August 2020 Community Focus by Community Focus

SMALL TALK WITH TERI independent & locally owned by Teri Norbye PUBLISHERS: Becky Coburn Jennifer Neys Elena Hutslar info@ourcommunityfocus.com ADVERTISING: Community Focus info@ourcommunityfocus.com COPY EDITOR: Alison Clary GRAPHIC DESIGN: Trish Heaney

SPORTS: Sport Story Submissions info@ourcommunityfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION: Community Calendar calendar@ourcommunityfocus.com Content & General Inquiries: info@ourcommunityfocus.com SUBMISSION DEADLINES: All articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month. ONLINE: www.ourcommunityfocus.com

MISSION STATEMENT The Community Focus is a free, independent, monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community.

COVER:

INSIDE

3, 46 &

Expansion of Time

16 Drive-In Concert

Real Estate

13 MDUSD News

19 Trinity Center

..............................................

6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

Celebrating 11 years of publishing the Community Focus.

925-335-6397

..............................................

2013

2014

2015

Best Insurance Agent

2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016/2017

2 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Meet Mayor Matt Rinn, who lives in Pleasant Hill with his wife, Ashley, and their two daughters. In 2008, he opened his State Farm Insurance Agency in Pleasant Hill. Matt is very active in the community. He was elected to the Pleasant Hill City Council in 2016 and selected to serve as mayor for 2020. On being the mayor during a pandemic: It’s a tough job this year, starting with the Shelter-in-Place order, and thendealing with businesses and helping them stay afloat, keeping everybody safe, and supporting the frontline workers, among many other things. As the mayor you want to give people answers to questions like “When will this end?” but you can’t because nobody knows. More about Matt: 1. I grew up in Orange County and spent a lot of time at the beach. My perfect day would be a day at the beach with my family. It’s very calming; I can unplug from everything, and it brings back a lot of childhood memories. 2. I’m a big French dip sandwich fan. I’m always on an endless quest for a good French dip! 3. I worked for In-N-Out Burger for 16 years, so I’m a big hit at barbecues (pre Covid-19). I’d always have to cook the burgers.

A New Market

Speed Selling and Today’s Buyers BY NORMA FLASKERUD COVID-19 is changing the home buying process. Visitor numbers are down significantly as open houses are indefinitely banned. In keeping with local showing rules, before visiting in person, buyers must sign COVID-19 related disclosures, and adhere to specific time frames. Because of the restrictions, buyers are using online pictures, even 3D tours to dramatically shortlist the homes they will visit. It’s a win-win for buyers and sellers. Buyers can spend more time sitting on their sofas viewing homes, and sellers endure less risk of COVID-19 exposure. Sellers Prepare For Speed Dating The best analogy for understanding what’s happening in real estate is online dating. Prospective partners have very little time — mere seconds in fact — to make a good impression. Translated to homes, a seller has approximately seven seconds to make a positive impression before a consumer moves on. With today’s showing limitations, buyers will not visit a home unless they like what they see in those first seven to ten seconds online. The new reality? If you only get seven seconds, learn how to make those seconds count. Today’s Buyers A high percentage of today’s buyers do not want fixer-uppers. Most millennials have no idea how to improve a home and are willing to pay a premium for move-in-ready digs. Current buyers spend a lot of time viewing HGTV and as a result, their tastes have been refined. A significant percentage of buyers are looking for turn-key homes with upscale amenities. We tell our sellers that when their homes go on the market, they are not competing with other listings in their neighborhood — they are competing with HGTV.

There is also a growing sense of “entitlement” in today’s homeowner wannabes. Many believe they “deserve” a home with upscale features and are not willing to live in a home that does not have the level of amenities they believe is essential to their lifestyle. Preparing sellers for current buyers’ trends 1.Educate Classic seller arguments include, “We want the buyers to upgrade the home the way they want to,” or “If we replace the carpet, the buyer may not like it and we will have wasted our money.” These arguments are effectively dead since most of today’s buyers do not want to fix up homes. When sellers ask why they should spend money to upgrade when a buyer might change things once they move in, the response is, “If you can spend $1,000 to make $2,000-$3,000, does it matter what buyers do when they move in?” Sellers must understand that buyers are looking for homes that meet their criteria, not the seller’s. Homes that resonate with current buyers’ tastes will reap significant rewards, while homes that do not will languish on the market, selling for less than they could have. Factoring in a scarcity of contractors and the headache of completing a remodel, buyers are willing to pay a premium for a recently updated home. 2. Maximize Buyers want updated kitchens and baths with solid-surface counters, contemporary tile, upscale laminate floors, and more. Today’s time-stressed buyers do not have the time, energy or even the know-how to fix up a home. Most will gladly pay a premium for gorgeous, move-in-ready properties. 3. Stage Given that you have seven to ten seconds to make an impression, staging is essential. it’s all about staging for the the online pictures. 4. Showcase

Listings should include 30 to 40 professional high-quality photos optimized for mobile devices, virtual tours and more. 5. Prioritize Pick photos that display the best features first. Start with a great shot of the outside then show key areas such as the bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry room and include lots of yard shots. If they like what they see, they will follow up with a visit in person. We have a team of contractors who can provide you with recommendations for flooring, paint choices and staging to guide you along seamlessly! Call the Flaskerud Team: (or text) 925-766-6679 Norma, 925-381-7276 Erik, Re/Max Accord DRE#00867031 NormaJ49@gmail.com SPONSORED CONTENT

CARPET • HARDWOOD CUSTOM RUGS LINOLEUM • TILE Family Owned Business Since 1989 3344 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA

925.284.4440

www.LamorindaFloors.com License# 708486

COMING SOON:

5 Wildwood Place, Pleasant Hill $1,225,000 280 Fairway Dr., Danville $1,600,000 125 Collins Ct., Pleasant Hill $899,000

JUST SOLD:

120 Collins Ct., Pleasant Hill $950,000 140 Collins Ct., Pleasant Hill $850,000 1796 Ardith Dr., Pleasant Hill $740,000

CURRENT LISTINGS FOR SALE: 1958 Pleasant Hill Rd., Pleasant Hill $720,000 258 Jennifer Way, Pleasant Hill $865,000

It is a strong seller’s market; call now for your market analysis!

925.766.6679 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 3

As Russ Sees It Are You Talking to Me? BY RUSSELL CARROLL When I first read the guidelines for Shelter in Place, I thought, wow, I’ve been doing this for years! You see, when you’re broke and live alone, which I’ve been doing for about seven years now, it all sounds, looks, and feels like Shelter in Place. At some point, the feeling of isolation started to become real and then… things got weird. I started to talk to myself. Now, I don’t mean thinking, oh boy, am I hungry, as I pull a single steak off my George Foreman Solo Grill. No, I’m talking about: ‘So, how do you want your steak cooked?’ and answering, ‘Medium rare.’ ‘Well, I’ll do my best, but you know I always over cook your steak.’ Yep, I have full-on conversations. When I walk into the living room to find

the front door left open, I will say, just a little too sternly, ‘Who left the door open?’ Then I slam it shut for all to hear. All to hear? I live alone! Nearly every night, I help myself pick out a TV program. Often, during the program we picked out, I’ll run the idea by myself of getting a big bowl of popcorn or perhaps some ice cream. The practical guy I live with says, ‘I thought you were going to give that crap up.’ So, I start to negotiate. ‘How about a small bowl and then I’ll have none tomorrow night?’ ‘Sure,’ I reply, knowing that tomorrow night I can talk myself into another small bowl. ‘Hey, do I have a Dr. appointment tomorrow,’ I ask. ‘I don’t know. Why don’t you write this stuff down on the calendar? How many times have I told you, write it on the calendar!’ I walk around my little place talking to myself like a Mafia Don trying to stay out of prison. ‘If I’ve

said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: who left the toilet seat up?’ Things can get a little tense when I go for that last popsicle and find it gone. ‘Who ate my popsicle?’ I cry. ‘Not me.’ ‘Well, I know there was one left because I remember saving it for tonight. I hid it behind that half gallon of ice cream you had to have and now my popsicle is gone.’ In my just-a-bit-bored voice I reply, ‘I did not touch your stupid popsicle. How old are you anyway?’ I hate it when I get like that. Most of the interaction I have with myself is mundane, your basic banter, probably remarkably like what you have at home with your significant other. However, things can get sketchy when you are your own significant other. I threatened to move out once. You know, the classic, ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ approach. It escalated quickly and I said some things I regret. I let my emotions get the best of

me. But I have that ability to push all my buttons. I tried to talk myself through it but I wouldn’t listen. I tried to apologize but I would have none of it. Frustrated, I thought it best just to sleep on the couch. Living with me is not all that bad. It probably depends on who you ask. If you ask me, it is all good! That’s because I get me. I am the Yin to my Yang, my soulmate. Although I have spent time with others, I always come back to me. One thing is for sure, I’m grateful we like the same sports teams, otherwise things could get ugly around here. But…that’s just how I see it. To my friends, the publishers of the Community Focus, congratulations on the 11-year anniversary of your first edition. Thank you for all you have done for our community. Russ Carroll can be reached at russcarrollemail@gmail.com.

Backyard Apartments How ADUs Can Provide Additional Income A nationwide boom in accessory dwelling units (ADUs)— also known as garage apartments, casitas, granny flats, carriage houses or in-law suites — has turned many American homeowners into developers and landlords. A study released July 2020 by mortgage giant Freddie Mac says there are at least 1.4 million accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in the United States. Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, says the trend is especially strong in pricey metro areas. For homeowners struggling to afford ever-appreciating homes, rental income from ADUs helps pay the mortgage. In cities with little new construction, granny flats add much-needed housing stock, one backyard apartment at a time. “Clearly we’ve got a supply problem that’s not going to be fixed anytime soon,” Khater says. “ADUs can be a small part of the solution.” 4 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

One of the most appealing things about an ADU is the income potential. Some people build an ADU with the intention of renting it out to others, while others consider building an ADU to live in themselves while renting out their main house as a way to both downsize and provide a steady source of income. ADUs offer a very appealing option for many renters. Think newlyweds, single professionals, or even empty nesters as prime renter candidates. Homeowners who rent out their ADU, whether longterm or to short-term vacationers, add an income stream to cover some or all of their housing costs. It’s a strategy known as House Hacking — finding a way to reduce/eliminate your housing costs by having someone else pay them. ADUs are great for aging parents. “People are looking for alternatives to assisted living,” says Kol Peterson, author of “Backdoor Revolution,” a book about

ADUs. Assisted living facilities can be more expensive than an ADU alternative without the benefit of being in a family environment. Additionally, the coronavirus contagion has spurred investment in housing, and the pandemic has only increased interest in ADUs, real estate

experts say. COVID-19’s fatal spread in nursing homes means some homeowners would rather keep older relatives at home. To learn more about the benefits of adding an ADU to your property, contact ADU 4 You at Sales@ADU4You.com.

Accessory Dwelling Units Offer Affordable Housing For

RENTERS & FAMILY

Utilizing Your Own Backyard

ADU4You Built-In Features Premium Appliances Granite / Quartz Surfaces Energy Star Compliance Flooring & Lighting Smart Thermostat Kitchen & Bath Fixtures

Delivered Move-In Ready Contact us for a free financial analysis!

Factory Built with Traditional Building Materials

ADU4YOU.COM 925.979.5516 SALES@ADU4YOU.COM

Specializing in Central Contra Costa County

Real Estate Advice

The Advantages of Professional Property Management BY PETE SABINE Being a landlord requires effort and dedication. If you live far away from your rental property or have other personal commitments, hiring a property management company is a good option. Some of the benefits of hiring professional property management services include: Finding High Quality Tenants The biggest challenge for most landlords is to find responsible tenants for their rental homes. This ensures timely payment of rent, proper maintenance of the home and fewer problems during the tenancy period. Professional property managers have defined criteria for screening applicants and selecting the most suitable occupant for your property. Experience in scrutinizing thousands of rental applications will extract the facts and identify warning signs. In-depth research about the tenant’s background, employment, rental records, income, criminal history, and previous rental experiences ensures that you are renting your property to the

best qualified tenant. Effective Property Advertising A property manager uses the most effective resources to market your property to a large pool of prospective tenants. Posting high quality photos and virtual tours of the home will help to set your property apart from the competition. Property managers will offer effective staging tips and evaluate the condition of your home to recommend improvements that will increase its appeal and rental value. Strict Rent Collection Process Collecting timely rent every month is important to ensure a consistent cash flow. When you work with a property management company, you can be assured they will collect the rent on time and deposit it into your bank account. They demand that tenants follow the lease terms and pay the rent by the due date. In case of delays, they know the proper and legal ways to deal with the situation. Property Maintenance and Repairs Performing maintenance and repair tasks on time not only ensures a comfort-

Are you considering renting your home or buying rental property?

Top 10 Benefits of Professional Property Management 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Determine competitive market rental value Effective large-scale marketing campaigns Finding high quality prospective tenants Scheduling and management of property viewings Higher tenant retention and lower vacancy losses Systematic rent collection ensures consistent cash flow Property maintenance and repairs Mitigation of legal issues through effective risk management Accounting to maximize your after-tax investment income Hassle-free property ownership experience

Owning investment property can be rewarding and lucrative if managed properly. Contact us to find out how we can help you build wealth through income real estate ownership.

Pete Sabine 925.297.5335 DRE #00889760

6 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Leslie Whitney 510.388.5794 DRE #01950037

able stay for the tenants, but also retains the value of your investment property. By hiring professional property management services, you are able to outsource the task to licensed and qualified contractors. The property manager will conduct regular inspections of the rental home to identify and repair any potential issues before they pose larger and more costly problems. Better Tenant Retention Property managers act as a point of contact between the landlord and tenants. When maintenance issues are addressed promptly, tenants are less likely to look for another place to live. This, in turn, will lead to shorter vacancy cycles for your rental home. You will also be saved the effort of finding and screening new tenants, mar-

keting, arranging visits, re-painting the home etc. Legal Issues A property manager has in-depth knowledge of the tenant-landlord laws and ensures that the process is carried out in a legal manner, saving you from exposure to costly litigation. Contact us to discuss your options for property management of your rental property. We are affiliated with a local professional property management company and we can relieve you of the burden and hassle of managing your income investment properties. Call or text 925.297.5335. Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney. Compass #01866771 SPONSORED CONTENT

Medicare Fraud Stay Alert!

BY COLLEEN CALLAHAN Prior to the Medicare Prescription Drug annual enrollment period each year, agents are required to complete training. Part of the training addresses Medicare Fraud. Can you guess what I am doing now? If you navigate to the Medicare website you will see a section called “Help fight Medicare Fraud.” There is even a warning to be especially careful and on the lookout for con artists now because of COVID-19. Those over 65 are favorite targets for all sorts of nasty cybercriminals. They offer to help you detect holes in your computer security and then steal from you. They make attempts on your bank account by changing addresses. They can take over your cellphones or email and use your frequent flyer points, all in the blink of an eye. Bad guys may try to get your Medicare Number or personal information so they can steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud. Ultimately that causes higher

health care costs and taxes for everyone. Not to mention a great deal of stress for the unfortunate victim. Remember to be diligent, protect yourself. Guard your Medicare card. A few important reminders: Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare Number or other personal information unless you have given them permission in advance. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything. You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them a Medicare Number. Do not do it. Medicare will never visit you at your home. Check regularly for Medicare billing fraud. Review your Medicare claims and Medicare Summary Notices for any services billed to your Medicare Number that you do not recognize. Report anything suspicious to Medicare. If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE. Please call us with any questions. We are here to help. Colleen Callahan, CLU, CASL, LUTCF. Colleen Callahan Insurance Services is located in Pleasant Hill. Contact her 925.363.5433 or ccallahan@callahaninsurance.com. SPONSORED CONTENT

11th Anniversary Reflecting on Then and Now

BY ELENA HUTSLAR As we put together the 11- year anniversary issue, I reflect on what inspired us to create a monthly community newspaper more than a decade ago. It was 2009 and we had endured the Great Recession - the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble and the global financial crisis. We knew people who lost their jobs or lost their homes. Some friends and neighbors were forced to start over and find new careers and places to live. Despite the doom and gloom of the state of our country’s affairs in the media, we saw the resiliency of our community and were inspired to highlight the many organizations, individuals, and businesses that supported each other.

2020 has hurled us into uncharted waters with unimaginable challenges, and we find ourselves in a situation of doom and gloom again. The negative stories continue to dominate our media sources and it’s a struggle to avoid them. But we all know of stories taking place in our community of support and resiliency yet again. We just have to work to hear and see them. As COVID struck and Shelter in Place was enacted, we saw inspirational messages and illustrations in chalk throughout the community. Citizens made masks for friends, neighbors, and strangers. Meals were purchased for essential workers. Members of the community were anxious to support local

restaurants that were forced to close their dining rooms but stood in line for take out instead. Our local musicians performed on Facebook Live to lift our spirits. People created GoFundMe sites to raise money for business owners. Our police and fire departments granted birthday parade wishes. Everyone has suffered from the pandemic in different ways and levels of severity, but the community has demonstrated its compassion by supporting others as best they can. We have watched the sad and emotional stories unfold in the media on social injustices. But collectively, our community has demonstrated its support for one another through parades,

Home Detailers Housekeeping Let the work speak for itself!

Deep Cleaning - Everytime • Dust Door Frames / Baseboards • Clean Fireplace • Complete Dusting Rotate Couch & Chair Cushions • Move Furniture • Hardwood Floors • Vacuum Furniture (Spot) Wash Walls • Oil Wood (Kitchen Cabinets, Baseboards, etc.)

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE - 925-689-9823

marches for justice, and compassion to officers with messages and meals. Sadly, the negative few garner more media attention than the collective good. The Community Focus looks forward to a future when we can promote local community events in the Make Some Plans Calendar, highlight our school athletes, and list live music venues, but until then, we will focus on the vibrancy of our local businesses, residents, and community organizations. We are beyond grateful to our writers, advertisers, and readers, and we cherish Trish Heaney and Alison Clary for their dedication to the paper. We are proud and honored to focus on the strengths of our community.

CLEANING SPECIAL

$50 OFF On First Detailed Cleaning For New Clients Only SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! BONDED

EXPIRES 8/31/20 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 7

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message Join us online for Community Conversations on Social Justice August 12 and 26 What does social justice mean in Pleasant Hill? How can we ensure a fair and welcoming community for everyone? These are questions that have been on my mind. Thanks to a collaboration of our Civic Action Commission’s Diversity Committee and the Pleasant Hill Police, I’ve had the opportunity to explore these questions with a number of community members. In June, we held our first Virtual Town Hall meeting, moderated by Diversity Committee chair Lloyd Schine. The public was invited to submit questions in advance or during the Town Hall, which took place on Zoom. Police Chief Bryan Hill and I appreciated the thoughtful questions, most of which related to policing policies.

In July, we launched a three-part “Community Conversations on Social Justice,” again on Zoom, and invited the entire community to participate. While the first session has passed, there are two this month. Join us! Each session has a panel with a different focus – all are facilitated by the Civic Action Commission’s Diversity Committee and will include Police Chief Hill and members of the City Council, along with community members and subject matter experts. The first session, “Social Justice and our Community,” took place on July 22 after this column went to the printer. Panelists included mental health and homeless advocates, City Manager June Catalano, Police Chief Bryan Hill, Police Sergeant Jamalya Pierson, and myself. On August 12, we will be talking about

Matt Rinn, Mayor of Pleasant Hill

the role the Faith Community can play in ensuring social justice. On August 26, the focus will be on social justice and youth. School Resources Officer Brett Botello will be on the panel, along with Chief Hill, two City Council members, and students from College Park and Diablo Valley College. Both sessions start at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and will also be streamed on YouTube. Register at www.pleasanthillca.org/ diversity About the Civic Action Commission Diversity Committee The all-volunteer Diversity Committee is part of Pleasant Hill’s Civic Action Commission, which is best known for putting on the Sunset by the Lake summer concert series and Community Service Day. The Diversity Committee was formed a few years ago at the request of City Council members. One of the committee goals is to bring events to Pleasant Hill that showcase different cultures, such as the self-described “Latin music adventure” band Los Gueros Guapos, and ukulele player David Bustmante of Da Island Way, who performed opening acts during the 2019 concert series.

This year, the Committee introduced a new logo with the tagline “One Community, Many Voices” and created a webpage – pleasanthillca.org/diversity. In addition to hosting videos from the Town Hall and Community Conversations, the webpage is home to news about special events, videos of community members sharing their experiences and perspectives, and links to City Council proclamations recognizing dates of cultural significance, such as Juneteenth and Pride Month. The Diversity Committee is a frequent contributor to the Civic Action Commission’s Facebook group as well. Check it out! If you are interested in connecting with the Diversity Committee, email diversity@pleasanthillca.org. Thank you, everyone, for being part of making Pleasant Hill the best community it can be. Take care.

I’m focused on two things:

1) Your home 2) Our schools I’m a neighbor, former teacher, and Realtor serving Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Walnut Creek & Lamorinda. Angie Evans Traxinger 925.305.8677 www.angieandjoan.com angie@angietraxinger.com CalBRE #01828901 8 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News Upcoming City Elections On November 3, Pleasant Hill voters will elect three city councilmembers and one city treasurer. The nomination period began on July 13 and will end at 1pm on Friday, August 7 if the three incumbents qualify, and August 12 if any of the three do not qualify. The incumbents, Kenneth Carlson, Timothy Flaherty, and Matthew Rinn have all pulled papers for the City Council. City Treasurer Mark Celio is also running for re-election and has pulled papers with the City. Nomination papers can be obtained from the city clerk’s office during the nomination period. Due to the changing health orders regarding COVID-19, candidates are asked to make an appointment during the nomination period to pull papers. Candidates must be registered voters of Pleasant Hill at the time the nomination papers are issued. To make an appointment, or for more information, contact Deputy City Clerk Danielle Habr at (925) 671-5221 or dhabr@pleasanthillca.org.

Two More Community Conversations on Social Justice What does social justice mean in Pleasant Hill? How do we ensure a fair and welcoming community for all? Participants in the Community Conversations will be able to submit questions and suggestions through the Zoom webinar platform. Wednesday, August 12 at 6:30pm: “Social Justice and the Role of the Faith Community” - Panelists include members of the Pleasant Hill City Council; members of the faith community; and Police Chief Bryan Hill. Wednesday, August 26 at 6:30pm: “Social Justice and Youth” - Panelists include students from College Park High School and Diablo Valley College; Police Chief Bryan Hill; School Resources Officer Brett Botello; and members of City Council. “We appreciated the participation and great questions at the recent Town Hall that focused on our policing policies,” said Police Chief Bryan Hill. “We are looking forward to continuing our conversations with our community. Hearing directly from community members is vital. I see these conversations as a chance to listen to what people are experiencing, and to form new and lasting partnerships for a stronger future.” To register, go to pleasanthillca.org/diversity. For additional information, call Community Relations Manager Gayle Vassar, 925-671-5229.

Temporary Library Open

mation about this service, visit: https://ccclib.org/front-door-service/.

2020 Tinkers & Thinkers on Zoom Patrick Remer and the library staff are gearing up for an online Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire scheduled for Saturday, September 12. The website will be updated for 2020 soon at www.phtinkersandthinkers.com. Families can register to pick up a mystery kit at the library to unbox and build from home alongside hundreds of other kids through Zoom. “We are crafting a lineup of presenters and projects for makers of all ages”, said Remer. The Tinkers & Thinkers Innovation Faire is a not-to-miss experience for those inquisitive minds with curiosity about all things science, technology, engineering and mathematics (S.T.E.M.).

Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library Retail Store The Book Store at 35 Crescent Drive Coming soon, the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library will open their new retail store in Downtown Pleasant Hill. The Book Store will be open from 11am to 5pm, 7 days a week. The large retail space will allow the organization to display their wide-ranging inventory, with proceeds going towards books, programs, resources and services for the new Pleasant Hill Library. Operations of the Book Store will be in keeping with the County health regulations for COVID-19. An online inventory system has been developed to allow customers to shop online and order books for contactless curbside pickup at the bookstore during store hours. Mail or delivery to local residents is also an option. To shop online, visit www.phlibraryfriends.org. Ready to purge some books, movies, music, or games? The Friends are scheduling donation pickups! Email info@phlibraryfriends.org to make an appointment.

Economic Development Helps Small Businesses The Economic Development Committee has created a plan on how the city can support local businesses that are hurting due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The committee is looking at a gift card program, micro grants for the rental or purchase of outdoor furniture for restaurants, as well as micro grants to provide some small business funding for marketing and advertising. “The committee approved a plan and reauthorized the allocation of some existing economic development money in our budget to the tune of about $34,000, so that amount combined with our existing budget in grant funding will provide $64,000 in total seed funding for programs,” said Councilmember Ken Carlson, who is on the Economic Development Committee. The Budget Committee will need to approve the reallocation of the economic development funds to the grant funding.

On July 14, the temporary Pleasant Hill library opened its doors in the Community Rooms at City Hall. The library is open Tuesday through Saturday for Front Door Service, a safe contactless way to pick up materials. Patrick Remer, head librarian said, “The touchless service is very smooth, plus we have adorable turtles! If cardholders make an appointment on ccclib.org, they can also choose a “grab bag” of staff picks. We’re all delighted to see our readers again. It’s all smiles underneath the mask!” Patrons can place holds on library materials (using the library catalog) and after receiving confirmation the holds have arrived, patrons can make appointments for pick-up. Once at the library, the patron should call or text the number on the sign at the front of the library. Staff will confirm library card number and collect items. Materials will be be in a bag labeled with patron’s name on a table at the front door. Any Contra Costa County library is open for front door service. All items will go into a 3-day quarantine prior to being processed. For more inforOURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 9

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message This year is turning out to be a challenging year for all of us. The pandemic has changed every one of our lives in a way that I never thought was possible. It has made me aware of how I took so many things for granted. We just need to continue to practice social distancing, wear a face covering when outside your home, and to wash your hands frequently. Those that do not are causing the pandemic to surge again. Last month Martinez became international news with respect to the Black Lives Matter movement. Local activists held rallies and protests and then a white supremacy hate flyer was found downtown near the jail. The local organization asked for permission to paint a temporary mural on Court Street as a response to the hate flyer and permission was granted. The mural was painted by volunteers, and then vandalized not long after the paint was dry.

In these days of mobile devices and social media, the video of the incident went viral and was aired on almost every news outlet in the Unites States and Europe. After a week of newspaper headlines, radio interviews and television coverage, another rally was planned for July 12. The city did not issue a permit for this rally and asked the organizers to cancel or postpone the march due to the high degree of emotions and the possibility of those with less than altruistic intentions of descending on Martinez to cause trouble. The organizers refused so Chief Sappal decided to work with the organizers to make the event as safe as possible for the participants, businesses and residents. Over a thousand people participated in the protest and rally. Other than a few skirmishes, everything was peaceful. Thanks to Chief Sappal, his command staff, every member of the MPD,

Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

and to all of the other agencies that came to Martinez to secure the peace and to respond if there was any trouble. If you drive down Escobar Street near the Contra Costa Community College District office, you will see a big change. The building where the Family Kitchen operated for many years is gone. The city bought that building with the intent of demolishing it to provide more parking at lot 4. The long-term vision is either a multistory parking lot or a mixed-use building with parking. In an effort to beautify and reduce the amount of trash that gets pulled out of the garbage cans downtown, the city is entering into a pilot project to secure three Big Belly receptacle pairs. Big Belly receptacles are like a high-tech mailbox with one receptacle for trash and the other for recyclables. They are equipped with a compactor that

is powered by a solar panel that allows for more capacity of material. They improve sanitation and almost a total reduction of litter around containers. Once waste is placed into the container through the container door, the public cannot access it. The outdoor dining program continues to be successful and popular as Martinez residents and visitors are enjoying the European-style outdoor dining experience while restaurant owners are able to utilize the extra space adjacent to or in front of their businesses. One challenge of the program is that some customers are not following state and county social distancing and facemask guidelines. To address this issue the city sent emails to business owners reminding them of their responsibility to help ensure that they and their customers adhere to public health guidelines and requirements.

THE LAW OFFICE OF

DANIEL L. DUREE Estate Planning Attorney

ARCHITECTURAL MOULDINGS

925.210.1400

Please call today for a complimentary consultation at my office or in your home.

1535 North Main Street, Suite 240 • Walnut Creek

www.DuReeLaw.com

TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE I’m not in trouble anymore!

I called Hire My Husband to take care of our “Honey Do List”!

Hire My Husband

Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner 7 years! Community Focus Readers’ Local Favorite 4 years!

• Interior Painting • Quality Home Repair Projects

925.798.7525 themouldingcompany.com 5117 COMMERCIAL CIRCLE, CONCORD, CA 94520 10 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

• Handyman Services Contractor Lic. # 943231

www.HireMyHusband.com

925-969-0133

CITY NEWS

Martinez City News November Elections A General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Martinez on Tuesday, November 3, for the following offices: Councilmember, District 2 - one seat; Councilmember, District 3 - one seat; City Clerk - one seat and City Treasurer - one seat. All offices have four-year terms. The City Clerk position is currently held by Richard G. Hernandez. The City Treasurer is currently held by Carolyn L. Robinson. Vice Mayor Mark Ross, who represents District 2, and Councilmember Noralea Gipner, who represents District 3, have pulled papers for reelection. Councilmember Gipner said, “Throughout my first term on the council, I’ve made it my number one priority to be open, accessible and transparent to the people of Martinez. Now, I hope to earn a second term so that I can continue the work we have begun: addressing homelessness, supporting small businesses and building a stronger, more cohesive Martinez community.” The nomination period for these offices began on July 13, and closes at 5pm on August 7. A nominee must be a registered voter residing within the respective district for councilmember seats or within the city for City Clerk and City Treasurer.

Temporary Dog Park Extended At the July 1 city council meeting, council voted to extend the designation of the Temporary Dog Park for an additional period of up to three years, from July 14, 2020 to July 14, 2023, subject to approval of the State Lands Commission. The Commission also expressed an interest in exploring whether repurposing a portion of Hidden Valley Park as a dog park would be a viable option. In 2017, the City’s Public Works staff transformed a portion of the amphitheater facility to accommodate a temporary dog park. It opened to the public on July 14, 2017, resulting in the three-year period authorized by Council resolution expiring on July 14, 2020. This space near the marina has become a communal spot for dog owners in the area and is enjoyed by many dog-loving enthusiasts. A temporary dog park has proven to be a popular amenity, with documented usage throughout the year, and minimal maintenance expensees and operational oversight.

PRMCC New Appointment and Reappointments On July 1 the city council adopted a resolution approving the following new appointment and reappointments to the Parks, Recreation, Marina, and Cultural Commission (PRMCC) with 4-year terms, effective from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024. The scheduled departure of Richard Patchin and Adrienne Ursino has left regular vacancies to be filled. The Commission welcomes new appointment Jeff Manley and incumbent reappointments: Chair Dylan Radke, Vice Chair Karen Bell-Patten, Brian Eychner; Satinder Malhi, and Robert Parolek. The PRMCC is made up of 9 members and 1 alternated appointed by the mayor to serve a four-year term that may be renewed.

MEF Goes Virtual Virtual Run is Sunday, September 27 The Martinez Education Foundation Run for Education is planned for September 27. This is the signature fundraiser for MEF and this year the Run will be virtual. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome to create their own race, set their own pace, and may chose the 5k or 10k option. All the proceeds from entry fees and sponsorships, go to the Martinez Unified School District schools in the form of grants from MEF. Last year’s Run for Education brought in $92,000 for the Martinez Education Foundation while drawing 760 runners and walkers who competed in the 5k or 10k events. This year they are “Running to A Million” with the goal of reaching $1,000,000 raised from the Run since 2003. For more information, visit: www.martinezedfoundation.org/run-for-education/.

Another Cannabis Business With a 4 to 1 vote, the Martinez City Council voted on July 15 to award two conditional certificates to Yerba Buena Logistic Services, LLC to operate a cannabis distribution facility and a non-storefront retail cannabis business at 4808 Sunrise Drive, Suite C. To date, the city council has awarded two conditional certificates for retail cannabis dispensaries. One certificate was granted to Firefly (now known as Velvet), on October 2, 2019. Velvet was the first cannabis dispensary to receive a certificate and is located at the same address in Suite A. The other certificate was awarded to Embarc on January 15, 2020. The proposal team intends to provide 2% of the gross revenue from the distribution use to the City of Martinez on an annual basis. The proposal team intends to provide 4% of the gross revenue from the non-storefront use to the City of Martinez on an annual basis. They also agree to give $25,000 to the City to put towards the purchase of license plate reader equipment.

Rotary Club of Martinez E-Waste Collection and Paper Shredding The Rotary Club of Martinez is sponsoring a paper shredding and E-Waste collection Saturday, September 12, from 9am to noon in the AHS parking lot, adjacent to Alhambra Ave. The cost for shredding is $5.00 per box, no limit. The E-Waste (nothing bigger than a microwave) is a donation depending on the amount. The Rotary Club of Martinez has been serving the community for over 75 years. Events like these help fund the scholarships and charitable organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and many more. If you need further information, please contact Barbara Turcios at 925-372-0775 or grannyturcios@hotmail.com.

Local Qualit y You Can Trust!

Summer Outdoor Dining The City of Martinez’“Outdoor Downtown” Program has added Troy Greek Cuisine to the growing list of downtown restaurants, microbreweries and retail shops with approved city permits for outdoor dining and retail. The full list includes: Bar Cava, Barrelista, Copper Skillet, Del Cielo, Five Suns, Lavender Moon Interiors, Lemongrass Bistro, Mighty Market, Nu Rays, Roxx on Main (with live music), Taco Daddy and Troy Greek Cuisine. Launched on June 12, the City of Martinez Outdoor Downtown program gives merchants the opportunity to provide outdoor dining and shopping experiences for their customers, while facilitating the physical distancing of patrons to comply with the current County Health Order. By allowing businesses to use portions of City sidewalks, streets, and parking lots during specified days and times to spread out their dining and retail services, the Program aims to give a boost to the downtown business owners. Patrons are reminded to follow the State and County regulations for masks and social distancing when engaged in outdoor activities like this Program.

Pleasant Hill

COLLISION

Collision Repair & Painting • Frame Straightening Insurance Claims • Glass • Customs

www.PleasantHillCollision.com • email phcollision@aol.com 925-939-1160 • 1581 Oak Park Boulevard • Pleasant Hill OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 11

Estate Planning

Three Things to do After a Scary Diagnosis BY JEFFREY HALL, CPA, JD Probate / Trust Attorney A scary health diagnosis can be emotionally and logistically challenging for many reasons. For instance, how can you take care of your family if you’re physically incapacitated? In addition to working closely with your medical providers, consider these three legal tips: 1. Check your estate plan with your attorney to make sure it is up to date. Do you count yourself among the 42 percent of American adults with a will or trust? If not, take action to start planning. Even if you do have an estate plan, review it. Maybe one of your heirs

got married or died. Maybe you’d like to add or remove people from your will. Or perhaps your personal representative is no longer capable of handling your estate. Make sure you have designated alternates for your personal representative, legal guardian, and trustee. You should also review your estate’s assets. If you live in one of the states that allows for the inclusion of a personal property memorandum, you may be able to revise the distribution of personal property by simply revising your list without amending your will. If not, you will need to revise your will to reflect any changes. If you maintain a separate record of account information and essential documents, take steps to update this as well.

JENNIFER L. MARTIN, D.D.S. Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

401 GREGORY LANE, SUITE 126 PLEASANT HILL, CA 94523 925.676.8485 FAX 925.676.0288 www.drjennifermartin.com

2. Consider passing control to your successor trustee/agent so you can focus on your health. If you find yourself overwhelmed by having to split your focus between managing your health and managing day-to-day responsibilities, consider relying on your successor trustee. By granting your successor trustee the authority to manage the assets in your trust, you can alleviate significant stress and save time. Remember that you trusted this person enough to manage your assets in your absence; you should be able to trust them to manage your assets while you are alive. Keep in mind that you can always take control back if you want in the future. If you do not have a trust, but other financial matters are consuming your time, consider appointing an agent under a financial power of attorney to assist with managing your finances. 3. Make sure your current assets are properly coordinated with your estate plan and/or funded trust. Evaluate your assets to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Consult with your estate planning attor-

ney and tax professional to make sure you’re avoiding the common mistake of assets not being properly titled. In order for the trust to be funded, the assets need to be titled in the name of the trust. Also, review any beneficiary designations to ensure they match up with your overall estate plan. Because the distribution will be made according to who is listed on the beneficiary designation form, you want to make sure that this is not undoing the work of your estate plan. Managing your health should be your top priority. Now is the time to lean on those you trust. If you need any assistance with ensuring your affairs are in order, call your neighborhood estate planning attorney – Jeffrey Hall at (925) 230-9002 to schedule an appointment or you may visit his website at www.HallLawGroup.com. We are a veteran owned --veteran friendly law firm. Disclaimer: this article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice nor the establishment of an AttorneyClient relationship. SPONSORED CONTENT

Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

JEFFREY HALL, MBA, CPA, Esq.

The Law Office of Jeffrey Hall, Inc., is an estate planning law office serving Contra Costa county in a wide range of estate planning matters, including:

Medi-Cal Planning Trusts and Wills Trust Administration Trust Litigation Probate

www.HallLawGroup.com 925-230-9002 12 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Stronger Than You Know Expansion of Time BY DENA BETTI Almost all of us have experienced something similar to the following scenarios. Someone says something to us we deem rude and we react harshly to them. Or we meet a new person whose charm captivates us and we instantly want to be their friend. Then weeks go by and new information comes to light. The person who was rude to us just learned they had cancer. The new friend we met turns out to be toxic and it takes us years to get them out of our lives. Most of us can look back on our lives and pick out similar scenarios. But why do we lack so much perspective in the present moment? As it turns out, perspective is rare among us humans. It seems to require an effort that is almost beyond us. The reason for this is simple. Short-term thinking is hard wired into our brains. We are designed to respond to what is immediate and to seek out instant gratification. Our early human ancestors

survived by noticing potential danger in the environment or what offered an opportunity for food. As our human brain evolved, it was designed to notice danger in the environment as opposed to examining the full picture and long-term impact of a single event. This worked well for our earliest ancestors but doesn’t work nearly as well now, in a complex world. Now we go around like Dug, the talking dog in the animated movie “Up,” and suffer from “squirrel syndrome.” Our minds make us notice what mostly stimulates our senses and emotions and miss much of the larger picture. This is why we tend to give much more attention to the immediate pains featured on the daily news versus something like global warming, which is much more an abstract and distant pain. Even though global warming represents greater long-term danger since it puts the very survival of the planet at risk, the immediate pain of what’s on the news has a more immediate emotional impact on us. In a world that is complex, with evidence pointing to dangerous cues in

the future, our short-sided tendencies may pose a greater threat to our wellbeing. And, as technology continues to grab more of our attention, causing our attention spans to decrease even more, the challenge becomes even greater. When we simply react to what we see and hear, when we move from excitement and intoxication to fear and panic at each new piece of sensational news, we can know that we are giving in to what is the most primitive and potentially destructive part of our brain’s makeup. When we strive to counter this pull, to consider more deeply the consequences of what we do and the nature of our long-term actions, we may move to realizing our true human potential as cognitive beings. And just as short-term thinking can

be contagious, people who embody long-term thinking can have an immensely positive effect on the people around them. Such individuals make us aware of the larger picture and reveal a mindset that we recognize as superior. The wisdom of these individuals draws us in and we want to imitate them for we see the same potential within ourselves. If possible, avoid deep contact with those whose timeframe is narrow and who are in continual react mode. Strive to associate with those with an expanded awareness of time. Dena Betti is a graduate from the University of San Francisco, Executive Director of #hersmile Nonprofit, certified advisor and iSoulify Podcast co-host. For more information, email dena@strongerthanyouknow.com.

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

YOU'RE INVITED TO LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE! Our Podcast Mission is to lift up inspirational woman and magnify their voices! Join us for a light hearted hour of personal stories that inspire!

CONTACT SUSAN

Download iSoulify on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or RSS! OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 13

DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP 530 RYAN TERRACE, SAN RAMON

ALISON J. PETERSEN

925.984.7214 DRE# 01177737

CATHY BAIGENT

925.209.5999

3 BED, 3.5 BATH, 1,790 SF, CONDOMINIUM ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,046 SF, 6,206 SF LOT, AMAZING VIEWS CATHY BAIGENT 925.383.2734

103 BALDWIN DRIVE, DANVILLE

3526 EAGLE POINT ROAD, LAFAYETTE

LAURIE HIGGINS

$2,200,000

5 BED, 3 BATH, 2,629 SF, 10,350 SF LOT ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

4 BED, 3.75 BATH, 2,866 SF, 3.07 ACRE LOT SIZE ZOCCHI & ASSOCIATES 925.360.8662

750 RYAN TERRACE, SAN RAMON

1546B SCHENONE COURT, CONCORD

$818,000

$425,000

DRE# 01964989

3 BED, 3.5 BATH, 1,791 SF, + OFFICE, BUILT IN 2017 ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,250, SF, DIABLO CREEK TOWNHOME TERRYLYNN FISHER 925.876.0966

639 PREAKNESS DRIVE, WALNUT CREEK

2338 MINARET DRIVE, MARTINEZ

$715,000

$655,000

925.876.7968 DRE# 01322819

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,360 SF, TOWNHOME CHRISTINA LINEZO 415.425.3085

Distinctive Properties DRE #01882902

$1,349,000

CHRISTINA LINEZO

JEN COGEN

DRE# 02001964

$415,000

DRE# 00851239

415.425.3085

925.322.1194

3205 ISLEWOOD COURT, ANTIOCH

ANGIE CULUM

925.383.2734 DRE# 00820617

$818,000

WWW.DUDUM.COM

4 BED, 2 BATH, 1,601 SF, 6,664 SF LOT SIZE PETER PAREDERO 925.787.8746

FIVE LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU...

ELEVATING THE ART OF REAL ESTATE 841 ROYAL ANN LANE, CONCORD

$540,000

155 E. B STREET, BENICIA

$590,000

2 BED, 2.5 BATH, 1,178 SF, TOWNHOME LAURIE HIGGINS 925.876.7968

3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 1,743 SF, CONDOMINIUM ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

680 CENTER STREET, WALNUT CREEK

680A CENTER STREET, WALNUT CREEK

$1,199,000

$999,000

MARIA AMINI

MARY PISCITELLI

925.464.0457

925.765.9095

PETER PAREDERO

SABRENA LAWTON

925.787.8746

925.768.2992

TERESA ZOCCHI

TERRYLYNN FISHER

925.360.8862

925.876.0966

DRE# 01920042

3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 2,063 SF, 0.36 ACRE LOT MARY PISCITELLI 925.765.9095

1 BED, 1 BATH, 850 SF, 0.59 ACRE LOT + 2,485 SF GARAGE MARY PISCITELLI 925.765.9095

4144 CORKWOOD COURT, CONCORD

1807 AYERS ROAD, CONCORD

$759,000

$1,050,000

DRE# 01351308

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,641 SF, 5,520 SF LOT SIZE CHRISTINA LINEZO 415.425.3085

3 BED, 2.5 BATH, 2,110 SF, 30,710 SF LOT SIZE PETER PAREDERO 925.787.8746

1402 ASHWOOD DRIVE, MARTINEZ

6833 MACARTHUR BLVD., OAKLAND

$534,000

3 BED, 2 BATH, 1,528 SF, 1,176 SF LOT SIZE CHRISTINA LINEZO 415.425.3085

WALNUT CREEK

$460,000

2 BED, 1 BATH, 1,027 SF, 2,800 SF LOT SIZE MARIA AMINI 925.464.0457

LAMORINDA

DANVILLE

DRE# 01426129

DRE# 01907345

BRENTWOOD

DRE# 01821910

DRE# 00615420

SIERRA TAHOE

SCHOOL NEWS

Changes in District

Mt Diablo School District Hires New Leaders

MDUSD Education Foundation in Action In July, MDUSD Education Foundation President Mary Gray presented a check to the newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark in the amount of $38,156.65 from their Coronavirus Remote Learning Fund, which was established in April. The money, collected from community members and local businesses, will go to support students in MDUSD in need of Chromebooks for online learning this fall. Gray noted that, “So many companies wanted to financially help out during this time, and some saw us and reached out to help.” In addition, the foundation reported in July that they reached their fundrais-

LOOKING FOR NEW HARDWOOD? IN CONCORD

40 YEARS! 50,000 HOMES WITH NEW FLOORS

1081 Detroit Ave., Concord, CA 94518 (Next to Costco)

925-609-2150 www.PacificCoastCarpet.com License#708486

16 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

ing goal of $100,000 for the 2019-2020 school year. The money will support enrichment programs for MDUSD students and help provide remote learning tools in response to the COVID-19 shelter in place directive. The foundation, incorporated in 2017, with a current board of 11, continues to build momentum and strives to support the STEAM learning opportunities of ALL students within the district. “We work in tandem with MDUSD administration to identify programs they would like to offer or expand that we can help fund. Because district revenue fluctuates annually, they may not always be in a position to support some of these programs,” said Gray. Project Lead the Way, a stem-based curriculum, the Art in Action Program, which provides a high quality, standards-based visual arts curriculum and Mystery Science - science lessons that inspire kids to love science - are a few of the ways the foundation has financially supported student learning in the last two years. The foundation will continue to help students during distance learning by expanding STEAM curriculum opportunities in all schools. “I want the Mt. Diablo Unified School District to be a district that attracts families; I want it to be a destination district,” Gray stated. A noble mission indeed. To learn more about the foundation, visit: www.mdedf.org. New MDUSD Superintendent On July 13, the MDUSD Governing Board of Education formally appointed Dr. Adam Clark as the next Superintendent of Mount Diablo Unified School District. Dr. Clark had his first day at the Dent Center office on Monday, July 20. In a message to district staff after his appointment, Dr. Clark wrote, “It is my belief that a district is defined by the individuals who show up each day to support our greatest gift—our students… In normal times, many staff members would be vacationing or planning for

the first day of school. Unfortunately, the global pandemic has challenged our normal way of doing business. The present time and circumstance regrettably does not allow for the typical listening tours or the implementation of a 90-day entry plan. With that said, I do plan on hitting the ground running. I am ready to face the global pandemic that has not only plagued our country and our county, but most importantly, our district. I promise that I will build on the work that so many of you have been doing since March. We will work together to achieve our mission of educating and lifting up our students. Every single employee is vital in helping us achieve this goal. Clear and concise communication will be a critical component of keeping staff informed about current short term and long term plans moving forward. I believe in being fully transparent about the challenges and successes that we will face together. I am committed to ensuring that every student reaches their potential. This happens when classified and certificated staff are supported with the tools necessary to effectively do their jobs. With an equity lens, we can create experiences for our students that

will have a lasting impact on their lives. All of our students need our support! There are so many amazing people and programs throughout the district. I look forward to you sharing with me the successes as well as the challenges of your role in supporting student learning.” Dr. Clark comes from the Vallejo City Unified School district where he was the superintendent for three years. New CPHS Principal At the July 13 board meeting, the MDUSD Governing Board approved the appointment of Kevin Honey, principal at Sequoia Middle School to be College Park High School’s new principal. He wrote on his Facebook page, “The last seven years at Sequoia Middle School have been incredible. I have worked with tremendous students, supportive parents, and an outstanding faculty and staff. While it is difficult to walk away from the best middle school in the district, I am excited for a new journey and the opportunity to return to a comprehensive high school after being away for 15 years. The 20-21 school year will be like no other, and I am ready for the challenge. Go Falcons!” Honey replaces Joe Alvarez, who will now serve as principal at Woodside Elementary in Concord.

Read My Mind

ÂŠ

Books by the Numbers BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s column features books with numbers in their titles: 12, 21, and 5. They all help make sense of the complex world we live in. Jordon B. Petersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12 Rules for Life is billed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;an antidote to chaos.â&#x20AC;? Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world is filled with chaos and unprecedented change. Going as far back as the ancient Egyptians, Peterson formulates â&#x20AC;&#x153;12 profound directivesâ&#x20AC;? that will help bring order to the chaos in our lives. While his rules are rather straightforward, the stories behind them go much deeper. For example, Rule 1 is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stand up straight with your shoulders back.â&#x20AC;? While this makes all the sense in the world, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find out why this is important for both humans and lobsters - yes, lobsters! - as both creatures move through life. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m especially fond of Rules 4 and 5. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve struggled with Rule 4 in the past but now recognize its importance to all of us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to someone else today.â&#x20AC;? As Teddy Roosevelt said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Comparison (with others) is the theft of joy.â&#x20AC;? And, we want to keep all the joy we can. Rule 5 is really important as we get older. â&#x20AC;?Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.â&#x20AC;? After all, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the ones who will choose your old age home, and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want them to get even with you when they do! Petersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12 Rules are an excellent addition to the lessons in Ethan Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rules for a Knight. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already read Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little gem, read it with your children now! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you did. Yuval Noah Harari was an obscure Israeli historian until he published the blockbuster Sapiens. He quickly followed that up with another hit, Homo Deus. In those books, he looked at the

past and future. His latest book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, tries to help us deal with the present. Each of the bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 21 lessons provides â&#x20AC;&#x153;a provocative and profoundâ&#x20AC;? look at how to prepare for the future. Here are some excerpts. Work: When you grow up, you might not have a job. Ignorance: You know less than you think. Justice: Our sense of justice might be out of date. Humility: You are not the center of the world. Education: Change is the only constant. His ultimate goal is to help us â&#x20AC;&#x153;live in an age of bewilderment, when the old stories have collapsed, and no new story has yet emerged to replace them.â&#x20AC;? This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a book for the faint of heart, but its lessons are powerful. Moneyball author Michael Lewisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; latest is The Fifth Risk (I know â&#x20AC;?fifthâ&#x20AC;? is not a number, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m claiming poetic license.) Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about an unanticipated risk to our country and our democracy. According to John MacWilliams of the Energy Department, the first four risks are no-brainers: nuclear accidents, war with North Korea, our continuing struggle with Iran, and attacks on our electrical grid. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the fifth, most important risk, is a stunner: program management.â&#x20AC;? It happens when we use short-term solutions to respond to long-term risks because our government is too lazy or just doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the innovation that never occurs and the knowledge that is never created. It is what you never learned that might have saved us.â&#x20AC;? Are we destined to relive another Hurricane Katrina because we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t learn from our previous mistakes? If so, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll become our own worst enemy. Lewisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book also pays tribute to the bureaucrats who give a damn. While troubling and sometimes downright scary, Lewis remains optimistic, and so should we.

Teppanyaki, Sushi & Sports Bar Temporary 1918 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill Business Hour Tel: (925)705-7065/7066 NOON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:00 PM WWW.Kobejapanrestaurant.com 7 Days a week

CURBSIDE MEALS

TO GO

Â Â?Â Â?Â? Â? Â Â?

We are temporarily closing our dine-in We are offering Curbside services at Pleasant Hill. Meals To Go Pick-Up. All In addition, our business hours will temporarily change to 12:00 pm to menu items are available 8:00 pm 7 days a week. for to go pick-up; except Please stay tuned. We will inform you Happy Hour menus of changes. Please call us to place

Â Â Â Â? your order

July Special for Kobe Japan Pleasant Hill Add $2 for Soup or Salad And $3.50 for both Soup & Salad 1). Kitchen Special (Cannot combine w/ other offers) Chicken Fried Rice $8.5 Chicken or Pork Katsu Over Rice: $9 Chicken with Veggies Teriyaki Over rice $9 Beef with Veggies Teriyaki Over rice $11 SautĂŠed Hot & Spicy Beef & Veggies with Side of Steam Rice $12.50 Grilled 3 pieces Salmon Collars Dinner with side of steam rice $10.95 2). Sushi Bar Two Sushi Roll Combo (Cannot combine w/ other offers) Classic Roll Combo: Ca Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll $8 Crispy Roll Combo: Dynamite & Spicy Sunset Blvd $17 Best Seller Combo: 49er Roll & California Crunch: $20 Spicy Roll Combo: Bay Bridge Roll & Red Lion Roll: $24 Signature Roll Combo: Lion King & Dragon Roll: $24 3). Hibachi Special with Mushroom appetizer, Veggies & Steamed rice add $2 for Soup or Salad And $3.50 for both Soup & Salad (Cannot combine w/ other offers) Hibachi Chicken Breast $16 Hibachi Shrimp $22 Hibachi New York Steak (Certified Angus Beef ÂŽ) $22 Hibachi Hot & Spicy Shrimp & Chicken Combo $27 Hibachi Steam Rice Upgrade To Fried Rice are also available: w/ Veggie $4.25 or Bacon $5.25 4). Other drinks are also available for Both dine-in and pickup Bonsai Martini $8 Fresh Pineapple Infused Premium Vodka Mango Margarita $8 Tequila, Mango Puree, Triple Sec, Lime Juice, Agave Syrup on the rocks Mosco Mule $8 Premium Vodka, Ginger Beer, Fresh Lime Juice Good through July1, 2020 to July 31, 2020. Cannot combine with any other offer. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 17

PAIR UP

Harvest is Coming Grape and Wine Lovers Rejoice BY MARIA TERRY Good news for grapes! It looks like our wine supply will not be affected by the COVID. Leda Garside, a nurse from the organization Salud!, says, “(Vineyard workers) have an advantage from other agricultural crops in that they are able to maintain social distancing at worksites,” and that the number of positive tests for these workers dropped since May. With this good news and in honor of the upcoming harvest, here are a variety of grape centric recipes and wines to pair with them. Grapes are often a part of a beautiful cheese tray. This is because grapes offer much of the same benefit to cheese that wine does. Grapes, like most white wines, are juicy and acidic. They cleanse the palate by cutting through the fat. But, although they provide much of the same value to the cheese, grapes and wine do not go together. The sugar in grapes makes wine taste sour. Red wines suffer even more when paired with grapes because the acid in the grape can make a low acid red wine taste flat. One wine that has the acid and the sugar to stand up to grapes is Sauternes from France. It is made from a combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grown in an environment that maximizes both sugar and acid. The resulting dessert wine has flavors of honey and stone fruits. I often recommend Sauternes for picnics because it goes so well with meats, cheeses, nuts, and fruits. It is a lovely partner for the Grape Cheese Balls recipe, which combines cheese, grapes, and nuts into bitesized morsel. A wonderful fall meal is roasted duck and potatoes. This simple seared duck breast is quicker and easier to make than a whole duck. Paired with these panroasted potatoes, you can make both on the stove top rather than heating-up the oven. The perfect wine for this dish is a rich Amarone from the Veneto region

of Italy. It is a dry wine with many of the flavors you find in dessert wines since the grapes are dried before making them into wine. The duck complements the gamey notes often found in Italian wines and the cooked grapes echo the dried grapes flavors developed in production. As a fun, easy ending, Wine-Frosted Grapes are cold and refreshing. A bright ending to a rich meal, they are too sweet for wine. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a certified sommelier and wine educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. www.LaSommelierre.com.

Pan-Roasted Potatoes INGREDIENTS 12 small white rose or Yukon potatoes, cut into 2” cubes ½ cup olive oil 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus ½ T chopped fresh thyme leaves Coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper 1 clove garlic, sliced DIRECTIONS Over low heat, add the olive oil to a medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan, then add the potatoes, thyme sprigs and season generously with salt and pepper. Place the lid on the pan and allow to cook, undisturbed, shaking the pan every 5 minutes or so, until the bottoms of the potatoes are tender and browned, about 20 minutes. (Check occasionally to make sure the potatoes aren’t browning too quickly and adjust heat accordingly.) Remove the lid and cook a further 2 to 3 minutes, for the condensation to evaporate. Remove the thyme sprigs and add the sliced garlic and chopped fresh thyme and cook until the garlic is caramelized and chewy, about 2 minutes. Drain the oil from the potatoes and serve. Yield: 4 Servings

.......................................................... 18 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Wine Frosted Grapes INGREDIENTS 1 lb. white seedless grapes 1 lb. red seedless grapes (1) 750 ml. sweet Gewürztraminer or Riesling 1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest Granulated sugar or coarse sugar crystals DIRECTIONS Cut grapes into small clusters. Mix wine with lemon zest in a bowl large enough to hold all the grapes. Add grapes and cover. Refrigerate 24 hours. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Remove grapes from marinade and place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar. Place in freezer one hour before serving. Yield: 6 Servings

Seared Duck Breast with Bacon and Grapes

INGREDIENTS 1 banana, peeled and sliced lengthwise ¼ cup coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlua®) 2 Tablespoons butter 2 Tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 275°. Pulse almonds in a food processor until finely chopped (do not over process). Spread in a 15x10x1-in. pan; bake until golden brown, 6-9 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a shallow bowl; cool slightly. In another bowl, mix cream cheese, blue cheese, parsley and cream until blended. Insert a skewer into each grape. Roll grapes in cheese mixture, then in almonds; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate, covered, until serving. Yield: 10-12 Servings

INGREDIENTS 4 duck breasts Kosher salt Extra-virgin olive oil 2 cups seedless red grapes 2 strips bacon, cut crosswise into ½” pieces (lardons) ½ cup port wine 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1½ cups chicken stock DIRECTIONS Using a sharp paring knife, score the fat in the duck breasts a couple times in two directions to create a crosshatch pattern. Cut through the fat but not into the meat of the breast. Salt the breasts and let sit outside the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to allow them to come to room temperature. Add about 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large sauté pan. Place the duck in the pan skin-side down. Bring the pan to a medium heat and cook the duck breasts low and slow to allow the fat to render and so the skin can get nice and crispy. As the fat renders out of the duck, pour or spoon it out of the pan and SAVE IT for another purpose. Cook the duck for 8 to 9 minutes on the skin side. Turn the duck over and cook the duck for 2 to 3 minutes on the flesh side. Remove the duck from the pan, cover with foil and let rest for about 10 minutes. Add the grapes to the pan with the bacon and bring the pan to a medium heat. Cook grapes until they split and let out their juices and the bacon is crisp. Spoon half the grapes out of the pan and reserve. Add the port and vinegar to the pan, season with salt and reduce the port by half. Add the chicken stock and reduce it by half. Add in the reserved grapes. Taste and re-season if needed. Slice the duck at an angle and serve garnished with the sauce. Yield: 4 Servings

..........................................................

Grape Cheese Balls

In the Mix with Our New Normal

IN THE MIX

Finding Live Music Online BY PAUL COTRUVO Music shapes our society. In this world of divisiveness, music soothes our soul. Recent research suggesting that playing or listening to music may be particularly potent in bringing about social closeness through the release of endorphins. We need music now more than ever. The self-quarantine has created such loneliness and depression for many of us and deprived our souls of much needed medicine. There is nothing like going to a concert or just a local club, and hearing and feeling the passion of an artist with other likeminded people. Concerts provided a venue for interacting with people from all walks of life. So, what now? with the absence of live music due to COVID-19, what will be the new normal for concerts and gigs? The first few months of the shutdown, the industry was pretty much silent. But lately,

there has been some ingenuity to try and bring us together. Down at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, you can see and hear live music from the comfort of your car, as they are holding, “Drive-in” concerts. Which begs the question, is honking the new lighter? And a few local restaurants are holding pop up acoustic shows with social distancing. But these events are on a day to day basis, as the requirements change daily. I feel the best form for these times, is the “live-streaming” shows on social media. While I admit it is not like going to a concert, it is kind of cool to see some great performances from your couch. No worries about parking or babysitting. And everyone is sharing: Elton John, Garth Brooks, James Taylor, and Radiohead. You just need to search the many platforms for these shows. For a local flavor, here are some of my suggestions. One of the first weekly shows created since the shutdown was done by

the Martinez Music Mafia, who created the successful Armando’s Happy Hour and a Half, which featured many local musicians. Each show features around 8-10 different artists. Tune in on the Martinez Music Mafia Facebook page every Friday at 4:30pm. Another great multi-artist show is the Concord Couch Concerts. This is a bi-weekly 2-hour show featuring around 9-12 different performances. This is truly a wonderful mix of genres, ranging from singer songwriter, to jazz, to alternative music. You can tune in on Friday nights from their Facebook page. There are many musicians who stream live every week. First, the wonderful Sin Silver, who usually performs every Saturday around 1pm PST or 9pm Irish Time (changes week to week, so double check.) Sin has a different show every week with different themes. She has an amazing voice, and her Irish brogue gets me every time. Tune in to Sin Silver’s Facebook page.

The extremely talented Mitch Polzak brings his rockabilly and country flavor every Friday night at 6pm to his Facebook page. They’re always fun shows, and the amazing thing is they last 3 hours. The Springsteen of country! There are so many other great shows on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram that I could mention, but there’s not enough room in my article. I really recommend that you tune in and support all the musicians who are logging in and performing. Most have a virtual tip jar which you can donate to. So many depended on income from their live performances, and now that is gone. This is our new normal. But I always try to find the silver lining, and I do believe these streams are letting us discover new music that we otherwise wouldn’t have considered. So, search for music in your preferred social media platform (stay off the crazy political posts), and keep your soul happy! Is it 2021 yet?

First Ever Drive-In Concert Coming to Solano County Fairgrounds August 29th Mr. Hat introduces a new way to enjoy live music. A “Cruise-In” Concert Series is coming to the Bay Area starting on August 29. This vehicle-based, socially distanced, COVID-conscious concert experience will once again allow all to safely gather and enjoy your favorite bands. The series will kick off with Jerry’s Middle Finger, performing the iconic music of the Jerry Garcia Band under the stars at the Solano County Fairgrounds. The band will perform under a giant archway, illuminated by the unparalleled Mad Alchemy Psychedelic Liquid Lightshow. Cruise-In Concerts are for all ages, and shows are from 7-11pm. Tickets go on sale Weds. 7/29 at mrhatpresents.com. Greg Keidan, the founder of independent Bay Area concert promotions, Mr. Hat Presents, says he is committed to finding safe ways for fans to enjoy live music during the pandemic, “Human be-

ings need fun, and some of us feel that live music is essential.” Keidan and staff at the non-profit fairgrounds are working in partnership with Solano County Health Officials to craft and execute a detailed safety plan for these Cruise-In Concert events, which they hope will serve as a model for future events. In addition to the PA system, you will be able to tune into a high-quality FM broadcast of the show inside your vehicle, thanks to the genius of Burning Man Information Radio Lead Engineer Mark Chang. There will be two food trucks and a full bar, with online ordering and delivery to your trunk or rear window to facilitate social distancing. Restroom attendants will prevent crowding and will disinfect the facilities every half hour. Restroom ventilation will also be enhanced. Dancing will be permitted on the driver’s side of vehicles, and attendees are re-

One of the bands that will perform, Jerry's Middle Finger.

quired to wear a mask outside of their vehicles and to stay within their vehicle area. Up to 4 adults are permitted in each vehicle, and the organizers ask that you only attend with people in your social bubble, and stay home if you may have been exposed to the virus so that we can

stop the spread and get back to regular concerts and festivals. This event is sponsored by Hella Dank, a small family owned Bay Area company. Learn more at helladank.co. For more information, visit mrhatpresents.com. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 19

From the Contra Costa County Historical Society

HERCULES

Not the Greek Hero, but the City BY MARJORIE NEWTON Hercules began as a manufacturing plant that made dynamite and later TNT. Known at that time as California Powder Works (CPW), it was first located on the sandy dunes that are now Golden Gate Park. As the growing population of San Francisco began getting too close to the plant, it moved to the East Bay. The Gold Rush of 1849 and the Civil War made getting dynamite from factories in the East difficult. As a result, several plants that produced explosives were erected in the East Bay. For example, Vulcan Powder Works was built near Stege on the San Pablo Rancho, and the Atlas Powder Plant was located at Giant, where the Point Pinole Regional Park is today. One of these plants was the CPW, which had relocated to 45 acres near Pinole in 1879. The plant’s buildings

were erected in gullies and ravines in an effort to separate the different products from each other and to minimize the damage if one line exploded, saving the others. An explosion that occurred in 1882 is described in detail in W.A. Slocum & Co.’s The History of Contra Costa County. The explosion was felt in Oakland, San Rafael, and Livermore, but of the 50 men working there, only one was killed. The Northern Railway station nearest the site was named Powning, after the CPW’s general manager. Upon Powning’s retirement in 1895, however, the station was renamed Hercules, the brand name of the explosives produced by CPW. In 1900, company officials applied for and were given the right to incorporate. At this point, Hercules became an entity with the privilege of governing

Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District

Protecting PUBLIC HEALTH since 1927 ContraCostaMosquito.com (925) 685-9301

MOSQUITOES Inspection & Control 20 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

themselves and making their own laws. Homes were built for the CPW’s factory worker’s families. 20 of those homes have been remodeled and are now being occupied. Dormitories were provided for the single men. 350 Chinese were billeted in two dormitories, with bunks stacked three high. The Hercules Club, the social center of the community, included a meeting room, dining Hall, a post office and a bar. In town, there was a hospital, a company store, and at one time a hotel. The CPW office building is still in existence but under private ownership. There were no other stores. For shopping, one trekked to nearby Pinole, which also offered 14 saloons. More detailed information is available in the book Hercules by Jennifer Posedel and Stephen Lawton. The book is available on our website and at the History Center in Martinez. In 1907, the U.S. government filed an anti-trust suit against DuPont company, which had in 1869 acquired full control of CPW, though it continued to use the CPW name. The result of that suit, in 1913, created two new companies, one of which was the Hercules Powder Company. Also, in 1913, a statue of Hercules was erected on a hill overlooking the Southern Pacific tracks. The 13-foothigh statue was offensive to many. Evidently, even though draped in a lion’s skin, the frontal view was too graphic. It was demolished in 1920. The Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 resulted in 14 deaths, despite an ordinance which directed that everyone wear a mask to cover mouth and nostrils when in public places. During World War I, the Hercules plant was the largest producer of TNT at seven million pounds a month. During World War II, the plant greatly expanded. It was claimed that the plant had produced 1.8 billion pounds of ordinance. After the wars, the plant shifted

to producing fertilizer which used nitrogen in its manufacturing. After 75 years, the plant was sold in 1977. In 1987, the Contra Costa Times headlined Hercules as the fastest growing city in Contra Costa County. In 1989, its population was 14,550. Today, the population is estimated to be about 25,000. Talk about an explosion! A History Note is presented by the Contra Costa County History Center, 724 Escobar St., Martinez, using materials from the Society’s collections. Normal Open hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 9-4 and the first and third Saturdays from 10-2. The History Center is currently closed due to the coronavirus. Updates can be found and queries and orders made on the CCCHS website: www.cocohistory.org.

All Are One

Celebrity Fund Gives Cash to Those Hardest Hit in East Contra Costa BY STEVE SPRAITZAR, WHITE PONY EXPRESS On June 25 four Hollywood notables made their first distribution of stimulus cash from their new â&#x20AC;&#x153;All Are Oneâ&#x20AC;? fund toÂ 23 families in Antioch who are in severe financial trouble as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. All Are OneÂ (http://www.allr.one) is the creation of actor Annie Potts (Ghostbusters,Â Designing Women, Toy Story, Young Sheldon) and her husband, director/producer Jim Hayman (NCIS: New Orleans,Â Ugly Betty,Â The Sopranos, Northern Exposure). They have partnered with longtime friends, writer/producers Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider (Chicago Med, Bosch,Â The Sopranos,Â Northern Exposure). Â The four have launched this unique fund to receive personal checks and electronic contributions. Schneider says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea is to extend gifts directly to people in need through a chain of trusted friends without the overlay of a formal charitable organization. These are gifts, not charity.â&#x20AC;? At the June 25 event, held at a church in Antioch, each of the families received a gift ofÂ $1,200 (the amount of a stimu-

lus check) in cash wrapped in a beautiful gift box tied with ribbons. Each family was handed the gift just as if it were given from a loved one.Â Â TheÂ All Are OneÂ founders are working with the nonprofits White Pony Express and Following Francis to identify families desperately short of cash in California, South Carolina, and Washington, DC.Â Both of these organizations, founded by East Bay community leader, Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, have had extensive experience working in underserved communities in these three areas. Says Hayman, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is direct giving. There are no administrative costs, no legal fees. Every penny will go to the recipients.â&#x20AC;? Potts says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe you got a residual check or a stimulus check that you werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expecting or donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really need, or maybe you had a little tucked away for a rainy day. Maybe, even with all the problems brought on by COVID, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re actually feeling pretty secure.â&#x20AC;? Schneider adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know many people are already helping out, but perhaps theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking themselves, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What else can I do?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; This could be the answer.â&#x20AC;?

Friends Open Retail Store

â&#x20AC;&#x153;These gifts are anonymous,â&#x20AC;? reports Potts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sort of like Secret Santa.â&#x20AC;? Potts wants people to know, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is not a charity. You are gifting, not donating. There is no tax deduction. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a testimonial dinner. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a mug. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a t-shirt. What you do get is the satisfaction of helping somebody who is very much in need.â&#x20AC;? Frolov adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And the satisfaction of doing your own small part to help the economy by keeping money flowing.â&#x20AC;? Hayman says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We understand weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re breaking the mold here. We just love the idea that friends can come together and pass along not just some monetary help,

but also a sense of loving concern. And we really hope this idea will catch on!â&#x20AC;? Future distributions will depend on the amount of donations that will be collected. Funds are already being collected for the next distribution, which will be in Washington, DC. If enough funds come in after that, South Carolina will be the site of the following distribution. TheÂ All Are OneÂ founders hope others will be inspired to donate either a part or all of their stimulus check to those in their own community who urgently need financial help to weather the COVID-19 crisis. Those interested can go to: http:// www.allr.one

All Are One Founders: Jim Hayman (top left), Andy Schneider and Diane Frolov (top right), and Annie Potts (bottom). Photo by Margaret Mayer.

The Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library will officially open their new retail store in Downtown Pleasant Hill on August 3. The Book Store, located at 35 Crescent Drive, is open from 11am to 5pm, 7 days a week.Â The large retail space allows the organization to display their wide-ranging inventory, with proceeds going towards books, programs, resources and services for the new Pleasant Hill Library. All the clever interior signage was created by volunteer and professional book artist, Rae Trujillo. Pleasant Hill Mayor Matt Rinn said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations to the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library on the opening of

their new downtown store. The City appreciates everything the Friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; volunteers are

! doing to raise money for programs, services and resources for the new library, which is ex" #

! pected to begin construction soon.â&#x20AC;? Operations of the Book Store are in keeping with the County health regulations for COVID-19.Â Â Masks must be worn at all times, and Friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; volunteers will monitor the num $$% &

' ( ) * !+ ,) - ."/01 &"/"2.! $% &

$% ber of customers in the store to ensure that social distancing rules are followed. ' ( ) Hand * !+ ,) - 34 342 &"/"2.! sanitizer will be offered.Â The Friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; website, phlibraryfriends.org, has been revamped to allow customers to shop online and order books for contactless curbside pickup during store hours or request local delivery. Donations are accepted during store hours, and home pickups of donations are available.Â For contactless donation pick-up, contact the Friends at (925) 440-2900 orÂ info@ phlibraryfriends.orgÂ to arrange a day and time and a Friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; volunteer will collect your 2 1 $ 5 books, games, music, movies, and puzzles from your driveway. 2 6.7428 0 & &34. 9 &

/ &

( ) .=61@ :&&:&A&

For all of your promotional needs.

h2goÂŽ houston

viper

h2goÂŽ concord

20.9 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal bottle with copper vacuum insulation, threaded onetouch push-button lid with locking mechanism, and carrying handle Âˇ patent D821,819 - gift box included

16 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal tumbler with copper vacuum insulation, glossy white exterior, threaded one-touch push-button lid, locking mechanism, and color accents - gift box included

25 oz double wall 18/8 stainless steel thermal bottle with copper vacuum insulation, threaded lid, stainless steel accent and lid retaining loop - gift box included

ELENA HUTSLAR

2 1 $ 5 2 6.7428 : &; <";4 3 , &

: & =. > 1

?( " #$

+($ "# #

($$ "! %&

elena@intentionadvertising.com 925.408.6142 OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 21

($ "$ '

! !

: *AA(&"670146 0 / B $ C 2 2 # &6 ! &6

! . #

# ' D # !

IN THE GARDEN

Gardens, A Treasured Commodity A Valuable Resource Offers Escape During Tough Times

BY LESLEY STILE, OWNER OF ROXX ON MAIN Gardens are abounding during COVID. Since leaving the house is frowned upon and working from home may be a forever prospect, garden tending has become a popular pastime. Personally, I am working more than I have in many years, but I am still getting my garden time in and it is nutrition for my soul. Here at Roxx on Main we continue to be open for takeout but now we get to have outside diners, and it has been a great boon for us. With the City of Martinez closing Main Street to traffic on Friday and Saturday nights, we can now take our restaurant outdoors in its entirety. We are also able to offer live music again adding a bit more of a European vibe to enhance your dining experience. We ask that as long as you are not eating or drinking you continue to wear your mask, and if you get up to dance, which you can, you wear your

mask and stay six feet apart. Our Roxx gardens are flourishing grandly as cucumbers ripen rapidly, providing oodles of crunchy love for our salads along with the Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes. Fresh snipped basil and rosemary scent our kitchen and provide muse while adding layers of flavor to all we prep. I do not believe I have ever had such a prolific zucchini season. We harvest enough of these smooth elongated beasties to satisfy Roxx and then some. Balmy evening temperatures gently force tomatoes to go from green to red overnight surprising even the most experienced gardener. Green beans and corn rise as if Jack himself is tugging their mane. Hiking the hills and valleys of Spain a few years ago on my Camino trip, I discovered, along with a million other things, an amazing bean. Spanish Música Broad Beans were on every pincho list and after the first order I knew why. Juicy, sweet, and super meaty, this tender, crunchy bean is big. Harking from Spain they have been stateside

for about eight years. I am just now spotting them at farmers’ markets and am eternally grateful to have stumbled upon them. Tender to a fault, Música slightly out plays traditional Romano beans. Even when left on the vine a tad long, Música holds color and texture better, especially after being touched by oil and flame, outshining her Italian counterpart. Majestic in stature and growing beyond 6 feet high if left unchecked, they are heralded as the biggest as well as earliest producers on the market. Like almost anything that grows, if you keep picking them, they will continue to pump out more and more beans and we are fortunate to acquire them from farmers’ markets into October. Rest assured they will be on the Roxx menu at some point this summer. Música are outstanding raw but enhanced with a quick dip in boiling water -3 minutes max then drained and shocked with ice water. Heat a half cube of butter with 4 cloves of chopped fresh garlic per 2 pounds of beans. Keep heat low paling garlic and add a few pepper flakes. Crack sea salt and pepper into mixture and pour over beans for a new take on a veggie platter. Cut beans into one-inch pieces and sauté

Gazpacho Super simple summer love to share! NGREDIENTS 2 large cucumbers, seeded and chopped 2 large tomatoes, chopped ½ red onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, peeled ½ bunch basil ½ bunch parsley Juice and zest of 1 lemon 4 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon honey Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Place all in a blender and puree. Season to taste. That’s it! Yield: 6 Servings Easily

.......................................................... 22 | AUGUST 2020 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

in a few teaspoons of lemon olive oil until bright green but slightly tender. Throw in a handful of crispy pancetta, a good amount of fresh corn cut off the cob, and a handful of chopped tarragon seasoning with salt and pepper. Being dubbed as the hardest working legume, Música may just be around for Thanksgiving feasts yet. Also, a tapas staple on our backpacking adventure were Padrona peppers. We walked through Padron, where they come from. A food freak moment of silence was had. Blistered in olive oil and liberally sprinkled with crunchy salt, they are tricksters. About three in ten are hot, but the others are super amazing. If Russian roulette isn’t your game, you can try Shishito peppers. Same prep but no heat, just all flavor. Super easy to grow both of these prolific producers. They will make occasional appearances in Roxx specials. It is a weird and unchartered world we are navigating now. It will not be going back to our old normal so hang on tight and make it work. We will be practicing tolerance, compassion, prudence, social distancing, peaceful behaviors and love for all in our family here at Roxx on Main. Stay safe, be well and take time to watch the tomatoes grow. Roxx on Main Be sure to visit Lesley’s restaurant. It’s outdoor dining at its very best! Live music every Friday and Saturday night under the stars. Roxx on Main is located at 627 Main Street in Historic Downtown Martinez. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 8pm and Saturday 2pm to 8pm. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. www.roxxonmain.com Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy and Chef/ Owner of Roxx on Main, offering delicious, sustainable foods to the community. She can be reached at lesley@roxxonmain.com • www.roxxonmain.com • www.lesleystilesfoods.com 925 370 ROXX

Trinity Center - A Safe Haven

A Doorway to Opportunity for Homeless and Working Poor On Friday, May 15 the Trinity Center celebrated a long awaited move to their new facility on the ground floor of St. Paul’s Commons in Walnut Creek. Trinity Center is a non-residential program serving the community by providing a drop-in center with services to meet the needs of persons experiencing homelessness and working poor residents in Central Contra Costa County. Trinity Center is a Contra Costa County Coordinated Assessment Referral and Engagement (CARE) Facility. They provide basic safety net services including daily meals, showers, laundry, emergency food & clothing as well as intensive case management and substance use counseling through their Member Advocacy program. The opportunity to expand Trinity Center’s programming and the collaboration to create affordable housing has paved the way for a new concept in Contra Costa County. Recently, through a partnership with Trinity Center, the Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa opened a new dining room within the Trinity Center. This partnership has expanded their delivery service of providing hot, nutritious lunch meals Monday through Friday, with the long term goal of opening the dining room to more people who are in need of food living in Walnut Creek. Leslie Gleason, Trinity Center’s executive director remarks, “When I look around the Center, I see people who are someone’s child, sibling or grandparent. I am

so grateful for the community’s support that allows us to offer a safe haven that provides basic resources and helps restore a sense of belonging and hope.” Trinity Center is considered an essential service and has continued to operate its day program to meet the growing demand for services, particularly as a result of COVID-19. A significant number of Trinity Center members are low-wage workers with minimal access to a safety net. Most of their members experience food insecurity and rely upon Trinity Center to meet this basic need. Trinity Center serves more than 850 unique individuals and provides over 55,000 services each year. St. Paul’s Commons represents an innovative partnership between St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Trinity Center, the City of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County and Resources for Community Development (RCD). St. Paul’s Commons consists of 45 recently occupied affordable housing units and community meeting space. “In the summer of 2012, Rev. Sylvia Vasquez (now retired) and I stood on the property where St. Paul’s Commons now stands, and visualized a new community center and affordable housing. I am excited to see that vision realized,” says Donna Colombo, Trinity Center’s founder and recently retired executive director. Trinity Center Member Advocates provide ongoing case management to several of the residents, offering indi-

vidualized support to ensure their long term success. “I’m finally inside and in a space of my own,” exclaimed a Trinity Center member and St. Paul’s Commons tenant as she received keys to her apartment. Many of the tenants were able to access housing just before the recent Shelter-in-Place Order. Trinity Center remains focused on growing their mission to be a doorway to opportunity for homeless and working poor people by providing hope to each person through supported access to services and resources. Trinity Center welcomes the community to join their program through a variety of volunteer opportunities, including the Day Program, Fund Development and Events. Additional donations are needed to help support

the growing need in the community. To learn more or donate, visit: trinitycenterwc.org. About Trinity Center, TrinityCenterWC.org Trinity Center is a non-residential program serving homeless and working poor adult men and women in Walnut Creek and Central Contra Costa County, offering a safety net of basic human services including food, breakfast and lunch; showers and laundry; mail and telephone access; clothing; referral services; and help with benefit applications. Trinity Center is an opportunity for community and a safe place for people who are homeless and those experiencing poverty. To learn more or donate, visit: trinitycenterwc.org.

Trinity Center and St. Paul’s Commons. Photo by Zella Urmson Photography

Trinity Center Interior. Photo by Zella Urmson Photography OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 2020 | 23

General Manager’s Message Invisible Barriers

By Michelle Lacy General Manager, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Last month our Board of Directors released an important statement on Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District’s commitment to make equity and inclusion a fundamental guiding tenet in our decision making and operational practices to provide parks, community services and recreation programs for people of all ages, ethnicities, cultures and abilities. Read statment in far right column.

More recently, we were approached by the Bay Area Bike Project about adding a bike track to one of our parks. A bike track would provide a new recreation opportunity for those who are not into more traditional sports like baseball, soccer or football. In the case of these two park amenities, the invisible barrier is our own limited thinking around traditional park features. We will continue to evaluate our parks and invest in amenities that serve as many diﬀerent types of needs as possible. Continued community engagement is another important step to break through inequity barriers and uncover opportunities beyond what we have always done in the past.

At rst glance, people may wonder what diversity, equity and inclusivity has to do with us. We do own and manage over 269 acres of public parkland after all. This is where invisible barriers come in. Yes, our parks are open to all people but if you take a closer look, we have work to do to remove limitations. We are taking this moment in history Programming: Although we have a fee waiver assistance program already in place for families struggling nancially, to look harder, do more and be better. Here are some of we are currently reevaluating pricing for all programs to areas that we are actively working on: determine if additional subsidies are needed to provide Park Locations: Access to park space is key for mental and greater support and access to recreation opportunities for physical well-being for all people; a fact that has been am- all families, regardless of income-level. We also love our traditional programs, events and classes. Our participants pliied during this pandemic. As such, it is important to do too so we often default to what we’ved done and not look at the distribution of parkland to make sure that all Rec & Park residents have equal access from their homes. look to what we could do. We need to make programming decisions that are not solely based on tradition. We need to make space for new ideas, concepts, and recreation opporDuring the Big Picture Master Plan process, we mapped tunities that appeal to more diverse audiences. our parks and found that our park assets are primarily located in the central and eastern parts of the District. Staffing: As one of the largest employers in Pleasant Hill, This inequitable distribution of parkland means that Rec & Park is assessing our hiring policies, staff training and residents who live in the north and west, must travel fu further to access open space, playgrounds, balllelds, and practices to ensure that not only is the diversity of our staff representative of the community but that our staff conduct is other park and recreation amenities. In order to address this inequitable parkland distribution, we will continue to respectful and inclusive toward all people. Last year, for identify opportunities to acquire additional land in those example, our entire staff was educated about people experiencing homelessness to better understand their difficult neighborhoods. Knowing where we need to focus is the circumstances and to help foster more positive interaction. rst step to resolving inequities. Park Amenities: Prior to opening our new all-abilities playground in February 2020, Rec & Park didn’t have a single play structure for children with disabilities. Autumn Green, Executive Director and Founder of All-In-Need, a nonproot, serving children who have special needs and their families, brought this to our Board’s attention. We subsequently built the spectacular new all-abilities playground in Pleasant Oaks Park and all future playground structures will include elements to allow all children to play.

These actions and assessments are only the beginning. I personally invite you to reach out to me or to members of the Board to share your thoughts and ideas with us on how we can do better. Our vision is to be the leaders in providing WOW! experiences every day and to achieve this, our mission is to put people rst--all people. I look forward to hearing from you. Please email me at mlacy@pleasanthillrec.com.

Statement from the Board of Directors on Commitment to Equity and Inclusion Traumatic events across the U.S. in recent weeks have led to an important national discussion about race in America and systemic inequality. The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District Board acknowledges the injustices and pain that people of color have endured for centuries, and we pledge to do our part to create greater equity in our community. We reject racism and discrimination. Every member of our community deserves access to the peace and beauty of nature, to spaces and activities that foster good health, to enrichment programs that spark knowledge and passion, and to limitless opportunities to play and celebrate life. Our parks, open spaces, facilities and programs were created to be welcoming and inclusive experiences for all to enjoy. We acknowledge, however, that there may be barriers to access and participation for some members of our community. We promise to examine those barriers and actively work to eliminate them. As an agency and as elected oﬃcials who serve this community, we will use this moment as a catalyst to look inward, hear from the community, and examine our policies. Our promise to you is to take the necessary steps and commit to doing the work to ensure equity in everything we do. We are honored to serve a diverse community and embrace the opportunity to provide welcoming and inclusive experiences for all. Your input on how the District and staﬀ can do better is encouraged and we look forward to your feedback. Jennifer Ortega, Chair Andrew Pierce, Vice Chair Zac Shess, Secretary Bobby Glover, Board Member Sandra Bonato, Board Member

pleasanthillrec.com

August 2020 Community Focus

Articles inside

Hassle free property ownership experience

Mitigation of legal issues through effective risk management

Higher tenant retention and lower vacancy losses

Accounting to maximize your after tax investment income

Effective large scale marketing campaigns

Systematic rent collection ensures consistent cash flow

Determine competitive market rental value

Scheduling and management of property viewings

Property maintenance and repairs