Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from November 2002

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from November 2002

Contra Costa County, Calif., Introduces Debit Card for Low-Income Food Buyers.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Jack Chang Nov. 30--The days of paper food coupons and monthly welfare checks will all but come to an end next month as Contra Costa and Solano counties launch a long-awaited system letting low-income people buy food and receive...

Study Finds Home Construction Restrictions Hurt Minorities, Young Families.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Matt Krupnick Nov. 30--Restrictions on home construction often harm minorities and young families, a study has determined. The report, released last week, was completed by Randall Pozdena, a Portland, Ore., economics and...

No Certain Solution to San Francisco Area's Transit System's Voltage Shortfall.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Nov. 30--As BART chases new lines to the Silicon Valley, airports and east Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the question now is whether the Transbay Tube has enough juice to carry the load? BART...

Backup guard Boykins bails out Warriors.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Matt Steinmetz DENVER _ Forget about the Warriors finding their backup point guard in Earl Boykins. They might have found their starter. OK, that's a tad premature. But the fact of the matter was that Boykins came off...

49ers are sensing urgency.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman Standing with his back against a wall next to his locker, wide receiver Terrell Owens analyzed the 49ers' predicament after Monday night's 38-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles: "We've got our backs against the...

Seahawks' Mike Holmgren wears one hat too many.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Gary Peterson WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ The streets in downtown Green Bay, Wis., are named for United States presidents_Washington, Adams, Madison, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, Van Buren. Out near Lambeau Field they get a little...

Brown, Davis build respect.
November 30, 2002... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Raiders managing general partner Al Davis received a message to call then-Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz during wide receiver Tim Brown's Heisman Trophy-winning season for the Fighting Irish in 1987....

Flight attendants also could be armed.
November 29, 2002... Byline: John Simerman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Airline flight attendants could be armed with more than smiles and pillows, depending on the results of a federal study that will look at tasers, stun guns or other non-lethal weapons in the...

Therapy enters reel world.
November 29, 2002... Byline: Cassandra Braun WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ "What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same and nothing that you did mattered?" pleads Bill Murray's character Phil in "Groundhog Day." Birgit...

Films fit variety of emotions.
November 29, 2002... Byline: Cassandra Braun It's no mystery; we self-medicate with movies to fit our mood. But by applying the techniques of cinema therapy, psychologist Birgit Wolz says we can gain much more. And it's a lot cheaper than going to a...

Cinema therapy viewing tips.
November 29, 2002... Therapist Birgit Wolz has these suggestions for using cinema therapy at home. _ Prepare your viewing area. Clear things away and make sure you're comfortable. _ To help you focus on the present, observe your body and your breathing....

Rockets too tall an order for Warriors.
November 28, 2002... Byline: Matt Steinmetz OAKLAND _ Houston's Yao Ming, making his first appearance as a professional in the Bay Area, created a palpable buzz on Wednesday night at the Arena. Then the Golden State Warriors took the floor and sucked the...

Walnut Creek, Calif.-Area Stores Try Opening Thanksgiving to Lure Consumers.
November 28, 2002... Byline: Janet Adamy Nov. 28--Get ready for crowds. The holiday shopping season kicks off Friday with stretched store hours, deep discounts and swarms of shoppers at Bay Area stores. This may be the year to start early. To lure...

Selling Yao short is the kiss of death.
November 27, 2002... Byline: Gary Peterson Yao Ming has Charles Barkley kissing donkeys, and he either doesn't know it or doesn't much care. "There will always be someone who is critical of me," Yao said this week on a conference call with reporters. ...

Seahawks not focused on 49ers' Owens.
November 27, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _Calls for retribution echoed from the Seattle Seahawks locker room soon after 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens' creative yet controversial Sharpie pen incident Oct. 14. A month later, the...

49ers give the boot to slumping Cortez, Baker.
November 27, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Still seething from Monday's night's 38-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers released two of their specialists Tuesday _ kicker Jose Cortez and punter Jason Baker. Each...

Expert Reviews Pleasanton, Calif.-Based Software Maker's Quarterly Results.
November 27, 2002... Byline: Jessica Guynn Nov. 27--Accounting expert Howard Schilit of the Center for Financial Research and Analysis put PeopleSoft Inc.'s third-quarter results under the microscope this week, and the results weren't as pretty as portrayed...

Economist Says Home Prices May Fall in San Francisco Area.
November 26, 2002... Byline: Rick Jurgens Nov. 26--SAN FRANCISCO--A full-blown regional recession under way in the Bay Area could cause a decline in home values, especially if interest rates rise above current low levels, an economist told a gathering of...

New Job Categories to Reflect Era in California, Nation.
November 26, 2002... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 26--The government has discovered the New Economy. Starting in 2003, state and federal officials who track the performance of the nation's job market will use a number of new categories to determine which...

California to Decide Fate of Money Earmarked for Public Libraries.
November 26, 2002... Byline: Dogen Hannah Nov. 26--Scores of California counties and cities -- including several in the East Bay -- expect to learn next week if the state will give them millions of dollars to build new libraries. The state's decision...

In some families, the kids' table is the place to be.
November 26, 2002... Byline: Joan Morris It's a mathematical problem even the youngest child can cipher. Take one massive holiday, multiply it by a very large family, then divide it all by one table. The answer? You'll find it over there, listing heavily...

Eagles put hurt on 49ers.
November 26, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SAN FRANCISCO _ Before the San Francisco 49ers suited up Monday night in their old, success-filled jerseys from the 1980s, wide receiver Terrell Owens hoped the throwback uniforms would bring his 49ers similar...

49ers' woes exposed at secondary.
November 26, 2002... Byline: Neil Hayes SAN FRANCISCO _ The San Francisco 49ers are flawed, but we knew that before Monday night's debacle. There's not a complete team in the NFL right now. Free agency and the salary cap have conspired to make it virtually...

Shivering St. Mary's students receive a lesson in homelessness.
November 25, 2002... Byline: Jackie Burrell St. Mary's College juniors Julie Levie and Mary Vue usually sleep in dorm rooms on the Moraga, Calif., campus, but for one day last week, "home" was a pile of blankets in the mock homeless encampment encircling the...

49ers relieved by absence of Hearst protests.
November 25, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SAN FRANCISCO _ Calm waters off Candlestick Point and a picturesque sunset greeted fans as they arrived for Monday night's 49ers game with the Philadelphia Eagles. That made 49ers officials breathe a sigh of relief as...

Raiders' victory no laughing matter.
November 25, 2002... Byline: Gary Peterson TEMPE, Ariz. _ The message board in the Raiders' locker room was adorned with one of those wonderfully pithy bits of football-speak. Pithy, yet somehow vacuous: "No let up vs. a set up." The Raiders...

Raiders romp and with Broncos' loss, tie for first in AFC West.
November 25, 2002... Byline: Steve Corkran TEMPE, Ariz. _ The Arizona Cardinals played the Raiders on Sunday minus three of their top four wide receivers and starting running back Thomas Jones. They also played in their home stadium before a pro-Raiders...

Decorating Dilemma: Window, wall coverings give sterile kitchen a homey look.
November 25, 2002... Q: I am at a loss as to how to decorate our new kitchen. It's small and narrow, but modern and has beige cabinets with oak trim, dark gray Corian countertops and black appliances. There is a small dining nook at the end of the kitchen, and...

States face worst financial crisis since World War II, survey finds.
November 25, 2002... Byline: Andrew LaMar SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ States across the country face similar financial woes as California and will have to cut deeply into core programs and consider a broad range of tax increases to balance their books in coming...

Christmas Season Is Treacherous for Consumers Using Credit Cards.
November 25, 2002... Byline: Janet Adamy Nov. 25--Last Christmas, Susan O'Neill wanted to wow family and friends with great gifts. So she spent $300 on a Banana Republic coat for her husband and even gave gifts to the letter carrier and baby-sitter. ...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Bankruptcies Column.
November 24, 2002... Nov. 24--The following businesses filed for legal protection from creditors in the federal bankruptcy court in Oakland. Companies most commonly file for protection under three chapters of the bankruptcy code: Chapter 7, which involves...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Business Listing Column.
November 24, 2002... Nov. 24--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., People in Motion Column.
November 24, 2002... Nov. 24--BERNIE BILLEN has joined Valley Community Bank's executive team in Pleasanton as vice president of business development. CRAIG S. ROSENFELD, M.D., has joined Dublin-based SuperGen as chief scientific officer. A prominent...

California Teenager's Charity Provides Suitcases to Foster Children.
November 24, 2002... Byline: Jose A. Lopez Nov. 24--The defining moment for Rebekah Cleberg came a year ago. After collecting thousands of suitcases for displaced foster kids, she considered giving it all up. The words of appreciation were nice, and she...

Power Plant Proposal Divides Vallejo, Calif.
November 24, 2002... Byline: Corey Lyons Nov. 24--VALLEJO, Calif.--The city is swept up in an escalating clash over a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal and power plant on Mare Island, a former naval shipyard that closed six years ago. A...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Retirement Planner Column.
November 24, 2002... Byline: Steve Butler Nov. 24--Nathaniel West, author of the book "Day of the Locust," also wrote a short story titled "The Dream World of Balzo Snell." It was the tale of a man who managed to do movie deals in Hollywood, but as a...

HEADLINE HERE.
November 24, 2002... Backups have moved to the forefront By Eric Gilmore IF THERE'S ONE thing the NFL has taught us the past three seasons, it's the importance of backup quarterbacks. Backup quarterbacks came off the bench and led their teams not...

Fourth quarter doesn't belong to 49ers.
November 24, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman As wide receiver Tai Streets packed up his belongings in the 49ers locker room Sunday, he offered a simple solution that could have prevented a 20-17 overtime loss to the host San Diego Chargers. "We should have...

`Winky' can't get on Oscar's list.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Jay Heater HE IS THE IBF world junior middleweight champion, but when it comes to the big money, Ronald "Winky" Wright is still on the outside looking in. When WBC and WBA champ Oscar De La Hoya talks about future opponents...

The end of Cal's season marks a new beginning.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Neil Hayes BERKELEY, Calif. _ It was impossible to imagine this scene_fans spilling out of the stands, quarterback Kyle Boller being held up by a sea of strangers, the goal posts coming down, coach Jeff Tedford posing with The...

Hearst regrets remarks in apology to gays, teammates.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA_Visibly nervous and solemn, running back Garrison Hearst stood at a podium Friday at 49ers headquarters and spoke for 40 seconds, issuing a widespread apology for recent derogatory remarks he made about...

49ers expect Koy Detmer to excel.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Quarterback Donovan McNabb won't be a threat Monday night because he's out with a broken ankle, but the 49ers are treating his replacement, six-year veteran Koy Detmer, as if he'll have no trouble...

Hearst's remarks not surprising, but disappointing.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Gary Peterson SIXTY YEARS AGO Garrison Hearst could not have played in the NFL. Hearst is black; 60 years ago the NFL was for whites only. Forty years ago Hearst would not have been considered to play quarterback in the NFL....

Raiders don't want Arizona repeat.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Steve Corkran The Raiders are fresh off impressive back-to-back victories against the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos and defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The Arizona Cardinals are in the midst of a...

Coughlin is best in world in butterfly.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Ann Tatko Natalie Coughlin needed less than an hour to put together her latest career highlight night. Coughlin, a Cal swimmer from Concord, broke a world record, set an American record and won all three of her events Friday...

Judge Allows Apartment Construction near Pittsburg, Calif., Transit Station.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Glenn May Nov. 23--PITTSBURG, Calif.--Ruling that the Pittsburg City Council violated state environmental law, a Contra Costa County judge has overturned a controversial vote that barred construction of hundreds of apartments...

Analysts Caution Investors Concerning Business Software Stocks.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Jessica Guynn Nov. 23--Is this deja vu all over again? Investors may be coming down with another bout of irrational exuberance, financial analysts warn. Business software stocks are getting a lift as the Nasdaq has climbed...

As Welfare Deadline Near, California Residents Prepare for Loss of Benefits.
November 23, 2002... Byline: Jack Chang Nov. 23--Welfare reform's moment of truth is close at hand in California: More than 100,000 low-income people statewide will be permanently kicked off the rolls because they haven't become economically self- sufficient...

'Skipping' a Savage take on sin: Other people's edicts about how one ought to live were the impetus behind 'Gomorrah'.
November 22, 2002... Byline: Randy Myers Dan Savage relishes making the lives of conservative pundits utterly miserable. Just mention to the author and syndicated sex advice columnist some names of the conservative elite _ Robert Bork, William Bennett...

Staying out of debt from Santa Claus.
November 22, 2002... Byline: Janet Adamy WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Last Christmas, Susan O'Neill wanted to wow family and friends with great gifts. So she spent $300 on a Banana Republic coat for her husband and even gave gifts to the letter carrier and...

Safeway introduces `smart' cart for shoppers.
November 22, 2002... Byline: Janet Adamy Imagine walking down a supermarket aisle and hearing a chime as you pass the peanut butter letting you know it's on sale. Or picture reading the local five-day weather forecast, checking the Dow Jones industrial...

California District Attorneys Discuss Ways to Prevent Consumer Fraud.
November 22, 2002... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Nov. 22--Identity theft remains the top consumer fraud complaint of Californians, followed by sophisticated Internet schemes that few people could have imagined a decade ago. Also drawing frequent consumer...

Regulators to Probe Southern California Natural Gas Firms.
November 22, 2002... Byline: Mike Taugher Nov. 22--State regulators launched a probe of Southern California natural gas companies Thursday in an ever-expanding circle of inquiries into price manipulation in California energy markets. The investigation by...

California Transit Agency Discusses Loss of Ridership, Money.
November 22, 2002... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Nov. 22--BART delivered more bad news Thursday for train service as ridership continues to slip along with its bank balance. The stalled economy has starved the agency's sources of operating money, BART...

Venture Firms Are Down but Hopeful in San Francisco, Calif., Area.
November 22, 2002... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 22--Venture financing for privately held companies plunged to a four-year low in the Bay Area during a dismal third quarter. But despite the bleak funding levels in the July-September period, analysts point...

Warriors turn tables, hold off Bulls' charge.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Matt Steinmetz OAKLAND _ When and if the Golden State Warriors take the next step in their evolution, there likely will be more games like this. Assume control early, stay in control through the middle and withstand a...

Overlooked line provides time for Gannon to throw.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Ann Tatko OAKLAND _ Heading into the season, skeptics might have written off the Raiders offensive line. Four starters either missed most of last season with an injury or underwent surgery in the offseason. It seemed overly...

Science dips into primordial stew to answer question, `What is life?'.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Andrea Widener WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ News that scientists will attempt to produce a completely new creature has rekindled one of the oldest and most sticky philosophical dilemmas to come out of the primordial stew: What is life?...

Pleasanton, Calif., City Council Allows Resident to Build Flagpole.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Chris Metinko Nov. 21--PLEASANTON, Calif.--After a three-month tug of war between himself, neighbors and the city, Philip Ciesielski will finally raise a flag over his property. It won't be a white one, however. After winning...

Proposed Clean Water Regulations Meet Resistance in California.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Guy Ashley Nov. 21--OAKLAND, Calif.--Concerns over a strict set of proposed new clean water regulations are being expressed in surprising circles, including East Bay vector control agencies worried about the arrival of West Nile...

Escrow Closes on New California State Park, Ending Development Battle.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Nov. 21--Escrow closed early Wednesday on California's newest state park, a six-square-mile swath of rolling hills southwest of Brentwood. The $13 million purchase of the Cowell Ranch ends a 16-year battle...

Future of California Water-Planning Effort Remains Uncertain.
November 21, 2002... Byline: Mike Taugher Nov. 21--A key obstacle that threatens to cut off what little federal money is trickling into California's most ambitious water planning effort would be lifted under legislation passed by the Senate early Wednesday....

HEADLINE HERE.
November 20, 2002... Byline: Sandy Kleffman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Random surveys of bar patrons and bar workers conducted by Field Research Corp. in September and October showed the following: _ Nearly three quarters of those who own or work in bars say...

Asomughas squaring off one last time.
November 20, 2002... Byline: Jay Heater BERKELEY, Calif. _ If Cal senior cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha could have his way Saturday, he would take a brief respite from the madness of the Big Game and walk into Memorial Stadium alongside his brother, Chijioke....

49ers switch kickers, put faith in rookie.
November 20, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Rookie kicker Jeff Chandler recently checked with the 49ers equipment staff to see if it still had a No. 3 jersey with his name on it. He even ordered up some new shoes _ size 11, for those...

Sense of urgency is fuel for Raiders.
November 20, 2002... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Winning four straight games at the beginning of the season put the Raiders in an enviable position. Every other team had at least one loss and praised the Raiders as a juggernaut. Four straight...

Decorating Dilemma: Separate studio into usable sections.
November 20, 2002... Q. I am enclosing the floor plan of a studio apartment. I would like to know the best way to arrange furniture. As the room is large (about 16 by 17 feet), I was wondering if a bed could be placed in the room as well. I do not have furniture,...

Contra Costa, Calif., Blames County for Cost of Enforcing Clean Water Rules.
November 20, 2002... Byline: Peter Felsenfeld Nov. 20--Confronted with an expected $300 million yearly cost, Contra Costa officials are blaming Santa Clara County for pressuring a regional board to impose strict clean water regulations. The controversy...

EPA Head Whitman Kicks Off Wetlands Partnership in California.
November 20, 2002... Byline: Jane Ramsey Nov. 20--ANTIOCH, Calif.--The Tuesday morning skies greeting Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman in Antioch were as blue as if she had ordered them herself. Whitman launched the...

Federal Laboratory in California to Again House World's Largest Computer.
November 19, 2002... Byline: Andrea Widener Nov. 19--Lawrence Livermore Laboratory will once again be home to the world's largest computer under a new agreement to purchase two massive supercomputers from IBM, the Secretary of Energy will announce today. ...

NCAA sacks Cal's bowl appeal.
November 18, 2002... Byline: Jay Heater SAN FRANCISCO_For Cal football coach Jeff Tedford, it was like the moment when a parent ties a string around his child's loose baby tooth and yanks. Get over the pain, and move on. Facing his team in an early...

Chargers' overtime win is no kick for 49ers.
November 18, 2002... Byline: Cam Inman SAN DIEGO_Wearing a tailored gray suit and an unmistakable frown Sunday, kicker Jose Cortez returned to a near-empty 49ers locker room, faced a firing squad of reporters and was blunt. "I feel I let everybody down....

Raiders gain revenge of the tuck with victory over Patriots.
November 18, 2002... Byline: Steve Corkran OAKLAND_The Raiders and Patriots made it clear from the outset that Sunday night's game was more than just another regular-season game between 5-4 teams. The captains from each team turned and ran toward their...

California lab to purchase supercomputers from IBM.
November 18, 2002... Byline: Andrea Widener WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Lawrence Livermore Laboratory will once again be home to the world's largest computer under a new agreement to purchase two massive supercomputers from IBM, the Secretary of Energy will...

49ers' front office sees win booted away.
November 17, 2002... Byline: Neil Hayes SAN DIEGO _ John York, Peter Harris, Terry Donahue and Bill Walsh made their way to the sideline during the two-minute warning. The 49ers owner, president, general manager and legendary ex-coach were preparing to shake...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Business Listing Column.
November 17, 2002... Nov. 17--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., People in Motion Column.
November 17, 2002... Nov. 17--WAYNE MOON has been appointed executive chairman of the board at Emeryville's RelayHealth Corp., a provider of Web-based, doctor-patient communication services. He recently retired as CEO of Blue Shield of California. MARK E....

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Tapan Munroe Column.
November 17, 2002... Byline: Tapan Munroe Nov. 17--With the nation continuing to feel the adverse effects of a jobless economic recovery and a volatile stock market, state governments around the country face one of the worst fiscal crises since 1983. In the...

Economy, War Threat Cause Uncertainty for Walnut Creek, Calif.-Area Retailers.
November 17, 2002... Byline: Janet Adamy Nov. 17--For Alexis Gass, this didn't seem like the year to sell $325 ceramic Santa Clauses. So the owner of Clover Creek, a Pleasanton gift store, passed up the expensive figurines for more moderately priced St....

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Retirement Planner Column.
November 17, 2002... Byline: Steve Butler Nov. 17--I have just enjoyed my third anniversary of writing this column. I'm surprised at how enjoyable the experience has been. A cynical view of financial journalism holds that there are only about eight basic...

HEADLINE HERE.
November 16, 2002... CONTRA COSTA TIMES BUDGET FOR SUNDAY, NOV. 17, 2002 NIGHT CITY EDITOR IS ALICE CRANE AT 925-945-4774 NATIONAL/REGIONAL NEWS THE SUBURBS SEEN AS A KEY INGREDIENT TO A NEW WAVE OF ANTIWAR PROTESTS ANTIWAR.CXX, 54, art taken at...

Warriors run out of gas in overtime.
November 16, 2002... Byline: Matt Steinmetz LOS ANGELES _ Opportunity lost. No other way to describe it. Yes, this was the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, this was Staples Center. But it was the Lakers without center Shaquille O'Neal _ not to mention Devean...

Men, too, fall victim to abuse in big numbers.
November 16, 2002... Byline: John Simerman CONCORD, Calif. _ It wasn't the trip to jail that surprised her. She had slugged her new husband in the mouth, after all, over something so small she could not remember it now. The reaction down at the police...

Alou not afraid of stepping out.
November 15, 2002... Byline: Gary Peterson SAN FRANCISCO IT SEEMS FELIPE ALOU knew he wanted to be a manager even before he knew he wanted to be a manager. "I really didn't think I would ever manage," the new Giants manager said Friday during a...