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September 10, 2004
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Erin Dobratz brings home the bronze U.S.A. Synchronized Swimming Team captures third place in Athens JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Photo courtesy of Newsport Photography
ERIN DOBRATZ, third from right, in the technical team routine in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Regency plans upscale facelift for shopping center Renovation is underway at Clayton Valley Shopping Center with the addition of new Ygnacio Valley Road entrance JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
While plans move forward to add Nob Hill Foods and Peets Coffee & Tea to the tenant roster at Clayton Valley Shopping Center, that plan "is in a state of jeopardy," says Tom Engberg, senior vice president
of investments for the center's developer, Regency Centers. According to Engberg, Regency currently has letters of intent from both Nob Hill Foods and Peets Coffee. The letter is only one step away from a signed lease. But the deals hinge on the demolition of three buildings and some of the ten-
ants are unhappy with the plans. The plan calls for demolition of the building occupied by Longs Drugs and the vacant space formerly occupied by Albertson's. The building in the center of the shopping center, which houses more than 15 businesses including Dollar Tree, would also be torn down, making way for more parking space to accommodate Nob Hill. The upscale grocer will occupy a new 59,000 square foot building (about the size of
After coming home empty handed from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the U.S. synchronized swimming team took third in the 2004 Games in Athens and earned a coveted bronze medal. Clayton's 21-year-old Erin Dobratz was one of nine girls on the U.S. team who competed against seven other teams including the top contenders from Russia and Japan to capture the bronze medal in the team event. Russia took first and Japan second. "People ask us about our scores but they should really ask how it felt. You can see when something is off even underwater. I didn't see anything off and it felt good," said Dobratz after her swim. Good enough for a score of
the Safeway store in Clayton Station) and Long's Drugs would lease space in a new 15,000 square foot storefront with a drive through pharmacy. The plan is in jeopardy because some of the current tenants are reluctant to accept Regency's offer to "buy-out" their leases. The tenants are looking at the situation as an "opportunity," says Engberg. One tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Regency's offer was not acceptable. "No one can sleep at night. They (Regency) will wind up with franchises and the mom and pop businesses will all be gone."
It's no news that Clayton is squirming under the heavy hand of the State, which has reached into city coffers and grabbed or "borrowed" some $3.86 million from property tax revenues since 1992. Nearly reduced to digging through the sofa cushions for loose change, the City is looking for money wherever it can find it.
Last year, the City Council engaged an outside auditing firm, Municipal Auditing Services (MAS), to look for "escaped" business license tax revenue from all possible sources. In a small town with precious little commercial activity, it's slim pickings. As provided in the City's Municipal Code (Section 5.04), anyone doing business in Clayton is required to have a business license. This includes
not only the visible storefronts and offices, but also those home based businesses operating out of a spare bedroom and anyone who delivers to or sells products on Clayton soil. Last week, MAS began sending out audit letters on City of Clayton letterhead to current business license holders notifying them that they had been "selected for a business license tax review." The letter, asking for financial statements, tax
Everyone wins at CCC Derby Day
See REGENCY, page 6
Business license tax audit raises ire TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
97.167.4 after the technical swim which placed them third. The team also took third in the free routine the next day. The U.S. duet team of Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova also captured the bronze medal. In the technical event, the U.S. team performed to a marching band medley from the movie “Drumline.” According to their coach Chris Carver, it was a very difficult program and the "fastest one out there." The technical routine had to include eight required elements, including the rocket split, 180-degree spin, in which the swimmers split their legs in the air while spinning underwater. For their free routine, the U.S. team chose music from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Several minutes in the water for each routine and then it was over. And was it all worth it? "It has been amazing to meet the athletes from all the other sports who have the same goals and dreams as I do. It is unbelievable," Dobratz said. Congratulations Erin, We are very proud of you.
records and vendor lists raised the blood pressure of more than a few local proprietors. Rory Vander Heyden has his Intelligent Investing office in the Village Oaks Building and describes the audit letter from MAS as "very intimidating." He takes serious exception to the request for tax records. "It's none of their business what my wife makes. Besides," continued
See AUDIT, page 6
SOAP
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
BOX DRIVERS
Kevin York and Justin Rogers, both 8.
JILL BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Spanky and the Little Rascals gang would have had a field day in downtown Clayton last Saturday. The first-ever Great Labor Day Derby brought derby cars, kids, families and sponsors to Main Street to race and have fun. “Everyone is a winner,” said Clayton Community Church Pastor Shawn Robinson, spon-
sor of the event. There were about 75 participants ranging in age from 7 to 17 and over 30 cars of all colors, shapes and sizes. There were kit cars bearing the names of their sponsor’s, some with handpainted, flashy designs. There were also the Outlaw cars, made from scratch by the creative types who wanted to dream up and build their own car. The Wraa family
See DERBY, page 17
Local principals look ahead to the new school year
Linda Schuler Mt. Diablo Elementary Welcome to the 2004-05 school year. We look forward to another wonderful year of
learning, friendships, collaboration and involvement from the Mt. Diablo Elementary School community. August was filled with preparations for the students' return. A big thank you to our custodial team, Bob Biles, Hoonam Lee and Robin Robinson, for getting the rooms ready and supplies delivered to classrooms. This team was ready at every interval to assist and support teachers and parent volunteers. Thank you to our very talented and dedicated teachers who have been putting classrooms in order, preparing units
See SCHULER, page 5
Michele Cooper Diablo View Middle Summer is officially over, but we now have the excitement of a new school year
ahead! One of the good things about education is that we get a "fresh start" each year. Every school year we ALL get an opportunity to put into practice those valuable skills learned the year before. I believe this is what they call "learning from the past" and what an important life lesson it is! The staff at Diablo View Middle School is constantly using our past experiences to improve instructional and cultural practices. We have been examining and revising our five main goals that support our
See COOPER, page 5
uling almost 2,000 students and adjusting the master schedule to include a few new teachers to cover newly created classes. We have nearly 100 students beyond our projected enrollment already scheduled with more walking in to register each day.
John Neary Clayton Valley High As we begin the 2004-05 school year at Clayton Valley High School, we are busy sched-
13 NEW CLASSROOMS Beginning in the summer of 2004, there has been a tremendous amount of construction on or adjacent to the campus. Thirteen new prototypical classrooms have been completed, replacing the 40+-year-old
See NEARY, page 5