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July 11, 2014
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Clayton marks major milestones with huge turnout for 4th of July TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER
Clayton marked some major milestones last week when thousands gathered downtown for the annual July 4 parade. The town has always done Independence Day in a big way. But this year the city of Clayton is celebrating 50 years since incorporation. The CBCA, Clayton Historical Society, AAUW, Skipolini’s, Ed’s Mudville Grill, Clayton Bikes and Clayton Sunrise Rotary are also marking major decade birthdays, giving added cause for celebration and making the 2014 parade one of the biggest ever. The parade has come a long way from Clayton’s first July 4 celebration around 1966 or ‘67. It was inspired by an old muslin-cloth banner discovered in a local barn. When thenmayor Al Liming unrolled the banner, it was an announcement for a 1896 Fourth of July
Council stint rewarding, but time to move on On Nov. 4, Clayton, along with the state and nation will participate in a general election. Two Clayton city council seats will be on the ballot, including mine. I have decided not to run for re-election. It has been a great honor to serve our community for the past almost eight years. However, it feels like it is time to step aside. Clayton is full of wonderful people who are qualified to serve on the city council. I hope we can find a new council member who is more concerned with what is in the best interest of the community than what is in his or her best interest. A council member must act in favor of what is good for the greater community, even if that means acting contrary to the wishes of friends and associates. Albus Dumbledore said that it takes great courage to stand up to your enemies but even greater courage to stand up to your friends. There are parts of the job as a city council member that are rewarding and even at times fun. There are also parts that are just real work – like long agenda packets and
See Mayor, page 2
parade and celebration. Liming thought the city should revive the tradition and the city council agreed. Bob Hoyer, Clayton’s first mayor, remembers that first celebration. “There were kids,” he recalls. “And a few floats, some Model Ts and someone had an old fire engine.” After the parade, people gathered in the eucalyptus grove for a greased pole contest and barbeque. Hoyer remembers the Boy Scouts were there selling corn on the cob. Last Friday, 47 years later, Bob Hoyer climbed into the rumble seat of a vintage Model A Ford, for a ride down a Main Street lined with an estimated 10,000 spectators—all cheering and waving as Clayton’s first mayor led the 2014 parade. Following Hoyer were some 600 participants in 46 entries ranging from 24 pristine classic Corvettes to Hillbilly Doug’s
See 4th of July, page 3
The Grove funding renewal heads for November ballot TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
BLANCA LEE SUBMITTED THE WINNING PHOTO IN THE CLAYTON PIONEER’S JULY 4 PHOTO CONTEST. Lee’s photo of her friend Ve’Laine Manion, was chosen from over 50 entries. Both Lee and Manion are Clayton residents. First place prize is $100. See page 3 for the rest of the winners.
Teen helps community get on the right foot, fitness-wise PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
GIRL SCOUT SARAH OWENS tacks up a poster for her 5K Run and Fitness Fair this Saturday at Clayton Community Park.
When Sarah Owen broke her leg in eighth grade, she faced intense physical therapy to recover. It was then that the 17-yearold Clayton girl decided she wanted to be a physical therapist, and dedicate her life to helping people stay physically fit. “My recovery time was extensive and my physical therapist ended up being a huge role model in my life,” she says. “Ever since that incident, I have been set on becoming a physical therapist and for my career to inspire others to work hard and get well.” Sarah is jump-starting her career goals by organizing the first Clayton 5K Run and Fitness Fair on Saturday, July 19 at Clayton Community Park. She is putting on the event as a project for her Girl Scout Gold Award. “The most rewarding thing about Girl Scouts is that we always get to give back to our community,” she says. “I have always
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believed that community service is essential and extremely rewarding,” says the Clayton Valley Charter High School senior, who is a member of her school’s Public Service Academy. There is no registration fee for the run, but canned food donations will be accepted at check-in for the Food Bank of Solano and Contra Costa Counties. The first 50 people who register will receive a prize, Sarah says. “The goal of the 5K is to encourage residents to get up and move and learn that exercise can be fun, especially when you do it with others,” Sarah says. “The Fitness Fair promotes businesses and activities that advocate for healthy living and will help educate my community about what is available to them.” It will include booths from fitness and sports organizations, demonstrations of yoga and Zumba, Hands-on CPR training from CERT and a Kids’ Zone with fun
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Clayton city officials are putting the final touches on a measure for the November ballot that will assure funding for the downtown park until 2038. In 2006, Clayton voters approved a 10-year parcel tax to pay for the operation and maintenance of The Grove through a special Community Facilities District (CFD). Although the CFD won’t expire until June 2016, the Council wants to play it safe by placing it on the ballot in November. A tax measure can only be on the ballot in a general election year and only when there is at least one elected official on the same ballot. The CFD was approved in 2006 with a healthy 68.19 percent and the council expects
that voters will have no problem renewing the CFD. However, in the event of a surprise, the city would have one more opportunity in 2016 to pass the tax before the park funding runs out. The current rate is $18.56 per parcel which will go up 2.78 percent in 2014-15. The new CFD will use the same tax rate as the expiring one with the same provision for an annual CPI increase of up to 3 percent. There are approximately 4,000 parcels — including residential, commercial and open space — subject to the CFD parcel tax, which will generate an estimated $120,000 in revenue. Only The Grove Park is funded by the CFD. Maintenance and operation of the other Clayton parks comes from the general fund.
See Owen, page 13
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