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

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

This `Ghost' writer loves a mystery.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Lynn Carey With a mystery, it's so comforting to be able to call the author and ask all those nagging questions _ such as, who was the woman in the photo? And, who was the ghost writer? John Harwood, author of "The Ghost...

Structure's impact on downtown Martinez questioned.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Nov. 30--MARTINEZ - Facade changes may be coming for the planned district attorney building in downtown Martinez, but city officials continue to smart from thoughts of a looming eyesore they can't seem to...

The building blocks of business.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko Nov. 30--PLEASANTON -- When most people think about big industry in the East Bay, shipping and technology spring to mind. Construction also plays a large role in the region's development, and it was that trade that...

Housing possible at Walnut Creek, Calif., BART.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Theresa Harrington Nov. 30--More than 600 apartment-dwellers could live in a transit village at the Walnut Creek BART station within five years if city officials approve plans to be unveiled Thursday. The proposed transit...

Plan doubles lab's amount of plutonium.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko Nov. 30--LIVERMORE - The branch of the Energy Department that oversees the nuclear weapons complex has signed off on a 10-year environmental plan that will allow Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to house twice the...

Roddy sues partner over ranch project.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen Nov. 30--Antioch cowboy and developer Jack Roddy has sued his former Roddy Ranch development business partner, alleging fraud and misrepresentation. In a complaint filed in Contra Costa Superior Court on...

Towns divided on sewer liability.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Tom Lochner Nov. 30--Contra Costa County and the communities of Crockett and Port Costa are wrangling over who should pay some of the cost of fixing Port Costa's aging sewage treatment system. County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema...

Win gives Warriors 11 in November.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ So the first month of the season is done. The Warriors capped November with a 113-106 win over the Sacramento Kings before a bipartisan crowd of 19,279 at the Arena, a victory sealed by 12...

Backup QB waits and waits on Raiders' sideline.
November 30, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Raiders backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo shows up for work every day, puts in his time, doesn't complain and waits. And waits. Just as he has done for most of his five NFL seasons. He...

Home Depot may buy Yardbirds.
November 29, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 29--Yardbirds Home Center, a regional hardware store chain with several outlets in the East Bay and Solano County, is negotiating a sale of its stores and operations to hardware behemoth Home Depot Inc.,...

Boundaries help everyone move on.
November 29, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: Are there any guidelines for how close divorced couples should be after they break up? In my case, the parents have moved on to new relationships but continue to maintain a friendship. The...

Sports reform gets top billing.
November 29, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes The House Committee on Government Reform, chaired by Congressmen Tom Davis and Henry Waxman and championed by Senators John McCain and Jim Bunning, threatened to pass legislation to toughen baseball's steroid policy if...

Shoe Pavilion leaves Pinole, consolidates in south state.
November 29, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 29--Shoe Pavilion Inc., one of the East Bay's largest public companies, has closed its local headquarters and relocated to Southern California. Until recently, the retailer of low-priced footwear had its...

Sunol weigh stations avert disaster.
November 29, 2005... Byline: Joyce Tsai Nov. 29--SUNOL - A collection of worn brake rotors, cracked brake shoes and misshapen shackles graces the walls of the Mission Grade Inspection Station in Sunol. Each faulty vehicle part tells a story of how easy...

Father urges Australia to reject efforts to legalize RU-486.
November 29, 2005... Byline: Bonita Brewer LIVERMORE, Calif. _ The father of a Livermore woman who died in 2003 after taking the RU-486 abortion pill is going international with his concerns over its safety. Monty Patterson, who has called on the U.S....

Powe will lace it up Wednesday night.
November 29, 2005... Byline: Jonathan Okanes BERKELEY, Calif. _ Cal coach Ben Braun already knew Leon Powe would make his long-awaited return Wednesday night. But just to tease his star forward, he asked the team's training staff Monday if Powe was ready....

Police arrest 2 in vandalism of California liquor stores.
November 29, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Two people were arrested Tuesday for last week's rampage of a pair of West Oakland liquor stores by a group of men who reportedly warned employees not to sell alcohol to blacks. Oakland...

Exhibit captures sculptor's journey through the human form.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Modenessi SAN FRANCISCO _ It's 11:15 a.m. and Kiki Smith is running late. I'm sitting in an austere white conference room in the belly of San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art, waiting to interview the artist whose...

Consumers' habits shifting to whole grains.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Cindy Gershen, a bakery, cafe and restaurant owner, takes a phrase from her kids to describe what's happened to the low-carbohydrate diet craze: "It's so 10 minutes ago." About two years...

Veteran worker recalls fairground career.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Chris Metinko Nov. 28--PLEASANTON -- Frank Soto remembers an Alameda County Fairgrounds before there were any packed car and boat shows on the weekends, a satellite wagering facility or $8 parking. Instead, he remembers an...

A's go shopping, land Loaiza.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Rick Hurd OAKLAND, Calif. _ No, it wasn't a secret that a Bay Area team would be trying to spend some of its precious dollars on a starting pitcher. Nor was it any mystery that it would be unafraid to bid aggressively in its...

Davis gives Warriors a hand in win, storm victims a lift in recovery.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ Golden State Warriors point guard Baron Davis drove to his left into the lane late in the first quarter, sneaking a two-hand dunk past former teammate P.J. Brown and converting the three point...

Mooch, Raiders: A perfect match.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ The problem with discussing the Oakland Raiders coaching situation is that it's as depressing as the team's most recent results. If team managing general partner Al Davis decides to fire Norv...

Police see no link yet between vandalism of liquor stores, fire.
November 28, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ Police said they have identified six men suspected of trashing two Oakland liquor stores last week, but have so far been unable to link the incidents to an arson fire that destroyed one of the stores...

Shoe Pavilion leaves Pinole, consolidates in south state.
November 28, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 28--Shoe Pavilion Inc., one of the East Bay's largest public companies, has closed its local headquarters and relocated to Southern California. Until recently, the retailer of low-priced footwear had its...

Changing Parchester retains unique attitude.
November 27, 2005... Byline: John Geluardi Nov. 27--Without a good map and keen sense of direction, finding the secluded hamlet of Parchester Village can be a little tricky. The 55-year-old working-class community of 420 modest homes is largely cut off...

Executive supports developing track land.
November 27, 2005... Byline: Alan Lopez Nov. 27--Peter Tunney studied to become a school teacher but received an education in thoroughbred racing instead. Growing up in Pasadena, he worked at racetracks in high school and college on weekends and holidays...

Reactions are mixed to plans for shoreline.
November 27, 2005... Byline: Alan Lopez Nov. 27--Last month, Southern California-based developer Caruso Affiliated showed off preliminary plans for a housing and retail development on underused parking lots at Golden Gate Fields. CEO Rick Caruso has...

Tech startups show signs of life.
November 27, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 27--Once left for dead, Bay Area tech startups have engineered an industry resurrection. Venture capitalists in the third quarter embraced the region's new technology firms far more warmly than any other...

Quest for revenge coming to speedy resolution.
November 27, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ If revenge is a dish best served cold, Golden State Warriors fans better bring their scarves and mittens Monday night. Warriors point guard Baron Davis and New Orleans/Oklahoma City...

Lost Raiders need to locate new QB.
November 27, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson OAKLAND, Calif. _ Can we say it now? Can we come right out and say it? The Raiders aren't going to make the playoffs this season. They're done _ and what's more, that's a good thing, unless you had a perverse...

Raiders' hopes for late playoff surge dashed.
November 27, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran OAKLAND, Calif. _ Oakland Raiders coach Norv Turner promised a conversation about his team's playoffs situation if they beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Playoffs? Turner now has plenty of other things to...

Shell works to clean up oil-stained vehicles in Martinez, Calif.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Nargis Nooristani Nov. 26--In the two weeks since Shell Oil Refinery accidentally dispersed 150 gallons of oil in a mist over downtown Martinez, the company could spend $525,000 to $1.05 million just on cleaning oil-stained...

After latest win, Warriors starting to show promise.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ Don't look now, but the Warriors are in a really good position right now. Don't get too excited, but the Warriors might be starting to click. The Warriors opened their six-game homestand...

Stanford almost wins for illustrious alumni on an old field.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Gary Peterson STANFORD, Calif. _ They gave away hard hats at Stanford Stadium, a boneyard of backless benches whose functional life drew to a close on Saturday night. They handed out sketches of the new facility that will stand...

Shoulder injury ends Sapp's season.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ The Oakland Raiders placed veteran defensive tackle Warren Sapp on injured reserve Saturday after a shoulder injury he sustained last Sunday turned out to be worse than initially thought. He will...

East Bay shoppers undeterred by tough times, plan to spend.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres and Rick Jurgens Nov. 26--East Bay consumers responded to the official opening of the holiday selling season Friday by flocking to malls and stores, demonstrating that recent economic setbacks, war and natural...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Ellen Lee column.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Ellen Lee Nov. 26--THE LURE OF BLACK FRIDAY: So this is how a herd moves. I feel the shopping cart jam the back of my legs as the crowd propels me through the doors of Best Buy in Pleasant Hill. Behind me, someone yells, "Go,...

Holiday cooking means a flood of business for plumbers.
November 26, 2005... Byline: Ryan Huff Nov. 26--Brian Bristol wrapped up his Thanksgiving just after midnight, fixing a backed-up sink that flooded a Martinez apartment. Now seven hours later, he's at the Concord Roto-Rooter, packing a plunger and tools...

Stepping up to the plate for a feast of predictions.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Cam Inman The turducken tasted dry four years ago to this day, as then-49ers coach Steve Mariucci shared his plate straight off John Madden's cruiser. But how could we resist digging in when Mariucci peeled back the aluminum...

Delta View Golf Course may break even.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Laurie Phillips Nov. 25--A year and a half from now, the scenic Delta View Golf Course could be where it's wanted to be for five years: at the break-even point. The Pittsburg City Council's decision this week to reorganize...

For heavy traffic, a lighter touch.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Mike Adamick Nov. 25--MARTINEZ -- When the new Benicia bridge opens to traffic in about two years, motorists will unknowingly rumble over the same material found in their coffee cups: plastic foam. Brick by 240-pound brick,...

Rookie Diogu helps Warriors get a win.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II SALT LAKE CITY _ Golden State Warriors rookie forward Ike Diogu got the ball on the right side of the paint and netted a turn-around jumper over Utah center Jarron Collins. So smooth. The next time down, at...

Men in suits, bow ties tear apart liquor stores.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ The owners of two West Oakland liquor stores said they suffered at least $30,000 damage when pipe-wielding men wearing suits and bow ties rampaged through the businesses, smashing the glass doors of...

Turner deserves to keep his job with Raiders.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Eric Gilmore Toward the end of Joe Walton's reign in the 1980s as coach of the New York Jets, chants of "Joe Must Go!" were as common as green and white jerseys at the Meadowlands. Disgruntled fans finally got their wish...

Dolphins appear happy with Ricky Williams.
November 25, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Each week seemingly brings about more and more problems for the Miami Dolphins. The list through 11 weeks is long and worrisome for first-year coach Nick Saban, but running back Ricky Williams'...

Rare bacteria connect women's deaths.
November 24, 2005... Byline: Bonita Brewer LIVERMORE, Calif. _ The rare bacteria that caused the massive infection that killed 18-year-old Holly Patterson of Livermore in 2003 has now been linked to all four California women who died after taking the RU-486...

Executive supports developing track land.
November 24, 2005... Byline: Alan Lopez Nov. 24--Peter Tunney studied to become a school teacher but received an education in thoroughbred racing instead. Growing up in Pasadena, he worked at racetracks in high school and college on weekends and holidays...

Mayor supports union effort at supermarket.
November 24, 2005... Byline: Karl Fischer Nov. 24--Pinole Mayor David Cole and City Council members Maria Alegria and Mary Horton joined union organizers at a Wednesday rally in front of Food Maxx to support worker attempts to unionize the store. Leaders...

Tech startups show signs of life.
November 24, 2005... Byline: George Avalos Nov. 24--Once left for dead, Bay Area tech startups have engineered an industry resurrection. Venture capitalists in the third quarter embraced the region's new technology firms far more warmly than any other...

No major obstacles for Antioch Wal-Mart.
November 24, 2005... Byline: Sarah Jane Tribble Nov. 24--ANTIOCH - Wal-Mart's proposal to build the East Bay's first Supercenter in Antioch faces no insurmountable environmental hurdles, according to an early draft of a city report on the issue. The...

Around the remote: TV picks for Nov. 27-Dec. 3.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: "YESTERDAY" _ Set against the stark and harsh landscapes of South Africa, here is an unsentimental, but deeply felt, film about a woman named Yesterday (Leleti Khumalo, in a powerful performance)...

Myla Goldberg transforms hard historical data about the 1918 influenza epidemic into a warm, spirited tale.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Cassandra Braun WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Myla Goldberg is a hard one to pin down. But it's clear she shares some of the traits of her new heroine, Lydia Kilkenny, in the author's much anticipated second novel, "Wickett's Remedy."...

`Curse of the Narrows': A tale of calamity, humanity.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Peter Magnani "Curse of the Narrows" by Laura M. MacDonald; Walker & Co. ($26) ___ The collision of two ships in Nova Scotia's Halifax harbor on Dec. 6, 1917, might be the biggest disaster in history that nobody has...

California plan to control wild turkey population draws ire.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ A plan by the state of California to control the wild turkey population is ruffling feathers, and not just the turkeys'. Some turkey lovers are unhappy the state started issuing property...

Comcast hikes price of cable by 7 percent.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Nov. 23--Comcast Tuesday announced it is raising cable rates by 7 percent, the highest increase in the past three years. Typical cable subscribers in the Bay Area will pay an added $3.13 per month for cable...

Housing official heads to Vallejo, Calif.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Theresa Harrington Nov. 23--Helping low- and moderate-income people find affordable housing in Walnut Creek has been Laura Simpson's mission for more than three years. As the city's housing program manager, she has pushed...

Warriors clearly are no match for Spurs.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ Fortunately for the Golden State Warriors, Wednesday night's 113-89 loss at the Arena to defending champion San Antonio was more a commentary on the greatness of the Spurs than an indictment...

Woman pursues new legal strategy in medical marijuana fight.
November 23, 2005... Byline: Guy Ashley OAKLAND, Calif. _ An Oakland woman whose landmark medical marijuana case was rebuffed five months ago by the U.S. Supreme Court renewed her legal fight Wednesday by filing papers in a federal appeals court. Lawyers...

California panel approves energy report.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Nov. 22--An energy policy report laced with warnings about California's need to address its growing dependence on gasoline and natural gas was unanimously approved by the state Energy Commission Monday but only after...

Early shoppers shelve holiday stress.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Nov. 22--A spare bedroom in Christine Steiner's Pleasanton home offers a sneak peek of her holiday spirit. On top of her pair of twin beds rest piles of gifts, already wrapped and bowed. On the dresser are neat...

Conditional dad worse than none.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: Recently my fiance has decided to postpone our wedding and maybe even break up. He has been under a lot of stress and is very unhappy at work. My 5-year-old son is very high-energy, and when...

Pavilion's profits cost Concord.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Ryan Huff Nov. 22--Concord will shop around for another promoter to run the Chronicle Pavilion following operator Bill Graham Presents' projections that it probably will not make a profit for the second straight year. The...

Neighbors appeal San Ramon, Calif., day care center expansion.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Scott Marshall Nov. 22--Neighbors of a day care center will appeal to the San Ramon City Council tonight to block the center's expansion plans. Neighbors in the Cambrio townhouse community on Shadowhill Circle contend that...

Recycling turns cooking oil into fuel.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Chris Treadway Nov. 22--RICHMOND - Deep-frying a turkey may be an ideal way to seal in the bird's flavor, but it also has other consequences, including the problem of what to do with gallons of leftover cooking oil. Rather...

New spirit of cooperation for San Ramon, developers.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Scott Marshall Nov. 22--SAN RAMON -- Traditionally working at cross-purposes, affordable housing advocates and homebuilders have taken a deep breath and decided to work together -- something housing advocates hope may finally...

Mt. Diablo, Calif., teachers, district strike tentative agreement.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff Nov. 22--Negotiators for teachers and the Mt. Diablo Unified School District have agreed on a contract after a long and heated dispute over coverage of escalating health care costs. The tentative pact, reached...

Pietrus out; Diogu could play Wednesday night for Warriors.
November 22, 2005... Byline: Joe Stiglich OAKLAND, Calif. _ Swingman Mickael Pietrus is expected to miss up to four weeks with a sprained right knee, meaning the Warriors will be without their top option off the bench for a considerable time. Pietrus was...

Readers offer tips to save energy at home.
November 21, 2005... Byline: Victoria Manley Nov. 21--Seasonal chilly weather-- at least by California standards -- will soon have us looking to heat our homes. But that doesn't necessarily mean we'll have to pay extra for it. In light of recent...

Firefighters train out of their comfort zone.
November 21, 2005... Byline: Linda Davis Nov. 21--SAN RAMON -- Leaders at the San Ramon Valley fire district spent the past week battling blazes, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in the imaginary Latin American country of Costa Ricardo, all for the sake of...

Parks official altered outlook for open space.
November 21, 2005... Byline: Denis Cuff Nov. 21--MARTINEZ - Hulet Hornbeck was a crack World War II airplane navigator and map reader, but he didn't find his path in life until a doctor told him it was nearly over. Incurable skin cancer, the doctor said,...

Raiders must get Moss involved.
November 21, 2005... Byline: Neil Hayes Randy Moss wasn't thrilled with the prospect of playing in Oakland at first, but the more he learned about the Raiders the more enamored he became. Al Davis thought he would be a perfect fit for strong-armed...

Crips founder's fight for clemency.
November 20, 2005... Byline: John Simerman WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ The crime photos tell a tale of shotgun brutality: The bloody torso of 7-Eleven clerk Albert Owens, shot twice in the back from close range. The blasted left side of Yee-Chen Lin's face. Holes...

EDITORIAL: Bay Area air quality success story.(Editorial)
November 20, 2005... Nov. 20--AMID THE DEBATE over global warming, rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the continued increase in consumption of fossil fuels, it is easy for us to overlook the dramatic progress the Bay Area -- along with much of...

Mira Vista observes 85 years of gentility.
November 20, 2005... Byline: Martin Snapp Nov. 20--EL CERRITO -- Often called "the East Bay's hidden jewel," the Mira Vista Golf & Country Club is celebrating 85 years perched more 800 feet above sea level in the El Cerrito Hills. "I can play my...

Pleasant Hill market tastes success.
November 20, 2005... Byline: Sarah Krupp Nov. 20--ANTIOCH -- You know it's not Safeway when you pass crimson blocks of congealed pigs' blood and baby octopuses the size of half-dollars in red sauce. If food embodies the most basic elements of culture,...

Council may trim expansion project.
November 20, 2005... Byline: Alan Lopez Nov. 20--ALBANY -- The Albany City Council will consider cutting back on a police and fire station expansion while pouring an additional $2 million into the project at its Monday meeting. The potential cutbacks in...

Farmers bemoan road work.
November 20, 2005... Byline: Tanya Rose Nov. 20--EAST COUNTY -- Local fruit farmers are upset about the looming Highway 4 bypass construction, which will fall smack in the middle of U-Pick season, a four-week fruit-picking frenzy that brings thousands of...

Raiders find a bit of redemption for Turner.
November 20, 2005... Byline: Steve Corkran LANDOVER, Md. _ Oakland Raiders coach Norv Turner did his best to keep in check his emotions all week long. He downplayed his return to the place he coached seven seasons, where his kids were raised, and where he...

Two elementary schools under state watch.
November 20, 2005... Byline: Shirley Dang Nov. 20--RICHMOND -- Two West Contra Costa elementary schools recently fell under state watch after narrowly missing state testing targets last school year. As a result, the state will send an extra $39,000 to...

'Twas the click before Christmas.
November 19, 2005... Byline: Blanca Torres Nov. 19--It's mid-November and Don Sherwood has completed half of his holiday shopping, quietly amassing a pile of packages in his bedroom filled with gifts his wife will wrap. The 45-year-old Walnut Creek man...

Food bank rejects funds from casino owners.
November 19, 2005... Byline: Karl Fischer Nov. 19--The band of American Indians who run Casino San Pablo claim an Alameda County food bank rejected its $3,000 contribution this week because of the stormy politics surrounding its expansion proposals. The...

State OKs rebate for PG&E gas customers.
November 19, 2005... Byline: Rick Jurgens Nov. 19--State regulators unanimously approved a 20 percent rebate for Pacific Gas & Electric customers who cut winter natural gas consumption by 10 percent but rejected a proposal by the utility to postpone...

Students build ideas on tour of new housing development.
November 19, 2005... Byline: Paula King Nov. 19--OAKLEY -- Delta Vista Middle School students learned about granite countertops, crown molding, jetted bathtubs, bonus rooms and other home upgrades during a recent tour of model homes for a 105-home...