Oakley entrepreneurs help folks Party Green By Ruth Roberts Oakley Press
The best ideas are usually the simplest, but it helps to be creative, too. Luckily for Oakley residents Ron and Cheryl Clark, their line of eco-friendly paper products is both, and if early sales are any indication, their products won't soon be the only green items in the Clark household.
"Well, we're hearing a lot of good things about it (the products) so we're feeling pretty excited," said Ron, a heavy-equipment operator. "It's one of those things that when people see it they say, "It's so simple.' It's a fun product."
Called Party Green, the line's signature item is the Placup holder (plate with cup holder); a plate and cup combination that allows for a one-handed approach to tailgate parties, backyard barbecues and other recreational gatherings where buffet-style food is served. Made with 100-percent biodegradable and compostable wheat straw - including the cups, which look and feel like plastic - Party Green products are fun, kid and senior friendly, and environmentally correct.
"We go to a lot of events, a lot of tailgating parties and other things, and we're always holding food in one hand a cup in the other," said Cheryl. "If you want to eat or say hello to someone, you have to put everything down or risk a spill. The Placup takes away the awkwardness."
The idea for the eco-friendly Party Green line came to the Clarks a few years ago courtesy of Cheryl's young grandson, who was living with them at the time. Inspired by the idea, Ron grabbed a paper plate, cut out a hole, dropped in a plastic cup and created their first prototype. By process of elimination, the Clarks finally came upon the right design, and two weeks ago, they held their first packaged product in their hands.
"It was exciting to go into one of the stores with our plates and see it there on the shelves," said Cheryl. "It's all so new; we're learning as we go. It's stressful, but it's fun."
And if you're thinking you've seen the combination plate and cup holder before, you have, but never as a green product. That - along with other Party Green items including the soon-to-arrive divided plates and cafeteria food trays - are what the Clarks believe will set them apart from their culinary competitors.
"The timing for a product (recycled) like this is perfect right now," said Ron. "People can enjoy an item like this without feeling guilty."
Today, the Placup can be found in select grocery stores in Danville, Piedmont and Oakland, and once a distributor is secured, the Clarks expect to begin lining the shelves of local retailers throughout the Bay Area.
"It's a fun business to be in," said Cheryl. "People can eat, drink and enjoy and still know they are doing something good for the environment. We want people to party, but we want them to party green."
For more information on Party Green products and where to find them, visit www.partygreen.org.
Having a Party is not having a negative impact...
While having a GREAT time!!!
2009 Pittsburg Youth Soccer Showcase Event
"There's always the motivation of wanting to win. Everybody has that. But a champion needs, in his attitude, a motivation above and beyond winning."
— Pat Riley
PITTSBURG CA November 15, 2009: On behalf of the entire Pittsburg Pitbull's Soccer Club (PPSC) team, we would like to thank the business participants, players, coaches, and spectators for making PPSC's 2009 Amateur Soccer Showcase Event presented by Careful Design a remarkable event.
We sincerely hope that your team and fans enjoyed the great competition and the opportunity to play at our world-class venue.
Congratulations to the finalists of the 2009 Amateur Soccer Showcase Event.
ADULT El Farolito 4-1 BASA Pitbull’s Club U18 BASA Pitbul’s Club 3-1 Zamora of Concord U13 Delta of Brentwood 6-4 BASA Pitbull’s Club U11 America of Concord 3-1 BASA Pitbull’s Club
These teams have earned their spot at PPSC's Showcase! See picsHERE
PPSC & BASA Joined Forces in Pittsburg Clean-up
Every young player who loves soccer should have the opportunity to join a Club & belong to a team and prepare them for careers in the big leagues of the world, or simply help prepare young people to meet the challenges they will face & to take leadership roles within their communities.
PITTSBURG, CA (Saturday, May 16, 2009) Bay Area Soccer Academy(BASA) and Pittsburg Pitbull's Soccer Club(PPSC) volunteers, youth and parents enjoyed joining forces with many other groups and citizens in Pittsburg clean-up. As part of the Keep America Beautiful campaign, The Dow Chemical Company, the City of Pittsburg and Partners for the Watershed sponsored the Great Pittsburg Clean-up. More than 75 volunteers where there to help clean Kirker Creek at Buchanan Park. Please keep Pittsburg clean and beautiful. MORE PICTURES
Giving youth opportunity.
Our second car wash fundraiser of 2009, held Saturday May 9, 2009 at El Matador was a huge success! This car wash fundraising brought in $255 in donations for PPSC's low income youth. Attendees wash their car and eat great Mexican food at El Matador while waiting for their clean car. A big thank you to Lupe and Martin Guzma for hosting such a great fundraiser. MORE PICTURES
PPSC in Support of The 2009 Challenger Jamboree
PITTSBURG Sunday, April 26, 2009 Last year seven members of the challenger league, traveled to Guaymas, Mexico, to take on their All Star team there. This weekend, the East Bay league is returning the favor.
On Saturday, April 25th, they attended a ceremony and exhibition game at Walnut Creek's Heather Farm Park between the East Bay Team that went to Mexico last year and the team from Guaymas. On Sunday, April 26, the challenger league hosted a jamboree for all the league's teams at Pittsburg's City Park. Festivities included a game between the Guaymas All Star Team against a challenger All Star Team from Oakland.
PPSC is proud to recognize Latino Issues Forum. Great things happen when we harness our community spirit and pull together for a good cause.
On April 17, 2009, LIF hosted a policy briefing to promote dialogue about the current environmental and reproductive health disparities facing the Latino community. The theme of the briefing will drive the conversation among academics, community leaders, elected officials staff and students from across California.
Latinos – a young, diverse and fast-growing community – live in the worst environmental communities and face the greatest health risks in California. Environmental risks such as hazard land use, poor air and water quality leave California Latino communities vulnerable to chronic illnesses such as asthma, cancer and reproductive health problems in both men and women.
The lack of environmental oversight and access to affordable health care services have left the underserved Latino community with the desire to advocate for their well-being by proposing policies that would significantly impact their community. “We are pleased to have advocates, researchers, students and policy experts convene to discuss some of the most prevalent issues affecting our state. Latino Issues Forum’s ability to advocate and provide leadership is essential in continuing to maintain an equitable and sustainable society. Healthier Latinos means a healthier California!” stated Elmy Bermejo, Interim Executive Director of LIF.
Fast Facts
Reproductive health: • Latinas have the highest risk of developing cervical cancer in California. In the Central Valley, for example, cervical cancer rates for Latinas are three times higher than those of Non-Hispanic Caucasians and are the highest among all ethnic groups. This is somewhat attributed to a low incidence of regular screening such as Pap smear tests among Latinas (1,2).
• Latinas have the highest rates of cervical cancer caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is considered the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. (3).
• Latinos diagnosed with HIV develop AIDS within one year of diagnosis, which suggests that the majority of Latinos are diagnosed 8-10 years after acquiring HIV. Moreover, Latinas represent 29 percent of women living with HIV in California (4).
Environmental health • One in six Latinos have been diagnosed with asthma in California. In the San Joaquin Valley, nearly one in five children has asthma (5).
• Nearly 90% of U.S. farm workers are Latino, and many of these laborers and their families are routinely exposed to toxic pesticides. In California, Hispanics employed as farm workers were found to have 59-69% greater risk of getting stomach, cervical, and uterine cancer, and some leukemias, compared with other Hispanics in the state (6).
• The placement of freeways and other major transportation hubs are disproportionately located in Latino or other low income communities, therefore these communities are the ones most impacted by diesel pollution (5). 41% of Latinos are likely to report respiratory problems in their household (7).
Latino Issues Forum (LIF) is a non-profit public policy and advocacy institute dedicated to advancing new and innovative public policy solutions for a better, more equitable, and prosperous society.
PPSC Car Wash Fundraising raises money to field low income youth
Pictures HERE
Our first car wash fundraiser of 2009, held Saturday April 4, 2009 at El Matador, was a huge success! This car wash fundraising brought in $300 in donations for PPSC's low income youth. Attendees wash their car and eat great Mexican food at El Matador while waiting for their clean car. A big thank you to Lupe and Martin Guzma for hosting such a great fundraiser.
These $300 will field 2 low income youth to play competitive soccer with Bay Area Soccer Academy's Pitbull's Club for their Norcal Premier Soccer participation, a US Club sanctioned league.
"Most important of all is that these events bind our people together, creates an equal footing, helps players take care of their responsibilities and create the foundation for team-work" said volunteer BASA Coach, Mario Arredondo.
The goal of PPSC is that every young player who loves soccer should have the opportunity to join a Club and belong to a team and prepare them for careers in the big leagues of the world, or simply help prepare young people to meet the challenges they will face and to take leadership roles within their communities.
Recreational and competitive soccer are a fun way to learn values and lessons that will last a life time. They promote friendship and fair play. They teach teamwork, honesty, pride, personal accountability, discipline, respect, and the coping skills necessary to ensure that children develop into caring individuals.
We are creating environments that are safe and promote stable relationships between children and adults, and among children themselves. They are providing children of all ages with opportunities to express themselves, to contribute their voice, opinions and ideas, and to become agents for change. They are helping to build communities and are contributing to a more just and peaceful society.
Want to become a volunteer? Your soccer club needs your help! There are several openings for volunteers to take on key roles in helping keep the club operating smoothly. Our success depends on a steady supply of committed advisory board, board members, parents, supporters and fans who want to help the Club thrive.
For more information about May 9, June 13 and future PPSC Car Wash Fundraising or other advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please call 925 813-1025.
you can view more pictures HERE
Special THANKS to:
ALL VOLUNTEERS (over 50 players, parents supporters and fans) who did an excellent job organizing, washing, scrubbing, buffing, and waived cars in.
BASA-Pitbull's Club donated use of tent, tables, chairs and transportation.
Careful Design donated design and reproduction and distribution of poster and tickets, soap, paper towels, chamois, bristol board, markers, and pizza for volunteers.
El Matador donated use of utilities and parking lot facility.
Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz donated rugs, water, window cleaner, snacks, and drinks.
La Aurora Market donated Ice and Bottled Water.
Coach Jose Medina who donated use of water hose, buckets, paper towels, and chamois.
Pittsburg community participants good will.
Ready Print donated Tickets for 3 car wash events April 4, May 9, and June 13.
Our sponsors are extremely important to us. Without their financial and product support, we wouldn’t be able to field low-income youth soccer players. Please join us by using their products and services. If you have a chance, and you see them, please take a moment to thank them for making this possible.
We Celebrated Jim Craft's Birdthday / Fundraiser
"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools."
The best ideas are usually the simplest, but it helps to be creative, too. Luckily for Oakley residents Ron and Cheryl Clark, their line of eco-friendly paper products is both, and if early sales are any indication, their products won't soon be the only green items in the Clark household.
Every young player who loves soccer should have the opportunity to join a Club & belong to a team and prepare them for careers in the big leagues of the world, or simply help prepare young people to meet the challenges they will face & to take leadership roles within their communities.
