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Meals on Wheels a lifeline for homebound seniors
www.concordpioneer.com
From the desk of...
LAURA HOFFMEISTER
November 24, 2017
925.672.0500
KARA NAVOLIO Correspondent
MAYOR
Reflecting on what makes Concord great
This is my last column as my turn as mayor will be ending Dec. 5, when the City Council will rotate the position, as we do every year. It’s been an honor and privilege serving as your mayor this past year. Thanks to my council colleagues and all the city employees who do a great job serving our community and to the Concord Pioneer for allowing me to share community information. The rainy season is here, along with a free 24-hour sandbagging station for Concord residents at the city’s Corporation Yard, 1455 Gasoline Alley. Pre-filled sandbags Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer are available for seniors and Volunteer Fred Pardella delivers a meal to Concord resident Dolores Gonsalves, who cannot cook hot meals because she is blind. Susannah Meyer of Meals on Wheels, right, came along for a well-being check.
See Mayor, page 7
On Nov. 21, seniors who can no longer drive or cook received a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie as well as meals to last through the holiday until the next week. Across Contra Costa County, more than 800 seniors get meals each weekday from Meals on Wheels – 150 in Concord and Clayton. Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) has been operating here since 1968. This year, nearly 1,500 volunteers made sure that homebound seniors receive healthy meals each weekday and get a friendly check-in. Concord resident Fred Pardella has been delivering meals for 10 years in Concord and Clayton. “All the clients are so nice and appreciative of what we do. I’ve become friends with some of the people,” he says.
See MOW, page 7
Helix resigns abruptly from CNWS advisory committee JAY BEDECARRÉ Concord Pioneer
Former Concord Mayor Dan Helix abruptly resigned this month from the Naval Weapons Station Reuse Citizens Advisory Committee, which he had served as chairperson since the committee’s formation last January. Helix feels city staff has not provided the 13-member committee with enough time to fully review and understand the most recent Master Developer’s Proposed Land Use Plan for which the city sought initial approval at the Nov. 7 CAC meeting. Going back to the beginning of the committee’s work he says the City has not given the committee members sufficient time to “get up to speed” on the complex project. “Unfortunately, instead of small sips they received a flow of information as out of a fire hose.” For their Nov. 7 meeting
Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer
GUY BJERKE
Inside
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Community . . . . . . . . . . .2
From the desk of . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Performing Arts . . . . . .16
Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer
DAN HELIX
Director of Community Reuse Planning Guy Bjerke had requested “the CAC designate the proposed land use plan as the preferred land use plan and the basis for further study through the preparation of the more detailed specific plan document, technical studies and the environmental analysis.” Following staff and developer presentations and protracted discussion, Bjerke made a final request “for direction” from the committee. Helix called for a vote on the matter and the committee voted 9-4 to designate the plan as presented, per staff ’s request. Helix is concerned that such a designation now has de facto made it “the Specific Plan” and says it effectively negates any need for a future vote by the CAC on the Specific Plan. “In plain English this means the CAC’s hands are tied.” At the meeting Bjerke and planner Joan Ryan explained
that over the next several months—beginning with the regular November meeting this Tuesday—the CAC will receive presentations on transportation, infrastructure and smart cities. Helix tendered his resignation in a Nov. 8 letter to the City Council and City Manager Valerie Barone. He wrote, “Regretfully, I no longer feel I can make a significant contribution to the initially mandated goals and objectives of the Committee.” Bjerke and Helix have been long-time allies but saw this issue very differently. Bjerke explained that since the CAC’s last regular meeting in September, the City held Community Workshop #3 and three study sessions on this item with the Planning Commission and the City Council. Those study sessions delayed the CAC’s October meeting until Nov. 7. Bjerke said until right before the start of the meeting he was not aware of Helix’s concerns. Taking into account input from the workshop and three study sessions Bjerke and staff felt the Proposed Land Use Plan from developer Five Point/ Lennar was ready for designation so the next steps in the long process with various agencies, Planning Commission and City Council could move forward. They hope that 2018 will yield significant progress that might lead to a City Council vote by early 2019 on the Specific Plan. That could then lead to infrastructure work beginning in 2020
and initial construction on the first phase of 500 acres as soon as 2022. After his resignation, Helix said “the city needs to curtail this sense of urgency. Slow down the process.” He urges the City to have small instruc-
tional group meetings for the CAC to “educate them so they can make intelligent decisions and not vote for something simply because it’s recommended by staff, which seems to be the current mindset.” While sitting on the City
Council Helix initially opposed the selection of Lennar as the master developer of the Concord Naval Weapons conversion to a “world class project.” He says that Lennar’s final term
See Helix, page 7
St. Francis cheer teams go all out for holiday giving The season of giving is upon us, and many are in need this holiday season. The cheerleaders from Saint Francis of Assisi K-8 school in Concord are holding their 10th annual turkey drive to provide a holiday bird to more than 100 seniors in need at the Monument Crisis Center in Concord. “This year, we are trying to collect 150 turkeys to donate,” said Sofia Cattrone, a fifth-grade cheerleader new to the team. The girls arrive in their uniforms and lead the crowd in cheers, making the event festive and positive. It’s a wonderful day of community building and the team gets excited for it every year. “My favorite part is collecting and delivering the turkeys,” said Celestina Dioso, an eighth-grade cheerleader, “but most of all, talking with the senior citizens at the center.” The team spends many weeks organizing and advertis-
Elizabeth Riley, Izzy Oswald and Alyssa Lesavoy help their fellow St. Francis of Assisi cheerleaders deliver more than 150 turkeys to Monument Crisis Center
ing. Finally, on the morning of the drive, they collect turkeys and gift cards during the school’s carline drop-off to deliver within the hour. The team hopes to continue this tradition for many years to come. Leadership qualities cultivated at Saint Francis of
Contra Costa School of Performing Arts Enrollment open for 2018-19 school year Rigorous College Prep Education in • All Core Academics • Instrumental Music • Production & Design • Theatre
• Dance • Vocal Music
Assisi, along with an instilled desire to serve, are a big part of why these cheerleaders have reached high goals for those in need year after year. The cheerleaders hope this tradition will inspire other young leaders to reach out and help senior citizens in need. Tuition-free public charter school, grades 6-12 2730 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek 925-235-1130
To learn more go to cocospa.org