State law named for Concord businessman Zandonella Page 4
JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer
John Zandonella brought his family to Concord in 1957 and soon began a successful court reporting business that he ran for five decades until his death in 2008. Now, a new California law bearing his name helps regulate the industry he loved. Concord Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla introduced the John Zandonella Act of 2015. Gov. Jerry Brown signed it into law, effective Jan. 1 this year. The bill addresses issues of actual or perceived impartiality of court reporters, explains daughter Patty Garaventa, now the president of Zandonella Reporting Service. When John and Fosca Zandonella moved to Concord with their three children (and a fourth soon to come), he was court reporter for Judges John Garaventa and Louis McKannay. Lawyers began asking him if he could do depositions in his spare time. With a growing family, he jumped at the chance for extra work. Court clerk Margaret Mangini encouraged him to take the assignments and she would cover if the judges inquired about him.
LAUNCHING THE BUSINESS He soon went into business with another reporter, Ruth Barrus. They rented office space in the old Bank of America building in downtown Concord. After a couple years, Zandonella Reporting Service
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was born. The word “workaholic” doesn’t do justice to John Zandonella. He was in the office before 6 a.m. and took every assignment that came his way, including serving as reporter for the Contra Costa Grand Jury for many years. His wife began transcribing his notes at home and then became office manager, supervising dozens of employees and scheduling reporters to courts and law offices around the Bay Area. As the business grew, it moved into converted houses on East Street and Concord Boulevard before moving into its current location on Stanwell Drive in 1987. He worked by his motto “Yes we can, no problem.” His handshake was his word, said daughter Anna Bob, who also works at the business.
March 25, 2016
Photo courtesy Zandonella Reporting Service
JOHN ZANDONELLA (AT STENOTYPE MACHINE) was one of two court reporters for the trial of JUAN CORONA TRIAL notorious Mexican serial killer Juan Corona (left on the witness stand). The trial took place In 1972-’73, he was one of in fairfield in front of Judge Richard Patton in 1972-73. Corona was convicted of 25 two court reporters for the trial counts of first degree murder in the deaths of 25 itinerant farmworkers around Yuba City.
of notorious Mexican serial killer Juan Corona. The trial was in Fairfield, with Concord defense attorney Richard Hawk representing Corona. He was convicted of 25 counts of first degree murder for killing 25 itinerant farmworkers in Yuba City. Providing printed copies of depositions and testimony is at the core of the court reporting business. Zandonella offered copy services, first from the office basement then evolving into a full-service printing
business, Zandonella Automated Printing (renamed ZAP Printing). His oldest son Louis was a court reporter for Judge Gerald Belleci, while daughters Patty and Anna have made their careers with the family business.
The daily grind of the reporting business wasn’t enough for the Zandonellas, who founded and ran Zandonella Italian Restaurant at Delta View Golf Course in Pittsburg for 15 years beginning in 1993. The always dapper John Zandonella was there
to open for breakfast, check in at lunch and be back for dinner, often staying for banquets that went to 2 a.m.
PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer
indoor edible plants, and a craft beer brewery. The Orchards and the zoning changes jumpstarted a resurgence that began a few years ago with the addition of Muir Orthopedics, a surgery center, Children’s Hospital and a few other big name tenants. Still, the business park suffered from a 33 percent vacancy rate, according to Colliers International executive vice president Jeffrey Weil, who has been leasing office space in the Shadelands for 40 years. Traditionally, he said, the Shadelands has been a hard sell for companies because of Ygnacio Valley Road traffic and lack of BART access. A Shadelands Shuttle from the Pleasant Hill BART station helped, but “the world has grown up and the Shadelands hasn’t kept up,” Weil said. Still, Shadelands has remained relatively affordable – especially compared with San Francisco and even downtown Walnut Creek. In 2014, lawmakers approved the creation of the Shadelands Property and Business Improvement District to help fund the shuttle
and safety patrols, and the Shadelands has set up a website for the park, www.shadelands.org. Now it’s a getting a facelift that will not only benefit those who live nearby but will pull in people from outlying areas such as Concord and Clayton. Already drawing from the region is the new Ultimate Fieldhouse, a sports complex located in the former Contra Costa Times building, owned by Hall Equities. It features basketball courts, volleyball courts, training facilities and even a place where students can study and receive tutoring. In addition to the zoning amendments, the City Council agreed to changes put forth by the Design Review Commission to reduce or waive additional building setback requirements, and permit encroachment within a setback along Ygnacio Valley Road – a move that would free up more space for surface parking lots and expansions, including possible growth of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital facility. Two new tenants have also signed leases, Precision
UNDERSTANDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
John Zandonella was active in his industry. Conflict of
interest for court reporters was one of the issues that prompted him and other independent reporters to found Deposition Reporters Association. Zandonella was a president of the organization and “was extremely influential in maintaining the integrity of independent court reporting firms,” Patty Garaventa said. Two students receive DRA scholarships in his name annually. DRA championed Assembly Bill 1197 and now educates court reporters, court reporting firms and legal professionals about the law’s requirements and ramifications. The bill was also supported by Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Attorneys of California and California Official Court Reporters Association. The Zandonellas were deeply involved in the Concord community at their Catholic churches, their children’s and grandchildren’s schools, in local political campaigns, multiple service clubs and Italian American organizations. He was president of Concord American Little League for five years. Fosca and John Zandonella were both diagnosed and succumbed to cancer within 10 months of each other in 2007 and 2008.
Retail, senior facility among changes to Shadelands district of Walnut Creek Anyone driving on Ygnacio Valley Road can’t help but notice the burgeoning construction at the corner of Oak Grove Road on a former vacant lot. The Orchards at Walnut Creek is growing from the dust up, to be anchored by a Safeway superstore. It will be joined by a Stein Mart department store, a Petco and a Crunch Fitness Center. The development will also include a double-decker parking lot, walking trails, at least one restaurant and Viamonté at Walnut Creek, the area’s first continuing care retirement community for seniors. This major development isn’t the only change to the usually quiet Shadelands area. Walnut Creek passed zoning laws last month that allow the business park to include hotels, public and private schools, and skilled nursing facilities that limit stays no more than 100 days, with conditional use permits. It will also accommodate artists’ studios, horticultural growing of plants, trees and
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Sports Medicine and Vitas Innovative Hospice. However, not everyone is sold on the improvement plans. Steve Elster, a resident of the nearby Woodlands neighborhood, is a leader in the fight against the Orchards. His main concerns are the additional traffic, the quality of life and the fear that the new Safeway store will force the shuttering of Nob Hill Foods in the nearby Citrus Center. “Many in our neighborhood have expressed concern about the size of the Orchards, and we will watch the other developments apprehensively,” he told the Pioneer. “The Orchards seems to have a much bigger feel to it when I drive by, and I am concerned about the traffic and the increased possibility of accidents.” He said some residents have contacted the city about putting in a pedestrian bridge over Ygnacio Valley Road at Oak Grove, similar to the one by Walnut Creek Intermediate School.The Walnut Creek City Council has not discussed building a pedestrian bridge, according to City Spokesperson Gayle Vassar, who also verified that it was not included in the city’s long-term Capital Improvement Plan. Meanwhile, just across the street from the Orchards, the Encina Grande shopping center is getting its own facelift. It will be anchored by a new Whole Foods and the addition of a PetSmart. An existing Walgreens has already moved to the corner of the lot and now includes a drive-through. “The whole vibe is more energized,” said Rocco Biale, owner of Rocco’s Pizzeria in Encina Grande and a member of the board of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce. “This will be a different place by the fall of 2016,” he added. “A lot of people complain about the added traffic, but we will adapt. We always do.”