JULY 4 EVENT

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My mother was checking out at the supermarket recently and had an encounter with a young man bagging groceries that she found troubling and so do I.

As he was going about the business of his job, my mother cheerfully asked him how he was doing to which he replied, “not so great.” “What’s wrong” mom asked with a very polite and slightly maternal level of concern for a young person in his early twenties who seemed to be having a rough day. His answer took my mother by surprise. He told her that, not only did he not like his job, he did not like the idea of working at all. Intrigued, my mother asked him to explain what he meant, so he went on to a mini-diatribe about how it is wrong that people must work in order to get by. This guy truly believed that in America, the land of plenty, we should not all be required to hold jobs and earn our livelihoods and that being compelled to work in order to provide for our needs and wants was somehow wrong.

With the frozen foods melting, I suspect my mother had neither the time nor the inclination to hear our unmotivated friend explain how the country was going to pay for more than three-hundred million Americans living a life of leisure. I don’t suppose he had thought out that part of his grand plan.

We know from history, of course, that work and lots of it is what made this country a land of prosperity, creating a remarkable standard of living that is the envy of so many other countries on the planet. That is not to say that there are not many other marvelous places to live, there surely are, but none quite like this. From the first settlers to those who come to our shores today, America has provided those who are willing to work and to sacrifice the chance to make their lives into whatever they dare to dream they can be.

Of course, that was not always the case for all Americans as many have had to struggle mightily for equality, opportunity, and respect. That struggle

is part of the American story and it continues. One of my favorite sayings; “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed with what is right in America.”

I have had countless conversations with immigrants about this notion over the years (my family teases me all the time about my tendency to chat with random people one meets in a day). In fact, completely true story, I just had a lovely conversation with a driver taking me to my business in Los Angeles on June 27th. Tam is from Ethiopia and has been in the United States for twenty-six years having raised two daughters who recently graduated from college. Both made excellent grades and are doing quite well, but he spoke a lot about the frustration he often felt that his daughters didn’t really understand how very different their lives would have been had they been born and raised in Ethiopia instead of the U.S. Like most kids who grew up here, Tam lamented, they could be spoiled by all of the gadgets, games, and clothes that young people enjoy today. Having been raised in a third world nation with so few opportunities, Tam was deeply bothered at times by his two daughter’s lack of appreciation for what they had been given. Most of us with children have felt the same way on occasion, so he is by no means alone.

Time after time, those who came to this country after childhood have told me how grateful they are to live in a place where ideas and opportunities are plentiful and they commonly believe that many of us who were born here lose sight of how fortunate we really are.

This month, we pause to celebrate the 237th anniversary of our independence, a fitting opportunity to consider What Really Matters.

Happy 4th of July! Have fun, stay safe.

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

Contact him at dan@myconcordian.com. Visit http://www.rockwithpush.com for more

There is an irony that, after five years of publishing this paper, as we enter our sixth year, we revert to some patterns of how we began.

At the start, we were direct mailing our paper untuil the economy tumbled and the loss of larger advertisers made that impossible.

Welcome ClaytonWith this issue, we are

direct mailing into Clayton, with the hopes of continuing to expand upon that over time. This is in addition to our high traffic street locations, and hubs, as we call them; places like the Concord Library where over 350 copies of the paper are picked up each month.

One thing that has not changed over the years is that people like The Concordian. I have heard criticism from some people that we do not really handle the news; that we are not really a newspaper since we are monthly; yet interestingly, our advertisers have found that the paper works for them, that readers are glad we do not cover the ugly news that they get elsewhere, whether from the daily, television, or other sources.

Reaching out with Claycord.comLast issue we started something

new. Claycord.com, the areas best news source, has contracted with us to resell ad pages. Using their vast exposure, they bring to The Concordian, a new group of advertisers and readers. In case you did not know, Claycord.com has over 200,000 unique visitors each month. That is huge!

In addition, our online version of The Concordian is also hosted on Claycord.com, further adding to exposure for our advertisers.

Readers choose usWhat this means is that

The Concordian is the best place for your advertising. Between our ad rates, exposure, excellent content from local businesses, and wide distribution, people who read us CHOOSE to do so.

ABC-7’s Dan AshleyIn addition, The

Concordian is fortunate to have an exclusive; ABC-

7’s Dan Ashley’s monthly column “What Really

Matters.” From our emails, we know many people can’t wait for each of his interesting and timely columns.

So why do readers enjoy The Concordian so much? Local content. Variety. Interesting. Food, film, art and book reviews. Legal and medical advice. Senior citizen columns. Sports. To name a few items we cover; we also do not charge for personal event photos; births, deaths, weddings, anniversaries.

And so I would like to thank you for the last five years. It has not been easy; any newspaper can attest to that. With rising costs and the ease of Internet access for news, finding a niche within a community is important.

We are delighted to have Claycord.com included in this paper and welcome Clayton to our reader base. I hope you find much to enjoy in our newspaper.

I always enjoy hearing from you. Please email me at info@MyConcordian.com with your thoughts, ideas, or news. We are, after all, your local community paper and your voice counts!

My thanks,

Andre GensburgerPublisher

The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 2 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448 The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 3 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448

what Really Matters

by Dan AshleyABC-7 News Anchor

Living in Whine Country

What’sApril - Oct Downtown Ghost WalksJuly 4 4th of July ParadeAug. 3 Vintage & Antiques FairSept. 28/29 Italian Street Painting FestOct. 11 Mayors Cup Golf ClassicOct. 19 Zombie Brew CrawlOct. 27 Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

UP?in downtownMartinez

Main Street MartinezPO Box 776

Martinez, CA 94553www.MainStreetMartinez.org

(925) 228-3577f a c e b o o k . c om / d o w n t o w nm a r t i n e z

The Concordian Celebrates the Start of it’s Sixth

Year of Publication

inkdrops a word from the publisher

Our first issue cover: June 2008 with then Mayor Bill Shinn and the Concordstock guitar.

Get ready for the August 10-11 SUMMER CONTRA COSTA CRYSTAL FAIR in downtown Walnut Creek.There’s always a magical mix of crystals, minerals, beads, and jewelry.Whether it’s stone beads from Nepal, amethyst geodes from Madagascar, jade from China, or jewelry from northern California artisans –you’ll find it at the Crystal Fair at below market prices.You’ll also find an aura camera, tarot reader, sound healer, massage therapist, reiki master and many others – 30 booths in all. Food & drink is being provided by Lydia’s Organics.

The exact location is the Civic Park Community Center at 1375 Civic Drive at Broadway in Walnut Creek. The hours are 10am to 6pm on Saturday, August 10; and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, August 11. Admission is $6 (under 12 free). There is plenty of free parking and the downtown Walnut Creek BART station is only a few blocks away. For more information, call Jerry Tomlinson at (415) 383-7837 or email: Jerry@crystalfair.com

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 11

Contra Costa Crystal Fair Readies for August Show in Walnut Creek

Welcome to Our Clayton Readers: Send Us Your Newsinfo@myconcordian.com

7 years after an attempted relaunch of the Superman franchise fizzled, with the lackluster Superman Returns, we are privy to yet another ‘re-imagining’. The latest incarnation of the mythology and character has all the whizz-bang special effects that a quarter of a billion dollars can buy, but lacks any semblance of humor and marches through its prolonged paces with little energy or interest. Taking its cues from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy, Man of Steel is a dark and brooding film that strips the Superman tale of momentum and vibrancy. Even the infamous red/blue suit has been given a muted makeover.

The film starts as the original did, back on the planet Krypton. Where a warring military faction is threatening a coup against the political leaders. Jor-El (Russell Crowe), is an uncommonly smart man with a haunting premonition that an apocalypse is bearing down on his once peaceful and harmonious planet. He makes a decision to send his lone infant son, Kal-El across the cosmos.

Jor-El’s nemesis General Zod (Michael Shannon), a military leader and head of the upstart insurgent movement, is caught and sentenced to exile in a purgatory known as the phantom zone. All of this plays out awkwardly, with actors making loud proclamations instead of delivering relevant dialogue. If I caught it correctly, Zod instructs his henchmen to “Concentrate fire on main door.” That’s right out of the George Lucas non-sense babble playbook, so it may seem fitting that this Man of Steel is as lightweight as the Star Wars prequels.

Writer David S. Goyer has decided to take a non-linear approach in the second act. Allowing us to meet Kal-El (Henry Cavill) as a grown man, while flashback sequences of his childhood help explain how the principles of the man were built. It’s a clever way to skip past the teen-age years and get on with the Superman sequences, that we all expect from a movie titled Man of Steel. A central problem inherent with the franchise is that Kal-EL/Superman is a bore, he’s a nice-guy loner carrying a big secret and a

lot of animosity for not being appreciated. His lone source of companionship arises in the form of snoopy reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams). A journalist so intent on breaking the Superman story that when her home paper, the Daily Planet won’t run the story, she leaks it to the internet bloggers personally. Nice touch.

Before long Zod has been released to Earth and is demanding the presence of Superman. Spurring the government to action, they locate and attempt to incarcerated Kal-El. For a moment, the script sets up a scene between Superman and Lois that we think will be the heart of their story arc. Yet, things are interrupted by the rampaging General Zod and his foot soldiers. All for the better, since there is zero chemistry between Henry Cavill and Amy Adams. In fact, most of the film is miscast. Costner is magnificent in his short bits of screen time, recalling the equally majestic performance of Glenn Ford and Cavill makes for a great Superman. But virtually every other role from Russell Crowe’s Jor-El, down the line to an out-of-place Laurence

Fishburne as Perry White are not right.Not all is awry in Man of Steel, in

fact when it’s good, the film borders on fascinating. Unfortunately those ‘awe’ moments, so plentiful in the original (and even Nolan’s own Batman Begins) are sorely missing. Form the standpoint of technical attributes, Man of Steel is extremely well made and produced. The lavish action set-pieces are well handled and linear, not a jumbled mess of movement and colors, like other superhero flicks. Although, I’ve reached my limit or tolerance for seeing cities decimated by catastrophic events. It was novel back in 1996, today its redundant. With no less than five more tent-pole action films awaiting me this summer season, each complete with epic destruction throughout their trailers, I seem to be in no such luck.

Director: Zack SnyderStars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams,

Michael Shannon** out of ****

The waves of laughter you heard coming from Endeavor Hall the evening of June 14 and 15 were from the comedy fundraiser starring Monique Marvez and Kyle Fitzgerald held for the benefit of the new Clayton Theatre Company. The very successful event raised the funds needed for the theatre company’s first production, The Robber Bridegroom, which will run from October 16 - 26 at Endeavor Hall, Clayton.

A rousing, bawdy Southern fairy tale set in eighteenth century Mississippi, THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM is the story of the courting of Rosamund, the only daughter of the richest planter in the country, by Jamie Lockhart, a rascally robber of the woods. The proceedings go awry, thanks to an unconventional case of double-

mistaken identity. Throw in an evil stepmother intent on Rosamund’s demise, her pea-brained henchman and a hostile talking head-in-a-trunk, and you have the recipe for a rollicking country romp.

Auditions will be held July 14 at 12 noon, July 15 at 7 p.m. and July 16 at 7 p.m. at Endeavor Hall in Clayton. 19 and older. Please come to the audition prepared to sing 32 bars of a broadway song and do a cold read from a script. Call backs by invitation only. Also, go to www.claytontheatrecompany.com and click on auditions

to download the audition forms. You can also email Roxanne Pardi at roxannepardi@comcast.net or call 925-222-9106.

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book endsA T

ale

to T

ell

by Chadwick H Saxelid

Read more of Chad’’s reviews at http://www.chadwicksaxelid.typepad.com

Arts & Entertainment Calendarby Jason Rugaard

the movie maverickJason Rugaard is a graduate ofBrooks Institute of Pho-tography. He holds a degree in Motion Picture Science. Jason also is cofounder and head writer for Movie Mavericks.

Shock Value: How A Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror,

by Jason Zinoman; Midnight Movie by Tobe Hooper and Alan GoldsherIn the cumbersomely titled “Shock

Value: How A Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror,” author Jason Zinoman attempts to chart how, why, and when writing/directing genre superstars Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th), Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead), John Carpenter (Halloween), and Dan O’Bannon (Alien) created the genre he calls New Horror.

Before these filmmakers burst onto the genre stage, horror movies were soundstage shot gothic period pieces. The stomping ground for typecast theater trained actors such as Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing.

What Craven, et al did was to reject the “safe” stage bound feel of the Universal classics and Hammer programmers of the past. The New Horror crowd opted for a far more confrontational and naturalistic approach to scaring their unsuspecting audiences; they chose contemporary settings, unknown faces, and, in many cases, a documentary approach that made many impressionable viewers suspect that what they were watching

might be more real than fake.Even though I had read a great

many of the books and articles that Zinoman used for source material, he conducted enough new interviews with participating principals to keep his genre history a lively, entertaining read.

One of Shock Value’s participants, Tobe Hooper, a filmmaker whose career pretty much ended with the big budget box office bomb that was 1985’s Lifeforce, has written his own book, “Midnight Movie.”

Less a genre milestone than a piece of toilet paper glued to its boot heel, Midnight Movie tries (and spectacularly fails) to tell the story of a “lost” Tobe Hooper movie, Destiny Express, that has a strange effect on those unlucky enough to view it. These effects differ greatly from victim to victim. Some become zombies, other serial killers, some (invariably girls) get out of control libidos, and one guy teleports while sleeping and shoots people with lasers.

As you can tell from reading that, the book goes all over the place. The least of its troubles is that it never comes together in anything that approaches a satisfying (let alone understandable) ending.

You’d best avoid it.

Clayton Theatre Company Brings on the Laughter and Talent

La Tonya Watts, the Artistic Director of the Clayton Theatre Company and Monique Marvez who performed her comedy show, “Cougar and Pray” at Endeavour Hall

Third Annual Clayton Relay for LifeTwenty-four hours of awesome! That’s

what the Third Annual Clayton Relay for Life will be. This year marks the third year Clayton will host the signature fundraising event for The American Cancer Society.

The event will be August 3 and 4 at Clayton Community Park, Marsh Creek Road and Regency Drive in Clayton. Relay begins at 10:00 a.m. with opening ceremonies and a special lap walked by

cancer survivors to celebrate their success in fighting this awful disease. Activities, games, special laps and raffle prizes and more. At nightfall, the ceremony Luminaria, is held to remember those who have passed from cancer as well as honor those still fighting. Please come see us August 3. It promises to be an awesome day! For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/RFLClaytonCA

MAN OF STEEL

Happy July 4th from The Concordian

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Scenes from the Society by Carol Lonshore, Concord Historical Society

Betty Martin Barnes, Our Hero

news from the

Chamber The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce

Marilyn Fowler, COOCHAMBER

RIBBON CUTTINGS

city news

General Motors Honors Concord’s Oldest Business: Lehmer’s, Concord Buick GMC for 75th year as a GMC Dealer.

Receiving an award for 75 years as a GMC dealer: Left to right: Bob Hilgardner - Buick GMC Zone Manager, Carolyn Anderson - Dealer, Russ Anderson - General Manager, Russell Anderson - Used Car Manager, and Darren Anderson - CFO. The franchise was originally awarded to Erv Lehmer (Carolyn’s father) on May 6, 1938.

75 Years of the Lehmer Story

Lehmer’s Concord Buick GMC, is the City of Concord’s oldest business and has a long 90-year history in downtown Concord. Lewis Lehmer started in business in 1926, as “Golden West Service Station” on the corner of Cowell Road and Galindo. Lewis was Erv’s father and grandfather of Carolyn Lehmer Anderson, now the dealer of Lehmer’s Buick GMC on Market & Willow Pass Road.

Lewis Lehmer loved working on cars, so he had added a repair garage to the service station. When Erv graduated from Mt. Diablo High, he began traveling to San Francisco to purchase cars, and then he and his father would repair them.

Buying and repairing the used cars was the beginning of their retail automobile business.

Lehmer’s Oldsmobile began next door to the service station on Cowell & Galindo. In 1937, they built a a three room showroom and hired their first full-time mechanic. Lehmer’s began selling GMC trucks when Erv Lehmer was awarded the GMC truck franchise on May 6th, 1938.

In 1951, Erv purchased an almond orchard on Willow Pass and Galindo and built a new facility.

In 2005, Lehmer’s moved to its current location at the corner of Market Street and Willow Pass Rd. Then the Lehmer’s purchased the Buick franchise from the Fitzpatrick family, who also had a dealership in Concord. Lehmer’s success is attributed to the longstanding support it has provided to our community. Congratulations to Lehmer’s Concord Buick GMC!

Glidden Professional, 2260 Commerce Ave. C, Concord, (925) 685-2722

Wardrobe for Opportunity, 1850 Gateway, Suite 170, Concord, (510) 463-4100

Monte Gardens Market, 3624 Willow Pass Road, Concord, (925) 686-2190

Round Table Pizza, 716 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, (925) 798-3355

As you can see by the picture, Betty and her father Floyd knew how to dine and do business. I want to share this story with you because this woman is the Concord Historical Society’s hero.

It all began back in the late 1930’s early 40’s when Floyd Martin owned all of Commerce Avenue. His construction firm, Martin Brothers Construction was well known in the valley. One of his biggest contracts was constructing many of Concord’s subdivision improvements of storm drain lines for BART.

Floyd and Pauline Martin had two children – Betty and Bill. They were raised in Kansas moved to Corning, Santa Monica where she met her husband, Gene, who was blind; sold real estate and had two sons. The family moved to Concord to follow her father and help him in his construction business, which was flourishing. Floyd decided to sell his property on Commerce in the early 70’s. He was instrumental in the success of the major land buyers – Ken

Hofman, Big C and Little C; Roy Querio, Royal Trucking; Jim Marsh, Marsh Drywall; Stan Gaunt, Gaunt Machine and Iron and Superior Crane Service,

and Carlo Zochi, Developer and General Contractor. His shareholders received the profits and Betty was 25% shareholder.

She loved history and Concord especially. She loved to sing and felt social gatherings were her special kind of fun. I believe she had no idea what a big role she would play as her generosity grows for our community with her

gift to the Society. From her Trust she granted the Historical Society $250,000 for the Concord History Museum and $300,000 to buy the land your new museum sits on. Without her love of history and social gatherings, we would not have what we have -- it seems only fit to dedicate our first dance to her when the Temple is up and running...Thank you Betty Martin Barnes, we are forever grateful.

As we roll through summer, the Society would like to thank you all for your support and let you know we need you more than ever. So, please open your hearts and support your history. Call the Resource Center at 827-3380.

Have your voice heard on a variety of Concord topics.

www.PulseOfConcord.com

Pizza Night, Saturday, July 13 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Round Table Pizza, 716 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. Twenty Percent of the proceeds from the sales go to support Change 4 Real Change www.change4realchange.org that supports the two most effective groups getting the homeless off the streets in the Concord-PHill area. Print out the Flyer from the Website or the paper. Enable the Solution not the Problem

Change4Real Tackles Homeless

Summer swim lessons are in full swing at Concord Community Pool, 3501 Cowell Rd., with lessons for all ages and abilities. Most lessons are in convenient two week sessions, and run Monday through Thursday. Classes are available in the mornings, afternoons and evenings.

For more information, visit www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/sports/swimming.htm and download the Summer Swim Guide.

Swim Lessons Available

Concord launches the 2013 Tuesday Night Blues series on July 2 in Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord with the Todd Wolfe Band performing from 6:30 to 8 p.m. In addition to great blues, visitors will be treated to Cool Concord Cars, a vintage car show from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday Night Blues continues through the month of July with Frobeck (July 9), Loose Blues (July 16), Annie Sampson (July 23), and Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s (July 30).

For a complete listing of musical guests and event information, visit www.concordfirst.org.

Tuesday Night Blues Series Launches with

Vintage Car Show

I’ve been speaking with a number of homeowners over the past few weeks about the real estate market, interest rates and preparing their homes for sale.

I thought I would spend a few minutes on the most asked questions and provide a general overview of what to expect over the course of the next few months.

1. Interest RatesWe’ve seen mortgage interest

rates climb steadily for the past 7 weeks. With the Fed’s announcements last week about the economy improving and the potential for the Fed to ease off their involvement in stimulating the economy, stock markets across the globe became spooked. Interest rates shot up and may remain at or above 4% for the rest of this year.

2. Home salesWe’re seeing much more

inventory come onto the market as sellers who have been waiting for the “market to come back” decide to sell their homes. Inventory is up and homes that are priced right are typically selling within 10 days or less.

3. BuyersThey are well prepared for

today’s market—either through education or guidance from their realtors, they are coming to the table ready to make strong offers and address appraisal issues up front so the offers they make are accepted.

4. RefinancingMany homeowners are finally

able to refinance as the value of their home is above water this year. My advice is to call your lender NOW and lock in your

interest rates before they go up even more.

5. SellersGet with a very good realtor

today! If you’re thinking of selling in the next month, year or two, it’s time to prepare your home for sale now. Updating lighting, vanities, flooring, paint, etc, and having a plan in place to take you where you need to be, at the time that you want to be there, is CRITICAL. These investments will absolutely payoff in the price and ability to quickly maximize your home sale.

What does the rest of this year look like? With rates going up, this may push buyers to speed up their purchase of a new home. However, their purchasing power goes down with every interest rate hike. If you’re thinking of buying a home, the sooner you make

that happen, the better. For every month that goes by, the cost of acquiring your new home can go up by tens of thousands of dollars.

As homeowners enjoy the increased values and sales prices in and around this area, it’s important to remember that investing back into your home, while you’re able to enjoy the updates, can be beneficial both now and in the future.

This summer’s real estate market will be a mixed bag of interest rate bumps and increased home sales. It will be fun to watch where we end up this year as the enthusiasm has returned to the market in full force!

Until next month……Nancy

Nancy Bennett has been selling homes for 10 years in this market. She is a faculty member, mentor, and Top Producing Agent at Keller Williams Realty in Walnut Creek. Contact her at Nancy@BennettBetter.com.

Continued from the June 2013 issue...

Part Two:

Miracle of miracles, one day Betsy was walking. She was pretty wobbly, but the progress was unmistakable. We were so thrilled. It took many weeks, but Betsy eventually learned to walk with a steady gait. Now that Betsy was well, she became our playmate instead of our patient.

Our parents did not want Betsy in the yard, so Lee would tie her just outside the gate so she would

be close by. The calf seemed to love being with us kids. When Betsy was in the corral and she heard us playing in the yard, she would let out the most ghastly sounding bellow. It was nothing like the sounds most calves make. Betsy would continue that awful sound until Lee went to the corral to pet and talk to her. In spite of her physical impairments, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with Betsy’s brain. She even learned to open the gate so she could come join us in the yard. This did not make our Dad happy, and he insisted

that Betsy stay out of the yard. We were usually good about obeying our parents, but when Dad was away, we let Betsy into the yard to play with us.

Betsy and Shep also became playmates, and they spent a lot of time walking around the farm together. But there was a little jealousy on Betsy’s part; when she would see Shep in the yard, she would let out that terrible bellowing, and she kept it up until we either took Shep out of the yard or paid some attention to her. How that calf loved to be petted! She definitely thought we kids were

her family. Whenever she saw us, she would come running and bump us gently with her nose.

Although Betsy had overcome her many handicaps, she never grew to be the size of a normal heifer. We had to keep her separated from the other cows because they mistreated her, even kicking her and trying to knock her over. No wonder Betsy preferred to be with us.

One day we decided to take Betsy down to the creek and give her a bath. Of course Shep came along. When it was time to go back to the barn, Betsy didn’t want to get out of the water. Lee and Nyle talked to her, trying to convince her that they would bring her back again sometime. Once Shep got out and headed up the creek bank, Betsy decided she would join him.

I don’t know how my brothers did it, but they taught Betsy how to bow. As amazing as it sounds, Betsy would bow on command. All of us kids loved to impress our friend by saying, “Bow, Betsy, bow.” And Betsy would obey. We all thought that was pretty special, and it never ceased to provoke gales of laughter from us.

One time our parents had to go to the city on business, leaving Ellen, my teenage sister, in charge during the day. Mr. Miller, a neighbor, agreed to come over in the mornings and evenings to help with the chores. That night a ferocious electric storm hit the area. All of us were used to thunder storms, but this one really scared my older sisters. In between the claps of thunder and the cracks of lightning, we kept hearing strange noises. It scared all of us. My sister huddled all of us together under a blanket in the living room. My twin brother didn’t help when he kept insisting that there was a monster in the cellar.

This weird clanking, clunking sound went on for hours. Finally, Ellen called Mr. Miller about the noise and told him how scared she was. Upon his arrival at our house, Mr. Miller determined that the sound was coming from the cellar. We had either mistakenly left the cellar door open or the storm had blown it open. Brave Mr. Miller ventured down the steps and found the intruder –none other than our pet calf Betsy. The poor thing must have been frightened by the storm and came to the house for comfort. Once in the cellar, Betsy stepped into a can and couldn’t get it off her foot. Mr. Miller removed the can from Betsy’s hoof and helped the calf up the steps.

I’m sure poor Betsy was relieved to get out of the dark cellar, but not as relieved as we kids were to learn there was not a burglar, monster, or wild animal threatening us.

I will never forget our pet calf Betsy. We taught her a great deal, but we learned even more from her. The lessons of caring, compassion, and hope have served my siblings and me well.

Our Unusual Pet: Part Two by Lora Ingalls Sponsored by the Diamond Terrace 55+ Retirement Community

Resident TalesClaycord.com Inside The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 8 • www.claycord.com • (925) 255-2123

Real Estate Roadmapby Nancy Bennett

Summer Home Sales

The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 9 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448

Credit cards can be a convenient way to access your money and manage your spending. Often, however, consumers use credit cards excessively, even gener-ating balances up to the credit limit.

As a responsible user, you should abide by the basic rules of budgeting. Live within your means and only charge what you can pay off in a reasonable amount of time. I recommend using a max-imum three month pay off period as your guide.

The credit card account minimum payment is calculated as a percentage of your balance, typically 3%. So, how much does revolving credit really cost you?

As you can see, paying only the mini-mum significantly increases the amount of interest paid; in some cases nearly as much as the purchase cost. Plus, you’ll be making payments for a very long time.

To pay as little interest as possible, you should pay much more than the minimum. By doubling the payment on

the island vacation, for example, to $600 per month, the term would be drastically shorter, from 17 years, 10 months to 1 year, 7 months. A similar calculation is available in the Payment Information section of your credit card statement which uses your actual balance and mini-mum payment amount.

Credit cards are an important part of building credit. However, it’s prudent to try to pay off cards in full each month. With controlled spending and timely repay-ment, you will raise your credit

score and save money in the form of lower interest rates.

It is also wise to shop around for cred-it cards with lower rates. You can visit Pacific Service Credit Union’s website to use our handy Loan Saver Calculator and calculate your potential savings by trans-ferring balances to a credit card with a lower interest rate. Visit www.pacificser-vice.org for more details.

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The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 10 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448

by Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S.something to smile about

by Kristin PetersonPacific Credit Union

financially savvy

Making the Minimum Credit Card Payment

If it isn’t broken...That’s what I hear twenty times a day!!!

I’m ok with that! What I am NOT ok with is when people say I’m not going to the dentist because nothing hurts, so I don’t need to get my teeth cleaned!

Preventive care at your dentist is the most cost effective, value orientated service most dentists provide.

People may want to have this service discounted and feel it is a lot on money for not a lot of time being spent with them. Many people do not understand that a dental office has overhead. They assume that when they go to the dentist and pay approximately:

$110 for their prophylactic cleaning (basic cleaning if the patient does not have periodontal disease),

$65 for their dental exam, (that is when your dentist or Hygienist exams your gums, tongue, teeth.. (meaning the entire inside of your mouth) and usually does a cancer screening exam as well, just to state a few things involved in this exam

$75 for 2 X-rays. Many people feel they are paying their

dentist’s personal check book $250 for this approximate 50 minute appointment.

Well the truth is yes, they are paying $250 for this 50-60 minutes of time, however, this fee is: paying for the time of the Dr. and/or Hygienist; paying the staff of the office; paying for the supplies used to clean your teeth; paying for the supplies used for complete sterilization for the treatment room and instruments; paying for dental equipment, dental instruments and x-ray equipment, paying for rent, and more.

I’m a firm believer that the 80% of my time spent preventing disease from “breaking” down your teeth is the best

time spent for my patients, it helps them save money in the long run.

I’m a firm believer in not waiting until it breaks, not waiting until it hurts. If you wait that long chances are you have waited too long and the cost to “fix it when it has broken” now becomes excessive.

Contrary to popular belief you don’t need dental insurance to get your teeth cleaned! If you don’t have insurance, or are having some economic difficulties call your dentist. Your dentist can help you so that you can get your teeth cleaned and your mouth examined.

Many diseases are not preventable but MOST DENTAL DISEASE IS PREVENTABLE!!!

As a dentist I treat every patient to help PREVENT DISEASE and if disease is present, I try and cure the disease. As a medical professional I know that other diseases such as Breast Cancer cannot be totally prevented and that is why my wife and I are participating in the “Avon Walk for a Cure” on July 10th and 11th. I look forward to sharing everything about this amazing event with you next month.

Please remember to always swish, floss, brush and swish again and continue to see your dentist at least every six months or as often as your dentist prescribes.

As always, remember to, swish, floss, brush and swish again...and remember to see your dentist regularly.

Ask Robert H. Waldman, D.D.S. your questions at 925-682-6940, DrRob@RobertHWaldmanDDS.com or http://www.roberthwaldmandds.com. 3042 Clayton Rd. Concord (corner of 5th and Clayton Rd.)

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JULY 4th EVENTS BY CITY:

Concord: 4th of July Jubilee, “Standing Together Celebrating Our Community” Concord Police Association Stars and Stripes Run, 8am. Festivities 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. with a pancake breakfast hosted by Concord Diablo Rotary Club. Breakfast will be served until 11 a.m., followed by hot dogs until 3 p.m. Tickets are $5. The 4th of July Parade, steps off at 10 a.m. from Mt. Diablo High School. “The Singing Flag” celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, starts at 7:30 (on July 2-4), Fireworks start at 9:20 pm at Dave Brubeck Park, next to Concord High School. http://www.cityofconcord.orgClayton: Pancake Breakfast Endeavor Hall 7 am, Kiddie Parade 9:30-10 am, Parade on Main Street, 10 am - 2 pm. For more information visit www.ci.clayton.ca.usMartinez: July 4th Parade begins 8 am, Main Street, Martinez. Flag raising ceremony, pancake breakfast and at 10 am Hometown Parade. Fireworks display at dusk. www.MainStreetMartinez.org or call 925.228.3577 Walnut Creek: The Walnut Creek Concert Band celebrates with patriotic music at Civic Park Gazebo, 6 to 7 p.m. For more information visit http://www.walnut-creek.orgPleasant Hill: 5K Run 8 am, Parade at 9:30 am, Fun at the park 10:30 am. “We the People,” an America Melting Pot Fireworks display about 9 pm. at College Park High School. For more information http://www.phjuly4.com/

OTHER EVENTS BY CITY:

Concord• The aRt Cottage inviting submissions for it’s upcoming show Titled Water. All media types are welcome, including 3D artworks. Show runs from July 3rd to August 2nd. For more information contact frogard2000@gmail.com, http://www.artcottage.info/ • Cool Concord Cars/Tuesday Night Blues, July 2nd, 5.30 - 7.30 pm. Free Annual Car show! No registration fees, with dash plaques, goodie bags and prizes for the winners. www.cityofconcord.org for more information.• Concord Masonic Family, a new member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce, will be presenting a Mix & Mingle event on Wednesday, July 17th, 6-8 pm at the Odd Fellows Hall, 4349 CowelI Road, Concord. The Concord Masonic Family consists of Diablo Valley Lodge #448, F&AM, Concord Chapter #384 OES, and youth organizations Concord Rainbow Assembly #15, IORG, Jobs Daughters Bethel #218 and DeMolay Chapter in Martinez. For further information, please contact Debbie djbernsdorf@comcast.com• Clayton Valley Charter High School Middle School Summer Band Camp, July 8 - 19, 9am to 3pm. Incoming freshmen, 6th, 7th and 8th graders with some prior instrumental music experience who play wind and percussion instruments are invited to

attend. The camp offers a place to grow musically in a fun and exciting learning environment. Cost of camp is $200.00 and $175.00 for each additional sibling. Campers do not need to be entering Clayton Valley Charter High School to participate in the camp. For more information and to register, please go to www.claytonbands.org. • American Sewing Guild Express Yourself With Sulky, July 27, 9am - 4pm at 4249 Cowell Rd, Concord/Odd Fellows Hall. ASG members $50; Non-ASG members $60 Call Dorothy Miller at 925-427-5148 or visit www.asgwalnutcreek.org

Clayton• Clayton Valley Garden Club - 7p.m. July 10, Diamond Terrace 6401 Center St., Clayton. From the San Francisco Bromeliad Society, Daniel Arcos will be speaking on Bromeliads and Using Bromeliads in Your Local Landscape.Contact: www.claytonvalleygardenclub.org• Friday Night Family Movies, Clayton Community Church, July 12 “Hook,” July 19 “Tangled,” July 26 “The Incredibles,” FREE, 6055 Main Street, Clayton. For more information visit www.claytoncc.com or call 925.673.9060• Concert in the Grove: July 6, Livin’ In The USA - A Cross-Country Music Trip: This fully themed and costumed “all hits” cover band plays songs like Hotel California, Born in The USA orAmerica. http://www.tabletop-pro.com/LivinUSA.htm• Concert in the Grove: July 20, Mixed Nuts plays a wide variety of dance music for the entire family from the 50’s to today. www.mixednutsband.com•Classic Cars & Classic Rock and Roll music.Thru October 30, Wed.6pm-8pm, Main and Diablo Streets downtown. (925) 672-1111

Martinez• Downtown Ghost Walk, July 26, 8-9pm. 1.5 hour guided walking tour through downtown to discover the hidden past. www.MainStreetMartinez.org for more information

Walnut Creek• Diablo Vista Chorus Auditions for women of all ages to sing a cappella four-part harmony. Those interested may attend weekly rehearsals at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesdays, at 860 Bancroft Road (near Treat) in Walnut Creek. For more information, visit the chorus website: www.diablovistachorus.net.• Mount Diablo Astronomical Society, Our monthly meetings are now in Lindsay Wildlife Museum Community Room, 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek. Check our web site www.mdas.

Farmers MarketsPacific Coast Farmers Market Association, •Concord Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Todos Santos Plaza. •Concord Thursdays, 4pm to 8pm, beginning May 23, Todos Santos Plaza.•Martinez, Sundays, 10am to 2pm, year-round, rain or shine, Main St. and Estudillo. For more information visit http://www.pcfma.orgContra Costa Certified Farmers Market•Contra Costa Certified Farmers’ Markets, Sundays 9 am - 1 pm, May 5 - Sept. 29. Concord High School. (925) 431-8361 www.cccfm.org

A&E CalendarThe Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 11 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448

School has ended on the second to last Tuesday of the school year. Concord High softball coach Megan Coddington sits in her office, four days removed from her program’s third North Coast Section championship in the four seasons since she’s taken the helm.

And she’s trying to explain how she feels about the word.

It’s the word that keeps popping up in the myriad of congratulatory conversations she’s had in the days since the fourth-seeded Minutemen completed their NCS title run by defeating rival Clayton Valley Charter 9-2 in the Div. II final at Saint Mary’s College on May 31.

Dynasty. The word has its own

gravity. It can’t be taken lightly. Coddington knows this, and it’s evident as she speaks.

“To be honest, I never really thought of us like that,” she says. “(Others) keep throwing that word out. I think it’s neat that people are throwing that word out, because it demands excellence. ... It requires that kids step up. You’ll be letting the program and your school down if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do. It’s almost putting pressure on them without me having to put pressure on them already.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing. I think the kids know what will be expected.”

And if the rest of the North Coast Section doesn’t know what to expect of Concord at this point, then it’s just not paying attention.

Coddington was named the varsity coach in January 2010, after spending one year at the freshman level and two at junior varsity. Her predecessor, the late Jerry Wills, had built a foundation for success by leading the Minutemen to eight consecutive playoff appearances — though no titles.

In her first year as a head varsity coach, she and her team set a goal of winning the program’s first NCS title. That season.

“I’d been coaching in the lower ranks and knew the players I’d be coaching,” said

Coddington, whose playing history included a stellar career at Humboldt State University where she was the

starting catcher for an NCAA Div. II National Championship team in 1999.

“We knew we had the athletes to win that year in 2010.”

And they did, posting a school-record 24 wins along the way. They matched that number again in 2012, storming the NCS Div. II field as the No. 5 seed, defeating top seed Pinole Valley in the semifinals and No. 3 Petaluma in the championship.

Unlike those first two title seasons, Coddington wasn’t sure what she had in 2013.

Eight seniors had graduated and the projected starting pitcher Kelly Drake had seen only limited action as a sophomore.

“I find it amazing that this group of girls came togethers as well as they did,” Coddington said. “On paper, they may not have been the best pitchers or best hitters — on paper — but when they stepped out onto the field, honestly something clicked.”

Something clicked off the field with the Minutemen as well. “We just meshed really well,” junior third baseman Kelsey Randall said. “We all felt like equals and there were no outcasts. Even when JV players got called up they fit right into everything. It just worked.”

And approximately halfway through the season, the motto became “Why not us?”

After a 3-0 nonleague loss to Petaluma on March 21, the Minutemen reeled off 14 consecutive wins. The last of those wins

came on May 14 at Clayton Valley Charter. The Eagles would avenge that loss and break Concord’s streak just two days later, but the Minutemen had discovered their identity and had no shortage of confidence.

Drake had developed into an extremely effective pitcher, not overpowering but very adept at hitting her locations. The lineup had become quite prolific with a top of the order that began with Randall hitting over .500 with senior Amber Golini and junior Monique Cook immediately

following her with averages hovering around .450. Seniors

Quincy Pierce and Adrianna Ross joined Drake as key RBI bats in the middle of the order, and Alyssa Fredzess, Lu Benipayo and Courtney Davis were a very productive bottom third.

Concord had ten different players score at least 10 runs, nine players with at least 10 RBI, and seven with at least 20 hits. “Our hitting was all-around great this season,” said Davis, the team’s senior catcher. “We’re a very diverse lineup that could do a lot of different things.”

But perhaps the backbone of it all was the team’s defense.

“DWC! Defense wins championships,” someone shouted while the team took pictures near the scoreboard following the championship victory.

That defense allowed Drake to find a new level in the circle as well. “Coming into this year, I knew I had to work on my confidence,” the pitcher said. “It was big when I realized how good of a defense I had behind me. Trusting them really helped make me a better pitcher.”

The team’s regular season split with Clayton Valley lead to a co-Diablo Valley League Championship. And to nobody’s surprise on the campus at 4200 Concord Blvd., Concord was seeded behind its rival in a stacked Div. II playoff bracket.

The Minutemen were given the No. 4 seed behind No. 1 Petaluma, No. 2 Alhambra and No. 3 Clayton Valley.

“We were pretty shocked,” said

Benipayo, the team’s steady-handed shortstop. “We thought we might’ve been seeded higher. We’re always the underdogs. Everybody always doubts us but we always come out and shock people.”

Why not us?Drake shined in a shutout of top-seed

Petaluma in the semifinals, allowing just five hits and striking out five. In the championship, she gave up just two earned runs on a two-run home run in the fifth. She also pounded out two of the team’s 11 hits and drove in four of the nine runs.

The Minutemen’s defense was on display throughout the championship game. They committed just one error and made a handful of spectacular plays, including the game’s final outs — a double play started when Sabrina Winningham made a diving catch in right field and Concord was able to retire an over-aggressive Clayton Valley runner at first base.

Three championships. None as one of the top two seeds.

“Being the underdog was definitely motivation for these girls,” Coddington said. “We’d hear Concord is going to lose to Clayton because of XYZ. When we won, we were proving once again that you don’t always need the best players to win, you just need to have players who believe in one another.”

Coddington reinforced that idea with an anecdote about Pierce, the team’s cleanup hitter for much of the season.

Pierce’s varsity career at Concord had been one of frustration after injuries cut both her sophomore and junior seasons short. This season was the complete opposite. She earned a starting job in the outfield and became a very dependable hitter in the cleanup spot for much of the year. She hit .386 and drove in 15 runs over 24 games.

But during a 5-2 NCS quarterfinal win over Pinole Valley, she was injured again when her thumb was hit by a pitch. A week later, Concord was set to play in the championship and Pierce was given medical clearance to play.

But she knew she wasn’t 100 percent. She went to Coddington and stepped down, “so that someone else could step up,” the coach said. “That was just another example of how these girls were team first all the way.”

Players who think that way, and coaches who foster it — it’s how dynasties are built.

-Chace Bryson, SportsStars Magazine

On July 4th, our nation celebrates its independence with fireworks and barbeques. After all the festivities die down and you are back to your normal routine, you can start celebrating all the artists who were born in the month of July. Mexican painter Frieda Kahlo was born on July 6th in 1907 and Russian artist Marc Chagall was born on July 7th in 1887. The French Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro was born in 1830 on July 10th and American realist painter Andrew Wyeth was born on the 12th in 1917. In 1862, Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt was born on July 14th and one of the best known painters of any description, Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, was born on July 15th in 1606. Another French Impressionist, Edgar Degas, was born on the 19th in 1834 and on the 22nd, the American Alexander Calder, probably best known for his mobiles, was born in 1898. And French artist Marcel Duchamp was born on the 28th in 1887. There are many, many more artists of all types celebrating birthdays in July of course, but here is just a short list to get you started.

But what should we do to celebrate these artist’s birthdays, or any other artist’s birthdays for that matter? I always find it interesting to learn more about artists besides just recognizing their paintings or sculptures or the music they compose. Learning about their lives, where they studied, family history and relationship with other artists is fascinating to me and adds another dimension to their work when I see it or hear it.

There are lots of ways to go about finding out about an artist. Google of course is an indispensable tool for

research, but there are also some other fun ways to learn a little more about an

artist. One of my favorites is reading historical novels based on the artist. I recently finished reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain which was about the early life of Ernest Hemmingway as told through the eyes of his first wife. Of course there are lots of fictional elements to the book, but it was basically the account of how he started his literary career with all the ups and downs until

he achieved professional success. It was a great read and I learned more about Ernest Hemmingway in the process.

I also just finished reading The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro and loved it. This novel was more fiction than historical fact, but it basically centered on a fictional Degas painting that was stolen in the real and famous 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston. It also included lots of information about the process of copying a painting done a hundred or more years ago, so that it looks like it was painted by Degas or any artist during that time. The aging that happens to the wooden stretchers, the canvas, the paint, the glazes, and other things, must be imitated exactly in order to make it look authentic. That might sound boring to some, but I don’t think it would spoil the book for anyone. Another great read and a great mystery.

So, I hope you are at least a little intrigued to start learning a little more about any artist in any field that strikes a chord with you. Pun intended.

The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 12 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448 The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 13 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448

in tune with the artsby Deborah Ashley

Celebrating More than Independence

Deborah Ashley is an artist, pianist and violin-ist living in the Bay Area. She has a degree in Fine Art as well as in music with a concentra-tion in ViolinPerformance. She has spent her career working as an advocate for the arts.

“In the Breeze” 36” x 36”, acrylic on canvas.

$975.

Deborah’s paintings are in an eternal state of growth, but the one constant is that they are about creating feelings and emotions. She is inspired by the colors, shapes and lines in everything all around us.

Completing a fine art degree in North Carolina, Deborah now lives in the Bay Area and has continued her arts education with numerous classes and workshops.

She has had success with numerous commissions and shows her work in various locations in California and on the east coast.

To contact her regarding purchase of the painting you may reach her at 925 588-5226.

Deborah’s Gallery

The Concord High Softball Dynasty: “Why Not Us?”

Sponsored by SportStars Magazinewww.SportStarsOnline.com.

Photo credit: Phillip Walton/SportStars MagazineSenior second baseman Amber Golini slaps an infield single during the first inning of the NCS Div. II championship on May 31.

sports shot

Their first season of the Junior Giants League has finally kicked-off with our First Pitch Meeting. More than 130 children are signed up to play FREE baseball this summer!

The room filled with this year’s players, parents, coaches, and community supporters and so did the excitement. Key presenters emphasized the importance of having fun this summer - safely and non-competitively. Among the speakers

were Concord Chief of Police, Guy Swanger, Sergeant Ivan Menchanca, Sergeant Robert Brady, Cambridge Elementary Principal Liane Cismowski, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Representative Brandon Bjerke, Vice-Mayor Tim Grayson, and from the Board of Directors, Carlyn Obringer. With their energy and motivation to play, there is no doubt that the children will have an unforgettable summer! GO JUNIOR

GIANTS!!! We are in need of donations to

purchase or to receive baseball pants and shoes for the children, and a way to honor all of these hard working volunteers.

-Danielle Harper, Michael Chavez Center and Monument Community Partnership, 1760 Clayton Rd. Concord. For more information visit www.monumentcommunity.org

Concord Junior Giants Kick-Off First Pitch Meeting Sets the Tone for a Strong Summer

by Debra Morris, Pacific Coast Farmers Marketwww.pcfma.com/concord

farmer fresh

Summer Picnics & Food SafetyWhat better

way to spend the 4th of July than to fill a picnic basket with some fresh homemade goodies and head out to watch a fire-works display or a summer con-cert in the park. Pick up your fresh ingredients at the farmers’ market and enjoy a summer evening in the great outdoors. Right now there are luscious peaches and nectarines, and a variety of berries; big tasty bell peppers and sweet local corn; summer squash and green beans; and a wide selection of year-round fruits and vegetables from which to choose. Just remember to prepare and pack your food safely – we don’t want you to become ill! It’s important to clean, prepare and pack your food safely before heading out. Here are some simple tips to remember:

Prepare Your Food Safely· Wash your hands.· Don’t prepare foods more than a day

ahead of time, unless you plan to freeze it.· Mayonnaise-based foods and cut melons

must be kept COLD!Pack your Food Safely· Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.· Wash your hands before handling foods.

Pack hand soap or moist towelettes to wash your hands at the picnic site.

· Pack extra utensils and dishware to avoid contamination from utensils that have been used, or better, use disposable dishware and utensils.

Cook Foods Thoroughly

· Wash your hands thoroughly before cooking.

· Poul-try juices should run clear, hamburger should not be pink in the center.

Serve Food at the Proper Tempera-ture

· Again, keep cold

foods cold, and hot foods hot. Handle Leftovers Properly· Keep foods covered.· Don’t let food sit out for more than one

hour—throw them out if they have not been kept at the proper temperature.

Tomato Cucumber Herb Salad1/2 pound red tomatoes1/2 pound yellow tomatoes1/2 pound cucumbers1/2 red onion, chopped (optional)1 tablespoon fresh basil1 tablespoon fresh oregano1 tablespoon fresh chives1 tablespoon fresh thyme2 tablespoon olive oil1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper Chop tomatoes and cucumbers into large

diced pieces. Chop red onion. Finely chop all herbs. Place in large bowl, mix in all other ingredients and chill at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator, and taste. Adjust seasoning if needed and serve.

The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 15 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448 The Concordian • JULY 2013 • Page 14 • www.MyConcordian.com • (800) 606-6448

legal briefsby Jason W. MauckEricksen Arbuthnot, Attorneys At Law

Generally, employees in California are “at-will”, meaning that an employer can fire an employee without cause or warning, and an employee can quit without warning or reason. However, there are a few instances when terminating an employee can result in potential liability. The first instance is if the employee has a contract that calls for “good cause” termination and the second instance is when the termination is in violation of public policy.

In employment contracts, good cause has been defined as termination for, “fair and honest reasons, regulated by good faith on the part of the employer, that are not trivial, arbitrary or capricious, unrelated to business needs or goals, or pretextual.” The employer must make a reasoned decision, supported by substantial evidence gathered through an adequate investigation, and provide a notice of the claimed misconduct and provide a chance for the employee to respond. Cotran v. Rollins Hudig Hall Intern., Inc. (1998) 17 Cal.4th 93, 108. The good cause standard can be explicitly stated in an employment contract or it can be implied by the words, actions and conduct of the employer towards an employee. In determining whether “good cause” was implied in an employment contract a jury will be instructed to consider the employers personnel policies and practices, the employee’s length of service, whether the employer said or

did anything to assure the employee of continued employment, and any raises, commendations, positive evaluations and promotions received by the employee.

Another basis for a wrongful termination claim is a termination in violation of public policy. The pertinent facts that must be determined when analyzing a wrongful termination claim are 1) whether an employer-employee relationship existed, 2) whether the employee was terminated; 3) whether there was a nexus between the termination and the employee’s protected activity and 4) whether the termination caused the former employee damage. The critical question is whether there was a violation of public policy. There is a test to determine this, but a typical example is when the termination was in violation of a statute, such as discrimination based on race, or termination because the employee did something that was protected by statute (i.e., reporting a workers’ compensation claim).

Keep in mind that there are a number of other tests, factors and elements to take into account which cannot be discussed in this short article, and your individual situation may not fit into the above categories. If you have any concerns, the attorneys of Ericksen Arbuthnot are available to help. Contact the Oakland Office at 510-832-7770 if you have any questions.

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The Basics of a Wrongful Termination Claim

business decisionsby Mary Eastwood

Funding Your New BusinessStarting a business is an investment

in yourself – you’re investing time and money to take control of your future. The reasons for wanting to be in your own business are as individual as the business owners themselves. But one thing they all have in common? They all had to make some kind of financial investment.

Funding for a small business can come from several sources. You’ve probably heard that “small business is the engine of the economy”. It’s true, and the government has programs and regulations in place that encourage people to become business owners and job creators.

For instance, one of the best kept secrets is that retirement accounts can be used to finance a purchase of a franchise – WITHOUT incurring a tax penalty for early withdrawal of the funds. We are always told that 401K and IRA funds are not accessible, but this is one of the few cases in which a penalty will not apply. In basic terms, your funds are invested in your own business, instead of the stocks of other companies. It is more complex, of course, so proper handling is crucial, and there are companies we recommend that specialize in this popular funding option.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has several loan programs for new businesses. The SBA does not itself make loans, but it provides a loan guarantee program so that banks can make business loans. Banks making SBA loans will require that you have some “skin in the game”, usually 30%, and that the loan be collateralized by assets such as real estate, investments or equipment. Some franchise companies are “SBA registered” meaning that SBA lenders have ready access to documentation about the

franchise model and its experienced management.

Other sources are personal savings, partners, and family. It may surprise you to know that the majority of franchises can be started, including working capital, for under $250,000. Most franchises are not the fast food restaurants that you typically imagine. There are franchises in over 90 industries. Whatever business you start, you can assume that you will need to fund at least a portion with some of your own capital.

You’ll need to set aside adequate cash reserves or have a secondary income to live on while you are building your new business. You could elect to keep your job while starting a manager-run “semi-absentee” business, or a working spouse or partner could provide household income. Only through a careful research and due diligence process will you be able to make your financial projections and determine if the business is right for your financial and lifestyle goals.

Future columns will discuss topics such as franchise regulations, financing, choosing a business, research, due diligence, business planning, and choosing advisors. If there are topics you would like to see covered, let me know!

Mary Eastwood is a franchise specialist at FranNet San Francisco East Bay. FranNet provides no-charge, no obligation advice and coaching to individuals interested in franchise business ownership. For more information, contact Mary Eastwood at

925-566-7665, meastwood@frannet.com or visit www.frannet.com to take your Personal Franchise Assessment.

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Taking charge of your career and fulfilling your financial and personal goals means making a bold move.

a little bit 0ff!the humor of Cathy Turney

Ode to DecrepitudeAs I “mature,” I find there’s less and less

of me I want to expose to public view. It’s a recurring issue as summer approaches each year. There are remedies: exercise, cosmetic surgery (really—costs $8,000—I heard it on the radio), camouflage. Do you just not want to bother?

I could grouch about the inequity of it all—that a man can exercise once a week for five minutes and have a buff bod. Jane Fonda notwithstanding, it doesn’t work like that for us women.

I will not accept this lying down. No, I’ll sing about it! Bring it on, mean, old, sexist, Father Time!

Here is my Ode to Decrepitude (sung to the tune of Blowin’ in the Wind, by Bob “Buff Bod” Dylan):

How many reps does a gal have to doBefore she-ee looks like Michelle?Yes, and how many pounds do-oo I have

to lift,So my body stops looking like hell?This hurts—oh my God—how much can

I endure?I think I will just sit a spell.These triceps, my friend, are blowin’ in

the windMy triceps are blowin’ in the wind.

Yes, and why am I here with these hot

little babes?Suffer-i-ing their long, gawking stares?What did I sign? Can I cancel it still?When there’s no guarantee and…who

cares? Oops, was that your foot, oh so sorry,

my dearI guess now they’ll want me to leave.These triceps, my friend, are blowin’ in

the windMy triceps are blowin’ in the wind.

Yes, and I won’t accept that I’m over the hill

No-o, surely, there must be a pill.Well, I still have my mindBut perhaps not for long.The answer, my friend…What was the

question?

Thanks to my friend, Jeanne-Marie Baker, who remarked to me that her triceps really do “blow in the wind.”

Cathy Turney, author of “Tales of aCodependent Pet Owner,” captures thehumor in coping with technology and socialmedia, her left/brain right brain marriage toMy Husband The Engineer and hercodependency on dogs. Contact, commentand follow Cathy’s blog atwww.AlittleBitOff.net. or her web atwww.CodependentPetOwner.com.

www.traviscu.org