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what Really Mattersby Dan AshleyABC-7 News Anchor
Family-Friendly KidFest Returns to Concord Memorial
Day WeekendOne of Northern
California’s favorite annual family institutions, Bay Area KidFest, returns to Concord on Memorial Day Weekend for its 24th year with more attractions than ever. KidFest brings three days of family fun Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 25-27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Mt. Diablo High School, 2450 Grant Street in Downtown Concord.
Wild About Monkeys, the most popular KidFest attraction ever, is back by popular demand with three shows daily at 12 noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
New this year is the Zip Line ride that lets festival-goers zoom three stories above the action below.
Also new is SportStars Field of Dreams with sports activities, games and clinics.
Can’t get enough monkeys? Velocity Circus debuts at KidFest, presenting Monkeys in Space, a spectacle sure to please kids of all ages. Three performances daily on the main stage at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
Crowd favorites Clayton Bikes BMX Stunt Team and Radio Disney Crewser are back.
And kids can have their photos taken with Dora and Diego, stars of Dora the Explorer.
Free entertainment includes sports, games, arts and crafts, bounces and crawls that have been KidFest staples for more than two decades.
Again, the Main Stage will feature free nonstop entertainment with music, dance, gymnastics, martial arts and more.
At Noon on Memorial Day Monday,
KidFest presents its annual Memorial Day Program with the United States Marines Color Guard, Mt. Diablo High School Jr. ROTC and patriotic songs.
KidFest is more than just three fun-filled days. It is also a fundraiser for local nonprofits in education, health and youth sports. The festival producer, Bay Area Festivals, Inc., has donated almost $60,000 to such organizations over the past three years.
Tickets: $5 per person with the donation of a canned good for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano. $6 without a can donation. Babies under 24 months and seniors over 64 are free.
Where: Mt. Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St. in Concord.
When: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 25-27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Parking: On-site parking available through the Grant St. entrance at Bacon St. for $5. Free on-street parking and at the city parking garage on Salvio St.
Benefit: Benefits local non-profit educational, health and youth sports organizations.
KidFest is alcohol-free and smoke-free. Sorry, no pets. Complete information at www.KidFestConcord.com or (925) 671-3287.
Books You Can Trust, Writing Contest Winners from Concord and PittsburgOn Friday, April 19, two local writers
were selected as First and Third place winners in the Books You Can Trust “Awesome Moms” Writing Contest.
First Prize went to Kelly Dudziak of Pittsburg for her story titled: “Cherry Flavored Life Saver.” Her prize included a new Kindle Paperwhite Reader and an Amazon Kindle Gift Card valued at $25.
Second Prize was awarded to Boise, Idaho resident, Maureen Kamarales for her story titled: “I Know Your Name is Carol.”
Third Prize winner was Janet Mackenzie Ely of Concord for her story titled: “This was Someday.” Both second and third prize winners received a $25 Amazon Kindle gift
card. All winners will have their stories included in the upcoming Books You Can Trust publication “The Book of Mom: Reflections of Motherhood” available May 1 from their site and Amazon.com in both print and digital format. The winners, and all authors in the publication also receive an ongoing royalty from book sales.
Congratulations to everyone who entered the contest.
Books You Can Trust is a publishing company offering new and established authors a new way to get published with an extended marketing program. For more information visit the website at www.BooksYouCanTrust.com. [SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 16]
The Worst and the BestOnce again, America and Americans
have been shaken by terror.Obviously, while nowhere near the
scale of the nine-eleven attacks, what happened in Boston is, in some respects, just as worrisome. This outrageous act reminds us that we are still vulnerable to the misguided, malevolent, or just plain evil intentions of those who would do us harm. The Boston Marathon is what the military terms a “soft target “which is an unarmored and undefended area. The Boston bombing, the movie theater attack in Colorado, the Oikos University shooting here in the Bay Area are all examples of targets that are extremely difficult if not impossible to protect completely. Every single city and town in this country has dozens, hundreds, even thousands of similar targets that leave us vulnerable to a lunatic with a gun or a home-made bomb. The tragedy in Boston exposes the frightening reality that we are at risk from small-scale terror plots much more so than we are from larger ones. These days, it is hard to imagine anyone being able to pull off a major attack at the Super Bowl or another massive event where security is so incredibly tight. Which brings us back to Boston.
The sight of the two young suspects, 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his 19-year old brother Dzhokhar, a college student, apparently planting bombs in a crowd of women and children is chilling. If they are, in fact, responsible as the evidence clearly suggests, it is hard to fathom how a fellow human being could walk through a crowd filled with innocents knowing that they were about to kill and maim so many of them for no reason whatsoever. While we are beginning to get a handle on the reasons authorities allege that these two young men committed this senseless crime, it will be all but impossible for most of us to ever truly comprehend how anyone could do such a thing.
Sadly, some people do.But as we have seen countless times
before, when tragedy happens, good
people rise to do great things. The moment those bombs went off at the finish line, ordinary people rushed into the carnage without concern for their own safety to begin helping the wounded. They were joined by paramedics, police officers, and others working the event.
We have heard so many powerful stories of people literally taking the shirts off their backs to use as tourniquets, people holding the wounded and offering comfort until help could arrive. Can you imagine the horrible things those brave and decent people saw on Boylston Street that Monday afternoon? Bostonians rushed to donate blood and Americans everywhere rushed to their checkbooks to help the wounded with the coming medical bills. In New York, the Yankees displayed their logo alongside that of their arch-rival The Red Sox on the giant video board outside the stadium with the words “United We Stand”. Inside the stadium, the Yankees held a moment of silence then played the Fenway Park traditional song, “Sweet Caroline,” following the third inning, all in a show of solidarity.
But we need not be in Yankee Stadium to feel the same sadness for the families and to feel the same pride in our country and its people.
In Boston, we were reminded yet again that we can be hurt, but also that we are often strongest where we’ve been hurt the most.
What Really Matters is that, even in the face of so many terrible things that happen, that we take strength in the knowledge that we will always survive, that good ultimately triumphs over bad, and that the worst in some always brings out the best in others.
Those may seem to be trite cliché’s, but they just happen to be absolutely true.
Dan Ashley is an anchor at ABC-7 News and can be seen weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. on ABC-7 and at 9 p.m. on KOFY TV20.
Contact him at [email protected]. Visit http://www.rockwithpush.com for more on the band.
What’sApril - Oct Downtown Ghost WalksMay 4 Spring Downtown Wine StrollMay 18 Vintage & Antiques FairJuly 4 4th of July ParadeAug. 3 Vintage & Antiques FairSept. 28/29 Italian Street Painting Fest
UP?in downtownMartinez
Main Street MartinezPO Box 776
Martinez, CA 94553www.MainStreetMartinez.org
(925) 228-3577f a c e b o o k . c om / d o w n t o w nm a r t i n e z
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 2 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 3 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
Happy Mother’s Dayfrom The Concordian
Read our FULL COLOR issue online
www.MyConcordian.com
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 4 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
County Fair Promises Squeals, Deals, Fun on Wheels
Don’t miss the Contra Costa County Fair, May 30 – June 2. This year’s theme is “Squeals, Deals, and Fun on Wheels,” with four days of fun planned for Fair-goers of all ages.
The Fair’s 2013 concert series features Tennessee River (a tribute to Alabama) and the Chris Gardner band on Thursday; All 4 One and Big Bad Boogie Rock on Friday; Aerorocks (Aerosmith Tribute), Hot for Teacher, and Flock of 80z on with FRESH, and also find a Hispanic Musical Celebration. All the concerts are FREE with admission to the Fair.
Other highlights include Circus Imag-ination, Tyzen the Master Hypnotist, Jeremy the Juggler, and Skip Banks the Balloon Man, Wild About Monkeys, the only traveling animal exhibition that features trained baboons!
This year’s exciting arena events include the crashing and demolition at the Boat Trailer Races and the Roll Over Compe-tition, Stock Car Racing at the Speedway, and the demolition derby!
Gates open at noon on Thursday and Friday, and at 11 am on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults (13 and older), $5 for seniors, $5 for chil-
dren 6 to 12, and children five and under are free. Take advantage of discounts and pre-sales on tickets by purchasing your tickets early. Advanced ticket sales begin May 1 and end May 29. Visit www.ContraCostaFair.com for discounts on daily admission tickets and carnival wrist bands. For even bigger savings, we’re offering a Family Fun Pass, which is four 1-day admission tickets for only $20. The Family Fun Pass MUST be purchased at the Fair Office in Antioch before May 29. The Contra Costa County Fairgrounds is located at 1201 West 10th Street in An-tioch. For more information, visit www.ContraCostaFair.com or call the Fair Office at (925) 757-4400.
Mt. Diablo Recycling Buy-Back Center, located at 1300 Loveridge Road, in Pittsburg is now open on Saturdays from 8 am to 4 pm. Mt. Diablo Recycling will buy-back your CA Redemption items for the best price in East County!
Mt. Diablo Recycling accepts all CRV Materials, Aluminum Cans, Bi-Metal, Cardboard (no wax), Glass Bottles, Plastic-PET #1 & HDPE #2, Aluminum Sheet/PTD, Cast Aluminum, Aluminum
Extrusions & EXT/PTD, Irony Al Sheet & Irony Cast Aluminum, Aluminum Ext./Cont., Clean & Unclean Auto Wheels, #1 & #2 Copper, Yellow & Red Brass, Irony Yellow Brass, Clean & Unclean Stainless Steel, Insulated Copper Wire & ICW House Wire #1.
Visit MtDiabloRecycling.com for more information or call them at (925) 682-4518.
MD Recycling Buy Back Center Now Open Saturdays
Concord Selects New Finance DirectorKaran Reid has been selected as the
new Finance Director for the City of Concord. Her first day will be April 29. Reid replaces Peggy Lefebvre who retired last year.
“We are very pleased to welcome Karan to Concord,” said City Manager Valerie Barone. “Her skill set and experience make her a great fit.”
Reid will oversee a department of 18 full-time employees. She is currently the
Finance Director for the City of Benicia. Prior to working in Benicia, she spent 14 years with the City of Emeryville serving in a number of finance management positions, leaving as Chief Financial Officer. She also worked for the City of Napa for seven years and for several private sector companies.
Reid holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and is a registered CPA..
Award-Winning Spray Park Reopens May 4Concord’s popular Meadow Homes
Spray Park, at 1351 Detroit Ave., will open for its second season on May 4. Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends while school is in session. After school recesses for the summer in June, hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
In its first year, more than 8,000 youngsters visited the park. Residents are not the only ones who think the new
facility is special. The spray park received an Agency Showcase Award from the California Park & Recreation Society, District 3, in the category of Outstanding Facility/Park and the American Public Works Association (Northern California) Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Structures Category.
For more information, call the spray park hotline, (925) 671-3366.
~Leslye Asera, CRM, City of Concord
Music and Market Returns May 23, Celebrates 25Years
Free music concerts in Todos Santos Plaza, threated with cancellation the last two years due to a lack of funding, are back to celebrate a 25th anniversary this year. With the demise of California redevelopment agencies, Concord’s much-loved summer concert series lost its funding in 2011. Residents and the business community have come together and saved the summer events through fundraisers and sponsorships.
The 2013 Thursday Night Music and Market series debuts May 23, featuring the award-winning Concord High School Jazz Band in a tribute to Concord native son and jazz great Dave Brubeck, who passed away in December 2012. On May 30, it’s the Steely Dan tribute band Aja Vu.
Other highlights of the season include performances by audience-favorites Foreverland (Michael Jackson), Evolution (Journey) and Hotel California (Eagles). The series will continue through Sept. 12 with a wide variety of musical styles including country, rock, blues, zydeco and jazz.
The Farmers’ Market is in the park from 4 to 8 p.m., with music from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Blues lovers can look forward to Tuesday nights in July when a different band will perform each week from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the Todos Santos stage.
Major corporate sponsors responsible for saving the music program include Concord Disposal, Humana, Pacific Service Credit Union, Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market, Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery, Chevron, Dolan’s Lumber and The Brewing Network. Contributing in-kind support are KKDV radio, Comcast, Astound, the Bay Area News Group, and Cole Print and Marketing.
This summer’s special events will go forward with the help of partnerships between the City and community organizations:
MomDay Celebration: Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring the All Area Music Festival with local student musicians. The winners of the 2013 Mother’s Day essay contest will be announced
DadDay in the Plaza: Sunday, June 16 at noon, featuring fourth annual Chili Cook-off and the band PUSH with Dan Ashley.
Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. Free parking is available in two municipal garages. For a complete listing of musical guests and event information, visit www.concordfirst.org.
For more information, call the downtown hotline at (925) 671-3464.
~Leslye Asera, CRM, City of Concord
Concord Mother’s Day Celebration Includes All Area Music Festival
Concord celebrates Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 11 in Todos Santos Plaza. The event includes the Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation’s 4th annual All Area Music Festival, featuring music students from Mt. Diablo elementary, middle and high schools.
The musical performances will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. At 1 p.m., Concord Mayor Dan Helix and Channel 5 news anchor Ann Notarangelo will announce the three winners of the Mother’s Day Essay Contest. The winners and their moms will receive gift baskets from the Todos Santos Business Association. Vendor booths, featuring representatives from music shops and camps, will be on the plaza.
The groups scheduled to perform include: Ayers Elementary 3rd Grade Recorders, Bel Air Elementary, Delta View Elementary, El Monte Elementary Glee Club and Flute/Recorder Ensemble,
Highlands Elementary, Mt. Diablo High School Vocal Ensemble, Pine Hollow Middle, Sequoia Middle, Shore Acres Elementary, Silverwood Elementary 5th Grade Choir, Walnut Acres and Woodside 3rd Grade Song Flutes, and Westwood Elementary.
The Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation was formed to raise awareness of the cuts that have hit school music programs, and to solicit donations to support music education. The organization holds various fundraisers to support music in the schools. Learn more by visiting www.mdmusicfoundation.org.
Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. Free parking is available in two municipal garages. For a complete listing of upcoming events in Todos Santos Plaza, visit www.concordfirst.org. For more information, call the downtown hotline at (925) 671-3464.
city & county news
Pulse of Concord Survey Available Online“The Spring questions come from a group of folks with diverse interests from the
issues in schools to how are we doing,” writes Edi Birsan, founder of the popular Pulse of Concord Survey. Have your voice heard on a variety of topics.
www.PulseOfConcord.com
Public Invited to Concord Budget Workshop May 7The Concord City Council will hold a
budget workshop at its regular meeting on Tuesday evening, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. The public is invited to attend.
The City’s budget picture has stabilized thanks to passage of Measure Q, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by voters in November 2010. The City Council appointed a seven-member Measure Q Oversight Committee to make annual recommendations to the City Council on the use of Measure Q revenue. The committee will present its annual report
at the May 7 workshop.While Measure Q revenue has preserved
the current level of City services for the next several years, the City still faces a $5.5 million structural deficit, which will need to be addressed before the sunset of the Measure Q half-cent sales tax in 2016.
The budget workshop and hearings will be televised on Cable TV channel 28 (Comcast), channel 29 (Astound) and channel 99 (AT&T U-verse) and are also available online at www.cityofconcord.org. For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office, (925) 671-3495.
The Concord High Band Boosters (CHBB) is presenting the students in the CHS Instrumental Music program, and the Concord High Jazz En-semble in concert with Gordon Goodwin, a Gram-my award-win-ning artist, at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.
The CHS Music students are excited about being on stage with a renowned artist, but they are doubly excited about the prospect of performing for a worthy cause - nourish the community through their music.
To help defray production cost, CHBB is raffling off 2 Apple iPads. Drawing of
the two winning tickets will be held at the May 14th concert. You need not be pres-ent to win. Proceeds from the concert and raffle will benefit CHS Music and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
Concert tickets, go to www.lesher-artscenter.org or call (925) 943-7469
Raffle tickets, email [email protected]
-Andrea Legault
Arts & Entertainment CalendarEVENTS BY CITY:
Concord•Second Semi-Annual “Hand Crafters’ Boutique” Supports Non-Profit Concord Family Moose Lodge. Sat. May 4th, 10am - 4pm, More than 25 Local Vendors with Beautiful Handmade Items and Gifts for Sale, just in time for “Mother’s Day admission is FREE to the public, All monies received help support charities such as The American Cancer Society, Stand, Muscular Dystrophy, Bay Area Crisis Nursery, We Care, Monumental Crisis Center and more. Concord Family Moose Lodge, 1805 Broadway Street, Concord (behind Park & Shop / Fry’s).•Buy Bling For Mom at Hospice Thrift Shoppes Jewelry Event! Saturday, May 4th, 10 am ~ 6 pm, 5350 Clayton Rd, Concord•13th Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon, Fri. May 10th, 11:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Emcee Dan Ashley ABC7/KGO-TV Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Concord, Members- $50 Non-Members-$60 For more information please call or email The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Contra Costa County office.(925) 933-2337 or email us at [email protected]•The All Area Music Festival, The Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation, Saturday, May 11, from 12 noon to 6 pm at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. Admission is free. Celebrate Mothers while we feature music groups from Elementary, Middle and High School students. Please visit our website at www.mdmusicfoundation.org for more information.•Kops for Kids Walk/Wheelchair Race, May 18 at the Willows Shopping Center in Concord. For more information please visit www.contracostakopsforkids.org or call (925) 827-1998. [SEE STORY ON PAGE 12]•Swedish Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, May 18, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Includes thin pancakes, lingonberries etc., ham, fresh strawberries, coffee and orange juice. $8 ($3 children 10 and under). Odd Fellows Hall, 4349 Cowell Rd., Concord. Contact: 925-279-4301•Bay Area Kidfest, May 25, 26 10:00am. Dozens of activities for kids, tweens and parents. Nonstop activities - face painting, balloon art, bounces and crawls, Wild About Monkeys, Zip Line Ride, BMX Bike Stunt Team, Kids’ Town America,
sport games, 100 arts & crafts and exhibitor booths, food court,rides and more. Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-26-27, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mt. Diablo HighSchool, 2450 Grant St., Concord. $5 per person with the donation of a canned good for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano. $6 without a can donation. Babies and seniors 65+ are FREE. Benefits local non-profits. www.KidFestConcord.com [SEE AD AND STORY ON PAGE 2 & 3 THIS ISSUE]
•PUSH, Dan Ashley’s band, June 16, Father’s Day Todos Santos Plaza, Concord. [SEE DETAILS NEXT ISSUE]-----------------------------------
Martinez•Buy Bling For Mom at Hospice Thrift Shoppes Jewelry Event! Saturday, May 4th, 10 am ~ 6 pm, 550 Morello Ave, Martinez•Poison Apple Productions Presents “Follow Another Brick Road” May 10th 7:30pm, 11th 2:30pm & 7:30pm and 12th 2:30pm. Our 9th Annual Young Writer and Director Project based off the books by L. Frank Balm! Poison Apple Playhouse, 835 Arnold Drive #6, Martinez Ca. 94553 Admission $10.00. For more information see www.poisonappleproductions.comor call 925-957-0773 -----------------------------------
Pleasant Hill•The Young Writers Contest Award Winners will be honored at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Sign-in is from 11:00 am to 11:30 am, with presentations and luncheon from 11:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Registration is $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests. Reservations are required, and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, May 8. Contact Robin Gigoux at [email protected]. or by phone at (925) 933-9670. http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/-----------------------------------
Walnut Creek•Robin Hood,Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble May 2-5, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 5 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
legal briefsby Jason W. MauckEicksen Arbuthnot, Attorneys At Law
Contrary to what many people may believe, the law does change and grow on occasion. For example, over the last year or two the California legislature has passed a number of new laws which could affect the average landlord. Such as:
AB 1953 – The “AB” stands for assembly bill, in case you were curious—modifies civil code §1962 and requires that a purchaser landlord provide existing tenants a notice of where to send the rent check within 15 days of an ownership change. It also prevents a landlord from using the non-payment during this time period as a basis for eviction, unless notice was properly served and the tenant did not bring their rent current.
SB 1191 – that’s “Senate Bill” 1191—requires that a landlord seeking to rent to a prospective tenant must provide notice of default and pending foreclosure actions before a lease is signed. It is actually surprising how many times we have run into this situation.
AB 2610 was codified as Civil Code §2924.8, and it requires that the trustee for a home in the process of foreclosure provide written notice to a tenant that the dwelling is in foreclosure at least 20
days before the sale of the home. The law also requires that the notice state that the new owner can renew the prior lease, or serve the tenant with a 60 day notice to terminate the tenancy. Please bear in mind that Federal law provides for 90 day notice of termination after foreclosure—or even continued residence by a tenant—under certain circumstances (i.e. if the foreclosed mortgage was “federally related” – which includes most loans).
Finally, AB 1925 adds civil code §1947.9 which sets the living expenses for a displaced tenant in San Francisco at $275. If you have to relocate a San Francisco tenant for a term of less than 20 days, you have to pay the tenant $275 a day and cover moving expenses. However, the tenant is still obligated to pay rent.
Many of these laws went into effect on January 1, 2013, and are currently applicable to many property owners in the Concord area.
If you have any questions regarding your role as a landlord, feel free to call our office at 510-832-7770. Next month I’ll discuss changes in employment law.
[SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 14]
The Law Is Going Through Changes
Concord High Instrumental Music Program in Concert
with Gordon Goodwin at the Lesher Center, May 14
CHS Instrumental Music Anaheim trip March 2013
Calendar Listings continue on page 10
Join us for Con-cord’s First Art and Wine Walk Satur-day, May 11, 2013, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Participants will stroll around Todos Santos Plaza and Salvio Square while enjoying fine wines, viewing beautiful art, and meeting local artists, all happening concurrently with the high school jazz band performances taking place on the Todos Santos stage.
Tickets are $15 per person; participants must be 21 or older and will be available through May 10 at concord-ca.aauw.net.
Final details, including the starting point, will also be posted on that site. All attendees must begin at the starting location to
receive a wine glass, wristband, & map of participating locations. For questions call (925) 363-4438 Event Sponsored By the Concord Branch of AAUW. Proceeds will be used to send local 7th grade girls to Tech Trek Math and Science Camp.
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 6 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
Art and Wine Walk in Concord: May 11
The Croods are a prehistoric family that lives a life of routine, darkness and terror. They are the last remaining of the cavemen, their neighbors have all be eviscerated by predatory creatures or viruses, leaving the family Crood as the lone survivors of our species. They have flourished by regarding the rules scribbled on the cave walls, stay inside and avoid anything dangerous-most importantly curiosity leads to death. Everyone adheres to this scripture except their feisty daughter Eep (Emma Stone), a rebellious free-spirit who stumbles upon a boy fending for himself, alone in the wild.This is no ordinary boy,
Guy (Ryan Reynolds) holds the secret to making fire and leads the Croods to a new land in search of a better cave. Along this journey Eep becomes increasingly infatuated with Guy. Much to the chagrin of her father, Grug (Nicolas Cage)Cage having worn-out his onscreen
welcome after a series of continually worsening movies, appears in vocal format as the father. His odd speech pattern and vocal range are ideally suited for voice-over animation and his line readings are the best in the film. Emma Stone also shines as the visually similar Eep, surprisingly it is Ryan Reynolds who comes off flat and bland.
The Croods doesn’t have the sweeping beauty or depth of Pixar’s Brave, even though both feature a ginger haired female protagonist. Then again Dreamworks has never been in that league, however The Croods is their sharpest entertainment since the original Madagascar. I prefer this over How to Train Your Dragon and I liked that a lot too. The elements are there for a successful new franchise if the writing and voice talent stay this focused.
How about picking up some wonderful fresh asparagus from Cecchini & Cecchini? It’s only here for a short time (March through May) so gather up several bunches of these tasty spears to add taste and nutrition to your meals. Green up your dishes with sautéed asparagus, pickled asparagus, baked asparagus, and steamed asparagus. Add to your omelets and frittatas, parboil and add to salads and pastas, or just enjoy cold wrapped with prosciutto! Bright green stalks will be available trimmed and untrimmed, from small to jumbo, and lined up on the tables just waiting for you to take home.
Asparagus, called the “King of Vegetables,” comes from the fertile soils of the San Joaquin Delta region and all the way from the irrigated Southern California desert. California leads the nation in asparagus production with more than 50,000 metric tons harvested annually. Most of this is marketed as fresh green asparagus. Asparagus was first planted in California during the 1850’s. The moderate climate, together with a variety of fertile soil, contributes to the outstanding quality of asparagus grown in California. Asparagus is packed with nutrients and easy to make ahead for a crowd. One serving of asparagus is low in calories and sodium. It is a fairly significant source of vitamin C, thiamin, and potassium, and many micronutrients. Here are some easy ways to prepare asparagus:
Boil: Place whole trimmed asparagus in a large skillet with 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches of water. Boil and start timing; reduce heat and briskly simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 4 minutes.
Steam: Place asparagus on a steamer rack in a large saucepot over rapidly boiling water (water should come up to the rack but not over it). Cover saucepot and start timing. Steam for 4 to 5 minutes.
Microwave: Arrange asparagus in a glass baking dish, with tips overlapping in center. Cover dish with plastic wrap,
turning back one corner to vent steam. Microwave at high (100%) power for 2 to 3 minutes. Let stand 3 minutes.
Stir-fry: Cut asparagus spears into 1/4 inch diagonal slices, keeping tips whole. In a large skillet heat 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; add asparagus pieces and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
Asparagus Frittata4 large eggs4 egg whites1 lb asparagus1 large baking potato, peeled and thinly
sliced1 onion, chopped1/2 cup nonfat milk1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon saltPreheat the oven to 350°F. Place the
potato in saucepan and cover with water by 3 inches. Cover the pan and bring to boil over high heat; boil for about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and boil for 2 more minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. In a bowl, combine the whole eggs and egg whites, three tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, milk, baking powder and salt. Mix in the potato and asparagus. Heat an oven-proof nonstick pan, spray with nonstick spray and add the chopped onion. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the egg mixture and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes (until almost set). Uncover the skillet and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese. Transfer to the oven to cook for about 5 minutes (until browned). Invert onto a plate and cut into wedges prior to serving.
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 7 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
by Debra MorrisPacific Coast Farmers Marketwww.pcfma.com/concord
farmer fresh
Asparagus Season is Here
by Jason Ruugardthe movie maverick
The Croods
Jason Rugaard is a graduate ofBrooks Institute of Photography. He holds a degree in Motion Picture Science. Jason also is cofounder and head writer for Movie Mavericks.
book endsA T
ale
to T
ell
by Chadwick H Saxelid
I have read enough war stories to fully understand just how much of a hell on earth the battlefield is.
What has not been quite as effectively communicated, however, is just how strange and surreal the home front can be for a battle-fatigued soldier, when said soldier returns home.
The Forever War, Joe Haldeman’s classic science-fiction novel, gets across that strange and surreal feeling, though. And it does so with a clarity that is both visceral and painful.
How Haldeman manages to achieve this result is as fascinating as it is terrifying. Elite fighting units are trained and sent off into deep space, via wormholes that allow for “faster than light speed” travel, to fight a brutal war. Their method of travel creates a warp in space and time, however.
For the traveler it will seem that only a matter of months, perhaps a year, or two, have passed. This is called subjective time. But for those that do not make the trip through the wormhole (i.e. friends,
family, and everybody else living on Earth, the moon, or maybe even Mars) exist in actual time.
Actual time moves at a far slower rate than the soldier’s “faster than light speed” subjective time does. To the soldier, it will seem that s/he has been away for only six to twelve months. Back on earth, though, it has been decades. The world that the soldiers return to seems far stranger, more threatening, and just as incomprehensible as the alien battlefield they have managed to survive.
For some of today’s readers, the “future world” of The Forever War might seem equal parts silly and similar. This is due to the novel, like every other work of speculative fiction, being very much of its
time, and that time was 1974. An era that is on the cusp of becoming 40 years past.
This turns the not too distant futures of the both the subjective and actual times of the novel into an alternate history of the previous two decades. While some of Haldeman’s futurism missed its predictive mark, there are quite a few things that he did get right.
But even if he had gotten all of the futurism wrong, he still did an excellent job of getting across the stranger in a strange land feeling that plagues everyone returning home after a prolonged and life changing absence.
And that is what makes The Forever War a classic science fiction novel well worth reading.
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Read more of Chad’’s reviews at http://www.chadwicksaxelid.typepad.com
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 8 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
Happy Mother’s DaySunday, May 12, 2013
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The year when my beloved husband died, the winter was grey and cold and stormy both weather wise and emotionally. I was slowly adjusting to widowhood, meantime keeping busy getting my finances rejiggered, beginning to downsize possessions and getting my condo ready for sale. It was a surreal time in my life!
So, when my daughter, Jennie, granddaughter, Anna (15 years old), and Anna’s friend invited me to accompany them on a jaunt to Florida, I jumped at the chance! What a welcome break that would be in the dreary winter.
So, off we went. Jennie parked her car in the
Cincinnati Airport garage and we flew to St. Petersburg, rented a car and drove to the hotel where Jennie had made reservations.
Almost as soon as we arrived at the hotel it became obvious that all of the other guests were college-age boys and girls deep in to partying their way through Spring Break. They were a rowdy, noisy, unruly bunch of people getting sick in the parking lot, etc.! A total disaster! We checked out immediately after we checked in and fled the whole area. We spent several hectic, fruitless hours searching for some place to stay, but none was available. Finally, a desk clerk/manager where we sought a room noticed our fatigue and general sorry state. She phoned ahead to a facility nearby. She found us a place to stay!
After some more bumbling around in the gathering darkness we found our perfect little cabin on a quiet, short road facing the Gulf waters. There were several similar cabins neighboring it. It was clean and beautifully decorated, with all the comforts of home. It even had a basket of fresh fruit and a bouquet of flowers to greet us! Our relaxing retreat from our humdrum lives had begun.
We spent the week playing in the sun, sand and water and generally doing as we pleased. By the end of our stay we were a really refreshed and satisfied little band of people. We had enough soothing, silly and beautiful memories to sustain us through the rest of the winter. We flew back to Cincinnati Airport and headed over to the parking garage. Of course, Jennie’s car was there waiting for our return. We piled our luggage in it and jumped in ourselves. But here was a strange anomaly. . . At the base of the windshield and intertwined with the windshield wipers was a perfect little bird’s next. Jennie got back out of the car to investigate and found four little robins-egg-blue eggs nestled in there. She tried to remove the nest so as to leave it near our parking place on the half-wall. However, the nest was so firmly anchored to the windshield wipers and the glass of the windshield itself, she couldn’t budge it.
Then came the attack! Mama Robin had returned to her nest to find this terrible being tampering with it! She flew at Jennie in a rage. Jennie scrambled into the car and slammed the door. We sat there discussing: “What next?”
Finally, we decided that we had to leave the parking garage. So, off we
went: out of the garage, off of the airport property, onto the road which would access a large highway. . .our way to my home in Hamilton, Ohio. Mama Robin flew after us for miles until she could no longer keep up with our pace. At first she had circled around the car attacking it from every angle as if to kill the monster which was stealing her nest and its precious cargo. Eventually we left Mama Robin behind.
At the first place along the road where Jennie felt she could pull over, she did so. She hopped out of the car, forcefully yanked the nest from the car, ran to a little tree near the road, placed the nest in the crotch of the tree and ran back to the car and hopped in. Just then Mama Robin arrived on the scene and renewed her attacked on the car. But she seemed utterly confused when she saw that the nest was no longer there. She soon
sensed where it was! And off she flew to her little nestling’s house in the crotch of the tree.
The remainder of our trip home was uneventful. Our good humor and calm were restored again plus we had some wild, adventure stories to tell our loved ones for years to come.
The moral of this little story would seem to me to be: Never mess with Robins’ nests.
Ah Youth, Ah Spring! by Marge Crawford Sponsored by the Diamond Terrace 55+ Retirement CommunityResident Tales
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 10 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
by Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.
something to smile about
by Kristin PetersonPacific Credit Union
financially savvy
Car shopping has a reputation for being overwhelming and confusing. Here are six tips to use at the dealership to help make your car buying experience a simple one.
1. Know before you go. An educated consumer generally gets the best deal. Use the Member Showroom tool at www.pacificservice.org to simplify your next car buying experience and see what other consumers actually paid for the car you want. You can build a new car or shop thousands of used cars and receive upfront pricing before you go to the dealership.
2. Negotiate the best price for the car you want to buy first. Don’t talk about your trade-in, cash deposits, down payments or financing options. Save those details for later. Also, don’t start negotiating until you’re ready to buy. Serious buyers get the most attention and the best deals.
3. Be professional, level headed and informed. You want to know you’re getting a good deal. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions and take
notes. Write down any details or special offers the salesperson or manager has offered you to avoid confusion.
4. Know when to be flexible. If getting the best deal is your goal, you may have to be flexible with accepting on-site inventory which means you might not get the color or options you want.
5. Know when to walk away. You’re the customer and if things aren’t going your way, it’s okay to take your business somewhere else. Don’t get flustered, angry or emotional. Let them know you need more time to make a decision and politely walk out. Try again at another time, another dealership or with another salesperson.
6. Get pre-approved before you go shopping! For an instant loan decision, loan payment calculation or for more information, call Pacific Service Credit Union’s Loan By Phone center at (888) 858-6878. Even if you are not a member of Pacific Service CU, we will give you an auto loan decision in 4 minutes or less! Good luck! [SEE OUR AD NEXT PAGE]
Buying a Car - Top 6 Savvy Car Buying Tips
Old Wives’ TalesWhen my wife became pregnant one
of the books she read listed many old wives tales one being, “lose a tooth with every birth”! It seems that women used to be told not to go to the dentist while pregnant! Hard to believe in this day and age but knowing no one ever likes going to the dentist, I can see why women would avoid going.
It is very important during pregnancy is to avoid fever and since dental infection can cause body temperature to rise it can be a very serious problem.
There is no reason a woman should avoid dental care, in fact many dental insurance companies allow an extra cleaning during your pregnancy, however, the best advise is to discuss your needs with your physician 1st. As always prevention is top priority. Almost all women experience increased gingivitis during pregnancy so keeping up prevention is key.
Most of the time women are advised that any dental procedure is safest when done in the 2nd trimester including using any necessary anesthetics. All elective care such as fillings, crowns and cosmetic bonding is perfectly safe to do.
How about the need for root canal therapy or extraction during pregnancy? Unfortunately I have had to preform these necessary procedures at times that were not the appropriate time because dental disease does not follow “the rules”.
Again it is very important to work closely with the woman’s physician in order to minimize risks that may include the need to take antibiotics, potent pain relievers as well as an invasive procedure which may cause excessive bleeding and spread infection.
I will leave you with a story which brings light to that old wives tale. Many years ago I treated a young woman who had not been to see me in 9 months. It turned out she was 9 months pregnant and had a terrible toothache from a badly decayed wisdom tooth. As the story goes I called her physician and we both agreed that her wisdom tooth needed to come out but at this stage of her pregnancy it was best to refer her to and Oral Surgeon. I made a few more calls and got her scheduled in a office closer to her home. I put her in a cab to send her right over. In the cab on the way to the oral surgeon with a toothache she went into labor and took the cab to the hospital where she had her baby and both mom and baby were just fine. Two weeks later she had her wisdom tooth removed!
Remember prevention is key! Rinse, Floss, Brush and Rinse again!!!
Happy Mother’s DayAsk Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S. your
questions at 925-682-6940, [email protected] or http://www.roberthwaldmandds.com. 3042 Clayton Rd. Concord (corner of 5th and Clayton Rd.)
[SEE OUR AD PAGE 14]
Due to a lack of space, Clubs and Support Groups are listed on our websitewww.MyConcordian.com
Calendar continued from page 5
•California Symphony, Trevino and the Fantastique,May 4 and 5, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org•Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World. CenterRep, thru May 12. Times vary. An Egyptian cab driver who’s been in America less than a year, falls for Sheri, a sassy American waitress, his life takes unexpected and delightfully complicated turns. Lesher Center for the Arts, Hofmann Theatre,1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. (925) 943-SHOW (7469) www.lesherartscenter.org.•Celebrate Mother’s Day at The Gardens at Heather Farm is excited to host a free Mother’s Day event May 12th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Our six acres of gardens is the perfect place to enjoy a self-guided stroll that winds through 24 unique demonstration gardens in full bloom. Bring a picnic . There will be craft activities for children to create a special gift for mom. Artist’s Fair displaying nature inspired art and gift items for sale. All proceeds will directly benefit The Garden’s educational programs and gardens. The Gardens located on 1540 Marchbanks Drive in Walnut Creek. For more information, visit our website: www.gardenshf.org•Sweet Charity, Center Repertory Company, May 17-June 22, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org•The Little Mermaid, Civic Arts Education’s Youth Theatre Company, May 17 at 7 p.m. and May 18 at 11 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Tickets:$12-15 Call (925)943-SHOW or www.lesherartscenter.org.•Robert Dekkers’ Alice in Wonderland, Contra Costa Ballet Foundation. Friday, May 17th at 7:30pm, Saturday, May 18th at 2:00pm, Saturday, May 18th at 7:30pm, Lesher Center for the Arts, Hofmann Theatre,1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.-----------------------------------
Clayton•Clayton Valley Garden Club - 7p.m. May 8, Diamond Terrace 6401 Center St., Clayton. Rose, owner of Morning Sun Herb Farm in Vacaville, will speak on Growing Herbs. www.claytonvalleygardenclub.org•Classic Cars & Classic Rock and Roll music.April 10 - October 30, Wed.6pm-8pm, Main and Diablo Streets downtown. (925) 672-1111
Tell them you read it in The Concordian•Clayton Relay for Life Cancer walk August 3rd to 4th - Team sign up atwww.relayforlife.org/claytonca-----------------------------------
Other Events•Northern California Busi-ness Expo, Thursday, May 16, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Vet-erans Memorial Building, Lafayette. Franchisors who are expanding in Northern California are coming to meet with you. This is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to be your own boss and explore business ownership. You will have the opportu-nity to meet face-to-face with franchi-sors, funding specialists and other resources. Cost: FREEhttp://www.ncalbusinessexpo.eventbrite.com [See our ad and info on page 14 & 15 this issue]-----------------------------------
Farmers MarketsPacific Coast Farmers Market Association•Concord Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Todos Santos Plaza.•Concord Thursdays, 4pm to 8pm, beginning May 23, Todos Santos Plaza.•Martinez, Sundays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Main St. and Estudillo. For more information visit http://www.pcfma.orgContra Costa Certified Farmers Market•Contra Costa Certified Farmers’ Markets, Sundays 9 am - 1 pm, May 5 - Sept. 29. Concord High School. (925) 431-8361 www.cccfm.org---------------------------------------------
Clubs•American Association of University Women - Concord Branch www.aauw-concord.org•American Legion Post 171 - 5 p.m. third Tuesdays, Veterans Memorial Hall, Concord. 687-1427.•B2F Business Networking Group - noon first and third Thursdays. 998-8844.•Beachcomber Singles - Social and service activities for active adults age 45 and above. For more information call (510) 799-2207, Or visit our website: www.beachcombersingles.org/•British Club - 11:30 a.m. first Wednesdays, Zio Fraedo’s, Pleasant Hill. 682-7978.•Circle of Friends - second Mondays, Walnut Country Club, Concord. 998-8844.•Clayton Valley Garden Club- 7p.m. second Wednesdays, February-November. Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center St., Clayton. Contact: http://www.claytonvalleygardenclub.org
The Diablo Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Matilda Hofman, will feature highlights from Bizet’s Carmen! as the orchestra completes its 50th Season.
Also included in the program are Brahms’ Hungarian Dance no.5, the Witches Chorus from Macbeth, Erriam sotto La Luna from Falstaff by Verdi, and Mendelssohn’s Fairies’ song from A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. Featured vocal soloists are Betany
Coffland, Heidi Moss, Christopher Bengochea, and Zachary Gordin, and the renowned Contra Costa Children’s Chorus.
A special treat will be the Ritual Fire Dance by De Falla, guest conducted by Patricia Kriletich.
Concerts are in the Rossmoor Fireside Room at 8:00pm, Friday, 17 May 2013, and at the Lesher Arts Center, Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, Sunday May 19, 2 p.m. Lesher Tickets are $25 adults and $10 children. (925) 943-7469.
Imagine being at the premier of a ballet performance excited with the anticipation of elegant dancing and exquisite music. Instead, you are shaken by a disturbing story about pagan sacrifices, awkward dancing and dissonant music. The audience, so outraged by the performance, begins hissing and booing so loudly that the musicians can’t hear themselves well enough to stay together. That was the scene in 1913 when Igor Stravinsky’s score for the ballet “The Right of Spring” premiered at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris on May 29th. Everything about the ballet was an assault to the senses from the bizarre costumes to the contorted, angular movements of the dancers to the difficult-to-listen-to music. The premier, which was a scandalous affair at the time, secured Stravinsky’s status as one of the most important composers of the twentieth century. Today, Stravinsky’s score for “The Rite of Spring” is regarded as one that has changed the course of music forever.
This month marks the 100th anniversary since Stravinsky’s ground-breaking score premiered in Paris. Stravinsky was bold and daring and tested the limits of what the audience would be willing to accept. In the introduction to the ballet, the bassoon was called on to play higher than it ever had before and it was virtually unrecognizable as a bassoon. The music in general was also extremely dissonant and erratic and was accompanied by dance movements that were jarring and unnatural to the human body.
“The Rite of Spring” was one of three ballets that Stravinsky collaborated on with Sergi Diaghilev, the founder of the Ballet Russes. The first two, “The Firebird” in 1910 and “Petrushka” in
1911 made Stravinsky internationally famous. “The Rite of Spring” in 1913 sealed his place in history as a musical revolutionary. The 1913 ballet score changed the way subsequent composers handled rhythm and the essence and construction of musical design. To listen to
“The Rite of Spring”, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=aGFRwKQqbk4Igor Stravinsky was born in 1882 in the
Russian town of Oranienbaum and was raised in St. Petersburg. His parents were both singers and they started Stravinsky with piano lessons as a young boy. Despite Stravinsky’s interest in music, his father wanted him to pursue legal studies, so the young Stravinsky enrolled at the University of St. Petersburg Law School. His passion for music however, led him to spend more time on composing than on studying the law. During this time he became acquainted with the leading Russian composer at the time, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov who recommended that Stravinsky study composition with private lessons. That same year, Stravinsky’s father died of cancer, and Rimsksy-Korsakov became his mentor and music teacher. Stravinsky’s private lessons continued until Rimsky-Korsakov’s death in 1908.
Stravinsky continued to compose a variety of music including cantatas, operas, and symphonies. He is known as a composer, but also a pianist and a conductor. He died in New York City in 1921.
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 12 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
in tune with the artsby Deborah Ashley
100th Anniversary of “The Rite of Spring”
Deborah Ashley is an artist, pianist and violin-ist living in the Bay Area. She has a degree in Fine Art as well as in music with a concentra-tion in ViolinPerformance. She has spent her career working as an advocate for the arts.
a little bit 0ff!the humor of Cathy Turney
Life At the Dog ParkI used to work with a man who said
that women and poodles have the same problem—they both think they’re human. He became a lawyer. Poodles resemble dogs, but they’re not. Offer a dog a piece of cheese and he’ll grovel at your feet. Ask my Louie, and he’ll politely decline the Swiss, indicating that he prefers the smoked Gouda you’re eating.
Big guys, like Louie, need physical activity, and that’s how we ended up at the dog park; because I will not spend more on my dog’s entertainment ($40/day at Club Pooch) than my own.
For purposes of this discussion, I’ll refer to owners by the less controversial term, “humans.” Our favorite park is the downtown Concord one—off Bonifacio Street.
Its pluses include: Plentiful shade which
gives residence to many squirrels.
Pretty dependable “open for operation” hours (as compared to Newell Park, which closes in anticipation of rain and stays closed indefinitely.)
Generally laid-back humans and dogs, most of which are not “well-bred”
Its minuses include:Smaller play area; your dog cannot
escape Louie’s advances.
Bring Your Own Bucket.How do I say this tactfully: neurotic
women who have a phobia about water! Louie is big and black and overheats
quickly. On our second visit to this park, we discovered the water buckets were gone. I brought one next time and was informed that it’s not healthy for dogs to drink out of a communal trough, and “please remove your bucket.” Somebody must not have informed the City of this health hazard, because they put a fountain for dogs just outside the play area. I thought this was an isolated instance of humans behaving badly, so I brought our bucket again next time.
Louie and I filled it up and lugged it over to the “foyer,” where I unleashed him so he could take off in pursuit of his paramour du jour. My radar was up in anticipation of being slammed by a gaggle of dogs, but faster than a whippet, a woman approached me, saying, “You need to remove that bucket.”
“Why?” I asked.“Because that’s how I control my dog!”“Really?” I replied. (And this is my
problem?) “Tell you what—I won’t let your dog have any of our water.” And I breezed past her to the far end of the park, where her dog, crawling on its belly
like a parched camel, begged for a drink. I apologized profusely to this poor guy, who was watching with envy as all the other dogs partook of our water. But not for long, because his inhuman retrieved him.
Undaunted, we brought our bucket to the park again the following weekend. This time I was ready. If approached, I
had my dialogue prepared. Sure enough, the water police were there.
“Would you please remove your bucket?”
At times like that, I have to step back and remind myself to be the person my dog thinks I am. So I said,
“I bring this bucket to share with all the dogs. They get thirsty.”
“That’s how disease is spread. You need to remove it.”
And then I thought, Louie cares more about a drink than my living up to his expectations, so I smiled and said, “I’m not going to debate this with you,” and marched my bucket into the throng of applauding humans.
Next edition: Newhall Park, Concord.
Cathy Turney, author of “Tales of aCodependent Pet Owner,” captures thehumor in coping with technology and socialmedia, her left/brain right brain marriage toMy Husband The Engineer and hercodependency on dogs. Contact, commentand follow Cathy’s blog atwww.AlittleBitOff.net. or her web atwww.CodependentPetOwner.com.
Diablo Symphony Offers Spring Program Including Contra Costa Children’s Chorus
7th annual Kops for Kids Run Walk/Wheelchair Race
Contra Costa Kops for Kids will hold its 7th annual Run Walk/Wheelchair Race on May 18, 2013 at the Willows Shopping Center located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. in Concord at 8:00 a.m. The Run/Walk/Wheelchair Race is being held on Armed Forces Day and the Last Day of National Police Week.
Registration begins at 6:45 a.m. on race day.
The Run/Walk/Wheelchair Race features 1 mile, 5K and 10K races. There will be wheelchair races held in each category in addition to the run. This is the first year the event will feature a live band, East Bay’s own M.T. Kace. They will play classic Rock and Roll and a medley of military songs.
Pre-registered racers can pick up their t-shirts, race number and partici-pant bags at Roadrunner Sports located in the Willows Shopping Center on Fri-day, May 17, 2013 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Registration will also be avail-able then. The cost is $25.00 per runner.
Discounts are available for families with multiple runners.
To register for the race, please visit www.active.com. For more informa-tion please visit www.contracostakops-forkids.org or call (925) 827-1998.
Proceeds from the race will go to Contra Costa Kops for Kids, an organiza-tion of active and retired law enforcement officials whose mission is to help prevent drug abuse, gangs, violence and juvenile delinquency in Contra Costa County.
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 13 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
Contra Costa Ballet Foundation is proud to announce the en-core presentation of Robert Dekkers’ Alice in Wonderland. An imaginative collabora-tion featuring an original score by critically-ac-claimed composer Daniel Berkman, breathtaking costumes by Marlowe Bassett and Jan Berletti, larger-than-life lighting by David Robertson, and stunning sets by Jane George, this hour-long adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s timeless story is filled with fantasy and explores a variety of Car-roll’s original thematic elements, including Al-ice’s search for her own identity.
Lewis Carroll was also an esteemed mathemati-cian, and so the original story is filled with hidden references to mathemat-ical concepts. Dekkers and Berkman explored these mathematical themes in a variety of ways as they built the choreography and new score for Alice in Wonderland. Victorian-inspired costumes by Bassett, including her unique version of “steampunk” fashion for the Wonder-land scenes, bring the diverse characters of this production to life. The production features the dancers of Contra Costa Ballet as well as professional guest artists
Jackie McConnell, Tian Tan and Robert Dekkers. Friday, May 17th at 7:30pm, Saturday, May 18th at 2:00pm, Saturday, May 18th at 7:30pm, Lesher Center for the Arts, Hofmann Theatre,1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. (925) 943-SHOW (7469) www.lesherartscenter.org
Alice in Wonderland, Contra Costa Ballet’s Production with a New
Score Designed to Mesmerize.
Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World
A quirky modern romantic comedy celebrating the pilgrim in all of us. When Musa, an Egyptian cab driver who’s been in America less than a year, falls for Sheri, a sassy American waitress, his life takes unexpected and delightfully complicated turns.
Seattle playwright Yussef El Guindi is full of unabashed sweetness and goofy charm, and reminds us that we are all “immigrants” with far more connecting than separating us.
Playing thru May 12, CenterRep, Lesher Center for the Arts, Hofmann Theatre,1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. (925) 943-SHOW (7469) www.lesherartscenter.org
Pictured: Carl Lumbly, Dorian Lockett, Lena Hart, Rebecca Schweitzer, Gabriel Marin
More than 25 Local Vendors with beau-tiful handmade items and gifts for sale, just in time for “Mothers Day!
Admission is FREE to the public, Raffles every hour, snack bar available. A repre-sentative of the American Cancer Society “Relay For Life” will be present to give out information, and answer any ques-tions you might have.
All monies received by the Moose goes
directly to the “Moose Charity Fund which helps supports charities such as The American Cancer Society, Stand, Muscular Dystrophy, Bay Area Crisis Nursery, We Care, Monumental Crisis Center and more.
Sat. May 4th, 10am - 4pm, Concord Family Moose Lodge, 1805 Broadway Street, Concord (behind Park & Shop / Fry’s).
Second Semi-Annual “Hand Crafters’ Boutique” Supports Non-Profit Concord Family Moose
from the chamberConcord
By Ken Dami, Government Affairs Committee ChairpersonGreater Concord Chamber of Commerce
Advocating for Our Members
In the last quarter of 2012, the Greater Concord Chamber re- formed its Government Committee to include a nine person standing group to meet monthly to address local public policy matters. The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is focused on public policy that may impact the Chamber membership and works with responsible parties in support of its membership.
The committee is led by Chair Ken Dami, Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery and Co-Chair Ken Mintz, AT&T. The nine-member committee includes representatives from small business (Al Viceral, Diablo Valley Signs; Jenny Lind, Senior Helpers; Dan Chase, Waters Moving & Storage), non-profits (Carlyn Obringer, CA Charter Schools; Larry Sly, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano; Sandra Scherer, Monument Crisis Center) and large businesses (Ken Dami, Tesoro; Ken Mintz, AT&T; Nathan Rearick, Chevron.) Members were chosen from applications received from the chamber membership.
At least once a quarter, the membership and local business leaders are invited to
participate in a GAC meeting where we discuss current public policy issues that affect our membership. At our meeting on April 17, 2013, one of the discussion items was an update on the Downtown Specific Plan from Vice Mayor Tim Grayson. The Concord Chamber has a representative, Ken Dami, on the Steering Committee for the downtown plan, and at our meeting we heard feedback from our members on important issues that they would like to see incorporated into the plan. We discussed development of land use alternatives, senior housing, pedestrian-friendly design standards, connectivity to other parts of town, infrastructure and the branding of the city. We will continue to get feedback from our members as the Steering Committee continues to come up with the plan in the ensuing months.
Please contact the Concord Chamber at 925-685-1181 or visit our website at www.concordchamber.com to learn more about how you can stay connected with government affairs in your community.
[SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 11]
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 14 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
Ten semi-finalists in the Emerging Entrepreneurs Business Competition pre-sented their business plans at JFK University’s Institute of Entrepreneurial Leader-ship (IEL) on April 9th from 6:00-8:30 pm. The event was open to the public and was held at the IEL offices at 2151 Salvio Street, Suite 350, in Concord. The top three competitors are moving on to the final stage and will be awarded prizes up to $3,000, along with free office space and free expert mentoring for their companies.
The semi-finalist’s business plans were diverse, including plans from a construc-tion management firm, a sustainable farming non-profit, social media applica-tions, jewelry companies, personal care companies, and truck owners.
In its first year, the competition was cre-ated to celebrate and support innovation and entrepreneurship in small Bay Area startups. Chevron is sponsoring both the competition and a number of other IEL functions to encourage new business growth in the community.
“Chevron is pleased to be the lead spon-sor of this program recognizing innova-tors in a variety of fields and encouraging small business job creation in the Bay
Area,” stated Lauren Lyon, Specialist for Global Partnerships and Programs for Chevron Corporation.
Dr. Raul Deju, Director of the IEL ex-plained, “This competition is the perfect way to identify prospective entrepreneurs who need help to get to the next level, whether it’s through funding, marketing or other types of assistance. Through the IEL we can provide direction, mentoring, and contacts for them.”
Competitors are students in Bay Area academic institutions, companies that have been hosted by an incubator or business accelerator, or those who have individually launched a for-profit business within the past 18 months. Ap-plications were due February 11, 2013; semi-finalists were announced March 8; and semi-finalists competed for one of three finalist spots on April 9. A panel of five entrepreneurs, business execu-
The Concordian • MAY 2013 • Page 15 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448
business decisions
by Mary Eastwood
May 16th is the Northern California Business Expo
in Lafayette.
Don’t Miss This Event
The Expo will be held on Thursday, May 16, 1:00 pm to 4:00pm at the Veterans Memorial Building, 3780 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette. It is FREE to attend, however we ask that you register online: http://www.ncalbusinessexpo.eventbrite.com
Take Control of Your FutureFranchisors who are expanding in
Northern California are coming to meet with you.
This is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to:
·Be your own boss·Build long term equity·Hear about financing options·Enjoy career independence·Start a business and keep your job
·Access free business counseling
You will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with franchisors, funding specialists and other resources to help determine if franchising is right for you.
TO REGISTER visit: www.ncalbusinessexpo.eventbrite.com
Mary Eastwood is a franchise specialist at FranNet San Francisco East Bay. FranNet provides no-charge, no obligation advice and coaching to individuals interested in franchise business ownership. For more information, contact Mary Eastwood at: (925) 566-7665, [email protected] or visit www.frannet.com to take your Personal Franchise Assessment.
[SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 13]
historical
Scenes from the Societyby Carol Lonshore, Concord Historical Society
You’ll never guess who I ran into the other day. Since this is Mother’s Day month, I thought how appropriate to write about someone I’ve known for most of my adult life and I have admired as a woman, leader, wife and mother…….Sunne Wright McPeak.
I’m sure you remember the young fresh faced Supervisor who ran against and beat Warren Boggess; a well known local TV man and long time supervisor back in 1978.
Sunne Wright met John McPeak in 1969. A couple years after becoming Mrs. McPeak she volunteered for the Cluster Housing Committee for the City of Pleasant Hill it was 1971.
She had graduated with her degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley and had always been interested in serving her community. After her volunteering she was asked to be on the Planning Commission which she turned down to take a job operating the Community Health Center in Pittsburg.
After three years she had her first son and took a hiatus. She was then asked to come back to help organize the program she had started. She agreed but slowly got frustrated with how long it was taking to get anything done and how little was actually getting done.
This is key because it started Sunne with her passion for less is best. Her husband simply said she had to get political if she really wanted to make a difference and that she did. Starting with working on
Jerry Waldie’s campaign for Governor where she met Marcella Colarih, who she feels is her Political Godmother, guiding Sunne with her career. She ran Eric Hasseltine’s campaign and he was elected for Board of Supervisor in the year 1976. She began realizing that men were getting paid more for the same job women were doing.
In 1975, the United Nations established the International Year of the Woman, which inspired her strength of fair pay – meanwhile, she was witnessing men voting no on raising women’s salaries.
She ran for Supervisor in 1978 against Warren Boggess, as I mentioned above, and three other men, in the Primary Election. She won a run-off by only two votes and to this day is thankful for how important those two votes were. She won 53% to 48% against Boggess. Those of us around and interested at
the time were astonished! She had petitioned and won that he be taken off the KGO air during his campaign and her strength and sense of fair play help with her victory.
She served four terms and in 1993 was hired (just in time because her son was entering college) by the Bay Area Economic Forum; then the Bay Area Council came in 1996.
Governor Schwartzenegger recommended that she then serve on the Cabinet of the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, which she did, and in 2006 she was recruited to the California Emerging
Technology Fund where she is now, happily, running up and down this state that she loves, helping people and sharing her fairness and sense of workmanship with every project she handles.
What a woman; she makes me tired just thinking about it -- her boys are 38 and 39 and she has 4 grandchildren and one happy life with her husband, John.
Don’t forget the moving of the Masonic
Temple across Clayton Road. It will happen this month so look for when it will occur and come witness this historic move.
We’re having our Summer Social at the Galindo Home and Gardens on Sunday, June 24 from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Come join us and celebrate the success of the move.
A Woman of Substance: Sunne Wright McPeak
Emerging Entrepreneurs Business Competition
tives, and lenders judged the semi-final competition.
The three finalists, Sphynx Security, ExpertiGo, and Origins and Routes, will present their pitches on May 17 at the IEL’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Luncheon at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville. At that event, the audience will vote on the best business pitch to award the first, second, and third prizes.
At the luncheon on May 17, IEL’s Entre-preneur of the Year Awards will recognize the following business leaders:
Chuck H. Smith Entrepreneurial Lead-ership Award Winners
Steve Jurvetson, Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, one of the lead-ing venture capital firms in the Bay Area.
Randy Haykin, Chairman of Haykin Capital, Managing Director of Outlook Ventures, and a leader in the Gratitude Network.
Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner
Marty Reed, a Principal with the Roda Group and a graduate of JFK University’s MBA program.
Sigma Nu Tau Leadership Award Win-ner
Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Fran-cisco Business Times.
To purchase tickets to the luncheon, contact [email protected] or call 925/671-3166. Proceeds from the event will support scholarships for IEL stu-dents.
The Institute of Entrepreneurial Lead-ership (IEL) is an initiative of John F. Kennedy University that is designed to stimulate and scale entrepreneurship and job creation in the Bay Area. Underscored by a robust cross-sector partnership, IEL strives to improve our local economic, environmental, and social well-being one student-entrepreneur and one business at a time. Since its inception in January 2011, student entrepreneurs have devel-oped new companies that have received or are in the process of raising nearly $20 million in equity investments.
~ Joyce Davidson Seitz
Clayton Historical Society’s 21st Annual Clayton Gardens TourThe Clayton Historical Society’s 21st
Annual Clayton Gardens Tour will be held on May 18th & 19th from 10am to 4pm
This year five gardens representing various gardening and landscape styles are represented. Tour-goers will stroll through pathways surrounded by majestic oak trees, lined with an eclectic mixes of perennials and ornamental shrubs overlooking a creek side garden in a relaxed country setting.
They will enjoy natural stone water features in a meandering garden lush with distinctive plantings and buzzing with life. A traditional smallish landscape and garden that was created with love and attention to detail will dazzle the tour-goer who appreciates meticulous
garden elements. A landscape design that was conceived for the maturing garden-lover will be shown. Wide stained concrete pathways wrap around a flourishing garden layered with evergreens and perennials to provide year round interest. There is a hillside garden that will give tour-goers inspiration with its thriving plant installations.
Excellent garden and landscape design ideas will found at every home. Creative pathway materials, secret gardens, outdoor rooms and kitchens that extend the outdoor living theme that many embrace. You will see a country style chicken coup, compost areas, and contained vegetable gardens.
Homeowners have graciously opened
their gardens and landscapes to support the ClaytonHistorical Museum. All proceeds from the Clayton Gardens Tour go directly to the museum.
You can purchase tickets for $25 in advance. Buy 4 and get one free. For more information visit the www.claytonhistory.org website or call (925) 672-0240.
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