MAY 16 The Pioneer 2025

Feeding the hungry one tomato at a time

Matt Davis doesn’t want to rock the world, just change it a little piece at a time. Or to be more specific, one tomato at a time.

The Concord retiree is the brainchild behind the Free Tomato Project (FTP), a nonprofit organization that is helping community gardens sprout around the city. The initial garden was at the Salvation Army on Clayton Road, and the second one is on the grounds of Crossroads Church at the corner of Kirker Pass Road and Concord Boulevard.

FTP allows anyone, regardless of economic background, to harvest tomatoes and other fresh vegetables when they are in season, and tomato season is coming up June 1, Davis says.

Davis acknowledges that the “first two chapters” of his life were about making money. Now, it’s about how to give back.

“We need to help our neighbors now more than ever. I see senior citizens and single moms struggling to put healthy food

on the table. This is my little way to offer up something for people who need it.”

STRONGATHEART

Davis is not doing this alone. Family, friends and other volunteers have seen the fruits, er, vegetables of his labor and jumped in to help rototill, fertilize, plant – anything that is needed. But looking at Davis, you would think he could do this on his own.

Despite the fact that Davis calls himself “a decrepit old man,” his appearance belies the description. His face is sunkissed from his time planting, and his strong body moves up and down the aisles of plants gracefully, bending, stooping and generally fixing anything his plants need. The concept for FTP came to him post-pandemic. “I’m an idea guy,” he says. “I’ve worked in marketing and advertising my whole life and amassed and lost several fortunes. But my greatest fear in life is waking up one morning and not having a creative idea.”

See Tomato, page 5

Concord celebrates Pavilion’s 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago today, May 16, 1975, the Concord Pavilion officially opened with a benefit concert featuring composer Henry Mancini and vocalist Sarah Vaughan.

Over the next five decades the Pavilion has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment across numerous genres. The list includes Janet Jackson, Iron Maiden, Santana, ABBA, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, TLC, Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, Aerosmith, Metallica, conductors Arhtur Fiedler, Leonard Bernstein and John Wiliams, and a distinguished list of festivals and dance, theatre and orchestra companies.

Besides the performing arts, the venue has hosted United States Olympic boxing and wrestling trials, Home and Garden Shows, Aerospace Expo, Earth Day Celebrations, high school graduations, disco nights, a United States Presidential candidate appearance and rally, locally produced “Jesus Christ Superstar” featuring the Broadway and motion picture stars, lowrider car show on stage, and professional and amateur national and international boxing, wrestling and martial arts competitions.

The 1975 gala premiere capped a six-year effort starting in 1969 when the Concord Summer Festival debuted in Concord Blvd. Neighborhood Park (now Dave Brubeck Park). The festival, founded and produced by

local businessman and jazz aficionado Carl Jefferson, was created to provide the community with summer nights of music while serving as a proof of concept (a decade before that business term came into use) for the viability of a permanent performing arts facility in Contra Costa’s largest city. City officials joined Jefferson as they visited amphitheaters around the county to get ideas for what would become the Pavilion. Councilman Dan Helix convinced Concord homebuilder Ken Hofmann to make a land swap that gave the city 122 acres on Kirker Pass Rd. in return for Hofmann being able to build homes nearby.

A joint powers authority created between the City of Concord and Mt. Diablo Unified

School District was the funding mechanism for the $4.5 million construction cost.

PAVILION A UNIQUE OPERATION

Concord Director of Leisure Services John Toffoli, Jr. was tasked with overseeing the Pavilion construction, assembling a staff, and developing policies and procedures for this unique municipally owned and operated facility that would also produce the events.

Architect Frank Gehry was hired to design the venue which would feature permanent reserved seating for 3500 and lawn seating for 5000 with a stage in the thrust configuration allowing for seating three-

See Pavilion, page 4

Chola-style temple consecration unites community

The morning air filled with chants and drums as an estimated 10,000 devotees gathered to witness the historic Kumbhabhishekam—the consecration ceremony of the newly built Concord Shiva Murugan Temple on Second St.. Many pilgrims traveled from India to participate in the sacred rites, which marked a spiritual and architectural milestone.

For over six decades, this site has served as a spiritual home, beginning as a modest

church. Now, after a transformative five-year reconstruction, the space stands as the first Panchavarna (five-color) Chola-style temple in North America—a beacon of South Indian architecture and devotion. Most of the elaborate rituals unfolded on the temple’s rooftop, where scaffolding obscured views but not the sense of awe.

“This isn’t just a temple,” says Concord City Councilmember Pablo Benavente. “It is a vibrant part of what makes Concord so special. I’m grateful to witness this moment and be reminded of the rich diversity that strengthens our city.”

Concord resident Ray Barbour, who served on the city’s design review board during the

early planning stages, remembered the hurdles.

“It was a challenge to get the city to understand the concepts,” he said. “And then to get everything to comply with the city’s building regulations.” He praised the collaborative spirit. “The city had architects who worked with the temple architects to make it all happen.”

The temple’s redesign, led by renowned Indian architect Dr. K. Dakshinamoorthy Sthapati and local architect Sharad Lal, reflects centuries-old traditions adapted to modern American urban life. Inside and out, the building tells a story of faith, art, and perseverance.

See Temple, page 5

Tamara Steiner

Project founder Matt Davis (center) and the Hernandez family volunteers plant a full kitchen garden on the Salvation Army lot on Clayton Rd. Tomatoes and veggies are free to anyone in need. From left, Alliyah, Benicio and Lala Hernandez.

Tamara Steiner

Celebrants closed the rooftop rituals with a water blessing cast on the faithful below.

Photos courtesy Peter Distefano

American icons Frank Sinatra and Tina Turner are among the hundreds of stars who have graced the stage of the Toyota Pavilion at Concord since its opening 50 years ago on May 16, 1975. The photo above is a compilation. Frank Sinatra and Tina Turner did not appear on the Pavilion stage at the same time.

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

PEGGY SPEAR Correspondent

TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer

It’s a simple map of the city that looks like something Realtors would hand out or you’d pick up at a community festival. But that vivid swath of red doesn’t indicate a fun zone. Far from it, the red encasing most of Clayton means danger.

The map shows California’s Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), developed by CAL FIRE, the state agency that classifies areas based on their long-term wildfire hazard potential. They categorize the zones as Moderate, High or Very High, using factors such as such as vegetation, topography, fire history and climate conditions.

Clayton is Very High, and many residents are terrified of what a wildfire on Mt. Diablo or Keller Ridge would do not only to local structures but also to their wallets as insurance companies raise rates or cancel policies altogether.

The neighborhoods most affected are Dana Hills, Regency Meadows, Regency Woods and most of Oakhurst. But as many saw in the Los Angeles fires, flying embers can ignite nearby areas and fly far into such spaces as downtown Clayton – setting trees ablaze in the Grove or at the library.

CITYFOCUSING ON WEEDABATEMENT

This is the first time in Clayton’s history that most of the city has been in a Very High fire threat area. City manager Kris Lofthus says the city is continuing its weed abatement program to cut down on the tall brown pesky vegetation that is surrounding city-owned trails.

“At this point, the map has changed but not the physical environment,” Lofthus says.

“We will still do our part to mitigate the potential for fire

risk by following through with weed abatement and working with ConFire (Contra Costa Fire Protection District) in the capacity of enforcement.”

He urges concerned residents to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. on May 20 at Hoyer Hall in the Clayton Community Library, where ConFire will make a presentation about risks and abatement suggestions for residents.

DRY BRUSHAROUND GOLFCOURSE

Laura Corrall lives on the Seventh Fairway of Oakhurst Country Club. Every day, she looks out her living room window and sees her nicely manicured backyard, up against a fence of dry brown vegetation.

“I wish I’d never moved here,” says the 25-year Oakhurst resident. “It’s terrifying. It seems like a million times a day, I look out the window and think: Fire! Fire! Fire!”

She even mowed down 13 feet of vegetation behind her property. But she says it is the club’s responsibility to clean up the flammable vegetation, and she has yet to hear back. “I don’t think Oakhurst is taking it seriously.”

Last year, she called a ConFire inspector to view the entire golf course property, and according to Corrall, the club was fined for not mitigating fire threats. Corrall says she is going to call the inspector again in the coming days.

The Pioneer reached out to executives at Oakhurst Country Club about plans for fire mitigation and did not hear back.

Corrall’s next-door neighbor Mary Gaines is also very concerned with the fire threat.

“I don’t know why Oakhurst is letting this happen,” Gaines says.

THOUGHTSTURN TO L.A.

The problem goes beyond the country club land. One Wawona Lane resident, who

asked to remain anonymous, says her neighbors downslope on Ahwanee Lane, adjacent to her property, continue to allow their 30-year-old shrub and trees to grow dangerously close to fence lines.

“There has been no clearing of their branches to the 6foot canopy threshold prescribed by fire-safe protocols,” the resident said, warning that the neighborhood is known for its gusting winds.

“Over the years, we have repeatedly requested to have the vegetation thinned and

trimmed at our expense. We were allowed to do limited trimming near the fence line, but this was not enough to create an adequate defensible space,” the Wawona resident said. “Our most recent entreaties over the past few years to the Ahwanee neighbors are met with indifference, even though we all watched the horrific images of L.A. burning on the nightly news.”

BECOMING FIREWISE

Presently, the Wawona homeowners are learning more

about hardening practices and are waiting to join the Oakhurst FireWise community, pending assessment.

ConFire and neighborhoods coordinate the FireWise program, which includes fire officials inspecting a neighborhood for fire safety – especially regarding vegetation that can endanger residences and nearby dwellings. A neighborhood group works together to mitigate those dangers, with the help of a free chipping day that ConFire sponsors. Once a neighborhood is deemed safe,

CalFire Hazard Severity Map

it alerts emergency personnel when fighting fires in that area. The Wawona resident is also worried about the access and egress of her neighborhood in the event of an evacuation. Corrall says Oakhurst does have a fire access road from Eagle Peak Road and two from above along Keller Ridge, but that doesn’t appease the Wawona resident. She calls the entire situation “demoralizing.”

“Whatever mitigation practices we do to our homes, we

our homes is the hands of our neighbors.”

A BATTLE

There is also the insurance issue, with homeowner

rising or policies canceled due to unkempt vegetation.

Erin Bennett knows how that feels. Her Regency residence backs up to open space of Mt. Diablo State Park, and she paid to have 20 feet of weeds cut down behind her house.

“But that doesn’t matter,” says Bennett, a member of the city’s Trail and Landscaping committee. “Our insurance rates went up four times the original price because of our location.” Bennett is also hoping to organize a FireWise neighborhood.

Clayton City Councilmember Holly Tillman was flying out of Maui in 2023 when she noticed tufts of smoke coming from the Lahaina region. “There must be a brush fire down there,” she said, and didn’t give it another thought until the next day, when she saw the devastation wildfires wrought on Maui.

“I knew then we have to talk about fire safety here,” she says.

Wearing her resident hat, Tillman took it upon herself to work with the county to start the FireWise program in Clayton. Some neighborhoods, like the Dana Hills Homeowners Association (HOA), will mow vegetation and inform residents of unsafe growth too close to their home or their neighbor’s. But it takes a village, and not everyone goes by the rules.

Becoming a FireWise community also helps keep insurance costs, without any surprising increases or cancellations, Tillman says. From a city perspective, she pays close attention to the weed abatement program – knowing that all communities that are

of a demonstration during Confire’s Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 3.

High and Severe Fire Danger have until June 3 to mitigate the situation.

“We’re down one person in our weed abatement department, and it’s going to take an extra full-time and a part-time employee to get the hours in,” Tillman says of meeting the deadline.

The crew is responsible for weeding, mowing and cutting dangerous vegetation in common areas that host outdoor activities, public parks and greenbelts, she says.

IF THEWORSTHAPPENS

At this point, it might take a communitywide effort to mitigate fire hazards. The city doesn’t seem to have a current emergency response plan or a formal evacuation plan in the event of a fast-moving wildfire. Lofthus says the best advice he can provide is for residents to register for the various alert systems to get real-time information about local emergencies.

“Whether it is a fire-related incident or an earthquake, make sure you have a plan in place, have food and water on hand for shelter-in-place events, and know how to manually release your garage door so you can exit your home via your vehicle in times of an evacuation. The most important reminder is that if you are told to evacuate, do so immediately,” he notes.

Lofthus says that the city

plans to engage with the community to gather input and feedback on fire prevention at the May 20 meeting. As a contingency plan, he again urges residents to communicate with the city via alerts through the Contra Costa County Community Warning System. “This system is for all types of emergencies and public notifications.”

The warning system is good to have, but most Clayton residents hope their club, HOA, neighbors and city don’t make it necessary to use.

RESOURCES

• Register for the County Community Warning System (CWS) to receive critical information including evacuation orders during a wildfire: http://alerts5.athoc.co m/SelfService/CCCCWS/Register

• For info on becoming a FireWise community go to https://www.cccfpd.org /firewise/

• To learn how to create defensible space, go to https://www.fire.ca.gov /dspace

May is National BBQ Month and Clayton loves BBQ

Claytonville BBQ and Roadside 22 are celebrating with Small-craft beers and award-winning ribs all day

May 17

Noon-8 p.m. Roadside 22 in the Clayton Station 5439 Clayton Rd., Ste E Clayton.

Celebrate with local BBQ pitmaster Bryan Forrester and custom smoker designer Black Lab BBQ

Special Guest:Tony Ucciferri, recent “Judge of the Year,” will be on site to share stories and sign copies of his autobiography The Road to 30: Becoming a Master BBQ Judge

David Scholz

John Fisher, a member of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s Hand Crew 12, assists with showing how different planting and building materials are less susceptible to fire as part

KidFest moves to Toyota Pavilion in Concord as part of 50th Anniversary community celebration

Photo courtesy Puppy Pals Live

Puppy Pal Live has toured the country since its successful appearance on the 15th season of America’s Got Talent. The action-packed comedic stunt dog show will have three performances each day at Bay Area KidFest on Memorial Day Weekend at the Pavilion.

KidFest returns May 2426 for the 34th version of the Bay Area’s longest-running family event on the Memorial Day Weekend. And this year’s largest ever KidFest is on the

grounds of the Toyota Pavilion in Concord as the worldfamous venue celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its opening exactly 50 years ago in May 1975.

A full lineup of attractions, activities, jam-packed entertainment, rides, food and fun will be available at the Pavilion, which also hosted Bay Area KidFest in 1993.

Live Nation Worldwide, which operates the Pavilion for the City of Concord, has welcomed KidFest as a featured part of the Pavilion’s 50th Anniversary community celebration, reports Jay Bedecarré of KidFest producers Bay Area Festivals.

The low KidFest admission price includes three shows a day with traveling attractions Puppy Pals Live (made famous on America’s Got Talent) and Wildlife Wendy’s Tropical Birds, meet and greets all day with children’s favoritesBluey, Super Mario, Olaf, Princess Peach and Sonic the Hedgehog plus

free non-stop entertainment on the Main Stage and various hands-on activities in Kids’ Town America.

There are dozens of free kids’ activities including balloon animals and hats, KidArt spin art, friendship bracelets and keepsake handprints, inflatable slides,

bounces and crawls, and much more.

For the 14th year, KidFest presents a special Memorial Day Ceremonyat 12 noon Monday, May 26, with the 21time World Champion Concord Blue Devils C Drum and Bugle Corpsand Mt. Diablo High School Jr.

ROTC color guard honoring America’s service people past and present. KidFest offers an all-day, all-ride wristband to be used on all the thrilling rides for children such as Dragon Wagon roller coaster, Bungee

See KidFest, page 5

Pavilion, from page 1

quarters in the round. The design of exposed steel and concrete would win awards including from the American Institute of Architects and the steel industry.

became the mainstay of Concord programming.

The first month of the second season saw huge crowds attend Pavilion concerts by Seals & Crofts and then its first official sellout of 8500 on May 21, 1976 with Boz Scaggs. Immediately after those box office hits San Francisco-based Bill Graham Presents approached the Pavilion about presenting BGP rock shows in Concord.

Gehry would go on to become one of the world’s most prominent architects. Among his most famous works are the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles,Louis Vuitton Foundationin Paris and the National Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorialin Washington, D.C. Gehry and his firm also oversaw the Pavilion expansion design 20 years later when the capacity was increased by 4000 to 12,500 when it reopened in August 1996.

Connecticut-based acoustician Christopher Jaffe provided the sound design for the outdoor venue. The Pavilion was expected to host jazz, classical, folk and country music as well as dance and popular music.

With the ‘60s and early ‘70s reputation of “sex, drugs and rock and roll,” City officials stated that rock music would not be part of the offerings at the Pavilion. However, economic realities soon changed that philosophy and pop and rock acts quickly

For its first four years the Pavilion served as an inhouse promoter of events ranging from concerts to musical theatre to sports while also renting the Pavilion to BGP and a variety of other local and national promoters. Eventually that business model became too complicated with the Pavilion, in effect, competing against itself to secure bookings.

There was a lawsuit between the Pavilion and BGP over a James Taylor concert and it led to a decision by the City to hire a company to exclusively book acts for the City. The Nederlander Organization, which operated several outdoor venues around the county as well as being the second largest producer on Broadway, won the six-year contract starting in 1979.

BGP BECOMES PAVILIONBOOKER

When the contract came up for review after the 1984 season, BGP won a close City Council vote and started booking the following year. The City continued to produce many events along with the musical offerings secured by BGP.

Promoter Graham attended a Huey Lewis and the News concert at the Pavilion on a rainy October night in 1991. He arrived in his helicopter and, despite challenging weather conditions, insisted he needed to fly home to Marin after the show. The copter crashed into a power pole in Solano County and the legendary promoter was killed along with the pilot and Graham’s girlfriend. In 1997 BGP was sold to SFX Entertainment, which took over full operations of the Pavilion from the City in 2000. SFX was acquired by Clear Channel Entertainment a year later and in 2005 spun off concert operations to Live Nation Worldwide, which continues today as the operator of the Pavilion.

In 2019 an all-star 50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival concert was held in honor of the festival that prompted the vision which became the Concord Pavilion. The jazz festival had ended after its 35th edition in 2004. During the 2023 season the facility was renamed the Toyota Pavilion at Concord. This is the latest in a number of high-profile sponsorship arrange ments for the Pavilion with Budweiser, Michelob and Stroh’s beers, Sleep Train and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Editor’s note: Author Jay Bedecarré was part of the original 1975 administrative team at the Concord Pavilion. When he left the Pavilion staff in 1986, he was feted as “The man who made the Concord Pavilion known to the world.” He continued marketing the Pavilion until 2002 through his family’s advertising agency.

Pavilion Timeline

1969-1974 Concord Summer Festival founded and run by local businessman Carl Jefferson at Concord Blvd. Neighborhood Park (now Dave Brubeck Park) providing impetus for construction of the Concord Pavilion, which was owned and operated by the City of Concord

1975 $4.5 million Concord Pavilion opens May 16 with a benefit concert featuring Henry Mancini and Sarah Vaughan

1976 1st sellout concert of Pavilion’s 8500 capacity May 21 for Boz Scaggs. Front row seat: $6.50

1977 Bing Crosby gives his final US concert Aug. 16 at the Pavilion on the same day Elvis Presley dies. Crosby died two months later in Spain.

1979-1984 Nederlander Corp. is exclusive booking agent for the Pavilion

1985 Bill Graham Presents of San Francisco awarded Pavilion booking contract

1985-1999 BGP is booking agent for the Pavilion. The city of Concord continues to also produce events and operate the facility

1986 BGP opens 22,500 capacity Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View

1991 Promoter Bill Graham dies Oct. 25 in helicopter crash after leaving Huey Lewis & The News concert at Pavilion

1995-1996 Pavilion re-opens in August 1996 after $20.1 million expansion increases capacity to 12,500

1997 Bill Graham Presents sold to SFX Entertainment

2000 SFX takes over full operation of the Pavilion from the City of Concord

2001 SFX purchased by Clear Channel Entertainment. Facility renamed Chronicle Pavilion at Concord

2004 35th and final Fujitsu Concord Jazz Festival held as free concert.

2005 Clear Channel concert operations spun off to Live Nation Worldwide

2006 Venue renamed Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord

2014-2016 $4 million improvements made to Pavilion

2019 50th Anniversary of Concord Jazz Festival celebrated with performances at Pavilion and around Concord

2023 Venue renamed Toyota Pavilion at Concord

2025 Pavilion celebrates the 50th Anniversary of May 1975 opening

PHE going in ‘different direction’ with Kim at the helm

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Pleasant Hill Elementary School is gearing up for a new chapter as it bids farewell to a beloved principal and welcomes a new person to the helm.

Nick Rey, who was completing his third year in charge, was let go much to the disappointment of a supportive parent community.

“The district chose to go in a different direction,” Rey said. “The district has appointed a principal with incredible experience leading at the elementary level. I’m confident that she’ll do an excellent job for the PHE community and all our dinos.”

Ann McNamara Kim comes from the neighboring Martinez Unified School District, where she served as a program specialist in the Spe-

cial Education division.

In California, the at-will employment law allows either the employer, like Mount Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD), or the employee to terminate employment relationships at any time, for any reason and no reason.

It was the latter that left PHE parents stunned. Despite their impassioned pleas April 16 to try to persuade the MDUSD school board to rescind its decision and retain Rey, they left disappointed.

“It’s an incredible community we have at PHE: We take care of each other,” Rey said. “I’ve really felt that love these last few weeks. It’s been deeply moving, especially the staff and parents who took time out of their busy lives to speak up at the board meeting.

always been centered on students, ensuring every child feels seen, supported and inspired to thrive.”

Kim expressed a desire to build strong partnerships with PHE’s amazing staff and families “as we create an inclusive, welcoming community together.”

She added: “I know the upcoming year will be one of growth, connection and meaningful learning for every student.”

CLOSE TO HOME

The real estate market in our corner of Contra Costa County is undergoing a noticeable shift this spring. After years of rapid growth and intense competition for buyers with limited inventory, we’re now seeing signs of a more balanced market emerging.

Inventory levels have ticked upward, giving buyers more options than they’ve had in recent years. However, not all homes are moving at the same pace. Some properties are selling quickly – often still receiving multiple offers, especially if they’re competitively priced and move-in ready. Others, meanwhile, are lingering on the market longer and undergoing price reductions to attract attention.

This mix of activity sug-

gests we are transitioning from a seller’s market toward one that offers more opportunities for both buyers and sellers. It’s no longer enough to simply list a property and expect immediate results; strategic pricing, preparation and strong marketing are more important than ever. In a shifting market like this, experience matters. Working with a full-time, local and knowledgeable real estate professional – someone who understands area trends and how to navigate changing conditions – can make all the difference in achieving a successful outcome, whether you’re buying or selling. Every neighborhood and property is unique. If you’re thinking about making a move, now is a good time to consult with a trusted real estate agent who can provide clear guidance tailored to your specific situation. I’m a fulltime, local real estate broker who lives and works right here in the community. If you have questions about the market or are thinking of selling, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to help Jennifer Stojanovich is an owner/broker with Better Homes Real Estate. Send questions and comments to jennifer@bhrbroker.com

Temple, from page 1

Ajit Kushal, a local business owner and a member of the temple community, played an active role for more than 15 years.

“It was a big project—all the planning and then we had to raise the funds,” Kushal said. “And it was all worth it to see this.”

In a letter accompanying the temple press release, President Athappan Nallappan addressed the congregation and supporters with emotion and gratitude.

“This sacred event is a milestone in our temple’s history, symbolizing not only the spiritual awakening of this divine space but also the unity of our vibrant community,” he said. “Through the unwavering dedication of our devotees, volunteers, and generous donors, we have transformed

this space into a sanctuary of peace, faith, and cultural heritage.”

The consecration—called Kumbhabhishekam—involved intricate Vedic rituals including fire ceremonies, chanting, and Kalasa Puja, the infusion of divine energy into the temple and its deities. Cultural performances and a grand community feast followed, offering hospitality to all.

“This celebration connects us to traditions passed down through generations,” Nallappan added. “It reaffirms our commitment to keeping the temple a center of worship, celebration, and service.”

With this new chapter, the Concord Shiva Murugan Temple stands as a lasting tribute to the strength of devotion, cultural pride, and the enduring power of community.

“And hearing from students at PHE has meant the world to me, sharing how much they’ve loved these last few years, or that I’ve been their favorite principal –despite only being in first grade,” he added.

While the current survey (www.surveymonkey.com/r/ K8DC3VT) goes on, there are some interesting trends that could use your participation to push the responses to the 200+ mark and get your opinion on these points:

2. When you think of low-income families of four, what number comes to mind? Some 35% think it is between $60,000 and $80,000, 21% think it is

Shortly after the public forum portion of the April meeting, board members approved hiring Kim. She brings more than 30 years of experience in education, hav-

ing served as a teacher, special education teacher, reading specialist, principal and program specialist in East Bay school districts.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to step into the role of principal for the upcoming school year,” said Kim. “My philosophy has

Rey, who has been in education for 16 years, with 12 in public education, said he is taking on an elementary principal position in a neighboring district. He declined to elaborate.

“I’m so touched by all the love and support I’ve received since the news broke. Everyone has been so supportive and appreciative,” Rey said of the community he leaves behind.

Weigh in on the Pulse to push ideas forward

between $40,000 and $50,000, and 20% think it is less than $40,000. Do you suddenly feel that you are poor or, like me, did you know it all along?

3. Our community has a good relationship with the police. More than 56% agree and only 7% disagree. What more can we say on this? Hooray for CPD.

7. All residential zoning should be modified to allow for small retail stores with 10 parking spaces to be built. Only 23% agree and 42% disagree, with half of those strongly disagreeing. This was a surprise because I thought that for climate and convenience, the ability to

Tomatoes, from page 1

Life changes – including double bypass surgery –brought him from Danville to his current home in a 55-plus community near Newell Park.

At his cardiologist’s suggestion, he took to walking daily, “just to get my steps in.”

It was on one of those walks that he passed the Salvation Army church and saw some unused space that would be perfect for a garden. The Salvation Army was all too happy to let FTP use the space, and through donations from the likes of the Contra Costa Soil Company, Grocery Outlet and Ace Hardware, the first FTP was born, all 50 plants.

It yielded an astonishing 10,000 tomatoes, and those that weren’t picked were donated back to the Salvation Army or the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties.

‘WE’LL PLANTMORE’

The endeavor was so successful that the Salvation Army gave Davis more space for the garden this year, where he is in the process of putting in 400 vegetable plants – and not just

tomatoes. There are zucchini, peppers and other fresh vegetables available to anyone who wants them.

“I get asked, ‘What if someone takes too much?’ I just say, ‘We’ll plant more.’ ” With his clever mind working, Davis went to Pastor Alex Hartz at Crossroads, asking him if he wanted the Methodists at the Salvation Army to get all the attention. Hartz happily and graciously donated a chunk of land on the very visible corner for the second large garden.

CALLINGINAN EXPERT

Since Crossroads hosts three different congregations at the church, including a Latino group, Davis found no shortage of volunteers to help with the project.

“I thought planting was easy,” Davis says. “Just stick it in the ground. But no, you need to rototill the soil, add fertilizer, stake the tomatoes … no wonder I always had a black thumb.”

He credits the vegetable specialists at Sloat Garden Center for helping further his horticulture education. “There’s a toma-

KidFest, from page 4

Spider Jump, Water Ballerz, giant slide, Spider Mountain, Ferris wheel, petting zoo, pony rides, Stars ‘n Stripes train and more.All-day KidFest discounted ride wristbands are now on sale through Eventbrite.

There are two eclectic Food Courts and nearly 100 arts and crafts and exhibitor

booths in the KidFest Marketplace surrounding the Marketplace Pavilion where costume characters meet their fans all weekend. Admission is just $9 with a donation of canned food to the Monument Crisis Center or $10 without can donation. On Double Can Saturday, two cans of food is good for

walk to a deli or small market would be welcome. Are we too suburbanized for our own good or is this a California cultural issue that built the bedroom communities for decades?

8. The city General Fund should be used to keep the library open weekdays until 8 p.m. With 44% agreeing and only 21% disagreeing, maybe the council should look at this and see if they can convince the county library to go forward with this.

10. A penalty fee on landlords that have empty retail spaces is a good idea. With 32% agreeing and 43% opposed, half of which are strongly opposed, this is a contentious issue that bears

a lot more input. On the one hand, how do we portray the city as business friendly when we punish people for not being able to tap into the market rate attraction of small businesses that may not be there because of the Amazonian takeover of the retail world? The other side is that if they are punished, they will work harder to get retail stores back. What do you think?

12. If you have to choose only one, which do you think the community sees as the highest priority that is achievable to increase the General Fund’s usable revenues?

See Pulse, page 7

With donations from local merchants, Davis has started planting this year’s first community garden on the Salvation Army site on Clayton Road. A $1000 grant from the Clayton Business and Community Assoc. is dedicated to the next garden at Crossroads Church on

Pass.

to guru there who knows everything!”

He is also getting monetary donations from local organizations. The Clayton Business and Community Association recently donated $1,000 to the Kirker Pass site.

Davis would like to open more FTP sites in Concord, as he’s eying unused land at the Presbyterian Church down the road from Crossroads and at the Lutheran Church across the street from Clayton Valley Charter High School.

For more information on the Free Tomato Project or to donate time and/or money, visit www.freetomatoproject.com or email freetomatoproject@gmail.com. Reach Davis by phone at 925-594-2052.

“My vision is to drive around the area and say, ‘Oh, there’s another sign for the Free Tomato Project.’ ” The idea man says that coming up with plans is cheap, but what’s really rewarding is to execute them. “Put your head down and go to work. You’ll get it done,” Davis says.

a $2 discount on one ticket. Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ are free. Parking at the Pavilion is $10. Proceeds from the 34th Bay Area KidFest benefit local educational, arts, health and sports non-profit groups. Bay Area Festivals has donated over $107,000 in cash since 2010 to Mt. Diablo Unified School District programs and while families attending KidFest have donated over

135,000 pounds of canned food. KidFest is open 10 a.m.6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Memorial Day Monday. The Pavilion is located at 2000 Kirker Pass Rd. in Concord. For more information and schedule updates visit the KidFest website, KidFestConcord.com

The city was well represented by citizens, staff and elected officials. Pictured from left Ray Barbour past member of the city design review board; Valarie Barone, city manager and Hindu community member Ajit Kaushal.

Kirker

EDI BIRSAN PULSEOF CONCORD

NICK REY ANN MCNAMARA KIM

JENNIFER STOJANOVICH

From the desk of...

Music & Market signals the beginning of a great summer

townevents.

The most wonderful time of the year here in Concord is almost here – Music & Market. And, with this unofficial kickoff of summer, I am looking forward to the many activities around town that will keep Concord hopping. Music & Market will return to “Concord’s living room,” Todos Santos Plaza, at 6:30 p.m. June 5. From zydeco to jazz, from ’80s rock to K-pop, this year’s concert lineup includes something for everyone on Thursday evenings through September. Break out your lawn chairs and dancing shoes and check out the schedule at cityofconcord.org/down-

Before the music begins, be sure to visit the farmers market, which opens at 4 p.m., for fresh produce, snacks or hot meals, or enjoy the evening while dining on the patio of a nearby restaurant.

Can’t make it in person? Watch concerts live on Concord TV (Comcast channel 28, Astound/Wave channel 29 or 1026, AT&T U-verse channel 99) and on-demand via Concord’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@cityofconcord. And, thank you to

the many generous community sponsors who make these free concerts possible.

50 YEARSOFMUSIC

ATTHE PAVILION

For still more live concerts, check out the lineup offered at the Concord Pavilion at www.toyotapavilionatconcord.com. The beloved local landmark has brought 50 years of live music to our community. To celebrate this golden anniversary, Visit Concord has fun events planned, ranging from a pop-up Pavilion Museum, to Music on the Lawn at Todos

Pleasant Hill’s family events rely on many community partnerships

Pleasant Hill is well known for its small-town feel. While we are a relatively small city with a population of about 34,000, we focus on building community – and we can only accomplish that through our many community partnerships.

Let’s start with our part-

nership with the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District, an agency separate from the city but one we work with closely to feel like a unified community. Similarly, we work with the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, Visit Pleasant Hill (our tourism improvement district) and our fantastic new Pleasant Hill Library, whose library functions are operated by the Contra Costa County library system. Combinations of these entities result in events such as the Art, Wine and Music Festival, Tinkers and Thinkers and our Sunset by the Lake Summer Concert Series.

Partnerships with private entities also play a significant role in the city’s activities. Our newest event, the Night Market, is operated by Sunny Pannu, in cooperation with the Recreation and Park Dis-

trict (for use of Chilpancingo Park), Diablo Valley Shopping Plaza and Diablo Valley College (providing space and additional parking). And what a success it was, with nearly 1,200 participants on the first evening. The Night Market will continue on the first and third Fridays of the month through November.

Another excellent example of collaboration is with Off the Grid (OTG), a privately managed entity. The city has held our Earth Day and Juneteenth events in combination with OTG, maximizing the enjoyment for the community. Future activities expected to take place during OTG include a Pride Month event in June, gift making with Hidden Valley Elementary School, College Park High School Grad Nite, I Heart Art night and Little Lightning Photo

Booth night. OTG moved to Thursdays this year, so please keep an eye on our city website phillca.gov for details and dates.

Finally, our Civic Action Commission with many local sponsors will start their 25th season of Concerts by the Lake. The concerts begin on May 25 with the Billy Martini Band and end on Aug. 31 with all-time favorite the Big Jangle. For details on the season’s performers, as well as the special Family Fun Zone events during the concert, go to www. gov phillca. /summerconcerts.

Hope you all will take the time to enjoy our city’s many fantastic events.

Contact Mayor Noack at Snoack@phillca.gov.

Santos Plaza, to brewery concerts at Epidemic Ales and Side Gate. More details are available at www.visitconcordca.com/events/musicthrough-the-decades.

F ESTIVITIESON THE F OURTH

Concord’s 4th of July Festival & Fireworks is not to be missed, including a full day of activities in downtown Concord.

The day will start with an 8 a.m. 5K fun run and pancake breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club of ConcordDiablo, followed by the Independence Day Parade at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Rockin’ Red, White, and Blue!” as we celebrate the

50th anniversary of the Concord Pavilion. Parade entry is free. At 4 p.m. at Mt. Diablo High School, there will be a kids’ carnival, food vendors and live music from the Purple Ones, an Insatiable Tribute to Prince, concluding with a 9 p.m. fireworks show. As a past parade chair, I know that we need volunteers for these events to be a success. More information, including volunteer and parade applications, is available at www.concordjuly4th.com. It’s going to be a fun and busy summer in Concord.

Contact Mayor Obringer at carlyn.obringer@cityofconcord.org

Budgeting for Clayton’s future

The city of Clayton officially began its budget process at the April Budget and Audit Committee meeting. This marked an important milestone, as it will be the city’s first time adopting a two-year budget.

The city remains committed to addressing both immediate and long-term needs while working within our financial limits. Our goal is to maintain the high level of service our community values.

• Roadway paving for 2026. Finalized at the April 1, 2025, City Council meeting.

• Clayton Community Library Refresh Project. Scheduled to begin later this year or early next, in partnership with the county library and Clayton Community Library Foundation.

• Final phase of the Climatec Project. Includes installation of a solar array and EV charging station to achieve a Net-Zero Energy site for the library, City Hall and maintenance facility – reducing energy costs and the city’s carbon footprint.

In a world full of uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to shine a light on the good within our community. As J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, “May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.” At each Board of Supervisors meeting, resolutions appear under consent items. Though often overlooked on the agenda, these official proclamations are a vital part of our public record – preserved for generations to come. Sponsored by individ-

ual board members or county departments, resolutions honor extraordinary individuals, organizations, cities and county employees, helping to tell the story of who we are as a county.

Resolutions adopted by the Board of Supervisors serve as a living archive of achievement, resilience and service. They mark significant milestones – such as the 40th anniversary of the Clayton Business and Community Association– and elevate important observances like

Red Cross Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.

During my time in office, I’ve had the privilege of recognizing many exceptional individuals. Last year, I honored Holotta Tymes, a powerful advocate and unsung hero in the LGBTQIA+ community. As co-owner of Walnut Creek’s Club 1220, Tymes has helped cultivate one of the Bay Area’s longest-running drag shows, offering a safe and affirming space for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Throughout the budget process, we will evaluate priorities in key areas such as landscaping, parks and trails, public safety, road and infrastructure improvements, staffing, training and planning for future events.

Her determination kept Club 1220 alive during the pandemic through virtual events and community-driven fundraising. Tymes’ leadership has fueled countless charitable efforts supporting causes like AIDS/Lifecycle, Camp Sunshine and Pride on the Plaza in Concord.

More recently, I recognized Tommy Kaufmann, the 2025 Corpsmember of the Year – a national honor awarded to young leaders in the Service and Conservation Corps. Since 2022, Kaufmann has been a member of Civicorps, which helps young adults build brighter futures through education, job training and environmental stewardship. He spoke at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, where his pride was evident as he advocated Civicorps.

Resolutions also celebrate cultures, genders and holidays. In March, the board recognized César Chávez Day and

Women’s History Month; this month, we honored Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. My personal favorite is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, which we will recognize in June.

Resolutions provide an opportunity for different segments of Contra Costa to shine and to be shared with others, which is becoming ever more important.

The acknowledgements reflect more than ceremonial gestures– they highlight the individuals and initiatives that strengthen the fabric of Contra Costa County and celebrate leadership, service and community.

To view upcoming agendas and recognitions, please visit https://contracosta.legistar.com/Calendar.as px.

Ken Carlson is Contra Costa County District IV supervisor. Email questions or comments to SupervisorCarlson@bos.cccounty.us or call his office at 925-655-2350.

While budgets can be tight, they also offer flexibility. Our approach will be thoughtful, prudent and focused on making meaningful impacts. This is one of the most important efforts we undertake each year – as a city, a City Council and a community. Despite the new two-year format, there will continue to be opportunities for mid-year reviews and adjustments as needed.

On May 6, we held our Budget Workshop, which included the following:

• Revisit and reflect on council goals, building on last year’s goal-setting efforts.

• Review community feedback from last year’s survey and ongoing input.

• Hear department updates and priorities for the next two years.

• Assess the city’s current financial status and projections, including General Fund, Landscape Maintenance District Fund, reserves and long-term obligations, and capital improvement and infrastructure needs.

• Review results from our new Investment Advisory Services agreement with UBS, now managing the city’s investment portfolio.

Here’s a look at some current and upcoming projects:

At our May 6 council meeting, we reviewed the results of the Audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report from our new auditor, Chavan and Associates. While there were some recommendations for the city, like developing a purchase order system (which we have already implemented), the results of the audit were that the city’s finances were sound and there were no material weaknesses to report. A big thank you for the incredible work that went into the audit by our staff at City Hall, particularly city manager Kris Lofthus, assistant city manager Regina Rubier and accountant Jennifer Giantvalley. At the May 6 meeting, we also approved the authorization of the addition of a fulltime city engineer/Public Works director and the related pay ranges for 2025-’26. I want to thank everyone from the community who turned out to participate in the Budget Workshop. We will post answers to all of the questions that residents raised on the city’s website shortly. Please visit www.claytonca.gov for updates. The city’s summer events will kick off with our first Concert in the Grove at 6 p.m. May 17 with Leo Vigil and the Rockin’ Horns. For a review of the entire line-up of concerts this year, please visit www.claytonca.gov/our-city/annualevents/concerts-in-the-grove. Finally, our Fourth of July parade has a new chair this year, Sarah Brinkman from Clayton Valley Dance Academy. If you would like to help her with this year’s parade, please contact her at 5678.sbrinkman@gmail.com.

As always, my goal is to be as accessible to the community as possible, so if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact me directly at kimt@claytonca.gov or 925673-7324.

KIM TRUPIANO CLAYTON MAYOR

P.O. Box 1246 Clayton, CA 94517

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Food and Entertainment

City of Clayton Grove Concert

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Senior Services & Hospice Care

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CEI PACE

Obituaries Katherine C. Carr

Dec. 12, 1948 April 15, 2025

Formerly of Clayton — Katherine Carla Carr died April 15, 2025, in Gunter, Texas, of complications from multiple sclerosis.

She was born on Dec. 12, 1948, in Atlanta, the daughter of Sam McIntosh, owner of a construction company, and Dorothy McCalister McIntosh, a homemaker. She attended South High in Denver, where she was a cheerleader, and Buena Vista College in Iowa.

She is survived by her hus-

band of 42 years, Gary; a sister, Valerie McIntosh Smith (Dennis); and two children, David Frey (Jamé) and Alexei Carr (Shelley). She also leaves behind eight grandchildren, Alex Frey, Noah Frey, Landon Grazer, Audrey Frey, Lance Scheutz (Joselyn), Lucas Carr, Logan Carr and Elle Carr, as well as her service dog, Maggie.

Kathy and Gary lived in Clayton for 30 years before moving to Texas three years ago to be near family. Kathy

Clayton — Merwyn Claire Powell passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of April 18, 2025, at the age of 86. He was a beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend and cherished member of the community. Merwyn is survived by his devoted wife, Roberta Powell; their three children, Susan Powell, Frank Powell and Loana O’Connor; his brother, Danny Powell; nieces, Tamera Martin and Kimberly Lunday;

Pulse, from page 5

31%: Increase businesses and retail sales with incentives.

25%: Increase fees on crimes.

12%: Cut expenses in the police department.

5%: Cut expenses in Public Works.

5%: Increase fees for services.

4%: Invest in the market.

17%: Other places.

This is an interesting snapshot and makes me wonder about the management of expectations. After all, the question included “achievable.” There is great faith that expanding businesses and retail sales with incentives will not only pay back the incentives but that all are achievable. This has been a philosophy for decades. Is it achievable to the extent that we need $13 million in the next five years?

.370.6220

.844-319-1150 Home Helpers Home Care

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Regarding fees on crimes: The city only really has control over things like traffic, parking and code enforcement, if you call those crimes. Some time ago, I proposed that we put fees on violent crimes, domestic violence and the like to recover the police costs. I was shot down from many quarters, including legal.

Looking at the 17% “other” respondents, there was some trolling about going after judges and the homeless, but a majority said they had no idea. I should have made that one of the categories.

Please folks, write in about this as we need more people thinking about “achievable” answers to our revenue/expense problems.

Send comments and questions to EdiBirsan@gmail.com.

was employed as director of administration for Pannell Kerr Forster in Houston before moving to California in her same role at PKF, a hospitality consulting firm.

She was active in the Episcopal Church in Texas and California. She was an avid sports fan and a Texas Aggie mom.

Kathy was beloved by all who met her and saw her wonderful smile. She was a cherished “Gamma” to her family and a guardian angel to Gary. She left us too soon. Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://donate.nationalmssociety.or g/campaign/Kathy-Carr or Canine Companions for Independence at https://tinyurl.com/mr7udw63.

Merwyn Claire Powell

and his treasured grandchildren, Victor Petersen, Gwendolen O’Connor and Benjamin Powell. Originally from Lebanon, Ore., Merwyn grew up with his parents, Claire and Laura Powell, and his younger brother, Danny. He attended Oregon State University and later completed his MBA at UC Berkeley. Merwyn worked for 35 years as a Senior Manager, Financial Integration & Interfaces Comptroller’s Department at Chevron, where his dedication and brilliance left a lasting impact. He and Roberta lived in Orinda for 29 years before retiring in Clayton. Merwyn was passionate about family, teaching, spiritual learning, and supporting local theater and dance. He was an assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts of America and served faithfully for many years as a Deacon and Godly Play Sunday School

April 18, 2025

teacher at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. More recently, he found spiritual connection at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Concord. He was known for his keen intellect, warm sense of humor, and deep appreciation for both nature and human connection. Merwyn was a man of great compassion and inclusivity – someone who embraced people of all backgrounds and faiths with open arms and a loving heart.

After being diagnosed with dementia in 2017 and experiencing increasing health challenges following a fall in 2022, Merwyn remained surrounded by love and care. He was under the attentive support of Contra Costa Memory Care and Sequoia Hospice during his final months. In the days before his passing, he faced respiratory complications but was kept comfortable and at peace.

Merwyn passed away on Good Friday – during a season he held dear. His family finds comfort in the belief that, in his own gentle and thoughtful way, he may have chosen that time for his final journey. He will be deeply missed, joyfully remembered and forever loved.

A memorial service honoring Merwyn’s life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 2925 Bonifacio St., Concord. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to causes Merwyn valued and supported:

Lindsay Wildlife Experience: https://lindsaywildlife.org/ donations. Smuin Contemporary Ballet: https://giveusa.keela.co/smuinballet. KQED Public Media: https://donate.kqed.org/d onatetoday.

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Tap home equity to dump student debt

With student loan portals in chaos and rates on the rise, many homeowners are finding peace of mind – and lower costs – by turning their equity into a strategic debt solution.

Now that student loan repayments have resumed after years of uncertainty, many borrowers are feeling overwhelmed – not just by the debt, but by the administrative mess surrounding it. For those who own a home, or have parents who own a home, using a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or cash-out refinance is quickly becoming a practical way to take back control.

Here are some advantages of using home equity to pay off student loans: Escape the student loan bureaucracy. Servicing transitions, login issues, payment misapplications and miscommunication are causing chaos for borrowers. Replacing student loans with a mortgage or HELOC managed by a stable bank can mean fewer headaches and better service.

ANNA KUSSMAUL FOCUSON FINANCE

Lock in a predictable, fixed payment. Many student loan rates are variable or set to rise, while mortgages and some HELOCs offer fixed terms and rates. That predictability can help with longterm financial planning.

Potentially lower rates and interest savings. Even with recent rate increases, mortgage-backed loans often still carry lower interest rates than private student loans –especially for those with strong credit and equity.

Streamlined repayment. Simplifying multiple student loans into one home-based payment can reduce the emo-

tional and mental burden of juggling different servicers and systems.

No more waiting for forgiveness that may never come. Borrowers frustrated with shifting forgiveness rules, broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) promises or unclear Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan benefits may prefer to take decisive action now – rather than wait years for uncertain relief.

For many homeowners, using equity to pay off student loans isn’t just about interest rates. It’s about cutting ties with a broken repayment system and choosing clarity over chaos.

If you have solid equity, a stable income and a desire to eliminate student debt for good, refinancing or using a HELOC could be your smartest financial decision this year.

Anna Kussmaul is a mortgage broker handling multiple loan types. Email her at Anna@StoneCastleMortgage.com.

Pursuing exercise and recipes for aging gracefully

As I’m sharing my journey to better health, I realize that I have to up my game as I’m aging.

I cannot be lazy with things that I let slide in my 40s and 50s. I have to be strict about my diet and diligent in exercising. I also must pay attention to good sleep habits and stress management.

In the last column, I described how I had gained 20 pounds and suffered some bad scores in medical tests. More than a month ago, I responded by going back to what I know about healthy food – mostly eliminating sugar, flour and processed food. Upon physicians’ advice, I am taking a CoQ10 dietary supplement that includes vitamins D3 and K2 and fish oil. CoQ10

is an antioxidant that plays a key role in energy production within cells.

I haven’t gone out to dinner for a month. I have two pieces of fresh fruit each day. I don’t eat food with added sugars or refined carbohydrates. I usually have one meal of beans a day. In a month’s time, I have lost 10 pounds and feel more energetic.

I have started a regimen of walking 30 minutes a day, with weight-bearing exercise several times a week, in conjunction with doctors’ recommendations. Walking has a way of melting away stress while getting one with nature. I stroll my neighborhood and take note of new dogs, new neighbors, birds taking advantage of updrafts. It increases my stamina, strengthens my heart and reduces my blood pressure. I’m sleeping better in part because I’m fatigued when my head hits the pillow.

I am making plans for genetic tests to see if there’s any predisposition for any ailments. The goal is to age gracefully and be healthy for as long as I can be. And, always, I’m tinkering with recipes and trying new things, like this one.

LENTIL-STUFFED PEPPERS

8 servings

For the filling:

1 T olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1½ c. vegetable broth

¾ c. long grain brown rice

1 T vegan Worcestershire

sauce

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. fennel seeds

¼ tsp. red pepper flakes, or to taste

¾ c. dried brown lentils (2 c. if using canned or precooked lentils)

1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice, drained Salt and pepper, to taste

For the peppers:

4 large bell peppers, any color

1 T olive oil

2½ c. marinara sauce (homemade or jarred), plus more if desired

Optional: vegan Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil, for serving

Note: Begin by preparing filling, then pre-bake peppers while lentils and rice are simmering.

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The senior scam epidemic: Who’s

TOWATCH FOR

WHAT

There are four common types of elder fraud:

Every day, scammers target older adults with clever, manipulative schemes that rob them of money, trust and peace of mind. And they’re getting more sophisticated. In 2023, Americans over age 60 reported billions in losses to scams – many of which could have been prevented with a little awareness and support. If you live alone or handle most of your affairs independently, you may be more vulnerable than you think. That’s why it’s important to recognize common scams and consider how having someone by your side – like a trusted caregiver – can help keep you safe.

•Tech support or government impersonation scams. Scammers pose as tech support or claim to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration. They may say you owe back taxes or your computer has a virus – and pressure you to send money immediately. These scams rely on fear and our instinct not to question authority.

• Investment fraud. Seniors are often targeted with fake investment opportunities that promise guaranteed returns. Scammers may build trust over time using fake identities and official-looking documents. In 2023, victims over age

For filling:

Coat the bottom of a medium pot with olive oil and place over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add onion and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent.

Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute, until fragrant.

Stir in broth, rice, Worcestershire sauce, dried herbs and red pepper flakes. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Lower the heat until the

liquid is just simmering. Cover and simmer about 40 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

While rice cooks, place lentils in a small saucepan and cover with a few inches of water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and allow water to boil until lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. Add more water as needed. Drain lentils when they’re done cooking.

When rice has finished cooking, allow pot to sit with the lid on for 5 minutes. Remove lid and stir in lentils and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

For peppers: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. While the rice and lentils simmer, cut each pepper in half, then scoop out the seeds and core.

60 reported more than $1.2 billion in losses from investment fraud alone. Confidence/romance schemes. Loneliness is something scammers exploit. These schemes start as online friendships or romances and, over time, the scammer begins asking for money, gifts or access to financial accounts. In 2023, seniors lost nearly $357 million to these deeply personal scams.

• Cryptocurrency scams. In a growing trend, scammers convince seniors to withdraw large sums of money and deposit it into cryptocurrency ATMs or kiosks. Once the money is converted, it’s nearly impossible to recover. Reported losses from this

Rub the outside of each pepper with olive oil, then place the peppers, cut side down, on a baking sheet. Bake until the skin just starts to blister, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven but leave oven on.

Spoon marinara into bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

Spoon filling into pepper halves, mounding on top if necessary, then arrange stuffed pepper halves in the baking dish.

Bake about 15 minutes, until sauce is bubbly. Remove from oven and let sit for a few minutes.

Sprinkle with fresh basil, parsley and/or vegan Parmesan cheese.

Cindy Gershen is a culinary teacher and the chef-owner for 40 years of Sunrise Bistro and Catering in Walnut Creek. Send your questions and comments to cindymgershen@gmail.com.

type of fraud exceeded $1.1 billion last year.

YOUDON’T HAVE TO BEALONE

These scams are frightening – but preventable. Having a second set of eyes can make all the difference.

A caregiver isn’t just there to help with household tasks. They can serve as a trusted safeguard against manipulation and fraud. A caregiver or companion can:

• Screen unfamiliar calls, emails or texts.

• Spot red flags and questionable requests.

• Offer emotional support and prevent isolation.

• Notify family or authorities if something seems off.

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If you suspect fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov and notify your bank immediately. Quick action matters. You’ve spent a lifetime earning what you have. Don’t let someone take it away in a moment of confusion or fear. Stay informed, stay connected and never be afraid to ask for help.

At Home Helpers of Concord, we provide personalized, non-medical home care services designed to help seniors live comfortably and independently. From companionship and meal preparation to mobility assistance and more, we're here to make every day easier for your

Stuff peppers with lentils and brown rice for a healthy meal.

Pleasant Hill hosts vibrant Night Market showcasing local artisans

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Pleasant Hill kicked off a long-awaited Night Market, to the appreciation of hundreds who gathered May 2 at Chilpancingo Park on the city’s north end.

Slated for the first and third Fridays of each month through Nov. 7, the market featured food, artisan vendors and entertainment. The estimated 1,200 folks who drove, rode and walked to the site off Golf Club Road gave a strong impression to city officials that the event had struck the right chord.

“The Night Market was by all measures a great success,” said Zach Seal, Pleasant Hill’s Economic Development manager.

the pop and rock sounds of Concord-based Vinyl Countdown. Similar live musical stylings are anticipated for June’s gatherings.

Seal viewed the Night Market as “an excellent example of a public-private-community partnership.”

The city coordinated with KSPANNU LLC of Pleasant Hill, which has been putting on community events for three years, along with collaborating with the shopping center property owner, the Recreation and Park District and Diablo Valley College.

“I was really happy with the turnout, and this is what I was expecting,” said Sunny Pannu, KSPANNU’s managing director.

David Scholz photos

Open 5-9 p.m., the market hosted 73 vendors – including 55 booths selling wares such as pottery, jewelry, home decor, paintings, candles and gemstones – and 18 food and beverage merchants. The May 16 Night Market will feature

The project was set in motion in May 2024 by the city’s Economic Development Committee as a strategy to launch a new event on the north side of town to supplement the many established and popular events downtown. In addition, Seal noted that Belle La (now on the City

Young adults from the Sacramento-based Punjabi Bhangra Academy perform a high energy Punjabi folk dance to kick off the first night of the Pleasant Hill Night Market. Second up on the May 2 bill was a group of girls from Fairfield, who also attend the Punjabi Bhangra Academy, They presented a dance called Giddha, also an Indian Punjabi folk dance. The performances were so well received that the Night Market organizers are looking at putting together a slate of entertainment in late summer, potentially August, dedicated to just Punjabi Bhangra.

Council) brought the concept of a Night Market to the city’s Diversity Commission.

One year later, Pannu organized a plethora of entertainment reflective of the diverse population that calls Pleasant Hill home. The five cultural performances at the first Night Market included two from Punjabi Bhangra Academy – Johr Jawani Da and Fairfield Girls, along with a Chinese Lion Dance from Concord Kung Fu Academy, the Matahani Tahitian Dance Group and Slavic cultural dance from Drama Club Skazka.

The event also marked the beginning of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Night Markets, or night bazaars, are deeply rooted in Asian history. The first night markets sprouted in China during the Tang

Dynasty, as early as the 9th century A.D. The cooler environment for commerce evolved into cultural hubs that blended tradition and modernity. Now, night markets are central to Asian culture and have arisen across the globe, highlighting local cuisine, crafts and community engagement.

“The turnout and positive community response set a strong foundation for the future Night Markets,” Seal said.

Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack shared Seal’s assessment.

“It was great to have an event in the north side of town, but it was evident that people came from all over,” said Noack, who was optimistic that the event’s offering will keep everyone coming back.

with

groups from the Sacramentobased Punjabi Bhangra Academy, the May 2 Pleasant Hill Night Market, dubbed a Celebration of Culture, featured performances from the Russian Drama Club Skazka in Walnut Creek.

SPORTS & LIFESTYLE

De La Salle swimmers win 1st local NCS spring championship

performances for the Spartans. CVCHS’s Diego Castaneda had a pair of runner-up finishes.

De La Salle’s swimming and diving team won a fourth successive North Coast Section team championship last week in Concord while the Clayton Valley Charter stunt team took second at NCS as the post-season high school schedule heats up. The Spartans used team depth to win the Section meet, including firsts in the 200 freestyle and medley relays and second in the 400 free relay. Diver Tyler Galloway got the Spartans off to a strong start with a second place. Blake Hill, Tanner Lustig and Matthew Nakayama had top individual

Three-time defending NCS champion diver Molly Gray of Clayton Valley Charter sat out this season as the Stanford-bound State champion prepared for US Diving competitions.

Ugly Eagles stunt has been second or third in four consecutive NCS championships post Covid and gave three-time winners FoothillPleasanton all they could handle in the Section finals before falling 16-12.

The NCS Division II boys golf tournament was this Monday with Northgate,

Athlete Spotlight

Thea Jeffress

Grade: Senior School: CVCHS

Sport: Track & Field

Clayton Valley Charter and College Park having individual golfers taking part. De La Salle will be among the contenders next Monday when the Division I championship is played at Rancho Solano.

3 BIG TRACKAND FIELDMEETS

The next three weekends, track and field will be center stage with the NCS Tri-Valley Area Meet at Clayton Valley Charter this Saturday, the NCS Meet of Champions May 2324 at Dublin High and then the annual CIF State Track & Field Championships in Clovis May 30-31.

Valley Charter’s stunt team

Current Diablo Athletic League champion and USA Track and Field honorable mention thrower Jeffress has an impressive work ethic and a kind presence off and on the track. She joined Clayton Valley Charter’s track and field team in her freshman year with no prior throwing experience and, in just four years, has

risen to the top. Prior to her throwing career, Jeffress competed in both swimming and volleyball for CVCHS, but a devastating injury took her out and pushed her to pursue throws full-time. She had been swimming since age four, so letting go was a tough decision. However, it paid off. She has thrown for Ugly varsity all four years and earned first team DAL and North Coast Section her sophomore and junior years.

Jeffress also competed at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics in the hammer throw her junior year, moving up 13 places to finish ninth overall, which earned her USATF honorable mention. This year, she continues to achieve, and she just won DAL shot put and discus with more post-season meets to come. Her coach Katie Jackson reflects, “Thea is one of the most

driven and coachable athletes I’ve ever worked with. She has this rare ability to absorb feedback and immediately apply it, often in the same rep. What sets her apart isn’t just her strength or technique, but her quiet leadership and how much she genuinely cares about her teammates. She has raised the standard in our program, and I know she will do the same at the next level.”

In addition to CVCHS, Jeffress competes for the Golden State Throwers, a club team out of Sacramento. Jeffress also works hard in the classroom, maintaining a 3.9 weighted GPA and holding memberships in the school’s Engineering and Design Academy, Women in STEM, Women in Engineering and Senior Women. She is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. Jeffress is excited to attend Fresno State University

this fall to study business and continue her throwing at the D1 level.

CVCHS student journalist Corinne Jeandheur wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Thea and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.

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

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Charter Athletics

Clayton

continued its strong post-COVID-19 performances at North Coast Section as the Ugly Eagles took second to three-time champions FoothillPleasanton last month. The Concord school has been second or third during the past four NCS competitions and earlier were crowned Diablo Athletic League champs.

SINCLAIRE PROUDLY PRESENTS

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

See NCS, page B3

Athlete Spotlight

Gianna Gnusti

School: Carondelet High

Grade: Senior Sport: Rugby

Carondelet athletic director Steve Stokes introduced Gnusti at the recent national letter of intent signing ceremony on the Concord campus by saying, “Gianna’s rugby journey is a testament to her resilience, leadership and athletics excellence. Whether on the field as a captain or overcoming injury, Gianna has always led by example and played with heart, strength and determination.” The senior from Pleasant Hill is headed to the University of Oregon to play for Dirty Ducks Rugby. She was a JV team captain as a sophomore and this spring was Cougar varsity captain. She has competed in a national rugby club tournament in Pennsylvania and with an all-star team in Utah.

She capped her Carondelet athletic career by recently being one of two members of the Class of 2025 to receive the Cougar Award. The recipient of this prestigious award is a member of the graduating class who has made the most significant impact on the athletics program over the past four years. This award isn't just about skill or talent; it is about recognizing the person who

embodies the spirit of Carondelet by uplifting others, leading not with words but with actions, and shining bright but making those around her shine brighter. The presentation said, “Even while sidelined with an injury, Gnusti showed up every day supporting her teammates, lifting spirits and becoming a steady presence both on and off the field. Her leadership, grace in adversity and deep love for the team have left a lasting impact that will be felt long after she graduates.”

The Pioneer congratulates Gianna and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry. laceyandruzicka.com.

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

We want to publish your sports news

Please let us know about your sports news, special events, fund raisers, tryouts, signups and accomplishments. Youth leagues, clubs, schools and adult programs are all welcome to send us a rundown on what you’re doing. Include all the necessary details (too much information is better than too little) with your contact information. It’s simple. Send an email to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

19 senior athletes make their fall college sports commitments

The final National Letter of Intent day for the 2024-25 school year saw another 19 seniors representing Mt. Diablo, Carondelet, Clayton Valley Charter and De La Salle high schools make college commitments for the fall.

The April signings bring to 60 the local seniors who signed for college sports programs.

This group of signees will be taking part in collegiate swimming, soccer, basketball, track and field, wrestling and rugby.

CARONDELET

Jadyn Ard (Rugby, Cal Berkeley)

Kelsey Castillo (Soccer, Chapman University)

Gianna Gnusti (Rugby, Oregon)

Jordan Kixmiller (Rugby, Fresno State)

Mackenzi McLaughlin (Rugby, Boise State)

Elizabeth Rachwald (Rugby, Naval Academy)

Renata Salerno (Soccer, Golden West College)

Clayton Valley Charter

Diego Casteneda (Swimming, UC Santa Barbara)

Abbi Cooper (Wrestling, Lehigh)

Thea Jeffress (Track and Field, Fresno State)

Savannah Talmadge (Wrestling, Lindenwood)

DE LA SALLE

Lukas Platzbecker (Rugby, Long Beach State)

Jasper Buttles (Rugby, Cal Berkeley) Braddock Kjellesvig

(Basketball, Chico State)

Sacha Cox (Rugby, University of San Diego)

Tyler Holmberg (Rugby, University of San Diego)

Peter McKenna (Rugby, Arizona)

MT. DIABLO

Natalie Dance (Basketball, Nelson University)

Stephanie Zuniga (Basketball, Pacific Union College)

Jay Bedecarré

Clayton Valley Charter’s final NLI group for 2024-25 included, from left, Abbi Cooper, Thea Jeffress, Diego Casteneda and Savannah Talmadge. Cooper and Talmadge led the Ugly Eagles girls wrestling team to seventh place at the State Meet.

Jay Bedecarré

Seven Carondelet seniors firmed up their college plans by signing NLI last month. The girls are, from left, Jadyn Ard, Kelsey Castillo, Gianna Gnusti, Jordan Kixmiller, Mackenzi McLaughlin, Elizabeth Rachwald and Renata Salerno.

Photo courtesy De La Salle Athletics

Five De La Salle rugby players and basketball’s Braddock Kjellesvig recently signed their college NLI on campus. The athletes headed to college are, from left, Lukas Platzbecker, Jasper Buttles, Kjellesvig, Sacha Cox, Tyler Holmberg and Peter McKenna.

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Photo courtesy Mt. Diablo Athletics

Mt. Diablo girls basketball has been a major success story in recent years and seniors Stephanie Zuniga (3) and Natalie Dance (1) have played a big part in that.

16 inductees to Clayton Valley High 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Class feted

Eleven athletes, one team manager, one coach/administrator and three teams are in the eighth class inducted into the Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame this month at Centre Concord.

This year’s recipients are:

Jack Nelson, 34 years at the school serving during that time as a teacher, coach and athletic director

Mikey Hamilton , 19862001 volunteer and team manager for CVHS teams

Rocco Cardinale, Class of 1977, wrestling, football

Mitch Buich, Class of 77, football, baseball

Laura Landgraf-Wilson , Class of 78, gymnastics, diving

Brett McNamar, Class of 81, wrestling

Steve Warren, Class of 90, track and field

Brian Foreman, Class of 98, football, basketball

Mike Gausman, Class of 99, swimming

The 1990-91 girls soccer team went an

that run with a 2-0 victory over Carondelet in the BVAL

bers included, from left, Kacie Boers-Boustead, Eris

league

Kelly-Ann

Kristi Geddes Sinclair, Haley Burns Dobbins, Becky Fredlund Crosswaite, Lorie Lindquist-Wagner, Lavinia Terra and head coach Christy Baird.

Adam Elliot, Class of 2002, baseball, football

Lindsey Vanderstraeten, Class of 06, cross country, soccer, track and field

Kelsey Chambers, Class of 08, basketball, softball

Lindsey Chamber, Class of 08, basketball, softball

1991 Girls Soccer Team

1998 Football Team

2002 Baseball Team

Family members accepted on behalf of Elliot and Hamilton, who passed in 2013 and 2018, respectively.

Sports Shorts

RED DEVIL GOLF CLASSICSET FOR JUNE 27

The Red Devil Golf Committee announced its 28th fundraising tournament will be on Friday, June 27, at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Registration starts at 11 a.m., followed by lunch, golf, dinner and a raffle/silent auction. Proceeds help academic and athletic programs at Mt. Diablo High School. Interested participants should contact Theresa O’Connor Nelms by phone (925) 890-1817 or email Theresanelms@aol.com or Rudy Perez (925) 408-6790 or Rudyperezrdc@gmail.com.

CONCORD CUPSOCCER THIS WEEKEND FOR HISTORIC 30THTOURNAMENT

Concord Cup XXX youth soccer tournament is this weekend, May 17-18, for girls and boys 10U through 19U teams from AYSO, US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer programs. Games starting at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday will be at Boatwright, Newhall, El Dorado/Westwood and Krueger playfields in Concord as well as Marathon Fields. Visit concordcup.com for schedules and results.

DIABLO VALLEY FC SOCCER TRYOUTSTHISMONTH

Diablo Valley FC holds its annual tryouts for boys and girls in the U8 to U19 age groups this month. The area’s premier competitive youth soccer program participates in MLS NEXT, ECNL-RL and NorCal Premier. Tryouts are the week of May 19 for players born in 2011 and older. Visit diablovalleyfc.com for more info and tryout registration.

FLAG FOOTBALLCAMPAT

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER JUNE 23-25

Be Elite 3-Day Summer Youth Camp at Clayton Valley Charter High School on June 23-25, 9 a.m. to noon daily, is designed to provide youth (K-8th grade) with an immersive, fun flag football experience to enhance skills and learn new techniques. The

from page B1

A number of local track and field athletes hold high hopes of strong performances at post-season competition. The Diablo and East Bay Athletic League meets were last week and gave an indication on what athletes may progress towards the Meet of Champions and State Meet.

On the girls side, Clayton Valley Charter’s Vivienne Magu won the 100, 200 and 400 DAL championships. Her teammate Santia Ali was second in the 100 and won the triple and long jumps. Hurdler Maya Maghoney was second in the 100 and third in the 300. Ugly Eagles Thea Jeffress took first in both the shot put and discus for the second-place CVCHS girls team, which also won the 4x100 relay.

Ygnacio Valley’s Savannah Sawyer was first in the 300 hur-

dles and second in the 400. Carondelet junior Gretchen Yakaitis was second in both the 800 and 1600 meters. Malia Velasco was first in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 100 for the Cougars. Kiana Kenion was second in the long jump and the CHS 4x100 relay was second.

De La Salle won the EBAL boys division as they prepared to defend their TriValley and MOC team titles.

Jaden Jefferson won the 100 and 200 league championships while distance runner Trey Caldwell was first in the 3200 and fourth in the 1600. The Spartans won the 4x100 and 4x400 relays and were second in the 4x800. Sophomore Chase Young won the 300 hurdles and was second in the 110.

Anthony Dean won the triple jump for DLS while teammate Tadhg Murray was

camp includes skill-building drills, team-building exercises, friendly scrimmages and coaching from CVCHS student-athletes. Open to girls and boys of all skill levels from beginners to experienced athletes. For more info and to register visit beeliteathlete.com/summer-camps.

LOCALRECREATIONSWIMTEAMS

LOOKING TO STARTSUMMERSEASON

The summer recreation swim season is just around the corner and nine local teams are taking signups. To register for these Concord, Pleasant Hill and Concord teams visit their website:

• Bishop Estates bishopestates.swimtopia.com

• Dana Hills danahillsotters.com

• Forest Park forestparkpool.net

• Gehringer Park

gomotionapp.com/team/recgpg/page/home

• Oakhurst Orcas

gomotionapp.com/team/recdsostca/page/home

• Pleasant Hill Aquatics pleasanthillaquatics.com

• Pleasant Hill Dolfins gomotionapp.com/team/reccvphdca/page/home

• Walnut Country walnutcountry.swimtopia.com

• Ygnacio Wood

gomotionapp.com/team/reccvywst/page/home

CONCORD OUTLAWSFALL YOUTHFOOTBALL

ANDCHEERSIGNUPS OPEN

Registration is open for Concord Outlaws fall tackle football and cheer for boys and girls 5-14 years of age. Outlaw teams take part in the New Norcal American Youth Football and Cheer Conference. To get more information and to sign up visit concordyouthfootball.sportngin.com.

second to Caldwell in the 3200 and third in the 1600.

Clayton Valley Charter boys were second in DAL team scoring. Myles Tugbenyoh won the 100 and was second in the 200 for CVCHS. The Ugly Eagles were first over Northgate in the 4x100 relay and second in the 4x400.

Ugly Eagles weight man Logan Remington was second in both the shot put and discus. Julian Walker placed second in the high jump.

Ethan Cunningham of Northgate was first in the 400 meters while College Park’s Jack Rattary was second in both the 1600 and 3200.

BASEBALL, SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS BECKON

De La Salle (first) Clayton Valley Charter (10th) and College Park (15th) place high in the latest Bay Area high school baseball rankings. In the softball rankings, only Clayton Valley Charters at

16th makes the mark locally.

The Spartans have ruled the roost in North Coast Section baseball, reaching the Section championship game in Division I every year since 2011 including winning six straight titles from 2016-2023 before they were dethroned in a historic 1-0 extra inning defeat to Granda-Livermore last May in a game that took two days to decide. Granada is ranked second behind DLS in the Bay Area so a repeat matchup in league and section playoffs may be on tap.

Noticeably missing from those NCS playoffs last spring were the Ugly Eagles who ended the 2024 season with the program’s first losing overall and league records in the 21st Century. They have bounced back this year but lost a pair of games to Acalanes last week to trail league leader College Park by two games although the rivals split their DAL games last month.

MICKI MCCABE WALLS, DVM PET SMARTS

I’d like to talk about pet diets – although it could take a couple of columns.

In case you hadn’t noticed, pet food is big business. It can be difficult to choose from the many options to purchase for our beloved fur-family.

First, know that there are a few different opinions on this subject in and out of the veterinary community. I am simply presenting my own professional opinion.

I’ll start with what we all agree on. Cats are not small dogs, and dogs and cats are not just small humans. What I mean by this is we all have different dietary needs, despite a great deal of overlap between species. Please don’t just feed pets a small plate of what you are enjoying for dinner as their sole source of nutrition.

Cats are obligate carnivores, requiring more protein (animal protein such as organ and muscle meat) than dogs do. Evolutionarily, cats also lost the ability to make certain vital nutrients such as taurine, arginine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A and niacin on their own. This fascinating fact likely came from cats eating animals that had already eaten their own meals, and so their prey had already broken down essential nutrients to a form that cats could assimilate and utilize in their own bodies.

Cats’ gastrointestinal tracts are shorter in length and their liver enzymes are different than dogs. I often tell my clients that a can of mice would be a perfect diet for cats. Mice are a good mix of lean protein, a wee bit of veggies (from the mouse’s diet), and lots of roughage from skin, ligaments and the like. I am not entirely

LOCALVOLLEYBALLRIVALS

Top seed Northgate and fifth ranked De La Salle each won their first two NCS volleyball matches to set up a semi-final showdown Tuesday hoping to reach the title game this Thursday. College Park lost its first-round Division I game. In D-III Clayton Valley Charter was seeded third and lost a five-set match 17-15 in the fifth to Washington-Fremont in the quarterfinals.

DE LA SALLESEEKS LACROSSEREVENGE

Marin Catholic stopped De La Salle’s run of three consecutive NCS lacrosse championships last spring and the two teams meet again this week, this time in the semi-finals after each won its first two Division I games. College Park is in the D-II semis and faces upstart Berkeley which defeated No. 1 seed Dougherty Valley in the last round.

sure why this never caught on. Dogs are omnivores/partial carnivores, which means that dogs healthfully enjoy a few more carbohydrates than cats can. As a rule, they are more able to break down starches than cats.

Both dogs and cats require a robust calcium intake, with a specific ratio of phosphorus, among other vital nutrients that are available in proper quantities in commercial diets.

If you want to make your own pet food, you will need to follow a careful guideline that addresses all these nutrients in proper ratios and quantities to keep your pets healthy. Your veterinarian can recommend a veterinary nutritionist if you are looking to go this route. In commercial options, kibble is convenient and often less costly than other forms of pet food. Kibble is a balanced source of food if coming from a reputable company. It does have some drawbacks: It requires a higher carbohydrate source due to the need to make a product at the factory that “extrudes” into the kibble shapes, which may be a contributor to cats (and dogs) gaining weight if not getting adequate exercise or a combination diet with other types of foods.

Kibble is a highly processed product that allows it to be shelf-stable (a clear pro and con there).

Canned food is a bit fresher. Once the can is open, it is perishable. Canned foods contain more water (which is more accessible than adding water on top of kibble) and are sometimes more palatable than dried foods. High quality canned foods often are made with less carbohydrates, since they do not require the extrusion process that kibble does.

A potential shelf-stable alternative to kibble would be dry, bagged products that are ovendried instead of extruded like kibble. Oven-dried foods do not require the higher carbohydrate load to accomplish and can often be a more healthful alternative to kibble, though they can be more costly. The same is true of freeze-dried powdered options that are either fed as-is or with a protein source added in.

Fresh frozen is presently one of my favorite options, but it isn’t always cost effective as a complete food source. It can often be utilized as a topper over kibble if price and convenience of it being fed as a standalone isn’t feasible. I like fresh frozen since it is generally less processed while still maintaining the careful balance your pet needs.

Next time, I’ll talk about certain conditions that would dictate a change in diet, such as allergies, kidney or liver disease, etc.

Micki McCabe Walls, DVM, DACVIM, FAAVA, is a longtime Clayton resident. The retired local veterinarian has an interest in internal and integrative medicine. Email questions and comments to drmccabevet@gmail.com

Photos courtesy Clayton Valley High Athletics Hall of Fame

undefeated 12-0 in

play and then capped

championship game. Team mem-

Miller,

Casey-Conover,

The 2025 CVHS Athletics Hall of Fame class included, front row from left, Lindsey and Kelsey Chambers, Lindsay Vanderstraeten, Brian Foreman, Loni Hamilton (for son Mikey), Steve Warren, Mitch Buich, Rocco Cardinale; back row, coach Bill Nelson, Mike Gausman and Brett McNamar.

JAY BEDECARRÉ

The Pioneer

Citrus thrives with sunlight, water, compost and patience

Now that you’ve planted it, you’re probably wondering what to do next.

How can I ensure that my new lemon tree thrives? What should I do with my azalea now that it has finished flowering? Just how much sunshine will my hydrangea tolerate? How much calcium do my tomato plants need? Why is my plant burning up even though the tag read full sun?

Gardening can be reward-

ing, especially if you have successes. So, let’s make this spring a success. Young citrus trees and shrubs are some of the most challenging installations. They require much in the way of sun exposure, drainage, fertilization and watering. After purchasing any citrus, leave the plant in the container as you move it around the landscape to find its happy place. Plants in nursery plastic pots

Concord has it all: The good, the bad and the ugly

The title says it all. For some folks, it might even bring to mind the classic Clint Eastwood Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

Great stuff. I grew up watching those movies with my dad, and every now and then, I’ll throw one on – not just for entertainment, but to remember him and that time in my life.

I was born and raised in Concord, back in December 1965. It was (and still is) a wonderful place to grow up. We spent our days riding bikes all over – from Concord High to Sunvalley Mall, and even up Mt. Diablo on our BMX bikes. We explored the trails on both sides of Lime Ridge and behind what’s now Cal State East Bay. There was always something new to discover.

Concord still offers so much: a wonderful trail system, open space, great parks and plenty of community pools to enjoy this time of year. But over the decades, I’ve noticed some changes – which leads me to “the bad.” One big issue is the growing amount of trash on our streets, roads, parks and public areas. It’s frustrating to see couches dumped on roadsides or litter scattered in places we used to be proud of.

Sure, there are folks out there who just don’t care –but I believe there are more good people who do. I’ve decided to do a little more myself: picking up trash around my neighborhood and workplace, bagging it and disposing of it properly. It may seem like a small thing, but if

Vacation season is upon us. Coming from a family who never (and I do mean never) took vacations, the subject is still somewhat uncharted waters for me.

Speaking of waters, I just

need water daily to every other day, so pay attention.

Once you find where the exposure is good for your citrus, then install. If you plan on moving it into a larger container or in the ground, use cactus or succulent type potting soils mixed with good compost. This will help with the drainage that citrus requires.

Young citrus should not be encouraged to over-fruit. You may need to remove baby fruit during the first several years of establishing. If your citrus leaves become light colored or start to fall off, your plant may be using too much of its energy to ripen the fruit rather than thrive.

Fertilize young citrus around the dripline every month with a product designed for citrus. Healthy plants with lots of fruit form will benefit from monthly feedings of 0-10-10. Check

more of us pitch in, it could make a real difference.

Honestly, in my 59 years, I’ve never seen as much trash and debris along the streets and the Canal Trail as I have lately.

Then there’s “the ugly” –the neglected, vacant retail spaces that dot our city. It’s time we ask: What’s the plan?

These eyesores have been sitting around for far too long. I think it’s up to us to speak up, to attend City Council meetings, and to give our elected officials both guidance and support to address these lingering problems.

I get that it’s a delicate balance. We don’t want to unfairly burden landlords or business owners. But as a local resident, I know I’d much rather shop at a place that’s clean, well-kept and alive with community spirit. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but we are a smart, capable community. Among us are great ideas and potential fixes – we just need to share them. From my experience attending City Council meetings, I know that our local leaders do listen – especially when residents respectfully present ideas that make sense for all of us as taxpayers. Let’s take care of the good, work to fix the bad and speak up about the ugly –together.

The city’s link to report issues is a great tool at www.cityofconcord.org/559/ Report-a-Problem.

City officials are doing their best to provide services for us, but there is no way they can do it on their own. I encourage everyone to get out there and discover the amazing opportunities available right here in our city. If possible, support local businesses by doing your business in Concord. It’s one of the best ways to help our community thrive.

For more information about the businesses and organizations that make Concord great, and to learn about the benefits of becoming a member, visit the Concord Chamber of Commerce at www.concordchamber.com.

The list of movies in the period-piece-vampire-musical genre is very small. In fact, Ryan Coogler may have invented it with his new film “Sinners.”

Coogler sets his tale in 1930s Mississippi. Twin brothers Stack and Smoke (both played skillfully by Michael B. Jordan) return home after a spell working for, and stealing from, Al Capone. The twins are eager to set up a juke joint and have plenty of cash to buy a barn from a good old boy.

As the twins go about their business, we meet several other memorable characters. There is the old bluesman Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), successful Asian shop owners Grace (Li Jun Li) and Bo Chow (Yao), Stack’s ex-girlfriend Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) and son-of-a preacher-man Sammie (newcomer Miles Caton).

Sammie is excited to continue his music career, much to the delight of Stack – a who wants to give the kid a regular spot at the juke joint and get him a record deal.

Meanwhile, Smoke seeks out his former flame Annie (soulfully embodied by Wunmi Mosaku). It is clear they have a sorrowful history; their reunion is heartfelt.

Once the twins have secured everything they need, the film is well over halfway through. During the first two acts, there were just a handful of signs that some-

calcium levels of fertilizer. Adding calcium will sweeten the fruit, especially for oranges.

Now that azaleas have come out of bloom, it is time to prune. All spring-flowering shrubs need to be pruned after bloom. Prune deep to encourage healthy new growth, then fertilize. Use a granular or water-soluble product formulated with acid and always follow product directions.

Hydrangea season is here. They need shade or filtered light – think about the type of sun you would be comfortable sitting in. Their leaves are large, making them prone to burning.

If you buy a hydrangea in full bloom, do not install it right away. Wait for the flowers to begin to fade before you stress out the plant by roughing up the roots for planting. Place the hydrangea

where you plan on installing it and wait for the flowers to relax.

Just don’t forget to water. Hydrangeas in nursery pots need to be watered almost daily.

If you would rather just get your hydrangea installed, cut off the flowers first.

If you see a blackish brown sore beneath your tomato, that’s blossom end rot. Tomato plants need lots of calcium, and our bagged

compost and many fertilizers do not have enough. Calcium is easy to add by applying bonemeal to your veggie areas or using agricultural lime. Again, make sure you read package directions before you apply. Each year, folks question why their installations didn’t tolerate full sun when the labels say they should. Growers do not switch plant labels for every delivery location. A good rule is to let the size of the leaf tell you how much sun a plant can tolerate. The smaller the leaf, the more sun. The larger the leaf, the less sun. If the label reads full sun, put it out for six hours to test. Fingers crossed, you have a great growing season.

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com

After a long setup, ‘Sinners’ worth the reward

thing supernatural may be lurking. When the enigmatic Remmick (Jack O’Connell) shows up near the end of act two, it leaves no doubt that there be vampires afoot.

O’Connell is sublime as a centuries-old vampire trying to build up a new crew. In addition to being a vampire, Remmick is an accomplished musician. One of the pieces of exposed vampire lore in the film is that vampires take on aspects of the vampire that bit them. Thus, anyone Remmick bites becomes musically inclined. There is some truly beautiful on-screen music.

When the vampire action commences, it goes by so fast, there is not much time to savor everything. Because it took so long to set up everything in the film, the payoff feels rushed. It would have been nice to get 10 or 15 more minutes before the clear homage to “From Dusk Till Dawn” climax.

Coogler also takes a few shortcuts with Annie, a voodoo practitioner, conve-

niently knowing just a little too much about vampires.

These are minor gripes.

“Sinners” is a fantastic film.

The audience is treated to exquisite cinematography, excellent music, smart editing and Oscar-worthy acting.

It is also the rare film to be wildly successful while also not being a sequel nor originating from intellectual property. The IMAX sequences are absolutely stunning as well.

Marvel has made end-credits scenes a reason to stay in the theater. However, Coogler may have given us the best one of all time. The scene will stick with you long after the film is over. A-

SPRING TV ROUNDUP

“A Shop for Killers.”

(Hulu/Disney+) This one came out last year but is well worth seeking out. One of the most creatively edited shows I have ever watched. A young girl has just lost her uncle and suddenly, all kinds of mercenaries assault her family home. All eight episodes tell the

story of this roughly 24-hour period, mixed in with a healthy helping of flashbacks to explain character backstories. Incredible action sequences abound. (Hulu has terrible subtitles; Disney+ may be better.)

“Dark Winds.” (AMC). One of the best shows on TV the last few years. AMC has beautifully brought the longrunning book series to life, and the third season may be its best. Lt. Leaphorn must come to grips with his actions from last season as he is haunted by a spirit that will not let him go. Is it tied to his current missing teenager case? That and many other mysteries are expertly woven together. Also highly recommended: “White Lotus” (HBO), “Invincible” (Amazon) and “The Last of Us” (HBO).

Jeff Mellinger is a screen writer and film buff. He lives in Concord. Email comments to editor@pioneerpublishers.com.

Don’t wait – take a vacation from your stress

returned from my first cruise, something I never considered before my husband suggested it on a whim. Surprise, surprise – we loved it. Spending time in the open ocean with circumscribed activities and easy access to intriguing food and drink was nothing short of sublime.

Left to my own devices, I would work myself into insensibility. But after the cruise, I returned significantly more relaxed. As it turns out, there is science in that. According to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Susan Albers: “Taking time off is

one of the best ways to become more creative, make better decisions and increase your focus. When we step away from our routine, our brains reset.

“Any time we experience a new activity, new neural connections form in the brain,” she continues. “Those new pathways help you see things from different perspectives and improve your problemsolving skills. It also decreases some of those stress hormones, which improves your mood.”

A recent study in the Journal of Applied Psychology

also found that vacations create longer-lasting benefits than previously thought. Ryan Grant, lead author and a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, explains: “Job demands and job stress are on the rise. But people think that they can’t take time off because they don’t want to look bad or lose out on an opportunity for promotion.”

The researchers found that employees who psychologically disengaged from work during vacations realized the most improvement in well-being.

“If you’re not at work but you’re thinking about work on vacation, you might as well be at the office,” Grant said.

“Vacations are one of the few opportunities we get to fully just disconnect from work.”

So, leave that laptop at home and fully commit to the disconnect.

A longitudinal study following more than 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease found those who vacationed annually over a nineyear period reduced their risk of death from any cause by about 20 percent and the risk of death from heart disease by

greater than 30 percent. Other research has established links between vacationing and a decrease in stressrelated physical issues, lower levels of depression and exhaustion, and greater overall happiness and well-being. What are you waiting for? Take the cruise. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Nathalie Montijo is a registered nurse with advanced training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, adult geriatric care, hospice and palliative care and is a licensed acupuncturist. Send comments to newwavenightingale@gmail.com.

Once the action gets going in Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners,’ move so fast it’s hard to savor every moment.

NICOLE HACKETT GARDEN GIRL

NATHALIE MONTIJO NEW WAVE NIGHTINGALE

JEFF MELLINGER SCREEN SHOTS

KEVIN CABRAL CHAMBEROF COMMERCE

Love and murder collide in ‘Happy Pleasant Valley’

Are senior centers all bridge games and craft classes or is something much more interesting going on?

Find out at Center Rep’s showing of Min Kahng’s “Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical” at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. It’s a coproduction with and commissioned by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.

You’ll meet June, a feisty grandmother whose nocturnal adventures have raised the eyebrows of neighbors in her senior residential community. But more than eyebrows get raised when a string of June’s lovers die mysteriously. Fortunately, her granddaughter Jade is on the case trying to solve the mystery and save her

grandmother’s sex life. Jeffrey Lo directs, with Sophie Eda as Jade and Emily Kuroda as June. The cast also includes Rinabeth Apostol, Jacqueline de Muro, Michael Patrick Gaffney, Cindy Goldfield, Lucinda HitchcockCone, Ezra Reaves and Danny Scheie. The world premiere

musical runs June 1-29.

Also at the Lesher, you’ll find Diablo Ballet’s “Alice in Wonderland at 7:30 p.m. May 16 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 17, as well as the Ballet School Performing Arts’ “Happiness the Musical: A Peanuts Musical Revue!” at 7 p.m. May 17.

Smuin’s Dance Series 2 comes to the Lesher at 7:30 p.m. May 23 and 2 p.m. May 24 to present old favorites and new premieres, including Trey McIntyre’s “Wild Sweet Love” set to a medley of popular artists ranging from Queen to the Zombies and the Partridge Family as well as artistic director Amy Seiwert’s “I Remember Now.”

The company also revives Michael Smuin’s Rodininspired pas de deux, “The Eternal Idol,” and rounds out the evening with Rex Wheeler’s “Sinfonietta,” a spirited neoclassical ballet for five couples set to a piece by Boris Tchaikovsky.

Poison Apple Productions closes out the month with the musical “Sweeney Todd School Edition” May 29-June 1. Enjoy this infamous tale of a barber in 19th century London and his unhealthy obsession with revenge – not to mention his outrageous contribution to Mrs. Lovett’s pie recipe.

For tickets to all the above shows, call 925-943-7469 or go to www.leshercenter.org.

Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre takes on Sam Shepard’s “True West,” reimagining it through a Latin-American lens. Two brothers could not be more different as Lee, a

A journey of color, courage and culture

From the vibrant streets of Baghdad to the tranquil hills of Clayton, artist Amal Shihabi brings a lifetime of color, resilience and artistic intuition to every piece she creates.

Born in Iraq to an Armenian family, Shihabi began a journey to become a celebrated watercolorist that is as remarkable as the paintings she lovingly composes. Her earliest recognition came at a home economics school in Baghdad, where she earned first place for her artwork – an early glimpse into the talent that would blossom across continents.

In 1963, she immigrated to the United States and took art courses at Mary Manse College. Yet, Shihabi is largely a self-taught artist, a fact that makes her story all the more inspiring.

One serendipitous

moment launched her path as a professional painter. While Shihabi was matting one of her works at Triangle Art Center in Lawrenceville, N.J., a woman asked who the artist was. “I told her it was me –and she bought the painting,” Shihabi recalls with warmth. This unexpected encouragement lit a fire in her spirit.

Initially unsure about stepping into the gallery world, Shihabi began showcasing her artwork in local businesses. As customers purchased her pieces, her confidence grew. A stroll through Haddonfield, N.J., led her to Accent Studio, where she boldly presented her portfolio. The gallery was impressed – and offered her a show.

Her work began appearing in juried shows throughout New Jersey, and Shihabi became an active member of the Garden State Watercolor Association and the Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey. In 2003, she received first place in the 7th Annual Associate Juried Exhibition, a distinction she holds dear.

Although proficient in oil and pastel, Shihabi’s heart belongs to watercolor. The

B8 Theatre continues its successful run of Oscar Wilde’s timeless comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” through May 18 at the Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St., Martinez. With Wilde’s witty satire, a lovely set by Diane Rice, beautiful period costumes by Taśa Gleason and director Becky Potter’s talented cast, this is a sure winner for an entertaining, lighthearted evening at the theater. For tickets, go to www.campbelltheater.com/earnest.

You can also catch the final performances of those sexy criminals in Pittsburg Theatre’s production of “Chicago.” Filled with jazzy tunes and colorful characters, the show continues through May 17 at the California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. For tickets, call 925-4271611 or go to https://pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

delicacy and immediacy of the medium allow her to capture fleeting beauty – especially in the petals of a flower. “Flowers speak to me,” she says.

“They’re fragile and bold at the same time – just like life.”

Shihabi’s work has been featured in galleries such as Lexington Gallery, Hopewell Frame Shop and Canal Frame-Crafts Gallery. Since relocating to California, her work has graced the walls of the Blackhawk Gallery in Danville, JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton and the Clayton Library through her involvement with the Creekside Artists Guild. Continental Bank named her Artist of the Month in 1992.

Now living in Clayton with her husband David, Shihabi cherishes time with her two children and two grandchildren. Her art continues to bloom – just like the subjects she loves to paint – reflecting a lifetime of perseverance, gratitude and beauty.

drifter and petty thief, and Austin, a successful screenwriter, struggle for power while collaborating on a Western screenplay.

The dark comedy runs June 7-28 at Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. For tickets, go to www.townhalltheatre.com.

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

There’s more to ‘Murder Week’ than meets the eye

“Welcome to Murder Week” by Karen Dukess was an unrequested Advanced Reader’s Edition received in the nick of time.

One needs a break from the daily news these days. Still, I don’t think I’ve ever so seriously recommended such a light read.

The novel opens with Cath Little, a single woman in her 30s, going through a box of papers brought home to Buffalo after attending her mother’s funeral in Florida. The contents are mostly bills and travel brochures of places her mother could only wish for. A surprising packet is a one-week trip to a village in the Peak District in England, a benefit performance of a murder mystery to be solved by those purchasing the travel package. Most surprising

is the stamp Paid in Full for two.

Cath contacts the company. Only her mother’s half of the package is returnable. Cath is stunned to learn the other reservation was specifically for her, the daughter who was basically abandoned to be raised by Cath’s paternal grandmother.

Cath unenthusiastically books her flight to England.

So, here it is, a cozy, but fake, English murder mystery with fake American detectives competing to detect the fake murderer. Cath is one of three single people who share a cottage and take part as a team, a most interesting team, and except for Cath, each has a solid reason for coming.

Cath’s purpose is cloudy at best and becomes more mysterious as the hunt for the killer seems to unearth unexpected clues as to why her mother might have wanted to take her to this village. I can’t say a lot more of the story without spoiling it.

What I love about the book is the inclusion of a second, totally different, mystery. Dukess skillfully weaves the pacing of the second puzzle, enticing the reader into the fun of going after two mysteries, without either one out-

shining the other. The reader never forgets the hunt for the killer.

The author does spot-on characterizations of the easily recognized American personalities playing against and with their British hosts. These are believable characters, especially the villagers who seem to be lifted right of the screens of the best BBC mysteries. How willing is Cath to put together some of the clues about the trip and her mother? Could she believe there was more to her mother than abandonment? Typically American, she’s better at dealing with a scripted murder than a damaged heart.

Another bonus is the author’s descriptions of the village and the Peak District itself. It is as good as a travel brochure. And yes, there is romance. But not too much. I also appreciate the author’s ability to wrap it up without a bow. Both mysteries are solved. All returns to normal. Almost. No spoilers from me. It is a good read.

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.’

Amal Shibabi’s small paintings are on display at JOR Fine Art Gallery in Clayton.

Amal Shihabi’s Majestic Rooster

SUNNY SOLOMON BOOKIN’ WITH SUNNY

SALLY HOGARTY STAGE STRUCK

Chris Hardy

Smuin artists Ricardo Dyer and Tessa Barbour cavort as Cassidy Isaacson looks on in the Bay Area premiere of Trey McIntyre’s “Wild Sweet Love” at the Lesher Center May 2324.

Kevin Berne

Granddaughter Jade (Sophie Oda) and grandmother June (Emily Kuroda) investigate mysteries in a web series filmed by Dean (Miller Liberatore) in “Happy Pleasant Valley” at the Lesher Center June 1-29.

This month, I’m highlighting a handful of very different releases from right here in Contra Costa County. These local offerings are readily available on all streaming platforms and online music stores.

PUNCHY PUNK

FROM PINOLE

East Bay punk band

Pinoles just released a six pack of fist-pumping bangers.

With songs averaging 2½ minutes each, the EP is appropriately titled “The Short 6.” It offers more of Pinoles’ fun, catchy, pop-punk energy, delivered with their highest production level yet.

While previous releases were studio captures of Pinoles playing together, the trio was more meticulous when working on “The Short 6.” They employed individual tracking and added personnel – male and female backing vocalists and a second guitarist – for optimal results. They recorded the EP at Tin Roof Recording in Fallon, Nev., produced by Zac Damon (of Screeching Weasel, Squirtgun and Zionks!) and mastered by acclaimed punk producer and musician Mass Giorgini.

Fans of Ramones and Green Day will definitely want to check out “The Short 6.”

POST-ROCK/SHOEGAZE

FROM EL CERRITO

On May 12, Moraga Volcanics released the follow-up to their 2021 debut album “Freeze-Thaw.” The sophomore release “Point Nemo”

New music from around CoCo County

delivers more of the band’s signature sound – a hypnotic hybrid of shoegaze and postrock – with more emphasis on pedal-based guitar effects.

Guitarist and vocalist Jeff Holt elaborates on the new direction: “The songs are more vocal-forward, despite sometimes abandoning the typical verse/chorus structure entirely. It’s a darker album, thematically and lyrically, reflecting on where our heads have been since the release of our first album.”

Titled after the oceanic pole of inaccessibility, “Point Nemo” is anchored by a bedrock of impeccably steady drumming, allowing for unbridled exploration of guitar-driven sound without drifting too far from accessibility.

POST-HARDCORE FROM MORAGA

The post-hardcore outfit

Dorsette has just dropped their fourth offering, a self-produced EP titled “From a Garden.”

Described by the band as “a labor of love created over a short, busy summer in a hot garage with the fan (usually) turned off (to reduce noise, of course),” this EP exudes a raw, independent spirit reminiscent of the 1990s underground.

With dynamic ranges and vocals that won’t be bothered with concern for pitch perfection, Dorsette provides a sound that’s a welcome callback to the stylings of Hum, Slint and Dinosaur Jr.

Guitarist and vocalist Palmer Hightower readily acknowledges their influences: “We owe a lot to Sonic Youth and Swirlies, for sure. We change guitar tunings for almost every song, and all the dynamic shifts in our music are sort of trying to emulate the magic that Swirlies conjured up on their second album.”

“From a Garden” ironically sounds as if it were actually coming from inside a dark

room with heavy blackout curtains, lit only by those thin beams of dusty sunlight that manage to peer in.

NEW ROCK GENRE FROM MARTINEZ

Drawing influence from Frank Zappa, Deerhoof, St. Vincent and Radiohead, the adventurous Blue, Indeed delivers the unexpected with their latest EP, “Cromagnon Boogie.”

As lead guitarist Louie Lewis explains, the band feels they’ve focused their selfdescribed “spazzy art-rock” sound into a new sound they consider its own genre: “This EP is different from our previous releases in that we made a concerted effort to create a genre we affectionately call

‘Cro-Magnon Rock.’ It was recorded with a degree of creative input from Jason Kick, our sound engineer.”

Intrigued readers can get an idea of this sound by sitting with the excitable opener “Steveland,” which has countless changes in time, key and mood. If that’s your cup of tea, the rest of “Cromagnon Boogie” will assuredly be a delightfully wild ride.

For more recent releases from independent bands and artists from all around the Bay Area, tune into 90.5 KVHS at 7 p.m. every Sunday and Thursday, or visit thebeatofdiablo.com and click on the “New Releases” link.

Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.

With prom season in full swing, one of the most critical decisions for this important occasion is where to eat.

While some high schools hold their functions in-house, others separate dining from dancing. When only refreshments are served, couples often choose to have a meal off campus.

Young adults are looking for white tablecloth venues that have ambiance, good food and excellent service. Normal teen hangouts like Dave & Busters or Golden Coral don’t fit these criteria. Those dressed in tuxedos or long elegant gowns are seeking classy places that are intended to become scrapbook memories.

If looking for a steakhouse, Brasas do Brazil at the far end of Park and Shop in Concord is a good selection. Patrons are treated to an excellent buffet prior to indulging in unlimited portions of BBQ beef, chicken, lamb and shrimp. Brasas do Brazil also features special mocktails for the under 21 set.

Other places of note are primarily located in Walnut Creek. High-end dining for beef is headed by Fleming’s, Prime Rib at The Garden and Ruth’s Chris Steak House All of these are on the expensive side but fill the bill for prom dinning.

For an Asian flair, explore Benihana in Concord’s Willows Shopping Center and Kobe Japan in Pleasant Hill. Both offer Teppanyaki cuisine, where a personal chef dramatically prepares your food on a tableside grill. This type of meal is ideally suited for parties of four or more.

Cooking your own Asian food has proven to be popular with the younger set. One of the best places for this is Shabuya at the Veranda in Concord. After partaking in a first-class salad bar, customers select thin slices of raw steak, shrimp, fish and vegetables to incorporate for hot pot and shabu-shabu cooking. Special sauces, including my favorite peanut one, enhance flavor.

For a Korean version, there’s nearby Gen Korean BBQ on Willow Pass. Unlimit-

ed portions of short ribs, wagyu beef, carne asada and shrimp are prepared on grills located on each table. The two hours of delicious dining will satisfy even varsity football players. Another intriguing choice is Swagat in Concord. If you’re not a fan of spicy Indian dishes, chef Kumar can tone down the seasoning while still creating some of the best gourmet offerings in town. If one calls a few days before, Kumar will prepare a banquet for groups of eight or more featuring American and Indian food.

One of the best places for a quality dining experience is Wence’s in Pleasant Hill. It has a continental menu, ambiance and first-class service. From steak and seafood to their renowned baked macaroni and cheese with truffles, Wence’s is a can’t miss destination for any occasion.

For Italian food, my favorite high-end dining destination is Il Pavone on Olympic Boulevard in Walnut Creek. The Bigotti family has been operating this Tuscan style eatery since 1991. They have a wide menu appealing to all ages. I am a sucker for their veal piccata and mushroom ravioli. Il Pavone will create a memorable prom experi-

ence with gourmet food and personal service.

If one does not mind a short drive or has secured the service of a limousine, Port Costa’s Bull Valley Roadhouse is an excellent choice. This has proven to be a unique destination since 1897. Its history includes a speakeasy during prohibition and a stint being run by legendary restaurateur Juanita Musson. It is a fun yet elegant place serving American food for kids of all ages. Another eatery that has been around awhile is Casa Orinda. Started to feed workers during construction of the Caldecott Tunnel in 1937, this restaurant has evolved into one of the premier dining spots in the region. The fried chicken, with a recipe supplied by Harland Sanders, is the best I ever had. Prom goers will appreciate this classy place and its refined elegance. In planning prom weekend meals, it is imperative to make reservations. This can be done online or by personally visiting the restaurant. Talking to the proprietors can often result in special treatment. Bon appétit! Rich Eber is a local journalist and resident of Concord. Contact him at richeber9@gmail.com.