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www.myconcordian.com January 2009 925.673.5367

Academy learningat its best in MDHS’ Serendipity program

Academy learningat its best in MDHS’ Serendipity program

�� Welcoming Mayor Hoffmeister�� Concord Naval Weapons Station Update

�� Concord Couple Celebrates 60 Years

�� Project Second Chance - Literacy in Action

Page 2 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009Insid

eCooking up Careers

Mt.Diablo High School’sSerendipity Restaurant and Bakeryteaches real life skills

What Really MattersSpecial Correspondent ABC-7News Anchor Dan Ashley talks about the economy

A New Mayor for ConcordLaura Hoffmeister assumes themantle of mayor as the counciltackles budget issues

Weapons Station UpdateAs the plans near submission tothe Navy, additional stipulations areexplored

Chopping Funds at MDUSDResponding to drastic state levelbudget reductions, the new boardof education faces tough choices

Democracy at the MountA candid discussion with BevHansen, principal at Mt. DiabloHigh School.

AARRTTSS && EENNTTEERRTTAAIINNMMEENNTTEnjoy our new arts and entertain-ment guide. Includes calendar andlocal events

A Dance with the DevilLocal author faces life after a mar-riage to a psychopath with a book based on her life

CVHS Jazzes It UpComing out of retirement, a formerjazz band leader takes the helm

Concord Couple Kissing 60John and Cathy Bedecarré cele-brate 60 years of marriage and awealth of Concord history

Project Second ChanceOffering reading literacy for adultsas a means to secure better jobsand stable lives, P2C achievesresults

Other StuffRoundAbout . . . .4

A New GreenGeneration . . . .10

Scenes from theSociety . . . . . . . .11

The Real Deal . . .12

Featured Home .13

Pets and Vets . .14

Legal Briefs . . . .17

Directory ofAdvertisers . . . .18

Chamber ofCommerce . . . . 18

Something To Smile About . . . .20

Mayor’s OpenOffice . . . . . . . . .21

Getting OutCalendar listing .16

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Cover:(left to right)

Vanessa Grado andDarryl Johnson, sen-iors in the SerendipityRestaurant programadd the finishingtouches to theirdessert trayPhoto:

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Cooking up careers

Serendipity is best defined as theeffect of finding something fortu-nate quite by accident. In the

case of the student-run, Mt. DiabloHigh School Serendipity Restaurantand Bakery, the proof is in the training.

Chefs Kevin Fuller and Debbie Allen(no relationship to the actress from themovie “Fame”) run the academy withsuch an intense measure of profession-alism that the students who take partboth rise to the challenge and developvital skills that every high schoolershould possess: responsibility, leader-ship and customer service.

It is, after all, a fully functional, self-sustaining restaurant complete withprofessional kitchen area, prep areaand dining area, tastefully decorated tobe both appealing and of a high stan-dard. This is education at its best.

“We (the students) have to maintainall our equipment,” Fuller said, includ-ing a long list of chore-oriented main-tenance items that cover the dishes tothe mirrors.

Coming from the restaurant indus-try and a with huge experience in finedining, Fuller joined Serendipity in1996. He wanted to shift his workinghours to be able to spend time with his

school-age daughter. The restaurantbusiness typically requires eveningsand weekend hours as opposed to theschool-hours setting of Serendipity.

Allen, who started in 1992, was agraduate of the restaurant and MDHS’sROP program under founder JudyMoon, who started the program in1976. “She was a home economicsteacher and I was a teaching assistantfor her,” Allen said.

Allen, who professes to having beenuncertain of a career choice, found sheliked the idea of a school bakery. “So Ienrolled in Judy’s class. She neededhelp and the next day asked if I wanteda job. I started working two hours aday and kept learning more. Shepushed me to get my B.A. in teaching.”

Select group of studentsThe program is part of the

International Hospitality and TourismAcademy and the students enrolled aresophomores, juniors or seniors, with ahandful of students from other schoolswho have enrolled through a writtenapplication process for this AP class.The latter must make their own way tothe school as well as coordinate theirother classes to avoid missing assign-ments.

“We sit down and talk with the stu-dents,” Allen said.

“They need to know the expectationsinvolved,” Fuller added. “Not to soundmean or anything, but we don’t wantthem to waste their time if this is notsomething they are willing to put a lotof effort into. With limited openings,we have to be careful.”

The restaurant class is year-long,with two periods that rotate through.Seniors run the restaurant with stu-dents assigned key roles. Today, LissetLopez functioned as the sous chef,overseeing the production in thekitchen during preparations for theluncheon. “I really enjoy doing this,”Lopez said. “I have to make sure all thejobs get done today, otherwise I haveto jump in and do it myself,.” Lopez,plans to pursue this as a career.

Food takes center stageOn this day, the restaurant is hold-

ing a thank you luncheon for one oftheir sponsors, the Concord RotaryClub, as part of their two-day holidayluncheon special.

“I am amazed at the work focus theyput into preparing for this,” said KarenLynaugh, Concord Rotary’s director ofvocational services. “The quality of theprogram is exceptional.”

The dining area, complete with apleasing décor, tables with linens andplace settings neatly arranged, sports a

Christmas motif. A tree with orna-ments serves as a center prop sur-rounded by dessert trays offering atempting array of custom items includ-ing almond raspberry tarts, chocolatepistachio cake, lemon curd tarts andmore.

On the menu, the main course, agrilled salmon with passion fruit burréblanc, haricot verts and lemon saffronrisotto, competes with the next day’sgrilled pork chop with cranberry toma-to relish, a soft herb polenta andassorted grilled vegetables. There is avegetarian option offered as well.

Photographs of student cooks andservers adorn the walls, completingthis restaurant that promises a greatmeal at a good price made by studentswho have learned the value of creatingan education from scratch.

“There is definitely a need for morevocational training and Serendipity issurely leading the way,” said NickVirgallito, a Rotarian and former presi-dent and CEO of the Greater ConcordChamber of Commerce.

“We have 12 different stations,”Fuller said.

“They get an intense training onpoint of service machines,” Allenadded.

An eye to the futureAlthough part of the MDHS educa-

tion, Serendipity operates as a separateentity when it comes to food. MDHS isalso a training ground for the district’scafeteria staff and while the restaurantcan produce high-end food and bakedgoods, the emphasis is on the trainingand not on mass production.

“This is a learning facility,” Fullersaid.

The students are exposed to careeropportunities through involvementwith the Culinary Institute of America,the California Culinary Academy andDiablo Valley College. In addition,Johnson and Wales University, withcampuses in Colorado, Florida, RhodeIsland and North Carolina, activelyseeks out high school candidates andhas the reputation of a 98 percentplacement rate for its graduates.

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

Photo: Wentling Studio

TTAANNIIAA TTAAFFOOLLLLAA SSEERRVVEESS MMEEMMBBEERRSS of the Concord Rotary Club during the Holiday Luncheon at MDHS’ Serendipity Restaurant.

Photo: Wentling StudioMMIICCHHEELLLLEE IISSBBAANNDDII AANNDD AADDDDIIEE AAIIKKEELLEE top offdessert pastries about to be served

See Serendipity, page 9

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 3

with a top-notch, student-run restaurant

Jordyn Avery’s coaches believeshe has the potential to be the nextbig thing in the world of competi-tive gymnastics.

At a recent statewide competi-tion, the 9-year old gymnast tookhome five medals – including theprestigious Best All Around in herage group and class.

“She is probably our mostfocused, our strongest athlete men-tally,” says head coach AndreaFinkbeiner. “She has nerves ofsteel. When she goes to a competi-tion, she goes into her zone.”

At the statewide competition,Avery scored 9.625 on the balancebeam, 9.6 on the uneven bars,9.325 on floorwork and 8.925 onthe vault. In addition to Best AllAround, she also won the champi-onship for beam.

Jordyn was surprised by her AllAround win. “I know I’m good, butI didn’t think I was that good,” shesaid. “I wasn’t expecting it. It feltreally good.”

Coach Terri Nuno said Jordynwas flawless in her routines. “Shedid everything above and beyondwhat’s needed. … She’s the Nastia(Lukin) of the state champi-onship.”

Avery practices her sport for agrueling 14 hours a week. “I wasn’tsure whether it was the right moveor not, but she was passionate andshe loved the hard work,” Jordyn’smother Bevyn says of her daugh-ter’s involvement in competitivegymnastics.

“It’s been positive for her specif-ically because it’s the one area ofher life she has to work reallyhard,” Bevyn notes. “She likes see-ing the results of her hard work.”

Jordyn’s brother Jacob, who is7, is now starting competitive gym-nastics. Bevyn isn’t certain he’ll goas far as his older sister in thesport, but she believes Jordyn issetting a good example by her hardwork.

“I think he watches her workethic,” Bevyn says. “He noticedthat she was really focusing andthat it paid off.”

Jordyn trains at LibertyGymnastics in Concord.

-Denisen Hartlove

Mike Weldon of Mt. Diablo Harley Davidson OwnersGroup 364 roared to the Concord Bay Area Crisis Nursery infull Santa gear to help wrap gifts on Dec. 14. He received anenthusiastic greeting from the center’s younger residents.

Nursery employees and volunteers were scurrying aboutsorting toys, food and clothes in the warehouse part of thecomplex. In another section, volunteer elves from variousBay Area organizations were wrapping gifts. The nurserykeeps a list of current and former clients and contacts themaround Christmas to find out what the children want or needand then wrap the items accordingly.

“I worked at the crisis nursery for 14 years as an employ-ee, and during that time I headed the Christmas program soI was known as Mrs. Santa Claus,” says Gloria Pulos, one ofthe elves. “Then when I retired, I started coming back everyyear to do Christmas and now we serve about 500 to 600children every year.”

Pulos noted that despite the economy, the communitysupports the nursery. “All the kids will be getting gifts thisyear,” she adds. “This is something that I love to do and I’mgoing to keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore.”

-Mike Dunn

CVHS students were recently on thesidewalks of Clayton grabbing theattention of motorists and passersby tohelp support the school’s radio stationKVHS, which was holding their livequarterly fundraiser the weekend ofDec. 6.

KVHS began in 1964 as a small,closed-circuit station serving ClaytonValley High School. The student-runstation now broadcasts 24 hours a dayat 90.5 FM.

General manager Melissa Wilsonhas been with KVHS since 1998. “Wedo a fundraiser every quarter and thisis what supports our program,” shesays. “We pay for our own paper, toner,office supplies, equipment and repairs.Because of budget problems with theschool and the state, if we didn’tfundraise, we wouldn’t have a pro-gram.”

Wilson is the first to acknowledgelocal business support. “We have thegenerosity of the community, whichhas donated items like a guitar and abike and other nice prizes. They get thetax write-off and we advertise theirbusiness on air,” she notes. “It’s a win-ning situation for everybody.”

- Mike Dunn

To support KVHS, contact Wilson at682-KVHS (5847) or send e-mail towilson143@aol.com.

Page 4 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

People, places and thingsseen around Concordaboutround

Hog Santa supports Crisis Nursery

Mike Dunn/The ConcordianHHAARRLLEEYY SSAANNTTAA MMIIKKEE WWEELLDDOONN arrives at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery.

Mike Dunn/The ConcordianKKVVHHSS GGEENNEERRAALL MMAANNAAGGEERR MMEELLIISSSSAA WWIILLSSOONN oper-ates the station computer during theDecember fundraiser.

Fundraisers keepKVHS operating

John Muir employees forego partyto donate $45,000 to the Food Bank

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano was the fortunate recipi-ent Dec. 18 of a check for $45,000 from John Muir Health.

“An employee from our Central Processing Department inspired usall when he suggested that we forgo our traditional holiday meals andinstead make a contribution to the Food Bank,” said Alice Villanueva,senior vice president of human resources for John Muir Health. “Thereaction from our employees has been overwhelmingly supportive. Weare very proud to make this donation in recognition of, and on behalfof our employees and the wonderful work they do at the hospitals andwithin the community.”

“It’s wonderful that John Muir Health Plan employees decided thattaking care of the needs of hungry people was the most importantthing they could do this holiday season,” said Larry Sly, ExecutiveDirector for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

Photo courtesy of John Muir Health

LLAARRRRYY SSLLYY EEXXEECCUUTTIIVVEE DDIIRREECCTTOORR OOFF TTHHEE FFOOOODD BBAANNKK withthe check presented by Alice Villanueva and LesterMeninga of John Muir Health.

Concord gymnast takes Best All Around at state

Gordon Gekko, a character fromthe movie “Wall Street,”preached that “Greed is good.”

No, it’s not. In the movie, just as in reallife, the avarice on Wall Street teachesa painful lesson.

We are now pointing a lot of fingersat the corporate overlords for gettingus into this mess. But the truth is,many of us have not shown muchrestraint either. We’ve been living dan-gerously high on the hog for a longtime.

Studies reveal the average Americansaves less than one percent of his orher annual income. Believe it or not,that is actually an improvement fromwhere we were in 2005 when, on aver-age, we spent more money than weearned.

Compare that to the savings rates ofother industrialized nations. TheFrench and Germans save about 12percent, the Japanese save 20 percentand the average wage-earner in Chinasocks away 24 percent of each year’spay.

We were getting away with it forawhile, with plenty of good-payingjobs, rising stock prices and home val-ues going through the McMansion-sized roof. No harm, no foul. But sud-denly, poof! Millions of people havelost their jobs and can’t find new ones,Wall Street has dropped 6,000 pointsin a year – taking our 401Ks along forthe ride – and, as for the price of ourhomes, it’s hard to even talk aboutthat.

Now, sadly, the chickens that webought with our tapped-out creditcards are coming home to roost. Theendless pursuit of more stuff has leftthe average American household withnine credit cards carrying $16,000 indebt. And there’s no federal bailoutplan in the works to save us.

There is an even darker side to ourbottomless appetite for consumerism,which we saw demonstrated sogrotesquely at a Wal-Mart in New Yorkstate recently. An employee wascrushed to death by a stampeding herdof day-after-Thanksgiving shoppersrushing out of control for holiday bar-gains.

Across the country, there have beena number of shootings at malls, andretailers are being forced to beef-upsecurity. A bad economy can bring outthe worst in people.

Not that we deserve any of this. Butperhaps, if there is a silver lining tothis financial disaster, it might refocusour priorities.

Living with less, perhaps even adegree of sacrifice, might make usstronger – individually and collectively.It did for the so-called “greatest gener-ation” of Americans. They survived afar direr financial crisis in the GreatDepression. The men went off toEurope to fight the Nazis while thewomen took their reins on the homefront. Then together, they rebuilt thecountry after the war.

My grandmother used to talk aboutgovernment collections of anythingfamilies had that was made of metal,which was needed for the war machine.

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We RememberJill Ann Bedecarré

1950-2007Her spirit is our muse

The Concordian, published inClayton, CA, is a sister publication toThe Clayton Pioneer. It is delivered bymail, free to approximately 34,000 res-idences with every business in Concordreceiving one.

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matters

Dan Ashley

what reallyShe also told of growing and raisingtheir own food and washing clothes byhand with lye soap they made them-selves on the farm.

Admittedly, times are going to haveto get a whole lot tougher before I startmaking my own soap, but surely wecould find ways to tighten our beltsand do with a little less. These are verydifficult days in this country, but we’vehad many that were far worse; the CivilWar, Great Depression and World WarII are the obvious ones. Americans hadthe grit to survive those periods of ourhistory, and I believe we are capable ofmeasuring up to the same standard forthe crisis of our time.

The austerity our faltering economyis forcing upon us may ultimately bringus dividends that, at the moment, aredifficult to anticipate. So as we staredown this recession and the rising anx-iety it brings, let us try to keep in mindthat what really matters is what westand for, the time we spend with thosewe care about and what we contribute– not what we own.

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

With a slowing economy, it’s time to take stock of values

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 5

At a City Council meeting punctu-ated by praise for his work overthe past year, Concord Mayor

Bill Shinn passed the gavel to LauraHoffmeister. This is Hoffmeister’s thirdtime as mayor. Councilman GuyBjerke was elected vice-mayor at themeeting.

Bjerke characterized Shinn’s term asmayor with two words: accessibilityand stability. “I think we’re all indebted

to you for that service, and I thank youvery much,” he said.

Shinn admitted that he enjoyedbeing mayor. His favorite aspect of thejob was the contact with people, whichhe encouraged by holding regular openoffice hours. “It was amazing the num-ber of people who came in,” he said.

Thanking Shinn for his service,Hoffmeister presented him with alunchbox labeled “The Former Mayor’sSurvival Kit, which included a minia-ture gavel and three-minute timer anda Concordstock paperweight/clock toremind him of the Guiness record-breaking achievement during his term.

“She’s got a lot of energy, a lot ofexperience,” Shinn said of the newmayor. “I think she’s well-suited.”

Hoffmeister said that she would“rise to the challenge” in maintainingthe former mayor’s open office hours,although she worries that the citybudget will be dominating agendaitems. Hoffmeister explained that thestate may be looking to cities and

counties to help cure its deficit.“They have been using the cities as

an ATM machine to fund the statebudget,” she said.

Bjerke agrees that the two biggestissues facing the city in the upcomingyear will be continuing the base reuseproject and dealing with the budgetwoes.

“The 800-pound gorilla we don’t seeyet is what the state could ask us togive them to fix their own budget,” headded.

Meanwhile, the Concord ReuseProject, headed by Michael Wright,recently published its draft HomelessAssistance Submission for publicreview and comment before the CityCouncil meeting on Jan. 12. The CityCouncil hopes to send the submission,as well as the preferred alternative planfor the main portion of the land’sdevelopment, to the Department ofHousing and Urban Development andthe Navy for further study later inJanuary.

Bjerke remains optimistic about thecity’s future. He noted the city signed anew two-year contract with LiveNation, the promoter of the SleepTrain Pavilion, and the recent approvalof Lowe’s preliminary developmentplans for a new store near ArnoldIndustrial Way.

“Everyone believes that we shouldmove the base along, but also that weshould update our redevelopmentplan,” he said. “That way, when there isan economic upswing, everything willbe in place and we’ll be ready to go.”

The plan for redevelopment ofthe 5,028-acre parcel of landat the Concord Naval Weapons

Station passed another milestoneDec. 12. The Concord Reuse Projectpublished its proposed HomelessAssistance Submission (HAS) andrequested public review and com-ment prior to the Jan. 12 CityCouncil meeting.

After the meeting, the city plans tosubmit the proposal to theDepartment of Housing and UrbanDevelopment for further review.

Studies show that in 2007 therewere 1,421 to 1,788 homeless individ-uals in an area encompassingConcord, Walnut Creek, PleasantHill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Claytonand adjoining unincorporated areasof Contra Costa County. Another8,500 households in that same areawere deemed at high risk of becom-ing homeless in the future.

The reuse plan calls for buildingand operating an estimated 260

units of permanent housing for sin-gles, youth and families, a job train-ing program and a new Food Bank ofContra Costa and Solano counties onthe site.

Several homeless service providersand affordable housing developerscame together to form a coalitionand worked with the city to createthe plan. Cynthia Belon, director ofthe Contra Costa County HomelessProgram, is a member of that coali-tion. “Do I feel it’s going to endhomelessness completely in our com-munity?” she asked of the plan. “Iwould say no. But do I believe it’llmake a significant impact? I say yes.”

Vice Mayor Guy Bjerke wants tobe sure that the HAS isn’t paid forout of current city coffers. Instead,the submission states, “the cost ofcompliance with the federally man-dated homeless accommodation willbe borne entirely by the value of theland to be transferred by the Navy…”

“It’s the perfect sweet spot in

Page 6 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

beatcity

New mayor, Laura Hoffmeister,sees more cuts to city budget likelyas state wrestles with huge deficits

By Denisen HartloveThe Concordian

Base reuse project addsassistance for homeless asplan nears completion

Photo courtesy of City of ConcordFFOORRMMEERR MMUUNNIITTIIOONNSS BBUUNNKKEERRSS AATT TTHHEE NNAAVVAALL WWEEAAPPOONNSS SSTTAATTIIOONN sit empty awaiting approval of theReuse Plan by the city in January.

See Reuse, page 7

Denisen Hartlove/The ConcordianNew Concord Mayor, Laura Hoffmeister

By Denisen HartloveThe Concordian

WWHHEERREE CCAANN YYOOUU FFIINNDD TTHHEE CCOONNCCOORRDDIIAANN??The Concordian is direct mailed to over 34,000 homes and businesses in Concord. You can also pick up a copy at:

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allowing us to meet the needs (of thehomeless) in a meaningful way,while preserving the integrity of theentire plan,” Bjerke said. “Whatevergoodies are in there are paid for bythe new community.”

At the Jan. 12 meeting, a pre-ferred alternative plan for use of therest of the land will also be recom-mended to the Council. The planswill then be sent to the Navy for fur-ther analysis.

“There’s a lot of moving partshere,” said Michael Wright, the reuseprogram’s director.

Wright said that his staff planned

to recommend the clustered villagesconcept as the preferred alternativefor the reuse project. He said thealternative “provides more commu-nity benefit, a higher degree ofimproved park area but still enoughroom for habitat preservation andopen space.”

Even after submission of both theHAS and the preferred alternativeplans, Wright said the city will con-tinue “reworking and recirculating”its own draft Environmental ImpactReports, which may result in somealterations of the plans.

“There have been, and will contin-

ue to be, lots of opportunities forpeople to provide their input to us,”he said.

Wright characterized the processas fair, open and inclusive, pointingto 37 meetings of the CommunityAdvisory Committee and nine publicworkshops.

Bjerke said that while the reuseproject is moving in the right direc-tion, the public has been barragedwith information, some of which hasbeen difficult to digest. “The last twoor three hearings we’ve had … havebeen kind of looking at maps andtwo-dimensional,” he said. Instead,he suggested visualizations of whathigh-density housing might look like

compared to low-density housing, orwhat people can expect to see at theproposed transit hubs.

“If the public saw those, theymight get excited and be more sup-portive of the plan,” he said.

Wright agreed that communica-tion is crucial, both before and aftera reuse plan is finalized and theproperty is entitled, which he esti-mates will be another two to fiveyears. “Whoever those new propertyowners may be, it is very importantfor them to see what the city wantsout there.”

For more information visitwww.concordreuseproject.org

Reuse, from page 6

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 7

As Sherry Whitmarsh, thenewest member of the Mt.Diablo Unified School District

Board of Education, walked throughthe double doors at district headquar-ters and into the board room for thestart of the Nov. 9 board meeting, aresounding cheer and applause rosefrom the several hundred in the audi-ence. With a huge grin and both armsloaded with binders and paperwork,she took her seat next to the superin-tendent.

Likewise, reelected member GaryEberhart also received applause. Withthe recent major election victory forboth, ousting long-term member andformer board president April Treece,the dynamics of the board majorityclearly shifted to that of determinationto repair the damage done through ayear of contentious and divisive boardpoliticking.

A DIFFICULT TIMEBoard trustee Dick Allen assumed

the helm of the meeting and carefullyread a statement he had prepared.

“2008 was a very difficult year,” hesaid, explaining the issues caused bythe need for desperate budget cutsand the uncertainty of impendingfuture cuts. “These are now late yearcuts. It is a huge problem. We had ayear of tough negotiations. Contractswere not signed. There was a seriousdivision within the board. We nowhave a new board, a new year and anew opportunity to unify this boardand this district.

The board members electedEberhart as board president andtrustee Paul Strange as vice-president

“We have a difficult year and it istime for this board to move forward

together for students,” Eberhart said.

TAKING CHARGEConsent items were breezed

through with an easy (unheard of overthis past year) 5-0 zero voting, andthe board hummed through a long listof items with efficiency and calm.

It was only when issues of cutsemerged that the calm was punctuatedby the remarks of Neola Crosby, rep-resenting an unnamed church group.Crosby expressed concerns with “theactions of several of the board mem-bers regarding the superintendent.”

Crosby went on to describe theplacement of three African-Americansin upper management on the list ofpotential personnel cuts as being a“hit list” of these employees. Shewarned of possible complaints to theNAACP.

In contrast, NAACP representativeDarnell Turner spoke calmly, askingthat the vote be deferred and offeringto meet with the district to helpresolve issues of potential non-com-pliance. “We believe that some ofthese positions have been targeted,”he added. “However, we have beenaccused of using the race card. Wehave never used the race card.”

By the end of the session, the threecandidates were removed from the cutlist with an explanation that it had todo with contract and complianceissues rather than the not-so-veiledthreats of an NAACP involvement.

FINDING ANSWERSAddressing calls for management

cuts, Superintendent Gary McHenrynoted that even if all the managementpositions were cut, the total wouldstill be short the $6.6 million neededto balance the budget. “We will haveto cut from every program in this dis-trict,” he said detailing some suggest-

ed additions to the budget cut list,including the general fund contribu-tion of $721,400 for all athletic pro-grams and the possibility that allemployees take a one percent salaryreduction.

LOOKING FORWARDOn a more positive note, teacher

union president Mike Noce noted thatthe previous evening a tentative con-tract agreement had been reachedwhich he hoped would be accepted.“We all need to be political,” he said,referring to the proposed cuts to edu-cation being suggested at the statelevel. “This is ridiculous,” he added.

In the past, the district has sup-ported the idea of a parcel tax as ameans of revenue generation,although at that time the concept hadnot been accepted by voters concernedabout district spending and past fiscalissues. The search for possible ways toincrease revenue holds some promise.

“We hope that once our districtbegins to move in the right direction,we will be able to develop some busi-ness partnerships which could help inmany ways,” Eberhart said after themeeting. “I also believe that there isan incredible untapped potential inpartnering with organized labor in away that would encourage them tohelp prepare our students for highskill, high wage careers once theyleave high school.” Eberhart pointedout that stakeholders should notexpect miracles.

“What people should expect is goodsolid decision making. Each and everydecision that we make and every votethat we take should move us one stepcloser to the improving our district.”

At the Dec. 16 meeting the boardagreed upon $1.8 million in cuts aim-ing for a $6.6 million total by Feb. 10.

Cuts included contributions tosummer school, the new computerinformation system, a few teachers,operations managers and the elimina-tion of some currently vacant posi-tions. The larger cuts will come if theLegislature adds midyear educationreduction to its budget.

Page 8 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

School District slashes budget

As a new MDUSD board takes the helm, direbudget cuts threaten to decimate the district

André Gensburger/The ConcordianAATT TTHHEE NNOOVV.. 99 BBOOAARRDD MMEEEETTIINNGG,, trustees faced the task of starting $6.6 million budget cuts.

André Gensburger/The ConcordianNNEEWW BBOOAARRDD MMEEMMBBEERR,, SSHHEERRRRYY WWHHIITTMMAARRSSHH startsher term facing huge budget cuts

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

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“This is all about career-inte-grated academics,” saidBeverly Hansen, Mt. Diablo

High School principal and a supporterof the school’s vocational programs.

MDHS school has three fully fund-ed academies that encompassSerendipity’s tourism and hospitalityfocus to the award-winning DigitalSafari Multimedia Academy. DigitalSafari also offers design services tobusinesses, non-profits and othercommunity organizations. Severalother academies are unfunded. (Formore on the Serendipity program, seepage 3.)

“There are about 180 students ineach academy,” Hansen added. “Wehave 1,700 kids at the school. Thesehigh schools are so big.”

While she supports her school andthe district, Hansen will tell you thatthe system doesn’t work as it should.

“It’s broken,” she added, noting theexpanding emphasis on testing ratherthan on student progress in academiesand hands-on learning. “I am thankfulfor all the things we have done to sup-port the kids,” she said. “But our kidsget very frustrated by the perceptionof the school and some of the inap-propriate things that get said.”

She would like to see the school’simage change and works with staff onways to accomplish this. “We wantour 12th graders to leave reading at a12th-grade level and with the abilityto resolve conflicts,” she said, notingthat students often take the lead inschool projects such as the recyclingprogram and a campus clean-upeffort.

We’ve come a long way as far asacademics,” she added. “With all (theavailable) data, we get a better senseof what is working and what doesn’t.”

I’ll never be perfect,” she said.“This job is so huge, you just cannotget to everything. And we continue todo more with less.”

Hansen, principal at MDHS since2002, was in the Peace Corps during

the Kennedy years and sees a greatdeal of similarity between what shedoes now and her Peace Corp job. Shestrives to support her staff, callingteachers “my heroes,” and recognizesthat education is a difficult job.

Hansen hopes that the current cri-

sis in education funding does notdetract from the many positives thatthe school has seen. In addition to ameasurable increase in academicachievement, students also participatein programs such as Challenge Day,where they work on interpersonalrelationships, learning to overcomeadversity and the social issues thatoften lead to conflict. The ChallengeDay program puts great emphasis onthe effects of bullying.

“The essence of public school – theessence of democracy–” says Hansen,“is in educating everybody, and wewant people to be thoughtful and pro-ductive. I’m big on democracy.”

For more information visitwww.mdusd.k12.ca.us/schools/high/mtdiablohs.php

“It’s a rewarding curriculum,” Allensaid.

“It’s important to know that ourexpectation is not that our students getinto this industry,” Fuller noted. “Whatwe encourage is for them to get intohigher learning. Only about half ourstudents decide to pursue this as acareer.”

MDHS is frequently and unfairlyportrayed as part of a gang neighbor-hood with high crime and delinquentstudents. However, the campus, locat-ed across from the John Muir MedicalCenter’s Concord campus, is clean andwell-maintained. Its older buildings areof restored ornate classical architectur-al designs. While the school does havea higher percentage of non-Englishspeakers in a neighborhood with alarger number of immigrant families,the struggle appears to be more overperception than reality.

“The students get upset when theschool is reported on negatively in thepress,” Fuller said.

“We have fine academies here,”Allen reported, “and when you see thestudents, they act like extended fami-lies. This is a cool school.”

“If you look for something negative,you will find it,” Fuller said. “This is truefor any school in the district. I don’thave the students that I see in the news.That is a small number. But our familygets damaged by what people say. Thesekids have a high work ethic.”

This sentiment is clearly visible asthe bustle of the luncheon hits fullstride. There are no egos at work; thestudents have the process precision-timed; cooking food and placing it onplates with style and design, decoratingcake tops with powdered chocolate,while chefs Allen and Fuller scurryaround adding instructions, demon-strating techniques; encouraging, guid-ing and choreographing this culinarydance.

“There is no other class on cam-pus that deals with the public threedays a week,” Allen said. “It is ahuge skill for the students. Part ofwhat we do is to prepare them forany job. They learn to put together aresume and a portfolio of theirachievements. A lot of times they donot realize what they have accom-plished until much later.”

And when that realization hits them,former students, many of whom haveachieved job placements in the restau-rant industry, return to give back.

“They just drop in,” Allen said.“Whenever they are home.”

“We have a few students who alwayscome back regularly, “Fuller explained.“It’s not about cooking at all; it’s likehaving a second family.”

For additional information aboutSerendipity Restaurant and Bakery,call (925) 798-0882 or visit at 2611East St., Concord. Lunch hours are11:45 a.m. -1 p.m. Tue.-Thur.

Serendipity,from page 3

Principal Beverly Hansen cheers on students and faculty as academic performance boosts school’s image

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

André Gensburger/The ConcordianMMDDHHSS PPRRIINNCCIIPPAALL BBEEVVEERRLLYY HHAANNSSEENN stands in front of the English Department building thatretains its classical facade, one of many buildings on the campus with character.

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 9

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Page 10 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

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As you enter the New Year, think green

If you are looking for an easy, low-stress resolution for 2009, try GoingGreen. You don’t have to buy a hybrid or install new windows to gogreen. The following steps will help you stick to your resolution, feel

good about yourself and maybe even save some money.

Cut down on your water consumption.With California being in a drought this year, cutting down on long, hot

showers is a great idea. This is an easy way to go green and watch yourwater and energy bill decrease. Another easy way is to turn off your waterwhile brushing your teeth or run your dishwasher less often.

Plant a tree. If you plant a couple of trees

on the south, east and westsides of your house, in fiveyears they will provide enoughshade to start cooling yourhouse. When the trees mature,they could lower your air con-ditioning costs by 40 percentfor a cost of $35-$50 per tree.

Walk. Everyone wants to improve

their health, so why not do thatwhile keeping to your greenresolution. Walk or bikeinstead of driving to work. Thiswill help wake your body andhelp the environment.

Clean out clutter. After the holidays, we always have so much clutter. Unclutter your clos-

ets, pantries and storage area by donating any unwanted items to charity.Reusing means less garbage going into the landfills.

Learn to recycle something new. This year, make an extra effort to either reuse or recycle plastic bags.

There are many ways you can reuse plastic bags but if you can’t reuse it,recycle it. Either place them in your recycling bin or bring them to yourlocal grocery store.

Good luck with your Going Green New Year’s resolution for 2009.

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It’s time for those infamous NewYear’s Resolutions, for turning overa new leaf, and for taking steps

toward healthier eating and a healthierlifestyle. Have you made your NewYear’s Resolutions…or better yet, haveyou pledged that 2009 will be a year ofhealthier choices?

Taking small steps will ensure yoursuccess, and the farmers’ market is oneof the best places to get started on those

resolutions with the amazing abundanceof delicious California produce at yourfingertips. The stalls are packed withfoods that are healthy, fresh, and in sea-son. Remember, fresh fruits and vegeta-bles are a key part to a healthy lifestyle,and the more color that your producehas, the greater its health benefits. It isrecommended that you eat 5 to 9 serv-ings of fresh fruits and vegetables eachday.

Your local farmers’ market also offersyou the opportunity to try somethingnew. And the way to maintain healthy

eating is to try new things in your diet.As they say, variety is the spice of life!

Try to use the fresh produce that youfind in new ways, and learn to eat sea-sonally as the harvests change. Mostlocal farmers and growers are therebecause they have a passion for theirproduct. They have a wealth of informa-tion at their fingertips so don’t be afraidto ask questions, as this can be a greatchance to get new ideas and tips forhealthy food preparation. Not only willyou experience the health benefits ofeating locally, but you’ll also have some

Concord Historical Society

A century of history for the Foskett Elworthy building

scenes society

from the

The Foskett and Elworthy Buildingin downtown Concord has a richhistory.

As you look at the accompanying pic-ture, imagine you see Skipolini’s Pizza onthe corner, or perhaps you rememberTR’s, where elected officials used to meetand kibitz. TR’s, owned by State SenatorMark DeSaulnier, was there from the late’70s until 2007 when Skipolini’s openedin the location. DeSaulnier was a formercounty supervisor and stateAssemblyman.

In 1911, F.W. Foskett and H.H.Elworthy purchased the property andbuilt the two-story building. FirstNational Bank was the first occupant.Upstairs were residences and profession-al offices, which remain the same.

First National Bank opened its doorsin 1913 with a capital of $25,000. Thisdoubled within a year. The bank wasabsorbed by American Bank in 1924, andAmerican Bank merged with AmericanTrust Co. in 1927.

With steam heat in the basement anda stairway entrance to the second floor,the Foskett-Elworthy Building continuedto have many residents – Western Autoand a pawnshop to name a few.

In the late ’70s, Aldo Vasconi and theOld Bank Building Co. purchased thebuilding and remodeling began. TR’srestaurant moved in and was there formany years until Skipolini’s came. Whilenegotiating with Skipolini’s, they suggest-ed a replication of the original FirstNational Bank design.When you go, takea look at the walls and design – that iswhat it looked like almost 100 years ago.

The Historical Society is in the midstof nominating board members, so now isthe time to get involved. Upcomingevents include a luncheon lecture on Mar.17, ice-cream social on May 3, and a winetasting on Sept. 19. The recent SocietyBlack and White Gala raised $7,600toward construction of a museum.

For more information call the centerat 827-3380 on Tuesday afternoons.

Photo courtesy of Concord Historical SocietyTTHHEE FFOOSSKKEETTTT AANNDD EELLWWOORRTTHHYY BBUUIILLDDIINNGG,, CCIIRRCCAA 11991155--11993300 where Skipolini’s Pizza is now locatedon the corner has had a rich history in the heart of downtown Concord

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 11

fun and learn something new in theprocess.

Let’s all have a healthier 2009 by eat-ing fresh and local at your farmers’ mar-ket!

Melange of Roasted BabyRoot Vegetables

Rediscover old-fashioned root vegeta-bles like parsnips, turnips, beets, andcarrots, at their seasonal peak right now.They’re full of vitamins and minerals,and roasting brings out their naturalsweetness.

1-1/2 cups pearl onions 2 cups baby carrots (1/4 inch of greens

left on) 12 ounces baby turnips, peeled (1/4 inch

of greens left on) and halved, if large,or regular turnips, peeled and cut into1/2-inch wedges

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, divided1/2 teaspoon salt, or to tasteFreshly ground pepper to taste10 sprigs fresh thyme or lemon thyme2 teaspoons cider vinegar2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf

parsley, divided

Preheat oven to 450°F. Bring a medi-um saucepan of water to a boil. Addonions and boil for 1 minute. Drain andrinse under cold running water. Using asharp paring knife, trim the root endsand peel. Combine the onions, carrots,turnips, oil, 1 teaspoon maple syrup,salt, pepper and thyme sprigs in a largebowl; toss to coat well. Spread the veg-etable mixture in a single layer on alarge baking sheet with sides. Roast,turning the vegetables twice, until ten-der and lightly browned in spots, about30 minutes.

Eat fresh to make 2009 a healthy year

See Farmers, page 14

By Debra J. MorrisPacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association

Page 12 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

Numbers tell the truestory of real estate market

real Josie Van Fleet

the

deal

With all the turbulence in thestock market and bad eco-nomic news in the headlines

lately, it’s easy to lose perspective onwhat’s happening in the real estate sec-tor.

The stock market is not the housingmarket. The stock market is on a wholedifferent set of tracks and has beenvolatile for a long period of time.Housing, on the other hand, hasendured its painful correction for thepast 2½ years. The market is now inthe process of stabilizing and is show-ing measurable upward progress. Pent-up demand, coupled with falling inter-est rates, is fueling this slow movetoward the real estate market’s cyclicalrecovery.

We can see it in the numbers. InOctober:

� New mortgage applicationsincreased 12 percent overSeptember, according to theMortgage Bankers Association.

� FHA applications were up by 15.3percent.

� Conventional mortgage applicationsrose 6½ percent.

On Dec. 16, the Feds lowered theshort-term interest rate to virtuallyzero on the money they lend to banks.This will put downward pressure onrates for consumer borrowing. Fixed-interest rates continue to drop and areat the lowest they’ve been in decades.

When fixed rates drop, buyers startdoing the math. They get into the mar-ket and start making offers.

Again, the numbers tell the story:� Pending home sales were higher

than year-earlier levels for the sec-ond straight month – 6 percenthigher than September 2007.

� Although pending sales contractswere down slightly for the monthnationally, in the western states theywere up by 3.7 percent. Home salesnationally stand at an extraordinary39.7 percent higher than they wereat the same time in 2007.

� Concord is right in line with thenational trend. Concord home salestotal 1,269 for the year (as of Dec.16) vs. 941 in 2007. This is a 7½percent increase.

At the National Association ofRealtors convention in Orlando, a chiefeconomist warned the delegates not toexpect a housing recovery overnight,certainly not with unemployment on therise. But he projected a slow, steady,multi-year upward trend with 5.02 mil-lion total sales this year, 5.3 million for2009 and 5.6 million for 2010.

If you are thinking of buying ahome, this is a great time. If you arethinking of selling your home, this is agood time to look into the market valueof your property. With low interestrates and an active market, 2009promises to be a good year.

Josie Van Fleet is a real estate bro-ker with J. Rockcliff Realtors, Inc. Callher with questions or comments at(925) 280-6470 or email teamvan-fleet@aol.com.

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308 Diablo Creek Ct

151 Mountaire Parkway

4255 Marietta Ct

754 Ygnacio Woods Ct

2306 Parish Dr

4865 Chablis Court

332 Egret Place

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1522 Norine Dr

5113 Ebbetts Way

1855 Wren Lane

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1117 Corrie Lane

1082 Bountiful Way

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2398 Acacia Dr

5225 Clydesdale Way

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1370 Stonewood Dr

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151 Mountaire Parkway

4255 Marietta Ct

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332 Egret Place

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159 Plov Way

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The CONCORDIAN

Upgrades bring luxury and expanse to Kaski Lane rancher

This expanded rancher at 1131 KaskiLane is the perfect family home.The unassuming façade behind the

white picket fence gives way to big sur-prises.

A large addition and complete remod-eling has increased this home to morethan 3,500 sq. ft. It’s a comfortable six-bedroom, three-bath success story.Upgrades and updates were well thought

out and meant to enhance daily living.This property is like new!

From the stained-glass entry into aliving room warmed by a glowing fire-place, this open and flowing floor planhas a distinct country feel. Moving for-ward to the central hub of the home, youhave a family room with kitchen access.The family room includes a breakfastarea, fireplace, wall sconce lighting and acorner staircase to the upper floor.

This light and bright home, paintedthroughout in soft, neutral colors, hasdual-pane windows to let the sun bathethese rooms in natural light.

The master suite on the lower levelhas a walk-in and one other closet, plus abeautifully tiled bath with jetted tub anda large shower with multi-head sprays.Extras include a waterfall rinse fountainand a hot water pump to increase hotwater flow. There are two more bed-rooms on the main level, with a hall bathfor convenience.

Sharing is good, but three additionalupstairs bedrooms and another bathallow everyone to have their own room.

The gourmet kitchen has sleek, woodcabinets. A wood-paneled refrigeratorand dishwasher blend nicely, accentingthe granite countertops and large, square

island with gas stovetop. A wonderful,fully enclosed atrium adjoins the kitchen.With skylights, lighting and pebble-con-crete flooring, this indoor garden isenjoyable year-round. French doors openinto this unique feature.

An enormous deck travels the lengthof the house and is accessed from thefamily room, expanding the areas inwhich to entertain and offering a cozyarea to sit back and watch the kids playin the huge yard. Dotted with only a fewtrees, the lot is open for dreaming–apotential pool site, immense garden, a

sport court for the family, kennel – thepossibilities are endless.

The potential that this home offers isunmatched. Nestled into an area south ofcentral Cowell Road, on a dead-endstreet that trails to Limeridge OpenSpace, this home allows you to appreciatethe quality of life, surrounded by fantas-tic neighbors and the sounds of childrenplaying. You will be pleased to call ithome for many years to come.

Give Lynne French a call at 672-8787to preview or for more information.

estatereal

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DDOONN’’TT BBEE FFOOOOLLEEDD BBYY TTHHIISS HHOOMMEE’’SS MMIILLDD--MMAANNNNEERREEDD EEXXTTEERRIIOORR.. This Cowell area rancher has sixbedrooms and three bathrooms and a gigantic backyard, all for $689,000.

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and a cooking island, plus a view to abeautiful atrium.

1778 Bluewood Court $539,000 5220 Forrestgreen Court $516,000 2020 Encima Drive $465,000

5316 Oakpoint Court $1,020,000 1072 Discovery Way $570,000 1099 Discovery Way $660,000

30 Lynch Court $523,950 5490 Florida Drive $535,000 4636 Deercreek Lane $450,000

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SOLDSOLD

SOLD

5337 Paso Del Rio Way $431,000

1781 Hames Court $490,000

SOLD BY LYNNE FRENCH

Clayton320 Ahwanee Ln.5161 Keller Ridge Dr.208 Condor Way131 Gold Rush Ct.1171 Moccasin Ct.1183 Shell Ln.1206 Easley Dr.

222 Mountaire Cir.56 Barcelona Way1100 WhisperingPines Rd.3516 Oak Hill Ln.950 Mariposa Cir.700 Anizumne Ct.

SOLD

SOLDSOLD

SOLD

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 13

Page 14 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

No matter how much you love yourcats, when they start having acci-dents in the house, it can really

test your patience. In this case, I’m talk-ing about urinating accidents, althoughfecal problems are just as bothersome.

If your cat is new to you or is young,he may still be learning the rules ofhousebreaking. Most cats take to the lit-terbox easily, with only minor encourage-ment. You will need to show your newcat where the litterbox is located, andthey usually take care of the rest bythemselves.

Punishing a cat for urinating in thehouse is not effective, unless you catchthem “in the act” and respond instantly.In this case, a stern “no” and putting thepet in the place where you would preferthem to urinate is helpful. If you punishthem even a couple of minutes later, theywill not associate the punishment withtheir bad behavior. Punishing them inthis way may just increase their anxietyand cause more accidents.

The first step is to determine whetherthe problem is medical or behavioral.Your veterinarian may want to check forurinary tract infections, kidney disease,bladder stones or tumors and feline cys-titis (an inflamed bladder, similar tointerstitial cystitis in humans). The vetwill likely want to do a complete physicalexam and obtain a urine sample and pos-sibly a blood sample.

Once medical issues have been ruledout, your vet may determine that your cathas a behavioral urinating or urine mark-ing problem.

Urine marking is usually characterizedby urinating on vertical, and not horizon-tal, surfaces. So you may notice urine onthe walls or windows. First, try to see ifthere have been any recent changes inthe household – a new pet, roommate orbaby, for example. While you can’t getrid of the new addition, finding a “safe”place for your cat may make them feelless defensive and reduce the desire tomark their territory. Making one room“off limits” to other pets or children may

help.If the cat is marking around windows,

there might be neighborhood catspatrolling your yard. Your cat may beresponding to “intruders” by markingyour house, since cats are territorial ani-mals. If this is the case, it may be helpfulto put a barrier up so your cat cannot seeoutside and get upset at “intruders.”

Some cats respond to pheromone dif-fusers such as Feliway. Not all cats showa response to this product, but for theones who do, it can increase the cat’ssense of calmness and reduce the desireto mark. It is a safe product, so it may beworth a try to see if your cat is amongthose who respond.

It’s possible your cat may not bemarking, but may simply not like hiskitty litter. Cats are sensitive to scent, sosome of the scented litters may botherthem. Additionally, they are picky aboutwhat the litter feels like on their paws.This is an individual preference. Somecats prefer the clumping litter, some clay,others newspaper-based litters. So buysmall bags and experiment until you findyour cat’s preference.

Another irritant is the dust that kittylitter produces. Many cats are sensitive todust and can even have breathing trou-bles or, in severe cases, asthma attacksafter being exposed to dust. Hooded lit-terpans make this problem worsebecause they trap the dust and the cat ina confined space.

Hooded litterpans also make it harderto see how dirty the litterpan is. Cats areso fastidious that they may not use a lit-terpan that has even one small “mess” init. Daily scooping is important.

Finally, in a household that has morethan one cat, your cats may not want toshare the litterpan or may feel crowdedor in competition. Animal behavioristsrecommend that you have as many litter-pans as you have cats, plus one more.

Ilana Halperin is a veterinarian atDisney Pet Hospital. You can reach herat (925) 689-4244.

Ilana Halperin

Reasons why your cat mayhave accidents in the house

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Transfer the vegetables to a largebowl; remove thyme stems. Drizzle withthe remaining 1 teaspoon syrup, vinegarand 1 tablespoon parsley; toss to coat.Sprinkle with the remaining 1 table-spoon parsley and serve.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Perserving: 121 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 3 gmono); 0 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohy-drate; 2 g protein; 4 g fiber; 417 mg

sodium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A(240% daily value), Vitamin C (50% dv),Potassium (24% dv), Fiber (16% dv).

The Concord Farmers’ Market isopen Tuesdays year-round, 10a.m. to2 p.m. in Todos Santos Plaza. Formore information on area FarmersMarkets hours and locations visitwww.pcfma.com or call 800-949-FARM.

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Once upon a time, there lived asmart, tenacious princess inthe kingdom of Concord. At a

dinner party arranged by friends, shemet her Prince Charming, who swepther off her steady feet, promising toshare with her the pleasures of hishigh life as a retired Navy admiral.Then he tried to kill her.

What? Stop. What kind of a fairytale is this?

This is not a fairy tale; it is thetrue story of Barbara Bentley’s nine-year marriage to John Perry, a man,now deceased, whom she refers to asa psychopath.

In her book, “A Dance with theDevil,” you can see the picture of herbattered face, document her hus-band’s conviction for attempted mur-der, and you can follow her adviceand open your eyes to organizationslike STAND! Against DomesticViolence. This horrid account affectsnot just Bentley, but thousands ofvictims.

That’s the bad part of the story,but there’s good news as well.

Bentley is a talented writer with aclear, consistent tone and the abilityto make a chokingly sad tale easy toswallow. We may think an author’swords slide off the pen, but Bentley isadamant about exposing the laborhiding like mighty Oz behind the cov-

ers of her book. Her skill comes fromhard work, and “A Dance with theDevil” is the direct result of the painburied behind most noteworthyendeavors.

Writing her novel involved joiningthe International Women’s WritingGuild, crafting a proposal tying herplan directly to the teaching points ofa writer she hoped would become herco-author, storyboarding picturesand file cards into a chronologicalaccount of the events and producinga thicker-than-a-brick notebook out-line for each chapter. Not to mentionstudying the art of careful editing,seeking a publisher, identifying effec-tive marketing and courageously pro-moting her work through publicspeaking.

Bentley also wrote, sponsored,lobbied and nearly single-handedlyengineered the passage of AB16, a billchanging California divorce law.

She often refers to passion, plan-ning, patience and persistence, thewords forming something like aBuddhist chant for the author.Without these tools, she might nothave survived to tell her story andcertainly would not be so influentialin the march to protect victims ofdomestic abuse.

No longer engaged in a specificpolitical quest, in one sense she isretrenching, resting for battle, observ-ing the field before rallying the troops.She pours her unstoppable energy intobook promotions and speaking togroups, including hardened teens atan alternative high school whoresponded with maturity and sincereappreciation for her message.

By Lou FancherSpecial to The Concordian

Bentley’s happy ending trumps violent marriage

Photo courtesy of Barbara BentleyAATT AA NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR BBOOOOKK SSIIGGNNIINNGG at Clayton Books, Barbara Bentley captivated the audiencewith a reading from her book “A Dance with the Devil.”

Len Walker, former Clayton ValleyHigh School jazz band director, took tothe stage Dec. 11 to close out theschool’s first semester concert and hol-iday show.

Walker directed the band in LeroyAnderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” Walker waswas band director from 1969 to 1985.

Several of Walker’s former studentsbrought their musical instruments andwere invited to sit in during the lastnumber. Carolyn Colvin Dufort (1974)came from Los Gatos with her fluteand a band uniform that was retired in1972.

“Len Walker was my eighth-grademusic teacher at Loma Vista. He left tocome to Clayton Valley and I got to havehim for four more years,” Dufort said. “Ihad him for five years – lucky me!”

The show featured CVHS’s tradi-tional jazz band, which played GigiCifarelli’s arrangement of “WhiteChristmas,” the string orchestra, sym-phonic band and wind ensemble allplaying mostly holiday music.

Walker noticed some changes in theband room since he retired. “They gotrid of the hideous heater that used tohang from that band room ceiling,” henoted. As for the students, he added:“The kids are just the same and just aslovable as ever.”

-Mike Dunn

Mike Dunn/The ConcordianLLEENN LLEEAANN WWAALLKKEERR DDIIRREECCTTSS SSLLEEIIGGHH RRIIDDEE with theCVHS Wind Ensemble.

Former CVHS jazzband leader directsholiday finale

See Author, page 16

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 15

Page 16 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

outgetting

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENTGGaalllleerryy CCoonnccoorrdd““WWiinntteerr GGiiffttss””

Exhibit opens Jan. 8, with a reception 6-8 p.m.Jan. 9. Featured artist Denise Miller offers glowingwatercolor paintings, and guest artist Chloe Trujillohas a primal, spiritual elegance to her images.1765 Galindo St, Concord. 691-6140.

WWiilllloowwss CCaabbaarreett““EEvviill DDeeaadd:: TThhee MMuussiiccaall””

JJaann.. 99--FFeebb.. 77.. This campy take on “slasher” hor-ror films features seating in “the Splatter Zone.” Noone under 13 admitted without a parent. 636 WardSt., Martinez. $20-$30. 798-1300 orwww.willowstheatre.org.

CCoonnccoorrdd SSeenniioorr CCeenntteerrMMuullttiiccuullttuurraall NNeeww YYeeaarr CCeelleebbrraattiioonn

33--66 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 1188.. Celebrate the Year of the Oxwith the Far East Dragon Lion Dance and authenticVietnamese food. 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord.$5. 671-3320 or www.ConcordReg.org.

CCoonnccoorrdd LLiibbrraarryy99 aa..mm..--nnoooonn JJaann.. 3311.. Comedy and suspense

writing tips from children’s authors Sarah Wilsonand Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff. Attendees may wina free story critique by the authors. Free event forsixth, seventh and eighth graders. Register at thelibrary, 2900 Salvio St. 646-5455.

CCllaayyttoonn BBooookkssAll events at 5433 D Clayton Road, Clayton,

unless otherwise noted. 673-3325 or visit www.clay-tonbookshop.com.

77 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 1133.. Romance Book Club discusses“The Lost Diary of Don Juan.”

77 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 1144.. Dr. Carl Alasko, author of“Emotional Bullshit: The Hidden Plague that isThreatening to Destroy Your Relationships - andHow to Stop It!”

44--66 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 2222 aanndd 55--88 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 2233.. J. ScottSavage, author of “Farworld - Book One: WaterKeep.”

77 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 2277.. Annie Barrows, author of “TheGuernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.”Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr.,Clayton. There is a fee for the event, which includescoffee, tea, dessert and the book.

77 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 2288.. Mystery Book Club discusses“The Concrete Blonde.”

MMoovviinngg AArrttss DDaannccee CCeenntteerrNow enrolling for winter session, which starts Jan.

5. Entry level through pre-professional dance class-es for children to adults.1281-C Franquette Ave.,Concord. 825-8399 or www.movingartsdance.org.

AAnniimmaall RReessccuuee FFoouunnddaattiioonnSSttaarrss ttoo tthhee RReessccuuee

66::4455 pp..mm.. JJaann.. 1100.. Includes Graham Russell andRussell Hitchcock from Air Supply, Tony Orlando,Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters. LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.$50-$300. 943-SHOW or www.arf.net.

CLUBS

AAMMEERRIICCAANN LLEEGGIIOONN PPOOSSTT 117711 meets the thirdTuesday of the month. 5 p.m. social, 7 p.m. meet-ing. Concord Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 WillowPass Road.

AATTHHEEIISSTTSS AANNDD FFRREEEETTHHIINNKKEERRSS OOFF CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA

CCOOUUNNTTYY meets 2:30 p.m. the first Sunday of eachmonth, Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak GroveRoad, Walnut Creek. Contact Chuck at 672-7243.

CCIIRRCCLLEE OOFF FFRRIIEENNDDSS meets the second Monday ofthe month, Walnut Country Club, 4498 Lawson Ct.,

Concord. This women’s group builds relationshipsand ties through educational presentations andsocial events. Contact Lori at 998-8844 orlori@lorihagge.com.

CCLLAAYYTTOONN VVAALLLLEEYY WWOOMMAANN’’SS CCLLUUBB meets at 9:30a.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month,Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way,Concord. Call Joyce at 672-3850.

CCLLUUTTCCHH BBUUSSTTEERRSS SSQQUUAARREE DDAANNCCEE CCLLUUBB meets 7:30-10 p.m. Thursdays, Mt. Diablo Woman’s Club,1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord.

CCOONNCCOORRDD AARRTT AASSSSOOCCIIAATTIIOONN meets 12:50-3 p.m.the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings includean educational program by an invited artist withdemonstrations of various art forms. ConcordLibrary, 2900 Salvio St. 646-5455.

CCOONNCCOORRDD DDIIAABBLLOO RROOTTAARRYY meets at 12:15 p.m.Wednesdays, Marie Calendars, 2090 DiamondBlvd., Concord. For details, email Kathy atgreg_grassi@mechbank.com.

CCOONNCCOORRDD HHIISSTTOORRIICCAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY: The HistoricalSociety Resource Center is open 1-4 p.m. Tuesdaysand by appointment. Walking tours are availablefor groups of five to 15 by appointment. 1601Sutter St., Suite E, F. 827-3380 orwww.conhistsoc.org.

CCOONNCCOORRDD LLIIOONNSS CCLLUUBB meets at 7 p.m. the thirdTuesday of the month, La Tapatia MexicanRestaurant, 1802 Willow Pass Road, Concord.Contact Liz at 687-3594.

CCOONNCCOORRDD MMYYSSTTEERRYY BBOOOOKK CCLLUUBB meets at 2:30 p.m.the second Sunday of the month, Concord Library,2900 Salvio St. 646-5455.

CCOONNCCOORRDD RROOTTAARRYY meets 12:15 p.m. Fridays,Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd. Contact Jerryat 675-1042.

CCOONNCCOORRDD SSEENNIIOORR CCLLUUBB holds ballroom dancing,1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdaysand 8-11 p.m. the second Saturday of the month.Sponsored by the Concord Senior Club. 2727Parkside Circle, Concord. 798-4557.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA BBLLUUEE SSTTAARR MMOOMMSS CCHHAAPPTTEERR 2200 mem-bers have sons and daughters in uniform. Visitccbluestarmoms.org. Social and support meeting,6:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month.Business meeting, 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday ofthe month, Community Room, Concord PoliceDepartment, 1350 Galindo St. Contact Becky at286-1728 or bwilliams@ccbluestarmoms.org.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA CCHHEESSSS CCLLUUBB meets 7-9:30 p.m.Thursdays, Starbuck’s, 1536 Kirker Pass Road,Clayton. The club is an affiliate of the United StatesChess Federation and players of all ages and skilllevels are welcome. Contact Mike at 639-1987 orwww.uschess.org.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA GGEENNEEAALLOOGGIICCAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY meets at 7p.m. the second Thursday of the month, Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3700 ConcordBlvd., Concord. rootsweb.com/.~cacccgs/.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA MMIINNEERRAALL && GGEEMM SSOOCCIIEETTYY meets thesecond Monday of the month at Centre Concord,5298 Clayton Road. 429-2748 or 779-0698 orhttp://home.comcast.net/~contracostamineralandgem/site/.

DDIIAABBLLOO NNUUMMIISSMMAATTIICC SSOOCCIIEETTYY,, a coin-collecting club,meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month,Veterans Memorial Hall, 2290 Willow Pass Road,Concord. Contact Mike at 825-0649 or xsteam-erx@aol.com.

DDIIAABBLLOO VVAALLLLEEYY MMAACCIINNTTOOSSHH UUSSEERRSS GGRROOUUPP meets at6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Freequestion and answer help for Mac, followed by pro-grams, guest speakers, demonstrations and fun.Bancroft Elementary School, 2700 Parish Dr.,Walnut Creek. Call Tom at 689-1155 orwww.dvmug.org.

DDIIAABBLLOO VVAALLLLEEYY WWIINNGGSS,, Chapter P of the Gold WingTouring Association, meets the second Tuesday ofthe month. 6 p.m. social hour, with dinner at 7 p.m.Sizzler, 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord. 686-3774 or www.GWTA-CA-DVW.org.

EEAASSTT BBAAYY CCAASSUUAALL HHIIKKIINNGG GGRROOUUPP is for all ages andabilities. Hikes range 3-9 miles or 2-4 hours. Nomembership fees. http://Hiking.Bondon.com.

EELLLLEENN’’SS GGUUIILLDD meets 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. thesecond Tuesday of the month in various locations.The non-profit supports the Family Stress Center,helping to make a difference in the lives of under-privileged children. Contact Karen at 820-2371 orkarend@pacbell.net or Jennifer at 827-0212,ext.107 or Jennifer.stasch@familystresscenter.org.www.familystresscenter.org.

KKIIWWAANNIISS CCLLUUBB OOFF GGRREEAATT CCOONNCCOORRDD meets at noonWednesdays, The Old Spaghetti Factory, 1955 Mt.Diablo St., Concord. Contact Sandra at372-5348.

KKNNIITTTTIINNGG GGRROOUUPP meets 2-4 p.m. the first Sundayof the month, Concord Library, 2900 Salvio St. Freeinstruction and practice yarn provided; bring yourown needles. 646-5455.

MMTT.. DDIIAABBLLOO AASSTTRROONNOOMMIICCAALL SSOOCCIIEETTYY shows “Eyes onthe Skies,” the official movie of the internationalYear of Astronomy 7 p.m. Jan. 27, Concord PoliceAssociation Facility, 5060 Avila Road. ContactLiede-Marie at 939-6137 or www.mdas.net.

OODDDD FFEELLLLOOWWSS meet at 3 p.m. the second andfourth Tuesdays of the month, Pacheco Lodge 117,4349 Cowell Road, Concord. Call Herb at 682-7358.

RREEBBEEKKAAHH’’SS LLOODDGGEE meet at 8 p.m. the first and thirdThursdays of the month, Mt. Diablo Lodge 228,4349 Cowell Road, Concord. Call Carmen at 672-5045.

RROOTTAARRYY CCLLUUBB OOFF CCLLAAYYTTOONN VVAALLLLEEYY//CCOONNCCOORRDD SSUUNNRRIISSEE

meets 7 a.m. Thursdays, Oakhurst Country Club,1001 Peacock Creek Dr., Clayton Meeting includesbreakfast and features a speaker. Contact Chuck at689-7640 orwww. claytonvalleyrotary.org.

SSCCRRAABBBBLLEE CCLLUUBB meets 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. the sec-ond and fourth Saturdays of the month, Carl’s Jr.Restaurant, 1530 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. Playersof all ages and skill levels welcome. $3 fee perplayer. Call Mike at 639-1987 or www.scrabble-assoc.com.

SSOORROOPPTTIIMMIISSTT IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL DDIIAABBLLOO VVIISSTTAA meets thesecond, third and fourth Wednesdays of the monthat the Sizzler, 1353 Willow Pass Road, Concord.Call Gloria at 890-8255.

TTOOAASSTTMMAASSTTEERRSS IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL has numerous meet-ing locations, dates and times in the Concord area.www.toastmasters.org. Toastmasters on Monday,Aegis of Concord, 4756 Clayton Road. ContactCarie at 682-7211. Toastmasters on Tuesday, 7:15p.m., John Muir Hospital Concord Campus, 2730Grant St., Classroom A. Contact Marion at 686-1818.

VVEETTEERRAANNSS OOFF FFOORREEIIGGNN WWAARRSS PPOOSSTT 11552255 meets 9a.m. the second Saturday of the month. VeteransMemorial Hall, 2990 Willow Pass Road, Concord.

SUPPORT GROUPSAALL--AANNOONN FFAAMMIILLYY GGRROOUUPP meets 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Mondays, St. Martins of Tours Anglican Church andPreschool, 5294 Concord Blvd., Concord. (This iswhile construction is underway at St. Bonaventure’sChurch, the normal meeting place.) If you are con-cerned about someone else’s drinking, Al-AnonFamily Groups can help. For meetings in otherConcord locations, call 932-6770 or visitwww.ncwsa.org/district.

AALLCCOOHHOOLLIICCSS AANNOONNYYMMOOUUSS.. For local meetings, callthe Walnut Creek Service Center at 939-4155 orvisit www.aa.org.

CCAARRDDIIAACC CCAARREE SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP Mended Hearts visi-tors meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of themonth, John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek orConcord campus. Affiliated with the American HeartAssociation, the group provides support to patientsand family members dealing with heart disease.947-5206.

CCOONNSSUUMMEERR CCOOMMPPLLAAIINNTT CCOOUUNNSSEELLOORRSS will visit theConcord Senior Center Jan. 12, 2727 ParksideCircle. Make an appointment to speak with coun-selors from the California Department of ConsumerAffairs about resolving a consumer complaint. 671-3320.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA FFAAMMIILLYY SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP for patientsdealing with leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lym-phoma and multiple myeloma meets 7-8:30 p.m.

She still regrets the lack of pro-tection and considerable obstacleswithin California divorce laws, butfor the moment, she has made it tothe top of one mountain and seemscontent to watch the flag of BillAB16 flying in the breeze.

Regret does not loom large forBentley. She speaks of all she haslearned and seems almost gratefulfor the challenges.

As for the book, she mentionsonly the elimination, due to neces-sary edits, of the chapters she wroteon the hours of fun, love and excite-ment wedged between the maritaldiscord and financial strife. Withoutunderstanding that her former hus-band could be a dreamy dance part-ner swirling her across the ballroomfloor, readers may find it hard tobelieve she kept waltzing for ninelong years.

She patiently explains to audi-ences that psychopaths are adept atselecting their victims – and themeans by which they keep theirpartners dizzy. They are quite capa-ble of tromping on their partner’stoes, then convincing one and all itis the partner’s clumsiness that iscausing the pain.

Bentley’s plans for early 2009include more book signings andspeaking engagements where shewill spread the word about the helpavailable to men and women caughtin the dark webs cast by abusivepartners. Her next project is a his-toric novel about a smart, tenaciousIrishwoman, engaged and ultimate-ly victorious in battle. (Sound famil-iar?)

In the meantime, her Websiteinvites readers into a dialogue abouther work and she will be back atClayton Books Jan. 21 for anotherbook signing.

Once upon a time, there was anintelligent, cheerful woman. Shewrote a book that changed lives,found peace and love living with apartner, and set out on a journeyfilled with hard work, laughter andstories. She lived happily. The End.

For more information, visitwww.adancewiththedevil.com.Additional Lou Fancher reviews may be found at www.claytonbookshop.com.

Author,from page 15

Get your businessnoticed in the

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENTsection of TheConcordian.

673-5367

the first Thursday of every month. Sponsored by theLeukemia Society. Call Sarah at 947-4466, ext.32797.

HHIIVV//AAIIDDSS SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP meets 7-9 p.m. the sec-ond and fourth Thursdays of the month, John MuirMedical Center, Concord campus. 674-2190.

HHOOSSPPIICCEE OOFF TTHHEE EEAASSTT BBAAYY,, offers support groupsand workshops for adults, children and teens expe-riencing grief after the death of a loved one. AdultsWho Have Lost a Parent, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays,Jan. 19-March 9. Widow and Widowers Support, 6-8 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 9-March 30. UnderstandingGrief, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 20. Registrationrequired. Fees may be waived. 3470 Buskirk Ave.,Pleasant Hill. 887-5678 orwww.hospiceeastbay.org.

RRAAIINNBBOOWW CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY CCEENNTTEERR (RCC) fosters a senseof community among gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender, intersex and questioning (GLBTIQ) personsand enhances their lives by providing social oppor-tunities, health and wellness services, political andeducational programs and is guided by a commit-ment to acceptance and equality. All meetings heldat the RCC Office, 3024 Willow Pass Road, Suite200, Concord.

Project CONNECT: Free HIV testing (results in lessthan 30 minutes)and counseling, 6-8 p.m. the firstand third Fridays of the month.

Youth Peer Support and Social Group: For LGBTyouth ages 13-20. 3-8 p.m. Saturdays.

Queer Talk: LGBT Youth After-School Program, 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Men’s HIV Support Group: 6:30-8 p.m.Mondays.

Women’s Discussion Group: For Lesbians, 6:30-8p.m. Wednesdays.

Transgender Support Group: 7-9 p.m. the firstThursday of the month.

Men’s Discussion Group: For gay and bisexualmen, 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of themonth.

SSTTRROOKKEE SSUUPPPPOORRTT GGRROOUUPP OOFF CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA CCOOUUNNTTYY,meets 7-9 p.m. Jan. 12, Concord Room at JohnMuir Medical Center-Concord Campus, 2540 EastAve. Linda Groobin of Caring Hands will speak.Then attendees will break into three coping groups:stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivorswith aphasia and caregivers of stroke survivors.Meetings are free and open to the public. ContactAnn at 376-6218.

VOLUNTEERS

CCAARRIINNGG HHAANNDDSS creates matches between caringvolunteers and frail, isolated and disabled seniorsfor free, non-medical in-home assistance. There is atremendous need for volunteers who speak Spanish,along with occasional and substitute drivers. A vol-unteer training session will be 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.Jan. 24, John Muir Medical Center, 2540 East St.Concord. Register by Jan. 16. 952-2999.

CCOONNCCOORRDD CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY BBLLOOOODD DDRRIIVVEE,, Sponsored byAddus Healthcare. 1:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 1800Sutter St., Concord. Walkins welcome or sign up onwww.beadonor.com. Click on “find a drive” andenter sponsor code concord925. Bring photo ID.510-773-2414.

EEMMEERRGGEENNCCYY PPRREEPPAARREEDDNNEESSSS TTRRAAIINNIINNGG is offered by thecity of Concord in conjunction with the ContraCosta County Fire Protection District. CommunityEmergency Response Team (CERT) training involvessix evening sessions for a total of 20 hours andconcludes with a hands-on training exercise.Participants must be at least 16. The first class for2009 will be 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 27-Feb. 24, 2945 Treat Blvd., Concord. 603-5933.

SCHOOLS

CCLLAAYYTTOONN VVAALLLLEEYY HHIIGGHH SSCCHHOOOOLL AATTHHLLEETTIICC BBOOOOSSTTEERRSS

CCRRAABB FFEEEEDD AANNDD AAUUCCTTIIOONN,, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Jan. 10,Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road. Tickets are$50 and can be purchased from student team rep-resentatives, at the school office or at www.cvhs-boosters.org.

CCOONNCCOORRDD HHIIGGHH SSCCHHOOOOLL AATTHHLLEETTIICC BBOOOOSSTTEERRSS CCRRAABB

FFEEEEDD AANNDD AAUUCCTTIIOONN,, 6 p.m.-midnight Feb. 7, CentreConcord, 5298 Clayton Road. Tickets are $50 andcan be purchased at

www.concordhighschool.net/chsathleticsCrabfeed.html.

MMTT.. DDIIAABBLLOO UUNNIIFFIIEEDD SSCCHHOOOOLL DDIISSTTRRIICCTT Board ofEducation meets 7:30 p.m. Jan 13 and 27, BoardRoom, Dent Center, 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord.682-8000.

GOVERNMENT

OOPPEENNIINNGGSS OONN CCIITTYY BBOOAARRDDSS:: Residents can applyfor openings on the Appeals Board, Design ReviewBoard and Planning Commission. Applications maybe obtained at the City Management Offices, 1950Parkside Dr., or atwww.cityofconcord.org/citygov/bc/g-c.htm. Or call671-3495. Applications deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 2.

MMAAYYOORR’’SS OOPPEENN OOFFFFIICCEE:: Concord Mayor Bill Shinnholds regular open office hours in his office at theConcord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. Themayor looks forward to talking to residents aboutany issues they wish to address. To make a 20-minute appointment, call Mary at 671-3158 duringbusiness hours.

CCIITTYY CCOOUUNNCCIILL meets at 6:30 p.m. the first, secondand fourth Mondays of the month in the CityCouncil Chambers, 1950 Parkside Dr.. The meet-ings are televised live on Concord cable TV chan-nels 28 (Comcast) and 29 (Astound) and on thecity’s Website. A calendar of all city meetings with alink to meeting agendas is available at www.cityof-concord.org. Contact City Clerk Mary Rae Lehmanat 671-3495.

CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN OONN AAGGIINNGG meets at 1:30 p.m. thethird Wednesday of the month, Concord SeniorCenter, 2727 Parkside Circle. The commissionworks to identify, improve and develop services andopportunities for senior citizens in Concord. 671-3419.

CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY AADDVVIISSOORRYY CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE meets 6:30 p.m.the third Tuesday of the month, Concord SeniorCenter, 2727 Parkside Circle. The CommunityAdvisory Committee for the Concord CommunityReuse Project provides input on planning for thecivilian reuse of the Concord Naval Weapon Stationand continued community outreach efforts. 671-3019.

CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY SSEERRVVIICCEESS CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN meets at 6:30p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, CityManager’s Conference Room, Wing A, 1950Parkside Dr. The commission identifies housing,neighborhood and social services needs within thecommunity. 671-3283.

CCOONNTTRRAA CCOOSSTTAA CCOOUUNNTTYY BBOOAARRDD OOFF SSUUPPEERRVVIISSOORRSS

meets 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, County AdministrationBuilding, 651 Pine St., Room 107, Martinez.www.co.contra-costa.ca.us or 335-1900.

DDEESSIIGGNN RREEVVIIEEWW BBOOAARRDD meets at 5:30 p.m. the sec-ond and fourth Thursdays of the month, CenterConference Room, Wing D, 1950 Parkside Dr. Theboard reviews the design for each improvement forwhich a building permit, certificate or otherapproval is required. The board also reviews anymatter referred to the board by the PlanningCommission, zoning administrator or planningmanager, 671-3152.

HHUUMMAANN RREELLAATTIIOONNSS CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN meets the secondTuesday of the month. Most meetings are at 7 p.m.in the City Council Chambers, 1950 Parkside Dr.The commission fosters positive human relationsthrough education, cultural exchange and commu-nity outreach. 671-3327.

PPAARRKKSS,, RREECCRREEAATTIIOONN AANNDD OOPPEENN SSPPAACCEE CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN

meets the second Wednesday of the month. Mostmeetings are at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers,1950 Parkside Dr. 671-3440.

PPLLAANNNNIINNGG CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN meets the first and thirdWednesdays of the month. Most meetings are heldat 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1950Parkside Dr. The commission develops and main-tains the General Plan, develops specific plans asnecessary, makes recommendations to the CityCouncil regarding proposed General Plan amend-ments, and reviews planned district developments,tentative subdivision maps and use permit applica-tions. 671-3152.

All listings are as of date of publicationdeadline. We encourage you to call or visitWebsites to confirm dates, times, etc.

In my column, I typically discussareas of the law that I think mightinterest readers. With the reces-

sion looming and the holiday seasonjust over, I wanted to share some of mythoughts about the relationshipbetween companies and their employ-ees.

Every day, I speak on the phone orin person with 5-10 employees whohave recently been fired. With therecession, these calls are increasing. Iestimate that abouthalf of these peoplewould not be talkingwith a lawyer if theemployer had just beennice – spent some timewith the employeeexplaining the reasonsfor the termination,sympathized with theemployee and madesome effort to cushionthe transition, eitherwith a modest sever-ance or at least anindication that theemployer would notinterfere with theemployee’s claim for unemploymentbenefits. When a fired employee is inmy office, it is usually because he orshe is mad about how the terminationwas handled.

I also spend time daily talking withemployees who are not appreciatedand who are being harassed on the joband treated unfairly. Unfortunately,many employers seem to treat theiremployees like machines. It seems tome that if more employers treated theiremployees like family or friends, wewould not only have a great reductionin employment litigation but employ-

ees would be more productive andcompanies would prosper accordingly.

I see the other side of the coin aswell. Many employees complain to meabout being wrongfully fired when, infact, the employer appeared to havegood reason for the decision. Theyrefuse to accept responsibility for theirfailures on the job and instead blameco-workers or management. Manyemployees seem to believe and act likethey have a right to a job and can slack

off without paying theconsequences.

With the recession,I believe that employ-ers and employeesneed to hunker downmore than ever andwork together to pullour great societythrough this difficultperiod. Employersneed to nurture andappreciate their work-ers, and workers needto respect theiremployers and theprivilege of having ajob.

We must also not forget thatemployment is not all about thealmighty dollar. We are all strugglingthrough this life together, from thewealthy CEO to the janitor. A littlekindness and dignity in the workplace,where most of us spend the majority ofour day, can go a long way to help easethat suffering. Let’s take care of eachother and have a great year!

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Mutual respect key tobusiness survival

“With the recession, I believe thatemployers andemployees need tohunker down morethan ever and worktogether to pull ourgreat societythrough this difficult period..”

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 17

Page 18 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

advertisersdirectory of Business Services

Concord Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-1181

Law Offices of Douglas A. Prutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .677-5080

Todos Santos Business Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .521-9922

Construction and Trades

Straight Line Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-9801

Dentist

Robert H. Waldman D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-6940

Dining and Entertainment

Englund’s Bistro and Tea Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .691-8327

Financial Services

CD Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825-0900

College Planning Specialists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .627-3570

Low Cost Tax Preparation and Payroll Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .(877) 829-8099

Thomas J. Miller, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354-1385

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

Fitness

Curves for Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .603-7555

Fit 2 the Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-542-CORE

Ladies Workout Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .408-8888

Traveling Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890-6931

Weight Loss Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-2858

Funerals

Ouimet Bros. Concord Funeral Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-4242

Home and Garden

HandymanRick.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .932-8956

Navlet’s Garden Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-0550

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

Window Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-1930

Homes and Housing

Bennison, John - J. Rockcliff Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .787-6965

Coates and Sowards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .408-371-8770 x 15

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

Lueck, Richard - Century 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-834-9096

Plaza Tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .687-1200

Van Fleet, Josie - J. Rockcliff Realtors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280-6470

Personal Products and Services

Betsy’s Hair Affair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-3800

Cutting Loose Hair Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609-8807

Isagenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .570-5187

Salon Epiffani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .363-5432

The Healing Hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-6710

Wentling Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685-7760

Pet Services

Aussie Pet Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-738-6624

Disney Pet Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .689-4244

Rodies Feed and Country Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .672-4600

Recreation

Diablo FC Soccer Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .798-GOAL

Shopping

Clayton Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673-3325

Services, Other

Concord Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .682-9113

Local business owners are findingnew successes, with several nowreaping the rewards of quick

thinking and implementation of newbusiness methods. While the sluggisheconomy continues to draw concern, aparticularly savvy group of businessowners is finding success.

The entrepreneur spirit thatlaunched many businesses is still aliveand well, and that is what has madethese leaders the latest success stories.

Longtime Chamber of Commercemember and well-known businessowner Ernie Guerrero Jr. of La TapatiaMexican Restaurant and Catering madean investment during the economiccontraction and expanded his business.Already established as a successful foodservice and catering provider, heexpanded his market by adding anotherlocation and enhanced his menus byhiring a new chef providing moreoptions for his catering clients.

His philosophy of remaining compet-itive in pricing and offering greatervalue led to his building a new eventcenter in Martinez, allowing him tocompete for parties of up to 200 people.

Bentelino’s has been providing greatvalue for 25 years and this year ownerBob Alpert, sensing the need to expandbusiness, was able to secure a coffee cartin a high-volume business office location.The combination of a well-negotiatedagreement and the ability to expand hisrevenue without significant extra invest-ment allowed him to remain more prof-itable.

Another small business owner founda way to increase his connection withclients and save money by takingadvantage of new technology. Likemany businesses, Mark Losey ofReflections Studios relied on an answer-ing device to capture his missed calls.But forwarding those calls to his cellphone when he is on the road means hispotential clients now get his live voiceand he has the ability to capture addi-

tional sales opportunities. By not miss-ing those critical first “get-acquainted”calls, Mark believes he has an advan-tage.

Many businesses of all sizes trust theoffice answering machine to gathermessages from missed calls, but poten-tial clients may not leave messages, orworse, continue to make calls to newbusinesses until they are able to find alive person. Communication is criticalin a highly competitive environment.You need to be able to talk directly withprospects, from introduction up to the“big day” when clients need to reachtheir service providers fast.

Other businesses are finding their cur-rent locations have been holding themback from expansion, and they have beenpleasantly surprised to find leasing addi-tional space has never been more afford-able. Many real estate professionals arereporting incredible deals on office andcommercial space that was unaffordableto some businesses just a few years ago.But don’t expect that to last too long, asbusinesses are snapping up these bar-gains.

While some are expanding into larg-er and better appointed spaces, othersare deciding it is the time to take advan-tage of the reduction in values and actu-ally purchase their business location,making the jump from tenant to prop-erty owner, a dream for many smallbusinesses.

As we enter the recovery, theConcord Chamber continues to supportmembers through networking, repre-sentation and business education. Lookfor our business support series to con-tinue as we present seminars on sourcesof business funding beginning inFebruary. At these seminars, businessescan hear from banking professionals onhow to find necessary capital, and laterin the quarter, hear a panel discussionon business-tax issues and cost-savings.

The Concord Chamber has been sup-porting the Concord business communityfor over 70 years. For more informationon the Chamber call (925) 685-1181 or visitwww.concord chamber.com.

chamber ofcommerce

Greater Concord

Survival of the fittest

By Keith C. McMahonPresident & CEO

Business adapts to new challenges and opportunities

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925-603-75554375 Clayton Road-near Treat

same shopping center asStarbucks and Hollywood Video

925-288-93442962C Treat Blvd at Oak Grove

(behind Trader Joe’s)

The banks own a number ofhomes in the area. Many of them will befixers. If you are considering buying and would like totour bank owned properties go to

www.tourbankowned.com or call 800-834-9096

Take advantage of this rare market and buy a house now while the prices are low

Richard Lueck 4691 Clayton Rd Ste A, Concord

Phone: (925) 465-9554 Email: housematch@gmail.com

www.whatisourhomeworth.biz

Couple reflects on long community tiesJohn and Cathy Bedecarré celebrat-

ed their 60th wedding anniversary onSept. 25. In their 60 years, this popularcouple has seen Concord grow from asmall country town with orchards andmarsh land to the biggest city in thecounty.

John Bedecarré graduated from UCBerkeley in 1947 after he returnedfrom World War II. He worked on

the Daily Cal newspaper, where he metCathy Reid, a coed from the East Bay.Their first date was at an OaklandAcorns-San Francisco Seals Pacific CoastLeague baseball game.

The young couple married Sept. 25,1948, in El Cerrito, soon after Cathygraduated from UC. The newlywedsmoved to John’s hometown of SanFrancisco and he began working in thefamily’s French laundry business.

A few years later, John and Cathycame out to the far reaches of the BayArea to look at the future site of the Park& Shop Center in Concord. “There weremany walnut orchards. It was a marshwith birds and small animals,” Johnrecalled. “There were dozens of springsthat had to be capped and drained. Allwe saw were the blueprints for what wasto become at that time the largestregional shopping center in America.”

They took a lease on a store on theSalvio Street side of the center andopened Park & Shop Cleaners next to abarber shop and shoe repair store. Intheir first year, 1955, they witnessedmajor flooding. “Willow Pass Road atMarket Street was under water and thefloodwaters crept into the center lot,”Cathy reported.

The family purchased a home in May1955 at the corner of Walnut Avenue andVernier Drive. Concord’s populationdoubled from 1953 to 1955, reaching24,084 as the Bedecarré family, thennumbering five, joined the early stages of

the urban migration to the East Bay sub-urbs.

“Our house was to be the model, butwe bought it before it was complete. Itwas dubbed a PG&E model for upgradedelectrical connections and wiring,” Cathysaid.

Growing with the timesJohn was secretary of the Park &

Shop Center merchants association. “Iremember at a meeting we were told thatopening at night would be a trend of thefuture,” John recalls. “So the storesopened Friday nights and, later,Wednesdays.”

The shopping center also had a soft-ball team and the star was a youngbanker, Bob Steiner – now co-publisherof The Concordian.

Three more Bedecarré children wereborn in Concord. The oldest begankindergarten at Wren AvenueElementary. In second grade, he wasadmitted to Queen of All Saints School.At first, the parochial school was free.Then it was $1 a month, jumping to $10a family per month. Generally, therewere four Bedecarré children at Queenof All Saints at a time.

John developed an allergy to walnut

tree blossoms, so the family sold their1,100 sq. ft. home (purchased for$14,750) and moved to the newer SunTerrace subdivision in North Concord.They bought a four-bedroom, two-bathhome for $17,500 in April 1962.

Moving into teachingThe family settled into Concord, run-

ning their business as well as enjoying atypical suburban lifestyle.

In the mid-’60s, John, much againsthis nature, went to a Cursillo religious

By Jay Bedecarré Special to The Concordian

Photo courtesy of Jay BedecarréJJOOHHNN AANNDD CCAATTHHYY BBEEDDEECCAARRRRÉÉ CCEELLEEBBRRAATTEE their 60th anniversary and reflect upon their rich history in Concord.

See BBeeddeeccaarrrréé , page 20

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 19

Page 20 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

Ahhhhh, New Year’s resolutions.“I’m going to floss everyday” or“I’m going to brush three times a

day …” This year, you vow, I will do it.The bacteria in your mouth live and

replicate in the space between yourtooth and gum called the sulcus. Theycause the gum to lose the attachmentthat protects the bone that holds yourteeth in place. As the bacteria collectsdeeper and deeper, the sulcus becomes a“pocket” that contains bacteria, toxinsand the waste products of their exis-tence.

Once established, it won’t matter howmuch you swish, floss, brush and rinse.You’re too late – you’ve got periodontaldisease, also called gum disease.

The bone holding your teeth in placehas been compromised, and it’s time toget help. Your dentist and dentalhygienist have therapeutic treatments toclean these pockets thoroughly so youcan get back to basics: swish with ananti-microbial mouthwash, floss to

remove food and bacteria and bring themouthwash between your teeth andunder your gums, brush to massageyour gums and leave the tooth surfaces,tongue, plate and cheeks clean, and thenrinse again.

Your teeth will love you if you keepthe following resolutions:� Floss everyday.� Brush at least twice a day and try to

brush three times a day.� Visit the dentist for regular six-month

checkups.This way, you can keep smiling

because you know your mouth ishealthy.

On a personal note, I would like tothank the many people who have takenthe time to acknowledge this column.Wishing you a happy and healthy newyear.

smile about

Robert Waldman, D.D.S.

something to

Contact Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.at 925-682-6940 or by email at roberthwaldmandds@sbcglobal.net.

Periodontal diseasedoesn’t take a holiday

Family

Dentistry

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touch

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xcellent health and cosmetics

Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.3042 Clayton Rd., Concord

(925) 682-6940

www.roberthwaldmandds.com

retreat and it dramatically changed hislife. He decided to make a career changeand returned to college to get his teachingcredential. He started teaching in 1967,the same year his oldest child began hissenior year of high school. Cathy alsomade a career change to teaching.

Their laundry business was sufferingas more families bought their own wash-ers and dryers and permanent pressbecame popular. So they closed the laun-dry soon after Cathy obtained her cre-dential. She began teaching in Oakley,where she was a highly decorated ele-mentary school teacher.

John transferred to Oak GroveIntermediate in 1973, where heremained for the rest of his award-win-ning classroom career. He was a popularsocial studies teacher who encouragedhis students to be aware of currentevents and government. Concord CityCouncilman Guy Bjerke and Mt. DiabloUnified School District Board MemberGary Eberhart were among his students.

The four Bedecarré sons all graduatedfrom Mt. Diablo High, while their twosisters went to Carondelet. They went onto earn 12 college degrees, including aPhD, law degree and four masters.

After the couple retired from teach-

ing, they were hired by St. Mary’sCollege to mentor student teachers. Theydid that until 2004, when John was 82and they decided it was time to trulyretire. They remain interested in worldand national affairs, including the recentelection for which they worked hard toregister voters. They are active with St.Agnes Parish and the Mt. DiabloGenealogical Society.

At their recent 60th anniversary cele-bration, were two of their original bridalattendants, Cathy’s younger sister andmaid of honor Eleanor Hastings andgroomsman Paul Lazarus, another DailyCal staffer.

John and Cathy are the parents of six:Jay Bedecarré of Clayton, DianeBedecarré of Petaluma, CorrinneBedecarré of Lauderdale, Minn., TomBedecarré of Woodside, Bill Bedecarré ofLos Angeles and Albert Bedecarré ofSan Francisco. They have 17 grandchil-dren.

Remember that first date at theminor league baseball game? Well,things really haven’t changed that much.John and Cathy look forward to theirninth season this spring as charter seatholders for the San Francisco Giants atAT&T Park.

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BBeeddeeccaarrrréé, from page 19

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January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 21

Happy New Year. It is truly anhonor to be serving as yourMayor in 2009. First of all I

would like to thank my City Councilcolleagues for selecting me to serveyou, and a special recognition tocouncilwoman Helen Allen who asvice mayor last year was expected toserve as mayor this year. She decid-ed to step out of the traditional rota-tion to mayor having served threetimes as Concord’s mayor and twotimes as Clayton’s mayor when shelived in Clayton in the 1980s. Thisgesture also allows for the newestcouncil member, Guy Bjerke, toserve as vice mayor for 2009 andoffers him the opportunity to serveas mayor in 2010.

The city of Concord does a 10 yearfinancial budget along with its annu-al budget. Every January the Councilre-evaluates and makes adjustmentsto its adopted budget; this year ourmid-year budget review will be onJan. 22, at the City Council cham-bers.

When we adopted our budget inJune we could foresee certain down-turns in the economy and weplanned for them. Since that time,however, more information aboutthe severity and the impacts of theglobal, national and state economicdownturns has become known. Wewill be considering what options wehave for adjusting to these situa-tions. These adjustments are likelyto be more extensive as we look tothe financial impacts on future

years. The city staff at all levels hasalready been making cost reduc-tions. I want to thank the city staffwho agreed to use their vacationdays to close city offices betweenChristmas and New Year’s Day as away to reduce costs by about$300,000.

It is somewhat ironic that I ammayor in 2009 as the communityfocuses on the reuse plan for theNaval Weapons Station. I served asmayor in 2005 when the decision toclose the base was made and thereuse planning process started. It isa long process and I encourageeveryone to stay involved.

The next public meeting on thebase reuse will be on Jan. 12 at 6:30p.m. at the Concord Senior Center,2727 Parkside Circle, Concord,where we will be identifying the pre-ferred reuse vision recommendationfrom the Citizens AdvisoryCommittee. This committee hasspent almost two years holding pub-lic workshops and meetings to iden-tify a reuse vision for the CityCouncil to consider. Once the pre-ferred reuse vision is identified, itwill be further evaluated in federalenvironmental studies done by theNavy and state environmental stud-ies done by the city. After thesestudies are completed the CityCouncil will hold further publicmeetings with opportunities for thepublic to comment.

I also want to acknowledge thevoters of Concord who elected me to

continue serving them two years agoand for their participation in votingin this last election; one with thehighest voter turnout in recent his-tory.

Councilmen Mark Peterson andBill Shinn were returned to service,and it will be a pleasure to continueto work with them. AlthoughLeShawn Wells ran for City Counciland did not get elected, I thank himfor stepping up to the plate andallowing voters to consider him.

I encourage everyone to getinvolved in the city commissions andorganizations that help our commu-nity. These also serve as good train-ing ground for those consideringrunning for public office. About 80percent of the volunteer work in thecity is done by only 10 percent of thecitizenry. I hope as a New Year’s res-olution more residents will getinvolved in our community.

Finally, I am pleased to be able tocontinue the monthly Open Officecolumn that former Mayor andCouncilmember Bill Shinn startedlast year with The Concordian. I lookforward to hearing from you andsharing our plans to continue mak-ing Concord a great place to live andwork.

For more information about thebase reuse and city budget visitwww.cityofconcord.org. Send yourcomments and concerns to LauraHoffmeister, the City Council or citystaff at cityinfo@ci.concord.ca.us.

officeopen

A new beginning as mayor of Concord

Mayor Laura M. HoffmeisterBringing dramaback to life atYgnacio Valley

Last year the Ygnacio Valley HighSchool Drama Department wascut from the school schedule due

to a lack of instructor. That didn’t deter the passionate

drama students. They formed a dramaclub and planned to put on a fall pro-duction even when nobody would help.

Then Carl Spiegelberg came back tohelp uniting the community behind hisproduction of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice inWonderland.”

Students devoted their time andeffort knowing that the future of theprogram was riding on the success ofthe production. They succeeded.

Opening night’s crowd enjoyed awild and mystical show full of wackycharacters from Wonderland. Manystudents watched the production morethan once. Patrons had to be turnedaway on closing night when the pro-duction sold out, showing that even inhard times a community can cometogether and help a group in need.

Speigelberg hopes that this produc-tion generates interest in the class andinspires support to revive worthwhileprogram that needs help. Drama is notjust a class; it is a lifestyle and the stu-dents have shown that they will neverstop fighting for their class.

By Brandon Bratcher YVHS Student Reporter

Photo: Brandon Bratcher

TTHHEE YYVVHHSS PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN of “Alice inWonderland” played to sold-out crowds.

Page 22 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

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It’s the new year, and after twomonths of carbohydrate-ladenfamily meals, irresistible platters of

peppermint candies and chocolatefudge and a scrumptious assortment ofpies with whipped cream, those jeansare letting you know that youoverindulged.

If you’re not careful, you’ll have tospend all those Christmas gift cardsbuying a new wardrobe to compensatefor your newly rounded waistline.

Ladies Workout Express of Concordis gearing up for 2009 with exerciseoptions designed to slim you down andbring back the body you remember (oreven the one you’ve always wanted). Its30-minute program can fit into any-one’s daily schedule, with a $19.95 no-contract membership.

Ladies Workout Express involves acircuit-training program, with stationsset in a circle around an open floorplan. In 30 minutes of non-stop inter-val training, women can work out everymajor muscle group. The time intervalsand the levels on the machines areadjusted daily, so there is no chance ofplateau.

Owner Pam Davis has been with thecompany since it was built in 2003.Surrounded by pink carpet, lavenderwalls and energetic music, she is rightat home as she extols the virtues of anall-female environment. “We can talkabout girl stuff here. Women can comein here and work out without the pres-sures of a co-ed gym. They can comehere and be comfortable.”

Long-time associates are greeted byname, and the atmosphere is more likea neighborhood salon than an imper-sonal, sterile fitness center.

“Women here feel safe,” says Davis.“They strike up friendships while theywork out. It’s like a support group attimes. I’ve seen babies born, deaths inthe family – ladies can come here andtalk.”

Holly Walter, 20, was an employeeof Ladies Workout Express beforeheading off to Sonoma State. Now sheuses the university gym, but she longsfor the hometown feel. “People at theschool just do their own thing andleave,” she says. “I miss the atmos-phere here.”

Two new programs at LadiesWorkout Express are designed to caterto opposite ends of the spectrum. “Forthose who want to work out super hardand get results right away, we havePower Hour,” says Davis.

The program involves an hour-longcircuit with a personal coach. “It’sintense.”

If you need a little more fun in yourworkout, try Zumba, a Columbian exer-cise form that combines resistancetraining and Latin dance into an effec-tive aerobic workout.

In addition to the exercise at hand,Ladies Workout Express is dedicated toraising funds and supplies for variouscharities, including the Bay Area CrisisNursery, St. Jude’s and breast cancerresearch. They also have free programsfor students in the summer andHealthNet-sponsored programs for theelderly.

Ladies Workout Express is at 4425Treat Blvd., Suite E, Concord. Formore information, call 405-8888 orvisit ladiesworkoutexpress.com.

Resolve to be fit in ’09Pam Davis can show you how to make it work

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Reading more than just between the lines

Laura Seaholm, a retiree fromBank of America, now has a jobshe loves that directly affects the

people she helps – teaching adults toread as program manager for ProjectSecond Chance.

“It is like having a literacy bug,” shesays of her work.

She is now in her third year andeager to show off the center at the rearof the Pleasant Hill CommunityLibrary. “We are a part of the library,”she notes, “and a safe place for peopleto come.”

Funding comes from the state, inthe midst of its own budget crisis, indi-vidual donations and fund-raisers –such as the “Bookies” party in March atthe Lafayette Park Hotel andSaturday’s “Day at the Races,” spon-sored by and held at the ConcordHilton.

The group also has the support oflocal notables, such as countySupervisor Susan Bonilla. She recentlylaunched the Contra Costa LiteracyCoalition, designed to bring together

support for all the local literacy organi-zations.

“We have adults that are reading ata less than sixth-grade level,” Lauraadds. “And we need tutors. It is a veryrewarding experience.”

Spanning a generation, IkeEikanger, 70, and Jason Conant, 38,are both clients of Project SecondChance.

“I was 54 years old and I worked atthe Concord Naval Weapons Stationfor 30 years, and I wanted to upgrademy job but couldn’t read the job appli-cation,” Ike recalls.

At first, he was “too scared” tomake the call to Project SecondChance after a friend told him aboutthe group. “A lot of people don’t gethelp,” Ike says.

When he did call, he spoke with Ted,a tutor who was working at the centerand agreed to meet Ike at a restaurant.“He put me at ease,” Ike reports.

Helen Beyer is now Ike’s tutor.Laura calls her “a 1,000-hour volun-teer” because of the time she has put insince 1985. Helen, also a former Bankof America employee who took an earlyretirement, started when PSC began.She had heard an ad on the radio and

told herself: “I can do that.”“We train everyone,” Laura says.

“Ninety-nine percent of our tutors donot have teaching experience. We setgoals with each of our students andmodify them every six months.

“We use the Wilson ReadingSystem,” she adds. “It uses visual,auditory and tactile exercises.”

When Helen first volunteered, shewas nervous. “I even canceled a coupleof times – I made myself sick.”

“I was nervous, too,” Laura notes.“It’s a huge responsibility. You askyourself whether you will do anythingto scar the people coming.”

Ike laughs, considering the similari-ty of both vantage points. “The tutorslearn right alongside the students,”Laura says. “That’s what makes thisdifferent.”

Jason remembers being teased atschool. “I went to seven differentschools. I dropped out when I was 16. Iworked for the state and went to anight program, a literary class at LomaVista.”

His long-term goal is to get his GED.“Jason is in a structured program,”Laura says. “He reviews sounds andthen practices the new concept withblends, lists, putting words in a para-graph and then spelling. Each bookgets harder. Book 9 is rough with dou-ble vowels.”

Meanwhile, Ike, the reluctant writer,

became the center’s local poet, writingthe following poem:

The Bed

My grandma had aFeatherbedIt was so soft you couldFall forever.

You could get lost in it.My three cousins andI slept in it andDidn’t see each other until morning.

“I’ve been writing poems ever since,”Ike said. “I didn’t know I was writingpoetry.”

Like Ike, Jason is proud of hisprogress. “What is surprising,” Laurasays, “is what they already know andwhat they do not know. A lot of this isfilling in those gaps.”

Even more surprising is how manypeople are unaware that family mem-bers cannot read. “My daughter did notknow I couldn’t read until she was 35,”Ike says.

Whenever reading was needed, hewould defer to his wife. “I was goodwith math. She never knew,” he adds,noting that his daughter is pleased withhis enrollment in PSC.

According to Laura, it’s commonthat clients learn to cover up theirproblems.

“If I had to go for a job, I would tellthem I left my glasses in the car,” Ikesaid, “and then I would take the jobapplication to the car and my wifewould help me. I knew the answers. Ijust did not know how to write theanswers down.”

Jason had a similar story. “When Itook my driver’s test, I took it orally.Now I can read it. I can read streetsigns and magazines.”

For more information, contactLaura Seaholm at 927-3250 orLseaholm@ccclib.org or visitwww.ccclib.org/psc.

By André GensburgerThe Concordian

André Gensburger/The ConcordianHHEELLEENN BBEEYYEERR AANNDD IIKKEE EEIIKKAANNGGEERR review some of Ike’s writing during a Project Second Chance tutoring session.

André Gensburger/The ConcordianLLAAUURRAA SSEEAAHHOOLLMM KKNNOOWWSS TTHHEE SSTTRREENNGGTTHHSS her pro-gram offers adults trying to get ahead.

January, 2009 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com Page 23

Helping adults achieve literacy is arewarding career

Page 24 The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com January, 2009

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After five years in the tea busi-ness, I have come to learn thatthere are three basic reasons

why most people indulge in the ritualof afternoon tea. What started severalhundred years ago as a way to stave offhunger between meals has become awelcome respite to men and womentoday.

In the 18th century, the eveningmeal in Britain was served about 8p.m. Anna, Duchess of Bedford (1783-1857), was a close friend and confi-dante of Queen Victoria. At one time,she was also named the Queen’s Ladyof the Bedchamber. Anna found thatthe light luncheon typically served atmidday was not enough to sustain her.She began to have her maid bring tea,small sandwiches and sweets to hereach day at 4 p.m.

After tiring of sitting alone in theBlue Drawing Room at Woburn Abbey,she began to invite friends in to enjoyteatime with her. She continued her tearitual while spending the summer inLondon, and the practice quicklyspread among nobility and the wealthy.

Soon the middle class began to imi-tate the rich, finding that it was also aneconomical way to entertain friends,and a new tradition was born.

Today I find that most visitors toour tea room come for other reasonsbesides hunger. The “Three Cs,” as Ilike to call them, seem to sum it up.

First there is “Celebration.” Manypeople go to tea for birthdays, bridalshowers, retirement and other mile-

stones. Children’s tea parties arebecoming a lovely way of not only cele-brating a child’s birthday, but of teach-ing them about manners, etiquette andthe healthy ways of tea.

Next we have “Connection.” Almostevery day, we are visited by friends whohave either lost touch or feel the need tosit and enjoy conversation and friend-ship. They linger for hours, sipping theirtea, sharing memories and catching upon moments lost in the hustle and bus-tle of life. They relax, unwind andremember why they are friends.

Sometimes connecting over tea isn’tbetween friends. I have seen businessacquaintances make plans, sponsorscounsel a friend from AA and Internetdating “matches” meet for the firsttime over tea. Though all come togeth-er for different reasons, they all findthe calming effect of teatime helpsthem to accomplish their goal.

Finally, there is “Comfort.” Whetherit’s two friends going through a roughpatch in life, a reconciling mother anddaughter or those coming together inthe loss of a loved one, there is some-thing magical about the comfort teacan bring. Author and cancer survivorEmilie Barnes has even written a beau-tiful book on the subject entitled “ATea to Comfort Your Soul.”

Whether you’re having a stressfulday, need to be with a friend or are cel-ebrating something special, I hopeyou’ll consider the many benefits thatpausing for teatime can bring. After all,it is the healthiest natural drink on theplanet, but then that’s a column foranother time.

Have a tea-riffic day!

The Three Cs of Tea“There is no greater comfort than that which can be found

in a cup of tea shared with a good friend.” - Author unknown

By Pam BarnettSpecial to The Concordian