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March 26, 2004
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Take me out to the ball game
JOE ROMANO
SO, ANYWAY
Tamara Steiner / Clayton Pioneer
Clear skies and 80-degree temperatures were on tap for the official start of the 2004 Clayton Valley Little League Baseball season. On Saturday, March 13, several hundred families turned out to enjoy the sunshine and celebrate the 40th season of CVLL while their future big leaguers paraded across the field waving their hats to the adoring fans. CVLL President, Jennie Fitzgerald, welcomed the crowd and officially dedicated the Major’s Field to the late Merrill “Mack” McCarty, one of the original co-founders of
Clayton Valley Little League. Fitzgerald went on to introduce former Chicago Cub Jared “The Spark” Martin who in turn introduced the teams that make up the 2004 CVLL roster. Martin, who is also the baseball Vice President for CVLL Board of Directors, played outfield for the Cubs from 1976-1981. But the big stars of the day were of course the kids. Decked out in their brand new, soon to be soiled uniforms they smiled like pros that just sold stacks of $20 autographs. They responded to the cheers with waves and cheers of their own, one team tossing candy to folks in the lower decks. They stood proudly as local resident, Corina Loftin, sang our National Anthem; and then they all threw their hats in the air as Naval Academy graduates do. After the parade, families lingered in the sunshine while enjoying carnival games and old fashioned Kettle Korn. I was there in both professional and parental capacity. My boy was signed by the Peanut Division Yankees and was not about to miss an opportunity to bask in the love of his fans. He was also under the
See
CLAYTON VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE GIANTS wave to adoring fans during Opening Day Ceremonies
Romano, Page 16
Council celebrates 40 years of incorporation BY JULIE PIERCE AND ELDORA HOYER Special to the Clayton Pioneer
On Tuesday, March 16, 2004, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first Clayton City Council meeting, which took place on March 18, 1964. We were honored to have several of the founders of our City present at our council meeting, including three of the original council members, Bob Hoyer, our first Mayor, and George Abbott and David Cook. Also present was Ray Ollila who joined the Council in 1967. Bob brought greetings from Henry Wagner and Al Liming, also on that first Council and from Marguerite Ellingson, our first City Clerk. Maury Huguet, our first (and current!) city attorney, was on hand, and Bob noted that Maury is the longest tenured city attorney in Contra
Costa County. Bob Hoyer presented us with some words of wisdom and a copy of the first City budget - the total budget for that first year was $23,517. While the amounts have changed over the years, the revenues and expenditures are similar in proportion to what we have today. Those original councils were very prudent with the City’s resources and we are trying very hard to maintain the high standards they set. We were pleased to hear Dave Cook say that in 1964 they had a “vision” for the City and that over the years, we have collectively far exceeded that vision. High compliments indeed. Bob noted that all of the original Council members are still around so serving Clayton must be a healthy thing to do! In our meeting room, Mary Spryer set up a colorful Happy 40th
Anniversary Clayton display of photos and articles recounting the history of the city and the incorporation which all enjoyed seeing again and which provided the backdrop for our commemorative photos. The Clayton Historical Society Museum contains much more information about our incorporation - stop by and take a look on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. This week I sat down with Bob & Eldora Hoyer and reviewed a bit of the history of the incorporation of our City. What follows is a brief summary of how Tamara Steiner / Clayton Pioneer and why that effort took place, taken from “The Story of Clayton” written by CURRENT CITY OFFICIALS CELEBRATE WITH CLAYTON’S ORGANIZERS. the Hoyers in 1999 and as recounted to Standing, from left, Maury Huguet, Jr., city attorney since incorporation; Bob Hoyer, Clayton’s first mayor; David Cook, George Abbott, members of the me directly by Eldora and Bob.
See
Council,
Page 14
original city council; Councilmember Gregg Manning; Ray Ollila, original city council; Dave Shuey and Bill Walcutt, current Councilmembers. Kneeling and seated from left, Councilmember Pete Laurence, Mayor Julie Pierce and Eldora Hoyer.
‘Every 15 Minutes” volunteer is passionate BY JILL BEDECARRE Clayton Pioneer
We’ve heard the phrases. Don’t drink and drive. Choose a designated driver. Driving Under the Influence.(D.U.I.) Dead on Arrival (D.O.A.) We’ve seen the images .A curbside memorial. A candle vigil. A front page photo of a crushed car and the young innocent faces of teens that died in the crash. Some say enough is enough. But volunteers like Laurie McCann don’t buy it. It’s never enough when a young life is at risk. And so, the reason for “Every 15 Minutes” at Clayton Valley High School (CVHS). In two weeks, CVHS will be the scene of a drunk
LAURIE MCCANN driving crash and all that comes with the horrific consequences of poor choices and irresponsible behavior. The dead bodies, the injured, the dramatic airlift of the critically wounded to John Muir Medical Center. The
D.U.I. arrest. The chaplain and police officer notifying parents that their child was killed in the crash. A body being weighed and measured and placed in a body bag until he or she is identified by family members. It’s all simulated, of course, but “emotionally charged and shocking for many,” says McCann. “Teens think they are invincible.” Hopefully by the end of the two-day program, we’ve taught them that they are not.” McCann has been involved with the “Every 15Minutes” program since its inception at Clayton Valley in 1999. The following year she was given an award by the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Safe and Free Schools Task
Force for “Outstanding Service Promoting Safe and Free Schools and Communities. CVHS Principal John Neary introduced the program to Clayton Valley after experiencing its impact at his high school in Tahoe. Neary sent out a letter to potential parents and com-
munity leaders asking for their support in bringing the “Every 15 Minutes program to CVHS. “Somehow my name got on that list,” says McCann. She attended the meeting and never looked back. The program is held every other year at the high school
and takes anywhere from six to 10 months to plan. “Laurie is extremely efficient, (with) high energy. She’s totally committed to the philosophy of the program. I trust her to do this program at Clayton Valley,” Neary says. Throughout the planning
See McCann, Page 14
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