MAR 25 Clayton Pioneer 2011.pdf

If Broadway star DavidBurnham’s March 12 appear-ance at the Willows TheatreCompany’s gala was any indica-tion, the forecast for theupcoming season is sunny, withblue skies ahead.

Celebrating the company’striumphant return to the mainstage in Concord, Burnhamwowed the crowd with a 90-minute concert spanning thespectrum of musical theater his-tory. Along the way, he includedstories of his trajectory fromCalifornia farm boy to star ofstage and screen.

After a cocktail hour hostedby managing director DavidFaustina and artistic directorEric Inman, the nearly sold-outaudience settled into the reno-vated venue. Barbary Grant andStu Klitsner, two actors closely

Mention the phrase “angrybirds” to some people and theyimmediately reach for their

iPhones and start chatteringabout canaries and catapults.

For Albert Seeno Jr., thephrase brings to mind six foottall birds that can weigh up to120 pounds and run 40 miles anhour. (The fastest human onrecord runs 29 miles per hour;the average human is muchslower.)

Wandering the backyard ofthe Seeno mansion just outsideof downtown Clayton, threeemus keep company with 12 lla-mas, eight rare Barbados sheep,two miniature horses namedReno and Dolly and a dog.

Emus are the world’s thirdlargest birds. Not actually angryat all, the curious birds fascinateneighborhood parents and chil-dren alike as they placidly strollthe 50-plus acre fenced property.

Asked why he collected theexotic animals, Seeno respondedwith a statement through a rep-resentative. “We love our ani-mals. They are part of the fami-ly. We are so happy the

IT’S YOUR PAPER

www.claytonpioneer.com March 25, 2011 925.672.0500

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DAVE SHUEY

MAYOR’S CORNER

‘David, clean up your room!’I am channeling my child-

hood and I can remember whenI use to hate to hear those wordsfrom my mother.

“Come on, Mom, who careswhat my room looks like?Besides, it’s fine!”

Well, decades have passedand now it is my wife that tellsme to clean my room. Go figure.

Now, what in the wide, wideworld of sports does this haveto do with the city of Claytonyou ask? It is just an opening toonce again tell you that April 16

After long wait, shoppers crowd Fresh & Easy

Around Town . . . . . . . . . . .2

Ask the Doc . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Book Review . . . . . . . . . .13

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Community Calendar . . . .15

Director of Advertisers . . . .5

Earth Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Estate Planning . . . . . . . . .8

Fit with Levity . . . . . . . . . .13

Food for Thought . . . . . . .17

Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . .18

Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Pioneer Photo Album . . . . .3

Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Safety Zone . . . . . . . . . . .14

Senior Moments . . . . . . . .13

So Anyway . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

What’s Inside

After a three-year wait, Fresh& Easy finally broke the sus-pense and opened in the ClaytonValley Center last week.Enthusiastic shoppers, lookingfor a close-to-home option tostandard supermarket fare, linedup early for the 10 a.m. opening.

Representatives from theConcord Chamber ofCommerce, Concord MayorLaura Hoffmeister and the citymanager were all on hand to wel-come the British-owned super-market.

After a few brief welcomingremarks, store manager BarbaraTinlin presented the local Mealson Wheels chapter with thestore’s grand opening gift of$1,000.

Inside, the store filled soquickly that management beganlimiting the number who couldenter at one time. Checkout linesstretched almost completely

TAMARA STEINER

Clayton Pioneer

See Fresh & Easy, page 2

Rural residents will vote on $93 fire taxProperty owners living in the

East Contra Costa FireProtection District will be askedto pay an additional $93 in prop-erty taxes to keep fire stations

open when a proposal to form aspecial Benefit AssessmentDistrict goes to voters thisspring.

The assessment is needed toclose a $2.8 million budgetdeficit and to keep the MarshCreek Sunshine Fire Station

open all year.ECCFPD provides fire and

emergency services to theMarsh Creek/Morgan Territoryrural areas that are outside thatserved by Contra Costa FireProtection District’s Station 11in Clayton.

The state of California oper-ates and funds the SunshineStation during fire season, fromthe first of May throughOctober. During the non-fireseason from November to May,ECCFPD pays CalFire to pro-vide fire and emergency services.

ECCFPD, bleeding red ink,closed the Sunshine Station lastOctober to save $377,000.Outraged at the move, residentsformed a coalition and persuad-ed the district to draw onreserves to keep the stationopen one more year.

Current revenue from the44,000 parcels in the ECCFPDis $8.4 million, but expenditurestop $10.4 million. The districthas been drawing on reserves toclose the gap. If voters do not

Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer

FRESH & EASY EMPLOYEE DEBBIE COOPER HELPS EAGER SHOPPERS AT THE MARKET’S GRAND OPENING on March 16. The store isone of 11 that will open in Northern California by the end of April. Surrounding merchants are hopeful that theincreased traffic will help spur sales in the rest of the Center.

Photo by Charles Jarrett

BROADWAY STAR DAVID BURHAM GREETS STU KLITSNER and DianeTierney in the theatre lobby after the gala opening concert cel-ebrating the Willows Theatre return to the Concord mainstage.

TAMARA STEINER

Clayton Pioneer

See Fire Tax, page 4

Help markEarth Day at ClaytonCleans Up

More than a billion people in192 countries will observe EarthDay this month. Individuals andorganizations worldwide haveshown their commitment toenvironmental protection andsustainability since its inceptionby Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. sena-tor from Wisconsin who cam-paigned for an environmentalteach-in on April 22, 1970.

This year Earth Day is April22. But this year, Clayton willobserve the day early a week ear-lier on April 16 with ClaytonCleans Up.

This is a great activity for

Commanding performanceanchors Willows homecoming

Neighbors keep friendlyeye on emus and llamas

DENISEN HARTLOVE

Clayton Pioneer LOU FANCHER

Clayton Pioneer

See Mayor, page 6

See Cleans Up, page 8

See Willows, page 3See Emus, page 9

Photo by Rhonda Parcesepe

FOR ALL THEIR FEROCIOUS

appearance, the 6-foot tallemus are actually peaceful,curious birds. However, whenthreatened, they have a pow-erful kick, and can run up to40 miles per hour.

WWiillmmeettttaa MMaannnn,,Clayton native and mem-ber of one of Clayton’soldest families, died lastweek at the age of 97.See obituary on page 6

around the perimeter of the10,000 sq. ft. store.

“They move fast,” those inline would say, encouraging oth-ers to wait it out.

Shopping carts were full offresh produce and meat. Manywere stacked with the individualprepared meals that define thestore.

“I don’t have to cook fordays,” said Clayton residentAndie Shipman, whose husband

works for Safeway.Councilwoman Julie Pierce

pushed a cart down the crowdedproduce aisle. “I knew it wouldbe like this,” she said with alaugh. “But I had to come. We’vewaited too long.”

The store was slated to openin 2008, but the company moth-balled the project until signs thatthe economy was in recovery.The Concord store is one of 11that will open in NorthernCalifornia by the end of April.

“This is a real thrill,” saidJoyce Seitz of the GreaterConcord Chamber ofCommerce. “This is going torevitalize the whole center.”

Tinlin was equally enthusias-tic about her staff. “We had 800applicants for 40 jobs,” she said.“We have the best of the best.”

Fresh & Easy employees areguaranteed a minimum of 20hours per week and receivehealth, vision and dental insur-ance – with about 90 percent ofthe cost covered by the company.

Fresh & Easy is at 5410 YgnacioValley Road, Concord. For more infor-mation, call 672-2835.

Clockwise from above: Groceryshopping is a family affair forOlympic Gold Medalist Don Braggand family. From left, Theresa,Don, Tracey and Renee Bragg;Councilwoman Julie Pierce bravesthe crowds to be part of the grandopening excitement; Andie Shipmanwaits patiently in the long line; DanRichardson was among the earlyarrivals on grand opening morning.

Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com March 25, 2011

Around Town

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Scott Ramsey andJill Watase to wed

Jasmyn Pangilinan and JonathanWitcher compete for dream wedding

Brownies visit Red Cross

Twenty-one Browniesbelonging to Troops 30432 and30547 in Concord and Claytonrecently got a first-hand look atAmerican Red Cross Bay Areachapter operations in Concord,including a peek at theEmergency Response Vehiclesoften dispatched in disasters.

Bob Hernandez and KellyShaefer, both Contra Costa vol-unteers with the American RedCross Bay Area (ARCBA) chap-ter, were the girls’ special guides.The Brownies are part of theDiablo Shadows Service Unit ofthe Northern California GirlScouts Council.

Fresh & Easy, from page 1

Clayton residents JasmynPangilinan and Jonathan Witcherare getting married in Octoberand hope Crate & Barrel will payfor their dream wedding.

They are contestants in theretailer’s Ultimate Wedding

Contest with a prize of $100,000.Jasmyn and Jon met by

chance at Mr. Lucky’s and dis-covered that they both camefrom the same hometown inBakersfield, Calif.

Jasmyn had just left UC Davisto work at the Lawrence BerkeleyNational Lab while Jon was justleaving Lawrence LivermoreNational Lab to go to graduateschool at UC Davis.

They both volunteer at theContra Costa Food Bank, sortingfood and setting up food drivesduring the holiday seasons.

To help these two win theirdream wedding, see their entryand vote for them online athttp://www.ultimatewedding-contest.com/entry/153425.Deadline for voting is April 30.

Scott Ramsey of Claytonand Jill Watase of Concord willmarry on September 17.

The two became engagedduring a February trip toArnold, Calif,

Scott proposed by placingred wooden letters that spelledout “will you marry me” in thesnow outside their cabin.

Jill is the daughter of Guyand Valerie Watase of Clayton.She graduated from CVHS in2002 and from Sonoma StateUniversity in 2006.

Scott is the son of Paula andBernard Ramsey, also of Claytonand is a 2001 graduate of CVHS.

26th AnnualHOME & GARDENContra Costa Spring Show

Clayton Pioneer

Friday Noon-6 � Saturday 10-6 � Sunday 10-6

Sleep Train Pavilion-2000 Kirker Pass Road in Concord

April 8 � 9 � 10, 2011April 8 � 9 � 10, 2011Good for

$2 ADMISSION

April 8 � 9 � 10, 2011

March 25, 2011 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com

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Willows, from page 1affiliated with the company,began the evening reminiscingabout the many times they haveappeared together. Their storiesspoke to the company’s 35-yearhistory and to the community’sinvestment in the arts.

Local celebrities, includingConcord Mayor LauraHoffmeister and MartinezMayor Rob Schroder,announced their support for theexpansion. Schroder admittedthe Willow’s move back toConcord initially caused dismayin his city, but he insisted that

success in Concord would shoreup a strong presence at the com-pany’s more intimate CampbellTheatre in Martinez.

Faustina thanked volunteers,donors and patrons, then placedthe International Brotherhoodof Electrical Workers in thespotlight. “They pulled 14,000feet of electrical wiring to getthis ready for tonight,” he toldthe audience, giving a specialnod to Virginia Thomas, presi-dent of the Todos SantosBusiness Association, for bring-ing local businesses on board tosupport the renovation.

After a heartfelt invocation

from Inman, the night was allBurnham, accompanied byMark Vogel, his intuitive, per-fectly matched pianist.

Beginning with “Moon River,”Burnham led the audience fromclassic tunes to selections from“Wicked,” “Joseph and theAmazing TechnicolorDreamcoat” and “The Wizard ofOz.” Several songs from his recentCD release added humor, while aballad he offered in remembranceof his mother brought his mosttender performance.

Burnham’s range – flirting

with an audience member at onemoment, barreling into apounding rendition of “That’sLife” at the next – impressed thecrowd, who gave the performertwo standing ovations.

A post-show reception, withflowing champagne and desserts,allowed the audience to minglewith Burnham and Vogel.

The gala’s success relied on asimple formula: a stellar per-former, an attitude of gratitudeand a full house. Faustina andInman can only hope to take apage from their own playbookand command repeat perform-ances in Concord.

Emily White marries Pablo Cela in outdoor ceremony

Emily White and Pablo Celaexchanged vows against a back-drop of the San Francisco sky-line in an outdoor ceremony onTreasure Island on November 6,2010.

Emily is the daughter ofPatti and the late Pat White ofClayton. She is an esthetician.

Pablo is from Danville and is

employed in real estate.Dinner and dancing fol-

lowed the wedding which wasattended by Pablo’s fatherMiguel Cela and other familymembers who traveled fromArgentina.

The couple honeymooned inBarbados and makes their homein Walnut Creek.

Photo by Charles Jarrett

A SOLD OUT CROWD WELCOMED THE WILLOWS BACK to the ConcordMainstage on March 12. From left, Clayton Pioneer publishers Boband Tamara Steiner, Willows board president Dennis Woodard,Concord mayor Laura Hoffmeister, Memory Woodard and Willowsgeneral manager David Faustina

Pioneer Photo AlbumShelly Shuey took this photo on the Peacock Creek Trail

above Clayton Community Park in early February.

It’s Your Paper, so send in your cute pets, funny kids, great landscapes, favorite sitesin town or whatever makes your heart beat a little faster. Email your photo in a hi-resolution jpeg or tif format to [email protected] with a description of thephoto, where and when it was taken and a little about why you like it. Include your

name and phone number. Then look for it in the Pioneer.

Two new Subway sandwichshops will open in Clayton bythe first of June, says Subway’sregional general manager, AlHibbard.

The Clayton StationSubway will undergo a com-plete remodel and will reopenin April. The new owner islocal and owns five otherSubways in the area.

The Clayton Station storeclosed several months agowhen Subway corporate pulledformer owner John Meza’sfranchise. Meza and his wifewere arrested in January forallegedly failing to pay$800,000 in state income taxes.

Less than a mile away, abrand-new Subway will openin the Flora Square building atthe west end of Oak Street.

The owner is local and ownsthe Subway store at Bailey andClayton roads.

Response to the news ofthe two new stores has beenmixed, with many fearing thatthe two stores will underminebusiness at the two existingsandwich shops, Johnny’s andCanessa’s. Some have criticizedthe city for the approval.

However, CouncilwomanJulie Pierce is quick to pointout that the city has nothing todo with which businessescome into Clayton. “As long asthey meet the requirements ofthe Town Center Specific Plan,it is up to the business ownerwhether the market will sup-port his business or not,” shesays.

Hibbard says it isn’t unusu-al to have two Subway fran-chises so close to each other.“People don’t travel very far to

grab a sandwich,” he notes.“Once people realize we

have all new players, I thinkwe’ll get a good reception,”Hibbard says.

With more than 34,000stores, Subway is the largestchain in the world. There are229 Subway stores in Alameda,Contra Costa and San Joaquincounties.

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Concordsales taxhike beginsApril 1

Library cardholders getfree passes to museums

If you’re looking for some-thing fun, educational and freeto do with the family, takeadvantage of the Contra CostaCounty Library’s Discover &Go.

The new service provideslibrary cardholders with freepasses to local museums andcultural institutions. Printablepasses are available online on afirst-come, first-served basis.Customers without Internetaccess can reserve a pass bytelephone or in person andlibrary staff can print the passif requested. The passes arefree and will expire automati-cally.

Libraries and museumsmake great partners as theyboth seek to spark interest andto propel people to explore,challenge, ask and engage innew concepts, says Audrey

Yamamoto, executive directorat Zeum, a children’s museumin San Francisco.

“The Contra Costa CountyLibrary provides accessibleprogramming and educationalresources that are aligned withour mission to nurture the 3Csof 21st century literacy – cre-ativity, collaboration and com-munication – in all youth andfamilies,” Yamamoto says.

The Contra Costa CountyLibrary received a $45,000 BayArea Library and InformationSystems Technology Grant tohelp fund the project. TheAlameda County Library willco-pilot the museum pass reser-vation system with the ContraCosta County Library.

For more information, visitccclib.org.

approve the special assessment,ECCFPD will run out ofmoney in 2013, says ChiefHugh Henderson.

“I don’t think anyonebelieves we’re crying wolf,” saysHenderson. “This has all beenout there for over a year.”

The $93 assessment willkeep all fire stations in the dis-trict open, staffed with threepersonnel to each engine. Thedistrict will also be able to add aparamedic to each engine andreplace needed communica-tions equipment.

Without the special assess-ment, Henderson says theMarsh Creek Sunshine Stationwill be among stations in thedistrict that will be closed.

Closing the SunshineStation puts the area at graverisk, says Marsh Creek/MorganTerritory coalition leaderCheryl Morgan. Emergencyresponse would have to comefrom Antioch, Brentwood orClayton – increasing responsetimes up to 20 minutes, threat-ening lives and causing proper-ty insurance rates to skyrocket.

The measure could reachvoters as early as April 20, butJune is probably a more realistictimeline, says Henderson. Ifthe measure passes, the Aug. 10tax rolls will reflect the parceltax and the district would seethe new revenue on Dec. 10.

ECCFPD will hear furthercomment on the benefit assess-ment district at the regularmeeting, 6:30 p.m. April 4 atOakley City Hall, 3231 MainSt., Oakley.

For more information, go towww.eccfpd.org or call Henderson at240-2131.

Fire Tax, from page 1

Two new Subways heading to townTAMARA STEINER

Clayton Pioneer

The half-cent sales taxincrease approved by Concordvoters as Measure Q lastNovember will take effect onApril 1.

The sales and use tax will gofrom 9.25 percent to 9.5 per-cent. Of this, 1.25 percent willgo to the city’s general fund tobe used for municipal services.

The increase is expected toclose a $4.7 million budget gap,says Mayor Laura Hoffmeister.Anything in excess of that willgo into replenishing the generalfund reserve which is at 6 per-cent, down from 30 percentjust a few years ago.

Concord is one of 14California cities to vote for asales tax increase.

The new tax will apply toretail taxable goods, includingautomobiles if they are regis-tered in Concord. Groceries,utilities, medications and mort-gages are exempt.

The increase will expire in2016.

In April 2009, a one percentsales tax increase imposed bythe state of California raisedthe sales tax to its current 9.25percent. That increase is sched-uled to expire on July 1, 2011

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Mike's Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1739

Children’s Services

Music Together of Concord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-3298

Construction and Trades

Appliance Repairs by Bruce, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-2700

Belfast Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457-5423

Bill Peck Home Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-9786

Burkin Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212-3339

Contra Costa Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .676-8713

H&L Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4046

Handyman Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639-4209

J&J’s Final Coat Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-5849

LHI Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-9941

Smith and Bernal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0138

Tipperary Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-2679

Dentist

Renner, Jason D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800

Rissel, Richard D.M.D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-2800

Dining and Entertainment

Clayton Club Saloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-0440

Contra Costa Musical Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943-7469

Ravioli’s Italian Market Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-3819

Willows Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .957-2500

Financial and Insurance Services

Benton, Mureleen - Ameriprise Financial . . . . . .685-4523

Kommer, Paul - Merrill Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .988-2111

Littorno, Richard - Attorney at Law . . . . . . . . . . .672-6463

Miller, Tom, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354-1385

ProFit Business Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-1025

Travis Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-877-8328

Van Wyck, Doug - State Farm Insurance . . . . . . .672-2300

Funerals

Acacia Cremation and Burial Society . . . . . .877-916-4779

Moore’s Mission Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-1100

Ouimet Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242

Home and Garden

Abbey Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686-9901

Alexander KAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .977-1616

Clear Splash Pool Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216-6245

Contra Costa Home and Garden Show . . .1-800-222-9351

Diablo Lawnscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381-3757

Lewis & Lewis Carpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .939-2145

Nichols Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9955

Son Bright Window Cleaning Service . . . . . . . . .674-9455

Utopic Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .524-0055

Mailing and Shipping

The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-6245

Other

CBCA Art & Wine Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . .claytoncbca.org

Pet Services

Monte Vista Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-1100

Peace of Mind Pet Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9781

Pet Suites Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432-7387

Rodie’s Feed and Pet Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600

Real Estate and Mortgage Services

Flannery, Patty - Diablo Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-0541

French, Lynne - Windermere Real Estate . . . . . .672-8787

Klock, Leigh - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212-5593

Laurence, Pete - RE/MAX Realty . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6004

Lopez, Stephanie - Coldwell Banker . . . . . . . . . .932-7329

Mazzei, Matt -Mazzei Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0757

Vujnovich, George - Better Homes Realty . . . . .672-4433

Recreation and Fitness

All Out Sports League . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203-5626

Clayton Valley Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4631

Diablo FC Soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-4625

Ghost Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .521-1913

Retail

East Bay Work Wear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-9900

Senior Services

Diamond Terrace Senior Retirement Living . . . . .524-5100

Services, Other

Air Cloud Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260-4119 x 2

Computers USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9989

Net Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-6029

Recycling Center & Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . .473-0180

Travel

Cruise Adventures Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935-7447

Travel to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-9840

P.O. Box 1246

6200 Center Street, Suite H, Clayton, CA 94517

TAMARA AND ROBERT STEINER, PublishersTAMARA STEINER, EditorRANDY WENGER, Display Advertising PETE CRUZ, Graphic DesignBEV BRITTON, Copy Editor JAY BEDECARRÉ, Sports PAMELA WIESENDANGER, Administration

STAFF WRITERS: Denisen Hartlove, Jay Hartlove, Lou Fancher,Nicci Shipstead, Pam Wiesendanger, Mike Dunn

We remember Jill Bedecarré - Her spirit is our muse

PIONEER INFOCONTACT US

Tel: (925) 672-0500Fax: (925) 672-6580

Tamara [email protected]

Randy [email protected]

Send ads [email protected]

Send Sports News [email protected]

Send Club News [email protected]

Send Church News [email protected]

Send School News [email protected]

CLASSIFIEDSClassified rates per insertion:Non-profit: $12 for first 30

words, $.20 each additionalword

Individual/non-commercial:$18 for first 30 words, $.30each additional word

Commercial: $48 for first 30words, $.40 each additionalword

To place your classified ad over thephone, call the office at (925) 672-0500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.Mon.-Fri. Or, you may fax your type-written ad and credit card informa-tion to (925) 672-6580. All classifiedsmust be paid for in advance by creditcard (Master Card or Visa)

We will not accept any ad that dis-

criminates on the basis of race, color,sex, religion, nationality, family statusor disability. The Clayton Pioneerreserves the right to reject any adver-tising we believe is unsuitable.

LET US KNOWWeddings, engagements, anniver-

saries, births and deaths all weavetogether as part of the fabric of ourcommunity. Please let us know ofthese important events. We ask onlythat the announcement be for aClayton resident. You will find theappropriate form for your announce-ment on our Website. Attach yourphoto to the form. Make sure theimage size you are about to send is atleast 3 MB but not bigger than 6MB.The only format we accept is JPG. Youcan also mail or bring your print to theoffice and we can scan it for you.

Also on our Website are forms forsubmitting Community Calendar itemsand press releases for your organiza-tion.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORThe Clayton Pioneer welcomes

letters from our readers. As a generalrule, letters should be 250 words orless and submitted at least one weekprior to publication date. Letters con-cerning current issues will have priori-ty. We may edit letters for length andclarity. All letters will be published atthe editor’s discretion.

Please include your name, addressand daytime telephone number. Wewill not print letters from “anony-mous.”

E-mail your letter in a Worddocument to [email protected]. Letters MUST be sub-mitted via E-mail.

ClassifiedMath Tutor Available

Need math/science tutor?

Increase comprehension, boost

grades and self-confidence. All

grade levels. Wren Amos: BS

Biology, MS Chemistry/

Biochemistry. Energetic and

experienced. House calls.

Reasonable individual and

group rates. 864-2676.

Girl Gardening

Garden care, monthly pruning

and fertilizing services. Plant

suggestions and installation.

Call or email Nicole Hackett

673-1746, or garden-

[email protected].

WANTED

Real Estate Agents

Be Successful! Lynne French is

expanding and interviewing for

a few agents. Call her today

(925) 672-8787.

VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED

Help Fight Hunger

Anna Chan – AKA: The Lemon

Lady needs your help! Weekly

commitment appreciated. Please

contact Anna at 672-1988 or

[email protected].

Meals on Wheels Drivers

1 – 1 1/2 per week. Drivers and

relief drivers needed for deliv-

ery of Meals on Wheels in East

County. Call Jim at 673-0300 or

e-mail [email protected].

Hospice of the East Bay –

Anna’s Attic

Volunteer at Anna’s Attic Thrift

Shoppe, located at 5350 Clayton

Road. For information call (925)

674-9072. To learn more about

volunteering for Hospice of the

East Bay please contact (925)

887-5678, or email volun-

[email protected].

Clayton Historical Society

Museum

The Clayton Historical Society

Museum needs a greeter for two

hours per month from 2-4 p.m.

Wednesdays or Sundays. Call

the museum at 672-0240 and

leave your name.

Clayton Community Library

Needs volunteers. Minimum age

13. Minimum commitment is 6

months. Some training provid-

ed. Contact: Arlene @ 673-9777

or email: [email protected].

Let Us Light Up

Your

Life

Serving Contra Costa since 1991More than 30 years experienceLicensed l Lic. # C10-631523

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General Contractor 31 years in Contra Costa County

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QWhen I read media reportsabout the housing market, I

get confused. One day thingsare improving and the next daythey are getting worse. Are theyimproving or getting worse?

AI agree with you about themedia reports. In one publi-

cation, various headlines were:“Consumer confidence

improves in February,”“Pending home sales inCalifornia rise in January,”“Foreclosures sales rise inJanuary” and “Home pricesdecline in fourth quarter.” Wehave very mixed news about thehousing market because it is def-initely an uneven recovery.

QWhat are some of the nega-tive aspects of the current

housing market?

AOne thing slowing recoveryis the “shadow inventory.”

These are defined as outstand-ing properties where borrowersare (or recently were) 90 days ormore delinquent on mortgagepayments, properties currentlyor recently in foreclosure orproperties that are bank owned.

The pace of moving dis-tressed properties through theforeclosure process continues toslow. Standard & Poor’s ratingservice estimates that the princi-pal balance of these distressedhomes amounts to about $450billion, or one-third of mort-gage-backed securities.

S&P estimated it will take 49months, or more than fouryears, to clear the supply of dis-tressed homes on the market inthe United States.

QWhat are some positives?

AThe most important thingright now is we are entering

the spring market and interestrates are low. They were edgingabove 5 percent recently and areback down to 4.75 percent as ofthis writing.

If you are an FHA buyer,you should consider an EnergyEfficient Mortgage loan (EEM)to increase energy efficiency inyour new home. They are fast,free and easy to get. They do notslow down your escrow.

Buyers can tack on as muchas 5 percent of the purchaseprice for almost any type ofenergy efficient improvement.This includes windows, fur-naces, air conditioners, insula-tion, caulking, water heaters andeven solar setups.

The EEM loan funds are sim-ply added to the purchase moneyFHA loan at the same rate andterms. They don’t consider itadding to your loan to value.

QWhat is new on the energyfront?

AHow about a free energyaudit on your new home?

Or a $250 rebate for doing theaudit? It is called the Home

Energy Rating System (HERS)and it helps homeowners identi-fy improvements they can maketo their homes to reducemonthly utility bills.

The funds for this programcome from the CaliforniaAssociation of Realtors EnergyAudit Program (REAP).

To qualify, homeownersmust:

1. Purchase a single-familyhome in California betweenOct. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2011.

2. Use the home as a primaryresidence.

3. Conduct a HERS homeenergy audit of the home priorto close of escrow (as part ofthe Energy Efficient Mortgagementioned above) or no laterthan 60 days after close ofescrow.

4. Use a California Realtor inthe transaction.

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� Tree Service – ISA Certified

Arborist on Staff

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Handyman

ServicesClayton

HomeImprovementand Repairs

No job toosmall

at Handyman Prices

General ContractorDerald Clearwater

Clayton Resident � Contracting since 1988

Bonded & Insured � Lic. # 524547 (925) 639-4209

KNOWLEDGE � SERVICE � INTEGRITY � RESULTS

Pete Laurence, Broker, Realtor, GRI

2950 Buskirk Avenue, Ste. 140, Walnut Creek

Direct 940-2777 � Cell 890-6004 � Fax 937-0150

Now is the time to buy.

DRE#00344166

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!A lot of home for the money, complete with a

pool and views of Mt. Diablo! Regencies

Biggest Plan with 4 bdrms plus den, 2.5 baths,

But the homes been left stock and neglected,

needing paint in and out, flooring, counters,

molding, new heat & Air,updating, and of

course some haul-

ing! Owner also

wants a fast sale, so

priced accordingly

at only $449,000!

A Custom Rancher in Concord's desired St. Francis Park!

This luxurious

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hardwood floor living and formal dining rooms! 3

Spacious bedrooms plus a bonus room! Huge, level

lot, close to Cowell Park! Get into one of Concord's

best areas for only $539,000!

For a personal showing, call PETE at 890-6004.

Looking for a better Mailbox?Secure 24-hour access, plus it’s a real street addressfor all your deliveries.

3 MONTHS FREE mailbox services

with a twelve-month agreement.

The UPS StoreIndependently owned and operated

Clayton/Concord Location:Vineyard Shopping Center

5100 Clayton RoadConcord, CA 94523

ph: 925-689-6245

Notary, Packaging, Fax and Copy Services are available too!

Store Hours

M-F 8-7

Sat 9-5

is our annual Clayton Cleans Upfrom 9 a.m. to noon at City Hall.It is a great way to keep our cityclean while postponing doingyour own housecleaning chores.This is a great way to introduceyour kids to public service andwe will feed you afterwards,which if you have never had aCity Hall hamburger or hotdog,is worth every piece of trash youpick up. So, keep procrastinatingon your own home and comeclean up our town!

Do you remember that horri-ble phrase, “If it’s yellow let itmellow” from our drought years?(Sorry for being indelicate, butthe phrase does resonate.)

Well, there’s good news.EBMUD reports our reservoirsare at 101 percent of normal forthe year, with the snowpack inthe Sierras at 137 percent of nor-mal. What does this mean? Well,in the age of ever increasingpopulations and buildings, westill need to conserve so youshouldn’t go back to the carefree

days of opening fire hydrants toplay in the water on hot days, butthe water police will probably notbegrudge you an extra minute ortwo of that morning shower. It isnice to know we can have at leastmoderately green lawns this year.

Speaking of population, thecensus reports are in and inClayton gained 137 people from2000 to 2010. With all the adop-tions in the Shuey household,that still leaves at least a couple ofnewbies in town, so if you don’trecognize your neighbor, go say“Hi, welcome to Clayton.”

Officially, our population islisted as 10,897. Further statsshow our median age is 40.2years which saddens me as I amnow sliding down the other sideof the bell curve. Sigh.Statewide, the Golden State grewfrom 33.8 million to 37.2 millionresidents.

Statistics further show thatwhile the countywide unemploy-ment rate is at 11.2 percent,Clayton’s is at 2.8 percent, while

the state is at 9.8 percent.Incidentally, Concord is at 12.1percent and Walnut Creek is at7.6 percent. Once again, we rule!

Now, I’m jumping on mysoapbox to tell you all to “Do theright thing!” The trait of themonth is Integrity, which isdefined as adherence to moraland ethical principles and hon-esty. They are teaching this con-cept in our schools and I encour-age all of us to live with integrityand show our kids and neighborswhat it means. Billy Shakespeare(I know, a little familiar but Ithink the ol’ bard wouldn’t mind)once said, “To thine own self betrue, and it must follow, as thenight the day, thou canst not thenbe false to any man.”

Tommy (nope, can’t do that),I mean Thomas Jefferson alsosaid, “I never did, or counte-nanced, in public life, a single actinconsistent with the strictestgood faith; having never believedthere was one code of moralityfor a public, and another for aprivate man.

Spring is almost here so smileand email me at [email protected]

Obituary Willmetta Frank MannSept. 19, 1913 – March 15, 2011

Willmetta Frank Mann, anative of Clayton, died in SantaRosa at age 97. She was born in1913 in Clayton to William andMetta Stockfleth Frank.

Willmetta’s roots in Claytondate back to the 1870s. Hergrandfather, John Stockfleth,was a sea captain. When ashore,he and his wife Isabell Wilkieresided on the Stockfleth ranchwhere Pine Hollow MiddleSchool is today. Her Frankgrandparents, Frederick andElizabeth Bisber Frank, lived onthe Frank farm near Mt. DiabloElementary School, whereWillmetta was born.

Willmetta is predeceased byher husband Charles in 1996,her son Stuart Mann in 1972and her daughter Doris JeanMann Allen, wife of Michael, in2006. Willmetta is survived byher daughter Charmetta, whoresides on the original familyfarm, and daughter Alice MannStewart and her husband Jamesof Santa Rosa, who lovinglycared for Willmetta for the pastfour years. Willmetta was grand-

mother of four and great-grand-mother of nine.

She will be especially missedby her childhood friend andcousin, Marie Frank Larsonof San Francisco andConcord, and her sister-in-law, Wilda MannFarrar of El Sobrante.

Willmetta andCharlie were married inthe garden of the Frankfamily farm and spent 59years happily married.Their lives together andhers after Charlie’s deathwere filled with goodmusic, good dancing, goodfriends and many close rela-tives. She loved parties, flow-ers and bridge club. TheConcord Senior Citizen’s Clubprovided a host of new friendsand activities to partially fill thevoid left by Charlie’s absence.

Willmetta never met a flowershe didn’t like and adorned herhair and her hats with flowersand carried additional flowers tobedeck the flowerless. Onecould count on the fabric of her

clothing to be printed with flow-ers. Butterflies flocked to her.

Out on the town, jewelryadded extra pounds toWillmetta. Before one party, acousin said in private that shewas going to wear enough jewel-

ry to “out-sparkle” Willmetta.Unfortunately, her quest wasfruitless. The next day, she

reported back that Willmettaeven had sparkles on theheels of her shoes.

Her 1956 LincolnContinential was custompainted turquoise, andher house was turquoiseboth inside and out.

Among her affilia-tions were the ClaytonCommunity Club,Rebekah Lodge, ClaytonHistorical Society,

Concord HistoricalSociety, Ladies of the Elks

and Clayton Old Timers.At her request, there will

be no funeral or memorial serv-ices. Private interment at LiveOak Cemetery will occur at alater date.

The family requests memorialdonations to Live Oak CemeteryAssociation, 1034 Pine Hollow Ct.,Clayton CA 94517 or the ClaytonHistorical Society, Flower Fund, P.O.Box 94, Clayton, CA 94517.

Mayor, from page 1

LYNNE FRENCH

REAL ANSWERS

Send your question and look foryour answer in a future column.Email [email protected] is the broker/owner ofWindermere Lynne French &Associates and a Clayton resident.For any real estate needs or ques-tions, contact her at 672-878 7orstop in at 6200 Center St.,Clayton.

In this housing market, gettingthe facts straight isn’t easy

Girls lacrosse team showssupport for Los Lomasstudents

The heartbreaking deathsof teens Gavin Powell andMatthew Miller on Feb. 19 hitthe Contra Costa communityhard.

Come Monday morning,absence of the two studentswas impossible to ignore.Schools across the area buzzedwith shock, regret and despairat the drownings in a rain-swollen creek. Area studentsreceived an unwanted wakeupcall for mortality – and nonemore so than those at LasLomas High School in WalnutCreek, where the two boysattended.

Despite mourning theirlost peers, life went on.Classes commenced, clubs metand sports were played. AClayton Valley/Las Lomasgirls lacrosse game was sched-uled shortly after the tragedy.Sympathizing with the LasLomas team, casually referredto as CV’s sister team by coachAllen Raymond upon occa-sion, the varsity players weredetermined to make a state-ment of camaraderie.

“I can’t even imagine whatthey must be going through,”said CV sophomore LaurenValory, who proposed the ideaof making a poster to expressthe team’s support. “We want-

ed to show that we care andare there for them eventhough competition may pre-vent us from conveying it onthe field.”

In the days leading up tothe game, the Clayton Valleygirls created a banner that wasstretched across the base ofthe home bleachers comegame time, reading: “LasLomas, you’re in our hearts.”

“We felt that it was impor-tant for us to show our sup-port,” said varsity captainSami Healy.

The poster was well-received, proving that sports-manship is alive and well inthe Clayton Valley.

Last year, Renee Sawazakitook a sabbatical from herteaching position at a Japaneseuniversity near Tokyo.Accompanied by her husband,Motoyasu, and their two smallchildren, Renee came to ContraCosta last March to spend a yearconducting research. The familyfully expected to return to theirhome in Annaka on March 24.Now they aren’t sure exactlywhen they can go home.

Annaka is in GunmaPrefecture, about 200 kilometersand a mountain range away fromthe complete devastationwrought by the 9.0-magnitude, 5-minute earthquake and tsunamithat hit the Northeastern regionof Japan on March 11. But, eventhat far west of the epicenter, thequake registered 6.1.

Damage to their region inGunma is considered moderatecompared to the completedestruction in the city of Sendaiand countless other cities andtowns. "In the average person's

house, dishes fell out of the cab-inets and broke," she explained.Some buildings suffered struc-tural damage. One person waskilled and 24 injured.

"But, following the earth-quake, my friends have hadtrouble sleeping because of theconstant aftershocks. They don'tknow when they will need torun outside." Transportation hasbeen seriously affected, Reneeexplains. With daily rollingblackouts due to the shortage ofelectricity in northeastern Japan,the trains cannot run regularly–and most gas stations are closed.If they can find one open, driv-ers will wait for hours to buytheir limit of 10 liters. Theyexpect gas to become availableby the end of next week. Foodis scarce; people are hoardingbread, eggs and milk – even toi-let paper. They are certainlyafraid of the instability of theFukushima Daiichi nuclearpower plant and are preparingfor the worst until that situationcomes under control.


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Our Home, Our Community, Clayton.

Japanese family on Sabbatical in USwatches – and waits to go home

TAMARA STEINER

Clayton Pioneer

MOTOYASU, RENEE, SUZANNE AND ROKKI SAWAZAKi are waiting to findout how and when they can return to their home in Annaka, Japan.Travel to and within Japan is severely limited by the earthquake andtsunami that hit Japan on March 11.

Office: 925.975.5255home & fax: 925.672.0541email: [email protected]

DRE#00906625

Patty FlanneryYour local neighborhood REALTOR

since 1986

Commercial & residential

Established in Clayton

We currently clean the

windows at the Clayton Library

and City Hall

All work done by ownerLicensed and insured

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We repair all major appliances,

most major brands, and we’re local

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- Zoey & BruceBruce & Holly Linsenmeyer30 year Clayton residents

Office: (925) 672-2700Cell: (925) 956-8605State of California B.E.A.R license #A44842

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Two young American sib-lings are sending “hope” to theJapanese people – and they wantothers to join in their effort.

After hearing about the dev-astating earthquake and tsunamiin Japan, Akemi Takahashi, 10,began making origami cranes tosend to victims in shelters. Theorigami crane is a symbol ofpeace in Japan, and legend saysthat anyone who folds 1,000paper cranes will have theirheart’s desire come true.

“It’s good to empower kidsto make an impact, even if it’sjust letting the people in Japanknow that people are remem-bering and hoping the best forthem,” said Clayton resident

Kelly Tuohey, Akemi’s aunt.Tuohey’s sister, Kathy

Takahashi of Bellevue, Wash.,established Wings of Hope forJapan with encouragement fromAkemi and her 7-year-old broth-er, Kai. Takahashi met her hus-band, Kyota, while she was liv-ing in Japan and the family stillspends summers there.

The goal is to have 500,000cranes donated in the nextmonth. For instructions on howto fold origami cranes, Tuoheysuggests going to youtube.com/watch?v=-g-U06abgT4.

“Please encourage yourfriends to share the project withtheir children,” Tuohey urges,“and get busy folding cranes.”

Good thoughts flow to Japan on wings of cranes

Aid for Japan – from texting funds to benefitconcert

As we sit in our dry homes,thousands of people on theopposite side of the globe arefighting just to stay alive – letalone dry.

On March 11, the north coastof Japan was hit by a devastatingtsunami after a 9.0 magnitudeearthquake struck 80 miles off-shore, changing the lives of anentire country in mere minutes.

As students of Clayton ValleyHigh absorb the devastatingnews, many have been wonderinghow they could help. With such awidespread disaster, it is difficultfor individuals to imagine whatcan be done to aid the Japan reliefeffort. But it’s far easier to helpthan people may realize.

For example, many cell phoneservice providers have set up spe-cific numbers that people can text

as a method of donating money.Depending on the carrier, anadditional amount of money willbe added to your bill – and thatadditional amount will go directlyinto the relief funds.

As long as teens have ourphones out, texting that friendacross campus, we can all affordto take a second to send a quicktext to our carriers and make adifference.

Other students at CV are tak-ing advantage of their creativesides and organizing benefits thatwill accept donations for theJapan relief effort. Ryan Dodge, aCV junior, planned a benefit con-cert through Clayton CommunityChurch. He and other musicianswill perform 7-8 p.m. Friday, April8.

“It’s a worship and prayer con-cert in support of the Japan reliefeffort. I feel led to help the peoplewho have been affected by thehorrible events,” Dodge said.“Those who attend are able tomake donations, but admissionwill be free.”

There are so many other smallthings that we can all do to help.Hundreds of Websites, such asglobalgiving.com, make donatingquick and simple. You can alsodonate directly through the RedCross and at redcross.org. Keep inmind that every small effort,every penny, will add up and makea huge difference.

SARAH ROSEN

TEEN SPEAK

Sarah Rosen is a junior atCVHS. You can e-mail her [email protected].

Taylor Tovrea is a junior atClayton Valley High School. She is aregular contributor to the Pioneer.You can Email her at [email protected]

TAYLOR TOVREA

TEEN SPEAK

CV students rally after tragedies near and far

See Sawazaki, page 18

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wings-of-Hope-for-Japan/199662336724782. Cranes may be mailed to Wings ofHope for Japan, 101 99th Avenue NE, Suite 101, Bellevue, WA 98004.


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clubs and organizations, schoolprojects or just a family outing.Prevent pollution and ready thecity for spring and summeractivities by picking up trash andpulling weeds. Have fun andshare in the community spirit.

Volunteers should meet at 9a.m. Saturday, April 16, at CityHall – rain or shine. The cleanupis followed by T-shirts and abarbecue at 11:30 a.m. Theevent is sponsored by theClayton Pioneer and the city ofClayton, with a generous dona-tion from Allied Waste.

For more information, call thePioneer at 672-0500 or the cityoffices at 673-7300.

Cleans Up,from page 1

It’s open season on wildturkeys beginning Saturday,March 26, but only if huntershave access to hunting grounds.

It’s illegal to hunt in Mt.Diablo State Park, or on publicstreets and roads. So, for thoselooking for the next turkey din-ner that pretty much leaves pri-vate property as the only option.

“There’s a lotta turkeys outthere,” says Department of Fishand Game biologist, ScottGardner. “The only problem isgetting to them.

Assuming hunters can gainaccess to private property; it’slegal to hunt turkeys with ashotgun, an air rifle or archeryequipment.

Shooting hours for springturkeys are from one-half hourbefore sunrise to 4 p.m. Both ahunting license and upland

game bird stamp are required.Apply for a hunting license atmost sporting goods stores orDFG office. They are not avail-able online.

The bag limit is one malebearded turkey per day and no

more than a total of threeturkeys during the season.

Wild turkeys are a very pop-ular game bird in California.

“They make very good eat-ing,” says Gardner, “very lean,very healthy.”

However, they can be dry, hewarns, and suggest using a moistheat method of cooking.

For places to hunt turkeys,DFG recommends that huntersrefer to the “Guide to HuntingWild Turkeys in California” onDFG’s website atwww.dfg.ca.gov/publications/docs/turkeyguide.pdf.

DFG also offers several spe-cial hunts for turkeys that areopen to a limited number ofhunters. Information and appli-cations can be found in theCalifornia Hunting Digest atwww.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest.

Hunters are encouraged tocheck DFG’s special hunts web-site for more information atwww.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunt-ing/uplandgame/gamebird/SpecialHunts/SpringTurkey.

Spring turkey hunting season opens March 26

For many people, avoidingprobate is an important estateplanning objective. Probate canbe a costly, time-consumingprocess, and its public natureraises privacy concerns. Aneffective tool for avoiding pro-bate is a revocable trust – oftenreferred to as a “living” trust. Aliving (or revocable) trust canalso be used to manage yourassets in the event you becomeincapacitated.

For a living trust to work,you must transfer assets to itthat would otherwise gothrough probate – a processknown as “funding” the trust.Most people fund their trustsaround the time they sign thetrust documents.

Once your estate plan iscomplete, however, it’s easy tooverlook the need to transferlater-acquired assets to yourtrust. If you don’t transfer them,those assets may be subject toprobate and will be outside thetrust’s control in the event youbecome incapacitated.

To avoid these problems,

consult your estate planningadvisor periodically – and anytime you acquire a major asset –to be sure your trust is properlyfunded.

Procedures for transferringassets to a trust vary dependingon the asset type. To transferreal estate, for example, youmust execute and record a deedconveying title to the trust.Transferring bank and broker-age accounts typically involvesproviding forms or letters ofinstruction to the institutionholding the accounts. Interestsin closely held businesses usual-ly require a simple assignment.Tangible personal property mayrequire an assignment or bill ofsale.

Be aware that certain assetsshouldn’t be transferred to arevocable trust, including IRAsand qualified retirement planaccounts, for which transfers areconsidered taxable withdrawals.Instead, name the trust as a pri-mary or secondary beneficiary.For life insurance policies, nameyour revocable trust as a benefi-

ciary or, if estate taxes are a con-cern, use an irrevocable lifeinsurance trust. For registeredvehicles, it’s often easier andcheaper to transfer them outsidea trust.

Estate Planning Pitfall –

You haven’t properlyfunded your living trust

RICHARD LITTORNO

ESTATE PLANNING

Richard A. Littorno is an attor-ney specializing in estate planning.He has offices in Clayton andPittsburg. Send your questions [email protected].

That gnawing feeling in thepit of your stomach may not bedue to the fact that tax day isapproaching. You may actuallybe suffering from the symptomsof gastro-esophageal reflux dis-ease (GERD) or acid reflux. Acommon disorder where part ofthe stomach’s contents travelinto the esophagus--the tubethat connects your mouth toyour stomach. Your stomach isbuilt to hold the acid and bilethat your gut produces, but youresophagus was not and yourbody will let you know when itcan’t tolerate the caustic materi-al any longer.

While eating, acid refluxactually occurs in most normalpeople without symptoms.However, in those who sufferfrom GERD the contents con-tain more acid, stay in contactwith the esophagus longer andoccur more frequently.Normally, your body has a mus-cle that acts as a valve to preventthis reflux. However, the pro-tective mechanism can fail andthe muscle may weaken or relaxat the wrong times. Also, if youhave poor stomach emptying, asin diabetes or with certain med-ications, you will be more proneto GERD as the stomach maystay full longer.

THAT BURNING FEELING

The symptoms of GERD

are varied and include a burningsensation in your stomachregion which typically begins 30-60 minutes after a meal, or whenyou lie down. This symptom iswell known by the name ofheartburn. The burning mayradiate to your jaw, back, orarms. As well, you can alsodevelop sweatiness, chest pain,cough, wheezing, and a feelingthat something is caught in yourthroat. These symptoms are badenough when they occur, but ifthey happen frequently, they canlead to dental decay, hoarseness,ear infections, and even cancerof the esophagus

There are many things thatmay make you more prone toGERD. The most significant ofthese is smoking as well as theingestion of table salt. It is alsofelt that certain heart and blood

pressure medications, hiatushernia, pregnancy, and obesitymake individuals more suscepti-ble to GERD. We used to saythat caffeine and alcohol weremajor risk factors, but now thatthinking is being re-thought.Though, it probably is beneficialto avoid these potential precipi-tants if you suffer from acidreflux

MEDICATIONS CAN HELP

The diagnosis of GERD andthe initiation of treatment willusually be made based solely onyour symptoms. However if thetrial of initial medical therapyfails, your doctor will order avariety of tests in order to con-firm this diagnose and to guidefuture treatments. There are avariety of medications to helptreat the symptoms of GERD.They are generally geared todecrease the acid in your stom-ach as well as to help your stom-ach contents continue theirwonderful journey through yourdigestive tract. If these medica-tions fail, one may then need tosee a surgeon for a surgical pro-cedure.

In order to lessen the fre-quency and severity of thesymptoms of GERD, you cando certain things such as exer-cising and consuming a highfiber diet. Also, as the symp-toms can occur more frequently

when you are prone, you shouldwait three hours after eatingbefore lying down. Also, youshould consider elevating thehead of your bed 8 inches inorder to allow gravity to facili-tate the flow of liquid out ofyour esophagus and into yourstomach. Other recommenda-tions are to eat smaller more fre-quent meals, avoid tight cloth-ing, alcohol, caffeine, and fattyor tomato based foods. As well,it is wise to avoid heavy lifting orstraining as this can increase thepressure in you abdominal cavi-ty and push your stomach con-tents upward.

Well, that’s GERD in a nut-shell. One big word of caution,though. Heart pain, at times,may manifest in the same way asGERD. So before you chalk upthe symptoms to heartburn youshould see your doctor andmake sure we have the rightdiagnosis. Eat healthy, exercise,and I will see you down the roadat Mt Diablo hospital.

Dr. Birdsall is the MedicalDirector of the EmergencyDepartment and Chief of Staff ofJohn Muir Hospital in Concord. Helives in Walnut Creek with his wife,Dr. Marian Birdsall, and two chil-dren. Please email him [email protected]

DR. DAVID BIRDSALL

ASK THE DOC

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Sardine is a playful and funloving little sprite. He will thrivein a home where he can be thecenter of attention and enter-tain all with his silly antics.Going to training class is a greatway for little Sardine to bondwith his new family memberswhile meeting new people,socializing with other dogs andbrushing up on his manners.

The adoption fee for adultdogs is $225 and includes 60%off one 7-week dog training ses-sion.

Two-year-old O’Mally willmake your heart flutter with hercharming personality and herheartwarming purr.

The adoption fee for adultcats is $50.

Meet your forever friend atTony La Russa’s Animal RescueFoundation, 2890 MitchellDrive, Walnut Creek, duringadoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m.Thursday and Friday, Noon to 5p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Theprimary caretaker must be pres-ent to adopt. ARF also encour-ages kids 16 and younger andcanine family members (dog

adoptions only) to be presentduring the adoption process.

Would you like to be part of theheroic team that saves the lives of res-cued dogs and cats? Can you shareyour talents to connect people and ani-mals? ARF volunteers are making adifference! For more information seeour website, www.arf.net, or call925.256.1ARF.

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When people invite a newkitty into their lives, they’reeager to get home and startbonding.

All cats have different per-sonalities and characteristics.If your cat is on the shy side,he may feel frightened or over-whelmed and act out accord-ingly. Recognizing the signsand making a patient and car-ing introduction into yourhome will help a wallflowerblossom into a confident, lov-ing lap cat.

Tell-tale signs of a fright-ened cat include hiding, hiss-ing, striking and growling.Such fearful behavior can leadto aggression or stress displayssuch as inappropriate urinationor destructiveness. Though wemay not know the reason a

particular cat is afraid, com-mon causes are lack of humaninteraction, a bad experiencewith humans, traumatizingevents or mimicking thebehavior of a fearful mother.

Timid cats usually do betterin quieter, low-traffic homesrather than bustling house-holds with small children.Sudden movement and con-stant loud noise can quicklysend your cat running for safe-ty underneath the bed.

Rather than letting himhave the run of the houseimmediately, it’s best to con-fine your new cat to one room.This helps him adjust gradual-ly to the new environment.Create a cozy atmosphere withall his belongings (bed, water,food, litter box, toys, etc.) tohelp him acclimate.

As your cat begins to feelcomfortable, slowly introducehim to the rest of the house.Some cats will show signs of

regression. If so, simply rein-troduce him to the safe, one-room sanctuary for a few days.

Spending quality time withyour cat in his safe room helpshim associate you with thesafety and warmth of the newenvironment. Speak in a softand gentle voice and keep yourmovements slow. Sit on thefloor or in a chair; being downat his level will make your catfeel more comfortable withyou.

After you’ve begun bond-ing with your pet, slowly intro-duce him to new people, mak-ing sure he doesn’t becomeoverwhelmed.

Humans love to cuddlewith pets, and sometimes webelieve they are in a snugglymood when we are. It is essen-tial to let your cat set the paceof your interactions. Don’tattempt to pull your cat from ahiding space, as this will onlyincrease his fear and possibly

result in a warning swat or bite.Be patient and wait for yourcat to come to you when he isready.

Sometimes the way to acat’s heart is through food, soarm yourself with tasty treatswhen interacting with yourfeline friend.

Make sure to have fun withyour little buddy. Let your catknow you’re not a big scaryperson in his space. Woo himwith interactive toys such astoy mice, cat dancers, featherwands and balls. Incorporatingregular playtime into your cat’sroutine helps him let go offear and begin to enjoy yourcompany, bonding with youfor a lifetime.

For more information, visit the catbehavior library at arf.net.

ELENA BICKER

PET PALS

Elena Bicker is the Executive Directorof Tony La Russa’s Animal RescueFoundation. She can be reached at (925)256-1ARF (1273)

Soothing a skittish kittytakes patience, love

neighbors can enjoy the varietyof animals. It shows you can livein suburbia and have a ruralexperience.”

Property manager TonyParcesepe and his team take careof the animals, feeding themdaily, maintaining shelters andkeeping the veterinarian’s num-ber handy.

Although social with eachother, llamas are known for spit-ting at people with both impres-sive accuracy and enthusiasm,

and the public is advised to keeptheir distance.

Seeno’s llama herd ispresided over by two males (onea baby). Over the years, morethan one baby llama has beenborn. Mama llamas, however,are more press shy than thepreening emus.

In 2009, the Seeno familyrushed a newborn baby llama toUC Davis’ neonatal veterinaryunit for emergency care after themother was frightened off by

spectators before her “cria”could nurse.

Days later, Parcesepe’s smalldog had a new buddy in theform of a baby llama, whomParcesepe’s family bottle fedevery four hours until it couldbe weaned.

“He became a pet, basically,”Parcesepe said with a laugh. “Hefollowed my wife around withmy dog.”

In response to publicinquiries about the cria’s health,the Seeno family gave assur-ances that the baby was fine andheld a contest to name the

llama. Ness, Hebrew for “mira-cle,” now happily grazes Seeno’shill with the rest of the herd.

More than one parent hasinterrupted their children’sback-seat battles while drivingby the property by calling out“Look – an emu!” ButParcesepe says the family isunable to accommodate themany people who have rung onSeeno’s front gate requestingtours or permission to holdbirthday parties on site.

“They’re strictly there for thecommunity’s enjoyment,” hesaid.

Emus, from page 1


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Clayton Bikes Stunt Team takes its show on the ramps

John Kramer and JamesBrom have combined theiryears in the local BMX bikescene to develop the ClaytonBikes stunt team. After garner-ing local interest, they’re get-ting sponsors and plan to takethe team on tour.

Tim Kramer opened ClaytonBicycle Center in 1982 and onlyson John was born that May.John Clayton Kramer grew upin and around the family busi-ness and now runs the Claytonstore. Bicycling has been hisvocation but also his avocationas he not only enjoyed bikingbut his circle of friends hascome from his love of bikes.

The stunt team presentedits first offsite performance atDiablo View Middle Schoolearly this month. Studentslined a school parking lot toenjoy a 40-minute show featur-ing the team’s professional andamateur bikers.

The stunt team of flat-landers and ramp jumpers hasevolved over the past yearsince riders started havingjams in the area behind thebike shop on Clayton Road.Soon 200 people were showingup to watch, and Brom andKramer knew they were readyto take the next step.

“We’re excited about thefuture,” Kramer says. “We’regetting sponsors and our goalis to rent a bus and trailer andtake the team on the road.”

The centerpiece of thestunt team show is a 5-foottall, 20-foot long ramp that theBMXers use to propel them-selves 20 feet in the air. “JoelHulsey is probably our lightestbiker, so he gets 25 or 30 feetup there,” Kramer explains.

FROM SKATE PARKS

TO THE X GAMES

According to Kramer, bicy-cle motocross racing was therage in the 1970s and ’80s. Butwith the development of skateparks and kids building theirown ramps, jumping and tricksare now popular.

“Not as much about racinganymore. The summer XGames with BMX competi-tions brought lots of expo-sure,” Kramer adds.

The X Games, televisedannually on ESPN, began in1995 and were held in 1999and 2000 on Piers 30-32 in SanFrancisco – with more than aquarter million fans attendingeach year. X Games includefour freestyle BMX disciplines:park, street, vert and big air.Summer X Games 17 is in LosAngeles for the ninth consecu-tive year this July.

Part of the allure of BMXis that “kids” from 10 to 40enjoy the activity, Kramer says.BMX bikes use 20-inch wheelsand can be aluminum or steelframe. The stunt team, featur-ing riders 14 to 40, uses steelframes to withstand the forcethe bikes take from jumps andhard landings.

A CHILDHOOD PASSION

Brom, nicknamed TrailGypsy, says he and Kramer“are Clayton kids” of the sameage who grew up around bikesand continue to enjoy theminto adulthood. They metabout 10 years ago, whenBrom was working at the com-pany warehouse in Concord.There, they make and assemblebikes sold at Clayton Bikes andthe original Kramer store,Encina Bicycle Center inWalnut Creek.

Kramer went to HighlandsElementary, Pine HollowIntermediate and ClaytonValley High School. He was aPine Hollow student when hebegan working in the storesweeping the floors at 14.After CVHS, “I tried collegebut felt I belonged in the store.It’s like the family farm andthat’s where I belong.”

HOMEGROWN STARS

The stunt team featuresprofessional level bikers and“friends in the industry”whom Brom and Kramer havepulled together. Betweenshows, the riders practice atteam manager Brom’s home.

The unquestioned star ofthe flatlanders is Pete Brandtof San Francisco. “He’s one ofthe very best in the world,”Kramer says. He’s currentlyfeatured on the ESPN Website.

Ryan O’Connell is fromConcord, but his BMX talents

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

Photo by Mike Dunn

CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE GERARDO REYES has found a place on the TGC/ClaytonBikes Stunt Team with his aerial talents. Some of the biggest names in BMX are joined by localup and comers like the 16-year-old Reyes and Mt. Diablo High freshman Zak Howerton, 14, onthe team headquartered out of the Clayton Bikes shop.

Clayton’s Joe Moita gains weight, defends NCS wrestling title

Joe Moita of Clayton won hissecond successive North CoastSection wrestling title and thenhelped his De La Salle High teamto a fourth-place finish in theCIF state finals, the highest statemeet finish by an NCS schoolsince 1996.

Moita was 2010 NCS cham-pion and fourth at state in the103-pound division as a sopho-more but grew quite a bit sincelast season and wrestled threeweight classes higher this year.He still managed to win theMission San Jose tournamentand East Bay Athletic Leaguetitles before grabbing a secondNCS crown to match olderbrother Vince’s pair of NCSchampionships for De La Salle.

The elder Moita is now wrestlingat Brown University.

Joe Moita was 38-4 this yearat 125 pounds heading into statemeet. He came down with strepthroat right after NCS and wasstill not 100 percent entering themeet in Bakersfield. Moita wonhis first state match 2-1 to anopponent he beat 14-2 inJanuary. He lost his next outing8-0 to Micah Cruz fromBakersfield, who eventually tookfourth. From Friday afternoonthrough 9:30 that evening, hewon three matches – piling upvaluable team points for theSpartans.

Teammate Luke Sheridan,who took third in state at 189pounds, said Moita was a key fac-tor in gaining DLS its highest-ever state finish. “He reallyshowed the heart of a champi-

on,” Sheridan said. “What peopledon’t see is all the points hescored for us. He didn’t take anytime off and he still gave it hisall.”

On the morning of the sec-ond day at state, Moita lost 8-2 toGilroy’s Nikko Villarreal, whoended up third.

The Spartans believed theyhad a chance to make their markon the state level this year. Theweek before, De La Salle set anNCS meet record with 309 points,six champions and eight finalists.Nine De La Salle wrestlers quali-fied for the state meet, where theyended up fourth out of a field of269 schools.

“It was a great accomplish-ment,” said DLS coach MarkHalvorson. “I hope when theteam looks back, they realize justhow great their accomplishments

were at state.”Moita is hopeful he’ll be a

senior leader next year when theSpartans move up further on thestate level. He then wants tocompete in Division I collegewrestling, where the lightestweight class is 125. He’s alreadyreceived athletic letters of inter-est from the Air Force Academy,Harvard, Princeton andStanford.

Clayton Valley High, statechampion in 1977, had threewrestlers at Bakersfield. BenO’Connor at 189 pounds splithis four matches, while team-mates Aaron Swift, 171, andTroy Lakin, 103, each lost twomatches. All three were makingtheir initial state meet appear-ances and were the first Eaglewrestlers in five years to reachstate.

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

Photo courtesy of Moita family

JOE MOITA OF CLAYTON WAS AT THE TOP OF THE PODIUM as herepeated as North Coast Section wrestling champion. Hemoved up in weight to 125 pounds from 103 as a sophomoreyet still won his second successive NCS title and the juniorhelped his De La Salle High team to a fourth-place finish inthe CIF State finals, the highest state meet finish by a NCSschool since 1996.

See Bikes, page 11


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St. Bonaventure girls nearly perfect for two seasons

Two seasons without a lossbeckoned the St. BonaventureBulldogs fourth grade girls bas-ketball team as the clock tickeddown in the recent champi-onship game of the OaklandDiocese East CYO basketballplayoffs.

The Bulldogs had a nice leadover St. Perpetua of Lafayette asthey sought their 23rd succes-sive victory and first place in theplayoffs. St. Perpetua had beenusing a full-court press in thesecond half of the champi-onship game, forcing severalturnovers. St. Bonaventure wasnot used to the pressure defensesince their East Diablo CYOLeague doesn’t allow full-courtpresses.

The defensive adjustment –along with three clutch freethrows near the end of the game– allowed the Lafayette team toovertake St. Bonaventure for a17-16 victory at St. FrancisSchool in Concord.

St. Bonaventure coachAndrew Brown was rightlyproud of his team. “The girlsplayed a terrific season. They

gave their best effort but cameup a little short in the last gameof the season. We are lookingforward to next season andhope to capture the diocesechampionship for St.

Bonaventure.”The team came together a

year ago in third grade andswept through 10 league gamesundefeated. There are no play-offs for third graders so the

team entered this season with anunbeaten record.

They continued to rollthrough league play this year,dominating their opponentswhile winning another 10 con-

secutive games. The fourthgrade season ends with a playofffor the east portion of theOakland Diocese.

St. Bonnies opened againstfourth seed St. Monica ofMoraga, and the Bulldogs gotthe most competition they hadever faced before pulling out a22-21 overtime win. EmilyLyons helped spark the offensewhile Alyssa Dern, CassidyAnderson and Jessica Hevenerplayed tough defense to helpseal the win. Alex Brown led thescorers with seven points.

After that close call, thesemi-finals saw the local teambeat the second seeded St. Maryteam from Walnut Creek 26-14.Brown went off for 16 pointsand Skylar Aldridge added sev-eral more. Hannah Macaulayplayed tenacious defense whileGabi Mancini provided a keyblock to get the offense rolling.

In the championship game,St. Bonaventure got out of theblocks fast. They took an early6-0 lead and extended it to 8-2 athalftime. St. Bonnies maintainedthe lead with four minutes to go,but St. Perpetua rallied down thestretch.

Macaulay with seven pointsand Brown with four topped thelocal’s scoresheet. AliBamberger played aggressivedefense but in the end it wasn’tquite enough.

Andrew Brown is in hiseighth year as a CYO coach. Hisassistant coach the past twoyears has been former prep andSt. Mary’s College standout EricBamberger.

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

Photo courtesy of St. Bonaventure CYO basketball

THE ST. BONAVENTURE GIRLS FOURTH GRADE BASKETBALL TEAM came within one point of its secondstraight undefeated season as they finished second in the East Diablo CYO basketball playoffs.The Bulldogs include, front row from left, Cassidy Anderson, Alyssa Dern, Hannah Macauly,Jessica Hevener, Emily Lyons, Gabi Mancini; back row, Alex Brown, Skylar Aldridge and AliBamberger. Andrew Brown and Eric Bamberger were the team coaches.

CVHS lacrosse teams rebuilding after losing 29 seniors after 2010 season

Clayton Valley was one ofthe first high schools in the areato start lacrosse programs, andthe Eagles have reaped the ben-efits for its boys and girls teams.

The boys have been unde-feated the past two years inDiablo Valley Athletic Leagueplay, while the girls are stillforced to play in a leaguestretching from Davis toOakland in order to get appro-priate competition. Both teamshave been successful in sendingplayers on to college lacrosse.

However, this year’s teamsare trying to fill a large numberof holes on their rosters. Thetwo-time DVAL champion boysgraduated 15 seniors, while thegirls lost 14 players after the2010 season.

SPOTS FOR PLAYERS

OF ALL AGES

Coach Matt Hill’s boys carryan 18-game league winningstreak into the season, but hewas relying on eight new startersthis year. And that was before

top defender Garrett Whistensprained his MCL. Whistenhopes to be back for DVALplay, when CVHS goes againstBerean Christian, College Parkand Northgate. Ygnacio Valleywill be starting a boy’s team nextseason.

Brodrick Villamor and ZachJacobson are returning firstteam all-DVAL defensive mid-field players. But with only fourreturning varsity players, Hilllooks to “some very strong jun-ior players moving up.” Hepoints to Josh Johnson at attack,Teigan Haft and Joey Clough inthe midfield and faceoff posi-tion and Troy Carlson in goal asplayers who will make big con-tributions.

“We are also very pleasedwith the play of four sopho-mores: midfielders Mike Kerr,Tyler Riessen and TravisKohlmeyer and defender JackZuercher,” he adds.

For Hill, is in his seventhyear as Eagles coach, the bright-est spot on the roster could bestandout freshman ClaytonMartin. “He came into our pro-gram with several years of clubexperience,” Hill says. “And if

he continues to work hard, hewill be a top player in the area.”

Even though it’s a youngteam, Hill says they stack up wellin the DVAL and expect todefend their league title for thethird time. “We have never lost agame in league play and feelconfident about continuing that

winning streak,” the coach says.“We will face stiff competitionfrom Northgate this season andwill have to work hard to winthose games.”

Key games with Berkeley,Redwood and powerhouse

JAY BEDECARRÉ

Clayton Pioneer

have taken him around theworld – including one of hisfavorite moments, performingto an NBA playoff audiencewith the Sacramento Kings.Ramp riders Hulsey and TyCallais wow the stunt teamcrowds with their aerialprowess.

The team’s “two youngguys” are local high school kids,14-year-old freshman ZakHowerton from Mt. DiabloHigh and sophomore GerardoReyes, 16, of Clayton ValleyHigh.

“Zak and Gerardo have beencustomers of the store and arebecoming quite the ramp rid-ers,” Kramer says.

The Stunt team is giving itssecond school performanceApril 1 at Walnut CreekIntermediate and is makingplans for daily performances onthe Memorial Day Weekend atBay Area KidFest in Concord.They’ve coordinated theirshows so far with 511.org, pro-moting safety features such aswearing proper helmets as wellas the environmental and healthbenefits of using a bike insteadof a car.

The team practices what itpreaches: “safety, alcohol- anddrug-free lifestyles. We wantkids to get off the couch andparticipate,” Kramer says.

Catch videos of the ClaytonBikes stunt team on YouTube andkeep up with their activities atwww.facebook.com/claytonbikes.

Bikes, from page 10

Photo by Mike Dunn

THE CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH BOYS LACROSSE TEAM is counting oncontributions from all four classes this year to follow in thefootsteps of the senior-laden DVAL champion Eagles of lastseason. Coach Matt Hill is calling on each grade to providethe drive needed for another league title run. His current cropof players includes, from left, freshman Clayton Martin, sopho-more Michael Kerr, junior goalie Troy Carlson and seniorSteven Kracke.

Advertise in the Pioneer, 672-0500

See Lacrosse, page 12

Stevenson School in PebbleBeach will determine the team’sseeding in the North CoastSection playoffs. The Eagleswon three of their first fivegames of the pre-season.

Hill also lauded the accom-plishments of three Eagles nowplaying collegiate lacrosse asfreshmen. Cory Callahan is atSonoma State, Conrad Carlsonat UC Santa Barbara and

Dominic Garaventa at Cal StateSan Jose.

MAKING PROGRESS

Allen Raymond has beenwith the CVHS girls lacrosseprogram six years, four as headcoach. He is realistic in saying itwill be a rebuilding year for thevarsity. “A large percentage ofour roster is playing at this levelfor the first time, so the empha-sis will really be on developmentmuch more than wins or losses,”Raymond says.

Senior captains SamanthaHealy and Kera Prell will carrythe attack load for the Eagles.The midfield features two play-ers who can transition the ballend to end in junior KayleeAndrews and sophomoreMegan Abcede.

“Our defense is anchored bysecond-year starter TaylorTovrea,” Raymond adds.

Among the top newcomersexpected to provide immediatehelp to the varsity are goalie

Maggie Trees-Keenan, MadisonCogo, Audrey Detmer, MeganDwyer, Lauren Valory, AshleyNelson and Alanna Bryant.

Since the DVAL does nothave enough girls lacrosseteams, Clayton Valley andNorthgate play in the BayShore Athletic League withperennial powerhouses Davisand Berkeley, along withPiedmont and BishopO’Dowd. “Ygnacio Valley juststarted a program at the JVlevel, so a DVAL is coming,”Raymond predicts.

His team started off winlessin its first four games, butRaymond “has been verypleased with the rate ofimprovement in our play.”

Four recent Eagle grads arenow playing at the next level:Celeste Piper at University ofOregon, Andrea Araujo at UCDavis, Sarah Jonathan of LakeForest College and KathrynBurton at Cal Poly San LuisObispo.

YOUTH SUMMER

RECREATION COMING TO

CLAYTON GYM

The comprehensiveClayton Youth Summer Slamprogram offered by All OutSports League at ClaytonCommunity Gym is acceptingreservations now for juniorgolf clinic, basketball league,summer day camp, cheer camp,indoor floor hockey league andflag football camp. Summerprograms run between June 13and Aug. 20.

For more information call(925) 203-5626 or to registerfor any program offered by AllOut Sports at the gym, visita l l o u t s p o r t s l e a g u e -clayton.com.

DANA HILLS SWIM TEAM

TAKES LATE SIGNUPS

The 18-time Concord CityChampion Dana Hills SwimTeam is accepting late signupsfor the upcoming summer sea-son. The Clayton-based teamis open to swimmers of allabilities 18 years old andyounger. Practice begins April18. For complete informationcall (925) 360-1916 or go todanahillsotters.com to registeronline.

DIABLO FC U15-U19 COMPETITIVE SOCCER

TRYOUTS APRIL 12-21Diablo FC tryouts for the

2011 season under 15 throughunder 19 competitive teamswill be in Concord April 12-21.Boys and girls born betweenAug. 1, 1992 and July 31, 1997are invited to try out. DiabloFC boys U13-U18 teams will

play in Western CollegeDevelopment Associationwhile both boys and girls U14-U18 gold teams will be in theNorCal Regional AcademyLeague. There is no charge totry out; for a complete tryoutschedule and to pre-registervisit diablofc.org.

10TH ANNUAL CV YOUTH

FOOTBALL CAMP

The 10th annual ClaytonValley youth football campruns June 20-24 at GonsalvesStadium on the Clayton ValleyHigh School campus from 9a.m.-1 p.m. It is for boys andgirls entering third throughninth grades.

Head football coach HercPardi, defensive coordinatorJerry Coakley and the Eaglescoaching staff and players pro-vide fundamental instructionand daily full contact competi-tion. There is a trainer on site.Each participant gets a campshirt and written evaluation.Cost is $125, plus a refundable$75 equipment fee.

For more information, [email protected], call(925) 682-7474 ext. 3115 or pickup a brochure at the CVHS frontoffice. Deadline to apply is June 9.

OAKHURST ORCAS SWIM

TEAM SIGN-UPS MAR. 30Sign-ups and orientation

for the Oakhurst Orcas will benext Wednesday, Mar. 30, from7:30-8:30 p.m. at OakhurstCountry Club in Clayton. Thesummer recreation swim teamis for boys and girls 18 yearsand under.


Clayton Sports

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Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise FinancialServices, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdic-tions or to all clients. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. © 2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Lacrosse, from page 11 Sports Shorts

Photo by Mike Dunn

Coach Allen Raymond says his Clayton Valley High School girlslacrosse team attack is lead by captains Kera Prell (left) andSamantha Healy. The two seniors will need to provide experi-ence for a young team rebuilding after losing 14 players tograduation off last year’s squad.

Q: Instances of people withthyroid problems seems to be onthe rise. Is there an environmentalconnection? M.S., Clayton, Calif.

A: According to the AmericanCancer Society, thyroid cancer isone of the few cancers that hasbeen on the rise in recent decadeswith cases increasing 6 percentannually since 1997. Manyresearchers attribute theseincreases to better detection.However, exposures to stress,radiation and pollutants have beenknown to increase a person’s riskof developing thyroid problems.

Thyroid disease takes two pri-mary forms. Hyperthyroidismoccurs when the thyroid producestoo much of the T3 and T4 hor-mones that regulate metabolism.This can cause a racing heart,weight loss, insomnia and otherproblems. In cases of hypothy-roidism, the body produces toofew hormones, so people feelfatigued and may gain weight,among other symptoms.

According to the American

Thyroid Association, many peo-ple with thyroid problems don’trealize it because symptoms canbe mistaken for other problemsor attributed to lack of sleep.Thyroid problems in children candelay or impair neurologicaldevelopment.

Doctors are not sure whysome people are prone to thyroiddisease, but genetics have much todo with it. One recent UCLAstudy found that genetic back-ground accounts for about 70percent of the risk. However,researchers have begun to findlinks between increased risk ofthyroid disease and exposure tocertain chemicals, especiallyamong women.

“Pesticide Use and ThyroidDisease among Women in theAgricultural Health Study,” pub-lished in the American Journal ofEpidemiology in 2002, found thatIowa and North Carolina womenmarried to men using such pesti-cides as aldrin, DDT and lindanewere at much higher risk of devel-

oping thyroid disease than womenin non-agricultural areas.According to Dr. Whitney S.Goldner, lead researcher on thestudy, 12.5 percent of the 16,500wives evaluated developed thyroiddisease compared to between 1and 8 percent in the general pop-ulation.

Trace amounts of chemicalpesticides and fertilizers most cer-tainly end up in some of the foodwe eat. The nonprofit groupBeyond Pesticides warns thatsome 60 percent of pesticidesused today have been shown toaffect the thyroid gland’s produc-tion of T3 and T4 hormones.Commercially available insecti-cides and fungicides have alsobeen implicated.

Likewise, some chemicalsused in plastics and flame retar-dants contain toxins shown totrigger thyroid problems in thosegenetically predisposed. And a2007 study at the University ofTexas Health Sciences Center atSan Antonio found that triclosan,

an anti-bacterial agent found ineverything from hand soaps tofacial tissues to toys, could becausing some mothers’ thyroidglands to send signals to fetusesthat may, in turn, contribute toautism. Triclosan is present in thebloodstreams of three out ofevery four Americans.

An increasing number of doc-tors believe that hypothyroidismcould be precipitated by a dietarydeficiency in iodine, a trace ele-ment found in the thyroid’s T3and T4 hormones and essential insmall amounts for good health.Besides eating more seafood,switching to iodized salt and/ortaking iodine supplements canboost iodine intake without theneed for medication. But toomuch iodine is not healthy, soalways consult a doctor beforeembarking on any new health ordiet regimen.

E - The Environmental Magazine

For more information, visitthyroid.org and beyondpesticides.org.

Environmental links to thyroid troubleEarthTalk

ACCIDENTS

1:58 a.m. March 6, Mt.Wilson Way/Marsh Creek Rd.Non-injury.

2:25 p.m. March 10, Mt.Wilson Way/Marsh Creek Rd.Non-injury.

9:54 a.m. March 17, ClaytonRd. Non-injury.

ARRESTS

2:41 a.m. March 6, ClaytonRd./Mitchell Canyon Rd. A 33-

year-old Concord woman arrest-ed for DUI after stop for vehiclecode violation.

4:33 p.m. March 8, IndianWells/Feather Cir. A 16-year-oldboy arrested for driving withouta license after stop for vehiclecode violation.

1:19 a.m. March 10, ClaytonRd./Peacock Creek Dr. A 22-year-old Clayton man arrestedfor DUI after stop for vehiclecode violation.

Paula McLain has written aspectacular piece of historicalfiction in her rendering ofHadley Richardson’s marriageto American literary legendErnest Hemingway.

“The Paris Wife” is writtenin Hadley’s voice, and as muchas the book takes inHemingway and a huge cast ofAmerican and other expatriatewriters in Paris, the story isalways Hadley’s the voice of ayoung woman deeply in love.

They meet in Chicago inOctober 1920 at a party givenby a mutual friend. She has justburied her mother back in St.Louis and he (eight years herjunior) is not long back as anambulance driver in the “warto end all wars,” now numeri-cally ordered as World War I.

He is handsome in a dan-gerous way, a man of worldlyassurance and small boy needs.She is a tentative, not quite shy,auburn-haired beauty with ahint of the birth of the mod-ern. She is a most unlikely can-didate for the heart of youngHemingway.

As the carpet is rolled backand the gramophone cranked,they step fatefully into themusic of Nora Bayes singing“Make Believe.” It is a fittingbeginning and the reader neverlooks back.

After a brief courtship anda few typical missteps of thenewly married, they sail toEurope to meet his destiny as awriter. They were not alone,and for the reader who is notfamiliar with this slice ofAmerican letters, it soundsmore fictional than real. Fromthe turn of the century to

World War II, with the grandEiffel Tower as a beacon, Parisbecame the watering hole ofgiants: Hemingway, John DosPassos, F. Scott Fitzgerald,James Joyce, Gertrude Steinand T.S. Eliot, to name a few.Not only writers, but publish-ers, artists and composers allcame to Paris the city wheremodernism was embraced,encouraged and, in the case ofAmerican writing, oftenengendered.

They came with theirdreams, their girlfriends, wives,boyfriends, lovers andappetites for excess. They livedbelieving the old rules nolonger applied and the future,if there were to be one, wastheirs to create.

Stein was once asked whyso many American writers leftthe States to live in Paris. Shereplied: “Your parents’ homeis never a place to work. It is anice place to be brought up in.Later on, there will be placeenough to get away from homein the United States. It is abeginning, then there will be

creators who live at home.”But for the years of

Hadley’s marriage toHemingway and the birth oftheir son, there is no turningback; Paris is home. McLainshows us a devoted, but oftenquestioning wife in Hadley.She is proud, but eventuallyfearful of the turn her mar-riage takes.

As Hemingway’s writingcareer gains momentum, hispersonal life begins to spin outof control. The author’s abilityto make the reader seeHemingway through Hadley’seyes and heart gives this novelgreat power. “The Paris Wife”is a strong addition to the bodyof work illuminating the worldof these American expatriates.


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A family health history is awritten record of a family’shealth. It contains informationabout a family’s medical condi-tions, lifestyle habits such assmoking and where and howfamily members grew up. This islike a family tree for health.

You can use a family healthhistory to see if you, your chil-dren or grandchildren mightface an increased risk of devel-oping serious health problems.These problems might be com-mon ones such as heart disease,cancer or diabetes or less com-mon diseases passed from onegeneration to the next, such ashemophilia or sickle cell anemia.

Many diseases result from acombination of a person’sgenes, lifestyle and environ-

ment. People can’t change thegenes they inherit but they canchange things like diet, physicalactivity and medical care to tryto prevent diseases that run inthe family.

Common health problemsthat can run in a family include:

� Alzheimer’s disease/demen-tia.

� Arthritis.� Asthma.� Blood clots.� Cancer.� Depression.� Diabetes.� Heart disease.� High cholesterol.� High blood pressure.� Pregnancy losses and birth

defects.� Stroke.

Some diseases are clearlygenetic, which means the dis-ease comes from a mutation, orharmful change, in a gene inher-ited from one or both parents.Genes are small structures in

your body’s cells that determinehow you look and tell your bodyhow to work. Examples ofgenetic diseases areHuntington’s disease, cysticfibrosis and muscular dystrophy.

Genes are not the onlythings that cause disease;lifestyle habits and environmentalso play a major part. Diet,weight, physical activity, tobaccoand alcohol use, occupation andwhere you live can increase ordecrease risks.

The first step in creating afamily health history is to talk toyour blood relatives. The mosthelpful information comes from“first-degree” relatives: parents,brothers, sisters and children.Information from “second-degree” relatives, such as nieces,

nephews, half-brothers, half-sis-ters, grandparents, aunts anduncles, can also be gathered. Seeif there are any existing familytrees, charts or baby books toconsult.

Important questions to askyour blood relatives include:� Age/date of birth?� Do you have any chronic

conditions, such as heart dis-ease, diabetes, asthma orhigh blood pressure?

� Have you had any other seri-ous illnesses, such as canceror stroke? If you know of aspecific disease or illnesses inyour family, ask about thattoo.

� How old were you when youdeveloped these illnesses?

Find the right time to talkabout family health. Family get-togethers like holidays, vacationsand reunions might be goodopportunities. Some people mayprefer to share health informa-tion privately, in person or bytelephone.

Knowing your family’shealth history can be a valuabletool in determining what courseof action you will take with yourhealth care. Be proactive andstart learning your family’s his-tory. You’ll be glad you did.

KELLY FERRO

SENIOR MOMENTS

Kelly Ferro is a marketing direc-tor for Aegis Living. Send commentsor questions [email protected]

Researching family history a key to good health

Book Review

‘Wife’ adds perspective to Hemingway’s life

SUNNY SOLOMON

FOR THE BOOKS

Sunny Solomon is the “BookLady” for the Clayton CommunityLibrary Book Club. She holds anMA in English and Creative Writingfrom San Francisco State University.Her poetry and prose has been pub-lished in literary journals andmagazines. You can each her [email protected].

Fitness innovations bringabout many great things. As Levityprepares to open, my staff and Iare working on our TRX suspen-sion training programs and havefound that TRX is fitness innova-tion at its finest. It brings cavemanways into the modern fitnessworld.

The primitive caveman had noaccess to Nautilus machines andthe weight stack had yet to beinvented. He couldn’t find a fastand furious cardio machine or aprogrammable Wii Fit doohickey.The Ab Rocker and Bowflexwould have meant something alto-gether different to him.

The caveman had to make dowith what was naturally at his dis-posal: an apt body attached to twofeet, sticks and stones and lots ofvines.

Making do and using what youhave is the definition of TRX. Itmakes training primitive again.With TRX, there are no sticks andstones, just you and the TRX strap.It’s simply a modern twist on thevine.

Suspension training is body-weight exercises performed in aformal or set manner. These exer-cises are supported by a singleanchor point, while the oppositeend of the body is in contact withthe ground. The TRX strap attach-ment provides excellent supportand adds mobility to train strength,endurance, balance, coordination,flexibility, power and core stabilityall at once and across a wide rangeof resistance.

Suspension training workoutsare safe and effective for people ofall ages and fitness levels. Unique

programs can be designed to meetpersonal goals and objectives.Each workout significantly devel-ops core strength using functionalmovements and dynamic posi-tions. Gone are the days of lyingsupine on the floor preparing fortraditional ab exercises. TRX train-ing forces the body to be themachine, carry your weight and do100 percent of the work.

TRX allows people to train in3D for better performance. Mostpeople train on two planes ofmovement, the sagittal plane,which controls front and backmovement, and the frontal plane,which controls side to side move-ment. Rarely do people train thetransverse plane, which is essentialto all oblique or twisting move-ments.

Traditional training methodsfocus on dividing the body intoseveral major muscles groups(chest, back, legs) in order to work.Though it yields good results, thesystem is somewhat faulted.Traditional training places toomuch importance on one-dimen-sional movement. It limits mobilityand adds instability to the body’soverall imbalance. TRX suspen-sion training is designed to fix thesystem, to reacquaint the bodywith all planes of movement.

Integrated exercise that com-bines joint and muscles movementacross various ranges of motionincreases muscle mass proportion-ally and in balance, which reducesrisk of injury and improves per-formance. Fundamental move-ments and daily activities can berecreated and enhanced throughrepetition.

Suspension training allowspeople to engage the body’s move-ments into a single, coordinatedsystem. Innovation brings integrat-ed training alive and allows thehuman body to be grace inmotion.

ILIMA HEUERMAN

FIT WITH LEVITY

Ilima Heuerman holds multiple fit-ness certifications. Her new fitness cen-ter, Levity, will open in the spring indowntown Clayton. Email Ilima [email protected]

With TRX, traininggets primitive again

Police Report 11:10 a.m. March 11, MarshCreek Rd. A 25-year-old Claytonman arrested for outstandingwarrants after stop for vehiclecode violation.

2 a.m. March 16, Clayton Rd.A 19-year-old Concord womanarrested for DUI after stop forvehicle code violation.

2:06 a.m. March 17, ClaytonRd./Lydia Ln. A 22-year-oldConcord man arrested for DUI

after stop for vehicle code viola-tion.

BURGLARIES/THEFTS

6:24 p.m. March 7, ZinfandelCr. Residential burglary.

10:03 p.m. March 9, KirkerPass Rd. Petty theft.

9:27 a.m. March 15, BlueOak Ln. Petty theft.

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If you’re looking to have agood time – and hey, who isn’t?– I suggest a visit to the pedi-atric ward at Kaiser on aSaturday morning. “Fun” ishardly descriptive enough todo it justice.

For the past month, we’vehad a toxic mucous cloudhanging over our house like a…well, like a toxic cloud. Nosooner does one person beginto feel better then another fallsprey to the sickness. The boyrecently spent the better partof a week camped out on thecouch. He seemed to get bet-ter, or at least the fever wentaway, so we quickly tookadvantage of the opportunityto send him back to school.

No sooner had he becomethe school’s problem againwhen yours truly is strickenwith the scourge. In my case,the fever lasted less than 24hours, but the mucousy funremained, eventually develop-ing into an ear infection.Really? An ear infection? Ihaven’t had an ear infectionsince I was a kid. What’s next?Is someone going to steal my

milk money and then tellRobin Shea that I LIKE likeher and want to meet her afterschool behind the eucalyptustrees? Well, I don’t!

Anyway, sick enough towhine but well enough towork, I soldiered on. Less thantwo weeks later, the boy and Iare sitting in the pediatric wait-ing room, him running a tem-perature and crashed out on abench, me surrounded by ooz-ing, dripping children whohave been taught that “Sharingis nice! It’s good to share. Doyou want some of this prettygreen stuff ? It’s slippery ANDsticky all at the same time! No,it’s OK. You can have some.I’ve got lots more in my nose.”*shudder*

As every parent knows,before every trip to the doctor,every kid asks the same ques-tion: “Am I going to get ashot?” My kid certainly quali-fies as “every kid.”

Boy: “Am I going to get ashot?”

Me: “No.”Boy: “Really?”Me: “No.”

Boy: “No I’m not going toget a shot, or no you didn’tmean it when you said no Iwasn’t going to get a shot?”

Me: “Huh?”Boy: “Am I going to get a

shot?”Me: “I don’t know! No,

probably not. Maybe. How doI know? Maybe you’ll get adoctor who hates kids andgives them all shots whetherthey need one or not.”

Boy: “Really?”Me: “No.”Boy: “No I’m not going to

get a doctor who hates kidsand gives them all shots, or no…”

It is normally at this pointin the conversation that one ofus begins crying.

So no, he didn’t have to geta shot, though I was sorelytempted to give him onemyself. And he doesn’t havestrep, or bronchitis or anyother form of illness for whichthey can actually do anything.It’s just a virus and it has to runits course. Awesome. SO worththe trip.

Lisa is now suffering with

“the virus that shall not becured” and, like all parents, shecontinues to do all that’sexpected of her all the whilewishing she could just crawlinto bed for a few days and beleft alone.

Besides a slight cold duringthe Christmas holidays, the girlhas remained surprisinglyhealthy. I’m beginning to won-der if she’s been bogarting theechinacea and vitamin C. Or,perhaps, it’s something moresinister, involving blood pactsand living sacrifices.

But that’s unlikely, becauseblood pacts normally involvehaving to get a shot.

JOE ROMANO

SO ANYWAY

Tales from the infirmary

Spring cleaning and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects arecommon this time of year.

According to the HomeSafety Council, home injuriesresult in nearly 20,000 deathsand more than 21 millionmedical visits each year. It’susually simple chores like lift-ing, climbing ladders, trim-ming, cleaning cabinets, reor-ganizing closets and windowwashing that causes most ofthe injuries.

Before you begin cleaningor working on projects, putsafety at the top of your listand follow these basic tips.

CLEANING AND DIY PROJECTS

Keep your area free of

clutter, especially near stairs,steps, landings or floors, toreduce the risk of falling. Thisis important when cleaningout closets and reorganizing.Move telephone and electricalcords out of walkways. Makesure toys and other items arealways put away when not inuse.

Never carry more than youcan handle and make sure youcan see over the items. Keepone hand free to hold banis-ters and railings.

Use a stepladder or safetyladder for climbing. For bothstepladder and ladders, alwaysstand at or below the highestsafe standing level usually thesecond rung from the top. Ifusing an extension ladder, thesafe level is the fourth rungfrom the top. Make sure therungs are dry and the ladder issecurely positioned on a flatsurface. For all ladders,remember to keep your weightcentered at all times.

While cleaning out cabi-nets, keep anything dangerousup and out of the reach ofchildren or locked up. It’s bestto wear gloves, eye protectionand/or masks when cleaningor handling chemicals. Be sure

not to mix products together.Buckets pose a drowning

danger to infants and youngchildren so be mindful tonever leave a bucket or otherstanding water unattended.When you are finished using abucket, store it empty andpreferably upside down.

Always use appropriatecleaning solvents. Never usegasoline as a cleaning solventand always store it outside toprevent a serious fire.

YARD CLEANING AND

MAINTENANCE

When mowing or trimmingthe yard, it’s best to keep chil-dren inside the house or wellaway from the area.

Children should never rideon tractor mowers. It’s a goodidea to make all power toolsand mowers off limits to yourchildren even when stored.

Before mowing, check forand remove toys or otherobjects that can get stuck inthe mower or cause a flyinghazard. Always mow the lawnwhile wearing closed-toeshoes.

When starting the mowerfor the first time, make surethe guards are all in place.

Never reach under the mowerunless it is turned off and theblade has completely stoppedturning. Refuel the mowerafter it has completely cooleddown.

Store pesticides and herbi-cides in original containers onhigh shelves or inside lockedcabinets, out of the reach ofchildren. When using them,never leave them unattended –especially if you have chil-dren.

Properly store garden tools(rakes, spades, forks, pruningclippers, etc.) when not in use.It’s best to store these withsharp edges down.

Always wear proper eyeprotection when using anypower tool. Don’t forget totuck in your shirt and neverwear loose, dangly clothingthat could be caught in mov-ing parts.

Enjoy the warm weatherand remember to think safetythis spring.

Harun Simbirdi is a resident ofClayton and member of the city ofClayton Citizen Corps Council (C5-CERT). He can be reached at [email protected].

HARUN SIMBIRDI

SAFETY ZONE

Jump into spring cleaning safely

Clayton resident, Joe Romano, isa family man, a free-lance writer forhire and the Pioneer’s “all aroundfunny guy.” E-mail him [email protected]

Clayton Community CalendarPLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLAYTON COMMUNITY CALENDAR EVENTS BY 5 P.M. APR. 6 FOR THE APR. 15 ISSUE. ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL TO [email protected]


IN CLAYTONMarch 26Galvin Ranch HikeSponsored by Save Mt. Diablo. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Meet at Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road. ContactBrad at 597-1025 or [email protected].

April 6-May 16CERT TrainingA six-week, 20-hour Community Emergency ResponseTeam training. Learn emergency preparedness, includ-ing fire suppression, light search and rescue tech-niques, emergency medical operations and disasterpsychology. 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Endeavor Hall,6000 Center St. Final class 6 p.m. May 16. Enroll at673-7355 or claytoncert.org.

April 16Clayton Cleans UpHonor Earth Day with a town spring cleaning. Helppick up trash, pull weeds and share in community spir-it. A great activity for clubs and organizations, schoolprojects or just a family outing. Meet at City Hall at 9am, rain or shine. Gloves and garbage bags provided.T-shirts and barbecue at 11:30 a.m. Sponsored by theClayton Pioneer and the city of Clayton, with dona-tions from Allied Waste. 672-0500.

April 30-May 1Clayton Art & Wine FestivalPremium wine and beer, 125 arts and crafts exhibits,Kiddieland and live entertainment. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.April 30 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 1, Main Street. Freeadmission. Sponsored by the Clayton Business andCommunity Association, with proceeds supportingcommunity groups and projects. 672-2272.

May 6-7Clayton Gardens TourSponsored by the Clayton Historical Society. Self-guid-ed tour of six gardens begins at the Clayton Museum,6101 Main St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. rain or shine. $25, or$30 at the door. Fifth ticket free. 672-0240.

FUNDRAISERSApril 2Festival of Tables & FashionSponsored by the Clayton Valley Woman’s Club, withfashions by Coldwater Creek. A benefit for the FoodBank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. 11 a.m.,Concord United Methodist Church, 1645 West St. $35.Call Doris at 672-1696 before March 28.claytonvalleywomansclub.org.

April 6Mt. Diablo Elementary School/Mary’s Pizza ShackBring a flier and Mary’s will donate 20 percent of thesale to the Parent Faculty Club. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,2246 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Print a flier athttp://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mountdiabloelementary.

April 9Clayton Valley Music Boosters East Meets WestA dinner/auction catered by Panda Express, withentertainment by CVHS instrumental music students.6-8:30 p.m, CVHS Multi-Use Room; 1101 Alberta Way,Concord. $15. RSVP by April 1 to claytonbands.org [email protected].

April 30United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation VegasNightTo raise money for all sports in the Mt. Diablo UnifiedSchool District. 6 p.m.-midnight, Concord Hilton, 1970Diamond Blvd. $50. www.unitedmtdiabloathletics.org.

May 14Clayton Valley Garden Club Plant Sale8 a.m.-1 p.m., Endeavor Hall, 6000 Center St.,Clayton. 672-5079.

May 15Animals on BroadwayA benefit for Tony La Russa’s Animal RescueFoundation (ARF). One-mile pet walk, pet wellnessfair, adoptions. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Broadway Plaza,Walnut Creek. Free admission. arf.net or 296-3118.

SCHOOLSMarch 29Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board7:30 p.m., 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord. mdusd.org.

CHURCHES & RELIGIONApril 1Lenten Evening of ReflectionSponsored by the Women’s Christian Fellowship of St.Bonaventure’s Catholic community. 7 p.m. Stations ofthe Cross. At 7:30 p.m., Bob Rice, nationally knownspeaker, author, musician and professor ofCatechetics, speaks: “And the Word Became Flesh.”Free-will offering. St. Bonaventure Church, 5562Clayton Road, Concord. 672-5800.

Through April 17“Grief and Loss”Lindsey Reed will lead a Lenten study group, 11:45a.m. Sundays (after morning worship), Clayton ValleyPresbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton.672-0882.

April 5-May 10“Healing the Heart”A six-week program for those who have experiencedthe death of a loved one. A safe place to express griefand begin healing. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, St.Bonaventure’s Church, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord.Register by calling Janie at 443-4630 by March 30.

April 9Evening of FellowshipSponsored by the Baha’is of Clayton. Diane Hill willspeak: “What is Human Nature? A Divine RealityCheck.” Hill has a doctoral degree in history and hastaught at UC Berkeley and Cal State Sacramento. 7:30p.m., Toloui home in Clayton. 672-6686.

AT THE LIBRARY

The Clayton Library is at 6125 Clayton Road. Programsare free unless otherwise noted. 673-0659 or clayton-library.org.

March 29-May10Patty CakesStory time for babies to 3-year-olds. Child attends withcaregiver. Drop in 11 a.m. Tuesdays.

March 30“Your Career Transition and Your Finances”Hosted by financial advisor William Pollak. 2-3:30p.m. Register at ccclib.org/programs.

April 6Author talk with “The Lady Killers”Penny Warner and Diana Orgain talk about their newbooks, “How to Survive a Killer Seance” and “Formulafor Murder.” 7 p.m.

April 7-June 2Picture Book TimeStory time for 3- to 5-year-olds. Child may attendwithout caregiver. Drop in 11 am. Thursdays.

April 12-May 17Paws to ReadChildren in grades 1-5 who have trouble reading canread aloud to a therapy dog. 4-4:25 or 4:35-5 p.m.Tuesdays. Registration by a parent required.

April 15-17Library Foundation Used Book SaleMost books $1. 4-7 p.m. April 15 for LibraryFoundation members. Join at door for $10. 10 a.m.-6p.m. April 16 and noon-4 p.m. April 17. Half-price 2-4 p.m. April 17. 673-9009.

ENTERTAINMENT

Through April 16“Hairspray”A young girl in 1960s Baltimore tries to win the affec-tion of a TV heartthrob. Presented by Contra CostaMusical Theatre. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 CivicDr., Walnut Creek. 943-SHOW or ccmt.org.

March 26Diablo SymphonyBritish Isles music featuring cellist Jerry Liu. 2 p.m.,Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., WalnutCreek. $12-$20. 943-7469 or lesherartscenter.com.

April 1-30“To Kill a Mockingbird”Center Repertory presents the timeless classic aboutignorance, prejudice and integrity. Lesher Center forthe Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $36-$42. 943-SHOW or centerrep.org.

May 13-22“The King & I”The Vagabond Players and El Campanil Children’sTheatre present the Rodgers and Hammerstein musi-cal. El Campanil Theatre, 602 West 2nd St., Antioch.689-3368.

CITY MEETINGS

April 5, 19Clayton City Council7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 ClaytonRoad. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

April 12, 26Clayton Planning Commission7 p.m., Hoyer Hall, Clayton Library, 6125 ClaytonRoad. 673-7304 or ci.clayton.ca.us.

CLUBSBreakfast with the Veterans of Foreign Wars8-11 a.m. second and fourth Sundays, 2290 WillowPass Road, Concord. Eggs, pancakes, sausage plus abeverage. $4, $2 children under 12.

Clayton Business and Community AssociationMeets 6:30 p.m. last Thursday of the month, exceptholidays, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock CreekDr., Clayton. Call Sue at 672-2272.

Clayton Valley Garden ClubMeets 7 p.m. second Wednesday of the month,Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. On April13, Kathy Echols from Diablo Valley College will talkabout garden myths. Contact Nancy at 673-3522 orclaytonvalleygardenclub.org.

Clayton Valley Woman’s ClubMeets 9:30 a.m. second Tuesday of the month exceptJuly and August, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092Alberta Way, Concord. 672-1163.

Clutch Busters Square Dance ClubMeets 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Willow Pass CommunityCenter Hall, 2748 East Olivera Road, Concord.Contact Karen at 686-3774.

Concord Stompers Square Dance ClubMeets 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Willow Pass CommunityCenter, 2748 East Olivera Road, Concord. Call Jennieat 672-9676 or angelfire.com/id/stompers.

Contra Costa Chess ClubMeets 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Starbuck’s, 1536Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. Players of all ages and skilllevels welcome. Contact Mike at 639-1987 oruschess.org.

Contra Costa Genealogical SocietyMeets 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month, LDSChurch, 1360 Alberta Way, [email protected].

Contra Costa Mineral and Gem SocietyMeets 7:30 p.m. second Monday of the month, CentreConcord, 5298 Clayton Road. 779-0698 or ccmgs.org.

Creekside Artists GuildMeets 7-8:30 p.m. second Wednesday of the month,Library Story Room, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton. Allartforms and both emerging and experienced artistswelcome. Contact Arlene at 673-9777 or [email protected]. creeksideartists.org.

Diablo Valley Democratic ClubMeets 7-9 p.m. third Wednesday of the month,Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road., WalnutCreek. 946-0469 or dvdems.org.

East Bay ProspectorsMeets 6:30 p.m. first Thursday of the month, OasisChristian Fellowship, 2551 Pleasant Hill Road,Pleasant Hill. Clayton resident Douglas Junghans ispresident. 672-1863 or eastbaygpaa.webs.com.

Knights Of Columbus, Concord Council 6038Meets 7:30 p.m. first Tuesday of the month, St.Bonaventure Church, 5562 Clayton Road, Concord.Officers meet third Wednesday at St. Agnes Church,3966 Chestnut St., Concord. Contact Rayce at 683-9717 or [email protected].

Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord SunriseMeets 7 a.m. Thursdays, Oakhurst Country Club, 1001Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton. Includes breakfast and aspeaker. 566-8166 or claytonvalleyrotary.org.

Scrabble ClubMeets 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. second and fourth Saturdaysof the month, Carl’s Jr. Restaurant, 1530 Kirker PassRoad, Clayton. All ages and skill levels welcome. $3fee. Call Mike at 639-1987 or scrabble-assoc.com.

Sons In Retirement (SIRs)Branch 19 meets 11:15 a.m. first Thursday of themonth, Crown Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Dr.,Concord. 429-3777. Branch 146 meets 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. second Thursdayof the month. Boundary Oaks, 3800 Valley Vista Road,Walnut Creek. Call Jack at 933-7998 or sir146.com.

Soroptimist International of Diablo VistaMeets 12:15 p.m. second, third and fourthWednesdays of the month, September-June, Sizzler,1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord. Contact Nicole at692-2224.

Word Weavers ToastmastersMeets 7-8:15 p.m. Mondays, 4756 Clayton Road,Concord. Visitors welcome. Contact Marion at 686-1818 or [email protected].

As soon as we mention thatwe are going to Mexico, manypeople cringe and question oursanity.

Over the past couple ofyears, Mexico has received agreat deal of negative pressregarding the safety of for-eigners traveling and retiringthere. However, a large per-centage of the violent crimesare connected to inner fightingof the drug cartels and drug-related incidents. Less thanone percent of crimes involvethe general public.

It could be said that livingin Los Angeles, Detroit orNew York is more dangerousthan parts of Mexico. If youtravel anywhere, in the UnitedStates or a foreign country, youshould always educate yourselfon areas to avoid.

After my last article, Ireceived an e-mail fromPioneer readers Carolyn andMichael Pauline. “We havebeen traveling to PV (PuertoVallarta) since 1984 and sixyears ago took the plunge andbecame homeowners. Ourwhole family travels downthere frequently, including

grandchildren ages 16 to 3, andwe never felt any danger at allin our surroundings.”

Puerto Vallarta has alwaysbeen rated one of the safestand friendliest places to liveand visit and remains so. Everyyear, we go back to the samefriendly elderly man who sellsice cream along the river. Inmy halting Spanish, we discov-ered that he has family inHayward and comes to visitthem every couple of years.We look forward to seeing himand his cart. He always greets

us with a smile and a hug.PV relies on most of its

revenue coming from touristsand the rapidly growing num-ber of retirees moving to thearea. Therefore, the local gov-ernment expends a greatamount of effort and moneyto protect locals and foreignersalike. The fact that one sees agreat deal of police force whenvisiting PV is not that crime ishigh; they are there to guaran-tee everyone’s safety. We haveseen the federal police, thestate police, the municipalpolice, the tourist police, thetransit police and the trafficpolice downtown and alongthe streets and highways. Inaddition, the naval police are atthe marina area. PV has a just-ly deserved reputation forsafety and security.

On Super Bowl Sunday, wenoticed an unusual amount offederal police downtown andlater discovered that MexicanPresident Phillipe Calderonwas in town to promotetourism. He went ziplining,played golf and generally had agood time. We later discoveredthat he met with past Mexicanpresident Vincente Fox, BillGates and Carlos Slim (theman who beat out Gates tobecome the wealthiest man inthe world) to develop a resortcalled Litibu at Punta de Mita,an area just north of PV thathouses the Four Seasons andSt. Regis resorts and golfcourses. We obtained thisinformation because a tour

Boy Scouts ready to earntheir Eagle Scout rank canchoose from a long list ofprojects around town.

Kyle Bradbury, Troop 484,and Greg Fogg, Troop 363,completed Eagle Scout proj-ects at Tabernacle School andCrossroads Covenant Churchin Concord, respectively.

Kyle’s former elementaryschool, Tabernacle, suggestedhe rejuvenate the southwestcorner of campus for hisEagle Scout project. “I enjoyedmy time at Tabernacle andliked the idea of creating moreopportunity for outdoor learn-ing,” Kyle said in a letter to theschool on its Website.

Kyle enlisted 20 familiesfrom Troop 484 and fiveTabernacle families to clear theunused area and added picnicbenches and planter boxes.The area was previously usedas storage for old playgroundsand, dirt, sod and brokenmaterials. It was full of weedsand rocks.

The team took three daysto transform the corner. Theycleared the debris and leveledthe ground with shovels andrakes. The volunteers broughtin 26 yards of crushed rock bywheel barrow. Bender boarddefined the border. Planterboxes were constructed andplanted. Picnic tables pur-chased at Costco gave the finaltouch to entice staff and stu-dents to enjoy the area.

The greatest challenge “wascoordinating 20 people in asingle work day,” Kyle said. Heis working on one more meritbadge before he can have hisEagle Scout Board of Review.

Greg’s church, CrossroadsCovenant Church, requestedthat he create a pathway to agathering area by the creek onchurch grounds. He rallied 30Scouts, church members, fami-ly and friends to complete theproject in four days.

In addition to church andScout board approval, theproject had to be approved bythe Department of Fish andGame because it involved thecreek area.

Greg’s team dug out thehillside. They edged out thepath with bender board. Weedmat created a foundation forcrushed rock. The gatheringplace is now an inviting areafor outdoor gatherings.Another Eagle Scout projectmay provide seating.

“It is a beautiful start tohave a nice, contemplativewalk down by the creek,”Pastor Aaron Gonzenbachsaid.

Greg’s Board of Review isstill to come. He aged out ofScouts earlier this year andwould like to pursue his musi-cal interests. He wanted tocombine his project withmusic by giving a benefit con-cert with his band, the Colony,but Eagle Scout projects arenot allowed to be fundraisingprojects.

Finding the right projectwas the biggest challenge forGreg. “I learned a lot of lead-ership and outdoor (skills) …good qualities I can use therest of my life,” he noted.


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Church, school benefit from Scout projectsPAMELA WIESENDANGER

Clayton Pioneer

EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE GREG FOGG (seated, center) installed acontemplative path at Crossroads Church as his Eagle Scoutproject. Greg is shown here with (back row) Ben Chang, TrevorMurphy, John Huovinen, Bill Spalding, Fred Fogg. Behind Gregare Laura Spalding, Steven Soltero and Sandy Fogg

ON HIS WAY TO EARNING THE EAGLE SCOUT RANK, Kyle Bradbury made major outdoor improve-ments to Tabernacle School, where he attended elementary school. To achieve the Eagle Scoutrank, Scouts must complete a public service project.

THIS ICE CREAM VENDOR IS A SYMBOL OF A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PUERTO

VALLARTA, one of the safest and most popular vacation spots inMexico.

A safe and friendly PV drawsvisitors back year after year

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TIME TO GO

See Travel, page 17

This week, I feel like I’mchanneling Paula Deen, the self-styled Queen of Butter.

Every recipe I read or foodshow I’m looking at featurestons of butter. Not that butter isa bad thing – as a matter of fact,it gets a bad rap from misinfor-mation.

Butter provides vitamins andminerals and supports a healthyimmune system and hormoneproduction. After World War II,however, butter was implicatedin health problems. We nowknow that butter substitutes(margarine, shortening) andmanmade transfats are the morelikely health threat. Because it’s afat, however, butter should beenjoyed in moderation.

Humans have a close rela-tionship to butter. Several thou-sand years ago, we domesticatedcattle, water buffalo, camels,horses and yaks and started tomilk those animals. Milk has alot of fat in it, and when thecream portion is shaken, agitat-ed or churned, the fat separatesout and that’s butter.

If you’ve not done so, you

should try making it so you cantaste the joyous flavor of trulyfresh butter.

HOMEMADE BUTTER

1 pint heavy whipping cream(Choose one with no additivesand avoid ultra-pasteurized. TryTrader Joes, Clover or StrausCreamery.)

Let cream sit at room tem-perature until it is 60 degrees.Pour cream into a quart jar andcover with a tight-fitting lid.Shake the jar until globules ofbutter appear and most of theliquid has turned to a soft solid,15-30 minutes. Drain the liquid(this is buttermilk).

Add cold water to the jar andshake gently. Drain. Repeat untilthe liquid poured off is clear.You don’t want any residue ofbuttermilk since this will pro-mote spoilage.

Transfer butter to a coolmarble or wood surface and usepaddles or a spoon to press thebutter to extract more liquid.You can add up to ¼ tsp. saltduring this process if you wantsalted butter.

Once no more liquid comesout, shape the butter, cover andrefrigerate or freeze.

Butter browns andthen burns at high temper-atures, so its use in sautéing issomewhat limited. Lots of usadd a little oil to butter to retardthe browning, but it’s best to useclarified butter (a version ofwhich is India’s ghee) for higherheat cooking. You can buy clari-fied butter, but it’s really easy tomake.

CLARIFIED BUTTER

Gently melt unsalted butterover low heat until it breaksdown into three layers. The toplayer is a white foam, which con-tains the whey proteins. Skimthis foam off with a spoon. Themilk solids will drop to the bot-tom of the saucepan. In themiddle is a golden-yellow liquid,which is the clarified butter.

After skimming the foam,remove the pan from the heatand let the milk solids settle.Then strain the mixture througha double-mesh strainer linedwith cheesecloth or paper tow-els. Discard the milk solids.

Eggs benedicts, broccoli andasparagus are perfect withHollandaise sauce. While tradi-tionalists would have you makeit on the stovetop, I like to makeit in the blender.

BLENDER HOLLANDAISE

SAUCE

Makes 1½ cups

3 egg yolks½ tsp saltDash cayenne pepper1 T. heavy cream1 c. unsalted clarified butter,

melted1 T. lemon juice or white

wine vinegarPlace egg yolks, salt, pepper

and cream in blender. Blend fora few seconds at high speeduntil you have a smooth, frothy

mixture. With blender running,add half of the hot butter in athin, steady stream. Add lemonjuice or vinegar and finish withthe rest of the butter. Taste andadd more salt, cayenne or whitepepper to your preference.

Browned butter or beurrenoisette is a classic French sauceand should be part of yourcooking repertoire. It couldn’tbe simpler. Just melt butter andcontinue to cook it over medi-um to medium high heat until itbrowns. The milk solids in thebutter will develop a beautifulnutty flavor. Here’s one use forfilet of sole.

SOLE AMANDINE

6 oz. sole, flounder or otherflatfish per person

Flour for dredgingSalt and pepper1 T. butter1 T. olive oil2 T. sliced almondsSeason flour with salt and

pepper. Dredge fish in the sea-soned flour and set aside.

Preheat nonstick skillet overmedium high heat. Add butterand olive oil. When butter hascompletely melted and is begin-ning to foam, add fish. Cook 2-3 minutes on one side. Turnover and repeat.

Transfer fish to a servingplate. Add almonds to pan juicesand sauté 30 seconds, allowingthe butter to color to a richbrown shade. Spread evenlyover fish.


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guide we hired on Monday wasthe one who was hired to drivethe president’s team of snipersand be part of the entourage.

I’ve been asked whether itis safe to walk around the townat night. Yes, definitely. Youshould feel safer in most partsof Puerto Vallarta than in theUnited States. There is littlecrime there and it’s usuallypetty compared to in theUnited States. The touristpolice are friendly and helpful.

Use common sense and becareful. Leave fancy jewelry athome. After dark, stay on themain streets and do not wan-der on the beaches. Neverflash large amounts of money.

Another common questionis, “Can I drink the water?”Puerto Vallarta has the clean-

est water in Mexico. The wateris treated and purified, but thedistribution system is not per-fect. In most hotels and restau-rants, you will get purifiedwater. If in doubt – ask “Augapurificada?” I would not drinkthe water from a private homeor condo unless you knowthere is a purification systeminstalled and working. To becompletely safe, buy bottledwater. Don’t take the chance ofruining your vacation.

Next time, I’ll talk abouttransportation as well as someof the food and restaurants totry.

Recently retired, Clayton residentPeggy Bidondo is a tireless traveler witha passion for travel planning and writ-ing. Send your questions and columnideas to Peggy Bidondo at [email protected].

Travel, from page 16

Sole Amandine

MYRIAD COMPLICATIONS

Motoyasu's sister and herhusband live in Fukushima andhis niece works in Sendai. He hasnot been able to speak to any ofthem directly as they are still inthe badly affected area, butknows through relatives that theysurvived.

“Everything is so chaotic,”says Renee.

The local train line intoAnnaka has been shut down andeven trains in Tokyo are not run-ning at full service.

“If we tried to go back today,it would be difficult to get to ourhome.”

The cold weather and snow ismaking things worse for the aidand rescue of those in shelters. Itwas estimated at one point thatabout 500,000 were in sheltersscattered around northeasternJapan, some even, in Gunma.

Aftershocks continue to rockthe area. On March 19, 100,000people in Tokyo slept in sheltersdue to a 6.1 aftershock. All thetrains were stopped and passen-gers evacuated.

“I was finally able to talk tomy best friend yesterday,” saysRenee. “And while we were talk-ing, she began to moan like awoman in labor. They were hav-

ing another aftershock.”

HUGE EMOTIONAL IMPACT

Renee is fearful for the men-tal health of the Japanese whosurvive the devastation.

She understands about posttraumatic stress. She livedthrough the 6.9-magnitude Kobequake in 1995 that lasted 20 sec-onds. “It took me five years toget past the trauma. In the weeksfollowing the earthquake, everytime we experienced an after-shock, I would look up to makesure the third and fourth floorswere still on the buildings. Thesecond floor of many hadalready been crushed. And thatquake pales in comparison.” Aweek after the Sendai quake,

Renee is still shaking. “I’m shellshocked. I haven’t slept much,I’m running on adrenalin.”

She fears for the Japanesethat are in the devastated area.“This is so enormous that I don’tthink anyone, even the Japanese,can internalize the scale of thedestruction just yet.”

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

She knows that there are 300elderly people and their care-givers in a facility near theFukushima Daiichi power plant.“They can’t evacuate as manycannot walk and they are beingexposed to radiation. They can’tget food. They are living in unbe-lievably horrible conditions. Thesituation is beyond our imagina-

tion.”She worries about her hus-

band. “I don’t think this has real-ly hit him, yet. Until last night, hereally didn’t know how badly ourarea was being affected by every-thing.”

Renee has lived in Japan forthe last 19 years. Earthquake pre-paredness has been a way of life– in the schools, the workplaceand the home. But, she neverreally talked about the elephantin the living room – the nuclearpower plants. "I don't think any-one ever thought something likethis could happen."

"Since we are staying past the24th, there is a lot we have to donext week. My husband's visaand our family's health insurance

will expire. He is applying to thestate department for a 30-dayautomatic visa extension. Ourinsurance company in Tokyo isclosed until Sunday. We just hopeit will open as planned. Beyondthat, she doesn’t know what willhappen. Renee is watching boththe American and Japanese newsconstantly. "What Americansdon't realize is that there havebeen numerous completely sepa-rate earthquakes that have beenoccurring almost daily since thegreat earthquake. Two have hap-pened east of Annaka and onejust happened yesterday south usour home."

“Things are changing daily,”Renee says. “We will just streamthe news from Japan and wait."


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Lovely Lavatera does excep-tionally well in Clayton Valleylandscapes. This group of ever-green shrubs thrives in heat,needs little water once estab-lished and blooms for months ata time.

Anyone with a full sun loca-tion should consider this shrub,which is commonly called mal-low.

Lavatera bicolor reaches 6-8feet tall and wide. This selectionhas scalloped-shaped gray leavesand two-toned hibiscus-shaped

flowers. The outer edges of thepetals are dusty, light lavender,while the center of the flower isa deeper, darker mauve thatfeathers the length of the petals.A fuzzy, long stamen reachesoutward, adding extra interest.

Lavatera bicolor is a favoriteamong butterflies and bees. Thisevergreen does shed, so you willsee some solid yellow leaves attimes. These old leaves are beingforced out by new growth.When the bicolor Lavatera isyoung, you may need to cut backsome of the wild stems toencourage more dense growth.

Bicolor Lavatera makes afantastic fence cover or privacyshrub, since it is such a fastgrower. When it grows out ofhand, severely cut it back. Thecolor scheme of this evergreenis inspirational. It is easy to cre-ate a garden around the bicolorLavatera. Some complementaryplantings to consider areMoonshine Yarrow, SedumAutumn Joy, Salvia Maynight,

Mexican Sage, Veronica SunnyBorder Blue and Arctotis PinkSugar. Together, these plantswould guarantee year-roundflowers.

FROM WINE TO RUM

Kew Rose Lavatera has adarker green leaf and a deepmaroon colored stem. Theflower is a rich, dark pink. ThisLavatera will be just as tall as thebicolor but has a softer, lesswoody look and would alsomake a superb landscape addi-tion.

If you are planting a sunnyside yard, mixing Lavaterashrubs with summer bloomingCrape Myrtle trees would createa very floral, easy to care for,low water use environment.

Pale pink blooming Lavatera‘Barnsley’ is a perfect choice forthose who desire a more pastelcolor scheme. Use it with thecool colors of Huntington PinkPenstomen, Blue Bird Nemesiaand Weaverly Sage.

BurgundyW i n eL a v a t e r ahas a wine-red flowerand looksgreat installedwith some ofthe dark pur-ple leafed flaxplants. StaggerBurgundy Winewith some Platt’s BlackPhormium. The darkblossom will really offset thecolor of the Phormium’sfoliage.

Lavatera ‘Red Rum’ also hasan interesting bloom color; it isa magenta red. This is anotherselection with burgundy stems,which become more dramaticwhen this shrub is blooming.

LOW MAINTENANCE

No variety of Lavatera hasany special needs. They willappreciate water to becomeestablished and then eventually

become drought tolerant, soconsider where you install thisplant. It is probably not a goodidea to plant Lavatera near thesprinklers that water your lawn.

Lavatera will not need anyadditional fertilizer. In fact, youshould skip over this shrubwhen feeding the rest of the

garden. The shrub is easy togrow and will thrive for any levelof garden lover.

Nicole is the Garden Girl atR&M Pool, Patio, Gifts andGarden Contact her with questions,comments or suggestions at [email protected]

NICOLE HACKETT

GARDEN GIRL

Lavatera loves the heat – with flowers that add flair

Sawazaki, from page 7

MAR 25 Clayton Pioneer 2011.pdf

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Transcript of MAR 25 Clayton Pioneer 2011.pdf