Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from December 2005

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from December 2005

Peet's picks facility site in Alameda.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Susan Fuller Dec. 1--ALAMEDA -- Iconic granddaddy of gourmet roasts, Peet's Coffee and Tea has chosen the East Bay island as the site for a new roasting and distribution facility. The Emeryville-based company expects to start...

Cooper, once wild as a Panther, cleans up his act in Oakland.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Jarrod Cooper had an inkling it was coming. The evidence was mounting. Something had to be done. Hence, when Carolina Panthers coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney summoned Cooper to...

2 men face hate crime charges in liquor store vandalism.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ Prosecutors filed hate crime charges Thursday against two members of a Black Muslim group who allegedly trashed a pair of Yemeni-owned Oakland liquor stores because they sold alcohol to...

Lawyers for Crips co-founder will get 30 minutes with governor.
December 1, 2005... Byline: John Simerman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ What lawyers for Stanley "Tookie" Williams want most is another day in court. What they'll get, on Dec. 8, is a half-hour in the "horseshoe." Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has set a 30-minute...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business briefs column.
December 1, 2005... Dec. 1--AVILA RESORT ADDS NEW CABINS: Avila Hot Springs Resort is making improvements to the nearly century-old property. The resort now has 21 new, wood-sided cabins. The cabins are still on wheels, but they are hooked up to utilities....

Treasurer says her job requires full-time hours.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Sarah Krupp Dec. 1--Antioch city treasurer Donna Conley says that in order to serve as a true government watchdog, she needs to be paid for more hours on the job. Conley, who ran on a platform of being the people's treasurer a...

Contra Costa's credit rating falls.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Rebecca Rosen Lum Dec. 1--A leading credit agency on Wednesday downgraded Contra Costa's rating and another agency warned it would do the same unless the county replenishes its budget reserves. The action by Moody's serves...

Around the remote: Television picks for Dec. 4-10.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "SLEEPER CELL" _ This gripping 10-part cable drama series brings something fresh to America's airwaves: A Muslim character who is a hero in the ongoing battle against terrorism. Michael Ealy ("Their...

Antioch, Calif., Wal-Mart expansion nears approval.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Sarah Jane Tribble Dec. 2--While Antioch seems poised to approve the East Bay's first Wal-Mart Supercenter, some area residents and a local union say they will continue to voice fears the store will harm local retailers, worsen...

Outreach attempts to woo Hispanics away from diabetes-prone lifestyle choices.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Sarah Krupp WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Blanca Sanchez used to eat 10 tortillas for breakfast. Now, the Oakley, Calif., mother of eight dances to Latin rhythms and jogs most mornings for at least an hour. For breakfast she eats one...

PMI leader to retire.
December 2, 2005... Byline: James Temple Dec. 2--PMI Group Inc.'s longtime CEO W. Roger Haughton, who oversaw the mortgage insurance company's public offering in 1995, will retire next June. President and Chief Operating Officer L. Stephen Smith will...

Cam's Crystal Ball: A 12-4 week will pass any test.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Cam Inman Oh Marty, please, don't make us blush. We're really the best you've ever seen? Better than Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder? Or Jay Trotter, from the 1989 flick "Let It Ride"? Or, gosh, even Nostradamus? What's that? Oh, so...

'Kevlar' economy could be poised to pass records.
December 2, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Dec. 2--A robust economy has set up an enticing table for Wall Street to sample, but whether the ingredients ultimately attract more bulls than bears is an open question. On Thursday, the bulls feasted and the...

Yardbirds customers may snub new owner.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Dec. 2--CONCORD -- If Robert Flagg is representative of Yardbirds shoppers, new owner Home Depot Inc. will have a tough time keeping customers as it takes over the Petaluma-based hardware chain. Flagg, 90, a...

'Red tape' kept marshland dry.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff Dec. 2--Public agencies have steered millions of dollars into buying and improving McNabney Marsh, near the foot of the Benicia Bridge, as a place for birds and wildlife to live and for people to enjoy watching them. ...

Warriors command the Pacific.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich OAKLAND, Calif. _ Jason Richardson dribbled to his right in the key, cocked the ball in his right arm and rammed home a dunk over Charlotte Bobcats center Emeka Okafor. It was an emphatic statement that the...

Government unveils new airport safety rules.
December 3, 2005... Dec. 3--Bay Area airports say new security rules allowing passengers to carry scissors and tools aboard flights won't impact safety, but flight attendants are outraged and promise to fight the new regulations. "It's a backward step in our...

No answer for Moss' drop-off with Raiders.
December 3, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss is back at full strength, by all accounts outside of Moss'. That begs the question, why has his production dropped off so much? No one seems to have the...

Kaiser eyes Dublin, Calif., site for expansion.
December 3, 2005... Byline: Bonita Brewer Dec. 3--Kaiser Permanente is negotiating to buy land that Dublin Mayor Janet Lockhart says would be for a new full-scale hospital north of Interstate 580 in eastern Dublin. Jim Caroompas, a spokesman for the...

Outlook good for Bay Area economy.
December 3, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Dec. 3--SAN FRANCISCO - The national economy is firing on all cylinders, and the Bay Area economy has begun to chug at a faster pace, a top official with the Federal Reserve said Friday. Those upbeat assessments...

Store fills its last prescription.
December 3, 2005... Byline: Chris Treadway Dec. 3--ALBANY - For as long as anyone can remember, possibly dating back before the automobile age, the northwest corner of San Pablo and Solano avenues has been a pharmacy -- until 5 p.m. Tuesday. That's when...

TSA eases carry-on restrictions.
December 3, 2005... Byline: Mike Adamick and Joyce Tsai Dec. 3--Bay Area airports say new security rules allowing passengers to carry scissors and tools aboard flights won't impact safety, but flight attendants are outraged and promise to fight the new...

Wine bar fast becoming a Brentwood institution.
December 3, 2005... Byline: Tanya Rose Dec. 3--Cars jam themselves sardine-like into lots near the Brentwood Wine Store, a small shop on First Street that pulses with loyal customers every day. Inside, patrons laugh and drink up, their empty wine glasses...

Closed-door policy lost many Chinese identities.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Nathaniel Hoffman ANGEL ISLAND, Calif. _ Her friends call her Judy. Her students call her Professor Yung. Judith Yung appears on her birth certificate. But to Mom and Dad and her Chinese school teacher, she was always Bick...

Owens' apologists undermine concept of teamwork.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes What Deion Sanders and Arlen Specter may not fully comprehend is that Terrell Owens didn't just fail to apologize to the Eagles. His was a much more egregious error. Among the lessons from Owens' exile is that...

Web denizens contribute to do-it-yourself 'wikimania'.
December 4, 2005

Wait til next year Raiders' mantra after rout by Chargers.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran SAN DIEGO _ This is where it all began. Thirty-four months ago, the Raiders sat atop the NFL world, champions of the AFC and playing in their first Super Bowl in 19 seasons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dealt the...

Chargers rout Raiders.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran SAN DIEGO _ This is where it all began. Thirty four months ago, the Oakland Raiders sat atop the NFL world, champions of the AFC and playing in their first Super Bowl in 19 seasons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dealt...

No. 1 pick Smith finally steps up.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore SAN FRANCISCO _ That sound you heard early Sunday afternoon from Monster Park was San Francisco 49ers owner John York and first-year coach Mike Nolan breathing a collective sigh of relief. For the first time this...

A lively game of mythical missions.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Jackie Burrell Dec. 4--In a world of dungeons, dragons and tendriculas, everyone's a hero. The famous role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, has attracted approximately 20 million fans since co-creators Gary Gygax and Dave...

Elegant marketing tie-ins back 'Memoirs' release.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Jessica Yadegaran Dec. 4--"Harry Potter" wristwatches. "Batman" action figures. "Memoirs of a Geisha" face wash. What? A movie tie-in geared toward adults? You bet. Gone is the Hollywood adage that you need an adventure...

BART station to model the future.
December 4, 2005... Byline: Mike Adamick Dec. 4--PLEASANT HILL - Commuters flit about on Segway upright scooters. Workers bound into shared hybrid cars and cruise out of the station. Pedestrians and bicyclists swarm the roads and sidewalks. This...

Antioch woman reigns with grains.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Sarah Krupp Dec. 5--Traci Fellows earns a living on a blend of organic oats, nuts and fruit, but she doesn't fit the Birkenstock-wearing, hair-parted-down-the-middle granola girl stereotype. In a form-fitting dress and donning...

Kaiser eyes Tri-Valley site for expansion.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Bonita Brewer Dec. 5--DUBLIN - Kaiser Permanente is negotiating to buy land that Dublin Mayor Janet Lockhart says would be for a new full-scale hospital north of Interstate 580 in eastern Dublin. Jim Caroompas, a spokesman for...

Robotics class seeks corporate sponsors.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Eric Louie Dec. 5--DANVILLE -- Challan Mauritz wasn't into engineering or even school, for that matter. But last year, the San Ramon Valley High School junior signed up for the school's emerging robotics class. Besides becoming...

Tuiasosopo may get call for Raiders.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ It appears that Oakland Raiders coach Norv Turner is ready to take an extensive look at backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo now that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention. ...

National parks need more stable funding to survive, advocates say.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ People love their national parks, but paying to prevent their deterioration is becoming a struggle over the price of preserving America's heritage. From California's majestic Yosemite Valley to...

Inn-escapable: Avila Village Inn.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Anne Chalfant AVILA BEACH, Calif. _ Funny how Arts & Crafts-style furniture and decor can make you feel right at home, even when it's an inn. Avila Village Inn on the Central Coast just opened this year, so business was slow...

Suite Edna Bed & Breakfast truly is a destination.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Anne Chalfant SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. _ The train rumbles by at some dark hour, but it's a predictable rhythm of small-town life. Sleep returns quickly in your cozy little house. Correction _ in your cozy little town. When you stay...

Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort offers affordable downtime.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Anne Chalfant SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. _ Life occasionally calls for time to reflect. It's good to find respite in a place where the walls are not familiar, but are welcoming. Where the outdoors invites you to sit and watch...

Wrapping up your holidays.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Dec. 6--WALNUT CREEK -- When the Container Store looks for help during the holidays, it turns to a group of people who already knew a lot about its stores: customers. That's how Lisa Suttles ended up explaining...

Seasonal staffing demand continues.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Dec. 6--Besides hanging "on sale" signs in windows, many retailers are also displaying "help wanted" banners. Retailers often start their holiday hiring in September and October, but with holiday sales coming in...

Bonus-family names may evolve.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: I'm the bonus father of a 6-year-old girl. Her parents were divorced when she was a baby, and her biological father is still part of her life. My wife has custody, but she is with her father...

Clemency bid to include claims of errors in trial.
December 6, 2005... Byline: John Simerman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ What the jury saw was a musclebound hulk in a 4X jacket. What they heard about was barbaric: two cold-blooded robbery murders within 12 days, four dead and a suspect who was said to laugh...

Group strives to aid low-income families.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko Dec. 6--TRI-VALLEY -- While some may associate million-dollar homes, BMWs and boutique shopping areas with the Tri-Valley, basic needs such as child care can be a daily struggle for many area residents. For 40...

Assembly scrutinizes enterprise zones.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Jessica Guynn Dec. 6--State lawmakers are taking a hard look at a costly and controversial corporate tax break after a Times investigation revealed loopholes allowing some of the wealthiest companies operating in the most affluent...

Wikipedia modifies page policy.
December 6, 2005

Contra Costa County, Calif., administrator retires.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Rebecca Rosen Lum Dec. 6--With union contract talks dragging, bond ratings slipping and $20 million in cuts looming, Contra Costa County has one more bit of news to digest: Administrator John Sweeten announced his retirement...

Gioia seeks advisory vote on urban casinos.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Tom Lochner Dec. 6--RICHMOND - Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia on Monday called for an advisory vote to settle once and for all whether or not San Pablo and other West County residents want urban casinos. Gioia's...

A new venue, new expectations for Sharks' Thornton.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson SAN JOSE, Calif. _ The mention of Joe Thornton's name drew an approving cheer before Tuesday night's Sharks-Atlanta Thrashers game. Bigger and more approving, in fact, than any of the Sharks' other five starters...

Housing market to slow, not crash.
December 7, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Dec. 7--The California economy and its irrepressible housing market are headed for a slowdown rather than a meltdown. That mixed -- but far from dismal -- outlook for the Golden State comes from economists with...

Meetings to detail Medicare Part D.
December 7, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko Dec. 7--CASTRO VALLEY -- Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, will hold town hall meetings in Castro Valley and Oakland to help East Bay seniors to better understand the new -- and sometimes confusing -- Medicare...

It appears Zito's staying with A's, for now.
December 7, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd DALLAS _ It took a few minutes for the most obvious question to come Ken Macha's way Wednesday during his informal gathering with members of the media at the Wyndham Anatole. When it did, it took about a nanosecond for...

Suns put Warriors away late.
December 7, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ There is no game plan for stopping the Phoenix Suns. There is no scheme to prevent them from scoring. Point guard Steve Nash, the reigning MVP, is unguardable. Forward Shawn Marion is too...

Council OKs initial Fallon Village plans.
December 7, 2005... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Dec. 7--DUBLIN - The Dublin City Council on Tuesday night approved the environmental report and initial development plans for the massive Fallon Village residential and commercial development in far East Dublin. ...

Luring more businesses to East County with upscale homes.
December 7, 2005... Byline: Sarah Jane Tribble Dec. 7--ANTIOCH -- In the wake of East County's vote to expand urban limit lines, local leaders are eagerly anticipating "executive houses" and with them the entrepreneurial residents who could create jobs. ...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business briefs column.
December 8, 2005... Dec. 8--Livermore-based robotics maker Adept Technologies Inc. (ADEP) made a $1.1 million deal with Becton, Dickinson and Co. to provide robots used in laboratory tests. San Ramon-based Chevron Corp. (CVX), an oil and gas company, elected...

It's time for Raiders' Tuiasosopo to prove himself.
December 8, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ It was a good day to be a Tuiasosopo on Wednesday. That much was confirmed when the Raiders named Marques Tuiasosopo their starting quarterback on the same day they signed fullback Zach Tuiasosopo to...

Pub sees business slowing.
December 8, 2005... Byline: Andrew Becker Dec. 8--ANTIOCH -- Even with the pub's renowned meatloaf as the evening's fare and karaoke the night's entertainment, it was pretty quiet at the Wallace Arms just after 6 p.m. on a recent Thursday. Happy hour...

Around the remote: Television picks for the week of Dec. 11-17.
December 8, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "DARE TO DREAM: THE STORY OF THE U.S. WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM" _ The watershed 1999 World Cup victory and Brandi Chastain's famous jersey-shedding celebration have received massive media attention. But...

Gay in `05.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Randy Myers Gay characters have played prominent roles in many of this year's movies. Here are some high-profile examples: _"Capote": Philip Seymour Hoffman should have a lock on an Oscar nomination for his nuanced, flawless...

Being gay in the movies.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Randy Myers From the "sissy" to the killer to the wisecracking sidekick, gay and lesbian characters have long been featured on the silver screen. Here is a sampling of mainstream movies released over the last several decades with...

Director, cast hope to find wide audience for `Brokeback Mountain'.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Randy Myers Is America ready to embrace a movie about two macho cowboys who fall hopelessly and confusingly in love? The makers of the brave and beautiful "Brokeback Mountain" hope so. The film, based on an eloquent Annie...

Cam's Crystal Ball: In pursuit of the `Magnificent Seven'.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Cam Inman No wonder the Crystal Ball was denied salary arbitration despite a .677 winning percentage. It just doesn't live up to what the NFL dubs the "Magnificent Seven," the teams that have won at least 75 percent of their...

Kaiser honors first patients, workers.
December 9, 2005... Byline: John Geluardi Dec. 9--RICHMOND - With trio of 1940s-clad singers belting out WWII-era tunes, and a Rosie the Riveter wearing her original hard-hat, Kaiser Permanente on Thursday celebrated its 60th anniversary of offering medical...

Bottle Basics: How to buy wine.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Dec. 9--Mike Williams says he can taste the difference between a $5 bottle of wine and a $10 bottle. But when it comes to contrasting $30 and $60 bottles, his tastebuds don't say much. "I'm probably not qualified...

The gift of grab.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Ellen Lee Dec. 9--For about three weeks now, Josh Lowensohn has been checking in regularly with the Target store in Walnut Creek in hopes of getting his hands on the Xbox 360, Microsoft Corp.'s new gaming console. The Xbox 360,...

Not just another game for Warriors' Jason Richardson.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson OAKLAND, Calif. _ Big game Friday night. Not for the Warriors _ for Jason Richardson. Best team in the league in town for a visit. Matched up against a ring-toting 20-point-per-game shooting guard. Live TV back in...

Warriors push Pistons to limit.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich OAKLAND, Calif. _ Opportunity knocked for the Golden State Warriors on Friday night at the Arena. With the big, bad Detroit Pistons bringing their 13-2 record to town, the Warriors had a chance to show in front of...

Shoppers need persistence, good fortune to grab popular products.
December 9, 2005... Byline: Ellen Lee Dec. 9--For about three weeks now, Josh Lowensohn has been checking in regularly with the Target store in Walnut Creek in hopes of getting his hands on the Xbox 360, Microsoft Corp.'s new gaming console. The Xbox 360,...

School officials field complaints on English language progress.
December 10, 2005... Byline: Sarah Krupp Dec. 10--CONCORD -- Responding to charges that Mt. Diablo High School is neglecting students who are learning English, administrators are forming subcommittees to resolve the issues. But Mt. Diablo Unified School...

Walnut Creek, Calif.-area transit system faces future hurdles.
December 10, 2005... Byline: Mike Adamick Dec. 10--BART hopes ridership gains and voter-approved bonds and tolls over the next 10 years will help it weather fiscal storms on the horizon. And there are many. Power costs could double next year. Labor...

Slimmer hospital expansion offered.
December 10, 2005... Byline: Eric Kurhi Dec. 10--The latest plan for an expansion of the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center was unveiled to a city committee and a roomful of skeptical residents, who said they were not given enough time to adequately...

SBC California sues city over new product.
December 10, 2005... Byline: Theresa Harrington Dec. 10--SBC California has sued Walnut Creek for the right to improve its phone and Internet services without city approval, after the City Council refused to permit video services without a written franchise....

Entrepreneur seeks capital to produce alternate fuels.
December 11, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Dec. 11--BURLINGAME -- For an entrepreneur promising to make electricity and hot water from the rays of the sun, the morning of Nov. 8 did not bode well. It was rainy and overcast outside the Marriott San Francisco...

Decaying dental care.
December 11, 2005... Byline: Sara Steffens Dec. 11--When his front teeth began falling out, Hubert Courtais decided to leave his longtime job as a waiter at a French restaurant. "Other people could see," he explained. "I lost three teeth, two up here and...

QB change does little for Raiders in loss to Jets.
December 11, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ The Oakland Raiders turned to quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo in hopes of pumping some life into their listing offense and perhaps giving them reason for optimism beyond this season. It all...

Old Navy's president keeps it sailing.
December 11, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Dec. 11--Jenny Ming jokes that she doesn't take herself that seriously. After all, she is merely selling clothes. But as president of Old Navy, a division of San Francisco-based Gap Inc., her job is more...

EDITORIAL: U.S. must invest more in innovation.(Editorial)
December 11, 2005... Dec. 11--FOR MOST OF THE 20th century the United States led the world in innovative technology. We are still global leaders in scientific discovery and innovation, but there are serious threats to America's leading position. More now than...

Warriors rookie learning on the fly.
December 12, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich OAKLAND, Calif. _ Ike Diogu is no different from his fellow NBA rookies with the mistakes he makes. Being in the wrong spot when defending the pick-and-roll. Collecting fouls by the bundle. But for every...

Schwarzenegger denies clemency for gang founder Tookie Williams.
December 12, 2005... Byline: John Simerman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday denied clemency for Stanley Tookie Williams, the Crips gang co-founder and convicted murderer who will be executed by lethal injection just after midnight...

Turner is mum about his future, starting QB.
December 12, 2005... Byline: Cam Inman ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Oakland Raiders coach Norv Turner declined to discuss Monday if his job is in peril, nor did he hint that Marques Tuiasosopo's might be as the team's starting quarterback. But about an hour after...

Hundreds hold vigil for condemned Williams.
December 12, 2005... Byline: Karl Fischer, Danielle Samaniego and Sandy Kleffman SAN QUENTIN, Calif. _They braved the chilly night air with lit candles, drums and large signs. Many chanted "Let Tookie Live." Others sang or meditated quietly with eyes...

Gang founder Williams set to be executed after midnight.
December 12, 2005... Byline: Karl Fischer and Mike Adamick WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Isolated in a death-watch cell, Stanley Tookie Williams is spending his final hours reading mail and waiting for his scheduled midnight execution, as a protest grows outside the...