Diablogazette june2017 digital

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Claycord.com Recognized for County Mosquito Control Contra Costa Bocce Rules the Nation Farmers Market Safety Tips Rattlesnake Do’s and Don’ts Clayton BBQ Cookoff July 4th Celebrations Concord Vice Mayor Ponders Marijuana Movement Western States 100 Mile Run Student Awards, Father’s Day, Summer Events, and more.

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from the publisher David King

by David King Let me start by saying to all the area Graduates, Congratulations! If you are looking for a job now, give me a call.

925-298-9990. My wife and daughter just attended “Alice and Wonderland” at the Lesher Center, performed by Contra Costa Ballet. They loved it and posted a selfie of the two of them on her facebook page. Her friends asked while she was getting all that culture where was I? She responded with “Watching South Park eating pork rinds.” [Ha, thanks.]

Actually, I was preparing this edition. I enjoy reading every single article that I

receive. For me, and I hope for readers, it is a refreshing break from some pretty ugly information that bombards us daily. Like the many contributors to the Diablo Gazette, share with me your good news, ideas, anecdotes, adventures, photos, and good deeds of others. Email to diablogazette@gmail.com. Visit our website, where you will find updated stories, additional articles, and archives, at diablogazette.com. Thank you, readers, contributors, photographers, and advertisers. You are all helping me do a good thing here.

WWII Historic Aircraft Comes to Buchanan Field

As a fitting follow-up to Memorial Day weekend, and in honor of WWII Veterans, the “Wings of Freedom Tour” will be on display at Buchanan Field Airport in Concord from June 8 through June 11.

Celebrating its 28th year, the Collings Foundation’s “Wings of Freedom Tour” will be showcasing vintage Boeing B-17 flying Fortress, “Nine O Nine”, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator “Witchcraft”, the B-25 Mitchell “Tondelayo” bombers and North American P-51 Mustang “Betty Jane fighter.

This is your rare chance to explore inside and out, or even fly in some of WWII’s most successful aircraft and unique treasures of aviation history. The B-17 is one of only eight still in flying condition in the US while the B-24J is the sole remaining example of its type in the world. The B-25 is best known for being used in the daring “Doolittle Raid.”

These bombers were the backbone of the American effort during the war from 1942-1945 and were famous for being able to sustain damage and still complete the mission. The P-51 was affectionately known as the bombers “Little Friend,” saving countless crews from attacking axis fighters.

After the war, many aircraft were scrapped for their aluminum to rebuild the nation. Few were spared. The rarity of the B-17, B-25, B-24 & P-51 - and their importance to telling the story of WWII is why the Collings Foundation continues

to fly and display the aircraft nationwide.

Local Veterans are invited to come out and share their personal experiences and stories.

Collings Foundation requests $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12 for access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft. There are discounted rates for school groups.

As fascinating as this flying museum may be to see, imagine the thrill of actually flying in one. You can take a 30-minute flight aboard one of these rare aircraft. Flights on either the B-17 or B-24 are $450 per person. B-25 flights are $400 per person.

Raise the excitement even more and get some “stick time” in the world’s greatest fighter! P-51 flights are $2,200 for a half hour and $3,200 for a full hour. For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924. You must make the reservation.

Ground tour times are Thursday, June 8 from 2:00pm to 5:00 pm, and Friday through Sunday, June 9-11 from 9:00 AM to 5:00. The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times above.

The “Wings of Freedom Tour” is a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew them, the ground crews who maintained them, the workers who built them, the soldiers, sailors and airmen they helped protect; and the citizens and families that share the freedom that they helped preserve.

The Collings Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation devoted to organizing “living history” events that allows people to learn more about their heritage and history. You can find out more by visiting their website at www.collingsfoundation.org. n

July 4th Celebration has Surprises in the Works

Communities are gearing up for July 4th celebrations with plenty of activity for everyone.

Concord Police Association 8th Annual 2017 Stars & Stripes 5K Run and Walk /Fun Run In Concord, the 8th Annual Stars & Stripes 5K Run & Walk begins at 8AM. This race benefits both the Family Justice Center of Concord and the Bay Area Crisis Nursery.

The race has been growing each year and is expected to have over 900 participants in the 5K and 120 children in the Kids Fun Run. An entry fee includes a goody bag with great freebies, gift certificates, coupons and a Brenden Theaters movie ticket for each 5K participant! You will also receive a race t-shirt with a cool patriotic design!

Prizes for the top male and female finishers include Roadrunner Sports shoes, and $100 gift cards to Sports Basement goes to the three boys and girl finishers in the Kids Fun Run. Entry fee is $30 and must be postmarked by June 24th or by July 3rd if registering in person at Roadrunner Sports in Concord or Sports Basement in Walnut Creek. For more information visit www.Concordjuly4th.com.

Independence Day Parade Always a crowd pleaser, the parade will kick off at 10:00 a.m. This year the parade committee is working with the Contra Costa Transit Authority to secure the autonomous San Ramon Shuttle as well as other driverless vehicles from Baidu and Tesla. And as a fitting tribute to the future, the committee is working to select school children to serve as Grand Marshall who will ride in the autonomous vehicles, pending approval. One of the selected schools will be the Sun Terrace Elementary because their target magnet program is STEM education according to City Councilman Tim McGallian. Lets hope that all works out, that would be a fun addition to this year’s parade.

If you or your company or organization is interested in participating in this year’s parade, or 5K Run, go to the website for entry forms and more information at www.ConcordJuly4th.com.

Festival Concord’s hometown picnic begins at

4:00 pm at Mt. Diablo High School and will include a kids’ carnival, food booths, exhibits, and live entertainment from the locally popular The Bell Brothers.

Fireworks begin at 9:00 pm.

Please note that the gates to Mt. Diablo High School are not open early to save a spot on the grass.

It is sure to be a wonderful July 4th celebration and be sure to thank all the sponsors that help fund all of this as well as the volunteers who help organize and operate this extraordinary community event.

Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill 41st Anniversary July 4th Event will kick off with a 5K Run. Then shortly after the run the parade moves through the downtown area. Once the parade is over, families and all are encouraged to meet us at Pleasant Hill Park where there will be food, entertainment and even a zip line!

In the evening make your way to College Park High School for the fireworks show, music and food.

6:30 am – Registration opens for the Firecracker 5K Fun Run by the Clock Tower on Crescent Drive 7:50 am – 100-yard dash for kids 7 and under 8:00 am – Firecracker 5K Fun Run 9:30 am – Parade begins. This year’s theme is “Red, White and Bloom” 10:30 am – Party in the Park at PH Park – Food, kid’s games, watermelon eating contest, live music by Dr. D, petting zoo, inflatables, and more.

7:15 pm – Fireworks show begins with live music by Fast Times followed by spectacular fireworks show. Food vendors will be there.

For more information go to http:// phjuly4.com.

Martinez Martinez residents and visitors can begin the day with a pancake breakfast at Roxx on Main St. from 8am to 10 am.

Meet at the Veterans Memorial Building at 930 Ward St. for the Flag Raising Ceremony from 9:00 am - 9:15 am. Then pick a spot along Main St. for the Hometown Parade on Main beginning at 10 am. The parade starts at the corner of Court and Main and the ends of Alhambra Ave. and Main Street.

Fireworks begin at 9:30 pm at the Martinez Marina.

For more information for Martinez July 4th Events go to www.mainstreetmartinez.org/eventDetails-eventId5n “Photo or Photos” taken by Rochelle Douglass of Rochellez Photography

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Kid-Friendly Ideas to Enjoy Nature with Dad

by Patrice Hanlon, Horticultural Consultant and Educator

June marks beginnings and endings; school is finished and students graduating are marking the end of one phase in their lives while beginning new ventures.

It is also when we celebrate our dads and summer.

In many parts of the world, the beginning of summer, also known as the solstice is celebrated with feasts and festivals. Its roots stem from ancient times, before calendars, when the summer solstice signaled a time for planting and harvesting crops.

Solstice originates from the Latin word sol, which means sun, and sistere, which means to stand still. This year we welcome the summer solstice on June 20 when the northern hemisphere of the Earth is towards the sun, which gives us the most daylight of any day the year.

Celebrations have changed over time, but getting outdoors and spending time with family is still synonymous with sum-

mer and Father’s Day. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Two of my favorite nature gifts for dad include sun print cards and garden stepping stones. Both are easy projects.

Sun Print Cards.

Start with a SUNPRINT® Kit originally developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science. They are inexpensive and kids love the magic of watching a pressed leaf or flower appear with the cyanotype printing — a photographic process using special paper and the sun.

It is simple to do. Just gather some leaves and flowers and press lightly to flatten and then arrange on the specially coated paper. The paper is exposed to sunlight for a few minutes, and then the leaves are removed. What is left is the beautiful image of the plant.

Children, families, students, and artists all use SUNPRINT® Kits. You can find them online from Lawrence Hall of Science at www.lawrencehallofscience.org/ do_science_now/sunprint_kits.

Garden Stepping Stones Making stepping stones is a practical, kid-friendly project that is inexpensive and an easy-to-make gift for dad. They require concrete, a form, and your favorite beads, shells, and leaves to embellish.

I like to use the plastic trays for using under containers that are sold at nurseries

and hardware stores for my form. Here are the basic steps, but you get more detailed instructions and decorating ideas Online at “Making Stepping Stones with the Kids” at diablogazette.com.

This project is best done outdoors.

Spread old newspapers or a thick drop cloth over a large work area and wear old clothes, just in case.

Fill your mold with a heaping pile of concrete mix then pour the concrete mix into your bucket.

Coat your mold with cooking spray or petroleum jelly to prevent the concrete from sticking after it dries.

Mix water into concrete mix until it resembles the consistency of very thick cake batter.

Pour your mixed concrete into the mold and spread it smooth.

Let your kids take over and personalize the surface of their stone with handprints, their names or various other decorative embellishments. Wet concrete is surprisingly easy to work with, and any “mistakes” can be easily corrected and re-worked.

Let the stone dry overnight. Once the stone is completely dry, carefully pop it out of the mold and let it cure another 5 to 7 days before using it as a stepping stone.

For a family outing idea, check out the inspiring nature creations by artist Andy Goldsworthy at the Presidio in San Francisco. Goldsworthy has created three stunning installations, all making use of trees felled as part of the Presidio’s reforestation and park management efforts.

Art plus nature, what better way to enjoy

the outdoors. Admission is free and it is open daily. For more information, hours, maps, photos, go to - http://www.for-site. org/project/goldsworthy-in-the-presidio/

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Jennifer Stojanovich Realtor, Better Homes Realty

First Things To Do When Moving Into a New Home If you’re a first-time homeowner, or it has been years since you bought a home, it’s good for you to know what those crucial first tasks should be. In the excitement of closing, packing up and moving, you may easily forget to check important items off your to-do list when you first arrive. To help you, refer to this list of all the tasks you should do when moving into your new home.

Do a final check. Did you have an agreement with the seller to include some items with the purchase of the home? The first thing you should do when you get the keys is to double check that all those items remain. This could include the washer/dryer, kitchen appliances or even curtains.

Change the locks. This should be your top priority. Think about all the people who have been coming and going while your new house was on the market.

You probably don’t want any of them to still have unlimited access. Also, make spare sets of keys while you’re at it.

Clean. Even if the seller cleaned before packing up and moving out, you’ll want to do another pass before moving in all your belongings. This is the best time to do a deep clean, since your house will never be this empty again. Steam clean the carpets and replace filters in the heating and air conditioning units, above the stove and in the kitchen and bathroom faucets. Wash the windows and buff and seal hardwood floors. Yes, it’s a lot of work. But think of how nice it

will be to get settled into a home that is sparkling!

Test the alarms. If you home came with an alarm system already installed, have the account transferred to you and test all the alarms. Since you’re just getting to know your new neighborhood, it’s comforting to have that extra layer of protection in place. You should also go through the entire home and test the smoke alarms. Replace the batteries and any units that aren’t functioning properly.

Figure out your electrical panel.

Locate the breaker box in your house, and when you have someone to help you, figure out what each breaker goes to. It’s easier as a team so that one person can go from room to room while the other stands by the box and flips each switch. Write in marker next to each switch what area it corresponds to. Please remember to turn off the electricity when you’re changing out any broken lighting fixtures.

Find the main water valve. The last thing you want when moving in is to have a plumbing emergency. So, be prepared before it happens? Know where the main water valve is located and how to shut it off, should the need arise.

Meet the neighbors. Lastly, take your first step toward becoming a member of the community by introducing yourself to your new neighbors. It will help make you feel settled sooner, and it’s always nice to see a familiar face or two around town.

Compliments of VirtualResults.net. n

aRt Cottage The Nudes

by FROgard Are Back www.aRtCottage.info

aRt Cottage is one of the very few venues that is willing to show nudes, or what I call the landscape of the body. I have wondered why this is. The body is not something to be ashamed of. We all have the same parts, some of us with unique differences. I ask myself many times, “Why are galleries so afraid of revealing the beauty of the human form?” What is it about our society that causes galleries to say NO by excluding such work from venues? Is it because we are afraid that it might damage the minds of our children? There are many TV shows and video games that are worse for our society than looking at beautiful artwork - such as the body revealed.

That’s the name of the exhibit, “THE BODY REVEALED”. The pieces exhibited were executed by professional artists who have painted together on a regular basis for more than 15 years. They meet weekly and have professional models as their subjects. Most of these models are requested from the East Bay Model Guild and used at colleges and universities throughout northern California. These models get paid union wages and work hard at what they do.

The artists create from them, an amazing variety of interpretations. When you visit

legally yours Rita Holder / Holder Law www.RitaHolderLaw.com

aRt Cottage, take a close look at the labels and see which are oil, acrylic, collage, or watercolor. You will be amazed at the different techniques these talented artists use to express themselves to create their masterpieces. Some of the artists exhibiting are Jackie Carroll, Pam McCauley, Sarah Morrison, Lynn Glenn, and Beryl Glen Reiland and many others.

This show is open to all.

There is no censoring of this professional, beautiful work.

We hope you will come and see how beautiful the human form is and how well these artists have executed their models whether it be on canvas in oils or acrylics, watercolor paper, collage work, or perhaps even some graphite or charcoal. No need to be shy! The artists will be happy to meet you and explain their techniques at their Open House and Reception.

Open House and Reception for the Artists is June 17th from 2 pm to 4 pm with refreshments and live music. “THE BODY REVEALED” will be exhibited June 6 through June 30, Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 5 pm and Saturday 1 pm to 5 pm. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. 2238 Mt Diablo St., Concord. n

Photo credits: Fashionable Nude by Beryl Glenn-Reiland, Viridescence by Sarah Morrison, Torn by Pam McCauley

Caring for Disabled Loved Ones:

Power of Attorney vs. Conservatorship

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALTAIRS The highest award a student at Clayton Valley can achieve are the Altairs of which there are four. Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Grand Altair. They were established by the first graduating class from Clayton Valley—the class of 1960. The Altair is the name of the brightest star in the Constellation Aguila, the Eagle.

The members of the Senior Class vote for those students they feel best exemplify the Altair.

A committee composed of student leaders from the Junior class and teachers representing all areas of study and Administration, meet to discuss each nominated candidate in only positive terms. Voting is done by secret ballot.

Scholarship Altair is selected based on the anonymous transcripts of the top six seniors, weighing grades and course difficulty.

Service Altair is awarded to the student

who best exemplifies the virtue of selfless giving, both to Clayton Valley High School and the community. These students volunteer their time and effort, not because it is expected of them, but because they possess integrity and commitment to the greater good of the school and the community.

Leadership Altair is awarded to the student who is best able to motivate and encourage others to reach for a goal while exercising one’s own efforts to do the same.

Grand Altair. Only those students with a 4.0 GPA or higher may be considered because that person represents all three areas: Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.

Altair Award Recipients (L to R) Michael Cox – Grand; Kimberly Svoboda – Leadership;Yennifer Molina – Service; Alyssa Liu – Scholarship. n Photo by Janson Rogers, CVCHS student.

There are a few legal tools you can use in caring for loved ones who are not able to care for themselves without help.

For example, your loved one may have dementia, stroke, autism, or Downs’ Syndrome.

As an estate planning attorney, I frequently meet with clients who are worried about how to manage the finances, medical care, or social life of a parent who has had a stroke or a child with autism.

For example, maybe Mom can no longer sign her own name, do her own banking, and needs help taking her medications. In the ideal situation, Mom would have signed a Power of Attorney before she had the stroke, naming you as the person who could take over if she became incapacitated. Advance planning would be priceless in this case. You could seamlessly go to the bank with the Power of Attorney and sign and deposit her pension checks for her.

But what if Mom doesn’t have a signed Power of Attorney? The next alternative is going to court and setting up a General Conservatorship.

General conservatorships are for people, like Mom, who can no longer care for themselves because of diminished physical or mental abilities caused by aging, sickness, or accident. Conservatorships are court orders that give authority to a “conservator” (you) to make choices for an adult “conservatee” (Mom). Once appointed, you will be able to make decisions about Mom’s ongoing financial and medical care.

There is another kind of conservatorship, a “Limited Conservatorship.” These are for individuals who are unable to care for themselves because of an Intellectual or Developmental Disability (I/DD) which began before age 18, including ce-

rebral palsy, epilepsy, Downs’ Syndrome, or autism.

Perhaps your son, let’s call him Jack, has a diagnosis of epilepsy, and has turned 18 over the last year. You may be unpleasantly surprised when your medical provider refuses to disclose to you the results of Jack’s recent lab tests. What are you to do?

California limited conservatorships give family members the legal authority to care for adult children whose developmental disability impairs their ability to care for themselves. These are granted in a court proceeding as well.

Asking the court for an emergency temporary limited conservatorship would restore your rights to supervise Jack’s financial, medical, and social life. After all the paperwork is submitted to the court, the limited conservatorship becomes final.

Limited conservatorships are intended to enable the developmentally disabled to receive services to lead independent and productive lives to the fullest extent. As a parent, you know you are your child’s best advocate. The limited conservatorship tool will help you to guide his care for his or her lifetime. n [Editor’s Note: Rita Holder, has several family members who are developmentally disabled with autism. She has a special interest in this topic.]

Rita Holder is an estate planning attorney in Walnut Creek. Rita limits her practice to: Wills, Trusts and Probate, Conservatorships, Limited Conservatorships, and Special Needs Trusts; Taxation; and Family Law – specializing in the division of community property retirement assets.

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bookends

by Jill Hedgecock, Writer’s Club jillhedgecock.com

Program Coordinator Mount Diablo California

The Handmaid’s Tale The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1998, Anchor, paperback, 311 pages, $8.69) was first released in 1985 and has never been out of print. The recent adaptation of the novel into an American television series and concern over the reduction of women’s rights

by Washington’s politicians has created renewed interest in this book about a dystopian world where women’s role in society are defined by their ability to bear children. In this futuristic version of the United States, the female caste system includes Handmaids (mistresses to Commanders), Aunts (who train and oversee the Handmaids), Marthas (servants to the Commanders), Commander’s Wives, and Econowives (women permitted to marry low status men). Offred, the narrator, is a Handmaid who tells her chilling story in an ethereal, detached voice.

Offred’s life consists of a daily walk into town for supplies, a visit to the Wall where rule-breaker’s bodies hang on display and a weekly bath that proceeds the visit to the Commander’s bed where he attempts to impregnate her. In the new order, women’s names have been eliminated and replaced with references to men (Of-fred, Of-charles). They also aren’t allowed to read, so market signs have been replaced with pictures. Her quest for the written word can’t be suppressed. She runs her fingers over the word “Faith” embroidered into a pillow in her room and she puzzles over a secret message left behind by the previous Handmaid who occupied her room. Offred’s tale is interspersed with reflections on her family’s failed escape when her daughter was taken from her and she was separated from her husband, Luke. She does not know Luke’s fate and imagines different outcomes that range from death to successful escape to a hopeful reunion.

In Offred’s world it is impossible to know who to trust. The Eye is everywhere. One misstep, one wrong thing said in confidence, can mean the difference between life and death. The tension is palpable in this book.

Atwood’s novel was inspired by her studies of seventeenth century America and its Puritan dogma. Perhaps its “too close to the truth” quality is the reason why the novel has been banned. Yet, Atwood has stated that she has not included anything that human beings had not already done in some other place or time in her books, including The Handmaid’s Tale. Atwood’s impressive bibliography includes sixteen novels, eight children’s books, ten works of nonfiction, seventeen poetry collections, and a graphic novel.

She won the Booker Prize in 2000 for The Blind Assassin. The Handmaid’s Tale television adaptation can by viewed via streaming service through Hulu.

It stars Elisabeth Moss as Offred. The first three of the ten-episode series aired in April 2017 and a second season is promised for 2018. But don’t skip the book. It’s by far one of my all-time favorite reads. n

legalbriefs

by Douglas A. Prutton, Attorney Doug@PruttonLaw.com

Wrongful Termination?

I’m not sure who first coined the phrase “wrongful termination,” but it has caused a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding. As a lawyer who has represented only employees for many years, I have met with hundreds of people who have come into my office convinced that they were wrongfully terminated from their employment.

Unfortunately, for most of those people their termination, though perhaps “wrongful,” was not “illegal.” Let me explain.

The starting point for analyzing most employment termination cases is understanding that employment with private employers is “at-will.” (Public and union employees are different!).

This means that an employer does not need to have a reason to fire an employee. In other words, the employer does not need to have good cause to terminate, does not have to be fair, does not have to give notice, and does not even have to give a reason to fire an employee. An employer can walk in on an employee and state: “You’re fired, get out now!” An employer can fire an employee for wearing a blue shirt. An employer can fire an employee because it is raining outside. This is because employment is “at-will.”

Of course, in most cases an employer fires an employee for some reason.

However, because employment is at-will, it typically does not matter whether the employee can prove that the reason given by the employer is false or not supportable. Let me give you an example. Suppose an employee at WalMart was fired for stealing money from

a cash register. Let’s further suppose that the employee has a videotape that shows that she didn’t steal the money, that it was another employee who stole the money. To an employment lawyer this is meaningless because employment is at-will. Since an employer does not need a reason to fire an employee, it makes no difference whether the reason an employer does give for a termination is false or cannot be proven.

The employer does not have to have a reason in the first place. The firing of the Wal-Mart employee might be unfair, or unethical, or immoral, or “wrongful,” but it is not illegal.

If this were the end of the story though, I would not be in business.

There are exceptions to the at-will employment rule. The law forbids employers from firing employees for certain reasons. For example, an employer cannot fire an employee because of race, national origin, sex, religion, disability, etc. There is a list of such protected categories that are set forth in specific federal and state laws. Other laws forbid firing an employee for going on jury duty, for complaining about not getting paid or about workplace safety, and the like.

However, the law does not make it illegal to fire an employee just because it might be considered by many to be “wrongful” or “unfair.”

So, if you feel like you have been “wrongfully” terminated, give me a call and I can let you know if your termination was “illegal.”

(925) 677-5080. n

Views of the Valley with Tilly Turner

Look who bumped into each other at the Blue Devil Drum and Bugle Corp annual crab feed at the old Antioch Fair Grounds, on the left is Enid Kissinger (wearing her Razzle Dazzle Diva hat,) and Saundra Branscrum Ferriera, of the Ferriera clan! The Blue Devils are the nationally renowned Drum and Bugle Corp that began in Concord many moons ago. (Photo by Tilly Turner) Two enthusiastic ladies attend “Free Comic Book Day”, still a very popular promotion created by Flying Color Comics in Concord. This annual promotion is credited for reviving international interest in comic books as books stores globally have joined in on the event.

(Photo by Micah) Bros Collectibles grand re-opening attracted large crowds. (Photo by Micah) This Barn owl was enjoying the view from the bay window of its custom-built Townhouse in Clayton. Photo provided

by Linda Cruz, Clayton Valley Garden Club. n

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journey-man’s journal

by John Cooper

The Undisputed Crown Jewel of Human Endurance

theconcordian

by Edi Birsan, Concord Vice Mayor

Email me CityCouncil@cityofconcord.org|Add EDI in subject line

Up In Smoke Concord City Council Mulls Marijuana Issues

The month of June signals the beginning of summer, and these days a time when I’m finalizing my next family vacation or adventure. But I’m always reminded, many years ago, “when I wore a younger man’s clothes”, (as song-writer Billy Joel puts it), June would be the time I and other endurance runners were making our final preparations to enter the great Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, “the undisputed crown jewel of human endurance” as their website boasts.

The Western States is a foot race starting in Squaw Valley and ending at Placer High School in Auburn, just over 100 miles later, but not before traversing the high country of the Sierra’s, climbing more than 18,000 feet and descending nearly 23,000 feet through several canyons, and wading through the frigid waters of the American River. Runners brave the dust, dirt and heat of the day and the cold temperatures of the night in their quest to reach the finish line. To give you some idea of the sheer madness of the event, the race starts at the bottom of a ski run and heads upward.

Beyond just finishing the race, which is an achievement in itself, official bragging rights belong to those who complete the 100 miles in under 24 hours, and in so doing are awarded the coveted silver buckle. In any given year only about 60% of all contestants will make the finish line before the dreaded cutoff time of 30 hours.

I completed in the race four times and I can attest to the covetousness of the Western States silver buckle. In fact, I’ve joked with my wife for years that in the event of a house fire, she’s instructed to make sure to grab hold of my prized silver buckles before running out of the house.

Everything else can be replaced.

One of my favorite memories was running in the “year of the snow” as it’s often referred. In 1995, the Sierras received a record 836 inches of snow, the largest snowfall ever recorded to date, which brought unusually difficult

challenges. The first 24 miles of the race, just short of a full marathon, was run through deep snow, and that was through the mountains at a high altitude, mind you. Those who made it through the snow were greeted with 107-degree heat for the next few hours while running through the dusty canyons. It was a special kind of torture. As you might imagine, the number of finishers that year plummeted to just over 50%. I wonder how this year’s snow fall will compare.

Training to run 100 miles is no easy task, and many competitors train year around. It was common practice for me at the time to run up Mt. Diablo to the summit and down the other side, only to turn around and run back. And then there were the night runs when I left home late in the evening and ran through the night and into the early morning with a headlamp in order to experience sleep deprivation, hoping it would provide some advantage.

Competing in extreme athletic events, at least in endurance running, is equal parts mental training as much as physical.

The first 50 miles of a 100 mile race is largely physical training, you’ve either done the work or your haven’t. But the real challenge is saved for the back 50 miles when your body is beat and you rely on mental fortitude to get you to the finish line. That’s the part that’s always intrigued me; how to continue forward when you really think you can’t.

I no longer participate in running the Western States and I haven’t for years.

A couple of ankle surgeries and a tired body have since sidelined me, but I’ll always remember all the excitement and anxiety associated with the planning and training, and the pain and suffering of the challenge. I’ve since turned my attention to other adventures and experiences, but none as difficult and challenging as the running of the great Western States 100.

If you’d like to learn more about this incredible event, see trail maps, and hundreds of amazing Sierra photos, visit their website at www.wser.org/. n

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The smoke has not cleared. The passage of Prop 64 has made RECREATIONAL use of cannabis legal under certain conditions coming up next year, and then cleverly put a bunch of bills in place and a “Trailer Bill” to the budget to throw a bunch of confusion and uncertainty on the specifics.

However, all the cities of central Costa Costa have not even dealt with medical cannabis other than to ban it. There are the basic issues concerning medical cannabis in the Diablo Valley area.

Home delivery, generally is banned, but is in wide spread use with thousands being delivered monthly.

Retail operations, medical dispensaries, testing laboratory sites, outdoor grow and limits (Pleasant Hill has a three-plant grow for two years), commercial indoor green house or warehouse style grows also must be considered.

A quick view of the councils around central county reveals overwhelming opposition to even medical access despite the fact that it was passed 20 years ago throughout the area and that last November the people in the Central area passed Prop 64 for recreational with around 60% of the vote.

Those in power who do not want to give the people what they voted for continue to engage in posturing and stalling techniques with these common political responses.

“This is too complex for the voters to understand”. This is always a steady drop back to say the electorates are dumb.

“This will take months to study and have outreach and revise ordinances and we do not know what the state will do with 56 bills to regulate this.” Delay, delay is the most classic response of the bureaucrat, if we held

off on building houses because there are new building regulations being thought of we would have never got out of the pioneer wagons when we got here.

“They voted for recreational use but that does not mean that they want a medical dispensary down the block.” I love that argument. Let me see, we can have CVS dispense Morphine and Oxycontin, but a store next to it to provide medical cannabis is the end of the civilization. So, what if we have one or a few dispensaries, still would be less than drug stores. Hmmm, drug stores but not cannabis drugs?

“We need to study this more and have a survey.” Hello! The election in November was the biggest survey our tax dollars paid for. If 60%+ wanted recreational cannabis, do you think that maybe the support for medical is less? Who are we kidding here?

“We need to know more about security concerns with this cash business.” A 20-yearold business that has been flourishing in multiple cities since the last century seems to have already faced this issue.

“There are harmful aspects of this and we don’t know the effects.” What part of a 20-year-old business did you miss along with the millions of Americans that have used this stuff?

In the next few months, all the cities will have to resolve what they want to do with cannabis, medical or recreational; otherwise, the state will restrict your ability to act.

Get involved regardless if you are for it or against it, answer the call for surveys, stay in contact with your City Council, and watch the agendas. Otherwise, your vote in November will go up in smoke, and it may be the wrong type of smoke. n

Time For Tea

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017 • Page 8 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Resident Tales Is there anything more relaxing or meditative than an Afternoon Tea? The clink, clink of fine china, sweet cakes, a cool breeze, the sun shining, and the utter gentile nature of ladies and gents

sitting back, enjoying the no rush, no fuss attitude, that calm atmosphere which descends upon those who partake in this age-old activity. Not to mention the supremely fun task of donning pearls

Mabel, Francoise, Ann, & Kathie being celebrated at the Mother’s Day Tea.

Elizabeth and Loretta enjoying one more cup of Tea.

The Mother’s Day Tea was fun for all ages (and generations). We love it when families visit!

Making new friends is a life-long opportunity.

and lace, or bow tie and cap! What little girl or boy, regardless of physical age, doesn’t enjoy an opportunity to play dress up? So next time you feel caught up in the rush of everyday life, take out that

fine china, brew yourself a cup of hot (or iced) tea, and take a minute to reminisce on whatever memories bring you joy. You’ll find yourself rejuvenated, recharged, and ready to regularly take time for tea.

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017• Page 9 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

parentfootprints

by Dr. Dan Peters www.DrDanPeters.com

How To Help Children Deal With Terrorism

Once again regular people are living regular lives and then the unthinkable happens — people (in this latest tragedy in Manchester -- children) get killed and badly injured as a result of terrorism.

Our kids are living their regular lives and then are bombarded with news of bombs, death, and terrorism. We want to stay informed so the news in on, the radio is on, the internet news feeds are constant. We need to know why this happened, who did it, and that we are safe. It is not going to happen here, right?

While we are staying informed, whether we are trying to or not, our kids are getting “informed” too. Trust me, nothing about this information is helpful to them to hear over and over again. The messages spread fear, insecurity, vulnerability, anxiety, and sadness.

Families went to a concert and sports event, and now many are dead. Period.

How do we explain the unexplainable and unimaginable to our children?

It is important to think about your child’s age and maturity.

Keep young children away from the television. Understand that they see and hear everything.

With Middle school aged children, think about their level of maturity and desire to understand what is occurring in the world. At this age, many don’t yet want to know. Preserve their innocence.

Your older children may be curious and there is opportunity for discussion with them. These discussions may include why people do these things, what are the beliefs of terrorists that lead them to such horrible acts, and how it is important for us to cherish all of life’s moments because life is unpredictable and all we really have is the present moment.

For all children, regardless of age, understand that they may need more reassurance during this time. Sit with them, read with them, and cuddle with them. Help them feel safe “right now.” All of these things will help them find their previous balance and belief about their safety – until the next thing happens. When it does, do it all again.n

from the principal’s desk

by John McMorris, CVCHS

Another Successful Year

Clayton Valley Charter High School concluded the 2016-17 academic year by celebrating our graduation ceremony on June 1st. Together with Executive Director David Linzey and other department staff, I was proud to participate in our annual recognition ceremony and to showcase our graduating seniors who have invested so much time and effort into their high school careers.

In our fifth year since the charter conversion, CVCHS is fortunate to have the flexibility to develop innovative programs that promote student acceleration in all academic, social, and civic areas. CVCHS is a unique community and it’s reflective by the commitment of our incredible teaching, counseling and coaching staff.

I recognize there are so many student achievements and school programs to highlight this year, and each is due their own special recognition. However, for the sake of brevity, here are some favorite moments: Receiving the California Gold Ribbon Schools Award from the State Department of Education;

Receiving the prestigious National Model Schools Award by the International Center for Leadership in Education; Offering the inspirational Challenge Day program for all 10th graders to address the issues of unity, tolerance and respect for every student; Showcasing our Arts Academy student exhibits and Public Service Academy community engagement activities at Open House; Implementing our powerful intervention programs throughout the year to help “close the achievement gap”; Supporting our athletic team competitions at numerous league championships and sectional playoff games; Enjoying musical and theatrical performances of our bands, drama and dance students.

We have a lot to be proud of at CVCHS this year. Our students reflect the best of our community and as our graduates go out into the real world, I am confident that we have diligently prepared each of our students for success in the 21st Century.n

Residents Sought to Serve on Concord Commissions The Concord City Council has announced the opening of recruitment for the Community Services Commission and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission.

The Community Services Commission is looking for four members willing to service four-year terms ending June 30, 2021 and one member willing to serve a two-year term ending June 30, 2019.

Community Services Commission members identify housing, neighborhood and social services needs within the community; review funding requests, advising the City Council on the allocation of Federal Community Development Block Grant monies for programs and projects; and monitor the performance of funded programs. Meetings are held the second

Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive.

The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission is seeking three members to serve four-year terms ending June 30, 2021. The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Committee advises the City Council on matters related to public parks, open space, recreation and youth; reviews and recommends Council action to develop, modify, and/or improve City parks; promotes recreation and park programs, assesses park and recreation needs, and recommends capital improvement projects and fees.

Applications forms are available from the City’s website at www.cityofconcord. org/BCApplications.n

Alien:Covenant In all the Alien movies, a hapless crew–civilians/scientists/miners, backed by a corrupt corporation–encounter one planet or another and voila – they become the breeding vessels for our favorite xenomorph varieties.

Enter Covenant, which offers typical Alien fare with a minimal splash of Prometheus, certainly not enough to satisfy those of us who enjoyed the former film.

Prior to Covenant’s release, an Online short promo explained the immediate aftermath from Prometheus, filling in some blanks that were not explained in Covenant, yet necessary to understand the jump between films.

I won’t reveal any spoilers but to say that if you just want an Alien film, this one does not disappoint.

In Covenant, bound for a planet on the far end of the galaxy deemed hospitable and ready for them to colonize, the crew of the vessel of the same name (Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup) is awakened early only to be diverted to another world, one broadcasting a song delivered

by Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) from the last film, which they interpret as an emergency call.

This crew includes an updated David synthetic named Walter (Michael Fassbender in both roles), identical sans the complicated emotionalism and a different hairstyle and speech pattern.

Needless to say that this world is quickly revealed to be a dark place, the remains of the Engineer home-world, and a sinister tale of what happened to Dr. Shaw and David. And, of course, a hostile alien, a neomorph, forces the crew into a struggle for their lives.

If you’ve watched any Alien films before, you know how this one ends.

When Ridley Scott released the last movie in the Alien franchise: Prometheus, it seemed as though I was in the minority who found the film to be meaningful and thought provoking with its allusions to religion, our creators, the Engineers, who had come to seed life on Earth, only later to attempt to choose to destroy it.

They had setup a biological agent on a barren world, keeping the pathogen from their own home world, and, readied to launch to our planet and finish us off, instead fall victim to their own creation.

Without recounting the whole tale, the Internet was abuzz with the religious symbology of their change of heart resulting from the crucifixion of their emissary back a few thousand years.

Google “Prometheus meanings” for more information.

With many familiar elements from the original Alien movie, as well as the vastly improved technological element of film making, there are no dull moments, if you came to find answers left over from Prometheus, there are few to be found and, in the discovery, some disappointments how the story evolved.

The original Alien, way back a few

decades before the end of the last century, was shocking, gritty and raw, exposing audiences to the scariest of all things, emerging from the chest amidst a torrent of blood and guts and screams.

Audiences tend to lose the shock value quickly, and following Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, aside from the Alien v Predator offshoot, we’ve become numb to the chest bursting, metallic acid-drool

of the creatures. Like many horror films, these scares simply replace people and setting, film to film, until audiences just stop caring.

In the Alien franchise, despite a universe of accessibility and an abundance of technology, the storylines always fall back to greed, whether by profit in the attempted exploitation and weaponization of the creatures, as in the earlier films, or the foolish attempt of Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), to gain immortality from the Engineers.

I believe Covenant failed to live up to the scope offered by Prometheus and settled instead, into a more comfortable and familiar zone. But that seems to be what audiences want, in which case there will be no disappointments. That and the remaining four films Ridley Scott promised before his tale returns to the original Alien.

Directed by Ridley Scott

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017 • Page 10 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

frugelegance

by Carol and Randi -The Frugirls www.frugelegance.com

Easy Front Porch Clean Up

We have said this before but need to say it again. No matter if you live in an apartment or a large house, the front door area is where your friends and family enter your home. Keeping it clean and clutter free will make an impression on all.

Sprucing up your front door and porch area doesn’t have to cost a lot nor be a difficult project either. Keeping things simple and easy is just what we like.

We recently had a FrugElegance by Design staging job and the front porch was in need of a little TLC. So it was Fru-Girls to the rescue.

We decided to do the clean-up project for the homeowner who had a great deal of other work to do in preparation for her upcoming move.

(Plus, we got to take pics and make a blog post to share.)

We start with some basic cleaning and tidying up. We remove all debris and sweep the area clean. Then using a damp cloth, we wipe up the dust, dirt and cob webs from the front door and windows.

We had a bonus (though you might not think that at first by looking at the picture), what to do with an old bench that had been seriously worn and damaged from the elements. Instead of

throwing it away, we make it work with a little updating. Since there wasn’t much time, we gave it the quickest and easiest makeover possible. A light scraping and sanding to remove the peeling old paint. We could have done more, but we just wanted to keep things fast and easy.

After the prep, we

Carol and Randi, the FruGirls, are local home decorators and stagers.

FrugElegance is where Frugal and Elegance come together. You can also find them Blogging about many other ways to live an elegant life for less at www. frugelegance.com

spray a coat of black paint. If you look really, really closely at the finished bench, you can see the dings and imperfections, I mean character. Yet, it’s so much better than it was before.

To complete the look, which is the most important part, we add big, bright and colorful outdoor pillows.

The transformation was remarkable once we added a few touches to the porch, like a bunny statue with a ribbon, a couple of lanterns and some fresh new plants.

Nothing fancy, and only a little money was

spent for some supplies.

We freshened up the planter near the rabbit statue. The old planter by the lanterns and front door needed a full makeover.

We had a couple cool tricks to help with planting in larger size planters, (which you can discover on our website blog). To tie both planters together, we used a few small colorful plants: coleus and impatiens. It all came out FrugElegantly! n

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The Perfection of the Peach

by Debra Morris

Remember the summers when you were a kid, biting into a big fat peach, juice running down your chin? Or taking the first bite of Mom’s peach cobbler?

Or dipping into a jar of homemade peach jam? Well, peach season is here and there’s nothing better right now. Fresh peaches are personified perfection!

Peach varieties are available with both white and yellow flesh, and both freestone and cling*. May farmers plant a variety of peaches to extend their season of availability. The O’Henry freestone peach is the perfect eating peach with intense peach flavor; the white-fleshed freestone donut peach (“Stark Saturn”) is enjoyable for its curious flat squat shape and lively flavor, nice in salads; the Elegant Lady freestone is prized for its fragrance, firmness and mild acidity, good for eating and baking; and the heirloom Fay Elberta is a large freestone peach with a tart sweet taste, great for jams and salads. *Freestone vs. Cling Peaches: There are two types of peaches, freestone and clingstone, both descendants of the first wild peaches from China. Freestone peaches have flesh that slips easily away from the pit, clingstone fruits do not.

Clingstone peaches usually arrive early in the season and are used mostly for com-

mercial canning, though they still make a good eating and baking peach. Freestone varieties arrive later in the summer and continue through early October, delicious for use in almost everything.

Peach Crostini 1 French loaf, sliced 4 yellow peaches, cut into wedges 2 cups ricotta, pressed in cheese cloth for about 15

minutes Zest from one lemon Olive oil to taste Honey to taste Salt and pepper to taste Wrap ricotta in cheese cloth, and let sit until cheese cloth is damp (about 15 minutes). This will thicken the ricotta.

Remove cheese cloth and mix ricotta with a dash of salt and lemon zest.

Refrigerate ricotta until you are ready to spread it on the crostini.

Brush sliced bread with olive oil. Grill both sides until crusty. Toss the peaches with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Grill over high heat until there are sear marks on both sides. Remove from heat and let them come to room temperature. Spread ricotta onto bread, add peaches and serve. n

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The Diablo Gazette’s

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JUNE EVENTS

Graduation Events!

Congratulations to all.

June 18 Father’s Day June 21 1st Day of Summer July 4th Celebrations: Concord, Pleasant Hill and Martinez

FUNDRAISERS

Pancake Breakfast - Supporting Veterans of foreign Wars – 2nd and 4th Sundays includes eggs, pancakes, sausage, beverage. 8 – 11 a.m. Willow Pass Road, Concord $5, $3 Children under 12. http://www.vfwpost1525.org

CONCERTS IN THE GROVE

Introducing the “Patron Sponsor” program that will help fund the Concerts in The Grove series. With a tax-deductible donation of $200, Patron Sponsors will receive one commemorative hat, one commemorative pin, and a coupon for a free beer per concert (courtesy of the Clayton Club Saloon). Make checks payable to: City of Clayton Concerts in The Grove. Checks may be mailed to the Clayton City Hall or given to the donor collectors at each concert.

OUTDOORS:

Concord: Todos Santos Park OFF the Grid Mondays. Full lineup available at http://offthegridsf.com.

June 7 Walnut Creek First Wednesdays Street Fest! Live entertainment, arts & crafts, treats, shopping.

5:30 PM to 8:30 PM on June 7 / July 5/August 2 / September 6 / October 4. Cypress Street (Between Main Street & Locust Street). Bike Walnut Creek is sponsoring a free ‘bike valet’ for your wheels! Enjoy FREE parking after 5PM! Participating Garages: N. Locust Garage 1625 Locust St. / S. Locust Garage - 1350 Locust St. N. Broadway Garage - 1390 N. Broadway.

June 17 Pickleball Summer Kickoff Tournament - The City of Concord Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its first Pickleball Summer Kickoff Tournament on Saturday, June 17 at 9 a.m. Come watch the fun at the Willow Pass Pickleball courts at Willow Pass park E Olivera Rd and Salvio St. To register, go to www. concordreg.org and use registration number 104539. Registration is also available at Willow Pass Community Center, 2748 E. Olivera Rd., open Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Registration deadline is Friday, June 2. For more information, contact Interim Program Coordinator Kayla Malachowski, (925) 671-3423 or to see all Parks & Recreation classes now taking registration, visit www.concordreg.org.

Farmers’ Markets

Concord Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Thursdays 4P-8P, Todos Santos Plaza. • Martinez Sundays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, Main St. and Estudillo.

Walnut Creek Diablo Valley Farmers Market Saturday 9a.m. - 1 p.m.

Shadelands Business Park, N. Wigett Lane and Mitchell Dr. Also, from Contra Costa Certified Farmers Market - North Locust St between Giamona and Lacassie St. Sundays 9 am - 1 pm, Year Round, (925) 431-8361 http://www.cccfm.org Pleasant Hill – Saturdays 10:00am to 2:00pm May 6 -Oct 28; 136 Trelany Rd, Pleasant Hill, CA Pittsburg – Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm, May 6 - Oct 7; 600 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg, CA Clayton- Saturday 8:00am to 12:00pm May 13 - Oct 14; 6095 Main St, Clayton

FAMILY EVENTS

Galindo Home and Gardens Tours - 1721 Amador Avenue, Concord. Visit the fully-restored 1856 Victorian home of Francisco Galindo, one of Concord’s founding fathers, and his wife, Maria Dolores Manuela (Pacheco) Galindo. This includes the 1875 addition by Francisco Galindo’s son, Juan “John” Galindo. No reservations needed. Fee $5 for adults and children over 12. One of only a few Victorian ranch houses in the country.

By 1880, the structure was reconfigured in the Queen Anne style, with bay windows, sweeping steps, and a broad porch.

Visitors can tour the10 rooms, including two parlors and a formal dining room, and see 15 original pieces of Eastlake furniture. Go to concordhistorical.org for more information.

June 8 Rock Steady Senior Boxing. A non-contact boxing program for people who wish to manage Parkinson’s. A presentation and demonstration will be held at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. To reserve a seat, register at www. concordreg.org course #105194, $3. For more information contact Program Coordinator Dario Sanchez at (925) 671-3017.

June 10 Molly Williams, Publishing Director at Big Hat Press in Lafayette, will present “Not Only the Cover—Judge a Book by its Pages” at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Sign-in is 11:15 am. Luncheon 12:00-12:45 pm.

Speaker 1-2 pm. Registration is $25 for CWC members, $30 for guests.

Reservations are required, no later than noon on Wednesday, June 7th. Contact Robin Gigoux at cwcrobin.gigoux@ yahoo.com. website: http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.comnext-program/.

June 10 Hungarian Festival The daylong Hungarian Art and Culture Festival on June 10 in Downtown Walnut Creek at the Civic park is a street fair, celebrating Hungarian culture, live music, folk dance, art and Hungarian cuisine from 11a, to 5pm. Corvinus Hungarian Chamber Chorus is a diverse range of Hungarian musicians (currently women only) offering the finest Hungarian choral repertoire with choral works exclusively from Hungarian composers, like Bartók, Kodály, Bárdos, Karai, etc.

Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble has been celebrating and showcasing Hungarian folk culture in the Bay Area since 1977 through presentations to the Hungarian community and the general public.

Harangvirag Playhouse brings to life Hungarian folk stories in our puppet shows, learning more about our rich Hungarian folk world through stories, songs and children’s plays, getting creative at our crafting table, and learning Hungarian crafts.

Sizzling Latin Dance performance by Timea Potys and her dancers Laszlo Tihanyi Folk Dance and Dance circle “Living the Tradition” music and musical instruments demonstration through the ethnic music of Hungary by using instruments not heard or seen in commercial media we will widen the children’s view of the world’s cultural heritage. Arts & Crafts, Puppet Show, musical circle, clay all day will enterain the kids. Enjoy traditional Hungarian Food presented by DJ Bistro and wine from Szabo Winery. Plus Timi’s Hungarian pastries, chimney cakes and langos. This

is a unique opportunity to experience life in another country. Presented by the East Bay Hungarian Educational Group.

June 11 “Levi Strauss, The Man Who Gave us Blue Jeans - By Lynn Downey. Martinez Historical Society Quarterly Meeting: Sunday, at 1 PM at Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 930 Ward Street, Martinez.

Light snacks will be served.

VISUAL ARTS/THEATRE/ MUSIC

Clayton Theatre Company Summer Stage 3-week camp for kids 6-16 years of age.

We focus on musical theater in preparation for the summer musical. Each performer will have a professional head shot taken and receive a personal resume.

July 10-27. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. http://www.claytontheatrecompany.com/ Auditions- Clayton Theatre Company – Fall musical “1940’s Radio Hour”. Appointment Necessary. For actors age 16 and up. All roles are open.

For More Information: Call: 925-2229106. Email: claytontheatrecompany@ comcast.net

Todos Music and Market

June 9 & 11 DIABLO CHORAL ARTISTS presents a choral journey of Summer Travels, featuring works by Mendelssohn, Elgar, Rossini & Copland. Mark Tuning, Music Director, John R.S. Walko, accompanist. Friday June 9, 8:00pm, Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Sunday, June 11, 3:00pm, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill. (reception after Sunday concert & a drawing for gift basket at each concert).

Details and ticket purchase at: www. dcachorus.org, or call 925-680-7089.

Concord 29th Annual Music and Market Series

Thursdays at Todos Santos Plaza downtown Concord.

June 8 Native Elements Feel-good Reggae June 15 50th Anniversary of the “Summer of Love” Co-bill: Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix Tribute featuring Ralph Woodson) plus The RaveUps (Yard Birds Tribute) June 22 American Roots Extravaganza! Co-bill: Mitch Polzak and The Royal Deuces (Masterful Rockabilly) plus The KillBillies (Old-timey Americana) June 29 David Martin’s House Party A Bay Area Premier Party Band July 7 Zepparella The All-Female Zeppelin Powerhouse www.zepparella. com July 13 Frobeck North Bay’s Top Funk/ Rock Band

Clayton Concerts in the Grove

June 10 The Boys of Summer deemed the best Eagles Tribute band in the West June 24 Caravanserai- This outstanding Santana tribute band July 8 Diamond Dave - He’s been entertaining Bay Area audiences for over 20 years, Dave is back for the 10th consecutive year. Truly one of Clayton’s favorites accompanied by his singing daughters Kelly, Kaitland & Meghan.

June 15th Jazz Room Opulana, cross-cultural Jazz. The band Columbian Singer Susana Pineda with

Guitarist Luis Salcedo will perform songs from their debut album Opulana in addition to new original music & arrangements.

7:30 pm to 9 pm Village Theatre Gallery, 233 Front Street in Danville. Tickets $15 purchase online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/2952942 June 21 10th Annual Walnut Creek June Wine Walk – 6P-9P A fun-filled evening in downtown Walnut Creek benefiting the Walnut Creek Education Foundation. Stroll, sip and savor over 20-plus varietals while enjoying live music throughout the evening. (Must be 21 or older to participate in tasting) Maps of all participating businesses and a wine glass will be available at the starting location-Patioworld, 1628 Mt. Diablo Blvd. $30/Advance Tickets $40/Event Day. Contact Walnut Creek Downtown at (925) 933-6778 Purchase tickets, at http://www.walnutcreekdowntown.com/ event/166 June 24 PAWS de Tutu at Lafayette Reservoir, East Entrance at the stage. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. $5 to attend. To enter any or all of the competitions: $20 adult, $10 youth (17 and under), which includes the admissions fee. www.diabloballet.org.

June 24 Shredding Event. 10A-2P. Fight ID Theft with Kinetic Real Estate and our Community! Bring papers to shred, stay for coffee, juice, pastries, and prizes!

Kinetic Real Estate office. 3600 Clayton Rd. Concord. Cost $5/box. all proceeds benefit Girls on the Run. July 7th Jazz Room 8 PM. Internationally acclaimed Jazz Harpist Motoshi Kosako followed by Mike Williams and Marc Levine. Guest vocalist Eve Marie Shahoian. Presented by Town of Danville and the Jazz Room at Villiage Theatre & Art Gallery 233 Front Street, Danville. Tickets: www.villagetheatreshows.com July 23 Opera in the Park, is scheduled for one performance at the Community Park, 28 Orinda Way, Orinda Sunday 5:00-7:00pm. Free Admission, Free Parking, and BART and Handicapped Accessible 925.685.4945. Courtesy of Orinda Rotary. For more information, visit www.

SoloOpera.org Concord Pavilion General sale tickets are available online at LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Tickets are also available at select WalMart locations. For general Pavilion information, call (925) 676-8742 Jun 7 -- Chicago and the Doobie Brothers Wed 7:30 PM Jun 11 -- Spirit West Coast Sun 4:00 PM Jun 23 -- Styx with REO Speedwagon Fri 7:00PM Jul 6 -- Deftones with Rise Against the Machine Thu 6:30 PM Aug 11 -- Steve Martin and Martin Short Fri 8:00 PM Aug 16 -- Straight No chaser with Postmodern Jukebox Wed 7:30 PM Aug 27 -- OneRepublic with Fitz and the Tantrums Sun 7:00 PM Sept 15 -- Florida Georgia Line Oct 12 -- Luke Bryan For a complete list of local clubs and meeting dates, go to diablogazette.com.

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CAMP BOW WOW Opens in Concord

Just in time for summer vacations, local residents and entrepreneurs, Doug and Doreen Fleming just opened the doors to their very own Camp Bow Wow location at 1395-C Galindo St. in Concord.

Camp Bow Wow is a leading franchise in providing daycare and overnight boarding needs for dogs. As longtime Camp Bow Wow clients themselves, the Flemings are delighted to be begin operations in the Diablo Valley.

Camp Bow Wow Diablo Valley offer local residents a fun, safe and upscale environment for dogs to play, romp and receive copious amounts of love and

Who’s Reading The Diablo Gazette?

Couple was spotted at Todos Santos reading the Diablo Gazette, while taking a break from shopping at the Antique Fair. Photo by Micah.

attention. Pet parents will have the option of both daytime and extended overnight stay care.

The facility is equipped with large indoor and outdoor play spaces for the pups, complete with a dog pool and play equipment, live camper cams for parents, spacious cabins, 2 luxury suites and more.

“Throughout our personal careers, we have focused on optimizing the physical and emotional health and safety of our clients and co-workers,” said Doug Fleming, co-owner of Camp Bow Wow Diablo Valley. “At our new Camp Bow Wow location, we will keep up that tradition with

our company vision of ensuring a safe and fun environment for dogs and offering pet parents the peace of mind knowing that their furry loved ones are in great hands.”n

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No Matter Your Flavor, The Diablo Gazette is FOR YOU!

“Finally! The Diablo Gazette, everybody kept asking me when we were going to start getting the Gazette!”

– Mt. Diablo School District.

“I live in Sausilito. I asked friends in your area about local newspapers they prefer, the Diablo Gazette gets mentioned a lot.

I thought you’d like to hear that. You guys are doing a good job over there.” – Mike H.

“I look forward to the Diablo Gazette at the beginning of every month, It’s a good community paper. I love the stories. You have good writers.” – Wayne C.

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017• Page 15 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

Clayton BBQ Cook OFF Returns for Its 8th Year Even longtime residents of the Bay Area have trouble pinpointing the small city of Clayton with its less than 12,000 population. Often referred to as “The Best side of the Mountain” Clayton is a well-run, family-orientated city that has numerous events in the quaint downtown area. It’s Art & Wine Festival and Oktoberfest are among the largest, but those are now rivaled in the summer by the Clayton BBQ Cook-off on July 15.

The Clayton BBQ Cook-off started with a group of Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA) members getting together and discussing the idea of having a community event to get support for the CBCA. The first six years of competitions were held at the historic (operating since 1879) Clayton Club Saloon, and was limited to Backyard competitors, only. Local BBQ Restaurant Owners were the Judges in the final round of eliminations. Winners received trophies and prize money.

Having reached an apex of 30 competitors, the event outgrew the venue and applied to the City of Clayton to use Main Street as the venue, as the Art & Wine and Oktoberfest events do.

Now in its 8th year of competitions, the event is in its second year in partnership with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). This partnership brings a level of professionalism to the BBQ Cook-off as well as Certified BBQ Judges that have been trained on how to properly Judge the meats that competitors turn in. Prizes are awarded five layers deep for both the Chicken & Rib categories, and overall Reserve Champion and Grand Champions are named for both the Backyard and the

KCBS competition divisions.

In the first year of having Main Street as the venue, we gathered a crowd estimated at more than 5,000 attendees. For this year, more vendors, beer, wine and margarita choices have been added.

They are also adding the People’s Choice Competition. Not all of the 48 competitive teams will be participating in the People’s Choice competition, but of the 12 that do, you can taste their competition ribs and vote Online for the best.

The public really wants to taste what the competitors are turning in to be judged!

Another part of the event that the public greatly enjoyed was the celebrity Cooking Demonstration. Food Network Star Donna Fong, the Butcher’s Daughter, and her fiancé, Harry Soo (Slap yo’ Daddy BBQ) have been featured on Food Network’s Grill Masters and have won numerous awards in the competitive BBQ Circuit.

In addition to all this, Wally’s Rental Center has donated a custom-made Smoker to the event which will be raffled off. Tickets are $5.00 each. The winner does not need to be present to win.

If you are interested in participating in this event at the website, www.claytoncbca.org/events. Rib Cook-off. They have openings for Backyard and KCBS cooking teams, vendors and sponsors.

The 8th Annual Clayton BBQ Cook-Off is Saturday July 15th, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Live Music featuring Tone Pony and Gunpowder & Lace will play throughout the day. Awards will be announced at 5:00 pm. n

To Advertise in The Diablo Gazette Call (925) 298-9990 Reach More Customers!

DO’S, DON’TS AND NEVERS: RATTLESNAKE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SCARY KIND:

By Jill Hedgecock | www.jillhedgecock.com

Photo credit: Diane Walsh

Luis Fraser and wife Jenae Fraser of Rattlesnake Removal USA will come to your house or business and handle rattlesnake invasions, including nest removals. Rattlesnakes can strike one-third of their body length, so give the snake a 20 to 30 foot berth.

My husband, Eric, and I had reached the sixth mile of a grueling hike in a remote area of Mount Diablo State Park. By midday on this spring day, we had arrived at a shady stretch of trail. It wasn’t the right habitat or time of day for snakes and had no reason to be on the lookout them. (DO watch for snakes always, even where you don’t expect them.) It could have ended badly. His size-thirteen hiking boot missed the rattlesnake. His step cleared the reptile before I’d had a chance to shout a warning. We had no cell service. We got lucky.

But to my dismay, the creature that had moments ago been slithering across the trail decided to go no further. Thick brush bordered both sides of the steep, narrow trail and I couldn’t go around.

We both retreated a good distance with the dangerous reptile between us like a line drawn in the sand. (DO get out of striking distance and give the snake a 20 to 30-foot berth.) I waited. Mr. or Ms. Too-Tired-To-Move didn’t budge. Eric tossed a few pebbles to rouse the serpent.

(DON’T harass a snake. NEVER poke a snake with a stick or attempt to move it out of the way.) After about five minutes, it glided off the path, but still I hesitated. Thick grass hid the snake’s current location. (DO give the snake plenty of time to move on if you can’t see where it went.) Gathering my courage, I sprinted toward Eric. As I passed the spot where the snake had lingered, a menacing rattle filled the air.

What should I have done if Eric had stepped on the creature and been bitten?

Here’s what the California Department of Fish and Game and other credible websites suggest: DO move a safe distance from the snake and sit down (fainting is a possibility). Remove any rings, watches, and any other constricting items from the bitten limb. If possible, call 911 or the park ranger. Try to stay calm. Few snake bites are fatal to adults if medical treatment is received within two hours.

However, immediate medical attention is needed for children and pets. If you have a pen, draw a circle around the bite wound and write down the time, then track the swelling and document any symptoms every fifteen to thirty minutes.

This information can help doctors decide on the best treatment. DON’T stay put if

you’re on a remote trail and you can’t call for help. Walk slowly until you have cell service or to the nearest populated trail or house for help. DON’T drive yourself to the hospital because the venom can cause a sudden loss of vision. DON’T put ice or mud on the wound. NEVER cut the wound and try to suck out the poison or apply a tourniquet.

PREVENTION: Code the Snake Bite Poison Line 1-800-222-1222 into your phone. It’s available 24/7. If you have a smartphone, download an app like MapMyFitness that records your hiking route and distance traveled. It will only work with cell service, but can be a great tool to help emergency personnel find you in a remote area since you can tell them how far you’ve walked. Take precautions by watching where you’re placing your feet and look down before you sit on a log or a rock. Always step on a rock, not over it, where a snake could be hidden from view. If you are using ear buds, leave one out so you can hear a warning rattle. Plan that long, remote wilderness hike sometime between November through March when rattlers are less active. Pick a time of day when snakes are more likely to be resting. Avoid mornings and evenings during hot weather months when snakes tend to be on the move. Wear boots with ankle protection and loose-fitting pants.

When swimming in lakes and rivers, be vigilant - that “stick” you are reaching for might actually be a snake. Rattlesnakes can swim.

If you find a rattlesnake or a nest in your yard or business, DON’T try to remove it yourself. A freshly-killed snake can still reflexively bite and inject venom.

Contact a professional. Luis Fraser, owner of Rattlesnake Removal USA, a retired sergeant and wrangler, will capture the snakes and release them to remote wilderness areas.

Fraser suggests removing debris, water sources, and adopting a large male cat from your local shelter to make your home less attractive to rattlesnakes.

DOGS AND SNAKES: According to East Bay Veterinary Specialist and Emergency if you are in a remote area and your dog has been bitten, if possible, carry the dog out. Rush the dog to a vet. If your dog

Continued next page....

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017 • Page 16 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Architectural Gem Preserved… for now

Cities Battle for Clayton

Bocce Cup

The Clayton Avengers, Capo Dave Shuey; Chewbocce, Capo John Jackson; Soggy Ballers, CapoDori Madera; and Bada Bang, Capo Alice Adach

It’s not every day a beautiful, century-old building is in jeopardy of being demolished.

That was the inescapable fate of the 1903 County Jail in downtown Martinez until the non-profit Architectural Preservation Foundation of Contra Costa County (APFCCC) stepped up to save it from becoming a pile of recyclable stone.

The newly formed non-profit APFCCC, headed by Dean McLeod, achieved this huge success recently. Thanks to regular correspondence and meetings with the Capital Projects division of the County Administrator’s Office, the County Supervisor, and the CCC Public Works, the organization was able to reach an agreement to delay any further action on demolishing the jail for TWO YEARS. Built of rough cut Vermont Granite blocks, the 1903 jail was built to house 38 inmates and was designed to match the larger Court House building (now the Finance Building) that it sits immediately behind. The two matching buildings are part of the “Court House Block” as defined in the National Register of Historic

Places, a designation submitted in 1989

by Betty Maffei, the Director of the Contra Costa County Historical Society.

The 1903 jail building was designed by William S. Mosser, a well-known architect at the time. Among his designs were plans for the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the S.F. Maritime Museum, and the Inglenook Winery and Beringer House in St. Helena, CA. So, where does the APFCCC go from here? Their efforts are now focused on developing a “viable” plan for the restoration and reuse of the building, raising funds to cover expenses such as consultation fees to full cost of restoration. Just as important is the search for volunteers to assist with publicity and grant writing as well as story writing from the substantial collection of fascinating history they have accumulated.

To learn more or assist in their efforts, contact the APFCCC by phone at (925) 352-3334 or by email at savethecountyjail@gmail.com. n

The CBCA Clayton Bocce League and the Concord Bocce Federation have agreed to hold a yearly Bocce tournament between the cities best teams. The inaugural Clayton Bocce Cup was held on June 3, at the Ipsen Family Bocce Park.

The Concord league’s final four from their 2016 season Baldwin court winners will play the final four from Clayton’s 2016 summer league. Second place team, Blenderheads Too, who are unavailable, will be replaced by Chewbocce, the winner of the spring league. The teams playing for Clayton will be led by their capos. The Avengers, Capo Dave Shuey; Chewbocce, Capo John Jackson; Soggy Ballers, CapoDori Madera; and Bada Bang, Capo Alice Adachi.

They will play Romeo-Babe Guerisoli; Vinny’s Bar and Grill, Capo Steve Conger; Lets Roll, Capo Ron Wessels; and Tower grill, Capo Steve Kenney form Concord.

Each team will play four games under

the modified Swiss format we use for our annual Skip Ipsen Memorial Bocce Tournament. This will be followed by a championship round. The winning city will hold the Claycord Bocce Cup for the next year.

Neither CBCA Clayton Bocce League or the Concord Bocce Federation Baldwin Leagues participate in the end of year county tournament in October, which led to the decision to have their own championship.

The County Tournament includes the top two teams Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, and Crockett Bocce leagues.

Bocce is quite popular in Contra Costa.

Martinez Bocce Federation boasts the largest in the country with over 2000 players, while Concord Federation is the 2nd largest at approximately 1700. Relatively new Clayton is steady over 1200 players with just four courts. n

Mike’s Auto Body

Small Business of the Year!

RATTLESNAKE Continued .... is regularly exercised off-leash or trained in wilderness areas, or your yard is prone to snake invasions, consider getting your pup a rattlesnake vaccination. A vaccinated dog must still IMMEDIATELY be taken to a veterinarian, but the vaccine can delay the development of symptoms and could save the animal’s life. Some organizations provide snake aversion training for dogs, but be aware that their techniques may include shock collars.

Like my experience, most rattlesnake encounters end without dire consequences. But it’s good to know what to do if Eric’s size-thirteen boot lands on a poisonous snake during our next hike.

For more rattlesnake incidents, See “Rattlesnake Tales” in the October issue of the Diablo Gazette, page 3. (https://issuu.com/publishone/docs/

Photo credit: Diane Walsh

Gopher snakes can look and act similar to rattlesnakes and will vibrate their tails when in danger.

dg-oct2016-digital).

Sources: California Department of Fish and Game https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/ news/snake Rattlesnake Removal USA: 1-707-5670110 East Bay Veterinary Specialist and Emergency: (925) 937-5001

Congratulations to Mike’s Auto Body.

It was recently recognized as the Concord Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year at the East Bay Leadership Council Small Business Awards Luncheon.

Mike’s Auto Body was founded

by Mike Rose in 1972 as a single location auto body repair shop and to this day is a family business, with Mike’s daughter and son each having major roles in the company. Since 1972, the company has

grown to fifteen bay area locations.

Mike’s Auto Body cares about its communities. In 2001, they began their Benevolence Program, in which Mike’s, along with industry partners, provides vehicles for deserving families each Christmas. Since its inception, Mike’s has donated over 55 vehicles to deserving families and non-profit organizations. Mike’s Auto Body also contributes to many local non-profits in the community.

TESTIMONIAL

Wow, I just read another great article by the Journey Man and I’m just in awe. Very inspiring. – Advrdr9

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017• Page 17 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

JetSuiteX Flies Underserved Free Mosquitofish Available for Richmond Children to ‘LA for a Day’ Contra Costa Residents

by David King

“Thank you for your piece on free mosquitofish. We received much attention and most importantly, many more (residents)…. are using the fish to combat mosquitoes. Your piece also resulted in two television stories. I’m certain you have single-handedly – and exponentially, I might add – reduced the mosquito population and thus reduced the risk of West Nile virus in Contra Costa County.”

These were excerpts from an email sent to the Mayor of Claycord.com from Deborah Bass of the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District, in response to its recent post announcing the free mosquitofish program..

With the amount of rain we received this year, the mosquito population is expected to increase substantially from the standing pools of water throughout the county. Also fountains, pools, and hot tubs, also contribute to breeding opportunities (for mosquitoes).

The county offers free mosquitofish to county residents to stock in fountains, ponds, horse troughs, and virtually any artificial bodies of water, but are not to be placed in public creeks or natural water sources.

Mosquitofish are live bearing freshwater minnows related to guppies. Only one to two inches in length, they feed on

insects and wind-blown organic debris on the surface. An adult can eat 500 mosquito larvae a day. They are a perfect biological source to control the mosquito population. More than 100,000 of this fish are produced each year at the District’s mosquitofish production facility.

Mosquitofish are available at the District Office at 155 Mason Circle in Concord Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Containers are provided. Call in advance if you need large numbers of 50 or more for a water feature such as a pool or large pond.

925-685-9301. For more information on mosquitoes, West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, visit their website at www.contracostamosquito.com. n

Meadow Homes Spray Park is Now Open in Concord As part of its community outreach efforts in Contra Costa County, JetSuiteX has partnered with For Richmond organization and jetted underserved Richmond school children to Southern California for an educational and cultural adventure.

For Richmond is an organization dedicated to providing job, health, safety and educational opportunities for Richmond residents.

Twenty children, fifth through eighth grade, boarded the JetSuiteX aircraft at Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and traveled to Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport outside of Los Angeles. From there, the children toured California Science Center in Los Angeles where they enjoyed a catered lunch and saw the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Upon return they were served dinner at the hangar in Burbank. Both meals were sponsored by Mechanics Bank.

“It’s fitting that they saw the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Being famous for exploring new frontiers in outer space, it parallels this adventure with these students who are having an educational experience, experiencing new horizons beyond their everyday lives. We hope it inspires them to strive to greater achievements,” said Kathy Chouteau Communications Director at For Richmond.

The “LA for a Day” program, in part, aims to reward and encourage children who may not have performed well academically in the past, but who have worked hard to improve their grades.

Many children participating in the program will not only be riding in a plane for the first time, but also will be traveling outside of Richmond and the Bay Area.

This partnership will be ongoing as trips will be offered, one time in the spring and summer and annually in coming years. Other cultural or STEM-based activities will be planned in future trips.

Children participating in “LA for a Day”

are selected by Richmond educators for being the most improved academically at their schools.

“We’re thrilled to partner with For Richmond and its ‘LA for a Day’ program to give the next generation of travelers a chance to experience the wonder of air travel and explore one of our home cities Los Angeles,” said Alex Wilcox, CEO of JetSuiteX. “The entire JetSuiteX crew is honored to expose these ‘most improved’ students to a new place that may not otherwise be easily accessible. We’re proud to help For Richmond bring that type of excitement and experience to these kids.”

“Amidst all of the exciting experiences our group had during our LA for a Day field trip, the most gratifying for me was the awe, excitement and joy I saw in the eyes of our participating Richmond students,” said For Richmond Executive Director Kyra Worthy. “My greatest aim at the onset of our excursion was to ignite that spark in our children that spurs them to reach higher and keep soaring beyond their neighborhood skylines after this trip,” Worthy added. “One look in their eyes at the end of the day confirmed my goal had been attained.”

JetSuiteX offers East Bay travelers a quick, easy and remarkably comfortable way to travel between Concord and the LA area and Las Vegas. Operating in and out of private hangars and terminals, JetSuiteX combines the benefits of the private ground experience with the service and by-the-seat booking of commercial air travel, but with no lines, no waiting, no cattle calls or baggage carousels and free parking. A year ago, JetSuiteX became the first regularly scheduled air travel option to offer service between Concord and LA since 1992, with multiple flights daily (excluding Saturdays) starting at $99 each way. n

The popular Meadow Homes Spray Park at 1351 Detroit Ave. is now open for the summer season until Sunday, September 24. Once school recesses for the summer, hours will be noon to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

The spray park is located at Meadow Homes Park, which is at the northwest corner of Sunshine Drive and Detroit Av-

enue next to Meadow Homes School. The spray park includes shaded play areas for tots, tweens and teens.

Meadow Homes Spray Park is located at 1351 Detroit Avenue. The Spray Park is free to everyone! The operating season begins Memorial Day weekend and continues until the last Sunday in September.

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017 • Page 18 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

DIABLO GAZETTE FUN ZONE Congratulations Congratulations to all the local graduates. For those of who will continue their education, we researched the internet to offer you a few funny facts(?) from the discipline of your choice. This tribute to higher intelligence is for you.

Physiology If you think the brain is the most important organ, consider what’s telling you that.

Zoology How many mosquitoes does it take to screw in a lightbulb? At least two.

When snails compete for a mate, they slug it out.

Koalas are not actual bears. They don’t meet the koalafications.

What do you get when you cross a brown chicken and a brown cow? Brownchickenbrowncow.

Music What’s the range on a tuba? About 8 feet, with a good arm.

There once was a band called 999 Megabytes — but it never got a gig.

Geography There are not many casinos in the Savannah. To many cheetahs.

Culinary Arts John Paul Sarte goes to a cafe and orders “one coffee, no milk please”. The waitress returns shortly and says “I’m sorry sir, it looks like we’re fresh out of milk. Would you take your coffee with no cream instead?”

What did the Buddhist ask the hot dog vendor? “Make me one with everything.”

If you’re ever feeling chilly, it actually helps if you go stand in the corner.

They’re usually around 90 degrees.

Anthropology Cannibals won’t eat clowns? They say they taste funny.

There are no more cave drawings from the Inca Empire. They ran out of Inca.

Science and Physics Antonio Meucci invented the first telephone, but Alexander Graham Bell gets all the credit, because had he not invented the second one, the first one was pretty useless.

With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.

You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

Marine Biology Scuba divers must dive backwards off the boat, otherwise they will fall face first on its floor.

2017 Summer Technology Local illustrator Sarah Szeliga shares her talent and interpretation of what’s in store for the summer in whimsical and fun fashion.To see more of Sarah’s work, go to https://www.sarahszeliga.com.

Teaching Dry erase boards are remarkable.

Agriculture A farmer in the field with his cows counted 196 of them, but when he rounded them up, he had 200.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Computer Science There are no Windows in an Apple Store.

Language Arts Beware the world’s worst thesaurus. Not only is it terrible, it’s terrible.

Learn sign language, it’s very handy.

Astronomy How does NASA organize a party? They planet.

Optometry Why did the poor old man fall in the well? Because he could not see that well.

Sociology Did you hear about the two guys who got caught stealing a calendar? They both got six months.

When planning a wedding, bring two antennas, regardless of the ceremony, the reception will be spectacular!

Mathematics

Parkinson’s Sufferers Benefit from New Boxing Program The Concord Senior Center and Honor Care will introduce Rock Steady Boxing for older adults who wish to manage Parkinson’s disease. A presentation and demonstration will be held at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, on Thursday, June 8 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Rock Steady Boxing is a non-contact boxing program for people with Parkinson’s offered in Concord and at 360 locations around the world. The program promotes camaraderie and community, reminding participates that they are all “fighting together against Parkinson’s.”

Head coach CJ (Chelsea) Lewis of Rock Steady Boxing of Concord will explain the benefits of a full-body work-out in combating Parkinson’s symptoms. As highlighted in a recent Washington Post article, the principles of boxing assist with balance, agility and hand-eye coordination, all of which can be affected by Parkinson’s disease. Each individual will develop a plan for living with his or her disease by including forms of activity and exercise that will target their specific symptoms.

To reserve a seat, register at www.concordreg.org course #105194, $3. For more information contact Program Coordinator Dario Sanchez at (925) 671-3017. n

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017• Page 19 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925)-298-9990

How to Safely Navigate the Farmers Market Now that the Farmers’ markets are coming into full swing, eatright.org offers some helpful safety tips to avoid food poisoning that is worth reviewing.

Shopping at a farmers’ market offers some of the freshest fruits, vegetables and other foods you can find.

It also offers the op-

portunity to buy locally, support small farms and businesses in your area and connect with your community. Farmers’ markets offer unique local products you often can’t find elsewhere, including local varieties of vegetables and fruits, artisan cheeses, fresh potted herbs, homemade sauces, oven-fresh baked goods and locally produced poultry, eggs and meat.

As you visit a local farmers’ markets, be mindful of food safety. Vendors often sell outdoors where their products are exposed to contaminants such as dirt, bugs and pollutants. In addition, market sites often have little access to water for hand and product washing, and electricity for refrigerating. This does not mean you should avoid farmers’ markets — just be mindful.

Pay attention to vendors’ food safety practices as you shop. Most markets have their own food safety rules that vendors must comply with, as well as related government regulations. But, there are also basic guidelines you should follow to ensure farm-fresh food is safe. Check the stand’s overall cleanliness, including gloves and clean utensils for food handling, covered garbage cans, coolers for perishables and clean bags.

When possible, take time to talk to and learn from vendors how they store and prepare produce and care for their animals.

Follow these guidelines to reduce your risk of bringing home a case of food poisoning.

Grocery Totes. Reusable grocery totes are a popular, eco-friendly choice to transport food, but be sure to use separate totes for raw meat and poultry and ready-to-eat foods such as fresh produce and breads. Wash your reusable totes often. Few people regularly wash their bags, creating a breeding zone for harmful bacteria that can easily contaminate your foods.

Eliminate bacteria by frequently washing your grocery tote, either in the washing machine or by hand with hot, soapy water. Be sure to clean all areas where you place your totes, such as the kitchen counter. Store your totes in a clean, dry location. Avoid leaving empty totes in the trunk.

Fruits and Vegetables - In 2011, Listeria-contaminated produce caused the deadliest foodborne illness outbreak in nearly 90 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Harmful foodborne pathogens

such as E. Coli, Salmonella, Listeria and Norovirus may contaminate fruits and vegetables from the soil or water or during harvesting.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your risk.

Shop early in the day for the best selections.

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking. Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel to eliminate bacteria. Wash produce even if you plan to peel it before eating.

Bacteria present on the outside of foods such as melons and bananas can be transferred to the inside when you cut or peel them. Refrigerate cut or peeled fruits and vegetables within two hours. Avoid produce with mold, bruises or cuts, as these are great places for bacteria to hide and spread rapidly to other places on the fruit.

Milk and Cheeses - Buy only pasteurized milk products. Pregnant women, older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for illness caused by Listeria.

Soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk are one common source of Listeria.

If you buy soft cheese, including feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, queso blanco, queso fresco and panela, check the label to make sure it’s made from pasteurized or treated milk.

computercorner

by William Claney, Computers USA

WannaCry - Stop the Hack Attack Everywhere you look, every news broadcast you hear, every newspaper you read is full of enough spies and hacking intrigue to fill a novel. But, this is no novel playing out, this is real and you are playing the leading roll - you are the star.

Congratulations.

According to the latest software intelligence reports, hacking successes are mounting and they are gaining strength and increasing in frequency.

Your government is leaking secrets everywhere and much of it is coming from the National Security Agency (NSA).

From their leaks came the ransom software called “WannaCry”. It is widely believed to have been weaponized and spread by North Korean’s cyber division, although the exact source hasn’t been released to the public. Sometimes the best efforts to keep secrets are defeated and still leak out causing an opportunity for cybercrime to flourish.

Please, believe me when I say I no longer recommend a standalone antivirus as a protection against hacking; it isn’t strong enough to protect you against ever evolving threats. Yes, you should be worried and any protections are better than none. However, insights gained by cyber criminals due to NSA leaks and advancements and research have change

the cyber game. Instead of a constant drip-drip-drip of progress, (bad guys invent - the good guys counter) on both sides of the cyber spy vs. spy we have a quantum leap of technology – thereby rendering old solutions obsolete.

To fight modern day cyber criminals you need a new breed of cyber protection.

It’s now a never ending process of them vs. us. Your protection should constantly and automatically guard against and adapt to new hacks, and of course, defend the usual list of virus, worms, Trojans, key loggers, malware and ransomware.

Managed Service Providers (MSP) manage thousands of computers and collect information about attacks, then report their solutions to an army of defensive computers that instantly adjust their defenses’ to counter the problem and update your defenses. It takes an army to fight this crime, so why are you still trying to solve this problem yourself with retail versions of antivirus? Oh, yes I forgot, it’s because you’re the star in this novel and you want to keep everyone in suspense until the last chapter.

For information about protection, go to www.mycyberguards.com/ and book an appointment to talk to a representative… and finish this book now.

Eggs - Eggs should be properly chilled at 45°F. Make sure eggs are clean and the shells are not cracked.

Meat - Meat should be kept in closed coolers with adequate amounts of ice.

Perishables must be refrigerated within two hours (one hour if the air temperature is above 90°F), so bring an insulated bag or cooler to keep meat cool on the way home. Separate meat from other ready-to-eat foods, so juices from raw meat (which may contain harmful bacteria) do not come in contact with produce and other foods. This includes using separate grocery totes.

Juices and Cider - Buy only juice or cider that has been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. Pregnant women, children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems should be especially careful.

Other Goods - Many farmers markets sell prepared foods. Remember, foods that should be served hot should be kept hot, and cold foods should be kept cold (under 40°F). If you buy perishable items, they should not remain unrefrigerated for over two hours, and only one hour in hot weather (90°F or above). n Courtesy of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics learn more at www.eatright.org.

To Advertise in The Diablo Gazette

Call (925) 298-9990

Diablo Gazette • JUNE 2017 • Page 20 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925)-298-9990

Pop the Clutch

Diamond Rated Alhambra’s Briana Perez Displays All-American-Level Mastery Story by James G. Kane Photos by Chace Bryson

Concord Softball Seeking 4th Crown Story by Mike Wood Photos by Chace Bryson

Lexi San Fillippo A young, talented roster has Concord Softball back in the Section Title hunt. One word seems to consistently spark Concord High School’s softball team.

Clutch.

The Minutemen have been exactly that since the calendar hit May. A key late-season league game with rival Clayton Valley Charter-Concord found Concord constantly fighting back to win a 12-6 slugfest.

“The keyword we’ve been talking about the last three games is ‘clutch,’” Minutemen coach Megan Coddington said following the win over Clayton Valley on May 9. “And every time we use that word to spark us as we come in from defense, we get a couple hits, a couple runs. Clutch is really that word that starts us off.”

In the bottom of the fifth inning of that particular Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division game, with Clayton Valley up 5-3, Concord came through bigtime with a six-run rally.

“There were a few times today we had runners on second and no one got the clutch hit, but after two innings of that, I came over and said, “’Hey you guys, we have to be clutch now,’” Coddington said. “And then, boom, we’d score a couple runs. I don’t know what the mindset is, but that word, when we get it out there, they are channeling it.”

That win was followed by a 9-6 extra-inning win over Berean Christian, and monumental 5-0 shutout of eventual league champion Alhambra. It was the Bulldogs first shutout loss since April 2013, snapping a streak of 125 games. Tack on a 7-6 win over College Park on May 18 and Concord rolled into the North Coast Section Division II tournament with confidence.

The Minutemen earned the No. 3 seed in the field 16-team field, and they brought that clutch mentality right along with them. Concord advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Carondelet-Concord on May 26. The Minutemen surrendered a 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh, only to win in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the inning. Junior Morgyn Wynne and freshman Lexi San Fillippo each had an RBI in the win.

This year, five freshmen dot the roster, with all

five — San Fillippo, Amber Desena, Madi Mays, Mariana Delaluna and Elena Oceguera — earning starts over the course of the season.

“One of my rules as coach is in general, I don’t bring freshmen up unless I think I am going to start them, that they are going to play somewhere in the lineup,” Coddington said. “It’s just a matter of where I think they fit defensively for that game. We used three pitchers this game, and I did a lot of defensive subbing around. We have a lot of versatile girls; girls who can go from the infield to the outfield and play multiple positions.”

An example of that versatility is Oceguera, who had the nickname “Little Jeter” even before joining the Minutemen program. She plays with a fire that prompted Coddington to find a spot for her in the lineup.

“Our second baseman, Aleya Rath, had a tendon injury and was out the first half of the season, so we had ‘Jeter’ there at second base and she played phenomenal there, diving and making great plays right and left,” the coach said. Once Rath got back in the lineup, Oceguera was moved to the outfield.

The young group is atypical of freshmen, she said, playing without fear.

“Usually freshmen are very scared,” Coddington said. “I also feel like everyone on the team has a respect for the abilities of everybody. It’s almost like they don’t know the age difference between them.

Everyone comes out here and plays hard.”

And come June 3, it just might earn Coddington and her program a fourth section crown in eight seasons. n

Settle into your seat to watch the four-star softball program at Alhambra High School in Martinez and prepare to be dazzled.

By the time seven innings elapse, one course of “Did-yousee-that?” after another will be brought to you, each one as uniquely sweet as different flavors of ice cream.

Serving it up is No. 3. The shortstop.

Briana Perez is to her high school sport what Jason Kidd once was to his, a player who executes so quickly and so fluidly that the eyes that see it don’t need statistics or spreadsheets to tell them anything else.

She’s one of the best players in the United States, a first-team USA Today pre-season All-American. She’s a three-time North Coast Section champion, and her team will be crushed if it doesn’t win a fourth.

And lest we forget, she’s bound for traditional softball power UCLA on a full ride.

It’s a lot for an 18-year-old, but it doesn’t seem to be a lot for this one.

“I’m comfortable with it,” she says. “I mean, I don’t think you can ever be too comfortable with who you are or where you rate as a player, because everything can change in an instant. But if people want to bring it up or talk to me about it, I’ll talk to them as much as they’d like.”

Her words aren’t nearly as effective as her actions; the sweetness of her play must be experienced, not just explained.

So prepare to be dazzled.

The first dish: The Sweet Spot.

In a 7-3 victory over Clayton Valley Charter-Concord on April 25, Perez cuts loose with a picturesque swing and sends the softball flying over the fence for an early 2-0 lead. An inning later, she rockets a triple. She finishes the afternoon with three hits.

Two days later, in an 8-5 win at Concord, she sizzles a single that plates another first-inning run. Later, she rips a double.

“My hitting,” she says, “is starting to come around.”

Perez entered Alhambra’s May 26 playoff game at Freedom-Oakley hitting .592 with 20 of her 42 hits going for extra bases. She had 36 RBIs and had scored 41 runs.

“I’m feeling more comfortable,” she said after the win over Concord on April 27. “Gettin’ there.”

This is sort of how it is when the topic turns to Perez’s bat.

Those who see her every day appreciate how often she makes contact on the sweet spot and how hard and far the ball often flies when it does.

But it’s not the element of her game that seems to stand out most, even to her. It’s not the reason Bulldogs coach Buccellato calls her “the best all-around athlete ever to come through here” and “the best we’ve had.”

Those things are byproducts of talent, so precocious that her older sister Kylee admires it.

“What she does,” Kylee Perez says, “is she makes really hard plays look really easy. Really easy. And she does it all the time.

Other players can’t do that. She does that. I don’t.”

Kylee Perez is a junior second baseman at nationally-ranked UCLA and a first-team All-Pac-12 selection who hit .388 a season ago. A day after Briana — “Bree” to everyone who knows her — collected two hits against Concord, Kylee collected five in six at-bats and scored four runs for the Bruins. n Update: Alhambra lost 11-7 on a walk-off grand slam in the quarterfinals against Freedom. Perez had a great game, though. She was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 stolen bases.

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt to a longer feature which ran in the May issue of SportStars. To read the entire piece, visit http://www.

SportStarsMag.com/diamond-rated/