have an immense love for their family, heritage and each other.

Happy 70th Wedding Anniversary from your family, friends and community!

As plans for development near Concord’s BART move through negotiations, BART expects to work closely with the city during the process.

Assembly Bill 2923 gives BART the right to build mixed-use office space and affordable housing in areas around transit stations that are deemed eligible. Although not required to work with the city on any part of the developments, BART officials have made it clear they will consult with City Council members and residents.

“We always partner with the local jurisdictions when we do transit-oriented development (TOD) projects,” said Abby Thorne-Lyman, BART’s TOD program group manager.

“We don’t consider our piece of property that we own to be in isolation of what is going on around it.”

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BART opened the door for the city’s considerations at the Jan. 12 City Council meeting, with a presentation to the City Council which included an update on the two projects planned in Concord.

Concord Mayor Tim McGallian told the Pioneer that BART’s willingness to work with the city is crucial. “It is important for them to say that because under (AB 2923) they do not necessarily have to.”

OPTIONS FOR NORTH CONCORD SITE In order for the space around a BART station to be eligible for development under AB 2923, it needs to meet three qualifications: • Be in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Francisco county.

• Be within a half mile of the BART station’s entrance.

• Contain 75 percent of the total land area within the half-mile radius.

Both the downtown Concord and North Concord stations have significantly sized

The Concord BART station (located off of Mt. Diablo Street) is currently in the 5-10 year development plan. This location has been marked as a priority for commercial and mixeduse development.

areas that are eligible, but the city’s main concern lies with the North Concord station.

Council members and resi-

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dents are worried about the distance between current homes and the proposed development.

Community members have proposed the inclusion of a large buffer between their fences and the new developments in order to keep the safety, visibility and privacy of their backyards.

“We understand this housing needs to be built, “McGallian said. “The city has floated the idea to increase that buffer.”

Thorne-Lyman said BART knocked on the doors of all the residents whose backyards run adjacent to its parking lot to get a sense of their concerns. BART plans on taking those accounts into considera-

tion while they continue to plan their next project.

“We have been very active in the past listening to the community members,” she said.

LONG-TERM EFFORTS As planning continues for both station’s developments, any timeframe for completion is still off in the future.

The North Concord station has been labeled as “under negotiation,” while the Concord station currently sits in BART’s five- to-10-year work plan.

“As long as BART is willing to have the conversation, it allows us to move forward and figure it out together,” McGallian said.

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Take an international walk through small park in mid-town Concord February 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Page 3

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of features on parks in Concord and Clayton.

LISA FULMER Correspondent

When a group of garden lovers formed the Markham Regional Arboretum Society in 1981, their mission was to create something special with the land where Ira and Bea Markham first made their home during WWII. The society developed it into the lasting legacy of natural beauty that the Markhams had envisioned when they retired and sold their property to the city of Concord.

The Markham Nature Park and Arboretum is a 16-acre, walkable nature sanctuary that borders both sides of Galindo Creek, situated off Cowell Rd. right in the middle of Concord. The arboretum is filled with more than 600 trees from dozens of different species, many of which are more than 50 years old. Some trees are native to California and others come from parts of the world with similar climates.

The jewel of the park is

Lisa Fulmer

Concord artist Kara Bonsteel sits in a hidden spot in Markham Nature Park to paint spiky shrubs from Australia.

the International Garden, which began taking shape in 1987. Planting and construction continued until the spring of 2002, when the garden’s stunning wisteria arbor was finished and dedicated to Bud Hanson, a local builder and lifelong resident of Concord.

His father, John Hansen, had built an 800-foot wisteria pergola around Todos Santos Plaza back in the 1930s, and Concord held annual wisteria festivals there until the 1950s.

The tradition continues, as residents (we hope again soon) can reserve the wisteria arbor for their own celebrations.

With plenty of green lawn in the center, the garden features a perimeter with A quiet spot in mid-town, lovely pockets of shrubs, Marham Arboretum is best flowering plants and small reached by foot. Parking in the area can be challenging. trees from around the world.

A walking path takes you on

a landscape journey through South Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America, as well as all four corners of the USA. Educational signage greets you at every continent, and each plant is marked with a ground stake that tells its name and origin.

Kids love running around the trees and across the wide-open space. Artists appreciate the flat rocks, benches and border walls to sit and sketch the striking scenery.

“I can’t believe I’ve lived in Concord all these years and never knew about this place,” says Kara Bonsteel, a local artist.

“Getting out of the house to come to a beautiful place that inspires me to paint is exactly what I need

right now,” she continues.

“But I also can’t wait to bring our kids out here next time.”

Families picnic together and couples walk hand in hand, yet the garden also feels like a spectacularly secluded place for quiet solo time to read, meditate or watch the squirrels and hummingbirds dart about. With every visit, no matter what time of year, you’re sure to spot something wonderful that you missed before.

The International Garden at Markham Arboretum also offers water conservation tips in a special demonstration area filled with a wide variety of low-maintenance grasses and ground covers.

Visit markhamarboretum.org for maps and more information.

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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been veriAll verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. fied. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

Program brings girls outside for lessons in empowerment

Page 4

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

February 19, 2021

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Fire agencies distributing vaccinations at drive-through clinics

February 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

was the time frame for the first drive-thru clinic to happen at Los Medanos College in BrentFire agencies across Conwood, and 500 per day was the tra Costa County are putting projection for that site. Going down the hoses and picking forward the plan is for the up needles as they join the Brentwood clinic to operate on fight to get as many residents select Fridays and Saturdays. as possible vaccinated at desCounty health officials say ignated drive-thru clinic sites the Concord Health Center in East and West County. will be able to provide an Locations in Central Coun- additional 150 vaccines per ty, notably Concord, are not day or 750 per week. yet playing host. However, The drive-thru clinics are Contra County Health Servic- designed to be scalable to serve es did open a new vaccination up to 1,000 vaccines a day, and clinic at Concord Health Cen- some locations may be ramped ter in mid-February. up to serve the higher numbers Based on dosage availabili- of residents starting in the latter ty, Contra Costa Fire Protecweeks of February if the larger tion District Public Informaquantities of the vaccine tion Officer Steve Hill noted 500 vaccinations per clinic, per day is the goal for the Sponsored Content drive-thru clinics. Four Hercules clinics in West County, operating on Mondays and Tuesdays, achieved 2,000 vaccines during its initial days of operations in early February.

Valentine’s Day weekend DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

The Morgan Territory CERT team assisted ECCFPD with Saturday’s vaccination efforts in Brentwood.

Concord council OKs rent registry after fiery debate DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

After a robust discussion over the merits of a Rent Registry Program and privacy concerns for those whose data might be under scrutiny, the City Council ultimately voted to move forward with collection efforts by mid-2021.

But if the nearly five hours of divisive public comments during the Jan. 12 meeting are any indication, this may not be the last time this issue gets an earful.

In the wake of the council’s action, one notable concern – a fear of looming tenant evictions in light of the ongoing pandemic – received an 11thhour reprieve from Gov. Gavin Newsom. He ordered the current moratorium extended through June, just as the Jan. 31 expiration date had housing advocates worrying about a wave of evictions.

them in the portal while all other information would be available to the public, gathering property owner status, agent or property manager authorization, and general information about tenant charges. The council also agreed to add a question to property owners about the base rent at the move-in date.

And they approved an additional two months for the window to be open so it is easier for property owners to submit the requested information to the website.

ers and tenants alike.

“I am concerned that once the data is out there, you won’t be able to get it back,” she said.

Similar to Carter, she also noted that information being sought for the registry can be gleaned from other sources like code enforcement files.

Gottlieb appealed to the council to “start off small.”

Under the Rent Registry Program, the city will collect information from property owners with at least four rental units. The details are akin to what is furnished when obtaining a business license.

The council accepted staff recommendations that include maintaining privacy of tenant unit numbers by redacting

CONCERNS OVER PRIVACY The war of words that marked the public comment period reinforced the sharp contrast between the two sides.

Property owner Blaine Carter’s remarks captured the spirit of those not comfortable with the registry and its intended purpose, citing a redundancy with data already available from existing resources.

“I don’t want to be on the butt end of their tactics,” he said of tenant advocate groups that have previously made headlines for waging verbal assaults and using public disruption and intimidation to get their way.

Lisa Gottlieb, assistant manager at Sycamore Green Apartments, also expressed concerns about maintaining the privacy of the data of own-

HOW TO MANAGE THE DATA Those supporting the registry emphasized it is a tool for greater transparency to ensure effective future public policy related to housing and tenant issues rather than it being a guessing game. “(Gathering) critical data is essential,” said Kristi Laughlin of Raise the Roof. “(It has to be) carefully executed to treat the problem effectively. It’s like a doctor not asking a patient about pre-existing conditions at an appointment.”

To the point of policy making, Mayor Tim McGallian made it clear that is the city’s domain and he is starting to wonder about the motives of everyone under the sun who wants the data.

“Let’s pump the brake on the overarching portal being available,” he said. “Let us have the policy conversation and not have it driven by the wrong direction. We will create policy based on what we find in the data.”

Following actions at the state and municipal levels, Contra Costa County Supervisors Feb. 2 followed suit with complimentary actions of its own to extend existing eviction moratorium and rent freeze protection urgency measures to shield both residential and commercial tenants.

The protections for residential renters is through June 30, while the assistance to occupants of commercial properties is only until March 31.

“While our COVID-19 numbers are finally starting to stabilize, there are still many businesses that are closed or operating at reduced capacity.

Many individuals, especially renters, have taken a significant reduction in their income due to COVID-19 economic hardship,” said District 4 Superivsor Karen Mitchoff.

The action keeps in place prohibitions on certain types of residential evictions, includ-

ing no-fault evictions.

The board’s action comes as rental housing activists, foreseeing the likely increase in eviction notices in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in upcoming months, had been stepping the pressure on officials at all levels of government to extend previous orders.

As the pressures of keeping a roof over one’s head escalate, the latest action by the Supervisors reaffirmed that a landlord shall not terminate a residential tenancy on the basis of a tenant allowing an unauthorized occupant to live in the dwelling unit, if the occupant is a member of the tenant’s immediate family living in the dwelling unit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, evictions still can happen under certain circumstances. Should this occur, the ordinance requires any notice of termination

served on a tenant during the COVID-19 pandemic must also include a notice of the tenant’s rights, which the renter must receive within 14 days.

The ordinance also does not preclude scheduled rent increases in rental agreements on residential properties, which had been entered before March 16, 2020, from going forward to during the moratorium period.

For renters of commercial properties whose income streams have been hindered, if not totally dried up, their landlords may not charge or collect a late fee for unpaid rent due from a tenant who demonstrated loss of income or out-of-pocket medical expenses as required under this ordinance through March 31, 2021.

Landlords are subject to stiff civil penalties if found in violation of this ordinance.

By David Scholz

HAMMERING OUT THE DETAILS

Supervisors extend COVID eviction, rent freeze protections

Page 5

become available.

The drive through clinics are being set up in locations around the county based on CCHS requests. This also includes San Ramon’s Bishop Ranch in South County.

“We’re eager to leverage our considerable first responder EMS capability to extend vaccinations to as many residents as possible but that is driven by vaccine availability and CCHS request,” Hill said.

Participating fire agencies include Contra County Fire, Crockett-Carquinez Fire, East Contra Costa Fire, El Cerrito Fire, Moraga-Orinda Fire, Pinole Fire, Richmond Fire, Rodeo-Hercules Fire, and San

Ramon Valley Fire.

In addition to the fire agency-run clinics, there are currently 14 county-run vaccine sites providing about 12,000 vaccines weekly. The community can learn about information for these locations on a map on the CCHS dashboard, as well as information about vaccination rates in different communities.

Regardless of location, all vaccination clinics around the county are by appointment only. Walk-up or drop-in vaccinations are not available. Eligibility is determined by CCHS and the criteria can be reviewed and appointments made on its website.

Beware of exterior mold during rainy season Although we all hope for more rain this winter, the unfortunate downside of the damp weather is the potential for mold growth on the exterior of your home.

While it is common to find black, brown or yellow dots/patches near a leaking sink, toilet or shower inside of the home, it is easy to overlook or underestimate the impact that mold on the roof eaves, deck posts, windows and other exterior home elements can have on our families’ health.

When wooden components reach a saturation point, excess moisture turns to mold. Once this happens, mold spreads in search of water and is easily airborne once dry.

Add high winds into the mix, and you now have proliferating growth in new areas such as a crawl space or attic and eventually your HVAC system. The problem can affect allergies, asthma and compromised immune systems.

Keep any eye out for any SCOTT DENSLOW mold growth on your home’s exterior. If you find any, a ASK THE EXPERT mold inspector can test and Scott Denslow is the owner of advise the next steps for Safe at Home Inspection Service. remediation. With mold, it’s He is an InterNACHI and better safe than sorry.

ASHI certified inspector who has Meanwhile, I hope you 47 five-star ratings on Yelp. have been following the Contact him at scott@safeatprogress for our Charity of homellc.com. For more info visit the Month initiative on our website and may also consider www.safeathomellc.com. donating to these wonderful See ad, page 2. organizations.

Hotel,

from page 1

building in Todos Santos Plaza for the building’s Spanish Colonial look.

Cars will enter/exit from Pine Street, between the All Star gas station and the VIP convenience store. The developer says the building’s position will beautify that entrance into Concord as a “gateway” into the city.

The hotel will cater to business travelers, bringing business into Concord. In addition, it will provide Transient Occupant Tax and Tourism Improvement Business District revenue.

Contributed photo

Despite potential parking and traffic issues, Concord council greenlights a proposed Hampton Inn for city’s entrance.

“Should the consultants be wrong, which they sometimes are, then we’re stuck with the mess and people end up complaining.”

The council finetuned the plan, requiring the applicant to provide a subsequent study to confirm parking adequacy before being released from MITIGATING TRAFFIC ISSUES the shuttle/ride-share requireBecause the lot rests ment. between two busy commuter intersections, the council disQUESTIONS ABOUT cussed potential traffic conVIABILITY gestion in January. City planEven though hotels are ner Joan Ryan said that their currently facing huge losses studies show the impact on due to COVID-19, there is an traffic could be “significant expectation that the economy in the near term but is will rebound by the time the expected to lessen over time.” Hampton opens.

The city is requiring the “I am in support of this developer to pay for traffic project, and I want to see it signal upgrades, which built,” said Councilmember include video monitoring Dominic Aliano. “I believe equipment and right turn on COVID will not be with us red blank-out signs. forever. And in the long The council also debated term, this project is going to the wisdom of a hotel with help our economic sustainfewer parking spaces than ability into the future.” rooms. To address this, the The future of the hotel owner agreed to provide a brought up the biggest disfree shuttle or fully subsidize agreement at the meeting. ride-share service so that Although Hoffmeister guests could utilize BART. The service would continue for a minimum of five years from occupancy, projected to start in late 2022.

Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister asked what mechanism would be available to make sure the parking impact was minimized before the agreement ended.

expressed support for bringing a hotel like Hampton to the city, she wanted to add requirements that the property maintain certain standards.

The issue centers on hotels becoming magnets for drug use and prostitution.

“We’ve had other hotels come in promising the moon which were later sold to a lesser standard facility and then become a burden on the community instead of an amenity,” Hoffmeister said.

Councilmember Edi Birsan called the request “elitist” and said putting too many requirements on the deal might scare off the developer.

George Fulmore of the Monument Democratic Club has said the council is out of touch with the needs of the neighborhood surrounding this property. In a recent letter, he stated that a hotel that caters to weekday travelers would not help the densely populated housing across Clayton Road, while increasing traffic and impacting parking.

Please let our advertisers know you saw them in the Pioneer.

To advertise, call 925.672.0500

Page 6

To emulate Martinez-type homeless camp, Concord would need additional resources The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

the size of a baseball field.

Tents are ideally placed on four square pallets covered with two 8x4 wood sheets within a 10x10 EDI BIRSAN pop up that is in the process of being screened in. I say ideally PULSE OF because this is a project still in the making.

HOMELESSNESS The Fire Department mandates that 400 sq. ft. of tent Amongst the questions in area must be separated by 20 the next Pulse of Concord surfeet to the next quad, as well as vey will be a series on homeless 10 feet from trees and bushes. attitudes, experiences and possiThere are fire extinguishers ble policies. throughout and a central fire People constantly ask me bell.

There is a mandated escape why Concord can’t set somecan route, which is a gate that thing up along the lines of the be opened from the inside, and Martinez amphitheater camp solar lights scattered.

The fencfor 30 folks run by Noralea ing is covered with an opaque Gipner. The city of Concord mesh to provide privacy that is does not have something that being changed to be fire resistcan match this in an isolated ant. place away from high traffic Electricity is supplied to the areas. However, there may be site, and there is a small concessome private business or nonsion stand style or half garage profit that has a place. If so, building that is used for refrigcontact me as I am working on erators and storage shelves for at least the collection of volunfood.

Another small building is teers to run the place. But there used for cooking, with electriciis much more needed. and hotty to run microwaves Here are some of the plates. aspects I gleaned from several They have three to six porta tours of the Martinez place. potties and a cold water tent FACILITY BY THE NUMBERS used as a shower.

There is a 20-foot storage The Martinez camp is about

from middle age and older and overwhelmingly single. Fifty percent have a source of income, and a smaller number have jobs.

People inclined to romantic or physical involvement can cause serious problems and may not make it through screening.

If it manifests afterward, it can lead to reconsideration depending on the scope of the problem.

Edi Birsan Visitors are strongly discourProper spacing is essential at the Martinez homeless enaged, especially overnight, and campment the emphasis seems to be on container on site. The facility aspects of addictions, but the developing a tighter community has a locked gate in the evening. emphasis is on potential stability and a group home style. in a group setting.

SCREENING OF OCCUPANTS Drug use is allowed in your THE BASIC RULES They do not take in people tent, but you have to be able to Keep your self-medication from CORE (Coordinated Out- dispose of needles properly as it or vices to your tent. reach Referral, Engagement) or costs $4,000 if one of them is People are assigned or told 211. People currently have to be tossed in a porta potty – as has to clean up and, in fact, they do from Martinez. They must happened. community cleanups elsewhere. apply in person, and the city of Almost 80 percent are male Make trouble at the site and Martinez runs background checks. Noralea and her volunteers generally conduct multiple interviews and may also include some of the existing people.

Screening is designed to see if the person is stable enough and a good enough fit for the encampment. There are no exact written requirements relaJAY BEDECARRÉ tive to mental health and The Pioneer

A sense of hope after surviving COVID-19

DOING E WE R A T AFE? WHA YOU S P E E TO K Our lobby is wiped w down every hour on th he hour

We’re in this Together

(925) 356-75 500

2689 Monument Blvd. vd.

Concord, CA 94520 0 www w.DandHAutoRepa airr.com

you are kicked out, backed by the encampment community and police.

There is a weekly community meeting to talk about issues.

There is much more to the operation, which puts the leadership on 24/7 call that has been used about every other or third month to deal with internal disturbance or outside intrusion.

This is a thumbnail review of what is there. If anyone has private land and facilities that are suitable, let me know at EdiBirsan@gmail.com.

Edi Birsan is a Concord City Council member. The views herein are his alone and not reflective of city government or any other attempted organization of human beings or ethereal creatures of group think and action.

Concord mayor takes over State Farm office in Clayton

The State Farm insurance office in Clayton was operated for 40 years by Doug and Hildy Van Wyck until their retirement last fall. This month, Tim McGallian, who is in his second year as mayor of Concord, took over the business in the same location adjacent to Ed’s Mudville Grill on Center St. Doug Van Wyck began his Friday the 13th whipped some more. My spouse seemed through my home in 2020, leavto become one with his bed as business in 1980 in an era with no computers. The UC ing COVID-19 in its wake. if in meditation, counting the Berkeley grad used handwritOn that day, my spouse stillness as the hours passed, ten paper applications and 3x5 took to his bed and didn’t resurwhile I read books and bingeindex cards for client informaface until late the next evening. watched English detective tion. Today, McGallian has Despite all the media coverage shows. outfitted his downtown Clayand government warnings Stepdaughters helped by ton office with a large video going grocery shopping for us about the virus, I jumped into and doing drivebys with grand- screen and camera so that he bed beside him. can conduct his business children so we could wave at When the tests for COVID MAGGIE LENNON meetings remotely—during came back positive, time them from our porch. and after the pandemic. seemed to stand still for a Weeks later – when we felt SAVVY SENIOR Van Wyck began making moment. Next came fear, consure we were way past contacold calls on his phone and sidering we were both 65. gion – we had to reassure the whether we were clear. things were really thought Then I flew into survival few visitors we allowed into the Our general practitioner mode. Whipping out the disin- informed us about a blood test house that we were clear. It was gearing up when he got a fectant, I sprayed and scrubbed (a pin prick in the finger) that hard not to see the look of fear pager and could be reached any countertop I could get my on their faces, although that was seven days a week. Then, he provided a result in minutes. and State Farm started comhands on. I washed our shared Using a strip much like the ones understandable. Our isolation puterizing things; well, that bedding and hurriedly got our had been dutiful, yet we many women use for pregnancy was real technological help feeling like we spare room into shape for me couldn’t tests, we watched in fascination progress. to isolate in. at the appearance of three lines wore a scarlet letter of shame.

McGallian and his team utiAs Christmas came and For me, COVID brought a of different shades of pink that lize smartphones, text, email, went and we were healthy, we slight cold and cough that linshowed each of us where we the internet and video capabilireceived a greeting card with gered for weeks. My spouse had were with the disease. ties to go along with their comchills and exhaustion yet “Peace Hope and Joy” written I had negative/positive bined half century of insurance seemed better in four days – in gold.

It reminded me that, results, meaning my antibodies company experience. Nicole until his underlying condition after COVID, these were were fighting off the virus Interiano, Melissa Zimmerman kicked in and laid him out flat important words indeed to try while the positive showed I had and his mom Marcia McGallian for weeks. to live by. been exposed. My poor spouse each have over a dozen years in But still, we were some of Maggie Lennon is a writer and kept coming up positive and the lucky ones and are thankful positive. No matter what the photographer who writes about navi- the business to serve the large we didn’t need hospital visits doctors said about us not being gating the aging process. Check out client base Van Wyck developed much less ventilators. contagious, it delayed our ability her blog, “The Sensational Sixties. over four decades.

Both McGallian and Van Told by doctors we were not to feel safe going out and about An everywoman’s guide to getting Wyck recognize the imporolder.”

Contact her at contagious after 10 days and with our lives. tance of getting involved in maggielennon164@yahoo.com. not to take any more COVID So we isolated and isolated their community. Van Wyck is tests, we were confused about still active with the Boy Scouts while McGallian coaches the throwing events for the Clayton Valley Charter High , ISES R P School track and field team.

R E ENT CUSTOMERSSLY. H His oldest child Andy is a sen& D R U AT KE OU NS SERIO on the squad and will be ior R WE TA E NC H CO HEALT

February 19, 2021

Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer

Doug Van Wyck (right) opened a State Farm office in Clayton in 1980 and was located downtown until his retirement last fall. This month, Tim McGallian took over the insurance agency’s Clayton business in the Village Oaks building on Center St. and knows he has Van Wyck’s knowledge to call on.

heading off to the University of Chicago in the fall.

He met his wife Michelle when both were students at Sacrament State. He was on the track team and she was a trainer for the team. Their daughters Alyssa and Audrey attend CVCHS and St. Agnes School, respectively.

He began his insurance career with Northwestern Mutual before joining State Farm, where he has spent most of his career in corporate business lines serving commercial clients.

McGallian was selected by the Concord City Council to fill the vacant seat that was created when Tim Grayson was elected to the State Assembly in the November 2016 election. He had previously served as City Treasurer from July 2015 to January 2017 and was on the Concord Planning Commission from 2010-15.

He is a past president of the Todos Santos Business Association Arts Foundation through which he founded the Concord July 4th Festival and Fireworks after The Singing Flag ceased in 2014.

He was reelected in 2018 in the first district elections in Contra Costa’s largest city.

McGallian is the second mem-

Time to set sail on the SS Migration

Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye to an old mate, a friend who has been there from day one.

Over the last few years, you and your friend have enjoyed a wonderful and productive relationship. Of course, I mean your computer mate with whom you share all your attachments, notes and those photos of fun times.

But will it all come to an end if you migrate to a new computer?

No, of course you won’t be leaving your information, data and work behind at the dock. You are migrating to a new computer, not exploring the New World. Here are some thoughts that can make the journey a bit easier.

Data backup is something many don’t consider a worthwhile effort. It is a bit like swabbing the deck, necessary but not something you think about daily.

But when the migration

ber of that council to work in Clayton. His colleague Laura Hoffmeister has worked in the Clayton city manager’s office since 1998.

Van Wyck started his agency in the original Clayton City Hall building and then moved next door to where Canesa’s Brooklyn Heros now resides. In 1992 he took the business to its space in the Village Oaks building which had previously housed a veterinary practice.

Van Wyck says his “enthusiasm for the business” drove his success while McGallian adds that insurance companies are there “to help people in the best of days and the worst of days.”

Because it is considered an essential business, the State Farm office is open every weekday while their adjoining neighboring barber shop, nail and hair salon, and restaurant businesses have been open and closed due to the pandemic over the past 11 months.

McGallian says, “People like to have an agent they can talk to; someone in the neighborhood.” He jokes that in Clayton he can “just be a member of the community and a small business owner.” He’ll leave concerns about potholes on Clayton streets to someone else.

WILL CLANEY

TECH TALK

mission sets sail, perhaps it is time to consider a backup.

The first chore is to back up your document files. If you are organized and have all of your data stored in a single

See Tech Talk, page 7

Obituary

February 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517

TAMARA And R ObERT S TEInER , Publishers TAMARA S TEInER , Editor P ETE C Ruz , Graphic Design, Social Media b Ev b RITTOn , Copy Editor, Calendar Editor J Ay b EdECARRé, Sports Editor, Schools Editor S TAFF W RITERS : Jay Bedecarré, Bev Britton C ORRESPONDENTS : Kara Navolio, David Scholz, Diane Zermeño

PIONEER INFO CONTACT US

Tel: (925) 672-0500 Fax: (925) 672-6580 Tamara Steiner

editor@pioneerpublishers.com (925) 285-8612

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sports@pioneerpublishers.com The Pioneer is a monthly publication delivered free to homes and businesses in 94517, 94518, 94519 and 94521. ZIP code 94520 is currently served by drop site distribution. The papers are published by Clayton Pioneer, Inc., Tamara and Robert Steiner, PO 1246, Clayton, CA 94517. The offices are located at 6200 Center St. Suite F, Clayton, CA 94517 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. As a general rule, letters should be 175 words or less and submitted at least one week prior to publication date.

Letters concerning current issues will have priority. We may edit let-

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Letters must be submitted via E-mail.

CIRCULATION The Pioneer is delivered monthly by the third Friday to 38,500 single-family homes and businesses in 94518, 94519 and 94521. Papers to Clayton are delivered by US mail. Concord zip codes are delivered by commercial carriers for ABC Direct. To stop delivery for any reason, call the office at (925) 672-0500 .

Effective with the June 5, 2020 issue, delivery to homes will rotate between zones. Residents in our delivery area (check website for map),will receive free delivery EVERY OTHER MONTH. To guarantee Pioneer every month, please go to our website and SUBSCRIBE. ADVERTISING Advertising rates and circulation maps are posted at www.pioneerpublishers.com or call (925) 672-0500.

Directory of Advertisers All phone numbers 925 area code unless otherwise noted

Automotive D & H Auto Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-7500

Financial, Insurance and Legal Services CIII Insurance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .699-6085 State Farm, Lisa Truesdell Insurance Agency . .672-3030 State-Farm, Tim McGallian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Funerals Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242

Health and Wellness Girls on the Run of the Bay Area . . . .GOTRBayArea.org Harvest House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-2305 Home and Garden Clayton Farmhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .889-9470 Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757 Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920 Safe at Home, Inspection Service . . . . . . . . . . .318-1440 Skim ‘n’ Dip – Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348-5609 The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243 Waraner Tree Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250-0334 Hospice Services Hope Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .829-8770 Hospice East Bay Thrift Shoppes . . . . . . . . . . .674-9427

Real Estate, Housing and Mortgage Services French, Lynne – Windermere Real Estate . . . .672-8787 Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593 Lopez, Stephanie – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . .305-9099 Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . .567-6170 Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . .672-4433 Services, Other ComputersUSA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989 Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-9113 Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029 PWRCell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .833-921-0322

Tech Talk, from page 6

place, you are in a “clean” harbor. That means all your data files are located in the My Documents folder, for example, rather than scattered all over your storage device (hard drive).

If your data is clean, a USB flash drive may be a

cargo hold large enough to store all your treasures. If you have a plethora of data, you may want to use an external hard drive for backup.

If the data is scattered all over or you are unsure where it is located, do a full drive backup. Back up everything.

Page 7

John Bedecarré June 5, 1922 – January 13, 2021

John Bedecarré passed peacefully in his Concord home of 48 years on Jan. 13.

The 98-year-old San Francisco native was an award-winning and beloved educator and businessman who loved his family, church, country, politics and sports, especially baseball.

John and his late wife Catherine raised six children in Concord and have 17 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, with a fourth on the way. Born in 1922, he lived above the French laundry started by his grandfather who immigrated from France.

His lifelong passion for baseball was formed while playing on teams as a submarine-throwing pitcher. John attended hundreds of Pacific Coast League games at Seals Stadium and did the same once the Giants moved to San Francisco.

Bedecarré was a proud veteran who served in the United States Army during World War II from 1943-46.

While a student at Cal, he volunteered to join the Army ROTC, but failed the eye exam – despite drinking gallons of carrot juice to improve his eyesight. He was drafted in the US Army and joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps with thousands of UC

students. He reported to Ford Ord in 1943 and was eventually deployed to the Pacific campaign in support of the Battle of Okinawa.

Returning to his studies, John worked on The Daily Californian newspaper, where he met Cathy Reid. They married in 1948 after both graduated from Cal and lived in San Francisco. They moved to Concord when they opened Park & Shop Cleaners in 1955.

John attended a weekend Cursillo Catholic men’s retreat in 1965 and came home to tell Cathy he wanted to become a teacher. They both went on to teach for two decades, winning numerous awards while impacting the lives of thousands of students. He spent his career in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District at Riverview and Oak Grove intermediate schools. John was proud that he taught every grade from kindergarten to college/post graduate school.

After “retirement,” John and Cathy mentored new teachers for 10 years at Saint Mary’s College.

They remained huge fans of Cal and were thrilled a son and grandson also attended Berkeley. Their Cal roots were stretched thin when two of their sons “defected” to attend Stanford.

He was predeceased by his wonderful wife and partner of nearly 63 years Catherine Reid Bedecarré, his parents, sister Barbara Remnant and daughter-inlaw Jill Cogan Bedecarré.

He accomplished his goal to live long enough to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

He was proud of having lived in 100 calendar years (19222021) and through 18 American presidents, 10 of whom (from both parties) he saw in person at conventions and other functions.

The Greatest Generation has lost an everyday hero to COVID-19. To honor John, register and vote!

The family says donations in John Bedecarré’s name can be made to MDUSD Education Foundation www.mdedf.org or St. Agnes Church Social Justice Committee, 3966 Chestnut Ave., Concord 94519. There will be a Celebration of Life post pandemic restrictions.

You are invited to visit his memorial website www.kudoboard.com/ boards/LRA6TsrL.

Pioneer Inn serves up a colorful dish of Clayton history

sheep heads were mounted on the walls along with old saddles, branding irons and a rifle that was said to have belonged to a “shotgun messenger” who rode DEBBIE EISTETTER beside the stagecoach driver on THE WAY the Stockton/Oakland route.

WE WERE There was even an entire stuffed goat.

The building on Clayton’s The house directly across Main Street that currently the street from the Pioneer Inn houses Clayton Community is now known as Cup O’ Jo, but Church is on a parcel of land in the past it was home to a that has been the site of sevlively little girl who was amused eral establishments throughout how tipsy customers leaving the the town’s history. bar would unerringly walk into The Clayton Hotel was the post outside the inn’s front constructed there in 1858 but door. For Clayton residents burned in 1864. Subsequent who phoned in dinner reservabuildings suffered damage or tions, Jawad offered a free car complete destruction due to service to pick up patrons and fires, earthquakes and falling return them safely home after a trees. festive outing.

Typically, a two-story In nice weather, customers structure would be rebuilt on enjoyed the outdoor patio on the same site following each the right side of the restaudisaster – until Chubby Hum- rant. Concord and Pittsburg ble decided to make improve- old-timers recall that dining ments to the first floor rather and dancing under the stars than reconstruct the second and eucalyptus trees sparked story after a fire in the 1950s. many post-WWII romances.

This building is the one we Even Hollywood movie stars recognize today. like John Wayne and Gary Many people from around Cooper came to the Pioneer the Bay Area have fond mem- Inn to experience the good ories of Clayton’s Pioneer Inn. food and good times; some Humble operated the restaueven arrived in small planes rant 1946-’64 and John Jawad that landed on the airstrip at from 1964 until its closure in Easley Ranch.

1990. Folks came for the deliThe aforementioned little cious food, especially the beef girl remembers when a 1960 steaks selected by Jawad – movie starring Jack Nicholson who held the title of state was filmed at Chubby’s and brand inspector for Contra how she and her brother Costa County. would disrupt and confuse the The redwood bar was a director by blowing their friendly place to have drinks, father’s duck call whistles and its décor reflected the from their basement vent. town’s rural character. Deer and The working title of the This may require a professional harbormaster or an informed shipmate to assist you.

Your new ship needs storage space and room to grow.

Arrr, there be youngins to feed. Before you move the data to the new computer, be sure the new storage device is two and a half times the size of the old storage device

The family belonged to Queen of All Saints Parish in Concord for many years before they moved to his current Concord home and joined St. Agnes Church.

John was a leader of the Mt. Diablo Genealogical Society and traveled the country and world with Cathy in quest of more information on their family ancestry. He was proud of the 850-page family history he published in 2014.

He is survived by his six children: Jay Bedecarré of Clayton and children Jason (Emily Drobny, children Ted, Hallie), Justin (Ashley Taylor), Juliene, Jared; Diane Bedecarré (Henry White) and children Lydia (Ian Fleming, daughter Ramona), Andy; Corrinne Bedecarré and children Dorothy, Patrick, Ellen; Thomas Bedecarré (Maggie Geoghegan) and children Madeline (Adrien Darchez), Kathryn, John; William Bedecarré (Nancy Garrett) and children Claire, Ella, Grace; Albert Bedecarré (Claire Ernst) and children Sophie, Alden.

(hard drive, SSD, etc.). For safety, move to the next size up.

The migration trip does not have to be difficult. Good luck and fair seas.

William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station.

Email questions or comments to willclaney@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of the Clayton Historical Society

John Jawad was the final proprietor of the Pioneer Inn, shown here about 1979. The building now houses the Clayton Community Church offices

film was “Hot Rods from Hell” and the children liked it because they could say the “H” word. So they must have been disappointed when the film was released as “The Wild Ride.” It is the story of Beat Generation teens, who are seen driving their soupedup cars along Morgan Territory Road, enjoying the river in Antioch and having fun on Chubby’s outdoor patio after a

hot rod race. View the hourlong movie on YouTube for free and get a glimpse of the old Pioneer Inn.

Debbie Eistetter is a board member of the Clayton Historical Society. For more information or to become a member, visit claytonhistory.org. The Clayton Museum is open 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays at 6101 Main St..

Admission is free.

From the Desk of...

Concord’s future looking a little more optimistic

Page 8

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

It is with cautious optimism that I say 2021 seems to be headed in the right direction.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are down, we are now out of the regional shelterin-place, schools have been given permission to open when they are ready with a safety plan and restaurants are back open for outdoor dining (Thank

goodness for heat lamps!).

And thankfully, the COVID-19 vaccine is being widely distributed throughout Contra Costa County. More than 182,000 doses were administered as of Feb. 10. If you haven’t done so already and you TIM MCGALLIAN are 65 or older, please sign up for a vaccine today at contraCONCORD MAYOR costahealth.org/vaccine.

The government has issued the second round of federal stimulus checks, and Congress is discussing a possible third round of stimulus to boost the economy even further.

Locally, we are not in as dire of a situation financially as we anticipated last summer. In June, the city was bracing for a loss of $13 million in general fund revenues. We cut our expenditures by $10 million, and we worked hard to support for a restaurant, it cannot charge the restaurant more than economic activity through a 10 percent of the order for pro- small business grant program and a shop local campaign over viding that service.

We inquired with some local the holidays.

This month, we received a restaurants and chambers of mid-year update from our commerce in order to better understand how they are impacted by third-party food delivery service fees. They shared that sometimes when KAREN MITCHOFF they calculate for the fees they COUNTY are charged on an order, it can often equate to them selling SUPERVISOR that meal at cost.

Restaurants are an imporOn Feb. 2, the Contra tant component of our county’s Costa County Board of economic vitality, and we know Supervisors unanimously they have been hit hard during approved an urgency ordinance this pandemic. We want to do to place a temporary cap on what we can to help alleviate commissions and fees charged some of these fees while restauby third-party food delivery rants are doing their best to services to local restaurants. provide essential food services Effective immediately, this at this time. ordinance applies throughout Some cities in Contra the county with the exception Costa County, including of cities that have adopted meal Danville, Lafayette and Walnut delivery ordinances.

Creek, have passed similar When a customer places an ordinances to help support online order for delivery or local restaurants.

CARL “CW” WOLFE pickup at a restaurant through a The county ordinance will platform operated by a thirdexpire when state public CLAYTON MAYOR party delivery firm, that compa- health orders allow all restauny cannot charge the restaurant rants in the county to seat While February is our more than 15 percent of the customers for indoor dining at shortest month, much haporder. Similarly, if a third-party pens. delivery firm provides a service This year, National FreeSee Mitchoff, page 9 such as processing online orders dom Day, Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday and Black History Month all take place in February.

I asked new Clayton Councilmember Holly Tillman to write this month’s column and give us some history and background on Black History Month and why it is now officially recognized in Clayton.

“Thank you, Mayor Wolfe, Because many of Concord’s for the opportunity to write homeless and unhoused are afflicted with mental health or drug addiction issues, the Police Department cannot solve all the problems we encounter.

We need support from our county health partners, as well as other social outreach partThe state auditor recently ners. released a report on the massive To that end, the Concord unemployment insurance fraud MARK BUSTILLOS Police Department recently occurring in California’s received City Council approval CHIEF OF POLICE Employment Development to go forward with two pilot Department (EDD).

CONCORD programs that I hope will posiShortly after the release of tively impact the community at the report, I participated in an will consist of a mental health large, and the homeless and oversight hearing to hold EDD clinician and a police officer. mentally ill specifically. accountable and seek solutions.

The two will work proactively The first program will be a Since this pandemic began, to provide linkages to appropriConcord specific Coordinated my office has worked on EDD Outreach Referral and Engage- ate outpatient mental health casework for nearly a thousand ment (CORE) team. This two- services and assistance in our community. members of obtaining resources to promote person team will respond to While I am proud of the efforts remaining in the community calls for service and homeless my staff and I have made to encampments reported via the safely. help every person who has conMany 911 calls for service Concord Connect app or occur when a person is in crisis tacted my offices, roadblocks through self-observed situaand needs specific mental health and deficiencies at EDD have tions. The goal is to locate, kept too many from receiving engage, stabilize and house indi- assistance. We plan to use the appropriate benefits.

MHET as a means to contact viduals who are unsheltered.

The situation is unacceptour most frequent persons with The team will utilize all able, and it is long past time for county and local resources avail- mental health issues before they systemic change at the departare actually in crisis, or immediable to them. Our goal is to ment. ately afterward. If we can help assist those in Concord who During our oversight hearpeople before their crisis leads need specific services that will ing of the joint Legislative to an emergency call, we will help them get off the streets Audit and Assembly Insurance consider that progress. Identifyand into some type of more we took on a widecommittees, ing and getting people help on permanent housing to help ranging review of EDD, from an as-needed basis before things improve their quality of life. its inadequate call center and spiral will benefit not only the The second program is a outdated computer system to full-time Mental Health Evaluathe large backlog of unemploySee Bustillos, page 9 ment payments and jaw-droption Team (MHET). This team

Contra Costa County board limits food delivery service fees

February 19, 2021

resources to help individuals remain in the community safely.

Our goal is to begin both of these pilots in March.

On Feb. 20, the City Council will hold a goal-setting workshop to discuss other priorities for the year ahead, and on Feb. 22, I will join the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce for the annual State of the City address. You are invited to “attend” (virtually via Zoom) both events. If you miss the State of the City, it will be reaired on Concord TV. There is much work to be done over the year ahead to recover from the devastating effects of this pandemic, but I am looking forward to working with my colleagues, city staff, community partners and you.

Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for Concord.

finance team. They shared that our revenues were not hit as hard as anticipated, and we are now projecting a $9 million loss.

Fortunately, the city will not have to rely as much on our reserves as we initially thought – we’ll use $3 million instead of $8 million – and our staff is already working on the next two-year budget cycle.

Thanks to Concord voters, we will be able to incorporate Measure V funds into future years’ revenue base. Measure V is the one-cent sales tax voters passed in November. It goes into effect on April 1 and is expected to generate about $27 million annually for Concord.

This equates to about $14 million in new revenue; Measure Q previously provided about $13 million annually.

The City Council has already indicated its desire to spend the funds on community priorities, including repairing roads and infrastructure, and investing in programs that serve our unhoused population and

those struggling with mental health.

On that note, I am proud to announce that the council recently committed to investing more than $560,000 to pilot the expansion of two successful programs.

First, we will expand the Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) team’s work in Concord. The CORE team consists of two outreach staff who work to locate, engage, stabilize and house individuals who are unsheltered. Instead of having them work two days per week in Concord, they will now shift to full-time, assisting our community five days a week.

The second pilot program is the establishment of a Concord-based Mental Health Evaluation Team, known as MHET. It involves partnering a county mental health specialist with a city police officer. The two work proactively to provide referrals to outpatient mental health services and other

about what we now celebrate as Black History Month. It was originally celebrated as Negro History Week in 1926.

Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian, wanted to raise awareness of the contributions and achievements that African Americans made to civilization.

Per africanamericanhistorymonth.gov, the event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Soon Black History Clubs formed, teachers demanded materials to instruct their students, and progressive whites, scholars and philanthropists supported and endorsed the effort.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford expanded the celebration throughout the entire month of February. Since then, every American president has issued African American History Month proclamations.

In addition, numerous organizations and individuals celebrate the month by highlighting important achieve-

ments made by African Americans, both famous and those not well-known. Most students learn about Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but know very little about Shirley Chisholm, Claudette Colvin, Bessie Coleman, Marsha P. Johnson, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Dr. Charles R. Drew.

If you use a clothes dryer, ironing board, touchtone telephone, baby stroller, lawn sprinkler, golf tee, folding chair, automatic gear shift or stopped at a traffic light, you can thank a Black inventor.

The trailblazers and innovators are too numerous to list.

At our Jan. 19 City Council meeting, I was proud to sponsor a proclamation declaring February 2021 as Black and African American History Month in Clayton. Another East Bay advocate approached me to collaborate on diversity, equity and inclusion, and I jumped at the opportunity.

Her words resonated with me when she wrote: “While city proclamations alone aren’t enough, I believe they are one

ping fraud.

The data collected in the auditor’s report show that EDD paid about $10.4 billion in claims believed to be fraudulent, with $1 billion paid as a direct result of EDD’s decision to remove a key safeguard against payment to claimants with unconfirmed identities.

When the department realized some of the fraud, it froze 344,000 claimant accounts without having a plan on how to selectively unfreeze accounts belonging to legitimate claimants. It is beyond egregious that EDD cannot fulfill its principal duty of discerning legitimate unemployment claims from billions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent ones.

One of the most shocking findings of this hearing was that EDD has been aware of key operational issues for nearly a decade but failed to correct them. These years of inaction and mismanagement left the department unprepared to serve Californians in their time of greatest need, and the people in our community are suffering because of it.

So that EDD does not again mistakenly suspend any critical safeguards, the department would be required to plan which fraud prevention mechanisms can be adjusted to balance anti-fraud enforcement with the timely payment of claims.

Finally, EDD must immediately review benefit accounts TIM GRAYSON that are frozen and, by the 14TH ASSEMBLY beginning of March, begin the process of unfreezing legitimate DISTRICT accounts.

With the changes I’ve listed The auditor released a com- above, and others that I have prehensive set of recommenda- proposed, I am hopeful that we tions to address some of the can bring necessary change to most severe deficiencies, and I EDD to help Californians. In have called for EDD leadership the meantime, my office is here to implement these recommen- to help you with issues at EDD dations immediately. or any other state department.

One of the first recommen- Please call my Concord office at dations is to establish a central 925-521-1511 for assistance or unit within the department that to learn more about my work in will be responsible for coordiSacramento. nating all fraud prevention and detection efforts and developReach Assemblyman Tim ing a plan to assess and improve Grayson at (925) 521-1511. these efforts. This will help Visit or write the district office ensure that EDD can approach 2151 Salvio Street, Suite P, Confraud in a comprehensive and cord, CA 94520 coordinated manner.

Mayor Tim McGallian can be reached at Tim.McGallian@cityofconcord.org

Black History Month should be just part of diversity celebrated in Clayton

Concord PD launches pilot programs to serve homeless, mentally ill

of several small steps our cities need to start taking toward truly being welcoming and inclusive.”

I was surprised to learn that prior to Pride and Hispanic Heritage months receiving proclamations in 2020, Clayton had never recognized significant days or cultural heritage month. America is a melting pot and Clayton reflects that, which is why I requested that the council discuss recognizing other cultural heritage months and significant days throughout 2021 via proclamation.”

Thank you, Holly.

For more information on Black History Month, visit africanamericanhistorymonth.gov, history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-facts or familysearch.org/blog/en/wh y-we-celebrate-black-historymonth/.

Send questions and comments to cwolfe@ci.clayton.us, or call (925) 673-7324

Addressing staggering fraud at EDD

MDUSD board, Governor move toward campus reopening February 19, 2021

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Citing a loss of 1000 students who have left the district due to nearly a year of distance learning caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Mt. Diablo Unified School District board members last week followed the recommendation of superintendent Adam Clark in unanimously approving a plan for reopening school campuses.

Last Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both weighed in with information and proposals to get public school students back on school campuses for the first time since midMarch 2020.

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Superintendent Clark gave a dire prognosis to the board last Wednesday when he acknowledged “the tremendous difficulty and stress that distance learning has had on families” and said the reduced enrollment in MDUSD could lead to campus closures and staff layoffs. “That’s the harsh reality of public education. We staff in terms of enrollment,” Clark said.

He noted the improved Contra Costa County COVID19 metrics should allow the reopening of campuses sooner rather than later. At the board meeting it was mentioned that the diverse nature of the Mt. Diablo district complicates reopening plans with cities experiencing different levels of

Hoyer, from page 1

COVID-19 cases.

Eight of the county’s 18 districts have reached agreements with their unions over the process for reopening but MDUSD is not one of them.

Only the Acalanes and San Ramon school districts have embarked on hybrid learning among the county’s public school districts.

The MDUSD Board’s vote set up a showdown with the district’s employee unions which have held out approving any such move until the unions feels its member’s health and safety concerns are addressed. Since there are less than four months before this term ends, widespread vaccination of staff, parents and students will not hap-

pen in time to have any impact on school-opening decisions.

The plan approved by the board would have elementary classes broken into two groups with one on campus MondayTuesday and the other group Thursday-Friday with no oncampus instruction on Wednesday. For high schools, period 1-2-3 classes would be held Monday and Thursday and period 4-5-6 on Tuesday and Friday with no classes on campus Wednesday.

Under these hybrid scenarios students could opt for continued distance learning.

Last Friday the governor announced that the state has launched the Safe Schools for All Plan’s interactive Safe

Page 9

Schools Reopening Map, an online tool providing a statewide snapshot of the status of school reopening across California.

The map displays data from all school types – including school districts and charter and private schools – indicating status on reopening, safety planning and COVID-19 support. Looking at the Bay Area map there are a few pockets showing public school districts with campuses open for elementary schools, a smaller number for middle schools and virtually none for high schools.

The same day, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for reopening schools that focus

on five key COVID-19 mitigation strategies: the universal and correct wearing of masks; physical distancing; washing hands; cleaning facilities and improving ventilation; and contact tracing, isolation and quarantine.

Not among those key strategies were vaccines and testing as the agency called them “additional layers” of COVID-19 prevention.

“I want to be clear, with this operational strategy, CDC is not mandating that schools reopen. These recommendations simply provide schools a long-needed roadmap for how to do so safely under different levels of disease in the community,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

Concord student Sean Donelan wins County’s Congressional App Challenge

radio volunteer’s tasks at these events, I created this app.”

“Every app submitted in this year’s competition was Northgate High School freshman Sean Hyun Donelan innovative and inspiring, and I developed interests in coding am proud of the great STEM and ham radio at a young age skills shown by every entry,” and used his talent in each to said Concord Democrat DeSaulnier. “I congratulate develop the winning entry in Sean on the design of a crethe county’s 2020 Congresative and useful app that sional App Challenge for the 11th District of Congressman would benefit the amateur radio community and look Mark DeSaulnier. forward to seeing “NetHam” Donelan discovered this represent the many talents of Photo from the City’s archives nationwide contest last year Contra Costa County’s stuabout a student he read when Judge Wroy Renaghan swears in Clayton’s first city council. from nearby Las Lomas High dents when on display in the From back to front: David Cook, Henry Wagner, Alvin Limwinning the 2019 competition. United States Capitol.” ing, George Abbot and Bob Hoyer who would become the DeSaulnier was on—what new city’s mayor.

The Concord resident was else in 2020-21—a Zoom call then in eighth grade at ALWAYS HAS AN OPINION As a parent, “his humor was Foothill Middle School and reception last month to conIntellectually curious with a motivating,” daughter Helen sought out details on entering gratulate Donelan and his parlove of learning, he misses his Falcone told the Pioneer. ents. The winner is going to the 2020 contest. friends.

“He led by example,” she release the code and schematic He registered and got the “I love to argue with him,” said. “I suppose he was details on how to enter and for NetHam so other amaCaspar said. “He’s very opin- strict…but he was thoughtful set about designing and devel- teurs can build the app. ionated.” and supportive, and I wanted oping an application that Donelan says his interest in “I was staying alive by to please him.” replaces amateur radio opera- coding “slowly developed” socializing with just a few peoPolitically, Hoyer says he’s a tors’ large, unwieldy equipafter he took a class as an ple, but now I’m not doing moderate and, despite the ment and automates their eight-year-old at Hackingtons that,” Hoyer said. He fills time recent controversy over high more basic tasks. “NetHam: Code School. He has since as best he can with a few gar- density housing, says Clayton The Public Service Event attended similar camps, read dening chores, jigsaw puzzles needs more apartments and Coordinator’s Third Hand” lots of articles online and and reading detective stories. condos for those tired of app is meant to allow operaviewed YouTube videos. He He occasionally signs up for an climbing stairs and doing yard tors to more easily serve as says his progress has been one work. online Scholar Ollie course. long-range communicators for of “trial and error.”

For Hoyer, humor is a life He is optimistic about the public events.

“My grandfather was a force. Laughter comes quickly future. “Things will be a little As to the practical need for ham radio guy,” Donelan said and behind his crinkly eyes and more liberal but better for such an app, the freshman and he picked up the hobby as puckish grin, one wonders if he everyone. I’m talking about 10 said, “I experienced firsthand a preteen. He got his FCC sees something a little funnier years down the road.” the complexity and convolut- transmission license when he than the rest of us.

When he will be 110. was in sixth grade and enjoys ed ways of running an amatalking to ham radio enthusiteur radio net at local public asts of all ages around the Bay service events, such as the Area. His call sign is Walnut Festival Twilight KM6NGN. Parade, Mt Diablo Challenge Although his first year at Bike Ride and Diablo Summit Northgate has all been Stomp. To remove some of through distance learning, the tediousness of our ham 100 percent capacity. on certificate of occupancy).

As of now, this is what the The rules also include the state public health tiers mean COVID-19 public health protofor restaurant capacity: cols of social distancing and six Tier 1/Purple. Wide spread feet of space between tables, of COVID means outdoor din- and masks and face shields for ing only. restaurant staff who come into Tier 2/Red. Substantial contact with customers. means limited indoor dining at For additional details on Q. We have done the 25 percent of capacity (based this ordinance, visit contracos- obvious things to get our on certificate of occupancy) or ta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/ home ready for sale, such 100 diners, whichever is fewer.

View/69689/Urgency-Ordias getting rid of much of nance-No-2021-05.

Tier 3/Orange. Moderate our extra stuff. We would means limited indoor dining at just like a few last tips Karen Mitchoff is Contra 50 percent of capacity (based before we go to market. on certificate of occupancy) or Costa County District IV superviA. Use all five senses to 200 diners, whichever is fewer. sor. Email questions or comments sell your home. You want to Mitchoff at supervisorTier 4/Yellow. Minimal your home to look great and means limited indoor dining at mitchoff@bos.cccounty.us you want homebuyers to feel 50 percent of capacity (based LYNNE FRENCH welcomed by attractive aromas, soothing music and other REAL ANSWERS hospitable ideas so they appreciate the home’s enviish the front door hardware ronment on every level. and sweep cobwebs from the Sound. Put on some relax- entry lights. Provide plenty of ing music to invite homebuy- light by opening curtains and individual in crisis but the com- we believe the two pilot proers to take their time and see blinds and turning on light munity as a whole. grams will provide a stopgap the property thoroughly. fixtures. Neutral paint and measure until the county finish- Check built-ins, doors and These two pilot programs décor help homebuyers visuales a coordinated study of health floors for squeaks and creaks ize themselves in the home are existing programs that we service delivery to the mentally and get noisy fixtures repaired and removes the focus from participated in on a part-time basis. Expanding on successful ill and homeless. or oiled. Remove and kennel the homeowner’s preferences.

It may not be perfect, but it pets during showings. county programs is an efficient Touch. During this panway to enhance services quickly. is a start in getting the services Sight. Focus on the first demic, homebuyers and The city’s goal is to begin these to the people who need them things homebuyers will see agents aren’t supposed to the most.

Concord specific programs by from the curbside to the living touch things during a tour.

March 1. space inside. Make sure the But it is still good to make Contact Chief Bustillos at Ideally, the police would not yard is trimmed, flowers are sure doors, drawers and winmark.bustillos@cityofconcord.org respond to mental health or planted, paint is refreshed and dows open smoothly and that homeless calls at all. However, the walk is freshly swept. Pol- all surfaces are sparkling clean.

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Mitchoff, from page 8

Bustillos, from page 8

Photo compliments Mt. Diablo Unified School District

Northgate High School freshman Sean Hyun Donelan of Concord had the winning entry in the Congressional App Challenge for the 11th District of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier combing his interests in coding and ham radio. His app is “NetHam: The Public Service Event Coordinator’s Third Hand” and is meant to allow operators to more easily serve as long-range communicators for public events.

Donelan is keeping busy away from classroom work over the internet by taking part in journalism, CSF, Hack Club and Robotics Club. He is also training for the Broncos cross country and track teams which he is hoping to start official seasons shortly.

In the District 11 contest, second place was awarded to teammates Amrita Malhotra, Sydney Zhang, Cathy Kenderski, and Olivia House and third place went to Aarav Wattal.

The CAC is a public initiative to encourage young people to learn how to code in an effort to inspire creativity and encourage interest in STEM education. Established in 2014, the CAC has now reached over 30,000 students across the country, including

those in underserved and rural areas. DeSaulnier has hosted the CAC for the 11th District since the inception of the program.

Over 6,500 students registered for the 2020 Congressional App Challenge. These students created and submitted 3,088 functioning apps, marking the end of an extremely successful Congressional App Challenge amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All told, 308 Members of Congress hosted Congressional App Challenges in their districts across 49 states, Puerto Rico, the Mariana Islands and Washington, DC. For more information on the contest visit the website at congressionalappchallenge.us.

Calculate payback before refinancing Smell and Taste. Treat homebuyers to a fresh-baked cookie smell. Your family can enjoy them later because you can’t offer them to homebuyers during the pandemic.

Steam-clean carpets, curtains and fabric furniture and freshly launder all linens.

doesn’t make sense, as you’ll be adding more years of interest. But it can work if you have an FHA loan with private mortgage insurance (PMI) that can’t be canceled and you go for a shorter term than your current mortgage. If you have more than 20 percent equity, you can refinance Q. Is it wise to refinance into a conforming loan with no PMI due. now?

Over the summer of 2020, A. I inquired with investopedia.com. They warn that refinances of existing mortrefinancing could be a bad gages rose by 200 percent, idea if it’s done for the wrong driven by the lowest interest reasons, such as taking cash rates and the highest home out of your home to invest or prices in recent history. consolidating credit card debt.

The best outcome is a Refinancing comes with con- healthy break-even point, siderable costs and fees – typi- where the costs of refinancing cally 3-6 six percent of your are covered by the monthly loan amount. That can take savings provided by your new three years or more to pay loan. Explore the numbers back. If you decide to move with your lender before deciding. sooner than three years into the new loan, you’ll lose Lynne French is a Realtor with money. You must also avoid Compass Real Estate and captain of the the temptation to “reload” Lynne French Team. Contact her at your paid-off credit cards. lynne@lynnefrench.com or 925-672Trading your 30-year mort8787. gage for a new 30-year loan

Concord looks to state grant for Ellis Lake Park upgrades Page 10

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

February 19, 2021

Act of 2018. If the city is awarded the grant this summer, project completion is estimated for March 2025.

Hoping to finally achieve According to city engineer long-awaited improvements at Kevin Marstall, Ellis Lake Ellis Lake Park, the City Council authorized an applica- Park is the only city park that had substantial opportunity tion for a $6.72 million state for renovation and met the grant at the Feb. 2 meeting. two state requirements of The grant would fund ratio of park acreage per design and construction 1,000 residents within project through Prop. 68, the Parks, Environment and Water Bond site and medium household BEV BRITTON The Pioneer

It’s time to learn about the everyday bravery of Blackness in America

To me, bravery is bringing my authenticity despite the risks and creating “brave spaces” and not promising “safe spaces” when I do not know what safety means for everybody.

When was the last time you were brave?

I want to share a story about bravery that many of you may not know. The 369th Infantry Regiment Harlem Hellfighters was the first and only Black infantry unit in combat in World War I. They endured 191 days under fire in Europe – more than any other American unit.

They are one of the most celebrated and decorated Black Army regiments to ever serve on the battlefield. But instead of being honored when they returned, they were met with seething racism and segregation when the war ended in 1918.

Our current understanding and story of Blackness, and what it should encompass, was taken from Black folx in every beginning leading up to this

The first half of the 20th century chronicles the remarkable commitment of Black people to America. With terror lynchings ongoing and 6 million fleeing the American South to cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles and Oakland, they were not immigrants looking for economic opportunities but rather exiles KIKU JOHNSON and refugees of violence. In this ALL THE COLORS time of the Great Black Migration, Black folx had to find new ways to cope with trauma and Black History Month. As a succeed. And they continue to country, we experience a history built on a dominant nar- break barriers today.

We have experienced a rative that silenced and erased Black man serving eight years alternative accounts.

To live a life in a Black body, in the highest elected office in the country. We also now have one faces multiple oppressive forces – including racialization, achieved a Black woman in the second highest elected socioeconomic status, class, ability, sexuality and gendering. office who hails from Oakland, one of those cities in the REALIZING MORE HISTORIES Great Black Migration.

But Black people who have I sometimes hear the mesascended to ever-greater heights sage: “It’s so much better now for Black people.” But can we really be progressing if there is See Colors, page 12 so much more yet to learn?

‘Little Things’ could have used a broader focus

part of the life of retired detective-turned sheriff ’s Deputy Joe Deacon (Washington). We find out why he is so motivated to help Baxter with a new murder case, but not a whole lot else.

The case is clearly the most important thing to the film; nearly all dialogue centers on it.

For true crime buffs, this may be a good thing. For those of JEFF MELLINGER us wishing to see a balanced movie, it leaves us wanting.

SCREEN SHOTS As the enigmatic, potential Denzel Washington, Rami murderer, Leto sparkles. Is he Malek, and Jared Leto are a killer? Or is he just having a three of the finest actors of laugh with the police? He this century, with all winning plays it perfectly. More screen Oscars in the past 20 years time for him would have really and consistently lifting the helped the film. quality of their films.

The title “The Little One would assume that if Things” arises from Deacon’s all three were in the same repeated soliloquies that “When movie, said film would be a cin- it comes to solving murders, it’s ematic gem. Yet “The Little all about the little things.”

Things” does not shine as Director John Lee Hancock cerbright as it should. tainly delves into the nuances The opening scene conand minutiae of detective work. sists of a woman on a desoThe mood Hancock sets is perlate highway being followed by fect, but he tends to let the little someone sinister. It is tense things bog everything down. and well done, but it seems Available on HBO Max like it belongs in another film. through February.

BMy viewing partner remarked: “It feels like that scene would QUARANTINE TV have been even better on the “Walking Dead: World big screen.” I had to agree Beyond.” A third show in this with him. world, focused on teenagers, And the rest of the film seemed at first sight to be a did not change my opinion. lost cause. Yet it has a specific Other than the opening scene, story to tell and does it very the film focuses almost exclu- well. A rebound for the fransively on the point of view of chise. AMC. the investigators.

“WandaVision.” A goofy, We get snippets of the yet heartfelt take on two of home life of Malek’s whipperthe secondary characters from snapper Detective Baxter, but the Marvel Cinematic Uninot much to flesh out his char- verse. It hits all the right notes acter. Slow-building flashback and fits in perfectly within the sequences clue us into a key MCU. Disney+

“The Expanse.” Season 5 is so far one of its best. The finest sci-fi show since “Battlestar Galactica” is also a clear window into the future of Earth’s space travel. Amazon Prime.

Jeff Mellinger is a screen writer and film buff. He holds a BA in Film Studies and an MFA in film production. He lives in Concord.

Email comments to editor@pioneerpublishers.com.

income within project site.

Working with community partners Monument Impact and First 5/Central County Regional Group, the city hosted five community workshops last fall to discuss possible upgrades with residents.

“The meetings were all wellattended, ranging from 30-40 attendees participating via

See Ellis Lake, page 12

Planning with purpose eases design drama JENNIFER LEISCHER

DESIGN & DÉCOR

The sport of interior design is not for the faint of heart.

From heavy and cumbersome building material samples that you drag from here to there, coordinating and matching and comparing, to the countless hours you spend online, hoping for divine intervention during a Pinterest-Instagram-Houzz-a-thon, the adventure requires great stamina.

Interior design may not be as physical as hitting a ball with a fine-turned piece of oak or kicking a stitched ball up and down a well-manicured field, but make no mistake, an interior design project will have you sweating, cheering, holding your breath and sometimes even crying. I hope it’s tears of joy, but nonetheless, the tears will be flowing.

We become obsessed, looking for that one material we can’t live without. And once found, we’re hit with lead times. Weeks can turn to months, and months turn to half a year, waiting for that pair of pendants to arrive.

But all is forgiven once you see the glimmer and sparkle of the glass and polished chrome finish. Even before the electrician has installed those pendants, you’ve already placed your next order – lead time pending.

Whether you are a skilled do-it-yourselfer or prefer to hire professionals for every aspect of your project, design budgets can be intense. On some level, we all want our

To take your bathroom from drab and dated to bright and modern, plan changes carefully with an eye to space, style and function.

design projects to have a Champagne glow, but preferably on a Kool-Aid budget.

We want our projects to look like something that came straight from our favorite design magazines, makeover shows or Instagram posts.

And we want to make design choices that will stand the test of time, be durable and functional, and most importantly, make us happy.

Is it too much to ask for a little magic? Perhaps a little fairy dust to take a project from conceptual design to completion in a matter of seconds, sparing us from the painstaking decision process.

How nice would it be to skip tough questions like which paint color to choose or which mosaic tile to use on the back of a shower wall. Should you pair a light-colored dining table with dark chairs? How do you decipher trendy drapery panels from classic and timeless? Will this bathroom design look dated in five years? Is this the right cabinet door style for my kitchen?

Finding experienced contractors will make the process quite a bit easier. They’ve probably worked on dozens of

projects just like yours, so listen to them.

Custom cabinet builders know how to measure, they’ve seen hundreds of kitchen layouts and they’ll install your cabinets with ease. Plumbers and electricians have encountered all sorts of “interesting” layouts and know how to correct these situations and make your home safe and functional. There isn’t an angle or a curve that hardwood flooring and carpet contractors haven’t measured. Painting contractors will provide immediate transformation of a wall or an entire exterior and can move at top speeds, while artistically calling out the decorative accents with a unique color.

And general contractors, well, they’ve seen it all – from discovering a hidden window with a view of Mount Diablo that has long been covered by drywall and exterior siding to a petrified mouse stuck in the framing of a demo-ed kitchen wall. True stories.

Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.

‘Overground Railroad’ an illustrative reminder of Black travel

For Black History Month, my selection is Candacy Taylor’s “Overground Railroad, The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America.”

“The Green Book” was African Americans’ answer to the AAA Travel Guide during the decades of Jim Crow Laws, which made travel throughout the United States a risky business if your skin was black.

What makes this the perfect read for all of us is that during this pandemic, regardless of our ethnicity, travel is again a risky business.

This book is an engaging educational delight. Taylor does not have to drag the reader into this eye-opening story. Her introduction heading says it all: “Are We There Yet?” Many of us take for granted the ease with which we can

travel from one state to another by car, stopping for gas, using the restroom or finding that welcome diner for another cup of coffee and a bite to eat. And when traveling wears us out?

No problem, we can easily pull into the nearest motel.

But until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, segregation laws made automobile travel sometimes deathly dangerous for Black Americans.

“The Negro Travelers’ Green Book” was first published in Harlem in 1936. Its last edition was printed for 1966-’67.

“The Green Book” advised Back travelers where they would be welcomed: hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations. In the early years of two-lane highways with few travel amenities between cities,

the Black traveler often had to bring along a canister of gas, blankets, food and toilet items, knowing there would be no place for them to stop along the way.

Taylor’s story of “The Green Book” and the experiences of more than 30 years of travel for Black Americans is a treasure trove of photographs, maps, receipts, brochures and enough ephemera to keep any reader on the edge of the seat, page after page. The men and women who published that travel guide and the travelers who would not leave home without it were courageous Americans.

In June 1962, a college classmate and I drove my 1956 VW Bug cross country to the East Coast, down to Florida, along the South, returning to California a

SUNNY SOLOMON

BOOKIN’ WITH SUNNY

month later. What I remember most was the early Louisiana evening when we arrived at the motel marked in my AAA Travel Guide. Nowhere in that guide did it prepare me for the neon words below the vacancy sign: WHITES ONLY. Are we there yet?

Sunny Solomon is a freelance writer and head of the Clayton Book Club. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’

SPORTS

February 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Page 11

High school sports—at least some—might really happen JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Increased pressure from parents—-read voters—and a group of high-profile coaches including De La Salle football coach Justin Alumbaugh seems to have kicked the governor’s office into action to enable California high school sports—-at last some sports—-to begin as the clock continues to click down on this 2020-21 school year.

When the coronavirus pandemic health dangers gained recognition in America last March all high school and youth sports were shutdown. Now, 11 months later, high school athletes are still waiting for the

greenlight to return to the pool, court and field. Seniors in the class of 2021 now have less than four months to realize their dream of representing their school one last time before graduating.

Governor Gavin Newsom, now feeling the pressure of an almost certain recall election, spent much of last week dealing with return to school and return to play issues as coronavirus statistics finally seem to be headed in the right direction around California. Groups of parents have taken to social media and traditional advocating for their children. Some of the return to play groups have fused with recall proponents.

The California Interscholas-

Athlete Spotlight

Devin Foo

School: Mt. Diablo High School Grade: Senior Sports: Basketball, Track

When this year’s crop of seniors on the Mt. Diablo basketball team were freshmen the school got a new varsity coach, but Ejon Felder’s Red Devils failed to win a single game. The last two seasons found the team winning nine games each season. Now Foo and his teammates are hoping that should they be able to get a season underway they will post a winning record, something MDHS basketball has failed to have since the 2004-05 season. Foo is in his third varsity season and has been a captain for coach Felder. “He is a very savvy combo guard that shot nearly 40 percent from the three-point line. [He is] a tough and pesky defender that never gives up on the play. He has been a joy to coach and will be missed when he graduates and goes off to college,” Felder says. Foo played AAU basketball for Blaze and also has run track during his career at Concord’s oldest high school. He is also a nearly 4.0 student who enjoys science. “Remote learning was difficult at first. I’m not enjoying it all and wish we could get back to school in person,” Foo says. He plans to play basketball in college and his coach explains “Whoever gets to coach him is getting a real jewel of a player.”

Much of the confidence Foo (“I’m 5-7, 5-8 on a good day”) and his coach have about this season is because of 7foot-1 center Mezziah Oakman, who transferred to Mt. Diablo last year and was able to play in the second half of the season. He earned first-team all-Diablo Athletic League honors while Foo garnered honorable mention notice.

Their senior classmates, combo guard Shawn Gutierrez and wing Jeramyah Johnson-Hodrick, bring their experience to the starting lineup that last season gave the Red Devils a 34point win over rival Concord High, the Devils first victory over the Minutemen in 15 years. The enthusiasm around the program hopefully will not be doused by the pandemic.

SportStars Magazine featured the Mt. Diablo basketball stalwarts on a recent cover, a first-ever feature for the school. “I take pride in trying to build what we have now,” Foo told the magazine. “Hopefully, we’ll have a breakout season. We’ve worked really hard to build what we have and this family that we have. I’m very confident that we’re going to do something big this year.”

The Pioneer congratulates Devin and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

tic Federation issued its latest program for return to sports [see adjoining chart] on Feb. 8, categorizing each sport’s return based on the four tiers established by the California Department of Public Health. Its North Coast Section adjusted its sports scheduling grid three times last month.

On a Zoom quarterly meeting Jan. 29 NCS reiterated that high school football must end

by April 17. In order to adhere to its health and safety policy which requires three months without any contact football before the commencement of July practice for the 2021-22 season the Board of Governors rejected calls from member leagues to extend the football season.

Contra Costa County is currently in the purple (widespread) COVID-19 tier. In that status CIF and NCS allow cross country, track and field, swimming and diving, tennis and golf training. Schools were able to begin formal training in those sports this month, each sport needing to follow its county and state health and sports protocols.

Games and competition between schools are still to be determined, subject to health rules and regulations.

County COVID-19 metrics need to be within the red (substantial) tier parameters for two consecutive weeks before Contra Costa can advance to that level. Baseball, softball and girls lacrosse are in red tier. Last week’s statistics were not all that close to red as there were 21.7 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 and the criteria is seven or fewer new cases.

Alumbaugh and fellow DLS alum Patrick Walsh, the longtime football coach at Serra High in San Mateo, have been leaders in getting conversations about resuming high school sports with the governor’s office.

The looming April 17 dead-

The governing body for high school sports, California Interscholastic Federation, has been adjusting the schedule and protocols for holding high school sports in the state during the 2020-21 school year since July 20. Their latest setup based on health department tiers for the resumption of activities including sports was issued last week. Contra Costa County is currently in the widespread (purple tier).

line is only two months away, meaning high school football (possible in yellow tier) is very much in jeopardy.

Alumbaugh and Clayton Valley Charter’s Tim Murphy have said since last summer how much they want their athletes to get a chance to play. Both coaches and many of their colleagues locally and around the state have also talked about the long-term impact no football will have for players who were counting on a 2020-21 season to get noticed by college programs.

The latest breakdown for resumption of play from CIF: Widespread (purple): Cross country, golf, tennis, skiing/snowboarding, track and field, swimming and diving.

Substantial (red): baseball,

field hockey, softball, girls lacrosse.

Moderate (yellow): football, badminton, gymnastics, volleyball, soccer, water polo boys lacrosse.

Minimal (orange): basketball, wrestling, competitive cheer.

NCS has also set June 12 as the final day for all sports competitions in this school year. Previously the state had set a deadline two weeks later. While schools are still endeavoring to get sports going it is a certainty that whatever transpires there will be no post-season playoffs.

Once actual competition is allowed to take place many are advocating for games and tournaments only between schools within the same county as there are varying health protocols from one county to anoth-

er, maybe no more so than within the Bay Area. Even individual school districts may have protocols more restrictive than their county.

The East Bay Athletic League, which includes De La Salle and Carondelet and CVCHS football, has schools in both Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The DAL is primarily comprised of Contra Costa schools plus Benicia in Solano County.

Some conversations at the regional and state levels have advocated for the traditional spring sports (baseball, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, lacrosse and boys golf, tennis and volleyball) to get priority since those athletes had their seasons stopped almost before they got underway last school year.

Diablo Valley Wolves joining Women’s Premier Soccer League for 2021 season JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

The area’s major competitive soccer club, Diablo Valley Wolves, will host the newest team in the west region of the Women’s Premier Soccer League starting this year.

“We are excited to join the WPSL. The league has provided a high level of excellence for so many top-level female soccer players in our country,” Diablo Valley Wolves general manager Zach Sullivan said.

“The WPSL has allowed players to showcase their abilities to help them move on to the professional and national team levels.”

Early last year, Diablo FC merged with Heritage Soccer Club and the two entities collectively formed the Diablo Valley Wolves brand and then suffered through the shutdown of youth sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. Heritage SC was affiliated with Wolverhampton Wanderers of the English Premier League and Diablo Valley continues this association within the newly formed organization.

The club is taking continuous strides to elevate the soccer community of Northern California once more by joining the WPSL. Diablo Valley promotes a fierce level of competition with a primary focus on player development in their region by providing opportunities that take rising athletes to the colle-

giate level. The club’s WPSL team will provide the continued opportunity for these top female players to pursue elite competition at the highest level.

“We have a large base of alumnae playing in top college programs along with a plethora of local talent to compete right away,” Sullivan said.

Diablo Valley Wolves youth teams play in National Premier and NorCal Premier leagues and is a Players First-licensed US Club Soccer club.

Long-time club board president Dan Pauline of Clayton says, “With everything our club has been through over the last year we are very happy to get some good news. We believe this is an excellent opportunity to give our players an avenue to continue playing at the next level when they age out of our youth teams.

“This will also help us attract high level players from across the entire Bay Area to our club. The WPSL players will run camps with our younger youth teams as well as some of our older youth teams having the opportunity to train with the WPSL team. It is all very exciting.”

Scott Alexander, girls director for Diablo Valley Wolves, has been appointed head coach of the WPSL team. Alexander has been with the club for almost a decade and has additional coaching experience with women’s program at the

collegiate level including Cal State Fullerton (assistant coach 2001-2009), Saint Mary’s College (associate head coach 2009-2013) and CSU Monterey Bay (assistant coach 2019-20).

Sullivan will serve as assistant coach.

“We are excited to provide this experience for our female players and soccer community,” Alexander said.

The Diablo Valley Wolves team is slotted in the 10-team WPSL Pac North Conference along with California Storm, FC Bay Area, San Francisco Nighthawks, FC Davis, Lamorinda United, San Ramon FC, Marin FC Alliance, MVLA Wolves and Pleasanton Rage.

The WPSL is in its 23rd season and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world with more than 130 clubs from coast-

Joe Ronco 925-872-3049

Over 35 years Clayton/ Concord resident Lic#844344

to-coast in 35 states. The WPSL provides a three-month window from May through July for elite amateur athletes to showcase their talents. WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international and standout prep student athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.

The league postponed the 2020 season due to the pandemic but typically the season is played from May through July.

For more information about Diablo Valley Wolves visit diablovalleywolves.com. For additional information on the WPSL visit wpslsoccer.com.

Page 12

Kara Kohler seeks 2nd Olympic team berth next week at US Rowing trials The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Athlete Spotlight

Mason Oakley

Kara Kohler of Clayton will compete in the single sculls next week at the United States Rowing Olympic Trials in Sarasota, Florida. The 2019 USRowing female athlete of the year from Clayton will be seeking her second USA Olympic team berth after she was part of the bronze medal quad boat in London 2012.Kohler was the 2019 World Rowing Championships’ bronze medalist and will face a jam-packed field of 38 women with 2016 Olympic silver medalist Gevvie Stone her likely strongest challenger.

They will battle it out for the

first spot on rowing’s 2020 U.S. Olympic Team.

The Tokyo Olympics are still set to take place July 23Aug. 8. There are obvious concerns and rumors swirling about whether the Games, postponed from last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be held. Kohler says, “Everything I hear is that the organizers are hell bent to hold the Games, but they won’t be the Olympics we dream off.”

The single sculls trials are not necessarily the only opportunity for rowers like Kohler to make the USA team. Women

Krueger, from page 1

School: Clayton Valley Charter High Grade: Senior Sport: Baseball

Three-year varsity pitcher and Saint Mary’s College baseball commit Mason Oakley is looking forward to a projected late Spring limited high school season to provide some normalcy in a year full of firsts. Oakley began playing baseball when he was five-years-old on the Concord Patriots and Clayton Dirty Birds. Last summer, he played for the Zoots, an elite travel team comprised of Northern California’s top high school baseball players. However, most of the tournaments Oakley intended to play in have (not surprisingly) been cancelled, or at the very least postponed to an enigmatic, nameless future date. The past 11 months created an unprecedented gap in his 12-year baseball career, reminding Oakley of how much he loves and misses the sport that has been a very significant part of his life for as long as he can remember. As for remote learning, Oakley confesses that, like most of his peers, he finds that it is much more difficult to stay focused on school without working alongside peers and the motivation that comes from attendings senior events that his CVCHS Class of 2021 will most likely not experience.

Nonetheless, Oakley’s game is still benefiting from the silver lining of a more flexible schedule due to remote learning.

Although he has had limited contact with the Ugly Eagles baseball team, he is staying in shape by working out at home and training at a private pitching facility. Fortunately, many sports are beginning to fire up at Clayton Valley Charter after a hiatus that extended much longer than anyone anticipated.

Clayton Valley’s first 2021 baseball game is tentatively scheduled at Deer Valley High on Mar. 19. Oakley feels very confident that the projected season won’t be postponed or cancelled (like the 2020 season was last spring), as he is anxious to get back on the field with his teammates of four years before heading off to Saint Mary’s after graduation. Verbally committing in September 2019, Oakley describes SMC as the perfect community to continue both his athletic and academic career. He looks forward to working with SMC’s coaching staff and being close to home so his family can watch him play. Oakley is an eight-semester honor roll student and plans on studying business economics. His career goal is to stand on the mound in the big leagues and eventually pitch in the World Series. Whatever comes this spring, Oakley emphasizes that he feels just as lucky as he would if he got a “normal” senior year. “I am happy I got to play baseball at Clayton Valley and have amazing coaches. I will forever be grateful.”

CVCHS student journalist Alexa Oldham wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Mason and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

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Photos courtesy the Krueger family

Charlie Krueger earned a place in the College Football Hall of Fame after three seasons playing for immortal coaching legend Bear Bryant at Texas A&M from 1955-57.

Following his senior season, the San Francisco 49ers made Krueger the ninth pick in the 1958 NFL draft while Bryant was hired by Alabama, where he won six National Championships and coached until his retirement in 1982.

Dan Colchico, who ironically also owned a liquor store in Concord. Colchico died in 2014 following surgery.

Krueger was one of the last

linemen in the NFL to wear a two-bar “quarterback” facemask. His brother Rolf was also an NFL player with the St. Louis Cardinals and 49ers, where the

Colors, from page 10

February 19, 2021

who do not win the finals race in Sarasota can also find a partner and enter a boat in the upcoming double sculls trials and also may be selected for the quad selection camp, which is a coaches selection process.

Kohler, a Clayton Valley High and Cal Berkeley alum, recently turned 30 and considers herself “middle aged” in her sport. She trains out of the USRowing Training Center – Princeton. She raced in the quadruple sculls at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, winning a bronze medal. After the disappointment of not making the team in Rio, she

brothers played together for two years.

In 1988, Krueger was awarded more than $2.3 million in damages from a lawsuit against the 49ers. The judge found that Krueger received repeated anesthetic injections during his NFL career so that he could continue playing in spite of significant knee injuries. The decision found that the team was not truthful with Krueger regarding the seriousness of his injuries, which left him with severe chronic pain after his playing days.

His wife says that, of course, they did not receive nearly $2.3 million after legal costs and that the reason for the suit was never money related. “Charlie was concerned about protecting the players coming after him so that they did get proper medical advice and care.”

He also was involved in the NFL concussion settlement for retired players that rose out of the numerous cases of players suffering permanent damage from concussions suffered during their playing careers.

During our interview last week, Kristin pointed to two large plaques atop a bookcase presented to her husband from the 49ers and a large bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter sent from the team.

Although Krueger died from heart and kidney failure unrelat-

keep Black progress in perspective. We cannot understand Black achievement without being educated and knowing the deep and long legacy of Black struggle and truly how recent some of the atrocities have occurred in our history.

Black History Month is a time for Americans to dig deeper and learn more about

moments of the Black experience.

Begin by learning about one story of everyday Black bravery. Here’s a starter list of a dozen extraordinary Black folx who have informed medicine, science, activism, the arts, sports, justice and education. They represent multiple marginalized intersections.

Henrietta Lacks. Mary Ellen Pleasant. Phill Wilson.

Matthew Henson. CeCe McDonald. Zora Neale

“I’ve always found the path at Ellis Lake Park to lack safety, in that there has not been a line VARIETY OF NEW of sight to others when walking AMENITIES around the lake,” he told the The council approved subPioneer. mitting Design Map 2, which The grant also would pay garnered 56 of the votes from for lake dredging, removal of residents. excess trees and vegetation in “It concentrates new ameni- portions of the park, and fencties close to the existing develing or vegetation as a safety baroped portion of Clayton Road, rier around some areas of the with more passive types of park lake. uses proposed off Ellis and Marcell noted that minor Laguna,” Marstall said. alternations could be made after Map 2 features a basketball grant approval but not “wholecourt, adult fitness equipment scale changes.” area, expansion of the older playground with an additional CONCERNS ABOUT GENTRIFICATION playground for younger chilRepresentatives from Monudren, community gardens, a new youth playground, shaded ment Impact and First 5 – as well as many residents – spoke seating throughout the park, out about the unintended conseveral BBQ areas and a comsequences of increased housing munity stage. costs and potential displaceAll the design concepts ment of current residents. included leveling of the “Monument families, who mounds and contour grading are disproportionally impacted for a continuously level path, something George Fulmore of by housing and economic instability and racial and immigrant the Monument Democratic injustice, are especially vulneraClub has long advocated.

ble to this displacement,” said Rhea Laughlin of First 5.

To help combat the problem, the two groups proposed including a provision that the city form an anti-displacement task force. However, Marstall said the city could not modify the state grant application template.

Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister agreed. “I don’t want to muddle up anything going to the state,” she said.

“The state gets very very persnickety about their templates.

Once you add something in, modify something, change something, it goes on the back burner and we lose the competitive edge.”

The council approved Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano’s suggestion that the issue be sent to the Policy Development & Implementation Committee, comprised of Aliano and Mayor Tim McGallian.

“Creating infrastructure improvement as it relates to displacement does concern me,” Aliano said. “I think this is a conversation that we need to have, because I want to make sure that these residents who

in society are only one measure of Black progress. This last election took place in the same year Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and Monika Diamond were hunted, targeted and lost their lives due to bias and fear.

UNDERSTANDING THE STRUGGLE

We still actively need to

Ellis lake, from page 10

Zoom with Spanish translation provided,” Marstall said.

switched to single sculls in 2018, finishing fourth at the world championships in her first season in the event and then winning a bronze medal at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Austria.

Stone won a silver medal in single sculls event at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro before taking two years off from international competition to focus on her medical residency in Boston. In 2019, Stone finished second to Kohler at the national team trials before teaming up with Cicely Madden in the double sculls.

Charlie Krueger came into the NFL in 1958 after an illustrious career at Texas A&M and was put in uniform No. 70. He wore that jersey until he retired in 1973 following 198 regular season and five playoff games for the Niners. The next year the local franchise retired No. 70 in recognition of ironman defensive tackle Krueger’s career.

ed to COVID-19, his wife wasn’t able to visit or speak to him after he was taken to John Muir on Jan. 7 because of pandemicrelated hospital procedures.

Thankfully, Charlie Krueger was able to come home to Clayton for his final days.

Donation in Charlie Krueger’s name can be made to the Salvation Army or ARF.

Visit pioneerpublishers.com for more stories and photos about Charlie Krueger.

Hurston. Bayard Rustin. Kylar Broadus. Arthur Ashe. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Audre Lorde. A. Philip Randolph.

Learn one and teach one.

Kiku Johnson is Rainbow Community Center’s executive director. As a man of color and trans experience, Kiku has invested his life engaging and elevating youth and adult voices of marginalized intersectional identities. Send questions and comments to kiku@rainbowcc.org. participated in this process get to enjoy what they helped create.”

Cora Mitchell echoed that thought during public comment. “I think it would be really sad to leave them with that fear, wondering if they shot themselves in the foot for participating.”

TRACKING PARK’S PROGRESS

Marstall noted that this isn’t the first effort to improve Ellis Lake Park through community partnerships. The Monument Community Park Assessment identified community priorities in 2014, and residents further defined park plans in 2016.

In 2017, the city installed restrooms and expanded the play area by about 2,900 sq. ft. to include benches, lighting, fencing and play structures for young children. The city used Measure WW park bonds and Measure Q sales tax revenue for that project.

Marstall told the council he is optimistic about the grant approval. “I think we have a fair shot at this. It’s a good project.”

Tend your garden now for spring planting February 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

sary for nutrients, the potting soil for water retention and the sandy loam topsoil to help build volume. You will need to use more compost and potting soil than the topsoil.

Flowering beds of ornamentals, roses and perennials should have a layer of compost rich in nitrogen worked beneath the plants.

Cool weather is the best time to install plants like lavender, Coleonema, callisteFebruary is the best time to install your bottlebrush (callismon, California native plants temon) shrub, native plants and ornamental grasses. and many of the popular Australian plants.

It’s time to prepare our dormant insecticidal spray We wait until now to prune garden and landscapes for the mostly for the control of the summer-blooming perennials growing season. coddling moth larvae, which is and shrubs. Salvia, penstemon, That means weed eradica- that pesky worm that can get yarrow, leonotis, plumbago, lantion, fruit tree spaying, soil into apples. Apply when the tana, ornamental grasses and amending, landscape installaflower petals have begun to butterfly bushes should be tions, fertilizing, and perennial fall to the ground. pruned hard. Hot lips Salvia, for You need to amend the and ornamental pruning. example, should be pruned Weeds are always the most soil before plant installations. back nearly to the ground. After Vegetable gardens and raised prolific plants in the garden pruning, apply multi-purpose during the late days of winter. beds need a replenishment of fertilizer and water in.

A mix of sunshine and rain is the nutrients they used up Between the days of rain, doing last year’s growth. a great combination to wake apply fertilizer to your landMixing amendments gives scape. Feed bushes, roses, up last year’s weed seeds. At my home and nursery, we pre- the best results. For raised perennials and vines with a fer pulling and hula hoeing. beds, consider mixing a high- multi-purpose formula. We Get out in the landscape quality compost with potting prefer 16-16-16. If you go often, before the small weeds soil and a sandy loam type organic, use a 5-5-5. Notice become a huge problem. topsoil. The compost is neces- that each formula is a balance Herbicides are also available for weed control. Please read package directions and follow all safety recommendations. BurnOut by Bonide is widely available and has proven effective for killing weeds naturally. Keep in mind that thick layers of mulch are a deterrent for weed growth.

Stone fruits such as peaches and nectarines should have their last application of copper fungicide spray soon. The final spray needs to be done while trees are in full bud.

Once the buds open to flower, your application period has passed.

Spray apple trees with a

Page 13

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GARDEN GIRL

of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Acid-loving plants such as azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons need to be fed with 0-10-10. Fertilize gardenias with granular acid. Wait until next month to fertilize hydrangeas.

There is so much to do as we prepare for spring.

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T H E ARTS

Page 14

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

February 19, 2021

Still time to catch Starlight Players’ Valentine adventure Not sure I’ll be successful stopping these two gangs for Valentine’s Day, but I’ll give it a try.

The evening can be even more fun when a group of friends work together on all the clues and fun games.

The shows are free, but donations are encouraged. For more information, go to SALLY HOGARTY orsvp.org, call 925-528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org.

STAGE STRUCK From the upbeat rhythms George Gershwin to the of Photo by Malcolm Cowler It’s Valentine’s Day in San timeless romance of “Sleeping Monica Bonnington is Frostina Doughman in Orinda Francisco in the year 1935, Beauty,” Diablo Ballet promisand Detective Charlie Angel Starlight Village Players’ immersive Valentine’s Day es a diverse program in its battles mob crime in the City adventure.

“Balanchine & Beyond.” by the Bay. But he needs p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays event encourages audience Filmed at Diablo Ballet’s your help infiltrating the participation and detective through March 11. black box theater in early FebBlack Badger Band and the Written and directed by skills of information gather- ruary, the show will stream Sapphire Sisterhood in the Malcolm Cowler, the show ing and problem solving. into homes Feb. 19-21 and latest interactive offering allows attendees to become I’ve attended several of the Feb. 26-28. from Orinda Starlight Village part of the rival mobs in company’s previous shows, “I’m so pleased we are able Players. order to get dirt on the and they are a lot of fun. I’ve to continue to perform for “Valentine Mobsters, gangsters and create a war to been honing my detective our dedicated audiences with Molls and Mayhem” began skills and sometimes even fig- safety protocols and procewipe out both gangs. The Feb. 14 and continues at 7 ure out who the murder is. loosely scripted improv dures in place,” said artistic

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Diablo Ballet Company presents the world premiere of “Two One Self.”

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director Lauren Jonas.

The program features one of Balanchine’s most joyous ballets “Who Cares?” with music by Gershwin. Full of fast-stepping routines, it evokes the lively spirit of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The repertoire also includes Penny Saunders duet “Berceuse,” which explores the nuanced line between classical and contemporary dance, followed by the virtual world premiere “Two One Self,” created by company dancer Michael Wells in collaboration with Derion Loman (recently seen on “America’s Got Talent” and “World of Dance”).

The program concludes with the wedding scene from “The Sleeping Beauty” featuring Princess Aurora and her handsome prince.

Tickets are $35 per household and can be purchased by calling 925-943-7469 or going online to lesherartscenter.org or diabloballet.org.

The Campbell Theater in Martinez just finished two performances by Act II Improv group. Both shows of “Improv for Good” were via Zoom and include scenes created from audience suggestions using the “chat” feature. They raised money for Onstage Theatre Company, which performs at the Campbell. More events are planned. Check out campbelltheater.com so you don’t miss out.

Theaters are doing a variety of creative things to keep viable during the pandemic.

The Altarena Playhouse in Alameda has started a series of “A Life in the Arts” interviews with various artists. I’m honored to be a part of one highlighting the cast of “The Savannah Sipping Society”

Photo by Jim Norrena

Kimberly Ridgeway, left, Lisa Applegate, Sally Hogarty and Julie Etzel appear in “The Savannah Sipping Society” from Altarena Playhouse.

scheduled for a Zoom live event at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21.

Actors often have favorite shows, and this is certainly one of mine. I was fortunate to be able to “play” with a fabulous group of talented women both onstage and behind the scenes. They include actresses Kimberly Ridgeway, Julie Etzel and Lisa Appleyard, director Katina Letheule, stage manager Kristin Smith and assistant stage manager Daile Rosickly.

If anyone is interested in tuning in, let me know and I’ll send you the Zoom invite.

Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com

February 19, 2021

Concord residents feel the big impact of mini art The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

LISA FULMER

ARTS

IN

MOTION

When Sara Wright shared a news article in the Concord Comes Alive Facebook group about a Seattle woman who built a mini art gallery in front of her home, she had no idea that she would be instigating a movement.

“I was so excited by the group’s enthusiasm for the idea,” Wright said after I posted a reply saying that the Concord Art Association (CAA) could make it happen.

Over the next few days, I reached out to Frogard Schmidt, owner of the aRt

Lisa Fulmer

Sara Wright, left, Bryn Boughton and Amanda Christensen explore the mini art gallery project they all helped bring to fruition.

Cottage, who had installed a mini library in front of her gallery a few years ago. We discussed how to convert part of it to hold art alongside the books and allow local artists

to maintain it. CAA board members agreed that it would be a terrific community project to sponsor.

With a fresh coat of paint and a handful of small works,

Save Mount Diablo explores aftermath of wildfires

Page 15

Concord’s first free mini art gallery quickly became a reality.

The aRt Cottage is a few short blocks from Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord. People can explore the mini art gallery on the sidewalk any time and even take a piece home. Local artists and crafters are encouraged to leave some of their own small works behind for others to enjoy.

Denise Erdem spotted the changes to the mini library while she was walking her dogs in the neighborhood.

“We picked out a beautiful little painting, and it just made my day,” she said.

Michelle McGallian made a special trip with her young daughter Audrey after seeing the news on Facebook. “I’m just gushing about how smiley the aRt Cottage made us. Fro

is so welcoming and CAA is so generous,” she said. “After picking out a mini treasure to take home, Audrey was inspired to get out her paints and make some of her own art. I’m grateful.”

Concord resident Bryn Boughton launched the Concord Comes Alive Facebook group last June, and it now boasts more 3,300 members.

“I had seen other groups promoting restaurants in the area but nothing specific to Concord,” Boughton recalled.

“My friends Amanda Christensen and Dan Mires help me operate this group, which has been a real bright spot in a tough year. Our intention is to continue building community and supporting all of our local businesses. I never imagined how important it would become to me.”

“The CCA group is an

amazing way to stay connected and unite over common interests,” Wright added. “I recently moved to Concord from San Jose, and I’ve loved learning about local art and music from the group.”

The aRt Cottage’s current show, Salon des Refusés, runs through Feb. 26 and features work from more than 30 artists. Located at 2238 Mt. Diablo Street, the main gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Learn more at artcottage.info.

For details about the free mini art gallery, visit concordartassociation.com.

Lisa Fulmer is a mixed media artist, Concord Art Association board member and founder of MadeinConcord.com. She also consults with local artists on self-promotion and personal branding.

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More than 400,000 acres of the Diablo Range went up in flames in the August SCU complex fire. This photo shows the charred hills of Round Valley and Morgan Territory in front of Mount Diablo. (Cooper Ogden)

in 40, 80, or 125 years began sprouting, and unusual amphibians were thriving.

Now, California’s in a drought, temperatures are rising, and the world is changing Remember this past sumbecause of the climate crisis mer’s wildfires? Who could in ways we don’t fully underforget them! stand. What will be the afterThe smoke that engulfed math of the SCU fires in this us back in August were part changing context? of California’s third biggest One ecologist, Hugh Saffire ever, the SCU complex. ford, surveyed a huge ranch in Sweeping across nearly the heart of the fire footprint.

400,000 acres of the Diablo He said, “For the most part, it Range over 44 days, the fires was like a really big, well-carconsumed or damaged 248 ried out prescribed fire.” structures and left a charred Grasslands will come back landscape. quickly after the first rains, he Now, the flames and added. He also noted that smoke are gone, but their while there are some places impact will echo for years. where landowners probably To explore that impact and do need to be concerned share what they learn with the about erosion, “the fire effects public, local nonprofit Save themselves are nothing to Mount Diablo is launching its write home about.”

Diablo Range Revealed projMost oaks will survive, he ect. Over the next three years, said. Chaparral burned hot, as they will produce articles and it always does, and is well videos about the plants, aniequipped to regenerate. mals, and ecology of the Chaparral fires often leave northern Diablo Range, from a ghostly landscape of blackMount Diablo to Pacheco ened shrub skeletons. In Pass. places where the fire burns Mount Diablo’s habitats, hotter, even the skeletons like many others in California, burn up, leaving only the are adapted to fire. In fact, plants’ root crowns or “burls” after the Morgan Fire in 2013, poking up a few inches. In the flowers that hadn’t been seen

New “Diablo Range Revealed” series explores plants, animals and ecology.

SCU fire, however, ecologist Hugh Safford found whole slopes where even the root crowns were incinerated, leaving only holes filled with white ash.

“I’ve seen that before, but not on this scale, where there were whole hillsides with all the burls burned out,” Safford says. “Probably that’s because there was so much fuel on that site. Those areas hadn’t burned in more than 100 years.”

What’s likely to happen in these hot spots? “I’m sure there’ll be an amazing flower show,” Safford says. “And probably the shrub response will be just a little bit slower because they’ll have to come back through seedling recruitment rather than through resprouting.”

Want to learn where to find the region’s most spectacular post-fire wildflower displays? Wonder about the effects of climate change on the region’s plants and animals? Want to know how Californians can live sustainably in a fire-prone future?

Join Save Mount Diablo in the fire zone, for Diablo Range Revealed! Visit their website at https://www.savemountdiablo.org/ learn/diablo-range-revealed/.

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Timing is everything on sunrise hike

Page 16

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

n

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February 19, 2021

What better than a sunrise to produce the kind of positive vibes needed to kick off 2021?

It’s about 90 minutes to Eagle Peak from Clayton, and I knew timing would be paramount in order to arrive as the morning sky prepared for a new day and provided an outstanding light show.

Dustin & Kim Waraner The best way up the mounKEVIN PARKER Owners tain is via Mitchell Rock Trail.

HIT THE TRAIL At 5:30 a.m. on a dark winter FREE ESTIMATES morning, I was relegated to a Like throwing a glass into 925.250.0334 10-foot diameter of light that the fireplace as a farewell to was mostly obscured by the fog 2020, I felt like I needed some from by heavy breathing as I Contractors Lic #879423 Arborist Lic WE-7372A type of naturistic cleanse to pushed my way up past Mitchell properly transition into the Rock. The flickering lights of www.waranertreeexperts.com new year.

Clayton far below gave me an early “top of the world” feeling that put a little pep in my step as I headed to Twin Peaks.

The trail from Mitchell Rock to Twin Peaks (elevation 1,733 feet) is some of the most outstanding on Mount Diablo, 925.305.9099 even in the dark. But as you climb above Twin Peaks in a southerly direction and follow a 916 Kenston Drive — Beautiful Clayton! knife-like ridge on your way to This quintessential Clayton Rancher has direct views of Mt. DiPENDING Eagle Peak (2,369 feet), you are OVER ASKING ablo! Situated at the end of a terrific cul-de-sac, this 4b/2ba IN 1 DAY rewarded with views in every rancher features beautiful modern updates including bright direction. As a massive backkitchen & baths, gleaming hardwood floors, a wonderful big drop, the summit set the stage yard that includes decks, patios, great big play grass, pool, and bonus cabana/office. This home simply ROCKS! as the rising sun electrified the Offered at $925,000 morning sky with shades of yellow, pink and blue.

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Be prepared for cold and Stunning custom home at the view top of the impressive COMING wind on a hike with exposed Rancho Paraiso neighborhood. Featuring 4 large bedrooms, SOON sections of trail. The routing on large office/den, and extensive bonus ‘flex’ room, study/ Eagle Peak Trail from Twin Zoom classroom, or additional family room. Master PLUS Peaks to Eagle Peak is not easily huge en-suite and second Jr. Master upstairs. Too many forgotten with Donner Canyon, features to list include beautiful kitchen w/double sub-zero North Peak, Olympia Peak and refrigerator, commercial style oven, +++ Call for price the summit on the left and Mitchell Canyon, Olofson Realtor® / ASP Stager@ / Relocation Specialist BRE#01370548 Ridge and Black Point unfolding on the right.

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Braving cold temps and an early morning wake-up call, Kevin Parker found solace in the new year atop Eagle Peak.

n’t the only one climbing the mountain in the dark. I could see more than a few lights on trails in the distance.

I was so nervous about missing the sunrise that I arrived about 20 minutes early.

Early bird gets the worm, unless the wind is ripping. It’s very cold and oh yeah, the sun rises behind Mount Diablo before you can see it from Eagle Peak.

I should have brought a thermos of coffee. Instead, I jogged in place until the sky danced in myriad colors before my eyes. Game changer. Soul changer. Goodbye 2020.

And as always, Mount Diablo State Park proved a longtime friend and much-needed confidant.

Once atop Eagle Peak, you have three choices on the way back down. Retrace your steps, take Eagle Peak Trail down into Donner Canyon or continue to Murchio Gap and wind down Back Creek Canyon. I chose Eagle Peak Trail, which is a partial retrace but junctions before you reach

Twin Peaks and smartly winds back and forth as you make your way onto Coulter Pine Trail and then Oak Road.

Couple of trip tips: I brought a lot of water and some trail snacks, but with the cold, I drank very little. Layering is key, because being too hot or cold can totally slow you down.

Get out there, so you can hang in there.

Contact Kevin Parker with comments or questions by email at LukeHollywood@gmail.com

Eagle Peak Sunrise Hike

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Humility

Photto: NASA

Katherine won many awards and d made history for the space program, am, for women’s rights and for raciall equality. But she always remained ed humble. She quoted her father..

Replace the vowels to find out what her father would tell her..

She coun nted the steps. p She he even co counted ounted Sh i l countted stones. She S simply d everything! thing! hi !

“Y_ _ AR_ AS G_ _D AS _NYB B_DY.. B_T Y_ _ ’RE N_ _ B_TT_R.”

Count the stars on this page age.

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Let Me Go to Sch c ool!

Katherinee was born in White Su ulphur Springs, Weest Virginia. She wass the youngest of four children and she he Find the path couldn’t wait w to join her siblingss to school. at school!! She used to follow them hem as they walked to school.

Hard Wo ork

Katherine said it was hard work to be good at math and her other subjects. And work hard she did. She skipped two grades in elementary school, and went on to get degrees in mathematics and French.

Patience

Katherine’s community was segrregated e . That meant there were many places African-A American people couldn’t go, including the local high gh school. Katherine’s parents were so determined that she he have a good education that they moved the family mily 120 miles so Katherine and her siblings could attend high school.

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Curiosity

The Human Computer

Photo: NASA

Katherine was asked to work on the complicated math h problems that would establish the flight path for the spacecraft that would take the first American into space p ce and back in 1961. Use the code to o discover his name.

In 1953, computers were not as good as they are today and mathematicians, who were called “computers,” did the math needed fo or flight research.

Replace the missing words.

me, even though took on more work at N highly valued for her ac ed calculations for John Glenn’s successful orbits

KA ATHERINE CURIOSITY POSITIVE ACCURACY COMPUTER COUNTED DISHES ORBIT SPA SP PACE AC STEPS PS WHITE ITE MAT T TH PA ATH FOUR

D K S P A C E W E A E W H I T E V N R C T Y T I

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N A H S T E P S E Y K R E T U P M O C S

Standards Link: k: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical words. Skim and nd scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

A building is named after her at NASA’s Research Center in Virrginia. (24 - 6 = )

Katherine Johnson won a gold medal in the 1960 Wiinter Olympics. (3 + 2 = )

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(4 + 4 + 4 = )

Katherine Johnson graduated college at the age of 18, the age most people graduate high school. (6 + 4 + 4 = )

Standards Link: Research: Use the he newspaper to locate information.

Count the Numbers

miles perr hour

d Earth in Friendship 7 in 1962, 62, as we well ell as ollo lo 11 and 13 flights to the ________. __. ng g on these manned flight paths was ul.. Katherine knew that if her calculations ations were offff by even a few feet or seconds, the astronauts might not make it ___________!

Take one page of the newspaper and circle all of the numbers you can find. Then, count the number of numbers! What do the diffferent ferent numbers show?

Standards Link: Research: Use the newspaper to locate information.

Mission Possible

If it were possiblee to be anything in the world, what would you want to be? What would d you do if this happened to o come true?

As a young student, Katherine would complete her homework then help Like a and good her older siblings with their homework.

(15 + 5 = ) neighbor,

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Katherine Johnson had many character traits K t led to her successes. that s. Look through the n newspaper for an articlee about a successful person and make a list of character traits that help to make that person on so successful.

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Standards Link: Students use strategies to understand literary passages

Find the words in the puzzle.

How many of them can you f find on this page?

Find a Story of Character How fastt ddiid Fr Friendship 7 travel in itss 4 hour and 56 minute fligghht? Do D the th math!

Persistence

When Katherine was _____________ _________ at NASA, were not allowed in n the spaceflight ht gs. She kept ____________ if she could n asking if there sistence paid offff and she was finally to attend all ____

Kath herine Johnson was given a flag g that had gone to the moon n. (18 + 4 = )

Standards Link: Follow simple written directions. ons.

Determination

Because of her intelligence, curiosity y,, and positive attitude, Katherine was asked to work on many diffferent ferent ent projects. When NACA A turned its attention to space flight, it changed its name to NASA A (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

To T o discover if the following sta atements arree TRUE or FALSE, do the math.

TRU UE statements t t t will ill have an even-numberred ed answerr..

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