february 2021 Priceless

Waterfalls Return Scott Feuer at Mount Diablo Waterfalls. Photo By Scott Feuer

INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Vaccine Supplies Hindering Appointments pg.2 • School Reopenings: Teachers Union vs. Parents’ Petition pg.2 • Ellis Lake Park Improvement Battles Displacement pg.3 • Naked Gardener: Tick Talk pg.9 • Bronze Buddha Thai Fusion pg.12 • Weightloss: No Need to Sugar Detox pg. 10 • Getaway to Briones and Balestrieri Farm pg. 14 Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 2 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 Appointments difficult to make Teachers Union: Remain in due to limited vaccine supply According to Contra Costa Health Ser- res a parallel effort to provide a second dose Distance Learning - vices, a limited vaccine supply is resulting a few weeks after the first. The need for in a widespread inability to make new second doses limits the number of people Parents Petition MDUSD to Open appointments, and in some cases, can lead who can be newly vaccinated each week. to cancellations of existing appointments. Some counties have had to consider The California Teachers Association For the time being, the scarcity of CO- extending vaccine availability to allow of Biden’s plan to reopen schools. has told Governor Gavin Newsom that VID-19 vaccination for second dose the union wants schools in counties with doses throughout the administration up to Meanwhile, A group of families and high Covid-19 infection rates to remain in San Francisco Bay six weeks (42 days) caregivers of students in the Mount Diablo distance learning for Area has led health after the first dose, 100 days so the state officials in eight if the second dose can develop a more jurisdictions to urge cannot be scheduled aggressive plan to all health systems to in the recommended slow the spread of prioritize shots for timeframe. The CDC the virus and have all patients aged 65 and states that the data school staff vacci- older because of the from clinical trials nated. virus’ high morta- supports this range. ”We need a clear lity rate within that ”Modest delays in and coordinated sta- group. This is in ad- the administration te, county and local dition to continuing of the second dose, if plan that puts the he- vaccine Phase 1A-eli- absolutely necessa- gible health care workers, many of whom ry, would not be expected to decrease the alth and safety of our are now expecting their second doses. protection conferred by the second dose,” communities first Across the region, most COVID-19 deaths the FDA said in a statement. and does not take have been in the 65-and-up age group. In People who are eligible to be vaccinated shortcuts toward Contra Costa, 82% of COVID-19 deaths should contact their healthcare provider for the path of opening have been in the 65-and-up age group. more information or to make an appoint- schools in person,” Thus, focusing vaccination efforts on those ment. union leaders stated in a letter Wednesday Unified School District started a petition at greatest risk of death will have the big- • Contra Costa Health Services: to Newsom. ”To do otherwise will continue and urges the District to reopen schools for gest immediate impact on saving lives. • Vaccine Appointment Request Form the ’yo-yo’ effect we warned of last summer an alternative in-person learning option. The Bay Area continues to receive only a • Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and this fall -- opening schools, only to then The petition challenges that the district small fraction of the vaccines needed to vac- & Health Centers close them because we failed to have the is no longer serving the best interests of a - cinate residents aged 65 and older, much • John Muir Health necessary layered protections and asympto growing number of students. “In-person matic testing in place.” less the broader occupation-based groups • Kaiser Permanente education is absolutely essential – not just To make that happen, the union is asking the state has included in Phase 1B Tier 1, • La Clinica ideal – for many of our families,” it states. the governor to keep all schools in counties including educators, food and agricultural • Lifelong Medical “We believe that in-classroom learning in the purple, or widespread, tier of the workers, and emergency services personnel. • Optum Serve is critical to children’s academic, social state’s tracking system in distance learning Across the Bay Area, weekly dose allocati- • Sutter Health and emotional development, and crucial during the 100-day period. Counties in ons from the State of California – based on Contra Costa residents can learn the for preventing further learning gaps and that tier have more than seven cases per a formula designed to ensure fair distri- latest information about vaccine distributi- increased mental health issues.” bution statewide – have slowed. With the on and prepare for when it’s their turn for a 100,000 residents or have more than 8% According to the petition, data on schools current pace of supply, it will take several shot by visiting the cunty website, https:// of test results positive over a seven-day that have opened in the greater Bay Area, weeks to offer a first dose to all older adults www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/vaccine. period. state of California, and across the USA - who would like to be vaccinated. The union also is asking for enforcement show that it is possible to address safe ty and minimize spread in classrooms if In addition, administering Pfi- of health orders and workplace regulations zer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine requi- and increased Covid-19 testing. guidelines are adhered to. “We pledge to The letter challenges the governor’s support our school sites as they work to plan to begin reopening schools to some create the safest environment possible for students next month. His ”Safe Schools for all.” All” incentive plan has also drawn criticism “Those that need their students to have from school superintendents. in-classroom learning must have that opti- This is not the first time the union has on, while families who prefer to keep their called for enhanced safety precautions children at home should continue to be able and vaccinations for school employees to to do so. Many MDUSD teachers are willing The Diablo Gazette reopen schools. and ready to return to classrooms once they But the letter does come as school di- have been given confirmation that the lear- is the BEST WAY for LOCAL stricts across the state have been struggling ning environment meets health and safety to figure out how to vaccinate their staff protocols.” with an unpredictable vaccine supply and With a plea of urgency, the petition lists BUSINESSES TO ADVERTISE lack of statewide coordination of vaccina- the following demands upon MDUSD: tions. Although teachers and other school Provide a transparent, step-by-step acti- NOW AND IN THE FUTURE employees are included in the next phase on plan for re-opening that meets all safety (Phase 1B) of the state’s vaccine rollout they guidelines set forth by the state of Califor- CALL TO LEARN HOW WE CAN HELP are not being vaccinated in many California nia, with weekly status updates. counties, which are still vaccinating healt- 1. Re-open MDUSD schools as soon hcare workers and nursing home residents as possible, using the state of California YOUR BUSINESS (925) 298-9990 in Phase 1A. criteria of COVID-19 metrics, as set forth in Timing for vaccinating teachers and the “COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person school employees depends on how a county Instruction Framework & Public Health health department decides to prioritize vac- Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, cines within Phase 1B, which also includes 2020-2021 School Year.” everyone 65 and older, agriculture and food 2. Immediately collaborate with workers and emergency service personnel. MDEA to survey the district teachers and There is no guidance that puts teachers at staff in preparation for the return to in-per- the top of that group. son learning in the current academic year. 3. Immediately survey all district The governor’s plan would give school families in order to gather accurate data for districts $450 to $750 per student if they the current academic year. offer in-person instruction to students in 4. Share in a timely and transparent transitional kindergarten through se- manner the results of both the family and cond grade by Feb. 15 and third- through teacher surveys; sixth-grade by March 15. Districts that start 5. Be ready and able to open in hy- a month later can get $100 less. Districts brid in the current academic year once state would need to have comprehensive health determined criteria for community spread and safety plans in place, including CO- has been met, within 7 days. VID-19 testing. With regard to the 21/22 academic year, In its letter, the union says it has we respectfully ask: concerns about the timeline for imple- 1. No later than April 16th, provide a menting the plan and the use of Propo- commitment to MDUSD families to re-open sition 98 dollars for school safety but is campuses for the 21/22 academic year and committed to reopening schools. propose alternative resources for families President Joe Biden’s COVID relief not seeking in-person learning modalities. package is in line with the union’s requests to the governor and would be To date 2,882 have signed the petiion of needed to fund all the necessary safety a goal of 5,000. precautions required in order to return to school, said Claudia Briggs, union (Diana Lambert , Ed Source contributed spokesperson. to this article) Vaccinating teachers is also a key part Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 3 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990

Ellis Lake Park Debate: Improvements vs. Displacement

Some 11 years ago I marched with When I posted about this on Facebook, real. What comes unsta- others from the greater Monument area to I got the classic argument against the dis- ted is an underlying fear improve Detroit Avenue and then Meadow placement fear. that these folks have little Homes Park and Ellis Lake Park and twice “Hey, I know, let’s turn all of Concord confidence that their fu- on different Monument Corridor redes- into a slum hole and prevent anyone from ture economic status will non-profits could veto the project by pulling igns all the while working with Monument doing any improvements so there is no grow to offset the housing demand-driven out. If that happens, the Committee will Community Partnership (now known as gentrification. That should make housing increases. then have to answer to the community of Monument Impact). affordable. Let’s start with Edi’s neighbor- Balancing and rewarding those who folks who want the park upgrade. There is It took years to accomplish one thing hood.” have fought so long and so hard to be able much at stake here. This is not going to be after another improving the streets and You have to love the diversity of my Fa- to enjoy the amenities of their activism is an easy time for anyone. upgrading parks. cebook followers including those who freely complex. Possible solutions will get into Then again, we may not get the grant Now we come to another effort to secure put their anger issues right out there. issues of things such as rent control, rent in the first place. Regardless, the fear will a $6.8 million state grant that requires local Here is the simple reality. This is a great subsidies, affordable housing and the like. remain on the next effort. And there will be non-profit support and involvement, ideally opportunity to give us a major impro- The City Council unanimously approved other upgrade efforts. pointed at underserved areas, to do a major vement in a park and make it a citywide the grant application but did not attach any overhaul of the Ellis Lake Park. destination, especially with the expected future anti-displacement protections. The views here (or delusions), are those With required and well-advised commu- stage area, a new basketball court, better However, the Council directed the Policy of the individual Edi Birsan and are not nity outreach and the classic sort of argu- lighting, shaded seating and a garden space Committee (i.e. Mayor McGallian and Vice statements of policy by any organization ment of “playground there and not here,” to surround the bass and catfish inhabited Mayor Aliano -whose district this is in) to or the Super Bowl advertisement commit- came a new robust discussion. -- what will lake. figure out pathways and strategies working tee and halftime show. the impact of the improvement be on the The fear that this upgrade will cause a with the community to tackle this hard very people who have been struggling to substantial increase in rents is valid and problem of displacement. Otherwise, the get improvements done? An overwhelming number of people who participated in the community outreach are scared that the improvements would result in them being priced out of their own ne- ighborhood due to the expected increased market value. This is called displacement. It is a very real and valid argument. When neighbor- hoods improve and become substantially more desirable, the demands to live there increase. Thus, rents go up as do housing prices. Score a big negative for renters and a positive for homeowners and landlords. Interestingly, 95 percent (ballpark) of the people fighting for this improvement for years were in fact, the renters. In all the years, I do not recall any major landlord lifting a finger to help the effort, despite having a substantial economic gain at stake. As the renters pointed out, once Detroit Avenue and Meadow Homes Park were upgraded, landlords were touting the improvements in their advertisements and justifying rent increases throughout the region. This can also be called gentrification. Some view this as a positive outcome while others still see it as a negative consequence. This time the community folks that tur- ned out want the city to address their fear of being priced out of their neighborhood and possibly the city. To be clear, everyone wanted the park, but some would rather there not be a park if there was no solution to the displacement aspect. Concord approves rent registry to track rentals Concord Council approved a “rent Obringer all said there needs to be their advocates for information that could registry” program for the city to collect some manner of public interface. help show whether landlords are carrying rental housing data to help drive future Birsan said he was uncomfortable out evictions legally and fairly, or whether policy. The vote was unanimous after with the idea of the city collecting rents are rising unreasonably. Some advo- three hours of discussion among mem- data it wouldn’t openly share. “We cates of the registry have said it also will bers, staff, consultants and the public but do not make policy based on secret serve to show “the real rental landscape” in with direction to city staff to include a data,” Birsan said. Concord. public information portal as part of the However, council members opted The registry will be run by a third-party program. to withhold certain specific informa- consulting firm and paid for by landlords at Many expressed concern about ma- tion they deemed would be privacy a yearly rate of about $5 per unit. king sure that accurate information is violations for landlords or tenants. obtained from landlords, and/or about Tenants’ names and their apartment maintaining privacy of both landlords Lakes Apartments, Concord numbers will be withheld, but details and tenants. such as how much tenants paid in how those costs have changed over time. Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister said rent at move-in, which can be used to track Each year, Concord will publish a report Reserve Your the city could be mining information from a rent changes that predated the program will of the data it collects from the landlords’ city with many landlords when a relatively be available on the city’s website. submissions. small number of them are seen as causing Property owners will be expected to fill Mayor Tim McGallian at one point said Ad Space problems.“I don’t know if the registry pro- out forms with queries such as, “how many he was leaning toward not wanting a public gram is going to get all of the bad apples out move-outs were initiated by the tenant? portal at all. The main purpose of the of there,” Hoffmeister said. How many Move-outs were initiated by Today! registry, he said, was for the city to gather The rent registry program will require the owner?” as well as rent amounts and information to help guide policy not for the owners of all multifamily complexes reasons for any evictions. outside advocacy groups to use for their For more information with four or more units to register with the Landlords say the program unfairly pries purposes. McGallian and Hoffmeister fea- city under penalty of perjury (affordable into their business practices.and an invasi- red that seeking such data was an overreach (925) 298-9990 housing complexes are exempt from the ve overstep by the city. by the city. rent registry). Information will include evic- The rent registry is being created in But Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano and [email protected] tions, units’ square footages, rent costs and response to requests from local renters and Councilmembers Edi Birsan and Carlyn Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 4 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990

Jennifer Stojanovich Realtor, Better Homes Realty 5 Best Apps to help with your move

Moving can be stressful. But thanks to You simply state the task you need help modern technology, it can be made simpler with, and the app will match you with a There is much to and easier. Whether you need help getting freelancer that can help you with the job. organized or selling your belongings before All the freelancers on the site go through your big move, these apps can help. a background check so you can feel safe Love in Concord Make lists with Google Keep. when using this service. TaskRabbit is Between your home buying wish list, your available on iOS or Android. February is all about love, and there are Hickory Pit, Big Country Kitchen, Alpine packing list, and Sell your stuff always more reasons to love Concord. Pastry, La Fritanguera, Sugar Plum Coffee the list of people with LetGo. Was First off, we love everyone who partici- Shop, Luigi’s Deli, King’s Donuts, and to contact for your decluttering part of pated in the 4th Annual Concord Comfort many others, not to mention all of our change of address, it your moving plan? Food Week in January. To the restau- amazing authentic taquerias and Mexican can be a challenge to It makes sense to get rants, local media, and comfort food restaurants. There are so many hidden stay organized. That’s rid of the things you why Google Keep is don’t need before cravers who indulged with gusto, THANK culinary gems of all types in Concord so helpful. With this you move into a new YOU! We sincerely appreciate everyone just waiting to be explored, and we are app, you can create place. But what should who contributed to making this year’s so lucky to have them here. I encourage notes and lists and you do with all that event the best yet. everyone to continue supporting these share them with stuff you don’t want As it turns out, being limited to takeout local treasures through the tough times so others, record voice anymore? You can and delivery service this year did not we can enjoy them for many more years notes, search your make extra cash to diminish enthusiasm in the slightest. In to come. notes, and sync your help pay for your move addition to expanding the event to two In the spirit of “showing some love,” I’d notes with all your devices. It’s available by selling some of your stuff on LetGo. This full weeks, we also introduced the Com- like to close with a question: What do you for both iOS and Android systems, and app is one of the fastest growing online fort Food Week Passport - a complete love about Concord? Perhaps it’s a favor- best of all it’s free. marketplaces to buy and sell goods in guide to all 60+ participating restaurants ite annual community event like our Get prepared with MoveAdvisor. your local area. It’s easy to post your items right from your phone. Ultimately, all Oktoberfest, 4th of July celebration or When it comes time to move, MoveAdvisor directly from your phone, and buyers can 600 registrants were automatically en- Concerts in the Park. Or, it could be a pretty much does it all. It can help you message you if they’re interested. The app tered in a daily drawing for $25 restau- place like Todos Santos Plaza, Markham take inventory of your possessions, create is free to download on iOS or Android, rant gift cards for a total of 17 winners. Park, Concord Pavilion or the West- a moving timeline, and even find movers though you can pay to “boost” your listing. Passholders also earned points for each wind Drive-In. Maybe it’s just a favorite in your area. You can have the app send Design your new place with check-in and more than 40 foodies hit the sandwich shop or local dish. Whatever you reminders, estimate shipping supply HomeByMe. Create floor plans in 2D magic four to score an “I Heart Concord” it is, tell us about it. Send your response needs, and even calculate your total and then convert them to 3D renderings. gift pack. to [email protected] by Sunday, moving costs. MoveAdvisor is available on You can then furnish your new place from iOS and Android. It is free to download, the catalog by adding items like furniture, Concord has also been steadily gaining February 28. We will choose a favorite although any services booked through the rugs, and lighting fixtures uploaded by recognition as a real “food scene” destin- and award an “I Heart Concord” tee shirt app will need to be paid for. various brands. If you like, you can even ation. In addition to some of our newer or and keychain gift pack. Hire help with TaskRabbit. Need purchase these items to use in your new more stylish and trendy restaurants, there Happy February to all and we look help with any tasks relating to your home or hire the help of a designer. The are also plenty of “found only here” spots forward to hearing from you! move, like picking up groceries, fixing a app is free and can be downloaded to an getting some extra love these days. I’m leaky faucet, or packing up your stuff? iOS or Android device. talking about uniquely Concord places Then TaskRabbit is the app you need. Courtesy of Virtualresults.net. such as Patty’s Cheese Zombies, Barney’s Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 5 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990 10,000 Blossoms for Barbara By David King Many seniors can look forward to each Valen- Valentine’s event continues to flourish. Since tine’s Day thanks to Linda Karp and her Bloss- 2011, Blossoms for Barbara has delivered over oms for Barbara annual event. This is the 10th 10,000 flowers. year Karp and her network of volunteers will be delivering flowers to those in the care of hospice, patients in assisted living and convalescent locations, battered women’s shelters, hospitalized Veterans and elderly recipients of Meals on Wheels in the surrounding area. This year, a total of 1600 flowers will be deli- vered including some for the healthcare nurses at John Muir Concord and Walnut Creek locations. Blossoms for Barbara was created in 2011 to honor the memory of Barbara Manss, Linda’s mother. “I wanted to give a loving and compassionate gesture to the families and patients in the care of hospice,” Linda stated. With the support of the Clayton Valley Garden Club, local busines- ses and individuals the Blossoms for Barbara Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 6 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 Secret Service Insider President Truman’s Stories from a Former Agent Assassination Attempt by Eric Enos

[The recent storming of the Capital Buil- Margret Thatcher, and Benjamin Netanya- ding and subsequent fatalities is not the hu, to name just a few. first time that an attack has threatened our Blair House becomes the temporary leaders in the Capital. Most people are una- residence for the President elect and family ware of the assassination attempt against prior to the inauguration. Also, during the President Truman inside the Blair House, state funeral of a former President, Blair on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the House will serve as the residence for the White House. It was also the only time a former first family. member of Secret Service has ever been Blair House also holds a place of honor killed on duty. We extracted this story from within the Secret Service agency’s history. our Secret Service Insider, Eric Enos, from It was here in 1950, that an assassination Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Collazo lies wounded at the base of the steps to an article first published in July 2019.] attempt was carried out against President Blair House, President Truman’s temporary Harry Truman. The aftermath left two dead residence in Washington, D.C., after a failed President Harry Truman. Photo Wikimedia and three wounded. attempt to assassinate Truman Nov. 1, 1950. Comons One of the dead was (Photo: HARVEY GEORGES, AP) the base of one of the Blair House front a White House Police windows. Officer Coffelt then collapsed at Officer (US Secret his booth. Service Uniform Simultaneously, Collazo fired at and Division). hit an officer standing at the steps of Blair From 1948 to House. The officer, wounded in the knee, 1952, the White moved onto Pennsylvania Avenue attemp- House underwent ting to draw Collazo’s fire away from Blair a massive renovati- House. Special Agent Floyd Boring, who on. In the interim, was posted in front of the house returned President Truman fire as did other officers. One of his rounds moved across the went through Collazo’s hat grazing his street to Blair House; scalp. Shots fired from other officers grazed often referred to as Collazo’s nose and ear, yet he remained “The Truman White standing. Upon hearing the gunfire, Special House.” Agent Vincent Mroz, who was posted inside On November 1, Blair House, rushed down a hallway and 1950, as President out a street-level east side door. Agent Truman was napping Mroz opened fire on Collazo striking him in his 2nd floor in the chest. Collazo immediately dropped, bedroom, two Puerto seriously wounded at the front steps of Rican nationalists, Blair House. Oscar Collazo and In the midst of the gun battle, President 11/2/1950- Washington, DC- Diagram view of the Blair House, scene of the Griselio Torresola, attempt on President Truman’s life yesterday. Floyd Boring, Secret Service, Truman actually came to his second-floor shot and critically wounded Oscar Collazo, one of the Puerto Rican gunmen, approached the Blair bedroom window, overlooking Pennsylva- and he crumpled at the foot of the Blair House steps. Griselio Torresola, his House from opposite nia Avenue and the crime scene, and stuck co-conspirator, was shot and killed, falling over a hedge beside ends of the sidewalk his head out to see what was happening the entrance of the Lee House, adjoining the Blair House. (murderpedia.org) on Pennsylvania approximately 35 feet from his window. Avenue. As each neared Agents and officers immediately hollered at Across the street from the White House law enforcement posted in front, they drew the President to get down, which he did. on Pennsylvania Avenue sits another very their weapons and opened fired. The gun battle lasted less than 30 historic American home The Blair House, Officer Leslie Coffelt had been posted in seconds. When it was over, one man was also known as “The President’s Guest Hou- a guard booth, which was not much larger dead (gunman Torresola) and four were se.” It has hosted world leaders on behalf than a telephone booth, on the sidewalk on wounded (gunman Collazo and four White of the President for over 75 years. Leaders the west corner of the house. Torresola wal- House. Officer Coffelt managed to prop House Officers). However, later that night, who have significantly and indelibly shaped ked up to the booth and fired four rounds himself against the outside of his guard Officer Coffelt succumbed to his wounds at the world have stayed here as official at Coffelt at point blank range, striking him booth and fired a single shot at Torresola, Emergency Hospital, making him the only guests of the President; Winston Churchill, in the chest and abdomen. Torresola then striking him in the head and killing him member of the Secret Service to die in the Charles de Gaulle, Anwar Sadat, Boris shot and wounded two other officers as he instantly. Torresola lay dead in shrubs at line of duty while protecting the President. Yeltsin, Nelson Mandela, Vladimir Putin, continued towards the entrance of Blair Diablo Range SCU Fire Landscape is Recovering By Joan Hamilton , Photography by Bruce and Joan Hamilton, and Cooper Ogden Hugh Safford is the regional ecologist for the logical impact in positive terms. “For the most produces a lot of resin and litter. When fire gets burns,” which have cleared out shrubs and U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region. part, it was like a really big, well-carried out into it, it burns really hot.” small trees that compete with larger trees for Years of experience have honed his ability to prescribed fire,” he said after surveying a huge In a nutshell, the SCU burn footprint is water and nutrients look at a blackened landscape and predict the ranch in the heart of the fire footprint. currently a mix of: 4) and “hot spots,” patches of severe fire that future of its plants and animals. In October, Grasslands will come back quickly after the 1) grassland is already re-sprouting reached up into the canopy, killing pines and he drove into the footprint of the Santa Clara first rains. Of the range’s shrub lands (chapar- 2) severely burned chaparral, which will some oaks. Unit (SCU) Lightning Complex fire to assess ral), Safford says, “it was just your standard produce spectacular wildflower shows this So, this Diablo Range fire was far from the damage. chaparral burn—sometimes burning to the spring (and next), before the shrubs make a apocalyptic. But there’s plenty to learn from the The SCU fire burned for 44 days from the ground. But it will come back, either by sp- resounding comeback story it has etched upon the landscape. foothills of Mount Diablo across 625 square routing or by seed.” 3) light to moderate woodland “under- miles of the Diablo Range in six California In woodlands, the fire generally stayed low, counties. Grazing lands were reduced to ash. clearing out small trees and bushes and sparing Two hundred forty-eight structures were either most of the region’s iconic oaks. destroyed or damaged. It was the third largest Where the fire did incinerate oaks, it was fire in California history. often aided by Pinus sabiniana, also known as Even so, Safford describes the SCU fire’s eco- gray pine. “The gray pine is really flammable. It Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 7 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990

In case you missed it… Snow survey finds dry con- unanimously to move $12,000 of ditions despite recent winter previously approved loan money to aid in storms (AP Photo/Randall Benton) the study of where water is coming from on that land, located east of Olivera Road near the Pixieland Amusement Park. City officials suspect the source of the water may be an underground spring. The total cost of this “spring investigation,” as a city report terms it, will be a maximum of $262,000. Guy Bjerke, Concord’s director of com- munity reuse planning, said issues with that water need to be cleared up before the city can get that wetlands permit, which in turn is necessary for any future development to be done on that land. The city is still looking for a new master The state’s Department of Water developer for the naval weapons station Resources conducted a manual snow survey reuse project, which would create a whole at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada new community covering 2,300 acres, and recorded 63 inches of snow depth, including 13,000 housing units, millions which is equivalent to 17 inches of snow of square footage of commercial space and water. Those results represent 93 percent of other amenities. average for the location. Lennar Five Point, which had been Statewide, DWR stations’ measurements chosen in 2016 as the reuse project’s master indicate California’s snowpack snow water developer, pulled out in March 2020 after equivalent is 12.5 inches, representing 70 negotiations with area labor unions lagged. percent of the average for the early Februa- Wind speed on Mount Diablo EMOTIONAL HEALTH ry time of year. “The recent blast of winter weather was reached 80-mph By Dr. Holly Holmes-Meredith, D. Min., MFT, Board Certified Clinical a welcome sight, but it was not enough to The wind speed on the summit of Mount Bill Yarborough, CHT and Certified EFTPractitioner offset this winter’s dry start,” said DWR Diablo reached 80-mph on the night of Ja- Director Karla Nemeth. “While there is nuary 26 according to the National Weather still a chance we will see additional storms Service. It was the only location in the Bay in the coming weeks, the department and Area to reach 80-mph. For comparison, Come On Get Happy other state agencies are preparing for the category 1 hurricane winds range from 74 potential for a second consecutive year of to 95 mph. dry conditions.” Americans are unhappy - this accor- Have you fallen into one or more of ding to The National Opinion Research the above archetypes during your life? Martinez approves basics of Center at the University of Chicago. In Record your daily activities and evaluate Contra Costa Supervisors small business microgrant and appoint new County Librarian their report in June 2020, American them according to how pleasurable and marketing program public’s happiness is at a 50-year low with meaningful they are. Based on your fin- The Contra Costa County Board of Martinez city leaders approved offering only 14% of people saying they are very dings, establish short-term and long-term Supervisors appointed Alison McKee as grants of up to $5,000 to qualifying local happy. goals designed to bring about pleasure the next County Librarian. McKee has businesses as part of a program that would Much of this low score is due to the and a sense of meaningful activities that been with the Contra Costa County Library beef up efforts to market those businesses isolation and anxieties of the current lead you to the happiness archetype. since 2002 and was appointed as interim and make physical “beautification” improve pandemic. Although there are still grim He offers several exercises and medi- county librarian in October. She previously ments in the city’s commercial areas. months ahead, the kickoff of a Covid-19 tations as well as suggestions to create served as deputy county librarian and has The city will use $300,000 from the city’s vaccination program brings about hope rituals to transform your life, like keeping held positions including library assistant, general fund to offer the small business for brighter days where you can more a gratitude journal. Learn more on his librarian and senior community library relief microgrants. safely re-engage in your cherished website happier.tv.com. manager in her tenure. Under the Martinez microgrant program, activities. But will that bring a return to If unhelpful habits such as negative Ms. McKee holds a master’s degree in independent retail businesses, restaurant/ happiness? self-talk or routinely comparing yourself library and information science from San bar/coffee shops and personal services For many, it certainly will, at least unfavorably to others bring you down, Jose State University and a bachelor’s in businesses including salons, spas and fit- initially. But the science of happiness tells consider combating them with tools such music performance from the San Francisco ness businesses would be eligible to apply. us sustained happiness requires more as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Conservatory of Music. She will receive an Franchise owners could qualify, as well. than an external event. Many people have or hypnotherapy. annual compensation package of $281,442. Another $25,000 will go to creating a looked forward to a graduation, job pro- EFT is an easy and proven method, COVID-19 marketing program to lure shop- motion, dream vacation, or artistic achie- and there are many sites on the Internet Food delivery fees capped pers during the pandemic, plus $25,000 for vement in anticipation of a happy future, that show its use. It involves tapping on during COVID-19 pandemic physical beautification measures. only to find the elation to be short-lived. body pressure points to get release from Many assume that financial wellbeing Lending a hand to local restaurants negative emotions or compulsions. Gary is a key to happiness. Savvy employers suffering economically under COVID-19 City of Walnut Creek approves Craig, the founder of EFT, has a website: know the path to a happy workforce restrictions, the Contra Costa County Board $1M restaurant grant program www.emofree.com. (click Gold Standard often has more to do with meaningful of Supervisors capped what third parties EFT Tapping Tutorial on the website’s Walnut Creek City Council unanimously and rewarding work than the size of a can charge for food delivery. bottom right). approved a grant program to help keep local paycheck, providing the compensation DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seeking professional help from a restaurants afloat during the COVID-19 is competitive and allows a decent living other services now can only charge up to qualified hypnotherapist can help with pandemic until they can once again open standard. 15 percent of the total cost of an order, and unconscious resistance to happiness or for in-person dining. So, what goals and activities can lead to 10 percent of third-party orders picked up underlying reasons for certain behaviors Full-service restaurants can now apply sustained happiness? by the customer at a restaurant. Typically, that prevent happiness. Practitioners are for grants of up to $10,000, and bars and Tal Ben-Shahar, a Harvard professor, delivery providers charge up to 30 percent. available online or in person using the restaurants considered “limited-service” became interested in happiness when The cap would be lifted once the state above and other therapeutic techniques or “fast casual” can receive up to $5,000 to his lifelong dream of winning an athletic allows restaurants to open indoor seating at to assist you. Teaching professionals help pay for rent, payroll, improvements championship failed to produce lasting 100 percent capacity, though the board can often have interns who charge minimal and winterization of outdoor dining areas, happiness. So, he introduced a course at revisit that at any time. amounts. construction of takeout windows and CO- Harvard covering the topic. Not surpri- While the state recently allowed There are several techniques you can VID-19-related indoor improvements. singly, it quickly became the University’s restaurants to reopen outdoor dining employ yourself to help produce intrinsic most popular course. areas, indoor dining is still prohibited and sustained happiness, such as prayer, K-6 School reopening: In his book “Happier”, Ben-Shahar pre- while the county remains in the most meditation, deep breathing exercises, Tai sents four different approaches to life that restrictive tier of California’s Blueprint for From Contra Costa County Health Ser- Chi, and Reiki, an energetic palm-healing can have varying impacts on happiness, a Safer Economy. Dozens of Contra Costa vices - Contra Costa County is currently in technique to name a few. represented by four archetypes: restaurants have closed in the past year. the Purple Tier. Schools may not reopen for Use online resources to help you with • Hedonism archetype focuses on Some establishments estimated, even grades 7-12 while in the Purple Tier. K-6 these techniques, such as “inner smile enjoying pleasure and ignores po- when indoor dining resumed last year befo- school may reopen for in-person instruction meditation” websites or Reiki classes. tential negative consequences. re the latest shutdown, that delivery made in the Purple Tier if the adjusted case rate These reflective states may also lead to a • Rat race archetype subordinates up about 70 percent of business. has been less than 25 per 100,000 popu- greater acceptance of current circumstan- lation (currently 26.9) per day for at least present to future, always suffering ces with an openness to experiences you Concord council approves five consecutive days and the school has an now for expected gain later. would otherwise resist. investigation of unexplained approved COVID Safety Plan. Local school • Nihilism archetype neither enjoys As the Partridge Family theme song water on Weapons Station land officials will decide whether and when to the moment nor has a sense of goes, ”Come on, get happy.” reopen once these criteria are met. future purpose. If you have questions or comments, The City of Concord will investigate the • Happiness archetype is secure in please reach out to us via the contact source of water unexpectedly found near Updated and abridged breaking news knowing what activities that bring information on our websites: Holly@hyp- the one-time airfield north of Willow Pass posts from Claycord.com. enjoyment in the present will also notherapytraining.com or Bill@billyarbo- Road. lead to a fulfilling future. rough.com. The Concord City Council voted Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 8 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 Winter Hiking: Twin Peaks Photo by Scott Hein

It’s been almost a year that we have Canyon. Above that is Twin Peaks, been severely restricted from indoor which were the epicenter of the great gatherings and traveling. Fortunately, wildfire of 1977. Hiking up, you’ll see we are blessed with some of the best how the fire burned the rocks red. outdoor entertainment opportunties Overlooking Twins Peaks is Eagle whether it be with small groups. your Peak. family, or flying All of these solo. I’m referring destinations offer to Mount Diablo. stunning views Even n the winter, all months of the there are acces- year. sible trails with a Audible Mount range of difficulty Diablo has a fan- of hikes you can tastic video series enjoy. about the plants On the north of Twin Peaks that your vehicle fee. and add a few more miles, you can keep side of Mount you can watch before From the trailhead, there are several going forwards and go down the other Diablo State Park you hike the trail (or ways to get to the Mitchell Rock trail, side of the peak’s ridge, down Eagle Peak are the smaller refer to as you hike the quickest way is to walk past Mitchell Trail, which will lead you to Back Creek. peaks of Mount Diablo. They include along it): Canyon’s gates on the way to Deer Flat Here, you can take the Coulter Pine trail Twin Peaks at 1,733 feet and Eagle Peak For this hike, park at the Mitchell and immediately take the first left, taking back to Mitchell Canyon. NOTE: If you at 2,369 feet elevation. All of these peaks Canyon Staging Area. It is $6 to cover you up a hill, directly to Mitchell Rock take this option, be aware that there is a are located among the same ridge, which trail. lot of loose gravel on part of the trail. Be emerges between Back Canyon and Continue hiking up the trail to Twin especially careful not to slip. Mitchell Canyon; they offer awesome Peaks. At the top, hang and out enjoy the Feeling adventurous? You could also views of the Bay Area, as well as Mount views! This trail may be difficult for some continue onwards to Eagle Peak, which Diablo’s Summit and North Peak. hikers, so take your time and bring lots will require about 600 more feet of clim- Twin Peaks is a great hike and trainer of water. bing. Make sure you have a map, because for those contemplating trekking up to At Twin Peaks, you’ll have several there are several ways to get back to the infamous Mount Diablo Summit. options: Mitchell Canyon from there, with ranging This hike offers varying levels of difficul- If you’ve hiked to your heart’s content, difficulty. ty, with different places to turn around you can turn around and go back the way Learn more about good places to hike from. The shortest option is to hike up to you’ve come. on and around Mount Diablo at www. Mitchell Rock, which overlooks Mitchell If you want to make the hike a loop SaveMountDiablo.org.

Chess with Yoo Composed by Christopher Yoo, 14, International Master, Dublin, Calif.

Which has more pizza? You Gotta Have Heart White to play and draw Your sweetheart is starving for pizza. Do you pick up a large 18” inch pizza, or two medium 12 inch pizzas? The answer is not so obvious. . But if you remember your geometry class, the equation to find the area of a circle: Area = πR2. (pi times radius squared, π = 3.14). So,

Large Pizza: Area = π (18/2)2 = 254 in2 Two mediums: Area = 2 x π(12/2)2 = 226 in 2 . In this scenario, the large pizza contains 28 inches squared more pizza than two mediums. And given typical pizzeria pricing, you also paid a lot less by buying the large.

Spotted in Concord on Holbrook Drive. This home is looking Solution: 1. g6 Bxg6 2.f5 Bxf5 3. e4 Bxe4 forward to Valentines, or maybe it’s just spreading some Love for 4. Nc3 Bxc3 (stalemate) everyday. Word Search Plus This is Wild For more fun, we made our word search a wee more challenging. We’ve hidden a code that will reveal a popular location in our area.

Clue: This rehabilitation center in Walnut Creek is the first such hospital established in the United States. Founded in in 1955, it features exhibits and a special theater of- fering a look into one of the hospital’s many treatment rooms. Still among the largest in the country, it treats more than 5,000 injured, sick, or orphaned patients each year. Hint: Find the all the words in the word search and circle them. Then find all the letters not utilized in the puzzle to discover an anagram. Unscram- ble the letters to reveal the answer. Answer on page 16. Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 9 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990 David George The Naked Tick Gardener Talk

Nature has been stingy with cold fronts anyone who this winter and Contra Costa is about 50% recreates of normal rain so far. As much as rain is or works in needed, the wet season brings out a new woodlands, group of dangerous critters to avoid, ticks. I open spaces, interviewed UC Berkeley Medical Entomol- or who live ogist (Emeritus) and researcher, Dr. Robert in rural or Lane recently. Dr. Lane shared his deep semi-rural knowledge about these scary biting “bugs” commun- Adult Male and Female Pacific Coast we may encounter in our gardens and on ities may Ticks hikes in our open spaces. encounter human-bit- Dr. Lane, as a medical entomolo- ing ticks. gist, why did you choose to focus on Foresters and ticks and other biting bugs as a medic- woodcutters, al threat to humans? birders, “Medical entomology is a firefight- branch of biology that studies ers, hikers, American Dog Ticks - Common in the lifecycles and management picnickers, East Bay of arthropods, primarily in- ranchers, sects and ticks, which affect the and youth groups are all at risk. Gardeners health of people, pets, and wild can be bit, too, if their garden plots are of animals. My passion began as a youngster in sufficient size to accommodate the tick’s life Los Angeles when I first spotted a flittering cycle or if the garden is next to natural areas mourning cloak butterfly and started to col- where wildlife abounds.” lect insects as a childhood hobby. The hobby grew into a career with a master’s degree in What can gardeners, workers, biology at SF State and subsequently a Ph.D. or hikers do to protect themselves at UC Berkeley. But it wasn’t until I accepted against tick bites? What should they my first position as a public health biolo- do if bitten? gist at the California Department of Public “After working or walking outside, check Health (CDPH) that I began 40+ years of your clothing and skin for visible ticks researching ticks and tick-borne diseases.” and brush them off before they bite. Other protective actions include: applying tick What kinds of biting ticks occur in repellents to skin and clothing or 0.5% per- the East Bay? methrin sprays to clothing only, remaining “California is a biodiversity hotspot, and in the center of hiking trails, and avoiding ticks and their disease agents are no excep- contact with tall grasses or weeds, sitting on tion. Forty-eight tick species, more than half rocks, logs or against tree trunks. of the 90 or so in the U.S., and at least nine When you return home, place your cloth- tick-borne human illnesses occur in Cali- ing in a hot dryer for at least 10 minutes to fornia. Six of our indigenous ticks attach to kill any remaining ticks, inspect your skin people with regularity, including three in the and scalp carefully and shower right away. East Bay. They are the notorious western If you discover an attached tick, remove it blacklegged tick, the Pacific Coast tick and without delay by grasping it close to your the American dog tick. The blacklegged tick, skin with either tweezers or fingers pro- also known locally as a “deer” tick, inhabits tected with tissue paper, then slowly pull it forests, grasslands, scrub/shrub and ripar- straight backwards.” ian habitats throughout the East Bay.” Thank you, Dr. Lane. It’s clear that there How does Lyme disease affect are more natural threats during this wet humans? season than just COVID! Please be natural, wise, and vigilant. Email your comments and questions to: [email protected]. In some cases, these may appear in future columns.

For more information about tick-borne Western Blacklegged Ticks feed on humans and transmit diseases in California, you can read Dr. Lane’s Lyme disease co-authored article at: ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/ PESTNOTES/pn7485.html. Or, visit these “Lyme disease is caused by a cork- other websites, www.cdph.ca.gov (and search screw-shaped bacterium, Borrelia burg- for Lyme disease), www.LymeDisease.org, or dorferi. It is responsible for most of the the Bay Area Lyme Foundation website, www. reported tick-borne illnesses in California. bayarealyme.org. The disease can be either localized or affect multiple bodily systems. In many patients, a slowly expanding reddish rash or ring appears three to 32 days after an infectious tick bite and is usually accompanied by flu- like symptoms. If left untreated, rheumatic, neurologic or heart problems may set in weeks to months later. The blacklegged tick, which has been identified from 56 of California’s 58 coun- ties, is the primary carrier of Lyme disease bacteria in the Far West. All ticks suck blood in order to grow and reproduce, and have three parasitic stages: larvae, nymphs and adults. More than 100 different verte- brate animals have been recorded as hosts. The larvae and nymphs obtain blood meals from lizards, birds and small mammals, whereas the adult females feed on medium- or large-sized mammals such as deer (or people). It is the poppy seed-sized nymph and larger adult female that are of human concern. In northern California generally, about 1–2% of adult ticks and 2–15% of nymphs are infected with B. burgdorferi. The nymph mainly seeks hosts in spring through early “Grandad’s Garden: Stories of the Natural World” by Naked summer, while the adult ticks are active Gardener columnist David George is his debut book of from late fall until early spring. Virtually feel-good stories for troubling times. Amazon.com. Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 10 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 legalbriefs You don’t need a sugar detox to by Douglas A. Prutton, Attorney lose weight [email protected] By Carmela Lieras, NASM-CPT Who will pay for my damages? As a coach, it’s this time of the board, the common denominator to year when I get super create change is a person must decide In law school, frustrated because to act differently! If this is a struggle students spend many I start to hear these for you, I highly recommend a couple hours learning about commonly spoken of books to help you with this journey, legal responsibility. In phrases: “Switch: How to Change When Change is Contracts class, they “I’m going to cut Hard” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath and learn about brea- sugar out for a good month “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to ches of contract and or two.” Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by remedies for those “I’ve really been overdoing it with the James Clear. breaches. In Torts sweets and 2021 is gonna be the year When it comes to sugar, acting class, they learn about when I really get rid of all the sugar.” differently doesn’t mean simply getting liability for product Ninety-five percent of the time, the rid of the sugar and punishing yourself for and premises defects, blame gets put on sugar. The other five buying those delicious pastries. It means dog bites, car acci- percent often goes to lack of willpower, understanding how your brain works and dents, etc. In Employ- and that’s a whole other topic I can go on what triggers you to keep eating that treat ment Law class they and on about. While sugar gets most of when you really don’t even want it. It learn about wrongful the blame, I’m waiting for the day when also means looking at your environment termination, discrimi- someone says, “This is the year I’m really and perhaps making small changes with Judgment for a million dollars? You cannot nation, harassment, etc. Students learn how collect money from some- going to change my habits around food.” it (for example, you realize that you only to evaluate the amount of damages caused If you really think about it, it go overboard after having a stressful one who has no money, and they always can by these legal violations and they learn file for bankruptcy anyway as a last resort. has nothing to do with sugar. It has conversation with your spouse or co- about civil litigation (lawsuits) – the legal everything to do with your habits, as well worker — and if this is the case, can you In the car accident scenario, it is process by which issues of legal responsibi- important to know that every driver can as what triggers your brain to pick up that have easy access to healthier snacks with lity are resolved. third brownie. you when you know you’re going to have purchase his or her own uninsured or As a law student (many years ago), I underinsured motorist (UM) coverage in Is it really the ice cream’s fault you another conversation with him/her?). learned all these concepts, and yet I do not decided to eat the entire pint after a So, there’s not really a need to do a whatever amount they want to purchase. recall learning much about one crucial issue Then, if they sustain serious injuries in a stressful day? Of course not. So why on sugar detox to lose weight. Remember, – how do all these legal violations and pro- earth do we constantly put the blame on a it’s not sugar’s fault the scale increased. car accident and the responsible party does cedures result in money actually changing not have enough insurance, they can turn to specific food group? It’s your habits and the lack of changing hands? More precisely, what if someone Hear me when I say we shouldn’t be those habits that has more to do with it. their own insurance carrier for more money breaks the law, causes damage to someone (up to the UM limits). eating excessive amounts of anything, but What is one thing you can change else, but has no money to pay? I have now I want you to think about this differently today with your habits around sugar? The largest case I have handled was a been practicing personal injury law for 38 car accident on I-680. My client sustained than you’ve been taught (by the diet years and this issue of “collectability” has industry). Sugar, or sweets and treats, is Carmela Lieras is a NASM (National a serious leg injury, and we were lucky raised its ugly head repeatedly and often enough that the accident was caused by not what you need to get rid of in the new Academy of Sports Medicine) certified throughout those years. year. It’s your habits and triggers that a State of California truck – we settled personal trainer, Macro Nutrition Coach, Let me provide you with my most recent for millions of dollars. Had the accident need a look-over. and Neural Performance Coach. She example. I represented two women who There are numerous types of changes been caused by a private driver, my client obtained her B.A. in Excersise Science were wrongfully fired by their employer, would probably have been limited to her we go through in our lifetime, (individual, from Williamette University. a local eyelash extension provider with organizational, societal, etc.). Across UM coverage which I think was about several locations. We proceeded through $250,000.00. Unfortunately, most people a lawsuit which, years later, resulted in a do not buy enough UM coverage because Judgment in our favor for $50,000.00. The they are not anticipating that they will get owner of the business appealed. While the seriously injured in a car accident and they case was on appeal, I received notice that want to save money on insurance premi- the owner had filed for bankruptcy. Our ums. And unfortunately, my experience claims were submitted to the bankruptcy is that most serious injury cases settle for court and, again years later, we finally (last less than the cases are worth, often much week) received two checks for $1,209.00 less, simply because there is not enough each - seven years after I first met my client. insurance money available. I have many other bankruptcy stories, all Many years ago, I went to trial against of which resulted in the recovery of zero a small grocery store in San Francisco for dollars after spending considerable amount injuries sustained by my client. The grocer of time and money pursuing the claims had no insurance. The case went all the through legal channels. way to trial, and we won a Judgment in In those cases that became worthless the amount of $50,000.00. The grocer because of bankruptcy, the responsible par- closed his business, and we were unable to ties did not have any insurance coverage for collect anything for him, so I just filed the the claims. Fortunately, there is insurance Judgment with the Recorder’s office. Many to cover many other claims, like claims ari- years later (about 15) I received a call from sing from car accidents. However, Califor- the grocer. He said he was trying to sell nia law only requires drivers to have a mi- his house, but the recorded Judgment was nimum of $15,000.00 coverage for injuries. blocking the sale. We received our money What happens if a person with minimum (and 10% annual interest) from the escrow policy limits causes injuries that may have a from the sale of the home. Not all the colle- value of hundreds of thousands or millions ction stories have sad endings! of dollars? That person is still responsible for the full value of the injuries, but if that person does not have money what good is a Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 11 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990 theRIGHTmove by Terrylynn Fisher,Broker Associate www.BuyStageSell.com Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit in your future?

If you’ve thought of adding an office, for the new unit. (see guide). playroom, pool house, guest room or apartment on your property as part of ADU Brings Value to Your your home or outside your home, there Home. A home office, detached home could not be a better time than now. office, a classroom area for home schoo- You probably refer to such add-ons as ling, a guest room or a place for relatives a “mother-in-law unit,” but that’s not a to be nearby have all become items at the term we use these days. So, these are top of the buyer wish list. now called Accessory Dwelling Units or Whether you purchase a modular ADU, or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit, or prefab version or build it yourself, a JADU. well-done, permitted unit will be an asset I realize this is a hot topic because to your home’s value when you sell. And I’ve had a number of client calls on this until that time, you can enjoy the use of it recently. Fortunately, new information for your needs. released over the past year makes this Alleviating the housing shortage was more possible than ever. part of the goal of the law, but the real You must check with your individual benefit for many is the ability to stay in City for their regulations; however, the their homes. State of California has required Cities to Review this Quick Guide and then call remove some of the prohibitive regulati- your city jurisdiction for more informa- ons of the past to create more housing. tion to address your specific interest. For example, gone is the regulation that you had to have off-street parking

frugelegance Free mini art by Carol and Randi-The Frugirls Easy DIY Valentine www.frugelegance.com gallery opens Napkin Rings in Concord

box top into strips. Bend the strips into a circular shape and staple the ends. Cut off any excess. Wrap a red ribbon around and around until all the cardboard is cov- ered. Cut the ribbon’s end and secure in utensils. We love using a wide bendable Frogard presents her free Mini Art Gallery. place with some hot glue on the inside of ribbon. See title picture for the pretty Photo courtesy Lisa Fulmer tube. Other glues will also work but may hearts ribbon we used. take longer to dry. Enjoy your pretty rib- This falls under the topic of random acts bon wrapped ring as is or attach a simple of kindness. A free Mini Art Gallery has something like a faux flower. opened in front of the aRt Cottage at 2238 Mt. Diablo, Concord. Much like the trendy free mini library, anyone can come by and look at art and take it home. “I feel it’s a little bit of love, joy and giving going on when we need it most. Anyone is welcome to pick out a tiny piece of art and keep it. This is a free gift of love for our community from local artists,” says Frogard, owner of the aRt Cottage. Stay-at-home orders may hinder your Concord Art Association members will traditional Valentine’s celebration this keep the gallery stocked up, but anyone is welcome to leave a mini work of art for year; however, you can add some little Rose Petal Napkin Rings: You can Come by the blog for more fun Val- touches around the home to make the find packets of rose petals at the local someone else to enjoy. entine’s DIY projects. You can also find “Since COVID, we’ve been unable to day still feel special. We always say, “It’s Dollar Store or craft supply store. Fold a our past articles in the Diablo Gazette the small details that make the biggest rose petal in half and glue to the napkin congregate, so we decided we needed to Archives on their website. Great projects do more community outreach projects,” impact”. ring at the petal’s fold. Repeat, keeping like our wine cork hearts, our heart art Using items from around the house the petals close together until the ring is says Lisa Fulmer, board member and past sign and so much more. Stay safe and President of Concord Art Association. “We and the local Dollar Store, we have a full. well and have a fabulous Valentine’s Day! few ideas on how to create the simplest, Bling Rings. We love these. You can heard about a similar idea in Washington where art could be viewed. We decided to easiest and extremely low cost napkin find a bag of colorful rings in the party Carol and Randi, the FruGirls, are local rings for your Valentine’s table setting -- favor section at the Dollar Store. Start by home stagers and decorators. You can go one step further and offer art that you Frugelegance style. cutting the bling off. Then glue the bling find them blogging about many ways to can take home. We’re so excited about Ribbon Wrapped Napkin Rings: heart to a napkin ring wrapped in ribbon. live an elegant life for less Online at www. this.” Start by Cutting up TP (toilet paper) Ribbon-No Ring: This just might frugelegance.com. FrugElegance is where Go ahead, help yourself to some free tubes into three rings. Or, if you rather be easiest option. Simply tie a decora- Frugal and Elegance come together. art pieces, crafted by your friendly local not use TP tubes, simply cut up a gift tive ribbon around the napkin wrapped artists. Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 12 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 Out to Lunch Bronze Buddha Thai Fusion by Richard Eber The Martian Chronicles During the Covid-19 pandemic, it isn’t easy for restaurants to stay afloat with no (Then and Now) indoor dining and limited outdoor services available during the winter. One place As a teen I devoured Ray Bradbury’s orange/red skies (and pervasive dust in one that has held its own during these difficult novels. I was a Star Trek junkie and a vignette) are spot-on for different parts of times is The Bronze Buddha Thai Fusion huge sci-fi fan. As an adult, my interests the planet. restaurant at 5434 Ygnacio Valley Rd. in turned to other genres, but while pre- All of my fact-checking didn’t dimin- Concord. paring for a presentation (see my note ish my enjoyment of my re-read of “The Owners Andy Prakotpol and his wife below), I stumbled upon the “The Martian Marian Chronicles.” Bradbury’s imagina- Palm, who serves as chef, admit trying to Chronicles” (1945, paperback, Simon and tion had conjured red-haired, golden-eyed survive serving primarily take-out orders is Shuster, 241 pages, $7.99) by Ray Brad- brown-skinned Martians with a knack for an extraordinary hardship, despite having bury. I had meant only to glance through telepathy. He envisioned Mars housing a Elegant Thai decor compliments your indoor dining earned an excellent reputation during their experience. but quickly found myself enamored with civilization filled with a culture of art and 13 years in business. With the likes of Door what Bradbury’s view of how our present intelligence. What’s not to love? Dash and Uber Eats taking their 25% cut, Jasmine white or brown rice. Chef Palm time might look like back Ray Bradbury died the work staff has shared in the pain with will happily adjust the level of spice used in 1945 when he wrote on June 5, 2012, at the reduced hours. in all of their dishes to the novel. I was hooked age of 91. His storied Prakotpols took over suit individual tastes. and couldn’t put the book career spanned seven this restaurant three Venturing through down. decades and inspired years ago after selling the main menu, the Bradbury’s tale generations of his fans the business they had fusion part of the Bronze written in a series of to think about what it in Dixon, Calif. Palm Buddha’s name becomes vignettes, is a statement, means to be human. He received her training more prominent. Their a condemnation really, was a prolific author, in culinary school signature dish is a fried of Earth’s men and what writing hundreds of in Bangkok prior to salmon roll stuffed with he imagined the impact short stories and close immigrating to the USA. crab with sheets of Nori of human space explorers to fifty books, not to They pride themselves in (seaweed) sealed by would have on Martians. mention dabbling in giving patrons a dining a panko crust. Other The first two expeditions, poetry, essays, operas, experience similar to fusion items not found both occurring in 1999, plays, and screenplays. one they would enjoy in Andy and Palm Prakotpol,, owners in Thailand include do not end well for the In addition to “The Thailand. Admirably, a Bronze Alaskan astronauts. The humans Martian Chronicles,” their efforts have cultivated a loyal and Halibut with ginger, wine, and a red curry on Earth have no idea of he is best-known for diverse customer base that has supported sauce. Also noteworthy is the Day Boat the men’s fate, only that “Fahrenheit 451,” the Bronze Buddha throughout these Scallops and the Fantasy Ahi Tuna. For they don’t return to their “The Illustrated Man,” adverse Covid-19 conditions. poultry fans, the Chicken Fusion and the home planet. So the de- “Dandelion Wine,” and Fortunately for Bronze Buddha, their Honey-glazed Crispy Duck are excellent cision-makers decide the “Something Wicked This selections. third expedition should Way Comes.” He wrote As for traditional Thai cuisine, their land on the far side of Mars, hoping for a the screen play for John Huston’s classic popular Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles different result. And then there are more film adaptation of “Moby Dick” which was are excellent renditions of items served by trips and it is discovered that our inter- nominated for an Academy Award. Sixty- other Thai restaurants in the region. vention spread a deadly pandemic – the five of his stories were adapted for tele- chicken pox- and wiped out the Martian vision’s The Ray Bradbury Theater, and he race. Bradbury tackles a variety of social won an Emmy for his teleplay “The Hallow- issues from censorship and the destruction een Tree.” He received the 2000 National of books to racism (the “n” word is used) Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished to environmental and cultural damage Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 wrought by humanity. National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pul- I grew curious about what Bradbury itzer Prize Special Citation. might have known about Mars in 1945 Fans of “The Martian Chronicles” will and what he might have chosen to ignore likely enjoy a contemporary story of life on in the interest of spinning a good tale. For Mars, “The Martian” by Andy Weir as well instance, the early space explorers com- as many of Ray Bradbury’s other notable plain about the thin air (which is resolved classics, particularly “Fahrenheit 451.” If by one man’s passion to plant trees – think you are like me and read Bradbury’s novels Pineapple fried rice a celestial version of Johnny Appleseed). while in high school or college, this novel is food travels well as take-out orders The Rice Clay Pot Could Bradbury have known that there well worth revisiting. Seeing how Bradbury maintain their fresh-served qualities upon is always tempting as is their Pineapple was insufficient oxygen in 1945? No. It envisioned Earth’s humans in 2026 back in arrival to your home’s dinner table. Fried Rice which pairs well with their wasn’t until 1947 that the Dutch-Amer- 1945 is an interesting endeavor. A meal here begins with a menu of other dishes. ican astronomer Gerard Kuiper estimated excellent appetizers. I am especially For lunch Andy and Palm offer a that the amount of carbon dioxide in the enamored with the Chicken Satay Skewers more economical menu. For $13.00 Martian atmosphere was about double that paired with a cucumber salad and a one receives an appetizer, main course, on the Earth. Today, it has been estimated delicious spicy peanut sauce that uses and rice. In addition to various curry that Mars atmosphere is about 95% carbon coconut milk for its base. selections, they feature a grilled BBQ beef, dioxide. Other popular starters include lettuce chicken and pork dishes as well as a must- There are quite a few chapters where wraps and the coconut prawns. Their crispy have spicy fried eggplant with garlic and explorers and settlers on Mars complain vegetarian roll is one of several non-meat chili sauce. about the heat. Could Bradbury have choices that will delight vegetarian diners. known the average temperature on Mars This is certainly true of their varied salad is a biting -81 degrees Fahrenheit (F)? selections. Temperature estimates were made in the The grilled beef filet with green onions 1920s. Bradbury would have had access and mint leaves is a bit on the spicy side; to a paper by Coblentz in 1924 reporting and I find it delicious. On the traditional research on when Mars was closer to the side, there’s always the Thai Mango and Earth than it would be for the next 50 Papaya salads. years. Polar ice caps are discussed in this The Bronze Buddha Special features paper and a maximum temperature of fresh ginger, roasted coconuts, cashews, 20 degrees Celsius (about 68 degrees F) and several other Thai ingredients served is reported. But it wasn’t until after the with a tasty mango dressing. All these Space Age (which started with the success salads are designed as entrees but are large of the Sputnik launch in 1957), that Mars enough that they can be shared. climate was fully researched. However, Thai soups, Tom Yun and Tom Khan, Colbentz calculations in 1924 were reason- come vegetarian style, with meat or fish. ably accurate. We now know that daytime They are somewhat spicy, and I find them in the Gale Crater can reach 43 degrees F to be an ideal contrast between courses. in the afternoon during their winter and When it comes to entrees, it is difficult a pleasant 70 degrees near the equator in The public is welcome to register for my to miss the Bronze Buddha’s curries. Lunch combo the summer. But without the internet it’s Zoom talk on Book Endings for the Mount Their most popular ones are of the yellow doubtful Bradbury could reasonably have Diablo branch of the California Writers Club and green variety. The Thai Curry is not Bronze Buddha Thai Fusion is known that it never gets sweltering. He at 10 am on February 13th ($10 nonmem- as spicy as what is found on the Indian open from 11:30-2:30 and 4:30 to also underestimated population growth. bers/$5 CWC members) that will discuss sub-continent, and more resembles the 9pm weekdays opening up a half hour The book mentions 2 billion people live on endings of novels, including, of course, “The Japanese S & B brand which has always later on the weekends for lunch. They Earth in 2005 when in actuality our Earth Martian Chronicles.” Fee includes a discus- been a favorite with my family. I am house 6.5 billion. The same year Earth had sion of How to Write Dialogue by Penny may be reached at 925-524-0768 or at Warner at 11:15 am. especially fond of their Green Curry. It Bronzebuddha.com. a catastrophic atomic war in the novel. pairs well with the chicken and carrots over But his description of Mars’ blue and Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 13 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990 Photos by Micah A winter favorite returns - Views of the Valley Mount Diablo Waterfalls By David King

When it rains, it flows. The recent few days of rainfall has brought to life one of Mount Diablo’s most sought after features, its waterfalls. It is a seasonal attraction, so take advantage of the time in between storms and head out to the Falls Trail Loop. The trek is always most rewarding shortly Penny Wendt of Martinez attempts to rid her fireplace of a squirrel by building this tunnel of boxes after a substantial rainfall. While there leading out the front door. The squirrel chose to go out the chimney top instead. are several trails to get there, the most common and easiest access is from Clayton’s Regency Trailhead. In terms of difficulty, the 6-mile loop is considered easy to moderate. It includes about 1700 feet of elevation gain and the hike takes just under three hours round trip. The trails are well-marked, and not particularly muddy (as of this writing). But even muddy, the Waterfalls Trail makes for a fun outing, especially for the younger hikers. Caltrans officials say landslide repairs will keep The lower trails are wide and Highway 1 south of Big Sur closed for months, relatively flat before giving way to a caused by heavy rains from our first major rain little incline and eventually turning storm of 2021. into single track trails. Hiking the Karen Bell, of Lettuce Inn serving a takeout com- Waterfalls Trail is a great way to spend fort food order of Soup and Grilled Cheese. She’s a few hours on an early morning also reading a copy of Diablo Gazette. weekend. The views are fantastic, Sights from the Waterfall trail: a swarm of ladybugs, the waterfalls are spectacular, as are streams and falls and panoramic views. Photos by Scott the wildflowers, wildlife, and rock Feuer formations.

Sugar Plum Coffee Shop is fighting for your busi- ness as Claudia Car Hops on a Thursday evening. The event was so well received they hope to conti- Clayton’s Fiona Hughes, Once Upon A nue the promotional night, bring back Classic Cars Canvas OUAC’s Artist of the Month, on Colfax and add some oldies music while they designed and created art exhibitions online Car Hop. Cream joined in by serving ice cream in a video series, as well as donated a sandwiches on the street. business directory to the Tannery Building in Benecia. Brassica Bonanza by Deb Morris, PCFMA.org Here are five brassicas to include in You probably hated eating brassicas your diet with the best ways to prepare - as a kid, burying them under your them for best flavor and nutrient reten tion: mashed potatoes or surreptitiously Broccoli & Broccolini: Blanched, feeding them to the family dog. We’re steamed, or sautéed, broccoli can be sure you’ve changed your mind since added to pasta, casseroles, or stir-fries. then because brassicas are flavorful, Make a baked broccoli gratin with some easy-to-prepare, and nutrient-dense. The California cheese. Or stir fry with mush- Brassica family of vegetables includes rooms in a hoisin-based sauce. broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels Cauliflower: Currently cauliflower is sprouts, bok choy, and more. They are having its culinary moment as low-carb among the most commonly cultivated meals are in vogue. Chefs and home vegetables in the world, and some of the cooks are discovering creative ways to most delicious. prepare it – riced, roasted, mashed. Roa- Their flavor is imcomparable when sting brings out the mild, nutty flavor. just-picked from your garden or grown Brussels Sprouts: Roasted, steamed, (and not shipped from long distances) or grilled, they make a perfect accompa- from local farmers. The fresher the niment to most meals. Try cutting in half, vegetables are, the more nutrients they Purple Cauliflower Rice um-high heat. Add the oil and heat; add toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and contain. onions, shallots, or leeks, and stir to coat. roasting in the oven – delicious! Saute We know vegetables are good for •1 large head cauliflower, quartered Continue cooking, stirring frequently, un- with bacon or shred into salads and you and we need more in our diet, but •3 tablespoons olive oil, butter or bacon til the onions are golden brown at the ed- slaws. brassicas give you a lot of bang for your drippings ges and have softened for about 8 minutes. Cabbage: Whatever variety - red or buck. Relatively inexpensive, they are low •1 medium onion, leek or 2 shallots If using leeks, cook 5 minutes. If using purple cabbage, Napa cabbage, Savoy in calories, fat, and sodium. They’re also •2 tablespoons fresh shallots, cook 2 minutes. Add cauliflower cabbage, green cabbage, use in cole slaw a very good source of fiber and are filled •Fresh parsley and stir to combine. Add 1 teaspoon salt, and other salads, add to soups, top your with a variety of other essential vitamins •Juice of 1/4 to 1/2 lemon, to taste and continue to cook, stirring frequently, fish tacos, or make old-fashioned cabba- and minerals. •Salt and pepper, to taste until the cauliflower has softened, 3 to 5 ge rolls. The brassicas at the farmers markets Trim the cauliflower by quartering it, minutes. Remove from the heat. Bok Choy: Also known as Chinese are gorgeous right now. Small family laying a flat side on your cutting board and Spoon the cauliflower into a large serving cabbage, bok choy is a staple in Asian Farms from Watsonville, Gilroy, and making a diagonal cut to separate the flo- bowl, garnish with parsley, sprinkle with cooking and is most commonly used in Merced have all the brassicas you could rets from the core. In 4 batches, break up the lemon juice, and season to taste with soups, stir-fries, or noodle dishes. Add to want – broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, the florets into a food processor and pulse salt. Serve warm. your pasta dishes or light soups. Brussels sprouts, and more. until the mixture resembles pebbles. Heat oil in a large skillet over medi- Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 14 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 Valentine Hearts and Crafts

Although February is a short month, come in. it will be packed full of fun activities for By showing an interest you are children and adults at the aRt Cottage. supporting the community and helping We will be making Puffy Valentine hearts the arts. It is very encouraging for an from recycled soda/water bottles. Our artist to know that someone is viewing studio will have them hanging in time for their work and enjoying it. That’s what Valentine’s Day. keeps us making more. We are also working on Fairy Houses We have been safely open with social made from small drawers. These houses distancing and masks as well as non- will be furnished with miniature features touch thermometer use upon entering. and furniture made by art students. aRt aRt Cottage has also been involved in Cottage is hoping to create a small display distance learning. I just completed a tour of Fairy Land outside in our gardens for for two teachers from Special Ed for the viewing this Spring. Mt. Diablo School District. They filmed Last month our students made their visit of the current exhibit, Salon distancing sticks to remind us how des Refuses, and will present it to their far 6 ft. really is. These sticks were students via Zoom. decorated with ribbons, feathers, cording In March and April our new exhibit, and anything the creative mind could “Creatures Great and Small” will be open. find. There is always something new to If you have interest in entering we are discover at aRt Cottage. currently accepting registration of your Visitors to aRt Cottage appreciate the work on our site. Until then, the” Salon one-on-one tour that they receive when des Refuses” is now showing. they come in. They will see some really aRt Cottage is located at 2238 Mt. cool art, hear about the artist and how the Diablo St. Concord. Hours are Monday - work was made. I love talking about the Friday 11A-5P Saturday 1P- 5P. paintings, artists and the history of the aRt Cottage itself, which was once a fruit Fairy House Diorama, in progress Social distancining sticks picker’s bungalow. There is no charge to

Journey-man’s Journal Getaway to Briones and a funtastic by Fran Cain Balestrieri Family Farm

saw the open sign, I goats, llamas, sheep, couldn’t resist pulling and the standoffish off the road to find out ostrich. I had no idea what was happening. that such a place It turns out, this existed so close to was a special day at home. Balestrieri Family When I asked Amber Farm. They were Balestrieri how they’ve hosting a small pop- been coping during the up shop with lots of stay-at-home order, outdoor space and she said they have some seating areas. found many positive I meandered through experiences over the I hike a lot at Briones Regional Park. In the grounds admiring past year, with the December, I discovered a new entrance the gift selections and picking up a biggest one being for me by driving up Briones Road in bagful of unusual goodies such as some the support from the Martinez to the Briones Road staging area irreverently named grilling spices and community. to the Old Briones Trailhead. some ornaments that would be hard to “We are so blessed I needed some relief from the news, so find in most stores. for the support that I hopped in my car, turned the music up Owned by husband-and-wife team we have received by and drove out of my neighborhood and Kevin and so many looking for away from the suburban area. Amber ways to keep small I recently read that three minutes of Balestrieri, the businesses going. We your favorite tunes is all it takes to change small family have also been forced your mind set. I can’t remember reading farm grows to get more creative anything in the Governor’s advisory that grapes and and think outside of says I can’t drive in my car with the stereo olives and the box,” she told me. keeps bees. For example, they blasting. The wine tasting room is temporarily closed during COVID lockdowns I pointed my car in the direction of They sell their started Friday “pop-up shops” Alhambra Valley Road to follow it around own wine that offered contactless wine the perimeter of Briones Regional Park. (“BFF” red, ), pick-up. This is a one-lane road which winds its olive oil and They offer special appointments for honey, and Check Balestrieri Farm’s website way to the upper elevation of Briones. and Facebook page for weekend people and their children to visit and Portions of this rural hideaway remind plan to expand Pop-up events enjoy the property. me of where I grew up in New England. their offerings “People have told us that they will drive There are mystical sections of road in the near 30 minutes just to come and let their kids shrouded in trees, open areas of rolling future. visit with the animals,” she said. Their hills and blue skies, parkland and horse Of course, I indoor and outdoor space is available for farms. The gorgeous scenery and my was happy to private events. And they have a wine club. favorite tunes on the radio were a salve to participate in Of course, they are adhering to all my spirits. ensuring this county regulations and protocols, so the There is limited parking and a rest local business tasting room is currently closed. Check room at the staging area, but starting will still be in with their Instagram, Facebook or from this point reduces the amount of here in a few website for when they will resume these uphill walking and is gentler than most of months by activities. Kids will love to watch the friendly goats, sheep, llamas the trails that start in Lafayette. purchasing After I had walked at Briones, stopped and a shy ostrich. Mount Diablo is a stunning backdrop a supply of BFF wines, olive oils and honey at Balestrieri, chatted with the animals couples outing, or even to go solo. to the rolling hills. This is also cattle their delicious and the shopkeepers, and absorbed the If you are thinking of visiting grazing land. I was there just in time “BFF” red. bucolic ambiance of this setting, I had Balestrieri Family Farm, 6140 Alhambra for a good size herd to come home for Strolling the property, I came upon totally unwound. Valley Road in Martinez, call ahead for lunch, blocking my way. Fortunately, they a delightful menagerie at a fenced area Bicyclists also enjoy this area, so if you an appointment or perhaps even place an were very docile and allowed me to pass nestled into the base of the vineyard drive, be mindful as some sections of the order. without more than a few leery stares. where the vines show off gold and orange road are narrow. For most of us, this is a www.balestrierifamilyfarm.com. Back on the road, I approached a farm autumn leaves, and rows of olive trees a new, accessible and close-by experience about 10 minutes up the road. When I adorn the hills. I visited with the friendly to take the family or friends, make it a Diablo Gazette • February 2021 • Page 15 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette • (925) 298-9990 computercorner Tech in Meals on Wheels Diablo Region delivering by William Claney, English 4600 Breakfast Bags to seniors Tech Writer, Computers USA This month, Meals on Wheels (MOW) Dia- tea. blo Region is engaged in its “Feed the Soul” Since last March (the beginning of CO- Network Attached Storage (NAS) campaign to provide Break- VID-19 stay-at-home orders), fast Bags to 4,600 vulnerable food insecurity and isolati- Have you run into file storage issues yet? device of one to four terabytes. Such seniors in Concord. on among older adults has Take it from me, at some point you will hit solutions are okay for the non-profession- MOW Diablo Region increased significantly. The your storage limit. There are several stor- al user but not for the serious business currently delivers one meal Breakfast Bags have made a age solutions available today, and we will owner. Exclude them from consideration a day to seniors who are not big difference. One senior explore a few and make a recom- because they have slow read/ able to prepare a meal. For called the Breakfast Bags her mendation. write speeds and do many seniors, it is the only lifeline. As you surf the not share well. They meal they eat all day, often Feed the Soul launched on Fe- net, accumulate are okay, great in fact, splitting the meal for lunch bruary 1st and runs through emails, watch for backup but too and dinner or saving small the end of the month. To help movies, take slow and limited for amounts of food to take with MOW Diablo Region provide photos, play games daily use. their medication. 4,600 breakfasts, donations or write a book you You could move to a For food insecure seniors, may be made at https://www. need storage, lots server for better secur- breakfast can make the dif- mowdiabloregion.org/fe- of it. Likely your ity and managed access ference between hunger and ed-soul. computer or laptop to files, however, one good health. Food insecurity is a major pro- Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is an came with ample should have an onsite blem for seniors, who are often the hidden independent non-profit that delivers meals storage when you or contract with a hungry because many are homebound and and life-improving services including Fall first got it, but as computer maintenance isolated. Breakfast Bags provide healthy food Prevention, Care Management, Health & time passes, or as you company as this method can such as fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, Wellness, Friendly Visitors and Friendly migrate to a new computer hauling all your get complicated. Upgrading file storage on string cheese, hard boiled eggs, coffee, and Callers. old files to the new one you may realize you the fly can be problematic as well. need more data storage space. So, what is the best solution? I recom- Many small businesses we see today are mend Network Attached Storage (NAS). Concord Student wins 2020 Congressional App struggling with limited space. The typical This is a great solution for storage issues Challenge for Contra Costa County computer is usually configured with about and file sharing. Not only will it work for 500GB to 1TB (five hundred gigabytes to your storage issues now, it will grow with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) one-thousand gigabytes or 1 terabyte). We you. Start initially with 8 – 16TB and announced Sean Donelan of Concord as suggest at least 8TB for a small business, expand easily from there. By the way, if the winner of the 2020 Congressional 20TB for medium sized business and a you set your NAS to RAID 0, 1, 5 (the most App Challenge (CAC) for California’s 11th petabyte (1024 Terabytes) or more for common) then backup happens auto- District. Donelan, a student at Northgate enterprise businesses. (Next stop: Exabyte, matically on the fly. High School, designed and created “Net- Zettabyte or perhaps Yottabyte anyone?) We recommend Synology and Toshiba Ham: The Public Service Event Coordina- There are dozens of ways to get more NAS specific hard drives. “A NAS is a tor’s Third Hand,” a software application storage space. The trick, though, is to specialized device and allows multiple that replaces amateur radio operators’ manage what you have, give multiple users users to access data simultaneously. The large, unwieldy equipment and automates their more basic tasks. The app is meant access to the data and manage the growth hard disk drives with “NAS” in their name tol,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. of data. are functionally similar to other drives but to allow operators to more easily serve as long-range communicators for public The CAC is a public initiative to encourage We can eliminate some lesser choices for may have different firmware, vibration young people to learn how to code in an mass storage. SD and flash drives (thumb tolerance, or power dissipation to make events. “I congratulate Sean … and look forward effort to inspire creativity and encourage or USB drives) are just too small to store, them more suitable for use in RAID arrays, interest in STEM education. This is the sort and have multiple users retrieve mas- which are often used in NAS implementa- to seeing “NetHam” represent the many talents of Contra Costa County’s students sixth year Congressman DeSaulnier has sive amounts of data concurrently. tions,” according to Bing search. hosted the CAC for the 11th District. One could rely on an external backup when on display in the United States Capi- A WALK THROUGH TIME The Fire dancer-Papinta—153 years ago By Misty Bruns Photos and information from Contra Costa and Concord historical society

1867 was the year Caroline Hipple was spanned over 15 years. born in Minnesota (some say Indiana). With her salary she purchased over a May 10, 1887 Caroline married William 100 acres for $8000.00 in the Ygnacio J. Holpin in Chicago, they were both 19 Valley-Pine Creek Canyon. The ranch was years old. located five miles south of Concord in what William encouraged and paid for a dance is now Walnut Creek California. teacher for Caroline. She studied the art Why she chose Concord, California to of her dance for over a year. Papinta made start her horse ranch is somewhat of a her debut at the 1893 mystery. Perhaps it is Chicago World’s fair to because it was close rave revues. to San Francisco, or Papinta traveled San Rafael, where through the capitals of her husband’s father Europe, South Africa, lived. Perhaps it was Cuba and throughout the the beauty of the United States dancing land at the base of her Flame dances. Mt Diablo along Pine While performing in Canyon Creek. She Cuba in 1894, the Cubans said that she ‘thought named a cigar after her it up’ on her way back “Cuban Papinta Cigar” to San Francisco from Her stage performan- Fresno. ce consisted of yards As so “Pipinta and yards of silk fabric, Stock Farm“ was entire lighting system, created. orchestras, and costu- William used his mes, mirrors that which skills as a talented to fight Williams’s father in court to main- reflected light form electrician to light tain her ownership of her ranch, which she calcium arc lamps. With up the over 100 won, but then sold all her stock and turned the placement of glass, acres and the horse the horse ranch into a chicken farm. mirrors, and lighting her training race track Papinta died on November 21, 1907 dance she managed to via the river that ran while on an extended tour in Europe. Her keep 50 yards of silk in through their Ygnacio body was brought back to the United States motion, suspension of Valley Farm. Papinta on ocean liner and then a train to San large amounts of silk that made the ranch her Francisco. would create illusions of summer home and The great Papinta Caroline and her hus- nature. entertained friends. band William are buried next to each other Papinta was one of the original Vaude- Her home was luxuriously furnished. at the Alhambra cemetery in Martinez, ville performers in the late 1800’s. She was While Papinta was in New York William California. the first female dancer filmed in New York died of a sudden heart attack, he was only with the Vaudeville performers by the Vita- 35 years old. Papinta ordered a $1600.00 (Updated from original story in Diablo scope. She was the highest paid performer headstone for her husband. Life began to Gazette, May 2015) in history at the time. Her dance career do a downturn after William died. She had www.claycord.com Diablo Gazette •February 2021 • Page 16 • www.DiabloGazette.com | www.fb.com/DiabloGazette •(925) 298-9990 Ruby Dooby Do Willow arf Adoption Stars to the Rescue Streamer & Reno by Cole Kuiper The adoption fee for puppies (<6 that died and eight that were ill Looking for a furry friend during this months) is $350, for adult dogs is $250, due to the presence of aflatoxin. On trying time? Good news — ARF is now and senior dogs (7+ years) and special January 11, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods, offering a no-contact virtual adoption needs dogs are 50% off the adoption fee. Inc. expanded the recall to include all pet process. If you see an animal you are foods containing corn and manufactured interested in on our website, just fill in the company’s Oklahoma plant, and out an online inquiry form. Once your Reno having an expiration date on or before inquiry has been received, you will be July 9, 2022. The FDA has issued added to our virtual adoption queue. advisory to notify the public about the potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins in Midwestern pet food products that may Streamer still be on store shelves, online, or in pet owners’ homes. Pets with aflatoxin poisoning may experience symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. Search Sportsmix recall Online for a full list of the lots of dog and cat food that are being recalled. Eight-month-old Reno is ready to find Willow is a 50-lb, approximately 4 a loving home! To help with a kitten’s year-old, English bulldog. She is deaf and Pawsitive News socialization and enrichment, we suggest has one eye but this smart girl has learned you consider adopting kittens in pairs if hand signals. Yes, she knows her own there are currently no other cats in your special sign language! She wears a special home. Reno arrived at ARF with some collar that vibrates to signal her to come. minor, long-term medical issues but is Her trainer will give her adopter free doing well on a highly digestible prescrip- training on how to work with her deafness. tion diet and a daily medication, which he Willow needs a person who Eight-year-old Streamer is a senior might need for the rest of his life. He has understands the bully breed/bulldog lady with a lot of spunk. She loves to a positive history with other cats and may temperament. She can be very submissive spend her day hanging out with her peo- do well with cat-friendly dogs. and cooperative but can also be pushy and ple and taking long naps. Streamer has dominant if she isn’t managed properly. lots of love to give and is ready to take The adoption fee for kittens (<6 This girl is calm about 90% of the time, on the world with a new companion. months) is $150, for adult cats is $100, FDOTUS, Major and President Biden. Photo Streamer is being treated for a chronic $25 off each for multiple cats/kittens, and but she is subject to overstimulation. She courtesy Inside Edition.. needs a stable home with a set routine, skin infection, which possibly has an senior cats (7+ years) and special needs strong leadership, and while she gets Major, FDOTUS -- For the first time underlying allergic cause cats are 50% off the adoption fee. along with other dogs, she needs a home ever, a “First Dog” in the White House where she is the only dog. will be a rescue. Major is a German She is good with adults, treadmill shepherd that the Bidens adopted from trained, not good cats, housebroken and the Delaware Humane Association (DHA) Pet Danger - East Bay Regional Park crate-trained. in 2018. This special dog also had his Willow is up-to-date on vaccinations, own inaugural event on January 17th. His District issues mushroom warning microchipped, and spayed. She has lived “Indoguration” was hosted by DHA and with a wonderful foster family for a couple Pumpkin Pet Insurance. Musician Josh Each year, mushrooms prolife- of years now, but she needs to find a fur- Groban closed Major’s ceremony singing rate after the first sustained rains of ever home of her own. Her adoption fee is his creative rewrite of Patti Page’s “How the season. The death cap (Amanita flexible but her adopter must agree to sign Much Is That Doggie in the Window” to phalloides) and Western destroying her up for training. “I’m adopting that doggie in the window.” angel (Amanita ocreata) are two of the Willow is being fostered by K9 Paw Over 10,000 people attended the event world’s most toxic mushrooms, and Print Rescue. This small rescue was which raised $200,000 to help dogs in both can be found in East Bay Regio- established in 2012. It is located in need. nal Parks during the rainy season. eastern Contra Costa County and run by The death cap and Western de- an all-volunteer staff. They have saved 145th Westminster Kennel Club stroying angel mushrooms contain over 1,025 dogs in their first 8 years. Dog Show Rescheduled -- The 145th amatoxins, molecules that are deadly To adopt Willow, visit https://www. annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog to many animals and can be lethal to k9pawprintrescue.org/ show traditionally occurs in February but humans. Symptoms may not appear Warning! Death Cap and Western Destroying Ange Mushrooms appear after the first rains, mostly around Oaks, and can be it has been delayed due to COVID. The until up to 12 hours after consumpti- fatalto pets and huans if ingested. Bone to Pick good news is that it has been rescheduled on, beginning as severe gastrointesti- and has been moved to June 12th and nal distress and progressing to liver Pet Theft Awareness Day -- Up to to large mushroom that usually has a creamy 13th 2021 at historic Lyndhurst Estate and kidney failure if treatment is not sought white cap, white gills, a white ring around the two million pets are stolen each year. A in Tarrytown, New York. Three newly immediately. staggering statistic, so what better day stem that can disappear with age, and a thin AKC-recognized breeds will join the 208 “They are mainly associated with oak trees white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter to raise awareness than on Valentine’s eligible breeds at the Westminster Kennel and can be found growing anywhere oak Day? February 14 is National Pet Theft into spring. It is associated exclusively with Club Dog Show in 2021. The Barbet roots are present,”says East Bay Regional Park oaks. Unlike the death cap, it is a native Califor- Awareness Day. Unfortunately, because (which looks like a Portuguese water dog) District Naturalist Trent Pearce. It has also purebred dogs can cost thousands nia mushroom. has roots around the 16th century as a been found growing with other hardwoods. “Dog owners should keep a close watch on of dollars, stealing dogs can be very bird hunting dog. The Belgian Laekenois The death cap is a medium to large mus- profitable. To protect your pet, microchip their dogs during the winter months,” said Ma- (pronounced “Lak-in-wah”) is a herding hroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, son. “Pet owners should contact a veterinarian your animal. Taking off a collar with tags dog that looks like a wire-haired white gills, a white ring around the stem, and a is easy for a thief, removing a microchip is immediately if they suspect their pet may have Malinois. The Dogo Argentino, a working large white sac at the base of the stem. eaten a toxic mushroom. much harder. dog, that was developed in Argentina in The Western destroying angel is a medium Also, there are ways to avoid making the 1920s, was bred to find, chase, and it easy for the dog criminal. For example, catch dangerous game such as wild boar don’t ever allow pets to roam outside or and pumas. It is typically pure white, Answer from pg. 8 tie them to a tree in your yard or outside though it may have a black or brindle a grocery store even for a few minutes. spot on its head known as a ‘pirata’. The WORD SEARCH PLUS: A tasty treat can easily lure Fido into a traditional breeds along with the three stranger’s car. Also, don’t leave them newcomers are bound to put on a great Lindsay Wildlife unattended in a car. A window can be show. smashed in a minute. If your dog goes The hospital is a pioneer in wildlife missing, immediately contact your police Editor’s Note: Ruby is Concord’s rehabilitation and many now standard protocols department, the microchip company, and Online canine celebrity with more than across the country were developed here. Hospital local animal control. Also, monitor pet 173,000 followers at Instagram.com/ staff and volunteers treat animals that have been ads like Craigslist for your dog’s image. Rubydooby_Do. She has 106,000 poisoned, struck by automobiles, fallen from trees during trimming, and injured by other Keep a current printed photograph of each Facebook followers and an impressive Injured Golden Eagle, tracked by East Bay of your pets so that you can create and 1 million TikTok fans. This column is often human-related activities. They also care for Regional Park, receiving care at Lindsay Wild- distribute flyers with your dog’s picture, written by Jill Hedgecock, author of orphaned young, both onsite and at the homes of life Rehabilitation Hospital. Photo courtesy of when and where it disappeared, and your lindsaywildlife.org. “From Shadow’s Perspective,” and specially trained volunteers. After being treated, an contact information. Program Coordinator, Mount Diablo animal is released back into the wild. If it cannot be safely released, it may join the museum as a resident “animal ambassador”. Some Sportmix pet food recall. Certain Branch of the California Writers Club, www.jillhedgecock.com. animals are on view to the public; others live off-exhibit and are brought out for lots of Sportmix pet food products were presentations, classes, tours, and private animal encounters. recalled in December 2020 after FDA was alerted about reports of at least 28 dogs