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May 20, 2005
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Hundreds stopped to smell the roses GREGG MANNING
MAYOR’S CORNER This year’s Art and Wine was bigger and better than ever. This year’s Art and Wine Festival was a great success. I would like to take a moment to thank the Clayton businesses whose normal routine was interrupted but who hopefully got additional traffic. And a big thank you to the hundreds of people The Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) assembled, who took a few hours out of their day to help on Saturday or Sunday or in many cases both days. Without their contribution of time and effort, the event could not have happened. While the four co-chairs of the event have been planning the event since last November and were headlined the last issue of the Pioneer, there were dozens of others who worked behind the scenes. Each person contributed to a very successful event. The Blue Ribbon Landscape Committee had a booth as part of their education outreach program. I noticed a great many people talking with those manning the booth. The Committee seems to be getting its message out. As part of the Art and Wine
See Mayor, page 6
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Above: Over a hundred rose bushes greet visitors in the front yard at Kirkwood Court. Below, the built-in brick bar and grill demonstrates creative use of small space in this delightful Buckeye Terrace garden.
JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Cloudy skies, a bit of wind and the threat of rain didn’t dampen the spirits of garden lovers everywhere who came out in droves to enjoy, admire and smell the fragrances that permeated five Clayton and Concord gardens in the Clayton Historical Society’s 13th annual event. Some took in the sights as they strolled around, others stood in front of a certain flower or plant for long
periods of time, while others took notes in hopes of capturing pieces of the beautiful floral designs to later incorporate them into their own personal gardens. This year the beautiful rose took center stage in all its beauty in just about every garden. A colorful array of over 100 rose bushes greeted you at Walt and Mary Rogers home on Kirkwood Court in Concord. In their backyard the tall redwood trees formed a magnificent backdrop to a garden with a beautiful foun-
tain custom made for their son’s graduation, cozy decks and lovely potted plants. At the home of Sherianne Cotterell and Bill Grimm on Renee Way in Concord visitors were treated to more roses and fountains with rocks displaying names like joy, love, embrace and polish your heart. The smell of jasmine left a delightful scent in the air as garden lovers enjoyed the birdbaths, gazing balls and statues.
See Hundreds, page 4
Bocce Ball Centre inches ahead slowly but surely Slow progress on downtown Bocce Centre while city addresses neighbors’ concerns. JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
The process for approval of a Bocce Ball Centre on an empty parcel of land behind
Clayton City Hall is moving along much like the bocce game itself, slowly and methodically. Last week’s public hearing during the regular meeting of the Planning Commission was the sixth in a series of meetings and has now been continued to May 24. Even though the Redevelopment Agency tried to buffer neighbors who live close to the proposed Bocce Centre
with a scaled-down version of the original plan, it didn’t appease angry neighbors who still insist that bocce doesn’t belong in their backyard. The original plan called for 10 courts, storage facility, restroom, picnic tables, BBQ grills, bleachers, lighting and PA system. On May 3 the Redevelopment Agency sent the proposal back to the planning commission with a modified
plan eliminating the gazebo and barbeques. The new plan also calls for eight courts and various changes in some of the proposed facilities and amenities. A storage facility and restroom relocated to the west side of the property would help serve as a noise buffer for residents. Instead of aluminum bleachers, the modified plan includes a planter-seating wall to complement the seating wall in the city
hall courtyard. Shade arbors would be reduced to one large arbor between the bocce courts and fencing would be reduced to a security fence around the courts with two pedestrian gates. Howard Geller, Vice President of the Clayton Bocce Ball Federation, a group that promises to maintain the center once it is built, says that eight courts are needed to produce
enough revenue to cover the maintenance expense. It’s a matter of numbers,” he said. He talked about restricting certain nights to smaller league play when the library is in use or when meetings are scheduled in the library’s multi-use room. Geller strongly believes the Bocce Federation will instruct its members on where they can and cannot park. “If you are on
See Bocce, page 6
Clayton’s first and only city attorney retires after 41 years TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
MAURY HUGUET
After 41 years as Clayton’s City Attorney, come July, Maury Huguet, will trade in the late night council meetings for his grandkids’ Little League games and Irish dancing recitals. Huguet, Clayton’s first and only city attorney, was hired by the city prior to its incorporation. “I was hired on the come,” he said. And come they did, he recalls. All the major issues of a
new city: annexations and boundary definitions, incorporation and elections—all within a few months. Huguet has seen the city grow from a tiny little hamlet with a lot of really big trees to the suburban town of nearly 12,000 that it is today. It’s kept a small town feel, however. “The thing about Clayton,” says Huguet, “is that it’s very close. All the way along we’ve had wonderful mayors and leadership. It’s made my job a heck of a lot easier. In general, they (the council) have always
wanted what’s best for Clayton.” The admiration runs both ways. Councilman and Clayton native, Pete Laurence says “41 years with his hand on the tiller—it’s been awesome.” “Maury’s been here since the dirt was incorporated,” says City Manager Gary Napper. “He certainly has been a stabilizing influence in the city’s journey. He’s kept us out of trouble. Besides,” Napper said, “he’s just a darned old nice guy and I’ll miss him” In the early days, recalls
Huguet, city officials met in Endeavor Hall, long before the renovation that resulted in the quaint and charming building that we see today. “Hot summer evenings, no air conditioning, horses next door, windows open, room full of flies – it was a lot different then,” says Huguet with a chuckle. Today, the council meets in the (air conditioned) Library Community Room, complete with sound system and videotaping equipment.
See Huguet, page 6