page a2 10 22.qxp - Clayton Pioneer

October 22, 2010 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com Page 17
Think Palm Desert for a ‘cool’ time
PEGGY BIDONDO
TIME TO GO
It was 100 degrees in
Clayton and we were heading to
Palm Desert, where it was
bound to be a lot hotter.
Fortunately, the weather turned
out to be perfect – 75 to 80
degrees each day. It was great
for sightseeing, shopping, sunbathing
and sitting outdoors
while sipping local libations.
We had booked a week at a
resort more than a year ago and
decided to go in spite of the
weather. The drive from
Clayton is a relatively easy one
as the majority of the trip is on
Interstates 5, 210 and 10. With
stops to fill up the tank (both
for the vehicle and us), we made
it in about seven hours. Thanks
to an audio book and snacks,
the time went by quickly.
The Agua Caliente Band of
Cahuilla Indians was drawn long
ago to the canyons of the
Coachella Valley, which provide
an oasis of palm groves, natural
waterfalls and hot mineral
springs at the base of towering
mountains. It is a rich agricultural
area, where 95 percent of
the nation’s date crop is grown.
After buying some dates at
Hadley’s Fruit Orchard in
Cabazon (which was featured
on the Food Channel), we can
attest to their delicious quality.
If you have one of their “date
shakes,” it supposedly makes
Photo: gowestusa.com
THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY traverses the rugged Chino
Canyon These high tech rotating tram cars give every visitor
desert and mountain views during the ten minute ride to the top.
you a local.
Also in Cabazon are three
buildings housing 150 outlet
stores in case you need to
update your wardrobe and 3,200
wind turbines that power electricity
to about 200,000
Southern California homes.
This area is the best place in the
United States to harness wind
power.
HEAD FOR THE HILLS
The best heat-beater in the
summer is to take the Palm
Springs Aerial Tramway to Mt.
Jacinto State Park. The trip takes
only 10 minutes aboard a rotating
tram car that travels up to
8,516 feet of pristine wilderness.
Once there, it’s 30 degrees
cooler than in the parking lot
where you left your car. There
are spectacular views of the valley
floor and surrounding areas.
You can hike on the 54 miles of
trails, bring a picnic or have
lunch at the restaurants.
Even with a couple of hundred
people at the top, it was
quite quiet. Everyone seemed to
have a reverence for what we
were viewing. From there you
could see the San Andreas Fault
which runs down the middle of
the valley, the Salton Sea – the
largest lake in California, and on
a really clear day, all the way to
Las Vegas.
STAR SEARCH
This area is one of the
world’s premier golf destinations.
With more than 350 days
Club news Health, from page 8
BUILDING A PATH
TO SUCCESS
Clayton Valley Garden Club
members delivered a second
elevated raised bed that allows
wheelchair and other disabled
students access to gardening
classes at Diablo View Middle
School. Garden club member
Appliance
Repairs
by Bruce, Inc.
35 years experience
Neal Richmond built the two
elevated raised beds. Soil and
vegetables ready for planting
were also donated to the
school. Shown here are special
ed teacher Stephanie
Barambani, Richmond and
David Walters of the school
district.
“We do a dog gone good job”
- Zoey & Bruce
Bruce & Holly Linsenmeyer
We repair all
major appliances,
most major brands,
and we’re local
30 year Clayton residents
Office: (925) 672-2700
Cell: (925) 956-8605
State of California B.E.A.R
license #A44842
http://appliancerepairsbybruce.com
require antibiotics as our bodies
are quite capable of fighting
them off on their own. As an
example in ear infections,
based on recent studies,
Pediatricians are now withholding
antibiotics in most
patients for two days to assess
whether or not the infection
clears on its own. Surprisingly,
a large number of those infections
disappear without the aid
of antibiotics.
PREVENTION IS KEY
The best way to defeat bacteria
and to avoid antibiotic
resistance is to prevent the
infection from developing in
the first place. This can be
accomplished through the use
of immunizations, discarding
suspicious foods, having a safe
water supply, and practicing
good hygiene; wash your
hands. These simple acts are
surprisingly and dramatically
effective. As an example, due
to immunizations we have virtually
eradicated many diseases
in our country, diseases that
had plagued our parent’s gener-
Music Video
Happy Hour
Mondays 4pm to 8pm
6096 Main Street, Clayton, 673-0440
Entertainment from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Oct. 22, 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Relyks
Oct. 29, 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Whiskey River
Karaoke Wed. nights
Open Mic Thur. nights, 8 to 11 p.m.
2 for the price of 1
www.claytonclubsaloon.com
of sunshine, mild winters and
more than 200 golf courses in
the valley, it becomes a haven
for “snowbirds” from October
through May. One source told
me it takes 800,000 to 1 million
gallons of water per day to keep
all those courses green.
It has been a magnet for
Hollywood stars since the
1930s, when Bing Crosby and
Ralph Bellamy founded the first
tennis club in Palm Springs.
Other 1930/1940s stars known
to stop by were Mary Pickford,
Judy Garland and Humphrey
Bogart. The ’50s and ’60s
brought Frank Sinatra, Dean
Martin and the rest of the Rat
Pack, along with famous folks
from Washington such as JFK,
Eisenhower and Nixon.
We took a celebrity home
tour along with two couples
from Britain who were ecstatic
when we entered the home of
Elvis and Priscilla Presley at 845
West Chino Canyon Road. One
of the women was an Elvis
devotee and knew more about
him than the tour guide. This
was the highlight of her trip to
the United States.
EATING ON THE CHEAP
A walk along El Paseo, the
Rodeo Drive of Palm Desert,
brings you past every kind of
upscale retail store you can
imagine. From clothing, to jewelry,
fine art and even finer
prices, it is definitely a fun place
to window shop. When you get
tired of walking, there is a little
yellow golf cart that gives complimentary
rides up and down
the street.
Forever in search of a good
meal deal, we sought out many
of the Happy Hour offerings in
the area. Just about every
See Travel, page 18
ation. In our own children we
are also seeing a fast decline in
the incidence of bacteria that
can cause life threatening
pneumonia and meningitis.
Immunizations work and the
benefits far outweigh the risks
so please do not be influenced
by alternative opinions.
To summarize, listen to
your doctor and don’t be upset
if you don’t receive the antibiotics
you think that you need.
Your physician is really looking
out for your best interest. As
well, remember to cover your
mouth when you sneeze or
cough, remember to wash your
hands, and practice basic good
hygiene. If not, we will see you
down the road at John Muir
Concord.
Dr. Birdsall is the Medical
Director of the Emergency
Department and Chief of Staff of
John Muir Hospital in Concord.
He lives in Walnut Creek with his
wife, Dr. Marian Birdsall, and two
children. Please email him at
David.Birdsall_md@johnmuirhealth.com
Beer only. Good anytime with
original coupon. Exp. 11/14/10
Candidate’s Forum
from page 1
Oakhurst landslide litigation.
Stratford brings needed
accounting and financial skills
to a city faced with the worst
recession in recent memory
and continued state takeaways.
Meriam, although new to
politics, serves on the
Planning Commission and
says he will bring a “fresh perspective”
to the Council. Diaz
likes to “think outside the
box” and says the city needs
to find new ways to cut costs,
including outsourcing landscape
maintenance.
The four candidates share
a common vision for the
downtown – a bustling Main
Street lined with shops,
Western storefront buildings
with no vacancies, pedestrian
walkways and the ka-ching of
sales tax revenues.
But, say Meriam and Diaz,
the city hasn’t done enough to
realize this vision.
“The city needs to do
more to create a business
friendly environment and
engage with current businesses,”
Meriam said.
Shuey, running for a third
term, countered their claim
with a list of major projects
completed by the city during
his terms. “We’ve brought the
concerts in, which drives traffic
downtown. We’ve built a
CVS drugstore, the Grove
Park, Flora Square and now
the Creekside Terrace Project
is ready to go to a developer.”
“We’ve changed the building
requirements to allow bigger
buildings on smaller
parcels and revised the parking
requirements to encourage
new business.”
Diaz says the city should
use Redevelopment Agency
money to offer incentives to
attract new business. “I’ve
seen this done in other cities,”
he said, “It works,” but agreed
that it could cause some fairness
issues with existing businesses.
PROPOSED CHURCH PROJECT
All four were asked about
their position on the Clayton
Community Church’s proposal
for a worship center on their
Main Street property.
Approval of the project will
require an amendment to the
Town Center Specific Plan.
As sitting Council members,
Shuey and Stratford
would not prejudge.
“This is an important and
divisive issue. Hank and I have
both been careful not to do or
say anything that we would
have to recuse ourselves for.”
Diaz and Meriam, however,
were less reticent.
“I do not favor the church
as a church, but I would be
open to reviewing the project.
We need to be open
minded,” said Meriam.
“I don’t think it’s the right
place for it,” said Diaz. “But I
would be open to working
with the church to find other
land in the city. It should be
outside the commercial area.”
CONFLICT QUESTIONS
All four candidates were
quizzed as to any potential
conflicts of interest they may
have with current or proposed
projects.
City officials may not participate
in decisions on projects
within 500 feet of where
they live. Meriam’s home on
Oak Street is within 500 feet
of the Creekside Terrace
project and he will not be able
to participate in or vote on
the development. His 500 ft.
radius does not touch the
church’s property on Main
Street and expects to participate
in the church project
hearings and decisions.
However, said Shuey,
because the project requires
public parking in downtown,
this may bring the scope of
the project within 500 feet of
Meriam’s home. Meriam said
he would seek the advice of
the California Fair Political
Practices Commission if
there was any question of
conflict.
None of the other candidates
live within 500 feet of
the Town Center.
All of the candidates agree
that the city has done a good
job balancing the budget and
containing costs without cutting
services. But all are looking
for the “biggest bang for
the buck.”
Meriam says the city could
save money if they withdrew
from the CalPERs pension
plan and went to a 401k plan.
“This is a hot topic with
no easy answer,” Stratford
said. ‘The city has already
reduced retirement benefits
by going to a Tier 2 plan.
Scrapping the CalPERS plan
altogether would cost the city
$1.5 million in unfunded liabilities
and without it, it
would be difficult to attract
quality employees.”
Meriam is opposed to
using public funds to pay for
the concerts downtown and
says the city should call on
alcohol sponsors and sales to
support the event.