Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from May 2001, page 4

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from May 2001

Earthquakes survive letdown, beat Revolution.
May 6, 2001... Byline: Jennifer Starks SAN JOSE_Everything appeared to be going their way. With less than four minutes left in regulation, the San Jose Earthquakes held a commanding three-goal lead over the New England Revolution. Then coach Frank...

Concord, Calif., Area Sees Increase in Hindu, Indian Community.
May 5, 2001... Byline: Teena Massingill May 5--CONCORD, Calif.--Each weekend, 200 to 300 worshippers visit the Shiva Murugan Temple in Concord, a part of the East Bay's growing Hindu and Indian community. Gagan Singh, a gas station attendant who...

Fremont, Calif.-Based Semiconductor Equipment Maker Lays Off 180.
May 5, 2001... Byline: Ellen Lee May 5--Mattson Technology Inc. announced Friday it has laid off about 180 employees--15 percent of its U.S. work force--as part of its overall cost-cutting plan for the year. The Fremont-based semiconductor...

Chavez snaps slump in A's victory.
May 5, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_It's been a tough stretch for Eric Chavez, who like many of his A's teammates, is struggling to find consistency after success. He hit the longest homer in new Comiskey Park history nine days ago and...

Bonds lifts Giants with another crucial HR.
May 5, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PHILADELPHIA_Get this. After hitting his 13th home run in 19 games and 14th overall to tie for the major-league lead, Barry Bonds has a little ways to go before he enters his "zone." That was the word from...

Walsh enters new phase as 49ers genius emeritus.
May 5, 2001... Byline: Gary Peterson Bill Walsh's final game as an NFL head coach came in Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals. Paul Brown was with the Bengals then, though his exact job description was rather nebulous. Founder? Yes, he...

Mascot `tribute' is an insult to many.
May 5, 2001... Byline: Marcus Thompson II There's a war going on behind the scenes of the sports world. It's being fought at every level, from professional to high school sports. The war is over the use of Indian nicknames and mascots. For...

No Hernandez, no win.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_Ramon Hernandez was supposed to get a much-deserved day off. Instead, he was asked do something he hasn't done in a while: throw out a potential base stealer. Hernandez played an important part in...

A's get enough chances to win.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_The exhilaration of a grueling 15-inning victory Thursday quickly was replaced by reflection and criticism. As much as the A's 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays was an impressive pitching exhibition, it...

Phanatic awaiting Davis' return.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PITTSBURGH_As if Giants third baseman Russ Davis didn't get in enough trouble for charging the mound against Cubs pitcher Julian Tavarez during an exhibition game, now someone else wants a piece of him. The...

Giants find many ways to lose to Pittsburgh.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PITTSBURGH_You can try to pick a culprit_Rich Aurilia's two errors, a tough night at the plate for Jeff Kent, Shawn Estes allowing two homers to Aramis Ramirez, the condition of the infield_but it really doesn't...

Say hey, it's Willie Mays at 70.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PHILADELPHIA_Willie Mays may be turning 70 on Sunday, but he's not making as big a deal about it as those around him are. "I don't feel any different," Mays said this week from Atlantic City, N.J. "That's just a...

Superbike Challenge veritable feast for fans.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Gabrielle Stevenson The sign on the front door of Pinky's Pizza Parlor in Walnut Creek is, well, fluorescent pink. But that's not important. Its purpose, though, is. The sign tells customers that pizza will not be served...

Little E's wounds healing.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Gabrielle Stevenson MAYBE A THIRD-PLACE finish was just what Dale Earnhardt Jr. needed. Or maybe it was just the fact he was at home. On Tuesday, Earnhardt opened up and showed a little more humor and personality than he...

Potential reasons for Al Davis trial standstill.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Gary Peterson A LENGTHY SILENCE in a crowded room is finally broken by the wall-mounted clock -- 1960s-era public school issue_clicking from one minute to the next. A few of the dozen inhabitants of the room shift uncomfortably...

Raiders work out Farr.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran The Raiders were so impressed with free-agent defensive tackle D'Marco Farr's workout Thursday that they offered him a one-year contract, according to Farr's agent. Farr said he is hopeful he will wind up with...

Stevens is back in saddle again.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Chuck Dybdal Gary Stevens rides on borrowed time. Debilitating degenerative arthritis in his right knee already has forced the Hall of Fame jockey to retire once. But horses such as Point Given and races such as the Kentucky...

Cal rugby team looks for yet another national crown.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Chuck Dybdal BERKELEY_Cal's oldest and arguably most successful sports team will try for an 11th straight national championship this weekend in Virginia Beach, Va. The Bears rugby team meets Navy on Saturday. Army and Penn...

West Hollywood, L.A., is where the stars come out to play.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Anne Chalfant LOS ANGELES _A preteen girl would kill for this moment. I was sitting on a bench on a quiet street in front of my West Hollywood hotel. An unshaven young man in sagging pants walked by, flashed me a big grin...

Bankruptcies Surge in Walnut Creek, Calif., Area.
May 4, 2001... Byline: George Avalos May 4--The Bay Area's woozy job market may have unleashed a wave of bankruptcies among individuals and businesses having trouble making ends meet. In the latest indication that the economy is limping along,...

Livermore, Calif., Expects Wine and Honey Festival to Draw 70,000 People.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Megan Long May 4--LIVERMORE, Calif.--The city will flaunt one of its tastiest products during its biggest festival of the year, and some changes will ensure that attendees leave with a greater sense of appreciation. The 10th...

Santa Clara, Calif.-Based High-Tech Firm Still Works to Put Name on Stadium.
May 4, 2001... Byline: David Holbrook May 4--OAKLAND, Calif.--Revenue is down, its stock has been battered, but Network Associates is still spending $1 million a year to put its name on a stadium where most fans don't know what the company does. ...

Chemical Release from Richmond, Calif., Plant Raises Worry About Blackouts.
May 3, 2001... May 3--RICHMOND, Calif.--The caustic cloud that billowed from a Richmond chemical plant Tuesday underscores the risk industrial Contra Costa County could face this summer when rolling blackouts are expected to ripple through the region,...

Emeryville, Calif.-Based Coffee Retailer Losses Beat Analysts' Prediction.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy May 3--Peet's Coffee & Tea said Wednesday it lost less than expected during the first quarter as it raked in new customers and added high-end coffee beans. The Emeryville-based coffee retailer lost $304,000 -- or...

Duke Energy Details Refund Offer Made to California Governor.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Mike Taugher May 3--Power giant Duke Energy released details Wednesday of an offer it made recently to Gov. Gray Davis that spelled out this deal: drop the lawsuits, drop the investigations and tone down the rhetoric and we'll...

California Lawmakers Try to Keep Electricity Crisis from Fueling Gas Crisis.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Denis Cuff May 3--California lawmakers are acting to prevent the electricity crisis from fueling a gasoline crisis as well. A move is gaining momentum in the Legislature to protect oil refineries from rolling power blackouts...

Alameda, Calif.-Based Firm Earns Patent for Gene Pill.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Judy Silber May 3--An Alameda company has been awarded a patent for delivering therapeutic genes via a gene pill, a method that could have significant implications for those with diseases like diabetes and hemophilia. Though...

Alameda, Calif.-Based Software Maker to Cut Workforce.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy May 3--Wind River Systems said Thursday it will cut 12 percent to 15 percent of its staff and warned that first-quarter profits could fall short of Wall Street's expectations. The Alameda-based maker of software...

San Francisco-Based Utility Details a Huge Quarterly Loss.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Rick Jurgens May 3--A massive $1.1 billion after-tax charge to cover high power costs kept PG&E Corp. in the red for the first three months of 2001, but investors barely reacted as the company's stock edged down 4 cents to close...

Private Venture Financing Slumps in Oakland, Calif.-Area.
May 3, 2001... Byline: George Avalos May 3--The economic malaise has begun to infect the private financing market for new companies, causing a pronounced first-quarter slump. Venture financing plummeted in the East Bay during the first three...

Walnut Creek, Calif., Firm's Teeth Whitening System Gets Rave Reviews.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Chris Metinko May 3--In the never-ending search for whiter teeth, people have shown they are willing to do a lot for that perfect smile. For years, Americans have gone to bed with their teeth covered in strong, smelly whitening...

Piatt is sent down to play every day.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes OAKLAND_With the A's facing a stretch of their schedule where they will face primarily right-handed starting pitchers, the team optioned right fielder Adam Piatt to Triple-A Sacramento and recalled outfielder Eric...

A's finally defeat the Blue Jays.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Jonathan Okanes OAKLAND_Maybe the A's will figure it out now. If they don't know what they've been doing wrong now, they're out of excuses. All Oakland had to do was look at its opposition Wednesday night. The Toronto Blue...

Left-handers lining up to face Giants.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PITTSBURGH_After 26 games, the Giants will face their first left-handed starter tonight when they oppose Pittsburgh's Jimmy Anderson, who is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA. He will be the first of four lefties they'll see...

Giants win in `Twilight Zone'.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PITTSBURGH_When Pittsburgh's rookie shortstop Jack Wilson made three errors in the first two innings, you figured this was going to be a strange, quirky night. And it was. The Giants overcame a three-run...

Raiders giving Farr a look.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Steve Corkran Free-agent defensive tackle D'Marco Farr will work out for the Raiders on Thursday in hopes of landing a job with the team he grew up admiring, he said. Farr, 29, arrived in Oakland on Wednesday night and said...

Fishing report for California.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Steve Dulas The opening day of rock fishing season Tuesday didn't get off to a very good start, as high winds kept the fleet from going outside the Golden Gate_Wednesday's forecast, for example, was for gale force winds and...

No Derby Fever for trainer.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Chuck Dybdal Brian Koriner expected to be looking at the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs this week, not at the Golden Gate Bridge. The 34-year-old trainer from Dublin was about to realize every horseman's dream_a chance to run...

Goals have been hard to come by in early WUSA games.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Jennifer Starks The anticipation, the fan support, the hype. All of the things one might expect to accompany the start of a new professional league were present. But there was one thing missing from the opening games of the...

X-Cursions: Fox Mulder's new role _ family man.
May 3, 2001... Byline: George Avalos and Michael Liedtke Here's a really alien concept for you: "The X-Files" without Fox Mulder. Even though we all suspected this day was coming, it still was unsettling to watch Mulder officially turn over his basement...

Isringhausen, A's let one get away.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_The A's revolving wheel of frustration just spun toward Jason Isringhausen. With a chance to save a rare A's home win Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Isringhausen allowed his first earned run of...

Giants break out in victory over Pirates.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PITTSBURGH_The Giants' first game at new PNC Park was a wholehearted success, a two-hour, 45-minute experience packed with loads of fun and excitement, and uproarious laughter. A PG-13 endeavor. This 11-6...

Donahue strides into new 49ers era.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Eric Gilmore SANTA CLARA One look at the seating arrangement for Wednesday's news conference at 49ers headquarters told you all you needed to know. New 49ers general manager Terry Donahue took a seat on the dais, flanked...

Walsh sends another pupil off on his own.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Bill Walsh stepped on to the red-carpeted stage, shook Terry Donahue's hand, gave him a quick hug and then posed for the cameras. The transition had taken place. Donahue had completed his...

Tee it up at Olympic Club.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Samuel Chi apers SAN FRANCISCO THE LAKE COURSE at the Olympic Club long has been considered one of the finest in the country. It's majestic and historic. It also has been the site of four U.S. Opens, most recently in...

U.S. Postal Service's popularity on decline.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Thomas Peele WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ As the U.S. Postal Service struggles with a severe financial crisis that could lead to a cutback in mail delivery nationwide, the federal government itself is spending hundreds of millions a...

Lighter Creamy Cherry Pie.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Elaine Magee Q. I really love cherries, and I have a recipe a friend from Tennessee gave me recently that I would love you to lighten! Creamy cherry pie sounds perfect for spring and summer. A. As it just so happens, one of...

School celebrates all different types of families.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Stephanie Wright STAFF WRITER What defines a family? This is the question students pondered as they prepared for the Bentley School Family Night held April 26. And they looked for answers during a variety of class...

Hercules, Calif.-Based Biotech Firm Reports Profits Nearly Triple.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Judy Silber May 2--Record quarterly sales boosted the net income of Hercules-based Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. to nearly triple that reported one year ago. The life sciences company reported that net income for the quarter...

Self Check-Out Gets a Test Run at Southern California Safeway Stores.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Janet Adamy May 2--Never mind that sales of Tic Tacs, baby-naming books and The National Enquirer could plummet. Safeway is thinking about trying to reduce the downtime in some checkout lanes by letting customers scan their own...

Austin, Texas-Based Software Maker Shuts Office.
May 2, 2001... Byline: Jessica Guynn May 2--Vignette Corp., the struggling Austin, Texas-based software maker that less than a year ago bought out publicly traded competitor OnDisplay Inc. in a billion-dollar stock swap, has shut down the San Ramon...

California Energy Officials Fear Powerless May.
May 1, 2001... May 1--SACRAMENTO, Calif.--California's journey through a difficult summer of blackouts begins with the start of May, a month state officials concede is a dangerous and unpredictable prelude to what lies ahead. And they have reason to...

Government Aid for Low-Income Californians Sits Unused.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Jack Chang May 1--Millions of state and federal dollars targeted at low-income Californians are gathering dust because the majority of people eligible to receive the help aren't applying for it. Among the most under-used aid...

Kodak To Buy Emeryville, Calif., Digital Film Processing Firm.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Jessica Guynn May 1--Bringing the shakeout of the crowded online photo market into sharp focus, photo giant Eastman Kodak Co. said Monday it has agreed to snap up Emeryville-based Ofoto Inc. for an undisclosed price. Ofoto,...

Quietly, Oil Portal Ceases Operation in Houston.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Teena Massingill May 1--Old Economy oil giant Chevron Corp. is dealing with the demise of its New Economy venture. PetroCosm -- an online marketplace for the oil industry and a joint effort between Chevron, Texaco Inc. and...

Financial Planner, Author Speaks at Walnut Creek, Calif., Technology Fair.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Ellen Lee May 1--WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--There is a silver lining in today's struggling economy, with the stock market ready to kick back soon, financial planner and author David Bach said Monday at the Walnut Creek Tech Faire. ...

Giambi, Delgado have admiration in common.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Gary Washburn OAKLAND_There is no rivalry, just mutual admiration. Two of the major leagues' top first basemen, Jason Giambi and Carlos Delgado, got together Tuesday night for the first of six meetings in the next nine days...

Beane not jumping to conclusions as the losses mount.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Neil Hayes IF YOU THINK Billy Beane is spending more time on the ledge than in his office you're wrong. If you envision him spending nights alone in his garage listening to another loss on the radio with one end of a garden hose...

A's won't be a hit until they go in new direction.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Gary Peterson OAKLAND THE A'S HAD A visitor before Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Former pitcher Tom Candiotti stood behind the batting cage, making nice and telling stories about his bit part in the...

Father's health concerns Hernandez.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Joe Roderick PITTSBURGH_At face value it would appear to be a perfectly ordinary April for Giants pitcher Livan Hernandez, who went 1-4 with a 7.83 ERA, numbers similar to his first-month statistics (3-9, 5.44 ERA) entering the...

Uncharted waters for Cal athletic director.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Jay Heater Unless you've pulled an oar until your hands are bloody, you might question the passion that is associated with the sport of crew. Stanford coach Craig Amerkhanian, who calls the sport "boxing without brain...

Low-income Californians aren't applying for government aid.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Jack Chang WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Millions of state and federal dollars targeted at low-income Californians are gathering dust because the majority of people eligible to receive the help aren't applying for it. Among the...

Walsh to turn over reins, leave Donahue in charge.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA_Bill Walsh may always be a 49ers icon, but as of today, he no longer will be the team's general manager. In a long anticipated move, Walsh will turn over his position to Terry Donahue_the club's player...

Organizers hope Salt Lake Games show U.S. mettle.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Ann Tatko SALT LAKE CITY already had the pressure of hosting 78 medal events, more than 2,600 athletes and thousands of fans for next February's Winter Olympics. As if that weren't enough, the United States Olympic Committee...