PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDCLAYTON, CAPERMIT 190

www.myconcordian.com February 2009 925.673.5367

�� Concord acts to head off fiscal disaster�� Random Acts of Kindness Recognized

�� Remembering Jerry FitzPatrick

�� Finding The Best in Customer Service

�� ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

The Concordian isdirect mailed free to over34,000 homes and businesses in Concord withEVERY Concord businessreceiving one

John Muir expansion takes shape

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Offering Spring, Summer and Fall Leagues for

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Page 2 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009Insid

eTopping Out

Continuing its commitment to thecommunity, the John Muir MedicalCenter expansion takes shape

What Really MattersSpecial Correspondent ABC-7 NewsAnchor Dan Ashley honors a fallen war hero

Avoiding Fiscal DisasterConcord’s city manager tackles the economic squeeze with a pre-emptive strike

Death by Education CutsAn education panel examines thedesperate funding issues andways to avert an impending majorcrisis

A Walk Through HistoryConcord fourth graders getentrenched in California history

Remembering JerryJerry FitzPatrick left a legacy and awealth of Concord memories

Random Acts of KindnessConcord’s Human RelationsCommission honors local residents

A Valentine’s Day RecipeA sumptuous recipe for ChocolateDipped Strawberries brought to youby the Farmers’ Market

Dispatchers Reach OutRaising money for a family inneed, Concord Police Dispatchersmake a difference

AARRTTSS && EENNTTEERRTTAAIINNMMEENNTTIt keeps getting better - TheaterReviews, Art Galleries, DVDReviews and Local Events.

Other StuffRoundAbout . . . .4

Teen Perspective10

A New GreenGeneration . . . .12

The Real Deal . . .14

Featured Home .15

Something To Smile About . . . .16

Mayor’s OpenOffice . . . . . . . . .19

Local Sports . . . .20

Scenes from theSociety . . . . . . . .21

Legal Briefs . . . .22

Directory ofAdvertisers . . . .22

Living History . . 23

Getting OutCalendar listing .27

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Cover:Workers atop theJohn Muir HealthCenter ConcordCampus expansionprepare to afix thefinal steel beam.Photo: Andre’ Gensburger/The Concordian

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(925) 673-3325joelharris@aol.com � www.claytonbookshop.com

In the Clayton Station

Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

MEET THE AUTHORS AT CLAYTON BOOKS. Schedule of Feb. Events.

5433 D Clayton Rd., Clayton

02/7, Sat. 3pm . . . . . . . Film Screening of PAPERBACK DREAMS The story of two landmark

bay area independent bookstores and their struggle to survive.

2/08, Sun. 3pm . . . . . .BLAIR KILPATRICK, author of “Accordian Dreams: A Journey Into Cajun

and Creole Music” will perform.

2/09, Mon. 4pm . . . . . .JULIA ALVAREZ, author of “Return to Sender,” “In the Time ofButterflies” and more.

2/14, Sat. 1pm . . . . . . .HEIDI ASHWORTH, author of “Miss Delacourt Speaks her Mind.”

02/15, Sun. 3pm . . . . .SEAN ARBABI, author of “The Better Photo Guide To Exposure.”

2/18, Wed. 7pm . . . . . .Author Tea with JAMIE FORD, author of “The Hotel on the Corner of

Bitter and Sweet.” To be held at Oakhurst Country Club (there is a fee for this event, whichincludes, coffee, tea, dessert and the book)

02/26, Thurs. 7pm . . . .YIYUN LI, author of “1000 Years of Good Prayers” and “Vagrants.”

February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 3

‘Topping out’ celebrates John Muir Concord Campus’ambitiousexpansion

The painted white girder, the lastin the initial construction phaseof the John Muir Health

Medical Center’s Concord campusexpansion, became the focal point inthe construction’s “Topping Out” cere-mony Jan. 9.

From about 700 A.D., with originsin Scandinavia, it became customaryto top out new construction withsheaths of grain for good luck. TheVikings spread this custom to Europe,with the Britons and Germans substi-tuting small trees. Americans added aflag to complete the custom.

The estimated $179 million for thispart of the project has received much

philanthropic attention, including anambitious fund-raising project spear-headed by campaign chair Michael L.Levine, an oncologist with heavy tiesto the John Muir Health Foundation.The goal of $56 million in fund-raisingis well underway, currently at $28.6million, through a variety of namingopportunities.

A rich historyLevine joined the Concord medical

staff in 1978 and was on the Mt.Diablo Hospital Board prior to its uni-fication with the Walnut Creek campusunder the John Muir Health banner.He has played a prominent role in thedevelopment of the RadiationOncology Department for Concord.

“I’ve been here for 30 years,” Levinesaid. “I’ve seen lots of wonderfulgrowth over time as this region hasgrown. It was just a small house whenit started in 1930.”

It was, in fact, a wood-frame housewhich was turned into a five-bed facili-ty by nurse Edna Gallagher Haywood.Thirty years later, with a four-storyaddition, it became Concord’s tallestbuilding. In 1973, it had the first eleva-tor in the county installed and thecounty’s first cardiac catheterizationwas performed onsite.

The hospital continued over theyears to accumulate awards for servic-es rendered to the community in areassuch as being a stroke center, cancerinstitute and robotic surgical center.

“When I came here, it was a sleepyarea with a large horse population,”Levine recalled of his arrival fromIllinois. “Like many others, I trained atnearby UC San Francisco, getting ataste of the Bay Area. I was anxious tostay.”

A stronger communityLevine explained his pride in the

foundation, which in his view exempli-fies a solid investment in the commu-nity. “This is the largest project of itskind,” he said of the Concord projectand a similar one in the works at theWalnut Creek campus. “When youmake this $800 million (combined)commitment to the community, evenin these challenging economic times, itmakes a strong statement. We’ve hadquite a legacy. That is so inspiring tome.”

The new structure, a patient caretower and the John MuirCardiovascular Institute, will have 12private cardiovascular ICU beds, 49private remotely monitored beds, fourcardiac catheterization labs and 12 pre-operative/recovery beds.

Included in the work is an expan-sion of the Emergency Departmentwith 32 private treatment stations, asatellite imaging center as well as adedicated chest pain/observation unit,remodeled critical care and nursingunits and 61 new private family-cen-tered rooms with outdoor views.

The John Muir Medical CenterConcord Campus has been recognizedas a preeminent center for oncologyand cardiovascular services, includingopen-heart surgery. In 2008HealthGrades, an independent healthcare quality company ranked theConcord campus among the top fivepercent of hospitals nationally. TheWalnut Creek Campus was ranked oneof “America’s Best Hospitals 2008” byU.S. News & World Report.

Grassroots effortAt the topping out ceremony, bene-

factors, local dignitaries and communi-

ty leaders joined the physicians, nurs-es, construction workers and visitors,writing messages on the white steelbeam before it was hoisted into placeby a large crane.

Ken Meehan, executive vice presi-dent of operations for John MuirHealth, addressed the crowd – describ-ing how a collective vision broughtthem to this point. “It’s been 11 monthssince we broke ground,” he noted.

Michael Monaldo, vice president offacilities development at John MuirHealth, thanked the city of Concord.“They helped make it better,” he said,discussing the more than 2,000 sheetsof drawings that went into the project.He also thanked the neighbors for theirpatience during the work.

“This is a grassroots campaign,”Levine said before the ceremony. “Itreaches everyone in the communityand we hope to see a wider participa-tion as we continue.”

Concerned about the economy andfunding cuts from various sources,Levine stressed the importance of hav-ing the backing of the community. “Thepeople in this region have been verysupportive. I am very impressed andvery excited.”

The John Muir Health Foundation isa 501©(3) nonprofit organizationestablished in 1979 to support the non-profit John Muir Health organizationwhich serves communities in ContraCosta and parts of Solano and Marincounties.

“Both hospitals need to expand toaddress current capacity pressures andaccommodate emerging medical tech-nologies,” Levine said.

For more information, visitwww.johnmuirhealthfoundation.orgor call 947-4459.

Mayor Laura Hoffmeister looks for an emptyspot to add her signature to the top beam

CCOONNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONN WWOORRKKEERRSS AABBOOVVEE and on theground below watch as the Topping Out ceremony begins marking the end of theinitial structural assembly,

Photos by André Gensburger/The Concordian

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

The Concord Human RelationsCommission held its 22nd annual awardsceremony on Jan. 13. With the theme“out of many, one community,” the com-mission recognized nine people and sev-eral agencies for what Chair Janis Hoytdescribed as “those types of things thatmake our community special.”

Recognition went to the MonumentCrisis Center volunteers, who were giventhe Community Involvement Award fortheir work with individuals throughoutCentral Contra Costa County.

Sandra Scherer, the center’s executivedirector, said the Center has given food to19,000 people in the last three months.She called a group of volunteers up toaccept the award with her. “It’s good forthe soul, it feeds the heart, it does some-thing for a person to give back to thecommunity,” she said of volunteering.

Jay Bedecarré of Clayton was giventhe commission’s LifetimeAchievement Award for his work pro-moting youth sports. Bedecarré wasone of the original founders of theConcord Cup soccer tournament, nowin its 15th year. The tournament hasgiven more than $100,000 in proceeds

The fourth annual dog fashion showand silent auction to benefit Tony La

Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation,packed in an audience of about 70pooches and owners at the ConcordHilton on Jan. 22. General Manager,David Cantando served as emcee.

There were 15 participants includingTony La Russa’s Chihuahua Twiggy.

Dashiell, a wired haired dachshundowned by Nancie Brown of Concordwon Best in Show with the BestDressed under 1 year old categorygoing to Deena, a 5 month old Bishon.Deena, owned by Cheryl and BernardPeters of Clayton, wore a brown furrytop with a pink and blue dress withruffles and a fur hat with pink and bluebows. She also wore a double strand ofpearls.

Not all the dogs were willing partici-pants with a few having to be draggedonto the stage.

- Mike Dunn

Page 4 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

People, places and thingsseen around Concordaboutround

These days finding excellentcustomer service is a rarity. Andso, when we come acrossConcordians who demonstrate anatural desire to do their best,especially when it comes to serv-ice oriented jobs, we believethose individuals should be con-gratulated.

We found such person inMelissa Vun who works atLongs Drugs in the ClaytonValley Shopping Center.

Melissa was deftly handling sixcustomers who had been waitingto pick up prescriptions and hadbeen delayed by a backup oforders. Melissa addressed eachcustomer by name, assured themthat she would continue to checkon their order, verified the infor-mation she had and returned totell the customer where theirorder was in queue and, offeringthem a seat, assured them shewould monitor it.

This she did with each cus-tomer, checking back with themmore than once to advise them ofthe progress while making smalltalk to put them at ease. Theresult was a happy line of cus-

tomers who felt they had receivedspecial treatment and were notput off by the delay at all. TheConcordian congratulates Melissaon excellent customer serviceskills. Keep up the great work.

If you have an employee whomyou believe displays outstandingservice, email info@myconcor-dian.com and tell us why. We'llcheck it out and if we agree, willprint their photograph in ourpaper's "The Best of CustomerService."

- The Publishers

The Best of Customer Service

It’s a dog’s life at ARF fashion show

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsomheld a town hall meeting at the ConcordSenior Center on Jan. 15, attracting alarge crowd and raising the question ofhis intentions as a 2010 Californiagubernatorial candidate.

Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeisterintroduced Newsom, who is holding aseries of town hall meetings throughoutthe state to talk about his work asmayor, his plans for governor and toassess the public’s mood. Of the county’s19 mayors invited, only three were pres-ent: Hoffmeister, Martinez Mayor RobSchroder and Brentwood Mayor Bob

Taylor.Audience member Brian Kerr com-

mented on the possibility of Newsomrunning for governor. “Actually, I thinkit’s a great idea that he does,” Kerr said.“With the budget deficits, we needsomebody to make a change on what’sgoing on in California so that the rightareas are taken care of – such as educa-tion.”

Newsom talked about his successes,including San Francisco’s universalhealth care, preschool programs and avolunteer initiative that connects resi-dents to the homeless. He even poked

Mayor Newsom visits Concord with eye toward governorship

See Newsom, page 6

See Honors, page 6

Cheryl and Bernard Peters and Deena ofClayton. Deena won for best dressed forher age category.

Mike Dunn/The ConcordianSSAANN FFRRAANNCCIISSCCOO MMAAYYOORR GGAAVVIINN NNEEWWSSOOMM pushes for change in California and an agenda thatwill likely involve a run as governor

Panel honors local volunteers

JJAAYY BBEEDDEECCAARRRRÉÉ listens as Janis Hoyt explainsthe reasons for the recognition he received

Celebrating theemployees who know

how to make customers happy.

MMEELLIISSSSAA VVUUNN OOFF LLOONNGGSS DDRRUUGGSS MMAAKKEESS cus-tomer service look easy at Longs Drugs

Can You Help Out? Ayers Elementary PTA is seeking donations from Bay Areabusinesses for the 8th Annual, Dinner Dance and Auction fundraiser to be held onFriday, Mar. 6. Gift certificates, auction items or monetary sponsorship are needed.Contact Kristi at 676-5215 or AyersPTA@astound.net.

The East Bay CommunityFoundation recently announced that29 East Bay non-profit organizationswill receive more than $1.4 million incharitable donations from ChevronCorporation. Chevron used theFoundation’s research on communityneeds and knowledge of local non-profit organizations to identify recipi-ents of these grants ranging from$25,000 to $50,000.

Contra Costa Crisis Center, FoodBank of Contra Costa and Solano,Monument Crisis Center, and Stand!Against Domestic Violence receivedtheir donations from Chevron at theFood Bank warehouse in Concord onJan 16.

“In recent months the number ofpeople calling our 24-hour crisis linesand 211 information and referral line

has increased 20 percent, largelybecause of anxiety over the economy,”said John Bateson, Executive Directorof the Contra Costa Crisis Center.“People are losing their jobs, losingtheir homes, and seeing their retire-ment savings disappear. At the sametime, individual donations havedeclined because people have lessmoney to give. So it was a huge, won-derful surprise when we learned thatChevron was donating $50,000 tohelp us meet the increased demand forour services. We’re grateful for this,and for other support that makes ourlife-affirming services possible.”

Larry Sly Executive Director of theFood Bank of Contra Costa and Solanoagrees. “Chevron’s generous supportwill help us distribute much-neededfood to our neighbors in need. Theirtiming could not have been better.”

February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 5

It’s all in the familyfor this magic show

A roomful of children and their parentsenjoyed 20 different acts that Dan Chanthe Magic Man, his wife Kat the Acrobatand their performing dog Ace put on at theConcord library on Jan. 12.

Darcy Kermin and her daughter Kellyof Concord were on hand for the show.“We always come on Monday nights forthe stories or other events,” Kermin said.“We love it! I’ve been coming here sinceSeptember, when we moved from WalnutCreek to Concord.”

Dan Chan has been performing allaround the world for the last 10 years. “Ido a lot of things besides magic. I do cir-cus training as well,” he said. “In theshow, you will see some acrobatics andjuggling – three, four or five ball juggling.We pass six balls between the two of us.”

In addition to performing 200-350shows a year, Chan has written a book:“Magic Tricks to Fool Your Friends.”

To the delight of the children, Acemade a guest appearance and did sometricks. Ace is a Papillon – a French wordfor butterfly – and during his act, his earswere flying like a butterfly’s.

“He goes everywhere,” said Chan,“including libraries that say no dogsallowed. He gets to come in because he’s aperforming dog. He travels with us allaround the world as well.”

- Mike Dunn

Photo by Mike DunnMMAAGGIICCIIAANN DDAANN CCHHAANN noisily makes coinsappear in a can.

Kiwanis name Officer Reed as top cop

A young Concord officer with lessthan four years of service under herbelt was named Police Officer of theYear by the Kiwanis Club of GreaterConcord.

Erica Reed, 36, was honored at aluncheon attended by Concord MayorLaura Hoffmeister, Supervisor SusanBonilla and other local dignitaries,police department supervisors and col-leagues and her parents. Reed wasnominated by her supervising officer,Sgt. Maurice Jennings, who lauds herself-initiative and willingness to always“go the extra mile” in an investigation.

Chief David Livingston made partic-ular note of an embezzlement case twoyears ago in which Reed’s tenacity andthoroughness resulted in the recoveryof $200,000 in gold and $90,000 incash.

“She is compassionate, intelligentand a creative problem solver,” saidLivingston.

“I have the best job in the wholeworld,” said a composed, but ebullientReed. “I can’t believe I get paid to dosomething I love so much.”

Reed’s interest in law enforcementbegan in high school, when a few hoursof volunteer work led to an internshipand ultimately to the Explorer Scouts.After college, she worked for severalyears in business management, finallyreturning to the San Ramon PD as acrime prevention specialist. She joinedthe Concord PD as a sworn officer atage 32.

This is the second year the KiwanisClub has recognized an outstandingpolice officer. The 2007 award went toMaster Officer Don Lawson.

The Kiwanis meets Wednesdays atnoon at the Old Spaghetti Factory onTodos Santos Plaza. For more infor-mation, call 372-5348.

- Tamara Steiner

East Bay nonprofits receive $1.4 million from Chevron

aboutoundr

Tamara Steiner/The ConcordianRROOCCCCII BBAARRSSOOTTTTII OOFF TTHHEE KKIIWWAANNIISS CCLLUUBB,, Officer Erica Reed and Chief David Livingston

LLAARRRRYY SSLLYY -- FFOOOODD BBAANNKK,, SSAANNDDRRAA SSCCHHEERREERR -- MMOONNUUMMEENNTT CCRRIISSIISS CCEENNTTEERR, Darian Louie - East BayCommunity Foundation, Dave Feldman - Chevron, Irit Umani - Stand! Against DomesticViolence, Janet Auer - Chevron and John Bateson - Contra Costa Crisis Center.

Farmers’ Market cookingdemonstrations whet the appetite

The Pacific Coast Farmers’ MarketAssociation is holding a series of cook-ing workshops under a grant from theCalifornia Department of PublicHealth.

“Our mission here at Cookin’ the

Market is to spread knowledge aboutcooking and nutrition and show folkshow delicious simple, seasonal foodcan be,” said Greg Mann, programcoordinator. “We try to show our audi-ences recipes that they can easily makeat home, and we’ve received positiveresponses at our recent demonstra-tions. We hope that everyone has agood time and takes home a greaterappreciation for nutritious local food.”

Sarah Nelson, special projects coor-dinator added that “The program isunique in providing low-income resi-dents with live demonstrations ofhealthy recipes using seasonal, localproduce.”

The demonstrations at the ConcordWIC office at 2355 Stanwell Circle inConcord will take place on Feb. 3, Feb.17, Mar. 17 and Mar. 31. Additionalinformation can be found by calling(925) 825 9090

CCHHEEFF GGRREEGG MMAANNNN,, PPRROOGGRRAAMM DDIIRREECCTTOORR ofCookin’ the Market demonstrate a recipeusing fresh vegetables.

to local youth soccer leagues.“Somehow my name percolated to the

top,” he said. “But it really is the doingof a lot of people.”

Awardee David Cantando is the gen-eral manager of the Concord Hilton. Asan active member of the Contra CostaLiteracy Coalition, he was pleased to seerecently that Contra Costa has higher lit-eracy levels than many surroundingareas. When the group set a goal of 100percent literacy in the adult populationof the county, “everybody thought it waspretty ambitious,” he said. “But we’recloser than we thought.”

The Assistance League of DiabloValley was given the HumanitarianAward, and Gabriela Menchaca wasgiven the Youth Scholarship Award.Commissioner Anthony Peters notedthat Menchaca, 17, has been volunteer-

ing since she was 8. “This isone of many awards Gabrielawill receive in her lifetime,” he

said. “She is a great example of what wewould like our children to be when theyget older.”

Random Act of Kindness awards werealso given to Hans Wiesendanger for hiswork on the meditation gardens at St.Bonaventure Catholic Church; theIndependent Living Resource organiza-tion, which assists disabled people inachieving independence; and MarleneWeiss, who has worked as an advocatefor people afflicted with mental illness.

Catalina Torres’ family accepted herWomen Making a Difference Awardposthumously. Torres worked as a vol-unteer for STAND! Against DomesticViolence, showing other survivors by herexample that there is life after domesticviolence.

Following the ceremony, awardees,commission members and audiencemembers went next door to a receptioncatered by students from the Mt. DiabloHigh School Serendipity Restaurantcareer training program.

- Denisen Hartlove

fun at himself and his “whether you likeit or not” comment about same-sex mar-riage, which the pro Prop. 8 groupplayed up in their ads.

Newsom said he doesn’t believe oneperson can solve the state’s problems. “Ithink it takes all of us. It takes a recogni-tion that we are all in this together,” hesaid. “It takes a recognition for everyoneto be a part of the solution and partici-pate in the change that we all seek. Toreconcile the fact that we can’t wait forsomeone else to solve our problems, wehave to be participatory in solving allour problems.”

“That’s the idea of democratizing par-ticipation in governing,

“ he added. “That’s what PresidentBarack Obama is now inspiring. A lot ofwhat I see changing in terms of peoplechanging their own belief system andexpectations of where we can go is therecognition that they need to be a partof it.”

As far as California’s budget crisis,Newsom said he would do something “instark contrast” to current efforts. “Theseguys need to take action,” he said.“What I don’t want to see is a raid oncounty money or a raid on city money,or precipitous Social Service cuts thatwill exacerbate problems that are sup-posed to solve problems.”

- Mike Dunn

Page 6 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

www.diablofc.org �� 925 798-GOAL

Feb. 14 - 15 - 21Class 1 & Class 3 teams

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The Best Gamein Town Diablo FC is the area’s premier youth

soccer club with competitive teams forboys and girls from Under 9 throughUnder 19. Headquartered here inConcord, Diablo FC takes pride in thedevelopment of its youngest players andthe excellent performances of its playersand team in all age groups.

During our inaugural 2008 seasonthe U17 boys won a third straight StateCup championship, then won theWestern Regionals in Hawaii andadvanced to the National ChampionshipFinal Four in Arkansas. Our U12 andU13 boys both won US Club SoccerRegional Championships in Boise, Idaho.

The U13 boys and U15 girls wereamong 4 teams from our club advancingto the Super Y-League North AmericanChampionships in Florida. The U13 boyswon the North American Championshipand the U15 girls were finalists.

Capping the year was the incredibleperformance of our U10 girls who wonNorCal Premier League and State Cupagainst the top young teams in NorthernCalifornia.

Feb. 14-15-21Under 9-Under 14 TeamsAll tryouts at Boatwright Youth SportsComplex, adjacent to Cal State East Bay

Concord campus

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February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 7

“Should old acquaintance beforgot and never brought tomind?” That’s what the great

Scottish poet Robert Burns asked morethan 200 years ago, and now we sing iton the 365th day of each year.

Should old acquaintances be forgot?Let’s hope not.

Where were you on New Year’s Eve?I was at work, writing andpreparing for the 11 o’clock news-cast on ABC-7. That’s where Ilike to be as we mark the start ofa new year, as I’ve never caredone jot about being at some partyor bar at the stroke of midnight.Nothing wrong with it – just notmy style.

I was on the job this past Dec.31, and so was Army Pfc.Benjamin Tollefson of Concord.But only one of us made it home.

In Iraq that last day of theyear, there was no time to cele-brate for Ben and his unit; therewas important work to do. It’sthe kind of work that happens ina sand-covered war zone half wayaround the world that many canappreciate, but few can understand.Ben understood.

He signed up for the risks as well asthe rewards. It just didn’t turn out theway he planned. A mortar blast on NewYear’s Eve took away another youngBay Area life and, in so doing, gave Benthe tragic distinction of being the finalAmerican fighter to die in 2008. In thepast year, 314 U.S. troops were killed;Ben was the last.

“Babe,” that’s what Ben’s charmingwife Natalie always called him. She’s a22-year-old wife turned widow, whomust now raise their 9-month-old sonwithout his father. “I made him laugh.Ben was always the one to make every-one else laugh. So it was special when Icould make him laugh,” Natalie toldme in our telephone conversation a fewdays after her husband was laid to rest.

A sense of humor is a commondescription one gets talking with thepeople who knew Ben and who lovedhim. But even though he was a “goof-ball,” Ben’s father-in-law Ed Hartleyalso talks about a polite young man,raised well, and with solid values.“Even when they were just dating, Benwould always stand when Natalie’smother came into the room”, Ed sayswith the pride of a father whose daugh-ter married a good man.

“None of those red flags that fathers

have about the guys dating theirdaughter were raised with Ben,” headds.

Flags, the kind with stars andstripes, dozens of them, were raised onSaturday, Jan. 10, when Army Pfc.Benjamin Tollefson was memorializedin the East Bay and then buried ashundreds of mourners looked on in

sadness and in respect. Ben came fromthe battlefield in Ghazaliya, Iraq, to thecemetery in San Bruno in just 10 daystime.

Natalie spoke with Ben just a fewdays before he was killed. He called onChristmas Day and she was so happy tohave a few moments with him on thephone because they had very fewchances during the three months hewas deployed to Iraq.

“He was soft on the phone,” Natalie

matters

Dan Ashley

what reallysays about that final Christmas conver-sation. “We must have said I love youand miss you a dozen times each.”

But Ben sent more than his loveback home for Christmas; there wasalso a gift. Natalie collects elephant fig-urines, so Ben found a set online andhad them shipped to Concord – threeceramic elephants, a mama, a papa anda baby. It was a small but thoughtfulgift to symbolize their young familythat, in just a few more days in a warzone, would have one of those piecestaken away. You can only imagine howshe will treasure those three little fig-urines.

“I’ve been numb ever since,” Nataliesays. “I get panic attacks where myheart hurts. I’ve been frustrated and

confused. Why can I sometimeslaugh even though something hor-rible has happened?”

It is a painful question from ayoung woman in grief who is beingforced to confront a loss manydecades before she should have to.What really matters for Natalienow, of course, is Mac – a smilinglittle boy who still does not under-stand what has happened to hisfather.

“I worry about Mac feeling thesame loss and the same pain that Iam feeling right now,” she says.But Natalie vows that her little boywill grow up to know about hisfather and to be proud of him andof what he gave to the country.

So many men and women con-tinue to risk all and, like Ben and thou-sands of others, lose all in a conflictthat’s been pushed off the front pagesby an inauguration and a bad economy.

Elephants never forget and neithershould we.

Never forgetting the sacrifices

Dan Ashley is an anchor at ABC-7News and can be seen weeknights at 5,6 and 11 p.m. on ABC-7 and at 9 p.m.on KOFY-TV20.

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Page 8 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

beatcity

Following a four-year process involv-ing 36 public meetings and eightworkshops, the city took another

step toward completion of a reuse planfor the Concord Naval Weapons Stationbefore a vocal crowd at the Jan. 12 CityCouncil meeting.

The main order of business was a pre-liminary adoption of the ClusteredVillage Plan as the city’s preferred reuseoption and approval of the HomelessAssistance Plans for submission to theNavy and the Department of Housingand Urban Development for furtherreview.

Michael Wright, the outgoing directorof the Reuse Project, pointed out that theplan still isn’t final. CouncilmemberHelen Allen agreed. “We are not makinga decision that is going to be in cement,”she said. “This is really in a way moreconceptual than absolute.”

While the Navy and the Department ofHousing and Urban Development con-duct further studies, the city will continuewith its own studies including wildlifeand public health issues and traffic flowreports.

Looking to 2011Wright doesn’t anticipate that the

Navy will be ready to sell the land todevelopers any time soon. “It’s going totake them at least a year to do (the envi-ronmental impact study), and they’re noteven going to start until spring,” he said.“If everything went absolutely perfectlyfor them, they might be ready to go bythe fall of 2010. It’s more likely to besome time in 2011 or 2012.”

Wright told the council that theClustered Villages Plan offers severaladvantages, such as “more travel choic-es,” “more improved park land” and a“larger and stronger revenue stream fromdevelopment, which allows for more pub-lic amenities and community facilitiesthat were requested.”

Proposed features include a 150-acreuniversity campus, an employment train-ing facility and a green belt extendingfrom the North Concord BART stationthrough the college campus and up intothe open space, with room for bike pathsand walking trails.

A buffer zone between some existinghousing and new development was alsoplanned. It would be wide enough forwalking trails, tennis courts, playgroundsand community gardens.

Audience speaks outKaren Alschuler is a principal plan-

ning consultant with Perkins & Will, theurban planners brought in by the city tohelp develop the reuse plans. Shebrought a Power Point presentationshowing pictures of what some of the

Council opts forclustered village

approach for Navy land

Lowe’s shopping center takes shape in North Concord

“Let’s build something togeth-er” was the theme of Lowe’spresentation to the Concord

City Council. Following the presenta-tion, the council approved preliminaryplans for Lowe’s to build a shoppingcenter in an area of Arnold IndustrialParkway described by more than oneparticipant as “blighted.” But somequestions remain unanswered.

The process of approval has been aprotracted one, involving negotiationsbetween the city and successive ownersof the property over use of the land.Previous incarnations included a Wal-Mart store, which is no longer part ofthe plan approved by the council inDecember.

The 334,112 sq. ft. complex isexpected to include a 169,112 sq. ft.Lowe’s building with a 31,179 sq. ft.garden center. A 155,000 sq. ft. area isplanned for another large, yetunnamed retailer, along with space forsmaller shops and restaurants.

According to Frank Abejo, Concordsenior planner, construction is antici-pated to start this spring, with theLowe’s opening in time for the 2009holiday season.

Advantages for the cityAbejo listed a number of benefits the

new center will offer – including“employment opportunities, retailoptions for an underserved area, proper-ty and sales tax revenues to fund cityservices and new community programs.”

Ted Anderson, a Lowe’s representa-tive who spoke at the meeting, said thenew center would represent significanteconomic benefit to the city.

“The tax dollars from Lowe’s willgenerate about $500,000 to hopefullysupport the community,” he said. “Werepresent a $40 million investment inthe community – that’s land, that’sequipment, that’s construction andfees. We hope that will help the com-munity. We’ll contribute more than$175,000 to help pay for much-neededschool improvements.”

Issues over unionsWhile some city officials are excited

at the prospect of money added to theirstrained coffers, not everyone is enthu-siastic. Lowe’s has had past difficultieswith labor unions relating to the build-ing of its stores by non-union, non-local contractors.

In September 2008, members of theBricklayers and Allied Craft Workersunion of Marquette Township inMichigan picketed a Lowe’s construc-tion site. A local newspaper quotedunion representative John Kleiber assaying: “I’m here fighting for the com-munity, fighting to keep good payingjobs here at home instead of contrac-tors coming from three to four hoursaway or coming from out of state.”

Paul Cohen, the director of govern-mental and public relations for theCarpenters Union of NorthernCalifornia, agrees. “It’s tough to buy ahome and live in a place like Concord,”he said. “It’s disappointing when a firmlike Lowe’s uses contractors to build

By Denisen HartloveThe Concordian

AARRCCHHIITTEECCTTUURRAALL RREENNDDEERRIINNGG OOFF TTHHEE PPRROOPPOOSSEEDD LLOOWWEE’’SS DDEESSIIGGNN FFOORR NNOORRTTHH CCOONNCCOORRDD.. Rendering courtesy city of Concord

See Lowe’s, page 9

See Navy, page 9

By Denisen HartloveThe Concordian

The Concord City Council conveneda special meeting Jan. 22 to hearCity Manager Dan Keen’s presen-

tation on how the state’s financial woesare impacting the city’s budget. He alsodetailed his plan for how the city canweather the crisis.

The city is expecting a $7.2 millionshortfall even after its originally adjustedrevenue projection for fiscal year 2008-’09. Using the advanced projection meth-ods the city has for determining its 10-year budget plan, the potential for moremassive deficits in subsequent yearsprompted Keen to take a closer lookalmost as soon as he took over the role ofcity manager last year.

“The suddenness of our drop in rev-enues is somewhat stunning,” said Keen.“I think it is important to prepare rightnow for what we think we will be lookingat next year. Time is on our side if we actquickly.”

Consumer slowdownWith the bulk of city revenue coming

from a percentage of sales and propertytaxes, a huge drop in consumer spendinghas had a direct impact on the city’s rev-enue. Auto sales, which account for about20 percent of the sales tax revenue, haveexperienced catastrophic losses. Propertytaxes, another 29 percent of the city’s rev-enue, have taken a hit as the depressedreal estate market has forced property re-evaluations and lowered property taxamounts. Other revenue declines includehotel taxes, business license taxes andeven the city’s investment earnings. “It alladds up,” Keen said.

Councilmember Guy Bjerke agreed

with Keen’s assessment. “I think everyone of us is a little bit shocked at howquickly the world economy has fallen offa cliff,” he said. “To watch the auto deal-ers not be able to create financing and tosell cars, and to watch, literally, dealer-ships be sold and go out of business inour community … Even 6 months ago –who would have thunk it?”

The city plans its budgets in 10-yearincrements to identify potential stum-bling blocks before they reach crisis pro-portions. Part of that budgeting processhas been a self-imposed requirement thatthere be a reserve fund amounting to 30percent of the city’s operating expendi-tures.

Councilmember Helen Allen describedthat reserve fund at the meeting as a“rainy day fund.” Without intervention,Keen noted that the fund, presently pro-jected at 21 percent as of February, woulddrop to 6 percent in the next fiscal year.It could then take an even more precari-ous dive into double digit negative num-

bers, resulting in a potential bankruptcy.

A buffer zoneShowing a budget presentation for fis-

cal year 2008-’09, Keen noted that thecity had previously planned to earn $78.5million for its general fund. “Revenuesare declining across the board in allmajor revenue categories,” Keen said.

This fiscal year’s sales tax losses areexpected to be 16 percent more than hadbeen anticipated in the 10-year plan and23 percent over the plan projections infiscal year 2009-’10. Business licensetaxes losses exceed projections by 13 per-cent and 16 percent respectively.

“The current downturn is more severeand far-reaching than at any time in thelast 80 years,” said Keen, who worriesthat the economy has not hit bottom yet.“My job is to manage what we do haveand to keep us focused so that if we haveless money, we’re spending it in the rightway.”

Because of the 10-year strategic plan-ning, Concord has had an extendedfinancial buffer zone, a luxury most citiesdo not have.

Keen had noticed the numbers begin-ning to fall dramatically in earlySeptember 2008, after having just comeon board Aug. 25. He put together a taskforce led by Assistant City ManagerValerie Barone. It was formed fromemployees throughout city offices,including management and non-manage-ment positions. Working together, theycame up with a plan to help the citythrough the budget crisis.

“Clearly the need to act is very obvi-ous,” said Keen.

Making early reductionsTheir plan, which was passed unani-

mously by the City Council at the meet-ing, calls for $4.09 million in cuts to the

budget, starting immediately for this fis-cal year ending June 30. For subsequentyears, the plan will also use portions ofthe reserve funds to make up for revenueshortfalls, although the plan should notdeplete the reserves beyond 15 percent ofthe operating revenues.

“A 15 percent reserve is a very healthyreserve,” said Keen, who has a 25-yearcareer as a city manager.

Immediate reductions include one-time cuts; a hiring freeze on a vacant leadpolice dispatcher position; elimination ofsome part-time and contract positionssuch as a contract K-9 trainer position;elimination of some vacant full-timepositions, including a traffic signal tech-nician and two police forensic specialists;and operational cuts, including elimina-tion of the Street Smart program and areduction of recruitment expenditures forcity employees. Revenue enhancementswill include an increase in what wasdiplomatically termed “traffic enforce-ment activities.”

Asked if the budget crisis will affectthe progress of the Concord NavalWeapons Station Reuse Program, MayorLaura Hoffmeister said unequivocally, “Itdoes not. We have funding comingthrough federal sources that reimbursesus for the city’s cost in paying for thosestudies.”

For costs not immediately reimbursedby the federal government, “we couldobtain that reimbursement from the saleof the property or get reimbursed at alater time,” she added.

Hoffmeister remained optimisticabout the future. “Things will get better,”she said. “We have bumps in the roadthat we’re going through, but things dorecover over time. Hang in there – we toowill weather this and come out positiveon the other side.”

February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 9

Concord city manager pushes plan to avoid fiscal disasterBy Denisen Hartlove and

André GensburgerThe Concordian

Denisen Hartlove/The ConcordianCCIITTYY MMAANNAAGGEERR DDAANN KKEEEENN presents a plan ofattack to the city council.

plan features would look like. Slidesshowed comparisons to theCommonwealth Mall in Boston, SouthPark Blocks in Portland, Ore., and theSan Francisco panhandle.

She described the Clustered VillagesPlan as one “for healthy people andhealthy ecosystems.”

Following the presentations, 45 peoplespoke for up to three minutes each,expressing their views both in support oragainst the plan.

Edi Barsone stood first and pointedout that the Clustered Villages Planincorporates 1,140 units of low-densityhousing alone in addition to medium-and high-density housing. “We do notneed thousands of cars in this area,” hesaid, suggesting that developers wouldturn the three proposed villages into“Lennar-, Shaw- and Seeno-villes.”

Steve Weir, who was in the audienceand has attended many of the reuse planmeetings, is in favor of the proposal. “Iwant to live there,” he said. “Someday,we’ll want a different housing arrange-ment, and I want to be there for it.”

Eve Bach of Arc Ecology in San

Francisco is an economist and plannerwhose work focuses on redevelopment offormer military bases. She spoke duringthe public comment period as well.“What is important is to identify thoseuses that will be able to change with themarket,” she said, pointing out that othercities’ proposals in the past focused onhigh-tech development. “But you musttake care of the public benefits responsiveto the needs of the City of Concord.”

Other speakers raised concerns abouttraffic, the environmental impact ofdevelopment and the possibility of morespace for sports activities, including soc-cer fields and an ice skating rink.

Finally, after 10 p.m., the councilunanimously passed a motion to prelimi-narily approve the Clustered VillagesPlan as the preferred alternative.Revisions included a larger buffer zonebetween some existing residential andnew development, more flexibility interms of commercial office space areasand sports facilities and the bisection ofthe university campus by the green belt.

Councilmember Bill Shinn urged thepublic to continue to stay engaged. “It’slong-term,” he said of the project. “We’vegot to do what’s right, and we’ve got to doit together.”

their stores that don’t pay decentwages so that those folks can live local-ly, work locally, consume locally.”

Home Depot, Lowe’s biggest com-petitor, isn’t worried. In response to anemail inquiry, Home Depot spokes-woman Kathryn Gallagher noted that ithas three stores in Concord offeringeverything from lumber and nails tohelp with interior design. She statedthey are “confident that the majority ofcustomers in the area will continue toshop our Concord stores.”

Both retailers’ stock has dropped 40percent in value in the past two years.

Questions about energy useConcord City Council member Mark

Peterson believes that when Lowe’s isin communication with the city’s lead-ership, it is “above-board and coopera-tive.” Nonetheless, he noted that heonly met with Lowe’s representativesonce, when they wanted to ascertainhis support for their developmentplans.

At the council meeting, Petersonhad concerns about Lowe’s energy-sav-

ing policies. “This is a big roof youhave there,” he said of the buildingplans. “I would think that might be agreat opportunity for you guys to usesome solar yourself.”

Anderson responded that the panelson the Antioch store had been a retro-fitting project assisted by PG&E. “Wecan’t do that on all of our facilities. …We’re kind of right there with ourbudget,” he said.

Peterson remains dubious and saidin a phone interview that he plans tohave staff review Lowe’s figures to“make sure their assertions are accu-rate.”

“I think it says something aboutyour company that you are willing todo something about global warmingand energy consumption,” he said.

John Montagh, a redevelopmentand housing manager with the city’sEconomic Development Department,didn’t see any down side to the arrivalof a Lowe’s in Concord. “I think thecommunity would like the opportunityfor choice,” he said.

Navy, from page 8 Lowe’s, from page 8

Page 10 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

Education panel fears collapse of Californiaschools under state budget deficit

Describing the dire state of educa-tion in California as beyond ideologyand in a voting stranglehold, a four-member education panel met Jan. 21 ata Walnut Creek Democratic Club gath-ering to explain the funding processand the direction needed to stop deci-mation.

The panel was comprised of PaulStrange and Gary Eberhart, two of thefive Mt. Diablo Unified School DistrictTrustees; Craig Cheslog, district direc-tor for Assemblyman Tom Torlakson –who is seeking election as state super-intendent of public education; andKandi Lancaster, an eighth-gradeteacher at Walnut Creek IntermediateSchool. They cited California’s two-thirds voting requirement as a primarycause of stagnancy in effectingchanges, as well as the desperate needfor a complete change of approach toeducation funding.

“We’re one of three states thatrequire a two-thirds vote to pass abudget,” Cheslog said. The other twostates are Arkansas and Rhode Island,both of which Cheslog quipped as nothaving “so much in common with us.”

Within our region, districts are facedwith additional discrepancies stem-ming from the amount of unrestrictedfunding available vs. the restrictedfunding created by legal mandates cov-ering funding for specific items withinthe district budget – such as class-sizereduction and construction require-ments, money that cannot be assignedelsewhere.

“So when you look at total budgetnumbers between districts,” Strangesaid, “you might get the wrong ideaabout what is available.”

He compared Mt. Diablo’s unre-stricted revenue per student of $6,189to Acalanes’ unrestricted revenue perstudent of $7,775. “If we had thatamount per year, we would have over$54 million more per year.”

In addition, while enrollment isdeclining at Mt. Diablo, it is on the riseat San Ramon – additionally affectingfunding numbers. “Not everyone ishurting at the same level,” Strangeadded. “We feed 30 percent of our stu-dents under free and reduced lunchprograms compared to San Ramon’s1.4 percent. We have more restrictiverevenue than they do, so you cannotcompare the total figures.”

All employees may receivelayoff notices

According to Eberhart, the districthas been cutting the budget for fiveyears. “We’ve cut over $30 million over

the last three years. Vice principals,librarians, custodians, teachers, specialed, food service, bus drivers,” he said.“We are cutting another $6.6 million,something the state told us we have todo.”

Mid-year cuts have created havocdue to contracts in place that cannot bevoided. “Ninety percent of our budgetis payroll,” Eberhart said. “We hireprior to the school year and they areguaranteed a job until June.”

Now the state may request nearly$11 million in additional cuts for thecurrent school year. “How?” asked anexasperated Eberhart. “It’s gone. We’vealready spent the money.”

“We are required by the county tobudget according to the governor’s lat-est budget, or we may get a negativereview,” Strange said. “Since all of ourcertificated employees are covereduntil June and our classified employeesneed 45 days notice, we can’t do any-thing.”

Teachers need to get noticed byMarch 15 if there is a potential for hav-ing their job cut, Eberhart said.“Notices may be going to all ouremployees. We have to balance thebudget or they (the state) takes over.The impact of all this over the nextthree years is that based on the govern-ment numbers, we’ll be in the red $55million.”

“Half the thousand districts in thestate will be unable to operate,”Lancaster said.

Eberhart questions how collectivebargaining would play into the gover-nor’s suggestion of cutting five days offthe school year to save money. “Itscares me that I know more about col-lective bargaining agreements than thegovernor of the state, and yet I havenot read any media comments pointingthis out,” he said.

Cuts hit the classroomsItems on the chopping block include

high school sports, dance, music andother enrichment programs designedfor a well-rounded education. “School

is supposed to be a rich educationalexperience,” Eberhart said. “You can’thave that without these programs. Wedon’t have counselors anymore. Thatfalls on the teachers. The needs of the

students today are huge.”“Teachers are having to do more

with less,” Lancaster said. “We areexpected to achieve a certain level andunder No Child Left Behind, that levelkeeps going up.”

In addition, Lancaster believes thatteachers are unable to differentiate theneeds of the students in their classes.“In my class, I have four or five Englishlanguage learners, three to five specialeducation needs students and five orsix gifted students in the GATE pro-gram. Every lesson I have to differenti-ate for each of these groups, includinghaving to advance plan when one of myspecial needs students is visuallyimpaired and needs to have the over-heads blown up. In effect, I have a one-room school house.

“The students with Bs and Cs arebeing left behind,” she added. “That isone of teachers’ biggest concerns.”

Due to cuts, Lancaster said she has

Voiding two-thirds vote,parcel tax could providesmall windows of hope

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

Today’s teens haveeyes on the future

A TEENAGE PERSPECTIVE

There are 305,604,454 people inthe United States. One nation,separated by racism, religion

and education, yet united by our livesand our loves. What will we find in thefuture – fear, hope, love, equality, hap-piness or disaster?

As teen-agers, we are the future ofour country. Although we didn’t have avoice in the election, we are deemedworthy of taking control of the wheel ofa moving vehicle or being sent to war.So what goes through the mind of ateen as this great county attempts toright itself and stop the hemorrhagingof red ink, foreclosures and unemploy-ment? Can President Barack Obamamake a difference?

“Both parties are too hard to please,and some of the decisions that he hasto make end up forcing him to take oneside – causing a conflict rather than aresolution,” notes Dustin, a sophomorefrom Berean Christian High School.

Laura, another sophomore atBerean, believes Obama has the abilityto run this country. “There will alwaysbe a schism in our nation’s moral sys-tem, and sadly, it is listed on a politicalmap. Everything is red or blue,” shesays. “Our country is divided, and I seethe next few years as a chance for us all

to learn a few new things about togeth-erness and acceptance.”

Others aren’t quite sure how Obamawill be able to lead our country. “Ithink he has some really great aspira-tions and ambitions, but I feel like Ineed to see him put those ideas intoaction before I decide how I feel abouthim,” says Kate, a sophomore from LosLomas High School.

“Something that people have to keepin their minds, especially Republicanslike myself, is that America voted himas president and we must accept that,”adds Tyler, a sophomore at NorthgateHigh School.

These days, teen-agers and adultsalike hope for change and unity.During the Sept. 11 attacks, our countrywas one country. We wept together,prayed together and helped each otherin a time of deep despair. It didn’t mat-ter the color of your skin, politicalparty, age or position in life. You weresimply an American – and proud of it.Maybe it takes utter disaster or diffi-cult times like these to wake up theAmerican public.

We have shown we have the abilityto act as a single entity for the commongood. I hope Obama can instill thatpassion back into our daily regime. Allthe students I interviewed hope for abetter future – a change that will bringunity and that will spur trust in our fel-low man, regardless of their age. Afterall, it’s our future, too.

By Lauren HoganSpecial to The Concordian

See Education, page 16

Andre’ Gensburger/The ConcordianPPAATT VVOONN BBEEHHRREENN OOFF TTHHEE DDIIAABBLLOO VVAALLLLEEYY DDEEMMOOCCRRAATTIICC CCLLUUBB,, PPAAUULL SSTTRRAANNGGEE,, GGAARRYY EEBBEERRHHAARRTT,, CCRRAAIIGG

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Walking through history canbe a lot more fun in person

During a “Walk ThroughCalifornia,” the third- andfourth-graders at Ygnacio

Valley Christian School in Concordwere entrenched in the state’s historyfor three hours.

“I plan an approach to Californiasocial studies which includes interac-tive, hands-on learning,” said GwenLarsen of Ygnacio Valley ChristianSchool. “Through drama, dancing andgames, we experienced the full sweep

of California history that includesCalifornia Indians, missions, ranchosand the Gold Rush.”

On Dec. 15, students memorized his-torical facts and dressed in periodclothing as Chumash Indians, Spanishsettlers, padres, Mexican vaqueros,pioneers, cowboys and gold miners. Inthis way, they learned while relivingexciting times.

Students cheered on their team-mates as they scored points. Later, theyassembled a room-sized map ofCalifornia and reviewed the state’sfamous features and landmarks.

“My favorite part was Going forGold, when especially attentive stu-dents had a chance to choose a goldenlollipop from a map of California,” saidTaylor Wong, who was dressed as agold miner.

Alyssa Roach, in native Californianattire, liked “how all students wereinvolved in the big puzzle at the end.”Emma Votaw, dressed as a cowgirl,especially enjoyed using the TimeTravel Machine.

Larsen takes her class on more thana dozen “field classes,” both on and offcampus, throughout the school year inorder to realize the full potential of thisexperience.

“It had a lot of history for me toremember,” added Lucien Gerhardt, aSpanish soldier. “It was fun because wegot to mine for gold. Instead of sittingto learn history, we had action.”

By Suzette WongSpecial to The Concordian

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Page 12 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

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The greening of Americacan put people to work

In his “New Energy for America” plan, President Barack Obama out-lines the creation of 5 million new jobs by “strategically investing$150 billion over the next 10 years to catalyze private efforts to

build a clean energy future.”Plans include a million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015 and

ensuring that 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewablesources by 2012 and 25 percent by 2025. The goal is big, but not morethan what economic experts say is possible.

According to a study by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a major shiftto renewable energy and efficiency is expected to produce 4.2 millionnew environmentally friendly “green” jobs over the next three decades– not including 1.4 million green jobs in engineering, research, consult-ing and legal work.

The study concludes that the largest number of job opportunities willlikely be in the development of alternative transportation fuels and inthe renewable power-generating sector. This will account for 10 percentof all new jobs.

While ecopreneur is not in Webster’s Dictionary yet, it is only a mat-ter of time before it becomes part of our nationwide business vocabu-lary. An ecopreneur is an entrepreneur who develops environmentallysound, green and sustainable business ventures, products and/or serv-ices.

Ecopreneurs have already designed a decking product called “PrairieFence” that is made of wheat grass and recycled plastic bottles. It lastsfive times longer than wood and is maintenance-free for a lifetime.Other ecopreneurs have created LED lighting, window film that slashesenergy use by 20 percent and a “smart box” that reduces wasted elec-tricity, to name just a few.

Although much of the hype around the “greening of America” hascentered around celebrity venture capitalists and the new ecopreneur,experts agree that most of the new green jobs will be weatherizinghomes and offices, installing solar panels and retrofitting factories andbusinesses with energy-efficient technologies. Van Jones, founder ofGreen for All in Oakland, says the green collar movement “is not aneco-elite, eco-chic movement for people who can afford to buy hybridcars and shop at Whole Foods.”

“The green economy to come is going to be a broad-shouldered, massmovement of American labor,” Jones noted.

Interesting new alliances are already forming, like the UnitedSteelworkers and the Sierra Club’s formation last year of the Blue GreenAlliance to promote green job incentives and environmentally friendlytrade policies.

As the Silicon Valley became known as home to entrepreneurs of themicro-chip and computer technology, perhaps the Concord NavalWeapons Station, with a new four-year university, could become hometo companies investing in creative, high-tech green business ventures.

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Remembering Jerry FitzPatrick, ‘agiant of a man’ in Concord’s history

Concord lost “a giant of a man”when Jerry FitzPatrick died Dec.30 at the age of 89. This shining

local icon operated an auto dealershipin the city for the past 60 years, was asupporter of youth sports, a civicbooster, philan-thropic man for allseasons and a lov-ing husband,father, grandfatherand friend.

FitzPatrickChevrolet has beenselling cars fromits adobe-styledealership onDiamondBoulevard since1978. This is itsthird Concordlocation afterbeginning on EastStreet at Salvioand then movingto Galindo Streetat Laguna.

Frank FitzPatrick started the busi-ness in 1948 in the sleepy town ofConcord, with a population of 6,009.He convinced his World War II veteranson to join him. Jerry, a Boalt Hall lawschool student, had recently marriedDolores. The dealership and theFitzPatrick family grew with the subur-ban explosion of the ’50s and ’60s, asthe city’s population topped 80,000when the agency celebrated its 20thanniversary.

Larry Sauers was a new Concordresident fund-raising in the eightWestern states for Danny Thomas’ St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital in1981 when he met Jerry FitzPatrick. Acouple years later, Jerry recruitedSauers to run the Mt. Diablo HospitalFoundation. “Jerry probably intro-

duced me to 25 of our 30 biggestdonors over the years,” he noted.

“He was my best friend, a seconddad, mentor and model Catholic; hefound the best in everyone,” Sauerssaid while looking through albums andbooks from past Mt. Diablo Hospitalfund-raising events. “He helped us suc-ceed at work and home.”

For FitzPatrick,religion was animportant part ofhis life. OaklandBishop AllenVigneron led thefuneral service onthe St. Mary’sCollege campus,where Jerry earnedhis bachelor’sdegree. FitzPatrickwas a regent of St.Mary’s, HolyNames Universityand CarondeletHigh School inConcord.

As a business-

man, FitzPatrick followed hisfather’s lead by making his twosons, Jerry Jr. and Dennis, inte-gral parts of the dealership. Eightmembers of the family currentlywork at FitzPatrick ChevroletHummer.

And the loyalty extendsbeyond family. There are a dozenpeople who have been workingthere more than 20 years. TheFitzPatrick style of doing busi-ness – “never compromise a prin-ciple for the sake of making aprofit” – attracted celebrities likethe Beach Boys, RickyHenderson, Brian Boitano andJoe Morgan to buy vehicles fromthem.

Scott Singley has been aFitzPatrick employee for “only” 14years. “Jerry was a giant of a manwhom it was my distinct pleasure toknow for over 30 years,” Singley said.“During the last two years of his life, Iaccompanied him to functions. It puthim near so many people he loved andwho loved him. Many times people

greeted me by asking, ‘How is Jerrydoing?’

“We couldn’t go anywhere withoutpeople knowing him or saying thatthey knew him through things theirparents or grandparents had saidabout him,” Singley added. “I havenever been associated with anybody ofsuch widespread recognition who wasalso so humble.”

Jerry was a lifelong family friend toHarry York, executive vice presidentof the Greater Concord Chamber ofCommerce for many years. “He soldmy parents a new 1954 Bel Air and ’54pickup and also sold my brother a ’57Chevy pickup, all of which I wish westill had!” York noted. “Jerry was afriend and valued advisor.”

Clare FitzPatrick, one of his eightgrandchildren, said Jerry was rarelyserious around the kids. “He mostlyliked to joke around with his grand-kids. His favorite joke was ‘Who wasStanley Dollar’s son? 50 cent!’ ”

Grandson Jerry fondly tells a storyabout his grandfather’s business side:“I visited him when he was very ill andthe first words out of his mouth were,‘How many cars did we sell today?’ ”

By Jay BedecarréSpecial to The Concordian

Photos courtesy of Larry Sauers and FitzPatrick family

JJEERRRRYY FFIITTZZPPAATTRRIICCKK

DDOOLLOORREESS AANNDD JJEERRRRYY FFIITTZZPPAATTRRIICCKK at a Mt. Diablo Hospital Foundation fund-raising event flank-ing Tippi Hedren and Connie Stevens

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Page 14 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

Looking at single familyvs. condo in home purchase

real Josie Van Fleet

the

deal

For many home buyers, espe-cially first-time buyers, one ofthe first things to consider is

whether to purchase a condo or asingle-family home.

When buying a residence, per-sonal preference will likely deter-mine the answer and lifestyle con-siderations will be at the top of thelist.

The residents in a condominiumdevelopment tend to watch out forone another, providing that extrapeace of mind that comes frombelonging to a close community.There is less work required for theupkeep of a condo, since the outsideof your building and the groundsare usually maintained by thehomeowners association.

On the other hand, a single-fami-ly home is distinct, unique and sep-arate from the other homes nearby.There’s a bit of land to call yourown and you can change the colorof your exterior walls if the spiritmoves you.

While it’s a personal choice, thecrux of the matter is whether acondo will appreciate in value asrapidly as a single-family home. Theold prejudice against condos,assuming they are weak substitutesfor “real” homes, has long vanished,and buyers are more interestedtoday in the benefits and amenitiesprovided by each style of home.

Furthermore, condo styles are asdistinctive as single-family resi-dences – with choices ranging from

the very affordable to the elaboratepenthouse with spectacular views.The best idea is not to eliminate anoption without looking into thesevery different lifestyles carefully.

If you are already a homeownerand want to take advantage of thestrong purchasing power in thiscurrent buyers’ market, a well-priced condo or lower-end, single-family residence can provide goodmonthly positive cash flow. In thecurrent buyers’ market, investmentopportunities abound. And with thedownturn in the economy and peo-ple losing their homes, there is areal need for good rental properties.

Rental rates are sound and hold-ing. Consider purchasing now, holdfor awhile and trade up for a multi-unit property when the marketimproves. This would be a goodstrategy to improve your monthlyincome and build wealth for yourretirement years.

A new year, a new president anda growing collective optimism bodeswell for the future. Today’s opportu-nity is tomorrow’s prosperity.

Josie Van Fleet is a real estate bro-ker with J. Rockcliff Realtors, Inc. Callher with questions or comments at(925) 280-6470 or email teamvan-fleet@aol.com.

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February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 15

Discover quality and style inClayton’s Dana Hills

Windermere Lynne French &Associates is proud to present20 Mt. Rainier Court, located

in Dana Hills in the town of Clayton.You will feel right at home in this

warm family home with 2,822 sq. ft.,four bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and agigantic bonus/game room with a spa-cious balcony that has a fantastic view ofMt. Diablo. Classy updates and upgrades

take this home a step beyond most list-ings in Dana Hills, giving it “customhome” status with touches that willimpress the most finicky buyer.

The home greets you with a fabulousliving room that has vaulted ceilings,hardwood floors and fresh decoratorpaint that sets off casings, baseboardsand crown moldings for a tidy and invit-ing style. Adjacent is a formal diningroom with contemporary paint andglowing chandelier. Gorgeous Frenchdoors lead to the backyard and areflanked by sleek casings, adding a touchof elegance.

The expanded gourmet kitchen is acook’s dream. It offers a huge prepisland and breakfast bar topped withslab granite. Abundant, sleek maple cab-inetry along with double ovens and anenormous pantry make this kitchen top-notch for organization. The glass doorson the rear shelves capture the lightfrom the bay-style windows and light upthe room. This is the perfect spot for anevening of epicurean experimentation.

The family room is sharp and spa-cious and has a sliding dual-pane doorout to the sprawling patio. This pressedconcrete patio offers an outdoor kitchen

replete with a gas grill and refrigeratorhoused in slate and granite. Beautifulredwoods and mature landscaping makethe backyard a tranquil spot for watch-ing the kids play or hosting a largeparty. The large, flat yard would handlea pool nicely.

The side yards of this home presentsought-after perks – extended RV park-ing on one side and a workshop/storageshed with electricity on the other. It’sperfect for the weekend warrior thatcamps, boats or loves to handle homeimprovements. The two-car garage is

finished and will accommodate yourvehicles with room to spare.

The location of Mt. Rainier is unbeat-able. Nestled on a private court with fewneighbors, this is the best Dana Hillshas to offer – with easy access to down-town and Mt. Diablo out your door. Youwill love entertaining your family andfriends in this well-maintained, customhome.

Give Lynne French a call today at672-8787 to preview or if you wouldlike more information.

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By Lynne FrenchWindermere Lynne French & Associates

TTHHEE HHOOMMEE AATT 2200 MMTT.. RRAAIINNIIEERR CCOOUURRTT offers four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a huge bonus/gameroom, and kitchen and master suite expansions.

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Concord, Clayton Valley Highlands –3BD/2BA w/fresh paint, hardwood floors. Private,flat lot. www.5546MarylandDrive.com $389,000

Clayton, Dana Hills – Expanded kitchen & mas-ter suite, 4BD/2.5BA. Outdoor kitchen & RVparking. www.20MtRainierCourt.com

Clayton, Marsh Creek Villas – 2BD/2BA patiohome, 2-car garage! Master suite & bright kitchen.www.9DonnerCreekCourt.com $315,000

Clayton, Black Diamond – Amazing views, pre-mium lot! Tasteful 2-story duet w/ 3BD/2.5BA.www.915ArrowheadTerrace.com $539,980

Clayton, Dana Hills – 4BD/2BA w/1,919 s.f. on.24 corner lot. Master suite w/retreat, Mt. Diabloviews. www.281MountaireCircle.com $494,888

Clayton, Regency Meadows – 2,857 s.f. with5BD/3BA inc. downstairs Bd/Bath. Putting green& pool. www.250ElPuebloPlace.com $699,000

Concord, Estate Living – 5BD/2BA w/3,202s.f. on sub-dividable acre lot. In-law/Rental Unitin back. www.5KirkwoodCourt.com $899,000

Clayton, Dana Hills – Great Value! 2,261 s.f.4BD/2.5BA on cul-de-sac. Large deck, patio &pool area. www.312MtSierraPlace.com $549,000

Clayton, Dana Hills – Single-story 4BD/2BAw/updated kitchen, living & family rooms.Private yard. www.141MountaireParkway.com

$529,000

Concord, Cowell – Remodeled to nearly 3,500s.f., this 5+BD/3BA enhances daily living &offers HUGE flat lot. www.KaskiLane.com

$689,000

Clayton, Peacock Creek – Awesomepool/waterfall/spa, patios & yard! 4BD/2.5BAinc. downstairs master suite.www.1116PeacockCreekDrive.com $899,000

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Clayton, Diablo Ridge – 2BD/2BA w/customupdates inc. paint, flooring, kitchen fixtures & bath-rooms! www.3104CoyoteCircle.com $329,980

We all know that the Concord area is agreat place to live. If you have a home thatyou would like to see featured in TheConcordian, call our office today.

Page 16 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

The banks own a number ofhomes in the area. Many of them will befixers. If you are considering buying and would like totour bank owned properties go to

www.tourbankowned.com or call 800-834-9096

Take advantage of this rare market and buy a house now while the prices are low

Richard Lueck 4691 Clayton Rd Ste A, Concord

Phone: (925) 465-9554 Email: housematch@gmail.com

www.whatisourhomeworth.biz

‘Pay for college without going broke’ workshopWalnut Creek firm founders, teach free workshops helping families save thousands

Walnut Creek – East Bay par-ents, who plan to send their childto college in the next few years,but aren’t quite sure how to payfor it can now rest a little easier.Sean Connors & Alexis Aleknafounders of College PlanningSpecialists in Walnut Creek areeducating parents in the communi-ty about what to do to pay the leastamount for their child or multiplechildren’s education.

‘It’s really sad, but most parentswe talk to have done really wellfinancially, but never found thetime to save for college, and nowthey’re facing a bill of $15,000-$50,000 per year, and they don’tknow who to turn to,’ Connorssays. ‘Plus, most families nevereven bother applying for aidbecause they feel they make toomuch money or listen to thewrong people. Where now we areseeing families with a solid six-figure income cut college costs by$30,000.’

College Planning Specialistswould know, because their com-pany has helped thousands offamilies ranging from single par-ents to corporate CEO’s and arethe foremost authority that newsprofessionals turn to for answerson college and financial aid. ‘My

family had no idea how the sys-tem worked. Even with a baseballscholarship I graduated with$50k in loans and my parentsaccumulated debt from my col-lege as well,’ says Connors.‘That’s why I am excited to sharethis information with families,helping them avoid the same pit-falls and mistakes that me & myfamily couldn’t.’

Alekna, the financial specialist,feels the planning process needs tostart early. ‘Simply put, we showparents the truth that they aren’thearing anywhere else about howthe college process really works.We show them how they can gettheir child into a the ‘best-fit’school easily and help them pick aschool that will suit them…bothacademically and financially, sav-ing them thousands of dollars inthe process.”

Contra Costa County parentswill have two opportunities tohear Sean & Alexis speak. Theyare teaching their class ‘ReceivingMaximum Money for College!’ onthe 27th of January at the Oak HillPark CC in Danville and February3rd at the Ygnacio Valley Libraryin Walnut Creek.

‘Our class will reveal astonish-ing ways to beat the high cost of

college that educated parentsacross the country are using to payalmost nothing for college. In fact,hundreds who have attendedthese workshops have discoverednew secrets and strategies to sendtheir children to schools theynever thought they could afford,’Alekna grins.

Topics will also include whyprivate scholarships and recentlystarted 529 plans can be a wasteof time, how to double or eventriple the amount of free moneyyou receive from each school. Aswell as how to avoid the one mis-take that will kill your chances ofgetting any money at all, thatalmost every other parent willmake this year. ‘They will learn alot about this process and I do mybest to make the class fun,’Connors says.

Don’t forget: the class is totallyfree, but seats are limited, andevery month they turn away manyfamilies due to high demand. It’seasy to register but it’s importantto do so soon, especially due to theoverwhelming response from thelast 2 months workshops. You canRSVP for you and your family byvisiting them online atwww.CollegeFundsNow.com orby calling (888) 210-2606 today.

This year, you may want to con-sider getting your valentinesomething to smile about: whiter

teeth.People have been whitening teeth

for more than 100 years. The best cur-rent products contain hydrogen perox-ide or carbamine peroxide or a combi-nation of both. I have seen successfulresults with all of the following sys-tems.

Over-the-counter home kits are theleast expensive. They are formulatedon the mild side, so you may need tobuy more than one kit. They come withbleaching strips or trays. The strips aredifficult for some people to manipulateand most trays are “one size fits all.”

An in-office bleaching is the mostexpensive. You will spend 30 minutesto an hour in the dental chair. Theseare the strongest systems, and post-operative tooth sensitivity is well-docu-mented. Depending on the results,

many people need to return for addi-tional sessions or continue to bleachwith home kits.

The most successful system I havefound is at-home bleaching prescribedand dispensed by a dentist. This sys-tem uses custom-made bleaching traysor dual-purpose mouthguards withperoxide-based products.

To me, this is the best of all worldsbecause you and your dentist discussand decide what strength bleach is bestfor your teeth. Your dentist makes youa custom appliance for your bleachingtreatment. Then, you bleach your teethto your desired whiteness.

Remember, the best way to keepyour smile healthy and bright is toswish, floss and brush everyday andvisit your dentist regularly.

smile about

Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.

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seven classroom lights that are out andher trash does not get emptied. “Schoollibraries are now free daycare before andafter school with up to 95 kids moni-tored by one librarian. Students are atthe school before I get there in the morn-ing and late into the day,” she noted.“We have a whole load of baggage todeal with from dysfunctional families tothe transient population caused by theeconomy and people changing resi-dences. We have one nurse for the wholedistrict, so I have to step in.”

Because funding is based on warmbodies in seats during attendance, rev-enue is lost when students have morn-ing doctor appointments and are notpresent for attendance. Parents whotake vacations outside of district holi-day times also create a loss in revenue.While some parents take advantage ofindependent study plans during anabsence of five days or more, many aregone for a shorter time than therequirement for funding.

Finding long-term solutionsAt the district level, there have been

discussions of a parcel tax to generaterevenue. Based on a poll, Strangebelieves a parcel tax could only be inthe $100-$200 range, resulting in$7.5-$15 million in revenue. Though itcould stem the losses, he said it doeslittle to increase overall funding. Forthat, new legislation would be requiredagain facing the obstacle of a two-thirds vote to be approved.

“We are cutting bone and marrowright now,” Cheslog stated. Despitehaving the most stringent educationstandards in the country, he said thestate ranks 47th in the nation and iswell on its way to last place “unless wefix the two-thirds vote requirement.”

Calling the state budget process“designed to fail,” he added: “Are wereally surprised at where we are at?”

On his Website, Torlakson says thestate can’t be shortsighted and “simplycut our way out of the budget hole.”

“Education is economic stimulus,”he said. “We will only turn our econo-my around by providing a skilled work-force that allows California to com-pete.”

Cheslog believes that if there is to beany progress toward finding solutionsto the budget crisis, it lies in removingthe two-thirds rule – a task that itselfrequires a two-third vote to approve.

Ellis Goldberg, president of the Tri-Valley Democratic Club, believes thereis a push to remove the two-thirds vot-ing requirement. “This is the time tostrike,” he said. “I propose a petition.We need 1.1 million signatures. Rightnow, we are at our strongest point tosucceed. We took back our country; it’stime to take back our state.”

For more information on this issue,visit www.mdusd.net, www.tomtor-lakson.com, www.cde.ca.gov orwww.dvdems.org.

Education, from page 10

For some, the phrase “practicerandom acts of kindness andsenseless beauty” is just another

bumper sticker on the commute towork each day. But to HansWiesendanger, Marlene Weiss and thepeople at the Independent LivingResource organization, it is a way oflife.

These three were recently recog-nized by the Concord Human RelationsCommission and given Random Acts ofKindness awards as examples of the

road we should all follow. Janis Hoyt,chair of the commission, said the threeawardees routinely give “those types ofthings that make our community spe-cial.”

Weiss learned of her son’s diagnosisof schizophrenia in 1981. Since then,she has worked tirelessly for the rightsof those struggling with mental illness.

“There’s so much stigma attached tomental illness,” Weiss said uponaccepting her award.

She recalled assisting one woman in

setting up an apartment with severalother people in a step toward achievingindependence and stability. Instead ofreceiving support from the community,however, the woman’s efforts werethwarted by people with a NIMBY (notin my back yard) philosophy.

“A person can have an illness of thebody and it’s fine, but an illness of thebrain is something different, I think,”she said.

Weiss, who helped govern theNational Alliance for the Mentally Ill ofContra Costa County, has seen herefforts contribute to making the worlda more navigable place for people suf-fering from these disabling conditions.

The road to independenceGil Cervantez accepted the award on

behalf of the Independent LivingResource. According to the CaliforniaState Department of Rehabilitation,four out of five people will become dis-abled or have a close friend or familymember become disabled in their life-times.

Cervantez, the interim executivedirector, described the group’s missionas “providing services to the disabledcommunity, in hopes of making thembetter able to live in the world today.”

As an example, he described a clientwho had recently lost her vision. Thegroup sent a blind volunteer to herhome to show her “what services areavailable, what she can do and how toget a seeing-eye dog.”

“Globally, we are all facing difficultchallenges. These people have difficultchallenges on a daily basis,” he said.

Finding peaceWiesendanger had recently retired

from his work as a bookbinder in 1992when he answered an ad in thenewsletter at St. Bonaventure CatholicChurch in Concord for help working onthe church gardens. What started as ahobby 17 years ago has blossomed intoa full-time task.

“When I volunteered here, I justcouldn’t stop!” he said with a laugh.

Wiesendanger, along with his cohortBob Cartan and a team of volunteers,

tend what Rev. Richard Manginidescribes as “a place of refreshmentand spiritual peace.”

The garden is overflowing withflowering plants, bushes and 267different varieties of roses. Spreadthroughout are small memorialplaques and shrines, including onefor Wiesendanger’s wife, Elizabeth,who died in late 2007.

“In my country, there are ceme-teries which are right behind thechurches,” said Wiesendanger, whocame from Switzerland in 1956.“Over here, our cemeteries aremaintained 40 miles from thehouses. This to me is the next bestthing for our parishioners to have amemorial plant in the garden ofour church.”

The meditation and memorialgarden isn’t limited to parishioners.“It’s for anyone who would like tocome,” said Cartan, who foundedthe gardens. “No fences, no gates –it’s open all the time.”

Parents bring children, studentsstudy on one of the many benchesand more than one bride has hadher picture taken in the garden’sgazebo.

“We all need calm sometimes,”said Wiesendanger. “When you gothrough that garden, it gives you that –it gives you tranquility.”

The Human Relations Commissionawards are in their 22nd year. “We’realways amazed that we don’t do thismore often,” Hoyt said. “We alwaysfind wonderful people who give of theirtime.”

The awardees, however, see thework they do on behalf of others as itsown reward.

“Frown at the world and it frownsback. Smile at the world and it smilesback at you,” said Wiesendanger.

Cervantez agrees. “The success sto-ries don’t become mundane at all. Theybrighten our lives on a daily basis.”

February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 17

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Volunteers find fulfillment in ‘random acts’

MMAARRLLEENNEE WWEEIISSSS HHAASS BBEEEENN AA TTIIRREELLEESSSS crusader forthose with mental illness.

HHAANNSS WWIIEESSEENNDDAANNGGEERR HHAASS TTUURRNNEEDD a gardening hobbyinto a full time task at St. Bonaventure

By Denisen HartloveThe Concordian

With Valentine’s Dayapproaching, what betterway to show your loved ones

you care than by making them a deli-cious masterpiecewith local producefrom the farmersmarket.

Strawberries are aperfect fit forValentine’s Day, andOrtiz Farms bringsthem each week foryou to enjoy.Strawberries pack apowerful nutritionalpunch, as well asbeing the favoriteberry in the UnitedStates. They’re full ofantioxidants, fiber,vitamin C and potas-sium, not to mentionthat they taste delicious.

Strawberries are picked at theirpeak and do not ripen after harvest-ing, so select berries that are bright

red and have a natural sheen withfresh-looking green caps. Avoidstrawberries with green or white tips.Store strawberries in the refrigeratorin a single layer on a paper towel andin a moisture-proof container. Eatthem within 48 to 72 hours.

Chocolate-dippedstrawberries are synony-mous with romance andValentine’s Day, so trythis recipe from theCalifornia StrawberryCommission. Visitwww.pcfma.com for othergreat recipe ideas for thatspecial meal.

Chocolate-DippedStrawberries

12 California strawber-ries, washed and dried

8 oz. dark chocolate4 oz. white chocolate1 T. flavored liquor

(optional)

Variations:shredded toasted coconut

Page 18 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

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Always and ForeverPackage Price $319, Package Code P1You will be greeted in your room with a delicious box of See's Candies.Have a romantic dinner for two in our wonderful restaurant GrissiniTrattoria and Wine Bar. Dinner includes an Appetizer to share, two HouseSalads, two Entrees, and a Lovers Dessert to share. Wake up the next morn-ing to have Breakfast in Bed off of our select menu. Late check-out of 3pm toenjoy the company of the one you love.*Dinner and Breakfast tax and gratuity included. Occupancy tax not included

Be My ValentinePackage Price $304, Package Code P6You will be greeted in your room with Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

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Cupid’s ArrowPackage Price $174, Package Code P7You will be greeted in your room with Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and a chilled bottle ofhouse champagne. Wake up the next morning to have Breakfast in Bed off of our selectmenu. Late check-out of 3pm to enjoy the company of the one you love.*Breakfast tax and gratuity included. Occupancy tax not included

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See Valentine, page 19

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February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 19

As the national mantra of“Together We Can” comesforth from the new adminis-

tration, it seems to me that the cityof Concord, its residents, business-es, labor, environmental and edu-cation interests have had that mis-sion statement in mind since weembarked on the Naval WeaponsStation Reuse Process some 2½years ago.

At the Jan. 12 meeting, the CityCouncil approved the reuse visionpreferred plan for the base called“Clustered Villages.” This markscompletion of a major step in thelong reuse planning process. To getto this step was no easy feat. Manyindividuals and organizations putin hundreds of volunteer hours tohelp create the plan.

I would like to thank the mem-bers of the Citizen AdvisoryCommittee: Dick Allen, JimmyAraujo, Paul Elliott, Greg Enholm,Jason Hadnot, Scott Hein, DanielC. Helix, John Hemm, PatriciaHowlett, Ana Maria Korve, BeverlyLane, Melvin Lee, John Mercurio,Rosanne Nieto, Anna Rikkelman,William Washington, DirkWentling and Ellen Williams. This

cross-section of our communityconducted more than 40 publicmeetings, outreach sessions andworkshops. They spent countlesshours at public meetings, reviewedtechnical information and listenedand responded to communityinput.

When we embarked on thisprocess, many thought it would beimpossible to have diverse groupsachieve consensus on a preferredvision. The City Council believedthat with an open public process,together we can. And together wedid.

The council held public work-shops to develop overall principals,key ones being that the plan be bal-anced, financially viable and notfinancially impacting to the exist-ing community. These principalsassisted the citizens committee thatrecommended a reuse plan to thecity.

After initially reviewing 11 citi-zen-created reuse visions, the com-mittee conducted more studies andgathered more public input. Theynarrowed it down to nine visionplans, then seven, then four, thentwo. Each time, the citizens com-mittee carefully considered all thetechnical information and publiccomments and tried to take thebest of each of the plans – finallycrafting the Clustered Villages asthe final preferred reuse plan forthe base.

Knowing that you can neverachieve complete satisfaction of

everyone’s interest, I was amazedhow many individuals and interestgroups supported the ClusteredVillages vision plan at the councilmeeting. That came about becausemany interest groups workedtogether – even those that oftenhave different objectives.

Business, education, neighbor-hood groups, environmental groupsand labor organizations workedtogether to come to consensus onmany of the vision plans.Historically, these types of groupswork independently and presenttheir comments, often conflictingwith each other, and the CityCouncil ends up trying to decidecompromises. Because thesegroups put differences aside andcame together early on, togetherwe can, and together we did. I amvery proud to represent and leadConcord with this type of commu-nity cooperation.

This important milestone will bethe foundation for the remainingsteps in the project. It will be along process, but if interested indi-viduals and groups continue towork together, I know that we cansucceed in ensuring the ClusteredVillages is a high quality and inno-vative plan that benefits futuregenerations.

Send your comments and con-cerns to Laura Hoffmeister, theCity Council or city staff atcityinfo@ci.concord.ca.us.

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toasted nutscrushed candy canepuffed rice cerealgranola

Melt the dark chocolate in a bowlset over a small pot of simmeringwater. Add liquor, if desired. In a sep-arate bowl, melt the white chocolate.

Holding the strawberry by thecrown, dip the strawberry into thedark chocolate. Lay strawberry onparchment paper. Lightly drizzlewhite chocolate over the dark choco-late and let set.

Or, after dipping into dark choco-late, dip berry immediately into oneof the above variations. Lay on parch-ment paper to set.

Note: Berries must be refrigeratedand eaten within a day.

Morris is with the Pacific CoastFarmers Market Association. TheConcord farmers market is 10 a.m.-2p.m. Tuesdays at Todos Santos Plaza.Call 800-949-FARM for information.

Valentine,from page 18

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Page 20 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

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Terrapins hope practice makes perfect

Although it’s the middle of win-ter, a bunch of local teens areshowing up at a cold water pool

on dark mornings and late afternoonsin an effort to quali-fy for regional,national and inter-national swimmeets this year andbeyond.

As members ofthe renownedTerrapin SwimClub, the youngpeople gather at theConcordCommunity Pool onCowell Road for rig-orous workoutstwice a day duringthe week. They dolaps from 5-7 a.m.Then it’s off toschool, only toreturn to the poolfrom 4-6 p.m. formore instruction.They go home longafter the sun’s gonedown.

According to head coach PaulStafford, the tough training teachescompetitive swimmers time manage-ment, goal-setting and how to lead ahealthy lifestyle. Like any sport, headds, swimming also offers a produc-tive alternative for teens.

Kids who participate in theTerrapins’ daily regimen can developself-esteem, self-reliance, discipline,confidence, respect for others and teampride. Then, they can build a workethic, learn leadership skills, travel theworld and eventually succeed in highereducation.

The most challenging possibilities areto advance to national or internationalcaliber competition, winning everythingfrom college scholarships to Olympicgold medals – as Terrapin alumna

Natalie Coughlin did a record-setting sixtimes at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Such achievements are within tanta-lizing reach of Kasey Carlson andChelsea Chenault, two of the club’s cur-rent crop of elite athletes.

Carlson, a 17-year-old junior at LasLomas HighSchool in WalnutCreek, was namedto this year’sJunior Pan PacificTeam by USASwimming, thesport’s nationalgoverning body.She competed inGuam Jan. 8-12against membersof 14 otherInternationalSwimmingFederation groups.She won a bronzemedal in the 50-meter freestyleand a gold medalas part of theAmerican 400-meter medley relay

team, on which sheswam the breast-stroke.

Carlson enjoys traveling abroad withnational squads and to meets closer tohome with the Terrapins. At 6-1 andwith broad shoulders, long limbs and alengthy resume of winning times,Carlson will likely get the attention ofsome Pac 10 schools.

“I won’t swim my whole life,” shesays, “so I see swimming as a way toget to college and college as a way toget to a good job.”

Chenault, 14, has been selected byUSA Swimming for the National JuniorTeam that will compete at the MelZajac Invitational Meet in May inVancouver, B.C. An eighth-grader atWalnut Creek Intermediate School, sheis already 5’9½”.

“I’ve been swimming since I wasabout 4, but I began to feel competitive

around age 10,” Chenault says.Starting with short races, she’s now

moving up to longer distances. “Atfirst, it was hard, but as I buildendurance, I’m beginning to enjoy it,”she says of the 200-meter and 400-meter events.

In practice, she’s up to 1,000 yardsnow. “I can go for a half-hour withoutstopping.”

Carlson and Chenault hope to followa long line of Terrapins who have rid-den the wave into higher education.Former or current club members areattending Princeton, Brown, Auburn,Hawaii, Stanford and the University ofSouthern California, says Stafford.Terrapin alumni Sean Mahoney andLauren Rogers swim for UC Berkeley

and will compete in the 2009 WorldUniversity Games in Belgrade, Serbia,this summer.

With a long record of accomplish-ment, the Concord-based Terrapinorganization rates highly among the2,800 swim clubs in the nation, saysBill Krumm, sport development con-sultant for USA Swimming. Havingearned a gold ranking from the govern-ing body (on a scale of gold, silver andbronze), the club “is one of the top pro-grams in the country,” says Krumm.

Which must it worth the momentaryshock of jumping into a cold pool on achilly winter’s morning.

For more information, visitwww.terrapinswim.com.

localsports

The Clayton Valley AthleticBooster Club held its 15th annu-al crab feed and auction on Jan.

10 at Centre Concord. The event is thegroup’s largest and mostsuccessful fund-raiser,with proceeds goingdirectly to Clayton ValleyHigh athletics.

With a decimated dis-trict budget, this year’sevent was especiallyimportant. More than350 people enjoyed thecrab feed, cake auction,silent auction and danc-ing – which coincidedwith the school’s 50thanniversary.

CVHS AthleticDirector Pat Middendorfand her husband Jim

were seen posing with one of theirprizes, and Debbie Gonsalves handedout cupcakes that she had won.

Booster president Bob Banks saidhe’s expecting to raise about $20,000,although final figures won’t be knownfor a few weeks.

CV athletics bank on crabfeed as a major fund-raiser

By Mike DunnThe Concordian

Mike Dunn/The ConcordianBBOOBB AANNDD PPAAUULLIINNEE RRAALLSSTTOONN,, LLEEFFTT,, TTAALLKK WWIITTHH HHEERRCC PPAARRDDII about theupcoming alumni baseball game.

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February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 21

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Concord’s first library was in thecenter of Todos Santos Plaza. Itwas a quaint little building built

in 1917 with $2,500 from the AndrewCarnegie Foundation.

However, a mass meeting was calledto collect books and open a readingroom in October 1906. The Firemen’sHall served as the first gathering placefor 62 donated books. On Nov. 13,1906, a library board was elected andappointed Elizabeth Skinner as librari-an. Money to buy new books wasraised through scheduled communityentertainment.

The owner of the popular newNickelodeon donated half of eachMonday night’s profits to the library.By 1913, more room was needed, so thelibrary was moved to the RandallBuilding. Three years later, they had301 books and 239 borrowers so theymoved once again to the Foskett andElworthy Building.

Concord joined the county librarysystem right away. It took just fouryears for the community to realize thatthey needed a genuine library. Thelibrary in the plaza was maintained bya joint effort of city and county, withthe city paying monthly utilities billsand the county providing books andperiodicals, taking care of repairs andpaying the staff.

That was all well and good until thegrowth spurt Concord had in the1950s. The Concord Branch of theAmerican Association of UniversityWomen organized a Friends of theLibrary chapter, which formed a non-profit Concord Library League.

Through the league’s awareness pro-grams and the persuasion of headlibrarian Bethel R. Morris, the CityCouncil agreed in 1958 to lease-pur-chase the construction of the newlibrary building on the Parkside-Salviocorner.

When the building was complete,there was a week-long dedication cere-mony. Fifteen years later, the $275,000mortgage was burned in front of localcable television. The library still standstoday, with 80,000 books, 53,294 bor-rowers (now called customers) and acirculation of 302,000 – meaning mate-rials checked out.

Eight-year head librarian MaureenKilmurray reports there was renovationfour years ago. She hopes that when theNavy land is developed, the library willjoin with Cal State East Bay to create anew library for Concord.

The Historical Society is availablefor tours of our historic downtown,lectures on any subject and any infor-mation you may need. Call theresource center at 827-3380 for infor-mation.

The society’s next event is a LunchLecture at Legends, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.March 7. Sister Mary Grace will talkabout the transformation of the AdobeBuilding. This is a members-onlyevent, with 50 seats available.

The annual members dinner isMarch 19 at Oakhurst Country Club.Mark the calendar for 1-4 p.m. April 5for our community Ice Cream Social atthe Galindo House and a big fund-rais-ing event on Sept. 19, a wine tasting atthe Adobe Building.

Concord Historical Society

Concord continues itscommitment to the library

scenes society

from the

Photo courtesy Concord Historical SocietyTTHHEE CCAARRNNEEGGIIEE LLIIBBRRAARRYY IINN CCOONNCCOORRDD WWAASS BBUUIILLTT IINN 11991177

By Carol Longshore

Page 22 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

Pregnancy, childbirth and caringfor a newborn are joyous eventsfor most parents, but they can

wreak havoc at work. Employers haveto deal with the loss of sometimes keyemployees for long stretches of time,and employees worry about losingtheir jobs and benefits – or at leastabout surviving on a reduced incomefor awhile.

A number of different laws cancome into play. The CaliforniaPregnancy Disability Leave Law basi-cally provides anemployee with jobprotection for up tofour months ofunpaid leave forpregnancy, child-birth or a relatedmedical condition, ifher doctor certifiesthat she is disabled.This leave can betaken in one block oftime or intermittent-ly, but it only appliesto employers withfive or more employ-ees.

The pregnantemployee may beable to receive compensation duringthe leave by using sick leave or vaca-tion time, or by tapping into disabili-ty plans that the employer may pro-vide. Job protection is not available ifthe employee would have lost her jobanyway, such as through layoffs, or ifkeeping the job open would “substan-tially undermine the employer’s abili-ty to operate the business safely andefficiently.”

The California Family Rights Act(CFRA) provides up to 12 weeks of

unpaid leave following the birth of thechild. This can be taken in additionto, and after, the four months of preg-nancy disability leave. However,CFRA leave is only available if theemployee has worked for the employ-er for more than one year and hasworked at least 1,250 hours in theyear before the leave starts.

Federal and state law forbidsemployment discrimination on thebasis of pregnancy. These laws essen-tially provide that employers must

treat employees withpregnancy disabili-ties similar to howthey treat other dis-abled employees –except for workinjuries, which canbe treated different-ly. Furthermore,laws that requireemployers to pro-vide reasonableaccommodations fordisabled employeesmay require accom-modations for apregnant employee.

This article justskims the surface of

the laws involving pregnant employ-ees, or for that matter, employeeswhose spouses are pregnant.Employers should proceed with greatcaution when taking any employmentaction against a pregnant employee,especially if discharge of the employ-ee is contemplated.

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“Job protection is notavailable if the employ-ee would have lost herjob anyway, such asthrough layoffs, or ifkeeping the job openwould “substantiallyundermine theemployer’s ability tooperate the businesssafely and efficiently.”

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Even at age 84, Shirley Jowise isspunky and ready for adventure.When you meet her, you can’t

help but feel like you’ve run into an oldfriend.

Shirley has plenty to share, butwhen asked about her personal mile-stones, she easily comes up with onethat stands out in her mind. FollowingWWII, Shirley recalls the historic YaltaConference between Roosevelt,Churchill and Stalin – where the threeleaders tried to establish an agenda forgoverning post-war Germany and sur-rounding areas. Cities such as Salzburgand Vienna became four-power citiesthat had been divided by Stalin follow-ing the conference.

“It was a very controversial time andnobody here in the United States couldfigure out why Roosevelt let them dothat to Austria,” states Shirley.

She lived in Austria several yearslater with her husband Peter. Theyopted to stay after Peter completed hisFulbright scholarship. “We didn’t havemuch money, so we decided to buy twobicycles and bike from Salzburg toVienna,” says Shirley. “We came to thearea at the edge of Salzburg and I waswearing lederhosen, which was quiteuncommon for women to be wearing atthe time. The Russian soldiers, whowere only 16 and 17 years old, thought

that we were Austrian and let us go tothe checkpoint. But when they foundout we were American, the bar camedown across the road like that,” shesays, snapping her fingers.

Eventually, they were allowed to gothrough with their bikes but werewarned to stay on that road and notwander off. The road was much harderto ride than what they had seen bytrain in previous trips, and Shirleybecame exhausted.

“The sun was setting and I toldPeter, ‘You see that tree over there. Idon’t care if the Russians take meaway, but I am going to go there andrest,’ ” Shirley recalls. “Around 20 min-utes later, we were lying out on somehay and all of a sudden we heard some-one on a bullhorn and there was anAmerican jeep. He asked us if we werePeter and Shirley Jowise and when wesaid yes, he yelled for us to get overthere and get the bikes on the jeepright away.”

Shirley and Peter later found outthat the American soldiers ran checksto make sure the people who camethrough in Salzburg made it out to theother side in Vienna. “Stalin was verystubborn about those kinds of thingsand you didn’t know what could hap-pen. They told us to make sure westayed out of the Russian areas,”

Shirley continues. “It was something Iwill never forget.”

Shirley attributes her physicalstamina on those biking trips, alongwith other sports in her lifetime, withhelping her during a later bout withpolio. She was pregnant when shewas diagnosed and doctors told herthat they had never seen a pregnantwoman and her baby make it throughwith polio.

“Even though my voice has beenaffected by it and I have trouble withmy whole right side, I know I wasblessed with how well I did,” Shirley

says with a smile.She has four children and eight

grandchildren. She earned her bache-lor of arts degree after her childrenwere grown. She has been an artist inmany ways all her life, and her apart-ment is adorned with a variety ofpaintings and drawings that reflect herenergetic and colorful life.

“But my biggest achievement inlife,” says a beaming Shirley, “no con-test about it, are my children.”

Please contact Colleen Elwy at 672-9565 or at colleensbyline@aol.com.

February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 23

Colleen Elwy

historyivingl

Photo courtesy of Shirley Jowise

Shirley and Peter Jowise at Stephen’sDome in Vienna, Austria, after the war.

Police dispatchers serving bothClayton and Concord made a differ-ence in the lives of the Groebner

family of Clayton with a Christmas gift tohelp the family through some difficulttimes.

Katie Grace Groebner, 6, suffers frompulmonary hypertension and had recent-ly been rushed to the hospital due to aninfection in the line feeding medicationdirectly to her heart.

Tracey Downing, the police dispatcherwho spearheaded the effort to raisemoney for the Groebner family forChristmas explained their motivation. “Isaw the article on Claycord.com aboutKate Grace and I was amazed by thestory of Katie Grace, as well as what the

people of Clayton were doing.” Downingexplained that the police departmentusually works with the city to adopt afamily in need over the holidays, howeverwith the Groebner family they wanted todo more. “We all talked about it togeth-er,” Downing added, “and decided to dosomething for her.”

The “something” mentioned was anenvelope of gift cards to different stores,one for Katie Grace, one for her sisterSavanha, and one for the family as awhole.

“The girls got cards to the Limited Toostores,” Kathy Groebner, Katie Grace’smother, reported. “They love to playdress up. Tracey had contacted me whilewe were still in the hospital. That was sonice of them to do that. The girls werehappy.”

In addition to the gift cards, the girls

also received new bicycles from the firedepartment, and had a visit from SantaClaus while still in the hospital.

Kathy Groebner is grateful for all thesupport given to her family from thecommunity. “I’m glad that we were ableto do this,” Downing said of the dispatch-er’s gift. “Katie Grace was the perfect per-son for it.”

Katie Grace was released from thehospital shortly before Christmas,although she had to return thereChristmas Eve due to a blockage in thetemporary medication line. She returnsto Stanford for a new Broviac medicationline Jan. 15 and the family hopes that theongoing treatments will keep KatieGrace’s pulmonary pressure lowered.

Police dispatchers’ act of generosity helpsmake a happy Christmas for local family

André Gensburger/The ConcordianTTRRAACCEEYY DDOOWWNNIINNGG is one of the ConcordPolice dispatchers who spearheaded theeffort to give Katie Grace Groebner a spe-cial Christmas.

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

Shirley Jowise: bicycling through history

Page 24 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

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Everyone wants their dog to beconfident and well-adjusted.While there are always personal-

ity differences among dogs, just assome people are more shy or anxiousthan others, there is also a lot that youcan do to make your pup the best doghe or she can be.

If you breed dogs or raise an orphanor young pup, this training can begin atbirth. Studies have shown that puppieshandled from birth to five weeks of ageare more confident and social andlearn faster than those who are nothandled.

Since a newborn dog does not havea complete immune system, be sure towash your hands and keep the puppyin a clean environment. Then it’s assimple as petting them, picking themup and holding them and talking tothem.

The next phase is primary socializa-tion. This period is from 3-12 weeks ofage. The puppy is especially open to

learning around 6-8 weeks. After 12weeks, a puppy who has not been well-socialized tends to develop fears whenfaced with new individuals or situa-tions.

During the primary socializationphase, the puppy forms attachments toother dogs and to individuals of otherspecies (you!). This is a critical time inyour puppy’s development and helpsdetermine whether the dog will devel-op healthy social attachments and con-fidence in a group and while alone.This prevents problems such as aggres-sion and separation anxiety.

Of course, socialization does not endat 12 weeks, and puppies can regress ifthey do not receive continued socializa-tion through adulthood.

A variety of experiencesIn order for dogs to develop healthy

interactions with other dogs, theyshould stay with their mother and lit-termates until 6 to 8 weeks of age ifpossible. Once you take the new puppy

Ilana Halperin

Start early for well-socialized puppies

vetsetsp

and

home, it should continue to interactand play with other dogs regularly.

Most puppies, especially if broughtto a new home before they are 12weeks old, adapt easily to their new-found family members and to theirnew daily routines. With a little extraeffort, you can help them adapt tounusual or new situations as well.

Make a conscious effort to exposethe puppy to sights and sounds he orshe may not encounter in your home.For example, the puppy should havepositive interactions with all types ofpeople: young, old, with beards, in uni-forms or hats, high or low pitched voic-es, tall, short, people in wheelchairs orpeople on skateboards, men, women,cars, cats, city streets and country set-tings.

Starting around 3 months of age,introduce yourpuppy to many newsituations. You mayask neighbors andfriends to comeover and give yourpuppy a treat andpraise for greetingthem. Trainingyour puppy to sitpolitely in front ofvisitors, then hav-ing the guest offerthe dog a treat canhelp them learnhow to interactwith guests and notjump up on people.

You could takethe puppy for a carride and reward him or her for com-fortable behavior in the car, or carrythe pup through the park or to a cafe.If a new situation arises and you do nothave treats with you, a happy tone ofvoice and praise can be rewarding aswell.

If the puppy shows fear or backsaway, calmly give it a break instead ofpushing the dog toward the object orperson that scared them. Try again abit later, starting farther away, forexample, and giving treats as youapproach the fear-inducing situation.

Trying to comfort or reassure a dogwho is fearful can act to reward thefearful behavior, so it is best to tem-porarily remove the dog from the situa-tion.

Be wary of diseaseAll of this advice involves exposing

your new puppy to the world aroundhim. While this is important, it is justas important to remember that theyare susceptible to many diseases untilthey are fully vaccinated. While wewant to prevent your dog from devel-oping fears or anxiety, we also want tobe sure the dog is healthy.

A major concern is Parvovirus,which lives in the soil. So keeping yourdog off the ground and away fromplaces other dogs go is crucial. If yourdog is small enough, you may carry

them with you, oryou can have peo-ple and healthy,vaccinated dogscome to your housefor socialization.Another option isto take the puppyto puppy socializa-tion classes held ina room that can besanitized and withother puppies whoare screened forvaccination andhealth. Never bringyour puppy to classif it seems sick inany way, even ifyou think you are

overreacting.As long as the other puppies in class

are up to date on vaccines and theinstructor is aware of each dog’s situa-tion, this is a low-risk environment andcan be invaluable in helping yourpuppy mature into a happy, healthydog. Your veterinarian can recommendclasses in your area and answer otherquestions about raising a puppy.

Ilana Halperin is one of the veteri-narians at Disney Pet Hospital. Youcan reach her at 689-4244.

LLooww CCoosstt TTaaxx PPrreeppaarraattiioonn&& PPaayyrroollll SSeerrvviicceess

(877) 829-8099Elliott Rosenstine

3125 Clayton Rd. #202, ConcordOffice: (925) 798-7997, Cell (925) 383-4698

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February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 25

entertainmentarts &

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Celebrating our 31st year!

Gallery Concord launches “Winter Gifts”

Gallery Concord’s new show,“Winter Gifts,” opened Jan. 9 with areception for about 300 people.

“Every three months, we have awonderful reception of wine, music,hors d’oeuvres and beautiful art,” said

gallery co-director Carol Jurksin. Thistime, music was provided by theMistral Winds, a woodwind quartet.

Chloe Trujillo of Marin County is thefeatured artist, with two watercolors inthe show. When asked how long shehas been painting, she smiled and said:“As long as I could hold a brush.”

The reception featured a juried artshow open to California WatercolorAssociation members. The winnerswere Concord’s Pablo Villacana infirst place, Victoria Chiofalo in secondand Marilyn Miller in third.

-Mike Dunn

The gallery is at 1765 Galindo St.,Concord. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m.Thursday to Sunday, except holidays.For more information, call 691-6140or visit www.galleryconcord.org.

Photos by Mike DunnMarin County resident Chloe Trujillo isthe featured artist at Gallery Concord.

DDEENNIISSEE MMIILLLLEERR’’SS WWAATTEERRCCOOLLOORR is entitled“Santa Barbara Mission.”

Moving Artsbrings ‘Beauty’ to

the stageMoving Arts Dance Center and

Theater is throwing its doors openfor a salon show in early February.“Beauty from Darkness” features aworld premiere by artistic directorAnandha Ray, a duet with Bay Arealegend Michael Lowe and live musicfrom the band Judgement Day.

Presented in the intimate, 90-seattheater at the Concord studio, theproduction offers an unusual, up-close look at professional dance. The“buzz” generated from the interac-tion between the audience and liveperformers is sure to heat up your

wintry soul.Moving Arts, which is featured on

the cover of the new Contra CostaYellow Pages, will also be showcasedin the March issue of TheConcordian.

The salon concert will be 8 p.m.Feb. 7 and 2 p.m. Feb. 8 at 1281-CFranquette Ave., Concord. Ticketsare $10-$25. For more information,call 825-8399 or visit .

Diablo Light Opera Company ofWalnut Creek will launch its 50thanniversary season Feb. 13 with MelBrooks’ blockbuster musical “TheProducers.”

Directed by DLOC veteran RyanWeible, fresh off his Shellie win for“Thoroughly Modern Millie,” the playcenters on Max Bialystock, producerof the greatest flops on Broadway, andhis nervous accountant, Leo Bloom.When the duo discover that theycould actually make more money witha flop show that closes immediatelythan they could with a hit, they setout to produce the worst show, withthe most eccentric cast and creativeteam, in the history of theater.

Fueled by Brooks’ slapstick, themusical features such riotous num-bers as “I Wanna Be a Producer,”“Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop” and

“Springtime for Hitler.”Assisting Max (Marcus Klinger)

and Leo (Ryan Drummond) in theirendeavor is the sultry Swedish secre-tary, Ulla, played by Concord resident

Ginny Wehrmeister. She is a graduateof the University of the Arts inPhiladelphia and a veteran of manyarea theaters, including Diablo ActorsEnsemble and Town Hall Theatre.

Adapted from the 1968 film of thesame name, “The Producers” won arecord-breaking 12 Tony Awardswhen it opened on Broadway in 2001,starring Matthew Broderick andNathan Lane.

“It’s one of our most ambitious andexciting shows in our five decades ofpresenting musicals,” said Daren A.C.Carollo, DLOC artistic director andthe show’s producer. “We are one ofonly 10 theater companies in thecountry that have been granted therights to produce this show, and we’regiving it our all to make it an unfor-

Company promises creative take on ‘The Producers’

GGIINNNNYY WWEEHHRRMMEEIISSTTEERR AANNDD RRYYAANN DDRRUUMMMMOONNDD

See Producers, page 26

Page 26 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

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Weren’t Adam and Evewarned about the evils ofover-consumption? Didn’t

Noah bundle all manner of livestockinto an enormous ark in order tosave all earthly beings from self-inflicted destruction?Wasn’t Michael Mooreright about the autoindustry? And didn’tyour mother tell youthat if you eat toomuch too fast, you’llget the hiccups? Whenan entire populationbuys, sells, eats andthrows away too muchtoo fast, oh my, whatthen?

Now you can seethe answer in full, dig-ital splendor in the Pixar hit “Wall-E.” There’s our planet, witheringunder the endless dumping andspewing of waste; our marketplace,gasping and sputtering while stillfrantically pumping out newer,faster, slimmer electronics; our soci-ety, nearly bulimic in its gargantuanappetite for stuff, stuff, stuff; and ournew religion, the worship of allthings easy! And fun!

Even a brief glance at historyreveals we’ve tripped into this sametrap of capitalism over conservationfor centuries. In a peculiar way, that’swhy this movie appeals to adults.

Happily, “Wall-E” is more enter-taining than most childhood lecturesabout responsibility. We may be cha-grined to discover we’ve lost track oflife’s purpose, but Wall-E is a gentleteacher, captivating our hearts withevery tilt and turn of his adorablebinocular head and each earnesteffort to please and impress Eve, hisnewfound love.

Make no mistake, this is a lovestory. Wall-E is a jam-packed sar-dine can of digital love. What’s more,the film offers a Neapolitan servingof love: there’s bad love, masculinelove and good love.

First, the bad love - the love ofconsumables. This love leaves theearth devastated by garbage and thepopulation so hefty they are reducedto slouching like human slugs in

high-tech hover chairs. Slurpingtheir virtual meals and rendering allverbs entirely verbal, these dudes areheaded for nothing but the fat farm.

Second, there’s masculine love.Geeky guy gets gorgeous gal.Without talking. Enough said.

Finally, there’s good love. Here,the filmmakers spool out a lengthy

list: love of old movies,music, dancing, sci-fi,gadgets, simple toys,verbal puns, speedyvehicles, holdinghands, plant life, spacetravel, planets, thegood old days, friend-ships, humanendurance, innovationand persistence, hope-ful hearts, noble caus-es and love betweentwo hearts - in thiscase, a boxy bot and

his super clean, pod pal. And it’s thislove that transforms this kid filminto a mission statement for futuregenerations.

“Wall-E” offers an indisputablewarning of the harm we might doand a splendid reminder of the goodwe can do, delivering the messageswith enough oomph to send us outwith purpose reborn.

This time, we’ve really gotta getthis lesson. Just six months after thefilm’s release, with the economycrumbling faster than feta, a newspa-per headline reads, “Even in reces-sion, CES is high-tech heaven.” (Lostyour life savings? Buy a toy!). AndMattel introduces Mind Flex, agizmo making it possible to think aball into the air - you don’t even haveto lift your arms!

The remedy could be this simple:Remember Wall-E and his self-dep-recating humor, tenderness, honor,heroic self-sacrifice and a plant in aboot. Wall-E embodies the best in allof us. We just have to learn andremember.

Then if we can just get thatannoying jingle from “Hello Dolly!”out of our heads, we might haveheaven on earth.

Additional Lou Fancher reviews may be found at www.claytonbookshop.com.

‘Wall-E’ makes life lessons for adultsand kids easy to swallow

By Lou FancherSpecial to The Concordian

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gettable production and an upliftingexperience in these stressful times.”

Despite such prominent examplesin the Broadway, film and touringproductions, Weible promises aunique experience for those familiar

with the play. “Audiences can expecta fresh, inventive and creative pro-duction full of things never beforeseen in any other production.”

- Jeanna Ross

“The Producers” runs Feb. 13 t0March 15 at the Lesher Center forthe Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., WalnutCreek. For tickets, call 943-7469 orvisit www.lesherartscenter.org.

Producers,from page 25

More Arts & Entertainment on page 28

DVD REVIEW

February, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 27

outgetting

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT““WWiinntteerr GGiiffttss””

Featured artist Denise Miller offers glowing water-color paintings, and guest artist Chloe Trujillo has aprimal, spiritual elegance to her images. GalleryConcord, 1765 Galindo St, Concord. 691-6140 orwww.galleryconcord.org.

““EEvviill DDeeaadd:: TThhee MMuussiiccaall””TThhrroouugghh FFeebb.. 77.. This campy take on “slasher”

horror films features seating in “the Splatter Zone.”No one under 13 admitted without a parent.Willows Cabaret, 636 Ward St., Martinez. $20-$30. 798-1300 or www.willowstheatre.org.

““BBee MMyy BBaabbyy””FFeebb.. 22--MMaarrcchh 11.. The West Coast premiere of Ken

Ludwig’s comedy. Willows Theatre, 1975 DiamondBlvd., Concord. $30-40. 798-1300 or www.willow-stheatre.org.

““OOnnccee UUppoonn TThhiiss IIssllaanndd””77::1155 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 66,, 22::1155 aanndd 77::1155 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 77

aanndd 22::1155 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 88.. This Civic Arts Teen Theatremusical is set in the Caribbean Islands. LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.$15-$17. 943-SHOW.

CCrreeeekkssiiddee AArrttss CCeelleebbrraattiioonn66--88::3300 pp..mm.. FFrriiddaayy,, MMaarrcchh 66,, 1100 aa..mm..--66 pp..mm..

MMaarrcchh 77 aanndd 11--55 pp..mm.. MMaarrcchh 88.. This fund-raiser,with the theme "Cultural Legacies … Reflections ofOur Past," supports environmental education pro-grams in the library’s certified wildlife habitat.Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. www.creek-sideartists.org or www.claytonlibrary.org.

““BBeeaauuttyy ffrroomm DDaarrkknneessss””88 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 77 aanndd 22 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 88.. Moving Arts

Dance presents a Salon Concert with the bandJudgement Day. $10-$25. Moving Arts DanceTheater, 1281-C Franquette Ave., Concord. 825-8399 or www.movingartsdance.org.

““22 PPiiaannooss 44 HHaannddss””TThhrroouugghh FFeebb.. 2288.. This Center Rep play is about

two piano prodigies intent on concert stardom.Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., WalnutCreek. 943-SHOW or centerrep.org.

““TThhee PPrroodduucceerrss””FFeebb.. 1133--MMaarrcchh 1155.. Diablo Light Opera Company

launches its 50th anniversary season with MelBrooks’ blockbuster musical. Lesher Center for theArts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. 943-7469 orwww.lesherartscenter.org.

FUND-RAISERS/EVENTSMMeeaallss oonn WWhheeeellss CCrraabb FFeeeedd

66--1100 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 66.. Dinner, silent auction and raf-fle to benefit Meals on Wheels and Senior OutreachServices. $40 or $360 for table of 10. CentreConcord, 5298 Clayton Road. 937-8311.

CCHHSS CCrraabb FFeeeedd66 pp..mm..--mmiiddnniigghhtt FFeebb.. 77.. To benefit the Concord

High School Athletic Boosters. $50. CentreConcord, 5298 Clayton Road. www.concordhigh-school.net/chsathleticsCrabfeed.html.

AA TTaassttee ooff RRoommaannccee55::3300--88::3300 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 1122.. Wine tasting, choco-

lates, finger foods and dancing to benefit Ellen’sGuild of the Family Stress Center. $45, or $80 acouple. Shadelands Art Center, 111 Wiget Lane,Walnut Creek. Contact Marcia at 687-4719 orwww.familystresscenter.org.

SScchhoollaarrsshhiipp DDiinnnneerr66 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 2288.. Silent auction and dinner for the

Black Families Association of Contra Costa,

Marriott, 2395 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. $60.Contact Arnetta at 680-2849 or bfa@bfacc.org.

EElleeccttrroonniicc WWaassttee RReeccyycclliinngg99 aa..mm..--11 pp..mm.. FFeebb.. 77.. Get rid of old electronics,

TV, microwave and more at the free event. OverflowParking Lot 7, Diablo Valley College, 321 GolfClub Road, Pleasant Hill. 866-335-3373 orwww.noewaste.com.

CLUBSAAMMEERRIICCAANN LLEEGGIIOONN PPOOSSTT 117711 meets the third

Tuesday of the month. 5 p.m. social, 7 p.m. meet-ing. Concord Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 WillowPass Road.

AATTHHEEIISSTTSS AANNDD FFRREEEETTHHIINNKKEERRSS OOFF CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA

CCOOUUNNTTYY meets 2:30 p.m. the first Sunday of eachmonth, Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak GroveRoad, Walnut Creek. Contact Chuck at 672-7243.

BB22FF BBUUSSIINNEESSSS NNEETTWWOORRKKIINNGG GGRROOUUPP meets noon-1:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of themonth. Contact Lori at 998-8844 or lori@lori-hagge.com.

CCHHIILLDDRREENN''SS HHOOSSPPIITTAALL CCOONNCCOORRDD//CCLLAAYYTTOONN MMAAGGNNOOLLIIAA

BBRRAANNCCHH meets 7-9 p.m. the first Monday of themonth in Concord. Contact Lori at 998-8844 orlori@lorihagge.com.

CCIIRRCCLLEE OOFF FFRRIIEENNDDSS meets the second Monday ofthe month, Walnut Country Club, 4498 Lawson Ct.,Concord. This women’s group builds relationshipsand ties through educational presentations andsocial events. Contact Lori at 998-8844 orlori@lorihagge.com.

CCLLAAYYTTOONN HHIISSTTOORRIICCAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY holds its Camellia Tea1-4 p.m. Feb. 8. No admission charge, but dona-tions are appreciated. Clayton Museum, 6101 MainSt. 672-0240 or claytonhistory.org.

CCLLAAYYTTOONN VVAALLLLEEYY GGAARRDDEENN CCLLUUBB meets 7 p.m. thesecond Wednesdays of the month, DiamondTerrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Call Dorothy at672-2526.

CCLLAAYYTTOONN VVAALLLLEEYY WWOOMMAANN’’SS CCLLUUBB meets 9:30 a.m. forcoffee, 10 a.m. meetings, second and fourth Tuesdayof the month, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090Alberta Way, Concord. Call Joyce at 672-3850.

CCLLUUTTCCHH BBUUSSTTEERRSS SSQQUUAARREE DDAANNCCEE CCLLUUBB meets 7:30-10 p.m. Thursdays, Mt. Diablo Woman’s Club,1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord.

CCOONNCCOORRDD AARRTT AASSSSOOCCIIAATTIIOONN meets 12:50-3 p.m.the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings includean educational program by an invited artist withdemonstrations of various art forms. ConcordLibrary, 2900 Salvio St. 646-5455.

CCOONNCCOORRDD DDIIAABBLLOO RROOTTAARRYY meets 12:15 p.m.Wednesdays, Marie Calendars, 2090 DiamondBlvd., Concord. Email Kathy at greg_grassi@mech-bank.com.

CCOONNCCOORRDD GGAARRDDEENN CCLLUUBB meets 9:30 a.m. the thirdTuesday of every month. Bethel Baptist Church,3578 Clayton Road, Concord. Contact Betsy at687-2334.

CCOONNCCOORRDD HHIISSTTOORRIICCAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY: The HistoricalSociety Resource Center is open 1-4 p.m. Tuesdaysand by appointment. Walking tours are availablefor groups of five to 15 by appointment. 1601Sutter St., Suite E, F. 827-3380 orwww.conhistsoc.org.

CCOONNCCOORRDD LLIIOONNSS CCLLUUBB meets 7 p.m. the thirdTuesday of the month, La Tapatia MexicanRestaurant, 1802 Willow Pass Road, Concord.Contact Liz at 687-3594.

CCOONNCCOORRDD MMYYSSTTEERRYY BBOOOOKK CCLLUUBB meets 2:30 p.m.the second Sunday of the month, Concord Library,2900 Salvio St. 646-5455.

CCOONNCCOORRDD RROOTTAARRYY meets 12:15 p.m. Fridays,Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Contact Jerryat 675-1042.

CCOONNCCOORRDD SSEENNIIOORR CCLLUUBB holds ballroom dancing,1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays

and 8-11 p.m. the second Saturday of the month.Sponsored by the Concord Senior Club. 2727Parkside Circle, Concord. 798-4557.

CCOONNCCOORRDD SSTTOOMMPPEERRSS beginners classes start 7 p.m.Feb. 4. $36 for six weeks. Singles welcome; nodancing experience needed. Mt. Diablo Women'sClub, 1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord. Call Jackat 689-6253 or www.angelfire.com/id/stompers.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA BBLLUUEE SSTTAARR MMOOMMSS CCHHAAPPTTEERR 2200 mem-bers have sons and daughters in uniform. Visitccbluestarmoms.org. Social and support meeting,6:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month.Business meeting, 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday ofthe month, Community Room, Concord PoliceDepartment, 1350 Galindo St. Contact Becky at286-1728 or bwilliams@ccbluestarmoms.org.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA CCHHEESSSS CCLLUUBB meets 7-9:30 p.m.Thursdays, Starbuck’s, 1536 Kirker Pass Road,Clayton. The club is an affiliate of the United StatesChess Federation and players of all ages and skilllevels are welcome. Contact Mike at 639-1987 orwww.uschess.org.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA GGEENNEEAALLOOGGIICCAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY meets at 7p.m. the second Thursday of the month, Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3700 ConcordBlvd., Concord. rootsweb.com/.~cacccgs/.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA MMIINNEERRAALL && GGEEMM SSOOCCIIEETTYY meets thesecond Monday of the month at Centre Concord,5298 Clayton Road. 429-2748 or 779-0698 orhttp://home.comcast.net/~contracostamineralandgem/site/.

DDIIAABBLLOO NNUUMMIISSMMAATTIICC SSOOCCIIEETTYY,, a coin-collecting club,meets 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month,Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 Willow Pass Road,Concord. Contact Mike at 825-0649 or xsteam-erx@aol.com.

DDIIAABBLLOO VVAALLLLEEYY DDEEMMOOCCRRAATTIICC CCLLUUBB meets 7 p.m. thethird Wednesday of the month. They will meet Feb.18 at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak GroveRoad, Walnut Creek. 946-0469 orwww.dvdems.org.

DDIIAABBLLOO VVAALLLLEEYY MMAACCIINNTTOOSSHH UUSSEERRSS GGRROOUUPP meets6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Freequestion and answer help for Mac, followed by pro-grams, guest speakers and demonstrations. BancroftElementary School, 2700 Parish Dr., Walnut Creek.Call Tom at 689-1155 or www.dvmug.org.

DDIIAABBLLOO VVAALLLLEEYY WWIINNGGSS,, Chapter P of the Gold WingTouring Association, meets the second Tuesday ofthe month. 6 p.m. social hour, with dinner at 7 p.m.Sizzler, 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord. 686-3774 or www.GWTA-CA-DVW.org.

EEAASSTT BBAAYY CCAASSUUAALL HHIIKKIINNGG GGRROOUUPP is for all ages andabilities. Hikes range 3-9 miles or 2-4 hours. Nomembership fees. http://Hiking.Bondon.com.

EELLLLEENN’’SS GGUUIILLDD meets 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. thesecond Tuesday of the month in various locations.The non-profit supports the Family Stress Center,helping to make a difference in the lives of under-privileged children. Contact Karen at 820-2371 orkarend@pacbell.net or Jennifer at 827-0212,ext.107 or Jennifer.stasch@familystresscenter.org.www.familystresscenter.org.

KKIIWWAANNIISS CCLLUUBB OOFF GGRREEAATTEERR CCOONNCCOORRDD meets noonWednesdays, The Old Spaghetti Factory, 1955 Mt.Diablo St., Concord. Contact Sandra at372-5348.

KKNNIITTTTIINNGG GGRROOUUPP meets 2-4 p.m. the first Sundayof the month, Concord Library, 2900 Salvio St. Freeinstruction and practice yarn provided; bring yourown needles. 646-5455.

OODDDD FFEELLLLOOWWSS meet 3 p.m. the second and fourthTuesdays of the month, Pacheco Lodge 117, 4349Cowell Road, Concord. Call Herb at 682-7358.

RREEBBEEKKAAHH’’SS LLOODDGGEE meet 8 p.m. the first and thirdThursdays of the month, Mt. Diablo Lodge 228,4349 Cowell Road, Concord. Call Carmen at 672-5045.

RROOTTAARRYY CCLLUUBB OOFF CCLLAAYYTTOONN VVAALLLLEEYY//CCOONNCCOORRDD SSUUNNRRIISSEE

meets 7 a.m. Thursdays, Oakhurst Country Club,1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton Meeting includesbreakfast and features a speaker. Contact Chuck at689-7640 orwww. claytonvalleyrotary.org.

SSCCRRAABBBBLLEE CCLLUUBB meets 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. the sec-ond and fourth Saturdays of the month, Carl’s Jr.Restaurant, 1530 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. Playersof all ages and skill levels welcome. $3 fee perplayer. Call Mike at 639-1987 or www.scrabble-assoc.com.

SSOORROOPPTTIIMMIISSTT IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL DDIIAABBLLOO VVIISSTTAA meets thesecond, third and fourth Wednesdays of the monthat Sizzler, 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord. CallGloria at 890-8255.

TTOOAASSTTMMAASSTTEERRSS IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL has numerous meet-ing locations, dates and times in the Concord area.www.toastmasters.org. Toastmasters on Monday,Aegis of Concord, 4756 Clayton Road. ContactCarie at 682-7211. Toastmasters on Tuesday, 7:15p.m., John Muir Hospital Concord Campus, 2730Grant St., Classroom A. Contact Marion at 686-1818.

VVEETTEERRAANNSS OOFF FFOORREEIIGGNN WWAARRSS PPOOSSTT 11552255 meets 9a.m. the second Saturday of the month. VeteransMemorial Hall, 2990 Willow Pass Road, Concord.

WWIIDDOOWWSS//WWIIDDOOWWEERRSS CCLLUUBB meets for dinner, brunch,theater, etc. This is not a dating service nor is it agrieving class, just a way to meet other people.Contact Lori at 998-8844 or lori@lorihagge.com.

SUPPORT GROUPSAALL--AANNOONN FFAAMMIILLYY GGRROOUUPP meets 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Mondays, St. Martins of Tours Anglican Church andPreschool, 5294 Concord Blvd., Concord. (This iswhile construction is underway at St. Bonaventure’sChurch, the normal meeting place.) If you are con-cerned about someone else’s drinking, Al-AnonFamily Groups can help. For meetings in otherConcord locations, call 932-6770 or visitwww.ncwsa.org/district.

AALLCCOOHHOOLLIICCSS AANNOONNYYMMOOUUSS.. For local meetings, callthe Walnut Creek Service Center at 939-4155 orvisit www.aa.org.

CCAARRDDIIAACC CCAARREE SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP Mended Hearts visi-tors meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of themonth, John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek orConcord campus. Affiliated with the American HeartAssociation, the group provides support to patientsand family members dealing with heart disease.947-5206.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA FFAAMMIILLYY SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP for patientsdealing with leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lym-phoma and multiple myeloma meets 7-8:30 p.m.the first Thursday of every month. Sponsored by theLeukemia Society. Call Sarah at 947-4466, ext.32797.

HHIIVV//AAIIDDSS SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP meets 7-9 p.m. the sec-ond and fourth Thursdays of the month, John MuirMedical Center, Concord campus. 674-2190.

HHOOSSPPIICCEE OOFF TTHHEE EEAASSTT BBAAYY,, offers support groupsand workshops for adults, children and teens expe-riencing grief. Widow and Widowers Support, 6-8p.m. Mondays, Feb. 9-March 30. 3470 BuskirkAve., Pleasant Hill. 887-5678 or www.hospiceeast-bay.org.

RRAAIINNBBOOWW CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY CCEENNTTEERR (RCC) fosters a senseof community among gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender, intersex and questioning (GLBTIQ) personsand enhances their lives by providing social oppor-tunities, health and wellness services, political andeducational programs and is guided by a commit-ment to acceptance and equality. All meetings heldat the RCC Office, 3024 Willow Pass Road, Suite200, Concord.

Project CONNECT: Free HIV testing (results in lessthan 30 minutes)and counseling, 6-8 p.m. the firstand third Fridays of the month.

Youth Peer Support and Social Group: For LGBTyouth ages 13-20. 3-8 p.m. Saturdays.

Queer Talk: LGBT Youth After-School Program, 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Men’s HIV Support Group: 6:30-8 p.m.Mondays.

Women’s Discussion Group: For Lesbians, 6:30-8p.m. Wednesdays.

Transgender Support Group: 7-9 p.m. the firstThursday of the month.

Men’s Discussion Group: For gay and bisexualmen, 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of themonth.

SSTTRROOKKEE SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP OOFF CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA CCOOUUNNTTYY,meets 7-9 p.m. Feb. 9, Ball Auditorium, John MuirMedical Center, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, WalnutCreek. Kyle Sullivan will discuss WalkAide, an adap-tive electrical stimulation device for drop foot.Attendees will then break up into three copinggroups. Contact Ann Dzuna at 376-6218.

VOLUNTEERSAAmmeerriiccaann RReedd CCrroossss

BBlloooodd DDrriivvee:: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 2, IndianValley Elementary, 551 Marshall Dr., Walnut Creek.800-GIVE-LIFE or beadonor.com. Code INDIAN) toschedule an appointment.

BBlloooodd DDrriivvee:: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb 7, Oakhurst

See Getting Out, page 28

Page 28 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com February, 2009

Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton.800-GIVE-LIFE or beadonor.com. CodeClayton925 to schedule an appointment.

BBlloooodd DDrriivvee:: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 10, 2625Shadelands Dr., Walnut Creek. 800-GIVE-LIFE orbeadonor.com. Code AETNA84 to schedule anappointment.

BBlloooodd DDrriivvee:: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 26, John Muir,Concord One Auditorium, 2540 East St.,Concord. 800-GIVE-LIFE or www.beadonor.comCode DIABLO to schedule an appointment.

VVoolluunntteeeerr OOrriieennttaattiioonn:: 10 a.m. Feb. 10 or 3p.m. Feb. 13, 140 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.Contact Mandy at 510-594-5211 orlewism@usa.redcross.org.

SCHOOL/YOUTHEEAASSTT BBAAYY PPAANNTTHHEERRSS BBAASSKKEETTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB AAU

Basketball tryouts for fourth-graders through highschool, Feb. 21-22 and March 8. Contact Stevenat ebpdirector@gmail.com or www.eastbaypan-

thers.org.

AAyyeerrss EElleemmeennttaarryy PPTTAA 8th Annual, DinnerDance and Auction on Friday, Mar. 6, 6:30 pm to11pm at Centre Concord. Dinner by ElegantOccasions. Auction items from SF hotels, localrestaurants, museums, & more. Tickets $39 eachor 2 for $75; advance purchase only. ContactKristi at 676-5215 or AyersPTA@astound.net.

GOVERNMENTCCIITTYY CCOOUUNNCCIILL meets 6:30 p.m. the first, second

and fourth Mondays of the month in the CityCouncil Chambers, 1950 Parkside Dr.. The meet-ings are televised live on Concord cable TV chan-nels 28 (Comcast) and 29 (Astound) and on thecity’s Website. A calendar of all city meetings witha link to meeting agendas is available at www.city-ofconcord.org. Contact City Clerk Mary RaeLehman at 671-3495.

CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN OONN AAGGIINNGG meets 1:30 p.m. the thirdWednesday of the month, Concord Senior Center,2727 Parkside Circle. The commission works toidentify, improve and develop services and oppor-tunities for senior citizens in Concord. 671-3419.

CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY AADDVVIISSOORRYY CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE meets 6:30p.m. the third Tuesday of the month, ConcordSenior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle. The

Community Advisory Committee for the ConcordCommunity Reuse Project provides input on plan-ning for the civilian reuse of the Concord NavalWeapon Station and continued community out-reach efforts. 671-3019.

CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY SSEERRVVIICCEESS CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN meets 6:30 p.m.the third Wednesday of the month, City Manager’sConference Room, Wing A, 1950 Parkside Dr. Thecommission identifies housing, neighborhood andsocial services needs within the community. 671-3283.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA CCOOUUNNTTYY BBOOAARRDD OOFF SSUUPPEERRVVIISSOORRSS

meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, County AdministrationBuilding, 651 Pine St., Room 107, Martinez.www.co.contra-costa.ca.us or 335-1900.

DDEESSIIGGNN RREEVVIIEEWW BBOOAARRDD meets 5:30 p.m. the sec-ond and fourth Thursdays of the month, CenterConference Room, Wing D, 1950 Parkside Dr. Theboard reviews the design for each improvement forwhich a building permit, certificate or otherapproval is required. The board also reviews anymatter referred to the board by the PlanningCommission, zoning administrator or planningmanager, 671-3152.

HHUUMMAANN RREELLAATTIIOONNSS CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN meets the secondTuesday of the month. Most meetings are at 7

p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1950 ParksideDr. The commission fosters positive human rela-tions through education, cultural exchange andcommunity outreach. 671-3327.

PPAARRKKSS,, RREECCRREEAATTIIOONN AANNDD OOPPEENN SSPPAACCEE CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN

meets the second Wednesday of the month. Mostmeetings are at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers,1950 Parkside Dr. 671-3440.

PPLLAANNNNIINNGG CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN meets the first and thirdWednesdays of the month. Most meetings are heldat 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1950Parkside Dr. The commission develops and main-tains the General Plan, develops specific plans asnecessary, makes recommendations to the CityCouncil regarding proposed General Plan amend-ments, and reviews planned district developments,tentative subdivision maps and use permit applica-tions. 671-3152.

MMAAYYOORR’’SS OOPPEENN OOFFFFIICCEE:: Concord Mayor Bill Shinnholds regular open office hours in his office at theConcord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. Themayor looks forward to talking to residents aboutany issues they wish to address. To make a 20-minute appointment, call Mary at 671-3158 dur-ing business hours.

Center Rep of Walnut Creek con-tinues its 2008-’09 season withthe comedy “2 Pianos 4

Hands.” The play, which centersaround two piano prodigies intent onconcert stardom, is directed byWalnut Creek newcomer Bruce K.Sevy.

While this loca-tion is foreign toSevy, the play iscertainly not. Sevyis the associateartistic director anddirector of new playdevelopment for theDenver CenterTheatre Company,and his involve-ment with “2Pianos 4 Hands”has led to a 20-the-ater tour.

Casting was cru-cial to the piece, asthe actors had to beversatile enough tohandle not only thecomedy and frantic character-switch-ing but also the music. None of theperformance is pre-recorded; theactors play their own pianos live.

Sevy is pleased with the casting ofCarl Danielsen and Mark Anders.“Carl’s parents are from Walnut Creek,so this is especially fun for him. Markand Carl complement each other sowell in this play – it was a huge strokeof good fortune that I was able to get

them and that they have continued towork together so well in so many dif-ferent venues over the years.”

While the production is not amusical, live music plays a heavy rolein the action. “I also think somepoignant things about parent/child

and teacher/stu-dent relationshipsare examined with-in the journey ofthe play. I won-dered when I firstdirected it if onlypeople who hadexperience playingthe piano or playinga musical instru-ment would under-stand the play,”Sevy says.“Fortunately, allaudiences havebeen able to followand identify withthe amount of train-ing, practice, frus-trations and joy that

are depicted in this play. It couldapply to sports or any other endeavorthat requires the amount of focus anddiscipline described in the play.”

- Jeanna Ross

“2 Pianos 4 Hands” runs throughFeb. 28 at the Lesher Center for theArts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.For tickets, call 943-SHOW or visitcenterrep.org.

Sitting at the piano, learning about life

Photo courtesy of the Center RepMMAARRKK AANNDDEERRSS AANNDD CCAARRLL JJ.. DDAANNIIEELLSSEENN

demonstrate what four hands can do

Getting Out,from page 27

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‘Baby’ looks at life from many angles

This month, theWillowsTheatre in

Concord presents theWest Coast premiereof the comedy “BeMy Baby” by KenLudwig.

Set in SanFrancisco, the plotcenters on Maud, anuptight Englishmatron, and John, abrusque middle-agedScotsman. Whentheir mutual relativesdecide to adopt ababy, Maud and Johnare forced to fly toCalifornia to escortthe infant back to Scotland. Hijinksensue when they become stranded inthe city, where they learn some comi-cal lessons about life and love.

According to Ludwig, the play beganas a tribute to his children. “I was try-ing to convey how much they meant tome and how having a child in your lifeis the greatest gift in the world,” hesays. “It changes your life – turns itupside down and makes you look at allyour relationships differently. It makesyou look at life differently.”

However, the play took an unexpect-ed turn when the characters of Maudand John began to closely resembleLudwig’s parents, creating a study ofmulti-generational affections in whichthe playwright was forced to examinehis role as both child and parent.

The play premiered at Houston’sAlley Theatre in 2005, starring HalHolbrook and Dixie Carter. The pieceis complicated to produce, due to asurprisingly large number of sets.

“It moves from a farm in Scotlandto an airplane to a hotel in SanFrancisco to a cruise ship, and so on,”says Ludwig. “My plays generallyunfold in one location – a green roomor a hotel room – so writing in thisform was a new challenge, akin towriting a screenplay.”

- Jeanna Ross

“Be My Baby” runs Feb. 2 toMarch 1 at the Willows Theatre, 1975Diamond Blvd., Concord. For tickets,call 798-1300 or visit www.willow-stheatre.org.

Photo courtesy of the Willows TheatrePPAATTRRIICCIIAA SSIILLVVEERR AASS MMAAUUDDEE,, Melissa Quine as Gloria, NikolaiLokteff as Minister, Brady Wollery as Christy, Chris Ayles asJohn.