May 2015 Community Focus
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Transcript of May 2015 Community Focus
IN THIS ISSUEbull VISITING BENICIA
bull FESTIVAL SEASON
bull MEMORIAL DAY
ourcommunityfocuscom
MAY 2015Reaching Over 50000 Homes amp Businesses
Pleasant Hill bull Concord bull Martinez bull Lafayette bull Walnut Creek
2 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
EXPIRES 53115
Love hope success family security
11010191 State Farm Home Office Bloomington IL
Therersquos nobody like me to protect the things we all value Like a good neighbor State Farm is therereg
CALL ME TODAY
Some things we all have in commonMatthew C Rinn AgentInsurance Lic 0F99232
wwwmyagentmattnet mattmyagentmattnet
Bus 925-671-0222
Therersquos nothing better than a home loan with a low ratemdashexcept of course our SAFE ARM Home Loan offer Right now wersquore offering an Adjustable Rate Mortgage at a low 292 APR And to top it off wersquoll even credit you up to $3000 towards your closing costs With financing up to 80 and loan amounts up to $2 million yoursquoll get the financing you need at an amazing low rate with a nice $3000 credit to sweeten the deal To find out more visit us online at safecuorghomeloans
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UP TO$3000
275
292APR
3ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benicia CallingHead Over the Bridge to Benicia
ake the day off pack a friend or two in the car and head over the bridge to Benicia The easy fifteen-
minute drive is just far enough to feel like a get-away and the beauty of the Benicia shoreline on a sunny day and the charms of its tidy main street and downtown shops will relax and refresh you Start at the bottom of First St where the stunning view of the Carquinez Strait across Port Costa and down to the Car-quinez Bridge will remind you just how fortunate we are in our surroundings Yoursquoll want to pop into the former South-ern Pacific Train Depot building ndash charm-ingly restored in 2001 and currently home to the Benicia Main Street Program ndash to find information maps a calendar of events and other informative publica-tions including a handy historic walking tour guide with descriptions of 25 points of interest from Beniciarsquos past httpwwwbeniciamainstreetorg Peruse First Street speckled with unique shops and you are sure to find some new additions to perk up your home or outdoor space or a new piece to spice up your jewelry collection Benicia is home to many glass studios and art galleries so there are one-of-a-kind crea-tions behind every door After meandering through shops strolling the waterfront and browsing
the art studios yoursquoll have plenty of op-tions to choose from when your stomach starts growling Camellia Tea Room is always a treat for an elegant lunch des-sert or afternoon tea First Street Cafeacute serves breakfast lunch and dinner all made with fresh locally sourced ingredi-ents and they offer over a dozen beers and sixty wines to compliment the menu Lucca Bar amp Grill is a friendly establish-ment with indoor and outdoor dining They offer gastro-pub style cuisine and their comfortable full service bar has an extensive cocktail menu that uses sea-sonal fresh fruits and herbs Sailor Jackrsquos classic seafood and fusion dishes are served in a friendly atmosphere with a sparkling waterfront view For more infor-mation on these restaurants visit wwwcamelliatearoomcom wwwfirststcafecom wwwluccabarcom and wwwsailor-jackscom A stop at The Loft Wine Bar should definitely be on your agenda The tasting room and bottle shop offers wine flights beer on tap and delicious small plates and desserts Owner Jason Diavatis is proud to feature wines that are not avail-able in any other local bar restaurant or grocery store His passion for special wines is evident with every pour Visit wwwwineattheloftcom to view their hours and read their blog
ldquoTheyrsquore friendly polite and do great work for a reasonable pricerdquo
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 35 YEARSOAK PARK CLEANERS
1906 OAK PARK BLVD PLEASANT HILL bull 925-934-5730
ON SITEALTERATIONS AVAILABLE
MENTION THIS AD AND 10 WILL BE DONATED TO COLLEGE PARK ATHLETICS
GO FALCONS
T
4 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JULIE ROSS Just close your eyes relax and drift off to dreamland Sorry Irsquom afraid thatrsquos easier said than done For some of us the problem is an inability to doze off at bedtime For others itrsquos the middle-of-the-night awakening when we just canrsquot seem to shut back down I asked some friends for their strate-gies in handling the late-night mini
anxiety attacks that keep them awake Most said they turn to their phone for amusement or to catch up on things Is that a good idea A quick Internet check revealed that it is not Sleep experts claim that the glow from electronic devices can make matters worse by dis-rupting our circadian rhythm naturersquos daily lightdark cycle Sounds plausible So what other advice do experts pro-vide One tip that is pure genius is ldquoSleep when sleepyrdquo Really these experts get paid for providing advice like that Another gem ldquoKeep the bedroom quiet while sleepingrdquo And here we were fill-ing the room with barking dogs and a marching band My favorite contra-dictory tips were ldquoUse a sleep diaryrdquo followed by ldquoNo clock watchingrdquo Just how am I going to keep a sleep diary without looking at the clock to note the time I remained sleepless And just how am I going to make an entry about what
time I fell asleep as I will be asleep Apart from this slew of state-the-obvious expert advice (herersquos a free tip from me try to avoid sticking a pencil in your eye at bedtime) I did find a couple of interesting tidbits Eating cherries or drinking tart cherry juice has been shown to help induce sleep because cherries are rich in melatonin Melatonin is a hormone made in the pineal gland of our brain which helps control our sleepwake cycles Having a banana might also be a good idea Bananas are rich in tryptophan which our body eventually converts to mood-balancing serotonin and sleep-regulating melatonin I enjoyed coming across Benjamin Franklinrsquos sleep ritual He would ask him-self every night ldquoWhat good have I done todayrdquo A nice affirmation (assuming you actually did something good) and a daily reminder to ask yourself every morning as he did ldquoWhat good shall I
do todayrdquo And now itrsquos time for a bit of fun When my friend Margaret wakes up in the middle of the night she creates hypothetical book titles Some address situations that cause anxiety in her life while others touch on amusing aspects Here is one example of each Money I Donrsquot Have My First 5 Years as an Entre-preneur and The Art of Abstract Towel Folding Teenagers Help With Laundry Itrsquos nice to be able to bring a smile to your sleep-deprived state So here is your challenge ndash the next time you wake up in the middle of the night think up some book titles that describe your in-securities worries successes or humor-ous situations Write them down in your sleep diary (or not) and then email them to me by the end of May Wersquoll print some of the best ones in the July issue Send your insomniac book titles to julieakrosscomcastnet by midnight on May 31
Joseph A Thibedeau DVM Louisa M Asseo DVMwwwhillcrestvetcom 925-676-1909
May 3ndash9 is National Pet Week Like every week at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital
Julie SaysThe Insomniac Challenge
13
25
Wine Women ampShoes
Studioon theStreets
KidfestrsquosSilver
Anniversary
Art on the Main
Walnut CreekArt andWine Festival
independant amp locally owned
6680 Alhambra Ave Box 132 Martinez CA 94553(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
MISSION STATEMENTThe Community Focus is a free independent monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community
INSIDE
9
15
30COVER2014 Walnut Creek Art andWine Festival
PHOTO BY Walnut Creek Chamber
PUBLISHERSBecky CoburnJennifer NeysElena Hutslarinfoourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISING
Reba Bower925-348-1724Rebaourcommunityfocuscom
COPY EDITORAlison Clary
GRAPHIC DESIGNTrish Heaney
SPORTSSport Story Submissionsinfoourcommunityfocuscom
CONTACT INFORMATIONCommunity Calendar calendarourcommunityfocuscom
Content amp General Inquiries infoourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMISSION DEADLINESAll articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month
ONLINEwwwourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMIT A STORYHave something to share
Deadline for submissions is the second Friday of
each month
infoourcommunityfocuscom
5ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Call Pleasant Hillrsquos for ALL your Real Estate needsRealtor1
There are over reasons550
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today367 Civic Drive 7 Pleasant Hill CA 94523
Visit them at wwwPleasantHillRealEstatecom
or email DonandNormagmailcom
or EFlaskerudRemaxnet
925-676-5859
to choose the Flaskerud Teammdash
Don Norma and Erikmdashas YOUR Realtor
The number of homes they have sold in PLEASANT HILL ALONE
Don and Norma Flaskerud are by far the best
real estate TEAM in Contra Costa County
They made every step of the selling process
painless from initial pricing all the way through
closing They made it a point to walk me through
all the paper work answering any and all
questions helped me make informed decisions
and made sure every ldquoirdquo was dotted and every
ldquotrdquo crossed Real estate is their life and passion
something that yoursquoll certainly sense the first
time you meet them SOLD another home for
me Incredible service just like the good old
days made the sale of this home in Lafayette a
GREAT experience Starting with the remodeling
and renovation of the home in preparation for
sale Don and Norma took care of everything
yes EVERYTHING The work was top notch and
every detail down to the staging of the home
was perfection
Within 48 hours we had an offer that was
beyond belief and the selling strategy that Don
and Norma had recommended was the driving
force I can say with 100 confidence if you
select Don and Norma to assist you in your real
estate needs you wonrsquot be disappointed They
will treat you like family and make your
experience one to remember
CalBRE s mdash Don 00971602 Norma 00867031 Erik 01891688
1716 Elderwood Mtz mdash Pending Sale
1 Falcon Ct PH mdash Pending Sale
43 Massolo Dr F PH mdash $325000
423 Soule Ave PH mdash $775000
104 Lockwood Ln PH mdash $699000
Don Norma
and Erikrsquos
listings
and coming soon
Visit wwwpleasanthillconcertscom for all concert information Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission
SeriesSponsors
summer concerts
ConcertSponsors
FOOD ampBeverage salesevery concertOn the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln amp Cleaveland Rd
LIVE Music
amp FUN6-8pm
Bring items ofnon-perishable food
to donate to theCrisis Center
May 24The Von TrappsDance Rock lsquonrsquo Blues
Jun 7Sunday PaperBay Area Funk amp Roll
Jun 21The FundamentalsRed Hot Rockinrsquo Soul
Jul 5Extra LargeTaste of lsquoSanta Cruzrsquo lively amp fun
Jul 19Fast Times80s Dance Party Music
Aug 2MOFORockinrsquo Blues Band
Aug 16Groove DoctorsVariety Dance Party Band
Aug 30East Bay MUDDClassic Fun amp Soul
Sep 6Big JangleTom Petty Tribute Band
City ofPleasant Hill
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
Erin Springer Anderson
Realtors DRE00971602
REMAX Today Sheilarsquos Daycare
Casey Strand Chiropractor
Dallimontirsquos Italian RestaurantSept 6
sunset by the lakeFree
6 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY MARGARET MINOR Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth - the San Francisco Bay Area we are fortunate to have a brand new cruise port at San Franciscorsquos Pier 27 Having opened last September the new cruise port will see 81 ship dockings and 300000 people through its doors in 2015 Princess Cruises operates all year round from San Francisco and offers itineraries for everyoneOh Alaska Getting to Alaska canrsquot be any more convenient than leaving from San Francisco With 10-night itineraries departing from May to September hop on board and delight in the beauty of majestic glaciers un-touched wilder-ness and wildlife galore Ideal for fami-lies couples and solo travelers cruises offer activities for everyone in Juneau Skagway and Ketchikan from dog sledding to lumberjack shows from whale watching to culinary feasts on a glacier the hardest thing yoursquoll do on an Alaskan cruise is decide what to do South of the Border Cabo San Lucas Mazatlan Manza-nillo La Paz Loreto and Puerto Vallarta await you Ten-night itineraries depart round-trip from San Francisco and give you plenty of time to enjoy both Prin-cessrsquo stunning ships and four ports of call in Mexico Shore excursions range from the active (kayaking zip-lining ATV exploration) to the relaxed (visits to local wineries and ldquobeach breaksrdquo at pristine resorts) Sample local cuisine
and culture with Princessrsquo escorted tours that will have you back on the ship in time for your evening activitiesMore of what we love the Pacific Coast Cruise Seeing California from a cruise ship is delightful Relax on your float-ing resort as you take in the California sunshine San Diego Long Beach and Santa Barbara offer a variety of shore excursions harbor cruises shopping kayaking cycling through vineyards and picnics packed for you Donrsquot overlook what a spectacular value these 7-night itineraries from San Francisco are With prices from under $100 a night per person yoursquoll enjoy scrumptious cuisine impeccable service and a ton of activities included in your fare Bonus feature On all departures Princess Cruises offers the coveted ldquoChefrsquos Tablerdquo which is essentially an onboard culinary excursion Yoursquoll be treated to gastronomic creations pre-pared by a select group of the culinary crew a tour of the galley and conver-sations hosted by the head chef The Chefrsquos Table is reserved for groups of 10 people in a private dining area so yoursquoll want to make reservations as soon as you board Therersquos a cruise from San Francisco for every budget and taste Get yourself on the vacation of a lifetime Margaret Miner is the owner of Vi-noCruising a full-service travel agency and a certified Princess Cruise Line expert She can be reached at mminercruiseonecom
Travel TrendsSet Sail from San Francisco
A LOCAL Guide to Good Food A publication for the Diablo Valley dedicated tofinding really good food close to home
Here comes Yum
Summer issue Schedule of outdoor concerts for Concord
Todos Santos Plaza Concord Pavilion ClaytonPleasant Hill amp Martinez
Calendar of ldquofoodierdquo events amp festivals
Directory of Yum advertisers by type of cuisine
Published four times a year Content amp ads always seasonal Delivered to82000 homes and businesses in ConcordClayton Pleasant Hill Martinez amp Walnut Creek inserted inside the Community Focus theClayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer
Deadline for Summer issue mdash June 1
Restaurants mdash call nowLock in your rate
(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
wwwYumGuidenet
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATORSTRUSTED ADVISORSA 25 year legacy of satisfied customers
TEAM
List your homewith Glenn and get
FREESTAGING
FREESTAGING
TeamtalktoglenncomwwwtalktoglenncomReMax CC Connection IncProTeam Realty Inc PHONE 9257091000
BRE 1870055
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OR CALL
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Have a Project in MindCall us today for a FREE estimate
No CostNo Obligation
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
Danville 800 Camino Ramon 925-837-9144
Martinez 6740 Alhambra Ave 925-935-9125
Pleasant Hill 2895 Contra Costa Blvd 925-939-9000
Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
conserve water preserve your plantsNSCP ndash Navletrsquos Soil Conditioner PlusReduce watering needs by mulching with Navletrsquos exclusive blend 3 inches saves up to 30
For a complete list and description of 2015
classes visit
navletsgardenscom15 cu ft bag reg $649 ea 8077
freebuy 3 get 1
Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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Located between Diamond Blvd and Waterworld Parkway
wwwtrioskincarecom
13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Wealth13 amp13 Tax13 Planners13 13
Client-Centered Retirement and Financial Planning Unbiased financial advice and wealth management As fiduciaries we put the client first Offering a complimentary review of all your Financial and Tax Strategies and Portfolio Risks no-obligation Call us
Local award-winning firm
925-938-4300 wwwwtplannerscom mgreenbergwtplannerscom 1646 N California Blvd Suite 315 Walnut Creek CA 94596
Registered Investment Adviser
11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
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9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
wwwHammersHeatingandACcom
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
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17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
2 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
EXPIRES 53115
Love hope success family security
11010191 State Farm Home Office Bloomington IL
Therersquos nobody like me to protect the things we all value Like a good neighbor State Farm is therereg
CALL ME TODAY
Some things we all have in commonMatthew C Rinn AgentInsurance Lic 0F99232
wwwmyagentmattnet mattmyagentmattnet
Bus 925-671-0222
Therersquos nothing better than a home loan with a low ratemdashexcept of course our SAFE ARM Home Loan offer Right now wersquore offering an Adjustable Rate Mortgage at a low 292 APR And to top it off wersquoll even credit you up to $3000 towards your closing costs With financing up to 80 and loan amounts up to $2 million yoursquoll get the financing you need at an amazing low rate with a nice $3000 credit to sweeten the deal To find out more visit us online at safecuorghomeloans
NMLS 466072
APR accurate as of 04012015 subject to change and may increase after consummation Credits for closing costs cannot be applied to discount points or loan-level price adjustments Subject to credit approval and membership eligibility Other restrictions may apply Complete application must be submitted by 6302015 Owner-occupied properties only Not available for FHA or VA loans or refinance of existing SAFE loan See SAFE for details
(800) SEE-SAFE safecuorghomeloans Change the way you bank
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3ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benicia CallingHead Over the Bridge to Benicia
ake the day off pack a friend or two in the car and head over the bridge to Benicia The easy fifteen-
minute drive is just far enough to feel like a get-away and the beauty of the Benicia shoreline on a sunny day and the charms of its tidy main street and downtown shops will relax and refresh you Start at the bottom of First St where the stunning view of the Carquinez Strait across Port Costa and down to the Car-quinez Bridge will remind you just how fortunate we are in our surroundings Yoursquoll want to pop into the former South-ern Pacific Train Depot building ndash charm-ingly restored in 2001 and currently home to the Benicia Main Street Program ndash to find information maps a calendar of events and other informative publica-tions including a handy historic walking tour guide with descriptions of 25 points of interest from Beniciarsquos past httpwwwbeniciamainstreetorg Peruse First Street speckled with unique shops and you are sure to find some new additions to perk up your home or outdoor space or a new piece to spice up your jewelry collection Benicia is home to many glass studios and art galleries so there are one-of-a-kind crea-tions behind every door After meandering through shops strolling the waterfront and browsing
the art studios yoursquoll have plenty of op-tions to choose from when your stomach starts growling Camellia Tea Room is always a treat for an elegant lunch des-sert or afternoon tea First Street Cafeacute serves breakfast lunch and dinner all made with fresh locally sourced ingredi-ents and they offer over a dozen beers and sixty wines to compliment the menu Lucca Bar amp Grill is a friendly establish-ment with indoor and outdoor dining They offer gastro-pub style cuisine and their comfortable full service bar has an extensive cocktail menu that uses sea-sonal fresh fruits and herbs Sailor Jackrsquos classic seafood and fusion dishes are served in a friendly atmosphere with a sparkling waterfront view For more infor-mation on these restaurants visit wwwcamelliatearoomcom wwwfirststcafecom wwwluccabarcom and wwwsailor-jackscom A stop at The Loft Wine Bar should definitely be on your agenda The tasting room and bottle shop offers wine flights beer on tap and delicious small plates and desserts Owner Jason Diavatis is proud to feature wines that are not avail-able in any other local bar restaurant or grocery store His passion for special wines is evident with every pour Visit wwwwineattheloftcom to view their hours and read their blog
ldquoTheyrsquore friendly polite and do great work for a reasonable pricerdquo
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 35 YEARSOAK PARK CLEANERS
1906 OAK PARK BLVD PLEASANT HILL bull 925-934-5730
ON SITEALTERATIONS AVAILABLE
MENTION THIS AD AND 10 WILL BE DONATED TO COLLEGE PARK ATHLETICS
GO FALCONS
T
4 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JULIE ROSS Just close your eyes relax and drift off to dreamland Sorry Irsquom afraid thatrsquos easier said than done For some of us the problem is an inability to doze off at bedtime For others itrsquos the middle-of-the-night awakening when we just canrsquot seem to shut back down I asked some friends for their strate-gies in handling the late-night mini
anxiety attacks that keep them awake Most said they turn to their phone for amusement or to catch up on things Is that a good idea A quick Internet check revealed that it is not Sleep experts claim that the glow from electronic devices can make matters worse by dis-rupting our circadian rhythm naturersquos daily lightdark cycle Sounds plausible So what other advice do experts pro-vide One tip that is pure genius is ldquoSleep when sleepyrdquo Really these experts get paid for providing advice like that Another gem ldquoKeep the bedroom quiet while sleepingrdquo And here we were fill-ing the room with barking dogs and a marching band My favorite contra-dictory tips were ldquoUse a sleep diaryrdquo followed by ldquoNo clock watchingrdquo Just how am I going to keep a sleep diary without looking at the clock to note the time I remained sleepless And just how am I going to make an entry about what
time I fell asleep as I will be asleep Apart from this slew of state-the-obvious expert advice (herersquos a free tip from me try to avoid sticking a pencil in your eye at bedtime) I did find a couple of interesting tidbits Eating cherries or drinking tart cherry juice has been shown to help induce sleep because cherries are rich in melatonin Melatonin is a hormone made in the pineal gland of our brain which helps control our sleepwake cycles Having a banana might also be a good idea Bananas are rich in tryptophan which our body eventually converts to mood-balancing serotonin and sleep-regulating melatonin I enjoyed coming across Benjamin Franklinrsquos sleep ritual He would ask him-self every night ldquoWhat good have I done todayrdquo A nice affirmation (assuming you actually did something good) and a daily reminder to ask yourself every morning as he did ldquoWhat good shall I
do todayrdquo And now itrsquos time for a bit of fun When my friend Margaret wakes up in the middle of the night she creates hypothetical book titles Some address situations that cause anxiety in her life while others touch on amusing aspects Here is one example of each Money I Donrsquot Have My First 5 Years as an Entre-preneur and The Art of Abstract Towel Folding Teenagers Help With Laundry Itrsquos nice to be able to bring a smile to your sleep-deprived state So here is your challenge ndash the next time you wake up in the middle of the night think up some book titles that describe your in-securities worries successes or humor-ous situations Write them down in your sleep diary (or not) and then email them to me by the end of May Wersquoll print some of the best ones in the July issue Send your insomniac book titles to julieakrosscomcastnet by midnight on May 31
Joseph A Thibedeau DVM Louisa M Asseo DVMwwwhillcrestvetcom 925-676-1909
May 3ndash9 is National Pet Week Like every week at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital
Julie SaysThe Insomniac Challenge
13
25
Wine Women ampShoes
Studioon theStreets
KidfestrsquosSilver
Anniversary
Art on the Main
Walnut CreekArt andWine Festival
independant amp locally owned
6680 Alhambra Ave Box 132 Martinez CA 94553(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
MISSION STATEMENTThe Community Focus is a free independent monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community
INSIDE
9
15
30COVER2014 Walnut Creek Art andWine Festival
PHOTO BY Walnut Creek Chamber
PUBLISHERSBecky CoburnJennifer NeysElena Hutslarinfoourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISING
Reba Bower925-348-1724Rebaourcommunityfocuscom
COPY EDITORAlison Clary
GRAPHIC DESIGNTrish Heaney
SPORTSSport Story Submissionsinfoourcommunityfocuscom
CONTACT INFORMATIONCommunity Calendar calendarourcommunityfocuscom
Content amp General Inquiries infoourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMISSION DEADLINESAll articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month
ONLINEwwwourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMIT A STORYHave something to share
Deadline for submissions is the second Friday of
each month
infoourcommunityfocuscom
5ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Call Pleasant Hillrsquos for ALL your Real Estate needsRealtor1
There are over reasons550
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today367 Civic Drive 7 Pleasant Hill CA 94523
Visit them at wwwPleasantHillRealEstatecom
or email DonandNormagmailcom
or EFlaskerudRemaxnet
925-676-5859
to choose the Flaskerud Teammdash
Don Norma and Erikmdashas YOUR Realtor
The number of homes they have sold in PLEASANT HILL ALONE
Don and Norma Flaskerud are by far the best
real estate TEAM in Contra Costa County
They made every step of the selling process
painless from initial pricing all the way through
closing They made it a point to walk me through
all the paper work answering any and all
questions helped me make informed decisions
and made sure every ldquoirdquo was dotted and every
ldquotrdquo crossed Real estate is their life and passion
something that yoursquoll certainly sense the first
time you meet them SOLD another home for
me Incredible service just like the good old
days made the sale of this home in Lafayette a
GREAT experience Starting with the remodeling
and renovation of the home in preparation for
sale Don and Norma took care of everything
yes EVERYTHING The work was top notch and
every detail down to the staging of the home
was perfection
Within 48 hours we had an offer that was
beyond belief and the selling strategy that Don
and Norma had recommended was the driving
force I can say with 100 confidence if you
select Don and Norma to assist you in your real
estate needs you wonrsquot be disappointed They
will treat you like family and make your
experience one to remember
CalBRE s mdash Don 00971602 Norma 00867031 Erik 01891688
1716 Elderwood Mtz mdash Pending Sale
1 Falcon Ct PH mdash Pending Sale
43 Massolo Dr F PH mdash $325000
423 Soule Ave PH mdash $775000
104 Lockwood Ln PH mdash $699000
Don Norma
and Erikrsquos
listings
and coming soon
Visit wwwpleasanthillconcertscom for all concert information Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission
SeriesSponsors
summer concerts
ConcertSponsors
FOOD ampBeverage salesevery concertOn the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln amp Cleaveland Rd
LIVE Music
amp FUN6-8pm
Bring items ofnon-perishable food
to donate to theCrisis Center
May 24The Von TrappsDance Rock lsquonrsquo Blues
Jun 7Sunday PaperBay Area Funk amp Roll
Jun 21The FundamentalsRed Hot Rockinrsquo Soul
Jul 5Extra LargeTaste of lsquoSanta Cruzrsquo lively amp fun
Jul 19Fast Times80s Dance Party Music
Aug 2MOFORockinrsquo Blues Band
Aug 16Groove DoctorsVariety Dance Party Band
Aug 30East Bay MUDDClassic Fun amp Soul
Sep 6Big JangleTom Petty Tribute Band
City ofPleasant Hill
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
Erin Springer Anderson
Realtors DRE00971602
REMAX Today Sheilarsquos Daycare
Casey Strand Chiropractor
Dallimontirsquos Italian RestaurantSept 6
sunset by the lakeFree
6 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY MARGARET MINOR Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth - the San Francisco Bay Area we are fortunate to have a brand new cruise port at San Franciscorsquos Pier 27 Having opened last September the new cruise port will see 81 ship dockings and 300000 people through its doors in 2015 Princess Cruises operates all year round from San Francisco and offers itineraries for everyoneOh Alaska Getting to Alaska canrsquot be any more convenient than leaving from San Francisco With 10-night itineraries departing from May to September hop on board and delight in the beauty of majestic glaciers un-touched wilder-ness and wildlife galore Ideal for fami-lies couples and solo travelers cruises offer activities for everyone in Juneau Skagway and Ketchikan from dog sledding to lumberjack shows from whale watching to culinary feasts on a glacier the hardest thing yoursquoll do on an Alaskan cruise is decide what to do South of the Border Cabo San Lucas Mazatlan Manza-nillo La Paz Loreto and Puerto Vallarta await you Ten-night itineraries depart round-trip from San Francisco and give you plenty of time to enjoy both Prin-cessrsquo stunning ships and four ports of call in Mexico Shore excursions range from the active (kayaking zip-lining ATV exploration) to the relaxed (visits to local wineries and ldquobeach breaksrdquo at pristine resorts) Sample local cuisine
and culture with Princessrsquo escorted tours that will have you back on the ship in time for your evening activitiesMore of what we love the Pacific Coast Cruise Seeing California from a cruise ship is delightful Relax on your float-ing resort as you take in the California sunshine San Diego Long Beach and Santa Barbara offer a variety of shore excursions harbor cruises shopping kayaking cycling through vineyards and picnics packed for you Donrsquot overlook what a spectacular value these 7-night itineraries from San Francisco are With prices from under $100 a night per person yoursquoll enjoy scrumptious cuisine impeccable service and a ton of activities included in your fare Bonus feature On all departures Princess Cruises offers the coveted ldquoChefrsquos Tablerdquo which is essentially an onboard culinary excursion Yoursquoll be treated to gastronomic creations pre-pared by a select group of the culinary crew a tour of the galley and conver-sations hosted by the head chef The Chefrsquos Table is reserved for groups of 10 people in a private dining area so yoursquoll want to make reservations as soon as you board Therersquos a cruise from San Francisco for every budget and taste Get yourself on the vacation of a lifetime Margaret Miner is the owner of Vi-noCruising a full-service travel agency and a certified Princess Cruise Line expert She can be reached at mminercruiseonecom
Travel TrendsSet Sail from San Francisco
A LOCAL Guide to Good Food A publication for the Diablo Valley dedicated tofinding really good food close to home
Here comes Yum
Summer issue Schedule of outdoor concerts for Concord
Todos Santos Plaza Concord Pavilion ClaytonPleasant Hill amp Martinez
Calendar of ldquofoodierdquo events amp festivals
Directory of Yum advertisers by type of cuisine
Published four times a year Content amp ads always seasonal Delivered to82000 homes and businesses in ConcordClayton Pleasant Hill Martinez amp Walnut Creek inserted inside the Community Focus theClayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer
Deadline for Summer issue mdash June 1
Restaurants mdash call nowLock in your rate
(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
wwwYumGuidenet
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATORSTRUSTED ADVISORSA 25 year legacy of satisfied customers
TEAM
List your homewith Glenn and get
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FREESTAGING
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BRE 1870055
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OR CALL
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Have a Project in MindCall us today for a FREE estimate
No CostNo Obligation
925-457-1445CONCORD CA 94518 bull LIC 994353
9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
Danville 800 Camino Ramon 925-837-9144
Martinez 6740 Alhambra Ave 925-935-9125
Pleasant Hill 2895 Contra Costa Blvd 925-939-9000
Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
conserve water preserve your plantsNSCP ndash Navletrsquos Soil Conditioner PlusReduce watering needs by mulching with Navletrsquos exclusive blend 3 inches saves up to 30
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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wwwtrioskincarecom
13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Wealth13 amp13 Tax13 Planners13 13
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Registered Investment Adviser
11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
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A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
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City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
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17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
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100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
3ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benicia CallingHead Over the Bridge to Benicia
ake the day off pack a friend or two in the car and head over the bridge to Benicia The easy fifteen-
minute drive is just far enough to feel like a get-away and the beauty of the Benicia shoreline on a sunny day and the charms of its tidy main street and downtown shops will relax and refresh you Start at the bottom of First St where the stunning view of the Carquinez Strait across Port Costa and down to the Car-quinez Bridge will remind you just how fortunate we are in our surroundings Yoursquoll want to pop into the former South-ern Pacific Train Depot building ndash charm-ingly restored in 2001 and currently home to the Benicia Main Street Program ndash to find information maps a calendar of events and other informative publica-tions including a handy historic walking tour guide with descriptions of 25 points of interest from Beniciarsquos past httpwwwbeniciamainstreetorg Peruse First Street speckled with unique shops and you are sure to find some new additions to perk up your home or outdoor space or a new piece to spice up your jewelry collection Benicia is home to many glass studios and art galleries so there are one-of-a-kind crea-tions behind every door After meandering through shops strolling the waterfront and browsing
the art studios yoursquoll have plenty of op-tions to choose from when your stomach starts growling Camellia Tea Room is always a treat for an elegant lunch des-sert or afternoon tea First Street Cafeacute serves breakfast lunch and dinner all made with fresh locally sourced ingredi-ents and they offer over a dozen beers and sixty wines to compliment the menu Lucca Bar amp Grill is a friendly establish-ment with indoor and outdoor dining They offer gastro-pub style cuisine and their comfortable full service bar has an extensive cocktail menu that uses sea-sonal fresh fruits and herbs Sailor Jackrsquos classic seafood and fusion dishes are served in a friendly atmosphere with a sparkling waterfront view For more infor-mation on these restaurants visit wwwcamelliatearoomcom wwwfirststcafecom wwwluccabarcom and wwwsailor-jackscom A stop at The Loft Wine Bar should definitely be on your agenda The tasting room and bottle shop offers wine flights beer on tap and delicious small plates and desserts Owner Jason Diavatis is proud to feature wines that are not avail-able in any other local bar restaurant or grocery store His passion for special wines is evident with every pour Visit wwwwineattheloftcom to view their hours and read their blog
ldquoTheyrsquore friendly polite and do great work for a reasonable pricerdquo
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 35 YEARSOAK PARK CLEANERS
1906 OAK PARK BLVD PLEASANT HILL bull 925-934-5730
ON SITEALTERATIONS AVAILABLE
MENTION THIS AD AND 10 WILL BE DONATED TO COLLEGE PARK ATHLETICS
GO FALCONS
T
4 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JULIE ROSS Just close your eyes relax and drift off to dreamland Sorry Irsquom afraid thatrsquos easier said than done For some of us the problem is an inability to doze off at bedtime For others itrsquos the middle-of-the-night awakening when we just canrsquot seem to shut back down I asked some friends for their strate-gies in handling the late-night mini
anxiety attacks that keep them awake Most said they turn to their phone for amusement or to catch up on things Is that a good idea A quick Internet check revealed that it is not Sleep experts claim that the glow from electronic devices can make matters worse by dis-rupting our circadian rhythm naturersquos daily lightdark cycle Sounds plausible So what other advice do experts pro-vide One tip that is pure genius is ldquoSleep when sleepyrdquo Really these experts get paid for providing advice like that Another gem ldquoKeep the bedroom quiet while sleepingrdquo And here we were fill-ing the room with barking dogs and a marching band My favorite contra-dictory tips were ldquoUse a sleep diaryrdquo followed by ldquoNo clock watchingrdquo Just how am I going to keep a sleep diary without looking at the clock to note the time I remained sleepless And just how am I going to make an entry about what
time I fell asleep as I will be asleep Apart from this slew of state-the-obvious expert advice (herersquos a free tip from me try to avoid sticking a pencil in your eye at bedtime) I did find a couple of interesting tidbits Eating cherries or drinking tart cherry juice has been shown to help induce sleep because cherries are rich in melatonin Melatonin is a hormone made in the pineal gland of our brain which helps control our sleepwake cycles Having a banana might also be a good idea Bananas are rich in tryptophan which our body eventually converts to mood-balancing serotonin and sleep-regulating melatonin I enjoyed coming across Benjamin Franklinrsquos sleep ritual He would ask him-self every night ldquoWhat good have I done todayrdquo A nice affirmation (assuming you actually did something good) and a daily reminder to ask yourself every morning as he did ldquoWhat good shall I
do todayrdquo And now itrsquos time for a bit of fun When my friend Margaret wakes up in the middle of the night she creates hypothetical book titles Some address situations that cause anxiety in her life while others touch on amusing aspects Here is one example of each Money I Donrsquot Have My First 5 Years as an Entre-preneur and The Art of Abstract Towel Folding Teenagers Help With Laundry Itrsquos nice to be able to bring a smile to your sleep-deprived state So here is your challenge ndash the next time you wake up in the middle of the night think up some book titles that describe your in-securities worries successes or humor-ous situations Write them down in your sleep diary (or not) and then email them to me by the end of May Wersquoll print some of the best ones in the July issue Send your insomniac book titles to julieakrosscomcastnet by midnight on May 31
Joseph A Thibedeau DVM Louisa M Asseo DVMwwwhillcrestvetcom 925-676-1909
May 3ndash9 is National Pet Week Like every week at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital
Julie SaysThe Insomniac Challenge
13
25
Wine Women ampShoes
Studioon theStreets
KidfestrsquosSilver
Anniversary
Art on the Main
Walnut CreekArt andWine Festival
independant amp locally owned
6680 Alhambra Ave Box 132 Martinez CA 94553(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
MISSION STATEMENTThe Community Focus is a free independent monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community
INSIDE
9
15
30COVER2014 Walnut Creek Art andWine Festival
PHOTO BY Walnut Creek Chamber
PUBLISHERSBecky CoburnJennifer NeysElena Hutslarinfoourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISING
Reba Bower925-348-1724Rebaourcommunityfocuscom
COPY EDITORAlison Clary
GRAPHIC DESIGNTrish Heaney
SPORTSSport Story Submissionsinfoourcommunityfocuscom
CONTACT INFORMATIONCommunity Calendar calendarourcommunityfocuscom
Content amp General Inquiries infoourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMISSION DEADLINESAll articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month
ONLINEwwwourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMIT A STORYHave something to share
Deadline for submissions is the second Friday of
each month
infoourcommunityfocuscom
5ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Call Pleasant Hillrsquos for ALL your Real Estate needsRealtor1
There are over reasons550
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today367 Civic Drive 7 Pleasant Hill CA 94523
Visit them at wwwPleasantHillRealEstatecom
or email DonandNormagmailcom
or EFlaskerudRemaxnet
925-676-5859
to choose the Flaskerud Teammdash
Don Norma and Erikmdashas YOUR Realtor
The number of homes they have sold in PLEASANT HILL ALONE
Don and Norma Flaskerud are by far the best
real estate TEAM in Contra Costa County
They made every step of the selling process
painless from initial pricing all the way through
closing They made it a point to walk me through
all the paper work answering any and all
questions helped me make informed decisions
and made sure every ldquoirdquo was dotted and every
ldquotrdquo crossed Real estate is their life and passion
something that yoursquoll certainly sense the first
time you meet them SOLD another home for
me Incredible service just like the good old
days made the sale of this home in Lafayette a
GREAT experience Starting with the remodeling
and renovation of the home in preparation for
sale Don and Norma took care of everything
yes EVERYTHING The work was top notch and
every detail down to the staging of the home
was perfection
Within 48 hours we had an offer that was
beyond belief and the selling strategy that Don
and Norma had recommended was the driving
force I can say with 100 confidence if you
select Don and Norma to assist you in your real
estate needs you wonrsquot be disappointed They
will treat you like family and make your
experience one to remember
CalBRE s mdash Don 00971602 Norma 00867031 Erik 01891688
1716 Elderwood Mtz mdash Pending Sale
1 Falcon Ct PH mdash Pending Sale
43 Massolo Dr F PH mdash $325000
423 Soule Ave PH mdash $775000
104 Lockwood Ln PH mdash $699000
Don Norma
and Erikrsquos
listings
and coming soon
Visit wwwpleasanthillconcertscom for all concert information Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission
SeriesSponsors
summer concerts
ConcertSponsors
FOOD ampBeverage salesevery concertOn the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln amp Cleaveland Rd
LIVE Music
amp FUN6-8pm
Bring items ofnon-perishable food
to donate to theCrisis Center
May 24The Von TrappsDance Rock lsquonrsquo Blues
Jun 7Sunday PaperBay Area Funk amp Roll
Jun 21The FundamentalsRed Hot Rockinrsquo Soul
Jul 5Extra LargeTaste of lsquoSanta Cruzrsquo lively amp fun
Jul 19Fast Times80s Dance Party Music
Aug 2MOFORockinrsquo Blues Band
Aug 16Groove DoctorsVariety Dance Party Band
Aug 30East Bay MUDDClassic Fun amp Soul
Sep 6Big JangleTom Petty Tribute Band
City ofPleasant Hill
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
Erin Springer Anderson
Realtors DRE00971602
REMAX Today Sheilarsquos Daycare
Casey Strand Chiropractor
Dallimontirsquos Italian RestaurantSept 6
sunset by the lakeFree
6 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY MARGARET MINOR Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth - the San Francisco Bay Area we are fortunate to have a brand new cruise port at San Franciscorsquos Pier 27 Having opened last September the new cruise port will see 81 ship dockings and 300000 people through its doors in 2015 Princess Cruises operates all year round from San Francisco and offers itineraries for everyoneOh Alaska Getting to Alaska canrsquot be any more convenient than leaving from San Francisco With 10-night itineraries departing from May to September hop on board and delight in the beauty of majestic glaciers un-touched wilder-ness and wildlife galore Ideal for fami-lies couples and solo travelers cruises offer activities for everyone in Juneau Skagway and Ketchikan from dog sledding to lumberjack shows from whale watching to culinary feasts on a glacier the hardest thing yoursquoll do on an Alaskan cruise is decide what to do South of the Border Cabo San Lucas Mazatlan Manza-nillo La Paz Loreto and Puerto Vallarta await you Ten-night itineraries depart round-trip from San Francisco and give you plenty of time to enjoy both Prin-cessrsquo stunning ships and four ports of call in Mexico Shore excursions range from the active (kayaking zip-lining ATV exploration) to the relaxed (visits to local wineries and ldquobeach breaksrdquo at pristine resorts) Sample local cuisine
and culture with Princessrsquo escorted tours that will have you back on the ship in time for your evening activitiesMore of what we love the Pacific Coast Cruise Seeing California from a cruise ship is delightful Relax on your float-ing resort as you take in the California sunshine San Diego Long Beach and Santa Barbara offer a variety of shore excursions harbor cruises shopping kayaking cycling through vineyards and picnics packed for you Donrsquot overlook what a spectacular value these 7-night itineraries from San Francisco are With prices from under $100 a night per person yoursquoll enjoy scrumptious cuisine impeccable service and a ton of activities included in your fare Bonus feature On all departures Princess Cruises offers the coveted ldquoChefrsquos Tablerdquo which is essentially an onboard culinary excursion Yoursquoll be treated to gastronomic creations pre-pared by a select group of the culinary crew a tour of the galley and conver-sations hosted by the head chef The Chefrsquos Table is reserved for groups of 10 people in a private dining area so yoursquoll want to make reservations as soon as you board Therersquos a cruise from San Francisco for every budget and taste Get yourself on the vacation of a lifetime Margaret Miner is the owner of Vi-noCruising a full-service travel agency and a certified Princess Cruise Line expert She can be reached at mminercruiseonecom
Travel TrendsSet Sail from San Francisco
A LOCAL Guide to Good Food A publication for the Diablo Valley dedicated tofinding really good food close to home
Here comes Yum
Summer issue Schedule of outdoor concerts for Concord
Todos Santos Plaza Concord Pavilion ClaytonPleasant Hill amp Martinez
Calendar of ldquofoodierdquo events amp festivals
Directory of Yum advertisers by type of cuisine
Published four times a year Content amp ads always seasonal Delivered to82000 homes and businesses in ConcordClayton Pleasant Hill Martinez amp Walnut Creek inserted inside the Community Focus theClayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer
Deadline for Summer issue mdash June 1
Restaurants mdash call nowLock in your rate
(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
wwwYumGuidenet
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
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Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
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City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
Honest amp Reliable
877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
wwwHammersHeatingandACcom
SALES bull INSTALL bull SERVICEFREE ESTIMATES ON ALL
EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION
bull ALL MAKES amp MODELSbull ALWAYS PROMPT amp RELIABLE
CALL US FOR ALL OF YOUR HEATING amp COOLING NEEDS
925-229-2779
15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICEFAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNED
NO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICE
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environmentally preferable and ecologically friendly
bull Colored Mulch bull Natural Mulch bull Organic Soil bull Compost products
5010 Pacheco Blvd Martinez (925) 228-1673
MyEcoMulchcom
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communityfocus-ecomulch-ad-2014-8pdf 1 82914 1246 PM
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Haircolorzhairgallerycom GalleryBoutique Art Hair
RC L OO Z
1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Acne Rosacea ampAnti-Aging
PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
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Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
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Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
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bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
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One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
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Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
4 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JULIE ROSS Just close your eyes relax and drift off to dreamland Sorry Irsquom afraid thatrsquos easier said than done For some of us the problem is an inability to doze off at bedtime For others itrsquos the middle-of-the-night awakening when we just canrsquot seem to shut back down I asked some friends for their strate-gies in handling the late-night mini
anxiety attacks that keep them awake Most said they turn to their phone for amusement or to catch up on things Is that a good idea A quick Internet check revealed that it is not Sleep experts claim that the glow from electronic devices can make matters worse by dis-rupting our circadian rhythm naturersquos daily lightdark cycle Sounds plausible So what other advice do experts pro-vide One tip that is pure genius is ldquoSleep when sleepyrdquo Really these experts get paid for providing advice like that Another gem ldquoKeep the bedroom quiet while sleepingrdquo And here we were fill-ing the room with barking dogs and a marching band My favorite contra-dictory tips were ldquoUse a sleep diaryrdquo followed by ldquoNo clock watchingrdquo Just how am I going to keep a sleep diary without looking at the clock to note the time I remained sleepless And just how am I going to make an entry about what
time I fell asleep as I will be asleep Apart from this slew of state-the-obvious expert advice (herersquos a free tip from me try to avoid sticking a pencil in your eye at bedtime) I did find a couple of interesting tidbits Eating cherries or drinking tart cherry juice has been shown to help induce sleep because cherries are rich in melatonin Melatonin is a hormone made in the pineal gland of our brain which helps control our sleepwake cycles Having a banana might also be a good idea Bananas are rich in tryptophan which our body eventually converts to mood-balancing serotonin and sleep-regulating melatonin I enjoyed coming across Benjamin Franklinrsquos sleep ritual He would ask him-self every night ldquoWhat good have I done todayrdquo A nice affirmation (assuming you actually did something good) and a daily reminder to ask yourself every morning as he did ldquoWhat good shall I
do todayrdquo And now itrsquos time for a bit of fun When my friend Margaret wakes up in the middle of the night she creates hypothetical book titles Some address situations that cause anxiety in her life while others touch on amusing aspects Here is one example of each Money I Donrsquot Have My First 5 Years as an Entre-preneur and The Art of Abstract Towel Folding Teenagers Help With Laundry Itrsquos nice to be able to bring a smile to your sleep-deprived state So here is your challenge ndash the next time you wake up in the middle of the night think up some book titles that describe your in-securities worries successes or humor-ous situations Write them down in your sleep diary (or not) and then email them to me by the end of May Wersquoll print some of the best ones in the July issue Send your insomniac book titles to julieakrosscomcastnet by midnight on May 31
Joseph A Thibedeau DVM Louisa M Asseo DVMwwwhillcrestvetcom 925-676-1909
May 3ndash9 is National Pet Week Like every week at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital
Julie SaysThe Insomniac Challenge
13
25
Wine Women ampShoes
Studioon theStreets
KidfestrsquosSilver
Anniversary
Art on the Main
Walnut CreekArt andWine Festival
independant amp locally owned
6680 Alhambra Ave Box 132 Martinez CA 94553(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
MISSION STATEMENTThe Community Focus is a free independent monthly publication dedicated to highlighting the vibrancy of the local businesses and residents while strengthening and building connections within our community
INSIDE
9
15
30COVER2014 Walnut Creek Art andWine Festival
PHOTO BY Walnut Creek Chamber
PUBLISHERSBecky CoburnJennifer NeysElena Hutslarinfoourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISING
Reba Bower925-348-1724Rebaourcommunityfocuscom
COPY EDITORAlison Clary
GRAPHIC DESIGNTrish Heaney
SPORTSSport Story Submissionsinfoourcommunityfocuscom
CONTACT INFORMATIONCommunity Calendar calendarourcommunityfocuscom
Content amp General Inquiries infoourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMISSION DEADLINESAll articles must be sumbmitted by the 15th of each month
ONLINEwwwourcommunityfocuscom
SUBMIT A STORYHave something to share
Deadline for submissions is the second Friday of
each month
infoourcommunityfocuscom
5ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Call Pleasant Hillrsquos for ALL your Real Estate needsRealtor1
There are over reasons550
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today367 Civic Drive 7 Pleasant Hill CA 94523
Visit them at wwwPleasantHillRealEstatecom
or email DonandNormagmailcom
or EFlaskerudRemaxnet
925-676-5859
to choose the Flaskerud Teammdash
Don Norma and Erikmdashas YOUR Realtor
The number of homes they have sold in PLEASANT HILL ALONE
Don and Norma Flaskerud are by far the best
real estate TEAM in Contra Costa County
They made every step of the selling process
painless from initial pricing all the way through
closing They made it a point to walk me through
all the paper work answering any and all
questions helped me make informed decisions
and made sure every ldquoirdquo was dotted and every
ldquotrdquo crossed Real estate is their life and passion
something that yoursquoll certainly sense the first
time you meet them SOLD another home for
me Incredible service just like the good old
days made the sale of this home in Lafayette a
GREAT experience Starting with the remodeling
and renovation of the home in preparation for
sale Don and Norma took care of everything
yes EVERYTHING The work was top notch and
every detail down to the staging of the home
was perfection
Within 48 hours we had an offer that was
beyond belief and the selling strategy that Don
and Norma had recommended was the driving
force I can say with 100 confidence if you
select Don and Norma to assist you in your real
estate needs you wonrsquot be disappointed They
will treat you like family and make your
experience one to remember
CalBRE s mdash Don 00971602 Norma 00867031 Erik 01891688
1716 Elderwood Mtz mdash Pending Sale
1 Falcon Ct PH mdash Pending Sale
43 Massolo Dr F PH mdash $325000
423 Soule Ave PH mdash $775000
104 Lockwood Ln PH mdash $699000
Don Norma
and Erikrsquos
listings
and coming soon
Visit wwwpleasanthillconcertscom for all concert information Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission
SeriesSponsors
summer concerts
ConcertSponsors
FOOD ampBeverage salesevery concertOn the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln amp Cleaveland Rd
LIVE Music
amp FUN6-8pm
Bring items ofnon-perishable food
to donate to theCrisis Center
May 24The Von TrappsDance Rock lsquonrsquo Blues
Jun 7Sunday PaperBay Area Funk amp Roll
Jun 21The FundamentalsRed Hot Rockinrsquo Soul
Jul 5Extra LargeTaste of lsquoSanta Cruzrsquo lively amp fun
Jul 19Fast Times80s Dance Party Music
Aug 2MOFORockinrsquo Blues Band
Aug 16Groove DoctorsVariety Dance Party Band
Aug 30East Bay MUDDClassic Fun amp Soul
Sep 6Big JangleTom Petty Tribute Band
City ofPleasant Hill
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
Erin Springer Anderson
Realtors DRE00971602
REMAX Today Sheilarsquos Daycare
Casey Strand Chiropractor
Dallimontirsquos Italian RestaurantSept 6
sunset by the lakeFree
6 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY MARGARET MINOR Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth - the San Francisco Bay Area we are fortunate to have a brand new cruise port at San Franciscorsquos Pier 27 Having opened last September the new cruise port will see 81 ship dockings and 300000 people through its doors in 2015 Princess Cruises operates all year round from San Francisco and offers itineraries for everyoneOh Alaska Getting to Alaska canrsquot be any more convenient than leaving from San Francisco With 10-night itineraries departing from May to September hop on board and delight in the beauty of majestic glaciers un-touched wilder-ness and wildlife galore Ideal for fami-lies couples and solo travelers cruises offer activities for everyone in Juneau Skagway and Ketchikan from dog sledding to lumberjack shows from whale watching to culinary feasts on a glacier the hardest thing yoursquoll do on an Alaskan cruise is decide what to do South of the Border Cabo San Lucas Mazatlan Manza-nillo La Paz Loreto and Puerto Vallarta await you Ten-night itineraries depart round-trip from San Francisco and give you plenty of time to enjoy both Prin-cessrsquo stunning ships and four ports of call in Mexico Shore excursions range from the active (kayaking zip-lining ATV exploration) to the relaxed (visits to local wineries and ldquobeach breaksrdquo at pristine resorts) Sample local cuisine
and culture with Princessrsquo escorted tours that will have you back on the ship in time for your evening activitiesMore of what we love the Pacific Coast Cruise Seeing California from a cruise ship is delightful Relax on your float-ing resort as you take in the California sunshine San Diego Long Beach and Santa Barbara offer a variety of shore excursions harbor cruises shopping kayaking cycling through vineyards and picnics packed for you Donrsquot overlook what a spectacular value these 7-night itineraries from San Francisco are With prices from under $100 a night per person yoursquoll enjoy scrumptious cuisine impeccable service and a ton of activities included in your fare Bonus feature On all departures Princess Cruises offers the coveted ldquoChefrsquos Tablerdquo which is essentially an onboard culinary excursion Yoursquoll be treated to gastronomic creations pre-pared by a select group of the culinary crew a tour of the galley and conver-sations hosted by the head chef The Chefrsquos Table is reserved for groups of 10 people in a private dining area so yoursquoll want to make reservations as soon as you board Therersquos a cruise from San Francisco for every budget and taste Get yourself on the vacation of a lifetime Margaret Miner is the owner of Vi-noCruising a full-service travel agency and a certified Princess Cruise Line expert She can be reached at mminercruiseonecom
Travel TrendsSet Sail from San Francisco
A LOCAL Guide to Good Food A publication for the Diablo Valley dedicated tofinding really good food close to home
Here comes Yum
Summer issue Schedule of outdoor concerts for Concord
Todos Santos Plaza Concord Pavilion ClaytonPleasant Hill amp Martinez
Calendar of ldquofoodierdquo events amp festivals
Directory of Yum advertisers by type of cuisine
Published four times a year Content amp ads always seasonal Delivered to82000 homes and businesses in ConcordClayton Pleasant Hill Martinez amp Walnut Creek inserted inside the Community Focus theClayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer
Deadline for Summer issue mdash June 1
Restaurants mdash call nowLock in your rate
(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
wwwYumGuidenet
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATORSTRUSTED ADVISORSA 25 year legacy of satisfied customers
TEAM
List your homewith Glenn and get
FREESTAGING
FREESTAGING
TeamtalktoglenncomwwwtalktoglenncomReMax CC Connection IncProTeam Realty Inc PHONE 9257091000
BRE 1870055
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OR CALL
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
Danville 800 Camino Ramon 925-837-9144
Martinez 6740 Alhambra Ave 925-935-9125
Pleasant Hill 2895 Contra Costa Blvd 925-939-9000
Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
conserve water preserve your plantsNSCP ndash Navletrsquos Soil Conditioner PlusReduce watering needs by mulching with Navletrsquos exclusive blend 3 inches saves up to 30
For a complete list and description of 2015
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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(925) 609-87461333 Willow Pass Road Ste 202 Concord
Located between Diamond Blvd and Waterworld Parkway
wwwtrioskincarecom
13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Wealth13 amp13 Tax13 Planners13 13
Client-Centered Retirement and Financial Planning Unbiased financial advice and wealth management As fiduciaries we put the client first Offering a complimentary review of all your Financial and Tax Strategies and Portfolio Risks no-obligation Call us
Local award-winning firm
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
Suzanne Looker sreslsquoYour Pet Friendly Realtorrsquo
9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
Honest amp Reliable
877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
wwwHammersHeatingandACcom
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925-229-2779
15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
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17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
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9253815627
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
5ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Call Pleasant Hillrsquos for ALL your Real Estate needsRealtor1
There are over reasons550
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
REMAX Today367 Civic Drive 7 Pleasant Hill CA 94523
Visit them at wwwPleasantHillRealEstatecom
or email DonandNormagmailcom
or EFlaskerudRemaxnet
925-676-5859
to choose the Flaskerud Teammdash
Don Norma and Erikmdashas YOUR Realtor
The number of homes they have sold in PLEASANT HILL ALONE
Don and Norma Flaskerud are by far the best
real estate TEAM in Contra Costa County
They made every step of the selling process
painless from initial pricing all the way through
closing They made it a point to walk me through
all the paper work answering any and all
questions helped me make informed decisions
and made sure every ldquoirdquo was dotted and every
ldquotrdquo crossed Real estate is their life and passion
something that yoursquoll certainly sense the first
time you meet them SOLD another home for
me Incredible service just like the good old
days made the sale of this home in Lafayette a
GREAT experience Starting with the remodeling
and renovation of the home in preparation for
sale Don and Norma took care of everything
yes EVERYTHING The work was top notch and
every detail down to the staging of the home
was perfection
Within 48 hours we had an offer that was
beyond belief and the selling strategy that Don
and Norma had recommended was the driving
force I can say with 100 confidence if you
select Don and Norma to assist you in your real
estate needs you wonrsquot be disappointed They
will treat you like family and make your
experience one to remember
CalBRE s mdash Don 00971602 Norma 00867031 Erik 01891688
1716 Elderwood Mtz mdash Pending Sale
1 Falcon Ct PH mdash Pending Sale
43 Massolo Dr F PH mdash $325000
423 Soule Ave PH mdash $775000
104 Lockwood Ln PH mdash $699000
Don Norma
and Erikrsquos
listings
and coming soon
Visit wwwpleasanthillconcertscom for all concert information Sponsored by Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission
SeriesSponsors
summer concerts
ConcertSponsors
FOOD ampBeverage salesevery concertOn the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall Gregory Ln amp Cleaveland Rd
LIVE Music
amp FUN6-8pm
Bring items ofnon-perishable food
to donate to theCrisis Center
May 24The Von TrappsDance Rock lsquonrsquo Blues
Jun 7Sunday PaperBay Area Funk amp Roll
Jun 21The FundamentalsRed Hot Rockinrsquo Soul
Jul 5Extra LargeTaste of lsquoSanta Cruzrsquo lively amp fun
Jul 19Fast Times80s Dance Party Music
Aug 2MOFORockinrsquo Blues Band
Aug 16Groove DoctorsVariety Dance Party Band
Aug 30East Bay MUDDClassic Fun amp Soul
Sep 6Big JangleTom Petty Tribute Band
City ofPleasant Hill
Don amp Norma Flaskerud
Erik Flaskerud
Erin Springer Anderson
Realtors DRE00971602
REMAX Today Sheilarsquos Daycare
Casey Strand Chiropractor
Dallimontirsquos Italian RestaurantSept 6
sunset by the lakeFree
6 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY MARGARET MINOR Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth - the San Francisco Bay Area we are fortunate to have a brand new cruise port at San Franciscorsquos Pier 27 Having opened last September the new cruise port will see 81 ship dockings and 300000 people through its doors in 2015 Princess Cruises operates all year round from San Francisco and offers itineraries for everyoneOh Alaska Getting to Alaska canrsquot be any more convenient than leaving from San Francisco With 10-night itineraries departing from May to September hop on board and delight in the beauty of majestic glaciers un-touched wilder-ness and wildlife galore Ideal for fami-lies couples and solo travelers cruises offer activities for everyone in Juneau Skagway and Ketchikan from dog sledding to lumberjack shows from whale watching to culinary feasts on a glacier the hardest thing yoursquoll do on an Alaskan cruise is decide what to do South of the Border Cabo San Lucas Mazatlan Manza-nillo La Paz Loreto and Puerto Vallarta await you Ten-night itineraries depart round-trip from San Francisco and give you plenty of time to enjoy both Prin-cessrsquo stunning ships and four ports of call in Mexico Shore excursions range from the active (kayaking zip-lining ATV exploration) to the relaxed (visits to local wineries and ldquobeach breaksrdquo at pristine resorts) Sample local cuisine
and culture with Princessrsquo escorted tours that will have you back on the ship in time for your evening activitiesMore of what we love the Pacific Coast Cruise Seeing California from a cruise ship is delightful Relax on your float-ing resort as you take in the California sunshine San Diego Long Beach and Santa Barbara offer a variety of shore excursions harbor cruises shopping kayaking cycling through vineyards and picnics packed for you Donrsquot overlook what a spectacular value these 7-night itineraries from San Francisco are With prices from under $100 a night per person yoursquoll enjoy scrumptious cuisine impeccable service and a ton of activities included in your fare Bonus feature On all departures Princess Cruises offers the coveted ldquoChefrsquos Tablerdquo which is essentially an onboard culinary excursion Yoursquoll be treated to gastronomic creations pre-pared by a select group of the culinary crew a tour of the galley and conver-sations hosted by the head chef The Chefrsquos Table is reserved for groups of 10 people in a private dining area so yoursquoll want to make reservations as soon as you board Therersquos a cruise from San Francisco for every budget and taste Get yourself on the vacation of a lifetime Margaret Miner is the owner of Vi-noCruising a full-service travel agency and a certified Princess Cruise Line expert She can be reached at mminercruiseonecom
Travel TrendsSet Sail from San Francisco
A LOCAL Guide to Good Food A publication for the Diablo Valley dedicated tofinding really good food close to home
Here comes Yum
Summer issue Schedule of outdoor concerts for Concord
Todos Santos Plaza Concord Pavilion ClaytonPleasant Hill amp Martinez
Calendar of ldquofoodierdquo events amp festivals
Directory of Yum advertisers by type of cuisine
Published four times a year Content amp ads always seasonal Delivered to82000 homes and businesses in ConcordClayton Pleasant Hill Martinez amp Walnut Creek inserted inside the Community Focus theClayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer
Deadline for Summer issue mdash June 1
Restaurants mdash call nowLock in your rate
(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
wwwYumGuidenet
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
Danville 800 Camino Ramon 925-837-9144
Martinez 6740 Alhambra Ave 925-935-9125
Pleasant Hill 2895 Contra Costa Blvd 925-939-9000
Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
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City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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NO JOB TOO SMALL
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1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Acne Rosacea ampAnti-Aging
PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
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One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
6 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY MARGARET MINOR Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth - the San Francisco Bay Area we are fortunate to have a brand new cruise port at San Franciscorsquos Pier 27 Having opened last September the new cruise port will see 81 ship dockings and 300000 people through its doors in 2015 Princess Cruises operates all year round from San Francisco and offers itineraries for everyoneOh Alaska Getting to Alaska canrsquot be any more convenient than leaving from San Francisco With 10-night itineraries departing from May to September hop on board and delight in the beauty of majestic glaciers un-touched wilder-ness and wildlife galore Ideal for fami-lies couples and solo travelers cruises offer activities for everyone in Juneau Skagway and Ketchikan from dog sledding to lumberjack shows from whale watching to culinary feasts on a glacier the hardest thing yoursquoll do on an Alaskan cruise is decide what to do South of the Border Cabo San Lucas Mazatlan Manza-nillo La Paz Loreto and Puerto Vallarta await you Ten-night itineraries depart round-trip from San Francisco and give you plenty of time to enjoy both Prin-cessrsquo stunning ships and four ports of call in Mexico Shore excursions range from the active (kayaking zip-lining ATV exploration) to the relaxed (visits to local wineries and ldquobeach breaksrdquo at pristine resorts) Sample local cuisine
and culture with Princessrsquo escorted tours that will have you back on the ship in time for your evening activitiesMore of what we love the Pacific Coast Cruise Seeing California from a cruise ship is delightful Relax on your float-ing resort as you take in the California sunshine San Diego Long Beach and Santa Barbara offer a variety of shore excursions harbor cruises shopping kayaking cycling through vineyards and picnics packed for you Donrsquot overlook what a spectacular value these 7-night itineraries from San Francisco are With prices from under $100 a night per person yoursquoll enjoy scrumptious cuisine impeccable service and a ton of activities included in your fare Bonus feature On all departures Princess Cruises offers the coveted ldquoChefrsquos Tablerdquo which is essentially an onboard culinary excursion Yoursquoll be treated to gastronomic creations pre-pared by a select group of the culinary crew a tour of the galley and conver-sations hosted by the head chef The Chefrsquos Table is reserved for groups of 10 people in a private dining area so yoursquoll want to make reservations as soon as you board Therersquos a cruise from San Francisco for every budget and taste Get yourself on the vacation of a lifetime Margaret Miner is the owner of Vi-noCruising a full-service travel agency and a certified Princess Cruise Line expert She can be reached at mminercruiseonecom
Travel TrendsSet Sail from San Francisco
A LOCAL Guide to Good Food A publication for the Diablo Valley dedicated tofinding really good food close to home
Here comes Yum
Summer issue Schedule of outdoor concerts for Concord
Todos Santos Plaza Concord Pavilion ClaytonPleasant Hill amp Martinez
Calendar of ldquofoodierdquo events amp festivals
Directory of Yum advertisers by type of cuisine
Published four times a year Content amp ads always seasonal Delivered to82000 homes and businesses in ConcordClayton Pleasant Hill Martinez amp Walnut Creek inserted inside the Community Focus theClayton Pioneer and the Concord Pioneer
Deadline for Summer issue mdash June 1
Restaurants mdash call nowLock in your rate
(925) 335-NEWS (6397)
wwwYumGuidenet
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
Danville 800 Camino Ramon 925-837-9144
Martinez 6740 Alhambra Ave 925-935-9125
Pleasant Hill 2895 Contra Costa Blvd 925-939-9000
Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
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9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
Honest amp Reliable
877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
wwwHammersHeatingandACcom
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925-229-2779
15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
7ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY DANIEL DuREE You may be familiar with using a durable power of attorney for inca-pacity planning as part of your estate plan however what if you have a fam-ily member who has an estate plan in place but is starting to lose capacity due to dementia Alzheimerrsquos or simply old age With some basic steps you can smoothly transfer management of financial personal and healthcare deci-sions without going through the painful process of declaring someone incapaci-tatedTransitioning Management of a Trust Generally a person will serve as trustee of a trust until passing away or
being declared incompetent by two separate doctors Only at that time will the successor trustee take control and start managing the trust prop-erty However management can be more easily transferred by amending the trust and making the first suc-cessor trustee a co-trustee This way the original trust creator can still help manage the property alongside the co-trustee and eventually leave the co-trustee to do most of the manage-ment Another benefit to this is that the original trust creator need not be declared incompetent and will remain a co-trustee until death This simpli-fies tax preparation as well because a separate tax return must be filed when the creator of the trust is no longer a trustee or co-trustee
Estate PlanningIncapacity Planning for an Elderly Family Member
THE LAW OFFICE OF DANIEL L DUREE
TRUSTS bull WILLS bull PROBATE
9252101400
Estate Planning Attorney
Please call today for a complimentary consultation
at my office or in your home
1535 North Main Street Suite 240 bull Walnut Creek wwwDuReeLawcom
Healthcare News Discuss Long-Term CareBY COLLEEN CALLAHAN In April I at-tended a confer-ence in Orlando sponsored by the American Asso-ciation of Medicare Supplements It covered issues and trends in our aging population There were sessions addressing buying styles for baby boomers planning for retirement and how the insurance market is changing because of health care reform I was interested in the overall planning process One speaker mentioned how many seniors are updating their homes so they can age in place compared to the percentage of those who need long-term care The presentation addressed long-term care insurance and the increasing options available to people buying policies that cover illnesses such as cancer stroke and heart disease A model has been developed for making planning process a team effort aging parents need to engage willing children and family members along
with trusted advisors The most profes-sional advisors agree it is best if eve-ryone understands the plans wishes and desires of the parent In fact they suggest and welcome comprehensive team meetings It occurred to me there are many books for young parents offering instructions tips and coaching to help them raise children I think parents also need to be mindful of the thoughts feelings fears and questions of their adult children Those children need to be treated with respect and need to be informed It is a difficult time for all but the conversations are important Many of the people I meet who want to purchase long term care insur-ance have stories of their parents lack-ing planning and communication They donrsquot want to do the same to their chil-dren With 10000 baby boomers turn-ing 65 every day in the United States there should be plenty of conversations happening in our neighborhoods Colleen Callahan Insurance Ser-vices is located in Pleasant Hill Contact her at 925-363-5433 or ccallahancallahaninsurancecom
Transitioning Management of Financial Personal and Healthcare Decisions Similar to the trust management suc-cession above most Durable Powers of At-torney and Advance Healthcare directives do not take effect until a person is deemed incapacitated by two doctors However if a family member is slowly losing capacity but is presently still competent an imme-diate durable power of attorney andor ad-vance healthcare directive may be created to transition decision making to another person With an immediate durable power of attorney for example the creator can still write checks file taxes etc but their agent can also do these things on their behalf So instead of management going from only the principal having authority to only the agent having authority there is a
smooth transition where both parties have legal authority to manage the principalrsquos finances If the deteriorating capacity of a loved one is addressed early enough you can transition management smoothly without having to resort to declaring the person incapacitated or going through the painful conservatorship process As always please consult with a licensed attorney before you make any decisions regarding incapacity planning If you have any questions please donrsquot hesitate to give my office a call I am happy to assist you in any way possible Daniel L DuRee is a third genera-tion resident of Contra Costa County and a licensed attorney practicing in Walnut Creek He can be reached at (925) 210-1400 or visit wwwDuReeLawcom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
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ank you to our sponsors
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
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City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICEFAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNED
NO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICE
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environmentally preferable and ecologically friendly
bull Colored Mulch bull Natural Mulch bull Organic Soil bull Compost products
5010 Pacheco Blvd Martinez (925) 228-1673
MyEcoMulchcom
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SERVICES OFFEREDprecision cuts for menwomen amp children bull blow dry finishing
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Haircolorzhairgallerycom GalleryBoutique Art Hair
RC L OO Z
1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
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9253815627
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
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Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
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bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
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One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
8 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Curb AppealFirst Impressions Matter BY GLENN ALLEN Curb appeal is the first thing buyers assess when they look at your house and like all first impressions it has an immediate psychological im-pact If your home looks inviting from the outside buyers can visualize them-selves pulling into the driveway after a
long day of work before even stepping inside the door And the sooner you make that emotional connection with the buyer the better position you are in to sell your house quickly at the price you want When working with my clients my recommendations are geared towards making the biggest positive impact for each dollar invested Typically we ex-pect to double or triple the return on
the investment when making improve-ments You need to be smart about it though Focusing on these five key ele-ments lets you spend less money while achieving high impact resultsClean Landscaping The buyer doesnrsquot want to see problems They want a yard that is attractive and easy to care for Fresh mulch in garden beds is a must dark colors have the most impact Adding color strategically with plants that have colorful blooms or foliage makes the house look like a homeInviting Entrance Making changes to the front door boosts the propertyrsquos appeal The fix might be as simple as removing the screen door or applying a fresh coat of paint and new hardware Invest some time in staging the porch or entry area Companion chairs or a bench let the buyer feel welcome freshly potted plants add appealFresh Color Palate Depending on your budget the price point of the house and the existing color consider repainting the entire house But even focusing on just the trim strikes a new color balance and can transform the whole houseCrisp Details Make sure you have the exterior
of the home garage and drive ex-pertly power washed Replace broken screens seal cracks in the driveway and repair a broken gutter Mainte-nance issues interfere with a buyerrsquos fantasy that this home will be a refuge from the outside worldBalanced Composition Curb appeal is about overall im-pression Your house and yard should work together harmoniously and strike the right balance between comfort and elegance Your property should appear both unique and appealing to most buyers in that price range As an agent I help sellers prepare the exterior of their homes and yards in a way that hits this balance I can help you create curb appeal that hooks buyers from the moment they first see your house while minimizing cost and maximizing impact More information and suggestions can be found at my website wwwEnhanceAndStagecom For a free no obligation enhance and staging consultation please contact me Glenn Allen REMAX Real Estate agent can be reached at glennTalk-ToGlenncom 925-709-1000 or visit wwwTalkToGlenncomblog phsales-reportcom and enhanceandstagecom
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9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
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Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
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Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
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Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
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YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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NO JOB TOO SMALL
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1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
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bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
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Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
9ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Benetting Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District and Monument Crisis Center
SUNDAY MAY 17 20152 - 6 PM bull Pleasant Hill
Community Centerrsquos Perera Pavilion
Sip ne wines bull Savor delicious bites bull Shop the latest fashionsMingle with Shoe Guys bull Bid on one-of-a-kind auction items
Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Be there Be fabulous
For tickets and more information visitwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta
ank you to our sponsors
Where experience makes a beautiful difference
Open seven days a week from 900 am ndash 630 pm
Danville 800 Camino Ramon 925-837-9144
Martinez 6740 Alhambra Ave 925-935-9125
Pleasant Hill 2895 Contra Costa Blvd 925-939-9000
Concord 1555 Kirker Pass Rd 925-681-0550
All sale merchandise subject to stock on hand No special orders Discounts apply to regular prices only Offers good 5115ndash53115
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Pleasant Hill Community Focus Ad
1503152-NAV-PHCF-0501-475x5375indd 1 42315 611 PM
Over 300 guests will kick up their heels for two great causes at the second annual Contra Costa County Wine Women amp Shoes fundraiser May 17 2015 2ndash 6pm This event is hosted by Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District (PHRampPD) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center and benefits PHRampPD and Monument Crisis Center ldquoSpeak the language of Manolo andBarolordquo quips Kendra Luke local eventcoordinator and supervisor for PHRampPDldquoWe are very excited to host one of thefastest-growing luxury event series createdfor women by women in the USrdquo Enjoy top wines shop the latesttrends in the multi-designer marketplaceenjoy a red carpet fashion show and slip onfantasy shoes served up on silver plattersby charming local ldquoShoe Guysrdquo whoare experts on the ldquofine art of wine andshoe pairingrdquo Guests will also have the opportunityto bid on one-of-a-kind auction itemsincluding a Napa Valley getaway and a firehouse dinner served to you and your
closest friends by the firemen themselves Ladies will enjoy delectable nibbles provided by local restaurants caterers and wines from Chateau St Jean BijouValdez Thomas George Estates BoissetFamily Estates Cannonball Wine CompanyWente and many more Wine Women amp Shoes tickets are $125for general admission For ticketsvisit wwwwinewomenandshoescomcontracosta For more information visit facebookcomwwscontracosta Questions Email Kendra Luke at klukepleasanthillreccom An event of this caliber would not be possible without the generous support of local event sponsors including Republic Services Land Home Financial Services Contra Costa Oncology Pleasant Hill Coin and Jewelry Diablo Magazine Digital AVS City of Pleasant Hill Sunvalley Shopping Center Vino Cruising Union Bank of Pleas-ant Hill Community Focus Jackrsquos Restau-rant and Bar Stevenrsquos Printing Stonecliffe Animal Rescue Wells Fargo and Astound
Luxury EventWine Women amp Shoes Fundraiser
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
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9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
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1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
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and a full schedule of activities Please
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Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
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Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
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100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
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23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
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Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
10 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Drought We are now facing our fourth consecutive year of drought Last year Governor Brown declared a ldquodrought state of emergencyrdquo Now over the last several weeks the news has continu-
ally been filled with increasing water restrictions controls and ratedrought surcharge increases Our snow pack has never been so low Then in early April the governor issued his execu-tive order mandating water restric-
Mayorrsquos Message Ken Carlson Mayor of Pleasant Hill
City of Pleasant Hill
Womenrsquos Quality Consignment9258088765 bull thedejavuboutiquecom
MON-SAT 11-6
1630 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD SUITE A bull PLEASANT HILL
tions across the state Subsequently our water providers for Pleasant Hill East Bay MUD and Contra Costa Water District are moving forward with rate increases drought surcharges and limitation plans I am proud our residents are answering the call for vol-untary conservation and know we will all work hard to continue to conserve as we struggle through this drought On April 21 the California Water Commission came to Pleasant Hill seeking input and providing informa-tion about how to allocate approxi-mately $27 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds Planning for the future to prepare for an ever increasing need for water resources and future droughts should be all of our con-cern I am excited to see the ideas and future of the Water Storage Investment Program However the current drought needs an immediate effort from all of us Both EBMUD and CCWD have pro-grams to assist us in conserving water CCWD offers a Water Conservation Sur-vey They will come and inspect your homersquos landscaping and irrigation and teach you ways to save Both provide tips on leak and efficiency detection A simple way to check for leaks within your home is to shut off all water using fixtures and appliances Then
read your meter and note the reading Come back an hour later and see if the reading has changed A change will identify a possible leak Also evaluate if it is time to upgrade to a more efficient toilet washer or dishwasher Both may still have rebate programs for the purchase and installation of more efficient toilets or appliances Check both EBMUD and CCWD websites at wwwebmudcom and wwwccwatercom for more informationA Chance to Fight Cancer at Relay For Life Cancer afflicts or claims so many people that nearly everybody is touched somehow A powerful way to participate in the fight against cancer is through Relay For Life an awareness-raising and fund-raising event to support the American Cancer Society The sixth annual Relay For Life of Pleasant Hill will be held May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It runs 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday -- a 24-hour event to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the fight against cancer To sign up or get more details go to httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca e-mail relayforlifephyahoocom or call 925-944-4898 You can find more informa-tion about the race on page 31
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11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
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Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
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City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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NO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICE
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bull Colored Mulch bull Natural Mulch bull Organic Soil bull Compost products
5010 Pacheco Blvd Martinez (925) 228-1673
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1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
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Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
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Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
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Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
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One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
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Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
11ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Architectural Review Commission May 7 21City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 5pm Contact 671-5209
Civic Action Commission May 6City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Small Community Room 630pm Contact 671-5229
City Council May 4 18City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5229
Library Task Force May 11City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Large Community Room 11am Contact 671-5229
Planning Commission May 12 26City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Council Chambers 730pm Contact 671-5209
Education Commission May 27City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Community Room 7pm
For Confirmation Visit wwwcipleasant-hillcaus
City News
City of Pleasant Hill
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
Hilton Homewood Suites Update The Pleasant Hill City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider an ap-peal filed by Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth (PHCRG) of the decision by the planning commission to approve an application for a development plan permit for a two to four story (48 foot maximum height) 115 room Hilton Home-wood Suites Hotel The hotel design includes 115 parking spaces removal of 64 trees and various adjustments to parking lot development standards at the site of the former Chevyrsquos Restaurant at 650 Ellinwood Way The public hearing will be held by the city council starting at 730pm on Monday May 4 in the city council chambers 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill The public can be heard at this time According to their website PHCRG ldquois a grassroots all-volunteer organization dedi-cated to promoting sensible growth and development consistent with residentsrsquo desiresrdquo Farmersrsquo Market is Back Pleasant Hill Farmersrsquo Market returned on Saturday May 2 on Trelany Road (next to City Hall) The market will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through November 14 for the seasonrsquos freshest produce Throughout the season yoursquoll also find many new producers and products as well as live music and special events If you need reusable shopping bags pick them up at the market for free ldquoLose a Lawn and Get a Gardenrdquo Take advantage of an upcoming workshop by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) designed for homeowners interested in replacing their water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping Experts will provide advice on land-scape design plants and drip irrigation In addition participants will learn about CCWDrsquos Lawn to Garden Rebate Program and Design Assistance Program The free workshop will be held in the large community room at City Hall on Saturday May 30 9am to noon To register email conserveccwatercom or call 925-688-8320 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Zacharyrsquos Employee Owners are excited to announce the 2015 Zacharyrsquos Pizza Art Contest Since 1989 Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza has been sponsoring an art con-test for local artists to showcase their talents and their love of pizza Over the years Zacharyrsquos has received thousands of submissions and has chosen hundreds of winners from its many art contests This year all four Zacharyrsquos locations (Oakland Berkeley Pleasant Hill and San Ramon) will accept submissions The winning art will adorn the walls of all four restaurants In addition to displaying the winning art Zacharyrsquos will award the win-ners with a $100 Zacharyrsquos gift certificate and two Zacharyrsquos t-shirtsThe subject of the art should be Zacharyrsquos Chicago Pizza and it should include Zacharyrsquos name andor logo The logo is available on the website as are images of past winning pieces (wwwzacharyscom) Submissions from all ages are welcome Each Zacharyrsquos location will have paper canvas for the artist to use and copies of the entry form Participants must submit their artwork on the paper provided and they must submit an entry form with their art The deadline for this contest is May 16Upcoming Used Book Sales at the Library On Saturdays May 9 and June 13 10am - 330pm head to the Pleasant Hill Li-brary to get the best bargains on books and support your library Recycle your old electronics for free at the same time Childrenrsquos books are 25cent paperbacks are 50cent and hardbacks are $1 each Better books CDs DVDsBlu-rays will also be available Early bird admission at 930am is free to members or $2 for non-members bag sale is 130 - 330pm and the cost for filling a paper grocery bag is $3 For an additional
City News Continued
$2 you can purchase a Friends reusable blue bag which is much larger than an or-dinary paper bag Entrance to the parking lot book sale is behind the library off San-ta Barbara Road There is no access through the library For more details visit fophlorg Citywide Garage Sale Returns Third annual city-wide garage sale returns on June 6 Some fun contests with cool prizes have been added this year You can sign up if you wish to hold a sale at your home or check out a map and listing of all salesrsquo locations For more informa-tion visit wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecomButterflies to Fly at Relay For Lifereg Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo a wish for the end of cancer in our life-time The 2015 relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Mid-dle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning
May 8 - East Bay Leadership Councilrsquos 15th Annual Awards Luncheon 11am ndash 130pm Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord Register at wwweblcsmallbizeventbritecomMay 9 - Ribbon Cutting 10am Farmersrsquo Market 10am Trelany Road PHMay 12 - Ribbon Cutting 5-6pm Cancer Support Community1885 Oak Park Blvd PHMay 14 - Business Mixer 5-7pm Village Music School 1720 Linda Drive PHMay 30 amp May 31 - Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill a 24-hour event 10am-10am Pleasant Hill Middle School track 1 Santa Barbara Rd Pleasant HillJune 1 - Green Business Committee meeting 4-5pm Daily Digital 3440 Vin-cent Road Suite I PH June 1 - Government Affairs Committee 530-7pm Back Forty Texas BBQ 100 Coggins Drive PH680 Business Clubs Business Building amp Networking meet twice monthly Please call the Chamber office for more informationEvery Wednesday OFF THE GRID Food Trucks 5pm - 9pmTrelany Road PH
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
Suzanne Looker sreslsquoYour Pet Friendly Realtorrsquo
9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
Honest amp Reliable
877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
12 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PHOTO BY STAHLBERG
City Council Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Design Review Meeting May 13 27City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
Planning Commission Meeting May 12 26City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 7-11pm Contact 372-3500
Zoning Administrator Meeting May 6 20City Hall 525 Henrietta Street 4-5pm Contact 372-3500
For Confirmation Visit wwwcityofmartinezorg
Mayorrsquos Message Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez
City of Martinez
Public Meetings
Chamber Calendar
One of the most important duties of a city council is to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and keep the finances the public has entrusted in its care safe se-cure and properly spent An annual audit called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is required to make sure a local government is properly handling its budget The Martinez audit was performed by a crew of auditors working with finance department staff over a pe-riod of several weeks up to eight hours a day The final report was presented to the city council at its meeting on November 5 and the news was excellent The finan-cial condition of the city remains strong and our Unrestricted Fund Balance (aka Rainy Day Fund) had increased by over $125 million to $57 million This is a percentage increase from 23 to 29 of General Fund Revenues Now unless you are a CPA all of this is pretty dry stuff but it means that our prudent stewardship of public funds combined with the improving economy
provides more money to city services and capital improvements With that in mind the city council decided to take $1 million of that extra income and dedicate it to capital improvement projects such as streets roads sidewalks and other special projects We also put $250000 into a deferred maintenance account to maintain city hall the senior center and other city facilities However since we took that action 6 months ago our income from the gas tax has dropped due to lower consumption and decreas-ing price of fuel The California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has notified us that the required contri-bution rates for employee pension plans will increase substantially To help stem the tide of decreasing gas tax to the state and local govern-ments Senator Jim Beall has introduced SB16 to create a temporary 5-year fund-ing mechanism to provide much needed funding to preserve and improve local roadways Sen Jim Beallrsquos plan SB16
would expressly address the backlog of maintenance needs and is estimated to generate between $28 and $36 billion annually with funds directed to mainte-nance and preservation of local streets roads and the state highway systemThe senate plan proposes raising revenues through bull A 10-cent increase in the excise tax on gasoline and dieselbull $35 Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) increase for all vehiclesbull A $100 VRF increase for zero-emission vehiclesbull Payback of outstanding transportation
loans over a three-year periodbull Truck weight fees would be returned to the transportation fund over a five- year period (20 percent annually) The general fund would be backfilled by a 035 per-cent increase in the VLF over the five-year period (raised in 007 percent increments over the five-year period) Preliminary estimates show that Martinezrsquo share would be from $750000 to $960000 annually None of us likes to pay more taxes but this type of revenue will provide tremendous help in bringing our streets and roads back to an accept-able condition
May 9 - Studios on the Streets 12-6pm Experience artists doing their crafts (painting pottery making sculpting and much more) on the 500-900 blocks of Main Street Martinez Free admission and open to the public Beer amp wine availa-ble Visit StudiosOnTheStreetscom or call the chamber office for more information
May 14 - Chamber Mixer 530-730pm HJB Hoses and Rodan amp Fields 3660-A Pacheco Blvd Martinez Great networking food and fun raffle prizes Bring a raffle prize and have your business announced
May 21 - Educational Series 12-130pm Doors open at 1130am ldquoLinkedIn ndash Part 2rdquo presented by Christine Heuber Creekside Church Multi-Purpose Room 444 Fig Tree Lane $10 chamber members non-members $20 Non-members that join the chamber will get $10 credited towards membership Lunch provided All no-shows will be charged $10 Space is limited RSVP to chamber required at least 2 days prior or email infomartinezchambercom
May 25 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
SAVE THE DATE June 20 amp 21 - Fatherrsquos Day Weekend 9th Annual King of the County BBQ Challenge amp Music Festival 11am-6pm Martinez Waterfront Park Family fun Lip Smackinrsquo BBQ Rockinrsquo Music BBQ competition arts amp crafts vendor booths kidsrsquo rides amp activities microbreweries amp wineries vendor space available free admission amp parking Visit wwwCountyBBQcom or call chamber for more information
The Martinez Chamber of Commerce held a banquet April 25 to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 Citizen of the Year awards These are people or organiza-tions that have served the community in extraordinary ways Award recipients LtoR Rose Clyne Young Woman of the Year Barb Lofton Ambassador of the Year Claudia Whitnah Lifetime Achievement Award Barbara Chambers Woman of the Year John Viano - Viano Vineyards Business of the Year Rami Muth TeacherEducator of the Year Dwayne Glemser Man of the Year Harrison Brown Young Man of the Year
Citizens of the Year
Photo by Richard Cash
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
Suzanne Looker sreslsquoYour Pet Friendly Realtorrsquo
9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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NO JOB TOO SMALL
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1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
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2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
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Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
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Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
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One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
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COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
13ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Martinez
Irsquom here for you and your Pets License01440575
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF DIABLO MAGAZINErsquoS FIVE STAR AWARD
Thank you clients for selecting me as one of the top 7 of Realtors in the East Bay
Suzanne Looker sreslsquoYour Pet Friendly Realtorrsquo
9259179070suzannelookerpacunioncom
Save the Life of a Cat or Dog a donation at your favorite Pet Rescue is made in
Your Name with every transaction closed
YOUR PET FRIENDLYREALTOR FOR LIFE
City News ContinuedCity NewsNew Fees and Rules for Martinez Parks If yoursquore headed to any of the Martinez parks this summer take note that fees and rules have changed Inflatable structures such as jump houses are prohibited In addition ponies dunk tanks tents plastic tarps and portable grills are also banned in city parksRental fees for Holiday Highlands Park The city will begin charging rental fees and taking deposits The picnic areas consist of Holi-day Highlands North and Holiday Highlands Creekside each with two tables and seating for up to 16 people by the playground The park will carry a $25 rental fee with a $150 refundable deposit Deposits for all parks will be set according to the size of the park A sliding scale begins at $150 for 1-74 people $300 for 74-249 people and $600 for 250 plus people Fees will be refunded if there are no is-sues with the park rentalYouth Sports Fees Youth sports fees for 2016 have increased from $2 to $3 2017 fee increase from $3 to $5 2018 fee increase from $5 to $7 and 2019 fee increase from $7 to $10Studios on the Streets On May 9 the Martinez Chamber of Commerce will be producing Studios on the Streets from noon to 6pm along the 500-900 blocks of Main Street and vicinity in Martinez The event will encompass works of visual artists as well as working visual artists In addition there will be mimes music and vocalists There will be no tents on the streets but rather umbrellas for artists thereby allowing foot traffic to flow more easily in and out of businesses Visual art-istsrsquo works will be displayed in a business adjacent to where the artist is work-ing For more information visit wwwstudiosonthestreetsmartinezcom This event will be held in lieu of Open StudiosCarquinez Century Ride On Saturday May 9 enjoy a day of bike rid-ing along both sides of the scenic Carquinez Strait Choose a challenging 100K ride or an easi-er 40K ride Both rides begin and end at Martinez Waterfront Park (in the parking lot next to the bocce courts) travel across the Benicia and Car-quinez bridges and include Martinez Crockett Vallejo and Benicia The 100K ride also includes a ride around the scenic San Pablo Dam Ticket prices include an event t-shirt plenty of beverages and snacks along the route mobile aid stations and a delicious gourmet boxed lunch provided upon your return Additional food beverages and other items will be available for sale at the finish line The after-party will be open to the pub-lic family and friends are welcome to join you and celebrate your accomplish-ment
This important community event is a fundraiser for the Martinez Rotary Foundation All proceeds of ticket sales after nominal event expenses will go directly to projects that change lives close to home and around the world Lo-cally funds raised will provide scholarships for students in Martinez schools and donations to local support services including Shelter Inc The Food Bank of Contra Costa amp Solano Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Boys amp Girls Club of Martinez and many other projects which change lives and build a stronger unified community Registration opens at 730am Registration ride starting point and fin-ish line lunch and after-party are all located in the bocce court parking lot at Martinez Waterfront Park The ride begins at 9am The cost is $30 for the 40K25 mile ride $30 and $65 for the 100K65 mile ride Price includes t-shirt beverages amp snacks along the route mobile aid stations amp a gourmet boxed lunch upon return Sign up for the ride on Eventbrite or visit httpwwwmar-tinezrotaryorgcarquinez-century-bike-ridehtml for more informationSpring Oohs Ahs and Giggles This is a free performing arts series for children of all ages The 45-minute shows begin at 330pm at Martinez City Hall council chambers and are sure to entertain you and your children Shows are fully sponsored by the Martinez Restaurant Tour Schedule May 6 - Randel McGee and Goark May 13 - Zappo the Magi-cian May 20 - Daniel DaVinci The Juggling Genius and May 27 - Boswick the Clown
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
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877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
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15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
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17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
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and a full schedule of activities Please
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complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
14 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
City Council Meeting May 5 19Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 6-11pm Contact 943-5819
Design Review Meeting May 6 20Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7pm Contact 943-5819
Planning Commission Meeting May 28Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 7-11pm Contact 943-5819
Public Safety Council Subcommittee Meeting May 5Council Chambers 1666 North Main Street 4pm Contact 943-5819
For Confirmation Visit wwwwalnut-creekorg
City of Walnut Creek
Public Meetings
Mayorrsquos Message Bob Simmons Mayor of Walnut Creek
Pedestrianism and Walnut Creek Pedestrianism was a competitive sport that started in England in the 1800s with contests to see who could walk 50 miles in the shortest time The sport spread to the United States and watching people walk became Americarsquos most popular spectator sport One famous walker accomplished the feat of walking one mile every hour for 1000 hours between June 1 and July 12 1809 Pedestrianism had the first celebrity athletes corporate sponsorships and its share of drug and fixing scandals Some things never change Moreover trainers of the competitive walkers considered champagne a stimulant and advised their pedestrians to drink a lot during the race Pedestrianism lost its popularity when
the safety bicycle was invented (replacing the penny farthing) because it was more interesting to watch the speed of a bicy-cle race than the speed of a pedestrian race How does pedestrianism relate to Walnut Creek First while this is largely a car-dependent community it also hap-pens to be a highly walkable community In addition to having downtown and open space areas our city is fortunate to have several paved trails There are three regional trails the well-known Iron Horse Trail the Contra Costa Canal Trail and the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail (which is unpaved when it goes through our open space) The Briones-Mt Diablo trail is also named the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (a statewide trail) and the American Discov-ery Trail (a national trail) Walnut Creek
also has several local trails the Ygnacio Canal Trail the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge Trail and the Shell Ridge to Lime Ridge Trail Itrsquos possible to walk through all four open space areas in one day with only a relatively short distance on city streets (from Acalanes to Sugarloaf) Second the city has just released its first-ever draft of a Pedestrian Master Plan for public review and comment You can read the plan online at wwwwcwalksorg If you like to walk you will find the draft plan interesting Did you know that 24 of the people who use the Walnut Creek BART station arrive there by walking Or that while the greatest number of pedes-trian injuries occurred at intersections all four fatalities (from 2004-2013) occurred mid-block outside of any cross-walk The plan doesnrsquot cover trails in our
open space or even connections to trail heads in our open space so it is an urban and suburban walking plan When the final plan is adopted it will provide the framework for the cityrsquos work on improving walking in our community It focuses on identifying pedestrian safety problems and suggesting possible im-provements more than in creating new pathways One more note remember the advice to competitive walkers to drink champagne While we read a lot about distracted driving distracted walking is also a serious problem In 2009 of the more than 4000 pedestrians killed in the United States 35 were legally drunk Walking safely in a car dominated society can be a challenge Be safe walk smart and enjoy walking in Walnut Creek I do
Honest amp Reliable
877- 586-8302Please Contact Mike Hammer bull Owner amp Operator
Providing Superior Services throughout the East Bay for over 20 years Lic 672344
wwwHammersHeatingandACcom
SALES bull INSTALL bull SERVICEFREE ESTIMATES ON ALL
EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION
bull ALL MAKES amp MODELSbull ALWAYS PROMPT amp RELIABLE
CALL US FOR ALL OF YOUR HEATING amp COOLING NEEDS
925-229-2779
15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
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NO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICE
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bull Colored Mulch bull Natural Mulch bull Organic Soil bull Compost products
5010 Pacheco Blvd Martinez (925) 228-1673
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1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
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Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
15ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
City of Walnut Creek
City NewsAnnual Creek Clean Up Help remove trash and improve wildlife habitat in downtown creeks at the annual Friends of the Creeks clean-up Saturday May 9 9am to noon Wear old sneakers bring gloves and plan to get wet Meet at the Civic Park gazebo free continental breakfast for all participants will be served at 845am Chil-dren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and all participants must have a signed waiver For waivers visit wwwFriendsoftheCreeksorg
Art on the MainArt on the Main returns May 16-17 and is the only event staged down the middle of downtown on North Main Street from Civic to Mt Diablo (closed to automobile traffic) in Walnut Creek Hours 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday Artists are expected to have the booth staffed all day both days Visit the website for more information wwwthewalnutfesti-valorgartphp
The End for The Bend The Bend food truck market that opened less than a year ago at 2211 North Main Street has closed The mobile food truck market located at the old Le Virage Restaurant site offered food from gourmet food trucks live music and other entertainment
New Brewery Hopes to Open in SummerFarm Creek Brewing Company a family owned and operated beer factory and taproom will be opening soon on Pine Street in Walnut Creek Construction began last February and once completed the brewery will include a 15-bar-rel copper-clad brew system and several 30-barrel fermenters According to their website this system will produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year Although the facility will be a production factory Farm Creek plans to roll up the doors and invite the community into their taproom on Thursdays Fridays and Satur-days from 4 to 9pm to enjoy the brew
First WednesdaysOn May 6 continue the Cinco de Mayo celebration with live salsa music pro-vided by lsquoSalsa Calientersquo salsa dancers and a performance by Beto and No-elani from Tri Valley Salsa at 6pm Enjoy the dancers or put on your dancing shoes and take a short lesson Event is 5-8pm on Cypress Street Food trucks include Canasta Kitchen Ceviche amp Co Tonli Dumpling and Kararsquos Cupcakes
Chat with the Mayor The community is invited to meet the mayor and talk about current issues in Walnut Creek during a series of informal ldquoConversations with the Mayorrdquo held once a month through June at different locations throughout Walnut Creek The next ldquoconversationrdquo is 7pm on Tuesday May 12 at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue The goal is to provide an opportunity for residents to interact with the mayor in a low-key setting In addition to the May 12 ldquoconversationrdquo at the Lindsay Museum there will be a gathering on June 9 at the Shadelands Arts Center 111 N Wiget Lane For more information contact Communications amp Out-reach Manager Gayle Vassar 925-943-5895
Distinguished by its spacious park setting and family-friendly activities the popular Walnut Creek Chamber Art amp Wine Festival runs Saturday May 30 11am to 7pm and Sunday May 31 11am to 6pm Festival admission is free Art amp Wine 2015 features top-qual-ity non-stop local and Bay Area music and entertainment on two stages for the entire family hand-made crafts and works of art from more than 200 artisans award-winning local and re-gional wines and microbrews festival food premium wine tent craft beer garden the crazy grape stomp compe-tition the delightful festival train and the childrenrsquos area Get your grove on with The Un-authorized Rolling Stones Band The Houserockers Lovefool SOL Delta Wires Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums JC Smith Band Fito Reinoso Key Lime Pie PUSH Revolver Fu Man Chu
and Foothill Middle School Souvenir glasses can be pur-chased with tasting tickets along the main midway and around the festival grounds Visitors to the festivalrsquos sig-nature premium wine tent can sample select vintage and boutique wines Vis-itors to the craft beer garden can enjoy a rousing game of cornhole toss while sampling brews from Calicraft Brewing Company Working Man Brewing Com-pany and Altamont Craft Beer just to name a few Youngsters of all ages will enjoy the busy childrenrsquos area with kid-friendly hamster balls inflatable jump-ies face painting and more Free continuous shuttles are avail-able at Shadelands Business Park Paid parking is available on site For complete Walnut Creek Cham-ber Art amp Wine 2015 information visit wwwartwinefestivalwccom or call 9259342007
Fun for AllWalnut Creek Art and Wine
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICEFAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNED
NO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICE
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bull Colored Mulch bull Natural Mulch bull Organic Soil bull Compost products
5010 Pacheco Blvd Martinez (925) 228-1673
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communityfocus-ecomulch-ad-2014-8pdf 1 82914 1246 PM
SERVICES OFFEREDprecision cuts for menwomen amp children bull blow dry finishing
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Haircolorzhairgallerycom GalleryBoutique Art Hair
RC L OO Z
1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Acne Rosacea ampAnti-Aging
PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
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LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
16 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY RUSS CARROLL Is anyone else alarmed (or amused) by the disclaimers on TV for even the sim-plest medications As it turns out my over the counter allergy medicine can cause swelling of the tongue the inability or loss of desire to walk a stroke reddening of the eyes (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) loss of hearing the inability to operate machinery (honest officer itrsquos my allergy meds) mathematical errors in my check book lousy hair days loss of marriage misplaced car keys and weight gain I think I will forego the endless possible negative results and just suffer congestion and a runny nose After all I suffer from most of the other possibilities anyway Okhellipthis one kills me So we run into someone we know ldquoout in the worldrdquo This typically happens outside of the context in which we know the person The exchange goes like thisldquoHey how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good how are yourdquoldquoIrsquom good You okrdquoldquoYep I am goodrdquoldquoGreat glad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks glad yoursquore good toordquoldquoYou look goodrdquoldquoThanks you look good toordquoldquoSo what are you up tordquoldquoNot much What are you up tordquoldquoNot muchrdquoldquoWell itrsquos good to see yourdquoldquoYou toordquo
ldquoGlad yoursquore goodrdquoldquoThanks you toordquo Then as you walk away from this incredibly informative exchange you say to your kid ldquoWhatrsquos that guyrsquos name againrdquo So why is it called dry cleaning Yes these are the kinds of questions and observations that keep me up at night I cannot recall one time in my life (and that may not be saying much based on my well documented inability to recall anythinghellipnow where was I going with this Oh yeahelliphellip) where I or anyone I know has cleaned anything while dry Laundry car washes teeth cleaning dishes hair etc Even my mom spit on the hanky before cleaning my face Every type of cleaning I can think of requires the use of water and is therefore ldquowet cleaningrdquo However it is clear that the use of ldquodry cleaningrdquo usually results in my pants no longer fitting I am convinced that ldquodry cleaningrdquo shrinks the waistbands of my pants Oddly it does not impact the length Maybe they sneak a little water in on the pant legs All this said my short-term goals are to avoid medication people in general and dry cleaners The publishers do not offer me the space to cover my other pet peeves like the DMV or any 800 number I for one do not believe that they have recently changed their options They just want me to pay attention which is dif-ficult while under the influence of allergy medication Buthellipthatrsquos just how I see it Russell Carroll can be reached by email at russcarrollemailgmailcom
As Russ Sees ItPet Peeves
ANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKANTS bull SPIDERS bull MICE bull RATS bull FLEAS bull 1 TIME SPRAY OKMark Ellinwood Owner bull PO Box 23774 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523
FAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNEDNO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICEFAMILY amp LOCALLY OWNED
NO JOB TOO SMALL
MONTHLY SERVICE
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environmentally preferable and ecologically friendly
bull Colored Mulch bull Natural Mulch bull Organic Soil bull Compost products
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Haircolorzhairgallerycom GalleryBoutique Art Hair
RC L OO Z
1815 Mt Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek Ca925-933-2888 bull wwwcolorzhairgallerycom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
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FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
17ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
When you move to Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway yoursquore moving into more
than just a new apartment yoursquore moving into your new home This new home is a place where
you can be comfortable knowing you will be surrounded by good friends and a well-trained
award-winning staff who care for you and about you Chateau on Broadway provides everything
an active lively 55+ senior could want in an independent living community with continental
breakfasts Sunday brunch restaurant-style dinners housekeeping convenient transportation
and a full schedule of activities Please
call today to schedule a visit enjoy a
complimentary Sunday brunch and re-
serve your new home
Do you still drive cook and en-tertain You can do all that and more from the comfort of your new home at Carlton Senior Livingrsquos Chateau on Broadway The well-trained and caring staff at Chateau on Broadway truly value your independence providing a community where you enjoy your autonomy while still receiving the assistance you need Please call today to schedule a visit
Rents from just $1695
CarltonSeniorLivingcomTom MacDonald
Founder
Coming Home to Chateau on Broadway
Chateau on Broadway1700 Broadway Street Concord CA 94520(925) 686-1700
Lic No 5005347
CALL TODAY
100 Satisfaction Guarantee
If yoursquore a sellerbull Register the address of your sale by going online
and entering your information at the webite wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
bull You may also register your garage sale by calling (925) 671-5806
bull Deadline to register is Thursday June 4 2015
bull To direct traffic to your sale post street signs (not in public rights of way) and advertise online or in newspapers Please take all signs down after your sale
A joint effort by the City of Pleasant Hill amp Republic Services to protect the environment and conserve resources through reuse
Pleasant Hill Citywide Garage SaleDont trash it mdash Sell it
Saturday June 6 2015
If yoursquore a buyerbull Go to wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom to find
households taking part in the citywide garage sale
bull Start early but not before listed times Experienced shoppers come early to find the best buys
bull Bring a reusable bag which will allow you to carry heavier items more easily and to protect fragile objects
Buyers Be a Contest WinnerldquoLikerdquo the garage sale on Facebook at wwwfacebookcompleasanthillgaragesale
bull Best Find Post your best find on our Facebook page for a chance to win a great prize
bull Best Upcycle Transform your garage sale find into something new Post a photo of your ldquoupcycledrdquo find on our Facebook page Best ones will be displayed at the Summer Concert at City Hall on July 5 Best in show wins a fabulous prize
QuestionsOnline
wwwpleasanthillgaragesalecom
Phone (925) 671-5806Email abakerrepublicservicescom
SponsoringBusinesses
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
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HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
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Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
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bull Interior Painting
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2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
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LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
18 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
IN FOCUS
SWS
SWS
Just as credit unions began in Europe amid economic turmoil and famine in the 1800s the movement in the United States was fueled by the great depression as well as issues related to workersrsquo rights It culminated in the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 under the mantra ldquopeople helping peoplerdquo The next 5 years saw meteoric growth in credit unions that stalled during World War II Following the war our native sons returned home to begin retooling the countryrsquos factories and economy In Martinez many of our American heroes resumed their ldquostate siderdquo lives by going to work for Shell Oil Renery A few years later in the summer of 1947 a group of employees formed a credit union for Shell renery workers and their families Today the ranks of the Shell Western States Federal Credit Union have grown to over 4000 and membership is open to all people who live work worship or attend school in the MartinezPacheco area The spirit of the brave men and women who came back from war so many years ago to care for their familyrsquos wellbeing and nancial health lives on The families of many of the original members are still involved in their credit union today the old credit union mantra of people helping people is still valid and your local credit union is still working to help support nancial health in the community This is especially important as people deal with the nal stages of what many economists call ldquothe Great Recessionrdquo Recently long time CEO Larry Wigley retired and after an extensive executive search I was hired My name is Rod Garza and I am a long time resident of Contra Costa County In a nutshell my
personal bio is that I am an Air Force brat who grew up on military bases all over and graduated from high school in Southern California I came to the Bay Area to go to Saint Maryrsquos College liked what I saw and never left My wife and I have spent the majority of our lives together in Martinezrsquos Alhambra Valley with our horses and various other pet friends We are members of St Catherinersquos parish and I am a past president of the Martinez Horsemanrsquos Association I come to you as the new CEO of SWSFCU after spending three decades working in the nancial environment picking up another degree from Saint Maryrsquos College and gaining a lot of credit union experience including time at the committee board of directors and executive manage-ment levels I am especially proud that a few years ago I had the good fortune to give the acceptance speech for the Martinez Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of California Pacic Federal Credit Union I inherit a 68 year-old legacy of nancial service to our communi-ty The spirit and objectives remain the same Promote nancial health to our members and stay engaged with community and philanthropic eorts such as King of the County BBQ Food Bank Boys amp Girls Club Breast Cancer research youth programs and more We are a ldquorelationshiprdquo business that oers competitive rates on CDs VISA and loans Please stop by our oce at 1700 Pacheco Blvd and talk to our friendly sta about your mortgage vehicle or personal loan needs Make an appointment with our nancial advisor or ask about our certicate and IRA rates
Shell Western StatesFederal Credit Union
CALL TODAY for Great Loan Rates
Support Your Local Credit Union
Shell Western States Federal Credit Union1700 Pacheco Blvd Martinez CA 94553
925-228-4545 bull wwwswsfcuorg
Mortgages bull Personal Loans bull Auto Loans bull Visa Credit Cards
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Acne Rosacea ampAnti-Aging
PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
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Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
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2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
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LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
19ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Tires Alignment Brakes Battery StrutsShocks Tire Air Pressure
No purchase necessary must present coupon
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
wwwlesschwabmartinezcomVISIT US AT
3800 Alhambra Martinez bull (925)370-6382
SUPPORTING OUR LOCALORGANIZATIONS
Dwayne GlemserManager
FREE PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK
Proudly Sponsored by Les Schwab Martinez
Martinez Education Foundation (MEF) is proud to announce that it recently awarded grants in the amount of $132702 to teachers and staff throughout the Martinez Unified School District schools includ-ing Alhambra High School ($45869) Martinez Junior High School ($51877) Morello Park Elementary ($1926) Las Juntas Elementa-ry ($9907) John Swett Elementary ($6433) John Muir Elementary ($14697) and the Martinez Community Academy ($1993) Additional information about the grants can be found at MEFrsquos website at wwwmartinezedfoundationcom MEF thanks and appreci-ates all of its donors and volunteers for their great support throughout the year that allows MEF the opportunity to make our schools better
SWAN Day Donation Medical Center Honors Volunteers
Martinez Education Foundation Grants
In recognition of National Volunteer Month Contra Costa Regional Medi-cal Center and Health Clinics celebrated their 47th Annual Volunteer Awards and Recognition Luncheon April 11 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez After a salad luncheon catered by Concordrsquos Food For Thought Rhonda Smith volunteer coordinator introduced volunteers involved in a new program this year Pat and Bill Chase represented the Animal Rescue Foundation which provides pet visits to patients and Linda Valenzan organizes the pet and art therapy programs Volunteers in spiritual care were Nena and Jim Pettit and Stathie Michaud Smith thanked all the volunteers for their service and revealed statistics for the year 341 volunteers provided 31051 service hours for a value of $817883 and donations from organizations for various projects (layettes stuffed animals and surgery pillows) memorial contributions etc were worth an additional $39823 Jo-Ann lee auxiliary president inducted Claire Mann and Brownette Hopkins as volunteer emeritae for their many years of service Claire Mann had 24 years and 52000 hours and Brownette Hopkins had 22 years and 62000 hours Other emeriti present were Pat Evans Ray Ulmer and Ellsbeth Donavan Rhonda Smith and Bill Cunningham CCRMC president elect awarded service pins to those with over 3000 hours Pat Ulmer (18 years 6400 hours) Shirley Peterson (19 Years 5800 hours) Betty Holt (20 Years 5800 hours) Bill Cunningham (10 years 5700 hours) Arlys Steven (17 years 4400 hours) Jo-Ann Lee (6 years 5000 hours) and Deloris McDonald (19 years 3900 hours) Others who received pins were Pat Harris (12 years 2600 hours) Stathie Michaud (6 years 1800 hours) Linda Waxman (6 years 1600 hours) Maria Jimenez (6 years 1600 hours) Jim Pettit (4 years 900 hours) Robert Mc-Corkle (10 years 800 hours) Mary Burkard (3 years 600 hours) Donna Oram (2 years 500 hours) Doug Sibley (3 years 300 hours) and Nena Akkyn Pettit (1 year 100 hours) Volunteers unable to attend will receive their pins personally New volunteers are always welcome Contact the volunteer coordinator at (925) 370-5818 or wwwRhondaSmithhsdcccountyus
The recent SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) event raised funds at their ldquofreerdquo booth to benefit the Central County Home-less Outreach A fantastic array of craft and fabric items were available at no cost but donations were greatly appreciated SWAN Day Chair RC Ferris presented Doug Stewart with a check from the Martinez Arts Association
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Acne Rosacea ampAnti-Aging
PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
20 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Sporting HighlightsBRONCOrsquoS BREAKING RECORDSThe Northgate girls track amp field team broke the Distance Medley Relay record at Woody Wilson High School Invita-tional held at UC Davis April 17 The girls ran a 1248 breaking the 1988 record by 12 seconds Relay consisted of Megan Coyle (1200) Jessica Dong (400m) Aino Tanaka (800m) and Jessie Boucher (mile)At the De La Salle Invitational March 21 Northgate swimmer Mason Tittle broke three individual school records placing first in 50-yard freestyle in 2080 sec-onds 100-freestyle in 4538 and 100-but-terfly in 4869 Both relays he anchored the medley and free relays broke meet and school records At Northgatersquos dual meet against Col-lege Park on April 22 Mason Tittle Erik VanBrocklin Calvin Kirkpatrick and Max Boteen improved on their 200Free relay record with a time of 1234 COLLEGE PARK BASEBALL The Falcons continues to dominate the diamond with a 5-0 league record
as of press time Pitcher Joe DeMers began the season with a perfect game vs Monte Vista and as of April 21 threw his third consecutive no-hitter against Northgate garnering the Player of the Game title Teammate Josh Nelson was second in line for impressive stats going 3 for 4 with 3R RBI and SB DVC BASEBALL ALUMAlum Ben Krauth named Big 12 Confer-ence Newcomer of the Week Junior transfer Krauth has made 11 starts on the hill for the Kansas Jayhawks and sits with a 6-3 record on the season His 373 ERA ranks first on the team along with his 68 strikeouts The lefty sits among league leaders in wins (fifth with six) strikeouts (third with 68) and innings pitched (fourth with 721)DVC BASKETBALLWomenrsquos Basketball SelectionsSabrea Coleman sophomore from Deer Valley HS Big 8 Conference Womenrsquos Basketball Player of the Year First Team All-State selection Sabrea will be trans-ferring to Grand Canyon University on a
basketball scholarshipKayla Taylor freshman from Clayton Valley Charter Second Team All-State First Team All-Conference selection Two Sport Athlete (Womenrsquos Volleyball amp Basketball)Soraya Page sophomore from Queens-land (AUS) First Team All-Conference selectionRamaundo Vaughn DVC womenrsquos head basketball coach Big 8 Coach of the YearMenrsquos BasketballJelani Hardaway sophomore from Free-dom Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionRico Nuno freshman from Half Moon Bay Menrsquos Basketball First Team All-Big 8 Conference selectionDVC SOFTBALLThe softball team is having a successful season with an overall current record of 29-9 with multiple Vikings named as 1st Team All-Conference Nicole Nordahl named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Pitcher Ashley Allen named 1st Team All-Big 8 at Shortstop Cynthia Duenas named
1st Team All-Big 8 at 1st Base and Amber Golini named 2nd Team All-Big 8 at 2nd BaseON THE TRACKAt the North Coast FroshSoph Champi-onships on April 25 Alhambrarsquos Marissa DrsquoAtri set a new meet record for the girls 1600 meters invitational run Her winning time of 51706 was a personal best for this freshman who then came back later that night to win the girls invitational 800 meter run in the time of 22251Junior David Phair of College Park took home an impressive win at the prestig-ous Stanford Invitational track meet held on April 5th Taking the lead in the boys 800 meters he held on to win his heat in a blazing 15592 David is currently ranked 4th in the North Coast section Track wraps up its season with league championships beginning the first weeks of May followed by North Coast on May 23rd the Meet of Champions held at Cal Berekely May 29-30 and ends with the State Meet held June 5-6
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
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24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
21ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Heat Takes First
PHMSA Xtreme Bulldogs Dominate
An Outstanding Season
DVC Summer Baseball Camp
The College Park Menrsquos Varsity Lacrosse team is having one of their best sea-sons currently at 10-5 and is headed to the DVAL and NCS playoffs in May Coach Drew Welch in his second year at College Park is building a great foundation for the program that will continue to develop players in the future The JV program has almost 30 players and is currently 9-2 On April 24th they hosted Senior Night and recognized the 15 seniors that will be leaving the program
The Martinez Heat 10U softball team won all five games to take first place at the USSSA Red Rooster tournament in Martinez the weekend of April 18
PHMSArsquos U10 girls Xtreme Elite competed in the U12 division in the AYSO Soccerfest tournament March 21 and 22 Even though Xtreme was competing against girls 2-3 years older and a full head taller Xtreme Elite was undefeated and took first place in the tournament This is the first time that a U10 team has won the U12 championship in Soccerfest tournament history
Pictured top row (LtoR) Erin Holliday Makenzie Stenson Sydney Lieb Caroline Ghisletta Rylee Adams-Barnes Alexis Lipary Bottom Row Malorie Hill Laila Flahiff Kennedy Gustin Sofia Lera Maya Lieb Sierra Sampaio Ava Edwards Saman-tha Schuler The girls are coached by Phil Raines Mitch Edwards Jim Higgins and Brianna Rios
Pictured Helena Ban Brielle Duarte Amanda Monahan Courtney Wagner Nicole Abudayeh Gianna Betti Gabriella Bello Ananda Walker Eva Hesselroth Maeve Gagnon and Liliana Bailey Coaches are Paul Betti Brian Gagnon and Mike Monahan Submitted by Josh Bello
Diablo Valley College will once again host a summer baseball camp Camp is open to high school graduating seniors and juniors with school approval The six-week half unit credit summer baseball class will be held on Mondays from 130-330pm and Fridays from 9-11am The camp will be run by Steve Ward DVC Head Baseball Coach and CCCBCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002 To apply for the camp enroll in DVC for summer 2015 session and enroll in KNICA 199-3443
Pictured on the top row (L to R) are Eric Lamothe Chris Logan Gage Messier Matthew Cousin Ryan Salvato Trace Bechter and Justin Griffin Bottom row Richard Kong Lucas Zaragoza Jesse Guerra Ben Carr Trevor Stambaugh Dylan Brown Alex Stephenson and Micah Maule Photo courtesy of Jeff Eide
AHS softball is undefeated in league and 14-3 overall (as of 429) Cara DiMercurio (pictured) hit two home runs vs Dougherty Valley resulting in a 5-1 victory AHS baseball is 12-5 overall losing their undefeated league status on 428 to Dougherty Valley 1-0 Pictured is Angelo Martino at bat Donrsquot miss their upcoming home games View home game schedules at wwwourcommunityfocuscom and click the HS sports button on our homepage
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
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Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
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PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
22 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Strawberry and Basil JamINGREDIENTS2 cups sugar1 large lemon zested and juiced2 large or 4 small basil leaves2 pints fresh strawberries hulled amp halvedDIRECTIONSCombine the sugar lemon zest and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 35 minutes until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly Cook until a small amount of the juice gels on a very cold plate about 30 minutes more (I keep one in the freezer) Pour carefully into two sterile pint canning jars and place either one big or two small basil leaves in each jar Either process in a water bath for 10 minutes or keep refrig-erated Refrigerated jam will keep for a couple of weeks
Strawberry Rhubarb PieINGREDIENTS3 cups fresh rhubarb cut into frac12 inch pieces3 cups fresh strawberries hulled and halvedfrac34 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchfrac12 teaspoon kosher saltfrac14 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)Pastry for a double crust pieDIRECTIONSCombine strawberries rhubarb sugar cornstarch salt and vanilla in a large saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes Bring mixture to a boil and stir gently until thickened Remove from heat and let cool 1 hour Preheat oven to 375 Spoon filling into pastry lined pie pan Place top crust on and crimp edges Cover edges with strips of aluminum foil Cut vents into top and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar Bake 30 minutes and remove foil from edges Bake 15 more minutes until golden brown Cool 30 minutes before serving Serve with vanilla ice creamServes 6
In the GardenMay Day Signals Sweet Farmersrsquo Market FindsBY LESLEY STILES May Day lies flush with fond memories in my mind new dresses gloves and hats for the girls and suits for the boys in my family from Easter Maypole dances queens and flower crowns figured large in the celebrations at Christ the King where we attended grade school Ceremony around May Day goes back to druids and the Lady of the Lake which I identify with every time I go into the magic of my backyard or a beautiful garden around water Earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the Floralia a festival in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers and they are also associated with the Gaelic Beltane a traditional summer holiday in many pagan cultures In the 1500s King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a good luck charm He generously offered a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court
At the beginning of the 20th century it was customary to give a sprig of lily of the valley on May first To this day we still give lilies to each other at spring celebrations in my family Cherries hit farmersrsquo markets with a slow burn come May Day and continue along through the end of June joined by cousins blueberries and bosom buddies strawberries and raspberries Organics are readily available at most of the local markets and are worth the sugar sweet tongue teasing flavors every bite of the way May also offers up prime salad days with greens going crazy before the scorch-ing summer high noon temperatures move in gracing tomatoes corn beans and peppers with rapid growth while chal-lenging lettuce and greens May is a great time to burrow pumpkin seeds into friable dirt corners and climbing areas for spirited Halloween carving and holiday pies Japa-nese cucumbers are incredibly sweet and easy to grow rewarding gardeners with a tenderly crunchy treat Eggplants dazzle with brilliant colors and their flavors are mesmerizing when grilled with olive oil and garlic If you can find them get Pa-dron Peppers planted in your garden You will be blessed with a long voluptuous crop of small emerald peppers one in ten will scorch your mouth and the other nine are so good itrsquos worth chancing the tenth Sauteacute the little gems in hot olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt then devour them hot like popcorn -- seeds stems and all With the drought at extreme levels it is even more important to get that drip system in no matter how simple to keep a regular water schedule on your veg-gies while conserving at the same time I lowered my water bill dramatically a few years ago when I installed my drip system on timers The timer part is key to the great cropwater conservation part Hike early and often Lesley Stiles is a graduate of the Cali-fornia Culinary Academy sustainable ca-terer and school garden educator Contact Lesley at lesleystilescomcastnet wwwlesleystilesblogspotcom and visit her new website wwwlesleystilesfoodscom
Our Professional Staff
2310 ldquoDrdquo Bates Avenue (Near HWY 4)
Concord CA Mon- Fri 7 - 5 bull Sat 9 - 2
925-798-7525 bull 1-800-566-8534
Come visit our designer showroom
Knowledgeable Sales StaffLarge Selection in Stock
Designer Quality at Affordable PricingNext Day Delivery
Best Price in Town
themouldingcompanycom
Showrooms also in Santa Clara amp Milbrae
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
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SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
23ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Pair UpItalian BrunchBY MARIA TERRY Sunday brunch is a fun alternative to a dinner party and gives us a reason to pop open a bottle of sparkling wine before noon Whether it is served straight out of the bottle or mixed with your favorite fruit juices sparkling wine is the quintessential brunch beverage Italian sparkling wine is called Spumante or Frizzante Spumante is fully sparkling and Frizzante has slightly fewer bubbles Here are three different Italian sparkling wines to pair with Italian-inspired recipes to create a
memorable Sunday brunch Start the party off with a tray of Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream Cheese These toasted bread appetizers are topped with creamy cheese smoky salmon and tiny sour capers Pair with Prosecco from Italyrsquos Veneto region It is made from eponymous Prosecco grapes and is usually off-dry The slight sweetness in the wine will counter balance the tart flavors of the capers and bubbles will cut the richness of the salmon and the cheese Your main course is a savory Crab Cake Benedetti (Go to wwwourcommu-nityfocuscom and click Food+Drink) This Italian spin on eggs Benedict substitutes doughy salty focaccia bread for the classic English muffin and lemon-basil cream sauce for the hollandaise Crab cakes are the star of the dish and a crunchy alternative to ham Plan to prepare the components before your guests arrive and assemble the Benedetti at the last minute Partner with Italyrsquos most elegant sparkling wine Franciacorta It is made using the meacutethode-champenoise technique where the bubbles are formed inside the bottle
Smoked Salmon Crostini with Dilled Cream CheeseINGREDIENTS1 French baguette sliced into long ovals (about 16)Olive oil and kosher salt4 ounces smoked salmon2 tsp non-pareil capers4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature2 tablespoons chopped fresh dillZest and juice of 1 lemonKosher salt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSIn a small bowl combine the cream cheese fresh dill lemon zest and lemon juice Sea-son the mixture with salt and pepper Drizzle olive oil on bread slices and sprinkle with salt Bake at 275deg for 15 minutes Cool Top each crostini with cream cheese mix-ture a thin slice of salmon and 3-4 capersYield 4 Servings
Marscarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry SyrupINGREDIENTS1 large egg12 cup milk14 cup sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract divided1 12 cups cold mascarpone cheese2 tablespoons blackberry liqueur8 thick (12 to 34 in) slices of day-old white bread14 cup maple syrup2 12 cups blackberries2 tablespoons butterDIRECTIONSWhisk egg milk sugar cinnamon and 12 tsp vanilla together in a large bowlIn a separate bowl stir together mascar-pone remaining 1 tsp vanilla and the liqueur Spread mascarpone mixture over 4 bread slices top with remaining slices Remove crusts and cut in thirds making long rectangles (soldiers)Cook maple syrup and berries in a small covered saucepan until berries start to break down 5 to 10 minutes Remove from heatHeat a large heavy frying pan swirl butter in pan Dip soldiers in egg mixture then cook turning to brown on each side until crisp 4 to 8 minutes total Serve soldiers with ramekins of syrup to drizzle or dipYield 6-8 Servings
ONLINE EXTRAFor Crab Cake Benendetti go towwwourcommunityfocuscom
rather than in a tank Like classic French champagne the grapes in Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir although other Pinot varieties can be included Franciacorta is dry and its subtle flavors wonrsquot overpower the delicate flavor of the crab Furthermore the fine bubbles will cleanse the palate after the egg and the cream Since Franciacorta is produced in small quantities a Brut Sparkling wine will substitute nicely if you canrsquot find one A sweet ending calls for Moscato drsquoAsti Slightly less fizzy than Prosecco Moscato drsquoAsti is called Frizzante instead of Spumante This lower pressure means that it is closed with a standard cork instead of
a wired down one like in most sparkling or Spumante wines Moscato drsquoAsti is also lower in alcohol because the fermentation is stopped sooner so the wine can retain its traditional sweetness Stuffed Mascarpone French Toast Soldiers with Warm Blackberry Syrup is a decadent pairing with Moscato drsquoAsti The filling between the bread is Ita-lyrsquos Mascarpone cheese which is generally less tangy than American cream cheese To me it tastes like super-thick unsweetened whipped cream So go on Pair Up Maria Terry is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area wwwLaSommelierrecom
Dr Melissa Hubiakdrhubiakskinsciencemedspacom
9253342210
Stephanie Knight Licensed Clinical Estheticianstephknightskinsciencemedspacom
9253815627
As a physician owned and operated medical spa you can be assured that you are getting the
highest quality care Welcome to Skin Science
A UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE
SERVICES
BotoxFillers
JuvedermRestylaneDysport
MicrodermabrasionChemical Peels
Skin Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Acne Rosacea ampAnti-Aging
PRODUCTS LatisseObagi
SkinCeuticals
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
24 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
In the MixCall it Classic or Geezer Rock if You Want but Wear it ProudlyBY PAUL COTRUVO ldquoI hope I die before I get old (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquo was the rally cry sung by The Who in 1965 encapsulating all that lsquo60s rebellious spirit But what did Pete Townshend really mean when he wrote those lyrics I mean how old is old Was it a metaphor for onersquos youthful spirit or an actual age After all The Who is celebrating their 50-year anniversary this year and will be touring the world Will ldquoTommy can you hear merdquo take on a whole new meaning And ldquoWho are yourdquo No really who are you Have they reached their ldquooldrdquo yet Last I checked Miracle Ear or Life Alert did
not sponsor them I donrsquot think any of the lsquo60s bands thought or cared about aging After all they all thought their fame would only last a few years Paul McCartney once said ldquoObviously we canrsquot keep play-ing the same sort of music until wersquore 40rdquo McCartney added ldquoWhen wersquore old men playing lsquoFrom Me to Yoursquo nobodyrsquos going to want to know about that sort of thingrdquo But I think Sir Paul was wrong I think a lot of these bands and musicians still have something to offer Still it is art and who is to say you canrsquot paint past 30 Or sing ldquoHey Juderdquo in your 70s Last month I went to a Fleetwood Mac concert in Oakland It was the return of 71 year-old Christine McVie to the lineup She was on top of her
game and sounded amazing And 66 year-old Stevie Nicks was still twirl-ing like it was 1975 Their energy was unbelievable They definitely have not reached their ldquooldrdquo yet The Grateful Dead are going to reunite this summer for a few shows 73 year-old Bob Dylan has never stopped touring and will be out on the road this summer Aretha Frank-lin James Taylor and Eric Clapton will all be rocking the house I wish I were this old And yes roll out the Visa cards break into the kidsrsquo college funds because The Rolling Stones are back Sponsored by AARP (not really) ldquoI didnrsquot expect to last until fifty myself let alone with the Stonesrdquo Keith Richards said with a laugh in an article last year ldquoItrsquos incredible really In that sense wersquore still living on borrowed timerdquo But what does all of this mean It means I was lucky enough to grow up in the best musical era of all time You canrsquot deny that most of the songs from
the lsquo60s and lsquo70s are timeless and very relevant today And as parents and grandparents from this generation we have all done a great job in carrying this music forward and exposing it to our children -- even if it was because of the latest Rock Band video game or the latest car commercial Call it classic or geezer rock if you want but wear it proudly And the next concert you go to stuff that beer belly into that fad-ing black Kiss t-shirt and donrsquot worry about the age of the musicians or what they look like just feel lucky that these bands are still around to enjoy So how old is old ldquoIrsquom not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation) Irsquom just talkinrsquo lsquobout my g-g-g-gen-eration (Talkinrsquo lsquobout my generation)rdquoThe greatest generation (Ok time for my nap)Quote of the MonthldquoSome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales againrdquo -CS Lewis
1918 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 925-705-70657066 (PHONE) bull 925-705-7067 (FAX)
wwwkobejapanrestaurantcom
Sign up for our BIRTHDAY CLUB on our website and get a FREE MEAL
Up to $30 for your birthday Teppanyaki DinnerPlease go to our website wwwKobeJapanRestaurantcom
and click Sign-Up for Our Birthday ClubSpecial Oers
MAYSPECIAL
2 Eggs with your choice of 12 waffle or 2 flapjacks
and 2 strips of baconor 2 sausage links or 12 ham
$699 All Day Everyday
BREAKFAST amp LUNCH
PLEASANT HILL2390 Monument Blvd
687-4100Kohls Shopping Center
Country Cookinrsquo at itsOld Fashioned Best
Happy Motherrsquos DayHappy Motherrsquos Day
Overall BestRestaurant
1922 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill bull 925-566-8971Wencesrestaurantcom
Brunch bull Lunch bull Dinner
Join us for our Early Bird specials Monday-Thursday 3-6pm amp Friday 3-5pm
New exciting menu to choose from
Overall BestOverall Best
Paulrsquos Picks May 3 The Angry Brians Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
May 21 Dan DeShara Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 8pm
May 23 Mark Blasquez Roccorsquos Pizzeria 2909 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek 830pm
May 23 Caroompas Room Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 24 The Von Trapps Pleasant Hill Summer by the Lake Concert Series City Hall
100 Gregory Ln 6pm
May 30 Garageland Rodeo Dallimontirsquos 1932 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill 9pm
May 31 The Sunday Paper Armandorsquos 707 Marina Vista Martinez 4pm
ONLINE EXTRAFor Local Live Music Listings go to
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
25ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
KidFestrsquos Silver AnniversaryCelebrate with Us Memorial Day Weekend
Memoral Day Weekend
May 23-24-25Sat amp Sun 10 am - 6 pm bull Mon 10 am - 5 pm
Downtown Concord
Admission $6 per person with canned food donation $7 without donation
Babies under 24 months and seniors 65+ FREE
FREE Goody Bag to first 500 families
each day
wwwKidFestConcordcomProduced by
(925) 671-3287AttrActions progrAms amp schedule subject to chAnge
KidFest at Mt Diablo High School 2450 Grant St Concord
3 shows a day Free with admission
Entertainment stageKidrsquos Town AmericaBounces and Crawls
Face Painting bull Spin Art Balloon Art amp Handprints
Saturday Spring Diversity FestivalMonday Memorial Day Ceremony 1230 pmMonday Sports Field of Dreams
PlusEclectic Food Court
Ferris Wheel amp 15 other ridesPony Rides amp Petting Zoo
Exhibitor Booths
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora The Explorer
MEET YOUR FAVORITES
BayAreaFestivals BayAreaKidFest KidFest
Scenes and Stories from
Elaine Horn is Dorothy 11 am 1 amp 3 pm daily
Aussie Kingdom shows 1130 am 130 amp 330 pm dailyExhibits open all day Meet animals from Australia up close
Kent Family Circus12 bull 2 bull 4 pm daily
Dora appearance compliments of
Concord Disposal Service reduce bull reuse bull recycle bull respect bull recover
A Garaventa Company
Voted Best Festival 2010-2014
by readers of Claycordcom
Sunday 10 am-6pm bull Oakland Zoo bull Concord Police K-9 Unitbull Pet Adoptionsbull Exhibitions amp Info
For the safety of all pets are not allowed to be brought on PetFest grounds
NEWthis year
KidFest proceeds benefit local education youth sports amp health non-profits
Bay Area KidFest is coming May 23-25 Memorial Day weekend in downtown Con-cord The Bay Arearsquos longest-running family event has all kinds of special attractions as it celebrates its Silver Anniversary (1990-2015) including the addition of PetFest all day Sunday The three-day festival includes non-stop entertainment on the community stage Aussie Kingdom show and exhibit with kangaroos wallabies and other birds and animals from Down Under Kent Family Circus KidArt activities Sponge-Bob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer Kidrsquos Town America bounces and crawls sports and many more events to stimulate learning and exploration while presenting parents with new ideas and opportunities through arts amp crafts exhibitor booths food court 20 rides and much more KidFest also showcases community groups dedicated to families and children while celebrating the value and impor-tance of families as a key part of a healthy community
All entertainment attractions sports and art activities are included in the low price of admission Everyone bringing a can to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano gets $1 off admission Babies under 24 months and seniors 65 and older are free Those donating canned food get in for $6 and all others pay $7 Rides and eclectic food court charge separately from admission price KidFest takes place in downtown Concord 2450 Grant St just off Hwy 242 Visit wwwKidFestConcordcom for more information
12th annual Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival Saturday May 23 10am-6pmThis event has been held at Todos Santos Plaza for the past 11 years and has joined with KidFest The main stage will have a variety of international performing groups from 11am to 2pm The South Asian Behavioral Health amp Training Foundation will have colorful perform-ing artists on stage and a variety of exhibitors in the Spring Diversity (Baisakhi) Festival section at KidFestBay Area PetFest at KidFest Sunday May 24 10am-6pm Bay Area PetFest part of the Silver Anniversary Bay Area KidFest includes all things dogs cats reptiles and other animals with exhibitions by Concord Police K9 unit and Oakland Zoo Pets available for adoption plus information goods and services of pet food fashion and grooming Sorry pets canrsquot be brought on the grounds due to safety concerns for our thousands of young children For more information visit wwwBayAreaPetFestcom5th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 1230pm Ceremony will be held on the main stage with civic officials and features US Navy Band veteran Deborah Del Mastro performing the armed services theme songs and the ldquoStar Spangled Bannerrdquo with the Mt Diablo High School Jr ROTC color guard Veterans of each branch of the service will be encouraged to take part while their respective service song is played Del Mastro originated the role of Sr Robert Anne in the Nunsense touring show and was a cast member of Beach Blanket Babylon Field of Dreams May 25 10am-5pmA variety of sports organizations will be on hand with fun activities and instruction in base-ball football basketball soccer tennis lacrosse diving volleyball track and other sports in our 3rd annual Field of Dreams presented by SportStars magazine
KIDFEST EVENT SCHEDULE
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
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FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
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2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
26 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Spring Concerts
High School NewsMDUSD Community Meeting for College Park Dr Nellie Meyer superintendent of the Mt Diablo Unified School District is con-ducting community meetings at high schools throughout the district to talk about progress on the districtrsquos LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) and implemen-tation of Common Core State Standards Dr Meyer will visit College Park at 6pm on Thursday May 7 in the multi-use room Speech and Debate TournamentsNorthgate sophomore PJ Gaughan has qualified for the NCFL (National Catholic Forensic League) National Championship held later this month in Fort Lauderdale Florida and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Cham-pionship in Dallas Texas this June Junior Andrew Zucker and senior Ayse Trail also qualified for the NCFL National Championship On the Northgate Instrumental Music Facebook page PJ said ldquoI used the skills of practice dedication and performing that I learned in band to make this happen once again proving what you learn in band can translate to anything else you dordquoNorthgate Students to Play in Jazz FestivalThe Monterey Jazz Festival announced that Eric Nakanishi (NHS senior alto sax) and Jonah Moss (NHS junior trumpet) were selected as lead alto and lead trumpet for the highly competitive 2015 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra which brings together 21 of the brightest high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band This year the orchestra will meet September 15-20 for an extended residency at the Monterey Jazz Festival that culminates in a main stage performance with artist-in-residence Wynton MarsalisAlhambrarsquos CoffeehouseThe creative writing program at Alhambra High is brewing with originality The class presents the 29th Annual Backroads Coffeehouse on Thursday May 28 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Building The evening will showcase the studentsrsquo artistic talents by bringing together student poets musicians and dancers This stirring community event begins at 7pm and coffee from Mountain Grounds will be provided during intermission Canrsquot make it to the Coffeehouse Class work can also be viewed on their web-site backroadspoetrycom Student Andrew Silva has played a significant role as Webmaster and image maker for Backroads and said ldquoI created the website and logos I keep the site up to date and I email potential donors Starting this year we decided to host the website (backroadspoetrycom) to showcase our local talent online 247 as opposed to only annually Basically Irsquom just a student in Mr Schainrsquos creative writing class that enjoys helping get the word out about Backroadsrdquo The class also publishes an annual magazine called Backroads due to be released this month As an archive of the poetry read at the coffeehouse the magazine includes photography and illustrations to compliment the poems Although Cof-feehouse is a free community event a donation box for collecting funds will be present to help support next yearrsquos magazine
Martinez Grange is on its way towards getting Martinez Police a new K-9 unitMartinez Grange is always looking for community projects that stand out or have been overlooked for a long time After some brainstorming by Grange mem-bers Seth Kozlowski age 12 and Lenore Delfino age 16 the two came across the need for another police dog for the City of Martinez They have been very busy trying to figure out the best and fastest way to raise the $10000-$12000 it takes to place a trained dog with a handler To get the ball rolling Seth and Lenore are put-ting donation jars in as many businesses around town as possible Lenore designed the label and Seth made slots in the jar tops With a little help from their parents they created a flyer that explains what the fundraiser is all about and how donations in larger amounts can be made in an indi-vidualrsquos or a businessrsquo name Over the years these honored four-legged K-9 heroes have done their job for
our community and losses through illness death and retirement have left a need for an additional K-9 unit They are important to any police force and having them in our town gives the department a critical ad-vantage A K-9 officer can sweep a building in seconds making the officerrsquos job safer by alerting them to danger and drugs in ways that humans cannot Having an ad-ditional K-9 can also give other dogs a day off for a break or to recover from illness or injury So while you are shopping in down-town Martinez or anywhere else in the city limits please keep an eye out for our RED TOPPED JARS All donations are tax de-ductible After the goal has been met the kids plan to have a celebration thanking the businesses and donors and hopefully the city will get to meet a new K-9 officer If you would like to donate directly or drop us a note to get more information mail to Martinez Grange 853 PO Box 2604 Martinez CA 94553
Martinez GrangeRaising Funds for Police K-9 Unit
Pictured are Seth Kozlowski amp Lenore Delfino from Martinez Grange number 853
Northgatersquos Spring ConcertMay 27 and May 28 at 7pm in The Little Theater Selections will be performed in two acts by the five different choirs including J S Bach arr Russell Robinson by the concert choir Dan-iel J Hall text by Emily Dickinson by the girls choir Cantiamo Zoltaacuten Kodaacutely by Bella Voce the level 3 womenrsquos group Spiritual arr William Henry Smith by Il Coro the all boys group and Harpy and the Fugster by The Madrigals the level 3 mixed group The May 28 concert also includes the senior celebration and slide show Tickets are $6 eachCP Spring Pops Concert On BroadwayMay 29 amp 30 at 7pm the talented students of the College Park High School choirs will present their annual spring pops concert a lively tribute to Broadway musicals Presented in the newly refurbished CPHS multi-use room the concert is jam-packed with hits from Broadwayrsquos golden age and beyond Enjoy songs from West Side Story Phantom of the Opera Les Miseacuterables Jersey Boys American Idiot Rock of Ages and more Tickets are $10adult $7students and staff and $5 students with ASB Additional ticket information can be found on wwwcollegeparkchoirscom
Tired of Old Magazines Donate them NOW Magazines (and soft back books) are needed at the Contra Costa Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez The auxiliary volun-teers deliver some 150 magazines each week to the 14 waiting rooms around the hospital and clinics The magazines help make the long waits bearable Bring magazines to the hospital lobby information desk or the gift shop All personal labels are removed by the auxiliary volunteers before they are delivered For more information please call Gift Shop at (925) 370-5818 or email Rhonda
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
27ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Falconsrsquo Florida TourOrchestra Students Travel Across the Country to Perform
BY DIANA FETTERMAN CP PARENT amp CHAPERONE On April 8 70 members of the Col-lege Park string orchestra and symphon-ic orchestra along with their fearless teacher Mr Jorge Jimenez took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando Florida While the students had many of the expected fun times at Universal Studios Epcot Center Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom they also partici-pated in many learning and performing opportunities during the week-long trip One day was spent visiting Ken-nedy Space Center to learn about the history of our space program After-wards the group visited West Shore High School for a potluck dinner and exchange concert ldquoI really liked the ex-change concert because it was great to hear kids from across the country play The music brought us togetherrdquo said sophomore Kate Brown After a half-day of fun at Disneyrsquos
Hollywood Studios the students participated in a closed-door record-ing session at the Disney Studios They learned what it would be like to be a professional musician with only a short rehearsal before performingrecording their music They got to hear their final efforts played back as the soundtrack to a movie clip Another highlight of the trip was when the students traveled to the
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADSShow them how proud you are
37
Grad Announcements
Amanda Victoria Costantini
College Park To the best granddaughter
ever Congratulations on your graduation
You are smart funny caring loyal hardwork-
ing and destined for great things I am very
proud of you Love always Grandma
Ellen Randall Alhambra High
Congratulations Ellen What a great 4 years
you had at Alhambra Wishing you continued
successes at Cal Poly and the years to come
We are all so proud of you Best of luck Mom
Dad Sam and Jake
Jenna Lauren Carroll College Park We are
so proud of you and canrsquot wait to hear about
your next adventure to UCLA in electrical
engineering UCLA will shine even brighter
as you light up the classrooms music halls
athletic elds and social events We love you
Mom Dad amp Maya
Jordan Spellman-Hess College Park You
are an amazing young lady We are so proud
of you in every way Have a blast at Chico
State You will be missed but loved Mom
Dad James amp Jake
Daniel Sarrasin College Park
Congratulations Daniel on your achieve-
ments you are now ready for lifersquos biggest
challenges and rewards
We are all very proud of you With much
Love Mom Dad and Gianna
Mallory Kujanek College Park We are so
proud of you not just for your academic
achievements but also for the person you
are Congratulations and best of luck at UC
Santa Cruz With much love Mom and Dad
Lindsey Lombardi Carondelet
Congratulations We are so proud of you We
know you are going to do awesome at NAU
We love you Mom Dad and Nick
Kevin Neys College Park We have had the
pleasure of watching you enjoy your roles
in student government water polo and soc-
cer Many goals have been achieved We are
proud and excited for your future at Cal Poly
Love Mom Dad amp Steph
Jack Anderson Coburn Bentley
You make us proud every day and yoursquove
worked hard for the accomplishments wersquore
celebrating this year We love you and are
excited for your next big leap to Arizona Dad
Mom Maddie amp Ben
Brandon Asbjorn Hutslar
College Park We are so proud of the man
yoursquove become You character determina-
tion and drive continue to amaze us Endless
opportunities await you Continue to enjoy
every day of the ride Love Mom Dad Dane
Cole and Devin
Brian Huitt Bentley Congratulations on
your graduation I am so proud of your hard
work and dedication It has been very reward-
ing to watch you grow into the responsible
and independent person you are Love you
Mom
Jacob Adam Mikesell aka ldquoJakerdquo College
Park Jake is excited to be graduating June
2014 While at College Park Jake enjoyed
swimming water polo and participating in
band Jake will be starting George Washington
University in Washington DC in the fall
Ad Rates
bull Text Only $20
bull Photo amp Text$45
HATS OFF TOTHE GRADS
Send announcements to infoourcommunityfocuscom Deadline is the 2nd Friday of each month Photo must be in jpeg format
1 MB miniumum size Maximum of 35 words per ad
Group photo Taken at Universal City Walk
University of Central Florida where they worked with Arthur Pranno the director of orchestras He was really engaging with the students working with them on a current piece and sharing tips and anecdotes to make their performance even better ldquoHe made me want to go and practice the piece more He also made me think about continuing to study music in collegerdquo said sophomore Bianca Gaiton-Ochoa
Amidst sweltering heat and humidity the students persevered and performed at the outdoor stages in downtown Disney and the Univer-sal City Walk in full formal attire The students were amazing representatives of College Park and Pleasant Hill Thank you to all the family friends and com-munity members who donated funds to making this trip happen The students will likely never forget this trip
(L to R) Aleksi Hieta Mr Jorge Jimenez Kai Barnes
(L to R) Julia Schlictmann Rae Perez Alissa Bernabeo Lauren Canale Erin Cooney Photos by Diana Fetterman
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
28 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
PH Rec amp ParkUpcoming Events and Activities
Fun begins here
Register Now pleasanthillreccom | (925) 682-0896
PLEASANT HILL RECREATION amp PARK DISTRICT
Trips amp Adventures
LEGOSreg
Pre-registration $7dayPre-registration + Transportation $9dayDrop In Punch Card (10 visits) $90Transportation for Drop In (10 rides) $30Annual membership required $35 $25 (Dist Res)
Monday-Friday | School Dismissal - 600 pm
Fall 2015ndash2016After-School Program
Questions phteenscenecom | (925) 691-5645
the Teen Center
Limited time Priority FALL registration available May 1ndash30 2015
bull First month fees due by May 30th to hold place in programbull After 530 any remaining spots will be based on availability only
Register for 2015 SUMMER CAMPS Join us for a summer of fun PH Rec offers a wide variety of preschool youth and teen summer camps June through August 2015 Visit pleasanthillreccom for details2015-2016 Pleasant Hill Preschool Regis-tration Now OpenClasses for age 26 years through Pre-K For more information visit pleasanthillpre-schoolcom or call Preschool Director Sarah Smith at (925) 676-5200 Ext 626PH Dolfin Swim Team Have Fun Swim FastRegistration for Pleasant Hill Dolfin Swim Team is now open through May 22 2015 at the District office 147 Gregory Lane For more info call (925) 682-0896 or visit pleasanthilldolfinscomAdult CORNHOLE Bag Toss Drop InTuesdays 7-9pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd Try out the latest adult sports craze Experienced players teach proper pitching techniques rules and game strategies $5 per person Pay at the door Visit pleassanthillrecsportscom for info on summer cornhole play EVENTSPancake Breakfast May 3 830 - 1030am at the Chateau Room PH Senior Center 233 Gregory Lane Enjoy a stack of flapjacks with eggs sausage and orange juice Adults (11 amp Up)
$5 Children (5-10) $3 and Children (4 amp under) FREE Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club PLANT SALE May 9 9am-2pm at the Winslow Center 2590 Pleasant Hill Road A wide selection of plants on sale Visit pleasanthillreccom for more info MARK YOUR CALENDARSJune 18 - FREE 6th Annual Worldrsquos Larg-est Swimming Lesson For ages 4-15 from 10-1030am check in at 930am Location PH Aquatic Park 147 Gregory LaneJune 20 - Family Camp Out Check in Sat 3pm check out Sunday 10am at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 4 - Fun amp Games in the Park After Downtown parade at Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneJuly 17-18 - 6th Annual Blues and Brews Festival Pleasant Hill Park 147 Gregory LaneAugust 9 - American Iron Car Show 10-3pm Crescent Drive Downtown Pleas-ant HillSeptember 28 - Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic Location Contra Costa Country Club Inter-ested in sponsoring Contact Bob Berggren at (925) 682-0896
Pleasant Hill Recreation amp Park District Community Center received the 2014 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Facility by the California Park amp Recreation Soci-ety (CPRS) This year marks the second straight year that the district has gar-nered an award for facility excellence by CPRS ldquoAfter the long journey to make our new community center a reality receiv-ing the CPRS awards is the frosting on the cakerdquo said PHRPD General Manager Bob Berggren ldquoThis award is much more than recognition of an excellent build-ing design It represents the culmination of incredible collaborative efforts be-tween our district board of directors our dedicated staff the Dahlin Architecture Group DL Falk Construction and the en-tire Pleasant Hill community
Community Center Award
Sandra Bonato Board Chair with Henry Perezalonso CPRS Region 1 Rep
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
29ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Wish Upon A StarPresented by the Peter Pan FoundationBY GINA CAMPO The Peter Pan Foundation brings fantastic music and magic to the DVC stage Memorial Day weekend May 23-25 in its annual production of its blockbuster show Wish Upon A Star With pirates princesses and villains this show delights all ages There are eight performances over the course of the weekend showcasing the talents of more than 200 performers ages 7 to adult The original musical writ-ten and directed by Peter Pan Founda-tion founder president and director Leslie Noel takes Peter Pan and friends on a whirlwind journey through all the beloved fairytale favorites While Wish Upon A Star is a thorough-ly entertaining production it is much more Proceeds from the show benefit Childrenrsquosrsquo Hospital Founded in 2007 The Peter Pan Foundation offers the best of all
worlds ndash a place for young hearts to learn to fly though the creative and musical arts and teaching kids the value and benefit of philanthropy and giving back to the community ldquoThe Peter Pan Foundation was created to help everyone find that power and strength within themselves to teach them to use it for good and to inspire them to make a differencerdquo said Leslie Noel ldquoEvery one has a little Peter Pan in-side a child who never truly grew up but who has the power to teach the world to flyrdquo Bring the whole family and come watch all your favorite stories come to life in this musical extravaganza While tickets can be purchased at the door nearly every performance last year was sold out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly rec-ommended Tickets can be purchased at httpwuas2015brownpaperticketscom
Photo Credit Thom Hayes
PLAN INCLUDESTRUST AGREEMENTPOUR OVER WILLGUARDIANSHIP
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTYHEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
LAW OFFICES OF LAUREN SMYKOWSKI
1255 treat blvd ste 300walnut creek ca 94597
wwwsmykowskilawcom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
COMMUNITY FOCUS ONLINE
Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
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ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
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Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
30 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
awai`i and volcanoes are synony-mous The islands were created from lava-fed lands rising up out
of the ocean and cooling Today volcanic action still grows the Big Island one foot at a time On rare occasions the island grows by tens of feet in just hours Islanders see themselves as part of the fabric of life and they speak of the Goddess Pelersquos gift of creation with reverence and respect Oth-ers may overlook that these original lands once belonged to the native cultures of the Pacific western expansionism conquered them no differently than they conquered the aboriginal peoples and lands within mainland USA As a result natives strug-gle to honor their history and place in the midst of rampant development and tour-ism The islanders may be ldquoAmericansrdquo by name but their culture is as different from ours as their food music and language their grip on the land resources and island life is slipping away While driving to Volcano National Park we sampled the goods at Punalursquou Bakery and they were well worth the effort A bluff nearby overlooks the most southern point of the United States its latitude being be-low that of Key West Florida The landscape slowly changes from lush green to pasture lands and rolling hills to uplifted lava flows topped with short scrawny shrubs Enter-ing the park we read a warning sign about closed roads due to the venting of (toxic) sulfur dioxide With caution we drove to the Jaggar Museum and monitoring sta-tion Spellbound we watched as a plume of gas shot high into the air but within the crater boundaries During heavy magma flow periods at night people witness the red glow and steam as molten lava enters the ocean waters We retreated to the elegant newly rebuilt Volcano House an upscale lodge with commanding views of the crater and surrounding lands The food though expensive was worth the stop Steam vents appear all along the road through the park reminding people that the land beneath them is quite active One learns quickly not to take anything for granted here Pele is busy at work and keeps a
sharp eye on us all After we visited the magnificently beautiful Akaka Falls State Park we experi-enced one of our favorite adventures just north of Hilo along the verdant western coastline Water cascades down into a narrow and deep canyon surrounded by
Vardasrsquo AdventuresThe Big Island of Hawairsquoi
H
Story and Photos by Christopher Vardas
lush vegetation and brilliantly large flowers that surely served as an inspiration for the movie Avatar Afterwards we stopped in at the little village called Honomu Like most great adventures they occur when you get off the beaten path get out of your car and encounter the world face-to-face
We found another local bakery (of course) used clothing store (tons of Hawaiian shirts) a few small eateries and a hair salon run by two transplants who had found a bit of paradise for themselves and generously shared great stories about the town A few miles north of Honomu we found one of the most spectacular oceanside stops Laupahoehoe State Roadside Park Our final great adventure took us on a dinner cruise from the port of Kona down to Cookrsquos Inlet south about 25 miles The native lecturer on-board revealed a great deal of the ancient history of the land the indigenous peoples and life after the white man appeared On arrival at Cookrsquos Inlet we enjoyed a casual light dinner music and the most-eye-popping sunset I have ever witnessed As low clouds moved in slowly toward the coastline the setting sun illuminated the sky in bursts of deep orang-es reds and purples I heartily recommend spending some time in the water Hawai`i is about water and light itrsquos about a feeling you cannot get anywhere else Yes Hawai`i is expensive and takes effort to get there Allow time to experi-ence the quality of life and see the island through the veil of commercial develop-ment restaurants and shops We saved big dollars by eating all breakfasts and almost all dinners in We took small snacks and ate lunch out nearly every day We took time to talk with everyone we could A guide at a coffee plantation tour gave us a tip on a great place for lunch (the best casual place turned out to be The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook) Trip Advisor and its mem-bership group alerted us to local favorite dinner places (Jackie Reyrsquos Ohana Grill in Kona was our favorite) and sights not to be missed If you canrsquot spend 10 years spend 10 days You will not see it all in 10 days or 20 or perhaps in a lifetime but get in touch with that elusive feeling of the island spirit of Aloha The Hawaiian experience is not a place but a feeling I suspect you will come back changed in a wonderful way We did Visit wwwourcommunityfocuscom to view more photos of Hawairsquoi from vardas-photographycom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
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ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
31ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Special Olympics Relay for LifeHosts Local Community Events Butterflies To Fly at May 30 Relay Special Olympics Northern Califor-nia (SONC) is a sports and competition program for 17777 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who com-pete year-round in 156 competitions for 11 different sports Special Olympics ath-letes participate at no cost to the athletes or their families and this program takes place evenings and weekends Founded 20 years ago in Lafayette and headquartered in Pleasant Hill Special Olympics Northern California currently serves 47 counties from the Oregon border to Monterey Kings and Tulare counties and is part of the global organization of Special Olympics Athletes do not need previous sports experience and volunteer coaches pro-vide training and guide them in practice and at competitions Special Olympics requires the extraordinary support and time of 17140 volunteers and volunteer coaches Special Olympics is about more than just sports ndash itrsquos training for life Athletes build meaningful friendships with their teammates coaches and volunteers The social skills developed transcend the
playing field to produce athletes who are productive members of society SONC also provides Special Olym-pics in more than 300 K-12 public schools through its Schools Partnership Program which positively impacts 36560 general and special education students Special Olympics assists schools in initiating Uni-fied Sports ndash where students with and without disabilities compete on the same team and other sports during the school day General education and special edu-cation students work together to create climates of inclusion acceptance and respect on campuses and communities Financial support comes almost exclusively from individuals organiza-tions corporations and events Special Olympics Northern California hosts a variety of fun events that the community is encouraged to attend such as the an-nual Bike the Bridges fundraisers at local restaurants golf outings bocce tourna-ments and more To find an event register an athlete or become a volunteer visit wwwSONCorg or join us at wwwFacebookcomSONorCal
Nearly 100 Monarch butterflies will be released at this yearrsquos Pleasant Hill Relay For Life to symbolize ndash ldquoon the wings of hoperdquo ndash a wish for the end of cancer in our lifetime The 2015 Relay will be held the weekend of May 30-31 at the Pleasant Hill Middle School track It is an awareness and fund raising event for the American Cancer Society The 10am kickoff on Saturday will salute cancer survivors and the butterflies will be released later that morning The Relay continues overnight to signify that cancer never sleeps and neither does the
fight against it Family-friendly the Relay is open to all who may wish to walk the track or partici-pate in fun events A ldquokids zonerdquo will have activities for children A solemn Luminaria ceremony will be held after sundown to remember those who are fighting or have lost the fight against cancer The evening will be illumi-nated by glow sticks Details about the PH Relay can be found on its website httprelayforlifeorgpleasanthillca by e-mailing relayforlifephyahoocom or by calling 925-944-4898
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FORbull Local event listings from our calendar
bull Special oers from local businesses
bull Insights from our community and much morehellip
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Now More Than a Newspaper a Community Hub
wwwourcommunityfocuscom
Redesigned Website
Updated Newspaper
NEWSLETTER
wwwfacebookcomcommunityfocus
Interactive Calendar
OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN
EVENT FOR FREE
CLICK
ONMarch
24
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
32 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
County News
ooup
I didnrsquot choose to have cancer but I CAN choose where I receive my care
Conquering cancer with you close to you
wwwmdsogroupcomCONCORD 2571 Park Avenue bull 9256742100
VALLEJO 100 Hospital Drive Suite 110B bull 7075513333
At Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group wersquove been helping patients face the challenge of cancer since 1992 We provide cutting-edge treatment with a collaborative approach that includes other medical specialists and resources to ensure you receive the care and support you need right here in your own community Our team will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs by caring for all of you not just your cancer
Call today to schedule an appointmentOur team is here to assist you
Concord Naval Weapons Station Repurposed The first of its kind a Connected Vehicle - Autonomous Vehicle testing site has been established at the 5000 acre Concord Naval Weapons Station property In partnership with the City of Concord the Contra Costa Transportation Author-ity and car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes Benz this new initiative called GoMentum Station will test new state-of-the-art advanced technologies for automated features on future vehicles In the quest for a ldquocollision-freerdquo driving experience technology experts will be using the Concord Naval Weap-ons Stationrsquos 20 miles of roads buildings slopes tunnels and other infrastructure to test new automated driving technologies Honda for example has already created a vehicle that can safely conduct automated freeway merging and lane changing This new GoMentum Station makes Central Contra Costa the ldquogo-tordquo hub for new automated car innovations that will ultimately promote smart vehicles to
increase safety on the roads for all our na-tionrsquos drivers For more information please visit gomentumstationnetCentral Countyrsquos First Family Justice Center Now Open The Central Family Justice Center located in downtown Concord celebrated its official grand opening last month and is the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County Now victims of domestic violence sexual assault child abuse elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central Contra Costa County to get comprehensive assistance to get out of harmrsquos way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives Victims and their children are often so frustrated and overwhelmed when maneuvering through the numerous bureaucracies that they forgo the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments Opening Central Countyrsquos first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier
for victims to get the immediate help they need and plan to serve over 2000 individuals each year The Justice Center is located at 2151 Salvio Street Suite 201 at Todos Santos Plaza8th Annual Global Multicultural Concert The public is invited to enjoy an even-ing of music and worship that celebrates diversity in a colorful concert featuring choirs worship bands childrenrsquos choir and dance teams from many of the cultures represented in the Bay Area and beyond Included are participants from Burma and Indonesian worship dance African-Amer-ican Gospel choirs European and Roma-nian Praise Lamb Missionary Menrsquos Choir
Russian Messianic Jew Korean Drum and Body worship China Japanese Childrenrsquos Choir Hispanic Churches Union Band Song amp Harp Pacific Islander and Hawaiian performances and so much more Per-formers are from many different churches and traditions coming together to pour out their hearts in this performance The entire group will perform ldquoAmazing Gracerdquo and ldquoGod Bless America ldquo on the stage as the finale The message of hope and spir-itual strength comes through the music of this unique and inspiring gathering Sunday May 24 6-8pm at Oak Park Christian Center 2073 Oak Park Blvd Pleasant Hill Concert is free donations are accepted
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
33ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
Martinez Senior Activities
Pleasant Hill Senior Activities
818 Green Street Martinez 925-370-8770
233 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 925-798-8788
Linda J WeihofenReverse Mortgage Specialist
9253484267 bull TALK2LWyahoocom
SENIOR CALENDARS SPONSORED BY
Helping you to understand the NEW Reverse Mortgage
Rewards of WalkingPrescriptions for Life The sun is out and flowers are blooming Friendship and fitness are two prescriptions for keeping the golden in your years Why not do both at the same time Walking and swim-ming groups are alive and keeping people well right here in Pleasant Hill The Irvin Deutscher YMCA offers daily classes in water aerobics arthritis aero-bics and lap swimming Fitness and friendships bloom together in these classes Hippocrates said ldquoWalking is manrsquos best medicinerdquo One of the most popular trails in the park district sys-tem is the Contra Costa Canal Trail It is a paved pathway (accessible to wheel-chairs) and meanders along the Contra Costa Canal Many walk its pleasant paths others rest at benches along the way or feed the ducks If you like company on your walks just type in ldquoWalking for Fitness in Pleasant Hillrdquo in your browser (httpwalking-for-fitnessmeetupcomcit-iesuscapleasant_hill) and multiple meet-up sites will appear If you are into fitness and a fast pace or have
chronic pain there is a walking group for youWalking and water fitness canbull Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and strokebull Reduce high cholesterolbull Lower blood pressurebull Reduce risk of colon cancerbull Reduce body fatbull Increase bone density and help pre-vent osteoporosis and osteoarthritisbull Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetesbull Help with overall flexibilitybull Increase mental well beingStay young by staying fit Fit and active people have approx-imately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people In addition fit people tend to sleep bet-ter have better coordination greater flexibility and stronger bones Fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures and are less prone to depression and anxiety Spring is in the air Letrsquos get out there Submitted by the Pleasant Hill Commission on Aging
May 8 - Laugh Love and Learn Senior Live Well Forum 10am-2pm Enjoy a full day of educational and uplifting speakers plus lunch and the opportunity to win raffle prizes All funds raised benefit the Senior Center Care Management Program Tickets Pre-sale $25 (60+ years)$30 (general) At the door (if available) $35 (60+ years) $40 general Call or visit the Senior Center to register No refunds Come early for the Free Ultimate Senior Resource Fair 830 amndash100 pm Over 50 vendors from the local area and free giveaways
May 14 - CMP Series presents ldquoWhich Assisted Living Community is Right for Merdquo 2pm Presented by Lori Bastian Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Presentations are free but space is limited so please call (925) 798-8788 to reserve your spot Spon-sored by the Chateaus of Pleasant Hill
May 22 - Memorial Day Social 130pm Celebrate our veterans with a program featuring PHSCrsquos Golden Notes Choir and Olympic High Schoolrsquos JROTC Ice cream served after the show
May 29 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum the Broadway hit comedy musical about mistaken identities Set in Rome during the early years of the Roman Empire it opens with one of the musicalrsquos most famous songs ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo Tickets at Senior Center $10 pre-sale or $15 day of performance
June 5 - Senior Prom 530pm Want to go back in time to your high school prom Herersquos your chance Dinner dessert photo booth and live music by the Paul Fontes Band Held in Senior Center Chateau Room Tickets $25 per person Advanced ticket sales only (not available at door) Purchase tickets at Senior Center
May 7 - Motherrsquos Day Bingo Special Join us in celebrating Motherrsquos Day with another ldquoSpecial Bingo Dayrdquo All regular games will have a $50 ldquopotrdquo and prizes given out in between Come join the party We start selling ldquopacksrdquo at 12pm games begin at 1pm
May 10 - Motherrsquos Day Pancake Breakfast 8-11am This delicious breakfast in-cludes pancakes or toast sausage eggs orange juice and coffee Everyone is welcome Cost is $400 for adults$250 for children 10 and under Handmade crafts perfect for gifts will be on sale during the breakfast
May 22 - Vagabond Players present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Doors open at 1245pmperformance at 1pmbuffet served after This vaudevillian musical comedyrsquos humor is broad bawdy fast-paced and very funny A rip-roaring farce with famous songs like ldquoComedy Tonightrdquo and ldquoEverybody Ought to Have a Maidrdquo Cost $10 members$12 non-members Enjoy an appetizer buffet after the play Tickets on sale until the deadline Wednesday May 20
May 29 - AARP Refresher Course 10am-3pm with a 30-minute lunch break This one-day 45-hour course is for those who took the 8-hour AARP Driver Safety Training in the past 4 years Either course qualifies you for a mature driver discount with your auto insurance company Check with your insurance agent for details Make checks payable to ldquoAARPrdquo at the time of registration No cash accepted If registration is made by phone mail check to the center prior to class Cost $15 for AARP members$20 for non-AARP members Bring your AARP membership card to the first class Come to the center or call the office to register for this class (925) 370-8770
The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale invites you to join us as we present ldquoGet Happyrdquo May 15th and 16th at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday night and 2pm Saturday Advance tickets are $1600 General Admission $1000 Student $2000 Premium seating Tickets purchased at the door will be $2000 Adult and $1000 Student Tickets can be purchased on our website at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or call 800-838-3006 The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale (DWC) has been entertaining local audiences since 1943 Women from all areas of the San Francisco East Bay share a passion for music and a gratifying sense of communal sharing and fun The group has 35 singers and favors mostly American music in a variety of styles DWC welcomes new members in Septem-ber and January and presents concerts in December and late spring For more informa-tion about DWC visit wwwdiablowomenschoraleorg
Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
34 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
91 Gregory Lane Suite 11 bull Pleasant Hill CA 94523 bull 9256870700 wwwpleasanthillchambercom
Itrsquos Your BusinessConsumers are more likely to do business with a company
if itrsquos a member of their local chamber of commerce
P L E A S A N T H I L L C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
Ann LukePresident amp CEO
Grow your business by ldquogrowingrdquo your employees
wwwjfkuedu
JFK University has partnered with the Pleasant Hill Chamber so that your employees can learn the cutting edge skills needed to keep your business competitive
bull Choose from distinguished masterrsquos and bachelorrsquos degree programs
bull Get practical advice from experienced successful faculty
bull Take advantage of a special 10 tuition reduction available for Pleasant Hill Chamber members
For details contact Marcey Vasumpaur at mvasumpaurjfkuedu or 9259693537
i
Together we can build a stronger business community
Resources to Propel Your Business
BUSINESS RUNWAY 2015
Thursday June 11John F Kennedy University bull 100 Ellinwood Way PH
PH Chamber Members - Registration FREE before June 8thNon-Chamber Members - $15
Access to CapitalldquoShow Me the Moneyrdquo
Lending Panel focused onSmall Business Loans and Micro Loans
sponsored byRegistration 730 amLending Panel 800 - 1000 amResource Fair 1000 - 1130 am
To register online httpbusinessrunway15eventbritecomor contact the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce at (925) 687ndash0700
9 Game Zone Danny Yao (925) 899-9990Century 16 Downtown Pleasant Hill and XD Atta Reqat (925) 288-1371Connolly amp Taylor Richard Munoz (925) 228-4700Digital Audio Visual Solutions Larry Tang (925) 526-5008Brightfern Specialty Foods Bart Bright (925) 381-4315PNC Mortgage - Tom Stockl Tom Stockl (925) 330-4855Vitality Bowls Mark Unterbach (925) 349-6845Diamond City Jewelers Rick Pedro (925) 349-6200Sequoia Signs amp Graphics LLC Tom Schnurr (925) 300-1066Safe Home Cary Kennerley (925) 408-6224The Strong Agency - Farmers Insurance Eric Strong (925) 765-9096Dallimontirsquos Restauraunt Angela Warren (925) 944-5224
Community partnerships such as ours withJohn F Kennedy University benefits all of our members Let your employees know about the tuition discount available for members to advance their education through JFK University
As Henry Ford said ldquoComing together is abeginning keeping together is progress working together is successrdquo
Letrsquos work together to be successful I look forward to talking with you
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
35ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
JENNIFER L MARTIN DDS
Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
401 GREGORY LANE SUITE 126PLEASANT HILL CA 94523
9256768485 FAX 9256760288wwwdrjennifermartincom
General and Family DentistryJANET CONCEPCION-MANALO DDS
tel (925) 229 8890
1029 Arnold Drive Suite 9 Martinez CA 94553(between Walmart and Home Depot)
wwwparkwaysmilesdentalcom
Thank you for voting us your local favorite
New patients are welcome
Scan for info
In-Network with most PPO plans Specials available for non-insured patients
BY TONYA AMOS Spring has sprung and itrsquos a great time to hit ldquorenewrdquo on your health If you noticed yourself getting sed-entary over the winter now is the time to add movement to your life Blooming flowers signal the perfect time to have a yearly medical check-up Exam and lab tests will move you towards a clean bill of health and give you the green light to start or increase an exercise program Spring cleaning your pantry gives you the opportunity to move away from high calorie temptation-evoking low nutritional foods such as chips pretzels and irresistible sweets which can wreak havoc with many at midnight Make a trip to your local athletic store and get a new pair of walking or running shoes New shoes will give your joints the added support needed for comfort and safety When beginning or increasing a workout start out slow and easy The surest way to get injured is to push to the ldquoNo pain no gainrdquo place when coming out of hibernation While working out stay hydrated and find ways to stay consistent Having a workout buddy can be invaluable A brisk walk with a co-worker (in your comfortable new shoes) for
fifteen minutes at the beginning of your day at lunch or the end of your day can work wonders Leaving encouraging notes around your workplace or home with sayings such as ldquoStand up and stretchrdquo or ldquoWalk the stairs before your next phone callrdquo can infuse your day with more movement Take advantage of our beautiful weather replenish your Vitamin D stores in the sun and fill your lungs with fresh air Yoursquoll see that the spring flowers are not the only ones that can bloom nor are the butterflies the only ones to transform and take flight Spring can be your own personal time for renewal Tonya Marie Amos owns Aspire Pilates Center in Concord For more infor-mation please call (925) 680-4400 or go to wwwAspirePilatesCentercom
BY MYRA NISSEN CCH RSHOM(NA) Systemic con-stellation work is an innovative method for identifying and healing the invisible structure of human relationships It is based on the idea that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of our family sys-tem The family system is influenced by trauma Cast a pebble into a pond and ripples emanate out from where the pebble entered the water If we see our family as the pond and the pebble as an event that happened to one mem-ber of the family we can understand how that event can affect the whole The pebble can represent many things perhaps a miscarriage adoption loss of wealth or title murder suicide im-migration etc The ripples from trauma in a family system transcend time passing forward through generations
and they are stored in our bodies or emotions as unconscious discords In a constellation we begin to identify the underlying situations and as we do so the energy that was previously tied up becomes free and people are able to live freer more energetic and healthier lives I am happy to be able to offer Family Constellation Workshops Anneke Hogeland leads the constella-tions Anneke is a psychotherapist and homeopath who has been involved in constellation work for about 15 yearsThis month we have constellations Tuesday May 5 and Saturday May 30 1 ndash 5 pm Please call to register 925-826-3858 Space is limited $150 per-sonal constellation $40 to represent Visit wwwMyraNissencom to learn more
Springtime Time to HealSpring is Your Time to Bloom Systemic Family Constellations
Pilates for Athletes bull Pilates for Dancers Modern Dance
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Core Strength to take your game to the next level
SAMUELSCONSTRUCTION
General Contractor Lic652185
MEMBER
Kitchens bull Bath RemodelingTile bull Cultured Marble
Granite bull Additions Windows bull Doors
Concrete bull FoundationsDriveways bull Patios bull Fences
ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION
PLANS AVAILABLE
samcon60gmailcom bull 9252604448313 Gloria Drive Pleasant Hill
With years of remodels behind us we look forward to helping you make your house the home youve always wanted
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
36 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
BY JIM BONATO Itrsquos a beautiful spring morning all your employees have reported to work your second cup of coffee has given you the jolt you need to get back into work mode the telephone is ringing with customer ordershellipthen BANG The Hayward fault ruptures with a 69 magnitude earth-quakehellipBANG again again again ldquoCrikey when will this shaking stoprdquo you mutter Not soon enough apparently Instincts kick in and you DROP COVER and HOLD ON When the rolling earth stops at last you ask ldquoWhat do I do nowrdquo Life safety must be foremost in your mind ndash your safety and the safety of your employees Your role instantly shifts from manager to leader If you feel that itrsquos safe inside and the building can withstand an aftershock keep your employees there If the building has sustained structural dam-age and it is unsafe to stay inside due to
threat of fire leaking gas sparking electrical activity or falling items have all your em-ployees follow you outside making sure no hazards pose a threat from overhead or in your path Your next job is to count the noses of every employee (as well as customers and vendors who might have experienced the quake with you) to make sure everyone is safe If anyone is trapped beneath rubble or is seriously injured call 911 immediately If the phones donrsquot work send a team of two employees to the police department to report injuries and request assistance Those suffering cuts bruises and broken bones will need first aid until they can get medical assistance It is important to establish a point person when contacting the police depart-ment and utilities to report damage or when inspecting your building further for contacting your key suppliers and vendors to let them know how the quake has affected you and your business and for collecting key documents photos and receipts One of the visual memories of the recent Napa earthquake was the city man-agerrsquos announcement that ldquothe business community is open for businessrdquo Many people will assume the worst so it is critical to the health of your business that your cus-tomers your suppliers and the public are informed at the earliest opportunity of your ability to continue business Your frankness and honesty will give them the confidence they need to continue supporting your business with minimal interruption Following the first uneasy moments of a major quake when life-safety injuries and the safety of your facility have been addressed your next concern is to recover and restore your business to serve your customers Positive active communication to the business community city hall your vendors and your customers is vital to keep business coming your way Next month Irsquoll provide a list of web-sites and vendors that could be very helpful in preparing your business to withstand the next major quake Jim Bonato is the Pleasant Hill CERT Program Manager
BY MICHAEL G HARRIS OD Irsquove been a teacher for over 50 years and always thought the above quote was from some great philosopher or teacher like Aristotle or Socrates But actually it was Calvin Coolidge who said ldquoTeach-ing is one of the noblest of professions It requires an adequate preparation and training patience devotion and a deep sense of responsibility Those who mold the human mind have wrought not for time but for eternityrdquo Regardless of the source I think we all agree that teaching is that special pro-fession that shapes your childrsquos future Thatrsquos why I was delighted to receive The Teacher Wars as a birthday present (Thanks Miss Charlotte and parents) Its author Dana Goldstein chronicles ldquoa history of Americarsquos most embattled professionrdquo The book was more than I bar-gained for (More about ending a sen-tence with a preposition later in this column) Why is this ldquonoble professionrdquo the subject of so much contention The controversy traces back 175 years ago to the beginnings of American public education The questions raised then still echo in the hallways of our schools today Who should teach What should be taught Who should be held accountable for how our chil-dren learn Goldstein tackles these and other questions in this well researched ac-count of a profession that is both loved and hated at the same time Everyone and I mean everyone has an opinion on teachers and teaching Should teachers have tenure Should teach-ers receive merit pay What should or shouldnrsquot be taught Are teacher unions good or bad We need teachers who are truly devoted to their stu-dents We donrsquot need teachers who are simply in it for a paycheck or job secu-rity So how do we attract and keep the best teachers Goldsteinrsquos answer ldquoWe
must focus less on how to rank and fire teachers and more on how to make day-to-day teaching an attractive chal-lenging job that intelligent crea-
tive and ambitious people will gravi-tate towardsrdquo We must end the teacher wars and concentrate on what is best for our childrenrsquos future Goldsteinrsquos book sets us in the right direction When I was young Strunk and Whitersquos Elements of Style was consid-ered the authority on proper writ-ing And you certainly never ended a sentence with a preposition as I did earlier in this column Winston Churchill is credited with saying ldquoThat is something up with which I will not putrdquo In this age of texting and emails Winston would roll over in his grave now that proper writing has taken a backseat to speed and convenience According to Steven Pinkerrsquos The Sense of Style The Thinking Personrsquos Guide to Writing in the 21st Century all the old rules are out the window Itrsquos even OK to write ldquoainrsquotrdquo But we still need to be mindful that what we write is clear un-ambiguous and easily understood For example take the following headline ldquoNew vaccine may contain rabiesrdquo Well I certainly donrsquot want to take a vaccine that has rabies in it Do you Pinkerrsquos book is interesting but certainly not a must read If you want to know whatrsquos considered proper writing today just read your teenagerrsquos latest text Am I the only person on the planet who didnrsquot know who Lena Dunham is Evidently she is ldquothe acclaimed creator producer and star of HBOrsquos Girlsrdquo Her book Not That Kind of Girl is a series of essays about her take on life as a single woman While I found some of the essays mildly amusing I canrsquot recom-mend this book to anyone not used to her potty humor Sorry Lena You are definitely ldquonot my kind of girlrdquo
Read My Mindcopy
Teaching is a Noble ProfessionAfter an EarthquakeImmediate Action
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
37ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BY WEI ZHENG MD As the California drought extends into its fourth year it is safe to assume that this coming summer will be a long and hot one There is no better time than now to start talking about kidney stones Because of dehydration tiny little crystals form in supersaturated urine These crystals aggregate to form a stone nidus which then snowballs into a stone The entire process can take a few weeks but more typically a few months The most common symptom of a kidney stone is the unmistakable backflank pain It is described by many as one of the worst types of pain one can have Other symptoms may include nausea vomiting fever chills blood in the urine or symp-toms that mimic a urinary tract infection The treatment of a kidney stone de-pends on its size and location Stones that are smaller than 4-5 mm have an excellent chance of passing spontaneously Proper pain management good hydration and physical activities are all key for this therapy
to work If the stone is too big to pass on its own it can be treated with one of the fol-lowing treatment options Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) ureterscopy with laser lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy The most commonly used treatment is ESWL This non-invasive outpatient pro-cedure is done under either heavy sedation or general anesthesia and usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes Most patients return to work 1-2 days post procedure The best way to avoid a kidney stone is to practice HYDRATION How do you know you are adequately hydrated Look at the color of your urine It should be light yellow or clear at all times Have fun this summer but remember to keep a bottle of water around and stay well hydrated Dr Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord and Walnut Creek Dr Zheng specializes in the medical manage-ment and surgical treatment of kidney stones He also practices general urology For more information call 925-609-7220 or visit wwwpacific-urologycom
Urology NewsHydrate to Avoid Kidney Stones
EL TAPATIOJOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR
MONDAY - FRIDAY 3 PM TO 6 PMSPECIALS ON HOUSE MARGARITAS amp DRAFT BEERS
FREE CHIPS AND SALSATACO TUESDAY SERVED ALL DAY
authentic mexican restaurant
Open 7 Days Mon - Sat 11AM - 9 PM bull Sundays 10AM - 8PM
40 Golf Club RD Pleasant Hill 9256762420 bull WWWELTAPSCOM
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10 AM - 2 PM
Irsquom not introuble
anymore
I calledHire My Husbandto take care of ourldquoHoney Do Listrdquo
Hire My Husband
925-969-0133
Contractor Lic 943231
wwwHireMyHusbandcom
bull Interior Painting
bull Quality Home Repair Projects
bull Handyman Services
2012 2013 amp 2014 Winner of the Angies List Super Service Award2014 Community Focus Readersrsquo Local Favorite
BY CHRISTINE CHUNG MD I recently saw a patient who had been dealing with squamous cell car-cinoma (SCC) that kept recurring even after three rounds of Mohs surgery I was treating her with radiation to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence After her last treatment with me she asked ldquoDr Chung did I get my skin cancer because of all the Retin-A that Irsquove used for my wrinklesrdquo SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US with over 700000 new cases each year It occurs most frequently on sun-exposed skin in fair-skinned individuals though may also develop in people with darker skin SCC of the skin is associated
with exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun This type of cancer can take many forms including flat red spots painless bumps or scaly patches on the skin Over 90 of skin SCC are cured with local surgical excision like Mohs An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon can look at the cells as they are being removed to ensure that all of the cancer has been fully excised Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing (cryotherapy) radiation ther-apy or a topical cream Some patients may need radiation after surgical exci-sion if the cancer cells have aggressive features such as invasion into the local nerves recurrence after being surgically removed or if the tumor could not be fully excised My patientrsquos skin cancer was most
Skin CancerCan Retin-A Cause Skin Cancer
likely caused by sun exposure rather than the use of Retin-A cream I would note that the use of Retin-A and other topical retinoids can make your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light If you use these products take special care to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screen Join Dr Chung at the Many Faces of Skin Cancer on May 20 630-830pm at the Walnut Creek Library This event
features a panel of skin cancer medical experts who will review early detection prevention risk factors and latest treat-ment options Dr Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology amp Hematology Medical Group She has expertise in treating all types of cancer with a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley For more in-formation call 925-677-5041
Best Mechanic
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
38 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
Make Some Plans may 4 may 9 may 20
may 10 may 5 may 20
may 5 may 9
may 7 amp 8 may 14
may 9 may 16 may 30
may 15 amp 16 may 8 amp 9 may 30
may 21
may 20
Sale to Honor MothersSponsored by the auxiliary all profits benefit patients Contra Costa Regional Medical Center 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez 9am to 4pm Call Linda Waxman Gift Shop Manager for details (925) 370-5818
Book Writing Tips So You Want to Write a Book The Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) presents three local authors to discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers 630pm Walnut Creek Library 1644 No Broadway
Writers Contest AwardsWinners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedorsquos Restaurant 611 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Sign-in is from 11-1130am $20members $25guests Contact Robin Gigoux at ragigaolcom or by phone at (925) 933-9670
Martinez Vintage MarketFormerly the Martinez Peddlers Faire featuring Antiques Collectibles Vintage Repurpose Upcycle and Crafts 8am-4pm Downtown Martinez
Garage Sale20th Annual Westaire Community Garage Sale in Martinez is on Saturday May 30 from 8am to 3pm Free hot dogs and drinks (while supplies last) from 11am to 1pm For directions and more information call Lupe at 925-997-1290
Annual Plant SalePleasant Hill Garden Study Club brings you herbs vegetables drought tolerant plants succulents and colorful flowers for Motherrsquos Day gifts Saturday 9am-2pm Winslow Center grounds 2590 Pleasant Hill Rd 9253239314 wwwphgsccom
Magicians AssemblySociety of American Magicians Assembly 112 meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm Veterans of Foreign Wars 1919 Wendell Lane PH Open to all 9254511292
Leadership PanelThe Contra Costa Womenrsquos Commission in partnership with JFK Entrepreneurial Center is holding a panel discussion with Women of Power from 530-830pm At JFK University 2151 Salvio Street Suite 350 Concord Refreshments will be served Register at wwwwomenscommissioncom
Bel Canto Womenrsquos ChoirFree concert and worship experience at Faith Christian Fellowship on Sunday at 7pm 860 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek
Garden Study ClubBrian Kemble of Ruth Bancroft Garden presents Rare and Unusual Aloes Guests welcome and free 7pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive PH 9259444898 or wwwphgsccom
Crude by Rail TalkAndres Soto Communities for a Better Environmentdiscusses urgent safety issues of transporting oil by rail in CC County 7pm Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd WC Sponsored by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club 9259460469 or wwwdvdemsorg
Celebrate Your CommunityPresented by Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Be our guest for a fun evening as we thank our donors and celebrate our 2015 Community Grant Awards Meet the board of directors and enjoy wine and hors drsquooeuvres 6pm to 8pm Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Dr
Art amp Wine (amp Beer) WalkPresented by AAUW Concord Branch Stroll around Downtown Concord enjoying fine wines craft beers and appetizers viewing beautiful art for sale and meeting local artists 1-4pm Tickets $22 $25 at the door httpconcord-caaauwnet
Get HappyPresented by The Diablo Womenrsquos Chorale at Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 55 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek Show times are 730pm Friday and 2pm Saturday Find tickets info at wwwDiabloWomensChoraleorg or 8008383006
AAUW Garden TourDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Friday amp Saturday 10am ndash 4pm Five delightful gardens Tickets $35 each No children under 12 or pets Purchase online at httpdaw-caaauwnetgarden
Lawn WorkshopBringing Back the Natives Mow no Morsquo How to remove your lawn workshop Pleasant Hill $30 1000ndash300 register at wwwBringingBackTheNativesnet
Sustainable LivingWorkshopRodgerrsquos Ranch Guide to a Healthier Home 10am ndash noon Learn a safer way to maintain a home with non-toxic chemicals and how to be a conscientious consumer Also pick up some drought tips to share with your family
Singer ShowcaseArmandorsquos presents a once-a-month singersongwriter series hosted by Thomas Martin featuring guests from both the local and greater Bay Area music scene Starting at 7pm on the first Monday of each month 707 Marina Vista Martinez
We invite you to join in Memorial Day observances on Monday May 25 to honor Veterans of all wars and conflicts to preserve the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to support those veterans who continue to serve our nation
MARTINEZIn Martinez a 2-part ceremony will begin at the Alhambra Cemetery at 9am and will resume at the All Veterans Monument at Berrellesa Street and Alhambra Ave at 10am The ceremonies at the All Veterans Monument will include a Memorial Day Message presented by EJ Chuck Kohler Remembrance by Richard Philbrook Martinez Veterans Commission with musical selection by the Martinez Community Choir Sara Stafford Director
PLEASANT HILL In Pleasant Hill the Memorial Day observance will take place at the County Veterans Monument Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard at 1pm Elected officials from the federal state county and city governments are invited to speak A firing party will be firing a salute Recorded music will be heard throughout the program Refreshments will be available following the observance A tent and chairs are available for your comfort Please come and reflect your recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
39ourcommunityfocuscom bull may 2015
BUSINESS SERVICE DIRECTORY AD925335NEWS bull wwwourcommunityfocuscom
ADVERTISEbull Reach over 40000 local customers
bull Largest circulation of any local paper
bull Get more for your advertising dollar
Special Shows for Assisted LivingConvalescent Homes amp Hospitals
wwwbuckshotozonebandcomContact Buck bull 925-787-6149
Fun LIVE Musicfrom the 50rsquos thru 80rsquos
For Any Occasion
Buck Shot ampAny ReasonBuck Shot ampAny Reason
LicPR6202
LEADING EDGEPEST MANAGEMENT INC
TERMITE SPECIALISTS
WWWLEADINGEDGEPMCOM800-471-5555
Inspections Eco-Friendly Treatments amp Professional Repairs
53115
Spring CleaningSpecial
bull Call for Same Day Appointments
bull Mon Tue Fri Sat and Sun
bull 9am - 6pm and Some Evenings
bull Drop in nail trimming Sunday amp Mondays
bull Located in and Backed by Central Bark Downtown Martinez
melonie jackson bull 925-822-7858821 Escobar St Martinez
One Dog At A TimeOne Dog At A Time
925-939-1160 bull 1581 Oak Park Boulevard bull Pleasant HillwwwPleasantHillCollisioncom bull email phcollisionaolcom
Collision Repair amp Painting bull Frame Straightening Insurance Claims bull Glass bull Customs
COLLISIONCOLLISIONPleasant Hill
Local Quality You Can Trust
Business Directory
AdvertisersAspire Pilates CenterBay View Yacht ChartersCarlton Senior LivingCity of Pleasant HillCold Stone CreameryColleen Callahan Insurance ServicesColorz Hair GalleryCountry WafflesDeja Vu BoutiqueDiablo OncologyEcoMulch Ellinwood ExterminatorsEl Tapatio
Flaskerud - REMAX TodayForma GymGlenn Allen Team ndash REMAXHaginrsquos AutomotiveHammerrsquos Heating and ACHillcrest Veterinary HospitalHire My HusbandHome Detailers HousekeepingJackrsquos Restaurant amp BarJennifer L Martin DDSKidFestKobe JapanLaw Offices of Daniel L DuReeLaw Offices of Lauren SmykowskiLes Schwab Tires
Linda J WeihofenMartinez Chamber of CommerceMatt Rinn ndash State Farm InsuranceMaureen Ingalls - REMAX AccordMoulding CompanyMt Diablo Solano Oncology Group Myra Nissen CCH RSHOM(NA)Nash Iron WorksOak Park CleanersPacific UrologyParkway Smiles DentalPleasant Hill Chamber of CommercePleasant Hill Rec amp ParkSamuels ConstructionSAFE Credit Union
Senior HelpersShell Western States Credit UnionSkinScience Medical SpaSpecial Olympics Northern CASuzanne Looker Pacific Union InternationalTransform FX FitnessTrio Skincare IncWalnut Creek Chamber of CommerceWalnut Festival AssociationWaters Moving and StorageWencersquos RestaurantYMCA
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom
40 may 2015 bull ourcommunityfocuscom