MAR 19 The Pioneer 2021

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March 19, 2021

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As county moves to Red Tier, Concord mayor optimistic about year ahead BEV BRITTON The Pioneer

In reviewing a year that “pushed our emotional limit and changed the way we lived,” Mayor Tim McGallian projected an optimistic view during the State of the City Zoom address on Feb. 22.

“We still have much to do, and the fight is not yet over. We all need to be part of that movement, that solution or that helping hand. But know that we cannot go it alone,” McGallian said in a speech that highlighted examples of community unity.

Given that the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce hosted the virtual event, the state of local businesses was often front and center. McGallian pointed to the city’s $730,000 Small Business Grant Program and the

See State of City, page 5

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Pete Cruz/The Pioneer

Spring blooms at City Hall follow an optimistic State of the City address by Concord Mayor Tim McGallian Feb 22. The city survived 2020 in better financial shape than predicted and will continue with community aid and support for small business. Passage of Measure V assures the city can move ahead with pavement and infrastructure improvement plans.

Former Concord mayor Dan Helix dies at 91 JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Dan Helix, who played a key role in Concord politics and community life spanning over five decades, passed last week at the age of 91.

General Helix served as mayor of Contra Costa’s largest city from 1972-74 during his first two terms on the City Council from 1968 – 1976. He was later a director of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District.

Helix was appointed 34 years later to fill a vacancy on the Concord Council in 2010 and then was re-elected as the highest vote getter for a four-year term in 2012. During that time, he was elected mayor by his colleagues and remained on the City Council until his term expired in December 2016.

A Korean War veteran, Helix retired as a major general in the U. S. Army in 1989 after serving 41 years on both active duty and in the Army Reserve after enlisting as a private in 1948. His final military assignment was as Deputy Commanding General,

DAN HELIX, AUGUST 24, 1929— MARCH 9, 2021

Sixth U.S. Army, at the Presidio of San Francisco. He earned the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with “V” Device and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, among other commendations.

KEY FIGURE FOR CONCORD PAVILION Helix was a key driver in the construction of the Concord

Pavilion. As mayor and city councilman in the early 1970s he negotiated with developer Ken Hofmann to get 122 acres of rolling land as a site for the Pavilion. It was part of a large parcel of over 300 acres on Kirker Pass Road that Hofmann was looking to develop for homes. The Pavilion opened in 1975.

Decades later, Helix was mayor when the City Council most recently contracted with Live Nation to continue operating the outdoor amphitheatre. A key element of that 2013 agreement was to reclaim the name Concord Pavilion for the venue.

Dan and Mary Lou Helix founded the Concord Pavilion Associates in 1976 to support the performing arts at the nearly new facility. His wife of 67 years, Mary Lou, was a concert pianist.

The Helixes hosted a number of fundraisers to enable more performing arts concerts—-not all of which were financially viable from ticket sales alone—- to be presented at the Pavilion.

In his final public effort on behalf of Concord he was the first chairperson of the Con-

cord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Citizens Advisory Committee in 2018. Helix abruptly resigned late in his first year as chair because he said the City had not given the committee members sufficient time to “get up to speed” on the complex project. He said, “Unfortunately, instead of small sips they [the CAC members] received a flow of information as out of a fire hose.”

CITY OF CONCORD HONORS ITS OWN

To pay tribute to Helix, Concord Mayor Tim McGallian authorized the City of Concord flag to be flown at half-staff for one week beginning Mar. 11. Mayor McGallian said, “The legacy of Dan’s service and the wisdom of his example will continue to guide the City of Concord.”

Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano said, “This is a sad time for our community because the Concord Family has lost a public servant who gave so much to us.

The City of Concord is grateful for his leadership and I am hon-

ored to have been his friend.”

Councilmember Edi Birsan served four years with Helix on the Council. “It was not widely known that Dan took part in the lunch counter sit-ins in South Carolina protesting segregation.

Additionally, as a member of the City Council [during his first tenure] and as Mayor, he stood out and stopped city dealings with the all-white policy of the social clubs in the city.”

“This is a great loss for our community. Dan served his country and community with great intellect, he attacked issues head-on and always asked the right questions. I cherish my time serving with Dan and knowing him. He was a wonderful, caring and generous person,” long-time councilmember Laura Hoffmeister said.

Councilmember Carlyn Obringer added, “General Helix was an instrumental figure in the City of Concord. His leadership helped to ensure the financial stability and community spirit which defines our city. I greatly

See Helix, page 3

Summer start for new Buchanan Field terminal The Federal Aviation Administration will provide the remaining $6 million for the The planned $11.7 million, project to replace a 30-year-old 20,000 sq. ft. airport terminal at temporary facility.

Buchanan Field Airport Barring unforeseen developreceived its own shot in the arm ments, construction would as the Contra Costa County begin this July or August – with Board of Supervisors commit- estimated completion by the ted $5.7 million from the sale of end of 2022. revenue bonds in late February.

Two double-wides pushed together currently house the operations. The proposed single-story terminal is three times the size of the present facility and will be erected on the existing terminal’s footprint.

“It’s a slight upgrade from what’s there now,” said Keith Freitas, director of airports.

Moving ahead with this project brings to fruition the long-envisioned Master Terminal Plan at the airport. It’s also viewed as a sign of the facility’s readiness to rebound from the DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Next issue, April 16, Deadline, April 7

Marathon Petroleum to convert to renewable fuels by ‘22

The new terminal at Buchanan Field in Concord will be three times the size of the present building.

economic setbacks suffered because of the pandemic over the past 12 months.

Along with accommodating the administrative offices, fire rescue and emergency response facilities and terminal space for JSX (JetSuiteX), the new facility will be plum for attracting another provider of air service from the Concord airport.

JSX is currently Buchanan’s lone commercial operator, pro-

viding charter service to Burbank and John Wayne Airport in Southern California. Freitas acknowledged that JSX saw a 16 percent decline in business during the past year. But, he said, the future is bright as its plans to expand to new markets like Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland and Seattle.

Similar slowdowns hit business and corporate aircraft traffic at Buchanan from

March to June, but Freitas noted this area of the airport has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

“It’s been pretty steady and pretty consistent,” he said.

Compared to airports solely dependent on commercial traffic, Buchanan has diverse operations and a variety of revenue streams that have

See Airport, page 3

Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s board of directors this month approved plans to convert its Martinez refinery into a renewable fuels manufacturing facility.

The conversion comes on the heels of the local plant on the Martinez/Concord border going on “indefinite idle” last year in the midst of the drop in fuel demand during the height of the pandemic and subsequent decrease in vehicle and airline traffic largely due to stay-at-home orders across the county.

“Marathon Petroleum is focused on meeting the world’s growing energy needs and reducing its carbon emissions intensity,” MPC President and CEO Michael J. Hennigan said. “Converting the Martinez refinery to a renewable fuels facility is an important addition to our growing portfolio of renewables projects and aligns with our strategic priorities of strengthening the competitive position of our assets, implementing commercial strategy changes and strategically deploying our capital.”

Marathon expects to start producing renewable diesel in Martinez next year. They will build to full capacity by 2023.

Engineering work has begun, and Marathon has applied for relevant permits with the expectation that construction will start this year. It is estimated that four million hours by building trade workers will be required to complete the project.

At full capacity, MPC expects the Martinez facility to produce about 730 million gallons per year of renewable fuels – predominantly renewable diesel – from such biobased feedstocks as animal fat, soybean oil and corn oil.

That output roughly compares to the 2.5 billion gallons of petroleum fuels previously produced.

Renewable diesel has a significantly lower carbon footprint than petroleum diesel.

The Martinez conversion is also consistent with Marathon’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas intensity (emissions per barrel of oil equivalent processed) 30% below 2014 levels by 2030.

When the shutdown was announced last year, Concord Congressman Mark DeSaulnier was among the key voices calling for a conversion in products coming from the Martinez plant so that many of the 700 full-time and 250 to 2000 contract employees would not permanently lose their jobs.

A Marathon spokesperson says up to 150 employees will be working during this interim period. No firm figure is available on full-time employees when the plant is in full operation, although it’s acknowledged it will be much fewer than when the 700 employees were producing nearly four times the expected renewable diesel output in Martinez

See Marathon, page 4

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Longtime Clayton resident Liz Roberts enjoys walking on the Cardenet Trail with her dog, Henry. The park is one of Clayton’s hidden gems.

bring your lawn chairs and visit with friends. There’s a paved walking path surrounding the park, with a horseshoe pit at the far end (bring your own LISA FULMER horseshoes). A posted sign Correspondent reminds us, however, that horses and golfers are not allowed on the grass.

CLAYTON – Lydia Lane The main attraction is the Park has some features that George Cardinet Trail – a make it a joy to visit – most gravelly route that starts at the notably its friendly atmospark and follows Mt. Diablo phere.

Creek about a mile and a half Dogwalkers warmly greet to the Clayton Library. One young parents with toddlers, side of the trail is filled with offering plenty of quality petmature trees amidst rough and ting time. Kids politely take tumble bushes growing up turns circling down the spiral The through thatchy ground. slide. An older couple sitting other side is adjacent to the at a table sternly but kindly warn the boys speeding by on backyards of neighborhood their little bikes to slow down homes. Whether you’re on foot or on horseback, with … and they do. your friend or with your dog, Listed as one of seven pubthis scenic nature walk is quiet lic parks in Clayton, it’s tucked and peaceful. away at the end of a quiet resiThe trail’s namesake, dential street. The play strucGeorge Cardinet, is known ture is small and the parking throughout the state and spaces may be few, but the nation as the “grandfather of park is very clean with plenty trails.”

A resident of Concord of lush green in the center to

Editor’s note: Third in a series on Concord and Clayton parks.

for 67 years who died in 2007, Cardinet was a lifetime advocate for the development of parks and trails and the preservation of open space in Contra Costa County. He’s credited with mapping and routing more than 200 miles of trails throughout the greater East Bay region.

Cardinet’s work on trails in our county not only served as a model for establishing two California state trails acts in 1945 and 1974, he was also a significant contributor to the National Trails System Act of 1968, which established an extensive system of scenic and historic trails across the country. He was invited to the White House by two separate administrations, Presidents Johnson and Clinton, to receive formal recognition for his accomplishments.

Visit the city of Clayton’s website at ci.clayton.ca.us for more information on its 27 miles of trails and 515 acres of open space.

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Helix, from page 1 March 19, 2021

valued his counsel and will miss our conversations.”

Contra Costa Supervisor Karen Mitchoff announced she will adjourn the board meeting on Mar. 23 in his memory. “I will always cherish my relationship with Dan and will remember him as a wonderful, caring, generous and loving man.”

Tom Wentling. a former City Council member and City Treasurer said, “During my 34 years of serving the City of Concord I have to say that Dan Helix was more dedicated than any person I ever had the pleasure of serving with. He really enjoyed serving and did so with real zest. General Dan was one of Concord’s finest. Those of us that had the good fortune to work with Dan usually benefited greatly.”

Helix had recently reached out to Tamara Steiner, Pioneer editor and publisher to discuss some marketing ideas for the newspaper. She said they were waiting for each to get their final COVID-19 vaccinations before meeting.

“This is a terrible loss to the community and to me personally,” Steiner said. “Dan passionately believed in local journalism and was on board with The Pioneer from the get-go. His guidance and outspoken support gave this community newspaper much needed credibility. People took us seriously because Dan did.”

CONGRESSIONAL RUN Don DeFesi covered Helix for KWUN and KFRC Radio when he was a member of the City Council and BART Board.

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

DeFesi also was on the staff of a 1974 Congressional campaign when Helix was in the Democratic primary to fill the seat of retired Jerome Waldie.

George Miller won the primary and general election and served in Congress until his retirement in 2015. DeFesi said, “He demonstrated great pride in his love of our local community and was a man of honesty and integrity. I knew Dan as a personal friend and mentor.”

Another former Concord mayor, Mark DeSaulnier, won the retiring Miller’s Congressional seat in 2016. “Dan Helix dedicated his life to serving his country and his community. As a member of the United States Army and in his role as a councilmember and mayor of Concord, putting others first was Dan’s passion,” Congressman DeSaulnier said. “The impact he made on the city of Concord continues to be felt today and will serve the city’s residents for years to come. Our thoughts are with Major General Helix’s family as we celebrate and remember his legacy of service.”

Adam Elliot was a grandson of Helix and a standout athlete at Clayton Valley High School, going on to be a nationally recognized softball player. Longtime CV coach Herc Pardi said Helix was at many of his grandson’s games and was a “great guy and a big supporter of Clayton Valley baseball and football.”

Elliot died suddenly on a business trip in 2013.

Helix was on the advisory board for the Concord-based California International Sports Foundation which brought four

Airport, from page 1

enabled it to fare better than larger operations.

Along with the business and corporate traffic, Buchanan offers opportunities for the smaller aviation community, flight training, and testing loca-

tions for emerging aeronautical and aviation-related technologies.

Off-site, the Crown Plaza Hotel and Sam’s Club as well as the adjacent golf facilities and car dealerships that lease land

Page 3

Easter

Brunch

Courtesy Helix family

Mary Lou and Dan Helix were instrumental in forming the Concord Pavilion Associates.

United States Olympic Trials and many other events to Concord and the region.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree at San Francisco State. He was a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College, the War College and was a Senior Fellow at the JFK Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. He published several books.

Dan and Mary Lou Helix married in 1953. The couple had a son Daniel E. Helix and daughter Marilu Elliot, five grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

The Helix family says a memorial service will be held this summer, befittingly at his beloved Concord Pavilion.

Read more details of the incredible life of Dan Helix at pioneerpublishers.com.

from the airport contribute unique ground revenue to its coffers.

“Owning adjacent land provides us a revenue source that has helped us to weather the pandemic storm,” said Freitas.

“That is why we are doing better than the bigger airports.”

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

New city manager finds both beauty and challenge in Clayton

Page 4

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

March 19, 2021

TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer

Serving our Community since 1977

A passionate hiker, Reina Schwartz is accustomed to slogging uphill with a heavy pack on her back. Just three months into the job, Clayton’s new city manager is finding herself on new steep trail as she prepares to meet California’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation carrying the weight of a city with differing visions of exactly where the Mt. RHNA summit is.

Schwartz, 58, knew early on in life what mountain she would climb. As an Environmental Studies major in college, her senior project was to evaluate a development planning process at the Berkeley marina.

“What I saw was a community that felt like their government was doing something to them, not for them or with them,” she said. “I knew at that point that I wanted to work in local government, improving the relationship between the community and local government.”

She is ready for the climb.

Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer

Reina Schwartz comes to Clayton with more than 33 years experience in managing local goverment.

Housing density is a hot button in Clayton, a small affluent town with a population of just 12,000. Every eight years, the State calculates how many housing units are needed to accommodate population growth. It assigns these numbers, including affordable housing requirements to local jurisdictions which are then required to zone for density, often pitting what residents

want against what the state says they must have.

Schwartz comes to Clayton well prepared to lead. Her career spans over 33 years including five years as San Pablo’s assistant manager and 24 years with the City of Sacramento where she was director of the Department of General Services.

See Schwartz, page 5

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from page 1

when producing full capacity in 2023.

Last week, the Concord Congressman said, “Although it is long past due for the fossil fuel industry to diversify and consider cleaner energy options, Marathon’s move is a big loss for our workforce.

The inevitable evolution to sustainable energy must take into account the impact it will have on our workers.

“That is why, over the last two years, I have been convening labor unions, local governments, environmental groups and environmental justice advocates to talk about how we prepare for a shift to sustainable energy and renewables in Contra Costa. The transition needs to be as successful as possible for everyone and we cannot leave workers behind – they need to

Photo courtesy Marathon Petroleum Corp.

Marathon Petroleum announced plans this month to convert its Martinez refinery to a renewable fuels manufacturing facility to begin production next year.

be guaranteed meaningful and comparable work. I will continue to bring together stakeholders to support workers, our community and the environment and improve Contra Costa’s energy assets.”

Marathon estimates its conversion of the 2,200-acre Martinez facility from petrole-

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The local refinery has gone through a succession of owners since Tidewater Associated Oil Company opened the Avon site. Tosco bought the refinery in 1976 and since then it has been operated by Ultramar, Tesoro, Andeavor and Marathon, which completed its purchase from Andeavor in late 2018.

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Concord’s first woman mayor, champion of open space March 19, 2021

CAROL LONGSHORE

YESTERYEAR

As this is Women’s History Month, I want to share a bit of the story of Concord’s first female mayor.

June Bulman served on the City Council 1976-’89. She and Norm lived in Concord with their son Bill.

June was a member of the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) – two powerful women’s organizations. When Bill was young, she was also involved in the

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Wren Avenue Elementary PTA and became good friends with the volunteers.

When the league asked if she would monitor the Concord City Council meetings for them, she fell in love with city politics. As a result, she was quickly appointed to the Planning Commission.

Earlier, June had applied for a job in the Planning Department and was not accepted because she didn’t have a degree in architecture.

That would turn out to be a blessing for Concord residents.

She and a group of friends sat around her coffee table discussing her campaign to run for City Council. She won and started serving the city in 1976.

Along with sidekick Lynnet Keihl, she quickly got to work laying out a plan to get open space on the ballot –

hoping to act before developers bought up all the land.

Her friends from the AAUW and League of Woman Voters hurried to her side to volunteer their time and effort. The bond created what is now the Lime Ridge Open Space.

Lynnet’s husband Tony served coffee as the team figured out the details. Bond measures were failing at this time, so they were skeptical and a little fearful.

Tony made a huge sign that said “Open Space Area” and suggested putting it up on Treat Boulevard so people could see what the measure was about.

The bond passed with 73 percent, allowing the city to buy 194 acres. After the landslide vote, Tony made a big sign that said “Thank You.” June was intelligent and

JUNE BULMAN

full of integrity and soon became well-respected and loved.

She met Mark DeSaulnier through his TR’s restaurant and told her compadre Lynnet that she had just met a young man with potential who should be on the coun-

Page 5

cil. She encouraged him to be serious about politics, and he was.

She was also very involved with recycling, including the landfill wars, and the Sister City program, to name a few of her other endeavors.

When the council appointed a committee to work on artwork for the medians on Concord Avenue, the group chose the artist who made the spirit poles. The community was embarrassed and outraged and demanded they be taken down. June stood by the committee’s decision and lost her council seat to Byron Campbell – shifting the path Concord was taking.

Next time you’re enjoying a bike ride or hike on Lime Ridge, think of June. Sit on

the bench, read the plaque and give thanks to a woman who kept open space available for all of us.

Carol Longshore has been a Concord resident since 1950. She is a community leader and past president of the Concord Historical Society.

Pete Cruz

Plaque dedicated to June Bulman can be found along Lime Ridge trail.

Firewise advocates proactive Be vigilant to maintain a solid home foundation steps for fire-prone areas

Local groups have started making inquiries into Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire)’s new Firewise USA program that is now being phased in from one fire district community to another.

“Firewise is a perfect complement to our many safety initiatives and a powerful tool helping neighbors work together along with our Fire Prevention Bureau to better protect themselves and their communities,” said Con Fire Chief Lewis T. Broschard III. Broschard’s optimism for interest in the program stems from the numerous communities that face heightened wildfire danger due to terrain, veg-

etation and local evacuation route conditions.

Program involvement is based on requests from neighborhood organizations and communities. Firewise requires that communities fill out an assessment, make a resident commitment of one hour or monetary contribution annually and submit info to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Con Fire’s Community Risk Reduction Unit of the Fire Prevention Bureau will administer the local program, and Con Fire will work with neighborhood groups to complete registration. Once accepted, neighborhood committees can request Firewise assessments.

Community members interested in the Firewise program can find information at

Schwartz, from page 4

A California native, Schwartz graduated magna cum laude from UC Berkeley with a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. After Harvard she returned to California for a job

with the State of California as a fiscal and policy analyst giving her the experience needed to meet the long-term goal of growing Clayton’s financial base.

Schwartz was drawn to Clayton by the “beauty of the natural environment and

State of City, from page 1

well as potentially begin negotiations with the company that buys the Coast Guard property.

(McGallian later announced that the Coast Guard closed the auction at $58.4 million on March 4; the purchaser’s identity will be made public in about 90 days.)

The mayor also pointed to the recently approved 86-room Hampton by Hilton as a way to help Visit Concord market the city as a tourism destination.

“Visit Concord’s thoughtful destination marketing plan and strategic actions taken over the NEW TO TOWN next two years will play a critical McGallian listed several new role in the speed and scope of business projects in the works, Concord’s recovery and longincluding Side Gate Brewery term economic health,” McGaland Beer Garden downtown, lian said before cueing to a virthe DaVita Dialysis Center on tual tour of the new Visit ConWillow Pass Road and the cord center in Salvio Pacheco 100,000 sq. ft. industrial center Square. in North Concord. And he is looking forward to the May HELPING THOSE IN NEED 2022 completion of the first of After offering thanks to two buildings in the Grant, a city staff, health-care heroes, housing/retail development essential workers and teachers, “adjacent to Concord’s living the mayor praised the “Herroom – Todos Santos Plaza.” culean effort” of the county’s Meanwhile, the City Council Health Services. hopes to select a new developer “From COVID testing to for the former Concord Naval vaccine distribution, we are Weapons Station this year, as fortunate to have smart,

holiday Shop Concord gift card promotion as key ways the chamber and city worked together in the last year.

Chamber president/CEO Kevin Cabral lauded McGallian’s initiative and leadership during the pandemic.

“Mayor McGallian is such a real person who cares deeply about his work and how he governs our city,” Cabral said.

“He took the bull by the horns and has not looked back. Tim was and is the right leader for this time.”

cccfpd.org/firewise. To begin the application process, neighborhood groups should email info@cccfpd.org.

Any community that meets a set of voluntary criteria on an annual basis and retains an “In Good Standing Status” may identify itself as being a Firewise site.

Benefits may include reduction in insurance rates and possible inclusion in risk reduction communities based on proposed California state legislation.

The Firewise program launched initially in Lafayette on Feb. 10, beginning with a community assessment on Glen Road. Other communities will be phased in in the months leading up to the typical arrival of fire season.

strong community spirit.”

She has a “love for small cities,” even while acknowledging the greatest frustration of the city manager’s job is “never having enough resources.”

She divides her time between her home in Sacramento which she shares with her long-time partner and an apartment in Emeryville organized professionals working together on behalf of all Contra Costa residents,” he said.

Acknowledging the difficulties that restrictions have placed on residents and businesses during the pandemic, McGallian said they helped keep case rates lower than in many other communities.

“While it has been frustrating and it will take time to fully recover, I know that we are on the road to recovery now. Each day, I feel more optimistic about the future,” he said.

In the meantime, the city will continue to partner with non-profits for projects like the food distribution center in the old Kmart and the Neighbor Express program to help seniors. He also referred to the city’s emergency moratorium on rent increases and evictions and nearly $1.3 million in CARES Act funding that helped more than 400 families retain housing.

PAVING THE WAY Since you can’t have a discussion of the state of the city without talk of potholes, McGallian called road maintenance “a real priority for the city” and praised the passage

tle, moisture intrusion can set in and wear away at foundation supports. Or an unnoticed poor foundation build may show itself after the tremors have passed.

Try to be aware of changes throughout the home, such as unlevel floors, new cracking at windows and doors, or windows and doors that begin to stick. These could be minor annoyances or early signs of SCOTT DENSLOW movement or wear and tear ASK THE EXPERT on your home’s foundation.

Ease your mind and get it We’ve all heard the admon- checked out. ishment: Stand up straight.

In a structural inspection, But it’s not always as simple to the inspector surveys the relaspot if your home is out of tive elevation throughout the whack. home to identify any high or In the Bay Area, earthlow points. Just a few inches quakes and ground movements are common and can wreak havoc over time. As the footings under your home set-

while she looks for a rental close to Clayton.

Schwartz loves backpacking in the Sierra. Her next trip will be this summer to Hilton Lake near Mammoth.

So far, she has found no mountain too high to climb.

difference can create undue stress on home supports and cause the foundation to collapse.

If issues are identified, request further exploration in the attic and/or crawl space to identify the source of the sloping, assess the severity and help you create a plan to rectify it.

Scott Denslow is the owner of Safe at Home Inspection Service.

He is an InterNACHI and ASHI certified inspector who has 47 five-star ratings on Yelp.

Contact him at scott@safeathomellc.com. For more info visit www.safeathomellc.com.

See ad, page 4.

925-381-3757

Lic.# 958849

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Sponsored Content

Contact Reina Schwartz at rschwartz@ci.clayton,ca.us. of the Measure V sales tax measure in November.

“You can expect us to take a serious look at how we can leverage the Measure V funding to initiate an accelerated program for our roads and infrastructure improvements,” he said.

Measure V will also boost the city budget, which was stretched even thinner due to the COVID shutdowns. “Fortunately, we were not hit as hard as expected,” McGallian said, while noting that the current budget is still reliant on $3 million in reserves.

The mayor reminded residents that they can keep up with city news via the city website, social media channels, E-newsletter and a new Podcast launched in January. He also urged residents to continue wearing masks, social distancing, practicing good hygiene and getting the vaccine when it’s their turn.

“I definitely miss being with all of you in person to connect and celebrate the great things that are happening in Concord,” he said.

“And I sincerely hope we can all be together again soon – maybe even at an event in Concord’s living room. Fingers crossed.”

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March 19, 2021

Council focuses on Measure V funding, mental health and economic recovery

we, as a city and a cohesive community, have accomplished and where we are headed.

I am proud of the work the city has done to respond to TIM MCGALLIAN the pandemic, and I’m thankCONCORD MAYOR ful for the many partnerships that we have created over this I had the honor of deliver- last year to support residents ing the 36th annual State of and businesses in need. the City address during a virtuLooking ahead, we still al event hosted by the Greater have much to do, including the Concord Chamber of Comimplementation of plans and merce last month. programs (some of which I’ll This presentation is an highlight here) that will make a opportunity to reflect on what positive impact on our com-

City offers online information on developments I frequently get questions about development projects around town, as people drive past a construction site or see temporary chain-link fencing around a property and wonder what is going on.

Now the city of Concord has launched a comprehensive, web-based interactive map showing significant development projects. It’s updated in real-time, showing the status of significant development projects being processed, approved, under construction and completed throughout Concord.

This will provide all stakeholders much easier access to project information and documents. The site will act as a central repository of information on each project by providing project plans, staff reports, environmental documents, conditions of approval and links to public hearings in one location.

The interactive map is in the process of being fully built out with the supporting documents for each project, but it has been publicly launched at concordgis.ci.concord.ca.us/DevVi ewer/.

Once the interactive map is fully built out (currently targeted by April 2, 2021), anyone

munity.

If you would like to watch the State of the City presentation in its entirety, please check it out on Concord TV (Comcast 28, Wave 29 or AT&T Uverse 99) or find the YouTube link at cityofconcord.org.

In late February, the City Council held its annual priority setting meeting. Among the many high-priority goals we have for 2021, those that stand out include: • Developing a strategy for investing our Measure V funds into near-term infrastructure projects based on community priorities.

• Implementing the CORE (Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement) and MHET (Mental Health Evaluation Team) pilot programs to support the unsheltered and residents with mental health challenges.

• Utilizing additional federal funding to help with recovery efforts, housing stabilization and economic development.

The council discussed the

JASON LAUB

CONCORD PLANNING

COMMISSIONER

with an internet connection will have the ability to check out a project and review the Conditions of Approval along with other useful information.

The Conditions of Approval are a comprehensive list of requirements that the applicant or developer must comply with on the project.

These requirements span the entire life cycle of a project, from permitting at the beginning of the project to property maintenance in perpetuity.

For example, Conditions of Approval may require that all exterior building and parking lot

See Laub, page 7

East County Fire moves to phase two of consolidation study

happy to report that we have the cities of Brentwood and Oakley and the county areas to approve our updated impact fees. These fees are collected during the construction process and are used for construction and equipment for the infrastructure needed to meet the demands projected over the next 20 years.

I would like to conclude BRIAN HELMICK, CHIEF with congratulating the MorEAST CONTRA COSTA FIRE gan Territory CERT (CommuPROTECTION DISTRICT nity Emergency Response Team) for the first official We have completed the action as a team with their first phase of the feasibility assistance at the East Contra study to evaluate our consoli- Costa County Vaccination dation with the Contra Costa Clinic held in Brentwood.

County Fire Protection DisTheir dedication and willingtrict, and the board of direcness to give back to their tors approved continuing with community should be recogthe study into phase two. nized and celebrated as this We hope to have an update team has been trying to get available sometime in April off the ground during the and expect the full study to be COVID lockdowns. completed in July of 2021.

As always, please be safe, At that point, the board be aware and keep up to date will have the opportunity to on the district’s activities review the study and decide if through our website, social consolidation will be the path media or attending one of our forward that we have been fire board’s monthly meetings. seeking for many years to increase service availability for For more information, please our communities. visit the Fire Prevention link at While we continue to eval- www.eccfpd.org. uate consolidation, I am

Measure V investment strategy on March 9 and will continue conversations about the city’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) plans and budget over the coming months. Our goal is to determine how we can leverage the Measure V funding to initiate an accelerated investment program for our road and infrastructure improvement projects.

To receive calendar alerts and council agendas about upcoming meetings, please visit cityofconcord.org/notifyme.

I am proud to report that our recent investment in the CORE and MHET programs (detailed in my February column) are underway, with our CORE team now working fulltime in Concord to support our unsheltered residents.

Scheduled to begin in May, the MHET pilot will provide support in the form of a mental health specialist paired with a police officer to respond to residents prior to their being in crisis. The goal of MHET is to avoid mental health crises when possible by ensuring those in need are receiving

• Gyms and fitness centers can open indoors at 10 percent capacity.

• Grades 7-12 in middle and high schools are allowed to open.

Additionally, vaccinations are well underway. As of March 10, more than 371,000 vaccination doses had been administered in the county, and officials were anticipating a surge in vaccine availability.

In the March 18 “Concord Connected” podcast, I talked with Deputy Health Officer COVID STATS IMPROVING Dr. Ori Tzvieli about the state As of March 14, Contra of the pandemic and the latest Costa County was back in the in vaccine distribution. You Red Tier of the state’s colorcan tune in through Apple, coded system. Indicators such Spotify or Soundcloud. For as COVID case rates, testing direct links, visit cityofconpositivity and equity metrics cord.org/news. are headed in the right direcThere is a light at the end tion. of the tunnel. I can see it, and More business activities will I am so grateful to our combe allowed, including: munity for doing its part to • Restaurants can open stay safe and healthy. Keep indoors at 25 percent doing what you’re doing, and capacity or 100 people. we will continue to get through • Retail can open indoors at this together.

50 percent capacity.

• Places of worship indoor Mayor Tim McGallian can be occupancy remains at 25 reached at 925.671.2489 or email percent capacity.

Tim.McGallian@cityofconcord.org support and getting help accessing resources.

In early March, the U.S. Senate and House passed an amended version of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which will provide billions of dollars to cities and states to support COVID relief efforts. While it is still unclear how much funding Concord will receive, and the rules for receiving the funding, our staff and council will share this information once we have it.

It’s essential to protect the environment – and jobs

achieving ambitious goals to protect our environment. However, as we strive to reach these goals, it is imperative that we do TIM GRAYSON so without jeopardizing the 14TH ASSEMBLY livelihoods of thousands of union workers that are DISTRICT employed in the energy sector.

As we transition to clean The oil and gas industry is fuels and high-tech energy, it is one of the largest in California, a matter of both equity and directly employing more than economic justice that we sup152,000 people. port the growth of high-paying Nearly two-thirds of these jobs and industries to replace workers don’t have a bachelor’s those which are being phased degree, and yet they earn about out. The green economy pres$80,500 a year on average. And ents us with the opportunity to importantly, many of these not only protect our planet, but workers live and work right here to also empower workers, parin Contra Costa County, which ticularly those within historically is home to four of the five Bay marginalized communities, by Area refineries. investing in their training and I am proud that our state is education. a global leader on climateIn order to give our region a change policy, setting and competitive advantage in the

next era of the energy economy, I have authored Assembly Bill 844 to create a Green Empowerment Zone that will prioritize access to tax incentives, grants, loan programs, workforce training programs, and private sector investment in the clean and green energy sector.

The zone will be compromised of government agencies that will seek to leverage each other’s strengths and resources, as well as work in partnership with the private sector, universities and other local organizations. This will help our region access the full scope of available economic development tools such as Opportunity Zones, the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program and the California Workforce Development

People can sign up to pledge to buy mental health awareness license plates under a bill I introduced.

Our children need our help.

Too many are falling through the cracks, especially as they have had to navigate through all the emotional complexities that the pandemic has created.

Social isolation, a lack of human contact, remote schooling and other issues have added to the already growing mental health issues children confront today.

We face a crisis in which anxiety, depression and suicide among young people are serious social and public health concerns. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people age 10-24 in the United States.

To help meet this crisis, I’ve authored Senate Bill 21 to create a mental health awareness license plate for California. I am proud to team up with many partners, including Graham Wiseman, who founded the mental health support organization BeingWellCA after his 15year-old son Colin’s suicide in 2013. The National Alliance on

awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Standardized wellness centers would help deliver consistent services to all communities regardless of socio-economic factors.

In 2018, the California Healthy Kids Survey reported that in some school districts, more than 50 percent of the female juniors indicated that they had clinical depression.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased mental health issues among youth across the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental health related emergency room visits by teenagers increased by 31 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.

Despite the alarming rates of suicide and self-harm by youth across the state, none of the 1,034 local education agencies reviewed by the state auditor employed the recommended number of mental health professionals. This bill adopts the state audit’s recommendations of increasing funding for mental health services by generating funds from the license plates.

Over the last several

New license plate would fund youth mental health services Mental Illness (NAMI) California is another terrific partner using its vast outreach resources to build this movement toward offering much-needed mental health services to our children.

This new, specially designed license plate would increase awareness of children’s mental health and establish a new source of funding for schools to invest in mental health crisis prevention services.

But it all begins with building support from our community to trigger production of these license plates. We need 7,500 people to sign a pledge that they will buy these license plates. You can register your intent to buy the license plate here: https://beingwellca.org/ After the bill has passed and we officially have 7,500 preorders, the Department of Motor Vehicles would then make them available for a fee.

The sales revenue would go into a Mental Health Awareness Fund for mental health services in public schools.

These funds would develop and promote wellness center tool kits for school districts and sites in California to increase

Board’s High Road Training Partnerships Program.

I have already had a number of productive meetings with local stakeholders on my bill and am encouraged that Congressman Mark DeSaulnier has introduced three pieces of legislation with a similar focus on transitioning our economy to cleaner energy while still supporting workers. He aims to accomplish this by providing direct support to local communities, investing in our transportation systems and launching a federal program to accelerate the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

I’m thankful for his passion in this area and look forward to partnering with him to advocate for these goals.

See Grayson, page 7

STEVE GLAZER

STATE SENATOR

decades, numerous license plates have been created to support programs such as breast cancer awareness and the California Arts Council. These license plates are an effective way for people to support initiatives without raising taxes or placing the burden on certain groups or individuals.

This license plate is one small step to bringing greater awareness to mental health and greater funding for services that help young Californians dealing with a mental illness. Please sign up to buy the license plate at beingwellca.org/.

Steve Glazer is the California State Senator representing the 7th Senate District. If you have questions about this or other topics, you can reach out to him at sd07.senate.ca.gov.

March 19, 2021

Clayton council joins move to amend state housing bill The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

JADU on each lot for a total of up to six units on a parcel originally zoned for one single-family home.

The city of Clayton is a CARL “CW” WOLFE member of the League of CaliCLAYTON MAYOR fornia Cities (Cal Cities), which advocates on behalf of cities SB9. Let’s talk. across the state on a wide variSenate Bill 9 was introety of issues. Cal Cities drafted duced in December 2020 and a letter to the state to “oppose will soon reach the state Sen- this bill unless amended.” ate floor for a vote.

While council members It requires a local governhave individual thoughts on ment to ministerially approve how to oppose this bill, in the a housing development conend, your Clayton City Council taining two residential units in voted to sign and send the letsingle-family residential zones. ter.

It further requires a local govOur requested amendments ernment to allow a developer are as follows: to convert an existing single• Clarify that a property family home into a duplex and owner using SB9 is limited allows for an accessory to constructing two residendwelling unit (ADU) and a tial units, not two residential junior accessory dwelling unit units and ADUs on the (JADU) on the same parcel. same parcel.

The bill also requires a local • Require a housing developer government to ministerially to acquire a building permit approve a single-family lot split, within one year of a lot creating two lots, and allows the split, so that speculators do construction of one single-famnot sell lots and never build ily home, one ADU and one homes.

• Allow local governments to require adequate access for police, fire and other public safety vehicles and equipment.

• Prohibit developers from using SB9 in very high fire hazard severity zones.

• Allow cities to determine a range of lot sizes suitable for SB9 development projects.

• Ensure that the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) provides Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) credit for production of SB9 units.

• Allow local governments to take into account local conditions such as hillsides, lot dimensions, natural hazards, available infrastructure, etc. when approving or denying housing project applications.

• Allow local governments to continue to determine parking standards.

• Ensure large-scale investors and builders do not exploit SB9 provisions.

Contra Costa celebrates today’s youth along with César Chávez

Later this month, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will honor one of our country’s most treasured activists: César E. Chávez.

The county’s 28th annual César E. Chávez commemorative celebration will be at 11 a.m. March 30. You can tune in live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99 and WAVE Channel 32 or online at contracosta.ca.gov.

This year’s theme is “Move Our Community Forward – Adelante Con Nuestra Comunidad.” I am excited to take this opportunity to share a few stories of local students who are working hard to move us forward. They will be recognized during the celebration for their contributions to our community.

Bianey Douglas from Carondelet High School is a true community leader. She founded Latinas Unidas, an organization to help educate her

classmates and faculty about the impact of immigration laws.

She has persevered through many challenges to be accepted as a first-generation college student at the highly selective Wellesley College in Boston.

Chris Garcia’s role as a good Samaritan shone through his efforts to organize Antioch High’s “Warm for the Holidays” event, which provided toys, groceries, books and jackets to 650 children in the community.

Haley Brathwaite of Carondelet showcases exemplary teamwork – whether it be leading efforts around sustainability and environmental justice at her school and in the community, or her creative, collaborative spirit in building accessibility tools for blind people.

Jonathan Castaneda of Pinole Valley High has truly exemplified the spirit of volunteerism through with his tireless work to build a

STAND! Youth Against Violence program at his school.

Jonathan ran numerous campaigns at Pinole Valley High, organizing events and getting the word out about Teen Dating Violence Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Ryan Raimondi of Liberty High also demonstrates leadership and civic engagement.

Ryan was instrumental in bringing a Model Legislature and Model Court program to Liberty High and is an appointee on the Brentwood Youth Commission. Ryan has worked closely with city leaders and students to bring civic awareness activities to Brentwood.

Stephanie Boustani is our rising star at Stanley Middle School. Stephanie has taken a leading role in Stanley’s Global Relief Outreach club, and her compassion and kindness shine through in her volunteer efforts to feed the homeless in Contra

I believe that this is the right thing to do for Clayton.

As the smallest of cities, Clayton needs to combine its voice with others to stand up and be heard. We must assert ourselves into the mix to retain local control of our quality of life and our property.

I have spoken with mayors from our surrounding cities and understand that they will encourage their councils to take similar actions. I have also scheduled meetings with both state Sen. Steven Glazer and Assembly member Tim Grayson to lobby our council’s position on SB9.

More bills like SB9 will be coming, and your council will always do everything we can to fight for what we believe is the right thing to do for Clayton.

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

KAREN MITCHOFF

COUNTY

SUPERVISOR

Costa County.

Each of these students has been a true role model for our community, exemplifying the values of service, integrity, kindness, activism and leadership that César Chávez embodied through his life. As we honor Chávez’s memory and his work, I am very proud to lift up these young leaders in his honor.

Each is already bringing muchneeded change to our community and the world at large.

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

Concord PD will always pursue justice

The Concord Police Department receives many calls for service every day, many of which have to do with low-level crimes such as thefts under $950 or possession of small quantities of narcotics.

Many people have labeled these “victimless” crimes. But are they?

Where does a chronic drug user get money to support a habit? Usually through minor theft. And who are they stealing from? You, the Concord residents.

While I agree that there needs to be services more readily available for drug addiction, that does not relieve individuals who commit these offenses from being held accountable for their crimes, even if they are low level.

A kid who saves money and buys a bike only to have it stolen is a victim. Even if the bike is worth less than $950, that person will always remember the crime.

Concord PD will take a report and file it and if CPD recovers the bike, the kid will get it back. However, when we tell a victim that the suspect will not face charges, we are sending a message there are

MARK BUSTILLOS

CHIEF OF POLICE CONCORD

no consequences for theft and that people can do what they want. Is this really the message that we want to communicate to the public?

For Concord PD, the answer is a resounding “No.” Unfortunately, that is the way it is today with so-called victimless crimes in Concord.

There are no consequences for these crimes, and the people who commit them are released as soon as we catch them. (Well, they do get a citation.)

It can be incredibly frustrating for arresting police officers, especially when they know that the very likely outcome will be that no charges will be filed and the suspect will most likely keep offending

and eventually be rearrested.

I often use the metaphor of a three-legged stool with the officers under my command. In the criminal justice system, you have law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office (representing “the people”) and the judicial branch (think judges) all acting together to resolve criminal matters. All things being even, when all three legs function effectively, they make a stable stool.

At Concord PD, we will

continue to make arrests for these low-level crimes and uphold our leg of the stool.

And we will speak for the victims, like the kid whose bike was stolen. That is what I tell our officers, and I know that they take it to heart. I see many good cases made.

We patrol Concord and remain vigilant for our community. Anything less is not acceptable.

Contact Chief Bustillos at mark.bustillos@cityofconcord.org

Grayson, from page 6

The reality is that California won’t be able to truly achieve our environmental goals without building a bridge between working families and the green economy, and our region must start building that bridge now.

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted our state’s economy and millions of California families. In many ways, it has exacerbated existing problems such as our housing and homelessness crisis, our high cost of living and economic pressure of the middle class.

It is clear to me that Cali-

fornians cannot afford to wait for our systemic, long-term issues to be addressed, nor can we afford policymakers to continue to think reactively.

Now is the time for innovative solutions that will allow our communities to recover and rebuild and help our economy to flourish again; and this is what I will continue to fight for in California.

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

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

Page 7

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

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Laub, from page 6

lighting provide illumination for safety and be installed in a manner that is glare shielded and directed away from adjacent properties and rights-of-way.

Conditions of Approval also specify the allowable hours during which construction can occur or may specify certain hours that a business can operate. These are just a few examples of requirements that the

city may place on a project or property during the approval process.

I hope you find this new tool useful. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or suggestions about it.

Jason Laub is Chief Operating Officer at RAD Urban and is a City of Concord Planning Commissioner. Email questions or comments to jlaub.concordplanning@gmail.com

MDUSD campus reopenings remain in question Page 8

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

The clock is ticking on the Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s plan to reopen campuses for hybrid learning beginning Monday.

At last week’s meeting, the Board set Mar. 22 as the opening of preschool through second grade classrooms by a 3-2 vote. The board’s two newest members, Erin McFerrin and Keisha Nzewi, dissented.

Since that regular board meeting last Wednesday there have reportedly been daily negotiations between district and Mt. Diablo Education Association teacher’s union representatives to come to an agreement on health and safety protocols for teachers

to return to the classroom with their students.

McFerrin and Nzewi expressed concerns that setting a firm start date would harm negotiations. A special board meeting with a single agenda item regarding these negotiations is set for this Tuesday at 5 p.m., six days before the scheduled campus reopening’s.

At the Mar. 10 board meeting, Superintendent Adam Clark presented a revised schedule of school reopening’s. After having their children experiencing remote learning for a full year Clark said it was time to begin transitioning students back to campus. Last month he reported 1000 students had left the district due to nearly a year of distance

March 19, 2021

The plan approved by the distancing and safety measures board would have elementary adhered to classes broken into two MARCH 22 groups with one on campus First day of In-Person Monday-Tuesday and the Learning for Preschool, TK, other group Thursday-Friday K, 1st, 2nd, self-contained with no on-campus instrucSDC classes and the Bridge tion on Wednesday. For high Transition Program schools, period 1-2-3 classes would be held Monday and MARCH 25 Thursday and periods 4-5-6 First day of In-Person on Tuesday and Friday with Learning for 3rd, 4th and no classes on campus 5th Grades Wednesday.

Contra Costa was one of MARCH 29 First day of In-Person the last two Bay Area counties MARCH 17 Learning for all other grades, to show reduced COVID-19 All staff who are working metrics enabling advancement 6th -12th remotely will return to to the red tier this week. assigned school site APRIL 2-9 Spring Recess PRIVATE SCHOOLS MARCH 19 REMAIN OPEN Campus previews with JUNE 2 Most private and parochial school sites open to students Last school day schools in the area began and parents with all physical

hybrid learning between October and January. There have been no reports of major health problems from local schools in the aftermath of those reopening’s.

Carondelet Principal Kevin Cushing said, “We have about two-thirds of our students coming to campus in our hybrid. We are still bound by county health restrictions, so we have to space our classroom desks six feet apart, which allows us to have approximately 15-16 students in a classroom. That will limit our ability to bring more students on campus. We just completed our 16th week of in-person instruction in the hybrid and have had zero cases of on-campus spread of the virus.”

life, music and people.”

Martinez also graduated from the University of Pacific, the only university with a fully Spanish-speaking college at the time, with a master’s degree in inter-American studies/Spanish in 1964.

He still lives in Concord and continues to learn about various cultures in his free time.

“He is a profound writer and has studied all aspects of life,” Longshore said. “Any conversation with him leaves you wanting more.”

learning caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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

The proposed MDUSD reopening benchmarks:

Retired professor teaches Chicano culture beyond the classroom DIANE ZERMEÑO Correspondent

CONCORD – The Chicano culture permeates every part of David Martinez’s life, from his classroom to his living room.

He is a beloved figure in Concord, known for taking his lessons beyond the classroom with a multicultural twist. Martinez taught Spanish and English at Mount Diablo and Ygnacio Valley high schools and Diablo Valley College before retiring in 2004.

He has also been in politics – including serving as president of the Monument Democratic Club, in the arts and even as a bodyguard to Nobel peace prize winner Rigoberta Menchú.

“David Martinez is a good guy with a rich history in Concord and before that. He has a great family story as the first in his immigrant family to go to college,” said George Fulmore, current leader of the Monument Democratic Club.

LESSONS FOR THE COMMUNITY

U.S. high school to produce “Zoot Suit.”

Martinez has also sold books of his poetry in the community and sold his photographs to restaurants all the way down to San Ramon to promote Chicano culture.

“David is a dedicated individual advocating for the Latinx community as well as issues of social justice for all,” said Concord City Councilman Edi Birsan.

He bought the bookstore in downtown Martinez and operated it for seven years in the 1980s and ’90s. In true teacher fashion, he called the bookstore his “mini university” because he David Martinez honors la cultura with art and murals focused on local writers while throughout his Concord home. also offering multicultural and bilingual books for children and his coach’s alma mater. what Martinez likes to call “la adults.

“The catalyst was, I hate cultura,” or “the culture,” which “Language is especially poverty. And if going to school he said “is everything.” important because it’s a reflec“Cultura is a composite of means I’ll get out of poverty, tion of who we are inside. The everything we know to exist: then I’ll go to school,” said more that we are bilingual, the Martinez, who graduated from art, literature, politics, family, more we can express ourselves.

Chico State in 1959 with language, identity,” he said.

That’s beautiful – it opens up “And you put them all together, degrees in Spanish and history. another world,” Martinez said.

He served as chair of the kind of like a bowl of menudo, Always stressing the imporand, hopefully, when you cook Washington County Democrattance of identity, he took great ic Central Committee in Oreit up it turns out to be somepride in a gig as a Santa Claus gon, then moved to Redding thing delicious. It may not be who could speak both English like the neighbor’s menudo, but and became president of the and Spanish fluently to spread EMPHASIZING CHICANO Democratic Club. With an it’s your menudo,” he said.

CULTURE holiday cheer. “Oh my God, ambition to become a college Martinez has documented these people have never had a THE IMPORTANCE OF professor, Martinez moved his his colorful life in memorabilia Mexican Santa, and they were EDUCATION family to Concord. Hired at throughout his living room. entrusting their children to me,” Martinez was born in a Mount Diablo High School, he One wall features a mural of he said. small farming town in Ventura worked directly under Ruth various Aztec symbols that rep- County to a devout Catholic Martinez delved further into Galindo. resent survival and resilience, Chicano culture in 2007 when SUNNY SOLOMON family living in poverty. In his Carol Longshore was a senalong with the United Farm Concord High’s drama teacher senior year of high school in ior, class of 1963, when MarBOOKIN’ WITH Workers flag – a symbol within 1956, Martinez’s coach asked hired him as a consultant for tinez started teaching Spanish the Chicano civil rights movethe production of the play SUNNY him what he was going to do at Mount Diablo. “What an ment.

“Zoot Suit.” Luis Valdez, the after graduation. Ultimately, energetic and caring teacher,” Chicano, an identifier for playwright behind “Zoot Suit” What fun to recommend a he enrolled at his local comshe recalled. “I knew this man people of Mexican descent and the popular film “La novel

by Leif Enger, one of my munity college with the goal was going to be successful raised in the United States, is Bamba,” had never allowed any favorites. to transfer to Chico State – because of his enthusiasm for He wrote the widely popular “Peace Like a River” and followed that with “So Brave, Young and Handsome.” Each one better than the one before, so it is no surprise that I think “Virgil Wander” is his best yet.

Virgil Wander is a young man in his 30s who owns an old and slightly worse for the wear movie theater. He also works for the city, which is in Echoing Green, found that what I am capable of due to “We are putting you at the “Organizations led by people no better shape than his theater. my ethnic youthfulness, lowest end of the pay scale ambiguous racial makeup, cer- of color win less grant money While driving in stormy weathbecause you do not have a er, his car veers over a railing tificated education level, trust- and are trusted less to make degree.”

KIKU JOHNSON decisions about how to spend and plunges into Lake Superior. worthiness and simply the “Don’t tell me you are a ALL THE COLORS Christian. You are so kind to origins of my first and last those funds than groups with That is page one.

Virgil is rescued from white leaders.” everyone. Wait, if you are, that’s names. almost certain death by a fellow “You just were not that Even when nonprofits I’ve been tokenized. A OK. Organized religion makes citizen with no plausible reason good at it,” a former employer me uncomfortable. Are you?” with leaders of color win white supervisor and colto be on the beach in such offered as we ran into each “Hiring people of color is leagues asked me to give feed- grants, differences remain. a week in a weather.

After other at a conference after I Unrestricted assets of nonback on whether marketing important because they are Duluth hospital, he returns moved into a leadership role needed to teach us about cul- materials should be with or profits with leaders of color home to Greenstone and his with a national organization. ture. That’s part of their role.” without a youth of color. are 76 percent smaller than flat above the Empress Theater.

I had worked nearly a “You are taking advantage those led by white individuals.

I’ve been messaged, Told by his doctor that his decade at this former organi- of your job. You should stay “There are no excuses. If you In nine months, I wrote concussion would probably zation and felt there was and submitted 28 grant profocused on what you need to work hard, you will deserve cause only short-term memory nowhere for me to grow furposals – securing individual and reach your goals.” do and not be trying to help ther. I was never asked where others so much.” grants totaling $150,000 – and loss, Virgil begins a journey to This may be differently wellness. Along the way, we I wanted to be, how I wanted true for some, but I know the was told, “You just were not “You sounded Black on meet some beautifully defined to grow or what my aspiramessaging along the way does that good at it.” the phone.” characters – some real and one tions were. matter for folx who do not Sometimes, it’s simply that may be a figment of VirMessaging I received at Kiku Johnson is Rainbow represent the dominant silence. gil’s concussed brain. organizations I have worked: Community Center’s executive culture.

You may read some of A return to wellness is a pre“You are so much younger; these statements and think, “I director. As a man of color and As I proudly serve as an vailing theme in Enger’s novel. you wouldn’t know what I’m LGBTQI+ non-profit organi- trans experience, Kiku has invested don’t get it. There’s nothing Not only restoring Virgil’s talking about.” his life engaging and elevating youth zation leader, I have stepped wrong with these.” health but also reuniting a kite“That’s why you say you are and adult voices of marginalized into a real and true level of All my life, people have building Norwegian (Rune) with a person of color, because you assumed I am something intersectional identities. Send the economic impact of a missing adult son (Alec) he are 51 percent Asian.” other than I actually am and racism. A recent study, by the questions and comments to has only recently been told of.

“You are so articulate.”

I’m valued for much less than consultancy Bridgespan and kiku@rainbowcc.org.

Everyone has a story.

Do you know someone from the community whose story we should tell? Send your suggestions to editor@pioneerpublishers.com.

‘Virgil Wander’ a fascinating character study

Folx find ‘not good enough’ view makes the climb harder

The widow (Nadine) of the missing Alec, a minor league baseball star who flew away from Greenstone, never to be heard of again, attempts to restore her life as widow and single mother. An almost famous movie producer (Adam) returns to Greenstone to redeem his name and property.

Two characters, a giant fish and a ferocious raccoon, have no intention of bettering their pugnacious and deadly reputations.

Greenstone, a town once thriving on a successful taconite mine and shipping business, is now a mere shadow of itself.

Enger has populated “Virgil Wander” with just about every resident who did not leave Greenstone when the mine closed. I cannot remember reading a novel with so many characters demanding their rightful place in every chapter.

Next to Virgil, Greenstone itself is a major character also on a quest for wellness, despite its “hard luck” reputation.

I will not give anything away, but the action includes fire, death by fishing, a hidden stash of stolen classic movie reels, romance of young, middle and senior folks, a possible appearance of Bob Dylan and a bombing plot that increases Greenstone’s population with state and federal law enforcement.

If that doesn’t get your attention, nothing will – except some very fine writing with a generous dose of laughter, wisdom and heart.

For those of you who like to find a novel’s literary roots, look no further than the protagonist’s first and last names.

Think about the importance of water, weather, journeys and idols fallen and raised. Trust me, “Virgil Wander” has it all.

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.’

After 12 years of the Pulse, many issues remain the same March 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Page 9

The heartbeat of the community continues to pound out for concerns about the unsheltered, roads, tenants in fear of eviction and the recovery from or continued coping with the pandemic.

The methods of dealing with these and other problems bring out a wide range of intense views and solutions that are in opposition to each other.

EDI BIRSAN For example, I am working PULSE OF on providing a safe place for homeless families with chilCONCORD dren in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. It’s among the highest positive possible long- will have no impact on the number of mentally ill or disterm outcomes. However, it

ruptive individuals whom people encounter and associate with the homeless.

The expansion of CORE (Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement) and the introduction of mental health response teams may make some impact on those last population segments, but it will not be a fast and readily visible effort. Just as our Family Justice program, which is now five years old, has made an impact but is not seen by the average person.

My feeling from the beginning is to give this a 10-year period, and we may see an

ever-more positive effect on our city. And my support for it is unwavering.

Regarding roads, the council just gave direction to explore a 20-year bond of more than $100 million with pledges from the sales tax measure so we can front-load road repairs and take advantage of the historically low interest rates that could be fixed. The downside is that it commits us to the sufferance of the tax, but we will see the results quickly. Just remember that 13 years from now when we are still paying for it.

As for renters, after allocat-

ing money for those who could not make the minimum 25 percent of payments, we found that very few qualified and were able to go through the documentation for the grants. This amount has been increased, which should help remove debts and aid smaller landlords.

However, going forward is always a challenge. When do we return to “normal,” and what the devil is normal anyway? Are we perpetually going to have rent control, or will it sunset with the actions of the state?

Through all of this and other things, we struggle to find a balance among all the

various factors or factions and the fears or hopes of people.

The Pulse of Concord goes forward into its 12th year trying to ask the right questions to spur on a civil debate, showcase the various sides and display the gaps in our perceptions of each other.

This column represents the views of Edi Birsan and is not to be confused with the opinions of any organization be it public, private or out-worldly, nor is it subsidized by taxpayers or tax cheats or anyone under future indictment by the federal courts of New York City. Email him at EdiBirsan@gmail.com.

businesses in a non-competitive environment.

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce launched BRG five years ago to help members develop new leads.

“In theses BRG groups, I have really enjoyed getting to know fellow members on a deeper level, understanding their businesses more and MELISSA REA opening up opportunities to CHAMBER OF partner with others in the group and refer business to each COMMERCE other,” said Denise Caldwell of Even through the pandemic, HB Resources Insurance Servmembers of Concord’s Busiices in Concord. ness Referral Group (BRG) The BRG is an industry have been meeting in person – exclusive group of 20-25 memvia Zoom – to promote their bers that meets twice a month

for an hour. Throughout the course of the five-month session, each participant gives a 10minute presentation, sharing information about themselves and their business. This allows other members in the group to understand how they can help build other businesses, whether it be by referring clients or even creating a power partnership.

Pioneer editor/publisher Tamara Steiner joined the BRG four years ago and finds it a great place to connect with potential advertisers.

“I probably get 60-70 percent of all new business from contacts made thorugh this group – at least in a normal year,” said Steiner.

Chamber membership director William Chan begins each session with introductions and a question for each member to answer. Questions include: “Who is your target audience?” “Who is an ideal referral for you and your business?” and “Where did you meet your best client or customer?” The responses help the cohorts understand each business better and brainstorm potential leads to pass amongst the group.

“I received a referral from the BRG group in 2020 that turned into a sale, so I have proof that this works,” Caldwell noted. “I hope to pay it forward in 2021 by referring

some business to other fellow BRG members.”

The breakout room feature in Zoom allows for a more personal level of networking through smaller groups. Building trust helps ensure quality referrals. The chamber has seen many relationships, both business and personal, flourish from this group. Many members keep in contact even after the session has ended.

The success of this program generated enough interest to create a waitlist for future sessions. While there are some return participants, it is also important to introduce new people to the group – allowing all chamber members a fair

chance to participate.

The chamber finds this group to be a great addition to the various programs it offers.

From the beginning of the pandemic, the chamber has not skipped a beat by moving events online. While virtual meetings do not hold the same effectiveness as in-person, by utilizing presentation and breakout room features, Zoom has proven to be an effective way to continue doing business.

Q. I have had financial difficulties during the pandemic. My bank let me into a forbearance program, and I haven’t made a mortgage payment for more than six months. They have now given me a three-month extension, and we will negotiate how the money will be paid back after the three months. Is this common? I would like to know more about forbearance.

A. You are not alone, with 2.6 million homeowners currently in forbearance plans. The number of homes in forbearance plans decreased from 5.23 percent to 5.20 percent from last week to this week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

There also was a small decline in the total share of loans in forbearance in the last week of February, as the pace of forbearance exits increased.

This continues the trend reported in prior months.

unemployment rate decreased.

But 10 million people are still unemployed, with 4.1 million among the long-term unemployed – up 125,000 from January. The passage of the American Rescue Plan provides needed support for homeowners like you who are continuing to struggle during these challenging times.

Good luck to you.

Q. I am excited to say that I will be soon moving Of those homeowners in into a house that I bought. It forbearance, more than 12 peris an older house, so it has cent were current at the end of no technology features. I February, down from 14 perwould like to add some cent at the end of January. The things for convenience and improving economy, the justefficiency. What are some passed stimulus package and the additions that you suggest? many homeowners in forbearA. While there’s no denyance reaching the 12-month ing that these cutting-edge mark of their plans could all devices can help to make your influence the overall forbearhome more efficient and proance share in the coming vide convenience in your daymonths. to-day life, certain types of Job growth picked up smart technology are more sharply in February, and the likely to set your house apart

when it’s time to put it on the market.

There’s a wide range of smart home technology available these days, from security systems to appliances and everything in between.

Smart toilets: With heated seats, built-in bidets and selfcleaning functionality, these toilets have become increasingly popular in high-end homes. For this reason, a cutting-edge commode might just give your home extra appeal.

Irrigation systems. There’s no getting around it: Lawn maintenance can be a bit of a burden. If you don’t stay on top of it, your home might not show at its best. A smart irrigation system is a solution, as it will use real-time weather data to ensure that your lawn receives just the right amount of water. In addition to keeping your grounds healthy and verdant, it will also help you conserve water.

Wellness platform. Well-

ness features are all the rage in luxury real estate. A wellness platform like Darwin by Delos will set your home apart in this regard. For instance, Darwin will monitor your air and water quality, as well as sync the lights in your home with your circadian rhythm to help improve sleep quality.

Full automation system. It can be overwhelming, and ultimately less efficient, to have a different app to control every device in your house.

That’s where full automation

Look up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s a blinding flash of lightning – an abrupt crash of thunder so shocking and amazing it creates mayhem for the populous below.

No, wait. It’s Thunderbolt: a new generation of fast computer connectors.

Is Thunderbolt the new superhero of the computing world? It has everything – the cape, mask and fancy pants.

Well, OK, not the pants.

Rejoice computer people, you get to buy yet another adapter for your PCs. Yeah.

Actually, Thunderbolt is a very fast connection for nearly everything on your computer.

Attach multiple monitors, USB devices, printers, PCIe Express devices and even virtual reality (VR) headsets.

Thunderbolt can handle the workload.

According to PC Magazine, Thunderbolt lets you transfer data at up to 40Gbps. That is twice as fast as the 20Gbps

maximum throughput speed of the fastest USB-C ports and four times as fast as the original Thunderbolt interface.

“Not only can a Thunderbolt 3 (Now 4-ed) port help you transfer data to and from a compliant external hard drive more quickly than a plain USBC port, but it can also unlock additional capabilities for connecting external monitors and expansion docks,” PC Mag said.

“A USB-C port with support for Thunderbolt 3 means that a single cable is all you need to push power and transfer a large amount of information (such as video data for two or more 60Hz 4K external monitors) to and from a computer.”

Thunderbolt 4 is featured in Intel’s CPU products. “Thunderbolt 4 ports have been designed to make connecting devices easier, keeping your gaming space neat and manageable, freeing up ports for wider availability and allowing you to connect all the devices you want without complications,” accord-

Concord chamber group helps businesses generate leads

Melissa Rea is director of programs for the Concord chamber. For more information about the Business Referral Group, call 925-6851181 or email info@concordchamber.com.

Many homeowners using forbearance plans due to COVID-19

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS

It’s Thunderbolt time

ing to Intel.

Yup, faster than a speeding bullet.

New PCs with Intel CPUs are now supporting Thunderbolt natively. That means the engineers at Intel put the circuit right into the CPU, so no extra chips are required. This design integration is a powerful force for wide adoption of the technology.

Thunderbolt connectors are small, oval-looking adaptations created by a cable or adapter to work with a standard USB-C output. It looks like a USB with a rider on top.

The mighty power of multiple data paths generates easy and insanely simple connections for multiple monitors. Go buy a Thunderbolt computer and a few new monitors to go with it.

Ask for it by name.

According to Wikipedia, technically Thunderbolt is “the brand name of a hardware interface developed by Intel (in collaboration with Apple) that allows the connection of exter-

WILL CLANEY

TECH TALK

nal peripherals to a computer.

Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use the same connector as Mini DisplayPort (MDP), whereas Thunderbolt 3 re-uses the USBC connector from USB. Thunderbolt combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into two serial signals and additionally provides DC power, all in one cable. Up to six peripherals may be supported by one connector through various topologies.”

See, I told you it had a cape.

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

Email questions or comments to willclaney@gmail.com.

systems, like Savant, Control14 and Crestron, come into play. These state-of-theart systems offer the utmost convenience by allowing you to control the entire house using a single app. Imagine being able to manage lighting, climate, entertainment and security all in one place.

Lynne French is a Realtor with Compass Real Estate and captain of the Lynne French Team. Contact her at lynne@lynnefrench.com or 925-6728787.

SPORTS

Page 10

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

March 19, 2021

Football headlines return of high school sports JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Local athletes this month are actually playing football, tennis, softball, lacrosse, soccer, golf and they’re also swimming, diving and running while proudly competing for their high schools. It may not be the traditional time of year for many sports but after nearly a year without any activity, athletes and coaches are happy to take what is available during this rapidly concluding 2020-21 school year.

Last Saturday evening, Concord’s powerhouse high school football teams from De La Salle and Clayton Valley Charter were in pads at a game for the first time since Dec. 13-14, 2019 when they were each playing in CIF State Championship bowl games. This past Saturday the Spartans and Ugly Eagles both got one-score victories against strong Sac-Joaquin Section teams.

Last weekend also marked the end of the Diablo Athletic League cross country season,

Athlete Spotlight

which made way this week for runners, jumpers and throwers to begin track and field. East Bay Athletic League XC ends this week and T&F begins on Monday.

EBAL commissioner and De La Salle athletic director Leo Lopoz says indoor sports will be happening soon as well as after Contra Costa and Solano officially moved into the COVID19 red tier on Sunday, the last Bay Area counties to do so.

It took a legal ruling earlier this month to make indoor sports possible. A legal settlement with the state of California from a lawsuit filed in San Diego County last month by two high school football players allows all sports to return in counties with adjusted COVID-19 case rates below 14 per 100,000.

Not only are high school sports up and running but so too are youth swimming, gymnastics, soccer and baseball programs. Last Saturday morning in Newhall Park players, officials, coaches and spectators were all wearing face coverings for a game hosted by a young girls club team from Diablo Valley Wolves.

FOOTBALL UNDERWAY Defending State 2-AA champions Clayton Valley Charter won a back and forth duel with Inderkum in Sacramento 20-15. Senior Amari Taylor, a playoff hero in 2019 when the Ugly Eagles won their first-ever State title, scored the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter after a costly safety had given the host

Hanna Catalano

School: Northgate High School Grade: Senior Sports: Cross Country, Triathlon, CrossFit, Swimming

Catalano focused on swimming and then running as a youngster, which led her on a path of competing in CrossFit and triathlons, an endurance sport which combines swimming, running and cycling. She decided against joining cross country during her senior year at Northgate when the pandemic moved the sport to a unique winter season which conflicted with her CrossFit training. Her Broncos girls cross country coach Ruth Seabrook understands the decision and said, “We thoroughly enjoyed having Hanna for three years on the cross country team at Northgate, she was always a steady competitor who did best under the most pressure. I am sure she will go on to run, bike, swim and CrossFit in college and beyond into her adult life.” Catalano competed at two North Coast Section championships for Northgate during her three years on varsity. As a freshman she also ran track at the Walnut Creek school.

She swam for the Dana Hills Otters from the time she was five. A dual citizen of the US and Finland, Catalano swam on year-round club teams from the age of eight to 11-1/2 when her family lived abroad, twice qualifying and competing in the annual Finnish Youth National Swim Championships. Upon returning to America, she rejoined her DHST summer team for four seasons.

Those pursuits evolved into her interest in triathlon.

Since age 12 she has completed in over 30 sprint distance triathlon races. A typical sprint distance race is 750-meter swim, 20k bike ride and 5k run. Her freshman year at Northgate she participated in the Youth Elite National Championship triathlon in Ohio.

Catalano’s triathlon team is not currently active, but she trains six days a week with The Cave in Marin, both in her home area and 2-3 times driving to Larkspur to work directly with CrossFit coach Bo Winegarner. “Hanna possesses both a strong work ethic and a mindfulness that I rarely see in an athlete. I believe she can excel at anything she puts her mind to,” Winegarner says. She gave up her final high school cross country season to prepare for the 2021 CrossFit Games open and 16-17 teen divisions. The three-week qualifications began last week.

The senior from Clayton has played tenor saxophone in the Northgate Jazz Band for four years and also plays flute and oboe. She is looking forward to majoring in biochemistry in college.

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

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

John Saylor photo courtesy CVCHS football

Clayton Valley Charter High School football kicked off for the first time in 15 months when the Ugly Eagles visited Inderkum in Sacramento last Saturday evening. CVCHS won a back and forth contest 20-15 and will host Cal High of San Ramon this Saturday night in Gonsalves Stadium to open the East Bay Athletic League schedule.

towards its inevitable state championship playoff run. The 2018 season opening 14-0 shutout of Folsom in quarterback Dorian Hale’s first varsity start is a recent exception to that rule.

This year, coach Justin Alumbaugh and his staff don’t have that playoff carrot to motivate the team. High school football teams had only three weeks of practice before last weekend’s first round of games. The Spartans veer offense demands precision to execute properly and SPARTANS START SLOW early in their game against St. De La Salle is a (relatively Mary’s- Stockton penalties were speaking) notoriously slow-start- more frequent than first downs. ing team renowned for building “It looked like we hadn’t

Tigers a late 15-14 advantage.

CVCHS doubled Inderkum’s total offensive yards 343-163 as the Ugly Eagles defense rose to the occasion, much as they did in that memorable State championship game 15 months ago.

Taylor ran for two TDs and over 100 yards and receiver Andrew Woolard got the third score on a Jake Kerns pass.

Coach Tim Murphy lauded linebackers Lukas Linkhart and Dylan Seeley for leading the defense.

Liberty Gymnastics team wins gold as in-person competition resumes

Noelle Romeo, Ryleigh Rossi, Olivia Strohmeier and Mollie Adams won first-place medals.

Concord gymnasts Samantha Morimoto and Mollie Adams each won all-around and floor events as their Liberty Gymnastics team returned to in-person competition for the first time in a year at the Byers Rose Gold Classic in Roseville. The Liberty optional girls team had five first-place finishers at Roseville.

Morimoto competes in Level 8 while Adams is in Level 6 middle division. Noelle Romeo (Level 6, Junior Division), Ryleigh Rossi (Level 6, Junior Division) and Olivia

SAMANTHA MORIMOTO

Strohmeier (Level 6, Younger Division) also took home top honors.

Following an extremely challenging year of practicing under COVID-19 restrictions, often in isolation from teammates and coaches, coach Bonnie Schreiner said, “I am extremely proud of these girls and how hard they work. They are completely deserving of their success.” Liberty’s Level 6 girls won the first-place team award.

Photos courtesy Liberty Gymnastics

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played in 15 months,” Alumbaugh told the media following a 35-27 victory. “But the effort was there. … This is the happiest I’ve been for a really ugly game in the history of my life.”

The Spartans never led by more than two scores and needed to recover an onside kick by St. Mary’s late in the fourth quarter to wrap up the victory as they continued their unbeaten streak against all California high school teams north of Clovis since 1991.

The senior running back tandem of Nico Torrez and the impressive Mekhi Norfleet combined for 298 yards rushing.

Hale overcame a slow start to amass 215 total yards, marred only by a fourth-quarter red zone interception.

This Saturday evening Clayton Valley begins its EBAL season at California High in San Ramon while DLS hosts league rival Monte Vista of Danville.

The rest of the local high schools will get their DAL Valley Division football seasons underway this week in the first of five rounds of league games. The format has each DAL team playing three games through April 3 with the final two games scheduled based on the results of the initial three rounds.

Ygnacio Valley is at Mt. Diablo and Northgate at Alhambra this Friday while Concord visits Berean Christian Saturday in DAL openers this week.

SPORTS WRAPPING UP IN MARCH Northgate, Acalanes, Las Lomas, Miramonte and Campolindo will have a DAL swimming and diving championship meet on Mar. 26-27 with no spectators in the stands.

Cross country reacted to COVID-19 protocols and had an abbreviated season with firstever competitive meets all on school campuses. Ygnacio Valley was the first to do so followed by Concord High. Two- and threemile courses were designed for JV and varsity competitions on each school site. Other schools participating included Alhambra, Benicia and Mt. Diablo.

Trying to maintain a semblance of normal, the Minutemen honored four-year runners Logan Jacobs, Brandon Simpson, Ernesto Perez, Dylan Roberts and Justin Cao and senior teammates Ryan Willsie and Ericka Martinez on Senior Day at their home meet.

2020-21 DAL SPORTS CALENDAR Complete: Cross country Currently competing: Boys tennis and soccer, girls lacrosse, football, swimming and diving, softball, golf Begins Mar. 22: Girls tennis Begins April 5: Boys lacrosse, girls soccer, baseball Begins April 29: Water polo TBA Start dates: Wrestling, basketball, competitive cheer, volleyball, badminton

Kara Kohler rows her way onto 2nd US Olympic Team

February 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

Page 11

Athlete Spotlight

Photo courtesy USRowing

Clayton’s Kara Kohler ended a nine-year quest to earn a second U.S. Olympic Rowing Team berth last month when she won the women’s single sculls final at the first 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Rowing in Sarasota, Florida. The Clayton Valley High and Cal Berkeley grad won bronze at the 2012 Games in London.

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Clayton’s Kara Kohler claimed the first spot on the 2020 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team last month, winning the women’s single sculls final at the first U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Rowing in Sarasota, Florida with an impressive victory in the finals to complete a dominating week against a field of 37 other rowers.

While five boat classes were contested during the five-day event, only the winner of the women’s single sculls had the chance to earn her ticket to Tokyo, pending USOPC approval. Kohler was passed over for selection to the 2016 Rio Olympics team but is now headed to Tokyo in July, nine years after she won bronze at London 2012.

“It’s a huge relief,” Kohler said after the finals. “I’ve worked incredibly hard the past few years to race the single in Tokyo, so there was a lot riding on today’s race. But I had fun and trusted everything I’ve done up to this point. So, that was what I was thinking about while racing – trusting my preparation, thinking about my teammates, my coach and my family.”

Kohler, the reigning world championships’ bronze medalist, and Gevvie Stone, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in this event, quickly made it a twoboat race in the finals. Stone actually got off to a quicker start, but Kohler pulled even and then ahead before the two scullers crossed the 500-meter mark.

Kohler and Stone were the pre-meet favorites and they had open water on the remainder of the four-boat finals field, with Kohler in the lead by about a half-length at the quarter mark. Kohler used the second 500 meters of the race to extend her advantage, pushing her lead to a small bit of open water just after the midway point.

She continued to pull away during the third 500 meters before coming home with nearly a four-second victory.

Kohler crossed the finish line with a time of 7:23.37, with Stone finishing in 7:27.17.

Kristina Wagner finished third in 7:39.29, with Maggie Fellows coming in fourth in 7:45.67.

“There were doubts for sure, but you can’t control, necessarily, what happens with the virus,” Kohler said about the last year when the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponement of the

Olympic Games in Tokyo. “I just tried to keep my focus on each day. (At the finish line of the Trials finals) it was just a lot of emotions – the ups and the downs and all the challenges that these past four years have brought. Obviously, all the successes too. I’ve had a lot of fun racing the single, and I’m glad I get to keep doing it.”

The Clayton Valley High School and Cal Berkeley grad raised her arms in triumph as she finished the face. Spectators weren’t allowed but her mom Caryl Kohler was on hand to watch her daughter clinch her second Olympic team berth.

Kohler and Clayton diver Kristen Ipsen both represented America and each won bronze medals on the same day at the 2012 London Olympics.

Ipsen, a De La Salle High and Stanford diving legend also competed in Rio in 2016 before retiring from his sport. Another Clayton athlete, Erin Dobratz of Clayton Valley High and Stanford, won bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics for the US in synchronized swimming.

Kohler, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in the women’s quadruple sculls, won all four of her races at the Trials in convincing fashion.

See Kohler, page 14

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Sydnie King

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

King is the epitome of a student and an athlete worthy of having the spotlight shone upon her. King is a four-year member of Clayton Valley Charter’s ASB student government, serving as class treasurer her freshman and sophomore years, club commissioner as a junior and currently as a senior class representative. Not to mention, she is also president of the National Honor Society and treasurer of CVCHS’s Make-A-Wish Club, all while maintaining a cumulative 4.4 GPA. On the athletic side of being a student athlete, King is a three-year member of varsity softball and has two years on varsity golf.

King has spent a considerable portion of the past 14 years on the dirt, beginning her softball career at JOBL in Concord and then playing for travel club teams like Concord Glory, Lady Wolfpack, Caligold Bay Area and, currently, the Athletics Mercado Walling 18U. King says one of the aspects of the game she’s looked forward to most is having CVCHS softball senior night, where she can pay tribute to her high school career and its relationship with the game she’s loved her entire life while being surrounded by friends and family. She is optimistic that the team will have an opportunity for the senior night she’s dreamed of after all. “So far,” she explains, “It looks like our softball season is going to look as close to normal as can be expected. We have to wear masks, aren’t able to have people in the stands and have to

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socially distance, but considering the situation, those rules are very easy to follow.” Her club team spent the past year staying in shape for a high school season by finding safe ways to play whenever- and whereverthey can; King says they’ve even tracked down a private farm with fields to play on that host cows and crop rows barely beyond centerfield.

As she prepares to bid farewell to her “interesting virtual school experience,” King is doing her best to virtually visit the many colleges she has been accepted to in order to narrow down her big decision. Come this fall, she hopes to be off of Zoom, out of the house and majoring in political science or business as a college freshman.

CVCHS student journalist Alexa Oldham wrote this Spotlight.

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Thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines, theater groups are looking ahead to something other than virtual performances and classes.

Pittsburg Community Theatre (PCT) is raring to go with a full season beginning this summer – all contingent on COVID restrictions.

“We cannot wait to get busy and start working on ‘Company,’ ” said Dianna Schepers. “We’ve reached out to two other companies to share our live outdoor production in June.”

According to Schepers, PCT, Brentwood’s Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble and Pinole Community Players will each host a weekend of shows at an outdoor location. Each company will manage ticket sales for its respective weekend: PCT, June 11-13; Pinole, June 18-20; and Ghostlight, June 25-27.

G.A. Klein will direct the Stephen Sondheim musical “Company,” with musical direction by Mark Dietrich and choreography by Chelsea Bardellini. Casting is currently being finalized.

In October, PCT’s Steeltown Coffee and Tea in Old Town Pittsburg will present “The Real Inspector Hound.”

The show was just about to open last year when shelter-inplace took over. Now this

March 19, 2021

Local theatres optimistically ramp up for a fall season hilarious Tom Stoppard mystery can finally be seen.

In November, the company opens Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap” at the Campbell Theatre in Martinez. Suzan Lorraine directs this fun murder mystery.

August Wilson’s “Fences” runs in February 2022 at the Betty Brown Stage in the Little Theatre on the Pittsburg High School campus, with LaTonya Watts directing.

Auditions will be in October.

In April 2022, PCT hopes to return to Pittsburg’s California Theatre, which has been undergoing extensive renovations thanks to a $1 million grant from the John H. and Regina K. Scully Foundation.

“Because of the renovations, PCT is on the road for the first half of our season.

But when we return to the California Theatre, there will be a new balcony, repair of lighting deficiencies and much more,” Schepers said.

Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” will open the California Theatre in late April with Steve

Pittsburg Community Theatre has rescheduled “The Real Inspector Hound” for October.

Clayton Theatre Company hopes to present “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” with LaTonya Watt directing in October.

Trask’s “Dreamgirls” playing in June 2022. Schepers directs with LaTonya Watts as choreographer.

“I can’t wait to work on ‘Dreamgirls,’” said Schepers.

“We’ll hold auditions in January 2022, and there is already a buzz about town.”

The company will also offer a summer day camp program (July 12-23) featuring Disney’s “The Lion King Jr. Experience.” The workshop is for students 7-14, with limited internships available for teens.

For more information on the camp and the shows, go to pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org.

Meanwhile, Clayton Theatre Company has tentatively scheduled its Summer Stage for July 2021. A three-week camp for youngsters 6-16, it focuses on musical theater in preparation for a summer musical production. Camp dates are planned for July 1216, July 19-23 and July 26-30.

Managing director Roxanne

Pardi and artistic director Watts are the instructors.

The company is also readying the hilarious “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” for Oct. 14-30 at Endeavor Hall in Clayton.

Of course, dates could change if COVID cases go up or the state or city of Clayton issue new guidance regarding large gatherings. Go to claytontheatrecompany.com for more information.

The Eugene O’Neill Foundation is offering a free, oneday master class in acting and playwriting for high school students. Led by professional artists, it takes place 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. March 27. Space is limited.

Go to eugeneoneill.org.

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

Artists help local business get creative

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For artists, the pandemic meant an abrupt halt to the vast majority of outlets for showing their work and connecting with collectors.

Gone were the art receptions, holiday festivals, craft fairs and other community events, leading to a brave new world as some sold and LISA FULMER networked online. Teaching also had to become ARTS IN MOTION artists experts with overhead camDuring the COVID crisis, eras, sound, lighting and even video editing. we’ve all had to figure out Slowly but surely though, ways to adapt to a new and the smaller art galleries are unwanted normal. reopening for limited viewRetailers beefed up their ing and small outdoor presence both online and curbside, restaurants moved classes.

Jenniffer Jimenez, owner tables and chairs out to the parking lot and everyone was of La Fritanguera, a small Nicaraguan restaurant in forced to add “Zoom” to downtown Concord, decided to get creative by planning a special weekend of activities for her customers April 1618.

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with the hope of finding local artists to help turn her parking lot dining room into an art gallery for a day. We got together and mapped out a whole weekend of events for her diners, including a pop-up show featuring original art and handmade gifts from more than 15 local artists, a paint-nsip class and wine tasting.

“I’m hoping that art makes people really hungry,” Jimenez says with a smile.

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Bolds, who’s in the 6th grade at the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts. Bolds loves to draw in anime style and will be auctioning off one of her original illustrations.

“I had one of her pieces professionally framed, and I want to help her raise some money to buy more art supplies,” says Jimenez.

When asked, the restaurateur offered this advice for small businesses trying to survive during COVID: “Keep riding the wave and try to accept the lows with the highs.

Get creative, adapt, stay safe and just keep going.”

Visit MadeinConcord.com or LaFritanguera.com for more information on the April 16-18 event. Attendance will be limited, as allowed by city and county COVID guidelines for restaurants.

Lisa Fulmer is a mixed media artist, Concord Art Association board member and founder of MadeinConcord.com.

She also consults with local artists on self-promotion and personal branding. Contact her at LisaFulmerWrites@gmail.com

Oh, the tomatoes we’ll grow – from Early Girls to Sun Gold March 19, 2021

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL

It’s tomato time. Tomatoes are the single most planted food crop in our Clayton Valley gardens and containers.

Gardeners covet the tomato. They base their entire green thumb veggie growing success on the production of this juicy, sweet fruit.

Many folks know what tomato selection they are seeking, while those new to gardening have many questions. When advising people on what to types of tomatoes to install, we ask a lot of questions. Are you looking for the heavy, fleshy varieties? Are you interested in juicy ones for sandwiches? Do you make sauces, or like to pick them and eat straight from the plant?

The Champion tomatoes are an excellent choice for Clayton Valley tomato growers who don’t have lots of room.

Champions only grow 20-30 inches tall, and they produce 3-4 inch fruit after just 70 days. They are easy and fantastic.

San Marzano Roma style tomatoes are for those who love to make tomato sauces.

They have meaty flesh, fewer seeds and thinner skin than

Early Girl is an extremely popular variety. They ripen fast and yield huge crops, putting tomatoes in your salad early in the season.

other selections. They are pear shaped and bright red when ripe. The plants grow 36 inches tall and wide, and fruit should begin to ripen after 75 days.

All Roma style tomatoes are susceptible to blossom end rot. If you plan on installing Roma type tomatoes, work agricultural lime into the soil prior to planting. The lime will increase the calcium and magnesium in the soil, which will curb the blackening at the bottoms of your tomatoes.

Celebrity is a bigger tomato, maturing to about 7 ounces per fruit. Celebrity tomatoes are sweet with an average amount of seeds and lots of juice. This tomato is good for the sandwich lover.

Expect large yields from this plant. Ripening begins 70-95 days after the flower set.

Early Girl is the most popular selection of tomato. It’s early ripening, successful and very tasty. Early Girl gives huge crops of 4-6-ounce tomatoes. They only take 55-

65 days after flower sets to ripen, making them some of the earliest tomatoes you’ll enjoy.

For those tomato lovers interested in heirloom varieties, Cherokee Purple has been rewarding and productive. The bi-color, purplish-red fruit is sweet and fleshy.

Brandywine tomatoes are also a good producer that ripens 90 days after flower. Sun Gold tomatoes are another sought after selection. The sweet flavor makes them desirable in salads and enjoyed right off the plant. Kentucky Beefsteak is an excellent, productive, large orange tomato.

Plant tomato plants into well-amended, rich, replenished soil. When installing, remove many of the bottom leaves and plant 3-4 inches of the tomato stem below the soil line. Remove the blossoms on your new installs and remove the next set as well.

You want your plants to focus on strong roots at first.

Once installed, work a

Gray may be hot, but it can leave a room feeling cold

JENNIFER LEISCHER

DESIGN & DÉCOR

The color gray is considered an achromatic color, meaning a “color without color,” because it can be composed of black and white.

This definition makes complete sense to me as I’ve always thought of gray as a quiet, nondescript backdrop, the supporting color, the sidekick.

You might find gray washing the interior walls of a residence, wall-to-wall carpet or even very light gray hardwood or tile flooring. But in recent years, it seems as if gray has become a dominant color that no longer wants to be upstaged by its more interesting fan deck peers.

No more creeping up and down the walls or hiding underfoot. Gray is looking for design domination, one kitchen and one great room sofa at a time.

I’ve been taking an informal poll, talking with friends, clients, contractors, painters and anyone who wants to engage in a conversation about the color gray. My questions were straight forward: Is the color gray really that interesting? Does it make the design part of our hearts sing? When we see it, do we jump for joy because it’s the best color out there for our project? Or do we default to gray because it’s safe? Do we go gray because it’s (gasp) trendy?

If you’ve been Pinning and creating Idea Books for your

The long trend of monochromatic gray may have just run its course. Add just a few pops of color to relieve the monotony of an all gray living room.

newest design project, you’ve probably come across quite a few gray vignettes and noticed that gray is no longer in the shadows, so to speak, but instead, front and center.

One example is kitchen cabinetry painted gray with Calacatta quartz countertops. The contrast of the gray cabinets and the predominately white quartz with bold gray veining makes for a very stylish statement. But I ask you, where is the color?

Or picture a bathroom all in gray, consisting of silver travertine and light gray ceramic arabesque tiles, a “fresh cement” Caesarstone vanity top and light gray cabinetry. It’s sultry, calming and pouty – but where is the color?

Certain retailers have definitely made the color gray a star. Yards and yards of Belgian linen have upholstered hundreds of thousands of slope, track or rolled arm sofas in various shades of gray. While these pieces are stylish and current, and sometimes even oversized and overfilled with cushy inserts and acres of down and feathers, they are making very gray statements. Again I ask you, where is the color?

This gray color without

color is somewhat controversial when it comes to design. There are many well-coordinated design schemes that include gray in their palette, and some of them do have good amounts of actual color. But more often than not, trying to incorporate gray into a traditional setting is not as easy as it should be.

Yes, there are different tones of gray – warm tones, crisp tones, somewhere in the middle tones – but gray is not for every project and gray isn’t always the modern answer to a color dilemma.

When you’re looking for a new color for your walls, upholstery or kitchen remodel, look beyond the “right now” colors and instead pull color inspiration from your surroundings and the architecture of your residence.

And if gray truly is your ultimate color goal, take your time to find a gray that will play nice with other colors. Find a gray that looks and feels as if it has been part of your design scheme since the beginning.

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

Page 13

Interiors Panache, Inc. 6160 Center Streeet, Suite F, Clayton, CA

granular, organic tomato/veggie fertilizer into the soil and a little dolomite lime to help prevent blossom end rot. Feed with a water-soluble fertilizer bi-weekly for growth. Use a product with a larger first number than the middle number, 15-6-3 for example.

When you let the tomato flower, it is time to change your fertilizing product to one that’s label has a larger second number than first, i.e., 3-2020, or 2-10-10.

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Pool, Patio, Gifts & Gardens 6780 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton

672-0207

Hours: Tues-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4, Closed Monday

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We are proud to be more than just your local neighborhood garbage and recycling company!

We love contributing to the health, safety, and cleanliness of Contra Costa County.

Earth Day Challenge April 22

This Earth Day, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery challenges you to go out and #BeResourceful --like your local garbage and recycling company, loves to do.

Go out into the environment and help care for Mother Earth. Try going to the beach to pick up some litter, or to your local park and show some love by exercising and enjoying the fresh air. Perhaps plant some flowers, vegetables, or a tree. Be creative and have fun, like your local garbage and recycling company loves to do.

Tag us in a picture using #BeResourcefulOnEarthDay2021 for a chance to win a cool prize. Please encourage your friends and family to get involved and help us care for the planet this Earth Day from a distance.

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Page 14

The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com

March 19, 2021

Twin Ponds Loop checks all the boxes

March 11, 2021 Happy birthday to our wonderful Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Friend.

We Love You

I’ve got some boxes I need to check before I decide to give a hike a green light.

My top two are lack of crowds and the trail less traveled, so Shell Ridge was a natural target.

The southerly most portion of Shell Ridge is neatly tucked between Mount Diablo State Park and Diablo Foothills Regional Park, both outstanding in their own rights. With multiple trailheads to choose from (you pick as I don’t really like nasty notes from neighbors), all options offer easy access.

Twin Ponds Loop Trail provides two options at the start, heading either up or down. Take the lower trail for an easy stroll through carpets of green grass, oaks and yellow wildflowers scattered throughout the hillsides. The trail moves along Vierra Creek for the first half mile. Even without flowing water normal for this time of year, it was nice to hike near.

In addition to the greens painting the hillsides and the browns of the trees and trail, I found sandstone rock outcroppings peppered along the way. This made for a unique color pattern set against a setting sun and a sky of exploding colors.

Upon reaching Bullfrog Pond (it was empty), make a

Kevin Parker photo

detailed outdoor researcher, I knew that a mere 50-minute loop wasn’t enough. So with some sunlight left, I kept on hiking.

Back at the starting point, I took Twin Ponds Loop Trail to the left for a gradual climb that looped me into the opposite direction and through a few sections of trail I hadn’t KEVIN PARKER previously covered. A rollercoastery trail routing up and HIT THE TRAIL over hills and down along jog around a bench and stay almost empty creeks put a liton Twin Ponds Loop up and tle skip in my step. around Old Man’s Hill. There At this point, I retraced my were other unmarked trails steps on Twin Ponds Loop in that looked tempting, but I the opposite direction. Both decided to stay the course and hiking directions were very follow the map. even in terms of grading, and This section of the hike I never really felt like I was was my favorite, as the trail going up or down hill. routing made a long, sweeping With benches a plenty for arc around the hillside with enjoying the view and a neatly Walnut Creek and beyond in cut trail to maximize the the distance. I could see the scenery at almost every turn, next section of trail across the this is a place worth visiting. ravine, with Buckeye Hill and If you are looking to Gypsy Ridge as my backdrop. expand this route, I would The trail makes a gradual Usuggest starting at Borges turn at Twin Ponds (both Ranch and hiking in via empty) and starts an easy Borges Ranch Trail. See what descent with some areas of you learn once you do it. rocky trail, but mostly perfect Now get out there and do grading for hiking. something good for yourself.

Twin Ponds Loop junctions at a trailhead adjacent to Contact Kevin Parker with comwhere I started, but if you ments or questions by email at stay to the right along the park LukeHollywood@gmail.com boundary, it takes you back to the start point. Being a

Twin Ponds Loop Trail

Trails: Walnut Creek Open Space—Shell Ridge Distance: 5.1 miles Elevation Gain: 794 feet Duration: 2 hours Trailheads: Two trailheads off Rudgear Road, no water or maps, dogs allowed

Joe Ronco 925-872-3049

Over 35 years Clayton/ Concord resident Lic#844344

925.348.5609 Nick Eisenbart

Owner/Service Provider Concord resident

Kohler,

from page 11

She began training in single sculls in 2018 and was fourth in 2018 and third in 2019 in her new event at the World Rowing Championships, which qualified the United States for a berth in that event at Tokyo.

She was voted 2019 USRowing female athlete of the year.

Just before the scheduled Olympic Trials last year the coronavirus pandemic brought her sport and most others to a grinding halt. Eventually the Tokyo Games were postponed 12 months. Kohler and the rest of her US rowing team members will all be hoping these Games take place as scheduled.

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are slated for July 23-Aug. 9, with rowing events starting on the morning of July 23.

skimndipllc.com

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Serving all of Contra Costa County for over 15 years Including Marsh Creek, Morgan Territory