Nov 11 The Pioneer 2022

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Journey of a mail-in ballot: multi-step process assures integrity of vote count

to any residents who are interested. It’s currently scheduled around elections, so the next opportunity to participate will be during the 2024 election cycle unless there is an election called for any reason in 2023.

With voters having more time and options for casting their ballots, election days have ickly morphed into election sea-

sons – or the more apropos election month.

In turn, the busy ballot extraction process has been altered, too. The result being an extended process for election officials who are aggressively working to stay ahead every step of the way in order to achieve smooth and fair elections now and in years to come.

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Volunteer observers bolster transparency, aid voter education

With all its hype and fanfare, Election Day gets top billing as the television and Internet are full of wall-to-wall coverage of voter misinformation and election denier rumblings.

But as important, especially in the current political climate, is the extraction effort that Contra Costa County election officials undertake to securely and timely prepare the more than 150,000 vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots that make their way to the Martinez offices from countywide 24/7 drop boxes and early voting locations, as well as those arriving by traditional mail ahead of Nov. 8.

“Vote-by-mail extraction underscores the democratic process simply because it creates transparency on how ballots are prepared to be counted,” said Dawn Kruger, civic outreach/engagement specialist with the elections department.

LONGERPROCESSING

WINDOW

There was a time when Extraction Day centered on the Saturday before Election Day. But over time, the rules for when processing ballots could start moved to 10 business days before Election Day. Now, that process starts 29 days out.

“Extraction Day previously became an event with many volunteers helping us get the mountains of VBM ballots out of their envelopes so they could be scanned. When code was changed to allow us to begin processing VBM ballots earlier, the need for the big push the

Saturday before has become less necessary,” Kruger said.

In the leadup to the current election, officials saw fewer early returns of ballots compared with the spring primary. Kruger suspects that more voters are back at offices and out in the community and no longer have the same concerns about contracting COVD-19. Or, it goes back to simple procrastination about turning in ballots, which likely won’t ever change.

Waiting until Election Day to turn in VBM ballots meant that these ballots were not going to be processed until after Election Day, as the time and effort it takes to fully process a VBM ballot (scan pass, signature checking, group sort, extraction, scanning, adjudication if necessary, and tabulation) can take days.

OBSERVERSGET SPECIALACCESS

The newly launched Certified Election Observer (CEO)

Program further reinforces the integrity of the election process. According to Kruger, the program’s goal is to increase public trust in elections by providing an even more transparent and educational view into the entire process.

“Unlike traditional election observers, who visit to observe one specific activity, the CEO program aims to provide individuals an overall view of the entire election process with behind-the-scenes access,” she said.

“When we should be celebrating elections, people are questioning them,” said Renee Zeimer of Moraga, a self-proclaimed “election nerdy person.” That focus on voting security motivated her to become a CEO.

Her interest in elections goes back to her days in Girl Scouts, when she first accompanied her mom to the polls, and later on as a poll worker

herself and then volunteering with the ballot extraction process.

MORE CEOSNEEDED

IN 2024

Depending on the level of extraction activity, as few as 10 volunteers could be involved –with about 100 on the heaviest days. Officials earmarked Nov. 5 as a particularly busy day and projected the heaviest days would immediately follow Election Day.

Along with viewing the extraction of ballots in teams of two, volunteer CEOs recently toured locations where incoming ballots and their signatures are initially scanned, the offices where personnel carefully view and verify ballot envelope signatures for accuracy and finally the secured second floor room in the county’s election headquarters where ballots are fed into tabulating machines

The CEO program is open

Preliminary election night results include only the mail ballots received by Nov 7 and in-person votes cast Nov. 8. For the most current counts, which include poll results, go to the elections website at www.contracostavote.gov where interim reports will be posted each Friday by 5 p.m. until all votes are counted and certified, which is expected to be Dec. 2. All votes are unofficial until certification.

The availability of updated reports will be communicated via Twitter and Facebook. Changes to the reporting schedule, if any, will also be communicated on these social media sites and at PioneerPublishers.com.

It all started around Ruth Galindo’s kitchen table and 52 years later Concord History Museum opens

the second-floor museum.

When a group of long-time Concord residents started the Concord Historical Society in 1970, they had two spaces to choose from for their meetings…the kitchen table or the living room of Ruth Galindo’s landmark Concord home.

Now, 52 years later, the local historical society is getting ready to unveil its longdesired permanent home with a free grand opening of the Concord History Museum Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19 and 20, from 1 – 4 p.m. that will feature a model railroad display running through the middle of

And this museum is just across the garden lawn on Clayton Road from the Galindo Home where the dream was first envisioned all those decades ago.

Adding to the festivities the Concord Historical Society Holiday Market is open Nov. 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Event Center’s Main Hall with a variety of jewelry, food, artwork, photography and other exhibitors offering handmade goods which make excellent holiday gifts.

A brief tour of the museum’s “Concord History 101” exhibit last weekend showed among the historic items, a display case with memorabilia for Concord native son

and jazz great Dave Brubeck and another of the Concord Pavilion.

So far, there is little of no mention of the long sports history of Contra Costa County’s largest city and the 20-time world champion Concord Blue Devils, among other topics that will surely be memorialized more fully over the years.

An interesting display shows the marketing brochures complete with floorplans and prices for many of Concord’s neighborhoods built during the 1950 and 1960 boom years when the population exploded from less than 7000 in 1950 to the 1970

Jay Bedecarré

Concord’s history is on display at the new Concord History Museum opening Nov. 19-20

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

David Scholz

Voters Services Supervisor Jessica Datangel, goes over the signature verification process with Walnut Creek resident Patti Bittenbender, a participant in Certified Election Observer program, during the group’s visit to one of the stops in a tour of the Contra Costa County Election Division Offices.

March spotlights 1985 hanging mystery at Concord BART station

About 30 people marched through the downtown the evening of Nov. 2 with signs, enlarged photos and flyers in remembrance of Timothy Charles Lee, a 23-year-old man whose body was found hanging from a tree near the Concord BART Station on Nov. 2, 1985.

The death of the Berkeley resident – a Black, Native American, gay man – was ruled a suicide, despite some observations and circumstantial evidence that suggest foul play. The strap used in his hanging did not belong to him; the suicide note discovered by law enforcement included a misspelling of the victim’s name and misspellings of multiple family members; and his body exhibited evidence of struggle and/or abuse, including what appeared to be cigarette burns.

Nearby residents also reported hearing screams and screeching tires around the time of Lee’s death.

Many believe that not only was Lee murdered, but that this was an act of hate. Around the time and location of his death, two Black men were reportedly stabbed by suspects dressed in Ku Klux Klan attire.

A MARCH FOR JUSTICE

Led by Lee’s cousin Frank Sterling, the rally began at the new home of the Rainbow Community Center (RCC) on Salvio Street, which includes a room dedicated to Lee. The route continued through Todos Santos Plaza and ended near the Concord BART Station, where a candlelight vigil was held and various commu-

nity members spoke in front of an Ofrenda – a traditional Mexican altar display.

“The people that did this to Timmy could still be out here in the streets of Concord, just living their life, hoping that no one ever brings this up and no one ever looks into it,” said Sterling. “But I want them to be scared. I want them to know that somebody – even if it’s just us – people are out here who care about what happened to Timmy, and we want justice.”

Other speakers included Ady Olvera of Concord Communities Alliance, Concord City Council District 5 candidate Laura Nakamura and Kiku Johnson of RCC. Just before the march, Johnson stated that he was unaware of this dark piece of Concord history when he accepted the position of executive director at RCC.

Sterling shared with those in attendance that he had per-

sonally

rial gathering, although none were present.

A STUDENT OF FASHIONDESIGN

Family members describe Lee as an outgoing young man, full of life and excited for the future.

He attended the University of Arts of San Francisco, where he studied to be a fashion designer. Just prior to his death, he was awarded a fellowship to study in Milan, Italy.

As the story goes, he caught the last BART train out of San Francisco late one night on his way home to Berkeley. Lee missed his transfer in Oakland, perhaps due to falling asleep. He found himself in Concord, which was at the time the end of the line.

He was forced to leave the train and station and was reportedly not seen again until his body was discovered hung

HOPINGFOR NEWINVESTIGATION

One of the chants heard during the march was a variation of the “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” Except respondents answered: “Thirty-seven years ago!”

Sterling explained that he’s revisiting this story now because “it’s never too late for justice.”

He added: “We want justice for Timmy, and we are the generation that’s hopefully going to make it happen.”

A Facebook page called “Reopen the case of Timothy Charles Lee” was set up just prior to the event. Sterling encourages the public to follow this page for updates as he works with various organizations and governing bodies to bring more attention to this tragedy, in hopes of launching a new investigation.

invited Concord Mayor Dominic Aliano and other councilmembers to the memo-

from a nearby tree later that morning.

Dave Hughes

Frank Sterling speaks at the Concord BART Station about the 1985 hanging death of his cousin, Timothy Charles Lee. Family members say it was not suicide.

census total of 85,000. Dana Estates, Holbrook Heights, Sun Terrace East, Canterbury Village, Clayton Valley Highlands, Bishop Estates and Hillcrest all offered new homes for much less than it would take to put solar on any of those roofs today.

Getting to this significant milestone involved so many steps when the entire project could have fallen apart for legal and financial reasons. Volunteers over the year had battles with the City of Concord and there’s still lingering resentment among some about the role and support (or lack of) the city played in the process.

The list of people who played key roles over the journey of bringing the opening to fruition is long, but must include Lloyd Crenna, Chuck Gabrysiak, Lind Higgins, Carol Longshore, Kay Massone, Paul Larson, Jim

and Jan Trolan, Jim Serventi, Marc Willis, Dave Gagliardi and many others who have served as volunteers, fund raisers, donors and cheerleaders for the Historical Society’s efforts.

CONCORD’S HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1835 TO 2022

1835 Rancho land grant given to Juan Salvio Pacheco covering 17,900 acres of what is a large part of Concord today.

1856 Don Francisco Galindo House, also known as Galindo House and Gardens, was built by Francisco Galindo and his wife, Maria Dolores Manuela Pacheco Galindo. This is one of the last remaining Victorian ranch houses in the county. The first and oldest wood frame house in Concord, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1988.

1869 Concord was founded as Todos Santos (“all saints”) by

Juan Salvio Pacheco. Feb. 5, 1905 Concord was incorporated.

1927-28 Masonic Hall was built at 1765 Galindo Street.

1970 Concord Historical Society was founded and would meet in Ruth Galindo’s living room or around her kitchen table in the Galindo House.

Younger sister Leonora Galindo Fink was also involved in the formation of the society.

1990 Historical Society opened 1st location of History Resource Center at 1601 Sutter St. in building owned by City of Concord for $50 monthly rent. All of its archives were moved out of various storage sites into the building.

1990s Masonic Order sold the building, which eventually went through multiple owners as development plans failed to materialize. Gallery Concord had exhibits in the building for a number of years.

1999 Ruth Galindo died and, per her will, the City took own-

Fundraising begins for Mitchell Canyon education center

Efforts are underway to welcome Mount Diablo State Park’s next hundred years with a modern education center near Clayton.

The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA), the park’s official partner, is launching a campaign to raise $3 million to build this new education center in Mitchell Canyon. The group hopes many others will join them as new protectors and champions of Mount Diablo.

As a gateway to the wonder and spirit of Mount Diablo, the new education center will illuminate Native American history and relationships to Mount Diablo, and expand the native plant garden to teach about local flora and fauna.

A small portable trailer does its best to welcome and educate the more than 35,000 visitors to Mitchell Canyon, on the northwest slope of the park. But the grounds are not ADA compliant, the parking is inadequate, and there is no space for classes, presentations or workshops.

“A new educational complex with ADA compliant facilities at Mitchell Canyon would make it possible to accommodate field trips by bus for the first time to the mountain and provide outdoor education, natural history

and environmental science opportunities that are not currently available,” noted Lynn Mackay, Contra Costa County’s superintendent of schools.

This exciting project is sure to inspire future generations to wander the mountain, explore Mount Diablo’s biodiversity, wonder at its beauty and ensure its protection.

Wally De Young is the MDIA outreach director. For more information and to learn how you can help build the new Mitchel Canyon education center, visit MDIA.org or email mcec4mc@gmail.com.

ership of the Galindo Home and the 1.5-acre property at 1721 Amador Ave., adjacent to what years later became the new location of the Masonic Temple.

2008 History Resource Center moved from Sutter Street to Farm Bureau Hall, 1700 Farm Bureau Rd. The Clayton Valley Women’s Club gave the building to the Historical Society.

Sept. 2010 Historical Society took possession of the Galindo Home from the City of Concord and began restoration of the historic home. A second agreement at that time between the City and Historical Society gave the society three years to move the Masonic Hall building off redevelopment property or forfeit rights to stop demolition of the building (see March and May 2013).

2012 Galindo Home Museum and Gardens opened for public tours. The Galindo Home Museum formally opened in 2013.

March 2013 Historical Society bought the vacant property next to Galindo Home from Dr. Jim and Terry Partington for $350,000 to relocate the Masonic Temple. (The couple donated $25,000 to the Society.)

May 2013 Masonic Temple was moved 400 yards from Galindo St. to current location 1928 Clayton Rd., just before a contractual deadline would have allowed for its destruction. Officially, the society paid $1 for the building. The 50-foot-wide structure was moved onto a 60foot-wide lot. Expansion and renovation of the building in the ensuing years included adding a catering kitchen, basement for storage, elevator and second stairway to meet safety codes.

June 2016 First public tours and events in the partially renovated Masonic Temple offered by Historical Society.

Nov. 19-20, 2022 Concord History Museum officially opens with its first exhibit and a fundraising Holiday Sale on the ground floor in the Event Center. Completion of the restoration took place in 2021 and this year.

See pioneerpublishers.com for more details.

WALLY DE YOUNG Special to the Pioneer

Naan n Curry’s homestyle cuisine a local favorite

Since it opened in 2011, Concord’s Naan n Curry has evolved into one of the most popular places to dine in the region.

Under the tutelage of chef-owner Mohammad Akbar, the homestyle eatery serves about 400 meals of his brand of Indian-Pakistan cuisine to an adoring clientele every day. Such volume is a testament to Naan n Curry offering excellent value to a loyal customer base.

Over the years, Mohammad has imparted his love of food, family and God into every dish. He uses top-flight ingredients, from halal meats to U13 shrimp. Every item is made from scratch.

After immigrating to the United States in 2004 as an IT engineer, Mohammad soon began working in his wife’s family’s restaurants in San Francisco. When Naan n Curry opened, Mohammad was already an accomplished chef. Over the years, this has served him well as the consistent quality of his food has always stood out.

Although they have a large menu, basic sauces provide the foundation for everything

served. Most dishes come from the owners’ native Lahore, Pakistan, and nearby India. This includes:

Garam Masala Curry: Masala, cinnamon, peppercorns, cardamom, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, mace, cumin and nutmeg provide a spicy mixture that enhances different add-ons.

Palak Paneer: The North Indian spinach-based sauce with cottage cheese is medium spicy, going well with lamb, chicken and vegetarian fare.

Karachi Style: Ginger and tomato mixed with masala.

Vindaloo: This South India style sauce is the hottest one the restaurant offers, recommended for those with strong stomachs.

Mohammad uses a Tandoori marinade for seasoning different proteins and vegetables. It includes coconut milk combined with masala, ginger, lemon juice and other spices. After leaving them in this mixture for up to 24 hours, he cooks lamb, sea-

food,

Balancing the spicy curry items on the menu, Mohammed offers a housemade naan flatbread that soaks up the flavors of their exotic offerings. Although the 10-plus inch diameter seems large, I usually allocate a piece of their garlic or onion naan for each diner at my table.

Another dish which is a must for most patrons is Mohammad’s unique basmati rice that pairs well with moderate highly spiced curry flavors. With hints of cinnamon, black cardamom, cumin and bay leaves, it does not overwhelm the palate. The basmati rice is a huge portion, thus can be easily shared at the table.

Other side dishes include stuffed samosa pastries, which

beef and chicken in a clay oven. The finished product helps separate Naan n Curry from many Indian restaurants that grill their Tandoori selections.

Owner-chef Mohammad Akbar worked in his wife’s family’s restaurants before opening Naan n Curry in Concord.

RICHARD EBER TASTE & TELL

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Margene Robertson Ralston

Sept. 13, 1934 — Aug. 23, 2022

Margene Robertson Ralston died on Aug. 23, after a fulfilling life as a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.

Margene was born in the Philippines to Mary McPike Robertson and Alexander Robertson. After WWII, she moved to the United States and graduated from Hollywood High School in 1951.

She attended Occidental College for two years before transferring to UC Berkeley. While attending Cal, she met the love of her life, Charles Ralston, and together they had six children, Mary, Kathy, Steve, Susan, Linda and Chris, as well as 14 grandchildren. Margene and Chuck recently celebrated 65

years of marriage. She loved cooking, reading, attending St. Bonaventure Catholic Church and, most of all, spending time with her family. Margene will be remembered for her kind, caring personality and fun-loving (sometimes mischievous) nature. She will live on in all those who knew her.

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Denis O’Malley was born in December 1943 in the San Fernando Valley. His family always celebrated his birthday on Dec. 21 but when he saw his birth certificate it listed Dec. 22 as his date of birth. It was something Denis enjoyed, allowing himself to have two birthdays.

His parents James Patrick O’Malley and Margaret Mullen emigrated to America in the early 1930s. Denis O’Malley spent most of his childhood in New York before the family moved to Westwood in 1958 when his dad started working in Hollywood, where he acted in nearly 250 movies and TV shows until 1982.

Denis enrolled at St. Peters College seminary school for one year after graduating from Loyola High School. He then entered the work force at Osborne Labs before enrolling for two years at Santa Monica Junior College before

Naan,

enlisting in the Marine Corps, where he served from 1965-69 during the Vietnam War. His eyesight prevented him from becoming a pilot and instead he was top of his class at Camp Lejeune as an engineer mechanic.

He spent two years in Okinawa and was eventually discharged as a Sergeant in 1969. He was a proud former Marine for the rest of his life even after he was exposed to anti-military sentiment when he came home from serving overseas.

He married Patty Hobbs in 1968 and they had daughter Bridget in 1972 while both were in graduate programs. The couple divorced in 1974. He had obtained his bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Loyola University and his master’s in environmental engineering in 1972 from Stanford.

That year he began a career that would span over four decades at Brown and Caldwell where he was a mentor to many while specializing in wastewater management and dispute resolution.

During a stint in Texas for Brown and Coldwell he met Minga Stephens and they married in 1982. The

from page 4

consist of two turnovers filled with potatoes, green peas and spices. In addition, one can enjoy a small tomato/onion salad with main courses.

While Naan n Curry has a limited dessert menu, their rice pudding (Kheer) or caramelized milk dumplings (Gulab Jamun) would be a fitting way to finish a meal. They also feature a tasty mango Lassi drink consisting of fruit, yogurt, milk and a hint of cardamom.

For new customers who might be apprehensive about partaking in spicy foods, each dish is prepared to order – so the seasoning can be adjusted for individual tastes.

Contributing to the familystyle atmosphere of Naan n Curry, they offer self-service

free Chai to their clients. This hot black tea mixed with milk goes well with the cuisine.

To reduce expenses, they don’t provide table service. Customers place and pay for orders at the front counter and receive a numbered flag. When the food is ready, the staff brings it to the table.

Naan n Curry is at 2068 Salvio St. adjacent to Todos Santos Park in Concord. The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Reach them at 925825-6226 or at http://naancurryconcord.com.

Rich Eber is a local journalist and long time resident of Concord. He covers topics from politics to gourmet food. Contact him at rjerje@pacbell.net

couple had daughter Whitney two years later while in Texas. Denis eventually returned to a position in California and the family settled in the Bay Area where daughter Cameron was born in 1989.

A long-time Concord resident, O’Malley was active in youth soccer with daughters Whitney and Cameron. He served on the Concord Cup soccer tournament committee for 20 years after also coaching and refereeing for Concord AYSO.

He was a Renaissance man with many interests during his life, including wilderness treks, camping, deep sea diving and fishing, cooking, music and woodworking. He was conscious of the envi-

ronment both professionally and personally and became part of Community Emergency Response Team.

His family says Denis was “gregarious and collected many friends, colleagues and professional contacts across the country. His work ethic and personal code of conduct, humor and caring was exceptional. He always was there for friends, family and his community.”

He is survived by his wife Minga, daughters Bridget (Matt), Whitney (Matt) and Cameron (Will), granddaughter Willa and sister Sheila (Terry).

He was interred with Military Honors at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.

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or rosanna.deguzman@csisolar.com

Margene was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Alexander Robertson, sister Elizabeth Robertson and brother Munro Robertson.

Much to do in the garden in fall to prepare for winter

Folks who grow stone fruit trees should have copper fungicide and dormant spray on hand in the fall to prevent peach leaf curl.

Administer the first application of fungicide to peach, nectarine, apricot and plum trees around Thanksgiving, once the foliage has fallen.

If your stone fruit trees suffered from blistered foliage during the summer, that’s peach leaf curl. Left untreated, it can cause fruit to be covered with raised wrinkles and irregular lesions.

Peach leaf curl is hard to control, requiring several applications during the tree’s dormant season. Spray around Thanksgiving and again at New Year’s, with a final application when the trees are in full bud – but before the buds open. Apply the dormant spray at this time to help control scale, mealy bug and other pests.

Note that apple, fig, pomegranate and persimmon trees have no need for dormant period spraying.

GIVEPLANTSABOOST

Mophead hydrangea growers have tending to do now as well. Those who grow blue or lavender hydrangeas need to apply aluminum sulfate to the soil beneath the plants. This will change to

alkalinity to promote the blue tones in your flowers next year. Give your hydrangeas a couple applications about six weeks apart.

If you are seeking a more distinct pink to your hydrangeas, add agricultural lime to the soil at the same application rate. If you have white hydrangeas, you do not need to do anything.

Wait to prune hydrangea until the first signs of spring.

Azalea, rhododendron, pieris and camellia plants should all be fertilized with a bloompromoting formula, such as 010-10. Depending on the color of your plants’ leaves, you may need to apply iron.

Citrus trees and shrubs need to be fertilized depending on their condition. If your trees have sparse light green to yellow leaves, feed with a fertilizer formulated for citrus. Those with dark green leaves and fruit setting should receive a formula that concentrates on bloom, like 0-10-10 granular. You can use watersoluble formulas, but you will need to apply more frequently.

Loropetalum and star jasmine would love some fertilizer at this time. Apply a multi-purpose formula. Look for a balanced formula, where

all three numbers listed on the label are the same. We use 1616-16.

Lawns are also on the November chore list. Have your lawn aerated if it hasn’t been done in the past two years. Reseed the entire lawn if your experiencing thinning or patchy growth.

Spread a thin layer of premium soil conditioner on top of the lawn. If your lawn just looks summer rough, apply the recommended amount of organic lawn food throughout. We like to recommend organic lawn food this time of year. The humric acid and beneficial microbes will help with strong roots, deeper green color and disease resistance.

Organic lawn foods are not label specific, so you can use the product throughout the landscape if you choose.

There is never any rest for the garden lover. Putting in the work now will help ensure a prettier spring.

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

WHERETHEGRASSIS GREENER

NICOLE HACKETT GARDEN GIRL

Fall is the time to tackle peach leaf curl on stone fruit trees.

Three Concord employees exemplify city’s mission

ing with the community to make Concord a city of the highest quality.

DOMINIC ALIANO CONCORD MAYOR

During this season of gratitude, I want to thank our dedicated city staff for their commitment to Concord. In particular, I would like to acknowledge three employees who should be applauded for their service: infrastructure and streets superintendent Jesse Crawford, police Sgt. Ollie Sansen and human resources director Jasmin Loi.

Though they serve our community in different ways, all three are committed to fulfilling the city’s mission, join-

Born and raised in Concord, Crawford joined the team in 2001 as a seasonal laborer in the Infrastructure Division and has held eight positions during his tenure. He was recently promoted to management, which he calls his proudest professional accomplishment.

Crawford says the best piece of advice he ever received was: “Keep the city’s best interest in mind when making a decision, and you’ll never be wrong.”

Public Works director Will Tarbox calls Crawford a “true leader” who oversees vital city functions, including street repairs and sewer maintenance.

“He has complete respect from the team,” Tarbox said. “I have 100 percent confidence in him.”

Another one of our longtime employees is Concord

CoC partners with non-profits to provide services to the homeless

Division (H3) and several nonprofits and cities throughout our county. In Contra Costa County, more than 20 organizations are committed to sheltering and providing supportive services and/or basic resources to people experiencing homelessness.

KAREN MITCHOFF COUNTY SUPERVISOR

Every November, we are reminded to reflect on the things around us and express gratitude. This month, I’d like to acknowledge the work that the county’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program does to address the needs of residents who are experiencing homelessness.

People can experience homelessness in a variety of ways. It can impact someone’s life for a few weeks or years. It isn’t just the homeless encampments we see, but it can be someone couch surfing among friends’ homes or sleeping in their car.

Often, those on the brink of homelessness or currently facing homelessness are people we encounter in our everyday lives. Homelessness does not see age, race or gender, but it does disproportionately impact communities of color.

The CoC is designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing services needed to help them move into permanent housing, with the goal of long-term stability. The services can be grouped into four categories: prevention and diversion, supportive services, temporary shelter and supportive housing.

The program is a partnership between the county’s Health Housing and Homeless

Individuals usually get involved with the CoC through the Coordinated Entry System, usually through CORE (Coordinated Outreach, Referral & Engagement). The Coordinated Entry System ensures that all people experiencing a housing crisis have fair and equal access to resources. They are quickly assessed and connected to housing and homeless services based on their strengths and needs. Because resources are limited, coordinated entry prioritizes those with the most severe service needs.

In 2021, 9,119 people accessed homeless services. That accounted for 6,816 households, with 15% of those households including children. The CoC assisted 1,758 households with maintaining or moving into permanent housing in 2021.

If you or someone you know is experiencing or is at risk of homelessness in Contra Costa, there are three ways to access services: Text “HOPE” to 20121, walk into a CARE Center in Richmond (GRIP, 165 22nd St.) or Walnut Creek (Trinity Center, 188 Trinity Ave.) or connect with CORE outreach by calling 211.

Visit https://cchealth.org/h3 to learn more about the CoC and homeless services in Contra Costa County.

Please feel free to call my office with any questions at 925-6552350 or email supervisormitchoff@bos.cccounty.us.

native Sansen – a 24-year veteran of Concord PD who started his career as a police explorer while attending Clayton Valley High School in the ’90s.

Sansen has held numerous positions within the department. After being promoting to sergeant, he supervised the Special Enforcement Team.

One year ago, however, Police Chief Mark Bustillos had a new assignment for Sansen: lead recruiter.

Recognizing the department’s urgent need for police officers, Concord made recruiting a top priority. Sansen now leads the city’s efforts to proactively find qualified PD candidates and guide each trainee through the application, testing and interview process.

While law enforcement agencies across the country

are having trouble recruiting, Ollie says a career in law enforcement offers something that very few private sector jobs can: job security and, more importantly, a very real sense of helping people.

“There are not many jobs where you can make that kind of difference,” said Sansen’s supervisor, Lt. Kevin Halm, who praises him for his innovation and dedication to the job.

As an advocate for both the city and its employees, Loi is responsible for numerous functions in the organization – including recruiting and selection, benefits administration, workers’ compensation, classification and compensation, employee relations and labor relations.

Her leadership, communication and decision-making contribute to the organization’s

continued growth and development. Since she joined Concord five years ago, Loi has guided the city through numerous challenges, the most unusual being the labyrinth of ever-changing regulations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Concord is constantly improving under Jasmin’s leadership, as she continues to transform how the Human Resources Department supports all city employees,” city manager Valerie Barone told me.

Crawford, Sansen and Loi are three fantastic employees among the 537 full-time and part-time staff that comprise Team Concord. My council colleagues and I are grateful for their dedication to our community and the dedication of all of our essential staff.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining this outstanding team, please visit cityofconcord.org/jobs.

Email questions and comments to the mayor at Dominic.Aliano@cityofconcord.org

Clayton mayor reflects on year serving his community

been humbling and a learning experience that I will remember for the rest of my days.

PETER CLOVEN CLAYTON MAYOR

My fellow Claytonians: As autumn deepens and the holidays are upon us, what better way to finish my term as your mayor than to say, “Thank you.”

I am so filled with gratitude for the opportunities to represent you and serve Clayton this past year. To say the least, it has

There have been so many moments where I have witnessed acts of incredible giving of time and resources for the betterment of our town. There is no better time than Thanksgiving to offer gratitude to those who came before us and made this town the amazing place we all love and call home. My thanks to past mayors Julie Pierce, Pete Laurence, Keith Haydon, Howard Geller, Dave Shuey and Tuija Catalano, who have been great sounding

boards this past year.

I give thanks to past mayor Hank Stratford, who was the inspiration for starting the “Do The Right Thing” program with our local schools and the Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA) in 2010. His legacy lives on as Principal Sanchez from Mt. Diablo Elementary and Principal Fong from Diablo View Middle School continue to observe our character traits in worthy students throughout the year.

I look forward to these important and uplifting moments in our meetings as we

recognize both those students and their teachers for their efforts. Our future is in good hands.

Thank you to Councilmember and past Mayor CW Wolfe, who did an amazing job collaborating with our schools and for his positive energy and friendship.

It is tough making all engagements as mayor when you own and run your own company. That said, I am incredibly grateful for Vice Mayor Holly Tillman being at

Mayor Harris looks back, from Community Service Days to seniors and students

Editor’s note: This is the second of the mayor’s three farewell columns.

I am extremely proud of what Pleasant Hill has accomplished during my 20 years on the City Council.

As the newcomer, I met with city staff and community leaders to get a better understanding of the issues facing Pleasant Hill. I combined that with my experience from Moraga to become a very active councilmember from the getgo.

I’ve aways believed that community service was a participatory sport. In my first term as mayor in 2005, I came up with the idea of an annual Community Service Day. Many communities do cleanups, but my concept went far beyond that. I wanted to create projects that would not just beautify Pleasant Hill but make it a better place to live and raise a family.

Thanks to the Civic Action Commission and staff, the first Community Service Day included school cleanup and

beautification, tree planting, neighborhood cleaning, a food drive, a blood drive and bicycle donations, to name a few. More than 250 people volunteered to help on that day.

We met early in the morning at Pleasant Hill Park, where our good friends from the Lions Club provided a free pancake breakfast. Participants received a commemorative T-shirt and then went off to their respective projects. We had great support from many community businesses.

The following year, we had more than 600 volunteers and two dozen projects. Churches, PTAs, Scouts, garden clubs, Friends of the Creek and other community organizations all participated.

This year, we celebrated our 18th annual Community Service Day, and it was another huge success for our town.

My following term as mayor, I started the Senior Summit, an opportunity for seniors in our community to get resources to help them thrive and stay healthy and safe.

As a lifelong educator, education and improving the lives of our children are driving forces for me. I recognized that the school district could benefit from volunteer help in educating our kids. In my third term as mayor, I started the Pleasant Hill Education Initiative, a multiyear community wide effort to enhance the quality of education for Pleasant Hill students.

Our objectives were to provide additional educational opportunities, prepare students for college and career, increase

graduation rates and make learning more fun. Every organization in the city participated in one way or another. Dozens of volunteers became reading tutors for first and second graders. The initiative later merged into the Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education, which has continued to support our schools.

I also volunteered to read in every elementary school and participate in other activities at the middle schools and high school. A reading session with third graders at Valhalla stimulated me to start the Pleasant Hill Mock City Council, which I discussed last month.

I also started a Mayor for the Day program for school fundraisers. These young mayors were fantastic. To say we have many future leaders among our children is an understatement.

Please stay tuned for my final column next month.

Email questions and comments for Mayor Harris to mharris4ph@gmail.com

Grayson reviews legislative successes for 2022

focusing only on immediate, pandemic-related policies to legislation that can address some of our state’s underlying challenges and long-term goals.

GRAYSON 14TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

In Sacramento over the last year or so, we’ve been able to progress forward from

This year, I was proud to secure money in the state’s budget and pass pragmatic legislation to work toward some of those long-term goals.

First, I led efforts to secure $350 million to help

fund construction of new, affordable homes and support existing down payment assistance programs for first-time homebuyers. The sad fact is that it’s both too expensive to live in California and too expensive to build more housing here – and we have to find ways to reverse this reality.

The rising costs of housing has effectively barred a generation of Californians from one of the most reliable

forms of wealth generation available: owning a home.

I don’t know what all the answers are, but I’ve been determined to author common-sense legislation to move the needle on the issue, including bills to reduce fees on new housing development, streamline our affordable housing funding system, and bring transparency and reform to the permitting process. As long as the cost of living con-

tinues to rise here and across the state, I’m going to keep searching for more sensible solutions.

This year, I also secured $5 million for the Green Empowerment Zone for the northern waterfront area of Contra Costa County. Last year, I authored a bill to create the Green Empowerment Zone in statute, and with this budget money, we can now establish it.

Essentially, this zone will allow our community to build upon state and regional partnerships to prioritize access to tax incentives, grants, loan programs, workforce training programs, and private sector investment in the clean and green economy sector. As we transition to clean fuels and high-tech energy, it is a matter

TIM

MICHAEL G. HARRIS PLEASANT HILL MAYOR

SGT. OLLIE SANSEN

CAROL LONGSHORE YESTERYEAR

The Paul Brunelle family originally lived in Red Lake Falls, Minn. Searching for an opportunity to earn a good living and a pleasant place to raise his family, Brunelle came to Concord by way of Alaska.

His wife Zelia was expecting again, and with the Alaskan winter closing in, she returned to her parents in

Brunelles established long tradition of business – and Christmas tree lighting – in Concord

Minnesota to await the birth of their child. After she left, Paul was so lonesome that he boarded the next ship for California to get settled as soon as possible.

Six other families took the following ship, on which he had originally booked passage. In route to California, that ship encountered a storm and sank – drowning all aboard. Only the Brunelles were left to carry out their plans.

After daughter Pauline was born, Brunelle sent for his family to join him. By the time

they arrived in December 1918, anticipating Christmas in their new town, they had contracted influenza. They were strangers in the new town, with no place to stay except Grandma Hammit’s boarding house.

The Brunelles were overwhelmed when the people of Concord took them into their houses and into their hearts, befriending and caring for them until they were able to settle in a home of their own.

my side and picking up the slack when it was needed. She is an amazing woman and a quality human who is a great leader for Clayton.

I am grateful, too, for the efforts of the CBCA and its volunteers who put on the most successful Art & Wine Festival, BBQ Cook-off and Oktoberfest yet. This, and CBCA’s sponsorship of our bocce leagues and more, makes them a shining beacon of light in our community.

The Concerts in The Grove are a staple of our summertime entertainment. Howard Geller and team deserve our gratitude as they transform Clayton every other Saturday, from May to September, into the envy of every other summer concert series.

It was amazing to have not just one but two parades this year. Thank you to Sandy Johnson, Julie Pierce and CW Wolfe for producing the 4th of July Parade. It was a spirit-filled day that was one for the books. I was also fortunate to participate in the inaugural Clayton Pride Parade in June. This citizen-sponsored parade was funded entirely by private donations at no cost to the city. The atmosphere was filled with pure joy and light as people greeted each other with kindness and acceptance. I look forward to this becoming an annual Clayton tradition.

I am filled with gratitude for our small but mighty city staff. Thanks to Reina Schwartz, our city manager. I am thankful for your and the staff’s continuing effort to work with a smile and be the public face of our community. Know that you are appreciated.

Lastly, I am grateful for my wife and daughters, who have supported me through this past year. For someone who is used to “being liked,” it has been different to find that others who have never met me have such contrary perspectives on who I am and what I believe. It is always comforting to have the consistent love of your family to prop you up when the going gets tough.

Clayton, I am grateful to have been of service to you as mayor for 2022. I look forward to serving on the City Council for the next two years with the same consistent presence. I will continue to focus on our vast commonalities, rather than our limited differences. Consensus will happen if there is honest dialogue.

Together, I hope we will continue to build on the bright future that prior mayors and council members have made for this city that we all love.

With gratitude, Peter Cloven

As always, you can reach me at peterc@claytonca.gov or 925-6737320.

Two more children, Louise and John (Jack), were born in Concord. So elated was father Paul on the birth of his son in December 1923 that he went to the downtown plaza to fulfill another dream. Climbing up a large fir tree at the Salvio-Mt. Diablo corner of the plaza, he hung a long string of Christmas lights and lit Concord’s first outdoor Christmas tree. This became a tradition with him for years, as long as the tree stood there.

Brunelle also played Concord’s first Santa Claus for about 30 years for clubs, schools and civic gatherings.

In 1922, Brunelle begin an

electrical contracting business, working out of the Bermingham hardware store. He had gained experience with the Great Western Power Co., the predecessor to Pacific Gas & Electric. He had worked for Great Western in Bay Point since 1919.

Taking on distribution of Westinghouse appliances, Burnelle opened his own location in 1931 at 2063 Salvio St. in the George Majors building, with the family living upstairs. Sons Chet and Dick joined

their father in the business after World War II. Completing the family circle, the husbands of the Burnelle daughters, Tim Mason and Art Carlson, became part of the staff.

Chet later worked for the Concord electric construction company, which was sold to Dick Weir in 1979. The Concord electric retail appliance and television business remained in the family for many years. Several of the children around town would gather in front of their win-

dows and watch the TVs.

The Brunelles are considered one of the Pioneer families of Concord. Through the years, they have sprinkled themselves throughout Concord and other parts of the world – working on the fifth generation.

Carol Longshore has been a Concord resident since 1950. She is a community leader and past president of the Concord Historical Society. Send comments and suggestions for future topics to editor@pioneerpublishers.com.

Analyzing the trends as votes come in

Writing just before election night, I can only surmise what might be the results. However, here are some things to watch for in local elections that may be reflective of national trends.

WOMENVOTERS

Will women voters turn out in much higher numbers than in the past and will they tend to:

1. Vote for endorsed Democrats locally regardless of anything else? Put another way, will the casual women voters default to Democratidentified candidates?

2. Will casual and highpropensity women voters again default to vote for women candidates much more than men? This could be a critical edge in the District 4 Supervisor contest between

BIRSAN PULSEOF CONCORD

bother again until 30-35. They are the lowest by age in turnout.

4. Will Latinos continue to vote at a turnout about half of their percentage in the voter registration pool, while Asians vote at a higher rate than their population effect? Watch San Ramon local races for this impact.

5. Will white voters over the age of 50 once again dominate the turnout?

6. Will renters continue to hide from the local races, putting more attention to the For Sale signs in the apartment laundry rooms than political motivation to vote?

sent 40% of the actual turnout in a low turnout race. This means early field campaigns before mail ballot drop are much more critical than in the pre-pandemic era.

8. Will the local turnout by party numbers continue? In Concord, Democrats turn out 6 points above their registration, while Republicans turn out 2 points above. All other parties and non-party preference folks are 8 points below their portion of the electorate.

So, there are some thinking points as the numbers come in locally.

MORETHINGS TO PONDER

3. Will the youngsters continue their unvote? Classically, 22-year-olds who have voted once when 18 have gotten over the novelty and don’t

of equity and economic justice that we support the growth of high-paying jobs and industries to replace those that are being phased out.

The green economy presents us the opportunity to not only protect our planet, but to also empower workers by investing in their training and education. The Green Empowerment Zone will help Contra Costa levy shared resources to attract investments to support jobs and workers in our community.

I’m very focused on how we can deliver a win for jobs and our economy. I was incredibly disappointed that Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed my bill, AB 1951, which would have created a sales and use tax exemption for manufacturing equipment purchases – an exemption that already exists in 38 other states.

California is behind the ball on attracting new investments and keeping businesses in our state. Over the last two

years, California attracted less than 1% of the country’s manufacturing investments. It’s unacceptable.

Manufacturing makes up 11% of California’s GDP, and for each manufacturing job held by a Californian, 2.5 other jobs are supported. This measure would have made California competitive with more business-friendly states, and I will fight again next year for a way to revitalize our economy.

In total, I was the lead author on 13 new laws and four resolutions this year. I secured millions in funding for organizations supporting our community, such as Special Olympics Northern & Southern California, East Bay Regional Parks District and the Feet First Foundation.

If you’d like to learn more about my work or share your thoughts on matters important to you, please contact my Concord office at 925-5211511.

Although a discussion about advance health-care directives and Physician Orders for LifeSustaining Treatment (POLST) can be uncomfortable, it’s an important conversation to have.

An advance directive allows a person to appoint a surrogate (a health-care power of attorney) to make health-care decisions on their behalf in the event they are unable to do so. It will also provide instructions or guidance concerning end-oflife care.

This document goes by different names in different states, including living will and healthcare power of attorney, but the intention is always the same.

By contrast, a POLST is a two-sided, bright pink portable medical order that’s specifies treatments a person wishes to receive in emergent and incapacitating situations.

A POLST is appropriate for those with significant illness, frailty or nearing end-of-life. They also are important in

7. What will be the effect of mail ballots and their arrival dates? If 15% of all eligible voters vote within 14 days of the mail drop, that could mean early voters could repre-

Edi Birsan is a member of the Concord City Council. However, opinions expressed in this column are his alone and do not reflect those of the city. Send comments and questions to EdiBirsan@gmail.com.

Everyone needs to consider health-care directives

emergent situations, which is why some adults undergoing elective surgery are asked to complete one prior to the date of surgery. POLST forms also accompany patients being transported from one venue of care to another, such as from an acute hospital to a skilled nursing facility.

There is a fair amount of detail to a POLST form, but it begins with the most significant choice: attempt resuscitation/CPR or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). This is the definition of one’s code status.

From there, the form specifies three levels of medical intervention: full treatment, selective treatment or comfortfocused treatment.

Full treatment has the goal of prolonging life by all effective means.

Selective treatment seeks to avoid “burdensome measures” and shifts the focus to comfort. Selective treatment includes IV fluids and medications but avoids aggressive resuscitation, intubation and/or placement in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In general, those opting for selective treatment do not wish to be transferred to an acutecare hospital unless comfort needs cannot be met at home.

Comfort-focused treatment

is thoroughly focused on preventing pain and suffering at home. Those on comfort care are only transferred if comfort needs cannot be met at one’s residence.

Printed on bright pink paper, the form itself is clear and concise. It allows emergency responders to understand at a glance the wishes of the person they have come to help.

Completing an advance directive is recommended for every adult to ensure that there is someone in place ready and willing to speak up and carry out one’s wishes. Without an advance directive, hospital personnel follow a hierarchy of relationships to determine a decision-maker. For a married adult, the spouse is generally the first person, followed by children and/or parents and moving through other relatives and friends. The process can be quite challenging and may end with appointment of an individual without a close relationship to the patient or a clear understanding of their wishes.

Although most healthy individuals do not relish the thought of grappling with an advance directive and its difficult implications, it is worth working through the discomfort. Palliative care clinicians

report numerous instances of adult children stepping into the role of decision-maker for a suddenly incapacitated parent with no clear understanding of the parent’s wishes and, more importantly, at what point to consider stopping lifesaving interventions.

The Western medical system is thoroughly focused on saving and maintaining life and is capable of tremendous heroics. It is, however, every person’s right to determine how much heroics one would choose to receive. If we do not clearly specify our wishes, we leave it to someone else to carry the burden of making unimaginably difficult choices for us. The pain of this experience may haunt our loved ones for the rest of their lives.

“One of the greatest gifts we can give to those who love us and will probably outlive us is our unambiguous, clearly stated wishes in an advance directive,” says a palliative care RN with whom I spoke for this piece. “It prevents potentially years of guilt and second-guessing, which no one wants to leave as a legacy.”

Please send comments and question to Nathalie at newwavenightingale@gmail.com.

Deborah Allen and Ken Carlson.

Photo courtesy Concord Historical Society

The Paul Brunelle family in 1936. The children from left, Pauline Brunelle Mason, Chester “Chet” Brunelle, Dick Brunelle, Louise Brunelle Carlson and John “Jack” Brunelle. Seated are parents Zelia and Paul Brunelle.

EDI

DLS, Concord, College Park enter football playoffs on a roll

bracket on Thanksgiving Weekend for the right to move on in the CIF playoffs.

host of skilled players. Pitt’s only loss was 23-15 to Folsom, which also has a 24-20 win over De La Salle this season.

De La Salle’s last historic “streak” is still intact after the Spartans won the showdown of Concord high school football powerhouses 42-6 in front of a packed Senior Night crowd at Clayton Valley Charter’s Gonsalves Stadium last Friday.

Now the Spartans are in their familiar No. 1 seed position as the North Coast Section playoffs begin this Friday evening. De La Salle, College Park and Concord High each head into the playoffs riding winning streaks that stretch back at least a month each.

De La Salle (7-3) will be seeking to remain unbeaten against NCS teams since 1991 when they host James Logan of Union City (7-3) in the opener of the NCS Open/Division 1 playoffs.

After losing to the Spartans, Clayton Valley Charter (6-4) is seeded third and will face a rematch with visiting sixth seed California – San Ramon (5-5) in another Open/Division 1 game.

CVCHS defeated California 4914 Oct. 21 in an East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division game as Clayton Valley was en route to its third EBAL league title in a row.

Because of the way NCS set up its top two divisions of football playoffs to comply with CIF rules changes, as the third seed the Ugly Eagles are actually the top seed of Division One. If games go to form, Pittsburg and DLS will meet next weekend in the Open Division final and the loser of that game will play the winner of the Division 1

Pittsburg (9-1) has a lot of history with De La Salle. The Pirates, then coached by Herc Pardi of Clayton, are the last NCS school to defeat the Concord team when they beat DLS in the 1991 Section final at the Oakland Coliseum. Since then, DLS has won 31 consecutive times in their matchups, most of which have been in the playoffs.

Pittsburg native and De La Salle alumnus Victor Galli announced last week that he will be stepping down at the end of this season following 21 years as the Pirates head coach. This may be Galli’s best team led by 6-5 Miami-commit quarterback Jaden Rashada and a

The Spartans finished the regular season with four straight victories. They have lost three times this fall to Northern California teams. Those three teams---Folsom, Serra-San Mateo and Saint Mary's-Stockton--- are 29-1 on the season with the only loss Folsom’s 17-12 defeat by Serra.

COLLEGE PARKGOES UNBEATENIN DAL VALLEY

TITLE RUN

College Park has endured an unusual past few weeks. On Oct. 21, the Falcons defeated winless Ygnacio Valley 84-0. In the wake of that game Mt. Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Adam Clark met with the principals of College Park and Ygnacio and reviewed a tape of the game. He then suspended secondyear head coach Travis Raciti and athletic director Jim Keck for the final two Falcon games of the regular season.

Among the reasons for the suspensions, Clark mentioned that the Falcons went for a two-point conversion leading 47-0 in the first half, left the starters in the game too long and got multiple penalties for excessive celebrating. He added that College Park did not adhere to the “operating principles of pursuing victory with honor” against another school in the district.

College Park (7-3) won those final two Diablo Athletic League Valley Division games rather easily over Mt. Diablo and Alhambra by a combined 101-12 score and are now

seeded seventh in the NCS division 3 playoffs. The Pleasant Hill school won its first outright league title in 11 years and now travel to second seed Windsor (8-2), North Bay –Oak Division champions Friday night. Raciti will be back on the sideline with his team Friday.

Also in division 3, there will be a rematch of the Battle of the Creek when fourth seed Las Lomas (5-5) hosts No. 5 Northgate (6-4). The Walnut Creek schools met Oct. 14 with the Knights scoring a 34-

7 win over the Broncos in DAL Foothill play.

The fifth local team to reach the playoffs is Concord High. The Minutemen literally flipped their record from 1-9 a year ago to 9-1 this season. The only blemish on their resume is a 34-28 loss in the DAL Valley opener to College Park that cost Concord a chance at the title.

This Friday, Concord travels to Lafayette to play Acalanes (9-1) in a division 4 playoff game. Junior runningback Monte Beam was a break-

out star for the Minutemen with 23 touchdowns while averaging over 200 years a game.

Ygnacio Valley (0-10) finished its third successive winless season with a 47-6 defeat to Berean Christian last Saturday in their final DAL Valley game. The Warriors last won in their third to last game of the 2019 season, one where they were 7-4 overall and lost in the first round of the NCS playoffs to eventual Division 6-AA State champion St. Bernard’sEureka.

Mt. Diablo (3-7) missed out on the playoffs after a steaky season. The Red Devils lost their first three games, won the next three and then lost four in a row.

NCS PLAYOFFS – NOV. 11

Open/Division I - James Logan – Union City (7-3) at De La Salle (7-3)

Open/Division I - California (5-5) at Clayton Valley Charter (6-4)

Division 3 – College Park (7-3) at Windsor (8-2)

Division 3 – Northgate (6-4) at Las Lomas (5-5)

Division 4 – Concord (91) at Acalanes-Lafayette (9-1)

WEEK 11 – NOV. 4-5 Concord (8-1) 42, Mt. Diablo (3-6) 7 De La Salle (6-3) 42, Clayton Valley Charter (6-3) 6 Acalanes (8-1 ) 33, Northgate (6-3) 14 College Park (6-3) 47, Alhambra (4-5) 6 Berean Christian (5-4) 47, Ygnacio Valley (0-9) 6

Take your opportunity to live in town and have direct access to miles of Mt. Diablo trails right across the street. This beautiful single story home is nestled in the foothills at the end of Regency Dr. Meticulously maintained 3 bedroom (possible 4th) 2.5 bathrooms, 1927 sq.ft. single story on a 8856 sq.ft level lot. Elegantly updated kitchen with slab granite counters, high end SS appliances, gas stove, breakfast bar, kitchen nook for informal meals, open to light filled family room with vaulted ceilings, fireplace and looks out over the pool and yard. Primary bedroom with generous closet space, hardwood floors and sliding door to the backyard and views of the open space.

Updated spa like primary bathroom with soaking tub for two, separate shower and dual sinks. Nice size secondary bedrooms with wonderful views of Mt. Diablo. Beautiful hardwood floors, plantation shutters, newer fixtures, lighting and fans throughout most of the home. Fantastic resortstyle backyard with sparkling pool and spa. Large pergolas, extensive and artistically laid pavers for patios and walk ways, evergreen/no mow lawns, California native low maintenance landscaping. Wonderful views of the mountain and open space. Possible RV/boat parking. Close to schools, restaurants and shopping.

Photo courtesy CVCHS football

Clayton Valley Charter scored a touchdown on its first drive last Friday night for a 6-0 lead but the Ugly Eagles weren’t able to reach the end zone again as De La Salle registered an emphatic 42-6 victory. The Spartans defense forced CVCHS quarterback Christian Aguilar (2 with ball) into 34 pass attempts and he was a minus 18 yards carrying the ball including sacks.

This 105 acre property in Castro Valley is permitted for 135 horses. Features include 2 covered arenas, 4 outside arenas, covered eurociser, covered round pen, pastures, trails, beautiful triple

wide plus 2 double wides and 2 apartments for full time live-in help. Full facility list upon request.

Candi Murphy photo courtesy Concord High football Junior runningback Monte Beam (6) has shone this fall for Concord High as the Minutemen reversed last year’s 1-9 record to 9-1 entering this weekend’s North Coast Section football Division 4 playoffs. Beam has 23 touchdowns and rushed for over 200 yards a game.

Athlete Spotlight

Fall sports teams wrap up season with section, state competition this month

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

North Coast Section and CIF NorCal and State playoffs headline the sports calendar this month as high school’s fall season comes to a climax this month.

And is the case every year, one season ends, and another gets underway with basketball, soccer and wrestling beginning the winter sports schedule in November.

CROSS COUNTRY

Vianney Juarez Amanda Silva

Both the East Bay and Diablo athletic leagues had their cross country championships last weekend with the NCS Meet of Champions coming up Nov. 19 at Hayward High School and the CIF State Meet Nov. 26 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Spartans meet No. 5 Campolindo. The Cougars eliminated Northgate in the first round 95. The Broncos were two-time division 2 champs who were placed in the open division tournament this year. NCS championship games are this Saturday.

In division 1, College Park defeated Heritage 14-9 in its opening game but was eliminated by No. 1 San Ramon Valley 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

Clayton Valley Charter boys got a first-round bye as No. 4 seed in Division 2. The Ugly Eagles beat American – Fremont 15-6 in the quarterfinals and meet top seeded Terra Linda in Wednesday’s semifinals at Marin Academy.

School:

Ygnacio Valley High Grade: Senior, Junior Sport: Stunt

Senior Juarez and junior Silva are part of the Ygnacio Valley stunt team and they were on the sideline this fall cheering for the Wolves football team and both are part of the school’s Health Academy pathway.

Juarez has been involved with sideline cheer since coming to Ygnacio Valley from nearby Oak Gove Middle School. She’s been on the stunt team for three years. Coach Bianca Franco says, “Everyone can agree she is one of the nicest and caring persons on the team.” She adds that Juarez, main base on the team, “spreads cheer on and off the field” and her presence is critical for team bonding and for the team to grow in confidence. The senior is eyeing a medical career in radiology and will start on that path next fall at Diablo Valley College. This year Juarez is president of the Health Academy and active in YVHS Leadership, Link Crew and CSF.

Silva transferred to Ygnacio Valley for her sophomore year’s spring semester after being part of California Virtual Academy, which was partially done so she could also compete for the California Allstars club cheer team in Livermore. She’s the flier on the Wolves stunt team---the one you see thrown through the air during stunts. “She has been a teammate that everyone can count on and admires from her astounding stunts to tumbling to performing, she truly does it all,” said Franco. Silva’s ability to handle her stunt duties might relate to taking part in ballet, hip hop, soccer and, even briefly, martial arts and boxing. Silva is vice president of YVHS sports medicine this year. She wants to continue her education to become a registered nurse and then a physician’s assistant after completing high school in 2024.

The Pioneer congratulates Vianney and Amanda, 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 great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublisherscom.

Local Terrapin swimmers named Pacific Swimmers of the Year

Campolindo continued its dominance of DAL cross county, easing to victories in both the boys and girls varsity races. Alexander Lodewick won the boys race and his Cougar team took four of the top seven places. The Campo girls did even better with five of the first seven runners across the finish line at Hidden Valley Park.

Sophomore Jack Rattary of College Park was second in the boys race with junior Daniel

Messer of Clayton Valley Charter fourth, Alex Lamoureux of College Park sixth and Daniel Martine from CVCHS eighth for a strong local showing.

In the boys team standings, Clayton Valley Charter was second, one point ahead of College Park.

Northgate was a distant second to Campo in the girls standings with College Park further back in third and CVCHS fifth.

Sports Shorts

MT. DIABLO HIGH SPORTS HALL OF FAME DINNERFINALLYARRIVES THIS SATURDAY

After two years of postponements, the Mt. Diablo High Sports Hall of Fame will finally be able to induct its newest class this Saturday, Nov. 12, at Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill. Chairman Lou Adamo says, “We can finally honor our very deserving inductees.” The inductees who have now had their ceremony canceled two years in a row are Jim Wharton, John Capas Morales, Tim O’Connor, Sandi Gomes Yoland and Bob Penny. For any questions regarding the Induction Dinner contact Adamo by email louadamo@gmail.com or phone 212-9332. Proceeds from the dinner help fund girls and boys athletic and academic programs at MDHS.

CONCORD AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION FORSPRING BALL OPEN

Concord American Little League is accepting registration for its 2022 spring baseball season. The league’s website has complete information for t-ball (ages 4-6) through senior baseball (13). Evaluations will be Jan. 21 and 28 for all players seven and older. Practice begins Feb. 4, opening day is Mar. 18 and closing day June 3. Visit concordamericanlittleleague.org for details and to register.

CLAYTON VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUESOFTBALL, BASEBALLPLAYERREGISTRATION OPEN

Registration for Clayton Valley Little League is open for the spring 2023 season for softball and baseball. Priority pricing ends Nov. 28 and those registering after Jan. 10 are on waitlist. Baseball and softball programs are offered for boys and girls ages four through 16. Tryouts are in January and the season runs through early June. The CVLL program includes a Challenger Division for players with disabilities and special needs. Players must reside within CVLL boundaries. Visit claytonvalleylittleleague.org for complete information and to register.

SOCCER TRYOUTS NOV. 19 FOR NEW SPRING ALLIANCE PROGRAM IN CONCORD AYSO

Concord AYSO Region 305 is planning to participate in the new Area 2C & 2D Spring Alliance Soccer League for 2023. This program is taking the place of Select. The Alliance program is open to all kids in birth years 2009-2014 in the Concord AYSO geographic area regardless of where they played fall soccer. Fees collected by each team offset the cost of field rental and other expenses including uniforms and tournaments (up to 4-6 per team). Tryouts for the Alliance program will be Saturday, Nov.19, 10 a.m. 2 p.m. on Westwood Elementary School field. Individual division tryout times will be posted on the ConcordAYSO.org website.

JUNIOR OPTIMISTTAKING SPRING BASEBALLSIGNUPS

Junior Optimist Baseball League is taking registration for boys and girls 4-11 for its spring season. There are two weekly games for teams, one a weeknight and the other on Saturday. JOBL started in 1963 and plays all its games at the JOBL Complex in North Concord. Visit joblconcord.com or email President Mark Northrup info@joblconcord.com for more information and to register.

BASKETBALL PROGRAMS GEARINGUP AT ALL OUT SPORTS IN CLAYTON

Isabelle Ruff of Clayton Valley was fifth, Grace Redd of College Park eighth and Northgate’s Megan Malloy took 10th in the girls varsity race.

WATER POLO

Three local schools were trying to repeat as NCS champions in this year’s tournament.

De La Salle is top seed in the boys open division and drew a first-round bye. In Wednesday’s semi-finals the

Carondelet is the third local defending champion and the Cougars were also moved into the open division after winning Division 2 a year ago. Carondelet won its quarterfinal 12-3 over Archie Williams – San Anselmo and faces undefeated Miramonte in the semifinals Wednesday.

College Park lost 13-4 in its division 1 opener to Liberty. No. 2 seed Northgate girls won their division 2 quarterfinal over Alhambra 15-6 and this Wednesday meet No. 3 seed Terra Linda.

from 9 a.m. to noon and Dec. 8 from 6-8 p.m. For more information visit the PHBA website phba.org.

TERRAPINSOFFERING WINTER PRE SEASONHIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING TRAINING

STARTING JANUARY

3

The Terrapins Swim Team announced details for its winter preseason high school training program. The program offers high school swimmers the chance to get a jump start on their technique and conditioning in preparation for the 2023 high school swim season next spring. The Terrapins program begins Jan. 3 and runs through Feb. 2. All 80-minute practices Monday through Thursday starting at 4 p.m. are at Concord Community Pool. For more information visit the club website.

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTERFLAG FOOTBALLPROGRAM KICKS OFF JAN. 22

Clayton Valley Charter High School hosts its Be Elite Flag Football season on 10 consecutive weekends starting Jan 22. The co-ed program is open to kindergarten through eighth grade students. There are no tryouts or draft, and everyone plays offense and defense. No football experience is necessary. One-hour weekend practices are followed by 5v5 non-contact environment games the same day from Jan. 22 – Mar. 26. Coaching is by student athlete mentors. Fee includes participant’s custom jersey (name and jersey number) and shorts. For registration information contact CVCHS football coach Nick Tisa at nick.tisa@claytonvalley.org or visit BeEliteAthlete.com.

NEWEST YGNACIO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAMECLASS TO BE HONORED MAY 20

The Ygnacio Valley High Athletic Hall of Fame dinner for the Class of 2020 has turned into the Class of 2023, which will finally be installed May 20 at Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill, three years after the original induction date. The inductees are coaches Jack Biglen (football and golf) and Triss Carter (boys and girls cross country and track) and athletes Oliver Hanf (Class of 1987, wrestling, football, track), Jim Mayo (1975, wrestling), Julie Pitois (1989, basketball, softball, volleyball), Eric Lakin (1982, baseball, football) and Chris Iglesias (1980, baseball, football). The school’s founding principal Dr. Ernie Wutzke will be honored as well. Visit yvathletichof.com for more details and to reserve tickets when they go on sale after the first of the year. The organizers are looking for additional board members. Email Jim Grace at jpgrace@gmail.com or Dan Hartwig dhartwig1@att.net to learn more about the Athletic Hall of Fame and the board.

OPENS DEC . 1

MDSA SPRING LEAGUEREGISTRATION

Registration opens Dec. 1 for Mt Diablo Soccer Association's spring season. The program is open to boys and girls ages 4-18. The 12U and older divisions are co-ed. For more details and to register visit mdsoccer.org.

CLAYTON VALLEY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME WILLBEBACKWITHNEWCLASSIN

2023

both

Didenko

named 10 and under outstanding

of the year in both season categories as well. Wendler was also a finalist in the "race of the year" category for his 200yard butterfly swim of 2:05.70 at the 2022 Spring Far Westerns Meet. Wendler began swimming in summer recreation for the Walnut Country Stingrays while Didenko formerly was on the Vista Diablo Dolphins. The Terrapins are a year-round USA Swimming team that trains at Concord Community Pool.

All Out Sports League in Clayton is gearing up for its most popular basketball program this winter. Winter Youth Basketball League at Clayton Community Gym begins Jan. 6-7 for boys and girls kindergarten up to 12th grade. There will be an evaluation day on Sunday, Dec. 10. For complete information visit alloutsportsleague.com.

PLEASANT HILL BASEBALL ASSOCIATION OPENFOR SIGNUPS

The all-volunteer Pleasant Hill Baseball Association, which was founded in 1958, is accepting signups until Jan. 18 for its spring 2023 baseball and softball season for girls and boys ages 4-18. There are two in-person signup days at Pleasant Oaks Park on Nov. 12

Clayton Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame will host is seventh induction ceremony May 19 at Centre Concord. Social hour will begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and the presentation of inductees. Nomination forms are available at the CVHS Athletic HOF website. Nomination deadline is this Sunday, Nov. 13. Ticket info for the induction dinner will be announced soon. The Hall of Fame committee is delighted that they will finally be able to select another class of honorees after what will be a four-year hiatus since last celebrating its sixth class in May 2019. Community members, alumni and the community are able to nominate athletes for consideration. Check cvhshof.com for more information.

Photo courtesy Terrapins Swim Team Morgan Wendler of Concord and Clayton’s Marina Didenko of the Terrapins Swim Team were honored last month by Pacific Swimming at its 2021-2022 awards banquet. Wendler was awarded 11-year-old outstanding swimmer of the year in

the short course and long course seasons.

was

swimmer

Photo courtesy Clayton Valley Charter cross county

The Clayton Valley Charter boys made history winning their division at the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational meet last month. The team included, back row from left, Noah Bluth, Ryan Jetter, Alan Solari, race winner Daniel Messer, Daniel Martinez, Alex Walker, Alex Bergman. Christian White, coach Keisha Lowe, coach Kevin White and coach Andrew Jackman celebrated with their cross country team.

Athlete Spotlight

Alani Masinas

Senior volleyball defensive specialist Masinas has shown time and time again that effort leads to success. Masinas participated on the JV volleyball team as a freshman and sophomore, then moved up to varsity the past two years. As a freshman she also participated on the CVCHS frosh soccer team and a Mt. Diablo club team. While on JVs her hard work paid off with Masinas receiving a Scholar Athlete Award those two seasons for maintaining a 4.0 GPA while playing volleyball.

She notes that her favorite part about being an athlete and representing CVCHS is competing. She loves how the school is competitive in all sports, and she cherishes the support from fellow students at Clayton Valley. Masinas’ success in high school volleyball can be attributed to her experiences in different sports as a child. She participated in soccer, gymnastics and volleyball. These sports shaped her athletic career by maintaining her fitness and by teaching her how to be part of a team.

Masinas is equally involved in the classroom and in her extracurricular activities.

Football, from page 9

2022 SEASON SCHEDULES

Clayton Valley Charter 6-4, 4-0 (Open Div./Div. 1) - 8/26 Salinas L 14-21, 9/2 Del OroLoomis L 27-31, 9/9 at Canyon Springs-North Las Vegas W 426, 9/16 Turlock L 35-37, 10/1 at Jesuit-Carmichael W 35-21, 10/7 at Amador Valley-Pleasanton W 47-14, 10/14 at San Ramon Valley-Danville W 42-28, 10/21 California-San Ramon W 49-14, 10/28 at Monte Vista-Danville W 55-6, 11/4 De La Salle L 6-42 College Park 7-3, 5-0 (Div. 3) – 9/2 at Foothill-Pleasanton L 12-28, 9/9 Oakmont-Roseville W 21-13, 9/16 Hercules W 44-6, 9/23 at Northgate L 14-28, 9/30 at Livermore L 8-35, 10/7 Concord W 34-28, 10/15 at Berean Christian W 42-25, 10/21 Ygnacio Valley W 84-0, 10/28 Mt. Diablo W 54-6, 11/4 at Alhambra W 47-6.

Concord 9-1, 4-1 (Div. 4)8/26 Newark Memorial-Newark W 14-7, 9/2 Alameda W 30-8, 9/9 at San Lorenzo W 37-0, 9/16 at Richmond W 2-0, 9/23 Arroyo-San Lorenzo W 28-6, 10/7 at College Park L 28-34, 10/14 Ygnacio Valley W 54-8 10/21 at Alhambra W 14-7, 10/28 Berean Christian W 34-12, 11/4 at Mt. Diablo W 42-7

De La Salle 7-3 (Open Div./Div. 1) – 8/26 at Monterey Trail-Elk Grove W 36-20, 9/2 Serra-San Mateo L 21-24, 9/9

She maintains an overall 3.8 GPA and participates in the Senior Women Club and the Asian American Pacific Islander Club at school. In college Masinas plans to major in business administration with an emphasis in fashion, hoping to achieve a career in fashion merchandising. Masinas says that the support of her family, friends, coaches and teachers have molded her into the studentathlete and overall person she is today.

CVCHS student journalist Katherine Pugh wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Alani 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 great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

Saint Francis-Mountain View W 35-3, 9/16 at Cathedral CatholicSan Diego W 28-20, 9/23 Folsom L 20-24, 10/7 at St. Mary’s-Stockton L 35-45, 10/14 at California-San Ramon W 41-7, 10/21 Monte Vista–Danville W 41-3, 10/28 at Amador ValleyPleasanton W 27-7, 11/4 at Clayton Valley Charter W 42-6 Mt. Diablo 3-7, 1-4 (Div. 4)8/26 Lathrop L 0-56, 9/9 at American-Fremont L 0-48, 9/17 at Arroyo-San Lorenzo L 0-28 9/24 at San Lorenzo W 27-6, 9/30 at Richmond W 35-14, 10/7 at Ygnacio Valley W 35-28 10/14 Alhambra L 0-35, 10/21 Berean Christian L 20-49, 10/28 at College Park L 6-54, 11/4 Concord L 7-42

Northgate 6-4, 1-4 (Div. 3)8/26 Deer Valley W 29-8, 9/2 at Ukiah W 28-6, 9/9 FremontOakland W 9-0, 9/16 at BethelVallejo W 38-0, 9/23 College Park W 28-14, 10/7 MiramonteOrinda L 35-43, 10/14 Las Lomas L 7-34, 10/21 at Campolindo-Moraga L 7-50, 10/28 at Benicia W 9-7, 11/4 AcalanesLafayette L 14-33

Ygnacio Valley 0-10, 0-5 (Div. 6) – 8/27 at WashingtonSan Francisco L 14-49, 9/9 Justin-Siena – Napa L 0-42, 9/16 at Kennedy-Fremont L 12-50, 9/23 Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento L 0-48, 9/30 Stone Ridge Christian-Merced L 6-38, 10/7 Mt. Diablo L 28-35, 10/14 at Concord L 8-54, 10/21 at College Park L 0-84, 10/28 Alhambra L 12-31, 11/5 at Berean Christian L 6-47

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

North Coast Section ended last weekend with the NorCal Championships running through Nov. 15 and the CIF State finals Nov. 18-19.

Carondelet was seeded fourth in division 2 and they lost in the semi-finals to No.1 Campolindo in three tightly contested sets. That performance got the Cougars a spot in the NorCal tournament as 11th seed in Division 2. They face No. 6 De Oro in the opening round.

College Park and Northgate were also both in Division 2 at NCS. The Falcons lost to Windsor 3-1 in the first round. The Broncos beat Alameda 3-0 in the opening round but lost to No. 2 Redwood in the quarterfinals 3-0.

GIRLS GOLF

Carondelet took third at NCS to qualify for the Northern California Championships, Kate Keith, Sam Reyes and Sammie Miller led the way for the Cougars at section. Northgate and College Park also qualified for the NCS tournament. Ellexis Mingming posted a strong score for the Broncos.

Winter sports schedules

Basketball DAL League Jan. 4 – Feb. 9

EBAL League De. 20 – Feb. 7

EBAL Boys Tournament Feb. 6-11

EBAL Girls Tournament Feb. 10-11

NCS Championships Feb. 1425

NorCal Championships Feb. 28 - Mar. 7

CIF State Championships Mar. 10-11

Soccer

DAL Foothill Season Dec. 13Feb. 9

DAL Valley Season Jan. 3Feb. 9

EBAL League Jan. 3 – Feb. 9 NCS Championships Feb. 1425

Norcal Championships Feb. 28 - Mar. 4

Wrestling

DAL Matches Jan. 11 – Feb. 2

EBAL League Matches Jan. 5 –25

NCS Dual Team Championships Feb. 4

DAL Championships Feb. 11 (Clayton Valley Charter) NCS Championships Feb. 1718

CIF State Championships Feb. 23-25 (Bakersfield)

SALLY HOGARTY STAGE STRUCK

There are some fun shows taking place in Contra Costa County now, including murder and blackmail at Center REP with “Clue” through Nov. 20 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center.

Six guests assemble for a dinner party at Boddy Manor, and then become suspects when their host turns up dead.

Led by Wadsworth the butler (a fabulous Brady Morales-Woolery), the guests race to find the killer before he finds them.

Based on the 1985 Paramount movie, which was based on the popular Hasbro game, the show features lots of physical comedy as this very talented cast wanders through Kelly Tighe’s highly imaginative set.

Fall sees wide range of productions, from ‘Clue’ and ‘Dracula’ to classic ‘Nutcracker’

Did Col. Mustard (Dorian Lockett) commit the murder in the library with a wrench? Or perhaps it was Mrs. Peacock (Wilma Bonet) in the kitchen with a knife? There’s only one way to find out.

For tickets, call 925-943SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

Halloween continues into November thanks to the Drama Factory and its production of “Dracula,” playing at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Nick Rodriguez Theatre, 213. F St., Antioch.

“Count Dracula is back and travels from Transylvania to England with the spider-eating lunatic Renfield,” said Lee Ballesteros. “It’s a dark, wonderful, fun and creepy tale.”

Go to http://www.dramafactory.org for tickets.

Adding to the “weird” factor is Pittsburg Community Theatre’s “The Addams

Family,” playing through Nov. 20.

Based on characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams, the story tells of young Wednesday (Desiree Capote), who has fallen in love with a normal young man (Luke Cannon). Her parents Gomez (Phillip Leyva) and Morticia (Shelly McDowell) host a dinner for the boyfriend and his parents (Mark Flores and Jennifer Stark). Needless to say, things don’t go smoothly with Uncle Fester (Tony Gardner), Grandma (Kimberley E. James), Pugsley (Brian Doolittle) and Lurch (Thomas James) in attendance.

Dianna Schepers directs this quirky musical, with final performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 18-19 and 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at the California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg.

Go to www.PTCCA.org/tickets or call 925-439-PLAY for tickets.

Contra Costa Musical Theatre is once again part of the East Bay theater scene with its production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre. You can enjoy this fun musical, and maybe show off your own spelling acumen, at 8 p.m. Nov. 11-12 and 18-19 or 2 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20.

John Maio directs this eclectic group of mid-pubescents as they vie for the championship, with some “lucky” members of the audience invited on stage to join the contestants.

For tickets, go to www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

Diablo Ballet and Smuin Ballet are getting everyone in the mood for the December holidays.

Diablo presents an expanded version of Julia Adam’s “The Nutcracker Suite” Nov.11-12, featuring new characters and dances as Clara once again takes her magical journey through the land of sweets.

Smuin presents “The Christmas Ballet” Nov. 19-20, with classical ballet set to beloved carols as well as red-hot contemporary dance numbers set

to pop favorites.

Both ballets take place at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesherartscenter.org.

Here’s a chance for a qualified individual to make his or her mark on local theater.

Center Repertory Company has begun a search for a new artistic director.

During COVID, the Lesher Center’s resident professional theater company had let go its incredibly talented artistic direc-

tor, Michael Butler. Part-time artistic consultants took the helm when the company began producing theater again in December 2021.

“Center REP’s artistic director will chart the course for the company’s evolution,” said Lesher Center General manager Carolyn Jackson. “We are seeking a collaborative leader, with an established track record of creating excellent theatrical experiences and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our field.”

The DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland will manage the search, with Jackson serving as chair of the search committee. Interested applicants should apply by Dec. 14 to be included in the first round of review. Find the full position description and application instructions at https://lcarts.org/REP-artistic-director.

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

Collage artist wants work to be open to interpretation

she never formally learned collage, so there’s no sense of right or wrong. She loves ripping up papers and searching for just the right color or form or texture.

“It’s like making a puzzle, but you don’t always know what the picture is going to be,” she notes.

JOHN NAKANISHI ARTSIN MOTION

The first time I saw the collage work of Saira Grube, I was struck by the unique, ethereal world the piece depicted.

It felt so peaceful and fairylike, with comfortable-looking houses surrounded by interesting landscapes. But the closer I looked, the more I discovered within the blue-green surroundings: bits of words, staircases and curious peeks inside buildings. I needed to find out more about this artist and what lay behind her unique creations.

Grube, a Pleasant Hill native and 20-year Concord resident, received a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramic sculpture from the California College of the Arts. For two decades, she has been the assistant director at an elementary school.

With a full-time job, a child to raise and other obligations, Grube found little time to pursue her own art until the 2020 pandemic shelter-in-place. With her job shut down for 70 days, she told herself, “I have no excuse not to go out to my studio and make something.”

Due to supply shortages, she had to make do with what she had on hand: paints and inks, paper and magazines, canvas and Mod Podge. Perfect materials for making a collage.

“I started ripping and touching and making things,” Grube says.

Feeling good about her art, she entered the “Birds, Nest, Nature” exhibition at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, and her entry made it into the show. With that, her journey into collage began.

‘LIKEMAKING A PUZZLE’ Grube finds collage a lot of fun. She thinks it might be that

She spends a lot of time sifting through piles of scraps and pictures to find just the right pieces. Her works often morph numerous times because Grube is not satisfied. Something about it is not quite right, whether it is the color, balance or composition.

“You know in your heart when something is right,” says Grube, who may try to fix it but often ends up covering it up with more layers. If you hold a flashlight behind her art, it will shine right through some

NO CLEAREXPLANATION

Grube wants viewers to react to her art, not just think it is pretty. She wants to leave her work open to interpretation.

For Grube, creating, showing and viewing art is all open for interpretation. The title of her latest piece, “The House of Lady Mondegreen,” summarizes this idea. The term Lady Mondegreen is a decades-old misinterpretation of the phrase “I laid him on the green” from an 18th-century poem. In the way that the person thought Lady Mondegreen was correct, drawing your own interpretation of anything is correct. It’s an interpretation and need not be “perfect.”

pieces, but others are completely opaque because of all the modifications.

Many works depict pairs of houses. “My houses are like relationships between people. A lot of them are reaching, touching each other – trying to make weird little connections with each other.”

Many of the backgrounds depict things found under the ocean. Grube is a scuba diver, so a lot of her art draws on her memory of how things appear under the ocean. Her bluegreen color scheme and the way she develops the light within her pieces reflects her scuba diving experiences.

“Take a photo of it if you need it to look perfect,” Grube says. “If you’re going to draw it, let your mind change what you see. Who wants boring old reality all the time? What I want is to see how you remember it.”

Grube says that approach takes away the pressure about what your art looks like. “The way that our brain changes things before we process them into reality is wonderful, and I love that,” she says.

View Grube’s artwork at her Claysparrow Studio sites, www.claysparrowstudios.com and claysparrow_studios on Instagram.

John Nakanishi is an acrylic painter and a ceramic artist. Email comments and suggestions for future columns to phjona@gmail.com.

Grube’s “Eternal” utilizes her blue-green, ocean-inspired color scheme.

Saira Grube began exploring collage art during the pandemic.

Desiree Capote’s Wednesday, center, brings her boyfriend to dinner in Pittsburg Community Theatre’s “The Addams Family.”

Everyone’s a suspect as the butler, played by Brady Morales-Woolery at left, tries to solve a murder in the Center REP production of “Clue.”

Be thankful for great local albums in 2022

A NEWMUSICALCLIMATE

HUGHES THE BEAT OF DIABLO

“Maximum Security Prism,” the latest offering from Oakland-based psychrock band Rose Haze, is a delightful peek into the colorful, imaginative mind of songwriter Kate Ramesey.

She invites the listener to walk with her and her band through an introspective journey into a world of shimmering refracted light and metaphysical wonder.

“Hello, what’s your name? Would you like to go out on a sunny day past the fire clouds?

In the East Bay, where I can sing a lot, where I can feel some light in the aftershocks,” Ramsey sings on the track “Moon Virgo.”

Her voice is an excellent guide through the 28-minute trip of hypnotic beats, swirling synthesizers and psychedelic soundscapes. While much of the album is shoe-gazey music to zone out to, some of these dream-pop beats will keep you bobbing your head or even dancing a little. Other songs, like “Posers” and “Hours,” offer driving guitars and overall terrific space rock energy.

“Maximum Security Prism” is a gorgeous album that I’d recommend to anyone who spends time really listening to music, although it makes for great background tunes, too. Headphones recommended.

Most locals know Jim Ocean as the guy who has been bringing live music to downtown Concord’s Music & Market series for more than 30 years. Those familiar with Ocean’s music understand that he’s known to be crafty with wordplay and sarcasm, and that he’s passionate about climate change awareness.

Both signature traits are on full display in the latest offering from Jim Ocean Band, the full-length album “FrankenClime,” released earlier this summer.

The album is at times playful, as Ocean sings about metaphorical monsters in songs like “Plastilla” and the title track “FrankenClime,” but his message is clear: The monsters we face with climate change are real, and we’re running out of time.

The well-produced reggae song “First to Go Under” somberly paints this sense of urgency through the idea of rising water overtaking entire communities, while songs like “The Invisible Obvious” remind us that we’re choosing to look the other way.

Despite the dystopian imagery he paints, Ocean is careful to remind us that all is not lost. He believes these monsters can be overcome if our species can manage to confront them head-on.

A HEAVY BEATWITH SOME SURPRISES

The cavernous intro of the opening track “Stoic” sets the mood for the largely instrumental – and often extremely heavy – “Uniquely Inanimate” album from Oxide.

That mood is a mix of impending doom and dread, counterbalanced across the album with a sense of do-ordie determination that a hero might discover when facing an impossible situation. This vibe is delivered through an impressively mixed sound that is both huge and disciplined.

To quote “The Invisible Obvious:” “... all of the monsters that prowl around in our minds /we can defeat them /we can release them /if we just look them in the eye.”

Jim Ocean Band will be performing Jan. 14 at Party for the Planet, a benefit show for Sustainable Contra Costa. Tickets and information at jimoceanmusic.com.

For a number of reasons, I’d hesitate to call “Uniquely Inanimate” a metal album, although that might satisfy most reader’s curiosity about whether they’re interested in checking it out. Yes, it’s got the hallmark judd-judds, headbanger moments and even some hardcore screaming, but it also offers introspective ethereal moments, some tender vocal work from Berkeley singer-songwriter Ash Powell and perhaps, most surprisingly, an alto saxophone solo.

For folks who don’t care for heavier stuff, “Uniquely

Inanimate” might sound like the soundtrack to a suspenseful horror film. For fans of harder sonic rock and doom metal, this might be for you.

Expect elements of Neurosis, ISIS, Earth, Sunn O))) and the kinda stuff that used to play routinely on 90.5 the Edge the last couple decades (and still now, albeit late at night).

Additional write-ups for local releases are available at thebeatdiablo.com and https://pioneerpublishers.com /tag/beat-of-diablo.

Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.

Jury out on Brussels sprouts? Give’ em another chance

Generally speaking, Brussels sprouts are not a wellliked vegetable. It could stem from a childhood memory of mushy, overcooked sprouts, or perhaps their strong odor.

However, when cooked properly, they are full of lovely texture and delicious flavor. I’m on a mission to prove this often-overlooked vegetable should be a staple on your meal rotation.

Along California’s Central Coast, you’ll see stalks of mini cabbage-like orbs sprouting from a 4-foot stalk and crowned with large, rippled leaves. You can purchase fresh Brussels sprouts at your local farmers market in bulk or still attached to the stalk. The stalks can be an interesting way to visualize how they

DEBRA MORRIS FARMERS MARKET

grow and provide a learning experience for both children and adults.

Growing in this perfect environment gives them a mild, earthy flavor that is also nutty and sweet when cooked properly – which is the key to enjoying Brussels sprouts. For consistent cooking, it’s also

important to select sprouts that are similar in size.

Here are some tasty dishes you can make with farm-fresh Brussels sprouts:

Sauté with olive oil, pancetta and onions, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Roast in the oven to crispy perfection with olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper.

Shave or thinly slice raw sprouts into a salad or slaw with nuts, pomegranate seeds and a vinaigrette.

Chop or slice into potato gratin or other casseroles.

Bake with butter, grated sharp cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.

When purchasing sprouts, choose tight, compact sprouts with no signs of yellowing, good color and no softness.

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farmers market, where freshness is key.

You’ll find some of the tastiest Brussels sprouts at the Concord Farmers Market from Ventana Farms in Hollister and J&M Farm out of Gilroy.

Try fresh Brussels sprouts from the farmers market, and I’m sure you’ll change your mind about liking them.

The Concord Farmers Market is in Todos Santos Plaza Tuesdays during the winter months. The Thursday market returns in June 2023.

Transgender Day of Remembrance, also known as International Transgender Day of Remembrance, has been observed annually on Nov. 20 since 1999.

It’s a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia and to draw attention to the continued violence endured by transgender people. By 2010, more than 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries participated. The Rainbow Community Center will hold a vigil 6-7 p.m. Nov. 20 at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord.

Arriving in 1962 and growing up in San Francisco, I’ve seen a lot. I used to love “going out on the town” near the bay. Most of my friends would not venture beyond the trans-friendly venues for fear of their safety. When a few of us did wander further, I met people who would tell me that they were glad to meet me because I broke all the perceptions they had of trans people … which were not

good. These are the same types of perceptions that many people carry with them until they actually meet a transgender person.

I would think to myself, “Why can’t you love someone because you love them, and why can’t you be yourself because you love yourself?

This day, originated to pay tribute to transgender women, has evolved into also honoring those who have taken their own lives. Suicide has taken many trans people who have lost hope and didn’t know that they were a shining beacon of light that needed to plug in and light up people’s minds.

I could have very easily lost hope, too, but I knew that as a human being it is possible to connect with another human being. I learned that I can make a choice for myself – and it is liberating.

A study done by the Trevor Project, Suicide Prevention Organization for LGBTQIA+ Youth, found that the rates of suicidal thoughts have trended upward among LGBTQIA+ youth in America over the past three years. The survey found 45% of LGBTQIA+ youth had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

LGBTQIA+ youth of color had even higher rates.

Those who seriously considered suicide:

Trans boys/men: 59%.

Non-binary youth: 53%.

Trans girls/women: 48%.

In 2022, 22% of trans boys attempted suicide.

This year, 32 transgender people have been fatally shot or killed by other violent means. There may be more that were not reported or misreported. The majority of these people were Black and Latino/Latina/Latinx. This is why we have this day of remembrance for transgender folx and also to raise awareness about transphobic violence all over the world.

Rainbow is also grateful to be able to help provide food assistance and transitional youth housing.

For information, visit www.rainbowcc.org/foodpantry and www.rainbowcc.org/homelesstransitional-youth-program.

Cristina Zaldana is the Kind Hearts Food Pantry manager and volunteer coordinator for the Rainbow Community Center. The wellbeing of mind, body and soul are very important to Cristina, who has always felt a need to help others balance and navigate through tough times. “At this point, it is paramount that we invest in each other’s well-being.”

When reviewing books by writers who are not Americans, I see an opportunity to discover those countries, cultures and ways of life I seldom brush up against.

A few months ago, I reviewed a charming children’s book called “Too Small Tola,” whose author is known by a single name, Atinuke. She was born and raised in the African country of Nigeria and currently lives in Wales in the United Kingdom. From reading “Too Small Tola,” I sensed this woman was a natural-born storyteller and suspected that talent came from her Nigerian background. I then taped a map of the African Continent on a kitchen cabinet door, noting Nigeria’s location.

Atinuke’s “Africa, Amazing Africa, Country by Country” is a fabulous way for any reader, child or adult, to be introduced to a continent which is as big as the United States, Mexico, Europe, Japan and India “all put together.” I

am still asking myself, how the heck did my U.S. schooling manage to ignore something as huge as Africa, with at least 55 countries?

I had to wait almost six months to get my hands on Atinuke’s wonderfully written and colorfully illustrated (by artist Mouni Feddag) story of Africa.

Atinuke’s three-page introduction is filled with facts that drove me to Google to see if I was reading correctly. Her vocabulary is just what a young reader will recognize: adventure, gigantic, ancient kingdoms, camels, football. But there are also words we may want to look up for ourselves or for our younger readers, like savanna and millennia. She has Lamborghinis in there, too. Atinuke is a wealth of information about Africa’s firsts in the world, such as alphabets and first university.

Although the book is a celebration of her amazing continent, Atinuke does not avoid “a lot of heartbreak as well.” It is an honest book.

She delves into topics such as fair-trade products or the fact that she knows Africa may have been changing as she wrote her book.

Once again, I encourage all reading households to have at

least one up-to-date world atlas – and keep it nearby when you read “Africa, Amazing Africa, Country by Country.” Her stories about each country are never more than one page, with generously sized print and lots of illustrations: Southern Africa with 10 countries, East Africa with 14, West Africa with 15, Central Africa with nine and North Africa with seven. About those “American” writers I mentioned earlier: Well, they should be called U.S. citizens of the North American Continent. After all, the North American Continent is made up of Canada, the United States, Mexico and Greenland, a district of Denmark.

Atinuke’s “Africa, Amazing Africa” has driven me mad with looking at the world we live in much more closely. I now have a map of Central Africa on another kitchen door. I may need a bigger kitchen.

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.’

Store in a bag in the refrigerator for no more than two or three days. Freshness is impor-

when it comes to good flavor and less bitterness –another reason to buy at your

Let your light shine, and remember the lost

In “FrankenClime,” Jim Ocean Band addresses climate change.

Kate Ramesey leads listeners on an imaginative journey in “Maximum Security Prism.”

Oxide’s “Uniquely Inanimate” album is heavy on instrumentals.

DAVE

CRISTINA ZALDANA ALLTHE COLORS

You’ll look at the world differently after reading ‘Amazing Africa’

Santa is back and holiday gifts galore at 13th annual free Super Holiday Boutique Dec. 3-4

The holiday season’s largest shopping extravaganza in central Contra Costa is at the free 13th annual Super Holiday Boutique on the Dec. 3-4 weekend in Pleasant Hill and Concord where shoppers will find a potpourri of gift items from over 80 vendors plus the return of Santa for the first time since 2019.

The two free indoor holiday events allow shoppers to get those special one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for family, friends and colleagues from a variety of arts and crafts vendors, home-based businesses and commercial exhibitors.

Clothing for babies, kids and adults, jewelry, purses, cosmetics, candles, soaps, jams, jellies and honey, fashion accessories, toys, home goods, bath and body, kitchenware, art, baked goods and so much more will be available.

There will be holiday decorations, ornaments and books galore.

Santa makes his first visit to the Boutique in three years and will be available to hear gift wishes and take free photos.

Shoppers have two oppor-

tunities to attend the free Super Holiday Boutique:

On Saturday, Dec. 3, the free event is at Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr. off Taylor Blvd. in Pleasant Hill from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Holiday Boutique shifts on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. –3 p.m. to Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Rd. in Concord (one block off Ygnacio Valley

Rd./Kirker Pass Rd. next to Clayton Valley Bowl).

Each attendee will receive a free raffle ticket for prizes donated by Boutique vendors.

The donation of muchneeded food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano will earn the donor another raffle ticket for each can donated.

The first 250 families through the door daily will receive a free holiday gift bag.

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is sponsoring a free kid’s snowman crafts activity and there will also be free balloon twisting and animals to take home.

Super Holiday Boutique presented by Bay Area Festivals is free to the public with ample free parking around each venue.

Visit the website SuperHolidayBoutique.com for more information and to register for free raffle ticket and a free $2 Holiday Buck for Pleasant Hill or Concord to be used at the Boutique.