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

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

Lockheed Martin in running for management of national lab.
March 31, 2005... Byline: Betsy Mason Mar. 31--Lockheed Martin is back in the competition to be the next manager of Los Alamos National Laboratory. In August, Lockheed Martin officials said they were no longer interested in bidding, but changes to the...

New deal in works for refinery union.
March 31, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Mar. 31--The union that represents workers at four Bay Area oil refineries announced a three-year extension to a pattern-setting national contract that was due to run out in 10 months. The deal, which will be...

Truckers to face heavier security measures.
March 31, 2005... Byline: Kiley Russell Mar. 31--The war against terrorism hits American highways this spring when truckers who haul dangerous chemicals and explosives will be subjected to a new, more thorough criminal background check. Starting in...

Use of stem cells in California creates ethical dilemma over women's eggs.
March 31, 2005... Byline: Sandy Kleffman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ California's plunge into the brave new world of stem cell research is raising prickly ethical questions and could create a demand for hundreds of women's eggs. Scientists plan to use the...

Around the remote: TV picks for April 3-9.
March 31, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FINAL: Alas, all good things must come to an end. The annual exercise in college basketball gluttony known as March Madness has been crammed with titanic clashes and breathtaking...

State will not shut down Contra Costa, Calif., drug treatment center.
March 30, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 30--A beleaguered Contra Costa drug treatment center will not face fines or closure, thanks to state approval of a county plan to correct problems such as tracking medication. After reviewing proposed...

Study: Preschool investment leads to increased benefits for California.
March 30, 2005... Byline: Sara Steffens Mar. 30--Each dollar California invests in creating free preschool for all 4-year-olds would bring $2.62 in later economic benefits, including savings in child welfare services, remedial education and criminal...

Stem cell research raises medical, ethical questions.
March 30, 2005... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Mar. 30--California's plunge into the brave new world of stem cell research is raising prickly ethical questions and could create a demand for hundreds of women's eggs. Scientists plan to use the eggs from as...

`Bright' stars, black Hollywood.
March 30, 2005... Byline: Pat Craig "Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood" by Donald Bogle; One World/Ballantine ($26.95) ___ The haunting phrase "separate, but equal" rumbles across the civil-rights landscape for most of...

Crosby, A's close down camp in Arizona on sour note.
March 30, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick PHOENIX _ Shortstop Bobby Crosby wasn't the only player who had a sick feeling when he was hit between the left hand and wrist by a Gary Glover pitch in the A's final exhibition game in Arizona. Second baseman...

Five questions for the A's.
March 30, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick PHOENIX _ The A's packed their belongings, loaded up the equipment truck and headed to the Bay Area to continue their exhibition season. The charter plane carried a little extra weight, the burden of a few...

Steroids roll call not a grand slam.
March 29, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson While you were out last week ordering the sour grapes and Forget Me Nots for Barry Bonds' retirement party: Baseball amended its already-amended steroids policy. Mere fines are no longer an option. All...

Rick Barry's value not fully rewarded.
March 29, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson OAKLAND, Calif. _ We interrupt this celebration of selflessness and camaraderie for an ironic contention: There should be a Most Valuable Player ring on Rick Barry's left hand, to go with the world championship ring...

Mothers attempt to find balance.
March 29, 2005... Byline: Peggy Spear WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Motherhood is getting a bad rap these days: Soccer moms on methamphetamines, PTA volunteers popping Vicodin, lonely housewives having affairs with gardeners and pool boys. The media -- TV's Top...

Put children first when moving on.
March 29, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: I have been dating my boyfriend for just over three years. My ex-husband has passed away. My boyfriend also has two teenage kids. The problem is that, after three years of dating, I still am...

Too much cheap parking costs cities more in long run.
March 29, 2005... Byline: Mike Adamick WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ The slow, monotonous trolling ends with a realization: There is no street parking. For some, the trolling continues for blocks as prayers to uncaring dashboard deities go unheeded, as honks...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business bulletin column.
March 28, 2005... Mar. 28--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. at 367 Civic Drive,...

New brie darling hails from Marin.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Laura Werlin When it comes to cheese, France is the land of brie _ or at least it was. Northern California's Marin French Cheese Company (www.marinfrenchcheese.com) can now claim the distinction of making the best brie from...

Oakland Zoo makes strides in pachyderm care.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ In some people's minds, elephants are the ultimate symbol of strength and power. But on this particular Thursday morning, 36-year-old African elephant M'Dunda was more than content to stand in...

Find `Lost' around beautiful Oahu.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney In the early days of "Lost," ABC's tantalizing plane-crash survival saga, a few of its stir-crazy castaways are seen gazing up at an all-encompassing drapery of majestic green mountains when one of them flashes a...

Recuperative trip may be just what the doctor ordered.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Anne Chalfant Last September I jumped on a plane to go find the healthy version of myself. I had been in the clutches of the medical community too long. Surgeons' knives, probing needles, six-syllable medical terminology and...

Before and after: Wines go with more than main course.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Janice Fuhrman Wines come in many styles, colors, textures and levels of intensity. Some lighter wines have evolved as perfect before-dinner drinks because they whet the appetite and stimulate the taste buds. Some wines _ usually...

A's deal soon to be official.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ The sale of the A's to developer Lewis Wolff and his partners is expected to become official Wednesday, when owners from baseball's 30 major-league franchises are scheduled to sign off on the...

Johnson mystified by major-league rejection.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick TUCSON, Ariz. _ Dan Johnson homered twice on Monday against the Chicago White Sox. His reward? A first class ticket to Triple-A Sacramento. The A's first base prospect, the Pacific Coast League MVP last season,...

Warriors display title form in defeating Knicks.
March 28, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich OAKLAND, Calif. _ The past was celebrated Monday night at the Arena as the Warriors honored their 1974-75 NBA championship squad. But make no mistake, it was Warriors' present cast of stars that had the crowd of...

Giants still OK without Bonds.
March 27, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd The headlines screamed in local papers. The best player in baseball was in street clothes headed home. His return was anyone's guess. Expectations by fans for a team built to win the World Series were shrouded in deep...

The woeful world of Barry and Al.
March 27, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore Quick hits while we digest the latest episodes of "How the Steroids Turn," that sports soap opera with no apparent end in sight. _ Is it just me, or was there something disturbing about the way Barry Bonds had...

NBA rankings.
March 27, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II RANKINGS Rank, team Comment Prev. 1. Heat E. Jones shooting 48.4 percent in March, best of season 1 2. Suns Set franchise record with 28th road victory 3 3. Nuggets Franchise-record 19,866 fans...

NBA coaches an endangered species.
March 27, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Golden State Warriors coach Mike Montgomery considers himself a pretty logical guy. Last Sunday during pregame interviews at Arco Arena, he tried to apply logic to the Orlando Magic's...

Drastic overhaul pays off at Central Garden.
March 27, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 27--The name Central Garden & Pet Co. may not ring familiar for most, but many have seen the Walnut Creek-based company's products at work, even if they didn't know it. It supplied the grass seed for this year's...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., business listing column.
March 27, 2005... Mar. 27--FICTITIOUS BUSINESS LICENSES: 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...

Legislators say without drastic action, state heading for bankruptcy.
March 26, 2005... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Mar. 26--California faces bankruptcy and debilitating ballot-box wars unless lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stop lobbing partisan grenades and solve the budget crisis, say two East Bay legislators....

Safeway to settle shareholders suit.
March 26, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 26--Safeway Inc. has reached a preliminary agreement to settle a lawsuit that accused certain board members and executives of withholding information about company performance to unload shares at inflated...

No limit to greed of NFL owners.
March 25, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson One of the less-publicized developments of the recent NFL owners meetings in Maui was a suggestion that the Super Bowl has become stagnant, both as a cash cow and an intellectual property. It is rumored this...

End-of-life planning best done far in advance.
March 25, 2005... Byline: Kiley Russell WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ If nothing else comes from the legal fight over whether Terri Schiavo will live or die, her case might at least spur more people to write out plans for how they want to be cared for if...

Popular Gatti eager to face Mayweather.
March 25, 2005... Byline: Jay Heater WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ If popularity were a factor in determining a winner when WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti (39-6) and Floyd Mayweather (33-0) meet on June 25 in Atlantic City, N.J., Gatti would be the...

GE raises its growth forecast, strategy.
March 25, 2005... Byline: John Christoffersen Mar. 25--STAMFORD, Conn. -- General Electric Co. boosted its earnings forecast Thursday and moved ahead with a strategy of returning to double-digit profit growth by shedding slow-growth businesses and eyeing...

Sony Playstation Portable is a tough find, huge hit.
March 25, 2005... Byline: Ellen Lee Mar. 25--PLEASANT HILL -- It was a very Merry Christmas for Jenny Nisar's son Thursday. On this crisp spring morning, Nisar arrived a few minutes before Toys "R" Us opened at 10 to purchase the Playstation Portable,...

Fisher saves Warriors with buzzer-beater.
March 25, 2005... Byline: Bill Kolb OAKLAND, Calif. _ Thanks in large part to Baron Davis' cajoling, the Warriors pulled out a clock-defying 118-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime Friday night at the Arena on a Derek Fisher 3-pointer as time...

California Democrats question how GOP committee chair uses staff time, money.
March 25, 2005... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Mar. 25--House Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, has come under renewed Democratic ire over his use of committee staff time and dollars. Two Democrat California congresswomen, Zoe...

Buzzwords alienate a low-tech public.
March 24, 2005... Byline: Ellen Lee Mar. 24--Best-of-breed only works in dog shows, flamboyant Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison once quipped. But do most people know what "best of breed" means when it refers to technology? How about more exotic...

Biologist discovers 2 species of octopus attempting to walk.
March 24, 2005... Byline: Betsy Mason WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Looking a bit like a cartoonist's effort to make strange sea creatures seem more human, two species of octopus have been caught on tape walking on just two of their eight legs. One species...

Around the remote: TV picks for March 27-April 2.
March 24, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "Eyes" _ Tim Daly ("Wings") stars in this sleek new drama series brimming with twisty plots and juicy surprises. Daly plays Harlan Judd, the cunning leader of a snazzy, high-tech investigation firm...

Raised interest rates jar market.
March 23, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 23--The Federal Reserve is starting to fret a bit more about inflation, policy makers said Tuesday as they raised interest rates a quarter percent. And the prospect of higher rates could begin to jolt the...

Baron Davis adds hope for Warriors along with his game.
March 23, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore OAKLAND, Calif. _ The evidence has been mounting for a month, from the moment point guard Baron Davis came to the Warriors in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets. There were back-to-back Warriors road wins...

Warriors fall to Mavericks.
March 23, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ There were certainly a lot of Golden State Warriors highlights in Wednesday's 109-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at the Arena. On one first-half fast break, point guard Baron Davis faked...

Onyx's cancer drug gets boost.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Judy Silber Mar. 22--Richmond-based Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced Monday that a potentially breakthrough cancer drug has cleared an important hurdle, moving it closer to regulatory approval. Positive data from a large...

Study: Nation's illegal immigration population over 11 million.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Jack Chang Mar. 22--The nation's illegal immigrant population has grown over the past year to nearly 11 million people, with about a quarter of them living in California, according to a study released Monday. While the Golden...

NorCal power outlook looks strong.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Mar. 22--SACRAMENTO -- Enough power will be on hand in Northern California this summer to meet energy needs at times of peak demand, provide backup here, and even send surplus megawatts to reduce the threat of...

Mourning not over for grandchild.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: I have been lucky to be in love two times in my life. The first time, with my wife of 52 years who passed away six months ago after a long illness, and now with Marie, a lovely woman who...

Fans ponder life without Bonds.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Matt Krupnick WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Rob Booth wishes Barry Bonds had announced the possible end to his season 2,868 miles ago. ``I just moved here from Philly, and I was really looking forward to seeing a superstar,'' said...

Romanowski must pay $340,000 to ex-teammate.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ An Alameda County jury on Tuesday found that former Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski committed battery on his ex-teammate Marcus Williams but awarded Williams only a total of $340,000 _ millions...

Wildlife area gets $11.8 million grant.
March 22, 2005... Byline: Mike Taugher Mar. 22--For more than a decade, Tom Huffman fought a lonely battle to turn the tides in the sprawling marshes north of San Pablo Bay, armed with little money and rusting equipment. When a gate used to control...

Remaining A's ace Zito gets back to basics.
March 21, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick PHOENIX _ The bad taste from a mediocre season still lingered when Barry Zito went back to school, so to speak. He dusted off old videotapes and a piece of wood, brought out his video camera and went about the...

Family left woman's remains on kitchen floor for 2 years after death.
March 21, 2005... Byline: Kelli Phillips WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Kathleen Wilson lay on the kitchen floor of her Fairfield, Calif., home for nearly two years after she died, her son and husband stepping around the remains as they prepared meals and went on...

A's Blanton learns from last season's struggles.
March 20, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick PHOENIX _ Joe Blanton's path to the major leagues has not been as smooth and finely orchestrated as his resume would appear to show. Blanton, the 24th pick in the team's widely publicized "Moneyball" draft of...

Job growth better in East Bay.
March 19, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 19--The East Bay job market was weaker than normal during February, but during the past 12 months, the Alameda-Contra Costa region posted the biggest employment gains in the Bay Area, data released Friday...

Governor to award grants for nurses.
March 19, 2005... Byline: Judy Silber Mar. 19--California will award $13 million in training grants to boost the state's supply of nurses, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced Friday. Eighteen organizations throughout the state will receive...

Baseball ignorant on steroid issue.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson In the end, after 11 brain-numbing, teeth-grinding, ear-punishing hours of tedium squared, here is what we learned Thursday by watching Congress beat the steroids issue to within an inch of its miserable life: ...

49ers Nolan's take on Rodgers: `He's as polished as I've seen'.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Cam Inman BERKELEY, Calif. _ Aaron Rodgers didn't end his predraft workout Thursday by kneeling at midfield and chucking a spiral through the uprights, a la former Cal quarterback Kyle Boller's jaw dropper two years ago at...

Mysterious skin disease has some doctors doubting, others stumped.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Sandy Kleffman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ At first, they looked like tick bites. Then they grew itchy and painful and became open, weeping wounds. The lesions spread across much of Tina Solovieff's body _ her back, arms, legs and...

Deceitful news.
March 18, 2005... The following editorial appeared in the Contra Costa Times on Thursday, March 17. ___ Public relations morphs into propaganda disguised as news. The public becomes the unwitting victim _ both intellectually and financially _ as the...

Latvia's Biedrins no stranger to hard work on and off NBA court.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore OAKLAND, Calif. _ Imagine you're 18 years old and living in a different country, thousands of miles away from home. Imagine you're learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture while you're starting a...

Latvia's Biedrins no stranger to hard work on, off NBA court.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore OAKLAND, Calif. _ Imagine you're 18 years old and living in a different country, thousands of miles away from home. Imagine you're learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture while you're starting a...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., James Temple column.
March 18, 2005... Byline: James Temple Mar. 18--BUSINESSES OFFER BIRTHDAY BONANZA: Wednesday night, 30 years from the day I was born, my roommate and I walked into Cafe Van Kleef in downtown Oakland with a singular goal: To secure a free drink before the...

St. Mary's determined to keep Bennett.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes OKLAHOMA CITY _ There were 13 seconds left when Randy Bennett held up his hand. No more fouls was the message the St. Mary's coach sent to his players. Let the clock run out. Even though a loss seemed inevitable from...

Baron Davis gets 33 as Warriors stun the Suns.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II PHOENIX _ Ask any Golden State Warrior how point guard Baron Davis makes them better, they'll almost assuredly say it's because he's an All-Star. They'll tell how he commands respect because he can dominate by...

County leaders propose pension reform.
March 18, 2005... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Mar. 18--Hoping lawmakers will reform rather than gut the state's pension system, county leaders have proposed sweeping measures to reduce retirement costs and limit abuse. A slate of ideas released Thursday...

Around the remote: TV picks for March 20-26.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "The Office": After NBC so badly fumbled the trans-Atlantic hand-off of the sitcom "Coupling," there was naturally a lot of skepticism when the network announced plans to produce an American version...

Bracket Busters pooling talents in NCAA Tournament.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Rarely are Americans this united. Here were are, from sea to shining sea, millions and millions of us, regardless of race or socioeconomic backgrounds, wrestling with some of life's biggest...

NCAA Tournament hopes are high for St. Mary's.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Starks Former coach Lynn Nance remembers his team's infectious swagger and anyone-anytime-anywhere attitude. Erick Newman, a small forward on Nance's squad, sometimes slips on the watch he and his teammates received...

Gay marriage conflict.
March 17, 2005... The following editorial appeared in the Contra Costa Times on Wednesday, March 16. ___ Whenever broad judicial interpretations of basic constitutional rights come in conflict with tradition or public opinion, political pyrotechnics...

Japan rivalry: Athletics' Yabu hopes to slow down Mariners' Ichiro.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Joe Roderick PEORIA, Ariz. _ For Japanese media desperate to put a new spin on the enigma known as Ichiro Suzuki, they were in for a disappointment. Oakland A's pitcher Keiichi Yabu didn't make the trip to Peoria Sports...

Bay Area home sellers enjoy market.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Mar. 17--Bay Area house prices jumped 3 percent during February, as low interest rates and aggressive lenders stoked demand during an unusually active winter in the region's real estate markets. Half of the 7,463...

Contra Costa County, Calif., jail gets robotic help in monitoring medicines.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Maricella Miranda Mar. 17--MARTINEZ -- Most people will never see SafetyPak, a robot stationed in a small room at the Contra Costa County jail. The contraption looks like a candy vending machine, but officials say its arrival...

San Francisco Bay mercury cleanup gets shelved.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Mike Taugher Mar. 17--SACRAMENTO -- A sweeping mercury cleanup plan for San Francisco Bay hit a major stumbling block Wednesday when a state board set it aside in a delay that could run to a year or more. The delay to the...

Westaff president, CEO Pedersen resigns.
March 17, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Mar. 17--Trish Newman, who ran Westaff Inc.'s business operations in the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark, has taken the helm at the East Bay staffing services firm, Westaff announced Wednesday. The company...

Experienced Southern Illinois Salukis will be a tall order for Gaels.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes OKLAHOMA CITY _ Eddie Sutton talked about playing against Oscar Robertson in the 1958 NCAA Tournament. The Oklahoma State coach shared tournament memories from his 33-year Division-I career in that homespun way of his....

Richardson fuels Warriors' victory.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ Golden State Warriors guard Jason Richardson likes playing on TNT. For the second time this season he scored in the forties with the Warriors playing on the network that knows drama....

Peterson enters San Quentin death row.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Ivan Delventhal WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Condemned murderer Scott Peterson took his place Thursday as the 616th man on the state's Death Row. Sgt. Eric Messick, a San Quentin State Prison spokesman, said Peterson was delivered...

Cities vie for stem cell research institute.
March 17, 2005... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Mar. 17--They dangled huge sums of money, free rent, the use of private corporate jets and even concierge services for board members. Cities throughout California submitted bids Wednesday to host the state's...

Spring into action_prepare for outdoors.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Mike Gale WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Finally, it seems as though spring is here. Meaning it's time to start getting prepared for the outdoors. But since unexpected things happen, however, the best way to help guarantee a good...

Peterson sentenced to die by lethal injection for killing wife, son.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Ivan Delventhal REDWOOD CITY, Calif. _ Judge Alfred Delucchi sentenced Scott Lee Peterson Wednesday morning to pay with his life for murdering his pregnant wife Laci. Peterson, sitting straight in his chair, stared straight...

Contra Costa County, Calif., to study placement of urban limit line.
March 16, 2005... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Mar. 16--Contra Costa supervisors launched a pre-emptive strike Tuesday in its battle with cities over growth, asking staff to study the placement of an urban limit line on the ballot a year earlier than...