January 2021 Community Focus by Community Focus

time to say

THE 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: Becky Coburn, Elena Hutslar and Jennifer Neys wave as the Community Focus bids farewell.

INSIDE

4 Saying Goodbye

13 Thank You for Reading My Mind

Real Estate Trends

7 2021 Datebook

17 Coaches, Our Unsung Heroes

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6680 Alhambra Ave. Box #132 Martinez, CA 94553

925-335-6397

Meet Robin Wood who lives in Walnut Creek. I met Robin at an event hosted by a local Facebook group called “In and Around Pleasant Hill Food and Drink.” Robin is passionate about food and supporting local restaurants during the pandemic. She shares her outdoor dining and to-go adventures with the local social media community in the hopes of driving business to restaurants and other small businesses that are struggling. When she’s not eating, she supports local school districts in Contra Costa County as manager of District Business and Payroll Services for the Contra Costa County Office of Education. How has COVID-19 affected you? My mom fell at the beginning of March 2020. She went to a local skilled nursing facility right before the pandemic started. There was a COVID outbreak in June and my 90-year old mom tested positive. She’s a tough old broad and she recovered. My biggest challenge has been being away from my mom during the pandemic and not seeing or hugging her! More about Robin: 1. I love meeting new people and dining out with friends or by myself. I’m also a total gadget girl. Give me something electronic and I’m happy for hours! 2. My New Year’s resolution is to travel in 2021 and eat and drink my way around the world!

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Thank You, Community Focus! Normally in this space I would be advertising my insurance business, however, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the publishers of The Community Focus for all they have done for my business and for me personally. I first met “The Focus Ladies” (Elena Hutslar, Becky Coburn, and Jennifer Neys) when I went into the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Office to sign up my business. I had just had opened my doors and was looking for ways to get connected. I was new to Pleasant Hill and had no family in the area and needed help to get to know the community. The Focus Ladies were there talking to the Chamber of Commerce staff about starting their local paper and would I be interested in being an advertiser. I loved the idea of a hometown newspaper and it sounded like a good idea. Over the many years of advertising with The Community Focus, the paper evolved as well as my business. I feel the paper truly played a significant role in my professional success and personal life accomplishments. I am very appreciative for everything this paper has brought to our community and my business.

Thank you again and all the best in your future endeavors. Matt Rinn (State Farm agent, former mayor, and current Pleasant Hill councilmember)

2 | JANUARY 2021 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

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Thank You and Farewell Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow BY ELENA HUTSLAR, COMMUITY FOCUS CO-PUBLISHER It is time for The Community Focus to bid farewell. It has been an amazing ride and we will treasure the experiences we’ve had and the people we’ve met along the way. This paper has been a collective effort, and we want to take this space to thank our loyal readers, writers, and advertisers. Jennifer, Becky and I met through many shared baseball seasons with our sons who played in the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association. I approached them one afternoon with a crazy idea to run a newspaper for Pleasant Hill, and I am honored they were willing to join me in this daunting endeavor. With all our kids in school, sports, and various after-school programs, we encountered a variety of great stories not being told and felt inspired to highlight the many organizations, individuals, and businesses that shape our community. This was our focus, and we have enjoyed sharing these stories for 11½ years. Many tried to dissuade us from tak-

ing on this project, but we truly felt our community would ultimately benefit from positive news and bring us closer to our neighbors, schools, and businesses. Over the years, we have been fortunate to receive thank you cards, emails and phone calls. Those meant a great deal to us. Thank you! We even received awards from the county and our chamber of commerce. We enjoyed the recognition and building wonderful relationships within our city and neighboring cities as well as with the school districts, local non-profits and civic leaders. But the lasting memories will be of the people we met who worked tirelessly to make a difference. Our takeaway is there is no shortage of individuals helping neighbors, and when we join in their efforts, the results are immeasurable. Negative stories continue to dominate our media sources and it’s a struggle to avoid them. But we all know stories of support and resiliency. We just have to work to hear and see them. I hope that our readers will continue to find the good news. Please

seek it out and share it on your favorite platforms. Spread the good vibes. We can’t say goodbye without sharing our deep gratitude. This paper would not have existed without the help of our generous community columnists, some who have written over 100 articles, and our loyal advertisers, many who’ve been with us since the beginning. We are so very grateful for your support and could not have managed this without you. Many Thanks: Much gratitude to Trish Heaney, our dear friend and magical graphic designer who understood our vision and created our layouts for ads and written articles, took photos, and put up with us and our deadlines every month. Thank you for always making us look good, working weekends and crazy late nights, and doing it all with a sincere heart and wonderful sense of humor. Thank you to Alison Clary, our gatekeeper of grammar. You have read through articles and checked for everything from

typos to nonsensical sentences to errant commas. You’ve written meaningful articles and also gave life to our words, and we are forever grateful for your dedication to the paper. We have appreciated your help more than you will ever know. Thank you to Susan Wood, who has been so generous with your time and talents. Thanks for supporting us by submitting fun articles, hunting down the perfect shot and supplying beautiful photos for our covers and articles. We are grateful for meeting you along the way and treasure our relationship. Thank you to all our kids and spouses, who have supported us throughout this endeavor. You have taken photos, written stories, pitched article ideas, and posed for cover photos. But most of all, thank you for being supportive of the time required to create this publication. This quote illustrates our feelings perfectly: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

Publishers (LtoR) Becky Coburn, Jen Neys and Elena Hutslar, Graphic Designer Trish Heaney and Copy Editor Alison Clary.

Almost the whole gang (LtoR): Becky and Greg Coburn, Elena and Erik Hutslar, Alison Clary and John Kujanek, Trish and Mike Heaney.

September 2009 cover photo with our kids and their friends: Stephanie Neys, Kevin Neys, Jack Coburn, Brandon Hutslar, Ryan Carroll, Ben Coburn, Devin Hutslar, Madeline Weiss (Coburn), Ryan Thompson and Cole Hutslar.

January 2021 Final Staging of our kids for the last issue. Stephanie Neys, Kevin Neys, Jack Coburn, Brandon Hutslar, Dane Hutslar, Ben Coburn, Devin Hutslar, Madeline Weiss (Coburn) and Cole Hutslar. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2021 | 3

Real Estate Trends A Super Hot Market BY NORMA FLASKERUD As we begin 2021, we sadly say good-bye to The Focus! We will miss it so much. I so admire the team that puts it together month after month, year in, and year out; they had a wonderful vision and pulled it off! Thanks for publishing this wonderful community oriented newspaper, Becky Coburn, Jennifer Neys, and Elena Hutslar. The Focus’ graphic designer, Trish Heaney, was a big help in creating our ads. I have to share our connection to Trish. My first full-time job after a year of substitute teaching after college was as an insurance adjuster for The Travelers Insurance Company in the city. My supervisor was a really great guy name John Stone, who happened to be Trish’s father! Trish grew up and married a very special guy named Mike Heaney, who is a swim coach. Early in his career, Mike coached my children on the

Pleasant Hill Dolfins swim team, and they loved him!! (We did too!) Circle of life! 2021’s story remains to be written. No one foresaw 2020’s story as it played out. But with vaccinations, we are all hopeful things will improve! The story of real estate from the beginning of the pandemic and during it continues to be fascinating. March’s shutdown stopped our market in its tracks; we were so worried. But then something happened; houses started selling and getting multiple offers, from low-end properties to multi-million dollar homes! Our buyers had to write aggressive offers, offering way over the asking price and buying as-is! Our sellers enjoyed the benefit of selling for top dollar as-is! Home prices soared as much as 10% higher than a year ago. To get an idea of what to expect this year, we have studied the predictions of economists from Altos Research, Realtor. com, Redfin, California Association of Realtors, and others with reference to the entire USA. Here are snippets of their thoughts: • The housing market will enter 2021 blaz-

ing hot, with off-the-charts demand and an extreme shortage of homes for sale. • As far as seasonality goes, we expect housing to be busier in spring, like it normally is, and while fall will be strong, we don’t expect it to be sizzling hot like fall of 2020. • A lot of people wanted to move in 2020 but were too nervous, however, it seems the economy will be in a better place in 2021, which will spur more moves. • The vaccine may allow the economy to open, leading to more consumer confidence, but we will likely see higher interest rates, which might slow the price growth in homes. • As remote work becomes normalized, more people will move across the country to more affordable areas where they can have more space. • Supply and demand will drive the market in 2021; supply will remain low and demand will stay exceptionally high. There are millions of millennials aging into prime homebuying years and millions more Gen Zers, keeping demand high for years to

come • The comfort and perceived safety of being in a single-family home with no common areas in suburban areas is where there is high demand, which we expect will continue into 2021 (This describes most of our area.) • Might a double-dip recession happen, and, if so, will it affect home sales? With the government passing stimulus bills it is not likely, but as some people are unable to pay mortgage payments, their home has climbed in double-digit value this past year and they should be able to sell really quickly, without facing foreclosure. Thanks again to The Focus crew as we sadly say good-bye. The Flaskerud Team can be reached at Remax Accord, 367 Civic Dr Suite 7, Pleasant Hill, or call Norma at 925-766-6679 or Erik at 925-381-7276. Norma Hawkins Flaskerud Realtor Remax Accord, NormaJ49@ gmail.com. Erik Flaskerud Realtor Remax Accord Erik.Flaskerud@Remax.net SPONSORED CONTENT

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“I’ve Never Needed Help From a Food Bank Before!” BY JENNY KING, FOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO We hear these words daily and our data backs it up; the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is serving over 50% more people compared to just one year ago. This isn’t just a local problem. Nationwide, Feeding America reports 40% of people currently turning to food banks are doing so for the first time. If you are struggling to pay your bills, you are not alone. We want you to know that WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. And your community is here for you! You can receive nutritious food at no cost, which can help you pay for those other basic necessities, including housing, utilities, and medical expenses. We, along with the help of our 240 partner agencies, operate food distributions seven days a week throughout Con4 | JANUARY 2021 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

tra Costa and Solano counties. Visit foodbankccs.org/getfood for a listing of Food Bank programs, including contactless drive-thru distributions, or call 1-855-3093663 (FOOD) to learn about food pantries in your area. If you don’t need our services but want to help your neighbors get back on their feet, here are five ways you can sup-

port the Food Bank’s efforts: 1. Make a one-time donation at foodbankccs.org/donate Every $1 can provide enough food for two meals. 2. Join “Nourish 365,” the Food Bank’s giving club, at foodbankccs.org/nourish365 Experience hassle-free automated giving from your debit or credit account. Your monthly pledge of any amount will

help us sustain and grow our services. 3. Sign up to volunteer at foodbankccs. org/volunteer We have daytime, evening, and weekend shifts. You can sign up for a single opportunity or become one of our regulars! 4. Spread the word to your neighbors in need If you know of anyone having a hard time making ends meet, let them know that the Food Bank can be a resource for them! Not only can we help provide food to fill an immediate need, but our Outreach Team can help them figure out if they might qualify for CalFresh. 5. Stay informed Sign up to receive our newsletters at foodbankccs.org/enews or join us on social media at @foodbankccs. It is vital that we weather this health and economic storm together because a nourished community is a strong community.

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Real Estate Advice Proposition 19 Property Tax Modifications

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BY PETE SABINE There are two main parts to the law and two major deadlines. New rules for transfers of inherited property will begin Feb. 16, 2021. New rules for taking a favorable assessment on a home purchase begin April 1, 2021, and the replacement home must be purchased within two years of the sale date. The main provision of Prop 19 allows the owner of a primary residence who is 55 years of age or older or severely disabled or has lost their home to wildfire disaster to transfer the taxable value (its tax basis) of that residence to a replacement primary residence anywhere in the state. If you sell your home with a taxable value of $100,000 and buy a new primary residence in California, you will be able to keep the benefit of that basis for your new home. Prop 19 allows for the easier move-

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ment of a primary residence’s taxable value. The old law only allowed a basis to be moved between two counties if those counties opted into the law, but Prop 19 now allows for that movement anywhere in this state. Additionally, contrary to prior law, Prop 19 allows a primary residence’s tax value to be moved three times as opposed to only once. So, if you are over 55 years old, it is easier to move and keep the tax benefit of your original home. The law provides that if the taxable value of a home is transferred to a replacement that is “of equal or lesser value,” the taxable value of the replacement primary residence will be the same as the taxable value of the original. The basis of your original home gets transferred exactly to your new home. If you transfer your basis to a replacement property that is of greater value, the basis for your new home is calculated as follows: The taxable value (basis) of your original primary residence is increased by the difference between the cash value (sales price) of your original residence and the cash value (purchase price) of your replacement residence, and that new number becomes your replacement home’s basis. For example, if your current, original residence has a tax value of $100,000 but a cash value of $500,000 and you buy a replacement primary residence for $1 million, then the tax value (basis) for the new home will be $600,000, which equals the original tax value of $100,000 plus the difference in

cash value between the two properties ($1 million minus $500,000). Even though there is a step up in basis that recognizes the increased value of your new home, it is kept down by using the basis of your original residence as a starting point. While Prop 19 still covers the transfer of a family home between parents and their children, including through inheritance, the tax value can only be transferred if the property continues as the family home of the transferee. If you inherit your parents’ property, you can only keep their tax basis if you continue to use that property as your primary residence. If you want to use the property as an investment, you will not get the benefit of the property’s original basis. The reduction in tax income resulting from the easing of tax basis transfers for older homeowners has been offset by an increase in tax income from inherited investment properties. Some will save money because of Prop 19 (homeowners over 55 who move within California), while others will pay more tax (children who inherit property for use as an investment). Please consult with your tax professional to understand your specific tax issues. Call us to win with us! Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney: 925.297.5335. Discover more real estate pro tips. Find our podcasts at FiveStarRealEstateTeam.podbean.com. Compass #01866771 SPONSORED CONTENT

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Saying Goodbye to The Focus Today We Lose a Lifeline BY JEREMY CARLSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PLEASANT HILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Growing up, I remember reading a newspaper my grandmother received by mail every week from her hometown of Cherokee, Oklahoma. Every week, we would be regaled with the latest news about local high school sports, local politics, and the occasional story of a cow getting loose and wandering into town. This was big news for a town with a population of less than 3,000. My grandmother read this paper and then had the paper read to her until she died in 2012. Another paper she loved to read was The Community Focus, and I think I know why. She lived in Concord since 1954,

when every town in the Diablo Valley was a small town, just like back home. She watched the farmland and orchards get replaced, little by little, by cookie cutter tract homes and strip malls, and all too soon the only delineation between one city and the next was a sign. In 2009, a startup community paper was created to highlight our communities on a very local level. It included news about high school athletic successes, local civic events, regular letters from our mayors, book reviews, culinary/gardening tips from local citizens, local music scene news, and local advertisers – all things community. For eleven years, The Community Focus helped make our neck of the metropolitan Bay Area feel a little more small town and a little less urban sprawl. For eleven years, we happily submitted articles and ads, and at the

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delivery of each new edition, we immediately read it from cover to cover, never giving thought to what made it so special. Today, I sit writing an article for The Community Focus to say goodbye. We in the Diablo Valley are saying goodbye to a very special newspaper that is very uniquely us. Each page had articles submitted by our friends and neighbors. I will miss Small talk with Teri, Mayor’s Messages, music news from Paul Cotruvo, book reviews by Michael Harris, and of course, athletic news from our high schools and sports organizations (Go Falcons!). Today we lose a lifeline that helps make our region feel like a small town, and I hope in the future that something will come our way to replace the void created by the end of the run of The Community Focus -- and what a run it was! As a resident of Pleasant Hill, I want

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to say thank you to Elena, Jennifer, and Becky for giving all of us such a wonderful gift. Their labor of love spotlighted why living here in the Diablo Valley is so incredibly special, and with the right magic, anywhere can be a small town. It’s how you focus on your community.

Exceptional Nurse Award Tonya Tsingaris

Exceptional Essential Business Award Jason & Kathy Olson Grocery Outlet

Congratulations to our Hometown Heroes Winners www.pleasanthillca.org/heroes

Exceptional Essential Employee Award Brittany Quail Youth Homes

Exceptional Teacher Award Center of Gravity Preschool

Exceptional Community Partner Award Youth Homes

Good Neighbor Award Alex Khodadad

Unsung Hero Award Margaret Stauffer

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2021 | 7

CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message On December 7, 2020, I was honored to be elected mayor by my fellow councilmembers. Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, there are many things to be optimistic about in Pleasant Hill. Our new library is progressing well. Although we definitely need rain, the limited rain so far has allowed significant progress to be made. As council subcommittee members, Michael Harris and I have been busy along with staff and our architects, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, in selecting furniture and fixtures. Luckily, BCJ presents us with only good options so Michael and I do not have to rely on our own interior deco-

rating skills. The fundraising arm for many of these items and technology pieces is well underway, and more public information will be forthcoming in the new year. Prior to COVID hitting, the General Plan Advisory Committee held several public meetings and events to get the community’s feedback on the vision for Pleasant Hill for the next twenty years. We took a hiatus at the beginning of the pandemic but are back on track now. We are reviewing one plan element at a time and hope many of you will join us at our online meetings. For further information about the General Plan, go to pleasan-

— Cheers to a Happy & Healthy 2021! — With 13+ years of experience, I love helping people in our community buy and sell homes; you can count on me to make 2021 a wonderful New Year. Serving Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Lamorinda, and Concord.

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thill2040.com. We will have challenges as we come out of this pandemic. Many of our local businesses have suffered or, sadly, closed in some cases. The city has tried to assist with outdoor dining options and resources as well as signage for social distancing. We will be looking at ways to support our city’s economic recovery through our Economic Development Committee along with the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. Until we can fully reopen, please patronize our local businesses and restaurants as much as possible while continuing to wear masks and socially distance. With a reduction in sales tax revenue and transit occupancy tax, the city’s finances have also been put under a bit of strain. The city implemented a hiring freeze and made operating cuts across all departments to alleviate some of the strain without sacrificing services to the community. We are fortunate that years of fiscal diligence resulted in a healthy reserve. The reserve was built to sustain us through an economic downturn like we are currently facing. During this pandemic, we have also been addressing the many issues sur-

rounding social inequity and racism. Our Civic Action Commission’s Diversity Subcommittee held four Town Hall Community Conversations. Each town hall dealt with a different aspect of these issues, and I hope to continue these in 2021. Our focus will continue to be a welcoming and inclusive city. Throughout this pandemic, I have been so impressed with this community. To the businesses adapting to the ever-changing health regulations, the community using social media to stay connected and communicate important information, the essential workers, teachers and first responders working long and exhausting hours to keep our lives as normal as possible – thank you. This is what makes Pleasant Hill the fantastic community it is, and I am so proud to serve it. Lastly, I want to note that it is with great sadness that I am writing this article for the last edition of The Community Focus. I have looked forward to reading the Focus at the beginning of every month. It was a great source of local information on people, businesses, and activities. It will be greatly missed, but thank you for all your efforts over the last several years.

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CITY NEWS

Pleasant Hill City News

The proposal also includes an amendment to the existing Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) that would remove this site from the plan area. In addition, the project includes a General Plan Amendment, a Development Plan, and Rezoning that will be considered, plus a recommendation made separately by the Planning Commission.Â Â The Commission provided direction regarding the proposed roof deck, additional street view elevation, perimeter fencing height, corner building treatment fronting the street, detailing of the roof, pet area exclusion, and planting plan. Seven members of the public spoke on the item, all in opposition to the proposal for various reasons, including but not limited to building size and massing, traffic, and parking concerns. Any action on this project has been continued to theÂ January 7, 2021, meeting date. â&#x20AC;ŻÂ Â Friends Book StoreÂ The Friends Book Store on Crescent DriveÂ is open, however, the number of people in the store is capped at 12. You can use the website at www.phlibraryfriends.orgÂ to orderÂ books and other items and take advantage of curbside pickup, in-store pickup, or local delivery on orders $10Â and over.Â The Book Store is open daily from 11am until 5pm.Â Â Â Consider Donating to the FriendsÂ The Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library is committed to supporting the new library with the best programs in the county. The new library will open in just over a year and will expand learning and cultural offerings for children and adults in every stage of their lives. In the meantime, they have a lot of work to do and funds to raiseÂ to make it all happen. The easiest way to donate is to visit phlibraryfriends.org. â&#x20AC;ŻIf you want to make a donation by check, please send your check to Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library, 35 Crescent Drive, Suite A, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Your donation is a taxdeductible charitable contribution. They are a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization and will send all donors a written acknowledgement (if your donation is accompanied by a name and address) for your tax purposes.Â Â

Search for new CityÂ PIOÂ

Now that Public Information Officer Gayle Vassar has retired, theÂ temporaryÂ staff liaison for the Outlook newsletter will be Danielle Habr, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior management analyst. At this time, other community relations tasks have been divided among staff members. The city is currently searching for a permanent replacement for the community relations manager/public information officer position.Â In the meantime, City Manager June Catalano said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are working on getting out communications, have distributed many of Gayleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s duties, and are in the process of hiring a consultant to help us with social media and getting the word out on the county health orders.â&#x20AC;?Â Â Â City Council ReorganizationÂ City Councilmember Sue Noack is Pleasant Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mayor for 2021, replacing outgoing Mayor Matt Rinn; Michael Harris is vice mayor; and Councilmembers Ken Carlson, Tim Flaherty, and Matt Rinn and City Treasurer Mark Celio will serve the city for another term. At the December 7 council meeting, Vice Mayor Harris said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tim, Ken and Matt, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a pleasure serving with you these past few years. Even when we disagree, we always respect each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinions, and once an item is over, we do our best to represent the folks who elected us. And Mark, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just the stalwart of this community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a testament to the quality of work that you folks do that you ran unopposed, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just delighted that I will continue to be working with you all.â&#x20AC;?Â With regard to outgoing Mayor Matt Rinn, Mayor NoackÂ remarked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Job well done. This has been a tough year for everybody and being a first-time mayor, facing COVID and all the challenges, whether it was Zoom meetings or how to participate in events that were still ongoing at the city, you stepped up and took on the position with real dedication, and I appreciate that. You also maintainedÂ a sense of humor, which is important during this time. And youÂ kept up the camaraderie; I think you did a superb job on that.â&#x20AC;?Â Â Sandbag StationsÂ Sand and bags are now available at the following self-serve sandbag stations*:Â Â City Hall parking lot (100 Gregory Lane atÂ TrelanyÂ Road â&#x20AC;&#x201C; behind Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) Community Center parking lotâ&#x20AC;Ż(320 Civic Drive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; behind the Police Department) Parking Lot on north side of Hawthorne Driveâ&#x20AC;Ż(opposite Pleasant Oaks Park) *Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, residents will be required to provide their own shovel.Â For those unable to fill their own sandbags, a limited number of pre-filled bags are available at the Public Services Center, 310 Civic Drive. Call (925) 671-4646Â to check sandbag availability before going to the center. No sandbags are available

after 4pm (Monday through Thursday) or after 10:30am on Friday.Â

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85Â CleavelandÂ Road ProjectÂ On December 17, the Architectural Review CommissionÂ public hearing was held to consider a recommendation on an Architectural Review Permit and Tree Removal Permit for a new 189-unit, multi-family residential building that is up to $$% &

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$% ' ( ) * !+ ,) - 34 342 &"/"2.! 4.5 stories, up to 61â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 11â&#x20AC;? feet tall, includes 5% very low income and 5% moderate income affordable units, and 304 parking spaces. The 2.33-acre propertyÂ projectÂ is locatedÂ between Boyd Road and Crescent Plaza and includes a roof deck, three courtyards, pool, spa, fitness center, and clubroom lounge. The units would consist of floor plans ranging in size from 562 square feet to 1,182 square feet. The applicant is also requesting approval to remove 33 trees, including three that are protected species.Â

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CITY NEWS

Mayor’s Message After 10 ½ months, we may be seeing the end of the pandemic. Vaccines are being administered to health care workers, first responders, nursing home patients, and teachers. Most of the rest of

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us will need to wait as the vaccine continues to be manufactured and delivered. As I write this, we are still in a lockdown, with indoor and outdoor dining prohibited. I just hope that during this holiday season people took more precautions, socially distanced, and wore their masks. It is going to take all of us being respectful of each other and not just thinking of ourselves. The City of Martinez has been working very closely with Main Street Martinez and the Martinez Chamber of Commerce to help small business in Martinez. Now that we are back in lockdown, the outdoor dining program is on hold, but retail can still operate with 20% capacity. In addition, there are several grant opportunities and other resources that can help the Martinez business community during this challenging time. Visit the city’s COVID-19 Small Business Resource Webpage: https://www.cityofmartinez.org/gov/ coronavirus_(covid_19)/small_business_ resource_center_(covid_19).asp The presidential election is finally over and the Martinez City Council has a new member, Brianne Zorn. Brianne has been a member of the Parks, Recreation, Marina, and Cultural Commission for about a year. Brianne was sworn in as the council member representing District 3 and will serve a term of four years. I look

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Rob Schroder, Mayor of Martinez

forward to working with Brianne and all council members as we come out of this pandemic and bring back the vibrancy of Martinez. Noralea Gipner has retired from the council but will continue to be active in the community to make her hometown of Martinez a better place for all of us. She will also continue to work tirelessly on homelessness through the Homeless Action Coalition. Over these past many months, I have frequently reported that the city has negotiated with the company that makes the Big Belly refuse and recycling systems. These are receptacles that work very much like a mailbox; once an item is deposited in the box, it cannot be removed until a person with a key unlocks the system and empties the bins. This promotes recycling and reduces litter caused by

individuals rummaging through the bins. I am happy to report that three of these systems were installed on Main Street, and I look forward to the installation of many more. For almost 12 years, The Community Focus has informed the local community on what is going on their neighborhoods and cities. I have had the privilege of writing a monthly article as the mayor of Martinez for the last 10 years. This publication has filled a void in our communities due to the demise of local journalism. Unfortunately, The Community Focus is now a casualty of this trend. It concerns me that Facebook and Instagram may be the only outlet for local news, accurate or not. Thank you, Elena, Becky, Jennifer, and all who contributed to this amazing local publication.

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year” – Vern McLellan

CITY NEWS

Martinez City News

City Council Reorganization McKillop Elected Vice Mayor At the December 9 city council meeting, council voted and adopted a resolution appointing Councilmember Debbie McKillop as vice mayor from December 9, 2020, through December 2021. According to City Council Policies and Procedures, the mayor shall appoint a vice mayor, subject to ratification by the City Council, to serve a one-year term commencing on the first regular meeting of December or at the first meeting after the certification of election results. The swearing in of newly elected officials also took place at the meeting: City Clerk -- Richard G. Hernandez; City Treasurer -- Carolyn Robinson; Councilmember -- Mark Ross; and Councilmember Brianne Zorn, who is replacing Councilmember Noralea Gipner.

Outdoor Restaurant Seating/Retail Display Program Due to the Bay Area Health Officers and Contra Costa County Stay-AtHome orders, which recently went into effect due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, the City of Martinez Outdoor Restaurant Seating/Retail Display Program has been suspended. The city looks forward to resuming the Outdoor Dining and Retail Program as soon as the county order is lifted or revised to allow its continuation. In the meantime, Martinez residents and visitors are encouraged to support local businesses since the current county order still allows restaurant take-out and delivery as well as indoor retail at 20% capacity. The city has created a list of open Martinez businesses that can be found here: https://bit.ly/3oNaZwH.

“Bigbelly” Stations Three automated recycling and landfill waste stations have been installed by the city on Main Street to enhance public space cleanliness and reduce the carbon footprint of trash collection. The new downtown “Bigbelly” stations are located at the intersections of Main at Castro, Main at Estudillo, and Main at Ferry. These locations were selected for this pilot project based on visibility and waste volume. These trash containers have a compaction mechanism inside the receptacles, and the design makes it nearly impossible to access waste once it is inside the containers. Each Bigbelly station is outfitted with solar panels to power the compactors and wireless technology that reports capacity status to the phones and computers of Public Works staff. If this pilot project is successful and well received by business owners and the public, additional stations may be considered by the city for other areas downtown as well as city parks.

a meeting with the PRMCC Fee Subcommittee in early January to review recommendations. The 2021 field use and sport seasons are dependent upon future health order restrictions. Staff is working closely with current groups as all are interested in continuing field rentals in 2021. Aquatics Staff has met with the California Parks and Recreation Society District 3 Aquatics Professionals, namely in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, to review potential spring and summer programming and operational opportunities for 2021. Spring 2021 planning is being finalized in the hopes that county restrictions will lessen once again in order to offer Lap Swim, Water Aerobics, Swim Team, modified Family Swim, and modified Private Swim Lessons, starting in May 2021.

Cheerleaders Selected Three Alhambra High Cheerleaders, Bella Mesones-senior, Sadie Bartlett- sophomore, and Lauren Catanho- junior, were chosen to participate in an All American Cheer Showcase in Orlando, Florida, with other high school cheerleaders and dancers from across the country to represent the camp brands of Varsity Spirit in the Varsity Spirit Spectacular. On November 23, six hundred cheerleaders performed at Universal Studios in Florida. All American Cheerleaders are usually chosen every year at various cheer camps throughout the US but this year they were selected by way of a virtual tryout. The girls received an All American certificate, a blue ribbon, and a patch for their varsity letterman jackets. The Alhambra cheerleaders expressed their gratitude, “We are all so grateful for the opportunity to cheer in 2020, and we thank everyone who supported us. We also thank Varsity for choosing us to be a part of this incredible event.”

Park, Recreation, Marina & Cultural Commission News Field Rentals PRMCC staff is working on finalizing revisions to the Priority Field Scheduling Policy, City Co-Sponsorship Qualifications, and fees. Staff will be requesting Alhambra High Cheerleaders, Bella Mesones, Sadie Bartlett and Lauren Catanho. OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2021 | 11

Estate Planning

My Trust is Signed, No Probate for My Family, Right? BY JEFFREY HALL, CPA, JD Probate /Trust Attorney Planning ahead has obvious benefits. Whether you’re planning a vacation or researching for a job interview, it’s always smart to outline your priorities and anticipate potential challenges that may arise. Planning your estate has similar benefits. With plans clearly established, your wealth and assets are protected should you pass away or become incapacitated. It’s important to be aware, however, that simply meeting with an attorney and signing a trust does not mean your estate planning process is complete. Without properly funding your trust, your assets could still be forced through the probate process. Understanding the Process While the term seems scary, probate

is a relatively simple concept. It’s a legal procedure that transfers assets from the deceased to their heirs or beneficiaries. When a will doesn’t exist or does not clearly outline a person’s plans for their estate after their passing, a judge needs to give legal permission for assets to be passed on to the heirs. If a will does exist, the court is involved to ensure the Personal Representative administers and distributes the estate according to the terms of the will. This process, called probate, is more common than you might expect. Not only does the probate process invite the judge to become involved in the distribution of the assets, it can also be a very public, time consuming, and expensive process. Depending on the value of the assets to be distributed through the probate process, some jurisdictions have a simplified probate proceeding. However, this can still

ARCHITECTURAL MOULDINGS

be a time consuming and public proceeding. Not every asset goes through the probate process. Anything owned solely by the deceased, like a home or vehicle, will be subject to probate. Any asset that has a surviving co-owner or beneficiary designation will transfer to the named individual automatically upon your death. Property held in a living trust is also exempt from the probate process because the assets are deemed to be owned by the trust, not you. Avoiding Probate Probating a will can be stressful. In the days and weeks following the loss of a loved one, the last thing family members want is a legal battle for their inheritance. In especially large estates, property may need to be professionally appraised and inventoried. Debts and taxes also need to be paid before the estate can be fully settled. The attorneys who handle these tasks will also take a chunk of the money for their involvement in the administration of the estate. Also, since probate is a matter of public record, there is a lack of privacy to consider. It’s no wonder so many people hope to avoid probate altogether. One of the most common ways to avoid probate is to use a revocable living trust to protect your assets. In order for the trust to keep your assets out of probate, the

assets have to be funded into the trust while you are alive. Failure to complete this step will lead your family to probate court even if it is just to have the assets transferred to the trust. If you have successfully funded your trust, your assets will be administered as you have directed in your trust once you pass away, without court involvement. The result is the transfer of your assets easily, timely, and privately. If you have questions about funding your trust, please give us a call. We can review your assets and ensure that everything is in place so your family can have a smooth administration, without court involvement. When it comes to the future, leave nothing to chance. Contact us to learn about your options under applicable law and to ensure that all of your assets, regardless of monetary value, are covered under your estate plan. 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 attorney-client relationship. SPONSORED CONTENT

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Senior Preparedness Julie Says Prepare Now to Save Your Life Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning. They may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or be confined to your home. What would you do if your basic services such as water, gas, electricity, or communications were cut off? The goal of this class is to provide information and resources that prepare you for emergencies such as fire, earthquake, or flooding so you feel confident in knowing how to respond appropriately. Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disasters by planning ahead. Even if you have physical limitations, you can still protect and prepare yourself. During this program we will discuss: · types of emergencies we might have in Pleasant Hill. Different types of emergencies require different responses. · how to identify the hazards within your house and eliminate them · putting together a disaster kit to keep in your dwelling; length of time you should expect to be isolated; and what should go into an emergency kit.

·p utting together a “Go Bag” if you have to leave or leave quickly · i mportant information you should take with you if you have to leave ·m aking a Communication Plan. How to go about it and whom you should contact ·e scape routes, meeting places, and reunification · planning for pets or service animals ·d isaster psychology -- how you might feel during and after an emergency The class will be presented on January 26 at 11am. Direct Link to Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/835632086 45?pwd=aEhMM3RRYk5GT0U1bjVITGJi WFJWdz09 Don’t have a Zoom account? Go to zoom.us and enter the meeting ID and password. Presenter: Gordon Doughty, longtime resident of Pleasant Hill, vice chair of the Pleasant Hill Community Emergency Response Team Steering Committee, former board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and retired PG&E manager.

The 2021 Datebook BY JULIE ROSS We’re all familiar with the expression “Hindsight is 20/20,” which means it’s easier to see and evaluate situations clearly when we’re looking back on them. Really not true with the year 2020, though, right? Too complicated trying to form a clear picture of that tragic mess of a year. But at least 2020 is finally in our past and better days are on the horizon. Hope appeared at my house a few days ago with the delivery of my 2021 datebook. I order one every year, and soon after it arrives, I go through the old version to page through the memories, good and not-so-good. Looking back at 2020, I have to say there were some highlights, but so sad to see all of the cancelations and cross-outs from mid-March onward. I’m hoping to resurrect some trips and plans and jot down some dates in my new 2021 book – at least in the second half of the year, when the worst fallout from Covid-19 should be behind us. I am truly sorry that one monthly calendar entry I will not be making is

the deadline to submit my column to The Community Focus. The pandemic is taking away some of the best of our local businesses, and with The Focus shutting down, we will be without yet another small pleasure. Kudos to publishers Elena, Becky, and Jennifer for keeping the paper running strong and bringing our community closer for the past decade-plus. I’ll miss their enthusiasm. I’ll also miss the input and comments I’ve received from readers over the years. Thank you. I’m eager to fill those fresh new 2021 datebook pages with fun and fulfillment. Here’s to brighter days ahead for all of us in our local communities and beyond. Happy New Year! You can reach Julie at julieakross@ comcast.net

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IN THE GARDEN

New Beginnings Forward into Spring BY LESLEY STILES As I wistfully and sadly pen my last column for The Community Focus, nostalgia sets in. Since day one, or should I say issue one, Elena, Jennifer, Becky, and the gals have allowed a frustrated food writer to joyfully ply my pecking fingers to keys. What started as a small, great Pleasant Hill informational publication, The Focus has grown over the years to a multi-city, multigenerational newspaper that is kept as a goto source all month. We will all miss you. I will be forever grateful to you gals for letting me be a part of it. What a fabulous job you have done, and what a ride you must have been on. Wishing you all the best in your continued journeys. Winter on a whole is a challenging month for produce, but add Covid into that and it becomes downright weird. Shopping the farmers’ market is still possible, but patience as a virtue comes hard into play as you dodge people less than six feet away, keep the mask over your nose, stand in line, and dig for money all at the same time. Try not to be too discouraged at the effort because the resulting freshest, cold weather goods are well worth it – unless, of course, you are growing your own winter garden and produce beckons to be foraged and consumed on the premises. Swiss chard, kale spinach and all winter sautéing greens come to mind this time of year, but it is also the season for carrots, beets, and all root vegetables, not to mention icy addicts’ cilantro, tarragon, and parsley, which are at their fullest, lushest glory these winter months. Lettuces are happiest currently as well and come in all varieties, shapes, and sizes. Romaine, arugula, and head lettuces come to mind, but not so common (albeit found at farmers’ markets) is Valerianella, also known as corn salad or mâche. Val, as I call her for short, has arguably been a staple for millennium. Originally foraged by European peasants, it was introduced into the royal kitchen of King Louie XIV in the late 1600s. It was not until the 18th 16 | JANUARY 2021 | OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM

Century in London farmers’ markets that it went commercial as a popular, cultivated, cold weather green. As though walking through an ancient mirror, Val once again gained popularity in regular grocery stores in the 1980s and probably grows in your own garden as a delectable volunteer to the soiree. It garnered the name of corn salad by popping up as a weed in corn rows. Val contains extremely high levels of vitamin C, iron, and potassium. Resembling a totally green rosette, a simple tear to the bunch in a bowl tossed with lemon oil and lemon juice, salt, and pepper can be a covert invasion of beauty, tricking the eye with simplicity, but taste buds know better. Cook tender ribbons of freshly made egg fettucine in boiling salted water for a few minutes. Drain, and as it gently drips, instantly and lightly sauté rosettes of Val with garlic and toss over the pasta. Grate a kiss of nutmeg in the air above her and shower grated manchego overall. Your first taste will leave you hanging on heaving air as Val does her peppery magic. But push through the narcotic haze and do it again. This is a magical green and puts you on a first name basis with Val. An amazing assortment of citrus fruit varieties is also copiously on tap the first quarter of the year. Satsumas, oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits invade the scene on fruitladen tables, scenting air around each vendor like perfume at Macy’s. Pink grapefruit is a fan favorite and has been for many a year. While researching the fruit, I stumbled upon this poem from days gone by, and it’s too good not to share. Yes, someone wrote a poem about pink grapefruit! Forbidden Fruit Tree The Trunk, Leaves, and Flowers of this Tree very much resemble those of the Orangetree. The Fruit, when ripe, is something longer and larger than the largest Orange; and exceeds, in the Delicacy of its Taste, the Fruit of every Tree in this or any of our neighbouring Islands. It hath somewhat of the Taste of a Shaddock; but far exceeds that, as well as the best Orange, in its delicious Taste and Flavour. —Description from Hughes’ 1750 Natural

History of Barbados I love this brief, antique description of the origins of grapefruit. Harking even earlier from Asia, it became the darling of the island’s scholars and botanists very quickly. In 1823, Count Odet Phillipe brought the fruit to Florida, where it was taken under the wing of many scientific scholars developing crosses of tangelos, Minneolas, and oroblanco grapefruits and finally crossing it with the orange and pomelo pink grapefruit in the early 1980s. Sweet to a fault, pink grapefruit is magical eaten out of the skin. Take it to fantasy level by covering with fine white sugar and hitting it with a blow torch to brûleée it. Create your own island spritz by juicing it with good vodka, elderflower liqueur, and soda. Whichever way you attain fresh produce

this season, it has been an absolute joy to share writing and recipes with you all these years, and I am deeply grateful for your comments and support. Roxx on Main is currently still open for take-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11-8, and Saturday, 2-8, for your dining pleasure. Cocktails are always happily prepared to go as well as non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine! All info is at www.roxxonmain. com; info@roxxonmain.com; 925 370 7699. Whatever you do, do not stop hiking in our amazing hills!! Happy New Year, with love and peace, from our home to yours!! Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy and Chef/ Owner of Roxx on Main, offering delicious, sustainable foods to the community.

Pasta e Fagioli White Bean Pasta Soup

Roasted Beet and Orange Salad

INGREDIENTS 12 ounces white beans, cooked 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 leek, quartered and sliced thin 1 large stalk green garlic, sliced, or 3 cloves 2 carrots, halved and sliced ¼ inch thick 3 stalks celery, sliced in ¼ inch slices ½ cup red wine 1 10-ounce can plum tomatoes with juice, chopped 6 to 8 cups homemade chicken stock, Coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste ½ pound Rosa Marina pasta or orzo 2 cups chopped greens such as kale & chard ½ cup chopped fresh oregano and thyme Lemon oil to finish Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS In a large, heavy bottomed soup pot, heat olive oil to medium high heat. Add leeks, garlic, carrots, and celery and sauté to sweat the veggies. Add the wine, stock, and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and add the beans. Simmer for 20 minutes and add pasta. Simmer for 20 minutes and add greens, herbs, salt, and pepper to taste. Turn off heat and let greens wilt. Serve in bowls and garnish with cheese and lemon oil. Yield: 8 Servings

INGREDIENTS Beets are one of the most amazing cleansing vegetables. They are strong diuretics but leave copious amounts of iron in their wake. 4 medium sized beets (I use golden beets when I want color integrity of the dish as red beets tend to color everything in their wake.) 1 Cara Cara orange 1 blood orange 1 navel orange 3 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar ¼ cup crumbled chèvre or feta 3 cups assorted salad greens Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Wash beets and remove stem end and root tail. Rub with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in baking dish, cover, and roast at 350 for about 45 minutes to an hour, until beets are easily pierced with a knife. Let cool until you can easily handle them. Peel, quarter, and slice the quarters, about ¼ inch thick. Peel and slice the oranges. Place greens in a bowl. Toss in the beets, oranges, and goat cheese. Drizzle remaining olive oil and rice vinegar over. Season with salt and pepper and gently toss to mix all. Yield: 4 Servings

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Read My Mind

Thank You For Reading My Mind BY MICHAEL G. HARRIS, OD Dear Reader, It is bittersweet that I’m writing my final “Read My Mind©” column for Community Focus. I remember meeting its publishers years ago to discuss the possibility of a local “feel-good newspaper.” I was enchanted with the idea and excited by the passion, enthusiasm, creativity, energy, and time they spent bringing our community together once a month. As an avid reader, I was delighted when they gave me the opportunity to share my love for reading with you in a book review column. I’m not a professional writer and have no training as a reviewer or critic, although I’m sure my wife would disagree. But I’ve been an educatorscientist for 55 years and have written several professional books and hundreds of scientific papers. Even so, this was an entirely new chapter for me. I was reading by my third birthday. I’ve been an avid reader ever since. As an adult, I’ve read at least one book a week. Since my official retirement as a professor at UC Berkeley, I’ve read several hundred books a year. Now that has all changed. As I wrote several years ago, I am slowly going blind from macular degeneration. As my vision deteriorates, I’ve had to rely on audiobooks to keep up with my voracious reading appetite. I’ve found this extremely frustrating as it takes me 10 times as long to listen to a book as to read one. So, it is indeed bittersweet and timely that I end this column at the same time The Focus discontinues publication. During the past nine years, I’ve written over 100 columns. To find just the right books to review for your enjoyment, entertainment, and education, I’ve read some 2,000 books during

this period. If you’ve enjoyed my columns half as much as I have enjoyed writing them, or if you read a book you might not have read without my recommendation, my efforts to extend my love of learning have been fulfilled. I love biographies. My first column featured Walter Isaacson’s biography Steve Jobs. Writing this column has forced me to expand my comfort zone to books and authors I never would have read if left to my own devices. I have learned so much from these books and expanded my horizons far beyond what I would have if I’d just stuck to genres and authors I loved. I hope you felt the same way when you read these books. As this is my final book review column, I’d like to leave you with recommendations of my favorites. To make it easy for you to find a good book you may have missed, I’ve organized the books by category. Hope you enjoy. INSPIRATIONAL: Mitch Albom Tuesday with Morrie; Randy Pausch The Last Lecture; Harold Kushner When Bad Things Happen to Good People HUMOR: Dave Barry The Worst Class Trip Ever; any book by Bill Bryson, especially The Road to Little Dribbling BIOGRAPHY: Walter Isaacson Leonardo da Vinci; Doris Kearns Goodwin Team of Rival; and Laura Hildebrand Unbroken WHO DONE IT: Ruth Ware The Woman in Cabin 10; Megan Goldin The Escape Room; Paula Hawkins The Girl on the Train; Gillian Flynn Gone Girl; Emma Donoghue Room; Michael Chabon The Yiddish Policemen’s Union and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay HISTORY: Any book by David McCullough, especially The Path Between the Seas and The Wright Brothers; Ron Chernow Alexander Hamilton; Bill Bryson A Short History of Everything PARENTING: Paul Tough How Children Succeed; Ethan Hawke Rules for a

Knight; Lesley Stahl Becoming Grandma SPORTS: Larry King Why I Love Baseball; David Halberstam The Teammates; Daniel James Brown The Boys in the Boat MEMOIRS: Doris Kearns Goodwin Wait Till Next Year; J.D. Vance Hillbilly Elegy; Tara Westover Educated; Trevor Noah Born a Crime; Michelle Obama Becoming SPY THRILLER: Daniel Silva The English Girl and The English Spy; Robert Harris Munich; Alan Furst A Hero of France HISTORICAL FICTION: Ken Follett The Kingsbridge series; David Benioff City of Thieves; Markus Zusak The Book Thief; Brad Meltzer The First Conspiracy, Nelson DeMille The Cuban Affair; Amar Towles A Gentleman in Moscow ROMANCE: Isabell Allende The Japanese Lover and Daughter of Fortune COURTROOM DRAMA: John Grisham The Reckoning and The Runaway Jury; Bryan Stevenson Just Mercy LOCAL AUTHOR: Roger Chapin The Dragon of God SOCIAL COMMENTARY: Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point, Outliers, and Blink; Colson Whitehead The Nickel Boys and The Underground Railroad; TaNehisi Coates Between the World and Me; Daniel Kahneman Thinking, Fast and Slow; Jonah Lehrer How We Decide HEALTH & LIFE LESSONS: Dave Barry Lessons from Lucy; Michael Pollan The Omnivore’s Dilemma; Oliver Sacks Gratitude; Michael Kinsley Old Age COMING OF AGE: Kristin Hannah The Great Alone and The Pathfinder SCIENCE: Stephen Hawking Brief Answers to the Big Questions; Neil deGrasse Tyson Astrophysics for People in a Hurry; Carlo Rovelli Seven Brief Lessons on Physics; Rebecca Skloot The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; Yuval Noah Harari Sapiens LEADERSHIP: Doris Kearns Goodwin Leadership in Turbulent Times; Sheryl Sandberg Lean In; Ernest Shackleton

Will We Survive? POLITICS: Bob Woodward Fear and Rage; Madeline Albright Fascism; John Meacham The Soul of America; Barack Obama A Promised Land COURAGE: Madeline Albright Prague Winter; Candace Millard Hero of the Empire; Andrew Grove Swimming Across PRESIDENTS: Edmond Morris Theodore Roosevelt trilogy; Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns The Roosevelts; John Meacham Thomas Jefferson COMMENTARY: Thomas Friedman Thank You for Being Late; Charles Krauthammer Things That Matter OUTER SPACE: Margot Lee Shetterly Hidden Figures; Andy Weir The Martian YOUNG READER: J. K. Rowling The Harry Potter series WORLD WAR II: Anthony Doure All the Light We Cannot See; Heather Morris The Tattooist of Auschwitz INVENTORS: Walter Isaacson The Innovators; Andrew Hodges Alan Turing: the Enigma AUDIOBOOKS: Billy Crystal 700 Sundays; Jerry Seinfeld Is This Anything? And now, as I end this chapter of my life, I want to thank The Community Focus publishers, Becky, Jen, and especially Elena, for allowing me the privilege of writing for their newspaper. I also want to thank their entire team for their help, particularly my official editor, Alison, and my unofficial editor, wife Dawn, for catching all my dictation typos. I urge you to keep reading and emphasizing the importance of books to your children and grandchildren. Our community is blessed with a wonderful library and Friends of the Library Bookstore. I hope you will visit them often. And I look forward to spring 2022, when I can welcome you to Pleasant Hill’s brand new state-ofthe-art library. Until then, thanks for allowing me the privilege of writing for you. Take care and stay safe. Michael.

OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | JANUARY 2021 | 17

PAIR UP

Biscuits and Gravy The Ultimate Comfort Food BY MARIA TERRY Fried chicken, biscuits, and gravy are the ultimate in comfort foods. Who could ask for more on a blustery January evening? You might consider asking for a classic whiskey cocktail with a sweet twist. Together, they will warm you right up. I love whole pieces of bone-in fried chicken. However, I have come to accept that I can’t make it. I don’t own a deep fryer and I don’t want one. Honestly, I’d rather just order it dining out. On the other hand, good, boneless, fried chicken breast is easy to make in a pan. You can even ask the butcher to slice the breasts crosswise into ¼” large flat slices that cook evenly. Biscuits and gravy take the chicken on a southern route. Feel free to take advantage of a pop-open can of biscuits and a package of McCormick’s Homestyle Country Gravy since making the chicken takes a fair amount of work. As a side, Broccoli Salad with Bacon can be made ahead of time and is ready when the last piece of chicken is fried. The meaty bacon and salty sunflower seeds in the salad echo the savory salti-

ness of the chicken, and the sweet-tart salad dressing provides high notes to contrast. The same way you pick a side dish can help you with your beverage pairing. Mixologists create a balanced cocktail by bringing resonant and contrasting notes into perfect harmony. The maple syrup in a Maple Manhattan is a sweet note and works with this meal for the same reason chefs pair waffles with fried chicken; the sweet brings out the savory. Furthermore, lemon offers a contrast to the sweetness, and the bitters round out both what is on the plate and in the glass. The crescendo is the salt from the dish, which brings out all the flavors and tamps down the high alcohol of the cocktail. All these reasons make this pairing a match made in heaven. After this decadent meal, you are likely to be full, but a full stomach may not stop the brain from wanting something sweet! Adult Hot Chocolate is a non-filling way to satisfy your sweet tooth. If you can drink it sitting by a blazing fire, you may find yourself dreaming of warm summer nights to come. So, go on. Pair Up! Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier

and Wine Educator in the Northern California Sierra Foothills. Readers wishing to continue following Maria’s work can find it at www.LaSommelierre.com

Broccoli Salad with Bacon INGREDIENTS 2 bunches broccoli, florets only (5 to 6 cups florets) 1 medium red onion, chopped 1/2 cup raisins 10 to 12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled Dressing 1 cup mayonnaise 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar Topping: ½ cup sunflower seeds DIRECTIONS Mix vegetables and raisins and toss with dressing. Top with sunflower seeds just before serving to maintain the crunch. Yield: 4 Cups

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Adult Hot Chocolate INGREDIENTS 4 cups whole milk 2 Tablespoons sugar ½ vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla 6 oz. dark chocolate (60%) 1 teaspoon sea salt 4 oz. bourbon 2 oz. Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) 2 oz. Irish cream (whiskey cream liqueur) Marshmallows DIRECTIONS In a small saucepan, heat milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla over medium-low heat until sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Make sure the milk does not come to a boil. Add the chocolate in pieces, whisking until completely incorporated. Remove from heat. Once removed from heat, stir in bourbon, Frangelico, and Irish cream. Serve immediately with marshmallows. Yield: 4 Servings

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Maple Manhattan INGREDIENTS 1 ounce dry vermouth 1 ounce rye whiskey 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup Dash of angostura bitters Lemon twist and bourbon-soaked cherry, for garnish DIRECTIONS Fill a shaker with ice; add vermouth, whiskey, maple syrup, and bitters. Shake vigorously until frosty and cold on the outside, 30 seconds. Strain over ice; garnish with a lemon twist and cherry. Yield: 1 Drink

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Thinly Sliced Fried Chicken Breast INGREDIENTS 1 cup flour ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground pepper 2 eggs ¼ cup milk 2 cups panko breadcrumbs 1 Tablespoon paprika 2 lbs. thinly sliced chicken breast Cooking oil DIRECTIONS Create a breading station with three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, blend flour, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. In the second bowl, blend two eggs and milk. In the third bowl, blend breadcrumbs and paprika. Create a landing platter layered with paper towels to catch the hot chicken as it comes out of the pan. In a frying pan, heat to medium ¼ cup of cooking oil. Using a separate fork for each station, dredge the chicken in the flour, then the egg, and then the breadcrumbs. Fry each chicken slice until golden brown and cooked through. Remove to landing platter and sprinkle each slice with salt while still hot. Yield: 4 Servings

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Coaches, Our Unsung Heroes

SPORTS

A Special Thank You to Our Essential Workers BY JIM KECK, COLLEGE PARK ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Friday, March 13, 2020. That was the day the MDUSD and surrounding districts shut down due to the arrival of COVID-19. For many of our kids, my three sons included, that meant the end of sports seasons that many had worked towards their whole lives. The College Park softball team was undefeated at the time and hoping to make a run at their first NCS title since 2001. We had track and field athletes on pace to set school records. Our boys lacrosse team, with 23 seniors, saw their season come to a screeching halt. My twins and the rest of the College Park senior class of 2020 missed milestone events like Senior Ball and Grad Night. Graduation was a drive-through event in the school parking lot. (Actually, pretty cool.) High school sports, band, drama, robotics, dance, and art played huge and important roles in these kids’ lives. Now the activities that had helped shape their identities were suddenly gone. Without the ability to gather to play, practice, perform, and compete, our students’ emotional and physical well-being were put into question. We saw tears and began to hear about depression, boredom, missing friends, and lack of motivation. In June, we were given the greenlight to open summer sports camps for our students and community. Over 40 of our high school coaches immediately stepped up to work with our kids. Since June, we have had over 450 students participate in sports camps at College Park. Our coaches have provided a much needed, safe, and structured outlet for our kids to get out of the house to socialize and exercise. These men and women have offered advice and guidance as our kids deal with the disappearance of so many things they took for granted. Our coaches have given our children hope. We have followed COVID protocols, including mask wearing, social distanc-

ing, small pods, temperature checks, and contact tracing. Our coaches have cleaned equipment and enforced proper hygiene. We temporarily shut down pods when campers, family members, or close contacts tested positive. Coaches created new lesson plans in line with existing COVID guidelines. Due to their diligence and adherence to protocols, we have not had a single case of COVID linked to participation in our camps. The time our coaches spent on the fields, courts, and pitch did not reflect the hours spent planning practices and communicating with our kids and families. In the summer, we were able to extend a small stipend to our coaches from camp registrations. In many cases, they did not expect compensation. Come fall, with no funding in sight, we still had 40 coaches willing to work with our kids for free. Our College Park Athletic Boosters Club was eventually able to find funds to provide small stipends again. Our football coach travels from Vacaville four days a week. Our cross country coach holds Friday night time trials and sets up runs at local parks on weekends. Our water polo coaches are on deck in the cold and dark. All of our coaches have sacrificed time away from their own families to work with our kids. When school started and students struggled from home with online classes, they were still able to come on campus for camps. Instead of interacting with a face on a computer screen, our kids were getting real face-time with our coaching staff. While most of the rest of the country held a fall high school sports season (California was one of five states not to do so), our kids were given a start date of December 7 for their sports. With COVID numbers rising higher every day, that start date was moved to January 25. At our most recent Zoom meeting, our coaches were in unison in their belief that our camps are important. Our kids’ emotional and physical well

being is important. Almost all of our programs will continue to hold camps as long as we are allowed under COVID regulations. Our coaches are not doing this for money, ego, praise, or recognition. They are doing this for our kids. I once asked a mentor of mine why he coached. His response was, “Some-

one did it for me and it made a difference in my life.” Our current coaching staff here at College Park is no different. They continue to make a difference in our kids’ lives on a daily basis. I’d like to say something they do not hear enough. On behalf of myself and the College Park community, “Thank you.”

Athletes Continue to Commit

Congratulations to CP senior Evi Anderson. She will continue her soccer and track career at Southern Utah University.

Congratulations to CP senior Kevin Sharp who has committed to play D1 baseball at the University of Northern Colorado. Go Bears!

Congratulations to CP senior Julian Martinez. Julian has committed to play baseball at Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma next year.

Congrats to College Park alumnus Connor Sullivan who has committed to UC Berkeley to play baseball. He also has an invite to try out for the UC Berkeley football team as a kicker.

CP senior Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel committed to Humboldt State University where he will continue his track and cross country career as a Lumberjack. Congratulations Seb! OURCOMMUNITYFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 2020 | 19

General Manager’s Message Celebrating 70 Years of Play! By Michelle Lacy General Manager, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Happy New Year! Get ready to celebrate with us! On January 19th, the Rec & Park District officially turns 70 years old and we have lots of plans in the works to celebrate this exciting anniversary milestone! Watch for fun virtual and in-person (when allowed) commemorative activities all year long, kicking off with a virtual Anniversary Cake Bake-Off and other fun Birthday celebrations in January and social media trivia contests in February. All ages welcome to participate! Visit our website at www.pleasanthillrec.com or follow us on our Rec & ParkFacebook, Instagram or Twitter pages @pleasanthillrec to learn more about our 70th anniversary festivities. Celebrating your 70th birthday in 2021 or know a local resident who is? Send us a photo and contact information, including address to info@pleasanthillrec.com. We’d love to celebrate with you!

About Pleasant Hill Rec & Park District Janua 19, 1951, Pleasant Established on January Hill Recreation & Park District was formed by the citizens who valued parks and recreational opportunities for all people in their community. Rec & Park became a special district, a unique government entity, separate from the City of Pleasant Hill and other organizations, and has grown to become a cornerstone of what makes Pleasant Hill such a great place to live in. Today, Rec & Park provides and manages extensive District-owned parks, community facilities, open space, and recreation programs and events throughout the community. The support of the community and the countless volunteers over the years has been tremendous and paramount to many of Rec & Park eﬀorts to improve, build and make life better for everyone. Thank you

Thank You !

As long time contributors and huge fans of the publication, we would like to thank the entire staﬀ at Our Community Focus for producing this grassroots, independent newspaper over the past 12 years! In a world where divisive and negative press seem to be the norm, it was incredibly refreshing to have a local news resource that provided positive information and truly focused on building connections between residents, local businesses and community organizations. The articles, features and even the advertisements all told the story of us and who we are as a community. This very special newspaper served as a monthly reminder of how truly fortunate we are to live here. Thank you for this giving us this gift, Elena Hutslar, Becky Coburn, Jennifer Neys and Trish Heaney.