JAN 20 The Pioneer 2023

Language academy is special place

When the Mt. Diablo Unified School District decided to reopen Holbrook Elementary School in Concord there were four options for its structure and programming. Community input helped shape the final determination to make the school a magnet language academy, thus encompassing two of the four choices.

That was six years ago, and a recent campus visitor remarked on the “joyful, happy and beautifully behaved students” she encountered there.

Diana Essex-Lettieri went to great lengths to enroll her two children in Holbrook for this school year after moving to Benicia from Oakland in the summer. She and her husband Antonio are “really happy to have our children part of a very special community.”

New principal Silvia Orellana Barrera oversees 419 children from TK through eighth grade in Holbrook’s dual immersion program. That number is split almost evenly between students who speak primarily English at home and those who speak Spanish.

Kindergarten through eighth

Decision on CNWS term sheet delayed until Jan. 28

STEINER The Pioneer

After nine hours of presentations, questions, and public comment a worn out Concord Council had still not reached a decision on the term sheet presented by Concord First Partners, master developers of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse at a special meeting Jan. 7.

Both the City Council Chamber and an overflow room were packed mostly with union supporters hoping to hear approval of the deal which the developer says promises 5,000 living-wage jobs for Concord and Contra Costa residents.

Opponents, however, say the term sheet as presented does not meet the 25% affordable housing requirement after adding more than 3000 units to the original 12, 275 homes planned for the 2,275-acre base. Jeb Elmore, spokesman for the developer consortium which includes Discovery Homes owned by Albert D. Seeno III, says the additional units are necessary to make the $6 billion project financially feasible. CFP is including 879 accessory dwelling units in the additional 3,323 units and wants them to count towards meeting the 25% affordable housing requirement.

ADUs are attached to the single family homes and there is

that they be rented to low income households. Without counting the ADUs, the term sheet only pro-

two days before the meeting.

The council heard 79 public comments with 44 in support of the term sheet and 35 opposed.

Well before 9 a.m., both city hall parking lots were full. Over 100 union supporters, mostly men, gathered under a dozen pop-up canopies set up in front of the chamber entrance, and offered free coffee and union swag.

“It felt like running the gauntlet,” said one woman who was planning to attend but left, intimidated.

The council will reconvene the meeting Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1950 Parkside, Concord. Public comment was closed at the Jan. 7 meeting. There will be follow up questions only from councilmembers before the vote.

After contentious election, Clayton council is ready for fine-tuning

When newly reelected City Councilmember Jeff Wan took the gavel as the new mayor, there was a big sigh of relief –if a bit guarded.

It signaled the end of a vicious election season that played out mostly on social media sites Nextdoor and Facebook, with venomous professional and personal attacks, slick “hit-piece” mailers that resembled a regional or national election and a general sense of divide in this usually quiet community.

“I want to find a way to reduce the polarization and heated rhetoric that has served to crowd out reasonable discourse,” Wan said in his recap of the Dec. 3 meeting, when he was elected by a 3-1-1 vote. Councilmember Peter Cloven was the lone no vote, while Councilmember Holly Tillman abstained. Councilmember Jim Diaz and newly elected member Kim Trupiano supported Wan.

“It is not healthy for passions to overwhelm reason,” Wan added.

And it was a passionate election. Besides Wan’s reelection, Trupiano beat out challengers Bridgette Billiter and Ed Miller, largely by aligning herself with Wan and his supporters, says Miller.

STAFFANDHOUSINGISSUES

The drama, however, won’t end quickly. The city has longterm vacancies in its top positions, as City Manager Reina Schwartz is leaving in February, a new finance director was just hired and Police Chief Richard McEachin is reacquainting himself with city, having served as an officer then left for a post in the Central Valley to gain management

Putting together the pieces is all part of the game

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Those who crave the challenge of tackling jigsaw puzzles were once known as dissectologists, after the centuries old craft of hand cutting wooden pictures with a fret saw into irregular shapes. Now every Jan. 29 is dedicated to those who enjoy this particular brain exercise.

Concord accountant Beri Kasper, 68, is among those whose passion for doing jigsaw puzzles has grown from a simple dining room table pastime into something shy of an obsession. For others, the fascination has risen to international implications.

“Less frustrating than golf, less dangerous than pickleball,

a puzzle passion is good for mind, body and soul,” she said.

Puzzling has been her go-to way of unwinding from a long day of work or caring for family since 2014. Up to then, solitaire with actual cards was her fix.

She discovered puzzling when hosting a foreign exchange student; it served as a good icebreaker with their guest.

“It was a way to communicate that you don’t need a lot of words,” said Kasper. “This translates into different languages.”

PUZZLINGHAS MORPHED OVER TIME

Jigsaw puzzles were called dissected maps as well as dissected puzzles prior to and

during the 19th century. Wooden pictures were hand cut with a fret saw into irregular shaped pieces to be reassembled.

The reference to dissected maps was because some of the earliest puzzles were made from printed maps. These puzzles were educational as well as recreational. They could also be referred to as picture maps and wooden maps.

Fast forward to 2023, and U.S. and international organizations are now dedicated to the love of jigsaw puzzles. Each year on the last weekend of September, enthusiasts descend upon Valladolid, Spain, for the jigsaw puzzle world championship hosted by the World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation. The

no requirement

vides for 19% affordable units. Others opposed are worried about interfamily lawsuits between Seeno III, his father

Albert Seeno, Jr., and the family trust. The legal mess was detailed by East Bay Times opinion editor, Dan Borenstein, just

Tamara Steiner

The greenhouse project has been a communal labor of love for these students flanked by principal Silvia Orellana Barrera (far left) and Holbrook CARES coordinator Violeta Guzman. Seated: Alexandra Ambrosio Enrique, Ashley Ordonez, Sofia Juarez Lazaro, Violeta Eufracio Gonzalez, Crystal Martinez Perez, Tess Perez,and Balam Zarazua Castro

Standing: Orellana, Natalie Phelps, Princess Rhoades, Luciana Essex Lettieri, Sophia Eufracio Gonzalez, Dominic Anguiano Cervantes, Cohen Cabezas, Valeria Rodriguez and Guzman.

Beri Kasper spends about an hour a day working on puzzles in her Concord home.

Dave Hughes

Union members supporting the CNWS term sheet presented by Concord First Partners dominated public comments at the Jan. 7 meeting. The decision was continued until Jan. 28.

JAY

PEGGY SPEAR

TAMARA

In Clayton, the creek burst its banks causing damage to the town’s Cardinet Trail

It’s been a wild ride for the Diablo Valley since New Year’s Eve as nine (count ‘em, NINE) atmospheric rivers including a bomb cyclone or two battered California leaving much of the state under water and mud. But despite the furious weather, Concord, Clayton and Pleasant Hill mercifully escaped the catastrophic floods and mudslides that hit the central part of the state so hard. Damage was largely confined to backyard gazebos, fences and leaky roofs. County public works and maintenance crews in all three cities worked around the clock

clearing trees downed by high winds, patching potholes and scraping mud off the roads.

In Clayton, Mt. Diablo Creek overflowed its banks in several places along the Cardinet trail potentially causing expensive erosion along the paved trail. The city was still assessing the damage at press time. Mudslides intermittently closed rural Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory roads. Both roads were still closed to through traffic Monday. Residents could get through with identification. County public works and residents were keeping a close eye on the slip-

ping hillsides on Morgan Territory where a major landslide in 2017 closed the road for several months.

Flooding in the three cities was minimal even in the historically vulnerable, low-lying areas of Concord and Pleasant Hill. Crews raced to push back a mudslide on Kirker Pass between Concord and Pittsburg that threatened to close the road Monday.

After one more night of monsoon-like rains, dawn broke on Martin Luther King Day with nearly full reservoirs, sunshine and a snow-capped Mt. Diablo.

A downed tree blocked traffic on Mary Dr. in Pleasant Hill Jan. 13

Modular ADUs can help ease state housing crisis

As cities grapple with the state’s new housing mandates, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are becoming increasingly more important.

To help speed up the process, Pleasant Hill-based Comfort Casitas uses SIP –structurally integrated panels –to build small, modular homes in residential backyards.

Robert Burtt opted for Comfort Casitas’ program because of the promise of quick permit approval, fewer materials and a shorter construction time. And, he wasn’t disappointed.

He just loves the threebedroom, two-bath, 1,000 sq. ft. dwelling that popped up in his Walnut Creek backyard in a week’s time. “It’s really cool,” he said enthusiastically, despite being under the weather during a year-end interview.

“The entire thing has vaulted ceilings, so it feels much bigger,” he reported. “The idea was to have the space to rent out or have the parents stay in it – just have flexibility with the property.”

INCREASEDENERGY

EFFICIENCY

Gwen Bertolami, who runs Bertolami Engineering and Comfort Casitas, has already completed three ADUs locally with SIP products.

“It’s made in the United States, and it’s incredibly easy to work with,” said Bertolami, who describes the panels as “basically a plywood sandwich with Styrofoam cup material in between.”

Becky Susan of Premier Building Systems offers a more technical description, saying that customers can choose standard expanded polystyrene (EPS) or higher R-Value graphite-enhanced polystyrene (GPS) insulation

cores. They are processed with steam instead of the chemicals used in other foam insulations.

“The final product is 90 percent air and has virtually no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or off-gassing of harmful contaminants into the ozone,” states the website of the Puyallup, Wash., based Premier.

The company also says the products are more energy-efficient than stick framing, and Burtt concurs.

“My first utility bill was $26. And the second month was about $50,” he said, comparing that to $300-$400 a month for his 1,600 sq. ft. main house.

“It has a slab floor, so it should actually be less energyefficient. But even with that, it’s just that much more efficient. We need the heater at nights maybe for an hour or two,” he added.

SIMPLECONSTRUCTION PROCESS

Bob Pastor, owner/contractor for JML Construction Services, used SIP for the first time to build an 884 sq. ft. ADU in a Clayton backyard this fall.

He explained that all the

pieces for the exterior walls, roof and floors arrived in panels that are 4-6 feet wide and up to 24 feet long. “Some we can hand carry; others we need equipment to set it up,” he said.

“All the panels are numbered and correspond with the drawings. We construct it like an Erector set.”

“When we get the building material for a house, it’s all cut to exactly what you need so the amount of waste that’s created is super-tiny compared to the waste when you do wood frame construction,” Bertolami noted.

Before the Clayton build, the JML crew trained at the Walnut Creek site to learn about the process. “But we weren’t really sure how tough it would be to man-handle these into place. Everything fit, so we were pretty impressed. It went a lot smoother than we anticipated,” he said, adding that he was certain they could construct even faster in the future.

ADUS PART OFLONG-TERM PLANNING

Pastor, a long-time Clayton resident, has built modular

“man camps” in remote areas of Africa and Eurasia where there isn’t access to a lot of materials. So, it’s easy for him to understand the need for ADUs made with SIP.

“It’s a good plug-in to the problem with housing,” he said. “It’s a good component as far as the requirements that each municipality has for affordable housing – and you can build on existing properties.”

Clayton has seen a small increase in ADU requests in recent years, with five

approved in 2022, three in ’21 and two in ’20. According to Community Development Director Dana Ayers, the city handles most ADUs through an administrative process as required by state law. That means most applicants don’t have to go before the Planning Commission.

“And, they have additional flexibility in regard to setbacks from property lines, more flexibility than what is in city ordinances for a typical singlefamily home,” Ayers said, adding that the city is using state grant money to implement a program of preapproved ADU plans to make approval even easier.

“Community members who have participated in the Housing Element update have spoken favorably for ADUs,” Ayers told the Pioneer. “We are factoring them into our regional housing needs for the city.”

For his part, Burtt was pleased with the process from beginning to end. He especially praised Bertolami’s efforts.

“She’s not in it for profit –she’s in it for everyone’s wellbeing. And that really shows.”

For more information, visit comfortcasitas.com or sips.premierbuildingsystems.com.

JML Construction

JML Construction used a SIP product to build an 884 sq. ft. secondary dwelling in a Clayton backyard this fall.

The SIP arrives pre-cut to fit the modular design. “We construct it like an Erector set,” said contractor Bob Pastor.

Sip tea, learn Clayton history at museum event

The Clayton Historical Society’s annual Camellia Tea began in 1977 when descendants of Clayton pioneer families, as well as many longtime residents, gathered at a residence on Morgan Territory Road to celebrate and have a happy reunion of those interested in the historical background of the Clayton area.

The view of the most rugged side, the North Peak, formed a beautiful backdrop –along with the driveway filled with blooming camellias.

According to Clayton native Janet Easton, her mother and Eldora Hoyer, wife of Clayton’s first mayor, set up the first tea in an attempt to bring the old and new Clayton residents together. The Safeway district manager offered his home, and it was a beautiful and classy setting. He even had a valet so people would not get their clothes soiled walking up to the house.

In 1979, two small Victorian homes built in 1869 and formerly belonging to Joel Clayton (who founded the town in 1857) were joined and renovated to form the current Clayton Museum on Main Street. The historical society then held the Camellia Tea for the first time at the new museum.

Each year, the public is cordially invited to visit the museum for the Camellia Tea. Guests can enjoy tea, coffee, punch and cookies. There is also a gift shop.

This year’s Camellia Tea will be held 1-4 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. For more information, call 925-6720240 or visit www.claytonhistory.org

Volunteers and members of the historical society run the museum, which is normally open 2-4 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday. The Clayton Historical Society also sponsors the Clayton Gardens Tour in the spring, which is the main fundraiser to support the museum.

event recognizes the fastest jigsaw puzzlers in the world in three categories: teams, pairs and individuals.

While other puzzlers are hardcore, Kasper is content with having one set up on a table that fits perfectly behind a love seat in her home’s great room. She puzzles for an hour most evenings. With a comfy chair, she watches football or whatever, or not, and puzzles away to her heart’s content.

Some get finished quickly, and she is eager to start another.

Kasper has received her share of puzzles over the years; she keeps some, while others get donated after being worked. Her favorites include ones whose pictures are places she has visited such as one of Cabo San Lucas.

“A person took a picture and made it into a puzzle,” Kasper said of the gift.

Through the years, Kasper acknowledges ones that have tested her. It took her two months to complete a gift from the Rotary Club that had her name and the Rotary logo on a white background.

Another was one with an embroidered cat with a lot of colors in it. Entitled “Puzzle so Hard,” “it was,” Kasper mused.

EACH PUZZLE A NEWCHALLENGE

Kasper relishes puzzling’s mental aspect. Two piles of puzzles occupy different rooms of her home while others are stashed in various dresser drawers. All total there’s about 25, of which half she has yet to do.

“Honestly, I think it is good to be doing something other than watching TV or being online,” said Kasper, an accountant who often has three screens going at a time at work.

“It’s a really good way to get your work brain off and relax brain on,” she added.

Satisfaction comes with finding that elusive

piece, or just discovering different ways to do puzzles.

Hardest part of puzzling? Finishing.

So is doing one that is missing a piece.

Her advice to newcomers is to dump all the pieces and sort by colors and edges. Start with the edges, then move to the middle.

Trading puzzles with other puzzlers is part of the experience. In cases where she has discovered a piece has gone MIA, she either writes a note on the lid of box or takes a photo before returning the puzzle to its owner.

But Kasper doesn’t dwell on this disappointment. It’s just on to the next puzzle.

The February blooming camellia was the inspiration for the table decor.

Pete Cruz

Joel Clayton’s Main Street home now houses the Clayton Museum.

Most puzzlers start by sorting the pieces according to colors and edges.

PIONEER INFO CONTACT US

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The Pioneer is a monthly publication delivered free to homes and businesses in 94517, 94518, 94519 and 94521. ZIP code 94520 is currently served by drop site distribution. The papers are published by Clayton Pioneer, Inc., Tamara and Robert Steiner, PO 1246, Clayton, CA 94517. The offices are located at 6200 Center St. Suite F, Clayton, CA 94517

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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MELISSA REA CONCORD CHAMBEROF COMMERCE

As we move forward into the new year, it is the goal of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce to be a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers and a champion for a strong business community.

Over the last few years, the climate of how business is conducted has changed, especially with the introduction of Zoom. While this is a useful tool for quick or distanced meetings, an overwhelming majority of our businesses are ready to meet in-person and build new relationships, or rekindle old ones.

To foster these connections, the Concord chamber offers a variety of monthly networking events – such as the First Friday Coffee Con-

nect, the Women’s Networking Group and the Business After Hours Mixer. These monthly events each offer something different and are exciting ways to build a network of peers.

Involvement with the chamber can help build both the credibility and visibility of your business in the community. Participation on a subcommittee keeps you informed on chamber and community news and events, while at the same time provides the opportunity to showcase your business to others.

For example, the Ambassadors Committee is a group of chamber members who want to take chamber involvement a step further. These members assist staff at events, help with outreach and provide us with critical feedback from local businesses in Concord. In return, members learn that our ambassadors are their trusted partners and key resources for chamber information.

A great way to get community members through your doors is by hosting a ribbon-cutting for a grand opening or an anniversary, remodel, etc. We will find any reason to celebrate. Businesses can also opt to host a monthly mixer.

Council, from page 1

experience.

State-Farm, Tim McGallian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2300 Home

Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757

Interiors Panache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-7920

Safe at Home, Inspection Service . . . . . . . . . . .318-1440

Skim ‘n’ Dip – Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348-5609

The Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-6243

Whit’s Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .429-2669

Real Estate, Housing and Mortgage Services

French, Lynne – Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-8787

Klock, Leigh – Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593

McDougall, Kelly – Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-0448

Moore, Wendy – Berkshire Hathaway . . . . . . . .570-5187

Stojanovich, Jennifer – Better Homes Realty . .567-6170

Restaurants , Theater and Events

Contra Costa School of Performing Arts . . . . .235-1130

Groveside Bistro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0310

Vinnie's Bar and Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-9515

Senior Services & Hospice Care

Center for Elders Independence . . . . . . . . . . .Elders.org

Services, Other Anytime Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6700 Bradford Air & Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .455-4247 No-H2O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.noh2o.com Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery .

The biggest problem, a city manager, will at least be solved on an interim basis, as Wan announced Jan. 13 that retired Antioch city manager Ron Bernal will take over until a permanent replacement is hired.

The city also faces pressure from the state to develop a strong a Housing Element by the end of the month, which needs to include sufficient inclusionary and affordable housing. This has been a sticking point with many residents who are vocally opposed to more housing – especially high-density housing.

STRIKINGTHEWRONG CHORD?

Perhaps, however, the council move that is hitting a sour note for some residents is the development of a Concert Committee, an official oversight city panel tasked with overseeing Clayton’s beloved Concerts in The Grove series.

What sounded like a simple plan reverberated through the town like Clayton Valley High School’s marching band. To some, it seemed like a veiled political action to oust former City Councilmember Howard Geller, the longtime promoter and master of ceremonies who withdrew his support for Wan and Trupiano during the election.

“That was my first thought, but then I had three meetings with Councilmember Diaz, who told me in no uncertain terms that was not the case,” Geller said. “I will continue to book the bands and MC the event. So it’s on with the shows as usual, at least this year.”

Wan and his supporters on the council believe the concerts need some city oversight, especially in the financial aspect of money raised. And Geller agrees on that point.

“Myself, Jim (Diaz) and former Councilmember Julie Pierce started the concerts back in 2008 offering different musical groups – mainly cover bands – for free,” Geller recalled.

It was designed, he says, to bring people downtown and help businesses during the Great Recession. With City

Council members and other leaders involved, it seemed like it was sponsored by the city or the Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA) –but it was all volunteers, funded by private donations.

UNIQUEFUNDRAISING IDEAS

Geller says it was an expensive endeavor, with bands needing to be paid up front. But because the events were so much fun and the community atmosphere so positive, many bands would cut their price just to play in Clayton, he noted.

He and Pierce came up with the idea to “pass the can” at the events so concertgoers could donate, and that proved to be lucrative. Pierce also created a $20 “pass” that could be redeemed at the Clayton Club Saloon for a drink. Ideally, the customer would bring friends and buy more.

Unfortunately, there was some confusion at the city level of how to account for the proceeds, so Geller says he took over. Each year, even after he left the council in 2016, he would give an exact accounting to the City Council and city staff.

“It’s expensive to book bands,” he said. “But this year, we have $95,000 up front, ready to go.”

Even though the music will play on, this is Geller’s swan song. He says it has nothing to do with the oversight of a Concert Committee – he was planning on retiring anyway. “It’s a lot of volunteer hours, and my wife and I want to travel more and see our grandkids.”

Still, some people in town have said that Joe Medrano, who was convicted of insurance fraud in his Clayton business, has said he plans to take over the concerts, booking bands and bringing in food trucks, which might anger local restaurant owners. Medrano was a vocal supporter of Wan’s, according to Miller. Medrano could not be reached for comment by press time.

AT ODDS OVER HOUSING

While the concert drama plays out on one stage, anoth-

After an event, the chamber always posts pictures and/or videos so the community can see your business along with products or services offered. As we all know, social media can be a powerful tool to increase the visibility of a business. You will often see Amanda, oure Events & Marketing coordinator, giving a recap or description of the business in a video. We always encourage members to tag the chamber,

making it easy and accessible for us to reshare or repost. The chamber not only encourages business development, but also community support and awareness.

If you would like more information regarding the Concord Chamber of Commerce and how to maximize your membership, call 925-685-1181, visit www.concordchamber.com or stop by our Concord office at 2280 Diamond Blvd., Suite 200.

Obituary Marilyn ‘Marnie’ Malcolm

Nov. 28, 2022

Marilyn “Marnie” Lewis Malcolm died on Nov. 28. She was 87.

She loved tennis, both watching and playing, and was a long-time volunteer at the Clayton branch of the Contra Costa County Library.

Marnie is survived by her husband Donald Malcolm, son Andrew Malcolm and his wife Lynn, daughter Deborah Lenz Clark and her husband Steve, and four well-loved grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

The family requests donations to the Clayton Community Library Foundation, P.O. Box 182, Clayton, CA 94517.

er philosophical division is brewing between the Wan camp and Tillman over an issue that impacts what Clayton wants for its future.

Wan plans to gain council support to join the group Our Neighborhood Voices, a “coalition of California neighborhoods” that are fighting back against many of the state mandates on housing, specifically Senate Bills 9 and 10, that make it easier for developers to circumvent many steps in the permitting process. The bills are also assisting affordable housing developers to come into neighborhoods that may not want affordable housing near them.

When asked about afford-

able housing, Wan said that the city should comply with state law regarding inclusionary housing, and that the city’s Housing Element – a blueprint for the state to approve before it releases any housing funds to cities – will “be in compliance with state law, balancing the needs and desires of residents with the requirements that the state has imposed.”

What that will look like remains to be seen. But with Wan, Diaz and Trupiano sharing many of the same sentiments, building more housing in Clayton, especially the amount of affordable housing the state requires, will remain a wedge in the divide.

San Jose firm acquires Concord business institution

When Patty and Anna Zandonella were growing up in 1960s Concord they spent as much time helping their parents John and Fosca at their courting reporting business as they did playing around their Dana Estates neighborhood home.

The Zandonella family moved to Concord in 1957 and within a few years John Zandonella and fellow reporter Ruth Barrus started a court reporting business in the old Concord Bank of America building after local lawyers asked him to do depositions when he wasn’t working in the courts of judges John Garaventa and Louis McKannay.

Both daughters joined the family business and Patty Garaventa and Anna Bob have been in charge of Zandonella Report-

ing Service since their parents passed within 10 months of each other in 2007 and 2008. They recently told the company’s court reporters and their clients in the legal community that starting February 1 they’ll be working with Talty Court Reporters, which recently acquired the Concord firm.

For the past six decades Zandonella Reporting Service, Inc. has been serving the Bay Area legal community with court reporting, depositions and process service. Fosca Zandonella became the office manager, eventually supervising dozens of employees and scheduling reporters for courts and law offices around the Bay Area.

The daughters started doing all kinds of tasks at the family’s East Street office on property that is now part of the John Muir Concord complex. After graduating from Concord High,

grade Holbrook students are taught in a dual language twoway immersion partner model where half the day all instruction is in English with one teacher and the other half of the school day the same students are taught in Spanish by a different teacher.

MDUSD had closed Holbrook and nearby Glenbrook Middle School in June 2011 as a cost-saving measure with both schools experiencing reduced enrollment. The decision was made to reopen Holbrook in fall 2017 and the District spent time determining its structure before choosing the magnet language academy model with instruction in Spanish and English.

Now, nearby Wren Avenue Elementary School of the Arts and Sun Terrace STEM Magnet School form a trio of magnet schools in North Concord with Holbrook, drawing students from throughout the district and beyond to the specialized curriculum at each school. Wren

and Sun Terrace are both TK through fifth grade sites.

Orellana says students come to Holbrook from Walnut Creek, Martinez, Bay Point and Pleasant Hill in addition to Concord. The Essex-Lettieri family did extensive research in anticipation of their move which led them to enroll son Raffa in TK and daughter Luciana in third grade to continue the dual immersion education they had in Oakland. “Our student’s three teachers at Holbrook are amazing,” she said.

MDUSD Chief of Educational Services Jennifer Sachs says that Holbrook is designed to not only make the students bilingual and biliterate (reading and writing) but also multicultural. “We’re very proud of this welcoming, very special place Holbrook has become,” she said.

Orellana came to Holbrook this fall from her first principal’s job at Ygnacio Valley Elemen-

older daughter Patty went to court reporting school in San Francisco and Oakland to follow

tary, which also has a dual immersion program. She says the Holbrook program aims students toward high academic achievement and cross-cultural competence. “Our program brings our students flexibility of thinking, higher problem-solving skills and higher test scores while fostering a true global citizenship sense.”

Essex-Lettieri says her children are at Holbrook not only because of the family’s dedication to bilingualism but for the bicultural environment there.

“It’s a gift we’re giving our children [going to Holbrook],” she said. The parents switch off making the 20-minute commute each morning and afternoon from Benicia where they both work from home.

Holbrook reopened in 2017 as solely an elementary school with grades TK through fifth. In the 2019-20 school year the district added sixth grade and in the subsequent two years seventh and eighth grades so that the class of 2022 last spring was the first-ever to have students pro-

in her dad’s footsteps. Part of the process towards accreditation is shadowing

moted to high school from Holbrook. Seventeen current eighth graders will be promoted this spring, most of whom having spent the last six years there.

GREENHOUSEPARTNERSHIP AT HOLBROOK

The C.A.R.E.S. Expanded Learning After School Program at Holbrook held outdoor classes in the school’s Secret Garden in pre-COVID days. When the pandemic removed on-campus learning, the garden beds at Holbrook started to dry up and become overgrown.

With students back on campus full time the community and local businesses rallied to restore and expand the outdoor classroom experience for students in all grades at the language academy. “This part of our curriculum can have a long-lasting effect on our students,” Orellana said.

In October and December there were community events to “give some much-needed love and attention” to the gardens, which include 15 plant beds

reporters in actual court settings. She spent three weeks reporting a murder trial in the Pittsburg court where her brother Lou was the reporter. Following that experience she told her dad that this wasn’t what she wanted to do and instead began working fulltime at the reporting service office.

Younger sister Anna also went to work there fulltime after spending time in Chico for college and also briefly enrolling in court reporting school.

John Zandonella started a printing business ZAP Printing (Zandonella Automated Printing) when the volume of copying depositions and court transcripts took over the basement of their office. In 1993 the family opened Zandonella Italian Restaurant and ran that for 15 years at Delta View Golf Course in Pittsburg.

Daughter Patty says she can

count on one hand the full vacation trips her dad took away from the office. That work ethic is obviously a family trait as the daughters kept the business running through numerous technological changes since the passing of both their parents as well as all the COVID-19 challenges of the past two plus years.

“You could say ‘I’m tired’ [of working so much] and would like to spend more time with our two grandsons in North Carolina. We have worked hand in hand with Talty and president Josie Amant for many years and have great respect for them,” Patty Garaventa says about the acquisition. She mentioned the two companies especially collaborated during the pandemic.

Zandonella Reporting Service, a Talty Corporation, will emanate out of their San Jose

where students can grow and harvest fruits and vegetables. “Students learn the nutritional value of their harvest as well,” the principal said.

In collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Northern California, the Holbrook C.A.R.E.S. Girl Scout Troop brainstormed ideas for the students’ Higher Award and the result was the idea of building a greenhouse to provide a plethora of educational opportunities for students.

Marathon Petroleum’s Martinez Renewable Fuels facility gave a $10,000 grant to Holbrook towards the construction

In addition to Marathon and Girl Scouts,Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, JPMorgan Chase Bank,Sares Regis Group of Northern California, Business Finance Capital, Deacon Construction, MG West and Metcon-TI supported the project.

of its Secret Garden greenhouse. A ribbon-cutting last month officially opened the greenhouse adjacent to the Secret Garden. Students and family members had the opportunity to meet with the donors who made the passion project possible.

Principal Silvia Orellana and MDUSD CARES coordinator check on plant progress outside the greenhouse

Photo courtesy Zandonella Reporting Service

John A. Zandonella was one of the leaders in the Bay Area court reporting industry before his passing in 2008. He was one of two reporters covering the infamous 1972-73 Juan Corona murder trial in Fairfield. Seven years after his death, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the John Zandonella Act of 2015 providing industry standards he had long championed.

As a lifelong resident and longtime member of the City Council, I am grateful for the opportunity to once again serve as your mayor.

I would also like to recognize and thank outgoing Councilmember and former Mayor Tim McGallian for his years of service. He was a tremendous leader for Concord during the COVID-19 pandemic, working diligently to keep our city thriving, and supporting our small businesses and seniors.

I would also like to welcome our new Councilmember Laura Nakamura, who was elected to represent District 5. I Iook forward to working with her and the rest of my council colleagues on our goals for the year ahead.

Our top priorities include launching a homeless strategic plan, continuing to fix our roadways throughout the city, enhancing public safety and determining the next steps for the development of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Concord mayor outlines priorities for 2023

Over the last year, the council has dedicated $5.4 million in one-time funds toward addressing homelessness in our community. This is in addition to the more than $550,000 we spend annually on direct service providers who care for our unhoused residents. Exactly how we put those $5.4 million to work will be determined by our homeless strategic plan; we are launching the development of this plan in February.

We are in the process of appointing individuals to a working group that will act as an advisory body, providing feedback as the strategic plan is shaped, and there will be ample opportunity for the community to provide input on the plan over the next several months.

I’m excited to share that this year we will see roadwork throughout the city increase. Last year, we approved an ambitious five-year pavement improvement plan. This means we may all experience some traffic headaches, but we heard our residents loud and clear when you said you wanted more roads fixed. Our team is on it, thanks to Concord voters who approved Measure V, which is funding a significant portion of the improvements.

Public safety will always remain a top priority for us.

Carlson ready to serve District 4

as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Pleasant Hill.

We are continuing our extensive recruitment efforts and beginning to see some results to improve department staffing.

With respect to the base, the council held a special meeting on Jan. 7 to consider the developer’s proposed term sheet that establishes the development guidelines and

community benefits to be included in the documents that must be finalized before development begins or property is transferred.

Following nearly eight hours of presentations, questions of staff and the developer and public comment (which was completed), the council continued its discus-

sion to Jan. 28, when we will vote on next steps. You can learn more about our plans for the year ahead at our annual State of the City luncheon on Feb. 1 at the Hilton Concord. Tickets are available at www.concordchamber.com.

If you’re interested in learning more about how the

city operates, I invite you to apply to participate in our free Community Academy, which launches in April. You can get details at www.cityofconcord.org/cci.

Direct your questions and comments to the mayor at 925-6713158 or Laura.Hoffmeister@cityofconcord.org.

New council member, new chief, new ideas for Clayton

JEFF WAN CLAYTON MAYOR

I am grateful that the residents of Clayton elected me again to represent them for the next four years here on the council and my fellow councilmembers chose me to represent Clayton as its mayor this year.Clayton is such a special community with a great many residents who are

actively involved and engaged. I have spoken to so many people who appreciate transparency and clear communication. I will continue to update residents as best I can as we move forward.

As we start the new year, I look ahead to quite a bit of change at the City of Clayton. We have several open positions including city manager and finance director. When these roles are filled, they are sure to bring new ideas energy to city hall. Recently we hired our new police chief, Richard McEachin.

McEachin started his career here in Clayton and has advanced in different roles throughout the state. Most recently he served as police chief in Dos Palos. I am excited to see what his leadership will bring to the police department.

At our Jan. 17 meeting, we appointed Ron Bernal as interim city manager to serve while we continue our search to replace the current city manager who is leaving at the beginning of February. Mr. Bernal has extensive experience in local government most recently retiring from

the City of Antioch as their city manager. As interim city manager, Mr. Bernal will be able to manage day to day operations while we continue our search for a candidate to take on the permanent role. There is also change at the city council. Councilmember Kim Trupiano began her term of office last month and I look forward to the exciting ideas she will bring to the table.

Even with all of this change, city operations contiue. As of this writing, we

Council vacancy, 2040 General Plan top the list for Pleasant Hill mayor

I am honored and humbled to have been elected to represent the communities of Pleasant Hill, Clayton, Concord and Walnut Creek on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

In case we haven’t met, I have spent most of my life in Contra Costa County, including attending Pleasant Hill and Concord schools. I first stepped into the county supervisor’s office when my grandfather, James Moriarty, was a county supervisor. I have great memories of attending events with him.

I graduated from the Los Medanos College Law Enforcement Academy and had a long career as a Concord police officer, where I served for 29 years, retiring in 2017. Some of my duties over the years included working as a patrol officer, a crisis negotiator, a traffic investigator and in various investigative positions.

Before joining the Board of Supervisors, I served on the Pleasant Hill City Council from December 2012 to December 2022 and as mayor in 2015 and 2019. During my tenure on the City Council, Pleasant Hill recovered from the Great Recession and built a solid budget based on fiscal stability. With the passing of Measure K, the council funded, planned and constructed the new state-of-the-art Pleasant Hill Library. As the first LGBTQIA+ councilmember and mayor, I established June

Now, as I get to work at the county level, my priorities include the build-out of the A3 (Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime) Initiative, to continue to advocate for LGBTQIA+ issues, improve our aging infrastructure and expand housing options. I am also looking forward to the implementation of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice. This office presents the opportunity to make our county more equitable for all and truly get to the roots of systemic racism.

I was officially sworn into office on Jan. 2 by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier. At my first meeting as your county supervisor, on Jan. 10, I participated in the reorganization actions of the board. Supervisors John Gioia and Federal Glover were sworn in as chair and vice chair, respectively. Gioia and I took a ceremonial oath of office, and Kristin Connelly took her oath of office starting her tenure as the county clerk-recorder.

The Board of Supervisors also approved the appointments of each board member to several county and regional boards and committees. My appointments include the Board of Supervisors’ airport and legislation committees, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, the Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Board and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, to name a few.

While I am new to the county post, my staff has more than 30 years of experience working for Contra Costa. They are ready to help District 4 residents navigate county agencies and assist with county issues.

Ken Carlson is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to Carlson at SupervisorCarlson@bos.cccounty.us or call his office at 925-655-2350.

At its reorganization meeting in December, the Pleasant Hill City Council acknowledged the retirement of longtime Councilmember Michael Harris, welcomed newly elected Councilmember Zac Shess and gave me the honor of being mayor for 2023.

The mayor is a one-year term. This is my third time as mayor, having served previously in 2014 and 2018. I am grateful to have the confidence of my fellow councilmembers as we look forward to guiding the city through another interesting year.

First up, the council is

working to fill a vacancy resulting from the election of Ken Carlson as District 4

county supervisor. We will fill this seat via an application process. Applications can be found at www.pleasanthillca.org and must be completed and returned by noon on Jan. 27.

The council will then conduct public interviews of qualified applicants and make an appointment by March 1. That individual will fill the remaining two years of Carlson’s term.

Once we have a full council, our focus will shift to finalizing our General Plan.

The Pleasant Hill 2040 General Plan is a long-range plan that guides decision-making

McEachin returns to lead Clayton police department

For those of you who don’t know me, I worked for the Clayton Police Department from 2005 to 2016. At that time, I left to seek other career challenges. I have been back in Clayton for a few months now, and I am getting settled in.

We have begun to assess where the Police Department is and where we would like to see it go. The department is

made up of dedicated individuals who really enjoy working in a small community like Clayton. I often hear how much the Clayton community loves the police department, and my primary goal is to continue that partnership with the community.

A topic of concern in Clayton has always been traffic-related issues, from speeders to stop sign runners and

everything in between. I intend to focus on traffic enforcement in the coming year to continue to keep the public safe. Please be mindful of traffic laws and drive carefully while traveling through Clayton.

I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and getting to know new ones over the next several years. I am honored to be your police

and establishes rules and standards for new development and city improvements. It reflects the city’s vision for the future and is intended to provide direction through the year 2040.

The 2040 Pleasant Hill General Plan seeks to provide future opportunities for innovative development types, expanded economic development, the creation of unique growth areas, and upgraded public facilities and services, making the city the best place to live in the Bay Area.

The process, which began

chief, and I hope that I will live up to your expectations. Send questions and comments to the chief at richard.mceachin@clayton.ci.gov

Balancing state budget a key priority

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his first budget proposal for 2023-’24. In the coming months, the administration and my colleagues and I in the Legislature will engage in a series of public hearings and meetings to achieve consensus and pass a final budget before the June 15 constitutional deadline.

It goes without saying, but the social and economic impacts of the pandemic hit Californians hard – especially our most vulnerable communities. The last few years have reminded us all just how

TIM GRAYSON 15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

quickly our economic fortunes can change.

The administration cur-

rently forecasts a $22.5 billion deficit in 2023, compared to last year’s nearly $100 billion surplus. It is clear that we are in drastically different budget times.

One challenge is that California’s state tax revenues are highly dependent upon capital gains that generally come from stocks, bonds and other investments. Newsom, along with many economists, have correctly characterized these as “inherently unpredictable.” In the absence of sufficient reserves, the combination of volatile revenues from unpre-

dictable sources is lethal to a budget that must provide predictable funding to public services.

I am proud that the state has planned for this moment and currently has nearly $37 billion in our General Fund and Rainy Day Fund reserves. However, I firmly believe that we must be judicious with our spending and decision-making, saving money where we can so that we can protect critical programs – such as schools, public safety, social safety nets

RICHARD MCEACHIN CHIEFOF POLICE CLAYTON

LAURA HOFFMEISTER CONCORD MAYOR

TIM FLAHERTY PLEASANT HILL MAYOR KEN CARLSON COUNTY SUPERVISOR

Q. I ended a friendship a year ago due to a lack of respect for boundaries. “Laycee” has refused to accept that I am not interested in trying to fix our friendship. She has resorted to arguing at mutual friend events, antagonizing me on social media and manipulating people into believing I am the problem. Any advice? – Raelynn

A. Raelynn, I understand you believe your boundaries should be respected. Unfortu-

Learn to handle toxic manipulation

nately, some bank on the boost of self-esteem, control or entertainment they will receive by disregarding those boundaries.

DON’T TAKE THE BAIT

Investing time, arguing and trying to get others on your side is what Laycee hopes you will do. You are toxic teammates in building and maintaining this two-way bridge. Our egos can tie us to harmful situations because we feel the need not to give up ground. We torture ourselves to prove we are immovable or that someone or something has not gotten the best of us.

Ask yourself why you are so emotionally invested in a situation you don’t care about. Step back, get quiet and invest in self-reflection.

from page 7

are on target to submit to the state for approval our updated housing element in compliance with state requirements. Clayton was assigned 570 additional housing units it needed to zone for across all income levels.With diligent work from city staff, our planning commission, and input from the public, we will meet this requirement.

As a result of the winter storms, there have been several instances of fallen trees, debris in roadways, and localized flooding.City staff including our maintenance department and police have been working diligently to respond as needed and have done an excellent job.

Clayton’s mid-year budget review will be coming up soon and it will serve as a data

point to assess the financial health of the city.While our initial budget projections reflected a deficit this year and, in the future, it is clear we need to continue to gather information to allow us to make informed decisions going forward.The city will need to prioritize resources and time in order to deliver services in the most efficient manner possible.I look forward to serving as mayor this year, and while there may be difficult choices ahead, we will make them together and I am confident the city will persevere as we address our immediate staffing and budget challenges.

Send comments and questions for the mayor to jeff.wan@clayton.ci.gov

Flaherty, from page 7

in March 2019, has included the creation of a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) and several community engagement events where input was solicited from residents to help guide the future of the city.

Based on the input provided and with guidance from the GPAC, the draft General Plan was created. It can be reviewed at the city’s website pleasanthillca.org, search 2040 General Plan.

This draft will be up for public review and additional public comment until the City

Council takes final action. I expect the final review and approval of the General Plan will occur this spring.

I encourage all Pleasant Hill residents and others interested to take the time to look at this document and provide comments so that your input and vision for the future of Pleasant Hill is included. Until next month, unless we cross paths at a crab feed before.

Contact Tim Flaherty at tflaherty@pleasanthillca.org.

and state healthcare – from draconian cuts of years past.

In addition to being prudent with our reserves, I’ve been outspoken in our need to use the state’s budget to create jobs and revitalize our economy, support small businesses, address our housing and homelessness crises and deliver real support for families across our state.

When it comes to housing and homelessness, I was glad to hear the governor renew his commitment to helping shelter homeless individuals, and to clean up trash that unfortunately surrounds abandoned encampments and our local streets and highway underpasses.

However, Newsom also initially proposed cutting $100 million from the CalHome program, which provides grants for agencies and nonprofits to help lower-income communities become or remain homeowners. This $100 million was part of a

funding promise I helped secure in last year’s budget, and important organizations like Habitat for Humanity are counting on this funding to help get families into homes. Our already dire homelessness crisis will only worsen if we lessen our efforts to support families who are at-risk of losing the roofs over their heads.

This is just the beginning of a long process to deliver a balanced state budget, and I look forward to working to ensure that we pass a budget that reflects our state’s and community’s values.

If you would like to learn more about my fiscal and budget priorities or connect with me on matters that are important to you, contact my district office at 925-521-1511.

If you would like to learn more about legislation that was passed in 2022, or share with me your policy priorities for 2023, contact my Concord office at 925-521-1511.

BRIDGE

Realynn, you don’t need Laycee’s compliance or your mutual friends’ approval to end this friendship. However, you do need to permit yourself to burn this bridge.

Firm boundaries do not singularly rely on others respecting them. We must also be willing to back away from people, groups and situations that would compromise our ability to uphold them.

In an effort to gain atten-

tion and reactions, Laycee is doing everything she can to feel a sense of control over you and the situation. Her ultimate goal is to continually push you to a place that validates her ability to affect you.

While you may find these interactions frustrating and draining, for Laycee, it is quite the opposite. Taking the bait gives her a charge, entertainment and a restored sense of power.

Practice being a “gray

rock.” Put nothing into the situation and expect nothing in return. Regardless of her behavior, be committed to not giving any emotional or longwinded responses. Block, ignore or be the first to remove yourself. That way, Laycee’s antics will no longer trigger a reaction from you.

If her attempts become more desperate or concerning, however, this may be a more serious problem. Some may tell you it’s not that serious,

but you may need to be concerned for your safety. Document everything and research what is required for a temporary or permanent restraining order. Never be afraid to reach out to your local authorities for help. Be well; you are worthy.

Dominique King is a wife, mother, lifestyle blogger and avid long-distance runner. Email questions and comments to her at leaninwiththekings@gmail.com.

Camp FIERCE provides a community for transgender and gender nonconforming youth

When I was coming out as a transgender woman, community was very important to me.

Having a group of peers that I could relate my experience to was very special and welcoming. Rainbow Community Center made it easy to find that community through its various programs and services. My quality of life is significantly better because of my Rainbow community.

This need for community extends to all ages, from our youngest children to our oldest elders. That’s why it warmed my heart last year when Rainbow held its first youth summer camp, Camp FIERCE. I heard stories about how impactful this camp was for transgender and

gender nonconforming children, being surrounded by others like them. The ability to dance, sing and play with others fully present as your authentic self is life-changing for many of these kids.

In many states across the nation, new legislation is criminalizing gender-affirming care for children. These cruel laws do not stop transgender people from being themselves, it only forces them to hide their identities. This hiding makes it very difficult to find community. It makes me sad and angry that transgender people across America cannot be in community in the same way I am.

Despite these injustices, hope persists.

An important piece of legislation taking effect this year is Senate Bill 107, which protects children receiving gender-affirming care in California. One aspect that is

particularly noteworthy is how the law prevents healthcare providers in California from releasing information related to gender-affirming care in response to subpoenas from other states. This law is crucial for families fleeing the injustices imposed upon transgender children and their families across the country.

I am incredibly grateful to live in a state that supports people like me. This support is needed for all of us to find community, and for a place like Rainbow to exist.

These laws also establish models for other states to follow, so more places can be welcoming for people like me. Other states are already considering laws similar to California.

As Rainbow gears up for its second youth camp this summer, it gives me hope that our young people have a place to be affirmed and be in a

community. It also reminds me that more work needs to be done so that children all across the country are able to have the same opportunities. Until that work is complete, I know Rainbow is committed to ensuring our children have the support and community they need to thrive throughout their youth into adulthood.

For camp registration, visit www.tinyurl.com/RCCcampfie rce. To request financial support for Camp FIERCE, go to www.bit.ly/campfiercescholars hip. Learn more about all of Rainbow Community Center’s events, programs and services at www.rainbowcc.org.

Robyn Kuslits is a genderqueer transwoman who serves as board president of Rainbow Community Center. She loves local politics, trail running and her adorable cat Duke. Contact her at robyn@rainbowcc.org.

By the time you read this, the odds are I have carefully crafted several ambitious and edifying resolutions and broken them.

Oh, well. I may never get out from under sugar, caffeine, overwork and insufficient sleep but best not to add guilt and shame to the mix.

Humans are an extraordinary species and particularly good at forming habits. We are hard wired to automate processes after a series of repetitions, allowing us to drive to work thinking nothing of how we got there. Instead, we can focus on the misery of a broken resolution, or, better yet, work on cultivating new habits.

A wise professor with whom I studied acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine developed a program to help patients quit smoking. The protocol includes point combinations to reduce cravings, but the most important element is a complete change of habits. He stressed that the patient must remove from the home all accoutrements associated with smoking: ashtrays, lighters –even specific furniture – and

substitute other behavior and objects in the space previously occupied by smoking.

Patients were taught to schedule and go for a nightly walk after dinner very deliberately, carrying a stick if so desired. They were to do this with the same regularity with which they would reach for a cigarette, light and smoke it –effectively adopting a new ritual.

The program was quite successful because it necessitated the forging of healthy new habits to replace destructive ones.

I used a variation of this program each time a patient came to me for help with weight loss. I always began with a heart-to-heart conversation about the realities of weight loss and the fact that acupuncture needles were not tiny magic wands.

Unfortunately, losing weight and keeping it off involves a commitment to healthy eating and regular exercise which amounts to substituting one set of habits for another.

So, with or without the help of acupuncture, how do we form new and better habits? It

turns out that habits are just a combination of repetition and reward.

“Habits aren’t just there, but you get them by repetition and reinforcement,” says Dr. Nicole Calakos, associate professor of neurology and neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center. “The repetition part is obvious because a habit means regularly doing something, and the more you do it, the conditions are ripe that will make you prone to have a habit. The second is reinforcement. In other words, is the outcome good? Does it help you get about your business? Is it rewarding?”

Research indicates that it takes 18-25 days to begin and establish a new habit. That’s less than a full month.

To have the best chance of succeeding, experts recommend staying connected to the reason – and reward – anticipated and keeping goals simple, specific and realistic. It also helps to treat ourselves with patience

and a lack of judgment.

Making change is never easy and often involves numerous setbacks and weakening of resolve. Deciding to do one’s best every day in full awareness that Monday may be magnificent while Wednesday a total wreck may make sticking to a resolution that much easier.

Let’s meet back here in mid-February with a few shiny new habits to admire.

Please send your comments and question to Nathalie at newwavenightingale@gmail.com.

ROBYN KUSLITS

No. 1 Clayton Valley Charter boys soccer trying to break through for North Coast Section playoff glory this season

Clayton Valley Charter boys soccer has made trips to the North Coast Section soccer semi-finals the past two years but have not been able to take the next step and reach the championship game.

Coach Guillermo Jara’s squad is looking to finally get into the title match this year as the Ugly Eagles are No. 1 in the prep rankings, a place they also attained last season.

In 2020 and last winter CVCHS made it to the semifinals but no further, losing 1-0 last year to eventual champion De La Salle. The school met the same fate in back-to-back 2011 and 2012 semi-final appearances. The second year their Concord rivals beat them 2-1 enroute to another DLS title.

Jara is in his 10th year coaching at the Concord school, and he has seven players on this year’s squad who earned all-league honors when the team won the Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division championship last season. They finished 15-3-2 overall.

This will be CVCHS boys soccer seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs (none were held in 2021). With a rally cry of “positivity, karma and unity” this season they are hoping to go further than any Ugly Eagles boys soccer team ever has.

Marco Jara is back after earning first team all-league

last winter while senior captains Ryan Morimoto and Chase Caldwell give leadership to the squad that saw league offensive MVP Adam Rychtecky graduate last spring.

Alex Braginski, Skye Megyesi and Nolan Martin are other seniors who were allDAL a year ago, as was junior Will Caranza.

The team is undefeated in 13 games this year with a 1-1 draw at Northgate the only blemish on the CVCHS record. The team is ranked No. 1 in the Bay Area and NCS, and in the top 30 statewide.

They had nine one-goal victories as they faced off with

unbeaten Las Lomas this Tuesday.

De La Salle has again played a challenging nonleague slate and coach Derricke Brown’s team is currently ninth in the Bay Area with a 64-1 overall mark and 4-0 record in the East Bay Athletic League. All four of their losses have been by one goal.

Returning all-EBAL seniors Cooper Kennedy and Lucas Pfister are the team captains.

The Spartans won last year’s NCS Division I title after a mini drought of section championships since 2018. The Concord school has 14 NCS championships, eight of

those coming since 2009 plus three runner-up finishes as well during that time.

COUGARSALSO LOOKFOR A REPEATTITLE

Carondelet finished second at NCS from 2016-2018 but has won two of the last three NCS Division I championships and the Cougars are looking to make that three of four this year. As usual, it appears that the top NCS girls teams are once again Carondelet (ranked third in the Bay Area) along with their longtime Danville and EBAL rivals San Ramon Valley (No. 1) and Monte Vista (No. 7).

The Cougars are 8-2 with 1-0 losses to Monte Vista and Redwood of Visalia. Coach Amy Apodaca’s team will face San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista among its final three EBAL games, both in Danville early next month.

Goalkeeper Maddie Buckley and midfielder Lizzie Vranesh are co-captains and

returning all-EBAL players for the Cougars. Buckley is headed to UC Santa Barbara and Vranesh to Cal Berkeley in the fall. Their senior forward Lauren Kenny is going to Oregon. League schedules end Feb. 9 with the NCS Championships running Feb. 14-25 and the Norcal Championships Feb. 28 - Mar. 4.

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

De La Salle had a roller coaster of a football season that ended with the Spartans suffering a fourth loss to a highly-ranked team in the California State 1-AA Bowl last month. In a game that was termed an “instant classic,” Lincoln of San Diego outlasted the Concord school 33-28.

After the season coach Justin Alumbaugh said he was “very proud of our seniors for re-instilling a lot of culture and pride in our program.”

De La Salle returned to a State Bowl game for the first time since 2019 and the Spartans

came away on the short end of the score in a the season that might be remembered as the “PITs.” As was the case too many times in the past two seasons, it was penalties, injuries and turnovers that cost De La Salle the chance to win its eighth state championship.

Instead, the Spartans lost the last game of a full season for the sixth straight time. Those losses, with the exception of 2021, were all in a CIF bowl game.

From 2009 to 2015 the Spartans won six of seven State Open Division championships. That was before the

See Football, page 11

Photo courtesy CVCHS Athletics

in the Bay Area this winter. A returning all-league player, Martin is helping his team

try

JAY

BEDECARRÉ

Athlete Spotlight

Ugly Eagles, Cougars gearing up to defend NCS basketball titles

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Clayton Valley Charter boys and Carondelet won North Coast Section basketball championships last year with De La Salle a basket away from joining them as an NCS titlist. All three teams are in the mix to claim the top spot again when the playoffs get underway in mid-February.

The Ugly Eagles made school history with their Division I championship last year, the first-ever NCS boys basketball crown for the Concord school. Coach Frank Allocco Jr. then saw 10 of his championship players graduate. CVCHS is playing itself into contention again ranked sixth in the Bay Area with a 16-2 season mark highlighted by last week’s home win over Campolindo 74-66, ending the Cougars 36-game Diablo Athletic League winning streak.

Campo is the defending NCS Open Division champion after edging De La Salle 51-50 in the 2022 finale.

DNA here at Clayton Valley, and our players have worked hard to get better.”

He cited the “steady improvement” of returning starters Jake King and James Moore as the team’s foundation up to this point. He says, “The rapid improvement of Elijah Perryman, who has become a standout player in Northern California after playing on our freshman team last year, along with the rest of our players who are either current freshmen [including poised frosh guard Julian Plaza] or played freshman/JV last year has us competing at a very high level right now.”

Seniors King and Austin Drollinger, along with Moore and Perryman posted double figure scoring totals during the team’s three wins last week. The Ugly Eagles jumped out to a 20-5 lead over Campo in the first quarter in Dan Della Gym but eventually saw their led dwindle to only four points before finishing off Campo by eight.

Joey Kremin

School: Concord High Grade: Senior Sports: Soccer, Water Polo, Lacrosse

Coach Jose Soltero needed a starting goalkeeper to anchor his Concord High girls soccer defense this season and he turned to Kremin to take over that key position. A three-year scholar athlete for the varsity squad, her coach says, “Joey has the heart of a defender and is a hard worker both on and off the field.” After energizing the squad as a defensive midfielder the past two seasons she assumed the role of starting goalkeeper this winter. She is “a stellar asset for the team,” Soltero adds. Kremin also played varsity water polo and lacrosse for three years. She shows her same drive in the classroom maintaining a high GPA wile taking honors and AP classes in order to earn college admission where she will major in creative writing.

The Pioneer congratulates Joey and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades 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.

Sports Shorts

CONCORD AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION FORSPRING BALLSTILL OPEN

Concord American Little League player evaluations begin this weekend for its 2022 spring baseball season. The league’s website has complete registration information for t-ball (ages 4-6) through senior baseball (13). Evaluations will be Jan. 21 and 28 for all players seven and older. Practice begins Feb. 4, opening day is Mar. 18 and closing day June 3. Visit concordamericanlittleleague.org for details and to register.

DIABLO VALLEY WOLVES BENEFIT CRAB FEED

AT CENTRE CONCORD

FEB. 10

The Diablo Valley Wolves benefit crab feed, raffle and dance is Friday, Feb. 10, at Centre Concord. Tickets are on sale for the event that benefits programs for the local competitive youth soccer club affiliated with MLS NEXT and the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Visit diablovalleywolves.com for more details and to get information on event sponsorships and purchasing crab feed tickets.

CLAYTON SHARPSHOOTER PERFECTTWICEINQUEST FOR

ANOTHER ELKS HOOP SHOOT NATIONALTITLE

Last winter, Jackson Ramirez fell one shot short of qualifying for a repeat trip to the Elks Hoop Shoot National Championships, which he won the previous year. Now competing in the 12-year-old division Ramirez has started red hot while making a perfect 25 for 25 in the first two competitions this year.

The Clayton youngster began this year’s Hoop Shoot in Walnut Creek and then last Saturday in Modesto posted his second successive perfect score at the district meet. His next step is seeking a third straight state championship Feb. 4.

SPRING ALLIANCEPROGRAM

COMING TO CONCORD AYSO

Concord AYSO Region 305 will be participating in the new Area 2C & 2D Spring Alliance Soccer league for 2023. This program is taking the place of Select. The Alliance program is open to all kids in birth years 2009-2014 in the Concord AYSO geographic area regardless of where they played fall soccer. For more information on alliance and spring programs visit ConcordAYSO.org website.

Allocco says that after losing the 10 seniors his coaching staff “focused heavily on skill development and teaching our players how to win, the importance of great shot selection, minimizing turnovers and, of course, defending at a high level. ‘Rebuilding’ is not in our

Last Saturday, Perryman hit a three-point shot from the top of the key as time expired for CVCHS’s margin of victory in the MLK Showcase over Monte Vista.

“This remains a team that still has a lot of growth to be had which is exciting. All we talk about is ‘March’ and that is

JUNIOR OPTIMISTTAKINGSPRINGBASEBALLSIGNUPS

Junior Optimist Baseball League is taking registration for boys and girls 4-11 for its spring season. There are two weekly games for teams, one a weeknight and the other on Saturday. JOBL started in 1963 and plays all its games at the JOBL Complex in North Concord. Visit joblconcord.com or email President Mark Northrup info@joblconcord.com for more information and to register.

FIRST TEE CRAB FEED JAN. 27 AT CENTRE CONCORD

First Tee of Contra Costa is hosting a fund-raising crab feed on Friday, Jan. 27, at Centre Concord. The evening, which benefits the youth golf program, is from 5-9 p.m. with a delicious menu catered by Zandonella’s including marinated crab, salad, pasta, garlic bread and dessert. A 50/50 raffle and silent auction will benefit the program. For more information on tickets visit firstteecontracosta.org/crabfeed.

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTERFLAGFOOTBALLPROGRAM

KICKSOFFTHIS MONTH

Clayton Valley Charter High School hosts its Be Elite Flag Football season on 10 consecutive weekends starting Jan 22. The co-ed program is open to kindergarten through eighth grade students. There are no tryouts or draft, and everyone plays offense and defense. No football experience is necessary. One-hour weekend practices are followed by 5v5 non-contact environment games the same day from Jan. 22 – Mar. 26. Coaching is by student athlete mentors. Fee includes participant’s custom jersey (name and jersey number) and shorts. For registration information contact CVCHS football coach Nick Tisa at nick.tisa@claytonvalley.org or visit BeEliteAthlete.com.

MT. DIABLO HIGH HALL OF FAME CRAB FEEDTHIS SATURDAY

The annual Mt. Diablo High School Hall of Fame crab feed is this Saturday, Jan. 20, at Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill. The evening, which benefits the school’s Sports Hall of Fame, includes music, dancing, 50/50 raffle and lots of raffle prizes. For more information on tickets call Lou Adamo at 212-9332 or email louadamo@gmail.com.

what we prepare for, the playoffs. After a great start the goal is to keep improving and hopefully we can be at our best when the playoffs start and reach our peak,” Allocco says. The team’s performance this season may jump them to the six-team Open Division come NCS playoffs.

Coach Marcus Schroeder’s second De La Salle season had the Spartans (14-4) ranked third in the Bay Area before an upset East Bay Athletic League loss at Monte Vista last week.

Sophomore Alec Blair, who was first-team all-EBAL as a freshman, has continued his strong play this season. Seniors Evan Wells and Blum Haggerty along with Blair give the teams three 6-5 scorers.

COUGAR OPPONENTS FROM 8 STATES

Carondelet won the NCS girls Open Division title a year ago and coach Kelly Sopak’s Cougars are ranked fifth in the Bay Area with a 15-3 mark. They are playing an independent schedule this season which has included games against teams from Hawaii, Nevada, Tennessee, New York, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

They began this week with an MLK Day afternoon game in Puget Sound, Washington on Monday and then squared off with ninth-ranked San Ramon Valley in Danville on Tuesday evening.

Coach Jim Croy’s Northgate’s girls are ranked 17th in the Bay Area with a 14-3 record including 3-0 start in DAL Foothill play, one of three unbeaten teams in the league. The Broncos finished second to Acalanes in the NCS Division II playoffs a year ago.

Senior Tade Scheid, a returning all-DAL player, combines with junior Amelia Schrag and sophomore Hana Neuman for a strong perimeter core for the Broncos.

BASKETBALL SCHEDULE DAL League through Feb. 9 EBAL League through Feb. 7 EBAL Boys Tournament Feb. 6-11

EBAL Girls Tournament Feb. 10-11

NCS Championships Feb. 14-25

NorCal Championships Feb. 28 - Mar. 7 CIF State Championships Mar. 10-11

PLEASANT HILL BASEBALL ASSOCIATION ACCEPTINGWAITLISTREGISTRATIONS

The all-volunteer Pleasant Hill Baseball Association, which was founded in 1958, is accepting waitlist signups for its spring 2023 baseball and softball season for girls and boys ages 4-18. For more information visit the PHBA website phba.org.

NEWEST YGNACIO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAMECLASS TO BE HONORED

MAY 20

The Ygnacio Valley High Athletic Hall of Fame dinner for the Class of 2020 has turned into the Class of 2023, which will finally be installed May 20 at Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill, three years after the original induction date. Visit yvathletichof.com for more details and to reserve tickets when they go on sale early in the new year.

MDSA SPRING LEAGUEREGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is now open for Mt Diablo Soccer Association's spring season. The program is open to boys and girls ages 4-18. The 12U and older divisions are co-ed. For more details and to register visit mdsoccer.org.

CLAYTON VALLEY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME HONORING CBCA

Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame will host is seventh induction ceremony May 19 at Centre Concord. The Hall of Fame committee announced that the Clayton Business and Community Association will be honored as part of the honorees after what will be a four-year hiatus since last celebrating its sixth class in May 2019. Social hour will begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and the presentation of inductees. Ticket info for the induction dinner will be announced soon. Check cvhshof.com for more information.

PIONEER WANTS TO PUBLISH YOUR SPORTS NEWS

Please let us know about your sports news, special events, fund raisers, tryouts, signups and accomplishments. Youth leagues, clubs, schools and adult programs are all welcome to send us a rundown on what you are doing. Include all the necessary details and your contact information. It is as simple as sending an email to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

Photo courtesy Carondelet Athletics Allie Cummins (22) committed to play collegiate basketball at Northern Arizona and is helping her Carondelet team towards another North Coast Section title, which would be the Cougars 16th section championship since 2003. Cummins and Jamie Kent, headed to University of the Pacific in the fall, are providing senior leadership for the Concord school this winter.

Photo courtesy CVCHS basketball.

Junior guard James Moore has been a foundational piece for the Clayton Valley Charter boys basketball team which is hoping to win a second successive North Coast Section championship this winter. Coach Frank Allocco Jr. credits returning starters Moore and Jake King with leading an otherwise young roster after 10 Ugly Eagle players graduated from the title-winning team.

players, gymnast made fall college commitments last month

Concord’s two powerhouse high school football programs saw six senior student athletes make their college commitments during December’s National Letter of Intent early signing period.

Besides the six football players, Sienna Blake of Concord, a standout performer at East Bay Gymnastics the last five years, is headed to Illinois after committing to the Greenville University gymnastics team. Blake home schools through the Visions in Education program.

Northern California 1-AA champion De La Salle, which returned to a State Bowl game after missing out in 2021, had five players ink their national letter of intent including fourstar tight end Cooper Flanagan to Notre Dame. Flanagan starred on both sides of the ball this year before an injury against Pittsburg in the North Coast Section Open Division

championship game ended his season.

His Spartan teammates who also made their commitments official were Charles Greer (runningback to Fresno State), Cooper Powers (offensive line to TCU), Journey McKoy (defensive back to Nevada) and Derek Thompson (offensive line to Harvard).

Spartan coach Justin Alumbaugh had high praise to his seniors who helped lead the

team to its 30th successive North Coast Section championship in spite of many injuries and the toughest schedule in NorCal high school football.

Richard McKay, a 6-6, 295pound offensive lineman for Clayton Valley Charter, committed to the Sacramento State Hornets who recently completed a record-breaking season. McKay helped the Ugly Eagles to the East Bay Athletic

League Mountain Division championship for the third time running and to the NCS Division I championship game.

All six local football signees were named first team allEBAL for their performances this fall with Flanagan cited as co-defensive player of the year. The five Spartan players each earned all-league honors as juniors as well.

De La Salle wrestling aims to keep its two section winning streaks going next month

in their usual home at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield Feb. 23-25.

De La Salle wrestling is second only to Spartans football in their dominance of North Coast Section results for the Concord school in the past decade plus.

The wrestling program was stunned two years ago next month with the sudden death of head coach Mark Halvorson, who had led the Spartans to unprecedented heights, including mentoring state champions Kyle Parco and Peyton Omania.

Alumnus Jonathan Clark stepped into the void for the pandemic shortened 2021 season and then last year coached DLS to its seventh successive Section championships in both the dual team and team tournament. The Spartans have 14 dual team titles in the past 15 NCS seasons and 12 team championships out of the past 13 meets. There were no NCS competitions during the 202021 school year.

Based on rankings in each of the 14 weight classes earlier this month in The California Wrestler, it appears De La Salle will be odds on favorites to grab their eighth successive championships. The dual team meet is on Feb. 4, two weeks before the NCS Championships Feb. 17-18 at James Logan High in Union City.

The season-ending CIF Wrestling Championships are

Senior Gavin Fernandez finished fourth at State last year and is currently ranked fifth at 152 pounds in California Wrestler projections for next month’s meet. He was seeded ninth going into State last year after taking third at NCS. Fernandez was an NCS champ at 132 pounds as a freshman and recently committed to continue his career next year at Cal Poly SLO.

There are 10 other Spartans who are currently ranked in the state, including six juniors.

Manuel Martir at 106 pounds is the second highest ranked Spartan at No. 11. He was third at NCS a year ago. Classmate Caleb Tatad is 15th in the next weight class, 113. He also was third at 2022 NCS when Martir wrestled at 113 and Tatad at 106.

Other DLS juniors in the rankings are Carlos Vazquez at 126 rated No. 17 in the state, TJ Arvizu 32nd at 160, Gio-

vanni Cuevas 34th at 120 and Franklin Enkhmandakh 35th at 145 pounds.

In the three top weight classes Roland Sanchez at 195 earned honorable mention state ranking as did 285 class Cooper Cazares. Stefan Bakiev at 220 pounds is a top 15 wrestler but is just now recovering from a football injury.

State individual rankings point to James Logan and Liberty once again as the Spartans chief rivals for NCS honors.

2 CONCORD WRESTLERS RANKED

Heavyweight Jose Ortiz of Concord High is ranked 29th while posting several top three finishes in tournaments this season after an excellent football season for the Minutemen last fall as the first team allleague nose tackle.

His teammate Seiichi Naddy is honorable mention at 160 after winning his weight class at the Bill Martell Invitational.

Athlete Spotlight

Isabella Scolini

School: Clayton Valley Charter High Grade: Senior Sports: Basketball, Softball, Golf

The saying “The world is your oyster” is one that senior Scolini endorses in her athletic and academic aspirations. By the time she graduates this spring, Scolini will have three seasons of varsity basketball, four seasons of varsity softball and, for good measure, was also on the varsity golf team to begin her three-sport senior year. Basketball head coach Paul Kommer commends his senior. “Isabella Scolini is one of the hardest working and respectful players I’ve ever coached. Whether it’s a drill in practice, a scrimmage or a game, she is a player that we can always count on to give her best effort. Her greatest attribute may be the example she sets for her teammates in terms of effort, attitude and respect for everyone around her.” Illustrating those traits, Scolini received the Coaches Award during her junior year of basketball.

Outside of Clayton Valley Charter, Scolini played for NorCal Choppers Softball until this fall when she transferred to the Ohana Tigers Gold team. Last spring, junior Scolini earned second team all-league softball honors. She recently signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her softball journey next fall at Saint Mary's College. Nicknamed Izzy, Scolini is on a very short list of girls who began their softball careers in Clayton Valley Little League and continued all the way to Division I college softball.

Scolini reflects that her favorite part about representing CVCHS is playing for an acclaimed school alongside teammates she’s befriended during her athletic endeavors. She says her teammates push her to be better and make competing that much more enjoyable. Scolini also took part in soccer, ballet and kung-fu as a youngster. She believes that growing up playing different sports has turned her into a better athlete and taught her many skills that she is able to apply to her current athletic career. While off the golf course, basketball court and softball field, Scolini maintains a 3.8 GPA and participates in the Wise Club, Engineering Academy and Link Crew at the Concord charter school. She is ecstatic to play her next four years of competitive softball for the Saint Mary’s Gaels as a business major. Scolini notes that her parents, coaches and committed teammate Soo-Jin Berry (another multi-sport athlete) have been incredible supporters throughout her athletic and academic journeys.

CVCHS student journalist Katherine Pugh wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Isabella and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.

Saint John Bosco and Mater Dei high school teams in Southern California became little more than college football feeder factories. This year’s national championship Bosco team reportedly had 41 future Division I players on its team.

Bosco and Mater Dei each defeated De La Salle twice in the open division finals between 2016 and 2019. Last month was only the second time DLS played in the second top state bowl game, the first time in 2008 was also a losing effort to Centennial-Corona.

Alumbaugh sees positives out of the disappointments the legendary program encountered. “Our regular season losses were disappointing; injuries and missed opportunities really hurt us. Ultimately, I was very proud of the response in our effort to get back into the State title game. Lincoln was an outstanding team, and we came up just short.

“The silver lining in all of our injuries this year was the massive amount of playing time that our underclassmen received. At one point, we

started four freshman and six sophomores. Our future is bright if the young men commit to what is necessary to succeed,” he added.

Lincoln (fourth) was ranked higher than the Spartans (12th) in MaxPrep’s state rankings entering the game and the Hornets were favored slightly. De La Salle had never previously lost to a San Diego Section school.

The game turned from a scoreless defensive struggle until the final four minutes of the first half to a back and forth offensive battle that was ultimately decided by the excellence of Georgia-commit Lincoln running back Roderick Robinson and two critical De La Salle turnovers and untimely penalties as the Spartans first gave up the lead and then were turned away from a classic comeback in the last seconds of the game.

Sophomore quarterback

Toa Faavae and his classmate Derrick Blanche hooked up on a long fourth-down pass in the final minute, putting the Spartans in a position to score the winning touchdown before a

penalty set the team back 10 yards and they didn’t gain any yardage on the final plays of the game.

The injury bug that followed De La Salle all season was largely gone for the finale but the team’s No. 1 ranked college prospect Cooper Flanagan—headed for Notre Dame—-was out for the second playoff game in a row and his absence was felt on both sides of the ball.

The December 2021 lineup of California State Bowl games did not include De La Salle for the first time since the series started in 2006. The Spartans then began this past fall’s season splitting its first six games, including two home losses.

That early season record included a 24-20 loss in Concord to Folsom, the team that knocked the Spartans out of the CIF playoffs in the 2021 Northern California Regional Division I championship game 28-27. The Concord school got a measure of revenge with Folsom as they went to the school in the Sierra foothills and came away with a 17-14 win at the end of November.

The week before De La Salle won its 30th consecutive North Coast Section champi-

onship 30-23 over ancient rival Pittsburg, which maintained the Spartans last historic “streak” of not losing to a NCS opponent since the end of the 1991 season.

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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COOPER POWERS

RICHARD MCKAY

JAY

BEDECARRÉ

Pulitzer Prize winning ‘Clybourne Park’ on stage in Pittsburg

short plays plus an original radio drama that run through Jan. 29 at the Martinez Campbell Theater.

Act I includes David Ives’ “Time Flies,” Robert Anderson’s “I’m Herbert” and Alice Gerstenberg’s “Fourteen.”

Following the short life of a May fly, Ives’ piece stars Jerry Motta and Sheila Morrison as two young May flies on a date. Bill Dietz portrays David Attenborough, who causes much of the flies’ distress.

Artistic director Randy Anger has put together three

Going in a completely different direction, “I’m Herbert” features an elderly memory-challenged couple attempting a conversation. Motta plays Herbert, and I am his wife Muriel.

Gerstenberg’s period play completes the act with Melynda Kiring, Erin Hurley and Motta (you might see a pattern here) setting up for a dinner party where the names and number of guests constantly changes much to the chagrin of the hostess.

Act II premieres “Murder One” by Anger. The radio murder mystery takes place in a theater in San Francisco in the 1930s and includes Hurley, Motta, Jaime Rich, Randy Wight and Keith Williams.

The theater is at 636 Ward St., Martinez. For tickets, go to www.campbelltheater.com.

Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, in collaboration with Pittsburg Theatre Company, presents the totally wacky “Complete Works of William Shakespeare

(Abridged) (Revised)” in two locations.

The cast includes Kevin Coren, Casey Standridge and Amy Wadleigh. Helen Dixon directs, with Morgan Harrison and Emily Marshall as the very busy stagehands.

The fast-paced comedic romp through the Bard’s plays runs through Jan. 21 in Brentwood at the Veterans Memorial Building, 757 1st St. For tickets, go to www.pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.

The energetic show then performs Feb. 24-26 at Steeltown Coffee and Tea, 695 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. Go to www.ghostlightte.org/ for tickets.

A crumbling American dream seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old begins the new year for Center Rep. Trying to find a way to belong in a divided country, the child

fixates on a red bike that represents all the possibilities the world has to offer.

“Red Bike,” Caridad Svich’s imaginative, highly choreographed story, runs Feb. 4-25 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr.

Set in an unnamed American town in economic decline, “Red Bike” takes the audience on a 90-minute ride as the child gains a new awareness of the local neighborhood.

The role of the genderless child can be played by one, two or three people. In Center Rep’s production, directed by Jeffrey Lo, actors Adrienne Kaori Walters and Amy Lizardo will play the child.

For tickets, call 925-9437469 or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

Pittsburg Theatre Company also takes up changing neighborhoods with its production of the Pulitzer Prize winning “Clybourne Park,” running Jan. 28-Feb. 5 at California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg.

Bruce Norris’ thought-provoking work ingeniously sets the action in 1959 in a residential neighborhood where white community leaders attempt to stop the sale of a home to a Black family.

In Act Two, the same house sets the stage for present-day action. Now, however, the house exists in a predominantly Black neighborhood where residents battle gentrification.

Directed

For tickets, go to https://pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org/.

This is the time of year when people’s thoughts turn to fresh starts. Along with putting new calendars on the wall, we might make some resolutions for the new year.

An important part of resolutions is to make them pleasurable and achievable, not forgettable or annoying.

As an artist, I try to set new year’s resolutions that will improve my creativity and artmaking. This year, I reached out to a number of artist friends to hear their ideas. If you think an art-related resolution will help you as an artist and/or improve your art, consider one of the following suggestions:

Make plans to look at art. Spending time just looking at different kinds of art helps invigorate those creative juices. We are fortunate to live in an area with so many excellent museums – Oakland Museum of California, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, de Young Museum, Asian Art Museum, Legion of

The Orinda Theatre welcomes Broadway’s Sam Gravitte, best known for his role as Fiyero in “Wicked.” Gravitte brings his 70-minute show to Orinda at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 as part of the “Live at the Orinda” concert series. For tickets, go to www.orindamovies.com.

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

Promise yourself you’ll see, make more art this year

Honor Museum, and Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. For an even shorter drive and to see work from local artists, check out the aRt Cottage in Concord, Moraga Art Gallery, Main Street Arts in Martinez and Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, to name a few.

Join an art community. I always receive new energy and ideas after getting together with like-minded creatives who enjoy sharing and talking about their art. Art organizations in this area include Arts Benicia, Concord Art Association, Lamorinda Arts Alliance, Martinez Arts Association and Las Juntas-East Bay Artist Guild. Many local galleries hold receptions when opening a new show. Some online groups also hold Zoom meetings and share work on Instagram or hold online exhibits.

Spend time in nature. So many splendid hiking trails have panoramic vistas and close-up flora and fauna that could inspire anyone. East Bay Regional Park District, East Bay Municipal Water District and Mount Diablo State Park are all right here. Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek invites artists to display sculptures in the garden, and Con-

tra Costa Plein Air painting group is an excellent resource for finding plein-air paint-out events.

Sign up for an art class or demo. Places such as Studio 55 in Martinez, Red Ox Clay Studio in Concord and Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill offer art classes. Many artists and small studios in Contra Costa County also provide art classes. And you can find onetime art demonstrations and instructions through the local art associations mentioned above.

Even staying close to home, you can set a few

short-term goals. Start with something easy, perhaps finishing a small project you started last year. Or organize your workspace. It’s not only practical but can be motivational as you look over last year’s sketches and notes. Whatever you do, I wish you success in finding and achieving a suitable new year’s resolution that will lead to happy art-making.

John Nakanishi is an acrylic painter and a ceramic artist. Email comments and suggestions for future columns to phjona@gmail.com.

Plotline Theatre Company has a little something for everyone in its latest theatrical offering.

by Gregory Brown, Pittsburg’s production features Jason Anthony, Bri Andrews, David Ghilardi, Kyle Jacques, Safira McGrew, Edward Natenburg and Natalie Tichenor.

John Nakanishi resolves to pay more attention to art in 2023, attending functions like the one in Todos Santos Plaza in November.

JOHN NAKANISHI ARTSIN MOTION

Sara Leyva

Pittsburg Theatre Company is in rehearsals for “Clybourne Park,” set to open Jan. 28 at the California Theatre.

Jerry Motta, Melynda Kiring and Erin Hurley appear in “Fourteen” through Jan. 29 at the Martinez Campbell Theater.

Jerry Motta and Sally Hogarty portray a couple trying to communicate in “I’m Herbert,” part of a Plotline production in Martinez through Jan. 29.

Broadway’s Sam Gravitte will perform at the Orinda Theatre on Jan. 29.

SALLY HOGARTY STAGE STRUCK

Vinnie’s expands, adds theme nights to draw in crowds

the (local) stigma. It’s like ‘Why would you want to pay those prices just to go to Vinnie’s,’ ya know?” laments Parker, referring to an era when many locals assumed live music at Vinnie’s meant heavy metal or abrasive hard rock, with an audience made up mostly of regulars.

DAVE HUGHES THE BEAT OF DIABLO

Any conversation about upcoming local shows or open mic nights is likely to include Vinnie’s Bar & Grill, especially considering this 20-year-old business is now Concord’s only venue for local music.

Dalton Parker opened the downtown staple in March 2002. From 1981 until then, the bar was Hobie’s Roadhouse, a well-known biker establishment. In an effort to make it his own – and shake off some of the unsavory stigma that comes with a biker bar’s reputation – he named the bar after his son, Vincent “Vinnie” Marcuso Parker.

In 2017, Vinnie took over the lease and immediately began working toward his own goal of expanding the indoor space and erecting a new stage with premiere lighting and sound.

“This was the plan from day one,” the younger Parker says, gesturing to the newly expanded area. “Even before I bought this place, when I first started getting involved in management, I was like ‘Dad, why don’t you expand this, go into the place next door, knock this wall out and open this up?’ ”

The expansion, which was mostly constructed in 2021, has more than doubled the maximum occupancy from 299 to 704. With additional outdoor space allowing for up to another 285 patrons, Vinnie’s Bar & Grill can now host a crowd of nearly 1,000.

That means Vinnie’s can compete with similarly sized music venues in the Bay Area

for larger shows. Last year, Vinnie’s saw huge turnouts for performances by Afroman – the hip hop artist behind the 2000 hit “Because I Got High” – and more recently, Mac Sabbath, the Los Angeles-based McDonald’s-themed Black Sabbath tribute/parody act.

“Why go to The City and deal with all that traffic, the parking, maybe getting your car broken into, when you can see a great show a few blocks from BART in a quaint downtown area like Todos Santos?” asks Parker.

Traveling acts may be incentivized to take advantage of this new blip on the map. Agents of mid-sized touring acts may be attracted to the idea of lodging

‘Dreamers’ a history lesson that bears repeating

“Dreamers of the Day” is as bright and new as when it was published in March 2008.

Given the present state of the world, it may be even more fresh, which it is to me each time I re-read it.

After reading my advance review copy, handselling “Dreamers of the Day” at Clayton Books in 2008 was easy.

When I moved to Reno, Mary Doria Russell’s novel moved with me. But I didn’t read it again until 2020, when COVIDsequestered at home, I went to my bookshelves.

At the bottom of Page 1 was Russell’s description of the Spanish Flu epidemic: “Imagine people dying in such numbers that they had to be buried in mass graves dug with steam shovels – dying not of some ancient plague or in some faraway land, but dying here and now, right in front of you.”

How much timelier could it get?

Even with a page count of 255, I found enough history to look more closely at Middle East conflicts, which, after 9/11, also makes the story of the 1921 First Cairo Conference more relevant than ever. I let the novel rest again until 2022, when I suggested it for the Clayton book club’s January 2023 read.

“Dreamers of the Day” is

the story of plain-Jane Agnes Shanklin, a 40-year-old Ohio school teacher, who, because of the Great Epidemic, becomes the sole survivor of the Shanklin family. Agnes is single, and, according to her mother, with little hope of marrying or being anything more than a teacher. But with the death of her widowed and overachieving, ever-critical mother, Agnes becomes heir to a small but comfortable “fortune.”

Historical novel? Middle East travel guide? I find “Dreamers” is Agnes’ coming of age story. She decides to travel (with Rosie, her Dachshund) to Egypt and the Holy Land, where her beloved sister’s family had lived as missionaries.

The fun begins upon Agnes’ arrival at a swish Cairo hotel,

where she is denied admittance with Rosie. A hubbub of splendid proportions ensues, with T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia) coming to her rescue. Within minutes, Agnes is also in the company of Gertrude Bell and a young Winston Churchill.

By the time Agnes and Rosie find a more accommodating hotel, the reader can hardly put Russell’s book down. A handsome, Dachshund-loving German of questionable background enters the story (I did say it was a coming-of-age book), and, in no time, Agnes finds herself among groundbreaking world political leaders riding the wake of the Ottoman Empire’s demise – dividing up the Middle East with repercussions still felt today.

A more self-confident and worldly Agnes returns to Ohio, continuing her story well past her death in 1957. Remember her words: “My little story has become your history. You won’t understand your times until you understand mine.”

Don’t wait for the next pandemic; read it now.

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

in the burbs instead of paying metro rates. The potential is undeniable.

Still, Vinnie’s remains realistic in understanding the uphill nature of routinely booking bigger shows.

“One thing we’re battling is

“I never thought of us as a metal venue,” shares Jeanne Marcuso, Parker’s mother who helps with business management. “Hard rock for a time, maybe, but it reinvents itself. Latinos might think we’re a Latin bar because of how big our Thursdays are.”

On Thursdays, Vinnie’s hosts a very successful “Latin Night” featuring salsa, bachata and reggaeton. The final Thursday of 2022 saw more than 500 patrons.

Vinnie’s is taking full advantage of the new space, stage and sound equipment by offer-

Zandonella,

headquarters. ZRS has been on Stanwell Drive since 1987 and that office will close at the end of the month.

“Especially since COVID19, reporters are mostly working remotely. California also passed legislation that makes remote depositions possible,” Patty Garaventa explained. She says that most ZRS reporters have done jobs for Talty over the years, so there is already a familiarity.

Going through the Concord office there are shelves full of reference books and hundreds of Bay Area phone books dating back to the 1950s. The company created its own Google long before the web with every dictionary imaginable when reporters needed to get the correct spelling of a medical term or decipher their coding for slang coming from a witness. The phone books uncovered

from page 6

addresses of businesses and individuals to serve them papers.

The walls of one of the three well-appointed rooms for depositions are covered with sports posters and memorabilia. Positioned between autographed jerseys of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Kenny Stabler and Joe Montana is a framed Tom Candiotti Los Angeles Dodger jersey. The Concord native began his baseball career in Concord American Little League during the five years John Zandonella was league president.

The company founder’s highest profile time as a court reporter was on the infamous 1972-73 Juan Corona murder trial in Solano County. Corona was convicted of killing 25 migrant farm workers. Zandonella also served as a reporter for the Contra Costa Grand Jury for many years.

ing something different every night after 8 p.m. On Mondays, their well-known Open Mic night – hosted by Vince Lay and Joey Nuñez of Sabertooth Unicorn – draws in artists from all over the East Bay. On Tuesday evenings, a faithful group of country music enthusiasts show up for line dancing. Karaoke occurs every Wednesday night and, of course, the house is packed for Latin Night on Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights are mostly reserved for live music. Occasionally, Sunday nights will feature a free performance by an indie rock band in a new concept dubbed “Vinnie’s Indie Sundays.”

A full calendar of events can be found at https://www.vinniesbar.com/ live-shows.

Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.

The dapper Zandonella was held in high esteem in legal circles. Seven years after his death, the John Zandonella Act of 2015 provided industry standards he had long championed along with the Deposition Reporters Association that Zandonella helped form along with other independent firms.

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla of Concord authored the bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

For all those decades Zandonella Reporting Service was embedded in the fabric of the local courts, government officials and staff, law enforcement and legal communities. That relationship was most on display at their annual Christmas Party in the old Concord Elks Lodge where a who’s who of Contra Costa came together to celebrate the holidays. “People bring up those parties to me all the time,” Patty Garaventa says with a smile.

Sabertooth Unicorn performs on the new stage at Vinnie’s in Concord. Band members Vince Lay and Joey Nuñez also host Open Mic night at the bar on Thursdays.

Lima offers gourmet dining experience with Peruvian flair

Tower Grille, Ravioli’s, EJ Phair and Yum Squared are among the casualties of COVID-19 and high rents among non-franchise restaurants surrounding Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza.

The Peruvian restaurant Lima has ended up being the sole survivor. After almost closing a couple years ago, it has emerged to be one of the best places to dine in the region.

Under the tutelage of chef/co-owner John Marquez, Lima serves a growing clientele of Latinos, returning and firsttime customers.

My recent dining experience began with a pisco sour made from Peruvian liquor, egg whites, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and angostura bitters. This prepped me to try their delicious carnitas sliders stuffed with salsa and sweet potatoes. These items and other favorites can be economically procured at Happy Hour, 2:30-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Not missing a beat, I searched the menu for my next

course. Fortunately, Chef Marquez came by my table to offer his advice. After six years at the helm, he remains enthusiastic about improving the dining experience at Lima’s.

With a background that included graduating from culinary school, the Danville native learned the trade from famed chef Gaston Acurio in Peru.

After apprenticing with Kevin Gin at Bridges and famed Michelin recipient Thomas Keller of the French Laundry in Yountville, Marquez worked

for nine years at the Artisan Bistro in Lafayette.

Since opening Lima in 2016, his expertise has made it a gourmet destination.

Crafting a menu of Peruvian delicacies, Marquez has had to keep his prices down to attract a middle-class clientele from Concord. This includes a long list of marinated ceviche dishes sourced from Pacific Harvest of San Juan Bautista. Lima’s Basque-inspired seafood

paella and spicy fish stew are other marine offerings on the menu.

Over the years, I’ve sampled their beef tenderloin stir-fry (Lomo Saltado), classic Peruvian roasted chicken and shredded chicken stew cooked in a mild white sauce. Wanting something different this time, I ordered the braised lamb shank (Seco de Cordero) cooked in a subtle cilantro-beer broth. Utilizing American grown lamb

provided a non-gamey alternative to the more common New Zealand product.

As Peru is famed for their beef, Lima does not disappoint with beef heart, empanadas, a “poor man’s” 12-oz ribeye or prime rib served at holiday dinners. Their El Sanguchon (“grand”) sandwich stuffed with grilled sirloin, plantains, fried eggs and anticucho sauce is an excellent value on the lunch menu.

In this competitive time period, Lima has several other sandwich specials featuring chicken, pork and a Wagyu burger with French fries along with a soft drink for less than $20.

Even though Lima’s menu is rather small, I never get bored with their different ways to prepare the Peruvian mainstay of potatoes. I am especially fond of the Papa Rellena featuring a smashed potato filled with ribeye, olives and a hard-boiled egg served with criolla salsa.

Lima has a reasonably priced wine list, often including

some $25 bottles. For a few bucks more, I recently tried a Gloria Ferrer 2012 Sonoma pinot noir that paired well with our Peruvian dishes.

In all, one can’t be anything but impressed by what Marquez has accomplished. With a strong foundation of customers and key staff that has remained with him from the beginning, he hopes to add a few homestyle dishes in the future.

“Being everything in a small business, from chef, to plumber and accountant, Lima keeps me engaged and involved all of the time,” Marquez explains.

Located at 2151 Salvio St. in Concord, Lima is open for lunch and dinner TuesdaySunday. Reservations are especially recommended for the weekends. For more information, call 925-925-309-7774 or visit limaconcord.com.

Rich Eber is a local journalist and long time resident of Concord. He covers topics from politics to gourmet food. Contact him at rjerje@pacbell.net

annually pruned rose should take less than five minutes to prune.

As you approach a rose to prune, look at the bottom of the plant. Do not worry about all the buds, blooms or leaves still left on the bush – begin at the bottom.

any leaves.

If you look closely at a rose cane before you make the cut, you will see a seam with a swell. This is where the rose wants to grow. Make all your cuts at a slight angle, right before a swelling of growth.

I do not tell people how many inches of cane to leave on a rose. It really depends on the amount of room you have for your rose to grow. If you have limited space, then cut each cane further. If you like your roses tall, then do not cut down as far.

groundcover style roses are out of control, prune severally. With a newer installation, the pruning will be lighter.

It is almost time to prune your rose bushes, groundcover roses and rose trees.

We prune roses at the nursery between Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day. Some folk’s weekly maintenance workers have already pruned down the roses. If that is the case, check on the job they did and finetune if needed.

Rose pruning is easy. An

Remove most of the past year’s growth, all the crossing canes, lateral branches and all gray canes.

You may have to use a cordless saw to get through thick wood. Do not worry how thick the canes are, you will not hurt the rose at all.

A well-pruned hybrid tea, grandiflora or floribunda rose should have three to five straight, clean canes without

Prune rose trees the same way as the floribunda, hybrid tea or grandiflora. Remove old canes, crossing branches and lateral branches but leave more canes on the plant so they look fuller.

Groundcover roses such as drift, carpet roses or meidiland style do not need the same amount of attention. Reshape groundcover roses, bringing them down and in. But if the

Fertilizing roses is especially important after your winter prune. This recipe is for established ground-grown hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda or treeshaped roses.

After you prune, each rose is to receive:

½ c. 16-16-16 multi-purpose fertilizer

½ c. bone meal

½ c. granular iron ½ c. alfalfa meal

Work into soil along dripline and top-dress with an inch layer of chicken manure and water.

This sounds like a lot of products, but imagine how deep

the roots of your roses are. There is a reason for each ingredient and the quantity. The 16-16-16 is a multi-purpose fertilizer, which acts like a balanced meal. The bone meal is a source of phosphorus and will encourage bloom. Granular iron keeps your rose leaves green and free of chlorosis. Alfalfa meal will stimulate new cane growth.

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

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com

Richard Eber

Chef John Marquez’s menu at Lima includes hearty sandwiches and slow-cooked meats.