March 2010

You, the voters of Contra Costa, made this project happen. Over 71% of you passed Measure J in 2004, extending a one-half percent sales tax for Contra Costa County transportation projects. The first dollars to fund a project from Measure J, attracted a myriad of small amounts. But the light changed to green when we received the absolute largest single project dollars to come out of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars. We were “shovel ready” when we acquired the final $200M to accumulate the $420M price to construct the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel—not one new project but the first project and largest project in the country to come out of the Recovery Act.

For you history buffs, projects don’t just happen overnight. When Danville was named 152 years ago, people began talking about connecting Alameda and Contra Costa communities. Forty years later, the timber-framed Kennedy Tunnel opened in 1903. It was 220 yards higher than the current bores (that is, shorter) and was one lane wide—hmm, different types of vehicles back then!

Thirty years later, a new generation opened the Caldecott Tunnel—two separate bores—in 1937. Passenger train service had stopped in Danville, and cars dominated travel—through the tunnel from Contra Costa to Alameda and across the Bay Bridge one year later. In 1964, the third bore opened in both directions, just a year before the freeway whizzed through Danville.

Wiley Coyote—step aside. No TNT here! Huge rotating bores will chip away at the rock and internal borings will support one section at a time before the next section is excavated. Many more details of the process are available at www.Caldecott-tunnel.org.

Aren’t you tired of the cone game? You know—the “game” that reverses the direction of the middle bore twice a day? With two tunnels in each direction, you may still encounter delays, but the journey will be so much more predictable. And we will definitely decrease the clouds of pollution that are created by the endless hours of idling your engines.

When you drive through the construction zone, Cal Trans reminds us to please slow down.

As a former CCTA commissioner, I put an optimistic August 2009 on my calendar as the groundbreaking date. In spite of the economic travails, congratulations on all of the partnerships that kept this project “virtually” on time and on track!

If you have any questions, you can contact me directly at councilstepper@yahoo.com.
The views of the column represent the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the council.

The talk about the re-born Chevrolet Camaro has been the topic of car buffs and automotive journalists for some time. Pictures have been circulating for the past few years and Camaro concepts have traveled to major auto shows across the country. Well, the wait is over – the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has arrived and looks better than ever.

The last new Camaro rolled off the assembly line in 2002. During its hiatus, engineers at Chevrolet began dreaming up a new semi-retro styled hot rod to steam up the hearts of fans new and old. The 2010 Camaro is rear-wheel drive and shares the chassis architecture with the now defunct impressive Pontiac G8. From any angle, the Camaro is beautiful and is a head-turner—a thumbs up, eye catcher for sure.

The model lineup is divided into three trim levels: LS ($22,245), LT ($23,880) and SS ($30,245). The LS and LT models are equipped with a V6 motor, while the SS is pumping out the horses with a V8. Optional packages include a LT2 ($2,700) and SS2 ($3,185).

We may be in times of elevating fuel prices, calling for small fuel efficient 4-banger engines that deliver enough horsepower to quietly drag you from point A to point B, however, fortunately for us, Chevy chooses to leave that to the other guys; they want – a tire smoking, exhaust rumbling vehicle.

Chevrolet borrowed Cadillac’s V6 that easily generates 304 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic with semi-manual shifting. What; you say you need more power? No problem. Then how about a 6.2-liter Corvette engine tucked into your Camaro SS, cranking out 425 HP with the manual six-speed transmission; or 400 HP, teamed with the optional six-speed automatic transmission?

From the outside, we admire the muscular chiseled lines and powerful stance. The look brings back memories of my buddy’s 1967 Camaro. The front grille and headlamps are tucked under what appears like a visor at the end of the hood. This pushed back design adds to the menacing front smirk as if the Camaro is challenging you – no – daring you to race. The center of the aluminum hood is raised 2.5-inches to form a long scoop (in looks only, since it is non-functioning).

A side view highlights a few interesting characteristics. Starting with the rear wheels moved forward six inches and the front wheels forward three inches, compared with its Pontiac G8 sibling. This wheel adjustment along with lowering the suspension helps to improve the handling. Nice! High rear shoulders give the Camaro a sense of motion while standing still. Four square red brake lights wrapped in chrome sit below the small spoiler mounted trunk lid. Dual chrome exhaust tips complete the rear and alert bystanders that the Camaro is on the prowl with their rumbling effect.

The interior is populated with great and fair attributes. The center console was cool with unique radio buttons and temperature knobs sitting on top of a four gauge pack. The steering wheel was dressed in black and silver with speed and radio controls. The instrument panel lacked inspiration with two large silver ringed rectangles sandwiching a small information center in-between. The rest of the dash felt like it was formed in layers in an ascending style. Our LT model had sharp looking two-tone seats that were comfortable and adjusted easily. However, it is easy to see that even though the Camaro has four seats it is clearly a two person vehicle. At 5’8” I had the seat pushed back to a comfortable position that left only a couple of inches separating the front seat from the back equaling no rear legroom.

Room for improvement:
Extremely tight rear leg room
More creative dash

Cool Features:
Extremely hot design
Four gauge pack
Stitched leather wrapped steering wheel
XM Radio standard

The Camaro may be a muscle car, but it still has a safety conscience. Safety equipment includes electronic stability control with traction control, front airbags, front side airbags, airbag curtains, anti-lock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system and one year of OnStar Safe and Sound Plan.

In Summary – The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is a stunningly gorgeous car with thundering power and rumbling exhaust to boot. It has superb handling and ride on tight corners and begs for aggressive driving to follow its aggressive styling. The Camaro drew smiles and excited faces at every turn. Chevrolet did a wonderful job bringing back an icon.

Specifications
2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT
 
Base price:                  $23,880    as driven: $31,015 (estimated)
Engine:             3.6-Liter 6-cylinder
Horsepower:               304 @ 6400
Torque:                       273 pound-feet @ 5200 rpm
Transmission:             6-speed automatic
Drive:                          Rear Wheel-Drive
Seating:                       4-passenger
Turning circle:            37.7 feet
Cargo space:               11.3 cubic feet
Curb weight:               3719 pounds
Fuel capacity:           19 gallons
EPA mileage:              29 highway, 18 city
Wheel Base: 112.3 inches
Warranty:                    3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider:             Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and Nissan 370Z
Future changes: New for 2010

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) celebrated its first SABR Day in America on Jan. 30 at 34 locations around the world, including Armadillo Willy’s restaurant in Dublin. SABR is a member-driven nonprofit organization made up of nearly 7,000 members who are fans of baseball and its rich and varied history. Although a sizable portion (about 10%) of the membership comes together for SABR’s national convention each year, with 55 chapters scattered through the US (as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and Japan), it would impossible to gather the entire SABR community in one place at one time. The organization’s alternative solution was to have as many members as possible come together on the same day—regardless of where they live.

And come together they did. In Canada, Puerto Rico, New England, the Atlantic Seaboard, the Great Lakes region, the South, and up and down the West Coast, baseball enthusiasts broke up the sport’s winter hiatus with a day devoted to celebrating America’s Game. Typical events included trivia contests, member research presentations, book raffles, guest speakers from local teams, visits from former big league players, and historic baseball videos. Twenty SABR members and guests enjoyed half-price hamburgers and fellowship at the Dublin gathering.

The group discussed some recent research members had completed, including biographies of Joe Pignatano, Ralph Branca and Ed Roebuck and further research on the Dodgers’ move to Los Angeles. Doug McWilliams of Berkeley shared his collection of Lee Sussman baseball cartoons, including game-day scorecard covers for the Oakland Oaks and Oakland Athletics. McWilliams, a professional photographer who shot baseball cards for Topps among other clients during his career, also announced that his personal collection had been accepted for the archives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

As a member of SABR’s national board of directors, I moderated a spirited trivia contest won by Mike Tormey of Alameda, with 24 correct answers of 33. Tormey won the book Mathematician at the Ballpark and a box of Cracker Jack. I also shared recent board developments and answered member questions. Topics covered included SABR’s financial state and 2010-2011 convention planning for national gatherings in Atlanta and Los Angeles. For the last hour we settled in to watch Game One of the 1979 NLCS on The MLB Network.

The organization plans to continue SABR Day in America every year on the last Saturday in January, on top of regular events held by its 55 local chapters and its 24 research committees and the annual convention held one long weekend each year between mid-June and early August. SABR also distributes three or four original publications each year sent to every member at no additional cost beyond the annual dues of $65.

If exploring such subjects as the history of spring training, women in baseball or the history and lore of ballparks appeals to you, you can explore joining SABR by visiting www.sabr.org or calling the national office at 800-969-7227.

SAMPLE SABR TRIVIA QUESTIONS

Try your luck with these trivia questions asked during SABR Day in America at Armadillo Willy’s restaurant in Dublin.

Which three players made up the starting outfield for the American League in the 1955, 1956, and 1957 All Star Games?
Ted Williams, Al Kaline, and Mickey Mantle

Who gave up the Will Clark’s National League Championship Series winning hit that put the Giants in the 1989 World Series?
Mitch Williams

Who was the last A’s pitcher to start an All Star Game?
Dan Haren (2007 at AT&T Park)

In 1973 Nolan Ryan threw two no hitters. Who were his two catchers?
Jeff Torborg and Art Kusnyer

 
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They say that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. (Those of us who are also Irish the other 364 days of the year graciously allow that.) Up until the past decade, however, the foods of Ireland gave little cause for culinary rapture; so March 17 was all about the beverages the Irish are known for. Boiling up a pot of corned beef and cabbage may seem authentic, but it is a totally American fabrication.

The eat-local-and-organic movement has hit Ireland now, and some of its chefs stand toe-to-toe with the finest in Europe. Hopefully this heralds an end to all the jokes about over-cooked-everything; though to my mind that certainly wasn’t the worst of it.

I grew up in a family that worshiped at the altar of dulse. Not familiar with that word? It’s seaweed. Deep purple clumps of dried algae, native to the damp northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Salty, briney, leathery seaweed that requires a fair amount of chewing to get it down. (And for some, I imagine keeping it down is also a consideration.)

Whenever any of my parents’ friends would smuggle in a little tin of dulse from “the old country,” my mother would swoon as though someone had given her a pound of Beluga caviar. Health aficionados now tout dulse for its high mineral content, but back then it was just bonafide contraband…plain and simple. A welcome snack for Irish kids who didn’t know any better.

When it comes to traditional Irish cuisine, soda bread ranks much higher on the popularity scale…for children and adults. This time of year bakeries and supermarkets often sell cellophane-wrapped loaves of dry, leaden, raisin-flecked bread at exorbitant prices; but it’s incredibly easy to make at home. (Just don’t expect to answer the phone while preparing it. Your hands will be a gooey mess.) Unlike temperamental yeast breads, a mere teaspoon of baking soda—when combined with acidic buttermilk—causes it to rise. (Don’t try to use that baking soda that has been sitting in the back of the refrigerator for two years. Trust me, it’s time to shell out 50 cents for a new box.) The only other secret to success is to use moist, freshly dried California raisins from the farmers’ market. The Irish should only have it so good!

While at the market, you may as well buy spuds and cabbage for the classic American-style St. Patrick’s Day dinner. You’ll also find freshly dug beets, early strawberries, and plenty o’ green: artichokes, asparagus, baby lettuces, fava beans, and peas of all persuasions.

Here is the soda bread—or “scon”, as she called it—recipe my mother had already committed to memory when she emigrated to the U.S. in 1928. Or at least it’s a close facsimile. It turns out my sisters and I all have slightly different versions, each hand-written by my mother. Through the years she would tweak it here and there…an egg to make it lighter; a little extra sugar to appease my father’s sweet tooth…but basically this is it. And I think it’s about as good as it gets. Some parts of Ireland favor the addition of caraway seeds or whole wheat flour, but this comes directly from a girl from Donegal, ”where they eat potatoes, skins and all.”

Maggie Doherty’s Irish Soda Bread
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups California raisins (I use 1 cup each of golden and dark raisins)
2 cups buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Generously grease a cast-iron skillet or a heavy 9-inch round cake pan. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; whisk gently to blend. Stir in the raisins. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the buttermilk and egg and mix until a stiff dough forms. (Use a wooden spoon if you must, but the most efficient way to mix this extremely soft, sticky dough is with floured hands. Alternatively, the dough can be mixed in a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the dough hook.)
2. Scrape the dough from the bowl and mound it into the prepared pan, forming a round loaf. Lightly moisten your hands with water to smooth the top. Using a serrated knife dipped in flour, score the top with a large X, about 1/2-inch deep. (This not only ensures even baking; it also scares away the devil.) Bake until the loaf is golden brown with a firm crust, and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped with a knife, about 1 hour. Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack at least 30 minutes before cutting into slices. Serve warm, at room temperature, or toasted. Makes 1 (9-inch) round loaf. Store airtight at room temperature.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.

My children were born and grew up here in California. Barbara and I loved, nurtured, fed, and educated them to the best of our ability. Meanwhile there were places around the world where children of a comparable age were being raised under entirely different circumstances. One of these extreme cases was in Cambodia. Here a vastly dissimilar environment challenged young and old alike. How different from what we are used to.

We landed in Siem Reap, Cambodia just as the sun was touching the western horizon. It was near the end of February, and the rains were still a month or two off. Siem Reap is the gateway to the Angkor community. Angkor Wat is that huge collection of ruins that was rediscovered in the nineteenth century and has since been declared a UNESCO heritage site. It is easy to see why. This vast temple area covers over forty acres and houses seven libraries. These libraries are actual stone walls engraved in delicate detail with historic, political, and religious stories. If you have ever considered a visit to this magnificent place, I strongly encourage you to go. The hotel facilities in this area are vast and of a very high caliber. English is spoken in most places, the prices are reasonable, and the people are anxious to help. But back to my story.

We were first introduced to our guide Vandy as we exited the international terminal. He stood there holding a lettered sign with our names clearly printed on it. He stood close to six feet tall, thin, and immaculately dressed in dark pants and white shirt. He appeared to be in his mid to late thirties. His English was excellent, and we were immediately taken to him as he led us from the airport to our local hotel. I believe this comfortable relationship developed because he reminded me a great deal of my own son. Both had about the same build, age, and mannerisms.

Barb and I settled in for the night but were up bright and early awaiting our next adventure. Right on time, Vandy arrived and we were off to visit the aged ruins.

As we walked the Angkor Wat grounds I happened upon some strange looking black pods, which littered the ground. They were about nine inches long and one inch wide and at this stage quite dried and ugly. When you broke them open they contained a bean-like object about the size of a lima bean. They were completely new to me, and I asked Vandy what they were used for. A strange smile crossed his lips and he said, “Yes, if one is desperate they are edible. They come from the tree we call the elephant foot tree. As you can see where the tree trunk meets the ground it resembles an elephant’s foot.” And indeed it did. I picked up another pod and tried to imagine eating this ugly thing, when Vandy continued. “We ate only these pods and the rice we grew for almost two years,” he began, and then shared this story with me.

In 1975 the Cambodian government, then ruled by Lon Nol, was overthrown by a harsh new communist dictator named Pol Pot and his rag-tag group of revolutionaries. They called themselves the Khmer Rouge, or Red Cambodians. Pol Pot initiated a program of agrarian reform, believing that a return to basic agriculture would provide happiness and tranquility for all of his subjects. He was a disciple of Mao Tse Tung, then in power in China, and believed that evil could be scourged from the country by eliminating all traces of modern conveniences. This “elimination” included individuals with any form of education who might challenge his thinking. My friend Vandy was about nine years old at the time and lived near Siem Reap. Vandy’s father was a teacher and therefore considered educated—hence a threat to reform. The father was made part of a work team and forced to work himself to death in a labor camp. Vandy was separated from his mother and forced to join an agrarian rice farming team far from his home. Here he worked from sunrise until dark, tending the rice as part of the team. There was no love, no recreation, and no spare time for play.

The history of this debacle goes on. In 1995, Vietnam – annoyed by a major flow of Cambodian refugees – invaded Cambodia and with the help of the locals drove Pol Pot into the highlands. The United States was confused as to how to react, because here two of our dreaded enemies, both communist states, were at one another’s throat. The occupation lasted until 1997 when the Vietnamese pulled out, and the old king, who had been in exile returned.

Vandy inherited his father’s skill for language and exploited it in a European-run school. English came easy for him, as did Chinese, Japanese and French. He soon found he could make a comfortable living, guiding tourists around the area that he knew so well from his childhood. He was hired by a local tourist agency and because of his language skills became a star performer for them.

The story ends well. Both my son and Vandy are successful men in their chosen professions. The routes to this success, however, were vastly different. We here in America enjoy a great deal of freedom and opportunities for happiness that are denied in other parts of the world. We need to appreciate this situation, for so much of our life depends upon chance.

THANKS FOR ASKING
Q. Last year, I discovered a beehive in my juniper bushes. I ended up with four stings to the head. In January, I hosed it down with a high-pressure nozzle. I think I destroyed the hive or maybe it just got too cold, as I saw no evidence of any activity. What can I do to make sure they reestablish the hive?

A. Ouch, it hurts just thinking about it! Honey Bees, Hornets, and Wasps along with Bumble Bees are inactive during cool, damp, wet weather but if disturbed, they will fly around. Since there is no activity, this is more likely an abandon Yellow Jacket nest. In late November, Yellow Jacket hives become inactive as the workers and male bees die after mating with the queens. The queen, abandons the hive and hibernates for the winter in the bark of trees and/or logs. In the spring, the queens emerge and immediately begin looking for a new location for a nest. There is no chance of a queen reoccupying an old site. The new nests are usually in an above ground location; however, Yellow Jackets can establish hives in abandon gopher or other rodent holes. The above ground nests are close to structures, like under the eves of a house or in your case junipers or other ornamental shrubs. The population of a hive starts slowly, reaching a peak in September/October. Yellow Jackets rarely are a problem at Memorial Day. By the fall, they can be a big nuisance and are easily agitated as mating season approaches. Now is the time of the year to set out your Yellow Jackets traps to capture the queen(s) while she is searching for a new home. Last years trap(s) are reusable but I would wash them out first with warm soapy water before adding the new attractant, which is a must. This should prevent your yard from hosting any hives this year.

Q. I have a perplexing problem growing pole beans. The plants start to grow but something eats them off at the ground when they reach a height of one to two inches. I planted three times last year and each time the same thing occurred. What is the problem and how do I stop it?

A. It certainly sounds like an Earwig or pincher bug problems. Earwigs are nocturnal so they sleep during the day and eat when it gets dark. Ideally, you should bait the area before the beans germinate. Sluggo Plus is an organic bait for snails, slugs and earwigs and is reapplied every three weeks until the seedlings mature. It’s spread evenly throughout the area. Also, you should bait any damp, dark, areas around the garden, as this is where earwigs hide out during the day. One way to tell if you have an Earwig problem is to roll newspaper into a tube, moisten the inside and set the tubes out in the evening. The Earwigs will use the paper tubes as a hiding place when the sun comes up.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.