JAN 15 The Pioneer 2021

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January 15, 2021

Activities and Programs in your Regional Parks for Jan./Feb. 2021 from the East Bay Regional Parks District

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McGallian, Aliano lead Concord effort to provide food storage for local organizations Christopher Howley

Tamara STeIner

Correspondent

PUBLISHER

(Fill in the blank) New Year

Welcome to 2021, a New Year. Agreed. It’s off to a rough start but let’s just think of the last two weeks as the comet’s tail of annus horribilis.

Here at the Pioneer, things are looking pretty good.

First, we continue to keep the lights on and pay the bills, thanks to our advertisers who thank you for buying their stuff.

Note: Whits Painting offers a 10 percent discount to Pioneer readers. See their ad page 13.

This month, we introduce our newest correspondent, Christopher Howley. Chris is a Photo Crdit December 2020 graduate of Concord mayor Tim mcGallian, left, and Vice mayor Dominic aliano stand in the food warehouse the city organized in the Arizona State University, the former 90,000 sf.

Kmart building on Clayton road.The warehouse will provide much needed storage for the Contra Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and wrote our front Costa Solano Food Bank, White Pony express, First 5 of Contra Costa and St. Vincent dePaul. page lead story. We look forward to more excellent reporting from Chris.

The Pioneer is the only local community newspaper with a professional editorial staff.

To see what we’ve added for the kids, see our new Kidfound plywood and discarded TAMARA STEINER Scoop activity page on page cardboard.

Others including The Pioneer 14. This month, kids will learn whole families, live in their about the Inauguration thanks It was moving day for cars or RVs, moving from to sponsors Assemblyman Tim Shawn B. His current living place to place hoping to find a Grayson, Vice Mayor Dominic arrangement had come to an place to charge their phones Aliano and State Farm Agent end. It was raining and he was so the kids can do school(and Mayor) Tim McGallian. packing up. But Shawn had a work. And some like Shawn B Also new this year is a bigger problem than rain. He find a place for a tent, a makeseries by Lisa Fulmer on the had nowhere to go. shift shower, a butane hotparks of Concord and Clayton Shawn is one of an estimatplate, and a few tools. He --the big ones, the small ones, ed 200 living on Concord keeps an orderly campsite and the famous ones and those streets; under overpasses, tries to stay as far away from snuggled out of site in the along the flood channel, in other campers as he can hopneighborhoods. For a look at Costco—anymedians, behind ing he will be overlooked Hillcrest Park, see page 3. where there is space enough when the sweep comes.

January is an ODD month for a tent or sleeping bag.

Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer “We have hundreds living in our delivery rotation. If you These are Concord’s Shawn B. heads “home” with his lunch and prepares to out there and we aren’t got the paper this month, your unhoused.

Some live in minipack up before CalTrans clean up crews sweep the homenext delivery will be March, less camp where he has been living the past month. mal shelters crafted from See Homeless, page 5 then May etc.

To be sure you never miss an issue, subscribe at PioneerPublishers.com and receive the paper by first class mail every month.

Despite the rough start, we wish peace, joy and good health to all of you.

Wear your mask, stay executive board of the TAMARA STEINER home, social distance, and we National Association of WILL pull out of this.

The Pioneer Regional Councils, all powerTake a look around the house regional organizations. small town of Clayton. Like Although she represented What’s Inside what you see? The library? the smallest city in Contra Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 The gym? Oakhurst? Clayton Costa County, Pierce served Station? The Grove? Car- as CCTA chair for 28 years Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 dinet Trail? Open space? and ABAG president for four From the Desk of . . . . . . . . .6 No matter where your years.

Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 gaze lands in the four-square “I don’t think people give Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 mile town, it’s likely Julie her enough credit,” said Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Pierce’s fingerprints are all recently retired CCTA execuover it. tive director Randell Iwasaki.

A titanic force in local and “The board makes funding regional government for decisions for millions of Tamara Steiner more than 33 years, Pierce transportation dollars. She Julie Pierce now has time to prune the roses. “It’s good decided last June not to run isn’t that tall (barely 5 feet) work,” she says pictured here with husband Steve. Pierce for a seventh term on the but stands tall in the eyes of retired from the city council and her regional committees Clayton City Council – where her fellow elected officials.” after a long and storied career in local and regional she served as mayor six times. government.

When she retired in HONORING THE LOCAL that good land use policy future generations,” she said.

COMMUNITY November, she stepped away, brings communities together.

Nowhere in Clayton are Described by most who not just from the council, but “Good planning honors these values more visible from positions on the Asso- know her as tireless, tenalocal priorities, offering than the Oakhurst developciation of Bay Area Govern- cious, congenial and a team opportunities and making ment.

In 1984 When A.D. ments (ABAG), the Contra player, Pierce is, above all, a room for all, while preserving Costa Transportation visionary. And resolute. She See Pierce, page 5 Authority (CCTA) and the is unwavering in her belief the natural environment for

Where do you go when there’s no place to go? City struggles to find answers.

Fearless managed growth advocate retires after 33 years in local and regional service

Next issue, Feb. 19, 2021 Deadline, Feb. 10

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to demand more from food banks, Concord Mayor Tim McGallian and Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano have found a way to create more storage for local groups.

For the past several months, local organizations and food banks have been storing millions of pounds of food in the old Kmart store on Clayton Road. The non-profits began to lack space in their storage facilities as food donations sharply increased last March due to COVID-19.

After seeing the rise in food insecurity across the country, McGallian and Aliano knew local organizations could see demand skyrocket.

“We had county health officers telling us that we were going into a shelter in place situation back in March, and our first thought was that people were going to need food,” Aliano said.

See Warehouse, page 5

2020

Beyond the pandemic local life carried on “What a long strange trip it’s been.”

– Grateful Dead BEV BRITTON The Pioneer

Yes, we went on quite the journey in 2020 – a year that seemed surreal and all too real at the same time.

In his January 2020 column in the Pioneer, Concord Mayor Tim McGallian wrote: “The start of every new year brings with it the excitement of possibility and new beginnings.”

And as 2021 comes into focus with the promise of fullscale COVID-19 vaccinations, we may just begin to see those possibilities again – for in-person learning, those long-awaited family reunions and so many other things that fell by the wayside as we each waged our personal battle with the impacts of the pandemic.

But even as we look forward to 2021’s new beginnings, let’s also take a moment to look back at some of the stories the Pioneer covered in 2020.

JANUARY Development impasse: At the Jan. 8, 2020, meeting, the Concord City Council told Lennar/Five Point to continue negotiations with the Building Trades Council (BTC) over labor contracts at the development planned for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. Kofi Bonner of Five-

See 2020, page 9

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How one family made it through the pandemic and came out the other side

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I don’t think my son intentionally tried to kill us.

But then again, neither have thousands of other people whose families weren’t so lucky.

It started as a trip to Seattle in September he had planned with friends, in lieu of the college graduation he was cheated out of in June because of the coronavirus. He also wanted to check out the job market.

He’s a smart kid and promised not to take any unnecessary chances with his health. And he didn’t, but unfortunately one of his traveling companions was exposed to COVID-19. She began exhibiting symptoms masked as a simple cold. But it wasn’t.

The night my son returned home, there was a lot of kissing and hugging – especially because my 93-year-old mother was visiting. We all gathered together and talked about his trip, not knowing we were at our family’s own little superspreader event.

EARLY TESTING PROVED INCORRECT

His symptoms started the next day: a sore throat, fever, chills and body aches. It was a Sunday, and by Monday, he had been diagnosed with COVID-19. His father, grandmother and I were all tested, just to be safe. We were all negative, so my son was banished to his bedroom to selfisolate.

But the relief was shortlived. By Wednesday morning, I woke up with a sore throat, bum stomach, fever and extreme fatigue. My husband suddenly developed a bad cold. And my mom, who also

January 15, 2021

toms as severe as a bad cold.

Like my sons, I suffered five days of a bad flu, then another five days of slowly feeling better.

Unfortunately, I was also worried sicker because of fear for my mom. Her illness settled in her sinuses, but she seemed to bounce back quicker than all of us.

Pat Spear, left, survived I think between the four of COVID-19, despite being 93 us, we went through 30 boxes and suffering from COPD. of tissue.

By day 10 after the sympsuffered from COPD, began toms began – the magic day complaining of a fever and the county deemed us well – sinus infection. we were all OK but a little We went back to the coun- worse for wear. I suffered ty testing service, and within a post-COVID fatigue for a day we had the news that by month afterward, when walkthen was expected: We all had ing to the refrigerator or COVID-19. opening my computer seemed Herculean.

A VARIETY OF EXPOSURES My mom had fatigue too We called in reinforcement and wondered for almost two from my daughter, who had months why she was so tired. gotten the virus in early sum- The explanation, “You’re 93, mer. She was lucky, as her case you have COPD and you just was mild enough that she did- had COVID” didn’t seem to n’t even miss work from her penetrate her mind. “I just remote office in Petaluma. feel so lazy,” she said.

Her boyfriend, a member of the National Guard, thinks he THE SURGE CONTINUES was exposed while called to We were lucky. UnbelievSacramento during the peace- ably lucky. Too many families ful Black Lives Matter protests. He tested positive but was asymptomatic.

Later in the summer, my middle son and his fiancé contracted the disease despite what he called “armor-like” protections. He suffered bad flu-like symptoms for 10 days but had recovered nicely by the time we got sick.

WIDE RANGE OF SYMPTOMS What was so interesting to me was how the disease affected us differently. My husband, who never gets sick, only had to deal with symp-

have had much more devastating experiences.

Here in Contra Costa County, COVID-19 cases have surged due to a variety of gatherings. As of this writing, we know that there have been 44,274 cases recorded since the virus hit and the county began recording cases, with 355 deaths.

The holiday surges have been the scariest. According to the Los Angeles Times, there were 438 positive cases reported Jan. 6 in Contra Costa County, with seven deaths. On Jan. 5, there were 591 confirmed positive cases and one death.

In a macabre way, it was a blessing my family had COVID-19. Since we all survived the virus, we had antibodies built up. We could actually enjoy the holidays together, but not without guilt. There were too many families who couldn’t. And our togetherness was by virtue of sheer luck.

Peggy Spear is a freelance writer and occasional correspondent for the Pioneer. She lives in Concord with her family and two dogs.

Unlike many families, the Spear-Ucciferri clan was able to spend the 2020 holidays together – but only because they all had survived COVID-19. From left, Charlie Ucciferri, his fiancé mary Kennedy, Bryce Brown, Frannie Ucciferri, Tony Ucciferri, Peggy Spear and the unwitting super-spreader, mick Ucciferri.

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Hillcrest Park holds a treasure trove of hidden gems January 15, 2021

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

LISA FULMER Correspondent

Parks are all about fun, fresh air and exercise, as well as giving us a quiet break from daily stress.

With the pandemic, time spent at a neighborhood park has become even more vital to both our physical and mental well-being, as it offers one of the safest ways to leave the house.

Hillcrest Park, comprised of 26 acres at Grant Street and Olivera Road in Concord, looks pretty basic at first glance – with a big athletic field next to a playground with plenty of parking. However, it’s filled with so much more character than you can see from a drive-by.

While we’re currently restricted from playing team sports, the open field and the

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

path around it are nice for walking the dog without other people in close proximity. There’s a designated area at the west end

Concord resident Jennifer Granat walks with her dog Zak in the redwoods at Hillcrest Park.

for flying model airplanes, a time-honored hobby that market researchers say is growing again with recent advancements in technology.

Along the southeast side of the park is a nine-hole disc golf course. “I’ve seen just how cool this sport is,” says Kevin Cabral, president of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. “Families play together, and individuals hustle through on a lunch break. There’s enough open space to keep the course safe for everyone.

“I’ve lived in Concord my entire life and had only been to Hillcrest a few times. But now with disc golf, I’m at this park every week,” Cabral adds.

The playground, named Matteo’s Dream, was designed so that children who cannot walk, see or hear can play safely alongside children who can.

North Concord residents Lauren and Matt Mahlke have been taking their two daughters, now 5 and 7, there since they

Page 3

es,” says North Concord resident Jennifer Granat. “By sitting a while to watch the ducks, all the stress just melts away. It’s also a scenic spot to set up an easel for plein air painting.”

From the pond, take a leisurely stroll through a small grove of redwood trees, and you’ll feel like you’re miles away, deep in a forest. But be on the lookout for the occasional Frisbee fly-by.

Visit Concord’s Parks & Recreation website at cityofconcord.org/recreation for park hours and rules. For details on the were toddlers.

Adobe, adjacent to the park. currently vacant adobe property, “We loved the separate play- “The first stop is a lovely reflecvisit the Neto Community Netground for little kids. Now that tive pond, surrounded by weepwork blog at netocn.org/blog. they’re a bit older, they enjoy ing willows and a couple benchclimbing the rock wall and playing on the monkey bars,” Lauren Mahlke says. “We also take family bike rides down the path in back of the park because it connects to the Iron Horse trail.”

That path starts behind the historic Don Fernando Pacheco The reflective pond offers a peaceful oasis in a hectic world.

Fifth graders’ Socktober drive warms the hearts and feet of area homeless

Photo courtesy of David Scholz

alejandra Bowie, left, and ryan Brandon tabulate the hundreds of pairs of socks turned in as part of the successful Socktober service project with their St. Catherine of Siena fifth-grade classmates.

As the mercury dips ever lower around the Bay Area, the challenge of staying warm grows more difficult for those who find themselves living on the streets.

Socks are the No. 1 need of those in this situation, and Contra Costa County CORE (Coordinated Outreach Referral Engagement) team members in the field say the eyes of the homeless light up when they receive a pair.

“Socktober” was a way for 35 fifth graders at St. Catherine of Siena School in Vallejo to address this need by seeing how many pairs of

socks they could donate to benefit the county’s homeless population. The class came through in a big way by bringing in 947 pairs of socks for men, women and children.

“The children’s love and empathy was nurtured through their actions and deepening interest in this service project,” said teacher David Scholz.

The children earned spare change and other monetary donations in exchange for acts of kindness and service at home and around their

See Socktober, page 4

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Clayton couple expand drive to help the homeless at the holidays

Page 4

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Serving our Local Community since 1977

January 15, 2021

Since returning to California after living out of state for several years, Terri and Scott Denslow have become overwhelmed by the continuous growth of homelessness throughout the Bay Area.

Over Christmas in 2019, they decided to lend a helping hand.

“We launched a fundraiser amongst some of our close friends and used the money to purchase items for care packages that we distributed on Christmas Eve 2019,” says Terri. “That experience sparked a passion for us both as we met some wonderful people with great hearts, but simply without a house. It made us want to do more.”

Throughout 2020, the Clayton couple took note of locations of homeless camps throughout the Bay Area with the aspiration of expanding their reach. They decided to ask the community for clothing and toiletries donations as well as funds so they could buy canned food for care packages.

They were “elated” when the community responded to social media requests in only a threeweek time period.

Terri Denslow photos

Scott Denslow used donated funds to buy canned food to distribute to the homeless at Christmas.

“We collected approximately 75-80 bags of clothing, blankets and jackets,” Terri reports. “Folks donated to a GoFundMe that raised approximately $1,200 used to purchase food and supplemental toiletries.”

The Denslows revisited some of the homeless camps to learn that many had been largely abandoned due to efforts to keep people safe during the pandemic. After research, they found out about safe camps established in San Francisco, where workers are keeping mind of temperature

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Scott Denslow used donated funds to buy canned food to distribute to the homeless at Christmas.

Socktober, from page 3

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checks, social distancing and masks for about 150 homeless people.

In addition to delivering several bags of clothing, toiletries, masks and food to the safe camps, the couple donated clothing and toys to organizations helping the homeless.

“Lastly, we saw several individual folks throughout the East Bay wandering the streets alone,” Terri adds.

“Thus, we assembled approximately 60 care packages of food, clothing, toiletries and masks and spent a few days driving around Concord, Pleasant Hill, Oakland and San Francisco to seek folks out individually and share a care package with them as well as any other clothing items or blankets that they needed.”

They have distributed all of the care packages but still have blankets and coats they can give out as needed.

“We are amazed at the gracious response of our fellow neighbors to help our homeless neighbors in need,” she says. “You never know the impact you can have on someone’s life with one simple kind act.”

when buying the socks.

Student awareness of the issue of homeless was enriched by a Zoom visit with Dori Geer, the CORE outreach coordinator with Contra Costa County Health Services. She spoke to the children about the team’s efforts to serve the homeless and fielded questions during the hour-long session. The students followed up by writing letters expressing their appreciation to Geer for giving her time and to share a reaction to what they had learned during the virtual visit.

They gained further information and understanding about homelessness through assigned readings as part of language arts/literature lessons during the month.

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Concord council ponders new options for naval base January 15, 2021

BEV BRITTON The Pioneer

As the City Council considers a new plan for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station, Mayor Tim McGallian created an ad hoc committee to refine the council’s vision. “I look forward to getting basically into the weeds of a lot of this,� said Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano, who sits on the committee with Councilman Edi Birsan.

After selecting Lennar Concord LLC as the master developer in 2016, the council let the agreement expire this past August. “I’d like to remind the community that we are in this place because we decided to make the decision that we didn’t like what we were being presented with and that we wanted to move forward in a different fashion,�

Mayor Tim McGallian said at a special meeting on Dec. 10.

In that virtual meeting, Guy Bjerke, director of the Economic Development & Base Reuse Department, asked the council three questions: 1. Should the city proceed

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with selecting a new master developer to work with the city in a public-private partnership?

2. Does the council want a hybrid RFQ (Request for Qualifications) approach to master developer selection?

3. What should the RFQ state about the council’s expectations for implementation of the Area Plan, community benefits and the trade-offs that may be necessary to have a financially feasible project?

The Area Plan currently includes about 12,000 housing units at a range of densities, about 6 million sq. ft. of commercial uses, a campus district and community facilities such as a library, parks and a tournament sports complex.

While the council expressed a desire to continue to utilize a public-private partnership and maintained the commitment to 25 percent affordable housing, the ad hoc committee will finetune other details of Bjerke’s questions. “What we do on the base is what we are telling the future generations what our priorities and values are,� Birsan said of the process. “And we want as

many people involved and we want as many different views – and we want a consensus going forward. Because, after all, we are Concord and we put our name on working together.�

Carlyn Councilwoman Obringer suggested forming another committee to continue to explore concepts for the educational campus and sports

QUICK ON THEIR FEET When the world began to shut down last March, Aliano

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Contrary to upheaval in the U.S. Capitol that shattered what should have been a peaceful transition of power, Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis was uneventfully and quietly sworn in as the new board chair in a Jan. 5 ceremony.

The District 3 supervisor, whose East County constituency takes in Morgan Territory/Marsh Creek, humbly expressed her appreciation for her peers in voting her to the post for 2021. In her second term on the five-member board, and McGallian made it a top Burgis was vice chair last year.

In noting that this post “elepriority to find more space for local organizations. “Almost right away, we set this building up,� McGallian said. “We had this thing set up within a week or two of when we began. The only thing that took us longer was some of bothering them,� Concord the paperwork.� council member Edi Birsan Even with the delay from said. “We don’t move them paperwork, Aliano said the unless health, safety or crime new storage facility was up and is involved.� running in late April. Since In Shawn’s camp, occuopening, food and resources pants had dug shelters into the have been dropped off every side of the hill along Highway single day.

242 undermining the freeway. “When the time came, we Others tapped into private were ready,� McGallian said. power lines which creates a fire “When the million pounds of hazard. food showed up, we had a “Over 70 percent of the place to put it and then some.� wildfires in Contra Costa County are caused by the PLAN GOING FORWARD homeless,� said Birsan.

When they transitioned the Where do they go when old Kmart into the storage they have no place to go? facility, Aliano and McGallian “This is the billion dollar had no idea how long it would question,� Council member stay that way. With groups conCarlyn Obringer said. tinuing to pick up and drop off Concord has a homeless supplies daily, McGallian said shelter, but it is being held the plan, as of now, is to keep for patient overflow in the it open until the organizations event the hospitals run out of no longer need it. beds. Seniors and families can “At this point, we are probget shelter through hotel ably now going to keep it open vouchers, Shelter, Inc., and a until the middle of summer, at few other services. But many, least,� McGallian said.

vates East County� in the public eye, Burgis emphasized serving the good of the whole county is priority one. The Board of Supervisors sets the direction of county government and oversees a $3.98 billion budget to serve this large and diverse East Bay county. “This is a pivotal year in the county and world history,� Burgis said, as the board hopes to move past the effects of the pandemic on the local economy.

Among her objectives as chair are working with her colleagues to support the county health officer to get the coronavirus under control, moving the county toward economic

Homeless, from page 1

Pierce, from page 1

Seeno came to the city with plans to build 3,000 homes on the surrounding hills, the city rejected the plan and it sat in limbo for several years.

In 1992, Presley Development presented a plan for half as many homes, a golf course and other amenities. By that time Pierce was on the planning commission and Oakhurst was approved in just 14 months.

During Pierce’s 27 years on the council, Clayton also saw the annexation of Dana Hills, Dana Ridge and Clayton Woods, completion of nearly a dozen major subdivisions, downtown commercial development and establishment of the Urban Limit line protecting hundreds of acres of open space. “Julie has an incredible mind that understands complex issues and can articulate them clearly and with determination,� said Amy Worth, mayor of Orinda and Pierce’s colleague and friend for more than 30 years.

Not everyone, however, wants to hear the complexities.

Clayton, like every city in the county, is subject to state highdensity housing laws that often go toe-to-toe with the desires of locals. Last year while mayor, Pierce was at the center

of a controversial decision to approve a three-story, 81-unit apartment complex in the Town Center.

Denial of the project without legal grounds would leave the city open to expensive lawsuits, said Pierce, who took heat from residents opposed Julie Pierce received a keepsake gavel from CCTa in to the project.

INTERESTS FROM SEWING TO GARDENING

Pierce’s accomplishments (two pages, typewritten, single spaced) are not limited to local and regional government.

She was raised in Ames, Iowa, by her professor father and homemaker mother. She attended Iowa State University, majoring in textiles and home economics. She designs and sews custom wedding dresses.

She can walk 20,000 steps in the 4th of July parade and has been seen unplugging a stopped-up toilet during a summer concert. She will serve 200 burgers at Clayton Cleans Up, then dumpster dive to salvage the recyclables.

She has a volunteer tomato plant that grows more tomatoes than she can give away. She raised two Eagle Scouts and has been married

vision come forward.�

For her part, Obringer said she would continue to have conversations with those on the Blue Ribbon Campus Committee “so there’s not a layer of dust on the report.� “I think that’s perfect,� said McGallian, who has led efforts to create a sports complex. “We need to keep up those relation-

ships so when the time comes up, we will be on schedule.�

Birsan told the Pioneer he hopes to have the issue back to the council by the end of January. In a Nov. 19 report, Bjerke said the goal is to send a request to the development community

by February and select a development partner in September.

East County supervisor to wield board’s gavel in ‘pivotal year’Â

Warehouse, from page 1

MAKING IT WORK With funding coming from the Todos Santos Business Association Arts Foundation and a grant from Kaiser, the city created the storage space for local non-profits including the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, White Pony Express, First 5 of Contra Costa and the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. “Finding this space was one of those things where Dominic and I just put our heads down and made it happen,� McGallian told the Pioneer. “Dominic had resources, I had resources and we knew we could make this happen.�

The foundation contracted with Merlone Geier, the group that owns the building, to take over the huge space with zero rent. The city is providing some financial support to take care of minor building maintenance.

Aliano noted that Concord Planning Commission Chair Ray Barbour, Garaventa Enterprises and the IBEW Local 302 also all made substantial contributions of time, effort and dollars.

complex, but others thought that was premature. “I think the most important thing for us to focus on is to get to the point where we have a developer,� Birsan said. “Then the developer becomes our partner going forward and that’s when we can bring out our own little guns, you might say, in terms of lobbying to make our

Page 5

honor of her 33 years of service.

to the same man for 50 years.

While she says elected office is not in future plans, she does not rule out something at the regional level.

Retirement during quarantine has been particularly hard, Pierce says. But it is leaving time for more reading, cleaning out her sewing room and sleeping late.

Digging a little deeper

Favorite colors: Teal green and pink Favorite movie: “Les MisĂŠrablesâ€?

Favorite books: Biographies, history and whatever I’m reading at the time Favorite quote: “I can never remember them at the right time – or jokes, either.�

like Shawn, don’t qualify for any of the programs.

Shawn had a job until March when the gym where he worked closed because of the virus. He has a little money, but not enough to rent an apartment and can’t find a room. “No one wants a stranger in their house during COVID,� he said.

Others on the street have been offered help but refuse it.

Mental health issues, addiction, disabilities are major reasons. “I have nightmares over it,�

Birsan said. “I really want the ability to forceably take someone who is mentally ill and get them off the street on the basis they are a danger to themselves.�

Police chief Mark Bustillos will address the mental health issues at the Jan. 26 city council meeting. The city has allocated funds for a full time, CORE outreach team. Obringer is working with the Winter Nights temporary shelter program, and individuals and charities do what they can to meet immediate needs.

There is no one fix, and the need is far greater than available solutions. “If there was an easy solution, we would have found it,�

Birsan said.

Next month: We take a closer look at the resources available.

DIANE BURGIS

recovery for all residents and businesses, enhancing mental health crisis response, reforming the juvenile justice system, addressing racial justice and inequality, protecting the Delta and proactively fighting climate change and providing sustainable fire protection services to all areas of the county.

Wildfire prevention and dis-

aster preparedness are particular issues she is focusing on for the year ahead. In a related development, she anticipates the coming year will see a formal consolidation of the Contra Costa and East Contra Costa fire protection districts. “I’m excited about the year ahead and ready to get to work,� said Burgis, who takes over the leadership role from Supervisor Candace Andersen of District 2. “I appreciate Supervisor Andersen’s unwavering commitment to keeping our residents safe and keeping the county moving forward while addressing the impacts of COVID-19,� Burgis added.

District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, in his sixth term, will be vice chair in 2021. His district includes the county’s northern waterfront.

Staying Safe and Giving Back!

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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

January 15, 2021

Moving forward together for a better 2021

With 2020 being unprecedented, I’m happy to have it behind us.

Although we’re not out of the woods as far as COVID19 is concerned, I am full of hope for a promising year ahead and the positive changes that will ultimately come about with the widespread distribution of the vaccine.

Although the vaccine is currently in short supply, our county health officials have a detailed plan for how and when to distribute the vaccine and we can rest assured that our frontline workers and elderly residents will have access soon, followed by the rest of us.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to interview Contra Costa Health Services’ Dr. Ori Tzvieli, who is managing the county’s vaccine distribution plan. You can listen to

Karen mITCHOFF

COUNTY

SUPERVISOR

With a new year, many like to make a New Year’s resolution to incorporate a healthy habit into their routine. Right now, health is front and center for us. This includes physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. For those that are able, I have found it is helpful to keep the body moving, and I have been trying to make time for walking each day.

Luckily, we live in an area with many opportunities for enjoying the trails and open space.

During the pandemic it has been clearer than ever that our local trails and open space have provided an essential service that is critical to our physical and mental health and general well-being. They provide us with vast opportunities to walk, run, hike, bike and enjoy nature which can be so healing. We can safely visit

staff and I recognize that small businesses have been hit hard by the stay-at-home health orders requiring businesses to reduce operations or close altogether. Our Economic Development team has been working hard, in partnership with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Contra Costa County and others, to TIm mCGallIan provide resources and inforCONCORD MAYOR mation to our local businesses, and we will continue to do so. our conversation online Learn more at through the city’s new podcityofconcord.org/Businesscast, “Concord Connected.”

Resources.

The Jan. 7 episode is our In addition to grants and inaugural episode, and we loans available for small busilook forward to bringing you nesses, there are educational more news and information and support resources that we through this podcast every two weeks. You can subscribe want to highlight. The WDB has introduced call centers to through any of your favorite podcast services: Apple, Spoti- provide business and human resources assistance. fy or Soundcloud.

Business owners impacted Your City Council, city

Stress relief is just a few steps away these spaces as well by keeping our distance from those outside our household and wearing our masks if we come in closer proximity to others.

East Bay Regional Park District has just kicked off their 2021 Trails Challenge.

This is an annual program offering 20 different trails ranging from easy to moderate challenging.

The Trails Challenge is part of the global Healthy Parks, Healthy People movement that underscores the connection between a healthy green environment and community health. East Bay Regional Park District offers a guidebook both online and at their visitor centers. For more information on the Trails Challenge, please visit: www.ebparks.org.

There are also paved trails to enjoy such as the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Iron Horse Regional Trail. The Canal Trail provides a safe corridor connecting Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and Concord. This trail meanders through a number of

local parks Las Juntas Park in Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek’s Larkey Park and Heather Farm Park, and the Lime Ridge Open Space in Concord.

The Iron Horse Regional Trail begins in Concord near Highway 4 and continues south through Walnut Creek to its ending point in Pleasanton. This is a multi-use trail where you may find pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians accessing the trail. Wheelchairs, Class 1 and Class 2 Ebikes are also allowed on the trail.

The outdoors can do wonders for relieving anxiety, stress, and depression; relief needed now more than ever.

I hope that you may find more opportunities to experience our many nearby trails, parks, and open space.

Wishing all a healthy New Year.

COVID-19 health crisis began. I want to highlight some of the priorities I’ll have in the new year.

When the pandemic hit, nearly a million renter households in our state experienced the loss of a job, leading to a looming eviction crisis with the potential to throw millions of families into catastrophe.

In 2019, I was proud to co-

author a strongest-in-thenation bill to protect Californians who rent from unjust evictions and unfair rentgouging. Unfortunately, this law couldn’t help people who could no longer afford their rent or the small landlords who would struggle to make mortgage payments. My colleagues and I worked to pass AB 3088, an emergency stopgap measure to protect tenants and small landlords. But this bill only remains in effect through the end of January, and it does nothing to address our housing and homelessness

Karen Mitchoff is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to Mitchoff at supervisormitchoff@bos.cccounty.us

by COVID-19 can call 833320-1919 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays to receive information related to lay-offs, insurance needs, federal small business loans and payroll subsidies. For information about California labor laws, such as paid sick leave laws and the Family and Medical Leave Act, business owners can call the Human Resources Hotline for Employers at 888-599-7645 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

I am really proud to see how our community has come together in the wake of the pandemic, with neighbors helping neighbors and people stepping up to support our local nonprofit organizations.

The Monument Crisis

Center, for example, has received more small donations for residents in Concord than ever before. It has made a significant difference in their ability to serve families in need. They now see about 2,500 families each week, a 250 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels. They remain in need of two things: volunteers and financial support. Visit monumentcrisiscenter.org/ to learn more about how to help.

For those who take comfort in sweet and savory delights, look no further than Concord’s 4th annual Comfort Food Week, happening Jan. 15-31. With more than 70 local restaurants participating,

you can sample the flavors of worldly cuisine, find great deals, earn prizes, and – most importantly – support local businesses.

To find a list of participating restaurants, check out VisitConcordCA.com.

As we embark on the year ahead, I urge everyone to maintain their vigilance with mask wearing, social distancing and good hygiene so we can defeat this virus. Yes, the vaccine is coming, but it could take a while to be distributed, so let’s all be patient and stay focused.

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

New city manager shares vision for Clayton

felt like coming home. And working for Clayton feels the same.

I’ve been drawn to Clayton not only for its small-town character and community spirit, but also for its outstanding trails and outdoor spaces. I’m an avid hiker and am looking forward to having more time in the area to explore and appreciate the local environment.

My job as city manager is to Carl “CW” WOlFe serve the community of Clayton in CLAYTON MAYOR support of the vision of being recognized as a premier small city. My All the decorations have highest priorities in the near future been neatly put back into storThank you, Mayor Wolfe, the are to learn as much as possible age and the radio station is Clayton City Council and the once again playing “hits of about the city and community of entire Clayton community for the the ’80s, ’90s and today.”

Clayton in support of that vision.

As 2020 fades into memo- warm welcome. I am delighted to While COVID-19 has dampry, we will look forward to have been selected to serve the city of ened spirts because of canceled 2021 with optimism and hope Clayton as city manager. events and reduced community gathfor a brighter and a much While I may be new to the city erings, I know we will come out the healthier year. of Clayton, I am not new to the Thanks to the volunteers other side able to celebrate together Bay Area and not new to working a very bright future for Clayton. I who took part in the annual removal of the downtown in local government. I’ve worked for look forward to getting to know holiday decorations, as well as various local governments for nearly and serve this community. You can to Tom Cianfrano and Scout 30 years. contact me at rschwartz@ci.clayTroop 484 for picking up disI was born in San Francisco, ton.ca.us. carded Christmas trees for Welcome Reina. We are recycling. Gargantuan efforts have lived in the South Bay and happy to have you with us. numerous locations in the East Bay by all and very much appreciated. and am a UC Berkeley graduate.

Send questions and comments With the current shutdown When I came to Contra Costa to cwolfe@ci.clayton.us, or call in place, we have continued to County to work for the city of San (925) 673-7324 hold our public City Council Pablo more than five years ago, it meetings virtually. While we would love to return to in-person meetings, it looks as though the online format will continue for the foreseeable future.

City Hall has also been closed by the shutdown, but that does not mean that city business has stopped. Keeping things going is our new city manager, Reina Schwartz.

As mentioned in my last article, I will feature guest writers time to time. This month, I would like you to hear directly from Reina:

Because 2020 was a year unlike any other, the state Legislature had to make tough choices prioritizing legislation that was urgent or directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, we will again have to act with urgency to help the millions of Californians who have been struggling both before and since the

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crisis that is decades in the making.

In this new legislative session, it will be a priority of mine to remind my colleagues that our existing housing crisis did not end when the health crisis began, and that we must also work to address the systemic problems that got us to this point. We cannot allow TIm GraySOn thousands of hard-working families to be evicted or lose 14TH ASSEMBLY their homes in the middle of a DISTRICT pandemic, just as we cannot afford to wait another year to pass policies that will set Cali- ly increase our housing supply fornia on a path to dramatical- and build sorely needed affordable housing.

I will work to pass legislation that helps people now, while bringing us closer to our long-term goals of making the cost of living in California affordable to working families again.

It is critical, however, that we do not simply throw money at our problems. In a preview of his draft budget, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a proposal to provide $575 million in new emergency aid for small businesses. I commend the governor for prioritizing the small businesses throughout California that are the backbone of

our state’s economy and essential to our communities, however, we need to make sure that this is help that is received and not just promised.

Cal Matters reported that three weeks after the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in our state, only 35 percent had been administered. A vaccine does not save lives if it doesn’t make it into people’s arms, and emergency financial aid won’t keep the doors of small businesses open if it doesn’t reach them.

As we review the governor’s proposed budget and begin negotiations in the coming months, I’ll be working to make sure that we are prudent with taxpayer dollars and that our communities actually see the money the state has promised.

Many of our 2020 challenges have unfortunately followed us into 2021, but with them comes the opportunity to build a stronger California.

Reach Assemblyman Tim Grayson at (925) 521-1511.

Visit or write the district office 2151 Salvio Street, Suite P, Concord, CA 94520

January 15, 2021

Obituary Carla Ruth Stewart 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,

November 9, 1940 – January 2, 2021

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Longtime Clayton resident, Carla Stewart, has moved on to a greater place.

She and husband, Stephen Stewart, traveled and lived many places during Steve’s Navy career, but always loved their assignments in the Bay Area, and they took up permanent residence in Clayton in 1990. Carla and Steve walked the trails of Clayton daily and were featured in the Clayton Pioneer in 2009 when they took up scuba diving in their 60s.

Carla was a lover of Clayton’s trails, restaurants, events and of Crossroads Covenant Church, where she and Steve were founding members almost 50 years ago.

Carla was a fixture in the

bleachers of Clayton Valley Little League and Clayton Valley High School during the 80s to cheer for her kids’, Steve and Ann, baseball, football and volleyball games. She recently graced those same venues for her grandsons’ baseball, soccer and volleyball games with local leagues and Berean Christian High School.

She will be remembered as an enthusiastic lover of her family, neighbors, and community.

Carla is survived by her husband, Steve, her children, Steve Stewart (of Livermore) and Ann Antonson (of Clayton), and her grandchildren, Sunde’, Zachary, Bradley, Connor and Kyle.

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Sattler brothers leave lasting mark on Concord history acreage in Concord in 1913.

By 1918, they moved to the newly purchased 14-acre orchard with their three boys: William Jr., Henry (Hank) and Ernest (Ernie). The orchard is where Clayton Way and Concord Boulevard meet today.

When William Henry Sattler died in 1926, Anna, 17year-old William Jr., 14-yearCarOl lOnGSHOre old Henry and 10-year-old Ernie worked together on YESTERYEAR their walnut orchard. To make The Sattler family was ends meet, the boys took jobs well-known in the early days at the steel mill and peddled of business in Concord. berries, plums and peaches It all started back in 1890 door to door in Avon, Port in San Francisco, when Chicago and Clyde.

William Henry Sattler, from In 1939, through hard Germany, met Anna Buchter, work and dedication, Henry from Switzerland. They marand Ernest bought 23 addiried and became partners in a tional acres of walnut bakery in San Francisco. They orchards with a house that worked hard and saved was a quarter of a mile away enough money to buy country from the family ranch. Also in

1939, Ernest started a refrigeration service using the farm’s tank house as a shop. Henry worked with him and later became a partner.

As time went by, the Sattler brothers purchased William Eddy’s garage on the corner of Willow Pass and Colfax. It was 1945, and their new adventure was labeled Sattlers Appliance Store. After the war was over, William Jr., who served in World War II, join the company as a third party and served as their bookkeeper. It was a smart decision, as Concord was starting to grow. Construction was at its best, and everyone needed appliances for their new homes.

By 1955, they expanded to the corner building across the street and opened a furniture and television store. Again,

Henry (Hank) Sattler and his wife June sit in their 1957 walnut harvest with their three children, Tom, Heidi and Dennis. Today, Tom lives in Washington state. Heidi Sattler Foley lives in Clovis and Dennis in lodi.

the timing was perfect. Television was an up-and-coming necessary household com-

modity.

The boys were very successful and became household

names. When the three of them decided to retire, Hank’s son Dennis took over the business.

They sold their acres as Concord grew, but the Sattlers left a little legacy next to Dana Estates. Sattler Drive has seven little courts coming off of it. If you turn into Sattler off of Concord Boulevard, you’ll see the first court is Southpark Court and the last is Northpark Court, with five other classic courts in between. The development had a sign at its entrance that said Park Mall.

Carol Longshore has been a Concord resident since 1950. She is a community leader and past president of the Concord Historical Society. Send comments and suggestions for future topics to editor@pioneerpublishers.com.

Clayton couple release debut album with their band Nineteen Hand Horse KARA NAVOLIO Correspondent

For Clayton residents Nathalie Archangel and Mark Montijo, the pandemic has taken them back to their roots in country music and led to the release of their first album together – Revel.

“The pandemic made it clear that in order to keep our sanity, we needed to focus on something other than what was going on in the healthcare world,” Archangel said, “and music is the most of what I am, who I am. I needed to express that again.”

In December, they released the album, which has country western music at its heart with threads of outlaw country and ’80s alternative rock. They say they were influenced by classic country singers like June Carter, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. The 10 songs are personal and reflect their life experience - but all with

Sue Jereczek Photography

nathalie archangel and mark montijo, center, formed nineteen Hand Horse in 2009 and played local shows before the pandemic.

an upbeat vibe.

The band, consisting of six core musicians and five guest musicians for particular songs, is named Nineteen Hand Horse. The term refers to the size (19 hands from foot to shoulder) of some of the largest horses. Montijo,

who grew up on a horse ranch near Bakersfield, came up with the name.

“One summer, the Budweiser Clydesdales pulled through town,” Montijo said.

“The truck was having mechanical trouble, and they asked if they could use our

pastures while the truck was being repaired. The horses were so beautiful and iconic and strong. I wanted that image for the band.”

Archangel, who wrote most of the songs and sings on the album, and Montijo, who plays guitar and sings,

had accomplished musical careers before working in health care. During the ’80s and ’90s, Archangel recorded with Frankie Valli and Howard Jones and earned a double-platinum record for a song she wrote for Bette Midler. Montijo was in a trio called Dogs on Fire, singing and playing guitar in honkytonks in the Antelope Valley.

They landed the opening act for Duran Duran’s concerts at the Los Angeles Forum.

The couple met in Los Angeles and married in 1995.

They raised three daughters while Archangel worked as a nurse practitioner and Montijo as a clinical psychologist.

After moving to Clayton in 2008, they formed Nineteen Hand Horse in 2009 with several other Bay Area musicians.

They played locally at clubs and bars and began working on Revel in 2018.

“I hadn’t done any serious writing in 15 or 20 years,”

Archangel reflected. “But suddenly it was there again. I was inspired by long-time country musician Ray Wiley Hubbard, who said, ‘The good days are the days I keep my gratitude above my expectations.’ ” She said focusing on music helped, especially as she saw what so many colleagues were going through during the pandemic.

They look forward to a day, post pandemic, when they can play their music in person or open for a bigger act. They are also producing a YouTube show called “Horsin’ Round @ The Songbird Lounge,” a cross between “The Marty Stuart Show” and a 21st century West Coast “Hee Haw.” Their music is available on Apple, iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. To hear a sample, visit nineteenhandhorse.hearnow.com.

For more information about the band, go to nineteenhandhorse.com.

How can we move forward from the day of disorder?

Page 8

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

EDI BIRSAN PULSE OF

CONCORD

As I started to write this month’s Pulse of Concord, Trump supporters stormed the Capital building and looted the Senate chamber. At the same time, the president described them as great patriots, special people whom he loves and “feels their pain” – along with a whole repetition of outrageous lies about the election.

The Confederate Battle Flag, which the tens of thousands of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia could not bring to Washington, was waved

in the halls of Congress.

America, you have disgraced yourself. The behavior of the president has disgraced our country, yet the real sadness in my heart is a simple fact: Not one of the people that I know who voted for Trump in consideration of all this and his actions of the last two months has said that they would vote differently.

I know what it is like to protest, having taken over my college campus two or three times and marched on Washing-

In 2021, resolve to help our local businesses It’s more important now than ever to support our local businesses.

We have become so accustomed to shopping from our phones and receiving packages on our porches that we are missing some of the joy of getting out and looking for that something special.

Even before I was president of the Concord Chamber, I was a “shop local” kind of guy. I buy my shoes from the Van’s store in Sunvalley Shopping Center, bikes from Clayton/Encina Bikes, and groceries from Sam’s Club, Whole

Foods or Safeway. Pet food at Petco, hardware from Bill’s Ace Hardware, Ashby Lumber or Lowe’s. You get my point.

And yes, I often order directly from these companies and have items shipped to the store or my house.

Supporting restaurants is a big one right now, because their struggle is real. If you can afford to, make it easy on yourself twice per week and order something for a local restaurant or deli.

Circumstances have changed how we work, teach, interact and thrive. But the good news

is that we are going to move forward regardless of politics, the economy, weather, etc. This is what we do.

Stay strong Concord and don’t give up. We got this.

Concord is a cool city with its fair share of issues, but we are good, hard-working, smart people who will survive.

I sincerely hope you reach out to anyone of us at the chamber, and I look forward to connecting with you at one of the chamber’s many functions and events that Concord has to offer. We are currently working remotely and can be

KeVIn CaBral

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

reached via email at info@concordchamber.com or by phone at 925-685-1181.

Learn more about what the Concord Chamber offers businesses, our events and how we can work together at concordchamber.com.

Weather-wise, 2020 was a year of extremes

Concord’s average daily maximum temperatures were above the 30-year normal for all months of 2020 except for WOODY WHITLATCH March. For six of the above WEATHER WORDS normal months, the average maximum temperature was At the beginning of a new greater than five degrees above year, it is common for meteonormal. rologists to pore over weather There were two significant data from the previous year. heat waves in 2020.The first We like to view certain strong heat occurred in midweather parameters, particularly August. For four out of five temperature and rainfall, as they consecutive days, recorded compare to 30-year normal val- maximum temperatures ues compiled by the National reached 106 degrees.

Weather Service.

A few weeks later, an even The service updates data stronger heat wave baked the summaries at the end of each Bay Area. On Sept. 5, the maxidecade. The most recent “nor- mum temperature reached 104 mal” database uses weather degrees. The worst was yet to records for 1991-2010. For the come, with maximums of 110 Concord/Clayton area, the and 112 on the following aftermost representative data are noons. measured at the Concord AirTurning the climate page to port. rainfall data, we find that 2020 Temperature statistics indi- was pretty dry. Monthly rainfall cate it was another hotter than totals at Concord Airport were normal year. That trend was below average for each of the apparent in maximum, minieight wettest months. February, mum and average temperature normally one of the wetter statistics. months of winter, was bone

dry. In fact, there was no measureable rainfall at Concord between Jan. 27 and March 8.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the worst dry spell of 2020.

During a six-month period between mid-May and midNovember, there were only four days with measurable rain, all measuring less than onetenth of an inch.

Our 2020 weather was not without significant weatherrelated catastrophes. The oppressive heat and parched earth conditions of 2020 resulted in a long and destructive wildfire season that got off to an early start.

A mid-August surge of moist subtropical air was the culprit. A strong jet stream current directed a band of moisture from a dying tropical storm toward the California coast with disastrous consequences.

When this plume crossed our coastal hills on Aug. 16, thunderstorms erupted like a series of cloud volcanoes.

Thousands of lightning strikes

built in.

Some adaptors simply plug into a cable or into the back of your device so your cable fits correctly and everything works as you expected. We call them “passive adaptors,” as in no setup or special requirements.

Passive adaptors are usually inexpensive – $20 or less.

However, some devices are not as simple and require a special “chip” so they can convert one type of signal to another and allow the physical connection to work. We call these devices “active adaptors.” They will usually be at a premium price, above $20 but below $100.

My advice is to avoid cheap ones and to read reviews or get

ignited an unprecedented number of wildfires stretching from Southern California to the Oregon coast.

As a result, more than 4 million acres burned across our state. This broke the statewide burn record set in 2018 by more than 2 million acres.

Where there is fire, there is smoke. In the Bay Area, dense layers of wildfire smoke blanketed our neighborhoods like nothing I’d seen in my 40 years here. Hazardous air quality readings choked our area for nearly two months.

In summary, 2020 was a pretty lousy weather year, which added to the stress caused by the pandemic and political turmoil. However, as I write this, rain showers are cheerfully tapping on my office window.

Maybe it’s a sign that 2021 will be somewhat wetter, cooler and less conducive to firestorms.

Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist retired from PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com

if we can work on some common issues to go forward.

While two accepted and one politely declined, the response by one was to go on a tirade and call me a liar and refuse.

When I responded that it seemed like they were having a bad day and the offer to sit and talk still stood, the response was to notify me (and with copies to

others) that they would not even open up my emails.

These are dangerous times, and we need to reach out and prove that we are still worthy of the ideals of America: one people, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Send comments to EdiBirsan@gmail.com or 510-812-8180.

New Wonder Woman needed more punch, while ‘Soul’ dives deep It is impressive to see the superhero Wonder Woman on screen, even on the small one.

In both the first “Wonder Woman” and Patti Jenkins’ new “WW84,” Gal Gadot truly looks like the Amazonian warrior she portrays. The main problem with the latest film, however, is the galling lack of Wonder Woman.

Imagine a Superman film where we get mostly Clark Kent, or a Batman film dominated by Bruce Wayne.

“WW84” has a run time of 150 minutes, yet the titular character’s screentime may fall short of 30.

That does not mean Gadot is absent. As Diana, she is entrenched in the 1980s – living a normal life. She meets the unhinged Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig), and things take a strange and confusing turn.

An ancient stone has been unearthed, apparently causing wishes to be granted. When smarmy businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) gets his

JeFF mellInGer

SCREEN SHOTS

hands on it, he becomes able to grant wishes. Of course, this goes bad when he realizes he can also steal whatever he wants from someone just by granting their wish.

When the world goes topsy turvy, it is up to Wonder Woman and the not-quite-dead Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) from the first film.

The action scenes are top notch, the effects are not bad and the acting is just fine. It would have been hard to top

See Movies, page 13

Getting to know Nina brings lessons for us all

SUnny SOlOmOn

BOOKIN’ WITH SUNNY

Happy New Year, dear readers, and what better way to start the new year than to read Abbi Waxman’s “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.”

This novel can be read on so many levels, and most of them are often laugh out loud funny.

Nina Hill is 29 years old, single, a college graduate, a resident of Southern California and a valued employee at a bookstore on the edge of collapse.

She is also the daughter of a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who not only never married Nina’s father but claimed she was not sure who he was. A some personal recommendaone-night stand was fact tions before you buy. The enough. wrong active adaptor can harm Nina’s mother’s profession WIll Claney your devices. took her around the world, and If you need a more expenmost of Nina’s parenting was in TECH TALK sive adaptor, it may be a better the loving care of a nanny. to purchase the correct compo- aware of the issues with older Books saved Nina from an othnent or device with the compat- printers and monitors. I believe erwise isolating childhood and ible part already in it. If the part the engineers intentionally make young adulthood. you are trying to connect to is things difficult by changing conShe is most comfortable old (dog years in electronics), nectors and purposes. Oh well, with her own company, save for then it may be time to purchase that’s progress, and I really like a small circle of friends, books the compatible device. Then progress. and a cat named Phil. Because you avoid the issue and put Happy new year to all, and of books, Nina is very good at your money to better use. don’t forget to adapt.

Trivial Pursuit and is a member If you like fiddling with of a wildly successful trivia things, you are an adapter. But if William Claney is an indeteam that competes at local you don’t like messing around, pendent tech writer and former bars. Nina also does enjoy her take the easy way and buy a owner of Computers USA in the wine. new one.

Clayton Station. Email questions At about the time the reader If you have ever purchased or comments to has been given all of Nina’s a new computer, you are likely willclaney@gmail.com.

With new technology comes the need to adapt Santa delivered a lot of tech toys, devices and computers this holiday season and now you may be wondering how to connect everything so they can work together.

This can be especially difficult when the new devices do not connect directly to your older devices. The simple solution is to adapt. If you are an adapter, that is, one who likes making things work together, then you need some adaptors or those physical “thingies” that fit one piece of hardware to another.

For example, you have a VGA monitor input, but your computer only has an HDMI output. You need an adaptor, or a new monitor with HDMI

ton and slept on the Mall with from a few thousand to a million people in protest of a war that was killing 100-200 Americans every week in Vietnam.

Never was there even a hint of storming the Capital building.

This ideological mindset is not unknown locally, nor is it limited to just the Trumpers who provided about 25 percent of the votes of the electorate here. After our own City Council elections, I reached out to those who did not win and said: Let us sit down and talk to see

January 15, 2021

strengths and foibles and we’ve laughed at some riotous female humor (men take note), the bomb drops and the pace picks up. A stranger enters the bookstore asking for Nina by name.

He is an attorney who has been searching for her with news of her father’s death. The decedent not only has a name, but he also has left Nina with siblings, aunts, nieces and an assortment of ex-wives.

Because Nina is included in her wealthy father’s will, her life is immediately turned upside down. At about the same time, an ambiguous suitor has captured Nina’s unwilling heart.

Will Nina be able to open her heart to a non-bookish suitor? Can the beloved bookstore be saved? Will she welcome her new family into her tightly scheduled, well-regulated life?

What is her mother now willing to admit about her birth?

Will working in the bookstore continue to play the most important role in her life? How will people compete with books? Oh, yes, and what did her father leave her in his will?

I recommend this book because of the writing. Waxman, a resident of Los Angeles, can easily be compared to Jane Austen. Nina’s actions and those of her friends, neighbors, employer and new family is a smorgasbord of spot-on human behavior that any reader, of any age, can recognize with laughter or winces.

Waxman gives us the backstory of such behavior, which provides the novel with an unexpected and welcome depth.

I loved the ending of the story.

It is traditional, sensible and entirely satisfying.

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

January 15, 2021

2020, from page 1

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

working together to help feed homebound seniors and others in need as well as how local Point was not optimistic, sayPreserving open space: restaurants were coping with ing the BTC’s plan “sinks the Save Mount Diablo (SMD) and the ban on indoor dining. project, financially.” Later in the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Policing during a pan2020, the City Council let the Ride Association signed an contract with Lennar expire. option agreement to perma- demic: In an interview with By year’s end, the city was nently protect about 154 acres the Pioneer in April, new Conreworking development plans east of Clayton. The plan gives cord Chief of Police Mark with the goal of finding a new SMD two years to raise more Bustillos said he was looking than $1 million to purchase a forward to the days when he building partner in 2021. perpetual conservation ease- could get out and meet with Fire chief sounds the ment on the open space. In residents. While he might still alarm: Brian Helmick of the April, SMD launched another be waiting to fulfill that goal, East Contra Costa Fire Protec- campaign to connect Mount other issues became more tion District warns that chron- Diablo to the whole of the pressing. In July, he gave a viric underfunding and under- Diablo Range. Seth Adams, tual presentation to the City staffing puts residents at risk. SMD’s land conservation Council about the depart“Let me be clear: Status quo is director, said the Diablo Range ment’s policies and procedures not acceptable,” he wrote in is the “missing piece of the in the wake of the Black Lives his Pioneer column. In July, the California conservation map.” Matter movement and an effort to defund the Concord district announced it would Police Department. Speaker after speaker pleaded for more social service providers instead of armed officers. In September, the council directed city staff to work on expanding the Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) program and establishing a Mental Health Evaluation team. According to Concord community relations manager Jennifer Ortega, city and county staff are working together on the CORE team and expect David Scholz to have contracts before the Concord resident Kathy Gleason examines the growing Concord council later this number of stuffed animals, courtesy of area children, that month. “Concurrently, city she has been adding daily to her Be Kind to all animals staff has been very engaged in tree on Crestwood Circle. the county-led effort to look at a 24/7/365 only send firefighters inside a Booking it for 25 years: developing burning building if human life The Clayton Community response program countywide is at risk and would focus on Library will celebrate its 25th for mental health emergencies. containing the fire to the struc- birthday in March. “In March An update on that work is ture involved. In September, 1989, a group of women from anticipated to occur at the orange skies filled the Bay Area the Clayton branch of the Contra Costa Mayors Conferin a haunting reminder of the American Association of Uni- ence meeting in February,” growing threat of wildfires for versity Women met to fulfill a Ortega told the Pioneer on long-held dream to have a Dec. 31, 2020. us all. brick and mortar library,” Budget crunch: With the Short stint for new Clay- Mayor Julie Pierce wrote in her ton manager: In an interview Pioneer column. “Construc- loss of sales tax due to the stay in January 2020, Ikani Tau- tion began in March 1994, and at home orders, city staff said moepeau said he was “excited we celebrated the grand open- Concord could face more than $14 million in losses this fiscal about the opportunity to work ing on March 4, 1995.” year, which ends June 30, and in one of the best communimore than $23 million in the M ARCH ties in the entire state.” HowCoronavirus hits the front next. On April 14, the City ever, he resigned in May without offering an official expla- page: As the March 20, 2020, Council approved a 13-day furnation. In November, the city edition of the Pioneer was lough for 60 non-represented hired Reina Schwartz as city going to press, most Bay Area employees as they continue to manager, taking over from counties were issuing a three- make cuts to an already tight interim city manager Frances week shelter in place order. city budget. The council subseRobustelli. “Clayton is an The Pioneer reported 34 con- quently placed a one-cent sales extraordinary community and firmed cases of coronavirus in tax on the November ballot. environment,” Schwartz said, Contra Costa County and 250 Voters approved Measure V, which city officials estimate “and I look forward to work- in the Bay Area. will raise $27 million annually. ing collaboratively in support Olivia gets the go-ahead: of our vision to be a premier Parking problems: As small city focused on customer The Clayton City Council approved a three-building, more people try to access service and excellence.” three-story senior apartment Mount Diablo State Park Thwarting second-hand project on Marsh Creek Road through Clayton, the City smoke: The Concord City at the March 3, 2020, meeting. Council imposed a 24/7 ban Council voted to ban smoking Residents in the Stranahan on non-resident parking on in multi-unit residences and neighborhood continue to Regency and Rialto drives. “I many public areas. The rules oppose the Olivia, citing inad- have personally witnessed went into effect Feb. 6, 2020, equate parking. In a column in groups of up to 20-plus gather for new units and on Jan. 1, the Pioneer, Mayor Tuija Cata- outside my house, violating 2021, for existing units. “We’re lano said the council had no every possible social distancing going to be working on educa- legal basis to deny the project. regulation,” said resident Dan tion and outreach the next “A court could order the proj- Walsh. quarter or so,” Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister told the Pioneer on Dec. 31, 2020.

“The enforcement on that is mostly a civil matter.”

FEBRUARY Frenzied freelancers: California’s new “gig” law (AB5) is making it difficult for many independent contractors to find work: The law, aimed at Uber and Lyft, had wide-ranging – and unanticipated – consequences for workers from musicians and actors to journalists and therapists. In a pre-pandemic interview, Sylvia Amorino told the Pioneer that Concord’s Solo Opera might have to shut down to comply. Little did she know then that March’s stay at home order would drop the curtain on all theater companies and most other businesses for months.

In December 2020, Amorino launched a fundraising campaign in the hopes of bringing ‘Scalia/Ginsburg” to the stage later in 2021. And as many workers and employers continue to sort through AB5’s ramifications, voters approved Prop. 22 in November to allow gig economy drivers to continue as independent contractors.

Tamara Steiner

Clayton meets racism head on at a peaceful rally June 5 in The Grove. The rally followed a less peaceful march 3 days before.

ect to be approved, award attorney fees and impose penalties … in excess of $4 million.” The 3-2 vote spawned a contentious race for three seats on the council in November, which ended with Catalano failing to win reelection. On Oct. 30, Contra Costa Superior Court judge Edward Weil ruled that the city acted properly in approving the project.

APRIL Virtual reality: Like most everything else, the Pioneer newspaper went virtual in April. Stories focused on the multitude of organizations

MAY Congressman on the mend: U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord was released from a Washington, D.C., hospital, where he was recovering from pneumonia and a fractured rib. “We appreciate his friends and constituents affording him time and support as the next phase of his recovery begins,” his sons said in a statement.

Page 9

she wants to spread through the colorful stuffed creatures.

“I am thrilled the kids like it,” said the 72-year old animal activist. “They come to see what animals are new and count them.”

JUNE Clayton tackles racism: Citing violation of Clayton’s 6 p.m. curfew, police officers used tear gas to disperse a crowd downtown. Police had set the curfew after hearing word of a planned protest over the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. The Clayton City Council subsequently established a Public Safety Committee to meet regularly with the police chief in an open forum with residents. And a group of residents launched “Clayton Speaks,” a public panel about racism in the community.

Holly Tillman, one of the participants, won a seat on the City Council in November.

Game over: Given societal changes due to the pandemic, Hall Sports Ventures ended its exclusive negotiating agreement with the city of Concord to develop a downtown soccer stadium along with hotels, a convention center housing and retail. “The future is rather difficult to forecast for all types of real estate projects,” said company president Joe Garaventa.

Tamara Steiner

In november, les ruefenacht used his woodworking skills to make desks for students distance learning at home.

faith locals about the challenges of serving their communities from a distance. “I think the social connections are as essential as the spiritual ones,” noted Rabbi Daniel Stern.

A boost for affordable housing: Resources for Community Development will receive more than $25 million in federal and states grants to help build a 62-unit, $41.5 million affordable housing complex in downtown Concord.

Construction on Galindo Terrace is expected to begin in spring 2021. “Concord is working very hard to build affordable housing as well as housing of all income levels so everyone can continue to live and work here,” said Councilwoman Carlyn Obringer.

Traffic calming measCannabis on the front ures: The Clayton City Counburner: After more than three cil urged residents to slow years of review, the Concord down so the city can avoid increasing the speed limits.

The council also asked staff to look at several modifications to reduce speeds. According to Laura Hoffmeister, assistant to the Clayton city manager, staff was in the process of installing speed limit signs on Eagle Peak Avenue and Clayton Road in late December. Plans also include a meeting with the Dana Hills Homeowners Association about speeding on Holbrook resident, anna Mountaire Parkway and adjustGarcia Steiner, 87, finds a ments to signal light timing. way to connect with neighbors during quarantine.

City Council approved cannabis regulations that include retail storefronts in the downtown area. Greg Kremenliev of the marijuana advocacy group NORML called the 3-2 vote “a milestone for our city.”

Clayton shows its pride: The rainbow flag flew at Clayton City Hall for the first time on June 1, prompted by resident Dee Vieira – who said she wants to wants to make this world a safer and more inclusive place for LGBTQ+ youth.

OCTOBER County begins reopening: With coronavirus numbers improving, Contra Costa County moved to the Red Tier – leading to a loosening of restrictions across a wide spectrum of social settings. However, the celebration was shortlived and the county was back on lockdown on Dec. 6.

DART to the rescue: Local pilots DeWitt Hodge and Stephen Tucker were among those becoming CaliAirlift fornia Disaster Response Team (DART) operators after a mission to deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to two local aid groups. “Everyone in the group performed flawlessly,” said Tucker, the new group’s executive director.

JULY Help for renters: Concord residents gathered at Meadow Homes Park on July 7 to protest the city’s removal of the Residential Rent Review Program. On July 18, the City Concord Villages up for Council adopted a Residential sale: The U.S. General ServicTenant Protection Program es Administration began an that includes relocation assistance for no-fault just cause evictions and requires that a tenant be provided a written lease with the appropriate minimum lease terms. In the fall, the council also launched a tenant loan program for those impacted by COVID-19 and directed more than $900,000 in federal funds to help residents at high risk of evictions due to the pandemic.

Patriotism on display: With the old-fashioned Fourth of July celebrations canceled this year, Clayton created a video of past events. Over in Concord, residents submitted videos of their own mini parades. “We are all trying to find ways to come together while being apart,” Concord Mayor Tim McGallian wrote in his Pioneer column.

Tree of wonder: Families AUGUST on walks can’t help but smile Keeping the faith: As regwhen they encounter the tree ulations for religious services in Concord resident Kathy the Piocontinue to fluctuate, Gleason’s front yard. “Be kind neer talked with several local to all animals” is the message

online public sale of two villages with 280 housing units.

The property is adjacent to the Naval former Concord Weapons Station and was transferred to the Coast Guard in 2007. According to Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister, the bid was at $32 million on Dec. 31, 2020. “Every day that there is another bid of $200,000, the bidding stays open until there are no bids in a 24-hour workday period,” she said.

NOVEMBER A studious project: With so many students struggling with distance learning, Clayton resident Les Ruefenacht used his woodworking skills to craft efficient home desks – and give them away for free. Within 48 hours, Ruefenacht had more than 100 requests. His son Mark set up a Go Fund Me campaign to help with expenses. “Thank goodness he did that,” Ruefenacht told the Pioneer.

Local election results: Concord City Councilwoman Carlyn Obringer bested four opponents to hold on to her council seat, while fellow Councilman Edi Birsan ran unopposed. In Clayton, Councilman Jim Diaz was reelected, with newcomers Holly Tillman and Peter Cloven joining him on the council.

DECEMBER Mayoral musings: Both the Concord and Clayton City Councils opted against moving the vice mayors into the mayoral posts. In a 3-2 vote, the Clayton council passed over Vice Mayor Jeffrey Wan in favor of CW Wolfe. The majority cited Wan’s support of disinformation and negative tactics over high-density housing downtown. In his inaugural column in the Pioneer, Wolfe said he hopes “that we can come together, rather than oppose each other, in a civil, positive and constructive way to better our city.” Meanwhile, the Concord City Council voted to retain Tim McGallian as mayor for another year, with Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano supporting the decision. While acknowledging the challenges that 2020 brought to the city, McGallian wrote in the Pioneer that there was still much to be thankful for – “including our vibrant Concord community.”

SPORTS

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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

January 15, 2021

Clock is ticking for resumption of high school sports JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

The calendar pages keep turning but there still has been no high school athletics in California since mid-March when the pandemic halted the state basketball playoffs right before championship weekend and all spring sports were called off shortly thereafter.

Hopes for normal 2020-21 school year sports were dashed in July when the California Interscholastic Federation put a halt to all games until 2021.

Now that we are in 2021, each passing day lessens the opportunities for the 830,000 student athletes in the country’s largest state to participate before their terms end in June.

Early December was identified in that July plan for the resumption of official training for the first set of sports to resume in the state’s 10 sections in order for condensed schedules for all the high school sports broken into three seasons running from January to June this year.

Those hopes were dashed

Athlete Spotlight

Logan Jacobs

School: Concord High Grade: Senior Sports: Cross Country, Swimming, Track

Jacobs has been a three-sport athlete all through his years at Concord High, participating in cross country, track and swimming. In past spring seasons he managed to split his workout time between track and swimming and still be one of the fastest varsity athletes on each team. His summer schedule is nearly as hectic as he swam for Gehringer Park Swim Team as well as doing conditioning for the fall cross country season. Coach Lanette Stanziano says, “Logan has been one of the top athletes on the cross country team since his freshman year.” In 2019 as a junior, he qualified for the California State cross country meet by finishing 12th at the North Coast Section meet with a time of 15:43, the school record for the three-mile race. At state meet, he ran 16:18 on the difficult 5k course, which was the second fastest 5K time in school history. His coach adds, “Logan has been a delight to coach and I count on him every day to be the leader for the team, a role he takes on with enthusiasm. He is an inspiration to everyone on the team.”

Jacobs schedule for the past three years has been turned upside down with the cancelation of all high school sports since last March. With the resumption of athletics during the second half of this school year still up in the air, he probably shares the feelings of thousands of fellow seniors in California. “When I was starting high school, my vision for how my senior season would play out was drastically different from what has happened so far. Instead of the intense grind leading up to each meet, our main focus has been slowly building our running base in preparation for any form our season will come in. With no specifics set in stone for the season, my teammates and I have the opportunity to pinpoint exactly why we enjoy the sport. Whether it is the difficult speed workouts, the long runs anywhere in the Concord area or the laughs we share during each practice, one of those reasons kept us going through this hectic year.” If and when things start up, Jacobs will be running 800, 1600 and 3200-meter races for the Minuteman track team and swimming freestyle events from 50 to 500 yards in the pool.

In addition to athletics, he is a standout student. He has a 4.0 unweighted and 4.25 weighted GPA. He is part of the Concord High orchestra as a cellist, participating in the MDUSD honor orchestra each year. He does all this while also getting up at 5 a.m. daily to attend seminary. He plans on attending Brigham Young University to study mechanical engineering. “While I am at BYU, I would like to run for their club cross country team with the hopes of walking onto their varsity team later on. I would also like to join the college string orchestra if my schedule will allow it,” the ever-busy Jacobs adds.

The Pioneer congratulates Logan 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.

when the new surge of COVID-19 cases created an increased health hazard in the late fall. CIF said that “due to the continued surge in COVID-19 infections, the California Department of Public Health has postponed the issuance of its updated youth sports guidance.” Eventually Jan. 25 became the new target date for a resumption of training and eventually competition.

Early last week CIF came out with a new proposal for two overlapping seasons: Season 1 January-April:

Cross country, field hockey, football, gymnastics, skiing/ snowboarding, competitive cheer, girls volleyball, water polo.

Season 2 March - June: Baseball, badminton, sport cheer, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, tennis and wrestling.

The state organization explained that this new plan is subject to adherence of all California Department of Public Health and individual county guidelines.

This is where the scheduling of

sports doesn’t, at present, match up with the reality of the health situation in Contra Costa and most of the state, for that matter.

Currently, the entire Bay Area is in the “widespread” purple tier just days before the target date for resuming training in Season 1.

The only sports allowed in areas during widespread tier that are in the Season 1 plan are cross country and skiing/snowboarding.

North Coast Section commissioner of athletics Pat Cruickshank says he is hopeful to announce more details of a plan for NCS schools this week. You

can presume much discussion at the state and section levels revolves around moving sports eligible to be held in widespread tier such as swimming and diving, track and field, golf and tennis into Season 1.

That will allow more time for the coronavirus statistics to improve so that counties will be able to move into the substantial, moderate and minimal tiers.

CIF has connected allowable participation in each sport to a tier with the indoor spots of

See Clock, page 11

3 De La Salle football players sign early college commitments JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Three members of the North Coast Section champion De La Salle High School football team made their college choices official last month during the first day of the early football signing period for National Letters of Intent. The biggest question now is whether they will be able to play during their senior year.

Quarterback Dorian Hale is heading to Sacramento State, defensive back LuMagia Hearns is going to Cal and defensive tackle Chad Tasi is on his way to Southern Utah.

With the announcement the same week of their signings, the 2020-21 high school football season in California is in jeopardy based on guidelines for sports to return around the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Spartans coach Justin Alumbaugh said he doesn’t care when the season gets underway or if there can be any playoffs, but he

action Photos: David Gershon/SportStars magazine

Quarterback Dorian Hale (10) is taking his footballing talents to Sacramento State this fall. He will hope to enjoy the same success as his former De la Salle teammate Shamar Garrett (24), who was part of the league champion San Jose State Spartans in a freshman season that saw him score a kickoff return touchdown in the mountain West Conference title game victory last month over Boise State.

wants his athletes—especially the seniors—to get a chance to play.

Hale was the first commit for this Sac State football recruiting class and comes to

Defensive back lu-magia Hearns is going to Cal as part of a top 25 recruiting class for Golden Bears head coach Justin Wilcox. Hearns is a wide receiver and DB for the Spartans, who are still holding out hope they will be able to have any kind of season this year.

DLS junior Zeke Berry college showcase MVP

While his football team remains on the sidelines along with all other California high schools, De La Salle junior Zeke Berry is still making his case for moving on to the next level after his June 2022 graduation. Berry was named Defensive MVP at the National Preps Collegiate Showcase in November at Vacaville Christian High.

Berry is hoping he’ll be able to help his Spartans on the field this year as a defensive back and receiver before school ends, but his showcase exploits should already add to his Division I scholar-

the Hornets has a three-star recruit from 247sports. He has thrown for 3,274 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushed for 780 yards and 12 scores during his time with the Spartans. Hale has played in three CIF State championship football games for DLS. Hearns is part of the Golden Bears #23 national and #3 Pac-12 recruiting class. A total of 19 recruits were announced by head coach Justin Wilcox. Hearns has been a two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back the past two seasons for De La Salle. He’s going to Cal as a DB and may also be used in the return game.

Tasi was first team allEBAL, Bay Area All-Metro and Cal-Hi Sports All-State junior team last season, his second on varsity.

“Chad is a big-time player from a big-time program,” Southern Utah head coach

CHAD TASI

Demario Warren said. “We wanted to become more physical up front and Chad definitely fits the bill. He already plays with great technique, great pad level, and a great motor. This defensive line recruiting class is going to put the group back into the discussion of the elites in FCS football, and Chad will be a major part of that.”

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December 11, 2020

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Clock,

Page 11

from page 10

wrestling, basketball and competitive cheer the most restricted in the minimal tier.

Availability of the new vaccines may hasten improved health statistics but forecasts of early summer herd immunity after a significant percentage of the population has been vaccinated would be too late for this year’s high school athletes.

Athlete Spotlight

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIALS REACT TO SPORTS DELAYS

Cat Arroyo, Carondelet assistant athletic director and former USA national team water polo player “It is disappointing but understandable given the rising positivity rate. In such uncertain times we are continually planning for every scenario. We are looking forward to finding ways to keep our student-athletes motivated in their training and to find opportunities that will safely allow them to compete when guidelines allow.”

Megan Coddington, Concord High co-athletic director and softball coach “With basically every county in California back in the purple tier, a decision based on what they [CIF] thought was in the best

California Interscholastic Federation issued its most recent update for possible resumption of high school sports in California last week. CIF modified its previous plan for competition to begin early in January due to current COVID-19 pandemic conditions not decreasing as hoped. State and county health officials will ultimately determine if some, all or no sports will be beheld during this 2020-21 school year.

interest for student safety had to be made. Student-athlete safety, whether that be physical, developmental, emotional or mental, has always been of utmost importance in our athletic program. I know that many of our coaches and athletes were disappointed to hear this news from CIF, especially when outside club organizations and other states continue to press

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ahead with their athletic practices and events. I have reiterated many times to our coaching staff that the theme for this year is ‘flexibility and adaptability.’ Thus far, our coaches and athletes have been doing an amazing job following the MDUSD Summer Camp safety protocols that the athletic directors helped to establish in August. These camps have had such a positive effect on our athletes’ physical and emotional mindset. It has been awesome to see kids getting back into shape and enjoying the social interaction, limited as it may be.”

Matthew Harrod, Concord High co-athletic director and baseball coach “Our goal now is to continue to prepare for the potential start of sports. The plan is to operate under the guidance/restrictions offered up by Contra Costa County and MDUSD, which currently allow us to operate in pods of 14 players and two coaches per pod.”

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Tim Murphy, Clayton Valley Charter football coach “I really just want these seniors to get a chance to be able to play their senior year and get film for those on the cusp of being offered [college opportunity]. Bottom line, if the adults can do their part these kids would be able to play. I’m so sick of hearing about people complaining about wearing a mask or not being able to gather in big groups.”

Bob Ralston, CVCHS athletic director and long-time high school and college baseball coach “We are going to continue to stay positive and encourage our students to keep preparing for a season.”

Paul Reynaud, Concord High football coach “The postponement is frustrating and stressful for our players who want so badly to be back on the field for Friday nights, but we talk about handling adversity every day and they have done a great job doing that. We will just continue to be creative in getting better every day. Hopefully, this push back will allow the higher ups to establish a functional plan for safely returning to the field as we can see the college and pro levels with their vast resources are still battling keeping their players healthy and on the field week to week.”

Bryan Shaw, Ygnacio Valley football coach “These are unprecedented times. Since March, we as educators, coaches and student athletes have learned to be flexible. As hard as it has been on our players in terms of continual delay, it has been even harder in their homes and for their community. During distance learning many are helping their siblings with their schoolwork and many have gotten jobs to help their families pay their bills to maintain a roof over their heads. We have been running pods of student-athletes for conditioning since June following strict protocols. These have served for conditioning, but more importantly to allow kids to get outside with their friends and be kids.”

Clayton and Quinton Mahloch

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

Basketball runs in the bloodline of the Mahloch family. Clayton and Quinton Mahloch first stepped onto the basketball court when they were five years-old, playing for St. Bonaventure CYO. They found their way to the sport following in the footsteps of their dad John, a member of the Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his record-setting basketball exploits from 1982-86. Now the twin brothers on the Ugly Eagles varsity team are saddened to watch their much-anticipated senior season together become increasingly unlikely to happen. Both Mahlochs were banking on a successful senior season, one resembling their junior year when the team placed second in Diablo Athletic League with an overall record of 19-8, to speed along their college recruitment process.

In light of remote learning and extracurricular shutdowns at Clayton Valley Charter, Clayton says, “It’s definitely a little harder to stay motivated on a day-to-day basis… the biggest thing I miss is seeing my friends every day and practicing with my team.” The Ugly Eagles and new head coach Frank Allocco Jr. have not been able to practice together for the last two months and, before then, they were stifled with inhibiting safety precautions that made training difficult. According to Quinton, the offseason was very promising and team members are still working hard to prepare themselves for a season that they hope will go on, even though the odds of even an abbreviated season occurring are getting slimmer as days click off the calendar. The brothers are both in contact with college basketball programs at several schools and are waiting to see how the remainder of their senior year unfolds before determining where their next steps take them.

Clayton is a member of Clayton Valley’s Public Service Academy and an eight-semester honor roll student. He plans on studying marketing, business or economics in college. Quinton is ASB Leadership co-rally commissioner and plans on studying business, “hopefully somewhere by the beach.” The Mahlochs are proud of their careers as Ugly Eagles and look forward to where this new year will steer them, on and off the court.

Read much more about the Mahloch family and Clayton Valley basketball on our website www.PioneerPublishers.com.

CVCHS student journalist Alexa Oldham wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Clayton and Quinton 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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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

January 15, 2021

Woodminster extends season with twist on Dickens classic

Sally HOGarTy

STAGE STRUCK Woodminster Summer Musicals, which normally offers elaborate musicals at Woodminster Amphitheatre high atop the Oakland Hills, has gone virtual and well beyond the summer.

They are starting the new year with an extension of

Tyler milliron

Three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello stars in “estella Scrooge.” Woodminster amphitheater brings audiences this magical musical created with new cutting-edge technology through Jan. 31.

their fun holiday, offering “Estella Scrooge: A Christmas

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Carol with a Twist.”

Created by Tony and Olivier Award winner John Caird and Tony nominee Paul Gordon, the production uses cutting-edge technology to merge actual footage of the actors with 3-D surreal digital environments. The results are quite amazing.

Each actor was filmed separately against a green screen, and then ace editing by director of photography Tyler Milliron put the performers together for various scenes and musical numbers. It might not always blend as seamlessly as a scene shot with everyone in the same room, but it’s pretty close.

Produced by Streaming Musicals, the show features 24 award-winning Broadway notables. Betsy Wolfe is Estella, a descendent of her famous great-great-greatgreat-grandfather Ebenezer, played by six-time Tony nominee Danny Burstein.

The story follows Estella, a modern-day Wall Street

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tycoon and head of Bleak House Corp. She decides to lower the boom personally on Christmas Eve to someone who has defaulted on his mortgage. When she arrives to foreclose, Estella discovers the “someone” is her childhood friend Pip Nickleby (Clifton Duncan), who runs a shelter for the disenfranchised called Heart House.

Forced to take shelter with Pip because of a freak snowstorm, Estella is given the haunted honeymoon suite. I think you know what comes next.

All of the cast members do a superb job of reacting to each other when, in reality, they are performing alone in a recording studio. Lush visuals and stirring vocals highlight

the production.

To purchase tickets to “Estella Scrooge,” go to woodminster.com/estellascrooge.html. Reduce the ticket price by 45 percent by including the code DICKENS45. Thirty percent of the proceeds benefit Woodminster Summer Musicals.

Looking for something to lift your spirits? The Diablo Women’s Chorale will hold auditions for all female voice parts via Zoom on Monday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Feb. 1, by appointment only. For information on membership and auditions, contact Nancy Hickman at 925-899-5050 or hickmandg@gmail.com.

Find out more about the group at DiabloWomensChorale.org/join-us.

Tyler milliron

Clifton Duncan stars in “estella Scrooge” at Woodminster amphitheater through Jan. 31.

In 2017, on the eve of the inauguration, thousands of arts workers across the country gathered in community to

create a “light” for dark times ahead and to make or renew a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation and compassion for everyone regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, ability, age, gender identity or sexual orientation. Many of our local theaters joined in.

Named after the tradition of theaters keeping a single light on stage lit when the theater isn’t in use, the Ghostlight Project plans another gathering at 5 p.m. Jan. 19. Part pep rally and part teach-in, this virtual event will bring together artists and organizers from across the country to share actions and offer resources for the years ahead. For more information or to join the group action on Jan. 19, go to theghostlightproject.com.

Our own Brentwood theater company, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, uses this tradition for its name. While there are many stories as to the origin of the ghost light, the message is clear: The theater may now be empty, but we will return.

With multiple vaccines now being distributed, let’s hope that return isn’t too many months in the future.

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

Local teachers receive micro-grants for art projects

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www.mdrr.com

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When it comes to finding new ways to engage students with art, every dollar helps.

To that end, the Concord Art Association (CAA) recently awarded $1,100 to be shared between nine Mt. Diablo Unified School District teachers who presented great ideas for student art projects.

“Teachers often pay for extra supplies with their own money,” notes CAA president Catherine Hensiek. “We’ve awarded small grants each school year to support a wide variety of curriculum-related art projects.”

Darlene Wehrlie from Valle Verde Elementary will buy canvases and presentation boards for her students. “For our art show this year, we’re trying something new,” she says. “Students will research and present findings on their chosen artist and then create their own work in the same genre.”

“We’re studying equity and making a project using African textile patterns,” says Annemarie Baldauf from Riverview Middle School.

“I’m buying how-to-draw books for students to use for this project and many more.

With a physical art book to go with the online learning, kids will develop stronger drawing literacy.”

First-grade teacher Eric Vandetta bought multi-cultural skin-tone crayons for drawing self-portraits at Wren Avenue

Contributed photo

roman, a first grader at Wren avenue elementary, painted this mixed media collage inspired by the work of Italian artist alberto Savinio.

Elementary. “We talk about culture, language and color regularly. Students choose crayons that reflect their own skin tone and use a mirror to learn how to draw their own face more realistically.”

Stephanie Driscoll, a new teacher at Wren, works online with first- and second-grade students with autism. “I want to send basic art supplies home with students so they can create as we would if we were together in the classroom,” she shares.

Carolyn Barney, an induction mentor who teaches art in fourth-grade classes at Wren, is working on her art supply list to use her funds this spring.

At Shadelands Special Education Center, Lisa McCarty and Teresa Huitron will purchase adapted tools like stencils and stamps so students with special needs can be more successful.

“These tools help students express their creativity regardless of their motor skills,” says McCarty. “When communicating in their own way through art, they experience more self-awareness, which helps build confidence and spark curiosity.”

Elisa Roxas from Shade-

lands Pre-School Center is buying soil and pots for a project that combines the science of how plants thrive with the art of crafting a DIY gift. “Children learn valuable life skills, from how to keep a plant alive to the joy of giving.”

At Holbrook Language Academy, Hannah Utler uses art to teach her second graders about the science of water erosion. “I bought supplies for 55 students to sculpt a cornmeal mountain and create a drip system to make canyons. We’re grateful to CAA for investing funds into our community,” she says.

CAA has relied on annual art show participation fees to support its Teacher Grant Program, but the pandemic shut down the usual 2020-’21 shows.

“We need more new members, as well as public donations, to help keep this vital program alive,” Hensiek says.

Visit ConcordArtAssociation.com to learn more about CAA and how to support the group.

Lisa Fulmer is a marketing consultant, published author and a community arts advocate.

Be ready to prune and feed roses before Valentine’s Day January 15, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Page 13

But leave more canes so they will look fuller.

Groundcover roses such as drift, carpet roses or meidiland style do not get the same amount of attention. Reshape groundcover roses, bringing them down and in. If the groundcover roses are out of control, prune severely. For a newer installation, the pruning will be lighter. nICOle HaCKeTT Fertilizing roses is espeWhen pruning roses, make all cuts at a slight angle, right GARDEN GIRL cially important. We have before a swelling of growth. been sharing this recipe for It is almost time to prune more than a decade. It’s for your rose bushes, groundcover the bush. Look at the bottom angle, right before a swelling established ground-grown of growth. If you look closely hybrid tea, grandiflora, floriand begin there. roses and rose trees. at a rose cane before you A well-pruned hybrid tea, At the nursery, we prune bunda or tree-shaped roses. grandiflora or floribunda rose make the cut, you will see a roses between Super Bowl After your winter prune, should have three to five nice, seam with a swell. This is Sunday and Valentine’s Day. each plant is to receive: straight, clean canes without where the rose wants to grow.

Some folks’ weekly mainte½ c. 16-16-16 fertilizer any leaves. The object of I do not tell people how nance workers have already ½ c. bone meal pruned the roses. If that is the pruning is to remove most of many inches of cane to leave, ½ c. granular iron the past year’s growth, all the because it really depends on case, check on the job they ½ c. alfalfa meal crossing canes and lateral the amount of room you have did and fine-tune if needed.

2 T. Epsom salt branches. Remove all gray for the rose to grow. If you Rose pruning is easy. An Work into soil along drip canes. have limited space, cut each annually pruned rose should line and top-dress with an You may have to use a cane further. If you like your take less than five minutes to inch layer of chicken manure. cordless saw to get through roses tall, then do not cut prune.

Water in. down as far.

As you approach a rose to thick wood. Do not worry This sounds like a lot of how thick the canes are, you Rose trees should be prune, look right to the botproducts, but imagine how will not hurt the rose by cutpruned the same way by tom of the plant. Do not deep the roots of your rose removing old canes, crossing ting them. worry about all the buds, are. Do not premix a larger branches and lateral branches.

Make all cuts at a slight blooms or leaves still left on

batch. There is a reason for each ingredient and the quantity.

The 16-16-16 is a multipurpose fertilizer. Bone meal is a source of phosphorus and will encourage bloom. Granular iron keeps rose leaves green and free of chlorosis.

Alfalfa meal will stimulate new cane growth, and Epsom salt intensifies flower color.

Spiff up home décor to make the new year bright

not straying too far from what you’ve already created in your living spaces.

Organization and rearranging furniture and accessories are other great ways to find interest in things you may have lived with for months or years. Consider creating a new furniture layout in your family room or rearranging books and baubles on your bookcases.

We live and work in our kitchens daily, so why not give your kitchen an organization everyone has a closet to organize. resolve in 2021 to make makeover. Clear off the counters, empty those drawers and yours a priority. comb your linen closets, When the first festive fall real thing. So real that you underneath the kids’ bathholiday arrived in October, we might not know what to do room vanity or reach way back with yourself this month. happily adorned our front in your entry armoire for storSome of us were more than porches with gourds, while age containers or accessories free-falling spiders and friend- ready to put our holiday décor you haven’t used in a while. back in the bins, but others ly ghosts swung from our If all this design accesare frozen and still living in beams and window frames. sorizing and general reorganithe good ole days – when the zation isn’t enough, head to In November, the fall décor continued with harvest- pumpkins were freshly carved your bedroom closet. Indulge and our homes smelled of inspired wreaths and swags, in individual clear shoe boxes, banners proclaiming thankful- fresh pine. belt spinners, tie hooks and To pull yourself out of ness and a cornucopia or two bins for your summer clothes this post-holiday design funk, that might still be intertwined decorating our dining tables.

And in December, the winter it’s time to start a new design with your winter sweaters. project. night sky became brighter And, as Joan Crawford so with strings of light accesIf you’re looking for a famously declared in “Momsorizing just about every nook quick fix, pillows and throws mie Dearest,” no wire hangand cranny, inside and out of are easy and safe accessories. ers. Head to the Container They can be purchased from our homes.

Store and pick up coordinatjust about home design retail- ing plastic hangers or treat Yet with a mere 10 seconds notice, that stunning 12- er, in person or online. Typiyourself to wood hangers and foot diameter Swarovski crys- cally, retailers are antsy to get store your clothing in style. their spring colors and pattal covered ball dropped and I think many of us have terns out shortly after the first more design and organizationone ton of confetti burst up of the year. and down the streets of al projects in our homes than Incorporating new pillows we realize or care to admit.

Times Square. And just like that, the holidays had come to and throws into an existing Start your design projects color scheme might be a great slowly this month and next, an end. way to liven things up while Post-holiday blues are a and by spring, you’ll be ready

Movies, from page 8 the first film, but I expected this one to be at least on par and it wasn’t. Next time, more Wonder Woman, please. (HBO Max) B-

favorite Pixar films, “Up” and “Inside Out”), gives us the excellent “Soul.”

“Soul” wraps its entire story with impermanence, centering the movie around the PIXAR FINDS ITS ‘SOUL’ accidental death of its main Pixar has never shied away character. Poor Joe Gardner from movies with death as a (Jamie Foxx) finally catches his prominent theme. Early on, big break in the jazz world films like “Finding Nemo” right before he finds himself and “Up” had major deaths in floating along in the afterlife. the opening minutes; survivRather than go immediately to ing characters grappled with the ‘Great Beyond,’ he moves their grief during their subse- to the “Great Before” to be a quent adventures. mentor to an unborn soul More recently, “Coco” and named 22 (Tina Fey).

“Onward” included death as Pixar imagines the Great part of the characters’ jourBefore as a school of sorts neys. With mortality at the for new souls to be given absolute forefront, Pete Doc- character traits and eventually ter (director of my two find their spark before float-

ing down to earth to inhabit a body. Docter wonderfully fleshes out the Great Before as a place where lost souls roam around a city. As new souls search for their spark, mystics from the real world push through and operate a floating galleon.

The real beauty of “Soul” is in Joe’s gradual realization not of why he died, but why he lived. After a year beset with death all around us, a little laughter and self-discovery injected into the conversation is more than welcome. (Disney+) AJeff 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.

Container roses get half a dose of each product. Give groundcover roses only the multi-purpose fertilizer and iron..

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Whit’s Painting is family owned and operated by longtime Clayton residents. A generational company built on strong family values since 1979.

Special Offers

10% off

15% off

to Pioneer customers* for jobs over $1,000

*Mention The Pioneer newspaper for discount

all interior painting projects over $1,500 signed by 03/31/21

“Let our family fulfill your painting needs.”

–Brandon Whitney

We recently solicited bids to repair a 15 foot crack in our ceiling drywall.

Whit’s Painting immediately responded, set a time to survey they crack, and sent a calendar meeting request to confirm the time. Their communication during the entire process was outstanding. The team that repaired the crack was on-time, courteous, and obviously pros. They finished the job on time and always left the job site clean. The repair was flawless.

Steve, Peacock Creek, Clayton

925-429-2669

5433 Clayton Road, Ste K #322, Clayton, CA 94517

www.whitspaintinginc.com

Farmer’s Market has all the makings for a healthy new year Page 14

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Your health should be of utmost concern – especially now.

Fueling your body with healthy, nutritious foods that improve your immune system and give you more energy and stamina will help you feel better and ward off illness.

Fresh local produce from the Concord farmers market DeBra mOrrIS will provide the fuel your FARMERS MARKET body needs to work in your garden, handle your errands, Fruits, vegetables, whole work a full day at your job and grains and protein offer vitatake care of the kids without mins, minerals, antioxidants, wilting.

fiber and energy throughout the day. And the farmers market is a great choice because you know the source of your food.

Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of fuel. Carbs like whole-grain pastas and breads, oats, fresh fruits and vegetables and local honey will give you energy.

They also raise serotonin levels, keeping your mood even.

The body absorbs whole grains and beans slowly because they are full of healthy fiber, stabilizing blood

sugar and energy levels and giving you sustainable energy.

Your immune system benefits from a variety of whole fresh foods like antioxidantrich berries, dark leafy greens, garlic, onions, oranges, root vegetables and beans. Yogurt helps your digestive tract and salmon has the much-touted omega-3 fatty acids.

It is also a good idea to drink plenty of water, because a body doesn’t work as well when it is dehydrated.

You’ll find all the ingredients you need to keep you healthy and energized throughout the day – and through the year – at the Concord farmers market. Diaz Farms from Fowler and J&J Ramos Farms of Hughson have sweet, juicy citrus like oranges and mandarins to boost your immune system.

Delicious leafy greens, Brussels sprouts and loads of root vegetables can be found from Esquivel Farms, growing in Watsonville, and Halog Farms hailing from Merced.

Great Valley Poultry of Manteca has farm-fresh eggs for an inexpensive source of protein. Winters Fruit Tree grows a nice assortment of almonds, walnuts and pistachios for protein and healthy fats.

These farmers bring the

January 15, 2021

a citrus-based salad can brighten a winter’s day. Find the ingredients at the Farmers market.

best they can grow and harvest their produce just before bringing it to market to ensure everything has the highest nutrient content and best flavor. To keep your interest in eating fresh and wholesome produce throughout the year, the farmers market offers a wide selection of produce – with unique varieties you won’t find anywhere else.

You’re also helping small family farms keep on farming.

Thank you for supporting your local farmers and farmers markets this past year.

CELERY AND ORANGE SALAD 2-3 oranges of different varieties, peeled and sliced into rounds 3 full slices of red onion,

1/8-inch thick 1 full celery stalk, plus all stalks with leaves from the celery center, sliced 1/2 c. walnuts, chopped and toasted Salt and pepper 1 T grapefruit juice 1 T extra-virgin olive oil Place the oranges, onions, celery and walnuts in a bowl.

Season with salt and pepper.

Mix together grapefruit juice and olive oil, then toss and serve.

More recipes can be found at pcfma.org/eat. The Concord Farmers Market is open year-round, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays in Todos Santos Plaza. Parking available in nearby parking structures and on the street.

Subscribe to the Pioneer and never miss an issue. Go to PioneerPublishers.com Tim McGallian

Sponsor

© 2021 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 37, No. 7

Inauguration Day 2021 The inauguration is the ceremony in which the new or reelected president is inducted into office. This year it will be held at noon on January 20. It takes place outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. At the inauguration ceremony, the president takes an oath of office. With right hand raised and left hand on an open Bible, the new president says the following statement:

Joseph R. Biden will be sworn into office as the 46th president of the United States during his inauguration celebration on January 20th. He will take the oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

This inauguration will make history because Kamala Harris will be first woman vice president of the United States.

Standards Link: Civics: Understand the primary responsibilities of each branch of government in a system of shared powers.

How many members of the armed services will take part in Inauguration Day activities? Circle every other letter:

America’s fourth president, James Madison, and his wife, Dolley, were the guests of honor at the first official Inaugural Ball. An Inaugural Ball does not bounce. It is actually a big party.

Some presidents have had two inaugurations. That’s because they served two terms. One of these two-term presidents had the hottest (55°F/12°C) and coldest (7°F/-13°C) inaugurations.

Use the code to discover the name of that president.

1 2 3 4

= = = =

A D E G

5 6 7 8

= = = =

L N O R

8

7

6

1

5

2

8

3

1

4

1

6

The words in the scrambled sentence below make up a very American sentence. Can you put the words in the right order to reveal the sentence?

Like the word ball, many words mean more than one thing.

Each object shown here has the same name as another object shown. Can you match the picture pairs?

The Seal of the President of the United States contains a circle of white stars representing America’s 50 states. The banner that reads E PLURIBUS UNUM is Latin for “out of many, one” meaning out of many states, one country and also, out of many peoples, one nation. There are 13 stars, clouds, leaves and arrows that represent the original 13 states.

Starting with the first letter in each line below, circle every other letter to discover what the olive branch represents and what the arrows the eagle is holding represent.

CEREMONY PRESIDENT SWEAR PROTECT PRESERVE DEFEND OATH FIRST PARTY SWORN HAND HONOR WHITE NOON

H F H U N S T Y O P

O I R P W O N I R R N R S H A O O E A E O S I T M R S N E S

R T H E O I T C W E

E M R O D R D Y S R

D E F E N D I N M V C E N R O W S C A E

N T C E T O R P T H Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Imagine that you have been selected to advise the president on the concerns of children. Look through the newspaper for articles addressing topics that affect children. Make a list of ways you think the president could help children.

Look through the newspaper to find five or more words that begin with the letter I. Cut out the words and glue them onto a piece of paper in alphabetical order.

Challenge: Can you do this with more than five words?

Leprechaun Gold

Send your story to:

St. Patrick’s Day is coming in March. Write a story How did the about how the leprechauns got their gold and see leprechauns it published online at PioneerPublishers.com. get their gold?

Deadline: February 21 • Include your name, grade and school Deadline: February 14 Published: Week of Mar. 14

Send to Editor@PioneerPublishers.com Please include your school and grade.

Tim@ mysfagenttim.com Sponsor

Dominic Aliano

Concord City Council

Dominic.Aliano@ cityofconcord.org

Sponsor a future Kid Scoop page: Contact us at 925-672-0500 or Editor@ PioneerPublishers.com