The Concordian - November 2014

The Concordian bull NOVEMBER 2014 bull Page 2 bull wwwMyConcordiancom bull (800) 606-6448

Beat These Rates You Canrsquot

by Jason Rugaard wwwmoviemaverickscom

themoviemaverickGone Girl

2-StarAn astute master

craftsmanrsquos befuddled love letter to the two directors he loves most Alfred Hitchcock and David Fincher The resulting movie taken from the book by Gillian Flynn and interwoven with the directorrsquos almost trademark nihilism is watchable for the first 45 minutes or so until ludicrous plot turns and genuinely unlikable characters cave the story in on itself Itrsquos tempting to dismiss Gone Girl as topical sensationalism But Fincherrsquos film is too meticulously crafted to write off as mere exploitation Unfortunately itrsquos also incredibly boring

Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) are an upper-middle class couple living in the suburbs On the day of their fifth wedding anniversary Nick returns home to find Amy missing The crime scene has the appearance of a struggle but something doesnrsquot sit right with the investigating officers Nickrsquos anxious demeanor and somewhat aloof behavior is troubling Soon the story of the missing housewife has gone national-wide and the ensuing media frenzy

revels embarrassing truths about the disintegrating state of their marriage and Nickrsquos infidelity All of which condemn the man in many peoplersquos minds and leads to the Public opinion that Nick murdered Amy

To discuss the story in detail requires a viewing or familiarity with the source material It would be unfair to have the events told and not

experienced whether you enjoy the experience is debatable after the fact The typical cold detachment that is present in every Fincher film is pushed to itrsquos blistering extremes the movie is so lumbering that I was expecting the ldquoit was all a dreamrdquo ending that mercifully never came

Gone Girl has moments of acute awareness wether it be social media speculations cable news talking heads or even the way our neighbors perceive us All is undone by the need for Fincher to set his lead character as a walking Hitchcockian vamp The obvious inspiration is oddly pretty good when the director copies Hitchcock and pretty awful when he apes himself The least of the esteemed filmmakerrsquos work to date

Director David FincherStars Ben Affleck Rosamund

Pike Tyler Perry


CONSTANTLY UPDATED - Visit THE CONCORDIAN MEDIA SITE For More STORES AND VIDEOS bull wwwDigitalConcordiancom

Dr Muumltterrsquos Marvels A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine

by Cristin OrsquoKeefe AptowiczBefore I picked up Cristin OrsquoKeefe

Aptowiczrsquos Dr Muumltterrsquos Marvels A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine I had never heard of Dr Thomas Dent Muumltter or the famous museum that displays his private collection of medical oddities

When I started the book I expected it would be nothing more than a quirky recounting of how Dr Muumltter gathered the items in his collection The story of what they were and where they had come from an entertaining tour of one manrsquos unique disturbing freak show

I was wrong and never happier to have been

The marvels that the title alludes to are not the specimens in Muumltterrsquos collection No Muumltter lsquos marvels are in fact the radical plastic surgery techniques he pioneered (the most famous being the Muumltter flap) and the students he taught and influenced during his tenure as Professor of Surgery at Philadelphiarsquos Jefferson Medical College

Flamboyant and outgoing Thomas Dent Muumltter was a truly revolutionary figure in the medical community of the first half of the 19th century

He championed compassion-based treatment where the patient was not

seen as a challenge or an obstacle but as a suffering human being He believed in cleanliness at a time when germs microbes and transmissible illnesses were dismissed as mere quackery He stridently argued for the use of anesthesia

when it was thought better and safer to have the patient awake and aware during surgery

He even pioneered pre and post-operative care at time when surgeries were not only unexplained to the patients they were also pushed out of the building as soon as the operation was over

Muumltter fought and fought hard for these changes to happen He felt that it was every bit as important for a doctor to end suffering as it was to treat illness or injury That so many of his contemporaries would strenuously even contemptuously dismiss Muumltterrsquos humane efforts is

horrifying and difficult to believeObstetrician Charles Meigs a fellow

professor at Jefferson Medical College and vocal opponent of everything Muumltter argued for gives a human face to and saddening example of those that did not know understand or respect the advances and improvements in patient care they were fighting so hard to keep from happening

If like me all you knew of doctoring came from episodes of Greyrsquos Anatomy or Scrubs I cannot recommend enough that you read Dr Muumltterrsquos Marvels

bookendsA

Tal

e to

Tel

l

by Chadwick H Saxelid

Read more of Chadrsquorsquos book reviews at httpbitlyMcHguP



1118 15 22 29 1pm - 320pm BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE MAINSTAGE PRESENTS MARY POPPINS Based on the books by PL Travers and the 1964 Disney film MARY POPPINS is simply sweet like a spoonful of sugar Set in 1910 England young troublemakers Jane and Michael Banks have duped their way through so many nannies However when Mary Poppins suddenly arrives at their door the Banks family learns mdash through magic and wonder mdash how to value each other again Berkeley Playhouse2640 College Ave Berkeley httpberkeleyplayhouseorg boxofficeberkeleyplayhouseorg11 6 ndash 1415 times vary James and the Giant Peach performed by Bay Area Childrenrsquos Theatre ndash Mill Valley Berkeley San Ramon amp San Francisco An exciting new musical inspired by Roald Dahlrsquos classic tale about the orphaned boy who escapes from his wicked aunts aboard an enormous enchanted peach inhabited by a bevy of very big bugs httpwwwbactheatreorgshows Bay Area Childrenrsquos Theatre | 6114 La Salle Ave Ste 431 Oakland infobactheatreorgThru 118 RedWolf Fridays at 8 pm Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm Sundays at 7 pm A girl is ripening on the edge of town uncontrolled chaotic voracious This is an orderly place Everything is on the map the last scrap of woods the old house on the outskirts You can see the line where the big new road will go Right through Redrsquos room Thru 119 - DVC Drama presents THE WEDDING SINGER Music by Matthew Sklar Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy Lyrics by Chad Beguelin October 24-November 9 Directed by Lisa Drummond Musical Direction by Enrico Banson Choreography by Amanda Boyan Itrsquos 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jerseyrsquos favorite wedding singer httpswwwfacebookcomdvcdramaonline11 10 Theatre Bay Area (TBA) the nonprofit service organization for theatre and dance in the Bay Area has announced the finalists (httpwwwbitly1wJKIkY) for the inaugural year of the TBA Awards11-11-14 Veterans Day Celebration At Lesher Center for the Arts wwwlesherartscenterorg

Calendar


Stop by our office today and pick up a copy of THE CONCORDIAN

The Concordian bull NOVEMBER 2014 bull Page 6 bull wwwMyConcordiancom bull (800) 606-6448 Answers are at wwwdigitalconcordiancom

The Concordian bull NOVEMBER 2014 bull Page 7 bull wwwMyConcordiancom bull (800) 606-6448 Teacher Extraordinaire Karen KriederKaren Kreider is a first-grade

teacher at Saint Francis of Assisi School in Concord and one who recently returned to teaching after a two year battle with colon cancer On October 8 she received a special surprise she had been named a winner of the Warren Eukel Teacher Trust award for excellence in education a prestigious honor that also comes with a $10000 cash prize

ldquoI was humbled when I learned that the parents had nominated me for this special honorrdquo Kreider said ldquoThen I was shocked to learn that I was one of the three winners All of the students were very happy for me I received buckets of hugs smiles beyond measure and some congratulatory notesrdquo

The school held a special assembly to honor her The award was only the second time that a Catholic school teacher has won the award

ldquoLearning that I had colon cancer was quite devastatingrdquo Krieder explained ldquoBut what really helped me through the dark days was to stop and take stock of my many blessings I had chemotherapy radiation and surgery at Stanford Hospital I was fortunate to be a patient at this wonderful facility Sister James Marien the Principal and Father Ismael the Pastor made it a point to say special prayers on my behalf The staff parents and children all prayed for my good health My friends stayed close to offer any assistance I needed So how could I not be thankful for all of the wonderful prayers good thoughts and help When I regained my strength and health there was no

question about my wanting to return to my ldquoslice of heavenrdquo Saint Francis of Assisi Schoolrdquo

As far as the cash award Kreider did not now how it was to be spent ldquoI assumed that I would write a proposal or grantrdquo she said ldquoUpon receiving the special call telling me I was a winner I asked lsquoDo I

write a proposal for how to spend the moneyrsquo The gentleman who called me answered lsquoThis money is for you Go to Francersquo WOW Of course I will give Saint Francis of Assisi some of the money My heart is full of appreciation to Angie Elgazzar and the parents who ldquoplotted my happinessrdquo Their children are currently in Second Grade I will give their wonderful teacher Mrs Burke money to buy something special for the class I will also donate money towards their party fund which is organizedsupported by parents I love animals so I will give some money to support animal welfare I might buy a really nice digital camera since I have wanted one for a while Or I might buy a new door with glass paneling I embrace a simple life so I will not be jetting off to far away placesrdquo

Kreider was also honored at an awards dinner November 20 at the Diablo Country Club ldquoI am very happy to teach First Grade at this wonderful school I hope that I am able to find and celebrate the special qualities or ldquolightrdquo that every child possessesrdquo She said

You can watch the video of her award presentation at httponfbme1zq7K2v

Photo courtesy St Francis of Assisi

ldquoI embrace a simple liferdquo Karen Kreider

Answers are at wwwdigitalconcordiancom

Read more of Chadrsquorsquos reviews at httpbitlyMcHguP



TSBAMember Spotlight

This month the Todos Santos Business Association would like to put the spot light on one of Concordrsquos favorite businesses The Tower Grille Located on Grant Street across the street from Todos Santos Plaza the Tower Grille is close to two free parking garages street parking and accessible to all the great activities concerts and Farmerrsquos Market at the Plaza

Owned and operated by H Gordon Clarke The Tower Grille has been whetting whistles and satisfying growling tummies for over 3 years ldquoThe Towerrdquo is a favorite for sports enthusiasts as it boasts every sports channel with multiple TV screens visible from every table including the patio The bar is famous for Gordonrsquos secret Bloody Marys bottomless Mimosas on Saturdays from 10a to 1pm and is also a popular ldquoafter workrdquo hang out

The menu at the Tower Grille is eclectic and tasty Try the tempting calamari sliders or yummy meatball appetizers or their crisp and creative salads For bigger appetites you can enjoy big juicy burgers to entrees such as a New York steak Surf and Turf pasta dishes and even pizza The Tower Grille is the perfect place to meet friends bring your family enjoy your favorite sports team or grab a late night bite

Gordon Clarke first opened a Tower Grille in Danville with partners in 2007 Gordon has since sold the Danville location and has concentrated his efforts on the Concord Tower Grille Gordon has enjoyed great success and is excited to announce that he will be expanding both the outdoor patio area and the menu

Besides the great location excellent food friendly staff and fun atmosphere Gordon attributes his success to his commitment to the Concord community The Tower Grillersquos contributions seem endless

The Concord Chamber of Commerce awarded The Tower Grille ldquoBusiness of the Year 201314 In appreciation of your outstanding contribution to the communityrdquo Gordon was also awarded the Mayor of Concordrsquos ldquoCertificate of Appreciation for Economic Growthrdquo The Tower Grille contributes to or sponsors the annual Concord Police Associaation Golf Tournament local schoolrsquos Little League Basketball Varsity Soft Ball and Bocce Ball He hosts the Chamberrsquos mixers and also sponsors the Cityrsquos annual Business Expo Whew

The next time yoursquore in the neighborhood make sure you stop by the Tower Grille grab a bite and a drink and say ldquoHirdquo to Gordon

HOLIDAY FUNHOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY - TREE OF LIGHTS SCHEDULEMartinez Tree of Lights Saturday November 1 500 pm Morello Avenue north of Arnold DriveWalnut Creek Tree of Lights Sunday November 16 500 pm1511 Mt Diablo Blvd behind Va de ViPleasant Hill Tree of Lights Thursday November 20 530 pmGregory Lane near Cleaveland Reception to follow at Teen CenterConcord amp Clayton Tree of Lights Monday December 8 530 pm John Muir Medical Center Parking Lot East Street amp Almond Avenue Concord

1127 630 AM - 1130 AM Walnut Creek Turkey Trot Sponsored by Forma Gym more than 7000 runners and walkers from across the country are expected at Walnut Creekrsquos largest runningwalking event to raise funds for both the Contra Costa County Food Banks and local public schools Please visit wwwformaturkeytrotcom1129- 1214 Annual Holiday Faire Shadelands Ranch amp Museum httpwalnutcreekhistoryinfo1121 22 amp 23 ndash Annual Clayton Valley Womanrsquos Club Holiday Boutique Sale 11am to 4pm Clayton Community Meeting Room 6125 Clayton Road Information call Peggy Arundell at 672-2043 or Priscilla Manlove at 672-3039

MISCELLANEOUS11 15 from 9 am to 12 noon Mt Diablo Recyclingrsquos free e-Waste event Old computers printers televisions cell phones and other electronic equipment can be recycled for free at Mt Diablo Recycling Drop off location is at 1300 Loveridge Road in Pittsburg Calif Free bagels and doughnuts will be provided Anyone who drops off their e-Waste items will also receive up to four bags of compost for free wwwGaraventaentcom

Calendar

FAIRSSHOWS118 Concord Con Toy amp Collectibles Show 9 am Center Concord 5298 Clayton Rd wwwconcordconcom 1115 ndash 1116 Contra Costa County Fair 1201 West 10th St Antioch wwwContraCostaFaircom SEE OUR AD PAGE 191119 530 pm 14th Annual Amateur Boxing Show Community Youth Center presents the 14th Annual Amateur Boxing Show at Scottrsquos Seafood Restaurant Jack London Square Oakland httpwwwcommunityyouthcenterorg127 334pm Pearl Harbor Day Beacon Lighting Ceremony Lighting the Eye of Diablo Every year since 1964 the Pearl Harbor survivors and their families have memorialized Pearl Harbor Day by relighting the historic Beacon atop Mount Diablorsquos summit This year will be the first official Beacon lighting since it underwent an extensive restoration process earlier this year to ensure it continues to shine for many more years Mount Diablo State Park Concord

Outdoors

1031 Trick or Treat 300pm ndash 500pm Come and Trick or Treat around the downtown plaza and see which of your favorite scarecrows won this years Scarecrow competition wwwCityofconcordorg112 Save Mount Diablo Trail Adventure- Half Marathon10K5K A portion of all registration fees will go to Save Mount Diablo to fund land preservation and trails Castle Rock Park Walnut Creek httpwwwbrazenracingcomDTAmainhtml118 - 11115 Walnut Creek on Ice Childrenrsquos Winter Festival $52 hour skating sessions offered all day httpwwwiceskatewalnutcreekcom1116 3815 41215 51015 Family Day at Sienna Ranch Each Fall and Spring Sienna Ranch opens its doors for special family and community open house days Come enjoy our lovable animals fun activities good company and wholesome environment Bring your own picnic lunch or pre-order a healthy lunch to eat on the day Family Day Passes are $85 Admission to Sienna Ranch Family Day for up to 5 people 3 pony or horse ride tickets3 archery tickets 5 tractor-pulled hayride tickets Participation in the hands-on activityOpportunity to go on a guided nature hike to our Tree FortUnlimited animal visits to goats sheep and chickens during open pen timeshttpbitly1FOtrdc to register Sienna Ranch 3232 Deer Hill RdLafayette112 Pleasan Hill Family Fun Triathlon This Swimming event will be located at Pool - Pleasant Hill Education Center 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant Hill

Ooops We ran out of room The full calendar is on our website at

wwwDigitalConcordiancom

WhatReallyMattersby Dan Ashley ABC-7 News Anchor

Watch Danrsquos live newscasts at httpabclocalgocomkgolive

You may still have that carved pumpkin on the front stoop and you certainly have at least a couple of ldquofun sizerdquo candy bars left over from Halloween but ghosts and goblins are a facing memory Wersquore on to the main events Quick bird walk Irsquove never thought of those tiny candy bars we hand out to trick-or-treaters as the ldquofunrdquo size who are they kidding Anyway I digress regular commentary service is now resuming

The next couple of months are a magical time of year but in our busy work-a-day lives it is easy to miss the magic The winter holidays Thanksgiving Christmas and Hanukkah are truly a time of gratitude good will and joy So often however we seem to whiz by these important mile-markers with only a passing glance as we notice them fading away in our rear view mirrors We are too busy today too distracted to steep ourselves in some of the most precious moments we are meant to enjoy with our families

How many years have you entered the holidays excited and looking forward to making the most of them only to look back in February and wondered how and why they passed by so quickly

Our working lives are demanding and can be unforgiving While we may not be able to change the reality of earning a living we cannot allow ourselves to make that an excuse for not being engaged in our home life when wersquore not on the job Admittedly this is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black as I am often far too busy too distracted too pulled in too many directions to unplug and enjoy down time And it has only gotten worse thanks to the insidious influence of my smart-phone What began as a device to keep us connected has in so many ways disconnected us from our loved ones I should probably sue the thing for all of the time itrsquos stolen

With Halloween over wersquore off to the racesmdashthe mad dash to Thanksgiving followed by that panicked sprint to Christmas We can come up for air by Valentinersquos Day

Herersquos an ideamdashmake your New Yearrsquos resolution now Resolve not to let another holiday season pass without embracing What Really Matters

Holidays are for the Home

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

Contact him at danmyconcordiancom Visit httpwwwrockwithpushcom for more on the band

My 15 year old niece is over-the-top happy at being invited to her first prom I couldnrsquot help but think back to my first

prom It didnrsquot matter that my

date was arranged by my mother and her best friend

My date was a classmate and also the son of momrsquos best friend I had known him since childhood and we barely

tolerated each other But we wanted to go to the prom so we prepared to go and have a good time

My mother took me to a fancy store in San Francisco to get the perfect dress I remember it was lavender taffeta and had yards and yards of skirt A wonderful ball gown The dress cost $1495 which was more than my folks had ever spent on an article of clothing The prom was being held in the Colonial Ballroom at the St Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco Since neither I nor my date drove we took a taxi to the affair What could be more grown-up To see all my classmates dressed in suits and gorgeous dresses was a sight to behold Of course my dress was the most beautiful and I felt like a fairy princess

There was a big-band orchestra playing all the current hits of the 40rsquos I was dancing to every song and actually having a marvelous time when a classmate stopped me and asked if that was my mother hiding behind a potted plant in one of the balconies above the dance floor Not only was my mother there but so was my datersquos mother

Soon all my friends were commentating on our parents viewing us One smart-mouthed boy referred to me as ldquoBaby Ruthrdquo needing her mom to be near

Irsquod like to say I confronted both moms and chewed them out but I was too upset So I kept quiet stayed until the affair was over

We taxied to my home and my angry date stormed off to have a few words with his mom

When my mom came home I let loose on her citing all the embarrassment she caused me

Peeping Moms by Ruth Dywer

Sponsored by the Diamond Terrace 55+ Retirement Communityresidenttales

wwwdiamondterracenet

Editorrsquos Note Sadly Lora Ingalls a longtime resident of Diamond Terrace and a contributor to this paper passed away on Sept 28 Please see a memorial for Lora on page 14

THE CONCORDIANYour Voice Your News Stories About Your Community Because We Care

wwwMyConcordiancom

The Concordian bull NOVEMBER 2014 bull 1 bull wwwMyConcordiancom bull (800) 606-6448

Contact the Concord Chamber office at 2280 Diamond Blvd Concord (925) 685-1181 or visit our website at httpwwwconcordchambercom

by Melissa Rea Membership Services Coordinator

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce

RibbonCuttings1 Kick Up Martial Arts 1200 Contra Costa Blvd Concord

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group also known as the Concord Yo Prorsquos is a collective of young business professionals between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-nine They are committed to personal growth their community and volunteerism The group was formed in the past year and is led by Jacob Perez General Manager at Maryrsquos Pizza Shack along with a very active lead team The group holds meetups every fourth Tuesday of the month at various locations to spotlight the different businesses around Concord while building bridges and forming business relationships They also volunteer their time to give back to the community such as planting a tree at Markham Regional Park and sorting food at the local Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Recently Mayor Tim Grayson met with the Yo Prorsquos at the John F Kennedy Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership in Concord to receive feedback and insight

regarding what the young professionals want to see in the community Mayor Grayson asked questions such as

ldquoHow do we attract young professionals to Concordrdquo and ldquoIf you had five million dollars how would you spend it to better the communityrdquo The Yo Prorsquos then created a dialogue with each other and the Mayor voicing what they believe would best suit the community

If you would like to learn more about the Concord Young Professionals Group please contact me at the chamber at mreaconcordchambercom or at 925-685-1181

If you want to know more about Opportunity Fund and their programs please visit their website at wwwopportunityfundorg To learn more about Chevronrsquos community work please visit httpwwwchevroncomcorporateresponsibilitycommunity

And last but not least if you want to know more about the Concord Chamber of Commerce visit wwwconcordchambercom

Meet the Greater Concord Chamberrsquos Young Professionals Group

Regus Management Group 1255 Treat Blvd Suite 300 Walnut Creek

Ghost Golf Inc 4383 Clayton Road Concord

ldquoI am delighted to be able to contribute to The Concordian I believe deeply in the value and voice it gives to the people in the East Bayrdquo ~Dan Ashley ABC-7 News Read Danrsquos column on page 9

I bet you donrsquot recognize the picture Letrsquos see if I can shed some light on itrsquos story

Back in the mid l970rsquos a young man named Steven Donahue felt devastated that the Vietnam Veterans were not recognized for their bravery and service He couldnrsquot serve and felt obligated to change things He contacted a few parents of sons in Concord and Clayton that were lost in the war and they began planning what needed to be done Then mayor of Concord Larry Azevedo joined in the support and between them there was discovered a 350 foot hill overlooking the rolling countryside of Concord and Clayton It reminded the Vets that worked with them of the Vietnam countryside The location of this ldquoHillrdquo is in our own Newell Park

It was decided to have a living oak tree memorial for the 32 men we lost in Vietnam ndash 29 from Concord 3 from Clayton Money was raised land was donated and oak trees were planted with loving memory of the soldiers lost 22 US Army 9 US Marines and l US Air Force A Bronze plaque was mounted on a native rock that reads along with the names of our heroes FORGOTTEN BY SOME THIS MAY BE TRUE BUT FOR EACH ONE LOST WE PLANT A TREE SO ALL WHO PASS THIS LAND MAY SEE THESE MIGHTY OAKS STAND BECAUSE THIS LAND IS FREEhelliphellipnow here is where this story gets sad The first oaks planted were ripped out or destroyed and although the committee felt violated they went back to work and raised more money With the support of June Bulman then mayor of Concord

the trees were replanted and cared for by the city

In the early 1980rsquos the memorial became shabby looking with no services happening on Memorial or Veteranrsquos Days so a group of citizens including vets and family members of the men honored theregathered once again and organized and made some noise about keeping the tradition going for our

Vietnam Veterans The Veteranrsquos of Foreign Wars American Legions Disabled Veterans Fleet Reserve and Vietnam Veterans of America all joined in the march to make the ldquoHillrdquo happy again

The committee desolved with differences of opinion and government became too busy to care and once again the ldquoHillrdquo became silent from honoring our men Clayton built itrsquos

own Memorial and Concordrsquos became neglected In 2010 the Bronze plaque was stolen With the uproar from a few people the thief was caught and the money was raised to make a new one That is what you see in the picture with one of the beautiful oaks

By the way in researching this story I found that no true history has been recorded on this FIRST LIVE OUTDOORS VIETNAM MEMORIAL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The City of Concord the Historical Society and the Veteranrsquos Centers have no history on this first of a kind diamond in the rough gem that we the citizens of Concord have in our midst

The Concord Historical Society is having a Christmas Bazaar Saturday November 15th from 11 to 4 and Sunday the 16th from 1 to 4 at the Galindo Home 1721 Amador Avenue For more information check out our website ndash concordhistoricalorg or contact the Resource Center at 827-3380



scenesfromthesocietyby Carol Longshore Concord Historical Society

legalbriefsby Jason W MauckEricksen Arbuthnot Attorneys At Law

Itrsquos Not Stealing the Lease was Up

Irsquove mentioned this before but I have recently had reason to think about it again For a business a commercial lease might be the most important document that they sign (or at least very close to the top) What made me think about the commercial lease is a recent case I handled for a large company which owns a substantial amount of real estate that it subleases out to smaller business tenants The large company (letrsquos call them ldquoLargeCordquo) is a manufacturer that removed itself from the retail business many years ago To help fill its coffers LargeCo leased many of its statewide properties to small operations owned by local business people who worked in the same field as LargeCo One particular unlucky small company (letrsquos call them SmallCo) rented a property from LargeCorsquos for many years building up goodwill and a loyal customer base through hard work and personal effort

Flash forward to the present LargoCo informs me that SmallCorsquos lease was up three months ago and SmallCo has to get out so LargeCo can take possession of the property Since SmallCorsquos lease expired but they kept paying rent their lease was converted to a month-to-month tenancy (See Civ Code sect 1945) Therefore all that was needed to take the property and all the goodwill away from SmallCo was to serve a thirty-day notice of termination of tenancy Thatrsquos all Thirty days after serving notice a landlord can file an unlawful detainer action and invoke the power of the court to force the tenant to move out There is a very good chance that any goodwill the small business built up will be lost The problem is often

tenants who do not review or understand the terms of their leases

Commercial leases are generally governed by the terms of the contract with guidance and some controls inserted by state law Commercial leases can be for a number of years but the terms can be renegotiated and the lease term extended at almost any time so long as the parties are willing to negotiate In the above example if SmallCo had a good business going they could have called up LargeCo and asked to extend the lease for a period of years (with potentially an option to renew after that) but they did not do so Once the lease expires there is little to no recourse for the tenant served with a 30-day notice except to eventually vacate the property

A knowledgeable tenant can insert provisions into the lease for keeping fixtures and potentially the development of goodwill but it is imperative that the tenant plan ahead and not try to work out a lease extension or modification at the last minute Rents in commercial spaces are rising at impressive rates giving landlords an incentive to evict their current tenants and move in a new tenant who is more than willing to pay the higher rate Be sure to protect yourself by knowing what your lease says and what you can do about maintaining your rights

If you need help with negotiating your lease executing or defending an unlawful detainer or have a business dispute over the terms of any contract feel free to call our office at 510-832-7770 or you can reach me by email at jmauckericksenarbuthnotcom

Advertisers You Just Canrsquot Beat An Ad in The Concordian

Exposure | Style | LOW RATES | ResultsVisit our Media Site wwwDigitalConcordiancom or

Call (800) 606-6448

Support The ConcordianwwwFBcomMyConcordian


by Edi BirsanDisclaimer This article is not intended or represented to be the viewpoint of the Concord City Council the City of Concord or City staff or officials (Living Dead or Undecided)

In the intense divide of an election season it is easy to forget that we all share values as well as different political solutions We are intertwined within our communityrsquos fabric through numerous threads such as our social networks be it service clubs (Rotarians Elks Masons or Kiwanis) or our religious groups and not to mention the direct participation in specific non-profits like the Friends of the Library or the Senior Club Nor should we be so arrogant and self-centered as to not recognize that our political opponents may actually share some of those organizations and indeed some of the same values though their spin off into the political venue and expression is quite an opposite path from ours When we look at our values at the very basic local level we may come to join in service to others that which both reminds us of the importance of why we struggle for what we do as well as provide a meeting ground of bridging the gaps in our partisan divide It also shows to the community that far beyond the lofty words and complex ideas that may waft around the nightly news and national posturing we are dedicated to the community and all its peoples and our values have direct visible local effect

Here are some volunteer opportunities where beyond sending money you can put your muscles and back into making a difference and demonstrating values of

Feeding the poorPromoting Education Treating the sickTaking care of the elderly

FEEDING THE HUNGRY THROUGH GLEANING Gleaning is the taking of excess fruit from your

trees and getting it to the food pantryrsquos and the Contra Costa and Solano County Food Bank If you or a friend has excess fruit we will be happy to come and collect it and get it delivered If you need help picking it we can arrange that as well Contact The Concord-Diablo Rotary- (CDrotaryorg)Edi Birsan (Community Service Director) EdiBirsanastoundnet or call 510-812-8180 If yoursquore interested in joining us as we glean throughout the community just send an email to HYPERLINK ldquomailtogleaning-subscribecdrotaryorgrdquogleaning-subscribecdrotaryorg and wersquoll notify you of opportunities as they arise

SUPPORT THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARYThe Friends of the Concord Library (httpcccliborg

friendsconchtml) need people who can help sort donated books restock the sale shelves in the lobby (1 hour a week) as well as be available to help with the book sales every quarter All the funds raised go to support the library and its education programs Contact Judy Chun Judy Chun HYPERLINK ldquomailtojtchun3gmailcomrdquojtchun3gmailcom

HELPING THE UNINSURED WITH FREE MEDICALEven though we have done much to expanded

coverage there are always going to be some who are left behind We applaud the efforts of RotaCare (httpwwwrotacarebayareaorg) to provide Free Medical Service

Putting Your Back Into Our Values

at its operations in Concord with a mobile clinic every Thursday at Cambridge Elementary and twice monthly at the Monument Crisis Center They are in need of qualified doctors nurses and administrative folks to expand their service If you can contribute your services go directly to this wonderful effort 925-429-6409

Project Caring Hands- Helping the Elderly In Concord there is an urgent need for people to volunteer to put 1-3 hours a

week aside to help with the transportation of seniors and to provide a little moral support They also have a need for occasional drivers that just provide a few rides a month which is something that I do for folks in Concord The Caring Hands Volunteer Program is an excellent channel to help your senior neighbors where isolation and lack of mobility are critical factors in health Contact Linda Groobin at LindaGroobinJohnMuirHealthcom or phone at 925 952-2999

Assemblywoman Bonilla Holds Select Committee Hearing on STEM Education

Assemblywoman Susan A Bonilla (D-Concord) will be holding a Select Committee on Increasing the Integration of STEM Education hearing on Thursday October 23rd at Mills College in Oakland from 900am to 1230pm The hearing titled the Bay Area Regional STEM Education Summit Advancing STEM through Public-Private Partnerships will serve as the kickoff to the 4th Annual Bay Area Science Festival which is a10-day event filled with a wide range of science and technology activities

ldquoThis hearing will produce actionable initiatives to advance STEM education throughout the Bay Area and beyondrdquo said Assemblywoman Susan A Bonilla (D-Concord) ldquoOur extensive list of confirmed panelists will produce a wide variety of perspectives on the best strategies and practices to improve STEM education and increase investments for its expansionrdquo

The Bay Area Regional STEM Education Summit will bring a diverse group of education industry and government leaders to strategize policies partnerships and investments that will strengthen STEM education throughout the Bay Area The hearing will explore state policies that promote

STEM provide insightful dialogue from the perspective of educators and encourage effective public-private partnerships In addition the hearing features presentations on the Broadband

Infrastructure Improvement Grant and the Career Pathways Trust two state funded grant programs that support STEM learning

ldquoIn a constantly shifting economy it is important that public

education reflects the necessary skills students will need in the workforcerdquo said Assemblywoman Bonilla ldquoSTEM education does just that ndash it prepares students for the 21st century economy It is essential that we continue to develop and expand these programs with public-private partnerships being an integral part of the processrdquo

Among those participating in the panels are executives from the Bay Area Council Bayer Hewlett-Packard Wareham Development various leaders from K-12 higher education and STEM organizations as well as current and former legislative officials For the full hearing agenda and to RSVP to this free event please visit httpasmdcorgstemsummit

In-MemoriamLora Ingalls

Lora Ingalls an original resident of Diamond Terrace passed away peacefully Sunday September 28th 2014

Lora first moved to the Retirement Community in January 2003 She was born on a ranch in North Central Nebraska and was a twin She often shared her years growing up with wonderful stories about her youth - many printed in The Concordian

She came from a very caring and generous family which helped her become the person she was - genuine loving and smart In her early years she was a teacher in a one-room country schoolhouse 100 miles from her home Lora continued teaching until she married Mitch and together they had 2 children Lenita and Chuck

Playing scrabble was one of her favorite past times and you could always spot her on Wednesday mornings in the lobby at Diamond Terrace engulfed in a game She was also a very accomplished seamstress and enjoyed crafts and needlework Among items she collected her pencil collection was near and dear to her heart and proudly shared her extensive pencil assortment to the amazement of all who got to see it

Lora Ingalls had a deep and meaningful faith and was responsible for leading fellow residents in a weekly time of study in the Bible Lorarsquos Devotions for many years

Always up for fun whenever the opportunity arose Lora loved to dance and was sure to make all the parties The Halloween Party was one she never failed to get excited about and always came in costume of course Little Red Riding Hood was a favorite over the years She will surely be thought of this coming Halloween

Lora will be deeply missed by her many friends who knew her loved her and enjoyed her for so eleven years at her beloved Diamond Terrace



by Robert H Waldman DDSsomethingtosmileabout

Unused Dental BenefitsI try to address these articles

to the community as a whole but there is a difference when half the community has dental insurance and half doesnrsquot I understand people who have no insurance will wait until it hurts or breaks before seeing a dentist I donrsquot agree but I understand

What I cannot understand is people who are fortunate enough to have dental benefits and donrsquot use them In this season of thanksgiving and being grateful for the rewards of hard work dedication and perseverance I am truly thankful for the people who put their trust in me and allow me to give them a healthier dentition and smile I often ask my clients if their dental insurance company sends them a nice holiday card thanking them for not using their full benefits

Then I remind them that their spouse has not been in to see me in a while and ask exactly how much of their hard earned money they donated to the insurance company No tax deduction either

Sorry to get morose about people who take good health and good fortune for granted In the next few weeks people will come out of the woodwork and try to get in my office in the 11th hour when they

suddenly have a toothache that they have ignored for several months I will happily do my part stay late and come in early to be of service to my community especially the loyal following of people who try to do the right thing and try to commit to preventing dental disease in the 1st place

I will take care of their friends and family who travel to see them this holiday season and find themselves out of town with an unexpected toothache or lost or broken tooth Please take the time review your benefits review what your dentist has told you about your dental health and how you can improve it

Call your dentist and make your appointment now to get an appointment that is convenient for you and your dentist

In closing I wish our community a Very Happy and HEALTHY Holiday Season filled with smiles and laughter and no toothaches

Please remember to ldquoSWISH FLOSS BRUSH AND SWISH AGAINrdquo and of course visit your dentist regularly

Please visit my website wwwroberthwaldmanddscom and you will find many helpful videos which will explain many dental treatments

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE Deborah Ashley has 20 years of teaching experience in piano violin and art and teaches ages 5 through adult She offers private piano and violin lessons as well as private and group art classes Contact Deborah at deblovesartaolcom (925) 588-5226------------------------------------------------------------------------------AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED Do you like to take pictures throughout the area Do you have a decent smartphone Wersquod love to see your pictures for our Media Site Send us a sample If we like what we see we can negotiate pay for photos Email infomyconcordiancom-------------------------------------------------------------------------------WRITERS WANTED BYCT Publishing is looking for writers interested in getting published Have you tried the traditional approach Let a small publisher help you No costs to the writer at all Professional representation We share royalties BYCTPublishingcom for more information

CLASSIFIED ADS If you wish to place a classified listing in The Concordian please visit our website for more information and to submit or contact infomyconcordiancom All classifieds must be received by the 18th of the month before publication wwwMyConcordiancom THERE IS NO CHARGE THRU 2014

The Concordian Classifieds

servicedirectoryThe Concordian

FREE Service Directory ads thru 2014 - visit wwwDigitalConcordiancom to submitTime for the Arts

by Deborah Ashley

Shorter and colder months are almost here and for some people the winter season with less daylight can get you down It can be hard to feel upbeat and energetic when itrsquos gloomy outside but the colors you decide to wear can help change your mood What we wear can also tell the people who see you something about your traits and characteristics It may even make you rethink some of your choices

You may be used to wearing the same color palette and you may not even be aware of what your favorite color choices say about your personality There have been numerous studies on the science of color and what it says about us Of course these observations are not iron clad but it might be interesting to reflect on your preferences and see if they match the characteristics that are attributed to that color

If red is your favorite hue you might be assertive or extraverted Pink has calming effects and those that like pink are thought to be sweet and romantic The color yellow shows a cheerful and energetic personality and people may find you charismatic If you wear a lot of orange it is associated with warmth and enthusiasm If you are more a fan of the cool colors blues are the worldrsquos most preferred color and it is associated with trust and dependability Purple lovers are thought to be unconventional creative and elegant If green is your choice it is

a serene color associated with nature and can indicate stability and approachability

The brown tones reflect a down-to-earth attitude relaxed and reliable Black shows strength seriousness and sophistication and an air of mystery People who wear white tend to be orderly and meticulous and grey projects a cool and composed disposition

Once you decide what colors you like and want to wear you might want to consider what colors look best on you Your choices get more complicated when you are determining what colors are most flattering

to your skin tone Whether your skin has cool warm or neutral undertones will play a key role in what colors look best against your skin So we may love the color yellow but it may not be the best choice if we want to enhance our appearance But wear it if you want to come across as cheerful and energetic

There really is a science to color and there are graduate courses devoted to color theory There is so much more to color than most people realize from how we use it in art to why we choose certain colors to wear decorate our homes and paint our cars Advertisers use it very deliberately to get us to buy certain products Years of research has been done on the effects of color and the role it plays in our psyche Next time you really love a piece of art clothing a car or anything else you might want to notice the emotion that is associated with its color

What Color Says About You

Photo credit httpnewsinstylecom20120405


by Kristin Peterson Pacific Service Credit Union

financiallysavvyScam Alert - Charity Scams Following Disasters

The IRS has issued a warning to consumers about fraudulent charity scams Fraudulent scams capitalize on the good will of the public with the intent to steal money or identities

The IRS warns that scams of this nature are most rampant following major disasters like the recent earthquake in Napa Disasters are the most popular times for this type of fraud because of the surge of good will surrounding a catastrophic event and suspicious circumstances are more likely to be overlooked because of the immediacy of need

The scammers pose as a legitimate charity using several different methods They may claim to be an employee or volunteer of a legitimate charity They may use company names that sound similar to real charities They may use email with links to fraudulent websites Or they may use phone calls to solicit donations requiring personal or financial information all in an attempt to commit identity theft

You can protect yourself in several

ways Verify that the charity is

legitimate The IRS and FEMA both offer

online tools to search for qualified tax-deductible organizations

Donrsquot share your personal financial information

Never share your Social Security Number credit card numbers your credit union account number or your passwords with anyone Often these donation attempts are a way to access much more than your intended donation amount

Donrsquot send cashCash isnrsquot a traceable way to

record donations for tax purposes but itrsquos also not very secure Use a check or other payment method to properly document your transaction

If you suspect that your account

has been compromised immediately call your financial intuition At Pacific Service Credit Union we can cancel compromised cards change your account number or add a password to your account for future transactions if necessary

For more information about Pacific Service Credit Union please visit our branch at 3000 Clayton Road in Concord or 2051 Contra Costa Boulevard in Pleasant Hill You may also call a member service representative at (888) 858-6878 or visit our website at wwwpacificserviceorg

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3

Fighting the Good Fight with Good Friends

Twelve year old Clayton resident Katie Grace Groebner has made huge strides back home following her heart and bilateral lung transplant a few months earlier

With the support of many in the community and across the country she has become an inspiring story of resilience

During the ordeal which began at her birth her family has endured much financial hardship With Online funding sites and local fundraisers such as Jeff Holmesrsquo ldquoA Heart for Christmasrdquo light show (see this issue) Katie Grace has become Claytonrsquos favorite girl

CVCHS student and Clayton native Chandler Wakefield decided to do something of his own And so

he had a CVCHS football jersey made using his number and adding Katie Gracersquos name to the back

ldquoFootball has become a huge part of my life it takes up a lot of my time ldquoChandler said ldquoOn my football pads I wear an extra pad that covers my lower back and a lot of the time this is the only visible pad on a football player Since you can see it many people cover it in tape and write or draw something on it this is one way a player can add their own unique touch to their uniform At

the beginning of the summer when Katie first got her surgery I took the Katiersquos dream logo and put it on my back pad This was my own personal way of showing my support to Katie ldquoAs time went on almost every single player on my team ask me what it meant and I gave them a brief run down of Katiersquos story and they would always ask is she gonna be okay I would tell them now she will be and they would always say thatrsquos really coolrdquo

Katie Grace wore the jersey to the Oct 18 game

ldquoI never expected to get attention from thisrdquo Chandler said ldquoIt was just my own little piece of support So then I realized I donrsquot want her to be supporting me I wanted to make her a jersey of her own and then it will be like Irsquom the one wearing the compliment jersey to her She is such

an inspiration to me and has changed the way I look at a lot of things in liferdquo

ldquoShe was so excited to see Chandler out on the fieldrdquo Kathy Groebner said All the new things that Katie Grace can now do is still overwhelming to her mother

ldquoBreathing is something everybody takes for grantedrdquo Chandler said ldquoConsidering Irsquom an athlete I realize that I use fatigue as an excuse sometimes and that is really selfish since I know a little girl whorsquos lungs were failing her and she has lived 11 years basically breathing as though through a strawrdquo

November is PH Awareness Month You can learn more about helping to fund the Groebner family expenses at httpwwwgofundme

comkaties-dream and about Pulmonary Hypertension at httpwwwphassociationorg

Photo credit (in order) courtesy of Kathy Groebner Chandler Wakefield and Brent Wakefield



Dr Muumltterrsquos Marvels A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine

by Cristin OrsquoKeefe AptowiczBefore I picked up Cristin OrsquoKeefe

Aptowiczrsquos Dr Muumltterrsquos Marvels A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine I had never heard of Dr Thomas Dent Muumltter or the famous museum that displays his private collection of medical oddities

When I started the book I expected it would be nothing more than a quirky recounting of how Dr Muumltter gathered the items in his collection The story of what they were and where they had come from an entertaining tour of one manrsquos unique disturbing freak show

I was wrong and never happier to have been

The marvels that the title alludes to are not the specimens in Muumltterrsquos collection No Muumltter lsquos marvels are in fact the radical plastic surgery techniques he pioneered (the most famous being the Muumltter flap) and the students he taught and influenced during his tenure as Professor of Surgery at Philadelphiarsquos Jefferson Medical College

Flamboyant and outgoing Thomas Dent Muumltter was a truly revolutionary figure in the medical community of the first half of the 19th century

He championed compassion-based treatment where the patient was not

seen as a challenge or an obstacle but as a suffering human being He believed in cleanliness at a time when germs microbes and transmissible illnesses were dismissed as mere quackery He stridently argued for the use of anesthesia

when it was thought better and safer to have the patient awake and aware during surgery

He even pioneered pre and post-operative care at time when surgeries were not only unexplained to the patients they were also pushed out of the building as soon as the operation was over

Muumltter fought and fought hard for these changes to happen He felt that it was every bit as important for a doctor to end suffering as it was to treat illness or injury That so many of his contemporaries would strenuously even contemptuously dismiss Muumltterrsquos humane efforts is

horrifying and difficult to believeObstetrician Charles Meigs a fellow

professor at Jefferson Medical College and vocal opponent of everything Muumltter argued for gives a human face to and saddening example of those that did not know understand or respect the advances and improvements in patient care they were fighting so hard to keep from happening

If like me all you knew of doctoring came from episodes of Greyrsquos Anatomy or Scrubs I cannot recommend enough that you read Dr Muumltterrsquos Marvels

bookendsA

Tal

e to

Tel

l

by Chadwick H Saxelid

Read more of Chadrsquorsquos book reviews at httpbitlyMcHguP




Calendar































Calendar


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wwwMyConcordiancom








































Call (800) 606-6448





















































by Deborah Ashley
















































Calendar































Calendar


Outdoors































wwwMyConcordiancom








































Call (800) 606-6448





















































by Deborah Ashley











































































Calendar


Outdoors































wwwMyConcordiancom








































Call (800) 606-6448





















































by Deborah Ashley





























































wwwMyConcordiancom








































Call (800) 606-6448





















































by Deborah Ashley




































































Call (800) 606-6448





















































by Deborah Ashley

































































































by Deborah Ashley













































The Concordian - November 2014

Documents

Transcript of The Concordian - November 2014