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Farmers’ Market, Garden Club plant sale and ‘Beach Boys’ usher in Clayton’s outdoor season
Clayton’s unofficial summer began on May 10 when Vice-mayor Dave Shuey tossed out the first cabbage to open the season’s Saturday morning Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market. Although still early in the year, there were peaches and apricots along with plenty of vegetables. The market opens every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. Visit Clayton Farmers’ Market on Facebook for recipes and special deals.
Susan Sappington clearly scored big at the Clayton Valley Garden Club’s plant sale held in the Endeavor Hall parking lot. The annual event raises funds for the Clayton museum garden project, the rose library’s rose gardens and flower beds, Daffodil Hill and garden projects at local schools. On Saturday night, the California Beach Boys kicked off the first Summer Concert in The Grove. Picnic blankets
were everywhere and it was hard to sit still when the band cranked up “Surfin’ USA.” Clayton’s Norma Galan kicked it up with the sax player during the closing number. Next up on May 24 is rock out time with The Boys of Summer Eagles Tribute Band. Stake out your picnic area after 4 p.m. Concert begins at 6 p.m. See page 3 for complete concert schedule. Photos by Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Honor the fallen at VFW Memorial Day service Memorial Day is not just a day for backyard barbeques or trips to the beach. It is a day to remember and honor all of the members of the Armed Forces who have died in the line of duty. On Monday, May 26, the VFW will again mark the day with an observance at the Veterans Memorial Flagpole Monument in downtown Clayton. More than 500 are expected to attend the event which will include patriotic music, prayer and remembrances. Natalie Tollefson, surviving spouse
of PFC Benjamin Tollefson will speak of “Surviving Hope” and share her journey since her husband was killed in action on New Years Eve 2008. Lt. Col. Michael Hudson will deliver the keynote address and members of the audience will have an opportunity to share their remembrances and comments. The service begins with a Huey helicopter flyover at 10 a.m. The observance is co-sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Lt. Jerry
Novakovich Post 1525 and the Korean War Veterans Assoc. Chapter 264. Memorial Day originally began to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women who died in any war or military action. Originally called Decoration Day, it was renamed Memorial Day in 1968 and is always celebrated on the last Monday in May.
Bowmen’s renovation is right on target PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
Angel Yarnell was in a grocery store parking lot that hot September Sunday when she happened to look up and see smoke billowing from the slopes of Mt. Diablo. “We didn’t think twice,” said the president of the Diablo Bowmen Archery Club. “My husband and I just threw the groceries in the car and hightailed it up to the club.” But they weren’t able to make it all the way up to the renowned archery range located on Oak Hill Lane, off of Morgan Territory Road. The Morgan Fire was already sweeping toward their property, and firefighters were stopping traffic on Marsh Creek Road on the way up to Mayor hank Stratford is on vacation. The Mayors Corner will return next issue.
the mountain. Luckily, the club’s Range Manager Bill Potts was up at the club and was able to salvage some memorabilia before he was forced to evacuate. The fire leapt through that area of the mountain, effectively “cremating” several of the target trails, Yarnell says. The club lost three quarters of their assets, including target butts, unique 3D targets, storage units and other property — not to mention damage to the beautiful Oak and Pine trees that dotted the property. Firefighters set up a staging area at the club, and managed to save the clubhouse. Still, when all was said and done, club losses totaled close to $70,000. But like so many stories about the Morgan Fire, there were heroes — not only the firefighters who helped save the clubhouse and homes on Oak Hill Lane, but the club members and community members who
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ask Us (NEW) . . . . . . . . . . .7 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
came out week after week to help restore the archery club to its former glory. “At first it was a clean-up effort,” Yarnell says. “We needed to see how safe the area was, to make sure that the surviving trees wouldn’t fall.” Volunteers braved biting beetles, ash, dust and other fire-related obstacles to help restore the club. With the weekly work parties helping to clear brush and help evade erosion, the Bowman’s Club was able to put on a shoot just three months after the fire. They have continued to sponsor archery events throughout the spring and winter. “The renovation has been wonderful,” Yarnell says. “We have made rehabilitation progress by leaps and bounds. The rapid progress was made possible through the support of our members, our sister clubs and their members, and our community. They all supported our rehabilitation through hard Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Community Calendar . . . . .14 Concord City Beat . . . . . . . . .5 Concord News . . . . . . . . . . .5 Design and Décor . . . . . . . .18 Directory of Advertisers . . . . .7 DVMS Correspondent . . . . .9
work, and both monetary and practical donations.” It seemed like a long shot last fall, but in June the Bowman’s Club will host its annual Open House from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 21. It’s an
opportunity for the public to try archery, tour the range and enjoy a hot dog lunch. For more information about the Open House or the Diablo Bowman’s Club in general, visit www.diablo-bowman.org, or call Yarnell at 925-381-4590.
Photo courtesy Diablo Bowmen
MEMBERS OF THE DIABLO BOWMEN ARCHERY CLUB and volunteers from a sister club clean up fire damaged growth blocking trails on the club grounds on Mt. Diablo. The club lost $70,000 in assets and equipment in the Morgan Fire last September.
Clayton Valley Village puts a different slant on retirement JOHN JACKSON Clayton Pioneer
C l a y t o n ’s senior community is looking to a new model of “aging in place” to stay active, build relationships and have practi- MARIA XIARIS cal needs met, all while living at home for a longer period of time. Maria Xiaris, a Clayton resident and the founder of the Clayton Valley Village, believes that a village system is a model that Clayton is primed to embrace. “It’s time for a village in Clayton where we support one another as we age,” she says. STAY IN OWN HOMES The intent is to let people stay in their own homes as long as possible, says Xiaris, and to offer “a retirement community akin to a Rossmoor without the bricks and mortar.” To accomplish this, the village provides a concierge service of sorts to members who pay monthly dues, typically between $40-$50. Different villages across the country offer varying services that may include transportation, fix-it help, seminar offerings, recreation classes, or friendly visits. For instance, there may be a member who has a shopping trip or doctor’s visit to which they need a ride. The village will set up a security-checked employee to
See Retirement, page 3 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . .6 Food for Thought . . . . . . . .15 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Get Up and Get Out . . . . . . .8 MDES Correspondent . . . . . .9 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . .16
Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Pine Hollow Correspondent .9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Teen Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 The Pocket Parent . . . . . . .16
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