PICTURES TELL STORIES OF CROCKETT AND PORT COSTA

A new book on the history of Crockett and a 2005 calendar of colorful photographs of Port Costa provide a gallery of compelling images of life on the Carquinez Strait, both past and present.

John Robinson of Crockett follows his recently published book on the construction of the Alfred Zampa Bridge with a new book, "Images of America -- Crockett," featuring historical photos from the early 1900s up to the present. "I always liked photography, and started reading books by Ansel Adams," he says. A former iron worker, John’s job experience and interest in photography led him to record the construction of the Zampa Bridge, a two-year project resulting in his first book, "Spanning the Strait."

John’s book on Crockett covers activities of early days on the Carquinez Strait, from Tormey and Valona to Eckley and Port Costa, documenting business and commerce, ferry boats and trains, civic functions, sports and social events. Several of John’s wide-angle, bird’s-eye views of the Zampa Bridge construction are included in the 128-page collection of photos, maps and drawings.

Veronica Crane of Port Costa first became acquainted with photography as a yearbook staff member at John Swett High School. "I started making gifts of pictures for friends and family, and then other people began asking me for pictures," she says.

Veronica published her third annual Port Costa photo calendar in December. With her camera she captures quiet scenes, often recorded in early morning or late afternoon light – sunflowers, the Burlington Hotel, cows munching hay, St. Patricks’s Church, mistletoe silhouetted against an orange sunset. "I hike a lot," she says. "When you live here, you take for granted the views you see every day. But taking photos makes me pay more attention, and a picture makes the same old stuff look different."

MISTLETOE AT SUNSET

For information regarding Veronica Crane’s Port Costa calendar, call(510)787-3036 or email vrcrane@yahoo.com.

POMONA STREET, CROCKETT, 1923

For information on John Robinson’s book on the history of Crockett, call (510) 787-9958 or go to www.carquinezpress.com.

FOUNDATION GRANT OK’D FOR DOWNSPOUTS

Another step in repairing and restoring the Port Costa School building will take place in the near future with the installation of new downspouts, replacing the rusted-out originals which have been taken down in various states of disrepair. The project includes new douwnspouts at all four corners, leader heads (the funnel part at the top), and concrete splash blocks where water exits the downspouts and is drained away from the building.

Total project cost is $4,466. The Crockett Community Foundation has awarded the Port Costa Conservation Society a capital improvement grant of $3,573, with matching grants of $743 from the Clare and Gordon Johnson Trust, and $150 from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The leader heads were donated by Jim Schultz. Contract work will be performed by Martinez Sheet Metal, Inc. The installation will put the finishing touch on roof repairs made in 1999 and 2000, and the skylight repair and restoration work in 2003.

COLD AND RAIN FAIL TO DAMPEN ART SHOW

Despite rain and mostly cold weather, the third annual Port Costa Art Show chalked up another artistic and financial success as artists from Port Costa, Crockett, Pinole, Rodeo, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Danville and Oakland rang up $3,025 in sales over the weekend of December 4 and 5. The Port Costa Conservation Society (PCCS) fund-raiser earned $1,370.58 from vendor sales, ten-percent donation of art sales, a silent auction, individual contributions and sale of PCCS posters, postcards and T-shirts. A matching funds grant of $1,000 from the Crockett Community Foundation will bring the PCCS total to $2,370.58.

The show was staged in the auditorium of the Port Costa School. Visitors were treated to snacks from platters of vegetables and fruit, bread with brie and pesto, homemade cookies from neighbors in town, and a selection of donated wines.

"I think it went very well, even though it was really, really cold," said Monica Greene, who organized the show. "There was a good variety of art – paintings, scupture, weavings, pottery by Kathy Kearns and Pino Pagne, and one of Clayton Bailey’s dog robots. It was a real eclectic mix of art and talent of all ages. I’m sure we’ll be doing the show again next December."

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