APR 8 Clayton Pioneer 2016

Lester “Skip” Ipsen, com-munity leader and founder ofSkipolini’s Pizza died at homeon March 18 after a long ill-

ness. Last Friday, nearly athousand friends and familypacked St. Bonaventure’sCatholic Church to sharemore laughs than tears inremembering a man who had-n’t yet learned to make goodpizza when he opened the firstSkipolini’s Pizza Garden in1974. In fact, said Ed Moresi,owner of Ed’s Mudville Grilland Moresi’s Chophouse,there was no pizza at all onopening day because thedough machine had not yetbeen delivered.

Moresi was Skipolini’s firstemployee, bussing tablesalongside Skip’s sons Kent andEric.

“We opened at 4 p.m. withsandwiches, salad, sangria, beerand wine, but no pizza,” More-si said. “About 6 o’clock, a fewfriends walked through thedoor carrying boxes of StrawHat Pizza.”

Skipolini’s has always beena family operation, says KentIpsen.

“Our prep kitchen was ourbackyard pool house, not ven-tilated and completely illegal.My brother and I were in

charge of making dough.”One very busy night, Skip

phoned the boys for moredough. It was a good night fortelevision and the task gotsqueezed in between commer-cials with several misstepsalong the way.

“When Dad got home topick up the dough, it was

soup,” Kent said. “He was furi-ous, ranting to my mother whosimply said ‘You’ve got a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old thatyou aren’t paying…and theseare your prep cooks?’”

It got better from there.

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What’s InsideAround Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Community Calendar . . . . .15Directory of Advertisers . . . .7Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10School News . . . . . . . . . . .16

Clayton woman honored for prison work

Photo courtesy of assemblywoman Susan Bonilla

CLAYTON RESIDENT COLLETTE CARROLL (LEFT) ON THE ARM OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN SUSAN BONILLA (d-Concord) was named the as-sembly district 14 woman of the Year for her volunteer work with the California Reentry Institute. Carroll works with in-mates nearing parole, preparing them for the transition to life on the outside.

Summertime events arebeing planned and scheduled.This year’s Saturday Concerts inThe Grove. starts the season onMay 7 and boasts the best lineupof bands ever. Our Classic CarShows and mid-week concertsare now on Wednesday nightswith seven car shows and fourconcerts scheduled. CBCA’spopular Art and Wine festival isscheduled for April 30-May 1.Details of these events and oth-ers can be found atci.clayton.ca.us.

The City Council approvedconcept designs to enhance theappearance of seven subdivisionentry medians. Our mainte-nance department now beginsthe arduous task of preparingdetailed competitive-bid pack-ages to include options forpower and light features. Unlessthe drought’s water restrictionsare lifted, expect hardscape ren-ovations only at this point withinthe limited approved budget of$300,000. Future funds underthis pay-as-you-go improvement

Summer concertsback, median workgood to go

HowaRd GelleR

MAYOR’S CORNER

Landscape District renewal on June ballotClayton’s Landscape Main-

tenance District, which fundsmaintenance and improve-ments to the city’s roadwaylandscaping, trails and openspaces, will sunset in 2017.

Not willing to wait until thedistrict has expired and riskgetting caught with no way topay for landscaping, the CityCouncil will bring the issue tothe voters this June as ballotMeasure H. The measureneeds a two-thirds majority topass.

“When we set up the dis-trict, we designed it so wecould ‘pause’ and reevaluate in10 years,” says Planning Com-missioner Dan Richardson,who was instrumental in shap-ing the district in 2007.

“It’s been good,” he says.“It works. We survived the

recession, and we’re survivingthe drought.”

In fact, Richardson says it’sbeen “better than good.”“We’ve not only stayed onbudget, but we’ve been able toinvest almost $1 million in cap-ital improvements over the 10years.”

When the current Land-scape Maintenance Districtwas created in 2007, voterspassed it with an overwhelm-ing 83 percent majority – fargreater than the required two-thirds approval. MayorHoward Geller fully expectsthe renewal to once again pass

muster with Clayton residents.“The aesthetics and

attractiveness of our pictur-esque city is important to thequality of our lives,” saysGeller. “Walking maintainedtrails and roadways provides

TAMARA STEINERClayton Pioneer

See Landscape, page 8

Collette Carroll doesn’t seeherself as “anything special.”But tell that to the 43 recentgraduates of the CaliforniaReentry Institute – a nonprofitthat prepares and supportsmen through the transitionfrom prison – and you can seethat she is changing lives forthe better.

Because of Carroll’s workwith CRI, AssemblywomanSusan Bonilla (D-Concord)honored Carroll as the 2016Assembly District 14’s Womanof the Year, an announcementmade at San Quentin duringthe CRI graduation in Febru-ary.

“Of course I was sur-prised,” Carroll said. “But thebest thing was having itannounced there. Everyonewent nuts.”

Through her EmpoweredReentry Program based out of

PEGGY SPEARClayton Pioneer

THE GLAZED, CERAMIC FOUNTAIN in Robb and KarenHallybone’s backyard garden becomes an dra-matic feature surrounded by cheerful gerberadaisies. The yew backdrop provides privacy andtexture as the carefully placed whimsical elementspersonalize this garden vignette.

For more on the Clayton gardens tour,turn to page 3

See Prison, page 18

See Ipsen, page 7

See Mayor, page 9

Much-needed rains guar-antee an abundance of weedsto pull at this year’s ClaytonCleans Up on April 23.

Rain or shine, volunteerscan check in at 9 a.m. at Clay-ton City Hall to claim abright orange shirt andmatching garbage bag to fillwith trash and weeds fromClayton’s parks and trails.

While sprucing up Clay-ton for spring, the Clean Up

Rain or shine,Clayton CleansUp on April 23

Community and family mourn founderof Skipolini’s and father of the CBCA

See Cleanup, page 3

TAMARA STEINERClayton Pioneer

Steve Pierce

A PROUD AND JOYFUL “SKIP” IPSEN TOOK THE MIC at the grandopening of the Ipsen Family Bocce Park in 2014. The park,a philanthropic effort by Ipsen and son Kent Ipsen, standsin testament to a life devoted to family, work and his com-munity. Ipsen died on March 18.

Volunteers will take homea T-shirt designed by localartist, Sharon Petersen.

Look InsideLook Inside

Around Town Page 2 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com April 8, 2016

3067 Windmill Canyon Dr . . $760,000 . . . . .2315 . . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .3/16/165839 Pine Hollow Rd . . . . . . $663,000 . . . . .1572 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . .3/15/16420 Wawona Ln . . . . . . . . . . $845,000 . . . . .2966 . . . . . .4/3 . . . . . . . .3/9/16

1171 Shell Lane . . . . . . . . . . $510,000 . . . . .1355 . . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .3/25/168 Promontory Pl . . . . . . . . . . $1,160,000 . . .3469 . . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .3/23/161546 O’Hara Ct . . . . . . . . . . $543,000 . . . . .1572 . . . . . .3/3 . . . . . . .3/22/16505 Raven Place . . . . . . . . . $747,365 . . . . .2054 . . . . . .3/2 . . . . . . .3/17/16

George Vujnovich, Broker, Clayton Resident

(925) 672-4433 cell: (925) [email protected]

Jennifer StojanovichBroker-Associate, Lifelong Clayton/Concord Resident

(925) 567-6170, [email protected]

Don HowardRealtor-Associate, Clayton Resident


Diane and Bill HayesRealtor-Associate, Clayton Residents,


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The department recentlyreceived a $22,000 grant fromTesoro Refinery for an all elec-tric motorcycle to replace theaging Kawasaki headed forretirement.

“It’s so quiet, all I can hearis the gravel crunching underthe wheels,” said Sgt. JasonShaw, moving the Zero DSPinto place for a photo.

Without a gas engine or atransmission, the Zero getsinstant torque, making speedstops safer. “The less time ittakes to chase down a speeder,the safer it is for both of us,”Shaw explained.

Silence is also golden dur-ing events like Oktoberfest andArt and Wine when ridingthrough the crowds. And trailpatrol becomes a communewith nature.

The bike can reach speedsup to 98 mph and can go about100 miles on a single charge. It

costs about $1.50 to charge thebattery from completely emptyto full.

The motorcycle is manu-factured by Zero, an Americancompany based in Concord.

Clayton PD has a new ride. And, you won’t hear it coming.

SGT. JASON SHAW spends his spare time searching the Internetfor grant possibilities. His efforts paid off with a $22,700 grantfrom Tesoro for this Zero elecytric motorcycle.

Jared Xia, Clayton resident and memberof Boy Scout Troop 492, arranged springconcerts for the residents at Diamond Ter-race in Clayton and Montecito in Concordon March 5 for his Eagle Scout project.Musicians included Jared’s friends atCVCHS, fellow scouts and family. The themeof the concerts was “Love Is Spoken Here,”featuring pieces by classical and contempo-rary composers on violins, piano and saxo-phones. Poems and messages of love wereshared between pieces to enhance the themeof the concerts.

After Jared finishes documenting theproject, a board of review will determine hisEagle status.

Eagle Scout arranges ‘Love’ notes for seniors

JARED XIA performed a violin solo at springconcerts he arranged at diamond Terrace andMontecito for his eagle Scout project in March.

Last month, the ClaytonHistorical Society bid farewellto longtime member and vol-unteer curator, Mary Spryer.Spryer is retiring and will movewith her husband, Richard, toWisconsin where her parentslive. She was honored at a partyat the home of board member,Joann Caspar.

Spryer joined the museumin 1996 when she volunteeredto edit the newsletter. She soonput her degree in history andtheater to work assisting thencurator, Connie Rehr with spe-cial exhibits. In 2004, she wasappointed curator.

“When I was first appoint-ed, I told the board that I reallydidn’t want to run the elemen-tary school field trips,” Spryer

admits. But she began to feelguilty and relented. “The fieldtrips became a favorite part ofmy job.”

Spryer says it was her loveof history and being a “peopleperson” that made her good ather work. She enjoyed the chal-lenge of gathering, labeling,sorting and arranging that wentinto mounting a new exhibit.

I loved everything aboutmounting exhibits, the reallychallenging part was getting itall put up between the time themuseum closed on Wednesdayand opened again on Sunday.“I would have accrued a lot ofovertime while working onspecial exhibits — had I beenpaid,” she says, smiling.

Of the 31 special exhibits

mounted during her time withthe museum, she says herfavorites are the two WWIIexhibits – the first one in 2005and the one last year. “But, Ireally loved ‘A Vintage Christ-mas’ that we did last year,” shestops for a breath and contin-ues. “ And ‘Yum Yum BubbleGum’ and ‘Shakers and Bakers’and ‘The Bees Knees’ from the1920s and ‘Well Begun is HalfDone,’ which featured needle-work from the Depression,and…” she trails off. “I haveso many favorites. It’s kind oflike asking me which of mychildren my favorite is.”

Renee Wing, the volunteerassistant curator, will take overSpryer’s duties as curator.

Mary Spryer retires after 20 yearsof volunteer service to museum

RENEE WING, JULIE PIERCE, MARY SPRYER AND CINDY HAYDON celebrate Spryer’s retirement onMarch 20.

April 8, 2016 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 3

Saturdays 6 to 8:30 p.m.

At the Gazebo in The GroveSet up chairs and blankets on the lawn after 4 p.m.

Concerts

in The Grovein The Grove

May 7 Retromaniax 8 person party band play hits from the 70s, 80s, R & B & Top 40.May 21 Larry Lynch and the Mob Features 7 decades of exciting, energetic dance tunes.

June 4 Garratt Wilkin & The Parrotheads A celebration of Jimmy Buffett & other summertime hitsJune 18 David Martin House Party Variety show with all-star musicians and performers July 2 Pride & Joy A real “Motown” performance features 5 musicians and 4 vocalists. July 16 The Houserockers 10-piece dance band plays Rock, Swing, Blues, 60s Soul & R & B. July 30 Cut Loose Musicians, vocals and a tight rhythm section play Rock, Blues & Soul. Aug. 13 Diamond Dave Clayton favorite returns playing the greatest hits of our time.Aug. 27 Hot Rods Band 50s/60s tribute to cruisin' cars, sock- hops, beach parties and Rock-n-Roll.Sept. 10 East Bay Mudd Back by popular demand, a 10-piece Soul, Funk & R & B dance band

For information go to www.cityofclayton.org

(Bands to be announced)June 8 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car Show Only) June 22 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car Show), 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.July 6 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car Show), 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. July 20 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car Show), 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Aug. 3 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car Show), 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Aug.17 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car show Only) Aug. 31 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Car Show Only)

2016 Wednesday Night Classic Carand Concert in the Grove Schedule

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Put a spring in your step on the Clayton garden tour

When we think of spring inClayton, our minds are filledwith visions of green hills,orange poppies, buzzing beesand the Clayton HistoricalSociety’s annual Gardens Tour.

This year’s tour will be 10a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 23,and Sunday, April 24. Fivehomeowners have graciouslyopened their garden gates fortour-goers to peruse their land-scapes, walk their paths andgaze at their gardens.

The sound of cascadingwater will greet you at the land-scape of Mary Alice Kirk. Thisfeature can be enjoyed fromvarious sitting areas. Kirk hasinstalled perennial collectionsin abundance. She believes whyplant two when you can planteight. The results are fabulousdisplays of texture and color.

Robb and Karen Sorn have

a lawn-free front yard,anchored by a large, stunningred foliage Japanese maple tree,flowering ornamental shrubsand decorative stone. Theoverall feeling of this land-scape is peaceful and serene.The backyard hosts windingwalkways adorned with whim-sical garden elements and lotsof cheerful color.

Succulents are all the ragethe past couple of years, andthe Sorns have embraced theirpassion – creating unique ven-ues to display their substantialcollections. Using companiongrasses and perennials helpsmake this landscape successful.

World traveler DennisKaump has created a tranquil,low-maintenance garden burst-ing with colorful shrubs andhardy flowers. The showpieceof this landscape is the origi-nally designed barbecue islandwith a concrete counterembedded with coins from

many nations. This piece isquite a sight to see.

The traditional garden andlandscape of Frank and MarciaThome is cool and inviting.This sprawling garden hasmature trees, profuse color andattractive elements. Marcia’sattention to detail can beadmired at every turn.

The Clayton HistoricalSociety’s Gardens Tour is awonderful opportunity forthose seeking creative inspira-tions, design concepts andplanting ideas to use in theirown landscape or gardens.

Tickets are $30 in advance and$35 at the door. You can purchasepre-sale tickets with cash or check atthe Clayton Historical Museum,6101 Main St., and R&M Nurs-ery, 6780 Marsh Creek Road, dur-ing business hours. Go online towww.claytonhistory.org and pay bycredit card using your PayPalaccount.

THIS YEAR’S GARDENS TOUR HOMES SHOW HOW NATIVES, succulents and drought-tolerant land-scaping can generate drama, color and excitement.

NICOLE HACKETT

Special to the Pioneer

also celebrates Earth Day.Learn what local clubs andorganizations have to shareabout appreciating this cor-ner of the planet, like grow-ing drought-tolerant plants,conserving water and explor-ing Mt. Diablo.

Bring the kids, the churchgroup, scout troops and theneighbors. Celebrate afterwith barbecued hamburgersand hot dogs.

This year’s T-shirt designcomes from local artistSharon Petersen of theCreekside Artists Guild.Petersen is a retired landscapedesigner and Clayton resi-dent.

“Giving back and caringfor the environment havealways been important to me,and my design represents thecommunity coming togetherto work as one for a commoncause,” Petersen says.

The event runs 9 a.m.-noon. It is sponsored by theClayton Pioneer and the cityof Clayton, with donationsfrom Republic Services, theClayton Business and Com-munity Association, TravisCredit Union, Peet’s Coffee,Lynne French and Associatesand Innovative Impressions.

Download a registration form atcityofclayton.org and bring it filledout to the event. For more informa-tion, call the Pioneer at 672-0500.

Cleanup,from page 1

AROUND TOWN...Please send us news ofyour anniversaries,weddings, births and otherspecial events. Attach ahigh resolution photo with asummary of the event andnames of the people in thephotos and send [email protected]

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Page 4 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com April 8, 2016

Luxury. Local. Innovative.Hollie GuilloryBroker Associate License #01326295

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6th Annual Shred Extravaganza!Saturday, April 30 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

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Club News

Find Mother’s day gifts at ClaytonValley Garden Club’s plant sale

Five members of Clay-cord 4-H earned a gold medalat the North Central Section-al 4-H Presentation Day onMarch 26 at the University ofCalifornia, Davis, qualifyingthem to compete at StatePresentation Day in May.This event provided anopportunity for youths from16 counties to practiceresearch and public speakingskills by constructing a pres-entation and demonstrating itin front of judges and anaudience.

Only those members whowon gold at their countycompetitions were able toperform in numerous cate-gories including illustratedtalks, demonstrations and

interpretive readings. Eachpresenter was evaluated by

three judges according to therubric standards for the cate-

gory and questioned on theirknowledge of the topic.

Join the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association fortheir annual springtime trail ride around Mount Diablo onMay 6 and 7. This competition ride is timed for riders toleave from and return to CMDTRA grounds within a spec-ified time period.

Camp with your horse and ride on a beautiful mountain,make new friends and eat great food.

Riders may receive veterinarian and horsemanshipadvice on improving horsemanship skills.

Registration begins at 1 p.m. on May 6. Check in withthe veterinarian begins at 3 p.m. Riders depart camp begin-ning at 7 a.m. on May 7. For more information, contactEllen Pofcher: 672-3733 or email [email protected].

CMDTRA, 1600 Trail Ride Road, Clayton meets at 6:30 p.m.on the first Saturday of the month for a potluck that is open to mem-bers and guests. For more information, go to cmdtra.org.

Clayton Valley Garden Clubprepares all year for its annualPlant Sale by propagating andgrowing plants. This year’s salewill be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Satur-day, May 7, at Endeavor Hall,6008 Center St., in downtownClayton.

It will feature a variety ofplants, including native, succu-lents and color bowls for

Mother’s Day gifts, as well asgently used items. Proceedsfund community projectsand monthly meeting educa-tional speakers on various proj-ects related to gardening andconservation.

For more information,visit www.ClaytonValleyGarden-Club.org.

Eight members of theClayton Valley Woman’s Clubparticipated in “Read AcrossAmerica” at Silverwood Ele-mentary School on March 2.CVWC members broughtbooks to read to first, secondand third graders at Silver-wood. Some of the books weredonated to the classrooms.

The National EducationAssociation’s Read AcrossAmerica Day takes place eachyear on Dr. Seuss’s birthday.Across the country, thousandsof schools, libraries and com-munity centers celebrate read-ing with young people.

The Clayton Valley Woman’sClub is a non-profit organization ofcommunity-minded women who vol-unteer and do fundraisers to donate

to the community. The club meets at10 a.m. on the second Tuesday ofthe month, except July and August,at Saint John’s Episcopal Church,5555 Clayton Road, Clayton.Guests are welcome to attend meet-ings and social events. For moreinformation, call Sheila at (925)672-7947 or go to claytonvalley-womansclub.org.

Gold at Sectional 4-H Presentation DaySOPHIE BROCKMAN

Special to the Pioneer

MELODY HOLLINGSWORTH, Clayton resident and Claycord 4-H member, earned gold medalsfor her demonstration on how to groom a horse at the Contra Costa County and SectionalPresentation days and will compete again at the State 4-H Presentation day in May.

RIDERS LINE UP THEIR HORSES for a pulse and respirationcheck at the 2015 CMdTRa spring trail ride

Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Assoc.annual Springtime trail ride

CVWC reads to Silverwood Elementary Students

Jen Kurkjian, linda Brown, Jan Trolan, Nancy Boyle, aletaHuck, Carole Gardner, and Joanne Fryer are seven of theeight members of the Clayton Valley woman’s Club thatparticipated in this year’s Read across america.

Registration is now openfor Mount Diablo State Park’sSpring 2016 Junior RangerProgram. This annual pro-gram includes topics on pre-historic times, California Indi-ans, wildlife, geology and otherareas. Hosted by a park docent,each session includes presenta-tions, hands-on activities and ahike.

Children, 7 to 12, plus oneaccompanying adult are eligibleto participate. Sessions will beheld at various locations in thePark. The five weekend ses-sions begin Sun., May 8 andconclude Sat., June 11. Regis-tration is limited to 15 children,plus one parent per child. Theprogram is free, however pay-ment of the park’s entrance feeis required.

For more information or to reg-ister, contact Steve Elliott at 925-362-8697 or at [email protected]. Advance registration isrequired. This program is sponsoredby Mount Diablo State Park incooperation with the Mount DiabloInterpretive Association.

Register for MDIA Jr. Ranger Program

CARLA THOMPSON takes inventory of CVGC plants for sale.

After four years ofdrought, the creeks of Mt.Diablo are flowing, the chapar-ral is in full bloom and therolling hills are emerald green.For those who want a wonder-ful California spring experi-ence, it’s time to hike the trailsof this jewel in the middle ofsuburbia.

Oak trees, buckeyes andmaples are all leafing out.Wildflower season is in fullforce, with sweet ceanothus

fragrance filling the air. Brightred paintbrush, brilliant yellowbuttercups, orange fiddleneckand poppies, purple lupinesand brodiaeas along with whitepopcorn flowers and yarrowsplash their colors along thepathways.

In damp, shaded areas,shooting stars, red or blue lark-spurs, Chinese house, check-ered lilies and fairy lanternsadd beauty to the hillsides.Even among the rocky out-crops, white and blue phacelia,purple rock crest, white bitterroot, blue chia and delicatejewel flowers fill the niches andcrevices. From Januarythrough June, a plethora ofdifferent species continue toreplace each other.

If the array of wildflowersis not enough to encourageyou to explore this naturalwonder, then keep your eyesopen for the spring influx ofbutterflies. Carry a pair ofbinoculars and take the time to

admire these beauties. First toarrive are the dark mourningcloaks, along with red admiralsand tiny blues. The mostnoticeable will be the largeswallowtails. We are fortunateto have four species of theselarge yellow and black butter-flies floating along the trails.

On the fire roads, you arelikely to see orange-tipped Cal-

ifornia sisters or Lorquin’sadmirals along with buckeyesand painted ladies. Satyrs, skip-pers and checkerspots flit inthe grasses. If you take time toobserve your surroundings,you may find 12-15 species ofbutterflies on a two-mile walk.

As spring arrives, so domany species of birds. Out ofthe tropics come swallows,

soaring like miniature fighterplanes. Beautiful orioles, redand yellow western tanagersand an assortment of warblers,vireos, thrushes and humming-birds all join our year-round

residents. Listen for the call ofjays or the tapping of wood-peckers, or maybe the cry of ahawk or falcon soaring highabove.

Take the time to enjoy thespring fragrances. And listen tothe breeze in the trees, theassorted songs and chirping ofthe birds, and the hum andbuzz of busy pollinatinginsects. The wonders and mys-teries of nature abound rightin your backyard.

Don’t just hike to reach adestination – hike to appreciatethe delicate and delectable sur-roundings that make up thisexceptional natural preserve.


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Clayton’s new Round-Up has everythingWhether you’re a boomer

or a millennial, “Round - Upfor Relay,” taking place atEasley Ranch on June 11 willhave mass appeal for all gen-erations! Maybe you enjoy afine wine served in a com-memorative glass with passedhors d’oeuvres, or maybeyou’re into a cold foamy draftwith BBQ tri-tip steaks andfinger licking good chicken.Doesn’t matter, there issomething for everyone asClayton Relay for Life kicksoff the summer with anevening of cowboy fun.

The community is so

excited about it; they are get-ting in line to help. WhenDorine Dianda asked NicolleHackett of R&M Pools if shewas interested, without prod-ding she smiled and said shewould buy a table for ten,donate a basket, and help selltickets. Laurie and Mike Roseshowed up at the first plan-ning meeting and asked whatthey could do to help andthen proceeded to list every-thing they are willing todonate. And of course themost generous and kindhearted people in the city ofClayton, Debra and Steve

Gonsalves were the first tostep up and donate not onlyall of the delicious food, buta long list of other essentialitems. Debra went one stepfurther and invited herfriends to help too. The nextday Sandy and Albert SeenoJr. donated $20,000 to thecause. The Round Up mayhave been the catalyst forthese people to help, yet itwas the idea that the peopleof this small town couldagain take a giant step to helperadicate cancer in our life-time that won them over.

The dance floor will be

rockin’ as the Mixed Nutsand the Crossman Connec-tion Bands play a blend ofcounty and popular musicwith a suped up sound youhave never heard before!World Class ChampionCountry Dancers Craig John-son and Joan Lundahl willperform and lead the crowdin their award winning moves.Don’t miss this night toremember – Round-Up forLife! Buy your tickets soon –they are selling fast!

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Revenue shortfalls haveeffectively eliminated a newinterchange that would havereplaced the cloverleaf whereInterstate 680 meets Highway4 in Contra Costa County.

The Metropolitan Trans-portation Commission (MTC)of California has slashed $754million from its five-year budg-et for projects. The Bay Area’sshare of the cuts is projectedto be $80 million to $96 mil-lion. Contra Costa and SanMateo counties have beenasked to take the biggest cutsof the region.

This huge hit leaves theregion unable to keep pacewith growth and the upbeateconomy. While past cuts haveresulted in many projects beingdelayed, this is the first time ina decade that counties havebeen asked to terminate someof the projects. The BARTmodernization project isanother proposed cut affectingContra Costa and other EastBay counties.

The Highway 4/680upgrades have been in theplanning stage for more than20 years, according to RandyRentschler, director of Legisla-tive and Public Affairs forMTC. When asked when plansmight be resumed, he said it“could be never.”

The interchange is an out-dated and overwhelmedcloverleaf design that issnarled with commutersforced to weave in and out oftraffic at high speeds with lit-tle room to merge. The High-way 4/680 interchange is fur-ther encumbered by a rulingfrom state engineers that theGrayson Creek Bridge mustbe torn down and rebuiltrather than widened to sixlanes, at a cost of an extra$30 million.

Randy Iwasaki, executive

director of the Contra CostaTransportation Authority, ishoping that a funding solutioncan be found soon.

“The interchange is a bot-tleneck that must be fixed. Butwithout proper funding, itshould not be done piece-meal,” he said.

MTC uses money raisedthrough state gasoline taxesto fund inter-city rail, statehighway improvements andcounty transit projects.Because of a tax componentthat is based on gas prices,gas taxes have plummetedfrom a high of 18 cents a gal-lon a few years ago to 12cents a gallon last year. It isestimated that the tax mightgo as low as 10 cents a gallonnext year. Each penny droprepresents a loss of about$140 million a year.

The decline in gas prices isa contributing factor in thefunding shortage, but not thesole reason for the cuts. Theloss of gas tax revenue is “justthe last nail in the coffin for

what has been a very long ill-ness,” Rentschler said.

“A generational neglect ininfrastructure and larger forcesat play have resulted in thesecuts,” he added. “The gas taxhasn’t been raised since theearly ’90s.”

Julie Pierce, a commission-er on the MTC board, is alsoconcerned. “The dip in gasprices is a boon for the citi-zens, but is killing the roads,”said Pierce, a member of theClayton City Council. “All thecities are facing real problemswith local street maintenance,with no money for even pot-hole repairs.”

Pierce says the index ofthe gas tax needs to be fixedto account for inflation – orwe need to “find differentways to assess commuters’impact on roads.” She citedelectric cars and vehicles thatget far better mileage per gal-lon as reasons to use a differ-ent method to assess a tax onroad usage.

She also pointed out the

state’s irresponsibility in fund-ing transportation. “For yearsnow, the state has manipulatedgas tax funds to pay off billsthat had nothing to do withtransportation. There’s no rea-son local money should haveto be used for an interstatehighway.”

Last year, Gov. JerryBrown called for a special ses-sion of the Legislature, butthey failed to come up with anagreement on new transporta-tion funding. Although theLegislature is currently grid-locked in negotiations overnew taxes and funding fortransportation projects,Assemblywoman Susan Bonil-la (D-Concord) and her col-leagues have proposed a planfor long-term sustainabletransportation funding.

“Local governments and inparticular, the Contra CostaTransportation Authority,should not be hampered with abacklog of deferred mainte-nance,” she said.

Anyone driving on YgnacioValley Road can’t help but noticethe burgeoning construction atthe corner of Oak Grove Roadon a former vacant lot.

The Orchards at WalnutCreek is growing from the dustup, to be anchored by a Safewaysuperstore. It will be joined by aStein Mart department store, aPetco and a Crunch Fitness Cen-ter. The development will alsoinclude a double-decker parkinglot, walking trails, at least onerestaurant and Viamonté at Wal-nut Creek, the area’s first contin-uing care retirement communityfor seniors.

This major development isn’tthe only change to the usuallyquiet Shadelands area. WalnutCreek passed zoning laws lastmonth that allow the businesspark to include hotels, publicand private schools, and skillednursing facilities that limit staysno more than 100 days, withconditional use permits. It willalso accommodate artists’ stu-dios, horticultural growing ofplants, trees and indoor edibleplants, and a craft beer brewery.

The Orchards and the zon-ing changes jumpstarted a resur-gence that began a few years agowith the addition of MuirOrthopedics, a surgery center,Children’s Hospital and a fewother big name tenants. Still, thebusiness park suffered from a 33

percent vacancy rate, accordingto Colliers International execu-tive vice president Jeffrey Weil,who has been leasing officespace in the Shadelands for 40years.

Traditionally, he said, theShadelands has been a hard sellfor companies because of Ygna-cio Valley Road traffic and lackof BART access. A ShadelandsShuttle from the Pleasant HillBART station helped, but “theworld has grown up and theShadelands hasn’t kept up,” Weilsaid. Still, Shadelands hasremained relatively affordable –especially compared with SanFrancisco and even downtownWalnut Creek.

In 2014, lawmakersapproved the creation of theShadelands Property and Busi-ness Improvement District tohelp fund the shuttle and safetypatrols, and the Shadelands hasset up a website for the park,www.shadelands.org. Now it’sgetting a facelift that will notonly benefit those who live near-by but will pull in people fromoutlying areas such as Concordand Clayton.

Already drawing from theregion is the new Ultimate Field-house, a sports complex locatedin the former Contra CostaTimes building, owned by HallEquities. It features basketballcourts, volleyball courts, trainingfacilities and even a place wherestudents can study and receivetutoring.

In addition to the zoningamendments, the City Councilagreed to changes put forth bythe Design Review Commissionto reduce or waive additionalbuilding setback requirements,and permit encroachment withina setback along Ygnacio ValleyRoad – a move that would freeup more space for surface park-ing lots and expansions, includ-ing possible growth of theUCSF Benioff Children’s Hos-pital facility. Two new tenantshave also signed leases, PrecisionSports Medicine and Vitas Inno-vative Hospice.

However, not everyone issold on the improvement plans.Steve Elster, a resident of thenearby Woodlands neighbor-hood, is a leader in the fightagainst the Orchards. His mainconcerns are the additional traf-fic, the quality of life and the fearthat the new Safeway store willforce the shuttering of Nob HillFoods in the nearby Citrus Cen-ter.

“Many in our neighborhoodhave expressed concern aboutthe size of the Orchards, and wewill watch the other develop-ments apprehensively,” he toldthe Pioneer. “The Orchardsseems to have a much bigger feelto it when I drive by, and I amconcerned about the traffic andthe increased possibility of acci-dents.”

He said some residents havecontacted the city about puttingin a pedestrian bridge overYgnacio Valley Road at OakGrove, similar to the one by Wal-nut Creek Intermediate School.The Walnut Creek City Councilhas not discussed building apedestrian bridge, according toCity Spokesperson Gayle Vassar,who also verified that it was notincluded in the city’s long-termCapital Improvement Plan.

Meanwhile, just across thestreet from the Orchards, theEncina Grande shopping centeris getting its own facelift. It willbe anchored by a new WholeFoods and the addition of aPetSmart. An existing Walgreenshas already moved to the cornerof the lot and now includes adrive-through.

“The whole vibe is moreenergized,” said Rocco Biale,owner of Rocco’s Pizzeria inEncina Grande and a memberof the board of the WalnutCreek Chamber of Commerce.

“This will be a different placeby the fall of 2016,” he added.“A lot of people complain aboutthe added traffic, but we willadapt. We always do.”

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Highway 4/680 interchange plan hit bystate cutbacks, postponed indefinitely

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Clayton Pioneer

PEGGY SPEARClayton Pioneer

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eventsArt and Wine Festival – CBCA . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2272Concerts in the Grove – City of Clayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cityofclayton.orgRound Up – Relay For Life . . . . . . . . .facebook.com/roundupforrelay

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Directory of Advertisers

P.O. Box 12466200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517

TAMARA ANd RoBeRT STeiNeR, PublishersTAMARA STeiNeR, EditorPeTe CRuz, Graphic DesignPeGGy SPeAR, Copy Editor JAy BedeCARRé, Sports PAMelA WieSeNdANGeR, Administration, Calendar Editor

STAFF WRITERS: Peggy Spear, Pamela Wiesendanger, Jay Bedecarré

CORRESPONDENTS: John Jackson, Kara Navolio, Patricia Romero, John T. Miller

We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

PIONEER INFOCONTACT USTel: (925) 672-0500Fax: (925) 672-6580

www.ClaytonPioneer.comTamara Steiner

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LET US KNOW Weddings, engagements, anniver-saries, births and deaths all weavetogether as part of the fabric of ourcommunity. Please let us know ofthese important events. We ask onlythat the announcement be for a res-ident in our home delivery area. Sub-mit on our website and be sure toattach a JPG photo that is at least 3MB but not bigger than 6MB. Youcan also mail or bring your print tothe office and we can scan it for you.

Also on the website are formsfor calendar items, events & pressreleases.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORBoth Pioneer newspapers welcomeletters from our readers. As a generalrule, letters should be 175 words orless and submitted at least one weekprior to publication date. Lettersconcerning current issues will have

priority. We may edit letters forlength and clarity. All letters will bepublished at the editor’s discretion.Please include name, address anddaytime telephone number. We willnot print anonymous letters. E-mailyour letter to [email protected].

Letters must be submitted viaE-mail.

CIRCULATION as of Sept. 2014

Total circulation of the Clayton Pio-neer is 5,500 to ZIP code 94517, alldelivered by US Mail to homes, busi-nesses and post office boxes. Wecannot start or stop delivery toindividual addresses. This must bedone directly through the PostOffice.

The Concord Pioneer is deliv-ered monthly to 30,500 in Concordby carrier. Papers are delivered oncea month on a Friday morning nearthe end of the month. To stop deliv-ery for any reason, call the office at(925) 672-0500 or send an email [email protected].

If you are NOT receiving thePioneer, please check the distribu-tion map on the website. If you livein the shaded area and are not receiv-ing the paper, please call us or sendan email to [email protected]. If you are not in theshaded area, please be patient. Wewill come to your neighborhoodsoon.

SUBSCRIPTIONSTo subscribe, call the office at

(925) 672-0500. Subscriptions are$35/year for each paper, $60/yearfor both.


IntegrityDo the Right Thing

Clayton said farewell to apiece of living history lastmonth when Bill Morgansuccumbed to heart diseaseon March 5.

Bill Morgan was the great-grandson of Jeremiah Morgan,who settled what Jeremiahcalled “the morning side ofthe mountain” in 1857. Billspent his entire life in Clay-ton, attending elementaryschool in a one-room school-house on Morgan TerritoryRoad, high school in Con-cord and college in San Fran-cisco.

After serving in the Kore-an War, he returned to Cali-fornia and went to work forthe U.S. Department of Agri-culture as a civil engineeruntil his retirement in 1983.During his employment withthe USDA, Bill was a regis-tered engineer on many waterprojects throughout the state.

At a party in Berkeley in1959, he met Naomi Emmer-man, a physicist now retiredfrom the Lawrence Liver-more Lab. “He was like acountry boy lost,” Naomitold the Pioneer in a 2003interview. She and Bill were

married in 1961 and shejoined him on the ranch inClayton, where she still lives55 years later.

He enjoyed hunting andtraveling, especially withNaomi, a nationally recog-nized intarsia artist, on rock-hunting trips around thecountry.

In addition to Naomi, Billis survived by daughtersCheryl of Clayton and Sue(Brad) of Enumclaw, Wash.,and grandsons Tyler andCody.

Funeral services were held onMarch 19. Friends and family areinvited to visit the website atwww.ouimetbrothers.com to sign theguest book.

Ming Hanson, a World WarII veteran and longtime Clay-ton resident, died at home onthe morning of March 15. Hewas 93.

Ming was born in Benson,Minn., to Hans and VivianHanson. In 1959, he movedwith his wife Lorene and theirfour children to California, set-tling in Clayton in 1960.

Ming was a Lieutenant inthe Army Air Corps and a B-24pilot in the South Pacific the-ater during WWII. He wasactive in the Veterans of For-eign Wars Post 1525 and

served as All American PostCommander for eight years.He continued his involvementuntil his death.

Ming was a familiar figureevery year in the July 4 Paradeand at the annual MemorialDay Celebration in downtownClayton.

He spent his retirementyears traveling, playing golfand spoiling his grandchildrenwith his wife of 66 years,Lorene, until her death in 2012.

He was preceded in deathby son Tom and daughterKathy. He is survived by hissons Jim Hanson (Pat) andBob Hanson (Patti). He wasPapa to grandchildren AllieCallo, Jeff Hanson, Alex Han-son, Emilie Hanson, JenniferHaywood, Thomas Stuart andfive great-grandchildren.

Anyone who spent time withMing knew him as a wonderfulhusband, father and friend. Hewas loved and respected byeveryone who knew him, andtheir lives were enriched by hisfriendship and love.

A Celebration of Life washeld on April 7 at Clayton Val-ley Presbyterian Church, fol-lowed by internment at Oak-mont Memorial Park.

Obituaries

Mahlon “Ming”Hanson

December 19, 1922 – March 15, 2016

Willard “Bill” G. Morgan

October 19, 1930 – March 5, 2016

With Kent running theday-to-day operations andunder Skip’s watchful eye,Skipolini’s has grown to sixlocations throughout North-ern California.

MAKING BUSINESS BETTERClayton is no longer the

outlying little “burg” with apopulation of under 1,200that Skip found in the late1960s when the town leadersgenerally had a “no growth”attitude.

“Skip was a businessmanat heart,” says long-timefriend Pete Laurence. “Fromthe beginning he pulledtogether a few other business-es to encourage a more pro-business environment.” Hewas one of the early foundersof the Clayton Business andProfessional Association, pre-cursor to the current ClaytonBusiness and CommunityAssociation.

“Skip was pleased with allthe growth,” Laurence said,“even when Round TablePizza came into what is nowLa Veranda.”

“He could easily haveviewed Round Table as a‘business killer’ and put pres-sure on the city not to allowit,” he said. “But, instead, helooked for ways to make hisown business better and start-ed delivery service and madesome other improvements.”Round Table lasted about ayear before packing up andleaving town.

ROLLING WITH BOCCEWhen Skip began looking

at ways to give back to thecommunity that had been sogood to him and his family, theidea of a bocce park was born.Working with Kent and theCBCA, Skip provided the landand significant funding for themulti-court park in downtownClayton. The Ipsen FamilyBocce Park opened in 2014.

“My dad was an incredibly

generous man with a deepsense of commitment to hiscommunity and who alwaysdid what he said would do,”says Kent. “My favorite mem-ory of my dad will always beworking on the bocce parktogether.”

“He knocked it out of thepark, and it didn’t happen byaccident,” says Moresi. “Wealways had Skip. Skip was ourguy.”

Lester “Skip” Ipsen wasborn Sept. 12, 1940 in SanFrancisco and raised in El Cer-rito. In 1960, he married hisfirst wife, Beverly, who died in2002.

Skip is survived by his wifeLinda, who he married in2005, his sister, Sue Pizarro ofManassas, Virginia, sons EricIpsen (Rita) of Oakland, KentIpsen (Yvette) of Clayton andgrandchildren Allison andSophia Ipsen of Oakland,Kristian and Lauren Ipsen ofClayton, step children ShariCanada (Randy) of Antiochand Denise Taylor of Anti-och, six step grandchildrenand three step great-grand-children.

Ipsen, from page 1

EdnaHolmes1934–2016

Resident of Concord

At her request, there will not be a memorial service.

Remembrances maybe made in her nameto Hospice of the

East Bay.

Obituary

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escape from the hectic paceof our everyday lives and isgood for our physical andmental well-being.”

The district collects a parceltax to fund the $1.03 million

needed to maintain the city’smedian and roadway landscap-ing, irrigation systems, trailsand open spaces and firebreaks. The 2015-’16 tax was$234.84 per residential parcel

and per acre (or fraction) fornon-residential property.The rate will not change withthe renewal. A provision fora CPI adjustment caps anyincrease at 3 percent.

The funds in the specialdistrict can only be used to payfor the city’s landscaping andare off-limits to any attempteddiversion by the state. An 11-member Citizen’s OversightCommittee meets quarterly tomonitor district expendituresand activities.

The Landscape Mainte-nance District does not coverthe city’s parks. With theexception of the Grove, whichhas its own special district, theGeneral Fund covers mainte-

nance of the city’s parks.With an operating budget

of just a hair more than $4 mil-lion, and 52 percent of thatgoing to the police depart-ment, the General Fund in notadequate to pay for the city’slandscaping.

Geller urges voters to passMeasure H.

“We don’t want to lose thebeauty our city MaintenanceDepartment and communitymembers have worked so hardto create.”


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Spring brings hodge-podgeof police activity

So far so good for the year2016 — and I hope I haven’tjinxed myself.

Still, we can be better aboutclosing our garage doors anddriving a little more slowly.

I have been working withthe Community EmergencyResponse Team (CERT) to getreacquainted with these spe-cially trained volunteers whoare ready to respond whenneeded to assist the communi-ty or the Police Department. Iam also looking to meet withsome Neighborhood Watchcaptains to partner in crimeprevention and additional serv-ice deliveries, so please don’t

hesitate to call 673-7350 to setup a meeting at your residence.

The three officers that wehired are well into the back-ground process and it is goingwell. At the April 5 Clayton

City Council meeting, we willbe doing some recognition forthe Police Department and itssupporters. Our newest officer,Tom Starrick, will meet theCity Council. Sgt. Jason Shaw

will introduce our newest pieceof law enforcement equip-ment, an electric motorcyclereceived through a local grant.

We also used $1,000 fromMaddie’s Fund to purchase adog kennel. The kennel willallow police officers to safelysecure a stray dog prior to thearrival of Animal Control. Weappreciate the donation.

Meanwhile, we continue toupdate procedures at the PoliceDepartment as we close out2015 statistics, along witharchiving and “spring clean-ing.”

Enjoy the weather and helpkeep the community safe.

Broaden your research before buying home

Q: We are about to buyour dream home. This willbe our first house, and I getso excited when I see ahome that seems to fit ourneeds. What are somethings to consider before weare in a contract to buy?

A: I assume that you haveanswered the large questionsbefore submitting your bid.For instance, number of bed-rooms, yard size. Here are afew other things you mightalso consider:

1. Is there a homeowner’sassociation? If so, have youstudied its rules? Will the asso-ciation approve your plans toput in a deck, spa or any outbuildings you plan to build?

2. How will your furniturefit? Get the measurements ofevery room and measure yourlarger pieces of furniture,including the entertainmentcenter, sofa and beds. Sketchout the new rooms on graphpaper so you can see at aglance how and where yourfurnishings will fit. Most first-time buyers can’t afford to buyall new furniture.

3. What is the noise level

after dark? The neighborhoodmay seem quiet during the day,but is it near a freeway or busystreet? Is there a fire stationnearby? Consider a visit atnight or during rush hour tocheck out the noise factor.

Q: We saved for a longtime before we were able tobuy our first home. Movingin was sweet. We want tomake it look and feel likeour own style. The problemis that we have little moneyleft. What can we do on ashoestring?

A: Plenty, says a friend ofmine who is a designer. Startwith clean, bare walls. A lightand neutral color will give youa fresh palette to start. Next,focus on one room at a timeand think of ways you canbring each to life.

Paint or restain dull cabi-nets and/or update the pullswith new hardware. If theroom is too boxy, try aportable island. It adds a focalpoint as well as extra storageand counter space.

Any bathroom can benefitfrom more light. A modern

light fixture is one of the leastexpensive ways to update yourbathroom.

If you like, paint an accentwall in a vibrant color withcontrasting pillows thrownaround the living room to adddrama. A large mirror willreflect light and color, and silkor real plants add elegance andcharm.

For kid’s rooms, use a wall-paper border in a pattern cho-sen by the child. You can addpainted furniture and toy stor-age bins.

For the master bedroom,use a plain white comforterwith a two-foot wide strip ofcolorful fabric over the lowerthird of the bed. Use the samefabric to create a windowvalance.

Q: I have worked hard toget my house ready for sale.What is one more thing thatI can do to spruce up mycurb appeal?

A: Your front door is animportant place to focus. It isnice to come home to a wel-coming front door.

Choose a front door that

reflects the style and personali-ty of your home. Paint or stainit to make it a focal point. Red,black or a nice stain are goodchoices.

Just like with any room inthe house, accessories are thefinishing touch. Consider doorhardware, house numbers,door knockers, door bells,doormats and lighting. Try tokeep the finishes and stylessimilar.

Keep the area neat. Sweep-ing up and wiping down willusually do. Flowers and plantsare a bonus. They brighten upthe area and show that you takepride in your home.

CHRIS weNZel

CHIEF’S BEAT

Chris Wenzel is Chief of Policeof Clayton. Send questions and com-ments to [email protected] call (925) 673-7350

A GRANT FROM MADDIE’S FUND bought this 8’ X 6’ kennel tosafely hold found and rescued dogs until animal Controlcan come and get them.

Send your question and look foryour answer in a future column. [email protected]. French isthe broker/owner of WindermereLynne French & Associates. Contacther at 672-8787 or stop in at 6200Center St., Clayton.

lYNNe FReNCH

REAL ANSWERS

Landscape, from page 1

plan depend heavily on votercontinuation of the CitywideLandscape Maintenance Districtparcel tax on the June 2016 localballot.

Walking the Cardinet Trailthe other day with my wife Deb-bie, we could really appreciatethe seven new bridge topsrecently installed and funded byour Trails and Landscape tax.We encountered people walkingtheir pets, in groups, on bicyclesand jogging. What an awesomeway to get exercise, greet fellowClaytonians and enjoy the earlyspring weather.

The City Council reviewedthe city’s mid-year budget andaccepted it without modifica-tions. An analysis of our mid-year budget General Fund statusreveals actual revenues areexceeding revenue projectionsby $251,000. This one-time infu-sion of revenue by the countyand state gives us the possibilityof an operation surplus for fiscalyear 2015-‘16.

CLAYTON HISTORY, CONTINUED…

1864, fire destroyed most ofdowntown Clayton’s woodenbuildings, which were heated bycoal and wood stoves and lit bykerosene lamps. Only well water

was available to put out the firesthat rapidly spread. The townwas quickly rebuilt.

Joel Clayton died in 1872from pneumonia he caught try-ing to save a calf in the coldspring rains. His wife passed in1908 and only four of their ninechildren survived their parents.The Claytons are buried in theLive Oak Cemetery in Concord.

Mail was delivered by horse-back to the “Coal Mine” area. In1898, George and Jack Atkinsonbuilt horse-drawn wagons withlarge wooden wheels to navigatethe rugged roads in the rainyseason. These roads linked Mar-tinez, Pacheco, Concord, Clay-ton and Antioch. They carriedpassengers, money and freight,as well as the regular mail. Asrequired by U.S. Mail contractregulations, drivers were armedwith 45-caliber Colt revolvers.

Coal production in the area(“black diamonds”) declinedwhen cheaper and better coalbecame available. Cattle anddairy ranching, hay and grainproduction, orchards, vineyardsand farms became the valley’smainstay.

The highest student enroll-ment ever recorded in the two-room Mt. Diablo School was111 in 1890 when coal mining

and agriculture both flourished.The town population was 900.

Clayton vineyards producedwines that won state, nationaland international awards untilthe vineyards became infectedand alcoholic beverages wereprohibited in 1919. Almond and

walnut orchards soon replacedthe vineyards.

Next month, I’ll talk aboutClayton’s residential buildingboom of the 1960s.

E-mail questions or comments [email protected].

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County, cities explore energy optionsContra Costa County is

considering the concept ofCommunity Choice Energy(CCE), described in state lawas Community Choice Aggre-gation.

CCE involves cities andcounties, or a Joint PowersAuthority (JPA) composed ofcities and/or counties, pool-ing (“aggregating”) retailelectricity customers for thepurpose of procuring andselling electricity. The CCEentity would become thedefault electricity provider toall customers within the serv-ice area.

Customers would have theability to opt out of servicefrom the CCE and return toservice from the incumbentelectrical utility – in this casePacific Gas and Electric(PG&E).

Most other counties in theBay Area and many countiesthroughout California arenow in the process of imple-menting or studying the cre-ation of CCE programs. The

city/county of San Franciscoand San Mateo County areplanning to launch CCE pro-grams this year. Alameda andSanta Clara counties plan tolaunch programs in 2017.

In October 2015, theContra Costa Board ofSupervisors accepted the rec-ommendations of its InternalOperations Committee anddirected county staff to initi-ate outreach to cities withinthe county to determine thelevel of interest they have injoining us to investigate three

alternatives for potentiallyimplementing CCE. Thethree alternatives are:

1. Form a new JPA of thecounty and interested ContraCosta cities.

2. Form a new JPA inpartnership with AlamedaCounty and interested citiesin both counties.

3. Join the existing CCEprogram in Marin County,known as Marin Clean Energy.

Between November 2015and January 2016, countystaff conducted a variety ofoutreach activities to engagecities on the topic of CCE.This included meetings withcity managers and other citystaff, attendance at the Dec. 3Mayors Conference, threepublic workshops in mid-December in differentregions of the county andpresentations by county staffand consultants at five CityCouncil meetings in January.

Sixteen cities respondedthat they would be interested

in receiving further informa-tion on having CCE in Con-tra Costa County. Richmond,El Cerrito and San Pablo arealready members of theMarin group.

At the March 15 meeting,the county board directedstaff to work with the 16cities to complete a technicalstudy of the three CCE alter-natives. This study willinvolve obtaining electricalload data from PG&E andwill take approximately 10months to complete. Theissue will then return to theBoard of Supervisors for adecision on which alternativeto select.

I welcome your input andcomments on this matter,and I also encourage you tolet your City Council mem-bers know of your interest.

KaReN MITCHoFF

COUNTYSUPERVISOR

Karen Mitchoff is Contra CostaCounty District IV supervisor. Emailquestions or comments [email protected]

Mayor, from page 1

Weather plays into baseball stats

Spring has arrived andcalls to “play ball” echo fromlittle league fields to majorleague stadiums.

With the crack of a bat, abaseball is propelled into theair. The temperature, atmos-pheric moisture, air pressureand wind speed at the timethe bat contacts the ball allimpact how far it will travel.

Newton’s laws of motiondescribe the physics of thetrajectory of a batted ball.Once a ball is in motion, itwill continue to move unlessacted upon by external forceslike gravity or friction. Theforce of gravity is constantnear the earth’s surface, but

frictional forces vary.Friction is the result of

the resistance of the mole-cules in the air, commonlyreferred to as air density.Near the surface of the earth,air density changes are mainlydue to variations in weatherconditions.

Warmer air has a lowerdensity than cooler air,assuming that atmosphericpressure and relative humidi-ty readings remain constant.For example, air density isabout 7 percent higher at acool 50 degree night gamethan a warm 90 degree after-noon contest. A batted ballstroked hard enough to travel350 feet at night would travelabout 365 feet during the day.

Calculating the effects ofincreasing relative humidity isa bit trickier. A commonassumption is that moist air isheavier than dry air and,therefore, more dense. Actu-ally, the opposite is true. Themolecular weights of nitro-gen and oxygen, which makeup 99 percent of our atmos-phere, are 38 and 32 atomicunits, respectively. Water

vapor (H2O) only has anatomic weight of 18 atomicunits. Increasing the humidi-ty, which means adding watermolecules to replace dry airmolecules, actually results inless dense air.

Compared to temperaturechanges, the effect ofincreased relative humidity isslight. At a constant tempera-ture of 70 degrees, a ball hit350 feet will travel about onefoot farther if the relativehumidity is increased by 30percent. If the air becomesextremely moist, the ballcould absorb some of themoisture and gain weight –lessening the distance itwould travel.

Change in atmosphericpressure can have a largeeffect on the flight of a base-ball. Air pressure decreaseswith elevation, so a goodexample is to compare thedistance a ball will travel at astadium located near sea levelto one located in the moun-tains – assuming similar airtemperature and relativehumidity levels. A ball hit inOakland or San Francisco

that travels 350 feet wouldland about 25 feet farther inthe mile-high city of Denver.

All the weather-relatedeffects of baseball flight dis-tances I discussed were calcu-lated in still air. Winds are sel-dom calm, and the velocity ofthe wind doesn’t have to bestrong to have a significantimpact on the distance a balltravels. A 5 mph wind blow-ing out to center field can addabout 10 percent to the dis-tance of a ball hit wellenough to travel 350 feet incalm air.

Spring is a season for avariety of outdoor activities,including going to a baseballgame and watching kids of allages trying to hit a ball intothe air. How well a ball is hitis mainly a function of thebatter’s skill, but weatherconditions help determinehow far the ball will travel.

WOODY WHITLATCH

WEATHER WORDS

Woody Whitlatch is a meteor-ologist retired from PG&E. Emailyour questions or comments to [email protected]

Springs sports are in fullbloom for the teams and ath-letes from Clayton Valley Char-ter High School. Along withthe other six schools in theDiablo Valley Athletic Leaguethe Eagles will be moving onfrom the DVAL and becomingmembers of the new DiabloAthletic League this fall.

Clayton Valley Highopened its doors in the fall of1958 and joined the newDVAL with its first athleticteams. The Eagles remained inthe DVAL through the 1987-88 school year. For the nextfive years (1988-89 thru 1992-93) Clayton Valley was part ofthe Bay Valley Athletic Leaguebefore spending three seasons(1993-94 thru 1995-96) in theMountain Bay Athletic Leagueand then returning to theBVAL from 1996-97 through2007-08.

Starting in 2008-09 throughthis spring the DVALremained the same for eightyears with Berean Christian,CVCHS, College Park, Con-cord, Mt. Diablo, Northgateand Ygnacio Valley highschools competing against oneanother.

The DVAL initially startedin 1958-59 with Pittsburg,Antioch and the now long-departed Pleasant Hill andPacifica highs competing withMt. Diablo and CV. In its lastseason of 1987-88 the league

included Pitt, Antioch, North-gate, Ygnacio Valley, CollegePark, Concord, CV and MDwere in the league.

As the number of schoolsin the North Coast Sectionproliferated and school enroll-ments ebbed and flowed theSection set up a quadrennialleague alignment reviewprocess “to balance the needsof geographic proximity, timeand cost of travel, loss ofinstructional time, and com-petitive equity for all studentsand member schools withinthe Section. The purpose ofleague alignment is to providean environment where there isequity in a common set ofrules and opportunity to suc-ceed competitively within areasonable span of years.”

For the 2016-2020 periodthe seven schools now in theDVAL join with five (Mira-monte, Campolindo, LasLomas, Acalanes and Alham-bra) from the Diablo FoothillAthletic League to form a new12-school super league namedDiablo Athletic League. TheDAL will split into two divi-sions for each sport based onrecent season’s results in orderto have more competitivenesswithin each sport.

This year’s DVAL springleague play is underway. Sched-ules and highlights for springsports:

Baseball — The leagueseason began this week withdefending DVAL and NCSchampion College Park sitting

out while the other six schoolstook the field in home andhome matchups. League gamescontinue until May 19 with aone-game tiebreaker playoffset (if needed) for May 20.

Clayton Valley Charter was

third last year behind CP andConcord and made it to thequarterfinals of NCS. EveryDVAL school except Mt. Dia-blo earned a Section playoffberth last year. The NCS play-offs begin May 24-25 with thefinals set June 3-4. CollegePark dethroned De La Salle inthe NCS Division I finals lastJune.

Boys Golf — All theschools except Mt. Diablo arein the golf league. Matches areheld Tuesdays and Thursdaysthrough the end of this month.The DVAL tournament is May2 hosted by College Park atContra Costa Country Club.Northgate is the defendingleague champion.

The NCS Division I qualifi-er is May 9 at San Ramon GolfCourse and DII is same day inSanta Rosa. The DI champi-onship is May 16 in Antioch atRoddy Ranch, one week beforethe NorCal championships. DeLa Salle won the NCS teamchampionship a year ago.

Lacrosse — Piedmont,Berkeley and Bishop O’Dowdcompete against Clayton ValleyCharter, Ygnacio Valley (girlsonly), Northgate and CollegePark in DVAL lacrosse.CVCHS teams were at the bot-tom of the league standingslast year but the boys wereundefeated in their first threeDVAL games this season andare shooting for an NCS berth.

League play continues untilMay 3 with a one-game

tiebreaker playoff tentativelyset for May 6, if needed forboys or girls. Piedmont wasundefeated in DVAL boys andgirls last year with O’Dowdsecond and College Park thirdin both. NCS tournament runsMay 11-21.

Swimming & Diving —Northgate’s boys made historya year ago winning the firstCalifornia State championshipafter sweeping through theDVAL (CVCHS was second)and NCS fields. Northgate alsowon the girls league title withCollege Park second and Clay-ton Valley third. The finalleague dual meets are April 13and 20.

This year the Broncos newaquatic center will host theDVAL championships April29-30. Concord CommunityPool will again host NCS May12-14 with the Clovis WestAquatic Complex site of thesecond CIF State meet May22-23.

Softball — Concord Highwon the league title last year bya half-game over College Parkwhile CV was fifth. The Min-utemen were NCS DII cham-pions in 2010-12-13. DVALgames began this week andcontinue until May 19 with aone-game tiebreaker playoff (ifneeded) May 20. College Park,Berean (DIV semi-finalist) andNorthgate also were in NCSlast year. The NCS playoffsbegin May 24-25 with the finalsJune 3-4.

Boys Tennis — Matchescontinue for DVAL schoolsuntil April 21. The DVALchampionships are April 26-28. DVAL singles and doublesare May 6-7 at CVCHS withthe Section team champi-onships May 10-12-14. CollegePark was 8-0 in DVAL last yearto earn the NCS team berth.

Track & Field — North-gate won the DVAL boys andgirls track meets last year withCVCHS second in both.League dual and tri-meets con-tinue for three more weeks,concluding April 27. TheDVAL championships will beon the all-weather track atYgnacio Valley May 5-7 withthe top three finishers in eachevent advancing to the NCSmeet May 21 at Foothill HS inPleasanton. The State Meet isin Clovis June 3-4.

Boys Volleyball — Col-lege Park and Northgate wereboth 11-1 last year in DVALwith the Falcons designatedchamps. CP advanced to theDI quarterfinals (De La Sallewas a finalist in DI), Northgatewas a semifinalist in DII andBerean made it to the DIII vol-leyball finals. Concord alsoreached NCS while CVCHSwas in the bottom half of theDVAL league standings.League games wrap up May 5with NCS play running May11-21. NorCal championshipsare May 24-28.


Sports CV bids adieu to DVAL after spring season

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

Photos courtesy Clayton Valley Charter baseball

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM played in two tough preseason tournaments including the St. Franciselite 8 last week as they readied for the dVal season which began this week with home and away games againstcrosstown rival Concord High. Senior Scott Meylan (left) is part of a strong pitching staff for coach Casey Coakley’s team.Junior shortstop Billy Ralston is another returning all-league performer for perennial North Coast Section qualifiersCVCHS, seeking their 18th straight post-season berth.

Clayton Valley Little League held its opening cere-monies last month and got the 2016 season underwayfor 55 teams (40 baseball, 11 softball and 4 Chal-lenger) with 658 players. The regular season ends in early June with Tourna-

ment of Champion games during June. Isabella Scol-ini and Dominic Celentano read the Little LeaguePledge while the co-ed Peanut Division Cubs begantheir baseball journey.

Photos courtesy Clayton Valley little league

Clayton Valley LittleLeague season underway

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Eighth grader GraceZodikoff has her sights set onshattering the Oakland Dio-cese CYO softball throwrecord for St. Bonaventure atthe season-ending track andfield championships May 6-7.At a recent preliminary meetshe threw the softball 184 feet,which is seven feet over the1992 Diocese meet record of177-1 by Kenya Ibarra of St.Augustine-Oakland.

Her goal is to reach 190 feetat the Diocese Championshipsat James Logan High in UnionCity (May 6) and Granada Highin Livermore (May 7) whereover 40 teams will be compet-ing. Besides the softball throwshe will run the 800, 200 and bepart of the St. Bonnies 4 x100relay for coaches Matt andHolly Tillman. She also playssoftball for the U18 NorCalStorm. Zodikoff is in eighthgrade at Hope Academy forDyslexics in Concord.

It wasn’t déjà vu for the DeLa Salle High School basket-ball team last month in Sacra-mento when the Spartans lost70-50 to Chino Hills in theCIF Open Division StateChampionship. Chino Hillswon its first CIF state title andcemented its consensusnational ratings title in thefinal USA high school basket-ball game of the year.

Last December De LaSalle played for the StateOpen Division championshipagainst an undefeated Huskiesteam from Southern Califor-nia ranked No. 1 in the UnitedStates featuring an offense ofepic proportions that hadracked up eye-popping statis-

tics.That was in football. The

Spartans went up against ateam with the national highschool coach of the year onits sideline. DLS figured out away to slow down Centennialof Corona’s fast-paced styleof play (holding them 35points under their average)and the Concord school cameaway with its seventh CIFfootball crown in the past 10years, 28-21.

This time, North CoastSection and NorCal championDe La Salle with a first-yearhead coach faced anotherreigning national coach of theyear leading a Huskies teamthat was undefeated in 34games, beating opponentsfrom eight states as well as thecream of the crop in Southern

California and scoring over100 points 18 times.

The Spartans smartly exe-cuted their game plan in thefirst half to hold a 30-28advantage at the intermissionover Chino Hills. New headcoach AJ Kuhle looked toslow down national player ofthe year Lonzo Ball and histwo brothers (all of whomwho have committed toUCLA) and the other Huskiestars.

After scoring 20 points inthe first quarter the Spartanstotaled just 15 combined inthe next two quarters and onlysome garbage time scoresallowed them to tally 15 in thefourth quarter while ChinoHills broke the game openwith a 19-5 third-quarteradvantage.

De La Salle won state bas-ketball championships in 2000and 2006 and now has lostfour state finals (1996, 2004,2011 and 2016). Chino Hillswas stunned in the State Divi-sion I finals last year by SanRamon Valley High in theHuskies first-ever title gameappearance.

ALL-EAST BAY AWARDSClayton’s own Kaylie

Collins of Carondelet wasselected East Bay girls soccerplayer of the year. TheCougars goalkeeper, who isheaded to USC this fall, had10 clean sheets and 112 saveswhile her team went undefeat-ed all the way to overtime of

the NCS championship gamebefore they were upset byEast Bay Athletic League rivalSan Ramon Valley 1-0.

Her teammate Jade Rafal-lo, also of Clayton, was a first-team all-East Bay selection as


Sports

“Sometimes as an athlete you focusso much as an athlete [on your per-formance], rather than perseverance,”says Clayton Valley Charter varsity trackcoach Dre Walker. This isn’t the casewith CVCHS senior Geo Fonseca.Described as an athlete with a remark-able amount of perseverance, Fonsecais no stranger to mental and physicalchallenges, such as cramps, that comealong with running track. He’s a captain

for this year’s track team competing inthe 400 meters, 800M and 4x400Mrelay. Fonseca has been running trackfor the last four years, moving up tovarsity as a junior. He says his favoritepart about track is having the “mentaland physical challenge of pushing your-self past your comfort zone.” Fonsecabalances school with track by being astudent first and as an athletesecond. Before he started running track

he was inspired by his dad to runmarathons. Not only does Fonsecainspire his family, but he inspires histeammates and coaches. After the 2015season he was given the “Most Inspir-ing Athlete” award by his coaches aftercompeting in the 800 at DVAL andNCS Tri-Valley Championships. “Iadmire Geo’s perseverance,” says Walk-er. “He’s fighting himself with injuries,but his adversity is what pushes him toalways do his best. I love that he will goabove and beyond to do nearly theimpossible and that he will run as hardas he can for his teammates, coachesand himself.” This season, Fonseca isaspiring to break a school record. Afterhigh school, Fonseca would like tomajor in broadcasting at college.

CVCHS student journalist Celine Her-rera wrote this Spotlight.

The Clayton Pioneer congratu-lates Geo and thanks Athlete Spot-light sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey &Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who havebeen serving the Clayton and Con-cord area for 25 years at FamilyVision Care Optometry.www.laceyandruzicka.com

Do you know a young athlete who shouldbe recognized? Perhaps he or she has shownexceptional sportsmanship, remarkableimprovement or great heart for the sport. Sendyour nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spot-light today to [email protected].

AthleteSpotlightGeovani “Geo” FonsecaGrade: Senior

School: CVCHS

Sport: Track & Field

MDSA Boca Juniors Soccerfest finalists

Photo courtesy MdSa

MDSA SELECT BOCA JUNIORS WON THREE, lost one and drew one in a busy weekend lastmonth to reach the championship game at the Pleasant Hill Soccerfest Tournament.The final against the Mountain View earthquakes was a tight affair. Boca Juniors hadtheir chances hitting the crossbar early but eventually fell short 3-1 and settled for sec-ond place. The MdSa team includes, front row from left, Charles Covin-Rossi, Joel Car-doso, Christian Nomellini, Francisco Ramos, leandre Pepito; standing, coach RobertHelena, Colby Grewe, Gabriel luk, aidan Nolan, Marques wirth, Jason Shin, evanHunter, Jason Zimmer and coach luano Nomellini.

Jay Bedecarré photo

TWO SENIOR SOCCER PLAYERS FROM CLAYTON were named all-east Bay representing North Coast Section runner-upCarondelet. Jade Rafallo (left) and goalkeeper KaylieCollins led the way as four-year varsity players for theCougars. Collins was the east Bay player of the year andwill be going to the University of Southern California in thefall. Carondelet defensive mainstay Rafallo is headed toPortland State University.

Phillip walton/SportStars Magazine

JORDAN RATINHO was tabbed east Bay player of the yearand two-time eBal MVP for de la Salle. The point guard isgoing to USF in the fall and this year led the Spartans toeBal, NCS and Northern California championships andended one-half away from winning the CIF State title.

St. Bonaventure won the5th grade division of DiabloEast CYO basketball this win-ter, losing only two gamesbefore the Oakland Diocesetournament. St. Bonaventure’sboys teams in fifth, sixth, sev-enth and eighth grades alladvanced to the Diocese bas-ketball championships, as did

the St. Agnes fifth and sixthgrade girls teams. St. Bonaven-ture fifth graders were, frontrow from left, James Machi,Tommy Martin, Dylan Gentile,Gabe Lauricella; standing,Colton Seastrand, VictorValencia, Luke Cuneo, JaredRickard, Cooper Kawalkowski;back, coach Terrance O’Kelley.

St. Bonaventure 5thgraders win Diablo EastCYO basketball title

St. Bonaventure thrower expects to shatter Oakland Diocese track and field record

De La Salle finishes second to nation’s No. 1 team at state final

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

Photo courtesy St. Bonaventure CYo

Photo courtesy St. Bonaventure CYo basketball

See DLS, page 13

Diablo FC 99 under 16boys and girls soccer teamsare both in the top 20 rank-ings in the United States afterchampionships at the LasVegas Players Showcase last

month. The 99 girls of coachZach Sullivan are No. 12 inAmerica while the boys are18th.

Coach Marquis White’sDiablo FC 99 boys won theLas Vegas under 16 tourna-ment over a field of 16 soc-cer teams from seven states.

The local team won two andlost one to win their round-robin bracket. In the semi-finals they blanked Albion SCWhite from Southern Califor-nia 4-0 and then took a gruel-ing championship matchagainst Bay Area rival SantaClara Sporting 99 Green 1-0

as David Rosas scored in the70th minute, assisted by JesusHernandez of Clayton ValleyCharter HS.

Diablo FC 99 boys areranked second in NorthernCalifornia and fifth in theWestern Region. Santa ClaraSporting is one spot behindthem in each ranking.

The 99 girls sandwichedparticipation at their respec-tive high schools during win-ter by winning two presti-gious club tournaments. They

were first at the ThanksgivingSurf Cup in San Diego andthen geared back up afterhigh school with the champi-onship a couple weeks ago atthe Las Vegas Players Show-case.

In Vegas Diablo FCopened with a 1-1 drawagainst Eagles SC ECNLteam from Southern Califor-nia and then ran off threestraight wins over two moreSouCal teams and one fromArizona. The team was first

in the round-robin standingswhile scoring 11 goals andgiving up just two.

Janet Lopez accounted forthe tying goal late in theopener and then tallied theonly goal in a 1-0 win overAhwatukee 00 from Arizona.

After the Las Vegas tour-nament Diablo FC 99 girlsare 12th in the US. Showingthe strength of West Coastsoccer, nine of the 12 teamsin U16 national rankings arefrom Region 4 (Western US).

AQUANUTS HOST CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS AUCTION, FUND FUNDRAISER MAY 21

Walnut Creek Aquanuts are on the Road to Rio during thisOlympic year. They will bring some Olympic flair to their annualsynchronized swimming exhibition and fundraiser. Their ownAquanut and coach Mariya Koroleva and her duet partner AnitaAlvarez are representing America at the XXXI Olympiad in Riode Janeiro this summer. Koroleva, Alvarez and the entire USANational team will perform at this year’s event on Saturday, May21, sponsored by BMW of Concord and Mini of Concord. Theevent will include a live auction and world class synchronizedswimming from 4-9 p.m. at Clarke Memorial Swim Center inHeather Farm Park, Walnut Creek. For more info and ticketsvisit aquanuts.org.

DIABLO FC RECREATION LEAGUE UNDERWAYDiablo FC is offering a spring recreation league starting this

week through June 4 for girls and boys born from 2007 to 2012.The nine-week program includes practice on Tuesdays atNewhall Park and Saturday morning games at the same park.The competitive club’s professional coaches will be conductingpractices in conjunction with volunteer parent coaches. The pro-gram focuses on more touches on the ball and 1v1 offense anddefense. Under 6 teams are co-ed while the U8 and U10 boysand girls teams are balanced. For more information contactcoach Brian Voltattorni [email protected] or visit dia-blofc.org.

IPSEN TEAM WINS BRONZE AT DIVING WORLD SERIESIN BEIJING

Clayton’s Kristian Ipsen and partner Sam Dorman openedthe FINA Diving World Series last month with a bronze medalin synchronized three-meter in Beijing. The FINA Diving WorldSeries is a four-leg, invitation-only circuit for the top finishersfrom last year’s World Championships. Ipsen and Dorman wontheir first international medal together with 409.08 points in thesynchronized 3M final. In fourth place with one round to go,Dorman and Ipsen closed out their list with 82.95 points on areverse 1½ with 3½ twists to move up one place and reach thepodium. In the second World Series stop in Dubai the duo tooksixth in the same event. The World Series moves to Canada nextweek and then concludes the week after in Russia.

CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL HAS FALL COACHING POSI-TIONS AVAILABLE

Concord High School is seeking a boys varsity head waterpolo coach and girls varsity and JV volleyball coaches. All threepositions come with a stipend. Coaching requirements includeMDUSD fingerprint, current TB and First Aid/CPR, coachingprinciples course, concussion course and sudden cardiac arrestcourse. Interested coaches can send resume to CHS athleticdirector Megan Coddington at [email protected].

CONCORD CUP XXIII COMING MAY 14-15The area’s largest annual youth soccer tournament, Concord

Cup, returns for its 23rd season at a variety of local parks. Boysand girls club and recreation teams from under 10 through U19are eligible to participate. Visit concordcup.com for completeinformation and to register a team or referee to participate.

MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOL HAS VOLLEYBALL, CROSS COUNTRY COACHING POSITIONS OPEN

Athletic director Bryan Shaw has announced that Mt. Diablohigh School has head varsity coaches opening this fall for itscross country and girls volleyball teams. If you are interested ineither opening contact Shaw by email [email protected] orphone (925) 682-4030 ext. 87428.

OAKHURST ORCAS SET MEET AND GREET APRIL 19Head coach Jasmine Castillo is back for her fifth season in

charge of the Oakhurst swim team and has announced that theOrcas are accepting mail or drop off registrations for the sum-mer rec swim team season at Oakhurst Country Club. The finalmeet and greet registration is Tuesday, April 19, from 6:30-8 p.m.at Oakhurst Country Club. Spring practice begins Monday, April25. Visit oakhurstorcas.com for more information or e-mailhead coach Castillo at [email protected].

RED DEVILS GOLF CLASSIC RETURNS JUNE 24The Red Devil Golf Committee is holding its 21st annual

Red Devils Golf Classic on Friday, June 24, at Diablo CreekGolf Course in Concord. Proceeds help athletic and academicprograms at Mt. Diablo High School. Registration starts at 11a.m. followed by lunch, golf, dinner and raffle/silent auction.For more information contact Lou Adamo (212-9332 [email protected]) or Ralph Vallis (825-7593 [email protected]).

CLAYTON VALLEY FOOTBALL CAMP JUNE 13-16 Two-time State championship finalist and Northern Califor-

nia Bowl winner Clayton Valley Charter High School hosts itsFuture Champions Youth Football Non-Contact Camp June 13-16 from 5-8 p.m. at Gonsalves Stadium on the Concord schoolcampus for players in second through eighth grades. CampDirector Michael Dominquez and Eagles head coach Tim Mur-phy explain that the camp has individual and group instruction(including safer blocking and tackling technique) and team com-petition with fundamentals and techniques of football taught bythe CVCHS staff. To register, email [email protected] orvisit claytonvalleyfootball.com.

DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM ONLINE REGISTRATIONDana Hills Swim Team is getting ready for the summer swim

season under the direction of new head coach Heidi McMillanwith online registration still open. The Clayton-based team haswon 23 of the past 24 Concord Swimming Championshipmeets. They have finished in the top five of the last five ContraCosta County meets. Practice begins Monday. For additional infoemail [email protected] or visit the website atdanahillsotters.com.

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER FOOTBALL PLAYERSLOOKING TOWARDS COLLEGE

Clayton Valley Charter coach Tim Murphy reports that all-DVAL defensive back Jamel Rosales will be continuing his foot-ball career this fall at UC Davis. Murphy said, “Jamel is extremelycoachable, great instincts, very unselfish and overall outstandingperson! Going to be a huge asset to their program.”

Two junior lineman from the Class of 2017 are receiving col-lege offers too. Koti Vaisima, a first-team all-DVAL player lastfall, received his first college offer from Hawaii. The 6-2, 275pounder runs a 5.0 40 and is projected as a top defensive tacklein the recruiting class for the reigning NCS Division II champi-ons. Jalen McKenzie, who missed the entire 2016 season exceptfor one play, has offers from UCLA, Oregon State, WashingtonState, Hawaii and Miami.

JR. EAGLES SIGNUPS FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL, CHEERCVAA Jr. has opened registration for its 2016 football and

cheer squads. Two of their cheer teams won national champi-onships in January at the JAMZ Nationals in Las Vegas. Visittheir website cvaajreagles.com for more information and to reg-ister.

CLIPPERS WIN PEE WEE TITLE IN ALL OUT SPORTSANTIOCH-CLAYTON BASKETBALL SHOWDOWNS

The Clippers defeated the Antioch Bears 48-27 to capturethe championship last month in the All Out Sports Leaguechampionship games pitting their Antioch and Clayton titlists

head-to-head. The Clayton Nets (Bantam division), ClaytonWarriors (Jr. Bantam) and Clayton Piston (Mighty Mite) were theother Clayton AOSL league champs but they each lost to theirAntioch foes.

DE LA SALLE HIGH SUMMER CAMPS OFFEREDDe La Salle High School will host athletic camps in football,

water polo, baseball, track and field, wrestling, volleyball, basket-ball, strength and conditioning, swimming, soccer and lacrosse.The camps are open to boys and girls in fourth through ninthgrades. For complete information call (925) 288-8100 ext. 7090or email [email protected]. Registration is open now atdlshs.org (athletic tab).

2 BASEBALL CAMP SESSIONSAT CLAYTON VALLEY THIS JUNE

Clayton Valley Charter High School coach Casey Coakley hasput together a staff of current CVCHS coaches and players aswell as Eagle alumni to provide baseball instruction to young-sters 5-14 years of age. The summer baseball camp will consistof instruction in the fundamentals of hitting, throwing, fielding,catch play and other aspects of the game. Summer baseballschool sessions will be held at the school June 13-17 and June20-24. Each daily session runs 9 a.m.–1 p.m. To reserve a base-ball school spot or to get more information email [email protected].

YGNACIO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S 4TH ANNUAL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION MAY 14

Ygnacio Valley High School is holding its fourth annual Ath-letic Hall of Fame induction dinner on Saturday, May 14, at TheClubhouse at Boundary Oak Walnut Creek. This year’s inducteesare Jim Anderson track and football, class of 1968), Rich Martini(football and baseball 1973), Chuck McGinnis (football andbaseball 1984), Minet Roach Gunther (volleyball and basketball1982) and Dave Tamori (wrestling 1967). The coaches are BobBurkhart (1961-91) and Rich Mohr (1961-68).

The Warriors 1972 baseball team is also receiving entry to theHall. Social gathering May 14 is at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 7o’clock. People interested in attending should contact DebbieCarlin by phone (925) 518-8455 or email [email protected].

BEREAN CHRISTIAN SCHEDULE SUMMER CAMPSBerean Christian High School is offering boys basketball,

girls soccer and softball and FCA football camps featuring NFLand college players and coaches as instructors will be offered inJune or July. Basketball, softball and football camps are open tothird through ninth graders while the soccer camp is for all ages.Registration is taken online at bereaneagles.org underathletics/camps.

REGISTRATION UNDERWAY FORALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUES SUMMER PROGRAMS

Summer programs offered by All Out Sports Leagues inClayton are now taking registrations. The upcoming programsinclude adult softball and volleyball leagues plus youth basketballand football camps and youth leagues for volleyball and basket-ball. For complete information on All Out Sports programs, visitalloutsportsleague.com.

Buckle-up and enjoy wit-nessing the best regular seasonby a team in NBA history.What the Golden State War-riors are doing is transcendingwhat mere words can describe.The Dubs are on a run thatmay not only be the best regu-

lar season in NBA history, butin all of American sports, asthey are on pace to beatthe league’s win mark.

All the hate from old-timers like Isiah Thomas andOscar Robertson is absolutelyridiculous. Pro basketball hascertainly evolved and changed,but that doesn’t merit the criti-cism that the Warriors are a“finesse-only” team that wouldget bullied by teamslike Michael Jordan’s 1995-96Bulls, who hold the best regu-lar-season record of all-timewith 72 wins.

Granted, the Warriors greatrun will all be a swept underthe rug if they don’t win theNBA Finals again in the sum-mer. But who can possibly

stop the Warriors run as ofnow, especially with MVPSteph Curry leading thecharge?

Curry is the playmakingcatalyst of the Warriors. He isimpacting the game in a waythat hasn’t been seen since Jor-dan. He is almost unguardable.If you trap him at midcourt, hecan pass the ball to a multitudeof skilled ball handlers, prima-rily Draymond Green andAndre Iguodala.

If Curry isn’t trapped, thenhe gets a one-one-one oppor-tunity against some poor soulwho will most likely end up onSports Center’s Not Top Ten,after Curry breaks his ankles


TYLER LEHMAN

SPORTS TALK

Diablo FC 99 U16 boys, girls top 20 in AmericaSports

Sports Shorts

Warriors on pace to beat ChicagoBulls single-season wins record

Clayton Pioneer wants to publish your sports newsPlease let us know about your sports news, special events, fundraisers, tryouts, signups and accomplishments. Youth leagues,clubs, schools and adult programs are all welcome to send usa rundown on what you’re doing. Include all the necessary de-tails (too much information is better than too little!) and yourcontact information. It’s as simple as sending an email [email protected].

Photo courtesy diablo FC

DIABLO FC 99 U16 BOYS CELEBRATED THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP at the las Vegas Players Showcase.The team includes, front row from left, alex Berumen, david Rosas, James Person, Harri-son Sturgeon; back row, Corey alford, erick Hernandez, Miles Ramos, devin Martinez, Timvan der waart van Gulik, Jesus Martinez, Jason Stockwell, Tyler Hanson, Francisco ayala,eduardo Garcia and coach Marquis white. Not pictured were Ross Gruen, Pedro Hernan-dez, John Fuentes and Sebastian Hansen.

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

See Warriors, page 13

The decision to spay orneuter your pet is an importantone. It can be the single bestdecision you make for yourpet’s long-term well being.

Getting your pet spayed orneutered will reduce the num-ber of homeless pets beingkilled, improve your pet’s

health, reduce unruly behaviorand save money on pet care.

There are homeless petseverywhere. In the UnitedStates alone, an estimated 6-8million animals enter animalshelters each year. Barely halfare adopted; the rest are killed.These are healthy, sweet pets

who would have made greatcompanions.

Spay/neuter is the only per-manent, 100 percent effectivemethod of birth control forcats and dogs. It is also impor-tant for their good health. Partof the shorter lifespan of unal-tered pets can be attributed to

their increased urge to roam,exposing them to fights withother animals, getting hit bycars and other mishaps.

Unspayed female dogs andcats have a far greater chanceof developing pyometra (afatal uterine infection), uterinecancer and other cancers ofthe reproductive system. Malepets who are neutered elimi-nate their chances of gettingtesticular cancer and it isthought to lower the risk ofprostate cancer.

Spaying and neutering canalso curb undesirable behav-iors. Unneutered dogs aremore assertive and prone tourine marking (lifting his leg)than neutered dogs. Althoughmarking is generally associatedwith male dogs, unspayedfemales may also do it. Spayingor neutering your pet shouldreduce or eliminate urinemarking.

The urge to spray isextremely strong in an intactcat, and the simplest solution isto get your cat neutered orspayed. Neutering solves about90 percent of the problem,even in cats who have beendoing it for awhile. It can alsominimize howling, the urge toroam and getting in fights withother males.

Please understand thatwhile getting a pet spayed orneutered will go a long waytoward curbing bad behaviors,it will not change your pet’sfundamental personality.


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and does a 360, one-legged three-pointer thatbanks in off the backboard

If you press Curry in a one-on-one situation, he has thespeed and agility to drive byalmost any defender in theleague and he can either finishin the lane with a gracefulteardrop or dish the ball to ateammate for an easycorner three.

Curry is developing intothe most lethal offensive playerin NBA history, but creditneeds to be given to his sup-porting cast as well.

Green has solidified him-self as one of the best powerforwards in the game. He canguard any position, shootthe three and handle the balllike a point guard.

Klay Thompson has also

been instrumental in the War-riors historical run. He startedoff the year a little shaky, buthe’s found his stroke the pastfew months and continues torain down 3’s.

The Warriors are so loadedwith talent it is almost unfair tothe rest of the NBA. Theyhave three All-Stars this seasonin Curry, Green and Thomp-son. They also have the bestbench in basketball, with Iguo-dala, Shaun Livingston, MoSpeights, Festus Ezeli and

Brandon Rush.This Warriors team is des-

tined to go down as one of thegreatest of all time. It may behard to realize now, but downthe road in 15 to 20 years allDubs fans will know “I wit-nessed something special.”

Warriors, from page 12

Tyler Lehman is a senior at SanFrancisco State University and a2012 CVHS graduate. He ismajoring in print/online journalismand wants to be a sports writer.Email your comments or questionsto [email protected].

the Cougars captain and cen-terback.

Clayton Valley Charter’sdefensive mainstay SavannahPomeroy was second-team all-East Bay selection. The Eaglesblanked half their teams andwon their back-to-back DiabloValley Athletic League title.

Carondelet also had Erin

Ospeck on first team withChelsea Bailey and MaddieDuncan on second team.Katie Hoyt, sister of USNational team star Chris Won-dolowski, was honorable men-tion for Carondelet.

On the boys side, ClaytonValley Charter’s Osbaldo Soliswas a first-team selection

while teammate Pablo Her-nandez was third team for theDVAL champs.

BASKETBALL HONORSIn basketball, De La Salle’s

Jordan Ratinho was the EastBay player of the year. The 6-5 senior, who is going to USFnext year, averaged 18.7points per game as the pointguard and the team’s most ver-satile defender. During the

EBAL season he won his sec-ond MVP award. DLS wasundefeated against NorthernCalifornia teams while com-piling a 31-3 record.

His Spartan teammatesEmeka Udenyi and NikhilPeters were second team all-East Bay.

Carondelet won the EBALand NCS. Vanessa Cruz ofthe Cougars was third teamall-East Bay.

DLS, from page 11

Cats Free toa Good Home

Tommy & Stormy: Sunny’s 10-month-old

babiesWe all take our jobs of playing very seriously. We areclean, healthy, vaccinated, fixed, micro-chipped andready-to-go! Interested in granting our wish for a loving home (separately or together)? Please contact our foster mom at [email protected] or

Home (925) 672-8961 or Cell (925) 246-3712.

Sunny:2-year-old tabby

See us at www.3catsofclayton.shutterfly.com

Spinnaker, just one yearold, is looking for an activehome with lots of things to do.He would love to join in anyweekend hikes, bike rides,morning runs or anything thatlets him get out to stretch hislegs. He will make a great com-panion for an on the go family.Spinnaker has a positive histo-ry with other dogs. We recom-mend Spinnaker take a BasicManners class where he canlearn polite ways of seekingcreature comforts in life. Hecurrently weighs 36 pounds.

The adoption fee for adultdogs is $250 and includes a dis-count on a Manners class.

Celeste, 3, is a tad shy atfirst in a new environment andwould like to find a quiethome, but once settled in, she’sa delightful lady to be aroundand VERY affectionate. Sheadores being petted and snug-gling by your side and she hasa playful side too. She is suit-able for a first time catguardian. Celeste must be anindoor only cat. She is best in ahome without other cats.

Celeste’s adoption fee hasbeen prepaid by a generousdonor.

Meet your forever friend atTony La Russa’s Animal Res-cue Foundation, 2890 MitchellDrive, Walnut Creek, during

adoption hours: Noon to 6 pmWednesday & Thursday, Noonto 7 pm Friday, and Noon to 6pm Saturday & Sunday. Theprimary caretaker must bepresent to adopt. ARF alsoencourages kids 16 andyounger and canine familymembers (dog adoptions only)to be present during the adop-tion process.

Would you like to be part of theheroic team that saves the lives ofrescued dogs and cats? Can youshare your talents to connect peopleand animals? ARF volunteers aremaking a difference! For more infor-mation see our website,www.arflife.org, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

Spinnaker and Celesteare ARF’s stars for April

SPINNAKER CELESTE

Debbie DeMello is a dog trainerand owner of Who’s TrainingWho in Walnut Creek. Contacther at [email protected]

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PAUSE FOR PETS

Pets

The Clayton Theatre Com-pany will perform one of myfavorite Neil Simon comediesthis month. “Rumors” is ahoot from start to finish as acouple’s 10th anniversary partygoes awry.

Guests arrive but the hostis indisposed and the hostess ismissing, as well as the kitchenstaff. The confused friends addto the chaos as they try to pitchin. Mayhem ensues as a gun

accidentally goes off. Oneguest trips over a telephonecord, another’s back goes outso she spends much of theevening crawling around onthe floor, and a third flirts with

everyone to make her husbandjealous. Rumors fly as thepolice arrive to take this hilari-ous farce up another notch.

La Tonya Watts directs,with Roxanne Pardi as assistantdirector. “We’ve set the showin present-day New York togive it a fresh, modern-dayfeel,” says Watts, who notesthat the couples in the play“bring new meaning to familydysfunction.”

The cast includes TeresaGrosserode, NathalieArchangel, Terry Tracy, PeggyScalise, Ron Craven, Bill Dietz,James Bradley, Terese McGre-gor and newcomers to the the-ater company, Clayton residentChip Renner and TamaraCooreman. The show runsApril 8-23 at Endeavor Hall,6008 Center St., Clayton. Fortickets, go to Claytontheatre-company.com or www.Brown-papertickets.com.

How much would you payfor a solid white painting?$200,000? Decades-longfriendship? These are some ofthe issues at the heart of Yas-

mina Reza’s award-winningcomedy “Art,” as three friendsfind themselves caught at thecrossroads of art and friend-ship. Presented by CenterRepertory Company, the com-edy stars Cassidy Brown, JMichael Flynn and Liam Vin-cent under the direction ofCenter REP’s artistic director,Michael Butler.

“Art” runs through April30 at Walnut Creek’s LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 CivicDr. For more information, call925-943-SHOW or go towww.lesherartscenter.org.

Pittsburg Community The-atre presents the romanticcomedy “6 RMS RIV VU”April 15-17 at the gorgeousCalifornia Theatre, 351 Rail-road Ave. Directed by MichaelWilson and Betty Brown, theshow focuses on a vacantapartment with six rooms anda river view that is open forinspection by prospective ten-ants. A Realtor’s nightmareensues when two strangers, aman and a woman, end uplocked in after everyone leaves.Although both are happilymarried, they discover a mutualattraction as they wait out thenight.

The cast includes Lisa Lut-tinger, Bill Schneider, RobertaTibbetts, Robert Brown, Bon-nie Williams, Xavier Ali andMichael Wilson. Tickets are$10-$25. Call 925-427-1611orgo to www.pittsburgcalifor-niatheatre.com for tickets.

If you like Motown, be sureto catch “The Best Intentions”at the California Theatre inPittsburg at 8 p.m. April 23.This six-member group is anunforgettable experience ofthe great Motown acts of the’60s, ’70s and ’80s, featuringtributes to the Temptations,the Four Tops, Smokey & theMiracles, Gladys Knight & thePips and the Spinners, to namejust a few. The individual musi-cians have quite the resume,

including gigs with thelikes of Patti LaBelle, theTemptations, JamesBrown, Zakiya Hooker,Rod Stewart, StanleyTurrentine andmany more.

So if you’relooking for agreat show anda u t h e n t i cM o t o w nsound, theCal i forniaTheatre isthe place tobe on April23. Ticketsare $25-$30. Call9 2 5 - 4 2 7 -1611or go towww.pittsburgcalifor-niatheatre.com.

Music continues atLafayette’s Town Hall The-atre with the 6th annualLafayette Community MusicFestival at 7:30 p.m. April 16. Itfeatures a wide range ofacoustic music, including songsfrom Dream Posse, StevieCoyle, Garageland Rodeo andHard Rain. The theater is at3535 School St., Lafayette.Tickets are $25 in advance and$30 at the door. Go to thewebsite at www.townhallthe-atre.com.

Water may be somethingwe in Northern California liketo see falling from the sky, butit’s certainly not a favorite ele-

ment for the Wicked Witch ofthe West (of “I’m melting!”fame). Get in touch with theWicked Witch, the Scarecrow,the Lion, Dorothy and all yourfavorite characters from “TheWizard of Oz” as FantasyForum Actors Ensemble pres-ents the timeless tale May 6-8at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Cen-ter for the Arts.

Of course, this award-win-ning children’s theater has

made the story its own withoriginal music and lots of audi-ence interaction. Call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesher-artscenter.org for tickets.


Performing Arts

SallY HoGaRTY

STAGE STRUCK

Sally Hogarty is well knownaround the Bay Area as a newspa-per columnist, theatre critic andworking actress. She is also theeditor of the Orinda News. Sendcomments [email protected]

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Diablo Ballet presents thefinal program of its 22nd sea-son, honoring the power ofdance with “Celebrated Mas-ters” May 6-7 at the Del ValleTheatre in Walnut Creek.

The performances includethe highly anticipated pro-duction of “Carnival of theImagination,” choreographedby Robert Dekkers and set toCamille Saint-Saëns’s famous“The Carnival of the Ani-mals.” The ballet follows a

young child named Seven ona magical journey through theworld of make believe. Filledwith dragons and unicorns,pixies and panda bears, aphoenix and a jackalope, thiscoming-of-age adventure cel-ebrates creativity and inspiresimagination.

“Celebrated Masters” willbe at 8 p.m. May 6 and 2 and8 p.m. May 7 at 1963 TiceValley Blvd., Walnut Creek.Each performance is fol-

lowed by an interactive Q&Awith the dancers and chore-ographers, and includes acomplimentary dessert andcoffee reception, with anopportunity for the audiencemembers to get up close andpersonal with the artists.

For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or visit www.lesherartscen-ter.org. For more information, visitwww.diabloballet.org.

Following the wildly suc-cessful concert version at theGeary Theater in spring 2015,American Conservatory The-ater will present a new, fullystaged production of “TheLast Five Years” May 11-June5.

Jason Robert Brown, theTony Award–winning com-poser of “Parade” and “Hon-eymoon in Vegas,” brings us

this powerful and intimatemusical about two twenty -something New Yorkers.Struggling actress Cathy andrising novelist Jamie diveheadfirst into a marriagefueled by the optimism thatcomes from finding “theone.”

The musical features aunique structure in whichCathy’s journey is sung from

ending to beginning, andJamie’s from beginning to end.The lovers’ individualaccounts reveal that, in a citywhere professional and per-sonal passions collide, navi-gating the waters of love andmatrimony can prove daunt-ing.

Packed with humor, rav-ishing romance and an exu-berant score, “The Last FiveYears” takes an unforgettablelook at the hope that love willendure the test of time.

The theater is at 415 Geary St.,San Francisco. Single tickets rangefrom $20 to $105 and are availableat 415-749-2228 or www.act-sf.org.

Charles Perrault’senchanting fairy tale springsto life in “Sleeping Beauty,”an hour-long ballet set toTchaikovsky’s exhilaratingscore on May 13-14.

The staging and choreog-raphy highlights the talents ofthe Contra Costa Ballet Com-pany, along with featured

guest artists JackieMcConnell as Princess Auro-ra and Christian Squires asPrince Florimund.

The company is a region-al, pre-professional, youthcompany. Sponsored by thenon-profit Contra Costa Bal-let Foundation, it producestwo high-quality productions

annually at the Lesher Centerfor the Arts: “Spring Rep”and “The Nutcracker.”

“Sleeping Beauty” is at the Hof-mann Theatre, 1601 Civic Dr.,Walnut Creek. For tickets, call925-943-SHOW or visithttps://lesherartscenter.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=522.

Photo by dianna Schepers

LISA LUTTINGER (ANNE) AND BILL SCHNEIDER (PAUL) in ‘6 RMSRIV VU’ april 15-17 at the Pittsburg Community Theatre.

Don’t ignore the ‘Rumors’ – see it for yourself in Clayton

THE LION, DOROTHY, THE TIN MAN AND THE SCARE CROW willsing and dance their way into your hearts with the FantasyForum production of “The wizard of oz,” coming in May tothe lesher Center for the arts.

‘Sleeping Beauty’ is pareddown version of the classic

ACT new play exploresmarriage in musical style

Diablo Ballet’s ‘Celebrated Masters’draws on childlike imagination

Please let our advertisersknow you saw them in the

Clayton Pioneer

IN CLAYTON

Thru Apr. 23“Rumors”A dinner party, an accident and the evening spins off into classicfarcical hilarity. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St. $15-$22. clay-tontheatrecompany.com. brownpapertickets.com.

Apr. 9Identity Theft Protection Advice & Document ShreddingClayton residents and small businesses can bring up to threeboxes or paper grocery bags of documents to shred on site. 10a.m. – 12 p.m. Travis Credit Union, 5441 Clayton Road. Free.traviscu.org.

Apr. 23Clayton Cleans UpHonor Earth Day with a town spring cleaning. Help pick uptrash, pull weeds and share in community spirit. Rain or shine. T-shirt, gloves and garbage bags provided; barbecue after. 9 a.m.– 12 p.m. Clayton City Hall, 6000 Heritage Trail. Register at city-ofclayton.org. Call Clayton Pioneer with questions at 672-0500.

Apr. 30 – May 1Art and Wine FestivalArts, crafts, food, music, wine. Sat. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sun. 10a.m. – 5 p.m. Main Street. Free admission. claytoncbca.org.672-2272.

May 7Saturday Concerts in the Grove6 – 8:30 p.m. Grove Park, downtown Clayton. Free. cityofclay-ton.org. For a complete concert series list, see Page 3.

Saturdays, May 14 thru Aug. 27Farmers’ Market8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diablo Street between Main and Centerstreets, downtown Clayton. pcfma.org.

IN CONCORD

Tuesdays and ThursdaysFarmers’ MarketTuesdays year round, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursdays, starting April21, 4 – 8 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. cityof-concord.org.

3rd Sundays, Starting Apr. 17Antique FaireAntiques, collectibles, handmade arts and crafts. 9 a.m. – 4p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free admission.concordantiquefaire.com.

On Sale NowConcerts at the Concord PavilionThe Concord Pavilion is located at 2000 Kirker Pass Road. live-nation.com. Concert schedule for 2016:

Apr. 29, Luke Bryan, 7 p.m.May 17, Bad Company, 7 p.m.May 19, Janet Jackson, 8 p.m.May 29, KBLX Stone Soul Concert, 12 p.m.June 12, Spirit West Coast, 4 p.m. June 13, Slipknot, 6:30 p.m. July 9, Bryan Adams, 8 p.m. July 12, Taste of Chaos, 6:30 p.m.July 28, Sublime, 6:35 p.m. Aug. 19, Disturbed, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18, Daryl Hall and John Oates, 7 p.m.

Apr. 11Stroke Support GroupTopic: Vision Restoration Therapy with NovaVision, a therapeuticapproach to improve visual abilities following a stroke or trau-matic brain injury. 7 – 9 p.m. Concord 1 Room, John Muir Med-ical Center, Concord Campus, 2540 East St., Concord. Free.Contact Ann Dzuna 376-6218.

ON AND AROUND THE MOUNTAINMount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are freewith the exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and clickon Event Calendar for more information.

Apr. 9, 30Nature WalkEasy walk along Mitchell Canyon to introduce you to some ofthe mountain’s classic habitats. 10 – 11 a.m. Meet at MitchellCanyon Visitor Center.

Apr. 15Pine Canyon HikeHike in and out of Pine Canyon. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meetat Borges Ranch.

Apr. 16, 30Wildflower WalkWalk up Mitchell Canyon Road looking for and identifyingspring wildflowers. 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Meet at MitchellCanyon Visitor Center.

Apr. 22Mt. Olympia HikeHike up to Mt. Olympia and back down to Mitchell Canyon. 9a.m. – 6 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

Apr. 24Butterfly WalkWalk up Mitchell Canyon looking for butterflies and wildflow-ers. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead.

Apr. 29Curry Canyon and Windy Point HikeThis hike features great views of the Diablo Summit and NorthPeak. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet at Curry Point Trailhead.Reservations required by Apr. 26: [email protected].

May 8Mother’s Day Wildflower WalkSee many wildflowers on the way to Twin Peaks. 9 a.m. –12:30 p.m. Meet at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. Reserva-tions required: [email protected].

May 8Sycamore Canyon HikeHike down to Sycamore Canyon then over to Knobcone Point.10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet at Curry Point Trailhead.

Save Mount Diablo programs listed are free unless otherwisenoted. Go to savemountdiablo.org and click on Activities/GuidedHikes for more information. 947-3535.

Apr. 17Diablo Trails Challenge5K, 10K, half marathon and 50K. Castle Rock RecreationArea, 1700 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek. See website fortimes, fees and registration.

Apr. 30Mangini Ranch Family HikeFour-mile hike with one strenuous climb. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Meet at 5318 Crystyl Ranch Drive, Concord. Reservations re-quired.

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENTApr. 8 – 9“Bye, Bye, Birdie!”The story of a rock and roll singer about to be inducted into theArmy. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.$20. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 13 – 14“To Kill a Mockingbird”Presented by Contra Costa Christian School. 7:15 p.m. LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $10. lesher-artscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 15 – 17“6 RMS RIV VU”A sprightly, happy comedy of charm and humor. California The-atre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $10-$25. pittsburgcalifor-niatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Apr. 16CalefaxClassical ensemble with a pop mentality presented by ChamberMusic San Francisco. 2:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $51. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

Apr. 17“Smoke and Mystery Tour”Presented by Nelson Illusions, the largest touring illusion show inthe United States. 3 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. SecondSt., Antioch. $15-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Apr. 22 – 24“Jungle Book”Hear the incredible tale of Mowgli, a young boy raised bywolves. El Campanil Children’s Theatre, 602 W. Second St., An-tioch. $8-$12. elcampaniltheatre.com.

Apr. 23The Best IntentionsUnforgettable experience of great Motown acts. 8 p.m. Califor-nia Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. $25-$30. pittsburgcal-iforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Apr. 29 – May 1“The Music Man, Jr.”Presented by Poison Apple Productions. Lesher Center for theArts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $20. lesherartscenter.org.943-7469.

Apr. 30Jazz EnsemblePerformed by The Commanders U.S. Air Force Band. 7 p.m.California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. Free, but musthave a ticket. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.

Apr. 30The Ray Charles ProjectA tribute to the genius of Ray Charles. 8 p.m. El Campanil The-atre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $25-$27.elcampaniltheatre.com.

May 1“Alice in Wonderland”Performed by The Ballet Company of East County. 2 p.m. ElCampanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $12-$15. el-campaniltheatre.com.

May 5 – 8 “Wizard of Oz”Presented by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. Lesher Center forthe Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $14.lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 6 – 7“Celebrated Masters”Performed by Diablo Ballet. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice ValleyBlvd., Walnut Creek. $44. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 7House of FloydThe music of Pink Floyd. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W.Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.

May 8“A Grand Finale”Performed by California Symphony. 4 p.m. Lesher Center for theArts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $42-$72.lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.

May 14“Royal”An afternoon of musical adventure that is perfect for your royalfamily. 2 p.m. Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane,Walnut Creek. $10-$20. diablowomenschorale.org.

SCHOOLSApr. 15 – 16“Theater Outside of the Box”Students theatrically paint a mural of their deepest, bravestthoughts. 8 p.m. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road,Pleasant Hill. $5. dvcdrama.net.

Apr. 16Open HouseVisit local Japanese language and cultural school serving K-12students on Saturday mornings. 9 – 11 a.m. Diablo NippongoGakuen, 3165 Treat Blvd., Concord. Free. Direct questions [email protected].

May 6 – 22“Clybourne Park”Unforgettable new story about race, class and real estate inAmerica. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, PleasantHill. $16-$21. dvcdrama.net.

CHURCHES AND RELIGIONApr. 16“The Singing Cello”Cellist Emil Miland and pianist James Meredith in concert. 7:30p.m. Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road,Clayton. $15. cvpresby.org.

Apr. 23Elder Fraud and AbuseSpeaker Micheal Pope, CEO of Alzheimer’s Services of the EastBay; fellowship, lunch. 11 a.m. Concord United MethodistChurch, 1645 West St., Concord. Free. concordumc.org.

FUNDRAISERSApr. 16Music-a-ThonCVCHS music students march and play in school area. Proceedsbenefit Clayton Valley Instrumental Music Program. Private lawnconcerts available for $25 donation. Rain cancels. 8 a.m. – 2p.m. Clayton Valley Charter High School, 1101 Alberta Way,Concord. claytonbands.org.

Apr. 21Eagle Arts ExpoProfessionally-judged art show with students from Clayton ValleyCharter High School, Pine Hollow and Diablo View. Raffle andsilent auction. Proceeds go towards CVCHS Travel Club tripcosts. 6 – 9 p.m. CVCHS Multi-Use Room, 1101 Alberta Way,Concord. Free admission. For more information, contact Katie [email protected].

Apr. 22Bingo BashFundraiser for Clayton Valley Village. 5:30 – 9 p.m. Montecito,4756 Clayton Road, Concord. $30 donation at the door. For in-formation and reservations, call 672-2689 or 672-2727.

Apr. 23 - 24Clayton Gardens TourBeautiful gardens on self-guided tour in Clayton area. BenefitsClayton Historical Society. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Rain or shine. Startsat Clayton Museum, 6101 Main St. $30 in advance; $35 day ofevent. claytonhistory.org.

Apr. 27Spaghetti FeedSponsored by the Clayton branch of the American Association ofUniversity Women to raise funds to send three students to TechTrek. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton.$10 adults; $5 children. Call 672-1316 for more information.

Apr. 30Baking for a CureBake sale for Relay For Life Clayton. 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Starbucks,Clayton Station. Contact Sydney Alcock at [email protected],Michelle Treshler at [email protected] or Gigi Pishny at [email protected] to donate baked goods.

Apr. 30 – May 1Open Studio SaleHosted by Generous Nature Pottery. A portion of the proceedsgo to the Groebner family to help pay Katie Grace’s medical ex-penses and to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. 10a.m. – 4 p.m. Ellen Sachtschale’s studio, 17 Eastbrook Court,Clayton. [email protected].

May 7Plant SaleClayton Valley Garden Club’s annual plant sale, including nativeplants, succulents, color bowls and gently used items. 8 a.m. – 1p.m. Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. claytonvalleygar-denclub.org.

May 7 Rummage SaleProceeds benefit Boy Scout Troop 370. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Sal-vation Army, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. Still accepting dona-tions of clothing, household items, toys, tools. To donate, contactMarina by May 6 at 234-3470 or [email protected].

AT THE LIBRARYThe Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programs are freeunless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at claytonli-brary.org or call 673-0659.

Apr. 11, 25, May 9: Clayton Knits, 1:30 p.m.Apr. 11, May 9: Clayton Book Club, 7 p.m.Apr. 15 – 17: Used Book Sale, 4 – 7 p.m. Fri.;

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat.; 12 – 4 p.m. Sun.Apr. 20: The Edible Garden, 6 p.m.Apr. 24: Civic Arts Jazz Band, 2 p.m.Apr. 28: Visit Firefighters and Fire Truck, 11 a.m.Apr. 28: Push, Pull, Crash, 4 p.m. Registration required.

The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. Programs are free un-less otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at ccclib.org or646-5455.

Thru Apr. 15: Tax Help, Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Apr. 12: Arts and Crafts, 4 p.m. Registration required.Apr. 22 – 24: Used Book Sale, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri.

and Sat.; 1 - 3 p.m. Sun.Apr. 30: Spring Art Show, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. May 3: Cinco de Mayo, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Registration re-quired.

GOVERNMENT

1st and 3rd TuesdaysClayton City Council7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

2nd and 4th TuesdaysClayton Planning Commission7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

Clayton Community CalendarPleASe SuBMiT youR CoMMuNiTy CAleNdAR eVeNTS By 5 P.M. MAy 4 FoR THe MAy 13 iSSue. iTeMS MuST Be SuBMiTTed By eMAil To [email protected]


Meeting dates and times for local clubsand organizations are listed at claytonpioneer.com. Click on ‘Links’

Clayton Valley CharterHigh School is committed toour mission that each studentgraduates and is prepared tobecome a first-class citizenwith a world-class education.My motto continues to be:“Students don’t care howmuch you know until theyknow how much you care.”

We have developed a keystrategy through intensive sup-port for students who go “off-track” academically. Our Tar-geted Case Management(TCM) program featuresstrong adult-to-student rela-tionships that enable us to fos-ter academic rigor and rele-vance for all students.

We offer a variety of inter-vention programs that supportstudent success, but TCM isdemonstrating positive resultsthat are “off the chart.” Thisprogram pairs students with Dand F grades with an academiccounselor or school adminis-trator. They provide addedacademic support, accountabil-ity and skill building for aca-demic success. Research showsthat students perform betterwhen they know that adults oncampus take an active personalinterest in their academicgrowth and achievement.

TCM staff meet regularlywith each of their students toreview grades, attendance,work habits, discipline andmissing assignments, as well asto build a caring, supportiverelationship. The staff reviewgrade printouts and developplans to support the students,including after-school tutoringwith peers, attendance at theirteachers’ office hours and testpreparation help.

The school sends out intro-duction letters to every family,so parents are aware who theirchild’s TCM staff member isand to support school-parentcommunication and partner-ship in education. The schoolalso sets up weekly automaticemails for every parent todetail the student’s currentgrades and attendance. If thefamily does not have an activeemail, then this information ismailed home.

The program has shown tobe successful, with about 75percent improvement in D andF grades during the firstsemester. After the first five-week grading period, 461 stu-dents were identified with Dsand Fs; these totaled 1,322individual grades. Studentsimproved more than 1,000grades by the end of the firstsemester. More than 700 hadimproved to a C or above.

We know “Rigorous”instruction, “Relevant” appli-cation of lessons and nurtur-

ing “Relationships” with stu-dents are the keys to makingsure students are college-bound and career-ready. Theprogram’s results prove thatsolid relationships encourageand empower students toembrace the rigor and rele-vance of the knowledge theyneed to be globally competitivein the 21st century.

I am proud of the results ofour TCM program, which haveconfirmed this belief. It is justone of the reasons why parentschoose Clayton Valley CharterHigh School for a quality edu-cation for their children.

For the past several years,Clayton Valley Charter hashad a lengthy waitlist of stu-dents who want to attend thearea’s only charter highschool.

Last month, the CVCHSgoverning board greenlightedthe administration’s request toincrease enrollment “up to thecapacity of the facilities,” cit-ing a need for additional stu-dents to keep the charter’sbudget balanced.

Executive director Dave

Linzey told the board heexpects an increase of 250from the approximate 1,990enrollment, primarily incom-ing freshmen. The Class of2020 would have about 750students. Another class of thissize would not occur until the2020 group graduates.

The increase would bringthe student body to about2,250, the largest in morethan 25 years. Clayton ValleyHigh School and other Mt.Diablo Unified School Dis-trict schools had large enroll-ment spikes in 1976 and1980, when Pacifica andPleasant Hill high schoolsclosed. CV had about 2,500

students during that era.Since the 1996-’97 schoolyear, enrollment has rangedbetween 1,800 and 2,000.

From the beginning of thecharter in 2012-’13, the schoolheld a lottery to prioritize stu-dents who were not within theMDUSD boundaries for Clay-ton Valley High. There aremore than 500 students on thewaitlist, after every ninth and10th grader within the bound-aries (plus siblings of currentCVCHS students) wereaccepted.

Linzey and his staff aredetermining how to best uti-lize rooms currently not usedfull-time for classes. Two

computer labs can be convert-ed to classrooms with rollinglaptops, enabling teachers tomake use of the technology intheir rooms.

At the meeting, foundingboard member Kevin King,who lives in a neighborhoodnear the school, expressedconcerns about street parkingbecoming scare with morestudents on campus. Linzeysaid the school is looking intoalternatives for additionalparking, including carpoolingand nearby lots.

It’s anticipated about sixnew faculty members wouldbe hired to meet the addition-al instructional demands.

Long-time science teacherKipp Penovich, CVCHSteacher’s union rep, says hesurveyed faculty and theywere “split around 50-50”about increasing enrollment.

“An increase in enrollmentcould impact the workingconditions for the teachers oncampus, which is a union con-cern,” he said. “Some ofthose working conditions arelogistical, some are financial.There have been general com-ments made regarding how toaccommodate the increase inenrollment, but no specificplan listing detailed benefitsand costs has been sharedwith the teachers.”


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Schools CVCHS takes step to increase enrollment this fall

Dig in and support Mt.Diablo Elementary School infunding a school garden to actas an outdoor classroom andfood education workshop. Thegoal is to raise enough funds toinstall six raised beds and anative garden in front of theschool by May 22. The stu-dents will be growing vegeta-bles and studying native plantsand butterfly gardens toenhance science curriculumand encourage good nutritionfor all students.

This garden is a communityeffort and requires communitysupport. To make a directfinancial contribution, goto gofundme.com/mtdia-bloelementary. Contact Laney

Cline King [email protected] tomake an in-kind contributionof garden tools, compost,native plants, drip irrigationsupplies or lumber. Email [email protected] to volun-teer at the Garden Work Dayfrom 2 to 5 p.m. on May 22 atMDES, 5880 Mt. Zion Drive,Clayton. Vote once a daythrough April 18 for the proj-ect to win a $20,000 grant. Goto seedsofchangegrant.comand search by zip code 94517or the garden name, Mt. Dia-blo Elementary School Gar-den. The top 50 organizationswith the most votes will moveon to the final judging phase.

Amy, Molly, and Grace DeSeelhorst with william, Char-lotte and laney Cline King plant themselves in the deSeel-horst’s garden with a message to sprout enthusiasm aboutgrowing a garden at the school.

More and more Americansare talking about the issue ofpolice killings of unarmedpeople. Many see a racial com-ponent behind these incidents,especially with the deaths ofAfrican-Americans.

One thing remains abun-dantly clear to me: Police offi-cers have killed far too manypeople when non-lethal forceshould’ve been applied instead.We need to ensure that officersare held accountable for inap-propriate actions.

According to the Washing-ton Post, 990 people were shotand killed by law enforcementin 2015. At least 90 of themwere unarmed. Of those,unarmed black males were

about seven times more likelythan white males to die frompolice gunfire.

Regardless of any racialcomponent, there is an impor-tant underlying problem. In fartoo many cases, police officersuse lethal force when it justisn’t necessary. A lack ofaccountability for police offi-cials is also an issue.

On Oct. 20, 2014, a 17-year-old black male, LaquanMcDonald, was in a confronta-tion with police officers inChicago. Though initial policereports claimed McDonaldlunged with a 3-inch knife atpolice officials, dashcamfootage showed what reallyhappened. McDonald, whowas holding a knife, was walk-ing away from law enforce-ment when Officer Jason VanDyke shot the teenage boy 16times – 15 times whenMcDonald was alreadymotionless on the ground.

After withholding the dash-cam footage from the public

for more than a year, officialsreleased it on Nov. 24, 2015.Van Dyke was charged withfirst-degree murder that sameday.

The lack of accountabilitythat police officers face is oneof the main reasons why peo-ple become outraged with thecriminal justice system. If itweren’t for the dashcamfootage, it is likely that VanDyke would have faced nocharges. In famous cases suchas the police killings of EricGarner, Tamir Rice andMichael Brown, none of thepolice officers involved wereindicted on any charges.

Due to the advancement oftechnology and rise of socialmedia, police officers are nowfacing more public scrutiny.More on-duty police officerswear body cameras, with publicopinion favoring the idea. Ayear-long study by the Univer-sity of South Florida showedthat police officers who worebody cameras faced signifi-

cantly less “use-of-force” situa-tions and received far fewercivil complaints from citizens.

For America, it’s time totake the extra step. If we wantto have police officers faceaccountability, we need toinsist on body cameras. Wemust set a precedent that letseveryone know that any sort ofpolice misconduct will not betolerated.

The job of a police officeris incredibly dangerous andstressful. We all understandthat. However, that does notmean they are above the law. Ifwe are serious about makingsure that police officers dotheir job of protecting citizens,we need to ensure accountabil-ity. Body cameras are the nextstep in any major reformregarding police brutality andmisconduct.

While some people go outof town for Spring Break, Ilike to stay home. There are alot of fun things to do in Clay-ton without the hassle of leav-ing town.

If you love the great out-doors, Mt. Diablo featuressome of the best hiking trailsin the Bay Area. One good trailis Mt. Olympia via North Peak,which is a 4.6-mile round tripthat involves a 1,670-footclimb. In the spring, a varietyof beautiful wildflowers fill thepath to Prospector’s Gap.Once you reach Mt. Olympia,you’ll find a wonderful view ofthe Central Valley.

If you are looking for alonger route, trek to EaglePeak. It’s a 6.3-mile round trip

at the far end of JuniperCampground loop road, with atotal climb of 1,490 feet. EaglePeak is a rocky area that alsoprovides a great view of theCentral Valley.

For a new challenge, optfor the Donner Canyon andFalls trail. This trail is a 5-milepartial loop that starts in a res-idential neighborhood. Thetrail follows Donner CanyonRoad until you get to the Fallstrail, which is a bit moreintense. This narrow trailshowcases the small waterfalls.

If you want a short familytrip, tour Black DiamondMines. The tour lasts 1½hours, starting at noon and 3p.m. weekends. The tour costs$5 per person and tickets canbe purchased at the Great -house Visitor Center.

Another option is the Clay-ton Historical Society’s Muse-um. You can take a tour of thesmall house in the downtownand learn about Clayton’s his-tory. Tours are 2-4 p.m.Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Natalie Pursche is in the seventhgrade at Diablo View MiddleSchool. She is an avid reader, enjoyswriting, and loves to spend time withher friends and family. Send com-ments to [email protected].

NaTalIe PURSCHe

DVMS CORRESPONDENT

David Linzey is executive direc-tor of CVCHS. Contact [email protected]

daVId lINZeY

VOYAGE OF THE EAGLE

Tommy Vo is a senior at Clay-ton Valley Charter High School.Send comments to [email protected].

MDES SproutsCommunity Garden

Case management programaims to improve grades

Body cams would help stopkillings of unarmed suspects

ToMMY Vo

TEEN SPEAK

With Mt. Diablo,adventure awaitsclose to home

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

Azalea plants are buddingand blooming throughout ourClayton Valley landscapes.

Most garden lovers can rec-ognize an azalea plant. They arefamiliar, dark green leafedshrubs, with spring throughearly summer orchid shapedflowers of many different col-ors.

Azalea plants need a goodbeginning. They are best whengrown in a light, compostedsoil. When installing or trans-planting azaleas, prepare thesoil by adding compost andusing a planting mix by theroots.

Make sure to give yourazalea the proper light. Theythrive in bright shade, filteredsun or morning sun. Toomuch sun will burn the blos-soms. With too much shade,your plant won’t bloom.

Azaleas need to be fertil-ized at the right times with the

proper mix. This time of year,feed with a product that hasmore phosphorus than nitro-gen. Pay attention to the num-bers on the products. Use a 2-10-10, 3-20-20 or a 0-10-10 tofeed the bloom and the roots.After the flowers have faded,fertilize to encourage growthand green. Use a fertilizer witha formula designed for acid-loving plants, applying every 4-6 weeks. Occasional doses ofiron may be needed as well. Ifyou have a drip system, use awater-soluble fertilizer. If youwater with sprinklers, get agranular product.

It’s important to evaluatethe azaleas in your landscapeor garden at this time of year.Azalea plants can appearwoody; this is natural. Checkthe soil around the plants. Cul-tivate the area to work oxygeninto the ground, and add a

layer of soil conditioneraround the plant’s drip line.This layer will help hold thefertilizer in place while itbreaks down.

When choosing an azaleafor the garden, consider whereit was grown. Nursery tagsoften list the name and city ofthe grower. Plants grown inhot and dry environments withfrost will do much better in ourClayton Valley landscapes thanthe ones grown in a green-house in Southern Californiaor Oregon.

The variety also matters.Some azalea plants arestronger than others. AzaleaRed Bird is a sturdy, brightpinkish red flower that hasdouble the traditional petals. Itsurvives well here. So doesPhoenicia with its lavenderbloom, Mistral with its largepink bloom and Happy Days

with double purple flowers. Azaleas are staple plants in

our Clayton Valley landscapesand gardens. Give them loveand reap the rewards.


For more information please contact

Ph: 925.672.9840travel-2-go.comClayton Station Shopping Center 5439,

Clayton Road (Suite F) – Clayton, CA(1)Sample discount is per person, based on double occupancy in a Club category room on select weeks at Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico, Sandpiper Bay, USA, PuntaCana, Dominican Republic. Discounts on other dates, room categories and/or at other resorts may vary. Blackout dates apply, including holidays and otherdates. Offer requires a 3-night minimum stay (7-night minimum for Columbus Isle). Available at select resorts. Does not include airfare. Valid for new individualbookings only for select travel dates with check-out on or before October 29, 2016 and must be booked by May 3, 2016. Offer is subject to capacity controland may increase at any time. (2) Sample $150 air credit is per person, based on a 7-night stay in a Suite category room on select weeks at Club Med PuntaCana, Dominican Republic and Club Med Cancun Yucatan, Mexico. Children between 12 and 15 years of age receive 60% of the air credit of an adult. Chil-dren between 4 and 11 years of age receive half of the air credit of an adult. Children under 4 do not receive an air credit. Credits on other dates, resorts, stayduration, room categories may vary. Blackout dates apply. Offer requires a 3-night minimum stay and air must be booked through Club Med. Offer availableonly at select North American resorts. Valid for new individual bookings only for select travel dates with check-out on or before October 29, 2016 and must bebooked by May 3, 2016. Offer is subject to capacity control and may increase at any time. (3) Offer available only at select North American resorts for selectroom categories and is subject to availability. In Punta Cana, free upgrade from a Club Family Room Village Center to a Deluxe Room Family Village Center.In Cancun Yucatan, free upgrade from a Club Family Oceanfront to a Deluxe Family Oceanfront or from a Club Room Oceanview to a Deluxe Room Ocean-front. In Ixtapa Pacific, free upgrade from a Club Room Oceanview to a Deluxe Family Room Oceanview or from a Club Family Room to a Deluxe FamilyRoom With Balcony. In Sandpiper Bay, free upgrade from a Club Room Family Bay View to a Deluxe Family Room or to a Deluxe room. In Turkoise, free up-grade from a Club Room Twin to a Deluxe Room Twin or from a Club Room King to a Deluxe Room King. Valid for new individual bookings only for selecttravel dates with check-out on or before October 29, 2016 and must be booked by May 3, 2016. Blackout dates apply. Offer is subject to capacity control andmay be withdrawn at any time. (4) Children aged under 4 years stay for free at our family destinations. Children aged 4-11 years stay at up to 50% off adultprice at select family resorts. Children aged 12-15 years stay at up to 40% off adult price at select family resorts. For flights that are booked through Club Med,tickets for children must be paid for by the client. Children who are eligible to stay for free must be lodged in the same room as the adults who are paying fortheir stay, or in a connecting room. Blackout dates may apply. Costs associated with Baby & Petit Club Med are at full day rate during entire stay booked. (5)Offer available only at select North American resorts. Valid for new individual bookings only for select travel dates with check-out on or before October 29,2016 and must be booked by May 3, 2016. Blackout dates apply. Offer is subject to capacity control and may be withdrawn at any time. General Conditions:Blackout dates apply, including holidays and other dates. For Turkoise all guests must be 18 and older. Guests at Columbus Isle must be 2 and older. ClubMed Membership fees of $60 per adult and $30 per child are additional. Other restrictions apply including brochure terms and cancellation/change fees. Notresponsible for errors or omissions. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. CST#: 2020955-50.

CST #2033054-40

LINDA LANDGRAF(925) 876-0311Real Estate Professional [email protected] BRE License #01504011

JuST liSTed

No Place Like Homewhen home is a 3 bedroom, 1.5 baths set back off a quiet street in the Clayton Highlands.From the eye catching curb appeal to the beautiful hardwood floors, family-size breakfastkitchen, updated bathrooms, and great schools, this home offers everything on your wish listincluding a sparkling pool and a tantalizing hot spa. You’ll love the myriad of flowers andshrubs, the delightful covered dining patio, built-in outdoor bar-b-que and your own backyardputting green. An opportunity not to be missed. Call for more information.

Sunday, May 8 • Two Seatings at 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.

$49.99++ adults • $28.99++ Children (ages 4-12)For reservations, contact (925) 672-9737 ext. 217 | [email protected]

1001 Peacock Creek drive, Clayton, Ca | www.oakhurstcc.com

If you’re looking for place to go for a delicious Mother’s day Brunch,come celebrate with mom and all the family at oakhurst Country Club

Your mother will enjoy our delectable selection of food, drink, and beautiful surroundings as part of her special day.

Complimentary beverage for Mothers

“You are being sued,”screams the headline on theemail you just received. Itcontinues to say you haven’tpaid your bill, so legal actionis being taken against you.

Being sued usuallyrequires notification from aprocess server. But you’reonly human, so you open theemail.

“Unpaid Invoice No.81721 for $1,827.32” toutsthe subject line of your email.You are curious and want tocorrect the record, so youopen it. The message indi-cates the amount they say youowe; just click the file to viewyour overdue invoice. Youdo, all the while thinkingwhich member of the familywas dumb enough to run up abill, not tell anyone and try toskip paying for it.

Or how about the onethat says: “You’re qualifiedfor a free credit card.” Allthey need is your approvaland you will have a card inthree days. Great deal, right?So, you open the email andgive them your name.

I’m sure you’ve heard theold saw, “If it sounds toogood to be true, it probablyis.” Well, right here, rightnow, I am officially reframingthat phrase to be: “If it’s toobad to be true, it is a scam.”

We are all prone to give into our feelings. Scammersknow this and take advantage

of our feelings by saying out-rageous things. Your naturalinstinct is to react to set therecord straight.

My all-time favorite is,“Hi I’m from Microsoft andyour computer is infected;just call this number forMicrosoft support.” Let mebe perfectly clear: Microsoftwill not contact you. Ever.They don’t have reps thatlook for viruses, and theydon’t have techs who willremotely access your com-puter to help you out.

If you open one of theseoutrageous emails and per-form any task, like looking atthe fake invoice or calling theMicrosoft support line fortechnical assistance, you havejust been scammed. Enough!Stop it.

If they say they are goingto sue you, let them. Theythreaten your credit rating –OK, bring it on. Fight thesescams with intelligence,patience and a great deal ofskepticism. Then just ignoreit, press delete and eradicatethe email bearing such ridicu-lous information.

Don’t open emails frompeople you don’t know. As ahuman, I know this is toughto do, but stiffen yourresolve.

This week has been espe-cially harsh to users opening

emails, more than I have everseen or heard. They rangefrom scams like those aboveto ransomware. Scammersprey on your feelings ofinjustice or curiosity. Butwhen you fall for it, you losemoney – gobs of it in somecases.

Here’s a special alertabout getting hit with a cryp-to locker virus, when all yourdata is held hostage. But theysay you can get it back – justpay the ransom. So now theywant your trust.

Like quicksand, they suckyou in. They are going tomake it better if you just sendmoney for an unlock key.They get your credit cardnumber and give it to a Bit-coin center for (wink-wink)secure processing. Then theysay they will send it to thescammer in untraceable cur-rency and request a key.

Well, you just gotscammed. Your credit cardnumber is now all over theInternet, your data may neverbe recovered and you’re out500 bucks. But that’s not theend of it.

So what can you do? First,don’t open emails from peo-ple you don’t know. Second,get a backup system and usethe grandfather, father, sonbackup scheme (Google it).And, lastly, be suspicious ofeverything. It’s up to you tobe vigilant.

It’s a scam – it saysso right in this email

NICole HaCKeTT

GARDEN GIRL

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden.You can contact her with questions orcomments by email at [email protected]

Lush azaleas a natural for Clayton gardens

wIll ClaNeY

TECH TALK

William Claney is an independenttech writer and former owner of Com-puters USA in the Clayton Station.Email questions or comments to [email protected].

San Quentin, Carroll providesinmates with tools and assis-tance to become contributingmembers of society, provingthat with preparation and sup-port, the cycle of incarcerationcan be broken.

“It is an honor to recognizeCollette for her courageouswork and its impact on Califor-nia,” said Bonilla. “Her dedica-tion, passion and commitmenthave transformed the lives ofCRI graduates. The work shehas accomplished inside andoutside of our prisons formore than 16 years proves thatchange and rehabilitation canhappen, when given the oppor-tunity and support.”

This isn’t the first time Car-

roll has been widely recognizedfor her work. Last August, shewas named a “CNN Hero.”The humble Carroll isn’t surehow to feel about the honors.“It’s not about me, it’s neverbeen about me,” she said. “Butwhat I had to come to under-stand was that this enables meto give a voice to the men whohave worked so very hard tochange and prepare to be anasset to society. Because thetruth is, while we [CRI] givethem the tools, they are theones who do the work.”

Carroll created CRI in2008, after volunteering at theprison for years. She realizedthe work she was doing wassimply scratching the surface

and in order to make a success-ful transition from incarcera-tion to freedom, the men need-ed a solid and seamless pre-and post-release program. Thecomprehensive program whichCollette runs inside SanQuentin is for a minimum 20months. She has a remarkable,zero percent recidivism rate forall graduates.

Carroll said that the honorhas “opened some doors, and Iam being invited to the tableand my expertise in reentry isbeing listened to.”

She is considering expand-ing to other institutions andwants to open more reentryhouses. “We have offered toassist anyone who wants to lis-ten to what we believe is thekey to our success,” said Car-roll, who would also like to

help other reentry programsrun effectively.

“But of course, this alltakes time and money ... and asyou know, I’m still doing all ofthis as a volunteer,” she added.

Carroll gives a lot of creditto her late husband Roland,who helped her start her enter-prise. “I’d like to think hewould say, ‘Well done, honey,but where’s the money to helpopen more houses and contin-ue providing the support serv-ices when these men comehome?’ ”

Locals can help CRI byshopping at 2nd Chance Bou-tique, 4305 Clayton Road,Concord. It offers gently usedand new fashionable apparel.

For more information aboutCRI, visit www.californiareentryin-stitute.org.

I’m thinking of a piece offurniture. It easily endures thewear and tear of kicked-up feeton movie night. This piece offurniture sometimes quietlynestles at the end of a bed orloudly jumps for joy in a rain-bow of colors in the kids’ play-room. It’s happy to be the cen-ter of attention in a great roomor decoratively stored as a pairunder a console table.

Pouf, cube, bench, stool –its name varies depending on

where it’s placed. Whethertufted in fabric or leather,round, square, rectangular,oval, with castors or feet,ottomans are an all-aroundessential piece of furniture toincorporate into just about anyliving space.

HERE, THERE … EVERYWHERE

When describing anottoman, some might think ofthe coordinating foot rest thatoccasionally comes with alounge chair. This typicalottoman is functional andcomfortable, but ottomans canbe so much more.

They can anchor seatingarrangements by taking overthe job of a traditional coffeetable. They can be stylish andfunctional when placed at theend of a bed or inside a walk-in closet and used as a com-fortable place to sit and put onshoes, or when they poke outfrom under a piano for extraseating.

Think of them for ministorage solutions in the kids’playroom, outside on thepatio, as extra seating in theliving room when the ladiescome for cocktails or as achic accent in the powderroom for holding guests’purses. The ottoman can beplaced just about anywhere,inside and out, and provide afunctional purpose.

SECRET STORAGESome ottomans have hol-

low interiors, which makethem great little storage units.Larger, coffee table sizedottomans are perfect to storeboard games or cozy throws inthe great room. Or use abench-sized ottoman at theend of a bed to house extrasheets and pillows.

Cube ottomans are usuallyabout 18 inches by 20 inchessquare. Some are hollow forstorage, and some also havereversible tops. One side is likethe upholstered body, and oneside has a flat table-top surface.These ottomans are great clus-tered in place of a traditional

coffee table for smaller livingspaces, as they provide a dualfunction.

LEATHER OR OUTDOORFABRIC

When adding an ottomaninto your living space, selectthe upholstery based on howthe ottoman will be used –just like any other piece offurniture. If the ottoman ismore for decorative purpos-es, you don’t need to be over-ly concerned with the dura-bility of the fabric. But ifyou’re considering a largecoffee table sized ottomanthat will probably be nearfood, lounging feet and

shoes, a more durable uphol-stery is best.

Leather is always a goodoption for an ottoman thatwill receive a lot of use, aswell as outdoor fabric madeof synthetic fibers. Manypopular retailers are offeringoutdoor fabrics as upholsteryoptions for outdoor andindoor use because of thewide range of colors and tex-tures, resistance to stains anddurability.


RochellezRochellezPhotography

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Rochelle DouglassOWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER

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“Helping seniors live successfully

in their own homes.”

To become a part of this grassroots community effort, contact ourOutreach Director at 925-672-8717 or [email protected]

We are now looking for Volunteers who want to help Seniors in our community by driving them tothe doctor, changing light bulbs, explaining what an “app” is.You do NOT have to be a Member to be a Volunteer!

Services will be FREE tomembers and will include

• Transportation to appoint-ments and grocery shopping

• Handyman services for rou-tine home maintenance

• Computer/smartphone help

Opening next year to serve seniorsin Clayton & South Concord

Prison, from page 1

If diamonds are a girl’s bestfriend, then I believe shoes are aclose second. After all, there aretwo things you can never havetoo many of: good friends andgood shoes.

This spring is the ideal timeto “pump” up your shoewardrobe. Here are the sevenmust-have spring shoes for2016:

Ankle-strap or ankle-wrap.Ankle-strap or wrap sandals gowith anything and give theappearance of lengthening yourlegs. A delicately wrapped orstrapped ankle adds a dose ofwhimsy to your look. Theseshoes pair especially well withflowing dresses, culottes andskirts. If you want more than alittle wrap and less whimsy,choose from the wide variety ofgladiator styles that take thewrap up the calf.

Ballet flats. This quintes-sential run-around shoe is apreppy wardrobe staple – and acall to the inner ballerina in us all.The flat is a three-in-one shoe.They are my go-to travel andtransitional shoe. They are easyto take off and on (if you don’tscore TSA pre-check), they keepyour feet comfortable when theAC is blasting on the plane, andthey are the answer to what towear when you’re traveling fromthe arctic North to the sunnySouth. Added bonus: You canrun to your gate, if necessary.This year-round shoe is bestworn with skinny or straight-legged pants.

Stacked heels. The ’90sstyle stacked or block heel is asolid foundation with fast trackstyle. Look for a stacked heelwith a bold buckle, or a cool,minimalist mule; both looks aretrending in spring shoes. Astacked heel looks chic withskirts, blue jeans or a dress. Thehigher the heel, the closer toheaven.

Platform wedges. Thesehave stood the test of time andremain a popular choice forspring. The wardrobe staplereaches new heights without sac-rificing comfort. They take pres-sure off your feet, leaving youpain-free at the end of the day.

Wedges are best worn withboot-cut pants, casual dresses,skirts or shorts.

Casual sneakers. Whitecanvas Keds were the hallmarkof summer in the ’60s. Thanksto their durability and washabili-ty, the shoes could get dirty andyou wouldn’t get in trouble.Today’s sneakers may not bewashable, but they are just asversatile. You’ll find a variety ofcolor, metallic, leathers, laces andheel-height, making them theweekend shoe of choice.

Flat sandals. I must admitI’ve practically lived in ToryBurch flip-flops the past threeyears. How can you beat thecomfort of a thong sandal? Withthe endless flat sandal optionsavailable this spring, my flip-

flops look rather pedestrian. It’stime for intervention or reinven-tion. Choose from strappy,embellished, tasseled or fringedsandals that add a kick to yourstep. Wear with shorts, sundress-es, maxi skirts or dresses.

Espadrilles. Cool classicsummer espadrilles have beenelevated to new heights. Theinexpensive canvas espadrilles ofthe past have gone upscale, withdesigners having their own ver-sions crafted in leather, suedeand metallics. They’re cool, com-fortable and classic – the otherthree Cs of your new bestfriend. When you wear shortskirts, culottes, shorts or ankle-pants, consider tossing on aneasy espadrille.

Fabulous shoes are likefriends, they should be appreci-ated and celebrated. Step out thisspring well-heeled. You havemore options than ever before.

If you need a place to donateshoes and clothes you no longerwear, check out Wardrobe forOpportunity’s monthly publicsale events in Concord. Visitwww.wardrobe.org.

Step out of the ordinary with sparklysneaks paired with skirts or jeans

Don’t trip over the ottoman – just use it wisely

SUSaN SaPPINGToN

CLOTHES UP

Susan Sappington is the AreaDevelopment Manager and WardrobeConsultant for ETCETERA Cloth-ing of New York. Send comments [email protected].

JeNNIFeR leISCHeR

DESIGN & DÉCOR

Jennifer Leischer is the owner ofJ. Designs Interior Design based inClayton. Contact her with questions,comments and suggestions [email protected].

This spring,switch up yourcleaning routine

Spring is the perfect time toget last year’s dirt out of yourhome. If you are about to diginto that sometimes dreadedchore, start by making aswitch. Or several.

SWITCH …The Mattress. Turn it over,

and then switch the top of themattress to the bottom of thebed. This reduces concaveareas and should be repeatedevery six months. Vacuummattresses using the uphol-stery attachment on your vacu-um cleaner.

Ceiling Fan. Turn the switchon your ceiling fan so theblades are moving counterclockwise, pushing the airdownward. Dust the top andsides of the fan blades with amicrofiber cloth.

Storm Windows. Take outyour storm windows andreplace with screens. Washwindows inside and out using adrop of liquid dish soap pertwo gallons of water and agood squeegee. You will getthe best results if you washwindows on a cloudy, notsunny, day because sunlightdries the glass quickly, causingit to streak.

Baking Soda. It’s time totake out the old baking sodafrom your refrigerator andreplace it with a new box. Toclean the inside of the fridge,use a cleaning solution of 1/4cup baking soda to 1 quart ofwarm water. Don’t forget towipe down the rubber gasketaround the edge of the door.

Your Wardrobe. Exchangewinter clothes for summer

ones. Call your local charityand donate any clean, unwant-ed clothing.

Your Child’s Toys. If the toybox is overflowing, take outseveral toys that won’t benoticed and store them in theattic or another out-of-the-wayspot. In the fall or after a birth-day, take out the stored boxand switch those toys with oth-ers in the toy box.

Spices. Replace spices thathave not been used in morethan a year. Spices tend to losetheir potency over time. Wipeclean the interior of the cabi-nets with warm water and amild detergent. If you find alot of crumbs or food parti-cles, vacuum cupboards anddrawers before cleaning.

Air Filter. Change your fur-nace filter so it is ready fornext winter.

Clayton resident Karen Bred-benner is a cleaning expert and theowner of the Maids in Concord. Formore information about the Maids,go to www.maids.com or call Karenat 925-798-6243.

KaReN BRedBeNNeR

KEEP IT CLEAN

How perfect for this base-ball deficient reviewer to havefinished Darryl Brock’sabsolutely smashing novel,“If I Never Get Back,”before baseball’s 2016 open-ing day on April 3.

I’m ahead of the game onone level, behind on anotherin that this novel was new inits 2003 Plume edition.

Though I’ma fan ofn e i t h e rb a s e b a l lnor timetravel, Il o v e dB r o c k ’ snovel, whichis all aboutboth. It’s alsoa fabuloush i s t o r i c a lnovel, aromance and ashoot ’em upWestern. Onelast draw for usWest Coast folk: t h estory begins and ends (possi-bly) in the Bay Area.

The novel opens as pro-tagonist Sam Fowler, slowlyself-destructing due to hisdivorce, limited visits with hisdaughters, drinking andincreasingly sloppy journal-ism, learns of his estrangedfather’s death. He flies toCleveland to identify and dis-

pose of his father’s remains. Sam decides to return to

California by Amtrak, takingtime to think and to see thecountry. When the train stopsfor a tie-up in Toledo, hesteps off to stretch his legsand slake his hangover. Whilewaiting, he experiences a feel-ing he describes as “milki-ness,” accompanied by mem-ories of remorseful conversa-tions with his young daugh-ters, a weird visitation of red-winged black birds andblurred vision.

“Then, for a distinctinstant, emerging from thewhite light, I saw a humanfigure. … In the background,on a hill across a stream ornarrow river, a group of peo-ple stood in hazy tableau,looking at me.” When Fowler

fully regains hisfaculties, hefinds himselfalone and theAmtrak gone.He’s “not inKansas any-more.”

W h e nSam climbsaboard thew o o d e ncoach of as t e a me n g i n eh e a d i n gback toC l e v e -

land, we willinglyclimb aboard with him. Theyear is 1869, and his fellowpassengers are the CincinnatiRed Stockings – America’sfirst professional baseballteam.

What follows is a series ofstories within the main story:the fascinating history ofbaseball, its rules, its equip-ment, hucksters, fans andplayers; a clairvoyant for

whom Sam’s appearance isnot a surprise; a lovesickSamuel Clemens; a band ofIrish American patriots benton freeing Ireland from itstyrannical yoke; and the spiritof a young Irishman slain inthe Civil War at Antietam.

Along the way, Sambecomes a substitute player,

sports journalist and gamemarketer extraordinaire,bonding with the team (andwith Cait, the sister of hisfavorite teammate) as theytravel on a national tour, win-ning game after game.

Sam finds love with Cait, acache of ill-gotten thousandsand a price on his head, as the

unbeaten Stockings travel onthe newly completed Conti-nental Railroad to the WestCoast for more ball games.The reader has hardly amoment to consider whichSan Francisco Sam will returnto, or what he will do ineither case.

This book will not disap-

point, whether you long tohear “Play ball!” or “Allaboard!”


• 3799 Saint Peter Ct, Concord4 bedroom, 2 bathroom Approx. 1874sq.ft. $659,900

Listing agent: Matt Mazzei

• 959 Alla Dr, Concord 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Approx. 1637sq.ft. $599,000

Listing agent:Matt Mazzei

• 5216 Valmar Dr, Concord 3 bedroom, 2bathroom Approx. 1100sq.ft. $475,000

Listing agent: Matt Mazzei

• 4407 Praire Willow Ct, Concord 4 beds, 2 bath, Approx. 2871sq.ft. $769,900

Listing agent:Rula Masannat

ACTIVE LISTINGS

Matt Mazzei, Jr., Broker/OwnerBRE# 01881269

925-766-6745

[email protected]

mazzeirealty.net 925-693-07576160 Center St. Suite #C, Clayton

Clayton Residents since 1959

Robert Moody & Bay Area RealtySelling Clayton for Nearly 30 years!

Clayton

Clayton

BRE# 00984573

NEW LISTING – 1830 Yolanda CircleOver 2,000 sq. ft. with a pool. $800,000

Black Diamond — Clayton. Sold at $570,000

Phone:925-673-8900

Email:[email protected]

Office located in downtown Clayton

6160 Center St.Suite #C,Clayton, CA

Trains, baseball, time travel – what more could a reader want?

Most animated comediesdo not tackle deep, societalissues. They can be typicallytaken at face value, with char-acters overcoming some sortof personal struggle.

It is difficult to balancelaughs with genuine socialcommentary. But co-direc-tors and co-writers ByronHoward (“Tangled,” “Bolt”)and Rich Moore (“Wreck-itRalph”) largely pull off a per-fect mix in “Zootopia.” Hir-ing quality actors to do thevoices always helps.

Rabbits, while always cute,are often the funniest charac-ters in animated fare.Thumper, Bugs Bunny andRoger Rabbit are some of themost iconic bunnies fromcartoons, so Judy Hopps

(flawlessly voiced by GinniferGoodwin) has big shoes tofill.

All she’s ever dreamed ofis becoming the first rabbitpolice officer in Zootopia.Always told she’s too smalland weak to make it as a cop,Judy perseveres. Yes, Judymust surmount the odds inher personal struggle. How-ever, the writers make it notonly about an entire speciesattempting to conquer per-ceived deficiencies, but aboutwomen as well.

Throughout her journey,Judy keeps a level head –endeavoring to find thehumor among her many try-ing situations. Upon arrivingin Zootopia, she gets griftedby a fox, Nick Wilde (JasonBateman in another excellentcasting choice). In a clever,funny game of one-upsman-ship, they both figure out theother isn’t so bad after all.Goodwin and Bateman havea lot of chemistry together,even as animated characters.

As the friendship buildsbetween Judy and Nick, theytry to solve a case believed tobe unsolvable. A visit to theDMV elicits some heartychuckles. But at this point,the film becomes more of a

whodunit than a comedy. It’snot until the third act that themovie delivers its most pow-erful message.

“Zootopia” sacrificeslaughs for lessons as the filmmoves toward its climax. Thecity has been living in com-plete harmony. Predators andprey live together in a civi-lized society. No one tries toeat anyone. When it comes tolight that someone is causinga handful of predators torevert to their primal form,protests and chaos ensue.

Should an entire speciesof animals be judged on even

the chance that a scant few ofthem may return to their pri-mal state? If parents are ableto decipher this message fortheir kids after they leave thetheater, the creators havedone a great service.

“Zootopia” is one ofthose rare movies that is atonce funny, sweet and social-ly conscious. B+

‘Zootopia’ blends laughter, life lessons

A BUNNY AND A FOX (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and JasonBateman) deal with a dMV-working sloth in disney’sZootopia.

SUNNY SoloMoN

FOR THE BOOKS

Sunny Solomon is a freelancewriter and head of the Clayton BookClub. Visit her website at bookinwithsunny.com for her latestrecommendations or just to ‘talkbooks.’

JeFF MellINGeR

SCREEN SHOTS

Jeff Mellinger is a screen writerand film buff. He holds a BA inFilm Studies and an MFA in filmproduction. He lives in Concord.Email comments to [email protected].

Just in time for my birthdaylast month, hubby and I tookoff for a seven-day MexicanRiviera cruise. It amazes methat cruise lines so rarely high-light the local cuisine of theirdestinations, and this cruisewas no exception.

It seems such a shame tooverlook the fresh seafood,spices and flavors of Mexico.However, I’ve always wanderedthe marketplaces, road-sidefood stands and restaurants ofour ports of call.

In Puerto Vallarta, I spentthe day strolling the Malecon –visiting food vendors and mar-kets and enjoying a deliciouslunch at a hillside restaurantoverlooking Banderas Bay. Ispeak a little Spanish, and Ifind it opens some doors tolearning about local cuisine.

At Sí Señor, I had longchats with my waiter, the

restaurant owner and the day’schef about the food they werepreparing. At the next tableover, a young couple orderedguacamole. After a few min-utes, the waiter appeared with atray groaning with two largeavocados and bowls of onion,cilantro, garlic, tomato, limesand – surprise – a bottle ofavocado oil. I’ve never thoughtabout adding avocado oil toguacamole but discovered itmakes for an exceptionallysilky, delicious dip. Coupledwith house-made tortilla chips,it was an excellent appetizer.

At my table, the tortillachips were accompanied by redand green salsas. The lightgreen version featured puréedtomatillos, chiles, onion andavocado. It was the salsa roja,however, that captured byattention. The chef toasted theveggies before blending them,but it was a secret ingredientthat took it over the top.

According to the restaurantowner, the salsa roja is madefrom grill-charred serranos,onions, tomatoes and garlicand puréed in the blender withKnorr chicken bouillon(“caldo de pollo”). It’s thenseasoned with coarse local seasalt. A dash of vinegar provid-ed a touch of acidity that madethe salsa addictive.

In Mazatlan, I found theOld Town market centerbustling with locals (and not afew tourists) negotiating pur-chases of fresh fruits, meatsand seafood. This is no sani-

tized grocery store experience;in fact, the marketplace is quiterustic by American standards –filled with questionable aromasand non-stop swatting of fly-ing insects.

The pigs’ heads were dis-concerting and the cuts of beefand array of animal organsweren’t what you typically seein a meat case in the UnitedStates. But just about every-thing I saw in the produceareas you’d also find in Califor-nia. The prices (U.S. dollar topeso) for fresh commoditieswere reasonable – even cheap– but canned, frozen andprocessed foods were quitehigh.

Our last port of call was inCabo San Lucas, and I admit toquaffing a happy hour margari-ta (oh, all right, maybe I hadmore than one) at 10 in themorning. While I don’t recallmuch else about the port, I cantell you that I made it back onthe ship on time to sail home.

Food tales from the Mexican Riviera

Spring onions a lively addition to dishes

Spring onions are a varietyof green onion or scallion witha strong flavor. They lookalmost like green onions,except their white bulbs arelarger and more defined.

All of the spring onion isedible. They’re sweeter andmellower than regular onions,but the greens are moreintense in flavor than scallions.The bulbs can be red or white,depending on the variety. Theyare great grilled, roasted wholeor used like pearl onions.

They can be used inter-changeably with green onionsbut add a stronger flavor. Diceor chop them and add to

sauces, stir fries and other dish-es. Grilled or roasted, they canbe served as a garnish or sidevegetable. Or caramelize thespring onions to bring outtheir natural sweetness andcomplex flavors in eggs, quich-es or savory tarts.

When purchasing, look forcrisp green leaves with no wilt-ing or yellowing and firm, well-formed bulbs. Store in therefrigerator for no more than afew days or they will lose theirdistinctive strong flavor.

BUTTER-BRAISEDSPRING ONIONS

8 spring onions (about 1lb.), root ends trimmed

4 T. (1/2 stick) unsaltedbutter, divided

Kosher salt Put onions in a large skillet,

trimming top of dark greens tofit. Add 2 T. butter and 1/2 c.water to skillet; season withsalt. Bring to a boil; cover.

Reduce heat and simmeronions until greens are softand bulbs are almost tender,15-20 minutes. Uncover andcook, turning onions occa-sionally, until bulbs are com-pletely tender, 5-8 minuteslonger.

Transfer onions to a plate.Simmer cooking liquid in skil-let until reduced to 2 T., about1 minute. Remove from heatand whisk in remaining 2 T.butter. Return onions to skilletand turn to coat with sauce.Serve.

lINda wYNeR

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Linda Wyner owns Pans on Fire,a gourmet cookware store and cookingschool in Pleasanton. Send suggestionsor questions to [email protected]

Photo: pacificsailor.com

ALTHOUGH SIMILAR IN SOME WAYS TO U.S WITH BOOTHS FILLED WITH FRESH FRUIT, vegetables anditems found in grocery stores, they are vastly different in other ways. In Mexico, the entireanimal is eaten. Nothing is wasted. along with whole chickens and seafood, you mightsee carved cow heads and pig snouts.

DEBRAMORRIS

Pacific Coast Farmers Market

The Clayton Farmers Marketreturns May 14 and will run Satur-days, 8 a.m. to noon, thru August.

Advertise in the Clayton Pioneer.925-672-0500


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Documents

APR 8 Clayton Pioneer 2016