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Things are revving up atClayton Valley Charter HighSchool’s auto shop, thanks toa $300,000 grant from theRotary Club of Clayton Val-ley.
Club president DaveKemnitz, who owns D & HAuto Repair with two shopsin Concord, recognized thatthe state of auto repairinstruction was broken at thehigh school level.
“With no new blood com-ing into the industry, we findourselves in a position wherethe average age of a shopowner or journey level tech-nician is 56 years old,” saidKemnitz. “With more than60,000 jobs available, we see
the need to put fire in the bel-lies of young people. It’sbecome necessary to growour own help.”
The beneficiary of theupgrade, CVCHS shopteacher John Ouimet, isunderstandably excited:“There have been very littleupdates to the program sincethe early 1960s,” he said. “Forexample, we can’t even serv-ice many of the tires onnewer vehicles.”
Ouimet, who came toteach at Clayton 10 years agoafter a career in engineering,sees the upgrades as a way forhis students to get a leg up onfurther training and employ-ment.
“Our program, even with
The winding Marsh CreekRoad east of Clayton proveddoubly tragic last week as sepa-rate accidents claimed the livesof two local 21-year-old men.
Early in the morning onSunday, Aug. 30, Clayton resi-dent Marcus Muskat was killedwhen his motorcycle veeredoff the road and crashed into astreet sign just west of MorganTerritory Road.
The following Thursdaymorning around 3:10 a.m.,Clayton Valley Charter HighSchool graduate and Claytonresident Jeremiah Corey diedwhen the Mercury Moun-taineer he was driving east on
Marsh Creek Road, just east ofMorgan Territory Road, drift-ed into the westbound lane andoff the roadway. He was pro-
nounced dead at the scene.While the California High-
way Patrol has determined thatspeed was a factor in Muskat’s
crash, it was too early at presstime to determine the cause ofCorey’s crash, or if alcohol ordrugs played a role in either ofthe accidents, said CHP Lt.Steve Perea.
Still, most local driversknow that the two-lane road-way — used as a link betweenCentral and East County —can be dangerous, especially atnight as more wildlife roam.
“Marsh Creek Road wasnever intended to become acommute corridor, though weall know that over time it hasbecome just that,” says ClaytonCity Council member JuliePierce, President of the Asso-ciation of Bay Area Govern-
ments and a member of theMetropolitan TransportationCommission. “The completionof Highway 4 East throughBrentwood should help to alle-viate much of that traffic asthe freeway will be a quickerroute to destinations in the 680corridor and beyond. Thatsaid, it is likely that MarshCreek Road will always be a‘shortcut’ for many. The roadis designated as a two-lane sce-nic corridor and due to envi-ronmental constraints is highlyunlikely to ever be widenedbeyond that.”
She says that while nomajor safety improvements arecurrently planned by the coun-
ty, there may be a future fund-ing opportunities for minorimprovements such as left turnpockets. “As with any otherroad, people need to slowdown and pay attention whiledriving that route,” she said.
Perea echoes that senti-ment. “Drivers have to be cau-tious on that road,” he said.While there are some straightsight-lines, there are also blindcurves, and it is important topay attention, he said. Any dis-traction could cause a driver toveer off the road, or intooncoming traffic.
MayorShuey ison hiatusthis issue.He will be
back on the front-page in October.
IT’S YOUR PAPER
www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015 925.672.0500
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What’s InsideAround Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2
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Community Calendar . . . . .13
Directory of Advertisers . . . .7
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The luminarias may be out now,but that doesn’t mean that the lightfrom the 2015 Clayton Relay for Lifeisn’t still burning bright.
While the 24-hour walk-a-thon tohelp fund cancer research is signifi-cant in communities across thenation, there is something unique thathappens here.
What makes Relay for Life ofClayton, which ran Aug. 15 and 16, sosuccessful, so magical, so meaningfuland memorable for so many? Whydoes it have such an overwhelmingimpact on each participant?
It may not be in strength of num-bers, but in the passion of the localparticipants.
“This awful disease has taken toomany lives from me!” says NancySalmon, one of the tri-leads for theevent.
Clayton is one of the smallesttowns in the Bay Area to participate inRelay for Life yet their fundraisingdollars are double and even triple thatof more affluent and even much larg-er cities in California.
More than 60 survivors of cancerwalked in the Clayton Relay this year.A mere 15 teams participated andabout 300 people took on the 24-hourchallenge. These are not huge num-bers, statistically they may be even lessthan surrounding communities. YetClayton’s Relay raised more than$90,000.Photo courtesy of Relay for Life
A jubilant Nancy Salmon (center) announces that the Clayton Relay for Life met its fundraising goal. Withher are leadership team members Kathy DeBoever (left) and Sydney Alcock (right).
Two Clayton men die in Marsh Creek accidents
On a quiet September morning14 years ago, nearly 3,000 innocentpeople lost their lives in the worstterrorist attack in American history.
As we look back on the eventsthat took place in New York, Penn-sylvania and Virginia, it is importantto remember the people we lost andto honor the heroic men and womenwho rushed to the scene as firstresponders and saved countless lives,even when it meant giving their own.
Every year since 2002, the fire-fighters of Station 11 have set 343small flags in the grass in front ofthe station to remember each of thefirefighters and law enforcementofficers lost in the terrorist attack onSept. 11, 2001.
The flags will be up through theweekend. The public is encouragedto visit the memorial and spend afew minutes in gratitude for the 343first-responders who lost their livesthat day.
We Remember
See Big Relay, page 6
See Accidents, page 6
See Auto Shop, page 3
Rotary Club pledges $300,000 to fuel CV auto shop
Tamara Steiner
CVCHS STUDENTS KADEN NIEPRASCHK, STEPHANIE DERICKSON, teacher John Ouimet, AllynMoise and Jerron Miller gear up for new auto shop gear, thanks to a Rotary Club grant
Small town, big RelayPAT MIDDENDORF
Special to the Pioneer
PEGGY SPEAR
Clayton Pioneer
JOHN T. MILLER
Clayton Pioneer
JEREMIAH COREY MARCUS MUSKAT
Tamara Steiner
Congressman MarkDeSaulnier wrapped up a busyday in the District last weekwith a Town Hall meeting at theClayton Library on Sept. 3. Itwas his 10th Town Hall meetingsince taking office in January.
More than 100 constituentscrowded into Hoyer Hall forthe 90 minute meeting. Duringthe first half hour, the fresh-man congressman covered thebasics – an overview of the dis-trict demographics, supportservices available at the districtoffice and a rundown of hiswork in the House of Repre-sentatives this year.
DeSaulnier then took ques-tions from the audience on top-ics that varied widely includingendangered species legislation,student loan debt, sanctuarycities, fracking and the declineof the middle class. The lasthalf hour was devoted to a dis-cussion of the Iran nucleararms deal. At the time of themeeting, DeSaulnier said he
was leaning toward supportingthe deal.
Earlier in the day, the con-gressman visited the LomaVista Adult Center and YgnacioValley Elementary School toview new cafeteria and kitchenequipment purchased recentlywith USDA grants. DeSaulnieris sponsoring legislation thatwould expand the grand pro-gram and modernize cafeteriasto improve federal nutritionalstandards.For questions andcomments, contact Congress-man DeSaulnier’s DistrictOffice, in Walnut Creek, 101Ygnacio Valley Rd., Ste 210,(925) 933-2660, on Facebook atRepMarkDeSaulnier or throughthe website atwww.desaulnier.house.gov.
Clayton Valley Presbyter-ian church is welcoming theRev. Dr. Barbara Barkley tothe congregation.
Rev. Barkley has workedfor the last 19 years as both apastor and a musician. Shehas a strong commitment andpassion for social justice andhas done peace and assistancework in Brazil, Alabama,North Carolina, New Mexicoand with immigrants, womenand the homeless populationin the San Francisco BayArea.
She values and appreciates
different kinds of worshipand has started several Praiseservices and Taize serviceswithin different congrega-tions as well as enjoying tradi-tional worship styles.
Rev. Barkley loves workingwith children and often usesher music, dance, drama andsign language skills to engagethem. She is a parent to threechildren, ages 15, 12 and 10.While spending most of herlife in the San Francisco BayArea, she has also servedchurches in Arizona andOhio.
5860 Clayton Rd . . . . . . . . . $1,075,000 . . .4127 . . . . . .5/3.5 . . . . .8/14/15
29 Mt. Wilson Way. . . . . . . . $465,000 . . . . .1378 . . . . . .3/2.5 . . . . .8/14/15
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Page 2 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
Around Town Mudville joins Clayton’s
heart brigade
Ed’s Mudville Grill can now offer up more than just greateating. The restaurant is the latest recipient of an AutomaticExternal Defibrillator (AED) provided by the CBCA and Clay-ton CERT. With this addition, there are now five public accesslocations: City Hall — 3rd Floor, Clayton Library, Clayton PoliceDepartment has three AEDs in vehicles, Skipolini’s and Ed’sMudville.
Spring Bocce League finishes with spirited matchThe spring season of the
CBCA Clayton Bocce Leagueended in July with dramaticmatches held at the Ipsen Fam-ily Bocce Park between thefour top teams in the 70-teamleague.
Ed’s Mudville Grill No. 9won the gold medal and hasnow won back-to-back leaguesincluding the 2014 Fall League.Weeballs, an all women’s teamin their first season, won thesilver medal for second place.The bronze medal for thirdplace was won by Dieci Amici.The Ipsen Family Bocce Parkis operated and maintained bythe CBCA. The SummerLeague is currently underwayand will end on Nov. 1. Thepark is open for free and rentalplay when not in league use.For more information please visitwww.claytoncbca/bocce.
New pastor for CV Presbyterian
DeSaulnier Town Hall meeting draws big audience
Photo courtesy Clayton Bocce Federation
TWO-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPS, Ed’s Mudville Grill No. 9: (Back)Sam Savage, Ricky Nolen, Larry Mullen, Aldo Ricetti andMike Ghelfi. Front row, Carol Ricetti-Nolen, Linda Mullenand Julie Ghelfi
DR. BARBARA BARKLEY
Tamara Steiner
CONGRESSMAN MARK DESAULNIER ADDRESSED a packed housein a Town Hall meeting at the Clayton Library last week.The majority of the audience questions were concerningthe Iran nuclear weapons deal.CITY COUNCILMAN, JIM DIAZ, Mudville owner Ed Moresi and
Interim Police Chief Doug Koford
older equipment, is stillviable, but can only get bet-ter,” said Ouimet. “This willgive the students a better toolkit to start with and allowthem to move up the employ-ment ladder quicker.”
Ouimet teaches two introand one advanced auto shopclass, while also teaching
Principles of Engineering inthe Engineering Academy atCVCHS.
One of the real positivesfrom the planned improve-ments, says Kemnitz, is theissue of sustainability, amajor concern for RotaryInternational. “Currently,there are only 20 high schools
in California who can evenqualify for automotive indus-try grant money. This will putClayton Valley in the runningto be certified to qualify forthese grants.”
Raising the money was rel-atively easy for Kemnitz andhis wife and business partner,Mary Kemnitz. “Over 90 per-cent of the money is pledgedfrom phone calls to the busi-ness associates we’ve donework with over the years.When we told them what it
was for, they opened theircheckbooks and jumped in.”
Some donors wrote largechecks, while others donatedcomputers, monitors, soft-ware and other equipment.One prominent Concordauto dealership offered a car.Many of the donors prefer toremain anonymous.
One upgrade the dona-tions will provide is a com-puter repair order program.Previously, with no computerin class, students had to
handwrite repair orders.“Since the advanced stu-
dents grade is dependent onthe work they do during thesemester, this will give them away to understand and learnthe process much better, andit will give me a more accu-rate look at what they’vedone,” Ouimet says.
Another outcome of theupgrades is that Ouimet willfind himself in need of moretraining. “It will make mework harder,” he said, “but I
don’t have a problem withthat since it will make my jobso much more rewarding.”
The project will takeabout a year-and-half to twoyears for everything to hap-pen, and should increase stu-dent interest. Next on the listfor the Rotary Club will be toupgrade the program at Con-cord High School.
The current yearly budgetfor the auto program at Clay-ton is $700, which amountsto less than $10 per student.
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September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 3
Around Town
Auto Shop, from page 1
Derby Day in Clayton
In most towns, racing down Main Street will get you a ticket.But, on Labor Day weekend in Clayton, a couple hundred kids“race the Main” with parents, townsfolk, the mayor and even thelocal police cheering them on.
The 13th Annual Clayton Community Church Labor DayDerby and Car Show once again drew big crowds. Vintage carslined up for judging and pint-sized Mario Andrettis donned hel-mets, climbed in the little soapbox-style cars, leaned forward andraced for finish line.
The soapbox cars are donated by local businesses and theevent is free.
To learn more about Clayton Community Church, go towww.claytoncc.com
Clayton woman returns to horsecompetition with her friend Ben
Clho
Katelyn Galvin bought aPercheron thoroughbrednamed Benvolio Amichevolewhen she was growing up inTexas and competing in horsecompetitions. After highschool she moved west toattend UC Davis where shewas on the Aggies equestrianteam.
While she was in collegeshe met and eventually marriedBrock Galvin, a member ofthe Aggies football team fromClayton. The couple moved toPasadena while she attendedFuller Theological Seminary,where she got her master’s inmarriage and family therapylast year.
They relocated to Claytonand Katelyn Galvin begantraining again with her horseBen. Last month she had herfirst competition on Ben, now15-years-old, since leavingTexas after high school. Theduo came away with the blueribbon at the Woodside Sum-mer Horse Trials three-daymeet. They competed in dres-sage, show jumping and cross
country against participantsfrom throughout California aswell as out of state.
Katelyn Galvin started rid-ing at the age of five in hernative Tyler, Texas. She pur-chased Ben from Kentuckywhen she was 16. She nowtrains three to five times aweek with Joe McKinley at hisSkylark Equestrian Center onMarsh Creek Rd.
In Woodside, besides herhusband, she had a rootingsection that included hergrandmother Patti Secunda,her husband’s grandmotherAdrienne Galvin and his par-ents Russ and Yvonne Galvinof Clayton.
She will be competing nextweekend at the SeptemberHorse Trials in Paso Robles.
In her spare time, thesoon-to-be 26-year-old is aPilates instructor and thera-pist. She also enjoys hikingregularly on Mt. Diablo. Youcan also find her supportingher husband’s Concord Min-utemen football team on Fri-day nights.
Brock Galvin, a fourthgeneration Clayton resident, iscoaching football for the sec-
ond year at Concord High,where he lettered for threeyears and was team MVP as ajunior and senior. He earnedfour all-league honors as atight end and defensive endfor coach Brian Hamilton andalso nabbed all-East Bayrecognition before his 2007graduation.
At UC Davis, he was sec-ond team All-Great West Con-ference as a defensive tackleand, more importantly, earneda scholarship as a sophomore.
He began his coachingcareer as varsity offensive anddefensive line coach at CIFsemi-finalist John Muir HighSchool in Pasadena.
Photo courtesy Galvin family
KATELYN GALVIN ON HER PERCHERON THOROUGHBRED BenvolioAmichevole took first at the Woodside Summer Horse Trialsthree-day competition last month. The Clayton residentcompeted in dressage, show jumping and cross country withparticipants from throughout California and out of state.
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Clayton Pioneer
Teri Vanderhey
AT THE END OF THE DAY, the winners of each heat claim theirtrophies and gather for a group photo to celebrate CCChurch’s 13th Annual Labor Day Derby and Car Show.
The Diablo Fire SafeCouncil has received a$170,680 grant from CalFireand is looking to share it.
Morgan Territory residentslooking to reduce hazardousfuel that can go up in flames ina matter of seconds can applyfor $5000 in matching fundsfor risk reduction projects.
Memories of the 2013Morgan Fire are fresh in theminds of residents looking forways to stay safe and protecttheir properties in an area thatis tinder dry and loaded withtight, dense fuel just waitingfor a spark.
Of the total grant, $62,790is earmarked for communitydefensible space projects andchipping days. Residents canapply for up to $5000 in aid forremoving underbrush, chip-ping waste, thinning trees orcutting away underbrush ifthey are willing to match thecash with dollars or sweatequity.
“The grass on these hills isso dense you can’t get yourhand through it,” says MikeMarcucci, CalFire’s SunshineStation Battalion chief. “Resi-dents need to go the extra milein clearing the 100’ defensible
area around their homes.”In addition to the defensi-
ble space grants, $57,275 willgo towards improving the fireroads.
SRA FEES AT WORK
The grant is funded fromthe State Responsibility Area(SRA) fees assessed to proper-ty owners in high-risk, wildfireareas. Morgan Territory is inthe SRA zone. Starting in July2014, residents began payingan additional $152.33 per hab-itable structure on top of theirnormal property taxes for fireprotection.
“This grant is the SRA feesat work,” says Diablo Fire SafeCouncil Executive Coordina-tor Cheryl Miller.
Miller is working with areastakeholders to develop a FireSafe Action Plan whichincludes outreach and educa-tion and community projectsas well as hazardous fuelreduction and fire road main-tenance. Miller is looking formore suggestions and ideas forpotential projects eligible forgrant funding. So far, she hasmet with representatives fromCCCFPD, ECCFPD, Save
Mount Diablo, the City ofClayton, and the Contra CostaAnimal Services CountySupervisor’s offices.
Applications for cost-shar-ing are available online atwww.diablofiresafe.org alongwith a schedule of deadlinesfor applying. Applications forfourth quarter 2015 fundingare due Oct. 8.
For more information on theDiablo Fire Safe Council, selectioncriteria and the application process,contact Cheryl Miller,[email protected]. (925)510-282-1265.
Funds available to reduce fire risk
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
MIKE MARCUCCICALFIRE BATTALION CHIEF
A lone clerk was the targetof a brazen, daylight robberyat the GNC store in the Clay-ton Station on Sept. 1.
According to ClaytonInterim Police Chief DougKoford, around 7 p.m., a tallmale entered the store andapproached the clerk, askingfor change.
When the clerk told himcompany policy prohibits mak-ing change without a purchase,the suspect moved around thecounter and grabbed the clerk
from behind, forcing her toopen the register. He did notshow a weapon. He escapedwith an undisclosed amount ofcash, Koford said.
The clerk was unhurt andwas able to provide police witha detailed description. “She dida great job of composing her-self,” Koford said.
The man is described as a 6-foot, 3-inch to 6-foot, 5-inchAfrican American in his 30s,weighing about 230 pounds,with short hair and crooked or
missing teeth, and wearing a graysweatshirt and short gray pants.
Police believe they have agood lead on the suspect whowas seen walking around thecenter before the robbery andwas caught on a surveillancevideo from Safeway.
The Clayton Station is abusy place at 7 p.m. on a week-night. Anyone who may haveseen the suspect or observedanything strange is asked to callClayton Police Department at925-673-7350.
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4493 Sweet Shrub Ct.,ConcordSpacious, updated & wellmaintained 4 bedroom, 2bathroom, 1,805 sqft single-story home. Fully updatedkitchen with granite counters& backsplash, recessed &pendant lighting, stainlesssteel appliances, & breakfastbar opening to family room.
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Suspect sought in bold GNC robbery
Photo: Clayton PD
Image of GNC robbery suspectcaught on video
Diablo Fire Safe Council
In a report issued May 28,2015, the Contra Costa CivilGrand Jury says overcrowd-ing at the Martinez jail couldbe alleviated by transferringup to 100 inmates to theMarsh Creek DetentionFacility (MCDF) just southof Clayton, a propositionthat doesn’t sit well withSupervisor Karen Mitchoff.
“The MCDF is 73 yearsold and was never meant tobe a jail,” Mitchoff said in atelephone interview with the
Pioneer. The facility is forinmates serving out theirsentences. “You can’t haveprisoners awaiting trial out atMarsh Creek.” Those await-ing trial need need to havequick and convenient accessto the court house.
Currently, Marsh Creekhouses an average of 52inmates per day. By replacingthe floors in two dormito-ries, adding medical staff andincreasing security, theGrand Jury says the facilitycould host up to 160inmates, thereby relievingsome of the overcrowding at
the Martinez jail.In response to the Grand
Jury Report, the County hascompleted repairs to Wing Band added a pharmacy and24-hour medical staff.
In August, the Board ofSupervisors applied to theState of California for $90million in construction fundsunder SB 863 to build a 240-bed mental health and re-entry program facility at theWest County DetentionFacility in Richmond.
The Board, however,failed to get a unanimousvote to approve the applica-
tion and it’s uncertain ifContra Costa will get thegrant, says Mitchoff.
In the event the stategrant is denied, the GrandJury is recommending thatthe sheriff ’s office shouldconsider broadening the clas-sification of inmates thatcould be housed at MarshCreek.
Known locally as the“farm,” the facility was builtin 1942 to house low-level,non-violent offenders whowere serving out relativelyshort sentences.
Security is minimal. Cam-
eras monitor only the hold-ing cells. There is one ser-geant and two deputy sher-iffs on duty around the clock.The facility is surrounded bya barbed-wire topped fence.
Inmates at Marsh Creekcan take classes, completeGED requirements, gain jobskills and work outside dur-ing the day, making it a farmore desirable place to staythan the overcrowded Mar-tinez Jail.
“However,” Mitchoffnotes, “we have a very differ-ent kind of prisoner todaythan 30 or 40 years ago.”
The County Sheriff clas-sifies prisoners and it’s a“huge criteria process,” sheexplains. “By definition, if aninmate is not at Marsh Creek,then they don’t qualify.”
“I’ve read the report andtrust that the Sheriff will actaccordingly,” Mitchoff said.“You don’t just broaden aclassification. It’s a muchdeeper process.”
To read the full Grand JuryReport 1508, go to www.cc-courts.org and click on theJury/Grand Jury tab on the leftside of the page.
After a few years as a des-ignated signatory of the UCRegents and Director of theUC Berkeley campus-wideBusiness Contracts Office,Concord resident Brian Dono-hue had a couple of questions.“How did this place come tobe?” “What is the drivingforce?”
Like many of the questionsposed on the UC Berkeleycampus, these were not easy toanswer. But like the studentswho studied there, he gave it ashot, and the result, after 15years of research and photog-raphy, is a beautiful andinsightful coffee table book,“The Spirit of Fiat Lux.
“‘The Spirit of Fiat Lux’ isthe story of the past, presentand future of higher educationin our state and nation,”Donohue says. “It is toldthrough the story of the Uni-
versity of California, Berkeley,chronicled from its birth,through the decades ofgrowth, its maturity into excel-lence, the development of itsinternational reputation forresearch, and the current col-lapse in state funding.”
The hard-cover book is168 oversized pages of bril-liant color and black and whiteimages interspersed with
prose, poetry and quotes ofthe day.
But even more than look-ing nice, the book reports onserious challenges and crisesthat have confronted and stillconfront the university andhigher education in general,Donohue says.
The main one, he says, isthe reduction of state supportto higher education across thestate and the country.
“But the message of mybook is new and a bit contro-versial,” he says. “Public high-er education is sitting on enor-mous assets: labs, equipment,software and intellectual prop-erty that are not being used inthe university’s traditionaloriginal mission of service tothe public.”
“‘Fiat lux’ is the spirit ofdoing good in the communityand engaging the wicked socialproblems facing the public, ofteaching excellence to its stu-dents, and of researching the
boundaries of knowledge andscience,” Donohue says. “Ifocused on changing publicuniversities back into theiroriginal mission of service tothe public.”
Although he was never aCal student, Donohue’s work
at the university spurred hisinterest. The attorney andArmy captain has alwaysbelieved in the power of pub-lic service, and has beeninvolved in many civic activi-ties, including Mt. DiabloPark, and many leadership
roles through rotary. In 1998,the Contra Costa CountyBoard of Supervisors awardedDonohue and his wife Dellynthe Humanitarians of the YearAward. Currently, Donohueleads the Enterprise 501c3, anon-profit corporation, whichrepresents UC Berkeley, UCSan Francisco, Stanford Uni-versity and the University ofMoscow, as well as the PublicHealth Institute.
“The Spirit of Fiat Lux”can be purchased at www.Spir-itofFiatLux.net, or at book-stores throughout the EastBay and Berkeley.
There will be four booksigning events Sept. 17 at theConcord Main Library, Oct. 5at the Clayton Library, Oct. 22at Diablo Ranch atop Mt. Dia-blo, and date TBD at St.Matthew’s Church in WalnutCreek. Each event starts at 7p.m. For more information orto RSVP, [email protected]
Local attorney sheds light on UC Berkeley’s spiritPEGGY SPEAR
Clayton Pioneer
September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 5
TAMARA STEINER
Clayton Pioneer
BRIAN DONOHUE
ARRESTS:
AAuugg.. 2222,, Ygnacio ValleyRd./Alberta Wy. Warrant;Probation Violation. 40-year-old Bay Point male.
AAuugg.. 2222,, 5400 Clayton Rd.Possession ControlledSubstance Paraphernalia;Probation Violation. 26-year-old Clayton male.
AAuugg.. 2233,, Mt. Sierra Pl.Battery onSpouse/Cohab/Etc. 42-year-old Clayton female.
AAuugg.. 2233,, Windmill CanyonDr. Warrant; ProbationViolation. 37-year-oldClayton male.
AAuugg.. 2255,, Marsh CreekRd./Stranahan Cr. BatteryWith Serious Injury. 28-year-old Walnut Creek male.
AAuugg.. 2288,, Peacock Creek Dr.Threaten Crime With Intentto Terrorize; Battery; AssaultWith Stun Gun/Taser;Probation Violation; 21-year-old Clayton male. Battery;19-year-old female.
AAuugg.. 2299,, Cardinet Dr.Corporal Injury toSpouse/Cohab/Etc. 55-year-old Concord female.
SSeepptt.. 11,, Clayton Rd./AyersRd. Drive While LicenseSuspended for DUI;Probation Violation. 33-year-old Concord male.
SSeepptt.. 22,, Kirker PassRd./Allegro Ave. Under theInfluence of a ControlledSubstance; Possess BurglaryTools. 31-year-old Concordmale.
BURGLARIES/THEFTS:SSeepptt.. 11,, 5400 Clayton Rd.Robbery.
Clayton PoliceActivity Report
Police Activity for two weeks ending Sept. 3, 2015
‘THE SPIRIT OF FIAT LUX’ CHRONICLES THE CHALLENGES faced byUC Berkeley from birth to present in photographs and nar-rative in a 168-page coffee-table book by Concord attor-ney and humanitarian, Brian Donohue.
Detention Facility ‘underutilized’ says Grand Jury
Bob and Sandy Stricklandcelebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
A Vow Renewal Ceremony was held in the small Concord church where they weremarried. Congratulations, Mom and Dad.
We are so proud of you and love you very much — Rob and Anne
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Page 6 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
“Speed does kill,” he says.“Especially on two-lane high-ways.”
‘READY TO HELP ANYONE’Corey, who lived all his life
in Clayton and attended Mt.Diablo Elementary, DiabloView Middle School andCVCHS, is remembered by hismother Nancy Randolph as “agreat kid.”
“Jeremiah was loved by alot of people,” she said. “Hewas always ready to help a any-one. Whenever any of hisfriends were going through arough patch, Jeremiah wouldalways try and help themthrough it.”
He recently got engaged togirlfriend Keirstan Faulkner ofMartinez, who had just leftlast week for Illinois to attend
basic training in the Navy. Thetwo were to be married inDecember.
Services for Corey wereheld Thursday at St. Bonaven-ture’s Catholic Church, and heis buried at Oakmont Ceme-tery next to his brother Justin,who died in 1996 after beinghit by a car when he was 12.
Besides Randolph, Corey issurvived by his sister, JanelleMcKinney of Martinez, andtwo nephews, Rocky, 10, andWaylon, 1.
‘ALWAYS LAUGHING’News of Muskat’s death
shook not only the communityof Clayton, where he was apopular employee at Moresi’sChophouse, but also in theWalnut Creek communitywhere he grew up and graduat-
ed from Northgate HighSchool. He was attending Dia-blo Valley College, and besidesMoresi’s, he worked as a train-er at Fitness 19 on YgnacioValley Road in Walnut Creek.
“Marcus was always happy,always willing to help outmembers, and always laugh-ing,” says Fitness 19 managerJerry Sameshima. “The staff istaking [his death] really hard.We’ve set up a memorial at thefront desk, and we are collect-ing donations to give to thefamily.”
Other friends also remem-bered Muskat’s infectiouslaugh and happy spirit. “Mar-cus always made me smilewhen he was over,” saysValerie Hansen of WalnutCreek, whose son Ged wasone of Muskat’s good friends.“There is an idiom that isusually used to describe aneconomy that is doing well —
‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’But it reminds me of Marcusbecause Marcus was a hightide that lifted you up andmade you happy you got tosee him that day. That Marcusflair was infectious.”
Many friends expressedtheir sadness and apprecia-tion of Muskat’s life. “Therearen’t enough words todescribe Marcus Muskat as ahuman being, a friend, abrother, and everything elsehe was to so many people,”said his friend ZacharyKowalski. “He is the defini-tion of unique.”
Moresi’s held a candlelightvigil at the Grove Park onAug. 31 to honor Muskat, andtwo memorial services wereheld this week. He leavesbehind his father Mike, moth-er Michelle Celsi and twoyounger brothers, Mitchelland Max.
Accidents, from page 1
Sydney Alcock and herfather Mike Fossan, the othertwo tri-leads of Clayton’sRelay, have been deeplytouched by cancer. Fossan andhis wife Susan are both cancersurvivors.
Alcock said this year’s Relaywould always be special to her.“Everyone could feel the love
and support for the survivors,caregivers and those still fight-ing their battle with cancer.”
When participants say thisrace is personal, the meaninggoes beyond that a familymember or friend has foughtthe cancer battle. The commonbond that affects every personwho walks in any Relay across
the country is magnified in thissmall town by the impact ofrecognizing everyone — thesurvivors who walk, the care-givers and everyone touchedby cancer, each with their ownpersonal stories.
When Kate Amos spoke tothe crowd, she was speaking toher friends and neighbors.When Terry Newberrybrought the crowd togetherwith laughter and music, every-
one knew that he will alsomake the 24-hour journey withthem again this year.
So it appears that size justmay be the biggest factor in thesuccess of this Relay event —but in the reverse. The unique-ness of Clayton’s Relay is notits strength in numbers, but thestrength of the participants.
This event takes place againnext year on Aug. 13 and 14.
Big Relay, from page 1
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Why is it important to move420 beds to the West CountyDetention Facility (WCDF)There are two main reasons:1) the Main Detention Facility(MDF) in downtown Martinez(a maximum security facility)has been overcrowded for
many years and 2) vital mentalhealth services can best be pro-vided at the WCDF.
The MDF was built in 1978and was designed as a state-of-the-art facility for the time inthat inmates would be housed ina single cell. This was a safetyfeature for both the incarceratedindividual and the deputy guard-ing each module. For a variety ofreasons, a majority of inmateshave been double celled formany years. Because of theunique design of the MDF,there is limited space and squarefootage available for the provi-sion of services.
And a sad state of affairs isthat our local jails (and prisonsfor that matter) have become defacto mental health facilities.
When the WCDF wasopened over two decades ago, it
was designed as a medium-secu-rity facility. The terms “maxi-mum” and “medium” by theway describe the security design,not the type of inmate to behoused in either facility. As anexample, inmates who are nothigh security risk are housed atthe MDF because their case is intrial at the Martinez courthousesand it makes more sense to keepthem close for transport. So theWCDF was always planned, andindeed the infrastructure isalready in place, to add spacewhen necessary and appropriate.
Opponents of movinginmates from MDF to WCDFhave coined this as an “expan-sion”: the Sheriff is notexpanding (increasing) theinmate population … the Sher-iff is proposing to moveinmates out of the crowded,
double-celled MDF to space tobe built to accommodate thesame population. New con-struction would provide hous-ing for these inmates, a visitingcenter for families, and mostcritically, appropriate and ade-quate space to provide criticalmental health services.
Another argument againstthis construction is the countyneeds to provide $9 million inmatching funds to a grantrequest for $89 million and thatthose matching funds need to beused for other needs in the com-munity. Please know that this is acompetitive grant proposal avail-able to all counties. The grantfunds will be appropriated, and Istrongly believe that ContraCosta should receive one of thegrants because we have realneeds here. To pass up a fund-ing opportunity is foolhardy.
The Board also heardimpassioned pleas about socialjustice and a disproportionatenumber of people of color injails. I concur with those con-cerns, but not building a much-needed facility will not correctthose issues. That is a discus-sion for another time andanother legislative venue.
While the grant applicationreceived a majority vote, itneeded four votes; and Super-visor Gioia did not support thematching county dollar funds. Iam extremely disappointedthat Contra Costa’s applicationwill not receive the maximumpoints we could have receivedbecause we didn’t attain therequired 4/5th’s vote.
Grant for WCDF fails to get unanimous vote
Get ready for food, fun,dancing and lots of “Opa’s” asSt. Demetrios Greek Ortho-dox Church presents the 37thAnnual Greek Food and WineFestival Sept. 18,19 and 20.
Food and wine are tradi-tional Greek art forms, and St.Demetrios is lucky to havesome of the best artisan chefsin the world — the “Yia-YiaSisterhood,” scores of Greekgrandmothers, Nounas, auntsand others who are preparingthe meals. All the food, includ-ing traditional pastries, are pre-pared on the church premises.
Throughout the years, thepopular festival has beenknown for its “keffee,” thesense of community spirit thatorganizers say spreadsthroughout the three-dayevent. Besides food booths,the festival offers wine, craftsand activities for children.
The wine bar offers richreds and whites from theGreek Isles, and festival-goersare urged to pair them withGreek dishes like Moussaka,Souvlaki or the popular Gyros.
There will also be livebands and lively Greek dances
Festival-goers are alsoencouraged to visit the Byzan-tine-style church with its hand-carved icon screen and five-foot tall egg-tempera icons.
Besides supporting thechurch’s activities, the festivalalso benefits the community,as St. Demetrios donates 10percent of proceeds to localcharities.
The festival runs from 5 to11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m.Saturday and noon to 8 p.m.Sunday. St. Demetrios is locat-ed at 1955 Kirker Pass Road inConcord.
Food, dancing highlight37th annual Greek Festival
KAREN MITCHOFF
COUNTYSUPERVISOR
Karen Mitchoff is Contra CostaCounty District IV supervisor. Emailquestions or comments [email protected]
Veronica Ann Pardipassed away peacefully onJuly 13 with immediate familyby her side.
Veronica, 88, matriarch ofthe Pardi/Scheving familylived a challenging, rich andfull life, sharing her kindnesswith family and friends. Shewas born on a farm inHensel, North Dakota, Sept.23, 1926, to Mary and EinarScheving as the only girl ofeight children. Veronica lostboth her parents by the age of15. She graduated from St.Alphonsus High School in1944, where she lived withthe nuns in Langdon, NorthDakota. Veronica worked herway through high school,picking up the mail, polishingthe floors in the office andlibrary, where she readEVERY book!
In July 1944, she moved toRichmond, Calif. with herAunt Sigga and Uncle HarryScheving. Veronica worked at
Rheem Manufacturing, whereshe was a welder and madebomb casings for WWII as a“Rosie the Riveter.” She waslaid off when the war ended.She then worked for AT&Tin Richmond in 1945 andaccepted a transfer to CampStoneman in Pittsburg, whereshe worked as an operator for12 years. Veronica met andthen married the love of herlife, Hercules Pardi in 1947.In Pittsburg, “Ronnie” wasembraced by the Pardi familyand friends in the Italian tra-ditions.
The family moved fromPittsburg to Clayton in 1960.Veronica was very active inthe St. Bonaventure Churchand served on many commit-tees including the GivingTree. In 1970, she went backto work at Kaiser PermanenteHospital in Walnut Creek inthe communications depart-ment until 1992. Throughouther journey in Clayton, thePardi family made long last-ing friendships in the ClaytonValley area.
Veronica loved gardening,was an avid reader, greatcook, and an incredible baker.She hosted family holidaysand events up until the dayshe passed.
Veronica was preceded indeath by her parents, her hus-band, Hercules and their sonJohn. She is survived by herchildren Herc Pardi (Rox-anne), Cathy Jacobus(William), and Dino Pardi,grandchildren “her pride andjoy,” Meghan Pardi, LouieJacobus, Kaila Pardi, andNate Pardi. To know her wasto love her.
“Our hearts are fallen aswe will never have anotherMrs. Pardi,” says MattMazzei, a long-time familyfriend.
Services were held Sept. 5at St. Bonaventure Church. Inlieu of flowers, donationsmay be made directly to Clay-ton Theatre Company, P.O.Box 991, Clayton, CA 94517or to St. Bonaventure Church5562 Clayton Rd., Concord,CA 94521
September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 7
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Hammercraft Construction . . . . . . . . . . . .209-814-9412
J.A. Ronco Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .872-3049
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Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679
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Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440
Oakhurst Country Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9737
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St. Demetrios – Greek Festival . . . . . . . . . . . .676-6967
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Bennett, Nancy – Keller Williams . . . . . . . . . . .606-8400
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Hayes, Diane and Bill – Better Homes Realty .890-4701
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TAMARA AND ROBERT STEINER, PublishersTAMARA STEINER, EditorPETE CRUZ, Graphic DesignPEGGY SPEAR, Copy Editor JAY BEDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA WIESENDANGER, Administration, Calendar Editor
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Obituaries
James Calvin BradtFebruary 24, 1942 – August 8, 2015
Veronica Ann PardiSeptember 23, 1926 - July 13, 2015
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Jim passed away peaceful-ly at home on Aug. 8 after ashort, but aggressive battlewith esophageal and lungcancer.
Jim was born in Saginaw,Michigan to Fern and FentonBradt on Feb. 24, 1942. Jimgraduated Arthur Hill HighSchool in 1960, going on tograduate from Delta Collegein 1966 with an AssociatesDegree in Chemical Engi-neering.
Jim is survived by his wife,Dorothy Bradt, son James Jr.Bradt (Trisha), grandchildrenCassandra, Lydia and David;son Mike Bradt (Morina),granddaughter, Amelia and sis-ter Susan Kerns (Fred) andbrother David (Pat).
Jim was an avid hobbyistwho enjoyed being a memberof the Diablo A’s Club andCalifornia Historical Radio
Society. He enjoyed spendingtime with family and friends,RV camping with Dorothy,photography, astronomy andmodel railroading.
Jim will be greatly missedby his family, friends and com-munity. In lieu of flowers,please make a donation to yourfavorite charity on Jim’s behalf.
Call Mark 925.672.6029 or
Six fall sports are nowunderway for Clayton ValleyCharter High School teamscompeting for the last time inthe current setup of the Dia-blo Valley Athletic League.
DVAL competition start-ed this week in water poloand girls tennis. Next week,girls golf and volleyball beginDVAL matches with crosscountry league center meetsstarting Sept. 30 and footballthe last to begin league actionOct. 9.
Concord, Clayton ValleyCharter, College Park andNorthgate are fielding teamsin all fall sports. BereanChristian is part of DVALcross country, tennis and vol-leyball. Mt. Diablo, theleague’s senior memberschool, will not be fieldinggolf or water polo teams andYgnacio Valley is not in waterpolo.
To fill out the water poloschedule Pinole Valley, St.Vincent/St. Patrick of Vallejoand Hercules highs join fourDVAL schools in the league.
FOOTBALL
Tim Murphy is in the firstfew weeks of his fourth sea-son at the helm of CVCHSfootball. During that time hishigh-powered teams have lostsix games. Three came inpost-season playoffs and theother three have been in sea-son openers against toughDivision I opponents. The2012 Eagles lost their firstgame against perennial powerPittsburg and the followingseason opener in a battle ofdefending NCS championsDe La Salle beat CV Charter.
This season three missedtwo-point conversion attemptsproved the difference as Clay-ton Valley lost 27-26 at StateDII champion Folsom, a teamwhich hasn’t lost a regular-sea-son game since 2011. The UglyEagles twice took leads overthe state champs.
Murphy was pleased withmany aspects of the openeragainst Folsom, including astrong defensive effort thatheld down the state’s leadingpassing offense of 2014, butthe local team suffered acrushing blow when juniorJalen McKenzie suffered aseason-ending knee injury on
the second play of the year.The Eagles bounced back
last Friday with a 35-0 shutoutof Tracy and have their homeopener this Friday eveninghosting Cardinal Newman ofSanta Rosa.
The run-happy UglyEagles rushed for 710 yardsfrom scrimmage in the firsttwo games with senior RayJackson III leading the waywith 408 yards. New quarter-back Luis Ramos is next with151 yards and two touch-downs. Jackson has four TDsin the two games.
DE LA SALLE TEXAS LOSERS
De La Salle sufferedthrough a lightning delay andthen a slew of turnovers andmistakes that cost them in a26-21 defeat to Trinity-Eulessin the Spartans first-ever visitto Texas.
DLS dominated the gameat times but lost two fumblesand an interception and then
missed on a tight end pass to awide open receiver in the endzone in the final seconds tolose their first game since the2013 State championship.
Last Friday DLS rebound-ed at traditional rival Serra ofSan Mateo for a 37-21 victorythat saw the Spartans grab a28-0 first-quarter lead andthen get outscored 21-9 in thefinal three quarters. This Fri-day they host the first of threeSouthern California foeswhen Servite of Anaheimcomes to Concord.
CROSS COUNTRY
Clayton Valley Chartercross country coach AnthonyMunch is expecting his boysand girls teams will be titlecontenders this year after notbeing hit too hard by gradua-tion last spring.
Sayed Opeyany was theteam’s fastest runner as a jun-ior and he will get help fromMichael Cox and JJ Perez, a
pair of juniors. Munch reports,“Senior Anthony Maytum waslost to injury last season, but isrunning strong now. Sopho-more Dylan White is comingoff of a very strong rookietrack season. Ben Schoffstalland Branden Busby will also bebolstering the ranks.”
Kelly Osterkamp andOliva Villa were both all-DVAL as freshmen last yearand look to repeat thoseefforts this year. Senior ClaireOlson along with juniorsNatalie Ruzicka and SarahVerderame figure to be bigscorers for CVCHS.
Sophomore Karina Linzeyis new to varsity after a goodfrosh/soph season last year.She will join freshman JessicaHevener and junior JessicaChapman as varsity newcomers.
Munch adds, “As usual,College Park and Northgateare very solid programs run by
experienced coaches. Theywill be tough to beat at all lev-els, but our team should stay inthe thick of things. Last yearour boys’ team was tied forfirst going into DVAL finals,when a bout of flu virus tookits toll on both the girls andboys. Concord should becompetitive this year and Bere-an Christian always representswell given the small size of itsstudent body.”
DVAL has three Wednes-day center meets before theDVAL championships on Hal-loween at Hidden Valley Parkin Pleasant Hill to qualify forNCS Nov. 21 and the statemeet a week later.
GIRLS WATER POLO
Veteran CVCHS waterpolo coach Dennis Bledsoesays his girls “will probablyimprove significantly. They area young group with only onesenior. “
He says his top returningplayers include three secondteam all-leaguers— juniorsCaitlin O’Leary and BaileyReading and sophomoreRebekah Reynolds. Juniorgoalie Skyy Burney is up fromthe JV team and figures to bea big contributor along withthe lone senior Terra RoseZuniga-Miller, Melissa Olsonand Kimi Svoboda.
New players up from theJVs are Jenna Armstrong,Jenny Vonnegut, Amber Cur-ley, Skylar Maltbie, BrookeJohnson and Hayley Darr.New to Clayton Valley this yearare Margaret York, EmmaSkow and Sydney Skow.
The team lost seven gradu-ates including league MVPKatie VanTuyl but Bledsoeand co-coach Kelsey Carrigansay the league championshipwill probably come down toClayton Valley vs. Northgate.
Sports CV Charter fall sports seasons underway
Page 8 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Clayton Pioneer
Photo by Jason Rogers
RAY JACKSON III (23) WAS A FIRST-TEAM ALL-DVAL PLAYER as a sophomore at College Park.Due to eligibility issues about his transfer he sat out last year before bursting on thescene in the Clayton Valley Charter opening game with 225 yards rushing in a 27-26 lossto State Division I champion Folsom.
Jay Bedecarre
SENIOR ERIN WARDLE has taken over the No. 2 singles posi-tion for Clayton Valley Charter. New head girls tenniscoach Sayed Anwar is excited by his six strong senior classmembers plus nearly two dozen new players who joinedthe program this fall. Wardle was second team all-DVAL asa junior.
2 MDSA teams take3 tournament titles
Photos courtesy MDSA
MDSA PHOENIX UNDER 11 TEAM had quite an August win-ning two tournaments. The local girls were first at theCreek Cup Silver Edition in Walnut Creek after earlier tak-ing the gold medals in the Soccer By The Bay. The teamincludes, front from left, Sophia Sinclaire, Laine Moraes;middle row, Brooke Rickenbacher, Mipo Okeowo, KatelynnBrown, Melia Fabriquer, Ashlyn Albert; back row, coachChris McNevin, Kaitlyn McNevin, Brooke Stanton, JacklannBellamy, Emily Beeson, Sarandon Kamrud, HawahOpeyany and coach Heidi Brown.
MDSA BARCA UNDER 10 BOYS ELITE TEAM won the SanRamon Copper Select tournament at the end of August intheir second tournament ever. They were fourth at theStanford Classic the previous weekend. The team includes,front row from left, Cooper Whiten, Connor Velez, MateoAlcantara, Diego Castaneda, Cody Liming, NicholasAnderson, Michael DoAmor; back row, coach KC Anum,Max Anum, Skye Megyesi, Jesse Morales, Ben Hosler,Michael Albert and coach Javier Castaneda. Not pictured,Dylan Lynch.
Diablo FC appoints Zach Sullivan toits director of coaching position
Zach Sullivan has beennamed the new director ofcoaching for the Diablo FutbolClub, the area’s premier youthsoccer competitive program.
Sullivan stepped down ashead men’s soccer coach at Mer-ritt College to accept the DOCposition at Diablo FC, where hehas been coaching teams since2011. Diablo FC was formed in2008 with the merger of DiabloValley Soccer Club and Mt. Dia-blo Soccer League. Sullivan wasalso a DVSC coach in 2005-06.
The new DOC succeedsBrian Voltattorni who held theposition for seven years sincethe inception of the club. He isremaining with Diablo FC asdirector of youth developmentand community outreach, focus-ing on development andadvancement of the new recre-ational program, communityoutreach and the San Jose Earth-quakes-Diablo FC RDS system.
Sullivan says, “Diablo FCprides itself on emphasizingplayer development. I hope tocontinue to prepare our soccerplayers for a potential collegeopportunity. Our track recordfor placing players on collegeteams speaks for itself. Thecoaching staff is one of the bestin the business.”
Diablo FC coaching direc-tors Scott Alexander, RichardWeiszmann, Marquis White andHenry Foulk will be workingwith Sullivan. Weiszmann, Whiteand Foulk are former profes-sional players who have 40 yearscombined service with the club
since DVSC started in 1991.Sullivan was head coach at
Merritt from 2008 until thissummer. He was the 2013 coachof the year in the 11-team BayValley Conference. He has alsocoached at Solano College andhis alma mater Chico State plusat Justin Siena and Chico highschools.
The new DOC got his bach-elor’s degree and then a master’sin kinesiology at Chico State,where he was on the intercolle-giate lacrosse and club soccerteams.
After beginning his youth
soccer club coaching career atDVSC he was the under 11-U14technical coordinator at Lamor-inda Soccer Club for four yearsbefore returning to Diablo FC.He has been the DFC assistantgirls director as well as coachingDiablo FC 98, 99 and 03 girlspremier teams this year.
“I am very excited for mynew role at Diablo FC. DFC isone of the elite soccer clubs inNorthern California and has thepotential to continue its growth.We are a true community-basedsoccer club with a real familyfeel,” Sullivan said.
Club president Dan Paulineof Clayton says, “Diablo FC hasbecome the regional leader inaffordable youth soccer playerdevelopment. As our directorof coaching Zach, along withour highly-qualified and experi-enced coaches and training staff,plans to develop a deep and tal-ented player pool. His enthusi-astic training sessions will allowour players to do the work ittakes to accelerate their develop-ment while having fun. His per-sonality, demeanor and knowl-edge will lead our club to newheights.”
The club has competitivegirls and boys teams from undernine through U19, with all agegroups competing at the highestNational Premier League level.They have a United States Soc-cer Development Academy U14boys team, one of only 88 suchteams in America. They alsohave an exclusive RDS affiliationwith the Major League SoccerEarthquakes and offer recre-ation and academy programswith professional coaching foryouth starting at five years ofage.
Diablo FC—-and DVSCbefore it—-has developeddozen of State Cup championsplus sending teams to theUSYSA, US Club Soccer andSuper Y-League national cham-pionships as well as prestigioustournaments all over the UnitedStates. About 100 former DiabloFC players have played collegesoccer. Currently, Chris Won-dolowski and Stefan Frei are for-mer club players in MLS.
For more information visit dia-blofc.org.
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Clayton Pioneer
COACH ZACH SULLIVAN
This summer’s Dana HillsSwim Team celebrated the25th anniversary of installationof the pool that transformedthe Clayton team into a power-house by taking third at the55th annual Contra CostaCounty Swimming Champi-onships in Lafayette lastmonth.
The Otters finished third inthe team standings, one posi-tion higher than their fourthplace a year ago. In 2012 and2013 they were fifth. The localteam’s best-ever finish at coun-ty was second in 1995 and2011. There were 53 teamswho scored points at countythis year.
A week earlier, Dana Hillswon its 23rd Concord CityChampionship in the last 24years. The streak, not coinci-dentally, started two years after
the Otters began training intheir new pool in 1990. The25-yard, eight-lane pool cameabout by a community effortled by the Mazzei Family toreplace a 17-yard pool that wasbuilt when the Dana Hills sub-division opened. The swimteam started in 1977 as theAquaducks.
Forest Park of Concordwon the County Division IIchampionship this year, some-thing Dana Hills did in 1998.Crow Canyon Country Clubwas first overall at county forthe 11th year in a row withRound Hill second ahead ofDHST.
DANA HILLS SWIMMERS
EXCEL
Molly Boland won both herindividual events for DanaHills to take high point in 7-8girls with gold medals in but-terfly and individual medley.
Ryan Levy in 15-18 boyswas second in backstroke andfifth in freestyle. His teammateAnthony Vines was fourth infree and third in fly in the old-est age group. Niklas Weigeltwas second in 13-14 IM andfifth in fly.
Other top three finishes forDHST were by Paige Land-strom third in 11-12 back,Ryanne Boland runner-up in11-12 free and Erica duLongsecond in 15-18 IM.
Nine Otter freestyle andeight medley relay teamsplaced in the top 10. The 11-12girls quartet of Landstrom,Sophia Miller, Karlie Seastrandand Ryanne Boland were sec-ond in the medley and third infree relay. The 13-14 girls with
Gabi Mancini, Brooke John-son, Gianna duLong andIsabella Samardzic took sec-ond in the free relay and, withMelissa Cark in place of John-son, fourth in medley.
The 15-18 girls with AbbieKubota, Julie Wickware, KateMadigan and Erica duLongwere second in the medley andthird in free relay. The 15-18boys with Joe Snyder, Vines,Levy and Shawn Broussardwere runner-up in free relayand fourth in medley with SeanThomas in place of Broussard.
Other top 10 finishers forDana Hills were Madelyn Cot-tam, Michael Albert, CaelaHetherton, Gianna duLong,Samardzic, Abbey Keller,Thomas Borbely, TeddyMcGee, Will Miller, Sophia
Miller, Madigan, ColtonSeastrand, Mancini, KaylaConger, Kubota, Zoe Lahanas,Diego Castaneda and Cark.
Other top 10 relays for theOtters were six and under boysfree, 7-8 boys and girls medleyand free, 9-10 boys free, 13-14boys medley and free.
Additionally the Otters 11-12 and 13-14 girls had tworelays in both events finish inthe top 12.
Oakhurst Country Club gottop 10 finishes in 7-8 breast byBrooke Koller (fourth girls)and Finn Cleary (seventhboys).
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Jenna Grigsby and Alexa Kallas aremore than just two seniors on theCVCHS varsity tennis team. These twoyoung ladies are also making a differ-ence off the court as members of theschool’s Public Service Academy.
Tennis captain Kallas has been partof varsity tennis and PSA since herfreshman year, is the student body vicepresident and is a member of theFrench Club. Surprisingly, she pickedup a tennis racket only two weeksbefore her first practice as a freshmanwhile she was on a family vacation.She’s played lacrosse at CV every year
after taking up the sport in seventhgrade. She says she was inspired to playtennis and lacrosse because it wassomething her sisters had never done.“What I love most about tennis is thatit is such a unique sport and it reallyallows me to get to know everyone onmy team. I probably have the strongestbonds with people that have been onthe team and still are on this team. Iknow it’s cheesy but we are a family. Istill talk to past players who have grad-uated and I intend on still keeping intouch with these girls after I graduate.”
Growing up, four-year tennis player
Grigsby played soccer and danced com-petitively and, like Kallas, picked up aracket for the first time before her fresh-man year. Since she was a freshman, shehas received a student-athlete awardannually for tennis and was the PSAdepartment winner last year. “Balancingeverything is super tough. Tennis is mystress release. I love going to practiceand laughing off a stressful day with myteammates. Like most high school stu-dents, I have those nights where I stayup late studying or I work late on schoolnights. Having good friends and a goodsupport group really helps to keep memotivated and staying positive.” Grigsbyalso volunteers at Ayers ElementarySchool once a week and plans onbecoming a first-grade teacher.
The Clayton Pioneer congratu-lates Jenna and Alexa and thanksAthlete Spotlight sponsors Dr.Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruz-icka who have been serving theClayton and Concord area for 25years at Family Vision Care Optom-etry. 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].
AthleteSpotlight
September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 9
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NIKLAS WEIGELT was the co-high-point winner at theCity Meet for Dana Hills andthen was second in the 100individual medley for 13-14boys at county.
Dana Hills celebrates 25th poolanniversary with 3rd place at County
Photos courtesy Dana Hills Swim Team
MOLLY BOLAND won 7-8 girls high-point awards at the cityand county swim meets this year for the Dana Hills Otters.
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Clayton Pioneer
Jenna Grigsby and Alexa KallasGrade: Senior School: CVCHS Sport: Tennis
Every top-flight diver inthe world dreams of being inRio de Janeiro next August forthe Summer Olympics. Get-ting a head start on thatschedule, Clayton’s KristianIpsen was in Brazil this pastweek as part of a training ses-sion with America’s elitedivers.
The USA intentional teamused the trip to get acclimatedto the South American coun-try and the Olympic venueless than a year from theGames. Maria Lenk Aquatics
Centre was constructed forthe 2007 Pan AmericanGames and will be used fordiving and synchronizedswimming at the Rio Games.
Ipsen is about to startclasses at Stanford as he fin-ishes up his college studiesthis quarter. His next majorcompetition will be Dec. 15-20 at the USA Diving WinterNational Championships inIndianapolis.
Following placing sixthand seventh in his two eventsat the FINA World Champi-
onships in Russia in late Julyhe went directly to Orlandofor the USA Diving AT&TNational Championships andwon the three-meter spring-board championship.
The 3M title was the Clay-ton diver’s 12th senior nation-al championship—five indi-vidual and seven synchrotitles. He also has 16 US juniornational gold medals.
Ipsen was second after the3M prelims in Orlando but ledthrough the semi-finals andfinals to claim his 12th title.
Kristian Ipsen goes to Rio afterwinning 12th national diving title
The NFL season is officiallyupon us. The Raiders open theseason at home against theCincinnati Bengals this Sundayand the 49ers begin play at Levi’sStadium against the MinnesotaVikings in a Monday nightgame.
Here is a brief outlook foreach team:
Raiders – The Raiders arefinally starting to look like acompetitive team. GM ReggieMcKenzie has had his ups anddowns, but he’s assembled a ros-ter with a lot of young, talentedplayers that he expects will satis-fy diehard Raider Nation at O.coand on the road.
Derek Carr has been sur-rounded with weapons in hissecond season as the Raiders sig-nal caller. Despite a historicallybad running game and weakreceiving corps last season, Carrstill put up respectable numberswith 21 touchdown passes and3,270 yards through the air.Carr’s growth this year is goingto be pivotal. He now has theNo. 4 overall draft pick AmariCooper, Michael Crabtree,Mychal Rivera and rookie tightend Clive Walford as targets.
On the defensive side of theball new head coach Jack DelRio hopes Khalil Mack is a ter-ror for opposing teams afterbeefing up 20 pounds in the off-season and moving to defensiveend. Mack looked unblockablein week three of the preseasonagainst the Arizona Cardinals.
49ers – The 49ers have a lotto prove coming into this sea-son. The majority of the coach-ing staff turned over and ownerJed York promised the San Fran-cisco faithful that his changeswill equate to a winning team.
New head coach Jim Tomsu-la was given the short end of thestick to start his tenure. The49ers lost Mike Iupati, FrankGore, Crabtree, Dan Skuta andPerish Cox in free agency. Line-backers Patrick Willis and ChrisBorland retired, as well as offen-sive tackle Anthony Davis. Ontop of all this, the 49ers releasedtroubled linebacker AldonSmith. Wide receiver JeromeSimpson was also suspended sixgames by the NFL.
If the 49ers are going tohave any chance of being com-petitive this year, Colin Kaeper-nick has to step up and become
a consistent quarterback. Freeagent Torrey Smith will be agreat deep-threat weapon, but itis up to Kap to be more accurateon deep throws. In 2014,Kaepernick completed only 33.3percent of his passes 20 or moreyards downfield.
Overall – The 49ers andRaiders will have their share ofups and downs throughout theseason. It would be fair to saythat both teams probably finishwith between six and eight winsthis year. Both are going to bereliant on growth from theirquarterbacks and both will needbig things from their new coach-ing staffs.
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Page 10 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
FALL, WINTER PROGRAMS OPEN AT
ALL OUT SPORTS LEAGUESPrograms for youth and adults are now open
in Clayton offered by All Out Sports Leagues.Youth basketball and volleyball begins at theend of the month. Thanksgiving and Christmasbreak basketball clinics for boys and girls in firstthrough 10th grades are accepting signups.There’s a basketball shooting lab every Sundayfrom 9-10 a.m. at Clayton Community Gym.For complete information on All Out Sportsprograms, visit alloutsportsleague.com.
ST. BONAVENTURE CYO CROSS COUNTRY NOW TRAINING
St. Bonaventure CYO cross country is opento boys and girls in 2nd-8th grades in the St.Bonaventure attendance area. Cross country is ashort, family-oriented season with practicesMon., Wed. and Fri. at 5:30 p.m. Parents areencouraged to run too. Meets begin in late Sep-tember on Friday evenings with the OaklandDiocese meet in mid-October. The team meetsat Newhall Park near children’s play area.Signups will be taken at practice or visitstbonaventurecyo.com for more info.
DFC FALL REC SEASON STARTING UPDiablo FC is holding its fall rec league
through Oct. 20 in Concord at Newhall Park.Training for boys and girls under five, U7 andU9 age groups with parent coaches and profes-sional staff is on Tuesdays with games on Sat-urdays Sept. 12-Oct. 24. Visit diablofc.org.
TERRAPINS FALL CLINIC, YEAR-ROUND
PROGRAM TAKING SIGNUPSThe Terrapins Swim Team will be hosting its
annual Fall Stoke Improvement Program start-
ing Monday until Dec. 11 at Concord Commu-nity Pool. Six-year-olds through high schoolswimmers can train under the professional Ter-rapin staff for three months. Limited clinic reg-istration is now being taken online at terrapin-swim.com. The Terrapins year-round USASwimming program is also accepting applica-tions now for its fall season. Call 680-8372 formore info or visit the club website.
SHUFFLE THE CARDS FOR
CVCHS FOOTBALL BENEFIT OCT. 3CVCHS football is hosting its fourth annual
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament and dinneron Sat., Oct. 3, benefiting Ugly Eagles footballprogram. Prize money of up to $500 for firstplace will be offered for the tournament. Tick-ets for poker and dinner or dinner only areavailable. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with pokerat 8 o’clock at Shadelands Arts Center in Wal-nut Creek. Dinner is catered by Lisa V and Dee-Licious. Tickets: claytonvalleyfootball.com. Orcall 348-3452 or 260-8304 for more info.
ST. BONAVENTURE CYO BASKETBALL
TAKING SIGNUPS UNTIL SEPT. 18Online registration will be active until Sept.
18 for St. Bonaventure CYO basketball for boysand girls grades 2 through 8. Player fees go up$10 after Aug. 31. If you have any questions orwould like to coach or volunteer, please contactTim O’Hara at 672-5774. The season runs fromSept. through Feb. with postseason playoffs.Registration online at stbonaventurecyo.com.
DFC POKER NIGHT FUNDRAISER OCT. 9Diablo FC will hold a fundraising Poker
Night on Friday, Oct. 9. There will be a 6 p.m.dinner and gaming starts at 7 o’clock at PleasantHill Community Center. The poker tournamentfollowing the tri-tip and chicken dinner willhave gift certificate prizes up to $500. For moreinfo or to register visit diablofc.org.
Sports
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].
TYLER LEHMAN
SPORTS TALK
NFL season startsfor 49ers, Raiders
Sports Shorts
6 Diablo FC teams win JennaBetti Memorial championships
Diablo FC celebrated its sec-ond annual Jenna Betti Memori-al Tournament by winning sixchampionships in the all-girlsevent honoring former clubplayer Betti. The host club hadcaptured three titles in the inau-gural Betti Memorial a year agoand doubled that total lastmonth.
The under 12, 13, 14 and 17Diablo FC Premier NPL Acade-my teams each won premierdivision Betti championships.Diablo FC 02 Blue captured theU13 silver division while DFC99 Blue took the U16 goldcrown.
Diablo FC 02 Premier NPLAcademy team defended itsBetti title with a 5-1 victory overImpact 02 in the U13 finals. Theteam was also second at thePleasanton Rage Showcase lastmonth. The U13 silver divisionwas claimed by Diablo FC 02Blue with a 2-1 win over DeAn-za Force 02 Yellow. The teamhad won three games prior towinning the finals.
The U12 DFC 03 PremierNPL Academy team blankedMartinez-Pleasant Hill FCLightning 4-0 in the finals,their fourth consecutiveshutout.
Diablo FC 01 girls also shutout all four teams at the Bettitournament to take first placein a lightly contested U14 pre-mier division. Earlier the team
won the premier division titleat the prestigious PleasantonRage Showcase Tournamentby blanking all four opponentsat the end of July. Going intoSunday’s game, the team need-ed a win or tie to advance tothe finals and they did thatwith a scoreless draw with SanDiego Surf Academy. Theythen won a narrow 1-0 cham-pionship match over hostPleasanton Rage U14 ECNLteam.
The U16 gold division wasanother competitive bracketwith Diablo FC 99 Blue win-
ning the championship in athree-way tiebreaker.
The oldest Diablo FC titlistat the Betti Memorial was DFC98 NPL Academy in the U17premier division.
The Jenna Betti MemorialTournament honors JennaBetti, a Diablo FC player whotragically passed away in Marchof 2014. Proceeds benefit#hersmile, an organizationestablished by the Betti familyto help people survive andthrive despite life’s harshest cir-cumstances. Visit hersmile.orgfor details.
DIABLO FC 02 PREMIER NPL ACADEMY TEAM won its secondconsecutive title at the Jenna Betti Memorial this month.The under 13 team includes, front row from left, MeganGherlone, Alexys Canas, Lauren “LJ” Utne; middle row,Rylie Velez, Molly Maxwell, Andraya Spyrka, OliviaKreamer, Kylee Gregory, Alexa Avelar; back row, coach JTThompson, Maddie Thompson, Ryan McNevin, JennyLinderman, Caleigh Olgeirson, Hailey Fanner, Kali Myers,Miranda Fedrizzi-McGlasson, coach Tafa and Dena Betti,mother of Jenna Betti. Not pictured, Evelyn Martinez.
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Q. There is no way I canbuy another property with-out selling my current one.Are the sellers acceptingoffers contingent on the saleof a buyer’s property?
A. It seems that the homesale market is slowing downlately. If it slows down enoughfor properties to stay on themarket a long time a sellermight consider an offer contin-gent on you selling your home.
Another way to look at acontingency is for you to putyour home on the market con-tingent on you finding a home
of your choice before youwould accept an offer. Yourbuyer would have to wait until
you find a house. There shouldbe a deadline for you to find ahouse on this type of contin-gency. Two weeks to 30 daysare common.
Let’s review what a homesale contingent offer is. It isan offer you make on a prop-erty that is contingent onyou selling your home. You,the buyer, will include a con-tingency form stating that ifyour home sells you will buytheir home as long as theescrow on your home closes.A seller’s agent will look atyour home to see how
saleable it is. Is it priced rightfor the condition and loca-tion it is in? If your homedoesn’t sell, your good faithdeposit will be returned.Considering these things,most sellers would prefer anon-contingent offer. It’s lessrisky.
To construct an attractivecontingent offer, you probablywon’t be able to negotiate theprice much. In the contingencyform you also would give thesellers an escape or releaseclause. These are usually 72hours but can be more or less.
That means that the seller willkeep their home on the marketafter they accept your offerand if they get another offerthat they want to accept, theywill send you a 72 hour noticeto perform. If you are able toqualify to buy their house with-out selling yours, you mustshow them the proof of funds.Maybe an offer will come inwithin the 72 hours and youcan remove the home sale con-tingency. In this case make surethat it is still contingent onyour house transaction closing.This should be agreed uponwhen you first write the offer.If your offer is contingent onthe close of your home, makesure you don’t accept an offerthat is contingent upon anoth-
er house selling.On the other hand if a
buyer of your home accepts acontingency from you for youto find a replacement propertyfor a period of time, you mighthave to negotiate a price thatfavors the buyer’s because ofthe uncertainty for them to beable to buy your property.
These type of home pur-chases should include muchguidance from your realtor andlender. But they can be done.
Next to owning a dog orcat, there is nothing morerewarding than fostering ananimal from your local shelteror rescue group.
Even if you already have apet at home, you might be ableto fit in a temporary tenant, adog or cat making the transitionfrom shelter to a new family.
Local shelters everywhereare bursting at the seams withdogs, cats, kittens and puppies.Rescue groups are on hand tohelp these animals get out ofthe shelter but rely on fosterhomes to provide them withlove and care until a perma-nent home can be found.
It's a very rewarding posi-tion to be in, knowing you'vehelped an animal through a dif-ficult time in their lives andinto adoption.
Many families are happy andexcited when they find out thereis a really good “forever home”waiting for their foster pet.
Here are some things tokeep in mind about fostering:• There is a time commitment
for fostering. You may beasked to foster a dog or catfor anywhere from twoweeks to two monthsdepending on circum-stances. You may also beasked to bring your pet tolocal adoption events tomeet potential adopters.
• There are different kinds offostering. Shelters and res-cue groups need foster par-ents for kittens and puppies,for animals needing medicalcare or for dogs with behav-ioral issues. That doesn'tmean you have to be able tofoster all of these kinds ofpets, you might want to justfoster kittens or puppies.But foster parents are need-ed in all those categories andrescues typically offer orien-tation or instruction to helpyou deal with each situation.
• You may also be asked towork with a dog on somebasic training or tempera-ment issues. Some mightneed work on house train-
ing. Foster parents may needto devote some time tobreaking bad habits to help adog be adoptable.
• You may be asked to nurse adog or cat back to health.That could require givingmedication at certain timesor perhaps giving periodicbaths. If you have your ownpets at home you may haveto keep them separatedfrom your foster if the fos-ter dog or cat is contagious.Before taking in a animalthat's recovering from an ill-ness check with your veteri-narian if you have concernsabout your own pet.There's no question that
foster programs are impor-
tant to the success of sheltersand rescue groups. Manyshelters are overcrowded andare continually in need ofroom for incoming animals.Foster programs are there tohelp animals who are at riskat a shelter because they areold or sick or just scared.These animals need time outof the shelter environment tobe treated and rehabilitatedand then adopted.
Consider opening yourheart and home to a deservinganimal. You can save a life.
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How reliable are home sale contingencies?
New Windows is a perfect 10
Microsoft released its latestWindows version to a willingaudience of awaiting fans, and itis proving to be a big success.Consumers are flocking indroves to what is being hailed asthe holy grail of the PC industry.This is quite possibly the bestlaunch of a Windows operatingsystem in history.
According to betanews Win-dows 10 had 14 million installa-tions in the first 24 hours. “Aftera mere 24 hours of being pub-licly available, there are already14 million computers runningthe operating system,” the storysaid. “Keep in mind, this num-ber is going to explode as timemarches on. The first 24 hoursof Windows 10 has been magi-
cal, and Microsoft is sharing thedetails.”
Yusuf Mehdi, a Microsoftspokesperson, said, “It has beenan incredible 24 hours for Win-dows and our fans. We’re hum-bled and grateful to see theresponse to Windows 10.”
Even with this massive startthere is still a long way to go toget the rest of the world upgrad-ed to the new operating system.The 14 million users only repre-sents about 1-2 percent of allWindows users around theworld, so there is still much workto be done. Microsoftannounced that they will beworking around the clock tomake sure the Windows 10launch is successful.
I have been working withWindows 10 for more than ayear now, and have been pleasedwith its progress over that peri-od of time. Now that I have thelatest release (build 10240) I amexcited about using, and playingwith, my computer again. It islike a new lease on life. Speakingof which…
Did you know, you don’treally need a new computer toenjoy the benefits of Windows10? While manufactures of
CPUs like Intel are not thrilledthat their old CPUs work greaton this new operating system,users should be thrilled. I havetaken the time to test Windows10 on all sorts of computers andfind that one of the benefits isyour old computer runs betterthan it did when it was new.
Of course there are somerestrictions and a condition tojust how “old” old is. But, if youhave a computer running Win-dows XP, Vista, Windows 7, andWindows 8.x, your box is likelyto be fine. There are a fewchecks to be sure. You need aminimum of 4GB RAM (mem-ory), about 50GB of hard drivespace, and a good connection tothe Internet. Really, that’s aboutit.
No need to spend a pile ofmoney on a new computer,unless you want to. The Win-dows 10 upgrade is free to exist-ing licensed users of Windows 7and 8.x. All others need to pur-chase a new license that costsaround $150. Not bad consider-ing the alternatives. If you needmore RAM or hard drive spacethat is the easy part and not tooexpensive either.
The upgrade is quite smooth
compared to any other upgradeyou have ever encountered.Microsoft took the time andworked at great lengths to makethe process as smooth as possi-ble. Nearly all existing programs(apps) will work and performbetter under this upgrade, auto-magically. Most settings will bepreserved as well. Althoughthere are some exceptions.
For those with Windows XPwho want to upgrade, we sug-gest using a professional if youintend to preserve your pro-grams and data. The wholeprocess includes wiping yourdrive clean and starting over. Ifyou don’t have the license keysto your software, most keys arerecoverable by a professionaland can be reinstalled. Havethem save your data and marry itback to the program after theupgrade is completed.
Really, that’s all there is to it.What you get in return is exqui-site. Contact your computer pro-fessional today and start upgrad-ing.
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Fall Cleaning?Need help?
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Call Debbie DeSousafor help with
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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
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
WILL CLANEY
TECH TALK
William Claney is an independenttech writer and former owner ofComputers USA in the ClaytonStation. Email questions or commentsto [email protected].
Clayton Theatre Compa-ny (CTC) has a slightly differ-ent and certainly enjoyableway to raise money. The grouphas combined forces withEncore Medspa in WalnutCreek for an evening of beinggood to your body while alsohelping support the local the-ater company and its fun pro-ductions at Endeavor Hall inClayton. The fundraiser takesplace at 6 p.m. on Thursday,Sept. 17. According to artisticdirector LaTonya Watts, thespa will be offering discountson products and treatmentspurchased during thefundraiser.
“There will also be amazingraffle prizes with the ticketproceeds going directly toCTC,” she says. For moreinformation on the fundraiser,call 925-222-9106 or [email protected].
The company’s next pro-duction, “Urinetown,” shouldresonate with local audiencesin a rather personal way. Thesatirical musical takes place in aGotham-like city where resi-dents are dealing with theeffects of a 20-year drought.Water is so precious that pri-vate toilets have been bannedand people must pay (and
stand in long lines) to use thepublic facilities.
“I’ve wanted to do thismusical since I first saw it inNew York,” says RoxannePardi, who co-directs withWatts. “With our on-goingdrought in Northern Califor-nia, it seemed like the perfecttime to do this show.”
The show, however, willnot be performed at thegroup’s usual venue, EndeavorHall, but at Walnut Creek’sLesher Center for the Arts.“It’s very difficult to do a full-scale musical at Endeavor Hall.The stage is very small, and wehave no wing space,” Pardiexplains. “We think moving to
the Lesher’s small theater[Knight Stage III] will allow usto reach a larger audience baseand afford our actors the expe-rience of performing at theLesher.”
For tickets to “Urinetown,”call 925-943-SHOW or go towww.lesherartscenter.org.
Role Players Ensemblemore than matches the EastBay’s warm weather with asteamy production of Ten-nessee Williams’ “A StreetcarNames Desire,” runningthrough Sept. 19 at the VillageTheatre, 233 Front Street, inDanville. It seems fitting thatthe company would select thisAmerican classic set in NewOrleans as the nation com-memorates the 10th anniver-sary of Katrina. While thestory of Blanche DuBois, hersister Stella and Stella’s hus-band Stanley isn’t a CategoryFive hurricane, it certainlystirred things up when itdebuted in the late 1940s, mak-ing Marlon Brando a house-hold name.
George Maguire directswith Samantha Behr as Stella,Rob August as Stanley andMelanie DuPuy as Blanche.For tickets, call 925-314-3400or go to www.roleplay-ersensemble.com.
A plethora of talentedlocals join forces to present theincredible story of a deaf,dumb and blind kid who playsa mean pinball. Of course, I’mreferring to “The Who’sTommy” presented by OMG,I Love That Show! at WalnutCreek’s Lesher Center for theArts Sept. 18 through Oct. 11.
The exhilarating story ofhope, healing and the resilienceof the human spirit featuresChris Aceves, Jenny Angell,Sydney Chow, Mariah Heath,Melissa Heinrich, Tyler Hen-nessey, Jacob Judd, MarcusLance, William Lipton,Zachariah Mohammed, Ben-jamin Pither, Paul Plain, JasonRehklau, Miguel Samonte, CCSheldon, Jennifer Stark, Moni-ca Turner and Keaton Wilker-son. Ryan Cowles directs.
With so many wonderfulmusical and dance numbers,this is one not to be missed.For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW or go to www.lesher-artscenter.org.
Page 12 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
Performing Arts
SALLY HOGARTY
STAGE STRUCK
Sally Hogarty is well knownaround the Bay Area as anewspaper columnist, theatre criticand working actress. She is alsothe editor of the Orinda News.Send comments [email protected]
CTC moves fall production toLesher Center’s Knight Stage
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Diablo Ballet will open its22nd season of the “Power ofDance” on Nov. 13 at the DelValle Theatre with a DiabloBallet premier of the pas dedeux from “TchaikovskyDances” set to the score fromthe opera “Eugene Onegin.”
The new season featuresworks by George Balanchine,Val Caniparoli, alumna TinaKay Bohnstedt and a new pro-duction of “Carnival of theAnimals” by resident choreog-rapher Robert Dekkers.
To usher in the holidays,the company will bring a newtake on an old favorite with “ASwingin’ Holiday” performedby the Diablo Ballet SwingOrchestra Nov. 13-15.
For the full season infor-mation go to www.DiabloBal-let.org. For season subscription
information, call Diablo Ballet,(925) 943-1775 or to purchasetickets to individual perform-ances, go to LesherArtsCen-ter.org or call (925) 943-7469.The Del Valle Theater is at1963 Tice Valley Blvd., WalnutCreek.
San Francisco’s GoldenThread Productions, thecountry’s first theater compa-ny focused on the MiddleEast, is announcing the fallshowing of its popularReOrient Festival of ShortPlays.
ReOrient 2015, runningthrough Oct. 4 at Z Belowand Z Space, will turn the BayArea into a Mecca for innova-
tive, spirited and thought-provoking theater from andabout the Middle East. Thefestival of short plays and theaccompanying two-day forumof panels and discussionsfeatures performances andartists from Armenia, Egypt,Iraq, Iran, Israel, Lebanon,Palestine, Syria, Turkey, theUnited Kingdom and the U.S.
“Nowhere else in the U.S.,
and certainly not anywhere inthe Middle East, will you beable to see such a diverse col-lection of plays from andabout the Middle East on onestage,” says Founding ArtisticDirector Torange Yeghiazari-an. “But at the end of the day,ReOrient is more about ushere in the U.S. than a chang-ing Middle East that is thou-sands of miles away. Bay Areaaudiences of all backgroundswill find themselves reflectedin these intelligent and warmplays.”
ReOrient 2015 is muchmore than just a festival ofshort plays. With talkbacks,panels, roundtable conversa-tions, a family show, and arecital for Arabic musiclovers, ReOrient 2015 is anartistic celebration and politi-cal exploration of this trans-forming region for curiousand engaged theater loversand those passionate aboutinternational themes.
For a full list of ReOrientevents and to purchase ticketsand passes, visit golden-thread.org/reorient2015.
Hailed as “a valentine tohearty turn-of-the-20th-centu-ry American life” by the Wash-ington Post, American Conser-vatory Theater continues its2015–16 season with “Ah,Wilderness!,” Eugene O’Neill’spassionate coming-of-age clas-sic.
“Ah, Wilderness!” is a ten-der portrait of a sensitiveteenage poet whose experienceof first love leads him into theraptures of romantic poetryand the pain of heartbreak.
As the Miller clan preparefor their Fourth of July cele-brations, their idealistic, litera-ture-quoting 16-year-old son,Richard, is struggling withwhat it means to be young andin love. As Richard’s attemptsto sow his wild oats intersectwith small-town gossip, hilari-ous misunderstandings ensue.Full of the vibrant nostalgia offirst love and other youthful
discoveries, “Ah, Wilderness!”is a humorous portrait of afamily’s attempts to stay unitedin the midst of growing pains.
“‘Ah, Wilderness!’ is a playby a young artist with gloriousroles for young actors,” A.C.T.Artistic Director Carey Perloffsays. “That’s what I love aboutit. Later in his life, O’Neillwould write about his familyfrom his father’s perspective,but here he writes so poignant-ly and wittily about what it is tobe a 20-something in love, try-ing to navigate adulthood andfeeling completely over-whelmed. “
The play runs Wednesday,Oct. 14 through Sunday, Nov.8 at A.C.T.’s Geary Theater,415 Geary St., San Francisco.Single tickets (ranging from$20–$100) are available now atthe A.C.T. Box Office at 415-749-2228 or online atwww.act-sf.org.
Photo Courtesy of Role Players Ensemble
SAMANTHA BEHR PLAYS STELLA AND ROB AUGUST IS STANLEY inRole Players steamy production of Tennessee Williams’ ‘AStreetcar Named Desire.’
A.C.T. ventures into adelightful ‘Wilderness’
Robert Dekkers in DiabloBallet’s “Apollo” to returnin 2016.
Aris Bernales
New works, classics and thereturn of favorites markDiablo Ballet 2016 season
Innovative ReOrient Festivalshowcases Middle East themes
GOLDEN THREAD PRODUCTIONS’ COMPANY
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September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 13
IN CLAYTONTThhrruu SSeepptt.. 111199//1111 RReemmeemmbbrraanncceeA flag and information about each firefighter and police officer lostin 9/11 will be placed in the lawn at Clayton Fire Station 11. Thepublic is welcome and encouraged to visit and pay their respects.6500 Center St., Clayton.
SSaattuurrddaayyss tthhrruu SSeepp.. 1199FFaarrmmeerrss’’ MMaarrkkeett8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diablo Street between Main and Center streets,downtown Clayton. pcfma.com/clayton.
SSeepptt.. 1122SSaattuurrddaayy CCoonncceerrttss iinn tthhee GGrroovveeEast Bay Mudd. 6 – 8:30 p.m. The Grove park, downtown Clayton.Free. cityofclayton.org.
OOcctt.. 22 –– 44OOkkttoobbeerrffeessttSponsored by the Clayton Business and Community Association.Music by The Internationals, biergarten, food, arts and crafts, carni-val. 6 – 10 p.m. Fri., carnival only; 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m.– 6 p.m. Sun. Downtown. Free admission. claytonoktoberfest.com.
IN CONCORDPPaavviilliioonn CCoonncceerrtt SScchheedduulleeThe Concord Pavilion is located at 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord.theconcordpavilion.com. Shows start at 7 p.m. unless otherwisenoted.
SSeepp.. 2200,, CCoouunnttiinngg CCrroowwss
MMoonnddaayyss OOffff tthhee GGrriiddRotating lineup of eight food trucks; live music from local musicians.Food trucks 5 – 9 p.m.; music 6 – 8 p.m. Grant Street betweenSalvio Street and Willow Pass Road, Concord. offthegridsf.com.
TTuueessddaayyss FFaarrmmeerrss’’ MMaarrkkeettTuesdays year round. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Todos Santos Plaza, down-town Concord. cityofconcord.org.
TThhuurrssddaayyssMMuussiicc aanndd MMaarrkkeettThursday night live music and farmers’ market. Music: Sept. 17,The Best Intentions after dedication of new archways to the park at6:15 p.m. Market 4 – 8 p.m.; music 6:30 – 8 p.m. Todos SantosPlaza, downtown Concord. cityofconcord.org.
33rrdd SSuunnddaayyss AAnnttiiqquuee FFaaiirreeAntiques, collectibles, handmade arts and crafts. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Todos Santos Plaza, downtown Concord. Free admission. concor-dantiquefaire.com.
SSeepptt.. 2266GGaarrddeenniinngg CCllaassssLearn how to grow your own fall and winter vegetables. 10 a.m.Navlet’s, 1555 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. free.navletsgardens.com. 681-0550.
OOcctt.. 1100 –– 1111IIcciinngg wwiitthh tthhee SSttaarrssContra Costa Cake and Sugar Art Society Cake Show andCompetition. Open to the public. All levels of expertise welcome forcompetition. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sun. FirstLutheran Church, 4000 Concord Blvd., Concord. $5; children 4and under are free. Entry forms at cccsas.org. Email questions [email protected].
ON THE MOUNTAINMount Diablo Interpretive Association programs listed are free withthe exception of park entrance fee. Go to mdia.org and click onEvents Calendar for more information.SSeepptt.. 2200TThhee CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa TTaarraannttuullaaCome have a close encounter with these fascinating and totallyharmless spiders. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Summit Museum.
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENTTThhrruu OOcctt.. 1100““TTeennddeerrllyy””Triumphant musical about legendary Rosemary Clooney. LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $37-$63. center-rep.org
SSeepptt.. 1111““IImmpprroovv 99--11--11””Presented by Trapped in a Rumor. 8:15 p.m. Lesher Center for theArts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 1122““IImmpprroovv CCoommeeddyy CCoorrnneerr””Presented by Commander Doug Productions. 8:15 p.m. LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $15. lesherarts-center.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 1133““IInn MMyy LLiiffee””A musical theatre tribute to The Beatles. 2 p.m. Lesher Center forthe Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $39-$90.lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 1144SSttrrookkee SSuuppppoorrtt GGrroouuppDr. Jim Otis discusses “A Stroke Survivor’s Guide to ConsistentSleep.” 7 – 9 p.m. Sterns Conference Room, John Muir MedicalCenter, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Free. ContactAnn Dzuna 376-6218.
SSeepptt.. 1166 –– NNoovv.. 2222““MMoonnssttrreessss””Exploring the resilience of a community struggling to find a home inthe ever-shifting sands of the American dream. Strand Theater,1127 Market St., San Francisco. $35-$95. act-sf.org.
SSeepptt.. 1188 -- 1199““DDaannccee SSeerriieess OOnnee””Presented by Smuin Ballet. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 CivicDr., Walnut Creek. $56-$73. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 1188,, 2200““PPiieedd PPiippeerr ooff HHaammeelliinn””Presented by El Campanil Children’s Theatre. El Campanil Theatre,602 W. Second St., Antioch. $8-$12. elcampaniltheatre.com.
SSeepptt.. 1188 –– OOcctt.. 1111TThhee WWhhoo’’ss:: ““TToommmmyy””Presented by OMG, I Love That Show! Productions. Lesher Centerfor the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $39.lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 1199CCoommeeddyyPerformance by Shang. 8 p.m. California Theatre, 351 RailroadAve., Pittsburg. $18-$21. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.
SSeepptt.. 1199DDeellttaa BBlluueess FFeessttiivvaallMusic, arts, crafts, gift items, food. 12 – 7:30 p.m. Antioch’sRivertown District, off 2nd Street between G and I streets. Freeadmission. deltabluesfestival.net.
SSeepptt.. 1199,, 2277““AArroouunndd tthhee WWoorrlldd iinn 8800 MMiinnuutteess””Performed by Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. 2 p.m. Sept. 19,El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $7-$15. elcam-paniltheatre.com. Sept. 27, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 CivicDr., Walnut Creek. $10-$30. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 2200““PPaassssppoorrtt ttoo tthhee WWoorrlldd””Opening night of the California Symphony. 4 p.m. Lesher Centerfor the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $75.lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
SSeepptt.. 2211SSttaanndd UUpp CCoommeeddyyHeadliners from the Bay Area hosted by Mean Dave. 7:30 p.m.Vinnie’s Bar & Grill, 2045 Mt. Diablo St., Concord. Free. Must be21 or older. vinniesbar.com. 685-9515.
SSeepptt.. 2255 –– 2277BBllaacckk DDiiaammoonndd FFoolllliieessEntertainment for all ages. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave.,Pittsburg. $15-$20. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.
SSeepptt.. 2277““FFllaammiinnggoo CCoouurrtt””A slice-of-life comedy presented by The Vagabond Players. 2 p.m.El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St., Antioch. $10-$15. elcam-paniltheatre.com.
OOcctt.. 33““AA SSaalluuttee ttoo tthhee EEaagglleess””Performed by Hotel California. 8 p.m. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W.Second St., Antioch. $25-$27. elcampaniltheatre.com.
OOcctt.. 99 –– 1111““MMoooonn OOvveerr BBuuffffaalloo””Madcap comedy. California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg.$10-$25. pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com. 427-1611.
OOcctt.. 99 –– NNoovv.. 77““TThhee FFuullll MMoonnttyy””Heartwarming, upbeat comedy performed by Contra Costa MusicalTheatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.$45-$60. lesherartscenter.org. 943-7469.
OOcctt.. 1111““HHiiddddeenn TTrreeaassuurreess””Diablo Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 53rd season with asparkling program of hidden classical music gems. 2 p.m. LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $33. lesherarts-center.org. 943-7469.
CHURCHES AND RELIGIONSSeepptt.. 1133FFlluuttee aanndd GGuuiittaarr CCoonncceerrttPerformed by Duo Boheme. 4 p.m. Clayton Valley PresbyterianChurch, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. $15 suggested donation.cvpresby.org.
SSeepptt.. 1166RRoossiieessHear the personal stories of the Rosies who are honored for theircontributions to WWII. 11 a.m. Sherrill Hall, Concord UnitedMethodist Church, 1645 West St., Concord. Free. concordumc.org.685-5260.
SSeepptt.. 1188 –– 1199CCrraafftt SSuuppppllyy SSaalleeMaterial, yarn, notions, beads, paint, buttons, kits, patterns andmore. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Concord United Methodist Church, Rooms 1and 2, 1645 West St., Concord. concordumc.org. 685-5260.
SSeepptt.. 1199SSeenniioorr IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn FFaaiirreeOver 20 local agencies provide information on services available toseniors and their families. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. St. Bonaventure,Large Hall, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord. Free. For more informa-tion, call Carol at 672-4383.
FUNDRAISERS22nndd aanndd 44tthh SSuunnddaayyssPPaannccaakkee BBrreeaakkffaassttVeterans of Foreign Wars serve breakfast to the public: Eggs, pan-cakes, sausage. 8 – 11 a.m. VFW Post 1525, 2290 Willow PassRd, Concord. $5, $3 children under 12. vfwpost1525.org.
SSeepptt.. 1188““TThhee GGoooonniieess””Outdoor movie benefiting students and staff at Mt. DiabloElementary School. Festivities at 6 p.m.; movie at 7:30 p.m. Set upchairs after 4 p.m. MDES baseball fields, 5880 Mt. Zion Drive,Clayton. Free admission; refreshments for sale. Contact [email protected] with questions.
SSeepptt.. 1199PPllaanntt SSaalleeSecond-to-last sale of the year. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Markham RegionalArboretum Society Nursery. 1202 La Vista Ave., Concord.markhamarboretum.org.
SSeepptt.. 2277SSuunnddaayy SSuuppppeerr aanndd SSiilleenntt AAuuccttiioonnFundraiser for Clayton Valley Village. 5 – 9 p.m. La Veranda, 6201Center St., Clayton. $40 due by Sept. 17. Contact Sonja Wilkin at672-2689.
OOcctt.. 33PPookkeerr TToouurrnnaammeennttTexas Hold’em poker tournament benefiting Clayton Valley CharterHigh School football. 5:30 p.m. dinner; 8 p.m. tournament.Shadelands, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. $35 dinner; $75dinner and gaming. claytonvalleyfootball.com.
OOcctt.. 1177AAuuccttiioonn//DDiinnnneerrHelp the Concord Historical Society complete the Concord Museumand Event Center. 5 – 9 p.m. Concord Senior Center, 2727Parkside Circle, Concord. $50. concordhistorical.org.
OOcctt.. 1177SSwwiinnggiinngg oonn aa SSttaarrLive music by students, dinner and auction benefiting Clayton ValleyMusic Boosters. 5 – 10 p.m. Shadelands, 111 N. Wiget Lane,Walnut Creek. $30. claytonbands.org.
OOcctt.. 2244TTwwoo--BBiitt AAuuccttiioonn aanndd DDiinnnneerrDinner, entertainment, auction, dessert raffle hosted by SoroptimistInternational of Diablo Vista. 6 p.m. Back Forty Texas BBQ, 100Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. $50. Contact Jan Townsend at 827-1050 or Karen Jameson at 858-8611 by Oct. 16 for tickets.
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.
Sept. 12: Hypertufa Workshop, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 14, 28: Clayton Knits, 1:30 – 4 p.m.Sept. 14: Clayton Library Book Club, 7 p.m.Sept. 16: Stargazing, 7 p.m. Sept. 28: Clayton author Gary Carr, 7 p.m.Oct. 1: Clayton Reads beginsOct. 5: Clayton author Brian Donohue, 7 p.m.
The Concord Library is at 2900 Salvio St. Programs are freeunless otherwise noted. See full schedule of events at ccclib.orgor 646-5455.
Sept. 14: Marshmallow Engineering, 7 p.m. Registrationrequired.
Sept. 15: Minecraft, 3:30 – 6 p.m. Registration required.Sept. 18 – 20: Book Sale, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 1 – 3
p.m. Sun.Sept. 21: Movie Night, 7 – 8:30 p.m.Sept. 24: The Psychology of Spending, 6 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. in
SpanishSept. 26: Arts Café, 10 a.m. Registration required.Thursdays, starting Oct. 1: Drum Quest, 3:30 p.m. Registration
required.Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2: Art Journaling, 1:30 p.m. Registration
required.Oct. 13: Art Demonstration, 12 p.m.
GOVERNMENT11sstt aanndd 33rrdd TTuueessddaayyssCCllaayyttoonn CCiittyy CCoouunncciill7 p.m. Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304or ci.clayton.ca.us.
22nndd aanndd 44tthh TTuueessddaayyssCCllaayyttoonn PPllaannnniinngg CCoommmmiissssiioonn7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. 673-7304or ci.clayton.ca.us.
Clayton Community CalendarPLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. SEPT 30 FOR THE OCT. 9 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO [email protected]
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Since receiving its charterauthorization in July, the newContra Costa School of Per-forming Arts has its governingboard in place and agreed to aMemorandum of Understand-ing with the Contra CostaCounty Board of Education.Three of its founding boardmembers are Clayton residents.
Executive Director NeilMcChesney said the search fora temporary home is ongoingfor the public charter schoolthat expects to open nextAugust. McChesney is lookingat local sites to begin operatingnext summer while he contin-ues dialogue with the city ofConcord concerning place-
ment and construction of apermanent site for the charterschool on the grounds of theConcord Pavilion.
The governing boardappointees include Claytonresidents Alison Bacigalupo,Jim Wickware and SherrieSarna plus Lisa Kingsbury andGabriela Rowland. They beganmeeting last month.
Bacigalupo worked withMcChesney at Clayton ValleyHigh School, was involved in theconversion of CVHS to ClaytonValley Charter and served on itsfounding governing board.
From humble beginnings ina small Mississippi town, Sarna’sfamily moved to Southern Cali-fornia where she attended publicschools in south-central LosAngeles. She relocated to theBay Area in 1985 and has had a26-year career in law enforce-ment. Sarna has been a county
resident for over 18 years andhas raised six children in thepublic school system. She hastwo sets of identical twins cur-rently attending local.
Wickware has lived in theEast Bay for almost 50 years.After attend-ing publicschools andthen graduat-ing from UCBerkeley in1980, heworked forthree interna-tional compa-nies in statis-tics, manage-ment and salesbefore startinghis own firm in 1994. He’s beena board member at First Luther-an School and on the parent fac-ulty club at Mt. Diablo Elemen-tary School.
Rowland co-founded withanother parent an afterschoolenrichment program, Drama-Mama Productions, whichworked with middle school andelementary school children. Asa director and owner of Dra-maMama Productions, sheworked with the Mt. DiabloUnified School District andcity of Concord.
Additionally the charter hasan advisory council that cur-rently includes Janet Gower,Kristin Avila, Donn K. Harrisand Milton Reynolds.
A month after receiving amaximum five-year charterauthorization from the countyschool board, McChesney wasback before the board in Augustto seek approval of a MOU.“This agreement essentially setsforth the conditions for us toopen,” McChesney explains.
He was quizzed by board
membersabout howthe schoolwill bef u n d e d .M c C h e s -n e yexplainedthat theschool isseeking donations and grantsbut will rely on a factoring loanbased the expected daily atten-dance funds that will comefrom the state once the schoolopens next fall.
The expectation is for at least300 students spread acrossgrades 6-10 in the first year. Ulti-mately the organizers project750 students from grades 6-12.
For more information and tocontribute to the school’s fundraisingdrive visit the website: charthouse-publicschools.org.
Growing up listening to therelatively safe rhymes of RUNDMC and Beastie Boys, it’s safeto say that at 10-years old, thefirst listen to N.W.A. was an ear-opener. Sneaking around with aWalkman, trying to keep momfrom hearing, didn’t last long.Eventually, the tape was takenaway.
Yet N.W.A. had a lastingeffect, both on me and the rapworld itself. They hit hard, loudand some would say, obscenely.They also lived the same way. F.Gary Gray’s new biopic“Straight Outta Compton”chronicles the brief career ofwhat many call the greatest rap
group in history. At two-and-a-half hours, the film drags on abit. However, Gray manages tokeep it interesting with the helpof fine acting and, of course,the music.
In 1986, Eazy-E (JasonMitchell), Dr. Dre (CoreyHawkins) and Ice Cube(O’Shea Jackson Jr.) are threeyoung black men trying to sur-vive in Compton. Dre spinsrecords at a local R&B club,Cube writes lyrics while still inhigh school, and E sells drugs.The movie opens with whatfeels like a by-the-numbersintroduction for our three mainrappers. The writing here feelsclichéd and forced. Yet, oncewe start to see their lives unfold,the beginnings of N.W.A. startto take shape. Dre realizes thatwith his production skills andCube’s lyrics, they should all belaying down tracks. One frus-trating thing about the processis we never see how the actualbeats and music come about.Gray chooses only to shownumerous recording booth rapsessions. After some hilariousattempts at rapping by E, hefinally hits his stride and thefirst hit, “Boyz in Tha Hood” isborn. N.W.A. was full of sever-al very distinct personalities.“Straight Outta Compton”struggles a bit in giving equalscreen time to each of the bandmembers.
MC Ren (Aldis Hodge) andDJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.) didnot have the solo careers or theoutspoken personalities of theother three. Brown and Hodgedo a fine job but the charactersaren’t given much to do besidesjoke and rap, respectively.Founding member ArabianPrince did not even get a men-
tion in the film. Dre, Cube andE are the real backbone of thegroup and the film. They alldeal with their own problemswhile trying to handle outsideissues like police harassment,crooked record deals, and theviolence that surrounds them.
Hawkins flexes his actingrange when Dre breaks downdealing with family strife andwhen he stands up to menacingproducer Suge Knight (R. Mar-cos Taylor). We get a sense Dreis a more complicated characterthan what we see on screen.Jackson Jr. steps right into his
father’s shoes and inhabits thebrooding, sometimes violentIce Cube. However it is Mitchellthat steals the show. Mitchell isat times menacing and heart-breaking as E. His friendshipwith shady producer JerryHeller (a smarmy Paul Giamat-ti) may have been what ulti-mately ended N.W.A. Fromhardcore drug dealer, to richhusband, to dying of AIDS,Eazy-E lived a short and turbu-lent life. Despite the quibblesone can find earlier in the film,Gray handles this stage of thefilm beautifully.
Whatever comeback mayhave been in the works in 1995was snuffed out forever by thedeath of Eazy-E. Yet, N.W.A.will eternally live on as thegrandfathers of gangster rap.“Straight Outta Compton” is agreat starting point for thosewho have little to no knowledgeof the band. It is also fine nos-talgia piece for those of us whofollowed N.W.A. Here’s wishingthe film hit equally as hard asthe music. B
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Page 14 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
Ruth Ware’s debut novel, “Ina Dark, Dark Wood”(Gallery/Scout Press; August,2015), possesses all the best ele-ments of a thriller: a remotecountry estate, a bacheloretteparty and a group of frenemiesthat really, really should havescrubbed their email lists andleft each other well enoughalone after those terrible schooldays. But then, where’s thepleasure in that?
The story is narrated byNora, an author who specializesin crime thrillers. Back in school,she was called Lee, short forLeonora. Only one person evercalled her Leo, and it was herfirst love, James. But then hebroke up with her — via text —and she moved on. Ten yearslater, Nora is mostly okay, writ-ing novels and living a fine,urban single life.
Then one day out of theblue, she receives an invitationto an old friend’s wedding. Sur-prised, she feels a little sorry forClare, thinking that maybe shehas no other girls to invite, hav-
ing to dredge back 10 years forher bachelorette do. Nora isundecided about whether or notto attend the hen, but her inviteis followed quickly by an emailfrom Nina, who is also wary ofClare’s motives. “If you go, Iwill,” she says. Nora agrees andthey somehow wind up travel-ing to the remote English coun-tryside together.
Nina hates the country andmisses her girlfriend, and Norais straightway filled with dreadby their accommodations: amodern glass box dropped
unceremoniously in a meadowat the edge of a dark and men-acing wood. The house belongsto Flo’s aunt and feels to Noralike a dangerous cage, though itis only a country estate, com-plete with a shotgun hung overthe living room fireplace.
Miles from anywhere, cellreception is sketchy and the rev-elers are coolly irritable. WhenClare announces to Nora thatthe reason she was invited to thehen and not the wedding isbecause the groom-to-be is theinfamous James, the weekendreally takes a turn. It doesn’thelp that Flo’s hen party gamesinvolve embarrassing detailsabout the bride and groom,shaming and humiliating Norarepeatedly. And then it snows.And then the land lines go outand the hen fete devolves into achurlish clutch of drunken,paranoid hostages. Fun.
When the phones go down,Melanie decides to bail, a wel-come excuse to return home toher infant son. Flo is alternatelyweepy and aggressive toward
anyone who isn’t into the spiritof the weekend. Tom wouldrather be home with his hus-band but stays on, drinking ginand taking well-aimed shots atNina and Nora. Clare playsreferee, keeping anyone fromcoming to actual blows.
After two days of slowlyescalating hell, Nora wakes up ina hospital confused, horriblybruised, and under police watch.She is suspected of murder, butshe can’t remember what hap-pened. The harder she tries torecall, the more the truth evadesher.
Novelist Ware has created adeft and ominous page turner inthis fabulous thriller, repletewith plot twists, red herringsand a truly scary villain. Ifyou’re still looking for provoca-tive poolside reading to finishthe summer, this novel shoulddo nicely.
CYNTHIA GREGORY
FOR THE BOOKS
Cynthia Gregory is a NorthBay nonprofit leader, writer of shortfiction, and author of a blog. Emailcomments and questions [email protected]
Secrets abound ‘In a Dark, Dark Wood’
JEFF MELLINGER
SCREEN SHOTS
‘Compton’ loses its beat on screen
A FloralExperience
Mitzie Richardson [email protected] Facebook/afloralexperience.biz
Mitzie Richardson [email protected] Facebook/afloralexperience.biz
Flowers for all
occasions
Clayton board members help lead new performing arts academy JAY BEDECARRÉ
Clayton Pioneer
ALISONBACIGALUPO
SHERRIE SARNA
Corbis
‘STRAIGHT OUT OF COMPTON’ tells the story of young blackrappers trying to survive in Compton. From left: DJ Yella,MC Ren, Eazy-E, and Dr Dre.
It’s that time of year again!The time of year kids dreadmost, waking up early in themorning and the long days.What a lot of students don’trealize is many schools lack themoney they need to continueprograms such as art and music.Schools could use every pennythey can raise through donationsand fundraisers.
Diablo View Middle School’sPFC (Parent Faculty Club) hasorganized the ‘Dollar a Day’fund to help improve our educa-
tion by supplying school sup-plies, as well as technicaladvances such as projectors inclassrooms.
Also, the school organized a‘Back to School BBQ’ on Sep-tember 25 to raise money forafter school programs. Ticketscost $13 each and must bebought by September 11th. Thenight will be great with deliciousfood, great entertainment by theschool Jazz Band, and a greattime to interact with fellowDVMS families.
Other ways to help can becollecting ‘Box Tops’ found ontissue boxes and soup cans. Youcan turn these box tops into thecollection box in the office. Lastyear the school raised almost$500 from the box tops alone.You can also help the school atJamba Juice. You can use a
Jamba Juice preloaded paymentcard and a portion of your pur-chase can be donated back to thePFC. The DVMS Dispatch alsocan inform you of “Jamba Fri-days” where your child can enjoyan 8 oz. smoothie for only $2.Jamba juice will donate 20% ofthe proceeds to the DVMS PFC.Last but not least, you can shopat Lucky’s, Food Max and Save-Mart to help DVMS. When youswipe your card, S.H.A.R.E.Swill donate 3% of the proceedsto the PFC.
There are many ways to helpour school. Every penny counts.
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Clayton Valley Charter HighSchool began our fourth yearwith another exciting Back toSchool month.
Throughout our first years,we have observed an incredibletransformation and are fortu-nate for the teachers, staff andparent volunteers who are aninstrumental part of our specialcommunity.
It is quite remarkable to con-sider that our 2016 senior classbegan their high school journeyas our first freshman class whenCVCHS initially opened itsdoors as a new charter in 2012.
We certainly have much to cele-brate.
CVCHS sponsored numer-ous events and activities for ournew and returning students,each designed to build a connec-tion among our students and tofulfill Clayton Valley’s vision thatevery child feels safe, loved andcelebrated in a positive learningenvironment.
CVCHS owes special thanksto Sarah Lovick, student Link
Crew leaders and our counselorsfor their tireless efforts hostingthe amazing activities duringFreshman Transition Week. Thisgroup of dedicated staff andstudents provided the supportand encouragement for all ofour 500 new freshmen studentsto become a proud CVCHSEagle.
Last week, CVCHS spon-sored our fourth annual “Chal-lenge Day” program that includ-
ed the entire sophomore class of450 students along with 25 adultvolunteers and trained Chal-lenge Day professionals. For thepast three years, CVCHS stu-dents participated with parents,counselors, teachers and com-munity leaders to discuss sensi-tive issues surrounding teasing,bullying and stereotyping. Thebonds established this week willprovide our students with a net-work of supportive friends andstaff throughout their highschool years.
We are indebted to SusanneRenner for her leadership inpaving the way for our studentsto participate in this life chang-ing experience. Susanne is aCVCHS parent leader and is
responsible for organizing theChallenge Day program atCVCHS.
“Challenge Day provides ourstudents with tools for peacefulconflict resolution and how toexpress emotions in a healthyway,” she says. “As a result, itbuilds empathy and communityon campus by igniting a move-ment of compassion and posi-tive change.” By the end of theprogram, students make a com-mitment to create change oncampus and in their community.The entire program is bothinspiring and awakening.
As it starts its fourth year,Clayton Valley Charter HighSchool is considering majorchanges in the structure of itsgoverning board.
Since CVCHS came intoexistence, its nine-membergoverning board has includedfour members who are schoolemployees. In theory this givesteachers with two positionsplus the administration andclassified employees a voiceand vote in all school matters.
In practice it means thatthose four members can’t dis-cuss or vote on issues involv-ing salaries, personnel andother related topics, leaving theremaining five (or fewer) boardmembers to make such deci-sions. It especially makes forawkward situations when theboard is in closed session —
sometimes for hours —to dealwith issues where the recusedmembers have to leave themeeting room.
The two teacher positionson the board have been vacantsince faculty representativesAmber Lineweaver and DanaTarantino resigned in May.They both left CVCHS afterthe past school year ended.
At the board’s August plan-ning session there was a discus-sion about the possibility ofeliminating all the employeepositions from the board, thusremoving the need for so manyrecusals on routine matters.This issue was among the listof recommendations made inthe report to the Contra CostaCounty Office of Educationstemming from complaintsabout CVCHS sent to thecounty office last year.
This idea was to be dis-cussed at the September board
meeting this Wednesday.
BOARD RESPONSE TO
COUNTY FINDINGS
Executive Director DaveLinzey and a governing boardmember met with ContraCosta Superintendent ofSchools Karen Sakata after therelease of the CCCOE report.The school reports, “they werevery pleased with the discus-sion and progress madeaddressing issues contained inthe CCCOE report.”
Linzey filed a response tothe “recommendations” madeby the law firm hired byCCCOE, based upon theassumption that any com-plaints were “not false.”CVCHS is outlining how theschool is already compliantwith many of the report’s rec-ommendations and is alsodemonstrating how the schoolhas made minor policy adjust-
ments to comply with some ofCCCOE’s requests.
Linzey report that they“were very pleased with ourmeeting with SuperintendentSakata and our mutual plans forproceeding forward with adjust-ments, demonstration of com-pliance and evidence that manycomplaints were indeed false.”
NEW SCHOOL YEAR,PRINCIPAL
The fourth year of ClaytonValley Charter sees new princi-pal Jeff Eben in charge. Linzeyreported at the August boardmeeting — held one week afterthe opening day of school —that the “new school year is offto a great start with muchenthusiasm expressed by staff,students and parents. Our newprincipal has been well-receivedand is doing a great job leadingthe staff forward. We havemuch to be proud of and muchto be thankful for as we beginanother successful school year.”
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].
CVCHS considers eliminating the fouremployee positions from governing board
Back-to-SchoolFundraisers at DVMS
David Linzey is executivedirector of CVCHS. Contact [email protected]
DAVID LINZEY
VOYAGE OF THE EAGLE
New year brings important ‘Challenges’
September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 15
JAY BEDECARRÉ
Clayton Pioneer
NATALIE PURSCHE
DVMS CORRESPONDENT
Schools
Our hot, dry summer daysare perfect for growingzucchini . . . often too manyzucchini if you don’t watch it.
If you happen to be on afirst-name basis with zucchini(singular: “zucchina) youshould know that’s only one ofits monikers. When I wasgrowing up, we called it greenItalian squash. In fact, it wasthe Italians who developed thisvariety of squash from theseeds Christopher Columbusbrought back to the Mediter-ranean from his New Worldjourneys. Zucchino, or smallsquash, is very popular in Italy.It was avoided in France forcenturies until cooks startedusing the smaller varieties (zuc-chini as large as seven-feetlong, weighing 70 lbs. havebeen grown). The Frenchcourgette is also a term used byBritish and other Europeancooks. The actual term“squash” came from a NativeAmerican term skutasquash,
meaning “green thing eatengreen.”
A relative of the cucumberand watermelon, zucchini isabout 95 percent water. Theother 5 percent is prettyremarkable — a standard size(six-inch) zucchini has about20 to 25 calories, has morepotassium than a banana, andis loaded with beta-carotene,lutein and lots of vitamins.
I side with the French andbelieve that smaller zucchiniare better and tastier than largeones. And don’t forget theflowers — stuff, batter anddeep fry them for an unusualbut tasty hors d’ouevre. How-ever, if you do end up with abaseball bat in your garden,grate it and drain it, which willmask its otherwise watery,insipid flavor.
ZUCCHINI FRITTERSServes 8
4 zucchini, grated orshredded
2 tsp. salt½ cup flour½ cup grated Parmesan
cheese4 cloves garlic, minced2 eggs, beaten4 Tbsp. olive oil
Place grated zucchini in acolander over the sink. Addsalt and gently toss to com-bine; let sit for 10 minutes thentransfer to a clean dish towel orcheese cloth and squeeze outall moisture.
In a large bowl, combine
zucchini, flour, Parmesan, gar-lic and egg; season with saltand pepper to taste.
Heat a large skillet overmedium high heat. Add oliveoil and add tablespoonfuls ofbatter, cook until goldenbrown on the bottom, flip andcook the other side, about 4minutes total. Drain on papertowels and serve.
Zucchini isn’t just a side dish;it’s also delicious in desserts andall manner of baked goods. Oneof my favorites is chocolate zuc-chini bread.
CHOCOLATE AND YOGURTZUCCHINI BREAD
Makes 2 loaves2 eggs1 cup sugar1/3 cup olive oil½ cup yogurt1 ½ cups flour1/3 cup cocoa powder1 ½ tsp. baking powder¼ tsp. salt1 tsp. vanilla extract3 cups grated and
squeezed zucchini(measured aftersqueezing)
Optional: 1 cup choco-late chips
Preheat oven to 350degrees. Grease two loaf pans(8 ½-inches x 4 ½-inches) andset aside.
In a large bowl, beat theeggs, vanilla and sugar. Add inthe olive oil and yogurt andmix well. Add cocoa and mixwith a spatula.
In a separate bowl, mixtogether the flour, salt andbaking powder. Sift into theegg mixture and stir until justmoistened.
Add the prepared zucchiniand use a spatula to stir intothe batter until just incorporat-ed. Do not overmix. If usingthe chocolate, gently fold in ¾cup of the chips.
Split the batter evenlybetween the two prepared loafpans. If using, sprinkle theremaining chocolate chips overthe tops of the two loaves.Bake for 65 minutes (untiltoothpick comes out clean).
The loaves must ideallycool completely before slicingand serving.
Gad-Zukes! It’s zucchini season
LINDA WYNER
FOOD FOR
THOUGHT
Page 16 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
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Logic tells us to be practi-cal and not waste money onfashion trends that are heretoday and gone tomorrow,particularly when it comes toexpensive jewelry. Let meassure you, a colossal cascad-ing necklace, bedazzled chok-er, chandelier earring orchunky bracelet that will takeyour Plain-Jane outfit toshow-stopping brilliance isindeed available in your pricerange and is both a sensibleand sensational addition toyour accessory wardrobe.
Statement jewelry is anyjewelry that makes a bigimpact. How do I know that itis here to stay? Stylish womenhave worn fabulous jewelry,both real and faux, through-out history. Hollywood andthe celebrity elite are as closeas we in the U.S. come to roy-alty, and many stars have
adorned themselves with pre-cious jewels.
As a society, we tend toadopt the trends we see in themedia, the movies, magazines,and on the concert stage.
Big, bold and beautifulpieces are not just for the run-ways or red carpets. Whatcould be better than layering asparkly necklace over tee-shirtand jeans? Everyday outfits gofrom dull to brilliant when wemix in a statement necklace.
The white button-downshirt is a staple in everywoman’s wardrobe. Not onlydoes it go with every skirt,pair of pants or jeans, but alsothe variety of necklaces wecan wear with it is almost end-less. Open the collar to exposea peek of your necklace orwear a long pendant outsidethe collar. The choice is yours.
Jewelry can transition your
clothes from day to night orPTA to Cocktail Hour in theblink of an eye. If you do nothave time to run homebetween events, take youraccessories with you andchange on the fly.
Rather than rememberingrules when it comes to jewelry,a better bet is to think aboutsome great tips. One goodrule of thumb to remember is:High neckline, long necklace;low neckline, short necklace.
Let’s take a look at neck-lines. While just about any-thing goes, if you are conflict-ed or not quite sure, thesetried and true pairings work:
V-Neck: You can select anecklace that fills the space.Shorter pendants will bring theeye to the collarbone and neckarea, while longer necklaces andlayered strands can emphasizethe cleavage. Just make sure your
necklace rests above or belowthe base of the “V”— you willnot want the necklace to getcaught behind the fabric.
Boat: Try long multi-strands or pendants almost tothe waist.
Cowl: No necklace, go forthe statement earrings.
Crew: A bib or collar neck-lace always works.
Halter: Slim pendants lookbest.
Scoop: Fill the space withfeminine details – pearls, gem-stones.
Square: Angular lines areyour friend, or a short choker.
Strapless: Big and boldnecklace, or none at all and gofor statement earrings.
Turtleneck: Substantialpendants, chains, beads. Avoidlooking dated and frumpy withtoo dainty and delicate. Neck-laces should be bold andchunky or multi-strand.
Have fun and try differentlooks. I hope I started yourwheels turning and thinkingabout ways to use beautifulstatement pieces to youradvantage.
Choose statement jewelry for impact
SUSAN SAPPINGTON
CLOTHES UP
Susan Sappington is the AreaDevelopment Manager and WardrobeConsultant for ETCETERAClothing of New York. Send com-ments to [email protected].
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The Bay Area has longbeen a hub of mountain bik-ing, beginning with thesport’s origins on Mt. Tamal-pais in the 1970s. Greatweather, an abundance oftrails and natural beauty, andan athletically-inclined popu-lation have made the BayArea one of the most popularregions in the world for thischallenging and fun sport.
The East Bay RegionalPark District boasts hundredsof miles of trails that are opento mountain bikes. Overall,most mountain bicyclists, hik-ers and equestrians share thetrails with few problems. But,with ever-increasing numbersof park visitors, occasionalconflicts are inevitable. Here’sa quick refresher on trail rules
for bicyclists, hikers andequestrians alike:
Mountain bikes areallowed on any trail overeight-feet wide, and mostpaved trails. They’re alsoallowed on a handful of nar-row trails throughout the dis-trict, including the Heron Bayand Swallow Bay trails at DelValle; Zeile Creek trail atGarin; Panorama trail at Mis-sion Peak; Clyma trail at Mor-gan Territory; Brandon trail atLake Chabot; Brushy PeakLoop trail at Brushy Peak; anda variety of narrow trails atBriones, Redwood and Sibley.Check maps andwww.ebparks.org for details.
A few areas are off-limitsto bikes entirely because ofnarrow trails, crowds or sensi-tive habitat: ClaremontCanyon, Huckleberry, Arden-wood, and portions of CoyoteHills, Mission Peak, Sibley,Tilden Nature Area and East-shore.
Crockett Hills RegionalPark offers almost 13 miles ofoutstanding single-track trails
that are open to mountainbikes.
Throughout the Park Dis-trict, the bike speed limit is 15mph. Bicyclists should call outif they’re passing a hiker orequestrian. Most collisionshappen when hikers are caughtoff guard, or can’t move out ofthe way fast enough.
“If you’re hauling down ahill doing 25 mph, even if you
do call out a hiker won’t beable to move fast enough,” saidEast Bay Regional Park Dis-trict Police Lt. Lance Brede.“And if the hiker’s wearingheadphones, they might nothear you at all.”
In general, all trail usersshould be courteous andaccommodating, and remem-ber that everyone wants tohave an enjoyable experience at
the park. Safety and considera-tion should be everyone’s pri-ority.
Staying on the trail isimportant, as well. Creatingbootleg trails or shortcutscauses erosion, degrades thelandscape, and can be costly torepair.
In other news, the EBRPDBoard of Directors votedunanimously earlier thismonth to enter into an optionto acquire 362 acres of the for-mer Wiedemann Ranch on thewestern edge of San Ramon.
The stunning, pristine par-cel will connect Bishop RanchOpen Space Preserve andDublin Hills Regional Park,preserving one of the mostvisible hilltops in the SanRamon Valley and providing acritical link in the popular
Calaveras Ridge Trail.The Park District bought
the property from the Wiede-mann family for $2,048,000, itsappraised fair market value.The funding will come fromMeasure WW, a $500 millionbond approved by Alamedaand Contra Costa county vot-ers in 2008 to preserve openspace and wildlife habitat inthe East Bay.
The property will eventual-ly become part of BishopRanch Open Space Preserve,nearly doubling the park’s sizeto just over 800 acres. Until aland-use plan is completed andapproved, the Wiedemannproperty will be land-banked.
The annual Clayton Busi-ness and Community Associa-tion’s Rib Cook-off was a suc-cess this year, but look for bigchanges cooking for the 2016event and beyond, the CBCAlearned at its Aug. 27 meetingat the Oakhurst Country Club.
Cook-off co-chair RoryRichmond reported that 30teams participated in the Aug.8 event, helping raise morethan $3,000 above last year’stotal for CBCA. The Claytonevent gained some nationalrecognition in cook-off circles,
and Richmond is shooting for50 teams next year. That willbe possible if some majorchanges are made to the for-mat, most importantly movingto a new venue.
The Clayton Club’s SteveBarton announced that thesaloon has decided to bow outof hosting the cook-off, ampli-fying Richmond’s commentthat if the event is to grow, itmust move to a larger venuethat can accommodate morepeople. Barton was applaudedfor the Clayton Club’s crucialassistance in growing the RibCook-off from just an idea toone of the best in the East Bay.
In order to bump up the
Clayton event to nationalprominence, Richmond plansto bring in trainers from theKansas City Barbecue Societyto hold a school for judges.Classes will train judges in fourcategories: ribs, chicken, porkand sausage.
Help for Kids: In othernews, CBCA Cares packedmore than 200 backpacks thisyear for distribution to schoolkids through Vestia, a non-profit agency helping childrenin need.
In addition, the club votedto help fund the JuniorAchievement programs at Mt.Diablo Elementary.
Oktoberfest is Coming:
Looking forward to the 12thannual Oktoberfest, Oct. 3 and4, the CBCA learned that Sar-dine Family Circus will returnonce more to perform eachafternoon, and the stalwartoom-pah band, The Interna-tionals, will set the tone forfun, beer and bratwurst.
For more information on theCBCA and its activities, visit theclub’s website: www.claytoncbca.org.
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September 11, 2015 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 17
Club News
The Clayton Valley Con-cord Sunrise Rotary Club wel-comes Sophie Etter, their new
exchange student fromSwitzerland. Sophie is fromZollikofen, a small town near
Bern. Her native language isGerman, but she also speaksFrench and English. She is oneof 12 exchange students fromaround the world that are liv-ing for a year with host familiesin Rotary District 5160 (NorthCentral California).
Sophie is enrolled at Clay-ton Valley Charter HighSchool where she is alreadyactively involved playing on theschool water polo team andcarrying a full class load,including algebra 2, French 3,American government, Eng-lish and beginning Spanish.
Sophie resides with a hostfamily from Clayton ValleyCharter and attends the Sun-rise Club’s Thursday morningbreakfast meeting each weekalong with several of her Inter-act Club classmates.
Mike Spellman and EllaWolfe take the audience on amusical excursion makingthem laugh, reflect and imag-ine during “Songs from a Suit-case” from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Dia-mond Terrace in Clayton forthe Clayton Valley Woman’sClub annual fall fundraiser.The club presents a delightfulafternoon of music, appetizersand desserts. Proceeds benefitselect community charities andscholarships.
Spellman’s backgroundincludes performing with TheVagabond Players, producingand performing his tribute toFrank Sinatra and co-starringwith Ella Wolfe in “Feelin’Groovy! A Musical Trip
Through the 60s.”Wolfe has performed for
over 20 years as a professionalvocalist and actress in numer-
ous nightclubs, concert venuesand theater companies. Bothhave been nominated for Shel-lie Awards.
Diamond Terrace is at 6401Center St., Clayton. Admissionis $25. Reservations arerequired as seats are limited.For reservation information,call Aleta Huck at (925) 672-9448.
The Clayton Valley Woman’sClub meets at 10 a.m. on the secondTuesday of the month, except Julyand August, at Saint John’s Episco-pal Church, 5555 Clayton Road,Clayton. Guests are welcome toattend meetings and social events.For more information, go to clayton-valleywomansclub.org.
CBCA: Rib Cook-off steams aheadGARY CARR
Special to the Pioneer
Clayton Worsdell
EXCHANGE STUDENT SOPHIE ETTER is a member of theInteract Club at CVCHS, the high school organization ofRotary International. Pictured: Natalie Ruzicka, vice presi-dent; Sophie Etter, Reed Crutchfield, co-president; LynetteCox, secretary and Melissa Cox, co-president.
Save the Date for the Clayton ValleyWoman’s Club Fall Fundraiser
Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise Rotary Club exchange student
Tips for safely sharing parks’ bike trails
The latest EBRPD acquisition is the 362-acre formerWiedemann Ranch on the western edge of San Ramon.The parcel will connect Bishop Ranch Open Space Preserveand Dublin Hills Regional Park.
CAROLYN JONES
PARK IT
Carolyn Jones is public affairsofficer for East Bay Regional Parks.Email her at [email protected].
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This time of year our sum-mer landscapes surrenderthemselves to the swayingplums of ornamental grasses.These grasses can be seenthroughout our city providingtexture, movement and gracewhere ever planted. Unlikeflowers, groundcovers andmany trees, the slightest breezebrings an ornamental grass tolife. Installing ornamentalgrasses to a landscape, hillsideor container will add muchneeded interest to the site’soverall look.
Red Fountain grass isquite possibly the most popu-lar ornamental grass installa-tion for the entire area. Folksadore the reddish brownfoliage and rose-colored
plumes. Pennisetum Setaceum“Rubrum” is the botanicalname for this fountain-likeornamental. At maturity, youshould expect Red Fountaingrass to reach five-feet tall andwide. Red Fountain grass diesback during the winter months.The blades become brown anddry. This is part of its cycle.Resist cutting your Red Foun-tain grass back until the middleof March, if you can. The dryfoliage protects the center ofthe plant from taking on toomuch winter rain water. Occa-sionally, extended period offreezing temperatures may killyour Red Fountain grassentirely. It won’t happen everyyear, and the summer successmakes that ornamental almostirresistible and worth the risk.
Mexican Feather grass is atrendy ornamental grass with asilky, thread-like texture. Thisselection provides tons ofmovement in the landscape.Many use Mexican Feathergrass to highlight a walkway,dry river bed, oversized boul-ders or retaining walls. Stipatenissima is the botanical namefor Mexican Feather grass andyou can expect your clumps togrow almost two-feet tall and12-18-inches wide. It likes fullto partial sun and is droughttolerant once established.
Karl Foester Calamagrostisis commonly called FeatherReed grass. This selectionmakes an awesome hedge orscreen, reaching six-feet tallwhile in bloom. The purplishplumes of Karl Foester pairsnicely with its deep greenfoliage. This ornamental grassis both deer and drought toler-ant. Karl Foester Calama-grostis grows from the centerout, and will need to be divid-ed every few years to preventthe hole-in-the-doughnuteffect. It may sound like extrawork, but the results are worthit.
Blue Fescue and severalselections of Carex grasseshave become quite the ragesince many are removing theirlawns and opting for water-wise plant material. Blue Fes-cue is a predictable ornamentalgrass, depending on the selec-tion you can expect growthfrom 8-16-inches tall and wide.The color of the foliage iswhat sells the Blue Fescue. Thebluer the better. Look for
selections such as Boulder Blue,which has a metallic blue color,or Elijah’s Blue which is a trueblue. Carex is available ingreens, variegated, bronze andorange.
Folks get ornamental grass-es and grass-like plants con-fused. Phormium, also knownas New Zealand Flax, andCordyline, known commonlyas Yucca, are not ornamentalgrasses. Rather they are ever-green plants with grass-likefoliage.
Ornamental grasses incor-porated in a landscape adds alot of interest to the area.They are readily available,drought tolerant and easy togrow. Read up on mature sizesof your considerations, andalso if you should expect andself-sowing, just to make sureyou are completely happy withyour selections.
Mix up those grasses for drought-tolerant drama all year around
NICOLE HACKETT
GARDEN GIRL
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts andGarden. You can contact her withquestions or comments by email at [email protected]
Fountain and Mexican Feather grassesmassed together for maximum effect.
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Page 18 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com September 11, 2015
Pioneer Photo Album
The Pioneer is proud to spotlight our readers’ photos. Email your photo in a high-resolution format [email protected] with a description of the photo, where and when it was taken and a little about whyyou like it. Include your name and phone number. Then look for it in the next Pioneer.
MaryMac Propersi snapped this awesomeshot of an unusual lenticular cloud formationon Aug. 28. She and husband John were on awalk in Dana Hills. She shot the photo from herGalaxy Samsung phone.
“I give credit to my daughter Hannah, whocan name literally every cloud there is and hastaught me a new appreciation for these ‘fluffycotton balls’ in the sky.”
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