TAKE A HIKE AT THE NAVAL WEAPONS STATION....
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be inside the Concord Naval Weapons Station, here's your chance to find out. Save Mount Diablo will he holding three hikes on the property in March, April and May.
The walk's free, but space is limited, so click on THIS LINK to sign up.
photo: courtesy of Save Mount Diablo
March 17, 2010 3:30 PM
NEW "COOL ROOF" AT LAS JUNTAS ELEMENTARY
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has completed a “cool roof” retrofit and other energy efficiency upgrades at the Las Juntas Elementary School in Martinez.Click on the press release above for more on this story.
March 17, 2010 1:45 PM
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO WENDY'S ON NORTH MAIN?
As many of you have noticed, Wendy's on North Main Street in Walnut Creek (near Treat & North Main) is under construction. I've received a lot of emails about this, so I thought I'd get an update.
I talked to the Vice-President of Communications at Wendy's, his name is Denny Lynch, and he says the restaurant is being totally remodeled and they plan to reopen in early April.
There are no plans to merge with any other restaurant, similar to KFC & A&W, since the only two restaurants in their corporation is Wendy's and Arby's, and that would just be gross to have both in the same location (my words, not his).
So there's the story, they're just trying to make the building nicer.
March 17, 2010 12:02 PM
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY, O'CLAYCORDIANS....
Happy St. Patrick's Day to everybody in the magical land of CLAYCORD. Hope you all have a great day, and don't drink & drive!
March 17, 2010 9:56 AM
THE MT. JOHN MUIR GUY IS BACK, WILL BE DENIED
Despite being denied by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, the man who wants to change the name of Mt. Diablo to Mt. John Muir is still going strong with his request for change. This is a different man from the one who wanted to change the name to Mt. Reagan, that guy was from Oakley, and this guy, Robert Ericson, is from Concord.
Below is a little blurb from the US Board on Geographic Names....
This proposal is to change the name of Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County to Mount John Muir. It was submitted in response to an earlier proposal to change the summit’s name to Mount Reagan.
The new name is intended to honor John Muir (1838-1914), naturalist, author, and advocate of wilderness preservation.
The proponent, a resident of Concord, agrees with the Mount Reagan proponent that the summit’s current name should be changed, but suggests it would be more appropriate to honor John Muir instead.
He also asks that Muir’s full name be used to avoid any confusion and to sound more “poetic.” He also believes that using the full name “will delineate it from the other mountains bearing his name as the mountain where his home is located and he got the idea of national parks and where he labored to bring us our first national park Yosemite.”
The proponent states also that his proposal is not being submitted simply in reaction to the Mount Reagan request, and indeed he has been contemplating a change to Mount John Muir for several years.
He was not aware until recently that there existed a means to submit such a proposal. He also believes his proposal offers “a good solution to the religious problems raised by the Mt. Reagan proponents,” and that “I hope the proponents of the Mt. Reagan name will realize the only way they have a chance to get rid of the Mt. Diablo name is to switch their support to Mount John Muir.”
As to why a feature in Contra Costa County should be chosen, “Most residents don’t even know his home is in the county.
He is the greatest man to ever come out of this county and he deserves to have our mountain named after him.
The same mountain that cradles his home at the base in Martinez. The same mountain he spent countless hours roaming as he thought about the destruction of the natural beauties of America. The same mountain that he thought of the idea of a national park.”
The board will vote on this proposal, as well as the Mt. Reagan proposal in the next few weeks. Both have been rejected by the county, and strong letters of opposition have been sent to the BGN from local residents.
Throughout the State, 29 features are named specifically “John Muir,” and two are summits. The BGN approved Mount Muir (Inyo County) in 1928 and Muir Peak (Los Angeles County) in 1992.
I personally think this is a waste of time, and a waste of money.
I'm still liking the name "Mt. CLAYCORD", doesn't that sound nice?
March 16, 2010 5:49 PM
PLEASANT HILL MAN ARRESTED AFTER PURSUIT....
A 30-year-old Pleasant Hill man was arrested this morning in Walnut Creek after a short pursuit by Pleasant Hill Police. Lt. Peter Enea with PHPD says the man had a warrant out for his arrest....
Pleasant Hill detectives arrested Robert R Butler of Pleasant Hill for arrest warrants, driving on a suspended license, evading a police officer in performance of his or her duties, and possession of burglary tools.
Butler’s vehicle was impounded. Butler was booked into the County Jail, Martinez, on the preceding charges.
Lt. Enea tells us the events that led to the arrest....
A detective had seen Butler driving in the area of Treat Blvd and Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek, and tried to stop him at about 0827 hrs for the arrest warrants. Butler failed to stop but pulled over on Bancroft Road near Dorsch Drive at about 0829 hrs. Butler was subsequently arrested on all of the above charges.
Great job, PHPD! Thanks to Lt. Enea for the information.
UPDATE: Lt. Enea says the man did hit a wall with his vehicle, but no report was taken by WCPD because no damage was done to the wall.
March 16, 2010 3:01 PM
BEWARE: RATTLESNAKES IN THE CLAYCORD HILLS
Today, we got a good reminder from Margaret about something lurking on the ground in the hills above CLAYCORD.... My husband and I were hiking in the open space in the hills above Crystyl Ranch today with our dog. We ran into a very large rattle snake in the middle of the trail, hidden in an eroded part of the trail made by the rain run off.
I've been hiking in that area for years and this is the earliest that I've seen rattlesnakes out on the trails. Not to mention that this was the BIGGEST rattlesnake that I've ever seen.
Thank god that my dog and husband weren't bitten! It was coiled up, rattling and poised to strike.
Just a word of caution for my fellow Claycordians who are out there hiking! Stay alert and keep your eyes open.
Thanks for the reminder, Margaret!
*the rattlesnake pictured above isn't the rattlesnake talked about in the story.
March 16, 2010 1:24 PM
ARSON OR ACCIDENTAL? INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PIEDMONT LUMBER AND THE WEEKEND FIRE
The four-alarm fire at Piedmont Lumber over the weekend caused over $5,000,000 in damage, and investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze. A lot of speculation is going around whether or not this fire was arson, or accidental.
An arson fire at their Pittsburg store caused over $500,000 in damage in August of 2009, but nobody has been arrested for that crime.
One of the big reasons people think it could be arson is because of Piedmont Lumber's recent money problems.
Contra Costa Superior Court records show a lawsuit was filed by Umpqua Bank, which is based in Oregon, saying Piedmont Lumber owes the bank about $15,000,000 (million). Other lawsuits have been filed by other companies against Piedmont Lumber in recent months, and Umpqua Bank began foreclosure proceedings on the Pittsburg property earlier this month.
Fire investigators will be back on scene on Tuesday, investigating what's left over from the devastating blaze.
Thanks to Radar for the photos of the damage caused by the fire.
March 16, 2010 12:33 AM
FUGITIVE ON THE LOOSE IN MARTINEZ....
The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office is currently searching for a fugitive in the Pacheco Mobile Home Park. The man is described as an armed and dangerous white male with a white tank top and blue shorts.
The Sheriff's Office is telling all residents to stay inside until further notice.
UPDATE: The man wasn't located.
March 15, 2010 6:53 PM
WCSD: SAFETY CONCERNS IN WALNUT CREEK....
Walnut Creek School District Superintendent Patricia Wool sent the following message out regarding safety in the school district.... At the start of the 2009-10 school year, WCI made a conscious decision to inform the community if there were any incidents or threats to our students, either on campus or to and from school.
We have informed the community about five student issues to date: two students who brought knives to school, two students who possessed marijuana, and a student who possessed alcohol. In addition, you received several reports about suspicious situations and possible abduction attempts in the region.
We inform the community so that you will be able to discuss these issues with your children and ultimately keep all children safe. Some people worry that the notifications depict a changed campus.
When we look at data, there have been five incidents for 2009-10. While we wish that there were no such incidents, pre-teens are working to develop good judgment and social skills. Their judgments are sometimes not the best, and poor choices are sometimes made. It is our job, working with parents, to help all students make sound decisions for themselves.
In our WCI Parent Survey and the bi-annual Healthy Kids' Survey we gained important information about the safety at WCI.
The 2010 parent survey, taken by over half of our families, showed that 90% of families agree or strongly agree that their "student feels safe at school." In the most recent California Healthy Kids' Survey taken by all 7th graders, 5% of students reported feeling "unsafe." Because we want no students to feel unsafe, we are working with staff on this issue.
We are committed to providing a safe environment regardless of WCI administrative staffing levels. A clear, specific reorganization will take place in the WCI Office if there is one vice principal next year. We will ensure that student safety is a top issue and will be maintained no matter what the structure of the site administration.
Whatever you do, don't stop the communication with the parents in the district. A little communication goes a long way!
March 15, 2010 5:30 PM