October 16, 2020
TAMARA STEInER
VOTE
www.PioneerPublishers.com
County’s Red Tier signals more reopenings, fewer restrictions
DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
PUBLISHER
VOTE
HopeJohnsonForConcord.com
As we head down the home stretch to Election 2020, it seems as if the earth spins faster and faster the closer we come to Nov. 3. But, as amped up and complicated as things seem to be right now, the message is really simple – VOTE. This election is arguably the most important one facing us at every level – national, state and local – in more than a century. For those who have already mailed or dropped off their ballots, thank you. For those who have yet to decide, I urge you to sit down with a cuppa (nothing stronger, you need a clear head) and your ballot book, and make your voices count. If you aren’t sure about a measure or a candidate, I highly recommend the non-partisan League of Women Voters for information on candidates and measures. Go to votersedge.org. and enter your address to bring up your ballot. Click on any of the candidates or measures for more information. For the Concord and Clayton city council races, the candidates’ positions on the major issues are posted on our website PioneerPublishers.com. Scroll down and click on Elections 2020 to see all of the completed questionnaires. Once you’ve completed your ballot, SIGN IT! Then mail EARLY or drop off at a ballot box. For a list of ballot box locations, go to Contra Costa County Elections https://tinyurl.com/yxfcggdw. See you on the other side.
HOPE JOHNSON People Over Profits
District 2
Concord City Council
What’s Inside
Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 From the Desk of . . . . . . . .10 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . .8 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
David Scholz
Despite the rising temperatures, the long-dormant playground at Todos Santos Plaza and other children's equipment in Con-
cord parks started attracting interest from young residents in early October when the State of California permitted their use again. Public Works staff inspected and prepared all playgrounds, and installed new signage indicating usage rules designed to keep people safe from the spread of COVID-19.
The drop in both the number of Contra Costa County’s coronavirus cases and the percentage of positive tests has moved the county to the Red Tier, resulting in health officials loosening restrictions across a wider spectrum of social settings. The county’s positivity rate is now at 3.7 percent. Red Tier, or “substantial,” is the third highest of the state’s four color-coded reopening tiers. The status means the following sectors can reopen with modifications: Places of worship, restaurants, movie theaters and museums can operate indoors at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is less. Gyms can reopen indoors at 10 percent capacity. All personal care services, including massage, can move indoors. Indoor shopping malls can operate at 50 percent occupancy
See Red Tier, page 5
Contra Costa pilots form disaster response team PETE CRUZ The Pioneer
Pete Cruz
Stephen Tucker, front right, and Mike Peterson, left, received PPE supplies brought to Buchanan Field by pilots Doug Fitzgerald and John Sawatzky, background. Once the supplies were delivered to two Contra Costa organizations, the Contra Costa Disaster Airlift Response Team was certified.
When talking to local pilots DeWitt Hodge and Stephen Tucker, it’s hard to say which shines through the most: their love of flying or their enthusiasm for helping people. In September, the pair gathered with a small group of comrades at Concord’s Buchanan Field Airport to complete the last step in becoming California Disaster Airlift Response Team (DART) operators. For the mission, a plane traveled 60 miles from Byron Airport to San Martin Airport near Gilroy early that morning, then took on several boxes of
face shields to fly to Buchanan. The Concord group met the two pilots on the tarmac and then delivered the personal protective equipment (PPE) by car to two local aid groups. Once the trip was certified, Contra Costa DART became operational. “Everyone in the group performed flawlessly,” said Tucker, the new group’s executive director.
HELPING OUT AFTER LOMA PRIETA Various pilot associations and individuals have moved forward the idea of a volunteer airlift assistance program over the years, but Tucker points to the 1989 Loma Prieta Earth-
quake as when the idea likely was born. Landslides cut off roads to Watsonville for weeks, and volunteer pilots delivered urgently needed supplies and medical help to the heavily damaged area. After many years trying to solidify standards for a volunteer air assistance program, one finally coalesced in 2014. Some of the pilots involved in the Watsonville operation worked on forming what is now the California DART network (CalDART). A volunteer board of directors leads a statewide group of volunteer DART operators and supporters at seven
See CCDART page 6
Concord City Council to take first steps to strengthen mental health crisis response
Engagement (CORE) program Currently, Concord and Waland the establishment of a nut Creek share a CORE team Mental Health Evaluation due to limited budgets. According to Mayor Tim team (MHET). CORE served 1,360 people McGallian, extended mental in Concord in 2019, according health services for the housed MAKING CORE TEAM to Barone’s staff report. After FULL-TIME and unhoused populations of conversations with county The CORE program, facili- leaders, Barone suggested that the city could be rolled out as tated by the county, tracks and Concord early as the end of the year. should fund On Sept. 22, the City provides for the needs of the increased hours for the team – Council unanimously directed homeless community within bringing the employees from city manager Valerie Barone to county limits in order to stabi- half-time to full-time – and gather all necessary informa- lize individuals and help them include a social worker for tion to consider the approval seek permanent shelter. CORE added expertise. In the report, of the expansion of Contra teams do not handle crisis Barone said she believes Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer Costa County’s Coordinated response and defer to 911, but A planned expansion of the CORE program and homeless Outreach Referral and CORE can be reached at 211. See Homeless, page 7 services relies on passage of the Measure V tax increase. MELISSA HARTMAN Correspondent
Postal Customer ECRWSS PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190
Drug bust a reminder crime victims aren’t forgotten, says Concord chief Bustillo
Page 2
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
Amid all the fanfare for a job well done that followed a recent high-profile drug bust, Concord Police Chief Mark Bustillos wants residents to know that the largest city in Contra Costa County is a safer place because of it. And, as important: “We don’t forget the victims of crime,” he said. The police were able to close four Contra Costa homicide
October 16, 2020
investigations as part of the midSeptember drug bust that netted and charged 26 suspected Sureño members and associates with serious crimes, including murder. In a 19-month span of intense gang violence in Concord, Victor Gutierrez, 21, was shot and killed in April 2014; 20-year-old Erick Cruz was shot and killed outside of Pine Meadows apartments in September 2015; and Luis Estrada, a 16-year-old boy, was taken to a Concord park, ambushed and
gunned down in November 2015. The area of Concord along Monument Boulevard – also referred to as “the Bully” – has been known as a Sureño hotspot for decades. While Bustillos acknowledged a one or two percent uptick in violent crime in the past year, he expects that trend to go down – with these arrests as a key factor. Called Operation Boulevard Blues, the FBI and Concord
See Drug Bust, page 6
After more than half a century of service, Concord postal carrier retires
Concord. He joined the U.S. Postal Service while finishing his degree in police science. Kemme witnessed many changes over the course of his 49-year career as a carrier. He watched the population boom and routes grow, with Pleasant Hill and Concord expanding from 10,000 to more than 150,000. Postal vehicles, uniforms and processing have also evolved over the years, but Kemme says the people at the Concord Post Concord postal worker Bob Kemme is surrounded by his Office remain “dedicated and family as he moves into retirement. professional.” He boasts that he knew he When Robert “Bob” his satchel and put away his belonged at the Concord Post Kemme started his postal dog spray at 8 a.m. on Sept. Office since day one, adding career in 1971, “You’ve Got a 24 at the Concord Post Office that he will miss the office Friend in Me” peaked on the on Meridian Boulevard. and coworkers dearly. He charts for almost half a Before joining the Postal plans to spend retirement with decade. Ever since then, Con- Service, Kemme served in the his loving wife and family, and cord and Pleasant Hill have U.S. Air Force as a member of he is looking forward to new the air police. After several had a friend in Bob. adventures. years, he returned home to But Kemme, 73, hung up
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Concord/Clayton Market Update CONCORD
PRICE
1865 Granada Dr . . . . . . . . . . . $605,000 5425 Concord Blvd #C5. . . . . . $304,000 1872 Landana Dr . . . . . . . . . . . $690,000 3562 Kimball Way . . . . . . . . . . $820,000 1561 Whitman Rd . . . . . . . . . . $910,000 1025 Bermuda Dr . . . . . . . . . . $795,000 1955 Encima Dr . . . . . . . . . . . . $665,000
SF
. .1283 . . .762 . .1361 . .2263 . .1939 . .1528 . .1401
provided by Better Homes Realty
BED/BATH DATE
. .4/2 . .1/1 . .3/2 . .5/3 . .3/2 . .3/2 . .2/2
. . . .9/9/20 . . .9/17/20 . . .9/18/20 . . .9/22/20 . . .9/23/20 . . .9/25/20 . . .9/30/20
CLAYTON
54 Karkin Pl. – Clayton
Black Diamond Duet at Oakhurst Country Club. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths approx 1904 sf with an attached 2 car garage! Updated kitchen & baths. Fantastic end of court location! Close to community pool and playground. $729,000
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Desirable Regency Meadows. Beautifully upMu l t ip le dated home located on a cul-de-sac with free form pebble tech pool & spa! 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approx 2390sf with an attached 3 car garage! Fantastic approx .21 acre lot features lush lawn area, colorful flowers & ornamentals & gorgeous views of Mt Diablo. $949,000
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Sensational Northgate Single Story OV E R LIS T Rancher. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths approx 1742sf with inside laundry room and an attached 2 car garage. Updated throughout featuring new interior paint, gourmet kitchen, updated baths & more! Huge level approx .33 acre lot offers patio. Close to all three levels of top rated schools, parks, golf course, swim clubs, shopping, restaurants & more. $1,250,000
S OL D T
PRICE
314 Meredith Ct . . . . . . . . . . . $920,000 1317 El Camino Dr. . . . . . . . . $725,000 148 Mt. Whitney Way. . . . . . . $815,000 338 Saclan Ter . . . . . . . . . . . . $745,000 15 El Molino Dr . . . . . . . . . . . $782,500 67 Nottingham Cir . . . . . . . . $1,025,000 102 Mt. Everest Ct . . . . . . . . . $985,000
SF
. .2011 . .1618 . .2177 . .1939 . .1648 . .1932 . .2691
BED/BATH
DATE
. . .4/2.5 . . .9/1/20 . . .4/2 . . . . .9/3/20 . . .4/2.5 . . .9/4/20 . . .3/2.5 . .9/10/20 . . .3/2 . . . .9/11/20 . . .3/2.5 . .9/14/20 . . .5/3 . . . .9/25/20
October 16, 2020
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Page 3
Unique designs key to Clayton artisan’s jewelry, handbags Sponsored Content
Lisa Ramos founded MONALISA, a handmade bag and jewelry company, in her small home studio nestled in Clayton. As a little girl, she had an appreciation for beautiful women’s accessories and dreamed of someday designing her own collection. Her continued interest in accessory design shifted from thinking to creating in
This tote bag is among the creations Lisa Ramos sells through MOnALISA.
2013. Her first goal was to learn how to sew on an industrial machine and create stylish patterns with a touch of elegance. The self-taught design to development skills took time but eventually came to life. Having an understanding of product production complexities, she steered away from the traditional path of sourcing factory production. Instead, Ramos learned how how to manage the production herself. After 20 years working in the digital world, she decided to make a career change to focus full time on building her company. In 2017, MONOLISA launched with meticulously handcrafted premium leather handbags, bag accessories and sculpted jewelry designed with Swarovski elements. Ramos manages the production to sales process
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us to educate and enhance the safety of all residents.” The one-year grant will fund a variety of traffic safety programs, including: Patrols with emphasis on alcohol- and drug-impaired driving prevention. Patrols with emphasis on awareness and education of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
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Lisa Ramos creates meticulously handcrafted handbags and jewelry out of her Clayton studio.
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Ramos never thought of herself as creative person. But to her surprise, creativity came later in life and collaborated nicely with her independent work style. Today, her focus is designing beautifully handmade limited edition pieces that add a touch of elegance to any personal style. For more information, visit ProductsMadeInCalifornia.com
Concord Police Dept. will use state grants to improve traffic safety The Police Department has received two grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) totaling $159,200. A $134,200 grant will assist in police efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on Concord roads. “These are trying times, and now more than ever, it is important that we are at the forefront of traffic safety,” said Lt. Mark Robison. “This funding allows
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Patrols with emphasis on education of traffic rights for bicyclists and pedestrians. Patrols with emphasis on awareness and education of primary causes of crashes, such as excess speed, failure to yield, failure to stop at stop signs/signals and improper turning/lane changes. Collaborative efforts with neighboring agencies on traffic
safety priorities. Officer training and/or recertification on the Standard Field Sobriety Test, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and Drug Recognition Expert. “Through education and behavior changes, we hope to create an environment that is
See Traffic, page 6
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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.
Don’t let these autumn chores fall off your to-do list
Page 4
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
October 16, 2020
Sponsored Content
Serving our Local Community since 1977
Q: As we enter the fall season, what are some things to keep in mind around my home? A: Wildfire smoke can enter your home and be recirculated through your HVAC system if there are leaks or gaps in your ductwork. It can also come in through windows and doors due to poor weatherstripping. Leaks can occur if missing SCOTT DEnSLOW insulation and humidity cause SAFE AT HOME rust in the metal pipes, while gaps at seams in ductwork weatherstripping checked pipes can happen over time annually. from shifting due to earthMeanwhile, running the quakes. It’s a good rule of AC when the outside temperathumb to have ductwork and ture is 65 degrees or lower can
cause significant damage to the compressor, the most expensive component. You’d be surprised how often I see this one. So next time you are baking your autumn pies, resist the urge to switch on the air.
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Historic Pacheco Adobe presents big opportuity for community group DIANE ZERMEÑO Correspondent
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A once-in-a-lifetime call from the City Council for an opportunity to rehabilitate and reuse the historical Don Fernando Pacheco Adobe caught the eye of a local nonprofit organization seeking to make a big impact in Concord. Fernando Pacheco built the adobe in 1844 and was known for hosting great parties at the site. It is the only landmark in Concord listed on three historical registers. The property went under county ownership in the 1940s before it was transferred to the city of Concord in 1979. The city has leased the historical site to the Contra Costa Horseman’s Association for the last four decades. On Feb. 14, the City Council released detailed Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the rehabilitation of the building and its nearly five acres of property at 3119 Grant St. The city only received one response – from Neto Community Network, a local nonprofit dedicated to “find ways to make our communities, our democracy and our economy work better for everyone.” After deciding on Sept. 30 that the group’s proposal did not meet all the expectations, the council Committee on Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Community Services decided to give Neto an exclusive fourmonth extension to revise the proposal. If the plan still does not meet the city’s requirements, the application would open up to the public again. “We went in knowing that
See Pacheco, page 8
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October 16, 2020
Red Tier, from page 1
(instead of 25). Food courts can also open following the state’s guidelines for restaurants. Indoor retail stores can now operate at 50 percent capacity (instead of 25). For some businesses, like indoor movie theatres, this will be the first time they are opening in any form since health officials imposed the strict shelter in place order last spring. Closures and/or tight restrictions remain in effect for the following sectors: Bars, brewpubs, breweries, pubs and craft distilleries. Offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors. Indoor playgrounds,
including bounce centers, ball pits and laser tag. Public events and gatherings such as nightclubs, convention centers, concerts and live audience sports. Recreational team sports. Saunas and steam rooms. Theme parks and festivals. For the younger sect, the clearest sign of progress was the simple act of enjoying turns on the swings, climbing the jungle gyms and going down slides at playgrounds in local parks. After Concord Public Works staff inspected and prepared all playgrounds in early October, they installed new signage indicating usage rules designed to keep people
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com safe from the spread of COVID-19 in Concord’s 19 parks. According to Clayton Mayor Julie Pierce, all city parks and play equipment are fully open for use, and signs remind visitors of the rules. In both cities, parents and caregivers are responsible for protecting their children and themselves. Rules in Concord include: • Wear a mask. • Maintain distance. • No food or drink. • Wash hands. (Bring your own sanitizer.) • Know when to stay home. (If ill or particularly vulnerable to COVID.) • Share the space. (Wait your turn; let others have a turn.) • The city is asking all playground visitors to “Stay safe and play safe.”
Classification changes Liberty’s way forward Liberty Gymnastics Training Center has started serving a limited number of its students as Contra Costa County shifted to a Red Tier status. But sounds emanating from the Concord facility are a far cry from the robust activity owner Terri Nuno was accustomed to prepandemic. So as she tussles with how to maintain staff, meet payroll and ultimately keep her operation doors open, the next shock wave that could cause her business to close again - possibly permanently - is what she is focused on heading off now. She and her fellow operators have now lined up a lobbyist whose goal is to establish a clear classification that would more fairly serve their business interests in the face of future economic upheaval.. Other other similar operations were better able to weather the current crisis. With Liberty being lumped in with physical fitness centers and workout facilities, which also are now operating in a modified fashion, it has had to stay shuttered since the spring. At the present time, she is working at 20 percent capacity. “It’s been like sawing off your leg with a butter knife,” Nuno lamented. “It’s been very difficult to make revenue; It’s not sustainable.” A letter to Governor Gavin Newsome seeking changes fell on deaf ears. Nuno and her peers will continue to seek action on their plight.
Nuno emphasized that industry oversight of operations like hers are “quality driven’’ and all about “keeping everyone safe” Recently an individual who had tested positive were immediately told they could not return for 21 days. An underlying concern for Nuno is that competitors are fudging on the county health department’s rules. “Everyone should be playing by the same rules,’’ she said. And it appears they’re not.
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Election 2020– the real Fright Night Page 6
as a Republican was elected and that screamed us into a Civil War. Now the leader (in namesake only) of the descendants of those Republicans are threatening to reject the pending vote and process and even called upon extreme violent groups to “Stand By” – just as state militias and local governments were mobilized for EDI BIRSAN treason 160 years ago. PULSE OF The grace with which Al Gore yielded to a Supreme CONCORD Court that first stopped a recount of votes and then As we move into the ruled that there was not shadow of Halloween, a enough time to complete greater scare is looming on that recount is long gone the horizon with full porfrom our civil discourse protents of dread and horror. tocols. Suspicion and dread We stand within the echo in the turnover of the high of our pledges to be “indicourt to highly partisan visible with liberty and jusalignment turns the hope of tice for all,” but that sweet justice into a whisper of its song is drowned out by a former voice. highly orchestrated set of Yet there still is that forces of division within and whisper and prayer to near an ever-present valid chorus ghostly divine intervention of challenges that we do not that we may be able to have liberty and justice for strengthen our nation’s soul all. and hope the scariest elecOur elections have had a tion in memory will fade relative calm showcase of into the background to a theater in the transfer of renewal of unity in purpose power, even when the vote of “We the People.” of the majority was shouted Let us do more than just down in 2000 and 2016 by hope and pray. Let us vote an electoral process comand raise our song of freeposed in the 18th century by dom to demand that there is competing colonial sovereign both justice and peace. states. Ironically, 160 years ago You can send comments to the Democrats refused to EdiBirsan@gmail.com or 510accept that vote and process 812-8180.
Tales of the paranormal from Clayton’s colorful past
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
October 16, 2020
DEBBIE EISTETTER
THE WAY WE WERE
Like many other historic rough and tumble California towns, Clayton has its share of haunted places that have been the sites of sad and often violent events. Some locals believe the ghost of the Growler building and the strange energy forces witnessed at the Gomez home are manifestations of two restless spirits that departed this world too soon. The Growler was built in 1870 as a home, and it served as a store, a post office and, in more modern times, a saloon. Gus Goethals built the building to its right in 1898 as his office, and in 1975 the two buildings were attached to create the restaurant on Main Street we know today. In the days when Clayton was a rowdy mining town, disputes about money, one’s honor, a woman – or anything really – often involved gunfire. Legend has it that such a dispute was taking place on Main Street when a stray bullet struck a young girl. She was carried into the Growler building, where she died. People who claim to have seen her ghost say she wears a white dress and veiled hat and may glance at you as she walks down the hall. She can appear in a mirror or hide behind a curtain, and living witness sometimes feel a blast of cold air.
Photo courtesy of Clayton Historical Society
The possibly haunted Growler building and the office to the right were later connected to house a restaurant in downtown Clayton, now Moresi’s Chophouse.
CLAYTON’S FAMOUS POLTERGEIST
Some say a confrontation that occurred in 1919 led to the strange happenings at the Gomez house 38 years later. Sixteen-year-old Frank Tavarossi Jr. was known in Clayton as “King Tut” for the way he swaggered around town, boasting how someday he would be a famous outlaw. An article in a San Francisco newspaper told of residents complaining of the “many acts committed by the youth that terrorized the neighborhood.” He frequently beat his brothers and threatened to kill his father. He told the town constable that if he ever tried to serve a warrant for his arrest, he would kill him. One December day, Tavarossi fired two shots at the constable. The constable shot once trying to cripple the youth’s gun arm, but the bullet struck his right side and Tavarossi died of a punctured lung. The constable was devastated and gave up his badge and gun immediately. But he was found not guilty in a court of law, and
leap back up onto the counter while spatulas, spoons and a box of salt traveled about. Grandma Gomez was hit by an onion and a potato. Many family members and neighbors witnessed things that the grandchildren couldn’t possibly have managed, and Mary told of an occurrence that she found especially frightening. After a wine jug sitting on the wall of the well fell and shattered, the well bucket started swinging on its rope “in a rampage as if it were angry.” A foremost authority on parapsychology from Duke University blamed the phenomena on the energy generated by the inner turmoil of teens. In his book “Clayton: Not Quite Shangri-La,” George A. Pettitt tells of the men in the Growler Saloon sharing a laugh about the “poltergeist” until “Old Man Gomez” walked in the door and the chandelier fell to the floor.
the citizens of Clayton persuaded him to return to his job. It was thought that the boy had spent much of his time in a “dugout” room discovered under the Tavarossi home. It contained “provisions to withstand a long siege and considerable ammunition” along with a list of future victims. Clayton residents recalled the story of the troubled boy when unexplained events began to take place at the house across the street. On a summer day in 1957, Mary Gomez was in the backyard hanging her wash on the clothesline when she was pelted with little rocks. Her grandsons, aged 10 and 12, denied having anything to do with it, and thus began the famous Gomez poltergeist – with odd occurrences happening almost daily for several months. Flying rocks broke windows, there was a loud rapping on the side of the house at night, a Parker 51 pen and a toy dog flew about the house, but the kitchen was an especially busy place: A skillet would drop to the floor then
Debbie Eistetter is a board member of the Clayton Historical Society. For more information visit claytonhistory.org.
commitment to the American public. “GSA’s expertise is allowing the Coast Guard to repurpose underutilized properties
to better serve the local community. It will also help us focus our resources to our day-to-day missions of keeping our ports and waters safe.”
police-led operation resulted in 11 suspected Sureños facing murder and gang charges. Authorities served 34 search warrants across the Bay Area in recent weeks and seized 42 guns, according to prosecutors. “There are lot of guns that will be taken off the streets again in Concord, and this will result in a decrease in violent crime,” Bustillos said, noting that it will also keep the guns from being sold again. With the $50,000 in cash seized in the raids, the local department will reap a small benefit but nothing significant. The real impact, said Bustillos, is the activity being removed from the streets. That is where drug dealers, engaging in narcotics
and gun transactions, were causing havoc and endangering the public. Another by-product for the department is more capacity for investigating lower level gang members involved in narcotic sales. Because some prosecutions will occur at the federal level as well as state charges, Bustillos expects lengthier prison sentences. “Three families in Concord now know (those responsible) will be brought to justice,” he said. “We didn’t forget the victims’ families. Whether it’s my administration or the ones that will follow, we will always work to do what’s right.”
GSA takes Coast Guard property to public auction
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) started an online public sale of the Concord Villages housing on Oct. 15. GSA decided to proceed with a public auction after a thorough review of available options and authorities. The auction is on realestatesales.gov, and each bidder is required to submit a bid registration of $500,000. The minimum opening bid is $15 million. The Concord Villages is about a 60-acre property used by the Coast Guard since 2007 for housing. It consists of two villages of 280 housing units: Quinault Village, 40 duplex buildings constructed in 1965, and Victory Village, 42 apartment-style buildings
Tamara Steiner
The GSA hopes to get at least $15 million for the old Coast Guard property adjacent to the CnWS. The city once hoped to buy the property but was unable to reach agreement on market price with the government.
constructed in 1989. The property is adjacent to the former Concord Naval Weapons Station and was transferred to the Coast Guard in 2007.
CCDART, from page 1
California airports. Pilots and administrative staff organize and provide free air transportation during emergencies, following strict guidelines. They can fly people and material to and from any of California’s approximately 250 public airports as well as neighboring states. Hodge, a pilot for 15 years, is in charge of operations for CC DART. He calls the Concord location “critical to the S.F. Bay Area and in a unique position to help our neighbors in need.” He says the airport could easily become a central base of operations for helicopters from Travis Air Force Base and local airplane pilots if needed to route supplies throughout the area. And the private pilots of CC DART are now ready to be part of that chain.
“Say you need some supplies moved from this location to that quickly. CalDART would decide which operators are needed and coordinate the effort. One might fly it partway to another airport and then load those goods onto another airplane to fly the rest of the way,” explains Hodge, who retired from a 37-year career in IT and started his own aviation company in Concord five years ago. FOSTERING A LOVE OF FLYING
While active in Concord’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in recent years, Tucker heard about the effort to create CC DART and jumped at the chance to be part of it. At CERT, he met others like Peg Gardner, who is well known
Serving as the U.S. Coast Guard’s real estate agent for the sale of the property, GSA continues to dispose of underutilized federal property to more efficiently utilize real
in the community as a tireless organizer for CERT, the Community Animal Response Team, the ham radio community and the Red Cross. She connected Tucker with Hodge, and the fledgling group had its first meeting on Sept. 11, 2018. Tucker radiates pride when describing the potential this group has to help the community. “If you look at what’s happening right now with COVID and the wildfires, things can happen really fast. DART is like the Minutemen – ready to go any time,” he says. “We are training. We have a plan. And we will be prepared.” Now the core group of about 20 needs more volunteers as pilots, ground crew and board members. Tucker wants to find experienced individuals to fill their ranks, but he also aims to foster a younger group who might
estate assets, save taxpayer dollars and create economic development opportunities in local communities. “This is another example of GSA’s ability to provide a federal client with a real property disposal strategy to support an agency’s mission requirements,” said Tom Scott, GSA regional administrator. “By serving as the real estate agent for the Coast Guard, we are disposing of this property to reduce the federal footprint, create valuable savings for the government and help stimulate economic development opportunities in the East Bay.” Capt. Jose Pena of Coast Guard Base Alameda said working with GSA is a great example of the Coast Guard’s
help out in the future. Tucker, who has been flying for 40 years, discovered his love of flying when he joined an aircraft club in high school and a pilot gave him the chance to experience the excitement of airplane flight. Later, he joined the military and became a pilot. He now coordinates the Young Eagles program in Concord, which has given kids age 8 to 17 the chance to experience flying for free since 1992. “Fifty-two years ago, a pilot gave me a flight and it changed my life,” he says. “Being a pilot and flying is a gift. What could be better than to have a love of something like this and share it with others who might one day use it to help their community?”
Drug Bust, from page 2
Traffic, from page 3
safe and equitable for all road users in our community,” Robison said. Meanwhile, the department will use a $25,000 grant to streamline processes to collect and report traffic data. The state has targeted the one-year funds to develop a new, or update an existing, electronic crash reporting system with software that is able to submit data to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated For more information, visit Cal- Traffic Records System. “Accurate and timely data is DART.org or contact Tucker at critical to the safety of our 925-586-5977 or roads,” Robison said. “This Stephenf4e@gmail.com.
funding will help paint a clearer picture of our biggest traffic safety issues.” OTS director Barbara Rooney said this new program is an effort to improve how quickly crash data is collected and reported. “That data is used to determine the nature of our road safety problems, and it informs our actions in how best to address them,” she said. “We are happy to provide local agencies with the necessary tools to develop or enhance their electronic traffic reporting systems.”
October 16, 2020
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Obituary
P.O. Box 1246 6200 Center Street, Suite F, Clayton, CA 94517
Tamara and r oberT S Teiner , Publishers Tamara S Teiner , Editor P eTe C ruz , Graphic Design, Social Media b ev b riTTon , Copy Editor, Calendar Editor J ay b edeCarré, Sports Editor, Schools Editor S TAFF W RITERS : Jay Bedecarré C ORRESPONDENTS : Bev Britton, Melissa Hartman, Kara
David Eugene Atkinson Aug. 22, 1937 —Sept. 25, 2020
Navolio, David Scholz, Diane Zermeño
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Joe Ronco 925-872-3049
Over 35 years Clayton/ Concord resident Lic#844344
Homeless, from page 1
building on the existing program is the council’s best option. “We do have a significant problem in Concord around the unsheltered,” McGallian said. “The police department will have the same resources; they won’t always have to be the first one out to the homeless calls. (This) will help separate some jobs here. Some communities have issues with homelessness, but we have a significant amount so our police department ends up spending more than a reasonable amount of
time (responding).”
ADAPATING MHET TO SUIT CONCORD The MHET program, only 2½ years old, is a collaboration between the police chiefs of Contra Costa County and county Health Services. It was formed with the goal of supporting those with mental illness and their families through information about outpatient services and assisting them in securing those resources with community safety in mind. The program hosts three teams,
Dave Atkinson was born to Alberta Ellen Dearing and W. Eugene Atkinson in Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1937. He grew up with his mother’s family on the Dearing Farm in Parma Township, Mich., where he developed a love of tinkering. From there, he attended the University of Michigan and studied electrical engineering on a Navy ROTC scholarship. After graduating, Dave started active duty in the Navy and met Joyce Henretty at a house party while stationed in San Diego. Ten days after their first date, he called her from Japan to propose. The proposal letter arrived a few days later. They married in April 1963 and moved to Ann Arbor, where Dave pursued a master of electrical engineering degree and Joyce worked as a public health nurse. After Dave completed his graduate degree, Dave and Joyce returned to San Diego to start a career and a family. Dave spent his career in telecommunications, working at Bell Labs, Pacific Telephone, AT&T and Pacific Telesis before retiring in 1994. Dave will be most remembered, however, for what he did outside of his career. An engineer, carpenter, landscaper, calculus tutor, science project master, all around MacGyver and lifelong volunteer, Dave was always there with his can-do with one police officer and one mental health clinician each, that roam Central, West and East County and conduct voluntary interactions with those individuals who have a recent, repeated history of psychiatric crises/police encounters. McGallian said that Concord has had iterations of a MHET program in the past, where a mental health clinician rode along with a police officer to treat community members collaboratively. On Sept. 22, the council was in favor of building a MHET program for just Concord in which one Concord police officer and one con-
attitude and easy going style. After moving to Clayton in 1976, Dave began volunteering so he could spend time with his children – whether in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, swim team or parent club. In retirement, Dave added the Clayton Business & Community Association, Clayton Community Library Foundation, the Telephone Pioneers and the Concord United Methodist Church to the many organizations he would serve. For more than 40 years, Dave and Joyce would volunteer together at ticket booths, book sales, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and just about every other event Clayton had to offer until Dave was no longer physically able to attend. In 2018, Dave was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a degenerative brain disease that robbed him of many of his favorite pursuits. Dave was a strong, independent man, and though he fought against the inevitable, he succumbed to complications of the disease on Sept. 25, surrounded by his wife and children Cheryl Atkinson (Ron Cataldo), Karen Amos (Jeremy) and John Atkinson (Alison). Dave is also survived by his grandchildren Andre Baca, Haleigh Atkinson, and Kate and Bess Amos. Due to the global health crisis, the family will not be holding a memorial. Instead, they ask that you reflect on your favorite memory of Dave, whether at one of the many (many) book sales, on a Scout trip, with the Thursday Crew at Concord UMC or the annual Tree Lighting in downtown Clayton, raise a glass in his honor and remember him fondly. Cheers Dave. We will love and miss you until we meet again.
tracted county mental health clinician would serve both homeless and housed individuals. McGallian said the city may not replicate the county’s MHET program exactly but use it as a basis to design an agency that works for Concord’s needs. He said no other Contra Costa County city has tried to create its own MHET program. MEASURE V MONEY CRITICAL
McGallian said that boosting the CORE team’s hours to full-time and adding a social worker could happen nearly immediately after the local
Page 7
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leaders hear the item next – if the council votes in the same way it has since the item was first brought up Sept. 8. However, it would take more time to put together a MHET team. McGallian predicts hiring a mental health clinician could take into mid2021. Both the expansion of the CORE team and the introduction of a Concord-specific MHET team rely on the passage of Measure V, a sales tax the council unanimously placed on the November 2020 ballot to help “maintain vital services.” Barone estimates that the enhanced programs
would cost the city $600,000 annually. McGallian noted that this is just the first step of the conversation on how to improve the quality of life of Concord’s homeless population and the area’s response to mental health crises. It is not an “endall, be-all solution.” “What we are trying to do is look at putting this first program together,” he said. “I think it really comes down to us trying to be proactive. … We want to make sure we let people know we hear you, we understand you and we are trying to now implement a strategy that makes sense.”
L e tters to the E d i t o r Page 8
BEDECARRÉ BOOK GREAT EXAMPLE
This is in response to your interesting article on John Bedecarré (9/18). Mr. Bedecarré gave a copy of his beautiful family volume to the Heritage Collection, now located in the Walnut Creek Library. His book truly is a standout example of how one could compile a family history. John also spent many hours in the Heritage Collection along with other volun-
teers who are needed to keep the collection separate while within the library system. I look forward to the day when we can again spend time in the library, doing research and helping others to do theirs. I will be using John’s book as an example of how to compile a family history. Thank you for your informative article. And all best wishes to John. Geri Willinger Heritage Collection Volunteer
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
M OUNTAIRE SPEED ISSUES After reading the article (9/18) that mentions higher speed limits in Clayton, I wonder if anyone on the City Council lives in or uses any of the five areas cited. If they did, they may have a slightly different view of the need for greater speed reduction. I live on Mountaire Parkway, which would be better named Mountaire Raceway. Many cars drive very fast
Paid Editorial
Former Clayton mayor supports Tillman, Cloven, Catalano in key election By Pete Laurence
When I moved to Clayton in 1954, we had about 450 people – including Morgan Territory. With more cattle and horses than people, orchards of walnuts and almonds, vineyards and our tiny but great Town Center, our desire was not to be swallowed up by the ever-expanding city of Concord from our west. My parents were involved before my dad suddenly died from cancer, and my mother was on Clayton’s first Planning Commission. I grew up with Clayton in my blood and have also served it as president of the Clayton Business & Community Association, a Veterans of Foreign Wars member, 16 years on the City Council, and three terms as our Mayor. Our Town Center is in need of help before we lose even more businesses, which is why I am in favor of the Olivia senior housing project with “Clayton architecture” for its 81 units and 101 parking spaces. With landscaping around it, it will look just fine, and its new occupants will do what all of Clayton should be doing: supporting our town center businesses. Also, contrary to the slanderers, I have zero monetary interest in the project. The last thing we need is an expensive and futile lawsuit by the state and housing lobbies, to be forced to build it anyway. It meets the minimum compared to what will be forced upon us if this project is killed. We in Clayton already have a Town Center park, miles of trails, ball fields and thousands of acres surrounding us
as open space to our south, east and north. We have more public open space than any other city in our county, and we have done it with the county and state paying the costs of these parklands – costing Clayton almost nothing. Those who want us to lose a lawsuit should be the ones that pay the resulting legal costs and settlement out of their own pockets, or it will become a huge expense on our reserves that Clayton’s citizens cannot afford. Also, when this project is developed as our contribution to affordable housing, it will then be a help to then fight the next such project that the state or the Association of Bay Area Governments will try to force upon us. Clayton could point to this project as having already done our contribution. Having lived in Clayton for 66 years (except for serving in the military and traveling the world), with 52 years in real estate and my 16 years on our City Council building the Clayton that we all love, I hope that we can all support the responsible candidates. They will get Clayton through this crisis and will continue improving our Town Center, which will also provide more tax revenue to help run our city. Looking at and knowing all of the candidates in this election but not knowing how they will actually vote as we go through the next few months, I am voting for and endorsing Holly Tillman, Peter Cloven and Tuija Catalano as the best of the candidates. I hope you too can help elect them for the brighter future of Clayton.
A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE
Neto hopes to lease the site not only as home base for the organization and projects, but also for multiple other organizations and the community as a collaborative space that combines art and culture in social equity. The project, Concord CoLab, launched last year as an accessible pop-up working space, business meeting space and a place to help solo entrepreneurs in Concord. They also envision the venue as an event center, a space for fostering the arts and even a place where residents can gain leadership skills in workshops. “The opportunity to build on this is huge. How we can help certain small business take advantage of this zone is critical, but we need to have a home base,” said Kathy Renfrow, co-founder of the group and board chair. “The adobe was the gathering place back in the day,” she
NO TO STATE MANDATES This is one of the most important elections in Clayton’s history. We are at a crossroad, we either rollover and let the state force another 400 to 800 new high-density apartments down our throats or we fight them. On one hand, we have two council candidates, Catalano and Cloven that voted to approve a 3-story, 3-building apartment in historic downtown. We have three candidates, Catalano, Cloven and Tillman, that said they will support the state’s mandate of 400 to 800 new high density homes in Clayton-they said, no problem. On the other hand, we have two candidates Diaz and Gavidia, that voted against this monstrosity in historic downtown. We have three candidates, Diaz, Gavidia and Miller, that will fight against the state’s draconian mandates. The choice is simple, we either elect candidates that will fight or we elect candidates that will be advocates for the state destructive housing plan and let them destroy our little town-as they said, NO PROBLEM. Please give Clayton a fighting chance and vote for Diaz, Gavidia and Miller Bill Walcutt
who promote inclusivity and who can work effectively to find favorable outcomes for Clayton. The future of Clayton, with our fantastic CBCA events, our beautiful open spaces and our limited resources, desperately needs smart, steady hands that will assure responsible use of our tax dollars. Let’s move forward with candidates who recognize what makes us special and acknowledge that we can do better. I believe that is Holly Tillman, Peter Cloven and Tuija Catalano. Susan Halliday
INCLUSION IMPORTANT FOR DTRT As an eight-year resident of Clayton, I am very excited to see three city council candidates running this election cycle that represent all the reasons I moved to and remain a resident of Clayton. These three candidates truly embody the spirit of Clayton’s “Do The Right Thing” initiative and fully represent the city’s principles of integrity, responsibility, courage, kindness, selfdiscipline, and respect. As the city council works to add inclusion” as one of the principles of the aforementioned initiative, I am confident that these candidates will also work hard to represent this principle as our leaders. In addition to a monumental amount of community service to our city, each of these candidates have been involved in inclusionary efforts within our city including working toward flying the Pride flag and developing the webinar series “Clayton Speaks” that addresses racism within Clayton. I will be voting for Tuija Catalano, Letecia “Holly” Tillman, and Peter Cloven for city council and hope that many others will join me! Samanatha Sexton
NO VOTE FOR FRANK GAVIDIA I’ve known Frank for almost 8 years. Frank hijacked planning commission meetings with his constant political views, and frankly, it did not look that he cared about the procedure, ignoring rules and BRINGING WHAT’S BEST regulations. Frank voted to We are thrilled to have 3 eliminate the set entitlements City Council candidates that extension for the Creekside we feel will represent, safeproject on Oak St. that would guard and move Clayton forcost the City tens of thouward on a number of levels This space was paid for by Pete Laurence sands to start the process and issues. Holly Tuija and Peter bring from zero. With his “stand up to Sacramento,” he is willing a willingness, sensitivity and use this space?’ ” risk our funds, spending all desire to be inclusive on Beckon believes Neto’s everything that they will be city reserves on lawsuits and vision for fostering business asked to deal with on the forcing us in penalties and fees to lose services. In his added. “It was a place to build collaboration could play a part Council. They will work planning commission interthe economy and business in helping Concord’s post- together, along with the rest view, Frank was for “UP Zonpeople and make ideas. A lot COVID economy. of the Council members, to “The city’s long-term fiscal bring what’s best for our ing Clayton” for high density. came from that building. This We know that Clayton has can be a huge thing for equity future is in jeopardy. It needs town. They will not always to be a vibrant city where agree—that’s to be expected. some social issues. In his in general.” Board member Brian Beck- young people see opportunity However, they won’t divide or debate Frank totally denied the existence of racism in on agrees it’s a rare opportuni- and keep the ones who grew split us on the best way to up here to stay. Young people serve Clayton. They have Clayton. Whenever you have a ty for the community. person denying the existence “A few others of us were don’t want to stay here when experience, capabilities and of racism, you have a person inspired by the idea of doing they’re young and single,” he vision as unique as our town benefiting from it. With the something that brings in the said, noting that it’s a great is. They all bring a tremencommunity as investors and place to raise a family. dous amount of years of vol- slogan “Keep Clayton Clay“We have all the basic unteerism and devotion with ton” Frank is playing to cerowners with an opportunity to tain crowds. give voice to projects, and we ingredients for the most desir- them. If you are for spending focused in on the idea of local able city in the East Bay to live We urge you to visit their city money, dividing Claytoniownership – another way to in,” Beckon added. “These are websites for more individual ans, ok with lies and misreprebuild capital by sharing wealth advantages that we have, but information and VOTE for sentation then vote for Frank and democratizing the econo- the city has not capitalized on HOLLY-TUIJA-PETER those yet.” my.” Ernie & Patricia DeTrinidad Gavidia. Renfrow is not worried Bassam al Twal about competitors who have LOCAL ELECTIONS CRITICAL Planning Commissioner BOOSTING POST-COVID ECONOMY their eyes on the land and says In the midst of a national N O TO “JUST SAY NO” Councilman Dominic she would love to instead bring election quickly approaching All Claytonians agree that Aliano is concerned about how them in as collaborators. Neto and a volatile political landwe love Clayton and we want the group will raise the funds will form an advisory commu- scape...sometimes local electo retain its charm. But folks to maintain the property. nity around the project in mid- tions are an afterthought. like Councilmember Jeff “What I’m looking for November. Please don’t let that hapWan and aspiring Counwhen you come back is your “This is not a done deal. It’s pen. This election will prove cilmember Frank Gavidia, financial capabilities of what just an extension to garner to be of utmost importance have taken a “just say no” you can do with renovating the community support,” Fulmer for Clayton. approach to state law. Thus building, maintaining the said. “But if you think it’s a As a Clayton resident for building, renovating the prop- great idea, join us and help us 20+ years, I felt it was impera- far, they and others have erty and maintaining the prop- make it come true.” tive to write a letter to support raised over $20,000 to “Save Clayton” but have only lined erty for 10 years,” he said. the 3 candidates who recogthe pockets of lawyers happy “You need to take COVID For more information, contact nize the importance of proto take their money. These into consideration and take Lisa Fulmer at lisa@netocn.org. tecting our essential services, groups exist in localities into consideration the fact that who lead with facts not fear, ‘Is anyone going to come and
Pacheco, from page 4
our proposal wasn’t as comprehensive as the city would’ve wanted, but we’re willing to go the distance,” said Lisa Fulmer, a community arts advocate and a member of the Strategy Council at Neto.
(45-55 mph), and it’s irresponsible given the nature of the neighborhood and street conditions. Pulling into or out of your garage onto the street is a risky proposition. Education is not the solution, since these drivers must be aware that they are greatly exceeding a safe speed. Traffic data is great, but more methods of traffic calming and enforcement are sorely needed. I don’t believe that the council members have a realistic appreciation of the extent of the speed problem, since their view was to “ask the homeowners association to warn motorists to drive slower coming down the hill in Mountaire Parkway.” The problem is even greater going up the hill. M.J. Callahan
October 16, 2020
across the area and they aren’t winning ANY court cases! Our project was once 44 units and two stories. People fought it. Then 60 units and people fought it. We’re now at 81 units and THREE stories and fighting even more! The definition of insanity is doing the same thing time after time and expecting different results. We need to seize our destiny with a project that is RIGHT for Clayton! We also need to think about the biggest proponents of monstrous projects. Are they those trying to collaborate or those like Mr. Wan and Mr. Gavidia who will bring about a project that is even worse for our beloved little town? Scott Denslow
NONE WANT HIGH-DENSITY I am writing to encourage the people of Clayton to vote for Holly Tillman, Peter Cloven, and Tuija Catalano in the upcoming City Council election. If elected, these three candidates will work hard for inclusivity and transparency when doing all things regarding our community. All three of them have worked hard in these realms, promoting acceptance of all. We need more of that in Clayton. As we all know, the hot-button issue for many is the potential for high density housing in downtown. None of the candidates want high density housing; a candidate who says anything different is trying to lead you astray. The issue is how to best deal with the development of the land - how to do so responsibly. These three candidates will do just that. They love our town just as much as we do, and they want what is best for everyone. Holly Tillman, Peter Cloven, and Tuija Catalano will bring intelligent, inclusive, and transparent leadership to Clayton. On Nov. 3, PLEASE VOTE. And when you do, please vote for them. Liz Abbott
KEEP CLAYTON’S CHARACTER City Council members are elected to represent the interests of their constituents. We have gotten to know Peter, Tuija & Holly at various community events, like volunteering at Art & Wine or Oktoberfest, playing bocce and attending civic or school PFC meetings to name a few. We know that these candidates will listen to the voters and respect the desires of our community. We have discussed transparent communication, community participation, and fiscal responsibility with all three candidates and know that they will best represent Clayton’s interests. They will take the time to first learn about and then fully understand the matters set before them, and then make informed and nonpartisan decisions. They will look for new ways to engage the citizens of Clayton ensuring representation for all. They will promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in our small city. With strong leadership from the dynamic team of Tuija, Holly & Peter, we will see Clayton maintain its character and community! Amy and Chris Callaghan All Letters to the Editor received by deadline appear on this page. The Pioneer welcomes letters from our readers. Please submit letters through the Letters to the Editor form on our website at PioneerPublishers.com or send an email to Editor@PioneerPublishers.com. Letters should be 175 words or less.
SCHOOLS October 16, 2020
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Page 9
District, CVCHS still a ways from settling financial issues JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
This fall marks the start of Clayton Valley’s ninth year as a conversion public charter high school and the first of its recently awarded second five-year accreditation renewal from the Contra Costa County Office of Education. The ill will that has existed between the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and CVCHS since the successful teacher-led drive to leave the district in 2012 to become a charter school has not gone away. The District and high school continue to tangle over the amount the charter is to pay annually as rent for the MDUSD-owned facilities. Clayton Valley Charter executive director Jim Scheible began at the Concord school two summers ago in 2018. As he begins
ALEXIS BALASHOV NORTHGATE
INGRID NORDBERG NORTHGATE
his third school year, he is working with a third MDUSD superintendent. He has had no more success getting the issue resolved than his controversial predecessor Dave Linzey. In his Oct. 2 Organizational Update to the Board posted on the District website, new superintendent Dr. Adam Clark explained that “In February 2019, the Court [Contra Costa
JAMES ARONA NORTHGATE
County Superior Court] ruled in favor of MDUSD that Clayton Valley Charter High School owed the District over $800,000 in past payment for use of its facilities. The Court also ruled that MDUSD was entitled to approximately $1,800,000 in annual facility rental.” That last sentence refers to the surprising ruling by Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Steven K. Austin which called for the charter to pay six times the amount the District had requested on an annual basis. According to its own accounting, District expenses for work done and materials supplied to CVCHS from the start of the charter in 2012 through the 2016-17 school year was $162,000. To include the last three school terms that figure can be extrapolated to about $210,000. To date, the charter has paid $2.2 million to MDUSD, which includes interest on payments that CVCHS withheld for several years after the dispute arose following the expiration of the original Memorandum of Understanding, which called for a $160,000 payment for the initial 2012-13 school year. Clark’s report went on to say “Clayton Valley has appealed the Court’s decision in the District’s favor. At Clayton Valley’s request, the District has agreed
W ar We re
NATASHA LEE NORTHGATE
to extend the deadline for the school to file its opening brief six times so that Clayton Valley could pursue settlement discussions in the case. “Those six extensions were agreed to by the District at Clayton Valley’s request. The District has engaged in settlement discussions with Clayton Valley in good faith and is ready to proceed with the appeal if the settlement discussions do not lead to a resolution of the lawsuit.” Scheible counters that settlement discussions between attorneys for each side led to an agreement that was presented to the MDUSD Board of Education this summer but was rejected. He claims that his last 10 emails to the District’s legal counsel as well as text messages have gone unanswered. The new superintendent visited CVCHS on the first day of school in August and was introduced to Scheible, but they have communicated only once by email since. While the legal wrangling has gone on, over $1.45 million in Measure C funds for projects at CVCHS have been on hold. All other projects for the 2010 bond measure are expected to be completed this school year. The school has also had funds set aside for other charter-funded projects on the campus that will not be approved by the District until
RYAN VAUGHN DE LA SALLE
ZIA TRUONG DE LA SALLE
Five Northgate seniors achieved the honor. They are James Arona, Alexis Balashov, Natasha Lee, Ingrid Nordberg and Caroline Wang. Ryan Vaughn of De La Salle and Zia Truong of Ygnacio Valley also are 202021 semifinalists. Of the 16,000 semifinalists from around the United States, about 7,600 will get scholarships next spring worth more than $30 million. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship. Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of SEVEN LOCAL STUDENTS semifinalists represents less NATIONAL MERIT than one percent of U.S. high SEMIFINALISTS school seniors. The number Seven local seniors were of semifinalists in a state is recently named semifinalists proportional to the state’s in the 66th annual National percentage of the national Merit Scholarship program. total of graduating seniors.
the legal issues have been resolved. Appeal documents are due to the court Oct. 23, just days before the Nov. 3 election when two new MDUSD board members will be elected. The most recent two board presidents, Brian Lawrence and Joanne Durkee, did not seek reelection. This is the first MDUSD election mandated by the California Voting Rights Act as the District transitions to a bytrustee area election system. Interestingly, it has been a few years since any of the five board members has been a resident of Concord, the city that represents a majority of the District’s schools and student population. The two openings are in Area 3 (Ygnacio Valley High feeder area) and Area 5 (Concord High area), which are Concord centric. Since Clayton Valley Charter was no longer in the District the final map selected last year for the by-trustee area elections placed Clayton in Trustee Area 4, the Northgate High feeder represented by Cherise Khaund, who lives in Walnut Creek.
2 021-22 w e N SSTTUDEENT E OLLME ENR O ENT OL
In nterested in having your child a end a great, tuition--free, free, public ch harter high school next year? This yearr, r, things are diff fferent erent due to health re estrictions. Instead of of holding a large open ho ouse, we’ll be hosting infforma ormation webinar Open to o showcase CVCHS and answer your enrollm questions. Check our website ffor or webinar begins ent Nov. 3! dates and times. O Open E Enro nrollment begins November 3, Visit ou r websi 2020 and ends January 5, 2021. te fo all the d
Have questions or need more information? Vi sit www.c lay t onv all e y.org , c alll ( 9 2 5 ) 682 -74 74 , or e m ail inf o @ c lay t onv all e y.org
etails!
r
From the Desk of... Concord staff, council ready to maintain city’s quality of life Page 10
TIM MCGALLIAn
CONCORD MAYOR
We are only days away from an election that will most certainly have a longlasting effect on our country. Regardless of the outcome, the city of Concord, every council member, every city employee and I, as your mayor, will continue to make Concord a remarkable place to live, work and play. Our police officers will continue to protect our community. Our hard-working staff will continue to maintain our roadways, parks and playgrounds. The City Council will chart a course in the next year to make sure we can continue to deliver on our promise of making Concord a city of the highest quality, but it won’t be without a few bumps in the road. For that, I ask for your
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patience and continued resilience as we go down this path together. In the early spring of each year, the council meets to discuss our top priorities for the year ahead. But that meeting did not happen this year. March 16, 2020, changed our lives and added to our priorities as we all began sheltering in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. My fellow council members and I pulled together as a team and knew what needed to be done in the midst of unprecedented times. We mobilized around creating programs to provide food for our community, helping seniors with meals and lending a helping hand. We passed an urgency ordinance imposing a temporary rent moratorium on evictions and rent increases for residential and commercial tenants. We secured Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding and distributed those funds to Concord-based Shelter, Inc to help more than 125 families retain housing. We established a program working with the county’s Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement (CORE) team to place 37 unsheltered individuals in
Labor stakes high in BART elections
DEBORA ALLEn
BART DIRECTOR
that information to the board of directors. Simon has a history of refusing to address labor costs as a means of balancing BART’s budget, even though labor represents more than 70 percent of the BART operating budget. That’s because her allegiances are not with taxpayers. According to public financing records, Simon, who is up for re-election next month, received $22,500 in campaign contributions this election cycle through Sept 30, from the SEIU and AFSCME, the two largest unions representing BART workers. In her 2016 election, she received at least $70,000 in direct or indirect funding from BART’s three labor unions. Combined, labor was by far her largest campaign contributor, and she is not alone. My opponent, on this November’s ballot was recruited to run by the pro-labor BART directors and has herself accepted $12,500 to date from the SEIU and AFSCME, collectively representing her largest contributions, while other incumbents have received similar amounts. It’s no coincidence, then, that the contracts for
There’s a lot at stake in this fall’s BART election. The pandemic and the resulting economic shutdown have had a devastating effect on revenue, forcing the agency to seek substantial long-term federal government subsidies just to stay financially afloat. With ridership down to 13 percent of baseline levels and no real end in sight for the shutdown, it’s clear BART will need to do serious belt-tightening over the next 12 months if it is to continue to serve Bay Area commuters. Yet despite the economic turmoil and tumbling revenues associated with the pandemic, the majority of the board of directors refuse to take the necessary steps to address the lingering shortfall. BART is in serious financial trouble and See Allen, page 11 should be undergoing a complete overhaul of both its service models and its expiring union-contracted work rules that allow workers to collect extraordinary amounts of overtime pay, even when service has been cut back due to low ridership. But changing the work rules or furloughing staff during a downturn would never be considered by the San Francisco-led board majority. Last week, Board President Lateefah Simon abruptly called off a scheduled board meeting in which the board had publicly announced that it TIM GRAySOn would take a deep dive into the budget to find operational 14TH ASSEMBLY savings in labor. She did so DISTRICT just hours after senior management did a test-run of the The COVID-19 pandemic presentation to the union has altered nearly every aspect presidents in a closed-door of our lives, and for many of meeting, without presenting us, this will also apply to our
center that continues to support the region. We established a small business grant program with CARES Act funding in partnership with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce to support 130 small business with $5,000 grants and provide students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School
October 16, 2020
District with more than 250 Chromebooks. To better connect with residents, we launched a digital newsletter, developed virtual special events and recreational activities, and held multiple town hall meetings in order to keep everyone connected and informed. So, what’s next? There are
still many new things on the horizon, but some of our ongoing priorities will remain at the top of our list, including continuing to work on our fiscal stability, infrastructure improvements, public safety program expansion and
trapper who is working at the Community Park and coordinated with him to provide traps in city open space along what appears to be their path JULIE PIERCE of travel to the neighborCLAYTON MAYOR hoods. We need to trap the pigs doing the damage before I am happy to report some we can successfully repair the good news: All our parks and park turf. play equipment are fully open I would encourage everyfor use – even the restrooms. one to go to the city website You must still socially dis- (ci.clayton.ca.us) and register tance, wear masks and instruct to receive updates on official your children to share space city business from City Hall. with others. Parents are We are updating our webpage responsible for supervising daily, so there’s always sometheir children’s activity. Signs thing new. That’s where you are posted as reminders. The will find links to all of our virrestrooms will be cleaned tual meetings, too. nightly, but using your own We are still very early in hand sanitizer is also highly fire season and everything is recommended. tinder dry. You can download Several residents from our the emergency/fire preparedupper hill’s areas have had ness pamphlet from our webtheir yards damaged by feral site and make sure you are wild pigs. It is unclear if it is registered to get alerts from the same “herd” that has been the Community Warning Sysplowing the Clayton Commu- tem (CWS). Have your “gonity Park. Our maintenance bag” ready, just in case. supervisor contacted the pig Contra Costa Fire District
Assistant Chief Terence Carey gave a fire update that is worth watching at our Oct. 6 council meeting. That video is on the website under City Council meetings. Click on the video of the meeting. His presentation starts about three minutes in, with lots of pictures of fire apparatus, so even the kiddos will enjoy watching it. Also at our Oct. 6 meeting, we made permanent the permit parking program in front of the homes on Regency Drive. There are about a dozen unrestricted spaces adjacent to the park entrance, to relieve the impact on other streets in the area. And the council added the trait of inclusion to the Do the Right Thing program, adopted in 2010 by the city and our local schools. We also adopted the new city motto: Do The Right Thing: Integrity, Responsibility, Inclusion, Courage, Kindness, Self-Discipline, Respect: Because it’s
The Right Thing To Do! Due to poor air quality, the Clayton Library hours have been impacted recently. The library will be open for curbside service when the air quality falls below 150 AQI. Speaking of the library, a new secure voter ballot drop box has been installed in the courtyard. Please drop your ballots there, where they will be collected daily by a team from the elections office. Please do not put your library books in that box – those go in the drop slot on the wall of the library. There is another secure election drop-box on the third floor of City Hall. Please vote.
and moved the sheltered individuals into hotels, with Health Housing and Homeless (H3) staff on site to proKAREn MITCHOFF vide services. COUNTY On March 21, the health SUPERVISOR officer requested a moratorium on homeless encampment Our Homeless Continuum abatement from all law of Care is one of the areas in enforcement agencies in the county, unless there was a sigwhich the county has made nificant health and safety drastic changes due to the issue. This was to reduce COVID-19 pandemic. unnecessary community Under normal circummovement and loss of constances, our shelters and nections with service warming centers would be providing temporary housing. providers. Contra Costa County has But the health officer determined it is difficult or impos- procured hotel rooms under sible to maintain proper physi- Project Roomkey, a state program to master lease cal distancing in shelters, so people living at these facilities hotels/motels for the homeless population. This program are at higher risk. allowed shelter residents who Contra Costa County has are at high risk of serious illde-congregated our shelters
ness from COVID-19 due to their age or health to isolate themselves more effectively. These rooms have been 97 percent to 98 percent occupied throughout the pandemic. About 100 rooms secured through Project Roomkey are reserved for members of our county’s homeless population who test positive for COVID19, who are awaiting test results or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and need to quarantine. Our Homeless COVID-19 Data Dashboard is updated daily, and we have had more than 600 people daily in hotels over the last few weeks. As the pandemic has continued to grow, the state of California announced Project
Homekey. The state grant program will purchase hotels/motels to become permanent housing. Through this program, Contra Costa County was awarded $21.5 million to purchase a 174-room motel in Pittsburg. Of that, $17.4 million will go toward the purchase and renovation of the motel and $4.17 million toward staffing and operation of the former motel as temporary housing for county residents experiencing homelessness and to provide wraparound support services. This was badly needed as we only had 20 shelter beds in East County. The Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) program works to
voting plans. No matter your political preference, it is important to be informed on California’s election laws and how you can stay safe while making sure your voice is heard. I know how important it is to ensure that our elections are fair and free, which is why I helped pass laws to help us accomplish these goals. Many of you may have begun receiving text messages urging your vote for a certain measure or candidate; thanks to a bill I supported last year, AB 201, “paid for
fight for measures that will help shine a light on dark money in politics, ensure voters have the best information when they are at the ballot box and increase participation in our elections. While many of us typically think of Election Day as the day to go vote, it is important to instead think of Nov. 3 as the last day you can vote as millions of Californians are voting early and through the mail. Last week, every active registered voter in our state was mailed a vote-by-mail ballot from their county as part of an effort to help voters
access all of the ways they can vote safely and securely during the health crisis. In Contra Costa County, you can vote by visiting a traditional polling place, by mailing in your vote-by-mail ballot or by returning your vote-bymail ballot to one of the 37 secure drop boxes serviced by the county Elections Office. These drop boxes are already open and will be available until 8 p.m. Nov. 3. You can find a complete list of all polling places and drop box locations at cocovote.us.
15 Concord hotels rooms and provide a portable bathroom and hand-washing station for the unhoused. We partnered with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, St. Vincent De Paul, White Pony Express, First 5 Contra Costa and Kaiser Permanente to create a food distribution
See Mcgallian, page 11
All of Clayton can once again enjoy the city parks
Julie Pierce is mayor of Clayton and chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority .She is a past president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and serves on the executive committee where she represents Contra Costa cities. Reach her at 925-673-7320 or Julie.p@ci.clayton.ca.us.
County alters homeless services for the pandemic
See Mitchoff, page 11
How to make your voice heard this election – safely by” disclosures are now required on mass campaign text messages. This first-inthe-nation law applies to when the sender is a candidate, political party, ballot measure committee or independent expenditure. To ensure elections are accessible to all voters, this year California joined 11 other states in allowing eligible residents to register to vote and cast a ballot at polling sites on Election Day. I was proud to support this law to help all eligible Californians to vote, and I will continue to support and
See Grayson, page 11
Don’t mask your pride, just wear your mask October 16, 2020
CENTERING President Lyndon Johnson, through a 1968 proclamation, initiated a one-week celebration of Latinx heritage having grown to a month in present day - September 15 through October 15. The term “Latinx”, instead of Latino and Hispanic, represents the identities of non-binary, gender non-conforming and genderexpansive folx centering indigenous, Brazilian and non-Spanish speaking people. Latinx Heritage Month, lifts up the anniversaries of independence for Latin American nations centering cultural legacies and deeplyrooted traditions. And here rows in the boat of the beauty of intersection. October is also LGBTQ History Month, the time Rainbow Community Center has been able to rally around in order to bring Pride to the People and bring the People to Pride, albeit, mostly virtually.
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
DORAnn ZOTIGH
ALL
AnD
KIKU JOHnSOn
COLORS
their rowboat to glide. Sounding recently familiar? The opportunity to adopt why wearing a mask throughout this pandemic not only protects you and your people, we are protecting everyone. Don’t mask your Pride, just wear your mask.
ALLYSHIP One of the amazing things about Pride is the way nities. Collective mindsets and visibility. Our Virtual we have been able to grow Pride features Queer Latinx can certainly swing in many from a few who decided directions with the tremenFilmfest screenings, a multi enough was enough - Compdous potential to transcend chapter PFLAG Panel on ton’s Cafeteria and Stonewall Non-binary identities, educa- to “collaborative mindsets”. - to the many, raising our tion, and allyship along with We are able to show up more voices together in support of collaboratively by being our version of “Rainbow’s our rights to life, love, and Got Talent! and culminating informed, seeking underthe pursuit of happiness. standing, and then intention- There is power in coming with our 25th Anniversary ally acting and representing celebration! This year Pride together, with allies, to celetakes on a new meaning, a in our communities. Collabo- brate where we have come different scope and a height- rative mindsets are our from and where we still need ened importance for us to waters we are raising. We are to go. We have always in our rise together, bringing to the inspiring the mother of all history seen and experienced front and centering those collaborative mindsets, the police brutality, legislation of one that begins to think most marginalized in our our bodies, families, and the within and operates specificommunity. Through Pride way we love, and attacks on we are effectively raising the cally for others and everyour morality, and this year of one, known to them or not, 2020 is no different, but it waters of awareness with CELEBRATING PRIDE Virtual Pride: “Expanding oars of education, represen- to have enough water for should be. To change the tation, and celebration as our Our Margins”, Oct 18-25, centers our Communities of rowboat of intersection most certainly needs to glide. We Color and marginalized LGBTQI+ identities, expan- all at our core want this, and in effect, raising the waters sively - “if we build it, they raises everyone’s boat. will come.” Rainbow will be kicking off Pride with our COLLABORATIVE MINDSET only in person event of the We have come to learn week, Pride On Wheels!, and live that by being “politiPOW! where event sponsors, cally correct”, or “PC”, is staff, community members not a mindset that changes and partners are encouraged play. Big Nutbrown Hare nor informs the conversato join in a multi-vehicle says yes, but because Little “care-a-van”, while maintain- tions that actually need to be Nutbrown wants to go off SUnny SOLOMOn ing physical-distancing, stop- had - the conversations that on his own, he is told not to ping at a few key and timely address, lean into, and face BOOKIN’ WITH go “too far.” the issues. We are rowing our landmarks within Contra When Little Nutbrown SUNNY Costa County, getting out of boats seeking a collective Hare hops off for an advenmindset of doing good for our vehicles sharing our ture, he sees his reflection in British writer Sam Pride through representation the many, not just ourselves a puddle and is unhappy that and our immediate commu- McBratney and illustrator it is “only another me.” Anita Jeram published Next, he sees his shadow, “Guess How Much I Love and no matter how fast he You” in 1994, and the book goes, it follows him. Little gained a loving and loyal folNutbrown Hare realizes it is lowing when it came out in “only another me.” the United States the followThen he reaches Cloudy ing year. and suddenly sees Mountain engage and stabilize homeless The CORES teams do visit It’s been in print ever The Cloudy another hare. individuals living outside the camps to ensure they have since. But if you don’t Mountain Hare tells him her through consistent outreach to any services possible and so immediately remember it, name is Tipps. She asks Litfacilitate and/or deliver health at-risk individuals can get con- one look at the cover of tle Nutbrown if he wants to and basic need services and nected to Project Roomkey. their sequel, “Will You Be play and be her friend. secure permanent housing. To learn more about the work My Friend,” should do it. CORE has continued to oper- that H3 does, please visit The image of Big and Little Jeram’s illustrations say it all: ate throughout the pandemic. cchealth.org/h3/. Nutbrown Hare tells you this They hop, they chase each other, dig a hole, make a pile While they are not currently is going to be a special picof leaves. Then they play transporting homeless individKaren Mitchoff is Contra ture book. hide and seek. Each hides so uals, they are still providing Costa County District IV superviBriefly, Big Nutbrown well that by the time Little resources, education, connec- sor. Email questions or comments Hare is busy working hard tion housing navigation and to Mitchoff at supervisorwhen Little Nutbrown Hare Nutbrown Hare has to go home, he hasn’t found Tipps. other homeless services. mitchoff@bos.cccounty.us asks if he can go off and
THE
long-rooted systems of oppression, it will take all of us showing up for more than one day and commit to lifelong work as this is what our community needs. And it will mean acknowledging that those most affected need action, visibility, and voice now, not to the exclusion of some, but for the support of all of us. Allyship looks like stepping back and assessing what we still have yet to learn, then teach others around you, so that we might be ready to help when and where the call comes. The rowboat is more than a metaphor, it is an action you can vote, volunteer, attend a training, donate to a nonprofit, show up for a friend, and speak up against injustice. Being an ally is more than going to a parade or drag show. As one travels along the allyship spectrum and action can take many forms. You can vote for people and policies that support LGBTQI+ folx. And you can take action by demand-
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ing justice for our Black and Brown Trans sisters who are subject to violence and whose lives are taken at higher rates by educating those around you that may not know. Pride is a celebration that has become a vital opportunity to dispel ignorance, prejudice and fear through education. We live in a shared world where our actions, or inactions, affect everyone. Collective choices made by some can affect us all in ways big and small. A group of people, no matter the size, can affect change. When we work together, we are able to lift up our community. Show up for Pride. Replenish the waters. Then take action for you and everyone else. Kiku Johnson is Concord’s Rainbow Community Center’s executive director. Dorann Zotigh is the board president. Send questions and comments to Dodi@rainbowcc.org. or kiku@rainbowcc.org.
Many hare-raising questions raised in Nutbrowns’ story
Grayson, from page 10
During our state’s March primary this year, 72 percent of votes cast came through the U.S. Postal Service. Please be assured that voting by mail is very secure, with each ballot signature reviewed and verified before the ballot is counted. Vote-by-mail drop boxes
in Contra Costa are also inspected every day by the county Elections Office to ensure that there has been no damage or evidence of tampering. Voters can follow their personal ballot through the entire process by signing up
McGallian, from page 10
improvements, and pandemic recovery. But we are also looking to next year, when we will be restarting the Concord Naval Weapons Station Base Reuse Project. We will work on selecting new cannabis opera-
tors through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, support new housing being built in our downtown and continue to plan for the future of this great city. This past year has taught us all to lean on one another,
Allen, from page 10
with the secretary of state to receive notifications on when the ballot is mailed, received and counted by visiting wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. More nonpartisan information on how and where to vote, as well as voter information guides, can be found on Contra Costa’s election website listed above or on the secretary of state’s website at care for one another and help one another in a time of need. We should all be proud of how so many in our community have responded. As we start to slowly get back to work and kids begin to return to school, let us not forget what it took to get to this place. We need to continue to take safety precautions
who don’t want to upset their union supporters, but I don’t intend to back down. That’s why labor is aggressively supAFSCME, ATU and the SEIU labor contracts are all set to expire next June, These kinds of clear con- porting my opponent and and BART staff and the direc- flicts of interest have been the continues to pour in contributors have already begun talks. norm at BART for years, but I tions to union-friendly incumbents. If my opponent wins, she will refuse to play along. My calls BART directors have a likely be joining her unionto address the rules governing fiduciary responsibility to proovertime pay, pensions and backed colleagues in closed vide safe, clean and reliable other salary issues have been door meetings shortly after transit that everyone can ignored by those like Simon being sworn in to vote on
sos.ca.gov. Please also do not hesitate to contact my Concord office if you have any questions or need help accessing nonpartisan voting information.
Reach Assemblyman Tim Grayson at (925) 521-1511. Visit or write the district office 2151 Salvio Street, Suite P, Concord, CA 94520
Big Nutbrown Hare is happy to see Little Nutbrown and to know he had fun. Then they hear a nearby noise and out comes Tipps. Big Nutbrown wonders, “Where on earth did she come from?” Little Nutbrown explains that she is from Cloud Mountain, and her name is Tipps. And, most importantly, she is his friend. McBratney’s story is not so simple if one reads the book several times before reading to a youngster. Did Little Nutbrown Hare know he wanted a friend? How do we know Big Nutbrown Hare loves Little Nutbrown? Why do we want to have friends? What can we do with a friend that we can’t do by ourselves? If the sun is out and it is safe to go outside, can we see our own
in wearing masks, washing our hands, testing and following the best practices in public health so that we can all get through this pandemic safely – and stronger – together.
shadow? Does a friend have to look exactly like us? Does the child being read to know how to play hide and seek? “Will You Be My Friend” is not only for very young children. Even a child who is learning to read will love to follow along with you and point out when you miss a word. (Fake it if you have to. I’ve learned that there isn’t a young reader alive who doesn’t love finding a reader’s mistakes.) I can’t wait to give this book to my friend who is expecting her fourth grandchild.
Sunny Solomon is a freelance writer and head of the Clayton Book Club. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latest recommendations or just to ‘talk books.’
925-381-3757
Mayor Tim McGallian can be reached at 925.671.2489 or email Tim.McGallian@cityofconcord.org
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Page 12
From harvest to horror, let your porch make a statement The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
you can’t access the front door and (gasp) make it difficult for UPS or FedEx to properly deliver your Amazon boxes. A large, wraparound porch can easily accommodate classic rocking chairs accessorized with traditional earth-tone JEnnIFER LEISCHER plaid pillows and mounds of DESIGN & DÉCOR perfectly blooming chrysanthemums in shades of burnt A fall front porch can be orange, wine red and sunshine elegant and grand, homemade yellow. Pair these lovely and crafty – or a little of both. blooms with ceramic containWith any holiday decorating, ers in the same coordinating the key is to keep scale and colors for a big statement. function in mind. By all means, Picture cornstalks evenly go big and beautiful with your distributed on each porch accessories, but not so big that post, tied into place with
thick, burlap ribbons, and an oversized doormat with a single, italicized initial. To top off all this fall loveliness, add pumpkins, big and small, gathered in various corners and up the flight of stairs that guide you to the front door. For a smaller porch, consider these same ideas but take your décor vertical. When we have less square footage on the ground floor, using vertical square footage is the next best thing. Using tall and narrow accents like a pair of zinc urns flanking your front door, or the step leading up to your porch, filled with multicolored
In ‘Host,’ online séance is full of shocking surprises
Local theaters are reopening as I write this column, but most of the fare available is older films. Other than “Tenet,” there is nothing worth braving the theaters to see. “Host,” a smallscreen gem produced during the pandemic, is better than anything on the big screen right now. Millions of us have become accustomed to doing everything via Zoom nowadays. It’s our method of communication for meetings, classes, family gatherings and parties. In “Host,” Haley decides that her group of friends should do an online séance during their weekly Zoom activity. She and four friends hop online with a medium who guides them through the process. Against the medium’s advice, most of them don’t take it very seriously. This proves to be a bad choice. When things go wrong, the suspense and jump scares intensify. The film deftly uses the
King miniseries homerun. “The Woods” (Netflix): While working a difficult case, a Polish lawyer has a horrible incident from his youth dredged up when a body is discovered. Frequently jumping between past and present, the series is addicting no matter the time period. “I’ll be Gone in The Dark” JEFF MELLInGER (HBO): Comedian Patton Oswalt’s wife Michelle became SCREEN SHOTS obsessed with a string of rapes split-screen nature of Zoom for in the 1970s, which led to the perfect setups. discovery that the East Area Though not even an hour Rapist was actually the Golden long, “Host” feels like a fullState Killer. He had been operlength film. Every one of its 57 ating much longer than anyone minutes is perfect. After watch- knew. Spending equal time on ing “Host,” your next Zoom the victims and Michelle’s meeting will feel much differstory, this miniseries gets under ent. A the skin. Here are some other small screen movies to check out: Jeff Mellinger is a screen writer “The Outsider” (HBO): and film buff. He holds a BA in The setup involves one of the Film Studies and an MFA in film most creative, bizarre whoproduction. He lives in Concord. dunits I’ve ever seen. With a Email comments to editor@pioneerfew scares and a pulsing sound- publishers.com. scape, this is another Stephen
October 16, 2020
border the approach to the porch, and, of course, ghost white and traditional orange pumpkins to fill every nook and cranny. Spooky décor transitions nicely into a more harvest style aesthetic once October sneaks back into the mysterious shadows. With the ghostly décor put away, the chrysanthemums will bloom a few more rounds. The hay bails and cornstalks can remain on our porches, Pumpkins, cornstalks and chrysanthemums can easily tran- and the pumpkins that didn’t sition from Halloween to Thanksgiving décor. fall under the carving knife have one more month to sit mini pumpkin topiaries or goblins and our favorite skele- pretty and plump. With November just fluffy, wheat sheaves will help tal beings. Black silky witches give you height. A circular hats and white fabric remnant around the corner, we are thankful for a year that none twig wreath or elongated ghosts mysteriously hover of us could have ever imagspray, intertwined with fall within the constraints of the ined, but yet, here we are. foliage, hanging on your front porch roofline by way of a Thriving. And, most impordoor or a fall leaf garland that thin fishing line. A hanger of outlines the entry door are paper cutout bats can seem to tantly, still decorating. classic accessories that will barricade the exterior of the Jennifer Leischer is the owner of turn your entry door into a front door, keeping the ghouls focal point. and ghosts where they belong J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, Let’s not forget, front – on the porch. comments and suggestions at Paper bag lanterns with porches have no fear when it comes to entertaining ghouls, cutout jack-o-lantern faces can jenna@j-designs.com.
SPORTS & LIFESTYLE
Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B4 The Arts . . . . . . . . . . .B6
De La Salle returns to SouCal for rematch of state title game to open football season October 16, 2020
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Bowl against defending Washington 3A champion Eastside Catholic. The Ugly Eagles have now scheduled nine of their possible 10 games.
JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
When it was announced this week that De La Salle High will travel to Bellflower in Southern California on Jan. 8 to open its schedule against St. John Bosco it was just the latest unique aspect to the 2020 high school football season, which won’t take place until 2021. Those two all-boys parochial schools met in the CIF State Open Division championship game last December when Bosco won 49-28 for its third title game win over the Spartans since 2013. This will be the first time two teams who met in a CIF championship football final had a rematch in the opening game of the following season. Coaches Justin Alumbaugh of DLS and Jason Negro of Bosco are friends and were able to hammer out the details with their athletic directors including Leo Lopoz of the Spartans after the fall season was scuttled in July by the coronavirus pandemic. Each school had scheduled a high-profile, out-of-state game to open its original 2019 slate. Bosco had been set to travel to Ohio while the Concord team was going to play a nationallytelevised game on EPSN in Texas against two-time defending 6A D-I state champion North Shore in Houston in an ESPN game. De La Salle has a decadeslong tradition of scheduling national-calibre opponents early in their season. Alumbaugh says part of the reasoning for that is to reward Spartan seniors for their years in the program. The team also has a reputation for improving from their first game to the last, which they hope and expect to be the State championship game, and thus facing powerful opponents early gives the coaches and players a barometer of where they are and where they need to be. De La Salle and Bosco account for nine of the last 11 CIF Open Division championships. Mater Dei of Santa Ana
James K. Leash photo courtesy of SportStars
De La Salle’s Jonathan Hackett (21) of Clayton attempts to outrun Saint John Bosco defender Stephan Blaylock during the 2016 CIF Open Division final at Sacramento State. That game was the second of three times the Braves have defeated the Spartans in the state championship game since 2013. The two parochial school powers have scheduled a rematch of their 2019 CIF final on Jan. 8 in Bellflower in the season-opening game for each team.
won the other two, both over DLS. Mater Dei and Bosco have been the unquestioned state powers the past four years while piling up wins, national rankings and championships with rosters loaded with Division I football prospects, many of whom transferred into the two SouCal schools. The Spartans are the only school to have played in a CIF Bowl Game every year since they began in 2006. De La Salle has won seven of its 14 title games, including back-to-back crowns in 2014-15 under the tutelage of Alumbaugh. The Spartan alumnus took over for the legendary Bob Ladouceur, winner of four consecutive CIF championships before his retirement at the end of the 2012 season. All of the excitement around the announcement of this early season showdown is tempered by the realization that the COVID-19 situation means nothing is certain. The North Coast Section recently moved up
the date one week to Dec. 7 for school teams to start practicing for football, cross country, volleyball and water polo seasons. GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE FINAL SAY
Local and state health and government officials will have the final say if high school sports can resume on that schedule. The DLS-SJB game is slated for Friday evening, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. in Panish Family Stadium. That time is subject to change for television. Alumbaugh told the Los Angeles Times that his school has made no decision on how to transport its team to and from Southern California to ensure proper social distancing and other health protocols. Multiple buses or parents driving their own sons to the game are possibilities. Making the six-hour drive each way that day is also very much under discussion to avoid staying over before or after the game, risking
COVID-19 infections at the very beginning of a season the Spartans hope ends April 17 at the CIF Open Division Bowl game, which CIF says is still a possibility. If it is held, it will be the only State Bowl game in this one-of-a-kind season. Should the opener take place, fourth-year Spartan quarterback Dorian Hale and his talented skill position teammates will face another Bosco juggernaut. Before the fall cancelations Mater Dei was second, Bosco third and De La Salle 17th in the MaxPreps High School Preseason National Top 100. Fifteen of those top 100 teams in the poll were from California. Bosco will be without 6foot-5, 245-pound quarterback DJ Uiagalelei who racked up over 450 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in last year’s championship game before leaving for Clemson. The Braves have five of the top 91 recruits in the state, while DLS has none in the top
100. The Times reported that eight quarterbacks are on the Bosco roster vying for the starting position. The pandemic also affected a Sept. 12 date between firsttime CIF champion Clayton Valley Charter at the Honor
TOUGH OPPONENTS FOR UGLY EAGLES Included in the non-league schedule are games against two defending league champions: at Turlock on Jan. 15 and their final pre-EBAL game Feb. 12 against Menlo Atherton at Gonsalves Stadium. Menlo features the No. 2 recruit in the State, wide receiver Troy Franklin, who has made a verbal commitment to Oregon. Coach Tim Murphy will have CVCHS post-season stars quarterback Jake Kern and runningback Omari Taylor returning for their senior seasons along with standouts Dylan Seeley, Tyler Charbonneau and Erik Christopherson. CVCHS was reclassified by NCS to Division I this season after taking its fourth DII championship since 2012 last fall. De La Salle travels to Clayton Valley Charter in the final regular-season game for both Concord schools Mar. 20. The NCS playoffs begin the following weekend Mar. 26-27 and conclude April 10. The Spartans will be seeking their 29th consecutive Section title.
Photo courtesy CVCHS football
Middle linebacker Dylan Seeley (36) will be a key member of the Clayton Valley Charter defense as they attempt to replicate their north Coast Section and northern California championships when this strange season begins in January. Seeley is one of several key returning players from the 2019 State champion Ugly Eagles.
New coaches coming on board among uncertainty for high school sports getting greenlight to begin in January JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
The calendar continues to click off the fall months but there is still no certainty that California high school sports will start as currently scheduled with practices in December and competition in January. As state and North Coast Section officials pointed out when a revised calendar shifting all sports to the JanuaryJune 2021 time frame was unveiled in July to account for the coronavirus pandemic they said “this is just the beginning of the journey this school year and there will be many challenges along the way.” It was also stated by all officials that the final decision on holding events would rest with state and local health and government officials in line with the status of COVID-19 in the state and each county. As everyone is painfully aware, that situation is far from resolved with numerous starts and stops in
MIKE SHAUGHNESSY
NORTHGATE BOYS BASKETBALL
many elements of the economy getting the greenlight to reopen. Even as things remain fluid the two local leagues have released their schedules for each sport and the schools are proceeding to complete their coaching staffs and making sure their facilities and logistics for training and competition
are in place for a safe implementation when they are given the go-ahead. The East Bay Athletic League and Diablo Athletic League schedules have made numerous changes as to how and when there are scheduling games and meets to reduce travel and other factors that might increase the possibility of exposing athletes, coaches and officials to the virus. All sports will be held for boys and girls at the same time during the already condensed “fall” and “spring” calendars developed at the state level, which creates facility use challenges that had to be addressed. Schools moving ahead with the hope and expectation that all sports will be held have announced a number of new varsity head coaching appointments: Carondelet: Basketball – Kelly Sopak Concord: Boys Volleyball Kristine Hockenbery, Girls Lacrosse - Adam Lins
Clayton Valley Charter: Girls Water Polo - Todd Skow, Boys Water Polo - Bryan Ruiz & Gabe Martin, Cross Country - Shaun Guest & Tim Martinez, Boys Basketball – Frank Allocco Jr. De La Salle: Water Polo Robby Arroyo Mt. Diablo: Boys & Girls Soccer - Octavio Guzman, Boys & Girls Volleyball - Giovanni Gracida, Girls Basketball - Ronnie McGee Northgate: Water Polo – Eric Mein, Boys Basketball Mike Shaughnessy, Boys Lacrosse - Greg Brandt, Boys Soccer - Edgar Rivera Ygnacio Valley: Cheer – Perla Reyes, Boys BasketballA1 Attles III UPDATED Oct. 12, 2020
“FALL” SCHEDULE
1st day of practice Dec. 7 for all fall sports Football non-league Games Jan. 8 – Feb. 13
DAL League Games Feb. 19 – Mar. 19 (Fridays) EBAL League Games Feb. 20 – Mar. 20 (Saturdays) nCS Playoffs Mar. 26-Apr. 10 Regional/State Championships Apr. 16/17
Cross Country (Boys & Girls) Dual & Invitational Meets January – February DAL Center Meets Jan 30 and Feb. 20 DAL Championship Meet Mar. 6 (Hidden Valley Park, Martinez) EBAL Championship Meet Mar. 13 (newhall Park, Concord) nCS Championship Meet Mar. 20 (Hayward High School) CIF State Championship Meet Mar. 27 (Woodward Park, Fresno)
Volleyball (Boys & Girls) non-league Games & Tournaments January-February DAL League Games Jan. 12 – Feb. 25 EBAL League Games Jan. 26 – Feb. 25 nCS Playoffs Mar. 2-13 norCal Championships Mar. 20
Water Polo (Boys & Girls) non-league Games & Tournaments January-February DAL League Games Jan. 20 – Feb. 24 EBAL League Games Jan. 26 – Feb. 25 nCS Playoffs Mar. 3-13 norCal Championships Mar. 16-20
“SPRING” SCHEDULE
Soccer 1st day of practice Feb. 22 non-league Games & Tournaments February - May DAL League Games Mar. 16 – May 13 EBAL League Games Mar. 10 May 12 nCS Playoffs May 18-29 norCal Championships June 15
Swimming & Diving (Boys & Girls) 1st day of practice Mar. 8 non-league Meets & Invitationals March - May DAL League Dual Meets Mar. 29 – May 10
See Schedule, page B4
From dirt kickball area to dedicated ballfield – Olympic High school teacher realizes a dream Page B2
JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Fifth in a series about athletic facilities at eight local high schools.
Ron Redding spent his final 20 years of teaching in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District at Olympic High, the continuation school in Concord for ninth to 12th graders. Continuation schools don’t typically have athletic teams, but Redding and some fellow teachers saw things a little differently.
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Redding taught leadership, guitar, English, government and supervised the school newspaper at Olympic after earlier stops in his MDUSD tenure at Loma Vista and El Dorado intermediate schools and Ygnacio Valley High. He also was a PE teacher at Olympic and had to make do with outdoor asphalt courts and a dirt field on the Willow Pass Rd. side of the campus that sits between Salvio St. and Willow Pass, a block from Concord City Hall.
Athlete Spotlight
Christian White
School: Clayton Valley Charter High Grade: Senior Sports: Cross Country, Track
With COVID-19 protocols, a delayed season and breath-inhibiting California heat and smoke, four-year runner White has quite literally risen from the ashes (wildfire ash, that is) to take on a crucial role as captain of the Ugly Eagles cross country squad. This year was already set up to be uncharted territory: seven-year coach Anthony Munch stepped down after the 2019 season, leaving CVCHS teacher Shaun Guest at the helm of the program with help from assistant coaches Tim Martinez and Kevin White. Although the absence of Munch’s knowledge and experience left a hole in the program, co-captains White and Tyler Habermeyer and the coaching staff kicked off cross country conditioning in early July in full gear. However, after about a week, White was disappointed to see the team have no choice but to split “into pods of 12 runners, wear masks and keep distance from each other.” The incoming senior said, “Cross country is a team sport and not being able to run together has been difficult. We pump each other up and encourage teammates constantly. Not having that [all running together] has been hard. Now, fall sports have been pushed out into winter and our training has been scaled back from 5-6 days a week, to three days.” Despite the uncertainty of how the Dec. 7 beginning of official training will pan out, or if it will happen at all, White has tackled the fading motivation of his teammates by remaining as positive as ever. Not a practice goes by where White doesn’t share feedback and encouragement with all of his teammates. He also plays a big role in planning safe and healthy team events to keep the fun and inclusive spirit of cross country alive. Along with his three years on varsity cross country, White has also spent two years on varsity track. Although he mentions that the loss of an offseason between the end of cross country and the beginning of track conditioning will be difficult for rest and recovery, White remains excited for his last year in running at the high school level and refuses to let COVID protocols inhibit his success. He is undecided about running at the collegiate level but plans on attending DVC next fall. His ideal job would be to return to Clayton Valley Charter after college as a P.E. teacher and cross country coach. One would not be too far off to call White the high school equivalent of Boston Celtics legendary player-coach Bill Russell. The team certainly wouldn’t be the same without the major role he has taken responsibility for this year. CVCHS student journalist Alexa Oldham wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Christian and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years 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.
In his fifth year at the school he wanted students to have some athletic activities, so he started a coed slo-pitch softball team. Redding began the team with a bat, glove and a couple softballs. The players had to bring all their own stuff. The team practiced and played on what had been a kickball field when the site was Concord Elementary School. It was hardly suited for kickball, let alone softball. The softball team took the nickname Olympic Flames and he entered them in the Continuing Education Athletic League with schools from the greater Bay Area. The team almost won the playoffs championship in Santa Rosa in their first year. Over the years they developed a friendly rivalry playing the Concord Seniors at nearby Baldwin Park. As the years went by Redding secured sponsors to help supply team equipment and uniforms. A backstop and team benches were added. Chevron donated a van to the school and the softball team used it to drive players to away games. A couple years before the softball team came about,
October 16, 2020
Photo courtesy Ron Redding
When Coach Ron Redding Field was dedicated in April 2011 at Olympic High School in Concord, three important people in seeing the field come to fruition were on hand. Redding (center) spent 20 years teaching at the continuation high school and spearheaded the development of a softball field for its students and the community. Jesse Forsland (left) was a teacher at Olympic who took over coaching the Olympic Flames after Redding’s retirement while Skip Weinstock (right) was a teacher at Olympic since the 1970s who took over Redding’s leadership class and organized the dedication.
another teacher, Kathy Avington started a boys basketball team which practiced on the outside courts at Olympic and had home games at the Army National Guard Armory a couple blocks up Willow Pass Rd. just past City Hall. Long-time
Jay Bedecarré
residents might remember the Armory serving as a teenage nightclub called Sylvester’s during Redding’s high school days. A MDUSD administrator occasionally saw the softball team playing on its very substandard field. One day Dr. Alan Young promised Redding that “we’re going to build you a ball field.” The school board utilized voter approved 2002 Measure C funds for the project. In 2007, Olympic celebrated the opening of its very own regulation softball field. A year later, Redding was succeeded as coach by teacher Jesse Forsland. When Redding retired, the school board honored him in November 2010 by naming his
field of dreams Coach Ron Redding Field. The following April there was a formal dedication on the field. After living in Martinez, Avon and Port Chicago, Redding’s family moved to Concord so that his mom Nawatha could walk to her teaching job at Williams Elementary School, which is now part of the John Muir Concord campus across the street from Mt. Diablo High. That’s where Ron Redding went to high school. He ran on the Red Devils cross country and track teams. He was class president for his 1965-66 senior year. He went to college in Oklahoma thinking he would be a lawyer but ended up deciding to follow his mother into teaching, which he did starting in 1972. Ironically, both Williams and Concord elementary schools were closed in 1980 when MDUSD shuttered a number of schools. The consolidation allowed the District to move Olympic High, which had been held in a church on West Street near El Dorado since its inception, to the Concord Elementary campus. This story does not have a totally fairy tale ending as the school no longer has a softball team and the field is primarily rented by the District to highcalibre girls softball programs Nor Cal Storm and Universal Fastpitch. Visit pioneerpublishers.com to read much more and see other photos of Coach Ron Redding Field in Concord. Stories for Mt. Diablo, Concord, Clayton Valley Charter, Ygnacio Valley and Northgate high schools are also on the website.
Mt. Diablo High football player David Clark gets college offers from two Oregon schools JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Third-year Mt. Diablo High football coach Donald James was excited to call The Pioneer last month to announce that his linebacker-tight end David Clark had received an offer from a college in Oregon to play defense next fall. Just days later he texted that Clark had received a second offer from a school in that state. First to contact him was Pacific University. The NCAA Division III school in Forest Grove, 25 miles west of Portland, has the unique nickname of the Boxers. Before long, George Fox University in nearby Newberg, less than a 30minutes’ drive from Pacific, was also offering Clark a spot on its Bruins defense for the 2021 fall season. Both schools are members of the Northwest Conference which includes nine D-III private universities and colleges from Oregon and Washington. Division III schools do not have athletic scholarships, but senior captain Clark has been offered financial aid. He carries a 3.6 GPA that he expects to increase during this school year. He’s interested in studying psychology in college. Clark, who is just a whisker under 6-0 and weights 210 pounds didn’t join the football program until the spring of his freshman year for off-season workouts and thus has only played two years of organized games. He says when he began working out “I couldn’t lift the [weight] bar.” During the pandemic he’s been weightlifting at home and meeting up with some teammates for conditioning in neighborhood parks. During his sophomore and junior years Clark was voted
Jay Bedecarré
Linebacker David Clark (left) and his head coach Donald James of Mt. Diablo High are excited about the offers from two Oregon colleges the senior linebacker has received to play nCAA Division III football next fall. northwest Conference rivals Pacific and George Fox universities are each hoping to lure all-DAL player Clark to their program.
first-team all-Diablo Athletic League Valley Division defense. In mid-March when the pandemic shutdown all sports and on campus learning James began sending out emails and tape on Clark to D-III schools. With virtually no summer programs or fall football that is all schools have to go on at this time in recruiting California players. Clark is going to make an official visit to the George Fox campus on Nov. 19, just weeks before the Red Devils begin official workouts Dec. 7 in preparation for this unusual football season beginning in January. For Coach DJ and his small coaching staff of Lajon Lindsey, Virdell Larkins and Daquan Smith it’s a validation on the work they have done in developing “a football culture change” at Concord’s oldest high school. James has worked on the Mt. Diablo campus for
five years but for the first two years he was an assistant football coach at Oakland Tech. “When I interviewed for this head coaching job, I told them [interviewers] that within five years we’d have a player getting offers from a college. I got some weird looks,” James said with a smile. He achieved that goal in his third season, all of which Clark has been a part of. The coaches stress to their players “trust the coach, trust the program” as they build up Mt. Diablo football. For the final game of the 2019 season there were 30 players suited up for Diablo, more than in many years. Only five of those were seniors so the coaching staff already has 25 returning varsity players for this season before any of the JV players or freshmen come out. “Last year we actually ran out of equipment to outfit all the players,” Coach DJ said in illustrating the turnaround in
participation in the football program. The season begins on Jan. 8 when the Sonoma Valley Dragons come to newly finished Hart Fairclough Red Devil Stadium for a non-league game. The Red Devils host Ygnacio Valley in the first Diablo Athletic League Valley Division game on Feb. 19. The North Coast Section playoffs start on the Mar. 26-27 weekend. To the best of anyone’s recollection, the last Mt. Diablo player to go directly to a fouryear college football program was school hall of fame member Jerry Reese in 1991. Reese played four years at San Jose State before he went on to play wide receiver for a season in NFL Europe, briefly for the Buffalo Bills and had a long career in the Arena Football League with the San Jose SaberCats. Mt. Diablo football teams were a regional powerhouse up through the 1960s and sent two 1950’s era graduates, Dan Colchico and Ted Plumb, to the NFL. Plumb won a Super Bowl ring with the 1984 Chicago Bears during his quarter century coaching for five NFL teams. He then was director of pro scouting for the St. Louis Rams when they won the 2000 Super Bowl. Colchico played six seasons with the 49ers and two with the New Orleans Saints. He had moved from Mt. Diablo to DVC and then to San Jose State before the pros. A pair of 1971 Red Devil grads, Pat Micco and Joe DeRosa, went on to play alongside each other as starters on the offensive line at Cal for the Golden Bears, including during the magical 1975 season as Pacific-8 co-champions.
October 16, 2020
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Page B3
Northgate baseball honors a two-school coaching legend at Ted Abbott Field JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Sixth in a series about athletic facilities at eight local high schools.
when it opened. Abbott continued teaching physical education at Northgate until his retirement in 1993. He died in May 2008. Al Hurtado, his teaching and coaching colleague at College Park, said, “He was a giant in his field, above everybody else, because of the quality of his character. His P.E. program was the best I’ve ever seen.” Abbott’s groundwork led to the school’s first NCS baseball appearance in 1982. His coaching and teaching earned him the honor of having his name forever connected to the diamond on the edge of the sprawling campus near the north entrance to Mount Diablo State Park. His is the only name attached to an athletic facility at the 46-year-old campus, the “youngest” MDUSD high school.
A coach who became a legend at two Mt. Diablo Unified School District high schools is honored at Northgate High with the naming of Ted Abbott Field. Also, a Hall of Fame coach at College Park, Abbott was the first Broncos baseball coach when the school opened in September 1974 and his name is forever affixed to the first base side of the backstop facing the Walnut Creek school. Northgate baseball has paid homage to one of its pioneering coaches and teachers with a long run of success on his diamond over the past two decades, winning league championships and reaching the BRONCO STATE North Coast Section Division CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS II championship game four Northgate teams have times since 2002. claimed two coveted California State championships, someTED ABBOTT FIELD thing that has eluded the Just like at Northgate, majority of public schools in Abbott was a trailblazer at Colthe state. In 1995 the Broncos lege Park where he helped boys basketball team won the open that high school in 1960 Division III championship at and stayed until moving to the the Oakland Coliseum, winnew Northgate campus. He ning 47-41 over Artesia of coached baseball and football Lakewood, which had won at the Pleasant Hill school durthree of the previous five D-II ing the pre-North Coast Sectitles. tion playoffs era in both sports.
Abbott had graduated from Richmond High and his first coaching experience was at Harry Ells in Richmond before heading to the newly opened College Park. He coached back-to-back unbeaten football teams for the Falcons. The College Park High Hall of Fame began in 2007 and Abbott was inducted in its second year, one of just four coaches in the nearly 50-year history of the school to be so honored in the first two years of the Hall of Fame. Just as he had done at College Park, Abbott started from the ground up putting together a program during the first six seasons of Northgate varsity baseball through 1980. He was one of a number of veteran coaches from various Mt. Diablo Unified School District schools to join the new school
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Coach Frank Allocco Sr. had his Broncos back in the Division II championship game a year later where they lost to Dominguez of Compton at ARCO Arena in Sacramento. Northgate officially opened its state-of-the art $8.1 million aquatic complex in the Fall of 2015. That previous spring the Broncos boys swim team made history as champions of the inaugural CIF State swimming and diving meet in Clovis. Co-coaches Tommy Ortega and Jeff Mellinger were feted by the California Coaches Association as the California State boys swimming coaches of the year after the duo led the Bronco to the state championship as well as winning both the DVAL and North Coast Section meets.
Athlete Spotlight
Ted Abbott made a lasting impression at both northgate and College Park high schools as a coach and PE teacher. Ted Abbott Field is the home of northgate baseball, a program he started when the school opened for the 1974-75 school year. He is also in the College Park High Hall of Fame for his tenure there from the time that school opened in 1960 until he moved to northgate.
NORTHGATE ALUMS SHINE Northgate graduates can claim an Olympic gold medalist, PGA Tour golf titles, a playoff winning starting pitcher with 200 major league decisions and a Bronco soccer player who became a WWE Diva! Kristen Babb, a 1986 Northgate grad, competed for the Walnut Creek Aquanuts and gained fame at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics where she won gold for the United States in solo synchronized swimming. Her victory was controversial because of a judge’s error that gave the wrong score to her main challenger, Canadian Sylvie Fréchette. Babb won gold and 16 months later the International Olympic Committee also presented Fréchette with a gold medal. Babb-Sprague is married to former major league pitcher and current Oakland Athletics executive Ed Sprague. Keith Clearwater, class of 1977, made a big splash on the PGA Tour by winning two tournaments 10 years later as a rookie on the pro golf circuit. He played many years on the PGA Tour and more recently on the Champions Tour. After Northgate, Clearwater went to BYU and was a two-time all-American, helping the Cougars to the 1981 NCAA championship. Doug Davis, class of 1993, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers right after graduating but didn’t sign and instead played baseball at DVC and CCSF. He was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 1996 draft and debuted for them three years later.
During his 12-year MLB career the southpaw battled injuries. He won over 25 games each for the Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks while starting all but 20 of his 308 appearances on the mound. He was the winning pitcher for the Dbacks over the Chicago Cubs in the second game of the 2007 National League Division Series.
WWE DIVA Natalie Marie Nelson played soccer for Northgate but was injured during her 2002 senior year. The Concord resident was a standout player after graduation at DVC before transferring to Arizona State, where she stopped playing the sport. After college graduation she pursued an acting and modeling career in Los Angeles. She answered a casting call from the WWE. After a successful month-long tryout, she adopted the name Eva Marie, dyed her natural brown hair bright red and became a WWE Diva (and a superstar heel in the eyes of most wrestling fans). Since retiring from the mat in 2017 she continues to be a celebrity endorser, appear in movies and TV programs such as “Celebrity Big Brother” and this year launched the Natalie Eva Marie x Ryderwear collection. Visit pioneerpublishers.com for more details and photos of Northgate High School and some of its most illustrious championship teams and athletes. Similar stories for Mt. Diablo, Concord, Clayton Valley Charter, Ygnacio Valley and Olympic high schools are also on the website.
Alanna Le
School: Mount Diablo High Grade: Senior Sports: Tennis, Cross Country, Track
Over her four years at Mt. Diablo High Le will have competed three years each on the cross country and tennis teams as well as one year on track and also a season assisting the school softball coach. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg as to her involvement at Concord’s oldest high school. She says, “These four years at Mount have been transformational and impactful. As a senior playing tennis, I’ve evolved into a young, determined woman who not only cares that teammates are having fun but also exemplifies a ‘student-athlete.’ High school was a cycle of doubt, need, ambition and acceptance, and I am in the process of finding clarity about who I am.” Instead of the “normal” fall sports schedule girls tennis will be held at the same time as boys tennis from April through June. This year. “Despite the abrupt pause of the season from quarantine, I will continue to use this time to strengthen and improve my skills to be a more competitive high school player. I love playing tennis. Whether it’s independent practices or being able to play alongside and against girls/boys who are better than myself really pushes me to work my hardest every day and put forth my best effort in practice and in matches when the season returns.” Le is president of the MDHS Asian Culture Club, vice president of the Key Club, part of CSF and student member of the school Site Council. She also has kept the scorebook for Red Devils basketball since her freshman year. Away from school she volunteers in the emergency department at John Muir Health across the street from the Mt. Diablo campus. The senior has a 4.23 GPA and participates in two programs associated with UC Berkeley (“My dream school”). Her Red Devils tennis coach David Pintado says, “Alana is a star! I have met hundreds if not thousands of student-athletes through my career as a teacher and coach, and Alanna is an example of the perfect combination of dedication, passion and leadership.” Team captain Le says, “I love the excitement of sports as my way of relieving stress.” The Pioneer congratulates Alanna and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years 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.
De La Salle announces 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
De La Salle High School’s 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame includes five athletes, two teams and one longtime supporter of Spartan athletics. The honorees this year will not be inducted on campus as usual around a fall football home game weekend due to the pandemic. Lloyd Schine, the school’s director of alumni relations, said, “We are hoping to do the ceremony in person in the Spring around a home game. But we are still planning just in case for a virtual backup event.” The 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees: Bryan Byrne (Class of 2002) was a two-time all-BVAL player who led the team with a .410 batting average and was the Most Valuable Player his senior year. He helped lead the
Spartans to a league championship in 2000. Byrne received a scholarship to Saint Mary’s College and was honored as the 2003 West Coast Conference freshman of the year. That year he led all WCC freshmen with a .358 batting average while leading the Gaels in eight offensive categories. He was also a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America and earned first-team all-WCC honors. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005 and played six seasons, primarily at first base, at the AA and AAA levels. He was voted a Southern League (AA) All-Star in 2008 and 2010. He was awarded the best offensive player by the Mobile Bay Bears, where he broke the franchise RBI record. Byrne was the Director of Baseball Operations at SMC before joining the Houston Astros as an area scout in 2012. After four years with Houston, he joined the
Washington Nationals where he currently works as an area scouting supervisor. Matt Clizbe (1990) was a three-sport varsity athlete in football, baseball and track and field. A three-year varsity football player, he was named allEast Bay in 1988 and 1989, allBay Area and all-NorCal. He was a member of the 1988 Bay Area News Group Cream of the Crop. Clizbe played football at UC Berkeley, where he was a defensive back and running back for the Golden Bears. In 1993, he was named the special teams most valuable player. After graduating from Cal, Matt continued on to play in the Canadian Football League for the Birmingham, Alabama Barracudas for one season. Today Matt works as a Relationship Specialist for Fremont Bank. Theo Robertson (2005) set records at De La Salle for threepoint percentage and overall
field goal accuracy, finishing his Spartan career with 1,220 points. He attended UC Berkeley, where he was a two-year captain and standout forward for the Bears. Robertson earned Pac-10 allfreshman honorable mention. As a senior he was all-conference second team and named to the Pac-10 Conference all-tournament team. He was a key part of Cal’s 2010 Pac-10 championship team (the first for the school in 50 years), earning team MVP after averaging 14.2 points. He finished his career as the school’s all-time three-point shooter, making 44.0 percent, and ranks among Cal’s top 25 career scorers. Following graduation, Robertson has been establishing his post-playing career in basketball. He spent a year in the Pac-12 office, three years with Cal basketball in two stints, one year as a Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach and a season with the Detroit Pistons. He spent two seasons with the Warriors,
coaching staff on game preparation. He was promoted to video coordinator/player development the next season, working on court with players in addition to game-planning responsibilities. In 2019 he returned to the Warriors in his current capacity as a player development coach and is now preparing for his second season in that position. Simon (2001) Kevin excelled at De La Salle as a linebacker and running back playing on 1998 and 2000 USA Today National Championship teams, contributing to the school’s national record 151-game winning streak. As a senior at DLS, Simon scored 16 touchdowns. He was named 2000 Rivals Photo courtesy UC Berkeley Athletics National Defensive Player of the THEO ROBERTSON Year, Cal-Hi Sports’ State CAL BERKELEY Defensive Player of the Year, RECORDHOLDER USA Today, Parade, PrepStar, where he was part of the 2015 and Super Prep All-American NBA Championship-winning and was rated the No. 1 lineprogram as the team’s video backer in the nation by ESPN intern working with Steve Kerr’s
See DLS, page B4
Page B4
Schedule, from page B1
EBAL League Dual Meets Apr. 19 - May 17 DAL League Championship Meet May 20-22 (Campolindo High, Moraga) EBAL League Championship Meet TBA nCS Championship Meet May 27-29 (Concord Community Pool) State Championship Meet June 3-5 (Clovis Olympic Swim Complex)
Competitive Cheer (Stunt) 1st day of practice Mar. 15 DAL League Games TBA EBAL League Games Apr. 14 – May 26 nCS Championships June 5 CIF/USA Cheer Invitational June 12
Golf (Boys & Girls) 1st day of practice Mar. 15 non-league Matches & Tournaments March - May DAL League Matches TBA EBAL League Matches Mar. 22 – May 20 DAL League Championship TBA EBAL League Championship May 24 (TPC Stonebrae, Hayward) nCS Division II Championship May 31 nCS Division I Championship June 7 norCal/CIF State Championship June 23
Tennis (Boys & Girls) 1st day of practice Mar. 8 non-league Matches & Tournaments March - May DAL League Matches Mar. 25 – May 11 EBAL League Matches Mar. 16 – May 11 DAL Tournament May 13-15 EBAL Tournament May 13-17 (Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville) nCS Team Championships May Lacrosse (Boys & Girls) 18-29 1st day of practice Mar. 15 norCal Team Championships non-league Games & TournaJune 1-5 ments March - May nCS Singles/Doubles ChampiDAL League Apr. 12 – May 28 onships TBA EBAL League Games Apr. 27 – May 27 Wrestling (Boys & Girls) nCS Playoffs June 1-10 1st day of practice Mar. 8 non-league Matches & TournaSoftball ments March - May 1st day of practice Mar. 15 DAL League Matches Apr. 21 – non-league Games & TournaMay 12TBA ments March - May EBAL League Matches Apr. 22 – DAL League Games Apr. 20 – May 12 June 3 DAL League Championship EBAL League Games Apr. 29 – Meet May 28-29 June 1 EBAL League Championship nCS Playoffs June 8-19 Meet May 19 norCal Championships June nCS Dual Meet Team Champi22-26 onships May 22 nCS Meet June 4-5 Track & Field (Boys & Girls) State Meet June 10-12 1st day of practice Mar. 15 (Mechanics Bank Arena, non-league Meets & InvitationBakersfield) als March - May DAL League Meets Apr. 14 Baseball May 12 1st day of practice Mar. 15 EBAL League Dual Meets none non-league Games & Tournascheduled ments March - May DAL League Championship DAL League Games Apr. 15 – Meet May 29 & June 5 June 3 (Campolindo High, Moraga) EBAL League Games Apr. 30 – EBAL League Championship June 2 Meet May 29 & June 5 nCS Playoffs June 8-19 (Dublin High School) norCal Championships June nCS Tri-Valley Area Meet June 22-26 12 nCS Meet of Champions June Basketball (Boys & Girls) 18-19 1st day of practice Mar. 15 CIF State Meet June 25-26 (Vetnon-league Games & Tournaerans Memorial Stadium, ments March - May Clovis) DAL League Games Apr. 20 – May 28 For schedule updates visit EBAL League Games Apr. 27 - PioneerPublishers.com May 27 nCS Playoffs June 1-12 CIF norCal/State Championships June 15-19
Two weather patterns to blame for California wildfires
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS
Northern California and the Bay Area have been tormented with wildfires and dense smoke episodes since mid-August. We still have over a month to go in fire season, and a record number of acres have already burned in our state. There are two main weather patterns that trigger wildfires in our area: lightning storms and periods of strong offshore winds. As could only happen in 2020, both patterns contributed to this extreme fire season. Summer and fall lightning events usually result when bands of tropical moisture push northward into California. In mid-August, several fire complexes (multiple lightning caused fires that merge together) were triggered when moisture from tropical storm Fausto surged up the California coast on the back of a strong subtropical jet stream flow. More than 10,000 lightning strikes, nearly 10 percent of the state’s annual average, were detected as the moist remains of Fausto moved through the state. Two lightning caused fires, the SCU Complex (North Bay) and LNU Complex (South Bay), were not fully contained until early October. They rank as the third and fourth largest wildfires in California history, burning an area almost as large as the state of Rhode Island. Astonishingly, the SCU and LNU fires pale in comparison to the August Complex conflagration, which is still burning after seven weeks. This fire complex has torched more than a million acres in a seven-county area between the Bay Area and Oregon border, making it the first “gigafire” in state history. The other fall season weather pattern that is con-
DLS, from page B3
and Rivals.com. He played in the inaugural U.S. Army All-American Bowl before joining the University of Tennessee from 20012005. As a Volunteer linebacker he was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2005 and later earned a master’s in sport psychology. He had a brief NFL career after being selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After his playing days ended, Simon joined the Dallas Cowboys as a college scout from 2009-2016. He left Dallas to join the Atlanta Falcons as a pro scout for three years, which included the 2016 NFC Championship and a trip to Super Bowl LI. Simon recently returned to his alma mater and is now the director of player development for Tennessee football. Among his accomplishments there was playing a key role in recruiting Spartan senior Henry To’oto’o, now a sophomore star for the Vols. Jacob Yount (2005) had an outstanding golf career for the Spartans. He was medalist at the local qualifying tournament for the 2005 US Amateur. In 2004, he made it to the round of 32 in the US Junior Amateur at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, won the Future Collegians World Tour junior golf event at Singing Hills and won the Country Youth Classic in Illinois by 13 shots. He was ranked among the Top 50 Junior Boys in 2004 by Golfweek magazine. Yount was
a FCWT all-America and also posted one top 10 and three top five finishes in his American Junior Golf Association career. He attended the University of San Diego where he continued his stellar golf career. He was named the 2008 West Coast Conference player of the year after winning medalist honors at the WCC Championships in sudden death. Tom Bruce has been an integral part of the De La Salle community for over 30 years. He was a De La Salle parent who never left after his sons Matthew ’97 and Andrew ’00 graduated. Bruce joined the DLS Athletic Assistants (Whitecoats) in August 1993 at the freshman football meeting. He was later appointed coordinator of the volunteers team. The graduate of Saint Mary’s College professional career was in management with Emporium-Capwell, Wollborg Michelson Staffing and Regus Limited. Bruce’s additional volunteer positions include president of the Saint Mary’s College National Alumni Association and chair of GaelSports board of directors. 2006 Basketball Team coached by Frank Allocco Sr. had a 32-1 record that led to Bay Valley Athletic League, North Coast Section and CIF State Division I championships. The Spartans only loss came by two points at a tournament in December to a Washington team. They won 27 straight games after that with the final victory 43-40 over Clovis West
October 16, 2020
Photo courtesy University of Tennessee Athletics
KEVIN SIMON TENNESSEE FOOTBALL PLAYER AND STAFF
in the CIF State Division I championship game at Arco Arena in Sacramento. The team ranked in the top 25 nationally the entire season. Among the key players were guards senior Justin Joyner (went on to UC Santa Barbara) of Concord and junior Ryan Silva (went to UC Davis) from Clayton. 1993 Football Team was undefeated North Coast Section titlists and split CIF State champions 13 years before State Bowl Games started. Coach Bob Ladouceur’s Spartans outscored their three NCS opponents 15127 in the second year of what became the 151-game winning streak and the still-active 28 consecutive Section titles for DLS football. Over the course of the season, the defense and special teams outscored their opponents’ combined point totals. Nine players went on to play football at NCAA Division 1AA or higher programs. The team’s rushers averaged 9.8 yards per carry.
nOAA/Los Angeles Times
Moisture from tropical storm Fausto fueled the northern California lightning episode of mid-August 2020.
since mid-August. I hope the remainder of October will see some soothing rainstorms (without lightning) that could put a damper on the existing fires and give firefighters and their support staffs a well-deserved break. Absent some rain events, our fire season could continue well into November. As we get later into fall, climatology would suggest that Diablo wind conditions are far more likely to develop than surges of lightning producing subtropical moisture. However, late season tropical storms continue to develop in the eastern Pacific. The potential for a moisture surge related lightning event still exists. It is 2020, after all.
wind events so far this fall, ducive to wildfire generation results when hot and dry Dia- with each generating a new Woody Whitlatch is a meteorolbatch of wildfires. The latest blo winds develop. In this ogist retired from PG&E. Email case, high pressure develops round sparked several new north and east of California and devastating fires that add your questions or comments to and a surface low builds off to the loss and tragedy experi- clayton_909@yahoo.com enced in Northern California the SoCal coast. Strong pressure gradients develop between the Nevada deserts and the coast, forcing air down the slopes of the Sierra and then downward again as air flows across the Coastal Mountains in the area of Mt. Diablo. All this downward push heats the air by compression and dries the air to extremely low humidity levels. To complicate things, at least as far as fire generation is concerned, the airflow accelerates as it crosses the hills. The warming, drying and accelerating SFSU winds become a weather triArrows show the offshore wind flow during a classic Diablo fecta for wildfire ignition. wind event. We’ve had several Diablo
PETS
Meet ARF stars Zoey-Sunshine & Stitch
Looking for a furry friend during this trying time? Good news — ARF is now offering a no-contact, virtual adoption process! If you see an animal you’re interested in on our website, just fill out an online inquiry form. Once your inquiry has been received, you will be added to our virtual adoption queue. Fourteen-year-old ZoeySunshine is a sweet gal who has lots of love to give. She enjoys spending her time relaxing outside and getting lots of pets from her favorite people. She would do well in a quiet home where her easygoing demeanor will fit in perfectly. She prefers to be the only pet in the home. Zoey has a history of seizures and is taking daily medication to manage her condition. The adoption fee for puppies (<6 months) is $350, for adult dogs is $250, and senior dogs (7+ years) and special needs dogs are 50% off the adoption fee. Six-month-old Stitch is a sweet young fellow who is looking for a quiet low-key forever home where he’ll have time to adjust to a new environment as well as different people. Once he develops his confidence, he’s a very friendly guy who loves being petted. He’s hoping that his new home has lots of toys for him to play with and some sunny windows he can settle next to for some serious sunbathing. Stitch has several vertebrae in his lower lumbar spine which are abnormal, causing an awkward gait. He can jump, run, and use the litter box despite this. The adoption fee for kittens younger than 6 months is $150, for adult cats it is $100 with $25 off each for multiple cats/kittens and senior cats
ZOEY-SUNSHINE
older than seven. Special needs cats are 50 percent off the adoption fee. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: noon to 6 p.m Wed. and Thurs., noon to 7 p.m. Fri. and noon-6 p.m.
STITCH
Sat. and Sun. Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference. For more information see website, www.arflife.org, or call (925) 2561ARF.
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October 16, 2020
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REAL ANSWERS
Local real estate market is not cooling with the temperatures The Pioneer â&#x20AC;˘ www.pioneerpublishers.com
flying off the market â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least 12 days faster than expected. For the first time since 2016, homes sold faster in September than August. And because there is more activity than last year, prices are up 8.6 percent in the western part of the United States. Meanwhile, inventory is still lacking. The number of newly listed homes on the market in September declined by 13.8 percent since last year. This is the larger decrease than the 11.8 percent year over year loss in August. According to realtor.com, many buyers tend to put their home search on hold after the start of the school year. But remote learning and the desire for more space continued to fuel buyer interest in September. Unseasonably high buyer interest, historically low inventory and favorable mortgage rates are creating a perfect storm in the housing market. While this is good news for anyone looking to sell their homes, it has created tremendous competition among buyers.
Q. I was waiting for the summer housing market to slow down before I buy a home, but I see no signs that is happening. I keep getting out bid on homes that are for sale. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up? A. You are right: This September was different than normal. It is typically the sweet spot for buyers, because the summer frenzy slows down and competition isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as fierce. But according to realtor.com, home sellers this fall are typically listing homes for $20,000 or more than at the start of the year. This comes along with 25 percent more competition for buyers. According to the report, the best week to purchase a home is usually Sept. 22-28. However, listings have decreased 21 percent this year compared to the start of the year and there are 25 percent Q. As a seller in a nonmore buyers in the market. urban area (you might call This means that homes are
Concord/Clayton a suburban area), where is the most buyer activity and what are the current trends for buyers? A. According to a recent report from realtor.com, suburban homes are seeing stronger price appreciation, shorter days on the market and more views on the site than urban areas. And yes, Central and East Contra Costa are considered the burbs. A lot has changed since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, including home buying trends. Homes that could have been sitting on the market because of their size and location are now the preferred choice. Data shows that in our COVID world, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a strong preference toward a suburban lifestyle due to bigger houses, backyards and quiet streets. There is a huge shift in the U.S. workforce since the introduction of the Internet, with many U.S. workers now having the flexibility to work remotely and choose where they want to live. But cities will not become
ghost towns anytime soon; in fact, they are also seeing an uptick of homebuyers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not as strong as the surge in the suburbs. According to realtor.com, home price growth in the suburbs surpassed urban home price growth. For example, suburban prices increased 3.2 percent since the first week of March, while urban areas increased 2.3 percent. But year over year suburban listing prices are up 5.2 percent, while urban areas are only up 2.4 percent. The majority of the properties are selling over the asking price, sometimes substantially. Although it is a challenge for a buyer to compete for a home, it could be worth it because of the historically low interest rates. As I always say, the interest rate is more important than the price if you are going to stay in the home for several years. If you are going to get a mortgage, the payment is everything.
ating computer feasibility. Her computer was about 15 feet wide and 7 feet tall, called a UNIVAC (Remington Rand Corp). It had 64k of memory, about the size of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s email. She was attempting to calculate a string of numbers when it malfunctioned. Back in the day, large cabinets housed vacuum tubes that created a great deal of heat. It happened that a moth flew into the cabinets and died. When the bug fell on electrical connections, it fried a circuit and caused the malfunction. So, computer malfunctions and failures became known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;bugs.â&#x20AC;? So now you know more â&#x20AC;&#x153;a-bootâ&#x20AC;? computer terms. That reminds me: What is a boot anyway? The term comes
from bootstrap. Author Rudolf Erich Raspe coined the term bootstrap in the book about the fictional German nobleman Baron Munchausen (1785). The baron was said to have pulled himself out of a swamp by his bootstraps. Thereafter, the term boot meant to pull yourself up or start. The imaginative movie remake, directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame, is hilarious, by the way. Did you know astronaut John Glennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1962 book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Into Orbitâ&#x20AC;? popularized the Yiddish word glitsh (sic), meaning â&#x20AC;&#x153;slippery placeâ&#x20AC;?? So that glitch in your computer may be a spike or change in voltage when a load is applied, like firing up a hard drive. But todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s computer meaning is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something went wrong and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a clue what it is.â&#x20AC;? When your computer freezes from overheating, maybe there is a glitch in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;thingamabobâ&#x20AC;? causing the buggy output. So just shutdown and rebootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;strapn.
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Understanding computer jargon, from floppy disks to glitches
WILL CLAnEy
TECH TALK
Sometimes computer terms are whimsical and other times downright odd, making one wonder if they are leftover terms from yesteryear â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like â&#x20AC;&#x153;dialingâ&#x20AC;? a number. People start computers with a boot and end a session with a shutdown. Now shutdown I get, because it means â&#x20AC;&#x153;Turn off the lights; the party is over.â&#x20AC;? But we could have said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Turn off the computerâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Power off.â&#x20AC;? Shutdown brings images of a nuclear power plant. Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the floppy disk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a term you probably
havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard in a while. So named because the media (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get to that in a moment) was in the form of a flexible plastic disk. If you held a floppy in your hands and shook it, you could make it â&#x20AC;&#x153;flopâ&#x20AC;? around. Hence the name. Now about â&#x20AC;&#x153;media,â&#x20AC;? a term typically used in radio, TV, newspapers and such. In an attempt to define the storage of news, articles and eventually applications for playback or delayed distribution, computer designers thought about the printed word and called it media. It means any storage device. Commodore Grace Hopper used the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;bugâ&#x20AC;? in 1946, when the U.S. Navy was first exploring computers. Hopper, who had a Ph.D. in math, was in charge of evalu-
Turning 65 and living to tell about it
Ah, the joys of turning 65. Google â&#x20AC;&#x153;turning 65â&#x20AC;? and the first three hits tell you that you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yes you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are lucky to be able to sign up for (drum roll, please) Medicare. Of course, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s if you can understand the darn thing. It seems like a car salesman put together Medicare plans A, B, and yes folks, plans C and D. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re tricky and difficult to understand, with hidden surprises that may pop up and hit you on the head at any moment. On top of that, my mailbox is suddenly flooded by various insurance companies lauding their own Advantage plans as the best, while salesmen call to ask if they can come to my home to educate me. Add to that the groans that come with the simple task of bending over to pick up something, lost in a kind of limbo wondering how the heck youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get back up. Sixty-five used to be the big retirement age, but that changes yearly according to how much money the government says will be left to pay
out in Social Security. Forgive me, but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we just spend the last 40 years paying into a system so that we could have something to live on in our old age, only to be told that we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been depending on it at all? Talk about adding gray hairs to any 65-year-old head. Luckily for us, we are part of the Baby Boom generation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; known for never taking anything lying down. We are the generation where 50 is the new 40 and 60 is the new 50. We arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aging like our parents did, and our numbers in demographic terms have become the Gray Tsunami. We participate in extreme sports, travel and try new things. Men and woman are rocking gray hair, a hallmark of aging with new gusto, throwing those dye bottles as far away as their senior arms can sling them. Social media blogs are afloat with names like Silver Fox, Elder Chicks and Senior Planet as we navigate aging in our own unique way.
MAGGIE LEnnOn
SAVVY SENIOR
Of course, not all is easy going. As we hit this milestone, we begin to lose more of the ones we love. We become caregivers who sometimes need to be cared for, and our mortality can sneak up on us when we least expect it. Many times, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize that person in the mirror or who owns those double chins glaring back at us on Zoom. Yet if being a senior denotes some wisdom and grace, we may learn to accept this next stage of life with the same spirit as our generation did in our youth. Maggie Lennon is a writer and photographer who writes about navigating the aging process. Check out her blog, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sensational Sixties. An everywomanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide to getting older.â&#x20AC;? Contact her at maggielennon164@yahoo.com.
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.
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October 16, 2020
Starlight Players, Lesher Center offer Halloween treats
ter place. In early October, I had the pleasure of being a test audience member for Orinda Starlight Village Players new live murder mystery game â&#x20AC;&#x153;Halloween Haunts, Jaunts and Murder.â&#x20AC;? The interactive piece runs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through October. SALLy HOGARTy Audience members meet a STAGE STRUCK selection of suspects who had been attending a ball at Count Calduraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s castle when he was If the hype about the murdered. Following the upcoming election or cabin death, all the suspects are fever are getting to you, try locked in various rooms of tuning into one of the live, the castle and disembodied â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Zoom productions our clever visual. The floating indomitable theater communiheads give their alibis, and ty is producing. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find audience members have the yourself transported to a betopportunity to question them
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as well as solve a variety of riddles. I even got a few of them right. Solving a riddle results in more information from a particular suspect, often accompanied by striking visuals. The performers arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognizable until the curtain call, where clever backgrounds and disguises disappear and the actors emerge. It was a totally fun evening that challenged my brain and gave me a new outlook on my world. After all, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that the beauty of art? To reserve your spot in the free game (donations gratefully accepted), go to orsvp.org, email info@orsvp.org or call 925-528-9225. The Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek celebrated a very quiet 30th anniversary thanks to COVID-19. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to imagine itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been that long since the beautiful arts complex opened its doors on Oct. 4. Managing director Scott Denison promises a much bigger celebration once audiences are again allowed to enter the facility. In the meantime, the center will offer a special Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 24. Familyfriendly costumes are encour-
zations around the country in launching #ArtsAreMySuperpower. The nationwide letter writing effort uses these young voices to try to compel Congress to save the arts by supporting the DAWN Act (Defend Arts Workers Now) and to urge the U.S. government to pass a comprehensive arts relief package. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are asking children, young adults, families and classrooms to write letters to senators voicing support for the arts,â&#x20AC;? said BACT CEO and Lafayette resident Nina Meehan. To get involved, go to beanartshero.com. The deadline is nearing for local arts groups to apply for a grant through the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County. Thanks to an award from the National Endowment for the Photo Courtesy of the Lesher Center for the Arts Arts and the California Arts Walnut Creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lesher Center for the Arts plans a safe, fun Council, the commission is outdoor Halloween party in Rudney Plaza â&#x20AC;&#x201C; complete with Halloween treats, Monster Mash and decorated pumpkins. offering Local Arts and Cultural Organizations Grants (LACOG) to fund general aged for this safe alternative ster Mash party, with Haloperations and/or projectto traditional trick or treating. loween treats, special appearbased support to groups servA donation includes a pump- ances, and photo opportuniing communities of color disties with favorite villains and kin to take home for carving proportionately affected by princesses. Each family signs or a pumpkin painted by a COVID-19. The total fund is up for a 45-minute timeslot. guest artist. There will be a mini-Mon- All surfaces will be thoroughly $14,000, with each group cleaned and sanitized prior to allowed to request up to $5,000. each timeslot and face coverThe deadline for sending ings are required for all over in an application is 11:59 p.m. the age of 2. To secure your timeslot, go Oct. 19. The application is available by calling 510-255to lesherartscenter.1582, emailing showare.com/eventperforstaff@ac5.cccounty.u.s. or mances.asp?evt=1440. While the arts do so much going to ac5.org. for all of us, they also need Sally Hogarty is well known help. So many are struggling around the Bay Area as a newspato stay alive and still be per columnist, theatre critic and around when we can finally working actress. She is the editor of attend theater again. To that Photos by Malcolm Cowler the Orinda News. Send comments end, Bay Area Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John Chapin is Duncan Dreadlock and Kelly Hansen is Theatre (BACT) has joined a to sallyhogarty@gmail.com Medisa Oggorn in Orinda Starlight Village Players interaccoalition of youth arts organitive â&#x20AC;&#x153;Halloween Haunts, Jaunts and Murder.â&#x20AC;?
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October 16, 2020
Career changes canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop the artist within The Pioneer â&#x20AC;˘ www.pioneerpublishers.com
LISA FULMER
ARTS
IN
MOTION
As a child in the upper Midwest, John Nakanishi enjoyed the usual creative pursuits of fingerpainting and coloring. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My parents always encouraged me,â&#x20AC;? he recalls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mom used to draw cute character sketches, and my dad is still active as an oil painter.â&#x20AC;? The family moved to Connecticut when he was a teen. He went on to an arts college there to study filmmaking and
John nakanishi created â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fragile Driftâ&#x20AC;? as a recent art class assignment to use the compositional element of horizontal strata with a design contrast that shows opacity vs. transparency. This painting is for sale at madeinconcord.com.
ceramics. One summer, he enrolled in a welding apprentice
program to learn how to create metal sculpture.
Farmers eager to offer fall activities for families round and there are other sources for them to sell their products, so all is not lost. These small local farms are undeniably important to the economy and to local food systems. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we ask that you support these small farms and shop local farmers markets as much as you can. DEBRA MORRIS Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bright side to fall, FARMERS MARKET with farms offering offer pumpkin patches, hayrides, UFarmers who sell at farm- pick apples and corn mazes. ers markets have been quite Along with roadside farm resilient for the last six stands and CSA (Community months, despite the restricSupported Agriculture) subtions that the coronavirus scription boxes, many local pandemic has forced upon farms enjoy a fairly lucrative them. agribusiness this time of year But fall is here, winter is that can help sustain them until coming and many farmers spring. Even with COVID-19 markets are beginning to close restrictions, many farms will still for the season. Many farmers open for these fall activities. markets remain open yearBut the way we go about
â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of the program, I ended up leaving art school and spent 10 years as a welder, which eventually brought me to California to work in the shipyards,â&#x20AC;? he says. After getting married, he was able to go back to college. But instead of returning to art, he got a degree in chemical engineering. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the next 27 years, I was an engineer and research scientist for the chemical and semiconductor manufacturing industries. But even after changing my career path twice and taking time to raise children, I never completely stopped creating art.â&#x20AC;? Nakanishiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paintings are mostly impressionistic but often lean toward the abstract. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Recently, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been most inspired by imagery that relates to my Japanese heritage and also by nature,â&#x20AC;? he notes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m an avid runner, so whenever I go for a long run on a familiar
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trail, I relax into a comfortable zone where I become lost in my own thoughts, surrounded by natural beauty. I often find myself in a similar state when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m painting. We all know how endorphins provide a runnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high, but that same chemical is also produced when creating art.â&#x20AC;? Acrylics and inks are some of Nakanishiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite mediums, and he enjoys experimenting with different techniques. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope people enjoy the colors I choose and find my compositions pleasing to look at. Hopefully, they can get some of that same endorphin rush by observing my art as I got while creating it,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimately, though, the main reason I make art is simply because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m addicted to the process. I crave the act of creating art. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each step I take is a small glimpse into the final outcome. At a certain point, the piece magically comes alive and I
watch it evolve and metamorphose into what I had originally envisioned â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or at least, into something I like.â&#x20AC;? Nakanishi and his family have lived in Pleasant Hill since 1994. This month, he joined the Concord Art Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of directors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year, I joined several art associations in the Bay Area,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought CAA was unique with its intentional efforts to give back to the community. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a youth soccer coach for many years, so I especially appreciate how CAA gets involved in sharing art with children. CAA also provides many opportunities for artists to improve their skills and gain more exposure.â&#x20AC;? Learn more about his work at johnnakanishi.com.
Lisa Fulmer is a marketing consultant, published author and a community arts advocate.
As the weather changes, pumpkins will fill the stands at local farmers markets.
participating in these fall activities will undoubtedly change this year. A pumpkin patch or corn maze can be safe if you wear a mask and observe social distancing. Being outdoors can be safer than being indoors, too. Swank Family Farms in Hollister is famous for its fall activities, and they are going ahead with all of their usual
See Farmers, page B8
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Plant some trees– it’s Fall after all
The Pioneer • www.pioneerpublishers.com
Please ance Dist Social r Masks a & We
October 16, 2020
All Trees 20%
through October • Sales, repairs & supplies of all pool equipment • Extensive collections of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, roses & houseplants • Premium potting soils & conditioners, decorative bark & mulch • Garden Décor
nICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL
As we fall into autumn, it’s time to focus on our landscapes. October and early November are excellent times to install trees and foundation shrubs, reseed lawns and give acid-loving plants a dose of love before their spring displays. Trees and shrubs benefit from being installed this time of year because the ground is still warm enough to encourage root establishment. The cooler days mean less chances of transplant shock and, most importantly, we have less watering to do. Homeowners consider trees in a landscape to satisfy different needs. Some are installed purely for vertical interest, others to provide shade and many to bring privacy. Trees for vertical interest are referred to as ornamental trees. Crape myrtle, redbud and tulip magnolia trees are some of the easiest and most successful ornamental installations for our Clayton Valley climate. Crape myrtle trees have panicles of cone-shaped flowers in lavender, reds, pink and white. They are deciduous and boast a dramatic fall color display. Crape myrtles can grow 10-18 feet tall depending on the selection and 5-12 feet wide. Redbuds and tulip magnolia trees both bloom in the spring before the trees get leaves. When a tree blooms while naked, the display is remarkable. The redbud has tiny, two-lipped flowers of pink, purple or white that line this tree’s tiny stems. Redbuds are one of the earliest
CATAWBA CRAPE MYRTLE
blooming trees, so you know spring is on the horizon once the flowers appear. Redbuds like it on the dry side, so install within a lawn-less landscape or on a hillside for best growth. Tulip magnolias are best planted near lawn, because they do enjoy more water. Tulip magnolia trees have saucershaped flowers with varied colors. Buds are often dark rose or red and open to pale pink with cream tips. Trees planted to provide shade to sit under include the Keith Davy Chinese Pistache, October Glory Maple or Evergreen Elm Drake. These trees need room to mature. Resist the urge to plant along a fence and instead install in the center of the landscape. The Keith Davy Chinese Pistache and the October Glory Maple have spectacular fall leaf color. The weeping habit of the Evergreen Elm Drake makes this tree uber desirable without the root destruction of other weeping trees. Trees for privacy are the type to install along a fence line. The best consideration for this application is the Photinia Frasier tree, which is simply a bush on a stick. You will enjoy 12-15 feet of height and about 8 feet of width. Photinia Frasier trees are evergreens that are func-
Farmers, from page B7
events with a long list of safety measures. Check with your local farm to ensure they are open during the pandemic and are following safety guidelines, and then enjoy one of your favorite fall activities. Now in season: Brussels sprouts, grapes and dark leafy greens at J&M Farms out of Gilroy; winter squash from Bautista Ranch in Stockton; apples from Smit Farm near Linden; fall flowers from Sunrise; pears from Alhambra Valley Beef and Pears in Martinez; grapes from J&J Ramos out of Hughson; and pumpkins, Asian pears and vegetables from Swank Farm in Hollister. The farmers market is the place to shop for fresh-fromthe-farm produce in varieties you won’t find anywhere else. The Concord Farmers
Market has returned to Todos Santos Plaza every Tuesday, year-round, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Parking is available surrounding the market and in the parking structure on Salvio and Grant streets. Also, stop by the new pop-up Concord market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays at Concord High School.
CRISPY PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES 1-3 dashes cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and black pepper 1 1/3 c. all-purpose or whole-wheat pastry flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 11 T. butter at room temp 1 c. brown sugar ½ c. molasses 1 T fresh grated ginger 2/3 c. pumpkin purée
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tional for blocking that window of your neighbor’s. After a long, hot summer, it is time to rehab our lawn. Consider aerating and dethatching now. It makes sense to break into the tight soil to help introduce air, water and fertilizer deeper toward the lawn’s roots. It would be good to spread a thin layer of high-nitrogen soil conditioner throughout the lawn to provide nutrients naturally. If you need to overseed, now is the time. Apply lawn seed throughout the entire area and cover with a seed cover for best results. Preparation makes for a prettier landscape. Before we know it, our camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas will be blooming. This takes a lot of energy out of our plants, so we should prepare them for bloom now while the soil is warm and the roots are still able to soak up the nutrients. Give your winter and early spring bloomers a dose of 0-10-10 or 3-20-20. Use water-soluble if you water with drip and granular if you water by sprinkler or hand.
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com
1 large egg White sugar for dusting
Whisk together the dry ingredients. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add molasses, pumpkin and ginger and mix for two minutes. Add egg and mix for one more minute. Form two 1½ -inch thick logs. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate two hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice log into 1/3-inch slices and place on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with white sugar. Bake 8 minutes, then drop the temperature to 200. (The temp is turned down to avoid a cakelike cookie. The pumpkin purée makes the dough moister than regular cookies.) Bake for 10 minutes until crispy. Transfer to a cooling rack and serve.
off
Pool, Patio, Gifts & Gardens 6780 Marsh Creek Road, Clayton
672-0207
Hours: Tues-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4, Closed Monday
Family owned and operated since 1983
STEPHANIE LOPEZ 925.305.9099
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651 Mt. Olivet Court, Clayton
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596 Mt. Dell Drive, Clayton
4 bedroom / 2.5 bath in terrific location central to Clayton’s fantastic downtown, schools, restaurants, parks and more! Bright Living Room with soaring ceilings, formal dining room, open kitchen and family room combo with fireplace and access to rear yard. Stamped concrete patio with access to open space. SOLD – call for details
Impeccable Elegance - Dana Hills
Beautifully positioned against the majestic backdrop of breathtaking Mt. Diablo State Park, this stunning contemporary styled home features 4 bedrooms, 3 luxurious European spa-inspired baths, 2,739 sq. ft. of highly upgraded interiors with many timeless features, and an approx. .25 acre landscaped lot. SOLD – call for details
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