PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
July 15, 2005
925.672.0500
Clayton’s kids kick off fabulous Fourth GREGG MANNING
MAYOR’S CORNER City should require permits for door to door sales Clayton is no longer a “small” town. Granted it still is the smallest city in Contra Costa County but it is close to eleven thousand people. When I moved here in the seventies, people often left their doors unlocked. In election years when I went door to door campaigning I was often surprised when kids who were not school age answered the door and even more so when the door was wide open. When I first was elected to the City Council, I asked why we did not issue permits to people who were going door-todoor selling things. I was not talking about Clayton’s Girl Scouts who were selling cookies, but rather older individuals who were dropped off in vans to solicit door to door. The answer was that these people had rights under the first amendment. I am not thinking
See Mayor, page 6
JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
There were kids, lots of kids on bikes, scooters and skates. They were pushed in strollers and pulled in wagons and car-
ried when all else failed. There were dogs, all shapes and sizes and even a rat that marched down Main Street on the shoulder of its master. There were cars, horses, politicians, scout troops, swim team, church groups, veterans, community
groups and a few floats. Emcee Dan Ashley, Channel 7 News Anchor, put it best when he urged the crowd of about 10,000 to “take a look around you, is this Clayton Country or what?” It was a real hometown
Worse than usual fire season predicted TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
“Big fire…it was a big fire.” This is how California Department of Forestry Captain Denise Ehnat described the fire that broke out around 8 p.m. on July 3 on the north side of Marsh Creek Road near Bragdon Way. It burned about 500 acres before being brought under control and contained around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. The fire, which started near an abandoned trailer about 500 yards east of the CDF Sunshine Station on Marsh Creek Road, was fueled by exceptionally thick, tall grass and threatened
What’s inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . .A2 Directory of Advertisers . .A5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 Just My Opinion (New) . . .A8 Shape Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A9 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Book Review (New) . . . . .A11 Community Calendar . . . .A12 Church News . . . . . . . . . .A13 Food For Thought . . . . . .A14 Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . .A15 Food For Thought . . . . . .A14 SECTION B July 4 Photo Contest . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . .B6 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . .B8
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
An estimated 10,000 lined Main Street as Clayton’s kids turned out in force to lead the annual July 4 parade.
several homes along Bragdon Way, charring ground right up to the property lines of some. It burned quickly out of control, lighting up the night skies in a dramatic reminder that fire season is upon us. The fire started near an abandoned trailer on Bragdon Way and burned about 500 acres, threatening several homes and burning right to the property lines of some, before being brought under control and contained around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. “It was a big fire,” said
CDF Capt. Denise Ehnat catches up on the mounds of paperwork that piled up after the Bragdon fire.
Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise served up a heaping batch of pancakes at Endeavor Hall to over a thousand hungry parade goers starting at 7 a.m.
See July 4, page A3
CBCA votes to support landscape assessment JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
See Fire , page 6
parade, just the way Claytonians like it. The theme this year was “Celebrating Our FutureSaluting Our Past.” There was a lot of red, white and blue and at every corner, neighbors greeting neighbors. In true tradition, the Rotary
In a vote at last month’s membership meeting, The Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) has publicly supported the renewal of the Landscape Assessment District when it goes before the voters in November. Although the Landscape Maintenance District is not up for renewal until 2007, the city’s deteriorating landscape and lack of funds has led to a council decision to host a special election this Fall.
The proposed assessment of $365 per household, up from the current $122.90, is what the Blue Ribbon Landscape Maintenance Committee is recommending to cover the estimated $60,000 a year in landscape maintenance costs in upkeep of the city’s roadways, medians and open spaces. The tax would also keep water flowing from the city’s fountain on weekends and it would help fund the $2.5 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvements. There is also a $15 allotment
See CBCA, page 6
Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue These young patriots know exactly the right way to celebrate the Fourth of July
Allison Barber, 6 ½
Ian Sullivan, 12
Alexis Lampo, 9
Matthew Grimshaw, 9
Jasmine Picot-Hendrix, 5
Josh Harmon, 12
Madeline Day, 11
Spend time in Kiddieland, see the parade and horses and be with my family and watch the fireworks.
Spend time with my family and friends.
Have a big parade and spend time with my family.
Celebrate with the Clayton Parade. We go to friend’s for swimming and a BBQ.
Be a princess with the Clayton Library in the parade.
Wear the colors red, white and blue, and be proud of it.
Watch the fireworks and be at the parade with your whole family.