Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from March 2005, page 2

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

Jerry Rice testifies that Williams had talent.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ Record-setting wide receiver Jerry Rice testified Wednesday that his former Raiders teammate Marcus Williams was a "good player" who had an opportunity to make a name for himself in the NFL. ...

Peterson to die by lethal injection for killing wife, unborn son.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Ivan Delventhal and Guy Ashley REDWOOD CITY, Calif. _ Scott Peterson was sentenced to death Wednesday for murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, exchanging the spotlight of saturation news coverage for the obscurity of...

Airfield planners borrow more time.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 16--Contra Costa supervisors on Tuesday re-fueled a plan to close Buchanan Field by giving a development group until September to find a replacement for the Concord airport. The controversial idea to...

Supervisors want cuts to bypass vital services.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 16--Contra Costa supervisors know they will have to make deep cuts next year to patch a revenue shortfall of at least $50 million, but said Tuesday they would try to avoid gutting services that would lead to...

Airport relocation plan up in the air.
March 15, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 15--Unexpected turbulence may temporarily ground a plan by Contra Costa supervisors to relocate Buchanan Field. A development group led by Shapell Industries no longer thinks its two suggested...

Rapid Oakley development worries locals.
March 15, 2005... Byline: Kiley Russell Mar. 15--In the open space and farm land that now separate Oakley's eastern neighborhoods from the brackish waters of the Delta, developers plan several thousand new homes that will further complicate life in the...

Housing cool-off could chill economy.
March 15, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 15--The super-heated housing market is likely to cool, which could chill the California economy and imperil employment and economic growth in the East Bay, researchers warned in a report released today. ...

Tri-Valley poised to be hub for innovation.
March 15, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 15--The Tri-Valley can become a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurs, if the region's business and political leaders play their cards right, according to a report released Monday. That's because the...

World-class cricket venue pitched in California.
March 15, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko PLEASANTON, Calif. _If a local developer gets his way, terms such as ``wickets,'' ``golden ducks'' and ``overs'' may become as common at the Alameda County Fairgrounds as corndogs, carnival rides and horse racing....

Traffic issues jam up drop-off time.
March 15, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: My ex lives in Virginia, and I live in New York City. Our twin boys, Jack and Sam, started kindergarten in September, and now that they are going to school my ex wants to change the time...

Ticket to NCAA Tournament reaps major rewards.
March 15, 2005... Byline: Ann Tatko WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Just making the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament this year will be worth in excess of $152,000. A first-round win this week would net another $152,000-plus. But tournament-bound St. Mary's...

Redick, Brown among nation's best in 2004-05.
March 15, 2005... Byline: Jonathan Okanes The Associated Press All-America Team will be announced next week. For now, here is one voter's picks for the nation's top players: J.J. Redick, Duke: While Redick may be known for his sharpshooting_he was 41...

Ex-Reds trainer feels guilt over steroid issue.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes Larry Starr has a guilty conscience. He anguishes over his role in baseball's steroid scandal and wonders if he could've done more to prevent it. ``I was in the middle of it,'' he said. ``My options were limited....

High life in LoDo: Denver has revamped its lower downtown area.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Anne Chalfant DENVER _ It's a January Saturday, and we're sitting in a wooden booth at one of a dozen brewpubs burbling around Denver. A pleasant yeasty smell wafts from the microbrewery in back. My lunch partner wraps his hands...

Tiny bubbles _ millions of 'em _ in every bottle.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Janice Fuhrman French inventors of Champagne, among them the blind, Benedictine monk Dom Perignon, were embarrassed by the accidental bubbles in their wine until they realized they were making something unique and exciting. ...

Warriors' rally falls just short.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ The old saying goes: live by the three, die by the three. Monday, it was the 3-pointer that both gave the Warriors life and killed the Warriors' chances at victory. After knocking...

Callahan hurts Williams' case vs. Romanowski.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ Former Oakland Raiders tight end Marcus Williams was a "work in progress" whose future as a professional football player hinged on whether he could bring more consistency to his blocking and...

Judge rules California's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Matt Krupnick SAN FRANCISCO _ A San Francisco judge overturned California's ban on same-sex marriage Monday, saying it serves no legitimate state interest and violates civil rights. Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled...

Scott Peterson's attorneys file motion for new trial.
March 14, 2005... Byline: Ivan Delventhal WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Convicted murderer Scott Peterson should be granted a new trial because of misconduct by prosecutors and jurors and errors by the trial judge, his attorneys claim in a court filing unsealed...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business bulletin column.
March 13, 2005... Mar. 13--Monday, March 14 Experience Unlimited of Pleasant Hill, a no-fee, nonprofit volunteer organization sponsored by California Employment Development Department to help professionals seeking new jobs, holds an orientation, 8:30 a.m....

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business listing column.
March 13, 2005... Mar. 13--The following individuals or corporations filed fictitious-business-name statements in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The Times makes every effort to ensure accuracy but cannot be held responsible if there are errors or omissions...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business leader profile column.
March 13, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 13--Richard Loupe and his Valley Community Bank are the old kids on the block. In 2003, Alamo-based Diablo Valley Bank opened and set up branches in Danville and Pleasanton. Earlier this year, a local...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., people in motion column.
March 13, 2005... Mar. 13--Marc H. Berger, CPA, is the new managing partner at Leibowitz Shumaker Berger & Rubens LLP, a business advisory, tax and accounting service with offices in Walnut Creek and San Francisco. --James J. Odell has been appointed...

Grocers slow to cater to Latinos.
March 12, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 12--Many Bay Area food retailers are shifting their products and practices to appeal to the ballooning Latino market, but most aren't doing nearly enough given the size of the opportunity, experts say. ...

Housing policies for poor assailed.
March 12, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Mar. 12--BERKELEY -- Panelists at a conference sponsored by UC Berkeley's Housing and Urban Policy program painted a bleak picture Friday of the options available to families with incomes too low to buy houses or pay...

Top PG&E execs enjoy another lucrative year.
March 12, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Mar. 12--Last year was just another of lucrative pay envelopes for former Chief Executive Robert Glynn and four other top executives of PG&E Corp., who as a group collected $13.7 million in salaries, bonuses and...

Former Gael has a shot with Royals.
March 12, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich SURPRISE, Ariz. _ Getting traded from the A's to the Kansas City Royals was a jolt for Mark Teahen, though he knew deep down it was best for him. Playing third base in the A's organization is not a sound plan...

Rookie second baseman is making an impression.
March 12, 2005... Byline: Chris Haft SCOTTSDALE, Ariz._Despite being a last-minute replacement, Kevin Frandsen looked like he belonged where he was. The former San Jose State star played all nine innings of Saturday's split-squad game against the Los...

Antioch corrugated-box factory to close June 1.
March 12, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 12--An Antioch factory that makes corrugated packages will shut its doors in June as its parent, Temple-Inland Inc., pursues a quest to slash expenses, company officials confirmed Friday. Just over 100...

Gas price hikes hit consumers beyond pump.
March 11, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 11--The renewed climb in crude oil prices could jolt consumers at the checkout counter as well as the gas pump. For the last week or so, motorists have come to dread that trip to the gas station, facing...

Magowan retiring from Safeway board.
March 11, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 11--San Francisco Giants Managing General Partner Peter Magowan is retiring from Safeway Inc.'s board of directors, bringing an end to a 37-year career with the supermarket chain as well as a family legacy. ...

Conservation group set to buy 700 acres in Contra Costa County, Calif.
March 11, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff Mar. 11--A conservation group has raised $3.2 million to buy 700 acres of rolling hills between Martinez and Hercules as the centerpiece of a new open space for hikers, birds and wildlife. The nonprofit Muir...

Just can't feel sorry for Romo.
March 11, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore I've been trying to wrap my mind around the image of former Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski as a sympathetic figure. Romanowski was on the witness stand Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court, reportedly...

Fiscal troubles prompt officials to watch community college district.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Matt Krupnick Mar. 10--Watching the unsettled Contra Costa Community College District is enough to make an observer dizzy these days. Beset with sickouts, layoff threats, strike plans, lawsuits, angry meetings and contract...

Walnut Creek, Calif., restaurant invites youngsters to mascot contest.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Maricella Miranda Mar. 10--WALNUT CREEK -- Celebrity mascots like Ronald McDonald and the Subway chain's Jared Fogel can make or break an eatery. McCovey's Restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek hopes to hit one out of the...

`Downfall'.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Mary F. Pols Late in the movie "Downfall," the actress playing Magda Goebbels throws herself at the feet of Adolf Hitler and begs him not to kill himself, to flee Berlin instead and carry on his dream of the Third Reich. ...

Quinn urges investors to be cautious.
March 10, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 10--WALNUT CREEK -- Diversity and conservative bets are key to financial fitness in the world of increasing economic uncertainty, said Jane Bryant Quinn, one of the nation's foremost personal finance...

A's may settle for one southpaw in relief.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich PHOENIX _ Last season Ricardo Rincon had the company of two fellow left-handers in the A's bullpen with Chris Hammond and Arthur Rhodes. This season it could get lonely for the southpaw. One of the...

Percentages don't add up for Pac-10.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Jonathan Okanes LOS ANGELES _ There were a lot of positive vibes floating around the Staples Center on Thursday. Despite UCLA's loss to Oregon State in the first round of the Pac-10 Tournament, everyone seemed to be united in...

Punch cost former Raider millions, economist claims.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ Former Raiders tight end Marcus Williams lost as much as $8.7 million in potential earnings, benefits and medical costs when his fledgling professional football career was ended by a punch to the face...

Around the remote: TV picks for March 13-19.
March 10, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "The Shield": Television's best cop show returns this week for its fourth season and changes are afoot. Joining the cast is Glenn Close, the five-time Oscar nominee who's getting her first taste of...

Cosmetics firms to give away $175 million in products after legal settlement.
March 9, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 9--OAKLAND -- Major cosmetics manufacturers and retailers, including L'Oreal, Estee Lauder and Target, will give away $175 million in products to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the companies of price...

Deal reached in cosmetics lawsuit.
March 9, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 9--OAKLAND -- Major cosmetics manufacturers and retailers, including L'Oreal, Estee Lauder and Target, will give away $175 million in products to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the companies of price...

Hearings might crack the code.
March 9, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes This is the showdown we've all been waiting for. It could be more compelling than the Red Sox-Yankees. It's The Oath vs. The Code. Some are calling it grandstanding. Given the long-standing tradition of...

Keeping ex's name can be practical.
March 8, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: My husband of two years was previously married and has two kids _ a son and a daughter. He shares custody with his ex-wife. Six months ago, his ex-wife remarried and she refuses to change...

Contra Costa County, Calif., performs triage on affordable housing.
March 8, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 8--Contra Costa supervisors have saved hundreds of affordable apartments this year from sputtering mid-construction, but derailed hundreds more in the process. Unexpected cuts in federal Section 8...

Gas price gains portend budget pains.
March 8, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 8--Pump prices, which have steadily ticked up during the last two months, are poised to leap nearly a quarter per gallon in the coming weeks. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded averaged $2.21...

Warriors still rock on the road.
March 8, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II PHILADELPHIA_The Philadelphia 76ers fans had seen enough. By the time guard Jason Richardson nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing, giving the Warriors a 20-point lead and forcing another Sixers timeout,...

Rodgers gives NFL scouts a sneak peek.
March 8, 2005... Byline: Jay Heater BERKELEY, Calif. _ A group of about 25 NFL scouts gathered in the middle of the Memorial Stadium field Tuesday afternoon as Aaron Rodgers slipped off his sweatshirt. Already scheduled to throw for NFL coaches and...

Teary Romanowski tells of his Jekyll-Hyde ways.
March 8, 2005... Byline: Ivan Delventhal OAKLAND, Calif. _ Bill Romanowski, the former Oakland Raiders linebacker, teared up Tuesday afternoon as he testified about his own Jekyll and Hyde persona_one side a gladiator in the NFL and the other a...

`Gunner Palace'.
March 7, 2005... Byline: Mary F. Pols The tag line for "Gunner Palace" reads: "Some war stories will never make the nightly news." The implication you might take from that is that the documentary contains material too inflammatory for the dinner hour....

Quinn addresses finance's changes.
March 7, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 7--Jane Bryant Quinn is one of the nation's foremost personal finance commentators. The author of two bestsellers regularly advises readers of both Newsweek and Good Housekeeping how to manage their money...

Oakland A's pitcher ready to step into spotlight.
March 7, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich PHOENIX _ He ranks as a grizzled veteran of the A's pitching staff, at least as grizzled and veteran as a 23-year-old can be. There are lots of fresh, young faces on the A's pitching staff in spring camp, and...

Williams damage `irreversible,' court told.
March 7, 2005... Byline: Ivan Delventhal OAKLAND, Calif. _ Former Raider Marcus Williams has suffered "irreversible" brain damage as a result of being punched in the face in August 2003 by then-teammate Bill Romanowski, a doctor testified Monday. ...

`Holly's Law' reintroduced to halt FDA approval of abortion pill.
March 7, 2005... Byline: Bonita Brewer WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ The controversial RU-486 abortion pill, which 18-year-old Holly Patterson of Livermore, Calif., took a week before dying of a massive infection in September 2003, would be at least temporarily...

It's open season for breaking baseball's code of privacy.
March 6, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd Nobody had to tell Dusty Baker about The Code the first time he set foot in a big league clubhouse in 1968. Nearly 30 years later, nobody needed to tell Tim Hudson, either. "It's just common sense," Hudson said....

California, fishers at odds.
March 6, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff BERKELEY, Calif. _ A small silver fish prized in Japan for its salty eggs has swum into a political storm over the last commercial fishery in San Francisco Bay. Many Bay Area residents are unaware that their back...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., people in motion column.
March 6, 2005... Mar. 6--Grant Cooke has joined Intergy Corp. in Pleasanton as vice president of programs and business development. He is the former director of public relations for Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. --Commercial real estate attorney...

Manufacturing execs seek ways to survive.
March 6, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 6--The litany of woes that confront California manufacturers extends to plenty of areas: Health care. Workers' comp. Environmental rules. Housing costs. Global competition. If they close plants, expand in...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business bulletin column.
March 6, 2005... Mar. 6--BULLETIN BOARD: --Experience Unlimited of Pleasant Hill, a no-fee, nonprofit volunteer organization sponsored by California Employment Development Department to help professionals seeking new jobs, holds an orientation, 8:30 a.m....

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business listing column.
March 6, 2005... Mar. 6--BUSINESS NAME FILINGS: The following individuals or corporations filed fictitious-business-name statements in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The Times makes every effort to ensure accuracy but cannot be held responsible if there...

Lawson, Cal women no match for No. 2 Stanford.
March 5, 2005... Byline: Jay Heater SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Anyone who has watched Cal's struggling basketball team knows that Bears freshman center Jessica Lawson is the player of the future. On Saturday during the Pac-10 Conference Tournament quarterfinals...

Stocks rise on positive jobs report.
March 5, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 5--A better-than-expected report on new jobs helped power the nation's stock markets Friday to their highest levels in nearly four years. The employment gains last month were strong enough to persuade some...

Hospitals ordered to add nurses.
March 5, 2005... Byline: Judy Silber Mar. 5--Confirming a tentative decision, a judge ruled Friday that hospitals must meet stringent nurse-staffing requirements that the Schwarzenegger administration had tried to delay. The Sacramento Superior Court...

PG&E executives gain millions on stocks.
March 5, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Mar. 5--This week a group of PG&E Corp.'s top executives realized millions of dollars in gains by exercising options to buy stock that they immediately sold. Chairman Robert Glynn led the charge, flipping 607,000...

Catcher Pierzynski dodging damaging label with White Sox.
March 5, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd TUCSON, Ariz. Cancer. You see the word and automatically you cringe. The most grotesque of disgusting images pop into mind when the "C" word is mentioned, the most damaging of diagnoses are assumed. For an...

Mariners want to give Ichiro help finding his way home.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd PEORIA, Ariz. _ What's in a number? Well, admiration for one. Fascination for another. Humor and bewilderment for a third. This particular number generated all of those human emotions in the Emerald City and...

Toddler heart recipient thriving a year later.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Randy Myers OAKLEY, Calif. _The thank-you letter remains unwritten, though often contemplated. Nine months after the joyous and exhausting day when their 3-year-old son received a new heart, Bill and Stephanie Wessels...

Chiron executive's goal: regain confidence.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Judy Silber Mar. 4--BERKELEY -- To regain the confidence of British regulators, Chiron Corp. completely overhauled the production process at the Liverpool plant where it manufactures flu vaccine, Chiron Chief Executive Officer...

Vehicle fuel efficiency falls short.
March 4, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 4--Advertised fuel efficiency often doesn't jibe with the reality of the road, according to the American Automobile Association. Tests on hundreds of new vehicles found that actual miles per gallon fall well...

Governor loses ruling on nurse ratios.
March 4, 2005... Mar. 4--In a blow to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a victory for nurses who have waged an all-out public relations campaign against him, a judge indicated Thursday that she will likely force the state's hospitals to increase the number of...

Extent of A's reliever's injury is still unclear.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick PHOENIX _ A's reliever Chad Bradford said he underwent an MRI on his lower back earlier in the week but is still unclear about the extent of the injury. Bradford was in the clubhouse Friday, still in street...

Thomason, University of Pacific find the spotlight.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore Early last month, University of the Pacific basketball coach Bob Thomason called his Tigers "the most disrespected team in the country." Pacific was unranked and under the radar. Unfairly so, argued Thomason, a...

Richardson leads Warriors past Wizards.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II WASHINGTON _ You know the Golden State Warriors were shooting a lot of three-pointers Friday night when Baron Davis, known for occasionally shucking the offense for an ill-advised trey, was imploring his...

Lawmaker speaks on pension reform.
March 4, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 4--MORAGA -- The Southern California lawmaker who ignited the state's explosive pension reform debate pitched his sweeping overhaul plan Thursday night to Contra Costa leaders. Speaking at St. Mary's...

Around the remote: TV picks for March 6-12.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS: THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD": Halle Berry shines in this provocative and passionate adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's classic 1937 novel. Berry plays Janie Crawford, a free...

Backers of Indian casino say they'll give money for road improvements.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Tom Lochner Mar. 3--SAN PABLO -- The owners and financial backers of a San Pablo Indian casino will front the state $25 million for road improvements as soon as the state okays the casino, the chairwoman of the Lytton Band of...

Governor pushes reform agenda.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Kiley Russell Mar. 3--HAYWARD -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, continuing his campaign Wednesday to win "the people" over to his ambitious reform agenda, held a highly stage-managed event in front of an adoring crowd of business...

Survey: Majority of Mexican immigrants would use work program.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Jack Chang Mar. 3--A landmark survey released Wednesday of nearly 5,000 Mexican immigrants found a great majority of them would participate in a temporary work permit program similar to one President Bush proposes -- although a...

`The Jacket'.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Mary F. Pols The audience for fictions that involve time travel tends to divide into two categories. Literal-minded people are more drawn to stories where everything makes perfect sense at the end. Lingering questions that can be...

Longs posts 32 percent jump in profit.
March 3, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 3--Longs Drug Stores Corp.'s company-wide overhaul, undertaken three years ago amid flagging sales and profits, appears to be paying off. The Walnut Creek-based drug store chain reported preliminary...

On steroids: `Our hands were tied' _ yeah, right.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson It seemed a refreshingly tart bit o' candor when Tony La Russa piped up, claiming to have known about Jose Canseco's steroid jones while Canseco was creaming home runs for the Bash Brothers-era Athletics. Acutely...

Ugly loss to No. 10 Washington puts Cal in a tough spot.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Jonathan Okanes BERKELEY, Calif. _ Cal now has played 27 games this season. Who cares? The Bears' season is now down to one game_one game to determine if there are more games. Cal was run off the Haas Pavilion floor by...

Running back Jordan the final piece in Raiders' plan.
March 3, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran The Oakland Raiders finalized a contract with free-agent running back LaMont Jordan on Thursday, adding the last piece to an offense that figures to be among the NFL's best in the 2005 season. The Jordan move...