Joe Romano is back! see page A10
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
October 7, 2005
925.672.0500
Farmers settles with Village Market TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
GREGG MANNING
MAYOR’S CORNER Everyone needs to be prepared for a major disaster. In the past week, a number of people have asked me about the state of Clayton’s response to a disaster or an emergency. All of us in Clayton face a number of potentially disastrous events. We do not have hurricanes but we do have the possibility of earthquakes, wildfires, stream flooding and landslides in about that order of impact on the city. Clayton does have an Emergency Response Plan. This plan is reviewed on an annual basis. This year, in light of the recent events on the Gulf Coast, the counties and cities of Alameda and Contra Costa are hard at work on a program that will put all county and city agencies on the same radio system for emergencies. This system is estimated to cost between $60 and $70 million. All things, including disaster preparedness, come down to money, which is always in short supply. An earthquake has potentially the most disastrous effect on Clayton. A serious earthquake could leave hundreds homeless. The 1906 San Francisco quake left 225,000 people homeless and the area’s population is a lot greater today. In the past the only space the city had to shelter large numbers of people after an earthquake was the field at the elementary school. Now we also have the fields at the Community Park and Diablo View Middle School. The gym at the middle school now gives us a sheltered place for people. The most important lesson we can all get from the events in the Gulf Coast region is that we will be on our own for not the
See Mayor, page A7
What’s inside SECTION A Around Town . . . . . . . . . .A2 Classifieds and Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . .A5 Letter to the Editor . . . . . .A8 So, Anyway . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Sharing History . . . . . . . .A11 Your Health . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Food for Thought . . . . . .A13 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . .A14 SECTION B Hiker’s Haven . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Church News . . . . . . . . . . .B4 Holiday Gifts . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Community Calendar . . . . .B6 Dining Around . . . . . . . . . .B7 Pet Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . .B9 Tea for You . . . . . . . . . . . .B10
Sam Sandhu, owner of the badly fire damaged Village Market, accepted a settlement offer from Farmer’s Insurance last week. The Sept. 21 settlement brings to a close nearly a year and a half of litigation
against the insurance giant. In a statement to the Pioneer earlier this week, Marcus Merchasin, Sandhu’s attorney, had nothing but praise for Judge Barbara Zuniga, who kept all parties negotiating for 16 hours until agreement was finally reached at 11:30 p.m. Both parties are under court order not to
discuss the amount or terms of the settlement. However, Merchasin said that Sandhu is “ecstatic.” “It’s a great sense of relief,” said Merchasin. “It’s significant for Sam and it’s significant for Clayton.” “This is terrific news,” said City Manager, Gary Napper. The
store has been empty and boarded up since January 15, 2004, when it was badly damaged by fire. “It’s been a daily reminder of a difficult time for Sam and for the City,” said Napper. The cause of the fire has never been determined and the fire inspector for Contra Costa Fire Protection District has yet
to file his final report. However, very early on, both Sandhu and Farmer’s each hired their own independent investigators to conduct extensive studies of the second floor of the building where the fire started. Neither investigation turned up any evidence of accelerant use. Both
See Market, page A6
Raise your stein to lager and lederhousen Huge turnout for the second annual CBCA Oktoberfest. JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
MAYOR GREGG MANNING
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
LEADS THE BAND
and the keg down Main Street to kickoff the second annual Oktoberfest.
Clayton nurse felt compelled to help Katrina victims on the Gulf Coast JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
numerous phone calls, Bethel was asked to attend an all-day class in Oakland on Sept. 11. She remembers thinking how appropriate it was to train with the Red Cross on a day when our country remembered the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. She was told she could be deployed within seven days after the class. “I was so excited.” She sat
Most of us watched the devastation of hurricane Katrina on television and were overwhelmed by the images; families in pain, losing their homes and livelihood and, in many cases, loved ones. It was hard to watch, and many of us tuned out in disbelief. However, one Clayton resident knew immediately after the hurricane struck that she couldn’t tune out. Giving money and food wasn’t enough. Patti Bethel knew she had to give of herself. “I had a burning desire to help,” she said. An emergency room nurse for 18 years with three years of high risk obstetrics training and certified for Level One trauma, Bethel certainly had something to give. She alerted her coworkers in the ER room at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek that she had a strong desire to get to the Gulf Coast. Patti was told to pursue her dream and not to worry about her work schedule. So she forged ahead by filling out an on-line application to the Red Cross. After several days and PATTI BETHEL
through a compelling presentation about Clara Barton on the front line during the Civil War. “Like Barton, everyone at the training wanted to make a difference,” she says. I remember thinking “okay, now I am really psyched.” But her enthusiasm was short lived. Red Cross personnel informed the more than 200 people at the training that they
would be able to pass out water and put on a band aid, but anything more in the way of medical needs was beyond their scope. “I was devastated,” Patti said. “Three of us got up and walked out. My bubble had burst.” Later she would discover that this small incident would
See Nurse, page A6
Voices squealing as they swirl around and around on the ever popular Tilt-a-Whirl. Kids waving to mom and dad as they ride up and down and around on the merry-go-round. Young smiling faces gleaming above the crowd as they soar in the air on Fly. Typical sights and sounds of Oktoberfest? Not exactly. There was something new this year. The Clayton Business and Community Association, Oktoberfest sponsors, added a carnival to event festivities and the crowd loved the new addition. There were rides for young and old alike and the fun started last Friday night at 5. And what’s not to like about a carnival? The smell of popcorn, the noise of the rides and the crowds, young teens milling
See Oktoberfest, page A4
Pioneer to host public forum on Measure M On November 8, Clayton voters will be asked to renew the city’s Landscape Maintenance District. In preparation for the election, the Clayton Pioneer will host two public forums on Measure M; the first on Monday October 24 and again on Thursday, October 27, both beginning at 7 p.m. in the Clayton Library Community Room. Members of the city council, the original Blue Ribbon
See Forum, page A7
Measure M will replace current assessment
Photo courtesy of Patti Bethel
SET UP THE TRIAGE CENTER
to aid Katrina victims in Gulfport, Mississippi.
The Landscape Maintenance Assessment that will be on the ballot in November as Measure M calls for a total annual assessment of $365. This is to replace the current assessment of $125. It is not in addition to the $125.