Pierce, Medrano, Geller for Council - Clayton Pioneer

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Page 8 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com November 7, 2008 Contractors Welcome KITCHEN DESIGN! ” REFACE ” REMODEL ” WHOLESALE PRICING 925-825-0612 1170 Burnett Ave., Suite H, Concord �� Remodeling �� Decks �� Overhangs �� Windows/Doors �� Crown Molding �� Siding �� Trim Specializing in Bathrooms and Kitchens General Contractor license# 783799, B, HIC Jet stream unlocks some weather mysteries Wind can be defined simply as air in motion. In the Clayton area, we experience several different types of wind throughout the year. For example, we get the cooling benefit of a sea breeze in the summertime and hot dry Diablo winds during the fall. Those types of wind affect the lowest layer of the atmosphere. Thousands of feet above the earth’s surface, unique wind patterns also exist. The most common of these is a phenomenon known as the jet stream. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the earth’s atmos- Declan Woods 925.216.2679 Noel O’ Meara 925.518.0821 WOODY WHITLATCH WEATHER WORDS Now available! 6 mo. same as cash 10’ x 10’ kitchen with granite top, installed $6,900 free estimates Recommended Recommended by “Realtor “Realtor of the the Year” Year” Lynne Lynne French French Clayton Resident Clayton Resident phere, and at our latitude is about eight miles high. Jet stream winds can be pictured as rivers of air that move in wavelike patterns around the world. The average location of the jet stream varies with the seasons. In our Northern Hemisphere, the jet stream sags southward over the central portion of the United States. During summer, it retreats northward to a mean position near the Canadian border. The jet stream wind pattern was first documented in the 1920s by a Japanese scientist, Wasaburo Ooishi. He analyzed data from some of the first weather observation balloons and wrote about the unusually strong wind speeds measured at high altitudes above the ground. Wiley Post is credited with making the first direct measurements of the jet stream. Post, the American pilot who made the first around the world solo flight in 1933, also invented a pressurized flight suit that enabled airplanes to fly at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet. The jet stream name was coined several years later by German meteorologist Henry Seilkopf, who wrote a journal article about the strong upper level winds documented by air- plane pilots. During World War II, meteorologists were asked to create daily flight maps for pilots. Locating the jet stream using weather balloon and pilot reports was critical to long-distance flight planning. Pilots needed to find strong tailwinds in their eastward flights and calmer winds on the return flights to increase flight speeds and preserve fuel. After the war, computer model- ing of the atmosphere enabled weather forecasters to not only map current jet stream locations, but also predict future paths for these rivers of air. Research showed that jet stream wind patterns were key to the successful prediction of future weather conditions on the ground. Jet stream winds develop near the boundary of adjacent air masses, where significant differences in air temperature can occur. Since warm air is less dense than cold air, strong pressure gradients form at the air mass boundaries and Cruise Adventures Unlimited Serving all cruise lines since 1987 San Francisco Roundtrip Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and head south to the Mexican Riviera for 10 days April 17 & 27, 2009 from $1,569 pp* (balcony) or $999 pp* (inside) $100 Shipboard credit *Fares are cruise only, USD, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled & subject to availability. Gov’t fees & taxes add’l. Refer to appropriate Princess brochure for terms & conditions. ©2008 Princess Cruises. Ships of Bermudan registry. Owners Valerie O’Connell (Clayton resident, 28 years) & daughter Colleen O’Connell (925) 935-7447 CST 2074362-40 1610 Locust St., Walnut Creek www.cruiseadventuresunliminted.com these winds develop vertically. The strongest jet streams are located over the middle latitudes of the earth in both hemispheres. This is where cold polar air masses meet warm tropical air masses, and the jet stream in this area is known as the polar jet stream. Due to the curvature of the earth and the fact that the earth spins, jet streams develop as waves with ridges and troughs. Ridges in the jet stream are usually associated with dry clear weather, and troughs are associated with wet and windy weather. Accurately forecasting the position and strength of jet stream troughs is the most important tool for accurately predicting storm intensity. The discovery of the jet stream was one of the most important events in meteorological history. The study of its causes and characteristics has allowed weather forecasters to connect the dots in the relationship between weather conditions on the ground and wind conditions in the atmosphere. The next time you fly, think of it as a journey on a ship sailing on a river of air – a meandering river of air known as the jet stream. Disaster drill tests volunteers’ skills On Oct. 25, a fictitious 8.9 earthquake hit Clayton and about 30 members of the city’s emergency team leapt into action. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members from Clayton and neighboring zones rallied near the Dana Hills cabana club for the incident response exercise. There, the CERT area coordinator dispatched teams into the neighborhood to respond to training scenarios consistent with a large-scale earthquake. Upon completion of the neighborhood observations and responses, CERT members returned to the rally point for a Rotary, from page 2 A brief Powerpoint presentation hosted by Orthopedic Surgeon and Rotarian Torsten Jacobsen showed the far reaching effect that Rotary has had in virtually eliminating Polio worldwide, providing medical services to people in Nigeria and Southeast Asia as well as the thrust of “Ending poverty, medical triage exercise. “Victims” were assigned various injuries and symptoms, and CERT members assessed their condition and stated the necessary actions. CERT is a volunteer organization made up of Clayton residents. It was established in 2007 as a way for the city to be prepared and have a formal structure in the event of an emergency. CERT training includes search and rescue, triage and first aid. Clayton residents interested in CERT membership can visit www.claytoncert.org for more information. one village at a time,” the evening concluded with a live auction. “It was a fun evening,” said Clayton resident, Michael King, whose daughter bid on an won several of the auction items. “The food was great.” Some of the silent auction items included a family photo- Subtropical Jetstream Polar Jetstream Woody Whitlatch is a meteorologist with PG&E. Email your questions or comments to clayton_909@yahoo.com CERT VOLUNTEERS practice their emergency response skills in a recent area-wide drill at the Dana Hills cabana club. graphic portrait package, a Tahoe weekend complete with cabin, and a collection of specialty Australian wines in a gift basket. Live auction items included a helicopter tour. The Clayton Valley/ Concord Sunrise Rotary also is involved in obtaining and distributing dictionaries to local area schools, food sorting at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, sponsorship of Camp Venture, a business/ entrepreneur outdoor experience and Camp Royal, a youth leadership camp, among many other worthwhile endeavors. Rotary is part of a global organization of over 33,000 clubs in 168 countries and remains an important non-governmental, non-religious, nonpolitical service organization with over 1.2 million members.
November 7, 2008 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com Page 9 A year of writing dangerously A year ago I began this “Deal With It” column as a way to poke fun at life’s quirks, as well as the quirks we all carry around. The response to the column has been outstanding and overwhelmingly positive. Most readers understand that it is not rocket science; just a perspective of what we are all exposed to. Sometimes you chuckle and sometimes you do not. Most certainly one should never lose any sleep over the column. I have become aware, however, that some readers have missed that perspective, focusing instead on an overly analytical dissection of the column for hidden meanings and hidden agendas. Case in point; the last column on toothpaste elicited some negative responses from a few readers who saw it as a political statement (because it contained the word “vote”) with a racial bias (because it contained the word “white”). It was, in all honesty, a silly piece about toothpaste brought on after a visit to Longs Drugs where, while waiting in line to pick up a prescription, I noticed the row after row of competing toothpastes, each vying for the Say you suspect that a disagreeable family member with a penchant for stirring conflict might object to the terms of your will. If so, he or she could cause lengthy probate delays and subject your family to costly and time-consuming litigation. Not including a no-contest clause in your will can leave your estate – and loved ones – unprotected. A no-contest clause is a will provision that penalizes a beneficiary who makes a challenge to your will. It doesn’t guarantee that there will be no will contests, but it makes a beneficiary considering such litigation think twice. Of course, laws of the state where the will is being probated will dictate rules with regard to the challenge. It’s possible that a beneficiary could be penalized for instance, by losing a part of an inheritance – even if the chal- BMX, from page 7 organize and coordinate the week, along with the PTSA, which sponsored the Oct. 28 BMX show. “The message is you could do this instead of doing drugs,” said Rick Delaney, founder of the Balance BMX Stunt Team, now part of the Cap City Stunt Team performing at the school. Delaney, 41, had been riding professionally since 1980. Joining him for the assembly was pro BMX rider Pete Brandt, 38. As with many pro BMX teams, Cap City offers anti-drug message assemblies to schools and groups. Delaney and Brandt are far enough removed from the youthful image of most sports professionals that they offer hope to kids who see that this level of fun can be had at any age. The sixth- and seventhgraders sat on the blacktop, with a large swath of ground left empty for the riders. As the riders climb over their bicycles while lifting and twisting the frames in an interesting dance of metal and flesh, students are amazed, with some applauding. Clearly this is a skill that comes with years of practice and endless bruises. Visibly, not all the kids are ANDRÉ GENSBURGER DEAL WITH IT consumer’s attention. One even had printed across it “Voted the Whitest,” which prompted the title. Certainly it is election year and certainly the word “vote” can mean something political, but honestly, reading the content of the piece, it was clearly about toothpaste, the history of toothpaste and nothing more. The few negative responses have reminded me that you cannot please everyone, and that there will always be some conspiracy theorist who sees subliminal political and racial messaging in the most benign of things. In fact, it is a fair statement to say that a large chunk of the workable vocabulary we have in this country could be skewed and slanted to one side or the other Consider adding a nocontest clause to will lenge is successful on another part. This clause is most effective when the challenger stands to lose something of value. So when drafting a no-contest clause, it’s important to bequeath something to likely challengers. Otherwise, they have nothing to lose except time and legal fees. If someone is disinherited and is successful in contesting your will, he or she may be able to have your will nullified in whole or in part. If this occurs, your entire family is subjected to time delays and may receive diminished inheritances, which could cause substantial hardship on your loved ones. Because the judicial view of no-contest clauses isn’t consistent in all states, they might not be the best solution in all situations. Many states have legal provisions that invalidate such a clause if the challenger of the captivated. One sixth-grader, longer hair braided, with oversized, non-regulation school clothing falling off his body, lies on the blacktop and stares at the sky. “Some kids this age act indifferent,” Bain said. “At this age, there is a lot of bravado masking more sensitivity beneath the surface.” “We’re raising awareness,” she said of the program. “They had wear red yesterday and it is slipper day today, crazy hair day on Wednesday, silly socks on Thursday and a Halloween costume on Friday.” Bain, a transfer after four years as vice principal at Riverview Middle School in Bay Point, already enjoys the closerknit community and the opportunity to bond with her students. She believes programs like Red Ribbon Week “start conversations.” However, critics of the many anti-drug programs for school children question the effectiveness such messages have by the time a child reaches high school. They claim the messages are over-simplified and may even have an opposite effect. Nonetheless, the No Child (notice no reference to right or left here) and heaven forbid (no religious bias) that we can write a simple sentence like “See Dick run. Run Dick run,” without someone having an issue with it. I write this editorial on the evening before election day, with no knowledge of how the results will play out. It seemed a safe day to report to you that my little column is intended to amuse you, to poke fun at our compulsive idiosyncrasies, and to offer a little discussion that might offset the otherwise generally gloomy news of the day. I intend to keep writing it, especially given the many wonderful comments that have come. And, to those detractors who see no value in it, I am pleased that you have taken the time to read it enough to take issue with it. While I can’t change your interpretation, with a huge grin on my face, I can ask simply that you “Deal With It.” André Gensburger is a staff reporter and feature writer for the Pioneer. Email him at andre@claytonpioneer.com. His book “Signs You May Be An Idiot” is available at Clayton Books. RICHARD LITTORNO FINANCIAL SENSE will has a probable cause to contest. But many states still hold the view that the last wishes of the deceased should be honored, and that the no-contest clause should remain effective. Consult with your estate planning attorney about no-contest clauses before including such a clause in your will. Other strategies, such as forming a trust, may better ensure that your estate plan carries out your wishes. Richard Littorno is an attorney specializing in estate planning. He has offices in Clayton and Pittsburg. Send your questions to rlittorno@msn.com. Left Behind Act of 2001 includes a component called Safe and Drug Free Schools. Every public school is supposed to offer some kind of drug prevention education. In the past, programs such as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Program) wound up costing $750 million to $1 billion for a 16-week curriculum offered in classrooms by police officers who would share their experiences on the city streets. For many, completing D.A.R.E. was a fifth-grade promotion requirement. The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that despite a dip to 40 percent of high school seniors who had used an illicit drug in 1990, the rates have risen to about 52 percent – showing a cyclic nature without a defined reason. Therein lies the problem of how to gauge the effectiveness of the programs. Bain believes that it is a matter of reaching a child through personalized contact. She will spend time in what she considers “meaningful discussion.” “We’re developing community with this,” Bain added. “We get the kids involved and they come up with the themes and the slogans. I’d like to think that because it starts conversations, that it keeps kids on the right track.” Large, custom updated 5 bedroom! This 2,844 square foot 2-story home has new carpets, pergo and paint, a granite kitchen w/custom cherry cabinets and new microwave, a step-down huge family room with vaulted beam ceiling, wet-bar, fireplace and 2 sliders to yard & patios! 4 bedrooms plus a 5th or Den, 3 full baths, indoor laundry room, mirrored closets, two balconies and a tile roof! Secluded court setting in nearby Concord, parklike yards, a view of Mt. Diablo. Now is the time to buy. Just call PETE LAURENCE to see this property and others. KNOWLEDGE � SERVICE � INTEGRITY � RESULTS Pete Laurence, Broker, Realtor, GRI 2950 Buskirk Avenue, Ste. 140, Walnut Creek Direct 940-2777 � Cell 890-6004 � Fax 937-0150 Club Hours 4-10 M-F � 7-7 Sat. � 7-5 Sun. Childcare Open: 8 am – 8 pm, M-F 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Sat. PRICE REDUCED $579,500 Start your 30 Days of Fitness today Congratulations to the new Clayton City Council! Try something new at Mavericks SportsClub! Schedule of Nov. events In the Clayton Station at Mavericks… Celebrate your new fitness program with a great challenge – we are so sure you will look better in 30 days, that we are proud to offer you 30 Days of Fitness. Try us out for 30 days, and if your fitness program doesn’t get off the ground, you may cancel your agreement with no penalty (must use the club 12 times over 30 days in order to qualify, for 12 month agreements only – other restrictions may apply) 5294 Clayton Rd., Concord 925-602-5600 phone 925-798-2666 fax MMeeett tthhee authhoors aatt CCllaaytton Boookkss 11/13, Tue. 4 p.m. . . . . .Michael Slack. Illustrator of “Knuckleheads,” “The Flim Flam Fairies” and more. 11/13, Tue. 7 p.m. . . . . .Patricia Evans. “Controlling People” and “The Verbally Abusive Relationship.” 11/14, Fri. 7 p.m. . . . . . .American Girls Club meeting. Bring your favorite doll. 11/15, Sat. 2 p.m. . . . . .Cindy Ng. Learn to make origami with the author of Girligami. 11/16, Sun. 1 p.m. . . . . .Brian Copeland. Author of “Not a Genuine Black Man.” 11/16, Sun. 3 p.m. . . . . .Bill Soto-Castellanos. “16th & Bryant: My Life and Educations with the San Francisco Seals,” bay area baseball history event! 11/19, Wed. 7 p.m. . . . .Camille Minichino presents her new dollhouse murder mystery series. 11/23, Sun. 2 p.m. . . . .Local Author Extravaganza with Lloyd Lofthouse, Vincent Silva, Mary Pols, Barbara Bentley, Elvera Reese, Queenelle Minet, William Sawyers and André Gensburger. 11/30, Sun. 11 & 5 . . . . .Meet the Grinch. Take your photo with the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. joelharris@aol.com � www.claytonbookshop.com If you cannot attend, we are happy to get books signed for you. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily 5433 D Clayton Rd., Clayton � (925) 673-3325
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Pierce, Medrano, Geller for Council - Clayton Pioneer

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