Pioneer Holiday Section,
November 12, 2021
page 9
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No longer silenced, Indigenous Peoples reclaiming their stories PAMELA MICHAEL Correspondent
Much of the history of Contra Costa County’s first people – and their Indigenous perspective on the land – has been lost, suppressed or ignored over time. However, Native Americans all over the state, and in the Bay Area in particular, are actively reclaiming and reinvigorating their cultural heritage, languages, cuisines and traditions. It’s all part of a re-indigenization movement that is being welcomed by a mainstream society more receptive to native ways of seeing the world than ever before. There is much to learn.
MD district loses appeal in suit over CVCHS facility fees JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Seeno/Discovery Homes to stop development of East Bay Regional Park District’s Thurgood Marshall Park on the ridgeline was settled last month. When the company lost out to Lennar in the master developer selection process in 2016, the company sued the Navy to stop the transfer of the land to the city. Prior to the Oct. 26 meeting, Concord Communities Alliance delivered a petition objecting to the ENA to city hall with 1800 signatures, 1000 which they say are Concord voters. Despite their record, Councilmember Edi Birsan defends the family-run Seeno companies and insists that “no developer is without original sin.” The council was feeling pressure to move forward with the project after the ENA with
In August, Clayton Valley Charter began its 10th school year as a public charter high school after leaving Mt. Diablo Unified School District. Almost since the time the County Board of Education formally approved the charter conversion application in March 2012 there have been issues between the school and district. The longest running matter concerns the amount MDUSD is to receive as annual reimbursement from CVCHS for the use of the District-owned campus on Alberta Way in Concord. The latest development in this saga was a California First District Court of Appeal ruling last month in favor of Clayton Valley Charter that remands the lawsuit back to Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Steven Austin, who had ruled in 2019 that the District was due about $1.5 million for the 2013-2017 time period, substantially more than either the charter school or MDUSD had calculated for the use of school facilities. In October 2019 as it was seeking a five-year charter renewal from the County, CVCHS paid the district $925,256 for facility use in the 2013-17 school years. Both sides recognize their dispute on the calculation of fees can have farreaching effects around the state where many public charter schools use facilities from local school districts. The charter school reported in its weekly newsletter to parents and stakeholders last month: “The California First District Court of Appeal issued a unanimous published decision in Clayton Valley Charter High School v. Mt. Diablo Unified School District that was a decisive victory for CVCHS and charter schools on the issue of how to properly calculate the pro-rata share. The case involved the interpretation of the regula-
See Developer page 5
See MDUSD, page 8
MOUNT DIABLO AS HALLOWED GROUND
Every autumn for thousands of years, families from widely scattered villages gathered on Mount Diablo, called Tuyshtak by the local tribes, to harvest acorns, visit with friends, exchange news and Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons supplies, perhaps find a mar- Louis Choris created this image of Ohlones in a tule boat in San Francisco Bay in 1822. The Ohlones were one of three main linguistic/cultural groups that lived in what is now Contra Costa County. Choris was a See Reclaim page 5 Russian artist who explored the West Coast in the early 1800s.
Council inks CNWS master developer deal TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
Tamara Steiner
Concord resident Mel Bearns and Concord Communities Alliance leader Laura Nakamura lead members and supporters to city hall to present their petition opposing the CNWS master developer agreement with Seeno/Discovery prior to Oct. 26 decision.
In a show of solidarity— despite strong community opposition—all five members of the Concord City Council locked in an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with the controversial Concord-based Seeno Companies to develop the 2300acre Concord Naval Weapons Station mixed use community at its Oct. 26 meeting. Councilmembers Laura Hoffmeister and Carlyn Obringer joined in the vote despite their initial preference for Brookfield Property/Sunset developers of the Bishop Ranch Business Park in San Ramon. Obringer stressed the importance of including 25% affordable housing in the final plan and wants assurance that ridgeline views will be protected. Councilmembers Tim
McGallian, Edi Birsan and Dominic Aliano supported the Concord First selection from the beginning, preferring to deal with “Main Street rather than Wall Street,” referring to the publicly traded Brookfield Properties. Concord First is a joint venture between the family-owned Seeno Companies/Discovery Homes, Lewis Planned Communities and California Capital and Investment Company. With a long history of environmental violations, suing and being sued, and alleged criminal activities, the Seeno family, headed by Albert D. Seeno III, is a flashpoint in local development. Save Mount Diablo has been a consistently vocal critic of Seeno/Discovery Homes. The organization’s website chronicles decades of litigation over environmental abuses. A lawsuit brought by
Salt water returns to Pacheco Marsh, birds will follow TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
Normally, a hole in a levee and the sound of rushing water is not an occasion for speeches and cheering. But on the morning of Oct. 29, as some 250 spectators
Next issue, December 10, Deadline, 11/29
watched, two backhoes deliberately and ceremoniously cut through a levee holding back the Suisun Bay from Pacheco Marsh waiting on the other side. Emotions ran high as salt water rushed through the breach to claim its rightful home on the Martinez shoreline. Just days before the planned breach, epic storms dropped more than 7 inches of rain flooding the entire marsh. Crews worked for days to pump out more than a million gallons to assure the waters flowed into the marsh as planned. The dramatic breach was the result of a 20-year, $24.5 million partnership between the John Muir Land Trust and the Contra Costa County Flood Control District to restore 212 acres of Lower Walnut Creek. This is the
largest public works project in the county’s history. Vegetation will grow and wildlife will repopulate rapidly with the addition of 31,000 new native plants. Migratory birds will return. The marsh will become an international birdwatchers’ destination,” Linus Eukel, JMLT executive director said in his remarks. The Mt. Diablo Audubon Society has already counted more than 80 species of birds in the area. Until the mid-19th Century, merchant ships sailed up the Walnut Creek and its tributaries. Salmon spawned. Grizzly bear and elk roamed the area. While it’s possible the salmon may be back, the bears and elk will not. As the area industrialized, the
See Marsh, page 5
Tamara Steiner
Backhoes dig away the levee holding back Suisun Bay from Pacheco Marsh.
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November 12, 2021
Clayton officials quiz D.A. over prosecution policies Becton hopes new community courts will fill a need in local system BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
As Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton touted her mission to “seek justice and enhance public safety,” members of the City Council questioned the
lack of prosecution for crimes such as shoplifting. Citing an uptick in problems at the local Safeway, Councilmember Jim Diaz noted that Clayton police officers are frustrated with the system. “In several cases that I’ve heard, they’re taken into custody and within less than a few hours that individual is released and no charges have been filed,” Diaz told Becton during the Oct. 19 virtual meeting.
See “Ask rt” the Expe page 7
While acknowledging the frustration, Becton said it’s not an issue that “generated with the D.A.’s office.” Instead, she cited the Sheriff ’s Department’s COVID protocols that advise law enforcement agencies “to try only to bring into custody those who are committing the most violent and dangerous crimes within our communities. Because once there are too many people in the jail, then an outbreak could affect a great number of people in our community.” Also as a result of COVID, she said the state isn’t mandating any bail for misdemeanor cases. “So, there’s really no ability to hold people in custody,” said Becton, who was appointed D.A. in 2017 and elected in 2018. She previously was a judge in the county for 22 years.
who’ve had violence committed against them or who have suffered serious trauma because of someone else’s behavior.” Diaz and Councilmember Holly Tillman both asked Becton to explain why individuals often aren’t charged until they’ve committed similar crimes several times. With crowded court dockets and a limited number of public defenders, Becton said the county just doesn’t have the resources to file charges in every crime. “Even though a single case of somebody taking $300 worth of food might not get attention in our court system, we’ve asked our agencies that when they have repeat offenders that they bundle those cases and bring them to us in a package so we have much more to work with when we bring them to trial,” she said.
A MATTER OF PRIORITIES The Clayton discussion was among many this fall for Becton. She met with the Pleasant Hill council on Oct. 18 and is scheduled with the Concord council on Dec. 14. Concord officials have also expressed concern about the lack of prosecutions in recent years. Diaz asked Becton if it was fair to say that her department puts a strong emphasis on the most violent crimes, “such as domestic violence and those kinds of things – so that the victim gets recognized.” Becton called it “a partially fair assessment,” adding: “I’m not saying that we’re not paying attention to the other crimes. But I would say that if I had to prioritize my resources, I would certainly prioritize working on those cases where we have victims who have been harmed,
TURNING IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Becton also pointed to the county’s plan for Neighborhood Community Courts to handle some so-called “nuisance” cases. The county is poised to recruit and train citizens to act as arbitrators on low-fine cases, and Becton said one court each in Central, East and West Contra Costa should be established by early 2022. “So when those arrests happen, instead of filing charges and bringing them into the system, we can send those cases over to the arbitrators in your communities. So it doesn’t necessary just get ignored,” said Becton. She used an example of someone being caught painting graffiti at City Hall. “The arbitrators would hear the case and say: ‘I think an appropriate remedy would be
District Attorney Diana Becton fielded questions from Clayton City Council at a Zoom meeting Oct. 19
to do next,” she recounted. “And they also wanted to know how we get services to people who are accused of crimes so they do not come back into our communities the same way as they left.” While acknowledging that perspective, Wan added: “I do think that there’s going to be a significant portion that do want accountability, and I think that’s going to be hard if we don’t have what I’d call zealous prosecution.”
A NEED FOR MORE DATA for you to repaint the building.’ Although Diaz called the So the community gets made whole, and the person gets D.A.’s presentation “informative and helpful,” he pressed held accountable.” Becton for more information WHAT DO VICTIMS WANT? about arrest and prosecution Councilmember Jeff Wan ratios – which she wasn’t able questioned the validity of such to provide. She also could not a program, saying that many answer Tillman’s question victims would want those about how 2020 prosecution responsible “to be held stats compared with previous accountable to the fullest extent years. of the law.” “One of the things we That philosophy, he added, don’t see from our prosecutor’s “seems to be in conflict with a office is data,” Becton said. lot of the programs that divert “Our case management system or try to reduce or mitigate sen- is really like opening up a file. tencing time.” So you can look in there and Wan’s comments brought see the police report and those about an abrupt shift in tone kinds of things, but it’s really from Becton, who then quietly not made for us to extract the and carefully shared a recent kind of data that you’re asking encounter with victims and sur- us for.” vivors. Noting that such trans“One of the things that was parency is “very important,” very interesting is that there was Becton said she hopes to have nothing on the top of their pri- a data portal on the county ority list that said: ‘I need some- website next year. one to be held accountable to “You’ll be able to see what the fullest extent of the law.’ came into our door by categoPeople talked about needing ry,” she said. “You’ll also be information – where do I go to able to see what we filed, and get help, how can I find a list of you’ll be able to see where they resources, how do I know what came from in our county.”
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Concord/Clayton Market Update CONCORD
PRICE
4422 Marsh Elder Ct. . . . . . . $1,020,025 1784 Thornwood Dr . . . . . . . . . $875,000 2605 Vargas Ct . . . . . . . . . . . . $715,000 1924 Bailey Rd . . . . . . . . . . . . $915,000 1904 Myrtle Ct . . . . . . . . . . . $1,566,245 1231 Pine Creek Way #G . . . . $450,000 1331 Waterfall Way . . . . . . . . . $540,000
SF
. .2130 . .1684 . .1838 . .2781 . .3471 . .1240 . .1496
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61 Galleon Way – Pittsburg Beautifully renovated single story rancher Mu lt iple on a large corner lot. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1335sf on 0.15 acre lot with an attached 2 car garage. Updates include new dual pane windows, interior paint, laminate flooring, new interior doors, new roof, HVAC & much more. Large front & backyard. Conveniently located. $595,000
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2761 Pacific St. – Concord Charming bungalow on a big lot close O Mu lt ip le to BART & downtown Concord 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 948sf on an approx. 0.14 acre lot. Spacious kitchen includes newer appliances, updated bath & inside laundry area. Large flat useable backyard.
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BED/BATH DATE
. .4/2.5 .10/13/21 . .4/2 . .10/15/21 . .3/2 . .10/18/21 . .5/3.5 .10/19/21 . .5/4 . .10/21/21 . .3/1.5 .10/22/21 . .4/2.5 .10/26/21
CLAYTON
PRICE
1284 Shell Circle . . . . . . . . . . $825,000 1155 Moccasin Ct . . . . . . . . . $875,000 151 Regency Dr . . . . . . . . . $1,050,000 5018 Raven Way . . . . . . . . $1,105,000 6030 Mitchell Creek Pl . . . . $1,150,000 289 Mountaire Pkwy . . . . . . $1,026,000 37 Nottingham Circle . . . . . $1,025,000
SF
. .1709 . .1343 . .1927 . .2313 . .2037 . .2260 . .2088
BED/BATH
DATE
. . .3/3 . . . .10/1/21 . . .3/2 . . . .10/4/21 . . .3/2.5 . .10/7/21 . . .4/2.5 .10/12/21 . . .4/2.5 .10/15/21 . . .4/2 . . .10/18/21 . . .4/2 . . .10/19/21
November 12, 2021
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Page 3
Despite turbulence, Concord PD moves forward with drones DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
The Police Department is embracing 21st century technology to fight crime with help of a $30,000 grant, but its plan to fund a drone program has generated criticism in some circles. Marathon Inc. supplied the grant with no stipulation on how it should be used, and the chief opted for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). “As we did not have a UAS program and are woefully behind the times in use of some police technology, I chose to initiate the UAS program with council’s support,” said Police Chief Mark Bustillos. “We see (the drone) as a tool available to officers in the field who come across dynamic and often critical incidents where the technology can be leveraged for de-escalation to obtain critical real-time information,” he added. Lt. Nick Gartner, UAS program coordinator, said the department intends to have the Concord program operational in early 2022. They are still researching how many drones to purchase and how much to spend on equipment vs. training. Beginning in 2017, the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) has brought state, local and tribal governments together with private sector entities, such as UAS operators or manufacturers, to test and evaluate the integration of civil and public drone operations into our national airspace system, according to Federal Aviation Administration. Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister noted there is
nothing unusual about the corporate community providing city agencies with money for programs, such as Marathon previously supporting the police canine unit and electrical vehicles in its fleet. PRIVACY AND POLICY CONCERNS
Before the City Council gave the program unanimous approval on Oct. 12, more than 25 speakers voiced concerns about drones being operated in the city’s skies. Members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said drones tend to target brown, Black and Indigenous peoples who attend rallies and protests. They believe the invasive nature of drones can lead to privacy violations, false identifications, and wrongful arrests and convictions. Laura Nakamura, a longtime resident of Concord, sees both sides of this hot-button issue. While not opposed to drones for public safety, she has concerns about the policies and processes through which the program will operate. “Relationships (or partnerships) are built on certain characteristics,” she wrote to the council. “In Concord, I believe those characteristics should include transparency, two-way respect, direct collaboration, and recognition that the community should have an active voice in policing policies, oversight, and budgetary and operational effectiveness.” With technology like license plate readers and drones, Nakamura believes it’s important to fully understand the scope of the usage. “This should entail increased transparency and reporting of data and making right-fit adjustments to policies that best reflect
our city,” she added. Although the city isn’t addressing all the concerns, including formation of an oversight committee that advocates said would prevent potential abuse, Bustillos said the ideas did not fall on deaf ears. “We did listen and have added training missions to the publicly available flight log so the public can see where/how/when we use implement the UAS,” he said. WAY FORWARD FOR DRONES Currently, Concord reaches out to the Contra Costa County Sheriff ’s Department or the Walnut Creek Police Department when a need arises. If such tools are available, neighboring agencies gladly lend their support and services. A case in point involved a recent incident in Martinez where Concord PD provided mutual aid in the form of onduty crisis negotiators when an individual threatened to jump off the trail trestle. The use of a UAS when dealing with armed or potentially armed subjects who may barricade themselves in a home or vehicle is just one of many applications Concord PD cited in its proposal to city officials. Likewise, there are
search and rescue applications for at-risk youth or elders who have wandered off from their homes or facilities. “Both are huge resourceallocated events, and the UAS will be used as a force multiplier to check areas faster and with fewer officers. This is especially critical as we are at historic lows in terms of police staffing,” Bustillos noted. He referred back to a drone as a tool to de-escalate a situation by slowing things down and gathering additional information. This creates on opportunity to use critical thinking skills to develop a plan and make communication options available. “De-escalation is not a thing – it is a process,” he said. The bottom line for the chief is doing what he can through the means available to enhance the safety of Concord residents. Citing the recent Meadow Homes Park Bike Rodeo hosted by his department, Bustillos said the overwhelming response from residents was wanting to see more robust police action and presence in their neighborhoods to make them feel safer. So if having an eye in the sky can help accomplish that goal, the department is willing to give drones a try.
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rs ffe 8O
Kelly McDougall | 3 Bd/4 Ba | $2,295,000
Kelly McDougall | 4 Bd/4 Ba | $3,325,000
Kelly McDougall | 3 Bd/2 Ba | $1,165,000
Carol van Vaerenbergh | 3 Bd/2 Ba | $380,000
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DRE 01221965
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1024 Rollingwoods Wy., Martinez
43 Long Creek Circle, Clayton
925.787.0448 Kelly.McDougall@compass.com
925.787.0448 Kelly.McDougall@compass.com
Coming soon. Beautifully updated townhome in desirable community, at the end of a court. Newer flooring and fresh paint are found throughout this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath unit. Approx 1476 ft with 2 car garage.
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Lynne French Team | 4 Bd/2.5 Ba | $479,000
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Lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath updated home. 1500+ sq ft, with great curb appeal and Mt. Diablo views in Pine Meadow. Close to Hidden Lake Park, stores and less than 0.5 miles from Kaiser Med Center.
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Adorable and updated Marsh Creek Villas. Light and bright, single story. Remodeled kitchen, with island & wine fridge. You will love the counters and backsplash from Turkey. Dining area with Mt. Diablo views. Living room with vaulted ceilings, fireplace. Dual pane windows and sliders to small patio, deck, garden area, and lovely Llemon tree. 2-car garage with washer and dryer included.
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Inge Yarborough | 3 Bd/2 Ba | $849,000
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925.766.6896 inge.yarborough@compass.com
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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been veriAll verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. fied. All measurements and square footage are approximate.
925.673.2188 6200 Center St. Ste E Clayton, CA 94517
Page 4
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November 12, 2021
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home and remaining safe create a daily routine. They also require a lot of mental and physical energy. Implementing training sessions into our rabbits’ routine is equivalent to the mental stimulation that those exercises and critical thinking errands would do in nature. Rabbits can learn a lot more than we may give them credit STEPHANIE for, and they enjoy it. Start by ZABLAH-KRUGER rewarding behaviors they perSIT, STAY form on their own and put them on cue. AND BEYOND I find that rabbits are particularly receptive to clicker trainEditor’s note: Stephanie ing, which is easy to implement. Zablah-Kruger is an animal behavUsing a word marker as a iorist with 14 years’ experience in bridge works well, too. the veterinary field and as a trainer. Bringing an item to you, In her new Pioneer column, she will putting a toy ball into a containbe writing about care, training and er or exploring equipment behaviors for all kinds of animals. you’ve laid out in the backyard are all “clickable” moments. Rabbits are fluffy balls of Use these opportunities to personality. They can be affecteach your rabbit that it is benetionate, funny, silly, sassy and, ficial to perform these behavyes, trainable. iors. Soon, they may come to You’re most likely training yours already, without realizing you when you call their names it. If they can use a litterbox or or stay calm while you manage come out to see you when you their nails. There are many benefits to approach their hutch, you’ve using this type of training already built a foundation for method on rabbits, but I think additional training. the most important thing to In the wild, activities like realize is how it can impact their discovering food, making a
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New Listing
Beautifully updated two bedroom townhome with no steps to entry, volume ceilings, bamboo flooring and a sparkling kitchen with gas stove and white cabinetry. The living area opens through oversized sliding glass doors to a treeshaded area and walking trail. The bathroom is updated with a large shower and the master has a walkin closet and sliding glass doors leading out to a treeshaded patio and walk Offered at $430,000 ing trail.
Clayton
New Listing
Don't miss this beautiful Plambeck ranch home in one of Clayton's most coveted neighborhoods off North Mitchell Canyon Road. This sprawling ranch offers wonderful curb appeal, 4 beds, 2 1/2 baths, and luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout. The lot is nearly 18,000 square feet with an amazing yard has a sparkling pool, patio, lawn, and RV parking with room to spare!
Call for pricing
Leigh Klock Realtor
Senior Real Estate Specialist Accredited Staging Professional
Leigh@LeighKlock.com
CalBRE# 01874255
November 12, 2021
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Reclaim, from page 1 riage partner and perform ceremonial dances. Essential items from distant tribes, like obsidian for arrow points from Napa, often passed through many hands and several tribes before being traded at a gathering. These earliest Californians considered the top of the mountain to be sacred – as do many of the more than 5,000 Indigenous people still living in the area. Only medicine people were allowed to visit the summit to pray and perform rituals and to honor the place that most of the local tribes considered the birthplace of the world. Descendants of the original tribes still conduct these harvest celebrations, now called Big Times. Some of the families have lived in Contra Costa County for more than 6,000 years; many scholars say even longer. TRIBES DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY
Mount Diablo is located within the homelands of two Bay Miwok-speaking tribes, the Volvon and Tatcan. Three main linguistic and cultural groups, the Bay Miwok, Ohlone and Delta Yokuts, lived in what is now Contra Costa County. Anthropologists and linguists have commonly designated groups and culturally diverse subgroups based on the language spoken and other factors. But before European contact, the people here did not use such distinctions among themselves. To make matters even more complex, Spanish-speaking padres or soldiers were the first to write down most of the names. So, they are often an approximation of what the tribes called themselves, if they called themselves anything at all. PRESERVING THE CULTURES While many tribes and lineages no longer have living members, Indigenous people – through intermarriage, adaptation and incredible perseverance – have managed to endure, preserve many of their traditions and, increasingly, reclaim their heritage and bring their cultures forward into the future. Prior to European contact, there were an estimated 340,000 Indigenous people living in California. Because of the abundance of game, plants and fish, Contra Costa County had hundreds of small villages, each with a distinct homeland and leadership. People spoke one or more of
For Corrina Gould, this area represents her ancestral home – one that she hopes will continue for generations to come.
the area’s seven primary languages, some as different from each other as, say, English and Hungarian. Only three of these languages are still spoken today, some through the efforts of tribal members recovering longforgotten field notes, interviews with elders and recordings. Dr. Beverly Ortiz, retired East Bay Parks cultural services coordinator and current chair of the Native California Research Institute, marvels at what she calls the “reawakening” of California Indigenous culture and traditions. “Many languages and identities are being reclaimed; Indians are returning to their roots,” she remarked, adding: “The tragedy of colonization is that we don’t know more. So much was lost.” A LIFE AT ONE WITH THE LAND
In the days before the arrival of the Spanish and then the gold-seeking hordes, animals were plentiful. Antelope, elk, grizzly bears and condors still roamed the area. Oak trees of several varieties provided the acorns that were the mainstay of their diet. They also foraged mushrooms, fungus and wild seeds. Weavers pruned sedges, rushes and other plants as material for baskets. Fish and shellfish from Suisun Bay, the San Joaquin River and the many creeks were plentiful. Steelhead once migrated up both San Ramon and Marsh creeks until barriers were built. Walnut Creek was navigable to Pacheco until the 1860s. Boats made from bundles of tule lashed to a frame of willow saplings plied the marshes, lakes and bays. Resourcefulness, moderation and a respect for the land and each other allowed them to
From Native Peoples of the East Bay: From Past to Present, by Dr. Beverly Ortiz, published by EBRPD
Prior to Euro-American intrusion, about 23 independent tribes lived in the places now known as Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Each tribe had between 200 and 300 members who lived in three to five permanent villages and several seasonal camps. Each tribal homeland covered about eight to twelve square miles. Each tribe had its own leaders and a culture that, while similar among neighboring groups, also varied. Everyone spoke two or more languages, and marriages occurred between neighboring groups.
maintain their way of life for generations without substantially diminishing or damaging the environment. Native people actively managed the landscape using sophisticated horticultural and fire abatement techniques to increase habitat diversity. For example, many of the doubletrunked oak trees in our area were cleaved when young to increase acorn production. Experts study and even implement some of these land management practices today, part of a growing awareness of the long-disregarded value of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Several Native groups in the Bay Area are actively working with park districts, universities, government agencies and other institutions to preserve and share their history and traditions, not only for themselves but for the good of the planet. “My ancestors have always been here,” says Corrina Gould, co-founder/director of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and
Pets, from page 4
let your rabbits surprise you with what they can do.
similar speed, and that is OK. Every single animal is different, and it just takes a little time to get to know how your bunny responds. Some catch on imme-
You can contact Stephanie at cooperativecaretraining@gmail.com or 510-408-7162. Visit the website cooperativecaretraining.com for more information.
diately, while others need time to understand how training works. I have yet to meet a bunny that couldn’t learn, so try it and
Developer, from page 1 Lennar Five Point tanked last year over failure to reach agreement with the unions. A Project Labor Agreement was a non-negotiable requirement in choosing a new master developer this go-round. Public comments during the meeting were largely dominated by union members and supporters. The city and Concord First have six months to come up with the term sheet which
includes financial details and project vision. Hoffmeister raised the possibility of not continuing with the ENA. Base reuse director Guy Bjerke warned against it. “…I’m not sure how many people, given what happened to Lennar, would be willing to come in and participate in a process with Concord.” It’s also possible the Navy could become impatient with
Levee, from page 1 marsh was diked and drained and sewage, industrial waste and refineries replaced the birds and fish. The area was a dumping ground for dredging projects from all over the Bay Area. Over the years, the county acquired the land a few parcels at a time through tax defaults, purchases and donations. In 2002, it bought 122 acres from a towing company that planned a junk-
yard there. In 2018 Marathon Petroleum donated the last 18 acres needed to move ahead. The Trust has set aside $5 million for public recreation use. The Iron Horse Regional Trail will be extended three miles from its current end at Highway 4 into the Waterbird Regional Preserve. From there 2.4 miles of trails and pathways will wind from the staging area through
spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lusjan/Ohlone. “That’s my blessing, my grandchildren’s blessing, that they were born on the land that their ancestors have always been on. And maybe my great-grandchildren will be born here, too. Our umbilical cords are buried in this land. Our ancestors’ DNA is in this land. And we continue to stand our ground. Sometimes, when I’m on sacred ground and am very quiet, I can hear their voices and their songs.”
Native American Heritage Month The event began as American Indian Day in 1916 after a member of the Blackfeet Nation rode across the country on horseback to garner support for the idea. President Ronald Reagan upgraded the commemoration to American Indian Week in 1986, and President George H.W. Bush extended it to the entire month of November in 1990.
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the delays and sell the property directly to Seeno or some other developer, cutting the City completely out of the process. Despite language in the ENA that will protect Concord First against an arbitrary change of direction, McGallian said the city would be “proceeding in good faith.” “There are a lot of big circuit breakers in place.” Documents from the Oct. 26 meeting can be found on the City’s website.
the preserve. Amenities will include three 20-ft high viewing areas for birdwatching, interpretive boards, an education center, kayak launch and restrooms. The goal is to have the public areas open by 2023. The restored marsh will help alleviate stress to the shoreline caused by rising sea levels and will act as a carbon filter to help restrain greenhouse gases. For more information on the John Muir Land Trust and the Pacheco Marsh, go to jmlt.org.
o works to reduce tobacco use among all youth. Due e to LGBTQ Minus Tobacco homophobia and tran nsphobia, LGBTQ youth arre more likely to use tobaccco than their peers. Learrn more at LGBTQMinusT To o obacco.or g om the California Department of Public Heallth, Made possible by funds received fro California T To obacco Control Program, Contract #20-10004. To T obacco product images ©2018 Caliifornia Department of Public Health.
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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
November 12, 2021
From the Desk of...
Concord mayor reflects on serving in extraordinary times During this season of gratitude, I would like to thank the Concord community for supporting me during my time as mayor. I have truly enjoyed serving in this leadership role during what ultimately became two of the most challenging
years we have seen in decades, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a silver lining, though. The hardships we endured as a community and a city afforded us a chance to create partnerships and programs that made a positive
difference and taught us lessons that we will carry forward as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. I would like to share a heartfelt thank you with all city staff, who continued to serve our residents even when we had to close the doors to City Hall. From repairing roads to developing new ways to review permit requests and offering virtual recreation, our staff remained committed to providing dedicated service to the Concord community. Some of the initiatives we executed during the pandemic turned out to be successful City Manager Reina Schwartz and welcomed changes. and Assistant to the City Man- Expanded outdoor dining ager Laura Hoffmeister on the spaces, a “shop local” gift card more modern design, which is program, virtual community much easier to read and meetings and additional online “pops” well on the banners. city services are just a few Our appreciation to all on a examples of how the chaljob well done. lenges over the last two years Many thanks also to the have created opportunities. volunteers from the Clayton Thank you to Contra Business & Community Asso- Costa County, especially the ciation and Clayton Community Church on partnering to hold a successful, familyfriendly “Hay Day” event on Halloween. The festivities included a “trunk-or-treat,” carnival games and pumpkin decorating. The celebration was well-attended, and we hope that this will be a new Clayton tradition. November is Native American Heritage Month. This is the time to rejoice in the diverse and rich cultures, histories, and traditions and to SUE NOACK appreciate the great contributions of Native Americans. PLEASANT HILL Pending county/state MAYOR health regulations, dates for the 2022 Concerts in The This month not only Grove are as follows: May 7 includes Thanksgiving, but also and 21; June 4 and 18; July 2, the 60th birthday of Pleasant 16 and 30; Aug. 13 and 27; Hill as well as United Against and Sept. 10. Hate Week Nov. 14-Nov 20. Finally, with Thanksgiving The city’s 60th anniversary fast approaching, now is the is Nov. 14. We share this celetime for us all to remember bration year with the Pleasant what is profoundly important: Hill Recreation and Park Disour families, friends, neightrict, which celebrated its 70th bors and loved ones. It has anniversary this year. truly been another unusual Pleasant Hill was originally year, but we are seeing a light an agricultural area but started at the end of the tunnel. My growing in the 1920s, including hope is that we will emerge a development of Monument stronger, more connected and Boulevard. Following World compassionate community. War II, expansion accelerated. Please enjoy the holiday and stay safe. Happy Thanks- We established our first post office in 1948. giving. In 1961, residents voted to incorporate, and the city of Please direct questions or Pleasant Hill was born. comments to cw@claytonca.gov or Normally at this time of the 925-673-7324. year, we are preparing for Light
Council honors ‘respectful’ students
CARL “CW” WOLFE
CLAYTON MAYOR The storm door is open, and things are looking up regarding our water supply. While better, we are officially still in a drought and are being asked to continue conserving water. Clayton has done an excellent job in following through on this request. Please, let’s all continue to do our part. Congratulations to our October Do the Right Thing winners. From Mt. Diablo Elementary, second-grader Jocelyn Jacques and fifth-grader Bailey McNeel-Caird. And from Diablo View Middle School, sixth-grader Jacob Jeandheur and eighth-grader Stella Marks. The teachers and principals recognized these students for their exemplary leadership in the trait of “Respect.” We honored them at the Nov. 2 City Council meeting, with each receiving a commemorative certificate signed by the full council for their accomplishments. Speaking of Do the Right Thing, you will soon be seeing the newly redesigned logo and banners around town. With the council’s addition of the character trait “Inclusion” to the monthly pillars, the logo needed a refresh. Artist Meghan Mahler worked with
who really were on the frontlines when so many people lost their jobs and businesses or were at risk for losing their housing. Organization like the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce and Visit Concord, the MDUSD Central Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, White Pony Express, St. Vincent De Paul, TIM MCGALLIAN Monument Crisis Center and so more. CONCORD MAYOR many One of the things I was looking forward to doing durHealth Services Department, which has worked tirelessly to ing my time as mayor was hosting the annual Mayor’s share information and guidCup golf tournament at Diaance to keep our community blo Creek Golf Course. safe during a very uncertain time. They also facilitated the Though we canceled it in 2020, fortunately, we were distribution of hundreds of able to host it in October thousands of COVID vaccines, which is the very reason 2021. I am so pleased to share that this charity tournament we are now able to begin returning to a version of pre- raised nearly $28,000 for three wonderful nonprofits: the pandemic “normal.” Concord Historical Society, I am especially grateful to the Concord Junior Giants our community partners and community-based organizations, and First Tee Contra Costa.
group of my colleagues and I have traveled across the state to participate in a series of regional roundtable discussions to examine barriers and explore solutions to the state’s housing production and affordability crisis. The impetus for this housing tour was simple: In order to achieve our goal of building needed housing for all Californians at all income levels, we must understand the challenges and opportunities for production that exist across the state. This tour began in the Bay Area, where Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and I moderated a discussion and led site tours in Concord and Oakland. From there, my colleagues and I made stops in the Central Coast, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego. In the coming days, we will be traveling to Chico for the final stop in the statewide tour. Regional topics that were highlighted along tour stops so far have included displacement and sprawl, challenges experienced by California’s agricultur-
al and hospitality workers, barriers faced by under-resourced residents in rural communities and wrap-around services supportive housing models. While in Concord, local housing experts highlighted some of the unique challenges we experience in the East Bay. For example, about 200,000 individuals from the Central Valley commute into the Bay Area every day, due in large part to the fact that these workers can’t afford to live closer to their jobs. When large communities such as San Francisco reject affordable housing, it affects the neighboring region and state. We need to do more as a state to incentivize and expedite housing developments that are affordable for working Californians in the communities that need it. During my time in the Assembly, I have authored and passed new laws to increase transit-oriented development that works to address both our housing and climate crises, to reform exorbitant fees placed
Mayor Tim McGallian can be reached at 925.671.2489 or email Tim.McGallian@cityofconcord.org
Pleasant Hill marks 60 years with Light up the Lake Up the Night. But with the pandemic, it will not take place again this year. However, to celebrate our 60th, we will have a special Light Up the Lake on Nov. 14 at City Hall. Starting at 4:30 p.m., the community will be treated to performances by the Studio A dancers, the College Park High School Concert Choir and our librarian Patrick Remer. At 5:30 p.m., following a proclamation, I will launch the first floating luminary – with many others to follow. There will be 600 luminaries, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Come down and enjoy. It will be beautiful. Other events surrounding the birthday celebration are a citywide scavenger hunt and a previously held photography contest. The winning entries will be available for view that evening. Make a full evening of it and enjoy our many eateries downtown afterward. Please visit the city’s website at pleasanthillca.org to see all the details.
Touring the state to better understand housing crisis In September, the state Legislature adjourned until Jan. 3. This recess offers me the opportunity to spend more time in our community talking with people about California’s greatest challenges and to begin researching how I can address those challenges with innovative policy solutions. Of course, some of the issues I hear most about are our ongoing housing affordability and homelessness crises. The median price of a single-family home in California tops $800,000, which is more than twice the national average. Here in Contra Costa County, homes have risen in price by almost 25% since March 2020. I know that I don’t want to have to board an airplane to visit my grandchildren because my children could not afford to live where they were raised, and I know that members of our community shouldn’t be forced to choose between living paycheck-to-paycheck and moving from the neighborhoods they call home. Over the past two months, a
Thank you to all who supported this legacy event. I would also like to thank my City Council colleagues for their support. We may not always agree, but we work well together, enjoying rich (often long) discussions on the virtual dais as we consider decisions that will affect our community for years to come. I appreciate the mutual respect we have for one another, and I look forward to supporting the next mayor, who will be selected on Dec. 7. I would be remiss if I did not take one more opportunity to thank my family for their endless support – to my wife Michelle, my kids, my parents and my in-laws. Thank you for all you do to make it possible for me to fulfill my passion of serving the Concord community.
TIM GRAYSON
14TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT on new developments that drive up costs for homebuyers, and to protect hardworking Californians from rent-gouging and unjust evictions while we work toward our ultimate goal of increasing our housing supply. This fall’s statewide housing tour has helped form a basis for policy ideas that I will be introducing when the Legislature reconvenes in January, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure California is using all tools in its toolbox to increase housing access for all. If you’d like to learn more about my legislative work on housing, or to discuss other matters important to you, please call my Concord District Office at 925521-1511.
TACKLING HATE United Against Hate is a relatively recent movement but an important one. In today’s society, disagreements, fear and lack of understanding have too many times dissolved into hate. Our city resolved in 2017 to be an inclusive and welcoming city, and we continue to work toward that goal. We all enjoy the smalltown feel of Pleasant Hill, and being United Against Hate will ensure that feeling continues. Keep an eye out for our United Against Hate video and other initiatives from our newly formed Diversity Commission.
GIVING THANKS Last but not least, there’s Thanksgiving. As we continue our emergence from this pandemic, let’s give thanks to all who have so tirelessly worked to get us through this. Our health-care workers, first responders, teachers and other essential workers deserve our gratitude for years to come. But let’s also give thanks to our friends and family who were there to support us whether in person or by Zoom. I wish everyone the best this holiday season. Please stay safe and healthy. Contact Mayor Noack at Smargriet@outlook.com
County provides Continuum of Care for our homeless November is National Homelessness Awareness month, and I’d like to take this opportunity to share information about our county system of services for community members who are experiencing homelessness. Because homelessness takes many forms, the county has a wide variety of supports to help folks who need it. Among them are street outreach, respite and emergency shelters, independent living programs for transition-age youth, and permanent supportive housing for adults, youth and families. We serve homeless individuals through a Continuum of Care (CoC for short). It’s essentially a coordinated network of services and community-based organizations designed to help homeless folks move into permanent housing, with the goal of long-term stability. A body of appointed community members called the Council on Homelessness governs the CoC, providing advice and input to the Board of Supervisors on the operations of homeless services, program operations and program development efforts in the county. The council consists of 19 seats, including representation from homeless or formerly homeless persons, health care
KAREN MITCHOFF
COUNTY
SUPERVISOR (including behavioral health), education, the faith community, government, housing providers, public safety, public housing authority, nonprofit homeless service providers and the Veterans Administration. The Health, Housing and Homeless Division (H3) is the administrative lead agency for the Council on Homelessness. H3 is a part of our county Health Services Department and integrates housing and homeless services in our health system countywide. It is the key entity when it comes to deploying and managing the wide array of services that we have available to homeless residents. Among those services, one of the most visible is our Coordinated Outreach, Referral and Engagement (CORE)
See Mitchoff, page 7
November 12, 2021
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Jauire Francis Welsh January 4, 1925 – October 22, 2021 was a WW11 veteran. He moved to California, graduated from UC Berkeley in 1953 and from Stanford with an MBA in 1955. He was hired by Dow Chemical Co. and worked in sales and marketing management for 30 years. His first marriage ended in divorce. He later married Else, Jauire Francis Welsh passed his wife of 45 years. away peacefully with his wife He played the clarinet, Else by his side. oboe and bassoon. In high He was born in Harris, school, he won first prize in Kansas, to Joseph and Han- the National Bassoon Compenah Welsh. He was their only tition. He played in the UC child. They moved to Berkeley Symphony Orchestra Osawatomie, where Jauire and he loved Big Band music. graduated from high school In his younger days, he in 1942. played tennis. Later, he He joined the Navy and became an ardent bowler. He
loved gardening and enjoyed the roses and fruit growing in the backyard. He was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church since 1982. He was on the Church Council for many years. Later, he became the first commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1525 in Clayton and went on to become district commander. Because Else was a flight attendant, they traveled to many destinations. One of his favorite places was Norway, where they spent time every summer with Else’s family. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife Else, sons Jauire Randall “Randy” (Pam) and Erik (Anna), his daughter Valerie (Joel) and grandchildren Christina, Alaina, Evan, Lily and Bjørn. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4000 Clayton Road, Concord. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to VFW Post 1525, PO Box 79, Clayton, CA 94517 or to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4000 Clayton Road, Concord CA 94521.
Concord chamber teams up with businesses for food bank drive ensure the safety of all. This did not stop the chamber from shifting how members can still give back. In 2020, the chamber partnered with seven local businesses to host food collection barrels on behalf of the Food Bank. Each business provided a full barrel of food, thanks to their customers and networks. Lexus MELISSA REA of Concord took their donaCHAMBER OF tion a step further and provided a $1,000 check to the COMMERCE Food Bank. Contributed photo The season of giving is Considering the success here, and the Concord of the program last year, the St. Andrew Jewelers is hosting a food barrel again this year at Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord. Chamber is partnering with chamber decided to expand the Food Bank of Contra its efforts – with more than Costa and Solano again this 40 businesses now hosting year to host a community50 barrels. If each barrel is Sponsored Content wide food drive. filled at least once, we estiIn 2020, a record number mate it to be a donation of of people turned to the at least 10,000 pounds of Food Bank for help, and food. they provided food for We hope to pull the com100,000 more people every munity together and gather month. as many donations as possiPre-pandemic, the cham- ble this season. For a comber hosted mixers at the plete list of barrel locations, Food Bank in November, visit concordchamber.com/ home, consider reaching out bringing members to help food-barrel-locations. to a contractor to inquire sort food for distribution If you are part of a busiabout alternate drainage through the holidays. Even- ness or organization and want options in your yard. tually, we turned the mixer to learn more about the Additionally, stay mindful into a competition of who Greater Concord Chamber of to keep gutters, downspouts, can sort the most food: the Commerce, please call 925leaders and any drains in your young professionals vs. the 685-1181, visit concordchamyard clean and free of debris. seasoned professionals. Both ber.com or stop by the office Doing so will help keep years of the competition, the at 2280 Diamond Blvd., Suite and/or direct water away from seasoned professionals won 200 in Concord. your home. by a landslide. Be sure to remove any Unfortunately, due to the Melissa Rea is Director of SCOTT DENSLOW standing leaves or vegetation pandemic, the chamber put a Operations & Marketing for the from the roof as this can ASK THE EXPERT pause on bringing members Greater Concord Chamber of cause premature wear. To together to sort food to Commerce avoid slow and undetected Since the recent downleaks into the attic, check for pours, I’ve fielded lots of questions about the impact of broken or missing shingles. Preventative maintenance rainwater on a home. can go a long way to protect My consistent reply is that your home from water. our homes are waterproof, but Scott Denslow is the owner of the combination of changing Safe at Home Inspection Service. slope demographics and high He is an InterNACHI and rains can bring water flow teams. They work in the field, at 1888 Trinity Ave., Walnut ASHI certified inspector who has toward a home and into a contacting people experiencCreek. They assist with basic 59 five-star ratings on Yelp. ing homelessness and helping needs like showers, mail, food, crawlspace. Standing water can Contact him at scott@safeatthem connect with appropricase management and housing wear at foundational supports homellc.com. For more info visit and weaken them over time. ate resources. navigation. www.safeathomellc.com. If you notice water flowCommunity members can Each element of Contra See ad, page 2 call 211 to reach CORE, and Costa County’s Continuum of ing in the direction of your our H3 department will disCare is working hard to patch CORE staff to do out- respond to the needs of peoreach to the unhoused individ- ple experiencing homelessness ual or family in need of supand help our most impacted port. community members. Calling 211 is also the I hope that this informaentry point for referrals to tion has been helpful in better other housing-related services, understanding the services such as emergency food, shel- that we provide to unhoused ters, health care and mental individuals. As always, please Or reserve our venue health treatment. feel free to contact my office Near District 4, we are for- with any questions at 925-521for a private event tunate to have a Coordinated 7100 or by sending me an Assessment Referral and email at supervisorGroveside Bistro Engagement (CARE) Center mitchoff@bos.cccounty.us. to provide services. The Trini6101 Center St., Clayton, CA (925) 693-0310 ty Center is a walk-in hub for Karen Mitchoff is Contra homeless services that is open Costa County District IV 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday supervisor.
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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
November 12, 2021
S C HO O LS
Northgate, CVCHS celebrate three students earning rare perfect scores on college-level Advanced Placement exams JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Northgate High School announced that two of its students – senior Evan Leach and junior Jennifer Huang – earned perfect scores on college-level Advanced Placement computer
science exams last spring while Clayton Valley Charter senior Jason Shin got perfect scores on the math portion of his SAT as well as on the AP calculus and AP European history exams. Shin’s perfect score on the math portion of his SAT came when he took the test at the
MDUSD, from page 1 tion that defines which school district ‘facilities costs’ may be included in the calculation of the pro-rata share to be charged to a charter school. “More specifically, CVCHS argued that in calculating the pro-rata share, MDUSD was required to exclude all categories of costs incurred by MDUSD for facilities services that the charter school provides and pays for itself, such as ongoing operations and maintenance of the school site. The Court of Appeal agreed with CVCHS on all fronts…As a result of this decision, a charter school cannot be charged twice for operations and maintenance services, and school districts cannot receive a windfall through the pro-rata share.” The District also issued a statement which read, in part: “In issuing its ruling, the Superior Court Judge offered an interpretation of the Proposition 39 regulations that would have resulted in MDUSD receiving fees in future years significantly higher, by several multiples, than MDUSD had sought or collected in past years. CVCHS appealed the decision, and the court of appeal reversed the Superior Court Judge’s order and its interpretation that would
have allowed the District, and school districts statewide, to collect the significantly higher fee. “The impact of the court of appeal’s decision on the fees to be paid by the charter school remains to be seen, pending future proceedings before the Superior Court. The case involves interpretation of regulations that are based upon school district accounting and budgeting conventions from the California School Accounting Manual, and the court of appeal acknowledged that the legal issues were complex and involved interpretation of a regulation that had not yet previously been ruled on by a court. “MDUSD has the option of asking the California Supreme Court to review the court of appeal’s decision on this issue of first impression.” The court of appeal also stated that CVCHS “shall recover its costs on appeal.” District spokesperson Theresa Harrington added, “We do not comment on ongoing litigation, so have no further comments at this time.”
beginning of October. His perfect scores on his Advanced Placement exams came in May for calculus and last year in European history. The Clayton resident’s favorite subjects are government and calculus, and he is interested in studying law and mathematics in college. While in lockdown, Jason launched a virtual multicultural book club at Mt. Diablo Elementary School. At Clayton Valley Charter, he started a chapter of Dear Asian Youth, is involved with Diversify Our Narrative and is a member of the school’s Curriculum Committee. Shin is president of the National Honor Society at CVCHS and also founded the reboot of the school’s newspaper, the Talon, which hadn’t operated for years. He won a Lesher Award for Outstanding Student Editor and the Talon won second place for Best Over-
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all Publication. Leach was one of only 356 students in the world to earn every point possible on the AP computer science A exam. He has a 4.40 GPA and is on the Broncos cross country team, serving as team captain this year. Huang was one of only 335 students in the world to earn every point possible on the AP computer science principles exam. She has a 4.33 GPA and is active in the Northgate student
JENNIFER HUANG NORTHGATE HIGH
leadership program. Northgate Principal Kelly Cooper marvels at the tenacity and resilience shown by her students. “What an incredible accomplishment by these Broncos,” Cooper said. “In the midst of a pandemic, where students were called upon to be self-motivated and independent in order to thrive in remote learning, they accomplished something that is difficult and rare in the best of times, and they did this through
Mt. Diablo Jr. ROTC overall top performers at Weston Ranch High Sports Competition
Mt. Diablo High’s Jr. ROTC placed in all three events at the 17th annual Weston Ranch High School Sports Competition for the best overall performance among the 10 battalions taking part last month in Stockton. Ronnie McGee, a retired U.S. Army Sgt. First Class, runs the Concord school’s JROTC and is For more information and docu- proud of their results with the ments on this matter, visit our website soccer team placing first and the Color Guard and Raider Chalat PioneerPublishers.com. lenge team both taking third. He
,
JASON SHIN CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER
independent study. “While we do offer these courses, neither student was enrolled in their respective areas,” Cooper explained. “They independently studied, took the tests and achieved this remarkable feat.” Mt. Diablo Unified School District present Cherise Khaund said, “This is truly exciting news. Congratulations to these two stellar [Northgate] students on their initiative and drive to seek out and excel in computer science!” Colleges and universities around the world receive AP scores for college credit, advanced placement and/or consideration in the admission process. “AP courses and exams are college-level, requiring great focus and persistence among participating students,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement Program.
said, “The Red Devil JROTC Battalion continues to improve and make great strides to become better young men and women.” McGee’s program at MDHS includes 140 students, about 60% female. He says the purpose of the Weston Ranch event was to challenge cadets to support teamwork, motivation, cooperation and have fun. All competitive events were teamoriented and required collaboration to be successful. The event serves to enhance Esprit de Corps and build camaraderie among the JROTC schools. The Raider team focuses on physical endurance and conditioning. A Raider team competition normally includes the Army Physical Fitness Test, a 10K road march with equipment, Raider Gauntlet (obstacle course), Land Navigation and One Rope Bridge Competition. Mt. Diablo’s Raider team includes Mariel
Photo courtesy Mt. Diablo High School
Mt. Diablo High’s Jr. ROTC Color Guard placed third at the 17th annual Weston Ranch High School Sports Competition last month in Stockton. The MDHS Color Guard included, from left, Jocelyn Lozano, Dominic Ibarra, Francisco AvelarCampos and Shyla DelaRosa.
Busine, Andheya Aurelio, Dominic Gomez, Angel Martinez, Luis Martinez, Mose Tapui, Gabriel Banales Diaz, Michael Carmer and Estrella Torres. The Color Guard competing at Weston Ranch for the Red Devils was Jocelyn Lozano,
Dominic Ibarra, Francisco Avelar-Campos and Shyla DelaRosa. The championship soccer team for MDHS was Salvador Sandoval, Jasmine Garrett, Gehovani Benitez, Zurizaday Alcala Acuna, Angel Martinez, Sarai Trevino, Jonathan Covarrubias and Gabriel Banales Diaz.
Bon Appétit at Clayton Valley with Chef Marcellus Waller There’s always something delicious being made in Chef Marcellus Waller’s Culinary Arts 101 classroom at Clayton Valley Charter High School. From braised and oven cooked, to grilled and air fried, students in six class periods last week learned to cook chicken thighs nine different ways. “Giving these kids the experience of cooking with so many different methods is priceless. While it would be great to inspire the next Alice Waters or Guy Fieri, I’m hopeful that our students pick up life skills which help them develop healthy, nutritious habits,” says Waller. This is Chef Waller’s fourth year teaching at CVCHS. He credits his culinary experience largely from Carmine’s FamilyStyle Italian Restaurant in New York City’s Times Square where he earned his “chops” as a head-line chef. Waller, a native of Foster City, moved to NYC to get into musical theatre after attending UC Irvine. As he explains, the restaurant industry and acting go hand in hand. He spent three years in both professions before eventually deciding to go back to school and got a Masters in secondary education.
Clayton Valley Charter High students check chicken cooking during an assignment in their Culinary Arts class.
After teaching history six years in New York, Waller sent out 50 applications to schools in California. His wife Donna also looked for a position and she was hired at CVCHS. When the charter school’s administration looked at his varied background, they hired him to teach drama and nutrition and food science in addition to culinary arts. Donna Waller now chairs the social science department. Chef Waller not only brings an incredible amount of cook-
ing knowledge to each of his classes but encouragement as well. “It’s an old adage, but you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs. And around here, we break a lot of eggs,” jokes Waller. Last summer the charter high school converted two classrooms into a professionally equipped kitchen with two commercial refrigerators, one freezer and eight stove/oven stations. Outside the culinary arts classroom they also have a smoker and an eight gas burner barbecue. This year’s six culinary arts classes have 179 students, the most Waller has had in his program which will again have an international cuisine advance culinary arts class next year. As part of the charter school’s Regional Occupational Program Waller mentors students getting jobs at local food establishments like Skipolini’s, The Old Spaghetti Factory and Mr. Pickle’s. His goal is to have formal relationships with two hotels and two large restaurants in the area so that his students can see where the “real serious” work of the industry takes place: in the kitchen.
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Thanksgiving traditions, from our homes to yours Everyone has their favorite Thanksgiving memories, ranging from Norman Rockwell-like Americana to down-and-out family feuds with mashed potatoes flying across the table. This year, the Pioneer’s writers are serving up their own takes on holiday traditions – the good, the bad and the just plain silly.
GRANDMA’S EXTRAVAGANZA By Kevin Parker My grandmother, Mila Davis, lived a great life of 102 years. She emigrated here from Harbin, China, after the Russian Revolution and settled in San Francisco in 1922. She was an operating room nurse with a storied career at Peninsula and Stanford University hospitals. We lost her this past year, but her Thanksgiving meal extravaganzas remain etched into my mind. I mean, this woman could cook. It was an operation that was her solo mission. She would start a week in advance preparing, setting and planning, and then she would make all kinds of meat and vegetable stuffing, specially cooked carrots, Jell-O molds on beds of lettuce, little cinnamon dessert swirls, mashed potatoes to kill for, homemade gravy – two kinds, a turkey cooked to perfection, croissants, cranberries, pumpkins pies, chocolate pies … so many pies that we ate pie and then everyone took one home, along with so many leftovers. I felt like we still had turkey weeks later. The dinners set around a very large table at her home in San Carlos were always jampacked full of laughs, family,
lowed around the buzzing Central Park. Three years ago, blade. Barely able to suppress we spent Thanksgiving in Maui, my laughter, I had to leave the watching a sunset and eating room for a minute to commahi-mahi instead of turkey. pose myself. I really don’t mind when my That day I learned somebirthday falls on Thanksgiving GRAVY TO thing about my sweet motheranymore; there’s always ChristTHE RESCUE? in-law. Turns out she only ever mas for gathering with extendBy Pete Cruz ate the dark meat, and, to her ed family. The first year I hosted credit, the dark meat did indeed Thanksgiving at my home as an fall off the bone and was moist MAKING ROOM AT THE TABLE adult, my mother-in-law came and tender. By Jennifer Leischer to visit and wanted to cook the Unfortunately, those of us Holidays at my aunt’s house turkey. who liked turkey breast had to Navolio Family were always a zoo. This seemed a good idea, make do with slabs of white Instead of stressing about a holiday meal, Kara Navolio, Probably at least 40 people but I did raise an eyebrow when cardboard sadly slathered in second from left, and her family now travel for her Novem- would make the trek – aunts, she put the turkey in the oven gravy. ber birthday. uncles and grandparents from on low heat around midnight. near and far, so many cousins I She said that cooking it longer THANKSGIVING, made for themselves while wait- somewhere fun. I thought we AFTER DARK could never keep track of who with lower heat would make the ing for my return. I opened the would miss gathering with By Sunny Solomon was who and, of course, adoptmeat fall off the bones. extended family for all the tradi- ed family members who would oven door, and there was the Thanksgiving dinner 1978, The turkey came out about tional dishes, but they were turkey in the covered roasting or maybe 1979, was the first change yearly depending on 1 p.m. (though I think she actually some of our best family whether they had a home to go pan. I yelled to my sister: “Why turned off the heat sometime one after my divorce, but I remember absolutely nothing of didn’t you cook the turkey?” “I vacation memories ever. to for the holidays. earlier). I revved up my elecWhen the kids were little, did,” she yelled back. “See, just the dinner itself. My aunt’s holiday philosotric carving knife as folks we spent the day at Disneyland: phy was “the more the merrier,” I remember making lists of like you said, 350 degrees.” gathered around for the feast. no crowds, no lines. One year, “Well, it won’t do any good and a merry time was definitely As I sliced into the bird, I was what I shopped for, what I we walked the beach in Bodega had by all. Kids running here unless you turn the oven on, asked my siblings and parents startled by the cloud of dry, Bay and then watched it pour too,” I yelled back. and there, the teens and twensawdust-like particles that bil- to bring, and, most of all, I down rain while playing board About the same time that I remember how I planned to tysomethings acting cool and turned the oven on, my brother games. Another year, we take the three children back to aloof hanging out on the front handed me a JD on ice, looked crossed an item off the bucket porch, the women cooking and Oakland for a much-needed list with a trip to New York to visit with their dad’s side of the at his watch and said, “You gossiping in the kitchen, and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving think we’ll eat around 9:00, family. Day Parade and ice skate in See Traditions, pg 12 Timing was everything, so I maybe sooner if you increase the heat?” wanted the turkey cooked and I handed the glass back to Fully COVID ready to serve by the time we him. “Yeah, but make this a compliant returned to Walnut Creek. My sister arrived about 2 in double.” the afternoon, with clear TIME TO GET AWAY instructions to start the turkey Nail salon with a spa experience By Kara Navolio shortly after I left with the kids My birthday is around for Oakland. We returned to Downtown Clayton’s best kept secret! Thanksgiving, so it’s always Walnut Creek close to 6 that been a favorite holiday. Nails, lashes, facials, waxing, massage evening. Opening the front But the years when my Home of the ‘pampered pedicure” door, expecting to be overQuiet, relaxing, lovely whelmed with the aroma of an birthday actually falls on the day Nails Naturally Spa exquisitely stuffed bird, I knew were not as enjoyable, spending Kevin Parker’s grandma, All with a view the whole time cooking and 1023 Oak St. #203 something was wrong. I smelled Mila Davis, created memoClayton of Mt. Diablo entertaining. nothing. rable Thanksgiving meals – (925) 239-3035 Then I decided I didn’t have Visit us on Facebook complete with Jell-O molds I could hear the clinking of Book your appointment now 50+ five star reviews on Yelp served atop lettuce. ice in the drinks my family had to do that. Instead, we would pack up the family and head friends and full stomachs. Ask anyone in my family lucky enough to attend, they just don’t make turkey dinners like that anymore. We miss you GG!
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November 12, 2021
Happy Holidays from all of us
Add your own holiday greeting ornament to the tree in December. To order, go to www.PioneerPublishers.com/ornament Deadline for the December tree is Nov. 29.
Tree lightings help make the season bright The countdown to Christmas has begun, with tree lighting festivities starting the season off right. The Downtown Pleasant Hill shopping center will host a Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration in the plaza, 6:308:30 p.m. Nov. 17. The event includes free selfies with Santa and holiday-themed entertain-
ment. For details, visit shopdowntownpleasanthill.com. Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord is the place to be for the annual Tree Lighting & Mayor’s SingAlong, 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 3. Families can enjoy pictures with Santa in a snow globe, carriage rides and crafts at the event, sponsored by the city
of Concord and Visit Concord. Clayton’s Tree Lighting will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 4, weather permitting. Clayton Community Church will serve hot cider and doughnut holes, and Santa will be available for pictures at the church. Unfortunately, the Clayton Business & Community Asso-
ciation (CBCA) had to cancel the Mrs. Claus event again this year due to a lack of funding. Because of the pandemic, the CBCA couldn’t hold its usual fundraisers – including the Art & Wine Festival, BBQ Cook Off and Oktoberfest. But they promise Mrs. Claus will visit Clayton next year. 2015 Clayton Tree Lighting.
Pete Barra photo
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November 12, 2021
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’Tis the season for creative home decor I’m convinced that the fall and winter holidays bring out the designer in all of us. Our instincts kick into full gear as the need to design and accessorize becomes a top priority. We suddenly become consumed with the subtle balance of decorating table tops with just the right amount of sparkly baubles, candles and holiday figurines. We measure to the point of exhaustion, finding that perfect center point on window frames to hang pre-lit wreaths. And we fixate on fresh-cut noble fir greens that we gently swag over door frames, wrap over stairwell banisters and drape over fireplace mantels. We become floor plan masters, rearranging furniture to accommodate a decorative 9-foot tree or a grouping of life-size caroling nutcrackers that stand at attention in our living rooms. We become professional furni-
that holiday accessories are not permanent, can be quite liberating. Holiday decorating gives you the opportunity to try out new things: opting for a different floor plan, putting away the usual accessories and replacing them with holiday baubles, or accentuating with colorful pillows and throws that you are willing to try in a temporary design. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel this same design freedom throughout the year and design without regret? But budgets can sometimes have a Let the creative juices flow as the holidays approach. This is big influence on how we the time to try out new decorating ideas. design. On occasion, we must make modifications to designs because a material may not be ture movers, emptying family your inner designer for the available, or we come to find rooms to make space for entire year. So often, we put out that a material we selected dance halls or grand dining quite a bit of pressure on is actually $200 per square rooms with the hope that ourselves to make our living foot – not the $20 per square we’ll be able to accommospaces perfect, with the right foot we were budgeting. date our long list of family accessories, the right furniDesigning with freedom and friends for the holidays. ture, the right lighting. But still means planning and Decorating for the holithe opportunity to decorate preparing thoughtfully. For days is a way to recharge our homes for fun, knowing example, vendors are always
happy to share samples. So just like with holiday accessories, maybe try a new bathroom tile. Bring the samples home, prop them up in your bathroom and gaze at them every morning and every evening until you know what’s right for you. Plumbing, lighting and furniture aren’t as easy when it comes to sampling, but you can definitely print out images and tape them up on the wall. View these images from time to time, getting used to the idea of living with them full time. I love the saying, “Dance like no one is watching.” Why not design like no one is watching? Don’t worry about perfection on day one, but instead design like you have the free-
JENNIFER LEISCHER
DESIGN & DÉCOR dom to pair stripes with plaids and polka dots and see where your temporary design ideas take you. Get the design giggles out of your system, recharge your inner designer this holiday season and turn your blank canvas into something that you have thoughtfully prepared. Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.
Holiday gifts galore at free annual Super Holiday Boutique in Concord, Pleasant Hill tunities to attend the free Super Holiday Boutiques: On Saturday, Dec. 4, 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. 5, 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 muchShoppers can select from thousands of products for holiday needed food to the Food gifts at the annual free Super Holiday Boutique in Pleasant Bank of Contra Costa & Hill (Dec. 4) and Concord (Dec. 5). Solano will earn the donor another raffle ticket for each The holiday season’s goods and so much more will can donated. largest shopping extravaganza be available. The first 200 families in central Contra Costa is at There will be holiday deco- through the door daily will the free 12th annual Super rations, ornaments and books receive a free holiday gift bag Holiday Boutique on the Dec. galore. compliments of the new Stan4-5 weekend in Pleasant Hill Shoppers have two oppor- ford Children’s Hospital Chiland Concord where shoppers will find a potpourri of gift items from over 75 vendors. 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 Beautiful lawns WITHOUT WATER colleagues from a variety of arts and crafts vendors, homeCompetitive Rates based businesses and commerCall for estimate cial exhibitors. Toys, clothing for babies, kids and adults, jewelry, purs925.586.8350 es, cosmetics, candles, soaps, Justturf21@gmail.com candy, fashion accessories, Locally Owned and Operated home goods, bath and body, kitchenware and cooking products, food and baked Visit our website for more info JustTurf.net
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Handling the Holidays A FR EE GR I EF WOR K SH OP
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or people who are grieving the death of a loved one, the winter holiday season can be painful. Experiencing grief at this time may intensify feelings of loneliness or anxiety about being asked how you are doing. Hope Hospice offers a free workshop to discuss healthy coping strategies. Please call to register, (925) 829-8770. Although the workshop will be held online via Zoom, space is still limited due to the interactive nature of the program. Tuesday, December 7, 11 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
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November 12, 2021
Traditions from page 9
The Pleasant Hill Chamber proudly welcomes Margaret Manzo New President & CEO Jennifer Leischer
The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Margaret Manzo as incoming President and CEO. Ms. Manzo most recently served eleven years as the Executive Director of the Fairfield Main Street Association in Fairfield, California, and arrives prepared to support the Pleasant Hill business community.
Using her distinctive design style, Jennifer Leischer created a massive dining room table for Thanksgiving in her Clayton home.
With a background in community leadership, special event production, and downtown revitalization, Margaret is eager to assist the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce membership as they continue to recover from the setbacks imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
the men outside smoking cigars and drinking single-malt scotch. But I was never a fan of the seating arrangements for dinner. My sister and I had to sit at the kids’ table. I remember feeling banished from the fun stuff. Banished from the interesting conversations. Banished from the cool crowd. Maybe even banished from better food. My aunt’s seating arrangements – with multiple tables throughout her tiny, but cozy, home – were not intentional exclusions. There was just only so much square footage. When my husband and I moved to Clayton, we hosted Thanksgiving and quickly realized the functionality of extra dining tables. Not willing to turn down a design challenge, we moved every piece of furniture from our living room to create more space. And that year, we had a table for 19 … plus a kids’ table in the kitchen.
“Business owners have faced one of the most difficult economic climates in the past decade. My number-one priority is to support the members in any way possible, including sharing up-to- date COVID-19 guidelines, recovery funding programs, and networking opportunities,” says Manzo.
Upcoming Chamber of Commerce Events Business Mixer – Hosted by 680 Networking Group Wisegirl Restorante Patio Hospice Thrift Shoppe
1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill Wednesday, November 24 8 to 9:30 am
959 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill Wednesday, November 18 5 to 7 pm
Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting
Wednesday, November 18 8 to 10 am Zoom info available at www.PleasantHillChamber.com
Government Affairs Committee Meeting
Wisegirl Restorante Patio 1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill Monday, November 29 4:30 to 6 pm
ALL THINGS PUMPKIN
By Bev Britton My mom was an excellent baker known for her flaky, lardbased pie crusts, rolled out to a thin perfection that I simply couldn’t duplicate. After being disappointed
Interest in the Chamber or other questions should be directed to Margaret@PleasantHillChamber.com or 925-687-0700.
evenly into pan. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake 15 minutes or until with the pre-made crusts I tried, center springs back when lightly I opted for a bar-like recipe for touched. my traditional Thanksgiving Immediately loosen cake pumpkin dessert. from edges of pan and invert But since I love everything onto prepared towel. Remove with pumpkin (except those pan and carefully peel off odd, spiced lattes), I don’t wait paper. Roll up cake in towel until fall to start bingeing. I while hot. Cool completely. stock up on Trader Joe’s pumpkin pancake mix and will happiFor filling: ly devour them with pumpkin Beat all ingredients in medibutter in the midst of a July um bowl until smooth. heatwave. Carefully unroll cake and Last month, I made a spread cream cheese mixture pumpkin roll for my Book Club over cake. – and wowed the generally Reroll cake – without towel. chocolate-loving crowd. Several Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate asked for the recipe, and one at least 1 hour. even made it to serve to guests Upwrap and slice into 8 the very next night. pieces. Note: I freeze the other half PUMPKIN ROLL of the canned pumpkin for Serves 8 another day – but it’s never too For cake: much later. ¾ c. flour ½ tsp. baking powder KEEPING MY BALANCE ½ tsp. baking soda By Tamara Steiner ½ tsp. ground cinnamon I was 17 the year year my ½ tsp. ground cloves parents divorced. My dad and I ¼ tsp. salt were living in our home in Mar3 large eggs tinez and I was determined to ¾ c. sugar celebrate Thanksgiving bigger Heaping 2/3 c. canned and better than ever. pumpkin (half a 15 oz. can) Our 1950s ranch-style home ½ c. chopped walnuts had a two-sided fireplace with a BBQ on the family room side For filling: right near the front door. For 6 oz. cream cheese, room weeks I had a picture in my temperature head of a sizzling, golden bird 4 T unsalted butter, room turning slowly on the spit for all temperature to see. 1 c. sifted powdered sugar Early that morning, my dad 1 tsp. vanilla got a good hot bed of coals going, and we ran the rotisserie Heat oven to 375. Grease 15 spit through a 14 lb. turkey, by 10 by 1 baking pan. Line trussed him up and fired up the bottoms and sides with waxed motor. Kerrrrrr-THUMP, kerpaper, then grease paper. rrrr THUMP. Lay out clean kitchen towel Despite many stops and and sprinkle with 1/8 c. sifted starts, we could never keep the powdered sugar. roasting bird balanced. Hours later one side of the bird For cake: looked like a magazine cover. Combine flour, baking pow- The other side not so much. der, baking soda, cinnamon, My dad carved the well roasted cloves and salt in small bowl. side into teeny little bite-size Combine eggs and sugar in pieces for the 12 hungry friends large bowl; beat until thickened. in the dining room. The dogs Add pumpkin to egg mixture got the rest. and beat until well mixed. Stir in Luckily there were plenty of flour mixture. Spread batter candied yams.
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STEUSEL TO TOPPING: • 1 tablespoon biscuit/baking mix • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 2 teaspoons butterr, softened
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The Pioneer
SPORTS & LIFESTYLE November 12, 2021
Taste and Tell . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 Lean In With Love . . . . . . . . . .B5 Book/Movie Reviews . . . . . . . .B5 Stage Struck . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Diablo Beat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Hit the Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8
The Pioneer, Section B
www.PioneerPublishers.com
5 local schools enter NCS football playoffs this weekend rivals while Marin Catholic beat the Minutemen 62-0 at the beginning of September. Marin Catholic has won 10 NCS football championships, the most recent in 2017. No. 6 seed Berean Christian goes to No. 3 Cloverdale (5-4) in a Friday night battle of the Eagles in the new Division 7. Berean was last in the NCS playoffs in 2018.
Rebekah Holder photos courtesy CVCHS
De La Salle sophomore Drew Cunningham wraps up Clayton Valley Charter’s Alex Bush at last Friday’s regular-season finale between the two Concord high school powers at Owen Owens Field with the teams now moving on to the North Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs. Journey Mckoy (30) and Deshun Palmer (50) followed the play. JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Five of the area’s high school football teams will be taking part in the North Coast Section football playoffs starting this Friday, the most local participation since 2014 when seven schools from the area were in the post-season Section tournament. De La Salle (8-2) and Clayton Valley Charter (7-3) are fixtures at NCS while Northgate (8-2) is riding a six-game winning streak into this fall’s playoffs. Mt. Diablo (4-5) and Berean Christian (4-5) are joining the party as well. Clayton Valley is technically the defending State CIF 2-AA champion having won the 2019 championship while DLS was runner-up in the Open Division as the Spartans took part in their 14th successive State championship game. Of course, there were no section or state playoffs last season due to the pandemic. Both those Concord powerhouse teams are high seeds in the NCS Open/Division 1 bracket. This year’s playoffs are operating under a new format that was slated to go into effect a year ago. As with previous NCS formats, this newest iteration attempts to solve the “De La Salle problem” since the Spartans have won a Section football title 28 times in a row. The twice-beaten Concord school is again the top seed with long-time rival Pittsburg (7-1) second and CVCHS third. The Spartans will face No. 8 James Logan (6-4) of Union City in the opening round. Logan has won six in a row after starting 0-4. Pitt is the last NCS team to defeat De
La Salle 30 years ago in the 1991 Section championship game. They play No. 7 Amador Valley (4-6) in the other top half of the bracket game. The winner of those two games play next week. Presuming DLS and Pitt uphold their seedings they will renew a long-time rivalry with the winner of that clash moving into the State playoffs as Open Division champion. The loser will then play the winner of the lower bracket for the Division I championship and a route into the State tournament. Clayton Valley Charter is the top seed of the lower Open/DI bracket and meets No. 6 Antioch (6-4) this Friday at Gonsalves Stadium. Should the Ugly Eagles prevail, they will meet East Bay Athletic League rival California (7-3) or Monte Vista (7-2) next week with the opportunity to move into the DI championship game on the Nov. 26-27 weekend. CVCHS lost a 19-18 heartbreaker to California to open the league season but then ran off three straight wins including 34-14 over Monte Vista to claim the EBAL Mountain Division title. Northgate split its first four games before the Broncos posted six straight wins, including all five of its Diablo Athletic League Valley Division contests to win the league championship. Northgate was last in the playoffs in 2017. The Walnut Creek school is seeded eighth in Division III and will host top seed Windsor (8-1) Friday night. The schools have one common opponent with NG beating Ukiah 41-21 in its opening game while Window beat league rival Ukiah a couple weeks ago 42-6.
No. 8 Mt. Diablo returns to NCS for the first time since 2014 and the Red Devils also are facing a top seed in Division 4 power Marin Catholic (9-1) in Kentfield Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The schools also share one common foe in Concord High. The Red Devils closed their regular season last Friday with a wild 36-34 win over their crosstown
terey Trail-Elk Grove, 10/8 L 1819 at California-San Ramon, 10/15 W 28-21 San Ramon Valley, 10/22 W 21-17 Amador Valley (Homecoming), 10/29 W 3414 Monte Vista, 11/5 L 21-42 at De La Salle. Concord 1-9, 1-4 (Div. 4)8/27 Canceled Dougherty ValleySan Ramon, 9/3 L 0-62 Marin Catholic-Kentfield, 9/10 L 0-25 Tokay, 9/17 L 23-30, 9/25 L 7-25 at Valley, 10/2 L 13-35 at BethelVallejo, 10/8 L 7-40 College Park NCS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE (Homecoming), 10/15 W 13-12 at Ygnacio Valley, 10/22 L 0-70 NOV. 12-13 Northgate, 10/30 L 14-34 at Open Division: No. 8 James Logan – Union Berean Christian, 11/5 L 34-36 City (6-4) at No. 1 De La Salle (8- Mt. Diablo. College Park 5-5, 4-1 (Div. 2), Friday, 7 p.m. No. 6 Antioch (6-4) at No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m. Division 3: No. 1 Windsor (8-1) at No. 8 Northgate (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m. Division 4: No. 8 Mt. Diablo (4-5) at No. 1 Marin Catholic - Kentfield (9-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. Division 7: No. 6 Berean Christian (4-5) at No. 3 Cloverdale (5-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
3) – 8/28 L 0-48 at RedwoodLarkspur, 9/4 L 27-43 FoothillPleasanton, 9/17 W 9-0 at Hercules, 9/24 L 21-40 Wood-Vacaville, 10/1 L 13-20 at AlhambraMartinez, 10/8 W 40-7 at Concord, 10/15 W 42-9 Berean Christian, 10/22 W 33-6 at Ygnacio Valley, 10/29 W 34-0 at Mt. Diablo, 11/5 L 21-48 Northgate. De La Salle 8-2 (Div. 1)8/28 W 52-16 St. Mary’s-Stockton, 9/3 W 68-6 Monterey TrailElk Grove, 9/10 L 28-31 at Saint Francis-Mountain View, 9/17 W 49-21 Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, 10/1 L 28-43 St. Frances
See Football, page B
FOOTBALL REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
Clayton Valley Charter 73, 3-1 (Div. 1)- 8/30 W 35-23 at Turlock, 9/3 L 20-26 at Del OroLoomis, 9/11 W 14-13 LibertyBakersfield (Honor Bowl) at Liberty (Brentwood), 9/17 W 48-0 Benicia, 9/25 W 35-28 at Mon-
Clayton Valley Charter’s Ryan Miramoto (right) gets ready to follow his Ugly Eagles teammates Miguel Alvarado (8) and Tariq Adams (22) last Friday. CVCHS lost 42-21 at De La Salle after the teams were tied at seven midway through the second quarter.
Athlete Spotlight Jianna Cereghino Grade: Senior School: Clayton Valley Charter Sports: Golf, Trapshooting Golf team captain Cereghino is known for her achievements in both the classroom as well as on the golf course. This is her second year on the CVCHS varsity golf team and she has also been on the JV trap shooting team. She was originally attracted to golf because of the challenge it presented for both her mind and body, and she loves how the sport is a competition against other people as well as against herself. As appraised by golf coach Rich Villalobos, “Jianna has a beautiful golf swing. She shot ‘lights out’ once
we made a major equipment modification. As a student-athlete, she is the epitome of what it takes to succeed inside the classroom and on the field of play.” Villalobos also praises Cereghino for her exceptional portrayal of leadership during the season to help guide younger players on the team. Cereghino says her favorite part about being an athlete and representing ClaytonValley Charter is supporting her team, being able to influence younger players and practicing self-discipline. Cereghino primarily played soccer and softball for
the majority of her childhood but was drawn to golf during high school. She loves being active and involved in her school, golf team and overall community. Cereghino’s hard work on the golf team is also evident with her success in the classroom where she has an unweighted 3.5 GPA and is a proud member of Renaissance Leadership at Clayton Valley. Her college plans include attending DVC, then hopefully transferring to a California State University campus to major in either psychology or business. Cereghino notes that a majority of her success in both athletics and academics is due to her parents’ support. She is also grateful to Coach Villalobos and Coach Jonathon Hosler for pushing her to be the best player she can be. CVCHS student journalist Katherine Pugh wrote this Spotlight. The Pioneer congratulates Jianna 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@pioneerpublishers.com.
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Page B2
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
November 12, 2021
7 fall sports league titles go to 5 local schools JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Five local schools claimed league championships as fall high school sports moved into post-season competition after the conclusion of East Bay and Diablo athletic league schedules. Clayton Valley Charter won the EBAL Mountain Division football title while its unbeaten girls tennis team won the DAL Valley Division. De La Salle and Northgate boys rolled to EBAL and DAL Valley water polo crowns, respectively. Carondelet won the EBAL girls golf tournament and College Park girls team took DAL Valley water polo and golf titles. Water Polo – Carondelet, Northgate and De La Salle are
Photo courtesy Northgate Athletics
Northgate won the boys Diablo Athletic League Valley Division water polo championship. The Bronocs include, from left, Callum Albright, Kyle Moreland, Jakob Carstensen, Tommy Meriam, Mark Hirsch, Colin Parker, Tate Stein, Aiden Chenault, league MVP Ben Forer, Tommy Martin, Jack Emelson, Nate Sullivan and coach Taylor Herman.
in the semi-finals of the NCS Northgate boys are top tournament this Wednesday. seeded in Division II after winning the DAL Valley championship. The Broncos opened with a 19-9 victory in the first round, their 17th win in a row. This fall the team
placed third at the Sierra Shootout and Napa and won the Santa Theresa Invitational and the Tri-Valley Tournament. They meet No. 5 Alameda at the Carondelet Aquatic
Center Wednesday at 6:15 before No. 2 Carondelet hosts sixth seed Justin-Siena at 7:30 in the DII girls semis. De La Salle, winner of the EBAL championship, is third seed in boys Open Division
and the Spartans are at Redwood High Wednesday meeting No. 2 Archie Williams in the semis. College Park boys lost to No. 1 seed Redwood in the DI quarterfinals while CVCHS lost its opener in the same bracket. The Falcon girls were seeded fifth in DI after winning DAL Valley title and were ousted in the quarterfinals by James Logan. Girls Golf – Carondelet won the EBAL tournament and then missed out advancing to this week’s NorCal Tournament by one stroke at the NCS championships at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Sammie Miller shot 74 and Morgan Gamble 75 as the Cougars placed fourth at NCS with a 402 total. College Park won the DAL Valley Division girls championship and Northgate also qualified for the Section meet.
See DAL, page B3
MDSA World Cup returned this fall Athlete Spotlight The local fall recreation season for Mt. Diablo Soccer Association teams reached its climax last month with the three-week long MDSA World Cup which was capped with consolation and championship games on Halloween Sunday. Each of the girls and boys
10, 12 and 14 age divisions participated in pool play on two consecutive Saturdays before the tournament concluded with quarterfinals, semifinals and final games on Oct 30-31 weekend. The reward for the top three finishers in each division
(top two in Girls 14) is a place in this weekend’s AYSO Area Cup. MDSA World Cup championship game results: G10 - Wales 2, Canada 2-0; Jamaica finished 3rd. G12 - Ivory Coast 5, Sweden 2; Spain 3rd.
G14 – Iceland 1, Norway 1 (3-1 PKs) B10 - England 3, Germany 0. Argentina 3rd. B12 - India 1, Belgium 0; Senegal 3rd. B14 - Portugal 4, South Africa 0; Slovakia 3rd.
Kiarra Henderson Grade: Senior School: Concord High Sport: Volleyball Henderson came to comments from almost Concord as a sophomore every coach we played and transfer from Redwood they were all surprised she High in Marin County. That was a first-year setter. As a first year she was a team teammate, she was always captain, outside hitter and the first one to practice and MVP on the junior varsity. the hardest worker in the She says, “I made my first room. Her work ethic and few friends [at my new dedication allowed her to school] through volleyball.” achieve in one year what Through all the challenges most setters work on for of the pandemic during the many.” past two years Minuteman Henderson (called Kiki volleyball (“my second fam- by her friends) goes to the ily”) has been a big part of gym “a lot after school or her high school experience. after practice to relieve She has played the sport for stress and better my body.” six years including for Bay She adds, “I give a big Area Volleyball Club as an shoutout to my coach Jess outside and rightside hitter. Mays. Volleyball at CHS is When she joined varsity as a nothing without Mr. Mays. junior she was the starting He is constantly pushing all rightside hitter. “Senior year of us to be better and he is was a little funky since we the reason why I was able to lost our starting setter, so I become a setter this year. stepped up and became the He believed in me the setter. It was a big role whole time and made me being the setter and team the setter I am today. He’s captain, but I wasn’t going one of my biggest inspirato let my coach down.” tions and someone that I Coach Jess Mays explains, will forever cherish “Kiarra is the heart and soul and never forget.” Henderof our team. She was a var- son plans to attend DVC or sity starter on the LMC after graduation and rightside last year and continuing playing her played a key role in us going sport. “Playing volleyball at 11-1. This year she was CHS was one of the best asked to play setter which decisions I ever made.” Her was a new position for her coach summed up his senand it is the hardest one in ior captain as a “great teamvolleyball. She was amazing. mate, friend, player, student She received wonderful and role model.” The Pioneer congratulates Kiarra 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. www.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@pioneerpublishers.com.
Portugal won boys 14 MDSA World Cup title. The team includes, front row from left, Joshua Ford, Bobby Self III, Riley Williams, Aaron Leake, Anders Lien, Osvaldo McElwaine, Maddox Steinert; back row, coach Jon Lien, Lawrence Montgomery, Justin Tougeron, Ty McConnell, Alex Colt, JD Ramos, Michael Brown and coach Lawrence Montgomery. Not pictured, Joshua Beronilla.
Football, from page B1 Academy-Baltimore, 10/8 W 3110 at Folsom, 10/15 W 52-14 California-San Ramon, 10/22 W 48-14 at San Ramon Valley, 10/29 W 41-0 Amador Valley, 11/5 W 42-21 Clayton Valley Charter. Mt. Diablo 4-5, 2-3 (Div. 4)- 8/27 L 26-49 at Lathrop, 9/3 W 50-0 at Albany, 9/10 W 16-6
American-Fremont, 9/17 L 22-65 at Dougherty Valley-San Ramon, 9/24 L 0-2 forfeit Mission-San Francisco, 10/8 W 10-6 Ygnacio Valley (Homecoming), 10/15 L 840 at Northgate, 10/22 L 0-40 Berean Christian, 10/29 L 0-34 College Park (Senior Night), 11/5 W 36-34 at Concord. Northgate 8-2, 5-0 (Div.
Photos courtesy MDSA
Wales girls captured the MDSA World Cup 10 championship. The team includes, front row from left, Kiera Kreutzinger, Taylor McNiff, Ruby Rainsberg, Delilah Moore; back row, coach Evan Kreutzinger, Summer Contreras, Noemi Tello, Savanna Sole, Trinity Ramos, coach Michael McNiff and Hannah Akbari. Not pictured, Lucy Johnston.
3)- 9/3 W 41-21 Ukiah, 9/10 L 22-45 at Las Lomas, 9/17 W 300 Bethel-Vallejo, 9/24 L 21-29 at Rodriguez-Fairfield, 10/1 W 2712 at Deer Valley, 10/8 W 41-6 Berean Christian (Homecoming), 10/15 W 40-8 Mt. Diablo, 10/22 W 70-0 at Concord, 10/29 W 35-0 Ygnacio Valley, 11/5 W 4821 at College Park. Ygnacio Valley 0-10, 0-5 (Div. 6)- 9/3 L 14-20 St. PatrickSt. Vincent-Vallejo, 9/10 L 0-39 at
Rosemont-Sacramento, 9/17 L 054 El Cerrito, 9/24 L 8-63 at Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento, 10/1 L 6-17 at Stone Ridge Christian-Merced, 10/8 L 6-10 at Mt. Diablo, 10/15 L 12-13 Concord, 10/22 L 6-33 College Park, 10/29 L 0-35 at Northgate, 11/5 L 20-43 Berean Christian.
You can see more high school sports results all month at pioneerpublishers.com.
November 12, 2021
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Fall in the garden is a time for planting, prevention and prep
DAL, from page B2 League medalist Ellen Mingming shot 70 to finish second overall at NCS and qualified for NorCal as an individual. The junior beat her friendly rival Kaylen Tu of Miramonte, who was trying to become the first threetime league MVP. Cross Country – Senior Oscar Gomez ran to the EBAL boys cross country championship last Saturday at Newhall Park in Concord winning the three-mile race by less than one second. His De La Salle team took fifth in the varsity race while Carondelet was seventh on the girls side. Campolindo swept both DAL championships with College Park a close second in the boys race Saturday at Hidden Valley Park. Northgate was third in boys and fifth in girls. Clayton Valley Charter took fourth in the boys race. Junior Alex Lamoureux
Photo courtesy Northgate Athletics
Junior Ellexis Mingming of Northgate dethroned 2-time DAL golf MVP Kaylen Tu (right) of Miramonte.
won the DAL Valley Division title for the second time in three years and its senior doubles team of Emma Gius and Giovanna Fielding won the league championship and will take part next Monday in
Photo courtesy CVCHS Athletics
Clayton Valley Charter girls doubles team of seniors Emma Gius (left) and Giovanna Fielding won the DAL Valley Division doubles title with a convincing performance over a strong team from Alhambra to qualify for the NCS doubles tournament Nov. 15.
won the DAL boys race for the Falcons. Daniel Messer of CVCHS was the first sophomore across the finish line in fourth overall. Nicholas Knisley of Northgate was fifth, Lev Afonine (CP) seventh, Aidan Sunbury (NG) eighth and Alex Walker of CVCHS ninth. College Park’s Jack Rattary was the first freshman in 11th place. Megan Mallory was the top girls finisher in seventh place for the Northgate junior. Lindsey Reed was 12th for College Park, sophomore Skylar Bennett led CVCHS in 28th and Alana Sevier was Concord’s top runner in 34th. The NCS Championships are Nov. 20 at Hayward High and the CIF State Championships one week later in Woodward Park in Fresno. Girls Tennis – Undefeated Clayton Valley Charter
Page B3
the NCS double tournament at Heritage High. The Ugly Eagles will be in the NCS team tournament this Tuesday. Juniors Sofia Woolard and Adriana Alcasabas reached the Valley Division tournament finals and semi-finals, respectively. Girls Volleyball – Carondelet was the fourth seed in Division II and won two matches before falling to top seed and eventual champion Marin Catholic in the semifinals. The Cougars are top seed at NorCal this week in Division III, opening play Thursday after a first-round bye. Northgate was seeded sixth and beat crosstown rival Las Lomas in its opening NCS match before losing in the quarterfinals. Tenth seed College Park lost in the opening round.
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL
The fall planting season got a welcome kick-start with all that wonderful rain. Our Clayton Valley soils were nicely softened, allowing for easier hole digging – which we all know is such a chore once our native soil dries. This is excellent news for those looking to take advantage of the fall planting season. Soil temperatures are still warm enough for trees, shrubs and other foundation plants to benefit from fall planting. But there is more to do in the fall other than planting. Those who have stone fruit trees should have copper fungicide and dormant spray on hand. Use the first application of fungicide to peach, nectarine, apricot and plum trees around Thanksgiving, once the foliage has fallen. The key is preventing peach leaf curl, which is a problem for many stone fruit. 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, so you will need several applications during the tree’s dormant season. Spray around Thanksgiving, New Year’s and a final application when the trees are in full bud but before the buds open. Apply dormant spray at this time to help control scale, mealy bug and other pests. But apple trees, fig, pomegranate and persimmon have no need for dormant spraying. Mophead hydrangeas need tending now as well. Those who grow blue or lavender hydrangeas should 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 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.
S p ort s Shorts TERRAPINS OFFERING WINTER PRE-SEASON HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING TRAINING
shorts. For registration information contact CVCHS football coach Nick Tisa by email The Terrapins Swim Team has published nick.tisa@claytonvalley.org or visit beeldetails for its winter pre-season high school iteathlete.com. training program. The program offers high school swimmers the chance to get a jump BASKETBALL PROGRAMS GEARING UP AT ALL OUT SPORTS IN CLAYTON start on their technique and conditioning in All Out Sports League in Clayton is gearing preparation for the 2022 high school swim season next spring. The Terrapins program up for its popular basketball program this winbegins Dec. 13 and runs through Feb. 4. All ter. There will be Girls Only and Co-Ed 90-minute practices Monday through Thurs- Thanksgiving Break Basketball Camps Nov. 22day are at Concord Community Pool. For 24 at Clayton Community Gym for ages 16 and more information visit website terrapin- younger. Winter Youth Basketball League begins Jan. 15 for boys and girls up to eighth swim.com grade. There will be an evaluation day on Dec. CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HOSTING 12. For complete information visit alloutsportsleague.com. FLAG FOOTBALL PROGRAM Clayton Valley Charter High School will PIONEER WANTS TO PUBLISH host a Be Elite Flag Football Season on 10 YOUR SPORTS NEWS consecutive weekends. The co-ed program is Please let us know about your sports news, open to kindergarten through eighth grade students. There are no tryouts or draft and special events, fund raisers, tryouts, signups and everyone plays offense and defense. Weekend accomplishments. Youth leagues, clubs, schools practices and games are the same day starting and adult programs are all welcome to send us in January. Non-contact environment games a rundown on what you’re doing. Include all the are 5 on 5 except seventh and eighth graders necessary details (too much information is betplay 7 on 7. Coaching is done by student ath- ter than too little!) and your contact informalete mentors. Fee includes participant’s cus- tion. It’s as simple as sending an email to tom jersey (name and jersey number) and sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Resist the urge to prune hydrangeas now; wait 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 plant’s leaves, you may need to apply iron. Loropetalum and star jasmine would love some fertilizer at this time. Apply a multi-purpose formula. We use 16-16-16, but any balanced formula will do. Balanced formulas are when all three number on the label are the same. Lawns are also on the November chore list. Have your lawn aerated if it hasn’t been
If your lawn just looks summer rough, apply the recommended amount of organic lawn food throughout. The humic acid and beneficial microbes will help with strong roots, deeper green color and disease resistance. Organic lawn foods are not label specific. You can use the product throughout the landscape if you choose. There is never any rest for the garden lover. Putting in the Spray early to prevent peach work now will help ensure a leaf curl. prettier spring. done in the past two years. Nicole is the Garden Girl at Reseed the entire lawn if you’re R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. experiencing thinning or patchy You can contact her with questions or growth. Spread a thin layer of comments by email at premium soil conditioner on gardengirl94517@yahoo.com top of the lawn.
Probing the secrets of the early days of matter depends on what tools we have available. We can use our eyes to determine the color and shape of an object, and we can measure mechanical and electrical properties. But how do we see inside?
As an example, imagine a sealed cardboard box. We can determine the mass and measure the size. But how is the mass distributed inside the
See Science, page B5
STEPHEN GOURLAY
SCIENCE BYTES In my experience, the simplest questions are often the most difficult to answer. I’ve been stumped many times by 4-year-olds. This month, I’ll tackle a question that has been asked for millennia by young and old: “What is the universe made of ?” Getting to that answer
J.J. Thompson’s “plum pudding” model of the atom, above: Almost no scattering of alpha particles. The Rutherford model, below: Small, heavy nucleus strongly scatters alpha particles.
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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
November 12, 2021
When it looks like your spouse can kill the deal Q: When should I drop my husband from a loan application? A: This is part of a blog from my favorite lender, JVM. It was in reference to a text about an offer that only had a married woman as the buyer. We laughed about its implications, but it reminded me that you can go it alone. You should remove a spouse from a contract if he was previously a W2 employee and now is self-employed and is paid with a 1099. The husband in this scenario could have stellar credit, but there is no reason to include him if he has been in business less than three years. Newly self-employed borrowers need two years of income history before lenders can use that
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ANSWERS income to help qualify for a loan. Lenders can sometimes get by with only one year of tax returns from a self-employed borrower, but that borrower needs to have been in business for at least five years.
You should also remove him whenever debt ratios are tight and the hit from the other spouse’s monthly payments exceeds the benefit from the other spouse’s income. If a spouse has no income and even small debt payments, he should not be on the loan if debt ratios are tight. If a spouse has $3,000 of monthly income and $2,000 of monthly debt, he too should not be on the loan if debt ratios are tight because his debt burden offsets his income benefit. A spouse should also be dropped from the loan if he has a low credit score that is adversely impacting the interest rate and his income is not needed to help qualify. This is the case whether debt ratios are
tight or not. People often think that if the no-income spouse has great credit, it will benefit the highincome spouse. But that’s not the case. Most lenders correlate to the lowest credit score of the borrower’s loan application. So if a no-income/high-debt spouse has an 850 credit score while the high-income spouse has a 650 score, it does no good to add the no-income spouse to the loan. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) includes both spouses’ debts no matter what. The debt service requirements of both spouses must be included in the liabilities section on an FHA loan application – whether both spouses are on
the loan or not. If one spouse’s credit is particularly bad, it might be beneficial to drop him from the loan but his debts will still be included. On the other hand, spouses can almost always be “on title” even if they are not on a loan. This is called a “title only” transaction, and it is relatively
common. “Title only” spouses need to be on the purchase contracts if they want to be on title, though. Lynne French is a Realtor with Compass Real Estate and captain of the Lynne French Team. Send your real estate questions to lynne@lynnefrench.com or 925-672-8787.
Understand your computer before opting for Windows 11
About a month into the release of Windows 11, we are seeing some issues arise that need addressing before we recommend upgrading. Therefore, we are advocating a pause before taking the leap. On balance, Windows 11 looks like it will be a great operating system (O/S) – once some of the issues are ning with Spaghetti Factory in attending Lincoln High School excellent choice for those crav- addressed and bugs fixed. 1990 and later Suwa’s Japanese, and later the California Culinary ing the best of Japanese foods. Having said that, we think a culinary explosion ensued. Academy. He apprenticed at They are busiest at night as the Windows 11 is a winner on Concord’s population had Amakara Sushi in Dublin prior lunch trade downtown has been new computers but not quite gained diversity, and new restau- to opening up his own busilimited due to COVID-19. ready for prime time with rants began to reflect the tastes nesses in Oakland and Conregard to an upgrade on an of the new residents. cord. old computer. Several new restaurants “We thought Concord There are several issues opened in Todos Santos, makwould be a great spot for our with older computers, and ing the area a destination for restaurant,” Kang says. “It is an most do not meet the specifigourmets from throughout the up-and-coming location that cations required. Some issues region. Many consider John should bring in the type of include the Central Processing Marquez’s Lima and Habib El clientele we desire.” RICHARD EBER Unit (CPU), Trusted Platform Jacifi’s Luna to be the best dinFrom the beginning, he says, Module (TPM), the existing TASTE & TELL ing in the city. “It has been our intention to version of Windows and There are several other pop- run a customer-friendly place some video problems that still When I migrated from San ular spots nearby, including that utilizes the best ingredients need to be addressed. Francisco more than 40 years Naan n Curry (Indian), Canasta to provide traditional Japanese The primary consideration ago, Concord could be charita- Kitchen (gourmet Mexican), cuisine with a modern twist.” is the CPU requirement. You bly called a culinary wasteland. Parkside Grille and La FriA good example is the must have an 8th generation, There were franchises like tanguera (Honduran) on Colfax grilled edamame beans, which or higher, CPU or the Mr. Steak and Sizzler, but one Street. are finished with olive oil, soy upgrade attempt will fail. You generally had to venture to Although it has been around sauce and garlic salt. will get a nasty message, and it other locales to get a decent for less than two years, Kinja While many Japanese restaucould brick your computer meal. Sushi on Willow Pass Road has rants feature beef teriyaki made Joe Kang serves up top(lock it up) until the offending At that time, Todos Santos quality sushi along with joined the go-to list. Much like with sirloin or even pot roast, process is halted. other Japanese specialties at Plaza was unkempt and without the high-quality eateries on the Kinja opts for ribeye steak in Here’s how to check the Kinja Sushi in Concord. many viable places to dine. The plaza, it is a family-run, frantheir version. CPU requirement in Windows only place I went was Goldie’s chise-free operation. If one desires sushi, it is fun 10: Left click on the Window Burgers, whose offerings I Owner Joe Kang comes to sit at the bar while observing Because of the pandemic icon in the systems tray (lower enjoyed infrequently. from a restaurant clan in San the chef whip up creative fare and high rents in the Todos left of screen). Select the setAs time moved on, Todos Francisco. They operated featuring fish from Blue Marine Santos area, it has proven diffi- tings icon and left click. On Santos changed drastically – Hahn’s Hibachi Korean Barbe- and True World in Hayward. cult for many restaurants to the settings page, left click with major improvements made cue on Polk Street for many On separate occasions, we sam- keep their doors open the last “system” (top of page), scroll in the downtown area. Beginyears. Kang worked there while pled the salmon skin rolls, Cali- couple years. As such, there has to the bottom of the page and fornia rolls with flying fish roe been a constant turnover of left click “about.” (Tobiko) and the Firefighter, businesses – with new ones There you will see somewhich features tempura, spicy opening all the time. thing like this: Processor tuna, shrimp and unagi sauce. Despite such obstacles and Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2130 As a true test of quality, we the pressure of owners having CPU @ 3.40GHz. In this tried the Maguro and yellowfin to work long hours, Todos San- example, this CPU does not tuna selections. Both met the tos has evolved into a gourmet qualify. highest standards of top-notch Mecca not only for Concord, The code reads that it’s an Japanese sushi bars. but the entire region as well. Intel i3. The dash (-) and For entrees, Kinja offers the Kinja Sushi is at 2118 Wil- numbers after it define the normal Japanese teriyaki dishes, low Pass Road, Concord. Call version of the CPU. In our chicken karaage, tonkatsu (fried 925-685-1605 or visit example, the -2xxx means secpork), shioyaki (grilled salmon kinjasushi.menu11.com ond generation. A -3 is third, or mackerel) and several other 4 fourth, etc. You must have a selections. You can also order Rich Eber is a local journalist -8, -9, -10 or -11 to qualify for Joe Ronco many main courses as bento and long time resident of Concord. the upgrade. lunch boxes with one to three He covers topics from politics to 925-872-3049 Most computers will not items. gourmet food. Contact him at be able to upgrade just the Over 35 years Clayton/ In all, Kinja Sushi is an rjerje@pacbell.net CPU. That means, if you have Concord resident Lic#844344
Fresh flavors at Kinja Sushi another reason to dine in downtown Concord
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Science, from page B3 box? What objects does it contain? One thing we can do is fire projectiles at it and see what happens. Do they go straight through or bounce off something in the box? At the beginning of the 20th century, we knew about the existence of atoms but the actual structure was a heavily debated topic. British physicist J.J. Thompson had recently discovered the first subatomic particle, the electron. He proposed the so-called “plum pudding” model of the atom as a volume of positive charge with negatively charged electrons embedded like plums or raisins in a pudding. This is what Thompson assumed to be in “the box.” However, for several reasons, this model was not uni-
versally accepted. It was a hypothesis that needed to be tested. Under the direction of Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand-born physicist, researchers performed a series of experiments at the University of Manchester from 1908 to 1913. The scientists, including Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden, used a natural radioactive source of alpha particles (helium nuclei) as projectiles to strike a thin gold target. Rutherford analyzed the experimental data and found a surprising result. “It was quite the most incredible event that has ever happened to me in my life,” he said later. “It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came
back and hit you.” According to the plum pudding model, the alpha particles should have passed straight through the foil. Based on this strange result, the picture of an atom was of a very small, positively charged “nucleus” containing most of the mass of the atom with the electrons outside. This implied that atoms were mostly empty space. To get a feel for this, imagine that we enlarge the proton in a hydrogen atom to the size of a ping pong ball. Then the electron would be, on average, about half a mile away. This discovery opened a whole other can of worms. Why were atoms stable? Wouldn’t the electron and proton attract each other and collapse the atom? This led to the invention of quantum mechanics and special relativity.
WILL CLANEY
TECH TALK
an i3-2xxx like our example, you cannot swap out the CPU to achieve a higher version number. If you pass the CPU test, check how much RAM (memory, not storage) you have. We recommend 8GB or more. Having 4GB will work, but performance is impacted. You can upgrade the RAM in most computers. Ask a pro if you need this. Good CPU, good RAM, you’re almost good to go. You need to have about 60GB of free space on your hard drive or SSD for the installation process. Be aware that some hardware drivers, like special video cards or specialty devices, may not have the correct driver (the software that runs the cards) available yet. In my opinion, wait 4-6 weeks before upgrading. You should be fine. To summarize: Windows 11 is going to be a great O/S and is available now in new computers. But wait just a tad before upgrading an older computer, checking the requirements before going ahead. If your computer misses the upgrade bar, don’t worry. Windows 10 will be supported for a few more years, so you have time to pick out a nice new custom computer from your local computer professional. Now, go do the right thing. Umm, wait a few weeks. William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station. Email questions or comments to willclaney@gmail.com.
Quantum mechanics tells us that light can behave like a particle and particles can behave like waves and that the wavelength of a particle is inversely proportional to its momentum. So particles with greater momentum have a shorter wavelength and allow us to probe smaller distances or, as in our example, look inside smaller boxes. This takes us into the realm of particle accelerators, the primary tools for studying the subatomic world. Steve Gourlay is a career scientist with a PhD in experimental particle physics. He recently retired after working at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, CERN (the European Center for Nuclear Research) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Send questions and comments to him at sgpntz@outlook.com.
November 12, 2021
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Page B5
Learning to trust again is part of the healing process
DOMINIQUE KING
LEAN IN WITH LOVE
Q: Your October column was perfect timing. I’ve had bad experiences in the past with relationships, and now I find it very hard to trust again. Dating is very difficult for me. I want marriage and everything that comes with it, but only with someone who wants the same. What can I do/practice so that I won’t see everyone as the same and give everyone an equal opportunity with me? – Rich A: Trust issues are tricky business, especially in intimate
relationships. Without trust, the eject button is always blinking. Here are some things to consider: The hard truth. You may not be ready for a relationship. Relationships don’t fix an individual. We can’t improve ourselves just because we think we have found a good person. Your alarms and triggers will continue to go off with any love interest until you break down and heal why you have those triggers in the first place. Trust can be built upon, but there has to be a place to
‘Payback’ brings victims’ harsh realities to the forefront Like most of her work, Mary Gordon’s “Payback” comes packed with her philosophically emotional ingredients. Gordon’s 13th novel begins in Brimston, Ariz., in February 2018, ending one year later in the same city But from Page 3 to Page 338, there are 47 years. Quin Archer, Agnes Vaughan and those 47 years are the main characters. Quin is the producer/star of a reality TV show called “Payback,” based on the philosophy of Ayn Rand’s theory of beneficent selfishness. Fans send Quin their stories of victimization, and she, in turn, finds the abusers and confronts them (with the abused in tow) live on national TV (including podcasts). In Quin’s world, there are no victims – only those willing to stand up to the wrongdoers and demand payback. The show’s success is worldwide. Part I ends with Quin’s announcement that her next broadcast will be personal. She will disclose the person who betrayed her. She reminds her enthusiastic and adoring fans that “Forgiveness without payback keeps a victim in his chains.” Part II steps back to April
(wearing the red boots) and meets an older gentleman who gives more attention to both her looks and her brain than she’s ever experienced. She masks her age with newly tried sophistication, but the day does not end well. She runs from the man’s apartment, takes the train home and seeks solace from the only SUNNY SOLOMON person she can trust. Agnes’s response to Heidi’s outpouring BOOKIN’ WITH of her experience? “How could SUNNY you have let that happen?” A betrayed Heidi turns and runs. 1972. Agnes is a young art hisAgnes’s remorseful guilt tory teacher at a posh all-girls causes skin rashes and more. high school in New Canterbury, She flees to Europe, eventually R.I. Fifteen-year-old Heidi Stolz marries and becomes Mrs. Di is Agnes’s most troubled and, at Martini of Rome. Heidi, too, the same time, has fled, living years in abject most intriguing poverty and self-imposed sexual student. abuse. Heidi, Eventually, discovering Ayn bright and outRand, Heidi gets a toehold and rageously becomes Quin Archer. We now obnoxious, hold our breath, waiting for socially dis“payback.” tances herself Agnes returns to New Canfrom classterbury in 2015, a retired art mates and restorer, widow and grandteachers. Kindmother. The world has hearted Agnes changed; platitudes are as attempts to worthless as the lies posing as engage Heidi’s truths. Secrets have gone viral. interest in art Real life, with its pain and horby giving Heidi rors, is presented as entertainher ticket to a Guernica lecture ment. to be held in New York. Agnes, It is now April 2018 when having recently bought a very Agnes answers her doorbell. chic pair of red boots, which Don’t pass up this novel. she later believes are much too stylish for her own tastes, also Sunny Solomon is a freelance gives the boots to Heidi – writer and head of the Clayton Book despite deeply worrying that she Club. Visit her website at may have overstepped proper bookinwithsunny.com for her latest teacher/student boundaries. recommendations or just to ‘talk Heidi attends the lecture books.’
start. Hurt people hurt people. Having trust issues stops us from getting to know the person in front of us. Encounters that could help you learn more about a person are met with a string of suspicion. Without hesitation, you will back away. Each experience you have will snowball into your next interaction. Even if you meet “the one,” your relationship will be a cycle of you testing them – with the expectation they will fail. Them passing a test will only make the next one harder. Subconsciously, you need potential mates to fail at gaining your trust. Your emotional comfort depends on it. To be open
requires a level of trust you have no intention of giving right now. And that’s OK. The past isn’t your past. You are no longer physically in the relationship that cut you deep. But emotionally, and mentally, you are right in the thick of it. No one will ever be able to shine bright enough until you process the impact this moment had on your life. A loss of trust in a relationship not only affects how you trust others, it creates a lack of faith in yourself and your decision-making abilities. That realization is a massive blow to overall confidence. We become hyper-vigilant to not make the same mistakes again. Hence, our past never really
becomes our past. You are on the right path. Rich, your trust issues will negatively impact your ability to form intimate, long-lasting relationships. Instead of shutting down, tackle them headon with the help of a professional. Sitting down with a neutral party that’s invested in your healing is the right approach. Stay open to the process. When the right one comes, that person will get the best version of you. Be well. You are worthy. Dominique King is a wife, mother, blogger and avid long-distance runner. Email questions and comments to her at leaninwiththekings@gmail.com.
Despite A-list cast, weak story lines mar ‘French Dispatch’
JEFF MELLINGER
SCREEN SHOTS Wes Anderson only makes a certain type of movie, and his films can seem like extended versions of avant-garde student films to the uninitiated viewer. There is often a lot of narration, title cards, multiple timelines and strange dialogue. The characters, while many, are richly layered even in the smallest of roles. In addition, the best of them – like “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – give the viewer a truly engrossing story. Anderson’s newest, “The French Dispatch” has four stories. Sadly, only two of them even approach the level of engrossing. As he usually does, Anderson cast a minimum of two dozen highly recognizable actors. Some of them, like Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe and Christoph Waltz, are hardly in it. Anderson is clearly beloved enough that they do this as a personal favor because they relish the chance to play even a tiny role in a high-class
Searchlight Pictures
Pablo Pauly and Bill Murray join a large cast appearing in Wes Anderson’s latest release, ‘The French Dispatch’
production. The audience also Frances McDormand tells makes better connections with the second story as a journalist the characters when all the faces who has trouble staying neutral are familiar. during a student uprising in Appearing in every one of mid-century France. Timothée Anderson’s films but his first, Chalamet plays a student leader Bill Murray stars in “The who falls for McDormand. I French Dispatch” as Arthur found myself not even rushing Howitzer, aging owner of a back from the bathroom during mid-20th century magazine. this part. With some confusing narration, The third tale, told by Jefwe find out that the magazine, frey Wright, is the best of the also named The French Disthree. Wright reveals to a talk patch, operates out of Kansas show host (Liev Schreiber) that and has a stable of famous he remembers every single writers at its employ. word he has written. Wright The staff is full of people recounts how – during a sublike Jason Schwartzman, Eliza- lime dinner with the police beth Moss and Fisher Stevens. commissioner – the commisTheir camaraderie is something sioner’s son is kidnapped. I really wanted to spend more Wright goes on an adventure, time watching. Unfortunately dodging bullets, making surrepfor me, three of the magazine’s titious plans and touting the writers each tell a different story culinary exploits of the local for the bulk of the film. police lieutenant. Snappy diaThe first story, told by Tilda logue and truly interesting charSwinton, is about an imprisacters help this story end the oned painter played by Benicio movie well. Del Toro. He meets a lesser The epilogue brings us back criminal (Adrien Brody) who to the magazine staff and their just happens to be a major pur- attempt at an obituary for the veyor in the art scene. Cadazio recently deceased Howitzer. It wide and often more than 1,000 period of time. For example, Before the rains began, sev- (Brody) is released and immedi- was a great scene that sadly miles long. There are varying ately begins turning Rosenthaler made me wish for the movie scientists estimate that atmoseral meteorologists described amounts of water vapor in each pheric rivers are responsible for satellite photos of the impend- (Del Toro) into a star. Fine act- that never was. Briver, dependent mainly on the 30% to 50% of California’s ing and some wonderfully ing AR as resembling a fire moisture available in the source annual rainfall. staged scenes save this tale, but Jeff Mellinger is a screen writer hose aimed at Northern Caliregion of the flow. CAT-5 AR storms are slow- fornia. That turned out to be an Anderson’s decision for Del and film buff. He holds a BA in When an AR moves across moving, moisture-laden events. accurate assessment. Rainfall Toro play the reserved character Film Studies and an MFA in film the Pacific toward the Bay Area, They produce prodigious rain- that doused our state also and Brody to play the unhinged production. He lives in Concord. forecasters expect rain. Rainfall fall activity that can last for sev- ended the horrible wildfire fire one was a misstep. I much pre- Email comments to editor@pioneeramounts are a function of how eral days. CAT-5 AR storms fer the reverse. publishers.com. season that began in August. much atmospheric water is con- often trigger flash floods and In an average year, three to WOODY WHITLATCH in the AR and how long landslides. four weak to moderate strength WEATHER WORDS tained the moisture plume affects a The key variable used to AR events strike the Bay Area. location. classify an AR at a specific loca- Strong CAT-5 AR storms, howMany one-day rainfall A few years ago, research tion is the integrated vapor ever, are relatively rare. After records were shattered when meteorologists developed a transport (IVT). Satellite water two dry rainy seasons, the the first significant storm of the methodology to categorize an vapor measurements quantify recent AR seemed to provide season soaked the Bay Area last impending AR’s potential the amount of available moismore benefits than harm as month. 925-381-3757 effects. These forecasts are ture in a column of air. reservoir and lake levels Our drenching downpours designed to assist water manThese moisture measureincreased substantially. resulted when the jet stream agers and emergency response ments, combined with modeled Meteorologists agree, howguided a large plume of moisorganizations with short-term wind flow data, allow forecast- ever, that the October AR ture toward a strong storm sys- planning strategies. ers to calculate IVT values. The didn’t end the drought. But I tem that developed off the Similar to hurricane strength goal is to determine the number hope it is the starting point for Pacific Northwest coast. classifications, there are five AR of hours that predefined a wetter than normal winter For the last several decades, categories. CAT-5 is the threshold IVT conditions will season. If we’re lucky, Califormeteorologists have identified strongest. However, there is an persist at a given location. nia will experience a few more large, organized streams of important distinction in what The Oct. 24-25 AR was a AR events in the coming moisture that move eastward the weak and strong categories CAT-5 storm for most of Cen- months. across the Pacific Ocean as represent. tral California, including the Bay atmospheric rivers (AR). The Design/Build Experts Specializing in All hurricanes, weak or Area. Local rainfall totals Woody Whitlatch is a meteorolOctober AR turned out to be strong, result in property dam- ranged from 5 to 15+ inches ogist retired from PG&E. Email ü Landscape ü Pergolas ü Retaining Walls one of the strongest on record. age and possible loss of life. during this event. Downed your questions or comments to ü Hardscape ü Drainage ü Outdoor Kitchens ARs are long and relatively Weak ARs, however, are consid- trees, flooding and several land- clayton_909@yahoo.com narrow bands of water vapor, ü Irrigation ü Lighting ü Grading/Excavating ered beneficial in that they pro- slides occurred throughout the typically several hundred miles vide needed rainfall over a short Bay Area. www.DiabloLawnScape.com
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Cry me a river – an atmospheric river
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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
November 12, 2021
T H E ART S
‘Deathtrap’ keeps the audience guessing – and laughing Broadway playwright Sidney Bruhl, who has a bad case of writer’s block. When one of his writing students shares the draft of his new play, “Deathtrap,” Bruhl immediately knows it’s a hit and wishes he had written it. Then he has an idea: Why not murder his student and pass the play off as his own? SALLY HOGARTY But life and murder are seldom that simple in Levin’s STAGE STRUCK clever, humorous and gripping drama. Pittsburg Community TheWith Suzan Lorraine atre presents a suspenseful directing, the cast includes and often funny piece of the- Jason Berner, Liam Cody, ater with Ira Levin’s “DeathMarsha Howard, Kimberly trap,” which is full of twists James and Wayne McRice. and turns. “Deathtrap” runs Nov. 13“Deathtrap” tells of
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21 at the Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St., Martinez. For tickets, go to pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org. Act II Improv, formed by improvisational actors who believe in performing “for good,” appears 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Campbell. The group gives back to the community financially as well as providing a creative outlet for improv artists to innovate and grow. For tickets, go to campbelltheater.com/tickets. Center Rep is back in business offering its annual production of “A Christmas Carol” once again. Full of gorgeous costumes, special effects, music and wonderful characters, the show runs Dec. 9-23 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. I must admit I really love this show and so enjoyed playing the Ghost of Christmas Past many years ago. There’s just something special about the message of love and forgiveness that is especially poignant given the pandemic. Center Rep’s season continues with “Our Town” (Feb. 4-26), “Murder on the Orient Express” (April 15-May 7) and “Beehive: The ’60s Musical” (May 27-June 26). For tickets, call 925-943SHOW or go to lesherartscenter.org. Congrats to the Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA), which raised $250,000 for the arts at its “On Broadway” gala. Held at the Lesher Center, the event featured a red-carpet cocktail reception, silent auction and performances by Broadway’s Max von Essen and dance
Batteries cause fires that threaten our neighbors and neighborhoods.
Let’s do all we can to prevent fires anywhere. Please dispose of your batteries properly.
It’s quick, easy and free! Concord Residents Contact our office for curbside pick-up or Drop-off at Central San www.centralsan.org/hhw
Important Holiday Information We ARE picking up Thanksgiving week!
Please have carts out for collection on your normal service day. The Recycling Center and Transfer Station (RCTS) is open Thanksgiving Day. www.mdr.com/rcts
www.mdrr.com
Photo by Ben Krantz
Tyler Gordon speed-painted a portrait of Maya Angelou at Diablo Regional Arts Association’s “On Broadway” gala. The painting was then auctioned off.
troupe Honey Taps. DRAA also unveiled the center’s new headliner series during the festivities. The series kicks off Jan. 7 with Grammy Award-winning singer LeAnn Rimes, followed by Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell on Feb. 25. Kaiser Permanente College Notes presents top a cappella groups March 11-12, with the Dance Theatre of Harlem performing April 29-30. The series continues May 6 with the Joey Alexander Trio featuring the Indonesian jazz piano prodigy and concludes with Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran Laura Benanti on June 25. Call 925-943-SHOW or go to lesherartscenter.org for tickets. A celebration of life for
actress, playwright, director and educator Kathy McCarty is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Campbell Theater. As many of you know, Kathy
Photo courtesy of Rich Schwab
A celebration of life for Kathy McCarty takes place Dec. 11 at the Campbell Theater in Martinez.
died June 2 at the age of 58 after a valiant struggle with MS and a rare form of brain cancer. She spent the last year of her life revising the script and working with composer Mitchell Covington on her full-length musical “Rivets,” an homage to the home-front soldiers of WWII. Her husband Rich is carrying on that work with Covington. It is hoped a song or two from the show will be performed at the celebration. If you would like an evite, email me at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com
November 12, 2021
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
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Local artists mark a return to full-length albums
DAVE HUGHES
DIABLO BEAT Editor’s note: For the last few years, Concord resident Dave Hughes has dedicated most of his “free time” to launching new platforms to showcase our local music scene – from Concord Couch Concerts to Singer-Songwriter Saturdays and a weekly radio show on Concord’s KVHS 90.5 FM. In his new Pioneer column, he will feature bands and artists from our own backyard. For myriad reasons, independent recording artists have been trending away from creating full-length albums, a.k.a. LPs, preferring to release shorter EPs and singles. Moving to more frequent bursts of content for some is an artistic choice. For others, offering smaller portions is part of the exhausting quest to appeal to the everdeclining attention span of today’s distracted consumer.
Aileen Semjan
Matt Xavier says that his rock band The 151; (from left Mike Walch, Sean McCandles, Matt Xavier, and Tyler Salinas) squeezed in whatever time they could over the summer to record their new album in a sweltering garage in Concord.
For many DIY artists, it’s an issue of logistics – production costs, time, labor. Others see it as the optimal path to growing an audience in “the playlist era.” While there’s plenty to be opined about this downsizing approach taken in both independent and commercial music, several local artists have refreshingly bucked the trend by releasing full-length
albums in 2021. One such album is “Born in Trouble,” released in September from Concord rock band The 151. Front-man Matt Xavier explains that while producing an album is no easy task, the satisfaction of the release makes every obstacle worth enduring. “If you want something bad enough, you’ll do it despite a pandemic, despite
funding, despite the mountains to climb and despite the time constraints. My guys sweated it out in a 110degree garage on Saturdays when California was burning to the ground so we could nail these tracks,” he says. “We looted our savings to get this album recorded and pressed. We’re tired, we’re sore and it’s taken a toll on all of us – physically and
mentally. Yet I don’t think, even for a second, that any of us would give up this record for a reset button.” After releasing a debut EP and a follow-up single earlier this year, the Martinez-based rock band Accidents at Sundown released its first album, “Us Against the Underworld,” on Nov. 5. “It’s been beyond exciting to release an entire album. We are excited to be working on our second album, aiming to release it October 31st, 2022,” says singer Tyler McClellan. For many artists, releasing an LP offers more room for expression than scattered singles or a condensed EP. “Album construction can tell a larger story than what one song alone can,” notes Margaret Jones of M Jones & the Melee. “It lets us juxtapose and complicate, shifting moods from one song to the next. A good playlist can do that too, and for that reason, I don’t dislike single releases.” Her Oakland-based band’s debut album, “Keep A Weather Eye,” released over the summer, carries thematic undertones across the 10-song journey. Concord funk group Price Point, which just released its third album,
“PP3,” believes the fulllength format is the only viable option as a band tasked with keeping the party going. Guitarist Dr. Scotch explains: “We want the music we make to be as much fun to listen to as it was to make. We want that party atmosphere to come across, from our studio straight through to your hi- fi, and the only way to effectively communicate such positively deep vibes is through the LP format. It captures the whole night, from sundown ’til sunup – you just can’t get there with a shorter format.” Other 2021 LPs from East Bay artists include the self-titled orchestral rock album from My Evergreen Soul, Timmy G’s eclectic instrumental album “Renewal” and the debut album from katgrüvs, “The Creator,” which showcases her signature “finger-style” approach to acoustic guitarplaying. Find links to these albums and many more local releases at ConcordRockCity.com. Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.
Add a few new side dishes for a unique Thanksgiving feast
DEBRA MORRIS
FARMERS MARKET This Thanksgiving, take a break from your traditional recipes and try some new and interesting side dishes to serve with the big bird. Yes, it’s nice to enjoy favorite dishes that have been handed down through the generations, but it’s also fun to shake things up sometimes. Maybe a new or updated side dish will be so popular that it will become a family tradition. At the Concord farmers market, you’ll find sweet potatoes, winter squash, apples, grapes, Brussels sprouts, persimmons, pomegranates, onions, greens and even fall flowers for your table. Here are some scrump-
This Farmers Market bacon brussel sprouts dish is just one of many fresh-from-the-market alternatives you might consider adding to this year’s Thanksgiving feast.
tious recipes to bring a twist to your traditions: Twice-baked winter squash: Transform acorn or butternut squash by twicebaking them, just as you would a potato. Bake, scoop out and mash with a little butter and maple syrup, spoon back into squash shells, reheat and top with pecans. Market mash: For an unexpected and delicious flavor, add some market-fresh
herbs and goat cheese to mashed potatoes. Try including mashed-up carrots or adding caramelized onions or bacon on top. Balsamic bacon Brussels: Cut sprouts in half and toss with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and chopped cooked bacon. Roast at 350 until browned and crispy. Roast fresh green beans the same way. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Sweet potato fries: Make it casual with baked fries instead of a sweet potato casserole. (Recipe below.) Apple pear salad: Toss fresh greens, chopped apples, pears, red onion and walnuts. Add a sprinkle of goat cheese or blue cheese and toss with your favorite vinaigrette. This is a refreshing starter for a heavy meal. Quick add-ins: Add fresh rosemary and grated Parmesan cheese to crescent rolls, jalapeño to cornbread, pomegranate seeds or almonds to salads, chopped apples to cabbage salad or slaw, or mashed sweet potato or pumpkin purée to biscuits.
etables, and Great Valley Poultry out of Manteca for farm-fresh eggs. Don’t forget fresh-cut fall flowers from Sunrise Nursery in Watsonville. ROASTED SWEET POTATO WEDGES 2 (8-oz.) sweet potatoes, peeled 1-2 T olive oil ½ tsp. curry powder ¼ tsp. ground cumin 1/8 tsp. ground cloves ¼ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. black pepper
Preheat oven to 425. Cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut each half lengthwise into six wedges. Combine with other ingredients in a bowl; toss gently to coat. Place wedges on a baking sheet – do not overlap. Bake 25 minutes or until very tender. Recipe: PCFMA staff. The Concord Farmers Market is in Todos Santos Plaza Tuesdays. See ad page B7 for hours.
STOCKING UP Stock up for your Thanksgiving feast at the Concord Tuesday market, where you’ll find Bautista Ranch from Stockton with wonderful winter squash, Diaz Farms out of Fowler and J&J Ramos Farm in Hughson for sweet grapes, Smit Farms from Linden for crisp apples, J&M Farms in Gilroy for tasty Brussels sprouts, greens and root veg-
The Concord Farmers’ Market is the best place in town to stock up on fresh and local ingredients for your family‘s Thanksgiving feast! Fall favorites such as winter squash, lush greens, and crisp apples are filling the stalls of the market now! Be sure to stop by the market soon and take home your share of the fall harvest. For a live list of participating farms & vendors, visit: pcfma.org/Concord Text "CONCORD" to 855-272-3276 to join the text message club for the Concord Farmers' Market. The best way to stay up to date on what's new each week! By texting you agree to receive promotional messages from the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. This agreement isn’t a condition of any purchase. Message & data rates may apply. Approx 4 message a month. Reply ‘HELP’ for help, and ‘STOP’ to cancel
USE YOUR CALFRESH/EBT CARD WE'LL MATCH YOUR PURCHASE UP TO $15! Find out more at: pcfma.org/market-match CONCORDFARMERSMARKET
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The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
November 12, 2021
Spring will bring hiking opportunities at Mangini Ranch acquired the land in 2006 due a generous deal formulated between the Mangini family, SMD and other fundraising partners. A quick trek through the gate and past an old cattle scale laden with poison oak puts you on a brief uphill jaunt past the headwaters of Galindo Creek, with oaks pepKEVIN PARKER pering most of the route. This property is home to several HIT THE TRAIL natural springs and a pond, It’s not often you get a both dry this time of year. backstage pass to visit a prisUsing a network of seatine park not yet open to the soned fire roads and newly cut public, but a series of fortusingle-track trails, one can tour nate events give me a muchthe ranch in a short amount anticipated sneak peek into of time. With nowhere to be Mangini Ranch. on a sunny October afterOriginally called Railroad noon, we took time to enjoy Ranch, Mangini Ranch is a the trees, plants, birds and 208-acre swath of land tucked views to Suisun Bay and between Mt. Diablo State Park beyond. and the Lime Ridge and CrysThe ranch is home to tal Ranch open spaces. Save many species of animals, Mount Diablo (SMD) including owls, kestrels, bob-
Kevin Parker
An old cattle scale stands in solitude on the Mangini Ranch set to open to public in March.
cats, wild pigs, coyotes, the endangered California redlegged frog and the Alameda whipsnake – we were lucky to
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see one during our hike. The current species count at Mangini is at 583, including 337 different insects. The area is also home to grasslands, oak woodlands, chapparal, lots of transition zones and a large grove of desert olives, a rarity in the Bay Area. My Mangini highlights were the amazing ridgeline views, an old, lightning-struck tree and “The Cove” – an area with picnic tables and a shade structure. Plans there include an outdoor education center, complete with educational signage. The best section of trail winds through a buckeye
grove right up against a chapparal transition zone passing numerous desert olives – really making it feel like being in two worlds at the same time. This park delivers easy access with a far away from civilization feel. Starting March 31, 2022, it will be
open to groups for educational purposes, including hiking, biking and birding. SMD has been busy working on this land, with niceties such as wooden bridges, picnic tables and well-planned, scenery-driven trail routings that take you on a roundabout tour of almost all aspects of the area. Trail names are still a secret, so as we get closer to next March, expect a map and other information via SMD’s website. Right now, the main users of Mangini Ranch are local schools and other entities that use this land for educational purposes. Groups of three to a hundred will be able to reserve SMD guided tours for April and later. Thanks again to Denise at SMD for the tour. For more information, visit savemountdiablo.org. Contact Kevin Parker with comments or questions by email at LukeHollywood@gmail.com
Hit The Trail The Spot: Mangini Ranch (closed except by private tour) How Big: 208 acres Distance: 2.66 miles Time: 1 hour Elevation Gain: 427 feet
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Abandoned buildings at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
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Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch is unique for its historic, botanical and geological features. The area that includes the park was once the largest coalmining region in California. Geologically, the area was a shallow seabed millions of years ago. Botanically, the park has the northernmost stands of native Coulter pines with their outsized cones, as well as some non-native trees and plants the miners brought. You can learn more about Black Diamond Mines’ natural history with naturalist Kevin Dixon 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. Hand magnifiers, binoculars and microscopes will reveal the secrets of the park’s plants and animals. Equipment and training will be provided. The program is free, but registration is required and masks must be worn. Register at 888-327-2757, option 2. Black Diamond Mines is at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4
in Antioch. The program meets at the innermost parking lot at the end of the road. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. Morningtide Walk: Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline is another park rich in both natural and cultural history, Naturalist Virginia Delgado will lead one of her series of Morningtide Walks 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. She will point out signs of the season, while describing how the area has changed over time. The walk is free, though registration is required. Call 888-327-2757. Meet at the parking lot at the end of North Court Street near the marina. Crab Cove cleanup: Speaking of the shoreline, volunteers are welcome for a beach cleanup session 1011:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. Coordinated by naturalist Susan Ramos, the activity is for ages 5 and older. Bring your own gloves and bucket or use the visitor center’s disposable gloves and garbage bags. Community service hours are available. Reservations required at 510-544-3187. Crab Cove Visitor Center is at the end of McKay Avenue off Alameda’s Central Avenue. Strolling in Sunol: View the seasonal changes during a
family-friendly stroll 10-11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Sunol Regional Wilderness. Led by naturalist Betty Villalta, the group will sip hot chocolate while finding out how animals stay warm during the winter. The program is free, but registration is required. Call 888-327-2757. Sunol Wilderness is at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road, about five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. Mind your own beeswax: “Beeswax Beauty” is the focus of a unique program 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton. Naturalist Alex Collins will talk about local beehives and help participants use beeswax to make lip balms to take home. All materials will be provided. Registration is required. Call 888-327-2757, option 2. Shadow Cliffs has a $6 parking fee, and the program costs $10 per person for district residents, $13 for nonresidents. These are just some of the programs on the calendar at East Bay regional parks. For full information, visit website, www.ebparks.org. Ned McKay is Public InformationSupervisor for EBRPD. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net