June - Alamo Today

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June 2007
Serving the Lafayette Community
Butler-Conti Dodge Closed for Business
A Lafayette institution, Butler-Conti Dodge, closed its doors on May 31st. ButlerConti Dodge was founded in 1952 by George Conti. The Dodge franchise has been
sold and transferred to Michael Stead Jeep Chrysler in Walnut Creek where all records
of previous repairs will be available to customers.
Carl Conti, George’s brother, took over the business after George Conti passed
away on October 31, 2006. “He went in for knee surgery,” said Carl “and he was never
able to leave the hospital.” George Conti was an Officer of the Chrysler Advisory
Board, the Chairman of the Northern California Dodge Dealer’s convention for 25
consecutive years, and he served as an Officer of the Dodge Advertising Association
for 35 years. George Conti was also a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II and the
Korean War, a past Commander of the Lafayette American Legion, and Auxiliary
Member of the Contra
Costa Sheriff Department,
and a Member of Kiwanis.
Carl Conti noted that
what he would miss most
about the dealership were
his “brother and the employees. When you’re a small
dealership, as we are, you
tend to become pretty close with the employees.” One of the employees, Office Manager Etta Tompkins, was with the dealership for 39 years. Most of the Butler-Conti
employees have been offered positions at the Michael Stead dealership or at other area
dealerships.
Currently, there are no plans in place for the Butler-Conti dealership site.
A Lafayette Family’s
Adoption Tale
Lafayette Brownie Troop 1064 presented Kristen Hess, the Director of Development for the Northern California Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
with a check for $200. Each girl chose a different way to raise money over the course
of the school year to be donated to charity. Some of the ways girls raised money
were: “Change for Change” boxes given to family members, performing extra household chores, selling cookies, collecting recyclables, gardening, car washing, and donating allowance money. The troop raised $300 total and decided, via a group vote, to
donate $100 to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and $200 to the National MS Society.
The Director of Development was very appreciative. She praised the girls for
their efforts and thanked them for their generosity. Then she, in turn,
gave each Brownie gifts from the MS Society: a “Moolah Cow” stuffed animal
and a red “Band of Hope” wristband.
The girls include: Annie Shepherd, Skylar Jeveli, Annie Varellas, Kyra
Robertson, Chloe McCullough, Caroline Passalacqua, Katharine Larson, Grace
Baer, Jackie Nichols, Ella Park, Lauren Wan, Camryn Woehrle, Zoe Chang, Carolyn
Cheng, Molly Davis, Uma Unni, Samantha Bell, and Katherine Chen
Lafayette Residents Tackle Homelessness
By Mike Adamick
Once upon a time there was a
mother who wanted to add another
child to her family so she and her
husband adopted a beautiful baby
girl. And the family was happy. But
something still troubled the mother.
There was a story inside her head that needed
to be shared. So one day she took her enchanted
quill, ink and parchment (also known as a “computer”) and composed the tale of her journey to
find her new daughter.
“Going back very far, I had always wanted
to adopt,” said Lafayette mom Kristen
Altbaum. “We actually had had several miscarriages so the fact that we were able to bring
two boys into the world was pretty special,”
See Adoption continued on page 16
PRSRT STD
U.S.Postage
PAID
Permit 21
Lafayette CA
While Lafayette
doesn’t have a major
homeless problem, a
dedicated cadre of
Lafayette residents is
doing its best to find
homes, help and hope
for families throughout
the county. I want to
live in a community
where everyone’s think- From left to right: Tim O’Keefe, David Gerson, Kathleen
ing about each other, Hamm and Carol Chan.
taking a little more interest in others, even beyond their own towns” said
David Gerson, a 9-year-Lafayette resident and board member of Shelter Inc.,
a non-profit homeless assistance program.
It’s an idea that has taken root in
Lafayette and surrounding communities,
as residents here give more than elsewhere
Volume 1— Number 6
to the homeless program. But with dwindling government dollars and fierce comPO BOX 1335
petition for grants, Shelter Inc. and its
Lafayette, CA 94549
Lafayette backers are hoping their neighTelephone (925) 820-8662
FAX (925) 406-0737
bors can pitch in even more during [email protected]
cult times. Shelter Inc. hosted a concert
See Homelessness continued on page 18
Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 2 - June 2007
The View From Here
By Jennifer Lopez and Alisa
Corstorphine
All three of Alisa’s children were born
in Portland, Oregon. While they lived
there the family made frequent road trips
to the Bay Area to visit family.
When the kids were small and we
regularly made the road trip in our old
Suburban between Portland and the Bay Area we would often whip up home
cooked meals on the road. You may well wonder how this was possible!
Referencing a cookbook titled Manifold Destiny by Chris Maynard and
Bill Scheller, published in 1989, we were armed with dozens of recipes to
satisfy our hunger. Some of the recipes took some planning, but others could
be created on the side of the road. The method of heating and cooking was
via the car engine. The warm engine slowly cooked our meal to perfection
as we traveled down the highway.
Before heading out, we would prepare the dish, wrap it in several layers
of foil and then hit the road. As we drove, the air vents would waft out the
delicious smells of our next meal. I remember stopping at a gas station in
Oregon (they only have full-service gas in Oregon) and the station attendant appeared very puzzled by the smell coming from our car. We told him
it was our chicken
dinner complete with
peppers and potatoes... boy, was he
surprised!
Our favorite stop
on I-5 for the Portland/
Bay Area drive was a
park at exit 99 in Oregon. There were picnic tables and play
equipment for the
kids. We would get out of the car, open the hood, break out the hot pot holders
and retrieve our packet of food (and no, for those who wonder, the food did not
taste like oil, exhaust or any other car-related fumes!)
Recipes were timed in miles rather than minutes. The back cover of the
cookbook states: “How many miles does it take to roast a chicken? Should
you use your spark plugs or your radiator for a tenderloin of pork? Were
Jaguars really designed with Veal Scaloppine in mind?” In Manifold Destiny, the answers to these, and any other questions you may have had about
cooking under the hood, are revealed. After all, why drive to a meal when
you can cook a tastier one in your Chevy as you drive?
The book is divided into four regions: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South,
and California. The California section features recipes with expensive, highquality ingredients and combines them in such a way to “make people burble
over how imaginative and creative you are.”
The California recipes include: Poached Fish
Pontiac, Three Pepper Salmon Steaks, Abalone Allante, Baked Gilroy Garlic, Corvette
Stingray, and Chicken Breast Lido.
During a more recent trip, this time from
Alamo to Portland, we tried to create an
engine meal we hadn’t tried before: a simple
California breakfast of sausage and biscuits.
We thought my newer van was perfect for
the job, with a nice flat area on the engine
in which to stash our packets of food. We
found, however, that the efficiency of my
more modern motor caused the temperature to remain low - too low to rise to the
level needed to cook our food. On our next
trip we are taking the Suburban!
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find him and your name is drawn!
He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.
Lafayette Luther is Missing
He has become lost in this paper.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him,
along with your name and address to:
Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, PO Box 1335 • Lafayette, CA 94549
All entries must be received by July 6th, 2007
Daniel Mayeda is our winner!
Dan found Luther hiding in the ‘Tubz’ ad on page 30 last month.
Lafayette Luther contest and image Copyright Lafayette Today 2007. All rights reserved.
Acalanes Alum Brings Boston Band to Lafayette
Daniel Wright, a 2001 graduate of Acalanes High School, has always loved music.
He studied guitar and double bass at Stanley Intermediate School. He played locally in
talent shows, assemblies, and wrote and performed a song for the High School Baccalaureate. When he graduated from Acalanes he received the “Thanks for the Memories Award” for writing his own music, and performing it on a guitar that he made
himself. His local band, Moloko Plus, won the Vision Award for the Music Group
category in 2000. Now, six years later, Daniel is bringing his popular Boston band,
Daniel Wright’s World Collective, to Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, June
24th at 7:00pm as part of their West Coast tour. They will be playing all original music,
written and sung by Daniel. Daniel’s music is unique and personal and is influenced by
Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, John Lennon, and Beck.
Daniel Wright’s World Collective consists of six musicians, who all graduated
from New England Conservatory or Berklee College of Music. They play guitar,
keyboard, saxophone, upright bass, cello, and drums.
Four of the musicians will also perform at Bo’s in Lafayette on June 20th and 27th.
For tickets to the concert contact the box office at 925-283-1557. For more information contact Daniel Wright at 631-247-6175 or Barbara Nelson at 925-708-1054.
[email protected]
June 2007 - Page 3
3rd Annual Lafayette Bike Race
Sunday, July 15th, 7:15am - 4:00pm
The third annual Lafayette Criterium bike race will be held this year on Sunday, July 15th. The Criterium
is a circuit race that will be run over an approximately one mile-long course in downtown Lafayette. The
organizers of the race describe a criterium as “the most spectator friendly form of bicycle racing and unique
to the United States.” Groups of 100 or more racers from all over Northern California, including fields of
both professional and amateur riders, will zoom around the closed course at speeds averaging close to 30
miles per hour with the victory sprint often more than 40 miles per hour. The course runs along Mt. Diablo
Blvd., First Street, and Golden Gate Way, circling the future home of the Lafayette Library and Learning
Center. The first race begins at 7:15am and the races wrap up at 4:00pm.
In addition to the races, kids up through age 10 can be part of the Kids Fun Ride, which runs from 10:2511:00am. The kids can ride their tricycles, bikes with training wheels, or regular bicycles over the same
course as the pros. All of the participants will receive ribbons and other prizes from the race sponsors.
A cycling street fair and bike rodeo will also be held during the race day. Booths will feature cycling equipment and
related products. In a separate area, parents can bring their children, and their children’s bikes, for bike and
helmet checks as well as bicycle maintenance tips.
And finally, a live raffle will be held with proceeds to benefit the Lafayette Art and Science Foundation
(LASF). Featured raffle prizes include Diamond level tickets to an A’s game, Cal football tickets, and wine.
“It’s noteworthy that events like this promote a healthy lifestyle, physical fitness, and alternative commuting options,” said Race Director Ryan Nickelson. “Not only is it fun but we’re getting people involved in
healthy outdoor activities,” he added.
The main sponsor of the Criterium is Pegasus Bicycle Works in Danville. Other sponsors include Mt.
Diablo National Bank and Oakwood Athletic Club.
Please contact Race Director Ryan Nickelson with any questions at [email protected].
UPDATE: Perry Ann Jeveli has raised $60,000 through the 2007 MS
Walk that she and her team, Pear’s Pack, participated in on April 22nd.
“I have the best supporters ever - they are just amazing! I am so grateful,”
she noted. Perry Ann’s story was featured in our April issue.
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 4 - June 2007
Let’s Go to Casablanca
Where does your pet go
when you go
on vacation?
When you’re finally ready to take that long-awaited
vacation, the last thing you should worry about is whether
or not your pet is in good hands.
We’re experienced pet-care professionals so you can board your cat or dog with us and
enjoy your vacation knowing your pet is getting the finest care...comfortable, sanitary
facilities, heated and air conditioned private rooms, large exercise yards with lawns and
trees and conscientious, professional attention.
Our daily rate includes large, airy, private quarters, exercise time, all meals and
snacks and clean fluffy beds with daily cleaning and turn-down service.
Next time you take a trip, let your pet vacation with us. Whether you’re on a
business trip, a weekend getaway or a grand European tour, we will take care of your
pet like a member of our family.
Waiterock Kennels
18 South Acres Rd, Lafayette
* Just off Highway 24 near the Lafayette Reservoir
925.284.4729
www.waiterock.com
Breeder of Champion Norwich Terriers - #1 Norwich 2002
Puppies occasionally
Running Thursdays through Sundays until June 23rd, Town Hall Theater
Company presents “Let’s Go to Casablanca”. The musical comedy, a sequel
to Let’s Go to the Movies”, runs 2.5 hours and has mature themes. Contact
the Town Hall Theatre Company Box Office for dates, times and ticket information. The theater is located at 3535 School Street in Lafayette. Call
925-283-1557 or visit www.townhalltheatre.com for more information.
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing
Fundraises for Families
By Louise Bourassa, Executive Director, CCIH
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing (CCIH) celebrated its success and raised
thousands of dollars at its first fundraising event on June 1st. CCIH is a
Lafayette-based non-profit agency that provides permanent supportive housing for Contra Costa homeless families. CCIH is a collaboration of many
interdenominational faith communities that have gathered their resources and
talents to develop permanent solutions to family homelessness. Several
Lafayette congregations are involved with CCIH, including Lafayette Orinda
Presbyterian Church (LOPC), Temple Isaiah, St. Perpetua Catholic Church,
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and Lafayette United Methodist Church. The
event was held at the sumptuous home of Carolyn and Michael Bealmear and
catered by Lafayette’s SpringLoaf catering company. Guests enjoyed an elegant evening of food, drink, fellowship, and chamber music provided by
CCIH Board member Decky Thornton and her trio of talented friends. Not
only did the event raise significant funds, it also increased the awareness of
homelessness among our Contra Costa neighbors and children. For a more
in-depth look at the work of Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, check out the
August issue of Lafayette Today.
National French Contest Award Winners
Hidden in Lafayette
Photo by Lafayette resident Linda Flower
Where in Lafayette
was this photo taken?
If you answer correctly and your name is drawn you
will win a $25 gift certificate for Caffino.
Send your answer to:
Hidden Picture
Lafayette Today, PO Box 1335
Lafayette, CA 94549
Entries must be received by July 6, 2007
Congratulations to last month’s winner Rosemarie Ellsworth who correctly
noted the photo was taken at the intersection of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Willow Dr.
French for Fun afternoon Immersion classes celebrated their academic
achievement in the National French Contest this year with an Awards Ceremony on the afternoon of May 24th. The National French Contest is sponsored annually by the AATF (American Association of Teachers of French).
This year over 6,000 students from around the country participated and were
tested in areas such as reading comprehension, grammar, listening comprehension, and speaking. Of the French For Fun students in elementary grades
2nd – 5th who participated in the national competition, 27 were ranked in
the top ten in their respective divisions.
Vacation Bible School/Day Camp
Vacation Bible School/Day Camp will be held July 29th - Aug. 3rd from
9am until noon, at the Lafayette United Methodist Church, located at 955
Moraga Rd in Lafayette. The camp serves children ages 3 through Middle
School. It will feature music, crafts, games, and snacks. All kids are welcome, the cost is $50. To register call 284-4765 or e-mail at [email protected]
[email protected]
June 2007 - Page 5
Walter Strauss in Concert
Library Hosts Sweet Thursday - June 28th 7:30pm
Lafayette Concerts is proud to
present Walter Strauss on Friday, June
22nd, at 7:30pm in the Sequoia Room
at the Lafayette Community Center,
500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette.
Walter Strauss is a spellbinding
finger-style guitarist whose fiery
technique conjures several instruments playing at once. With roots in
American music and musicality that
evokes far reaches of the globe, he
weaves folk, jazz, world beat, Americana, and classical guitar into a brand
uniquely his own. Walter’s songs are
romantic yet edgy, filled with intelligent and vivid imagery.
Strauss has performed throughout the US, Canada, and Ireland, alongside musicians ranging from Grammy-nominated kora master, Mamadou Diabate, to eclectic folksters The Burns Sisters and
fiddle legend Vassar Clements. Now, as he takes center stage, his original, soulful style
and rich guitar work leave a deep and lasting impression.
Lafayette Concerts, founded by Lafayette resident Charlotte Gibb, is a notfor-profit concert series run entirely by volunteers, which are made up of Ms.
Gibb’s various friends and family members. A portion of the proceeds benefits
Trust In Education, a Lafayette-based non- profit organization which brings education and economic development to Afghanistan.
Tickets for Friday night’s event are $15 and are available at the door. (Student
tickets are $5.) Reservations are suggested. Call 925-283-1959 or email
[email protected]. Doors open at 7:00 PM with the show starting
at 7:30 PM. For a complete schedule of 2007 concerts and details, visit
www.lafayetteconcerts.com.
Beach Reads for the Thinking Gal & Guy
Okay, you’re set — you’ve got the SPF 45, the big hat, the becoming
swimsuit, the beach towel and/or hammock. Now, what are you reading? To
kick off summer, we’ve invited UC Berkeley’s Steve Tollefson, who helps
create the Freshman Summer Reading List each year for Cal, and is a fierce
advocate for “forgotten treasures” – books we’d love from the past if we only
knew about them! A winner of UC Berkeley’s Distinguished Teaching Award,
a warm and witty presenter, and a longtime Sweet Thursday fan, Steve will
bring his list – and rationale – of compelling, can’t-put-down books to put on
your summer reading list. He’ll tell you why they’re great reads – and why
they offer substance as well as sizzle. Don’t miss this special end-of-year
Sweet Thursday. As for your producers, they’re taking July and August off to
climb into a chaise with a hot book and a cold drink.
BookRoom Events
And where can you go to gather great books to read on the beach? Answer: to the BookRoom at the Lafayette Community Center staffed by The
Friends of the Lafayette Library. The room is overflowing with treasures just
waiting for a home. To help you with your summer reading there will be two
opportunities to shop in June: the 15th and the 16th from 9am - noon. The
semi-annual bag sale will also be held on the 16th from 11:30am - noon. In
that thirty minutes you can fill your bag for $3.00. The Book Sale is held
year-round, the first and third Saturday of every month, at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary’s Road in Lafayette. The sale is staffed by volunteers
and every penny generated by the sale goes to the Lafayette Library. We depend
on YOUR generous and welcome donations for the books we sell.
Summer Reading Program
Finally, come one, come all: The Summer Reading Program begins! There
is something for everyone...babies, kids, teens and adults. The challenge runs
from June 11th to August 20th. Sign up at the Lafayette Library. In the good
old summertime, there is nothing like a good book.
For more information check on line at www.lafayettelib.com.
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www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 6 - June 2007
Stanley Middle School PTA
Honorary Service Awards 2007
Rotary Donates Dictionaries
The Stanley Middle School PTA would like to thank the individuals and
organizations that have made a significant contribution to the well being of
children, youth or families in this school and in our community.
Annually the PTA makes a call for nominations from our school community. In a community such as ours where there is so much support it is hard
to single out a few, but based on nominations from their peers the following
individuals and organizations have been chosen to be honored this year:
Kathy Brio – Honorary Service Award
Michelle Chan – Honorary Service Award
Teresa Gerringer – Continuing Service Award
Vangie Long – Honorary Service Award
Julie Lyverse – Very Special Person Award
Cheryl Noll – Continuing Service Award
Lafayette School Board (Ann Appert, Teresa Gerringer, Shayne Silva,
David Stromberg and Stephanie Teichman) – Honorary Service Award
Stanley Office Staff (Linda Murray, Sandy Shaw, Rosamaria Wellman,
Judy Ybarra) – Honorary Service Award
A donation in honor of each recipient has been made to the California
State PTA for their scholarship and grant program fund.
Hays Englehart, a member of Rotary Club of Lamorinda Sunrise
(LSR), below passes out complimentary dictionaries to third-graders
at Bur ton Valley Elementary School. He
and other club members spent one recent
morning distributing
t h e b o o k s t o eve r y
third-grader in the
Lafayette Elementary
School District, approximately 350 copies in all. The other
three schools receiving
dictionaries
we r e
H a p py
Va l l ey,
Springhill
and
Lafayette.
The Dictionary Day
tradition dates to 1998. Since then, LSR and other clubs in District
5160 have distributed tens of thousands of books to third-graders in
scores of public and private grade schools.
Club President Richard Shearer, also among those who visited Burton Valley, said: “This ranks as one of our favorite community service activities. Every kid gets his or her own personal copy. We aff ix
signature labels inside the front cover so that they can write in their
names. The smiles on their faces is tremendously satisfying. We get
positive feedback from teachers, parents and principals alike.”
In the coming school year, the club will again distribute dictionaries, this time in September, so that the children have use of them for
the entire year.”
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7th Annual Summer Music at Stanley
By Patti Hofherr
When you ask a musician how they ‘ got
that good ,’ they will tell you, “Practice, practice, practice.” But what is it they practice?
That troublesome measure over and over? That
same piece over and over? Here’s what the best
of the best will tell you: “Fundamentals!”
Which place to learn and practice these
skills? Summer Music @ Stanley! And who
puts the fun in FUNdamentals? Director and
founder Jon Brummel, who brings to you his
passion, professional musicianship and master techniques on how to play ‘that good.’
Anyone who wants to either learn a new in- Jon Brummel, Director and Founder of
strument or improve their skills on their cur- Summer Music at Stanley. Photo by Patti
rent instrument will benef it from Summer Hofherr
Music. “When you know your fundamentals, everything becomes easier: range,
tone production, speed, flexibility, playing challenging technical passages. Any
style of music is enhanced with stronger fundamentals. Music theory helps with
sight reading and performance. With an understanding of music’s written system, you will perform at a higher level with better theoretical skills. Here’s where
you’ll learn all about it.” Fourth through eighth grade woodwind and brass players work on their embouchure, breathing, posture, music theory (reading and
writing music) in the program. Seven years ago, Jon saw the need to provide an
opportunity for young musicians to increase their conf idence and improve their
competence. Most music camps concentrate on how to play a certain genre of
music and only touch on the basics. This camp teaches only the basics so you
can concentrate on the FUNdamentals.
Last year, a parent had two of her children attend and this year she’s registering her third. An out-of-state student said, “It was the most amazing experience
I have ever had! I wish the instructors in my hometown had this much passion!”
Come see for yourself. “Let’s build some chops!” Camp begins July 2 nd. For
details and to register, go to www.summermusic.us or call 925-768-2949.
Music workshops in Lamorinda: Winds and Brass- www.summermusic.us,
Strings - www.summerstringthing.com , Jazz - www.lafsmw.org
Lafayette French students from Acalanes High School in French IV and V came to present their endof-the-year project to younger students at the French For Fun school of Lafayette. The theme of the
day was “Le Zoo.” The teens prepared elaborate card games – “Jeux de l’Oie,” charades, and more.
The younger kids, in turn, taught the Acalanes students French children’s songs, like “Les Crocodiles,”
“La Girafe,” and “L’Hippopotame et l’Éléphant.” The ambiance was fun and friendly and the experience
very beneficial to all. Bien sûr, the only language spoken was “le français.”
June 2007 - Page 7
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Read!
By Jan Askin, Principal Burton Valley Elementary
Educators have one word, recommendation, blessing, rule,
request, plea, etc. as the summer begins: Read.
Some families build in daily reading time. Some children
naturally pick up a book several times a day. For children who
may need a nudge, there are several school and community summer “reading camps.” The Lafayette School District Reading
and Library Specialists collaborate to provide the Club Red opportunity to Lafayette school children. Children sign up for
Camp Read-a-Lot before summer begins. They can access book
recommendations that suit their reading levels online. They keep
a log of their summer reading to turn in when school reconvenes in
the fall. The City of Lafayette public library also has a summer
reading program, Get a Clue, as do several local bookstores.
When families read together the benefit is immense. Discussion around vocabulary, character, plot, motive, and interpretation enrich understanding. Educators in the Lafayette
School District have been introducing seven Thinking Skills to
help students deepen comprehension skills: accessing background knowledge, determining importance, creating mental
imagery, questioning, inferring, monitoring understanding, and
synthesis.
This last skill can be accessed well in literature groups…or
in the family. In one recent workshop on synthesis, teachers
considered the idea of reading as a jigsaw puzzle. In a first
reading, one might place several pieces of the jigsaw puzzle
together. Through multiple readings and discussions with partners, or family members, more pieces of the puzzle would slide
into shape until a near complete idea of an entire article or book
is synthesized.
Another way of looking at synthesis is to consider The Game
of Clue. As the game proceeds, we gather evidence not only
from our own cards but also through interaction with other players. The game, but not the discussion, ends when a player correctly reveals the hidden clues. The discussion after the game
can be enjoyable as we find out that the player on the left had
Miss Scarlet in her hand after all.
Our students deserve to grapple with complex thinking skills.
The home can be a partner in this endeavor and especially so
during the summer.
This principal encourages you to become involved in your
children’s reading. Take the leisure time of the summer as an
opportunity to enjoy the richness of children’s literature. Put
together a jigsaw puzzle of reading experiences to enrich your
children’s vocabularies, deepen their comprehension skills and
most importantly create joy in the act of reading.
Page 8 - June 2007
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Campolindo High School
Compiled from the newsletter with
permission from Carol Kitchens, Principal
Justin Batcheller Receives Kids in Our
Community Award
Justin Batcheller, a Boy Scout
in Contra Costa County Troop
204, is the latest recipient of the
“Kids in Our Community” award
presented by Coldwell Banker
Residential Brokerage in Orinda.
Batcheller was recognized for
sending out 150 care packages to
Campolindo and Miramonte High
School alumni who are currently
serving active duty in our military.
Valerie Cook-Watkins, manager of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Orinda office,
notes: “Through his work, he is
helping to bring a little bit of home
to the troops and build a better
community. He is truly making a
difference and he should be proud of his exceptional efforts.”
In recognition of his efforts, Batcheller was presented with a $500 cash
contest prize during a special celebration at the company’s Orinda office.
“Kids in Our Community” entry winners are chosen based on how their
entry would assist the student in fulfilling their own personal passion, furthering their community service efforts or acknowledging achievement in
these areas. Students are nominated and awarded grants several times each year.
Batcheller is currently working towards earning his Eagle Scouts ranking and says that his project to raise funds and donations for care packages has been a life changing experience for him. He has organized care
package donation drives at Springhill, Burton Valley, Camino Pablo,
Rheem, Las Perales, Happy Valley and Lafayette elementary schools, as
It is gratifying to reflect upon
Campolindo’s successes because we have
much to celebrate. Our Open House was
held on May 17 th and showcased representations of our students’ efforts and talent.
I commend our students for their academic, musical, dramatic, artistic and athletic accomplishments of the 2006-2007 school year, and I
especially want to thank parents for their support and teachers for
their hard work and dedication.
The students of the class of 2007 have received their college acceptances and were honored at Senior Awards Night. Thank you to
Tara Tarrab, Student Body President, for her four years of leadership
and commitment. We recently held student body elections and I am
assured the class of 2008 is ready to step up and positively lead
Campolindo with Alicia Salmeron at the helm as the new Student
Body President. The Senior Ball was held at the Old Federal Reserve
Bank in San Francisco on Saturday, May 19, and on June 8 we watched
the class of 2007 graduate from our Cougar athletic stadium and move
on with their lives. They leave Campolindo with a reputation for being highly successful in academics, the arts and athletics. I have been
proud to know them since their freshman year and have watched them
grow and mature over these four years. I wish them the very best and
thank their parents for sending us such wonderful students.
Cougar Days are set for August 22nd and 23rd. Mark your calendars to
attend one of those days. The attendance office will open on Thursday, August 2nd to start verifying residency. If you have questions about the sports
program for next year, please contact our Athletic Director, Bob Wilson.
Many thanks to Parents’ Club president Kathleen Kelleher, and to
School Advisory Council Chairperson, Janet Brady, for all their time
and valuable input in making Campo a great place for students and
staff. I appreciate all the efforts and support of our Moraga Education Foundation, Parents’ Club, and Band, Choral and Sports Boosters. Campolindo would not be the successful school that it is without
their support and volunteerism.
I would like to recognize staff members Susan Kirkpatrick and
Matt Waxman who will be leaving Campo at the end of the school
year. Congratulations to Susan Kirkpatrick on her retirement; she has
taught Psychology and English at Campo for the last 17 years. Campo
alum Matt Waxman has been the computer lab assistant and afterschool library supervisor for the past year. I wish Susan and Matt all the
best and thank them for their contributions to the success of our school.
To the class of 2011: Welcome to Campolindo! You are about to
begin a wonderful and exciting journey. Enjoy your next four years
because they will pass by quickly and be filled with incredible memories and new friendships. It is my hope the entire community has a relaxing and refreshing summer. Those of you coming in the fall can look
forward to an engaging and stimulating school year in 2007-2008.
well as Campolindo and Stanley middle schools.
The Lamorinda community has also supported Batcheller’s efforts by
making more than 250 cards for Christmas, New Years Day, Valentine’s
Day and St. Patrick’s Day. The cards were shipped in care packages to
troops, along with international calling cards so that the troops could call
their loved ones back home.
The Coldwell Banker “Kids in Our Community” award will enable
Batcheller to mail out the remainder of the donations he has received.
All students in kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible for the
award. Nomination forms may be obtained at the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Orinda offices located at 5 Moraga Way and 85 Moraga
Way. For more information, call 925.253.6300 or 925.253.4600.
[email protected]
June 2007 - Page 9
Miramonte High School
Compiled from the newsletter with permission
from Raul Zamora, Principal
Post! Senior Day
350+ Miramonte Seniors ... 50+ Miramonte Parent Volunteers ... 10+ Miramonte Teachers and Administrators ... 11 Breakout Sessions ... 5 Miramonte
Alumni College Panelists ... and 1 Keynote Session
and College Panel with Harlan Cohen, author of The
Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run into in College.
No matter how you do the math, Post Senior! Day 2007 summed a resounding “thumbs up” from participating Seniors. Student evaluations from
the May 22nd Senior Class college prep and transition day indicated that
students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get away, connect with their
friends, and learn something of life beyond Miramonte. They strongly recommended repeating the event for next year’s Miramonte Seniors and especially appreciated the variety of sessions offered: Legal Rights and Responsibilities, Keeping Mentally Fit, Student Health Services, Making Healthier
Choices, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Choosing Your Major and Career,
Internships, Time Management, Self-Defense, Money Management, and Your
Financial Future. The follow-on evening session conducted for over 100 parents at the Miramonte Theater was also viewed positively.
The success of this year’s Post Senior! Day event was the result of over
2,000 hours of hard work from a multitude of dedicated people. Foremost,
recognition goes to the Seniors of the Class of 2007 whose input, participation, and respect demonstrated their maturity and enthusiasm for this event;
they exemplified true Miramonte Excellence.
Summer Reading Courses
Do you need to improve your reading skills? Cal State East Bay is offering summer programs to help students with reading comprehension, speed
and study skills. These programs are offered in several locations in Berkeley
and Oakland. For information call (800) 978-3532.
EFO Has Reached Its Goal - Thank You Miramonte
Families!
Thanks to the generosity of the many families, businesses and community members who value the quality of Orinda’s public schools, EFO has met
its fundraising goal of $1.35 million! Your donations have enabled EFO to
continue to fund critical academic support and enrichment for all students in
Kindergarten through 12th grade, including Miramonte High School. Our schools
continue to deliver the highest level of educational excellence even as state funding remains the lowest in the nation. Thank you to our generous parent, community and business partner donors from all of the students, teachers and staff.
Summer Reading 2007: Get a Clue at Your
Library
June 11th - August 20th
Get ready for a summer of intrigue and suspense with great reads and
exciting prizes! Unravel the mystery behind a good book during the Contra Costa County Library’s Summer Reading Program, June 11th - August
20th, where everyone is encouraged to “get a clue” at your local library.
Super-sleuths can discover the key to summer reading fun with the Kids’
Summer Reading Program for kids age 2 through 5th grade. Solve the puzzling question of what thrilling prizes are awaiting all teens who read during this summer’s Teen Reading Program for students 6th - 12th grades. For
adults, ages 18 and up, simply read and submit a raffle ticket online at
www.ccclib.org or at your community library for a chance to win a
Booklover’s Bag full of goodies! The Contra Costa County Library also
introduces the first annual Baby Reading Program for children from birth
to two years to promote early literacy skills. Parents and caregivers are
encouraged to enjoy a series of fun activities with their babies to develop
essential language skills and earn prizes along the way!
Interesting books, prizes and special events are awaiting you this summer at your local library. For more information, or to get started, please
contact the Lafayette Library at 925-283-3872 or www.ccclib.org.
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Page 10 - June 2007
The Newest UC, Still Accepting
Applications for Fall 2007
By Angela Horine
I remember driving by the Irvine Ranch when the rolling hills were covered with grazing cattle instead of the UC
school, homes and shopping centers that now occupy the
land. Jamboree Boulevard was named for the international
Boy Scout Jamboree event that was held on the ranch property. It was “wide open spaces” before ground was broken
for the UC Irvine campus. I recall the construction of the
buildings. The original campus was a circle of structures with a large expanse in the
middle, which was later filled with grass and trees and flowers. The school now has a
mature “established” look, and the upscale city of Irvine has grown up around it.
Not long ago I was visiting friends in Merced, and they took me to look at the area
where the newest UC has been partially built, by a little lake, Lake Yosemite, at the far
edge of town. The surroundings are very rural and there are again “wide open spaces”
on three sides of the current university’s site. UC Merced had been planned for over ten
years after prevailing in a competition that saw several central valley cities, including
Fresno, make bids to host the new campus.
This new school is the tenth UC campus, in addition to UC Davis, UC Santa
Cruz, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC
Riverside and UCSF (located in San Francisco, this UC is primarily for graduate
students in medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy). Although originally conceived as a campus to serve residents of the central valley, UC Merced is open to
all students qualified to attend a UC. Being one of the early students on this
campus should have some positive perks, since the “pioneering” aspect of being
there as the school grows and one’s ability in helping to create traditions should
contribute to a feeling of cohesiveness and shared adventure.
According to the 2005-2006 University of California’s brochure Introducing the
University, UC Merced currently consists of three “schools,” the School of Engineering, the School of Natural Sciences and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities
and Arts. UC Merced first opened to undergraduate students in the fall of 2005 with
875 students. The projected future enrollment and the final build-out is for 25,000
Lafayette-Moraga Recreation Little Sportsters
By Jonathan “Ace” Katayanagi
At Lafayette-Moraga Recreation the belief is that fun and fitness are key to living
a happy healthy life. A number of fun and active programs for people of all ages are
provided. One of the favorite programs is “Little Sportsters”. The Little Sportster
program is built up of three coed sport leagues that are geared toward children ages 46. Each league has 40-60 participants per season and four seasons a year. Participants
play weekly 45 minute games, on teams of 8-10 kids, coached by parent volunteers.
Every player receives a numbered jersey / t-shirt, with the league logo and their team
name. All three leagues teach the basic principle of the sports while at the same time
put the majority of the focus on having fun and finding an activity that could become
a life long sport.
The first and longest standing league is the Indoor Floor Hockey League. The
league was founded six years ago as a farm program for the Outdoor Roller Hockey
League. The popular hockey league had a lot of young siblings that wanted to play
hockey, but they weren’t quite ready for skates, so was born the Indoor Floor Hockey
League. Children play in their tennis shoes with a soft rubber/plastic hockey stick, a
wiffle ball for a puck, and full on hockey helmets (for safety and to give that real
hockey player feeling). The participants feel what it is like to be a part of a team and
how enjoyable a sport can be. Free skate lessons have recently begun and are available
to all participants so, if the kids decide that hockey is an activity that they would like to
stick with, they have the opportunity to move on to the roller hockey program.
The next league, and maybe the most impressive to watch, is Little Hoopster Indoor Basketball League. What sets this league apart is the amount of hand-eye coordination these kids develop though their time in the league. There is development in all
three sports, but the coordination that develops dribbling a ball or passing to a very
specific teammate is especially impressive. There is nothing like that point in the
season where you sit down to watch a game and all of the sudden you notice that every
child in the game is dribbling at age 4 to 6. The kids get a chance to learn a lot from
this league. This league is also different from many other traditional leagues in that we
do not punish the kids for doing something against the rules. Never will a whistle be
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
students within thirty years. Currently there are “nearly 20 undergraduate majors,
eight graduate program emphases, and more than 80 full-time faculty members and
dozens of lecturers” who now serve students on campus.
UC Merced is still open to applications for fall 2007 admission. As of March 30,
2007, 8,257 students had applied for admissions and 6,676 of those have been offered
admission. Of those admitted, probably fewer than 1,000 will matriculate. UC Merced
Office of Communications staffperson Ana Shaw asserted that “I can tell you that last
year we had 1,286 students (total), and we are very confident that we will have more
than 1,800 students total in the fall…possibly more than 1,900, including freshmen,
transfer students and graduate students. Ms. Shaw went on to add “we generally have
about a third of our students coming from the Bay Area.” Almost all students who
meet the minimum UC requirements will be admitted.
According to UC’s Introducing the University: “With its sweeping vistas of the
Sierra Nevada mountain range, the 2,000 acre campus will be home to a vibrant,
growing community. Students will not only enjoy a full range of academic, social and
other amenities, but will help shape the traditions and the tone of student life at the first
major American research university built in the 21st century.” The first 100 of the 900
acres comprising the academic core of the campus opened “with the Kolligian Library
and Information Technology Center, a science and engineering building, and a classroom building.” The Valley Terraces and Dining Commons accommodated 600 oncampus residents during the first years, and an additional 400 on-campus housing
spaces in the Sierra Terraces will open this fall of 2007.
“UC Merced has joined in partnerships with UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of
Science and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for innovations in research, giving students access to cutting-edge science and internship opportunities.” Continuing “construction of UC’s 10th campus will use state-of-the-art
design and materials that protect indoor air quality and allow natural lighting and
greater energy efficiency. UC Merced students will have access to breathtaking
natural laboratories through a unique partnership with the National Park Service
to collaborate on research with Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national
parks. UC Merced students will study with world-class faculty in a small, intimate environment.” To find out more about UC’s newest campus, plan a campus
visit (phone toll-free (866) 270-7301 for information regarding campus visits) or
check out the school’s website at: www.ucmerced.edu
blown to take the ball from a child’s hands. We want them to learn to love sports and
possibly find a life long activity. If the children do go on with basketball they will have
the rest of their sports careers to have whistles blown and balls taken. We just want
them to be a part of the fun.
The most recent addition and the league
that rounds out the Little Sporsters program,
is the Little Kickers Indoor Soccer League.
The principles of this sport are basic: run and
kick. Almost any child can do it and be good
at it. This allows the kids to focus on being
part of the team and having fun without some
of the challenges involved in learning other
sports. This makes the best first step. I’ve
had parents come up to me and say they just
couldn’t find an activity that could get their
kids out and moving, but because of the ease
of this league they were able to get “Little Johnny/Susie” off the couch.
One of the challenges involved with sports programs is that you cannot play them
year round because of rain and excessive heat. We are also limited in that we do not
have access to a gym, but we have overcome these challenges by using boards from
our outdoor hockey rink to convert one of our community centers rental rooms into a
basketball court / hockey rink / soccer field, allowing year round play. This way there
is never an off-season where our participants have nothing to do.
The Lafayette-Moraga Recreation wants fun and fitness to be a part of everyone’s
life and what better way then to find a love for fun and active sports at a young age
without having to face the pressures that many traditional sport leagues may put on
children. The Sportster staff is built up of local high school and college students has a
saying, “a high five means the world”. To those kids it does mean the world coming
from an older boy or girl. It’s the little details that we have to remember to make these
sports the most fun possible so that they may find a life long activity. Being a kid
should be about having a ball and the Little Sportsters have many: hockey balls, soccer
balls and basketballs.
[email protected]
June 2007 - Page 11
Local Water Polo Club Excels at National Level
Lamorinda Golden Bear Water Polo has followed its best ever spring
season with eight of its members being named to National age group training and traveling teams. The selection camps were held over Memorial Day
weekend at locations throughout the United States. Players from the 11 regional zones of US Water Polo came together for three days of competition
to help national team coaches determine the athletes that will represent the
US in international tournaments this year. As members of the Pacific Zone,
Lamorinda Golden Bear athletes joined with other zone team members to
compete against other US zone representatives. A total of 37 Club members
were named to Pacific Zone training teams with the following athletes gaining national honors. In the Men’s National Youth Division (born in 198990), Andrew Milcovich (De Le Salle High School), Jackson Sharf
(Miramonte), and Charlie Steffens (Monte Vista) were all named to the National training team. In addition, Milcovich and Steffens were named to the
traveling team that will participate in the Youth Pan American Championships in the Dominican Republic in August. In the Men’s Cadet Division
(born in 1991-92), Tommy Briskey, Bret Lathrope, and James Perry, all from
Miramonte High School, and Nick Hoversten from Acalanes, were named to
the travel team that will head to Montenegro on June 28th for an international
tournament and common training session with teams from Europe. In addition, Stephen Siri of Miramonte, was named to the National training squad
for 2007. On the women’s side, Melissa Seidemann of College Park High
School was named to the National Youth Team that will travel to Australia
for a tournament and common training over the July 4th holiday.
All this individual success followed a fantastic spring season which saw
Lamorinda Golden Bear teams medal at the most competitive age group
tournaments in the country. The 6th grade boys won the Gold Medal at the
prestigious Los Alamitos Winterfest and placed 2nd at the ultra competitive
San Diego Cup in April. The 8th grade boys’ ‘AA’ team won the Silver medal
at both tournaments while the 8th grade ‘A’ team placed 5th and 2nd in the ‘A’
division at the same events. The 10th grade boys placed 2nd at Winterfest
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San Diego Cup Silver Medal winners - the 8th grade division “A” team of the Lamorinda
Golden Bears
while the 12th grade boys garnered 6th place. Both squads traveled to Florida
for an international tournament placing 3rd in the 16 and under division and
9th in the 19-under division, competing against teams from Europe and Latin
America as well as teams from across the US. On the girls side, in their only
tournament of the spring, both the 16 and under and 18 and under teams won
the Gold Medal at an international tournament in Canada.
Next up for LGBWP is the National Junior Olympics where the club is
one of the favorites to win the Presidents Cup as the best overall water polo
program in the country as measured by performance in all boys and girls
divisions. The boys’ tournament goes from July 28th through July 31st, while
the girls follow from August 2-5th. The J.O.’s are held this year in the San
Jose area and bring together over 2500 athletes on 120 teams from across the
country to determine the strongest teams in the 12-u, 14-u, 16-u, and 18-u
age groups. Last summer, LGBWP had its most successful Junior Olympics
ever with three boys teams placing in the top six, and two girls teams placing
in the top ten. The main rival for Presidents Cup honors is San Diego Shores,
a club made up of athletes from throughout the San Diego area.
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Page 12 - June 2007
World Class Entertainment Close to Home
The sport of synchronized swimming has come a long way since its early
beginnings as “water ballet” in Esther Williams movies. Today’s synchronized
swimmer must have the grace of a ballerina, the strength and flexibility of a
(L to R) Haley Barnes, Samantha Golomb, Heidi Homma
gymnast, the skills of a speed swimmer and water polo player, the lungs of a
pearl diver, and the endurance and stamina of a long distance runner. Add to that
the requirement for split-second timing and a dramatic flair for musical interpretation and choreography.
“But it looks so easy”, many people say. Making a routine look easy is an
important part of the sport and is just one of the things that the judges look for in
competition. To get a better appreciation for the demands of this sport–imagine a
gymnast performing on the balance beam while holding her breath for up to half
of her routine. Now
throw in additional
gymnasts performing
the same routine concurrently and in complete synchronization.
The training regimen of a synchronized
swimmer is more demanding than many
sports. Top level syn-
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
chronized swimmers may train for up to eight hours per day. Weight training,
flexibility exercises, not to mention many hours spent in the pool are all part of
a synchronized swimmer’s workout.
Synchronized swimmers compete in teams of eight, and in duets and solos.
Collegiate, junior and age group level swimmers may also compete in trios.
Synchronized swimming has been an Olympic event since 1984. The first Olympic
competitions featured only the duet and solo events. In the 1996 Summer Olympic
Games, the team event replaced the duet and solo competition and at the 2000 Olympics, synchronized swimming was represented with the duet and team events.
Most synchronized swimming competitions are comprised of two parts. First
is the “Figure” or “Element” competition where each swimmer performs a series of technical moves individually in front of a panel of judges without music.
Then comes the “Routine” competition where the swimmers perform a routine
comprised of technical moves choreographed to music. Swimmers are judged
on technical merit and artistic impression. The technical merit score is based on
synchronization, time underwater, difficulty and how high the swimmers can
propel themselves out of the water. The artistic impression score includes how
well the choreography is matched to the music and the grace of the swimmers in
the water. A percentage of the athlete’s figure score is combined with a percentage of the routine score to determine the final score awarded. At Senior U.S.
Nationals, the Olympic Games and other senior level international competitions, teams perform an additional “technical” routine instead of individual figures. Each competing team must incorporate a set of required figures and elements into their technical routine so that they may be equally judged on their
technical skills. A percentage of their technical routine score is combined with a
free routine score to determine the final score awarded.
Come join the Aquanuts this summer with at one of the below events and
programs:
June 16: Night of Champions with the 2008 Olympic Team
The Walnut Creek Aquanuts Synchronized Swimming Club will present their
annual fundraiser, “Night of Champions” on Saturday, June 16th from 2:00-6:00 PM.
This event will include Silent & Live Auctions, Raffles, Food & Drink, and dazzling
synchronized swimming performances. Unique this year is the chance to watch an
exhibition by members of the recently-chosen 2008 Olympic Synchronized Swim
Team and meet them for autographs. Come enjoy a spectacular local event and support the club where Olympians train. If you’re considering an alternative sport for your
girl(s),don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime introductory opportunity. Night of Champions will be held at the Clarke Memorial Swim Center, Heather Farm Park, 1750
Heather Dr. in Walnut Creek. For more information, call Glenis Welzien at 925-6835610 or email [email protected].
June 18: The start of the Summer Trainees program
Come see what synchronized swimming is all
about. Have fun and stay cool while learning a new
sport at the home of Olympic Champions! The
Aquanuts Summer Trainee program is open to girls
ages 6 to 11 who are able to swim 25 yds freestyle,
breaststroke and backstroke in deep water. Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays from 5 to 6:30 at
Heather Farms pool in Walnut Creek, starting June
18.
For
more
information
email
[email protected] or call 925-934-479.
Week in the Creek Synchronized Swimming
Summer Camp August 3rd-7th
Get inspired by working with Olympic Medalists and 2008 Olympic Team Members!! Sessions
will include Figure and Element Technique, Choreography, Transitions, Lifts, Flexibility, Swimming
Technique and Mental Preparation. Swimmers may
participate as either a resident camper or a commuter camper. email Gretchen Rothrock at
[email protected].
For information on any of the above events or
programs, visit www.aquanuts.org
[email protected]
Pruning for Fire Safety
By Brende and Lamb
In the spring and early summer, the
landscape grows lush, beautiful - and
out of control. Our Mediterranean climate is blessed by sufficient winter
rains to make plants grow, but our dry
summers, and our even drier autumns, can make that new growth a fire hazard.
In the greater Bay Area, we live surrounded by an ecosystem that has been shaped,
over the last 10,000 years, by frequent wildfires. Because these woodland fires
are inevitable, landscape trees, even healthy ones, require occasional pruning to
prevent them from becoming fire ladders––bridges of flammable material that
could carry flames from a woodland fire to your home.
The threat posed by fires in the greater Bay Area is real and significant. The
Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire of 1991 caused $1.7 billion in property damage,
and was the nation’s worst urban fire since the San Francisco fire of 1906. Failure to properly maintain landscape trees and shrubs played a significant role in
allowing that fire to grow, intensify, and move. The Comprehensive Overview of
the Berkeley/Oakland Hills Fire recommends that the risk of wildfire can be
reduced by proper care of landscape plants:
·
·
·
·
·
Break up fire ladders.
Limb trees back from structures.
Reduce flammable biomass by thinning crowns.
Remove dead trees and shrubs from the landscape.
Remove deadwood from live trees and shrubs.
Breaking up fire ladders helps prevent a fire from moving easily from the
The Seed Sisters
It is Really All About Sex and
Reproduction!
Gardening with
Kate Guillaume and Carrie Bybee
Members of the Lafayette Garden Club
On our last Garden Tour my companions were amazed at the glorious
blooms and complained that here it was April and their garden already looked
tired and seedy. They wanted to know what it took to have a garden look like
these fantastically gorgeous gardens.
Kate: It is really very simple: plants want to reproduce. They are genetically
programmed to flower, hopefully get pollinated, and go to seed. “If you want to
keep the blooms coming you have to subvert that reproductive drive!” I exclaimed. When you “dead head” a plant (cut the older blooms off before they
dry out), the plant goes bezerk…it knows that it has failed to make seed. It will
pull all the energy it can muster to create more flowers in hopes they will go to
seed. It is programmed to survive through its offspring…once it has gone to
seed it just thinks its job is done and it can go dormant.
Of course all this work the poor plant is doing in creating that next round
of blooms requires another intervention on your part…give that poor plant
some more food so that it doesn’t die trying to make all those babies.
Carrie: Yes!!! Dead head, dead head, dead head—that is my life at this very
moment. Letting the dead heading go three days in my garden has put me so
behind. For the last two days you can find me with a bucket of water and a large
garbage can. The bucket of water is for the flowers to bring inside to be arranged. The large blue garbage can will be dumped in the green compost can.
Kate: In particular, all of the re-blooming roses need to be dead headed. The
old tried and true method was to go down to the first five leaf growth that
pointed in the direction you want to shape the bush, and cut at a 45o angle. Well,
there was a test done in one of the great English Rose Gardens: half of the roses
they “dead headed” the tried and true way and in the other half of the garden
they cut off the bloom right at the base of the bloom... and that was the half of the
garden that had the most blooms. Try this experiment yourself and let us know
which system worked best in your garden. Several Lafayette Garden Club mem-
June 2007 - Page 13
woods, or from your neighbor’s property, to your house. To break up fire ladders,
increase the space between plants, both vertically and horizontally. In the 1991
fire, blowing brands of flammable material landed on ground plants, and, if there
was sufficient dry matter, caught the ground cover on fire. The fire burned along
the ground plants horizontally for as long as it found material to burn. If it encountered trees with low branches the fire would move vertically from the ground
up into the crown of the tree. If those burning trees were close to a house, they
would set the house on fire. If their crowns touched the crowns of other trees, the
fire spread from crown to crown.
Landscape plants pose little fire hazard when they are properly maintained;
and proper maintenance does not mean sacrificing a natural, woodland aesthetic.
If the limbing up, dead-wooding, and crown thinning are done by a craftsman
with a sensitivity to plant aesthetics, then the trees will look natural, even though
they may have had 30% of their biomass removed. Knowing how to identify
potential hazards is important; but it is also important to know how to reduce
those hazards in a manner that keeps your property looking natural, and which
doesn’t sacrifice important screening plants. Brende & Lamb specializes in balancing the conflicting needs for privacy, fire safety, tree health, and landscape
aesthetics. It is possible to improve the fire safety of your property while promoting the health and beauty of your plants.
Tree care is a craft requiring study and experience. Our trimmers are master
craftsmen who understand that a well-pruned tree should not only be safer and
healthier, it should look beautiful as well. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride
in both the science and the art of pruning.
If your trees need a little TLC, give us a call at 510-486-TREE (510-486-8733) for
a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website, www.brendelamb.com to see before
Advertorial
and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood.
bers are trying this and will also let us know the results.
Carrie: O. K. Kate—I’ll give it a try—but I think it will be hard to teach an old
gardener new tricks. But the pruning and deadheading is only the first step. Now the
trick is to apply the correct fertilizer to pump up the plants energy. 0-10-10 is my
favorite. Perfect for camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas after their bloom. This
flower making formula must be applied to all perennials and annuals after deadheading. Do you know the secret to help delphiniums rebloom and foxgloves? 0-20-0. That
formula is also great for reblooming wisteria. Give it a try Kate!
Kate: “Clematis,” Judy Nelson (garden club member) complained. “It is
so overgrown and only blooms on the tips each year. “PRUNE IT!” I shouted.
“But how,” she returned. What is the answer Carrie?
Carrie: My clematis is jackmanii. It is a bluish purple flower and is growing through my camellia which has finished blooming. What a beautiful
picture. The clematis is happy because his roots are in the shade and top has
filtered sun on a north wall. I think this is the easiest to grow in our area and
you can prune it down to 2-3 feet after blooming and it will bloom again
before fall. Then in the winter it needs to be hacked back again.
The large flowering clematis—nelly moser or montana will bloom once
and can take a healthy pruning in the winter down to the first pair of healthy
buds. armandii (evergreen) does not need to be pruned except for control.
Kate: My neighbor recently complained to me that so many of the excellent garden magazines, (Fine Gardening and Garden Design) were somewhat
helpful but confusing as to whether or not the advice would work in our
California Mediterranean climate.
Carrie: I have many California garden specific books on my shelf. You
might try one of these to add to your collection as a reference:
California Top 10 Garden Guide by the editors of Sunset Magazine and
Sunset Books. Website www.sunsetbooks.com ISBN 0-376-03529-3; California Gardener’s Guide by Bruce and Sharon Asakawa ISBN 1-930604-475; Northern California Gardening/ a Month-by-Month guide by Katherine
Endicott ISBN 0-8188-0926-9; Western Landscaping (companion to the Western Garden Book) published by Sunset. ISBN -13:978-0-376-03915-6
All of these horticultural and landscaping books (except for the month-by
month book) have beautiful, color photographs of plants plus landscaping ideas.
Please write your questions to [email protected]. Any more questions
about Clematis?
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 14 - June 2007
Life In the Lafayette Garden
A Garden Makeover
By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape
Architect, Garden Architecture
Everyone knows a good design is “maintenance
free” and “lasts forever”. Right! This is why there are
so many beautiful landscapes existing from the 50’s,
60’s, and 70’s! Just like you need to makeover your
outdated home, your Lafayette landscape needs a good
makeover as well. There are three basic reasons for a
garden makeover: to respond to the changing site conditions which normally
occur as a landscape site matures (i.e. stuff gets overgrown), to respond to changing needs of the users of the landscape (i.e. families grow and change), and to
re-adapt a site for a new owner (i.e. a new set of uses).
New home sites are generally sunny with bright light and are more exposed to
wind, sun and more harsh conditions. Maturity brings radical changes that are often
welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees finally provide shade cover
and shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices
have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs have become overgrown hiding the house
and blocking good views. These changes give cause for redesign although the overall
context of a “well-designed” landscape may still prevail.
Within the life of your Lafayette home, an owner’s uses will change as kids grow
up or a family matures and changes. Lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families who had no time to work in the garden are retired now have the time. This brings
a whole new reason for the landscape. Children learn to swim and a swimming pool
is now a requirement. These changes call for careful consideration and should be
well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Garden makeover
projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. I enjoy working with
my clients creating a new vision for their yard while using a lot of the existing conditions that work like large established trees, established privacy screening shrubs that
are intact, and specimen plants that would cost thousands to replace.
There are a lot of Lafayette homes being remodeled or torn down. These dramatic
changes to a home warrant a garden makeover. As older families move from the
neighborhood, new ones move in. When a new family moves in it changes the needs
of the landscape. The landscape needs to be redesigned to re-adapt it to the new
family or the new home. Rarely does a landscaped site meet all the needs and expectations of the new owner. Re-adapting a site must be clearly articulated and solved as
a design problem using an organized design process. Also, some sites are badly
neglected and need drastic measures taken to redesign the landscape.
Some critical considerations for the redesign of landscapes should be adhered to during the makeover process. Thorough documentation of all existing
conditions such as soil, micro-climates, and drainage, shade and wind patterns
should be considered. All existing plants, trees, shrubs, and constructed features that are to be considered to remain should be well documented. A creative
design solution, which meets the new need and is sensitive to the existing features and conditions of the site, must be developed. Construction of the new
landscape must include all necessary measures to protect and preserve all of
the worthwhile existing site features and landscape.
Potential additions to the makeover will include updated hardscape elements,
paved areas of use, benches and seat walls, retaining walls, steps to make site useable
or gain new space, dramatic landscape lighting, swimming pools, play courts and kid
zones, and sculptures.
Like the design of a new
landscape project;
a
garden
makeover should
adhere to the design process and
be well thought
out and planned.
A hot tip
from your local Landscape Architect: Executing a garden
makeovers of old landscapes is a definite challenge and huge financial undertaking, but
has its advantages.
Take time to walk your
site and note what you
like and what you dislike. Consider the term
of how long you will stay in your home as a basis for planning your garden.
Gardening Quote of the month: “I have found, through years of practice, that
people garden in order to make something grow; to interact with nature; to share,
to find sanctuary, to heal, to honor the earth, to leave a mark. Through gardening,
we feel whole as we make our personal work of art upon our land. - Julie Moir
Messervy, The Inward Garden, 1995, p.19
If you would like me to write on any particular subject email your ideas to:
[email protected] or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com.
Advertorial
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
[email protected]
June 2007 - Page 15
Heard on the Street Asks:
“If you could go to any time or place in a time
machine, where would you go?”
“I would probably go to the Dark Ages
because I’m fascinated by the question ‘why
were those ages dark?’. I want to know why!”
- Eileen
“I would go to the future to see how my life
turns out. I’d like to see who I marry and what
my kids are like. If there’s anything that
needed changing then I could still change it.”
- Minnie
“I would go to Ancient China so I can learn
the traditional martial arts. These days when
people teach martial arts they put their own
little spin on it so, technically, it’s not
traditional.” - Lucas, at Nor-Ski & Sports
Lafayette Back Roads
Send us the name and location of your favorite destination and tell us why you like it so well. Send your
ideas to [email protected] or to
Lafayette Today, P.O. Box 1335, Lafayette, CA 94549.
Do you know of a great place
to visit just for the day?
Somewhere to go with the
kids, like a small farm or museum, or somewhere to go
with just adults, like a tucked
away winery? Are you aware
of a fantastic hike that no one
else knows about or the
world’s best fishing spot?
Tell us about your favorite
“Lafayette Back Roads” day
trip and your trip may be included in an issue of
Lafayette Today.
I lov
e
love
“I’d watch Willie Mays play baseball for the
San Francisco Giants.” - Jon
Laf
ayette!
Lafayette!
It’
s so easy to sell, because it is a
It’s
gr
eat place to liv
e!
great
live!
Listing and selling rreal
eal estate in
e than 20 year
s.
Laf
ayette ffor
or mor
more
years.
Lafayette
“I would want to go back to the Wild Wild
West. I like the ruggedness and the freedom
people had at those times. Those times
shaped our country. I’d want to experience
some of that good cowboy BBQ. And I
think I’d be a great outlaw!” - Jaime
“I would go to a princess castle with
my friend Mia. I would see the pink
princess and Mia would see the purple
princess. We’d go in Mia’s car.” Gracie (age 3), with a little help from
Mom.
“I would go back to my honeymoon
in France or I would go for a second
honeymoon in France in the
future...with my husband...not a
second husband!” - Leslie, with Sam
(6), Henry (1-1/2), and Gracie
Market Statistics for Lafayette, May 2007 vs May 2006
Year
List $
Sold $
Sq’
$ per Sq’
2007
$1,199,310
$1,177,900
2387
$493.46
2006
$1,393,693
$1,444,562
2479
$582.72
41 homes sold in May 2007, 31 homes sold in May 2006
As asking prices get more realistic, more homes are selling!
Pamela Hallor
an
Halloran
Real Estate Br
ok
er Associate
Brok
oker
Villag
e Associates
illage
(925) 323-4100
Pamela
PamelaHallor
an.com
amela@P
amelaHalloran.com
Visit me at my website - www.P
amelaHallor
an.com
www.PamelaHallor
amelaHalloran.com
Page 16 - June 2007
Adoption continued from front page
she added. After briefly trying for a third child the Altbaums looked in earnest at adoption. They began working with Walnut Creek adoption agency,
Adoptions & Aid, International
(AAI), and the agency helped
them choose a region in Russia
to focus on in their adoption
search.
To adopt a child in Russia,
prospective parents must take
two trips to the country. On their
first trip to Russia, the Altbaums
met a nine month old baby girl.
“I was terribly worried because
you think ‘what if I get over there and there’s no connection’,” stated Kristen.
But her worries were for naught: “It was love at first sight.” On their second
visit, in September of 2004, the Altbaums adopted their daughter, Kayley,
now three years old.
Six months after settling Kayley into the family, Kristen could not get the
magical story of Kayley’s adoption out of her head. “Things in Russia were
like right out of a fairytale,” noted Kristen. “When we were over there we
saw antiquated farming equipment, there were storks all over at that time of
year, the orphanage was ornate and beautiful, and Kayley’s caretaker at the
orphanage was a solid woman with gold teeth.” Kristen finally sat down one
night and typed the fairytale that had been shaping up in her head into her
computer. The next day she read the story to her husband, Ron, and her two
sons, Bradley (now 9) and Lane (now 6). Ron encouraged Kristen to get a
few illustrations done to accompany the story, more for the sake of posterity
than for publishing a book. Fortunately, one of Kristen’s closest childhood
friends was herself adopted and was married to an artist. Her friend liked
Kristen’s idea and had her husband put Kristen in touch with one of his employees. The employee, Lori Escobar, did some rough drawings for Kristen
to see if she wanted to proceed further. “I gave (Lori) the storyline and a
picture of my family and she nailed it,” enthused Kristen. “When I saw the
rough drawings, it struck me that this could be a real story book.”
So, for the next 12 months, Kristen learned all about the publishing industry and what it takes to get a story printed into a book. She spoke with
someone at a large publishing house and found that, if she went the tradi-
Ask Dr. Happy
By Bob Nozik, MD
Dear Dr. Happy, I am a fifty year old man with a
good job but I am not happy. I’ve been married and
divorced twice because the women I married were golddigging nags. In fact, most of the women I meet seem
to be superficial and only interested in me for my money.
What can I do to become happier?
Looking For One Good Woman
Dear Looking,
Although happiness science is an inexact science, all studies show married people to be happier than their single or divorced counterparts. But, is
it that marriage produces happy people or do happy people create lasting
marriages? We don’t know although I suspect the latter is more the case.
Look, Looking, most women are not shallow opportunists. But if that’s who
you are attracting your judgmental attitude may be partly to blame, both for
who is appearing in your life and for your unhappiness. Judgmental people
always make more negative than positive judgments and negative judgments
attract negative emotions like cheese draws rats. You need to examine your
negative judgments each time you make them. The alternative to judgment
is evaluation and curiosity. Breaking free of your judgmental attitude will
raise your happiness and certainly be better for your romantic life. There are
plenty of good women out there but you will need to make some changes on
yourself if you hope to attract them; and becoming less judgmental would
be a good place to start.
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
tional publishing route, she would be looking at a 2009 publication date as
well as edits to her original tale. Although she began her journey merely
wanting to write up the fairytale of Kayley’s adoption for herself and her
family, Kristen ultimately decided to self-publish the book, titled “The Queen’s
Wish: A Fairytale About Adoption,” to retain creative control of the story
and sell copies of the book to the public. “I was looking for a good adoption
book for my kids during the adoption process and at the time they loved
fairytales but there was nothing like that available,” Kristen noted.
And Kristen realized something else: “I wanted control of my profits. I
decided that this book was too fun and too much of a labor of love to make a
profit off of it,” she said. Kristen determined that the profits from the book
sales were to be given to Doctors without Borders. “My commitment to
Doctors without Borders originated when my first son was born and I found
myself thinking about all the mothers and fathers who, for whatever reason war, famine, etcetera - cannot feed or provide medical care for their children.
I can think of no greater horror,” she stated. Approximately 50% (depending
on the retail channel where the book is sold) of each book is donated to
Doctors without Borders. “Doctors without Borders are doctors who could
make a lot of money but give their time and skills for free,” Kristen marveled. “I just think that they are fabulous. They go places no one else will
go and treat people no one else will treat. And they do amazing things with
limited funds. $8 - $16 from the sale of each book can do a lot. $8 can
provide two nutritious meals a day for about 40 days to a malnourished child
and $8 can provide clean drinking water for 20 people for a month.” Kristen
noted that if people are interested in buying a book about adoption for their
family, they can buy her fairytale and also support a great cause.
After Kayley came home, Kristen’s family felt complete. “We brought her
home and really there was no adjustment.” Kristen said. “It was astonishing.
The boys loved her right away. With some sunshine and physical movement she
was doing great. Three weeks later, she felt like she’d been ours for a long, long
time.” And so, not surprisingly, the Altbaums lived happily every after.
If you are interested in purchasing “The Queen’s Wish: A Fairytale About
Adoption” by Kristen Altbaum, it is available at the Lafayette Book Store,
3579 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The store will carry a limited number of
signed copies. You can also purchase the book online at www.Amazon.com
(search for the title in the general “Book” category, not the “Children’s Books”
category). For more information about Doctors without Borders visit their
website, www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Dear Dr. Happy, I’ve been unhappy ever since my husband of 20 years
left me for a younger woman eight years ago. I’ve heard you speak about the
importance of acceptance and acceptance is something I think I’ve done a
wonderful job implementing into my life. For example, even though I’ve
been down so long, I have accepted being unhappy as much as I can.
Wondering Why Im So Unhappy
Dear Wondering,
You may be misunderstanding the happiness principle of Acceptance.
Acceptance doesnt mean accepting your misery. Acceptance means accepting the things you cannot change that are contributing to your misery; a
key difference. In this case, your husband left you for another woman…you
cant change that; you need to accept it. Acceptance in this case will lead you
to forgiveness and closure which will ultimately relieve your misery. The
keys here are: 1) acceptance doesn’t mean you like what happened, only that
you accept it thereby freeing yourself from reliving and constantly fighting
what is a hopeless battle. And, 2) you need real wisdom (as the Serenity
Prayer* posits) for deciding what you can and cannot change. (*The Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The strength to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.”). WWISU, what you need to do now is fully accept that your husband
is gone and this acceptance will work to relieve your misery and allow happiness to return.
(Readers may submit questions to: ASK DR HAPPY at
[email protected])
[email protected]
Richness
By Sarah Alvarez
Photos by David Horine
Young Mui works as a servant for a well-to-do
family living in Saigon during the 1950s. Her days
center around the simple outdoor kitchen where she
prepares dishes of rice, meat, and vegetables over a
fire pit. She does not own many things, but her life
is rich. She appreciates the wealth of nature around
her and feels content.
Although the family she serves appears to be well-off, they are troubled.
The family’s sewing store has inconsistent business. The father, who does
not work, has run away several times, taking the family’s money with him.
On one escapade, a daughter became sick
and died while he was away. Interestingly,
Mui is the same age as the daughter would
be, had she lived.
Mui observes the family through its ups
and downs. In tough times, they sell jewelry to buy food and Mui learns how to
stretch the food budget. In good times, the
family’s stores of rice are filled and Mui
cooks extra dishes for visiting guests.
The movie, The Scent of Green Papaya,
is so vivid that watching it feels like seeing
through Mui’s eyes. Camera close-ups allow the appreciation of details of daily life,
such as marveling over a hard-working ant
or the many seeds of a papaya. The sound
track is also vibrant with crickets chirping, traditional Vietnamese music,
and the curfew siren.
These elements engage other senses as well. The sizzle of stir-fry, the
look of meat changing color as it cooks, the gleam of vegetables in oil,
combine to create impressions of smell, taste, and texture. Eating my Vietnamese-inspired salad will draw you further into the movie.
SUMMER COLESLAW
16 large shrimp
1/4 head green cabbage,
shredded
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1 1/2 cups mung bean
sprouts
1 1/2 cups thin green beans,
cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup carrot, cut into
matchsticks
3/4 cup red bell pepper,
thinly sliced
1 avocado
For the dressing:
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 t. salt
Broil or grill shrimp until
cooked through. Set aside.
In a small pot, combine rice vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1 T. of water. Bring
to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
In an extra large bowl, combine cabbage, sprouts, green beans, carrot, and
bell pepper. Toss to combine. Add the dressing and toss some more. Serve topped
with shrimp and avocado slices. Makes 4 entree servings or 8 salad servings.
June 2007 - Page 17
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www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Gives explicit recommendations/advice
How Do You Get Your Financial
Fiduciary responsibility to the client
Clients’ interests must be put ahead of their own
Advice?
Traditional broker or registered representative (RR) of a broker-dealer (BD)
By Rob Regan, Regan Financial Group
Compensated by commissions
Our daily lives are just too busy to just soak up enough
Commissions do not need to be disclosed.
of the right financial information that will allow us to make
Any investment advice provided is “solely incidental” to the transaction
good financial decisions. If you want to have your financial
Represents broker-dealer and not the client
act together you need information and advice.
Bound to sell investments that are “suitable” for the client
The Internet
Not obligated to tell clients about potential conflicts-of-interest such as
In the past you had to pay to just to get information. selling a similarly-suitable fund that has higher expenses but provides the
Today, most information is at your finger tips. Just type broker with additional commissions or satisfies sales production requirements.
“how to buy life insurance” into any internet search engine. Here’s a few of the 23,500,000
Brokers have offered popular fee-based brokerage accounts. They look like
websites found:
advisory accounts but the broker is not held to a fiduciary standard. On March 30
Important steps to consider prior to purchasing life insurance
the DC Court of Appeals eliminated the broker-dealer exemption from the InHow to buy life insurance without paying too much
vestment Advisors Act of 1930 which mandates that to offer financial advice you
Having too little life insurance can be devastating to your family
have to be a fiduciary. $300 billion in fee-based brokerage accounts will have to
How to Buy Life Insurance for Your Wife
be switched to advisory accounts or commission accounts in the near future.
How to Buy Life Insurance in a 401K
CPA
How to buy life insurance to minimize estate and gift taxes
Many people turn to their trusted CPA for investment or financial planLife Insurance for Children
ning advice. While some CPA’s are trained and experienced in these areas
A simple way to plan your business succession
most are not. If you want your CPA involved your best bet is to have your
How to Buy Life Insurance to benefit a charity
CPA and investment advisor work together.
Low Cost Term Life, Whole Life, Variable Life, Indexed Life
Certified Financial Planner®
This looks like the index of a life insurance training manual. Search any
CFP® is a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board
financial topic and the results are the same – more information than one can of Standards. The certificant completes a course of study and test. Continuingest over a lifetime of “free time”.
ing education and adherence to a code of conduct is required. Brokers, CPA’s
If financial information is free for the taking, why are most people under- and Investment Advisors can hold the degree.
insured, under-allocated in their investment accounts, doing poorly compared
Twice this past month, new clients told me that they wished they had started
to the stock market, not ready for retirement, unaware of the impending long- working with an advisor years ago. Whether you want to use the internet, a
term-care crisis or feeling unsure about some area of their finances?
broker, an investment advisor or your CPA, get started today. Imagine lookThe answer is people need help. Even if one can digest all of the free informa- ing back five years from now. What would have to have happened for you to
tion they are not sure what applies to them. Clients show up with reams of feel good about your financial life?
internet pages filled with financial stuff. They still want to know what to do.
Rob manages investments, pensions and insurance for individuals, famiWhat they really want is an advisor - someone who understands them and can help lies and business owners. He can be reached at 55 Oak Court Suite 100,
them make good financial decisions that give them the best chance of succeeding.
Danville, CA 94526 (925) 820-0640 [email protected]
Types of Advisors
www.reganfg.com.
Investment advisor representative (IAR) of a registered investment advisor (RIA)
Robert Regan CFP®, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
Compensated by fees
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Securities, Inc. a BroAll fees are disclosed
ker/Dealer, Member NASD/SIPC and Federally Registered Investment Advisor. NFP SecuPaid to give investment advice
Advertorial
rities, Inc. is not affiliated with the Regan Financial. License #0B07171.
Paid to put together a comprehensive financial plan
Page 18 - June 2007
Homelessness continued from front page
featuring “The Temptations” on May 30th at the Lesher Regional Center for
the Arts in Walnut Creek to raise money and awareness about homelessness
and what many residents are doing to combat it. “It‘s just a fun way to spread
the word about Shelter Inc. in the community,” Gerson said, “It’s meant to be
a fun, exciting night.” The non-profit Shelter Inc. was originally created by
private citizens with the official endorsement of the Contra Costa County
Board of Supervisors in
1986 and now provides
The Face of Homelessness
· On any given night, more than 7,000 people counseling, job training,
emergency shelter and rent
are homeless in Contra Costa County
assistance to prevent
· 68 percent are part of a homeless family
homelessness. Gerson is not
with children
· 87 percent of the people helped by Shelter the only Lafayette resident
helping. From its executive
Inc. never wound up homeless
director, Timothy O‘Keefe,
to its board president, Kathleen Hamm, along with fellow board members
Carol Chan and Kim Strand, Lafayette residents are doing their part to combat homelessness.
“The name Shelter Inc. I think is a misnomer, “O’Keefe said. “To the
uninitiated, it might sound like it‘s a bunch of Army cots and a hot meal in
the morning, but it’s so much more than that. The first priority of Shelter Inc.
is to keep people housed where they are before they wind up on the street .”
O’Keefe said. “About 87 percent of the people helped by Shelter Inc. never
wind up homeless, because they get help meeting rent payments or other
bills before debt swirls out of control and forces them out of their homes”,
O’Keefe said. The group also offers emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent housing to help those who are having a more difficult
time. “The face of homelessness here is mostly families, the working poor
who sometimes just can’t make ends meet, “according to O‘Keefe. O‘Keefe
first got involved with helping the homeless when he ran the Catholic Charities in San Francisco, which actually has fewer homeless than in Contra Costa
County, according to recent counts. “It’s just not as visible here, “O’Keefe
said. “For me, it’s just one of those heartbreaking things I think just shouldn’t
happen. I think it’s a solvable problem.” Hamm thinks so, too.
As the former affordable housing manager for the county, Hamm has seen
upclose the impact of homelessness on Lafayette and the rest of the community.
“Lafayette doesn’t have a lot of visible homeless, but they’re out there, on
the fringes” said the longtime town resident. “Lafayette has to view itself,
and I view myself, as being part of the larger community.” In fact, residents
of the Lamorinda area are some of Shelter Inc.’s biggest benefactors.
“There isn’t another part of the county that comes close, “O’Keefe said,
“And we hope that continues. Gerson is back on the Shelter Inc. board after
taking a few years off. Growing up in Chicago, Gerson remembers his parents were very involved with their community, and that’s a lesson he wants to
pass on to his own daughters, 7-year-old twins Becki and Jessica. “I want the
people that we live around, that we see at Home Depot or around town, to
have better lives, so there will be less stress, less crime, less confrontation ,
so we can all live in a more stable community, “Gerson said. For more information about the program or to donate, log onto www.shelterincofccc.org or
call Shelter Inc. Development Director Steve Love at 957-7567.
[email protected]
Elam Brown Writes Home
The following extracts are from a letter written by Elam Brown,
first American settler in Lafayette, to his brother-in-law, Samuel Peck.
Dated April 1, 1848, the letter did not reach Peck in Sunbury, Ohio,
until June 1849:
“California has the best climate, or as good as any in the world. At
this time your best stall-fed beef cannot equal our beef. On the California plains the quantity of fat cattle would surprise you. The grass, oats,
and clover everywhere raised are knee high and very thick. Oats and
clover are native growth here, as your parsley and pigweed in Ohio.
“Hogs do very well here, and but few are raised, and they are but
little used except for making soap, and there is a root that is a substitute for that article which supplies fully one half the demand.
“Farmers have little fencing. Timber is scarce in many places. The
people are idle. There is no regular price for property. Horses are
from f ive to f ifty dollars.
“Saddlery would not sell here. California saddles are all in vogue,
and as different from ours as a horse is from a camel. Boots are from
$4 to $6 – f irst quality $10, brogans $2.50, f iner quality $3.50 to $4.
Shoes should be quick sales, also strong pantaloons.
June 2007 - Page 19
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This photograph is from 1869 and may be the oldest known image of Lafayette. This is
the county road from Orinda looking east towards Lafayette with Mt. Diablo in the
background. The photographers covered wagon is by the fence in which he developed his
tintype photographs. (Courtesy Louis L. Stein Jr.)
“I have a thousand dollars due me on my farm in Platte in 1848. I
will enclose an order on Messrs. Collier & Vineard in Platte for the
payment, to be invested in goods and shipped as you think best. I
have a draft in Oregon on the Bank of America. I have ordered it
here, and it will probably be cashed at a discount if it gets here. My
purse is drawn low but I will try to float ‘till help comes. By all
means send a good surveyor’s compass and chain, ball and socket.
“The town of San Francisco at or near the entrance to the bay is
the best place of business in California and will always be so.
Monterey, 150 miles south – is next in size, but far behind in local
advantages.
“There are valleys and fertile hills enough here to support a powerful population, but the natives will never do any good. They have
the best of the country covered with grants, and appear determined
to hold on. They will part with anything but land.
‘Money had been very plenty since I have been here, but is now
becoming scarce. I am unable to tell whether it will get better of
worse. Should Uncle Sam hold the country (God forbid they should
not) it will soon rise to note. If not the country, myself, and all Americans are ruined.
“Please write me by the mail. I am informed there will be a regular mail via Panama established and in operation this spring.
“May the God of Heaven ever bless you is the prayer of your affectionate brother. Elam Brown”
Excerpted from Some California Poppies & Even a Few Mommies, Dorothy Munick, by Ray Peters, Lafayette Historical Society member. More
information about Lafayette and the Historical Society can be found on the
web at www.LafayetteHistory.org. Questions about our organization may be
sent to P.O. Box 133, Lafayette, CA 94549 or asked on the web site. Membership in the organization is $10 per year.
I made all of
this for only
$50!
Wow!
I never
knew you
could cook!
Surprise your friends.
If you are chosen, we will give you $50 to throw a
dinner party for six people. Your shopping list, recipes
and photos of your $50 Dinner Party will be
featured in a future issue of Lafayette Today.
To sign up, e-mail [email protected] or write
us at Lafayette Today, P.O. Box 1335, Lafayette, CA 94549.
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 20 - June 2007
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June 2007 - Page 21
Lyme Disease
Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation
By David Birdsall, Medical Director
John Muir Concord Campus ER Department
By Elliot Wagner, O.M.D., L.Ac.
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
We all would like our names associated with something
important, as is the case with the Earl of Sandwich. However, for the people of Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut,
ever since 1975 their name has been linked to a much-feared
condition called Lyme disease. It was at that time and place
where a cluster of cases with similar characteristics was
identified. However, this was not the first time that Lyme
disease was noted. In fact, the first record of symptoms similar to those of Lyme
disease was in 1883 when the Lyme rash was described. In the 1920s French physicians postulated that it was the bite of a tick that caused the rash as well as certain
neurological symptoms. It wasn’t until 1975, when a cluster of patients in the North
East presented with arthritis, that the whole syndrome was recognized as a disease.
So what is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete (an infectious agent) that is found in the gut of some, not all, deer ticks. These
ticks like to sit around in the high grass waiting to jump on us as we pass by. When they
land on us, they find a nice spot and burrow their heads under our skin and begin to
feed on our blood. As the tick feeds it also regurgitates. It is this tick “spit”, which
contains the spirochete that then infects you. It has been stated that the tick has to be
attached for at least 12 hours before disease transmission occurs, but the time frame
may be much less.
After one is bitten you initially may or may not feel bad. In fact you may not even
know that you have a tick bite so it is important to perform a tick check on your body
upon completion of a hike or other potential exposure. If you develop Lyme disease,
you may start feeling flu like symptoms (fever, sore throat, headache, fatigue) and
develop a red “bull’s-eye” type rash. These symptoms may occur 1-2 weeks after a
bite. Months later, if not treated, Lyme disease can progress to neurological symptoms, joint pains, and heart problems. Your doctor may diagnose this disease based on
your clinical picture or he/she may order a blood test. Unfortunately, the blood tests
have to be ordered weeks after an exposure and they aren’t very accurate. As well, the
clinical picture may be obscure and variable making the diagnosis of Lyme disease
difficult. If Lyme disease is suspected and diagnosed the treatment is quite easy as
early Lyme disease responds readily to oral antibiotics. Later stages of the condition
are also treatable but require IV antibiotics for at least 4 weeks.
There are many things one can do to prevent contracting Lyme disease. First, avoid
areas that may have a high tick population. Absent that, wear clothes that cover the
entire body and tuck your pants into your boots or socks. Wear light colored clothes so
you can easily see a tick if it jumps on you. Prior to your hike, cover your body with
mosquito/tick repellant and when you finish check all parts of the body (including
hair) for ticks. If you do find an attached tick, don’t panic. Simply use tweezers and
apply gentle pressure and traction at the head of the tick. Don’t squeeze too hard or
you may crush the tick and leave the head in your skin. Do not hold a match or
cigarette to the butt of the tick. Doing so may result in selfinjury and the tick could still remain.
If you want , you can send the tick to the Contra Costa
Mosquito and Vector Control District that provides a free tick
identification service (for residents of Contra Costa County
only). Save the pest in a vial or Ziploc bag with a small piece
of slightly moist cotton or paper towel and bring or mail it to
Tick
their office (155 Mason Circle, Concord 94520). If the tick
is brought in alive, they may be able to test it for Lyme bacteria (depending on staff
availability) at no cost to you. If it is dead they can arrange to have it tested by a
diagnostic laboratory for a fee of $55. Realize that only about 1 of the 3 ticks in the
area that bites humans has the capability to transmit Lyme disease. Of those that can
carry the disease in our area, only 1-2 % actually do. The percentage increases slightly
in the areas north of San Francisco, but they don’t come close to the 50-60% found in
the North East. In fact in 2005 there were only 95 reported cases of Lyme disease in
California. Therefore, it is not recommended that all bitten individuals receive antibiotic treatment. We need to wait for the symptoms.
Have a great summer and have fun hiking in our beautiful area. Take the precautions mentioned, don’t forget sunscreen and water, and watch out for rattle snakes or
we will see you down the road at the John Muir Emergency Department.
My history with facial acupuncture goes back
almost twenty years. At that time I was interested
in learning whether acupuncture – given all the
other wonderful things it can accomplish – could
help women look healthier and more beautiful. At
the time I was lucky enough to find and study with
the only acupuncturist I was aware of who had developed a facial protocol. She used microcurrent therapy to tonify the skin and underlying
tissue. I admired her work, and, wanting to be the best at what I did,
thought that I should have the best equipment. This meant my wife and I
had to do without a vacation to buy an expensive apparatus called an
Acuscope. Then I became certif ied in Myotonology, a patented
microcurrent facial system that uses the muscles of facial expression rather
than the acupuncture channels as the focus of treatment. From these, I
developed my own microcurrent acupuncture system, called Dermatec,
applied to the U.S. Patent Office, and received a service mark for it.
I used this approach with success until a client of mine, a woman
to whom other women listened, told me she was not going to continue treatment, that it was not making enough of a difference in her
appearance. I was disappointed, but I knew she was right. My work
was good, but something was missing. I eventually stopped doing
facial work, and developed an entirely new side of my work. Then, a
short time ago, I heard of someone who had taken acupuncture facial
rejuvenation to a new level, and would teach what she knew. Now,
after many years, I am again using acupuncture to help women to be
healthier and look more beautiful, only this time they tell me how
pleased they are with the outcome. One woman told me that her husband had never told her she was beautiful until her treatments. She
told me she had never been so confident, and that her employers were
now taking special notice. Another told me the facial rejuvenation had
worked a miracle for her. She loves her facial treatments so much that
she received a full series and then purchased another! Once, when a
patient who had just completed a facial treatment was coming out to the
reception area, my receptionist and I watched another patient do a double
take when she saw her. She said, “I want some of that!”
What is the difference this time? Why do these treatments work
so well when previous efforts showed mixed results? The difference
is that in previous years, I had relied on technology to do the work
for me. Now I use the most fundamental approach imaginable to get
great results. I use the basic ideas of ancient Chinese medicine in
the same way that acupuncturists to the Chinese nobility did a thousand years ago. This approach uses the idea of “Blood and Qi.” Blood
and Qi is a concept central to Chinese medicine. It means, simply,
“Circulation and Vitality.” From a treatment standpoint it means
that when we improve circulation to any part of the body the vitality
of that area is also improved. We are relaxed and energized, any pain
and swelling are reduced, and we look and feel more alive.
This principle works as well in acupuncture facial rejuvenation as
it does in other areas of Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture treatments
brighten and rejuvenate the face, lift the neck and reduce lines. I
believe there is nothing available that is superior to acupuncture to
improve health and naturally revitalize the appearance.
Dr. Elliot Wagner can be reached at the Lafayette Acupuncture
Center, 919 Moraga Road, Lafayette, CA 94549. Phone 925-9622 2 8 7 , v i s i t w w w. l a f aye t t e a c u p u n c t u r e . c o m o r e - m a i l :
[email protected].
Advertorial
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
winners were Pamela Young, Sarah & David Shaeffer, Landowner
Award, and the California Coastal Conservancy, Alliance Award.
Maximum of 450 guests, $200 per person, proceeds benef iting the
programs of Save Mount Diablo. Call 925-947-3535 to RSVP. Please
note that this event has sold out the last few years.
Page 22 - June 2007
26th Annual Mount Diablo Challenge - October 7th
June 17, Sunday - 9am - Intermediate/Advanced Bike Ride
presented by Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay
Contact
leader:
A l ex
C o r b i s h l ey,
925-519-0175;
[email protected]
We will ride to Juniper Campground via the Wall Point and Summit Trails and return via Burma Road. This is a strenuous, fast paced
and advanced ride. 18 miles, and 3000+ ft. Meet at MDSP - Macedo
Ranch Staging Area, north end of Green Valley Rd., Alamo.
Moonlight on the Mountain - Dinner,Silent and Live Auction,
and Live Music on the Slopes of Diablo - Saturday, August 25th
Save Mount Diablo will host its sixth annual “Moonlight on the
Mountain” on Saturday, August 25. This special, one-of-a-kind event
for 450 guests includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres, silent and live
auction, elegant sit-down dinner, and live music by aja vu. “Moonlight on the Mountain” takes place outdoors on a flat plateau next to
the dramatic rock formations of China Wall, with a spectacular view
of undeveloped rolling hills and the summit of Mount Diablo—all
under the light of the rising moon.
The event also includes a presentation of the “Mountain Star”
awards to individuals and organizations who have been significant in
preserving, interpreting and restoring Mount Diablo. Last year award
The Most Exciting Cycling Event Climbing the Bay Area’s Most
Devilish Peak. Presented by and Benef iting Save Mount Diablo.
The Mount Diablo Challenge is a 10.8 mile timed bike ride, starting at Athenian School in Danville and climbing up Southgate Road
3,249 feet to the summit of Mount Diablo. 1,000 cycling enthusiasts
compete and prizes are awarded for several categories in a ceremony
at the summit with food and beverages for all. All proceeds benef it
Save Mount Diablo’s land conservation efforts. Race Participants Riders of all ages are welcome. Riders under 18 must be accompanied
by an adult rider. Underage riders cannot register online. Riders can
compete on any type of non-motorized bicycle, including tandems,
uni-cycles and hand powered vehicles. Mount Diablo State Park will
be closed to all outside traff ic for the duration of the event. Riders
will be assisted by State Park escorts during descent. The starting
gun will be fired at 8:30 am. Start at the Athenian School, 2100 Mount
Diablo Scenic Boulevard, Danville. All riders will receive a water
bottle. All riders reaching the summit in less than one hour receive a
special “One Hour” T-Shirt. Awards given to top f inishers, male and
female, in several age categories. Also awards available for fastest
team and for individuals and the team that raises the most funds for
Save Mount Diablo.
Visit www.savemountdiablo.org for more information and to register online for the 26th Annual Mount Diablo Challenge on October
7, 2007or pick-up a registration form at Diablo Motors at 3211-C
Fostoria Way in San Ramon.
HOME LOANS
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Having a great rate on your first mortgage might not be the best possible or lowest rate on all
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2nd $350,000 at 8.5% on a Home Equity Line of Credit
Question: What is the Blended Rate on the Whole $675,000?
A) 5.975%
B) 6.50%
C) 6.75%
D)7.056%
The answer is D, 7.056%
Pretty scary when you think you have a great loan in place!
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Transfer of Property Tax Base
for Senior Citizens
By Art Lehman,
Village Associates Real Estate
Since many people have lived in their homes in
Lamorinda for years and now are thinking of
downsizing – one issue that is frequently asked
about is the “Transfer of Property Tax Base for “Senior Citizens”. Here is some useful information
on the subject:
On November 4, 1986, the voters of California passed Proposition 60 to
provide to qualified homeowners the transfer of the base-year value of their
principal residence to a replacement dwelling located in the same county,
under certain circumstances. These are the requirements for this exclusion:
1. At the date of transfer of the original property, the transferor (seller)
must be at least 55 years of age. (If married, only one spouse must be at least
55, but must reside in the residence; if co-owners, only one co-owner must
be at least 55 and must reside in the residence.)
2. The replacement property must be purchased or newly constructed on
or after November 5, 1986. The replacement residence must be purchased or
newly constructed within two years before or after the sale of the original
residence.
3. The sale of the original residence must qualify for reassessment as the
result of its transfer.
4. The principal claimant must have been (1) receiving, or eligible for, a
Homeowner’s Exemption or (2) have been receiving a Disabled Veteran’s
Exemption on the original and replacement residences.
5. The replacement residence must be “equal to or lesser” in market value
Maintain Your System
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Have you ever had to recover your computer, and found
yourself in a scramble to find all the programs, CD’s and
codes necessary to make it happen? One of the difficult
things about recovering a computer is the time it takes to
find and organize all the programs that need to be reinstalled. It can be a daunting task if left to the last minute,
which is why I’m going to write about being more proactive about your software maintenance.
The first thing to do is choose a medium-sized box for all your computer supplies.
This is the box where you put the random computer CD’s that seem to be everywhere,
your extra cables, adapters and software manuals. My rule of thumb is that everything
current and important should fit in one box. If it doesn’t, something needs to be thrown
out. Case in point, your Windows 95/98 disk sets can be chucked, and the Lotus 123
manuals you’ve been holding onto can be recycled.
Next, make sure you have all the CD’s for the programs you use on your computer.
If you’re unsure what software you use, you may want to visit the Belarc PC Advisor
site to download their free tool: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html. This tool
is great because it performs a complete system inventory, including hardware, software, and key codes. If you use this tool you will know exactly what is on your system.
You can use it as a roadmap and checklist to ensure you have all the CD’s you need in
case of a rebuild.
Some computer systems come without Microsoft Windows Operating System
CD’s; you are expected to burn a set when you first begin using your computer. Please
do! On these systems the Windows Operating System information is stored in a
separate place on your hardisk in case you need to rebuild your system. However, if
your hardisk fails, you are prevented from accessing the recovery partition where your
Windows Operating System is stored. So, burning your recovery CD’s is the way to
prevent this from being a problem. Put the Operating System CDs (for your Mac or
June 2007 - Page 23
than the original residence. In general, “equal or lesser” than market value
of a replacement dwelling has been defined as: 100% of market value of
original property as of its date of sale if a replacement dwelling is purchased
before an original property is sold; 105% of market value of original property as of its date of sale if a replacement dwelling is purchased within one
year after the sale of an original property; 110% of market value of original
property as of its date of sale if a replacement dwelling is purchased within
two years after the sale of an original property.
6. The claimant and/or claimant’s spouse can only be granted relief under
this section once. The disclosure of social security numbers by all applicants
is required. They are used by the assessor to verify the eligibility of persons
claiming this exemption and by the State to prevent multiple claims in different counties.
These are the basic requirements however the question I’m asked most is
whether I can transfer my original property tax base from county to county.
The answer is that transfers between counties (Proposition 90) are allowed
only if the county in which the replacement dwelling is located has passed
an authorizing ordinance. Effective November 8, 1993, Proposition 90 was
repealed in Contra Costa County. However, several counties do allow transfers into their county.
So if you’re thinking of downsizing and wish to transfer your property
tax base you’ll need to meet the requirements above and stay within Contra
Costa County or a move to a county that accepts transfers. For further information on Prop 60 & 90 contact the Contra Costa County assessors office at
925-313-7400.
If you have any questions on selling or buying a home in the area, please
contact me at 925 200-2591 or by email at [email protected]. If you’d like
a free automatic email update of current listings and sales visit my website
to sign up www. artlehman.com or call! Also if you have any topics for
Advertorial
future articles please let me know!
PC) in the box.
Have you downloaded software from the internet? Maybe you have a few programs that you’ve left on your desktop, or in your ‘My Received Files’ folder. A lot of
software also requires periodic updates to stay current. These are usually downloaded
from the company websites to your computer. If you can locate these on your system,
burn them all to a CD or DVD. Put them in the box.
While you’re at it, make sure your computer is being backed up. Use this opportunity to make a backup CD of your important data, music, email, etc., label the disk
with today’s date and throw it in the box as well.
Recently two of our technicians visited a home where a young man was trying to
complete his senior project. Without this project he would fail the class, and the class
was required for graduation. Failure was not an option! The reason we were called is
because he could not burn a movie he had created to a CD on his system. What ensued
was a textbook example of why you need to keep your system maintained.
The system wouldn’t burn the student’s DVD because it had viruses which had
infected multiple files on the system including the DVD burning program. So before
any other work could be performed, the virus needed to be removed. The original
burning program disks were nowhere to be found, so a new version needed to be
downloaded online. When the new version was obtained online, it wouldn’t work
because it was seven generations newer than the original and needed more memory
than the system had available. More memory was added, and the system finally was
able to load the software to burn the student’s DVD. This was a time consuming and
meandering process that could have been prevented A) if the antivirus had been kept
up to date, and B) if the original CD’s had been kept in a special computer box.
For some people it’s just easier to use something until it breaks, whether it’s a car, a
computer or a lawnmower. But this approach is expensive and time-consuming to
recover from. I recommend using these simple proactive steps to be prepared for life’s
inevitable inconveniences, and to minimize the amount of time and money it takes to
get you back on your feet again.
For more information on maintaining your system inventory, drop me a note at
[email protected], or call the office at 925.552.7953.
Advertorial
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 24 - June 2007
Police Blotter
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
May 17, 2007
3700 block of Mosswood Drive
A 14-year-old boy and a 13-year-old
girl, brother and sister, were walking
home from school when they noticed
a
suspicious
white
male,
approximately 40 years old, coming
towards them. After the kids passed
the man he turned around and began
to follow them at a distance of about
100 feet. This caused the kids to
become nervous and they hurried to
their house. Once inside, they looked
out the front window to see if the man
was still there. After several minutes
the man reached the front of the kids’
house and stood in the street looking
into the window at the kids for several
more minutes. At this time, the kids
left the window and called their
mother. When they went back to the
window the suspect had left. One
witness stated she had seen the man
in the area one or two times before.
PETTY THEFT FROM VEHICLE
May 18 – 20, 2007
3300 block of Sweet Drive
An unknown suspect(s) entered the
victim’s unlocked vehicle and
removed an XM satellite radio and a
Casio digital camera from the glove
compartment.
PETTY THEFT FROM VEHICLE
May 19 - 20, 2007
3300 block of Sweet Drive
An unknown suspect(s) entered the
victim’s unlocked vehicle and
removed the faceplate from his Sony
CDX stereo.
PETTY THEFT FROM VEHICLE
May 21-22, 2007
3700 block of Sundale Road
An unknown suspect(s) entered the
victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole
numerous items including a check/
debit card that was later used by the
suspect in Concord before the victim
cancelled the card.
DISTURBING THE PEACE
May 22, 2007
3500 block of Mt. Diablo Blvd.
An adult female (A) bumped her cart
into another adult female’s (B) ankle
and an argument ensued. (A) female
put her finger near (B) female’s face
and (B) female pushed (A) female’s
finger away. (B) female had a mark
on the back of her left ankle that was
consistent with an injury from a
shopping cart. (A) female said the
bump was an accident. Witnesses said
(A) female appeared apologetic but
(B) female was verbally abusive
towards (A) female.
Who’s Watching You?
June 19th 7pm-8:30pm
A Town Hall meeting presented by the Lafayette Crime
Prevention Commission along
with the Lafayette Emergency
Preparedness Commission and
the Lafayette Police Department
will be held from 7:00-8:30 pm
on Tuesday, June 19th at the
Lafayette Community Center located at 500 St. Mary’s Road in
Lafayette. The meeting will take
place in the Manzanita Room.
This is your opportunity to
discuss the issues you care about.
Join your neighbors in an informative and insightful exchange of ideas. Learn how to start a neighborhood watch program, neighborhood emergency preparedness and
CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) training. Bring your
questions, concerns, ideas and suggestions!
Retirement Fun
1
DRIVING
UNDER
THE
INFLUENCE
May 24, 2007
Mt. Diablo Blvd. at Acalanes Road
A 40-year-old male was driving a
2004 Jaguar and was stopped for
suspicion of driving under the
influence. He was placed under arrest
and transported to the Lafayette Police
Department. He was later released to
his wife.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
May 28, 2007
3500 block of Via los Colorados
A man returned home from vacation
with his family and found two males
inside his residence stealing personal
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
property. The two suspects had kicked
May 21, 2007
in a rear French door and ransacked
3100 block of Sun Ridge Court
the master bedroom. The suspects
An unknown suspect(s) removed pool fled in a car after being confronted by
equipment from an unlocked pool shed. the homeowner. Damage to the
French doors was approximately
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
$1,000.
May 25, 2007
800 block of Las Trampas Road
Selection compiled from the crime
Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s blotter at the Lafayette Police
unlocked garage and stole some tools Department.
valued at approximately $500.
What’s going on with your group
or sports team? Send stories to
[email protected]
or
PO Box 1335, Lafayette, CA 94549
Articles are published at the descretion of the editors. Articles may be altered to
meet space requirements. All rights reserved.
By Sarah Alvarez
2
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5
11
9
12
14
15
16
17
18
20
23
19
21
22
24
25
DOWN
ACROSS
2 Wimbledon sport
1 purling
3 Chinese tile game (answer withou 4 retiree SIG
5 using your green thumb
hyphen)
7 go on a yawl
6 offspring’s offspring
9 appreciating literature
8 The US has 58 national of these
11
Equus Caballus
10 disk game on a cruise deck
12
John James Audubon’s passion
16 best friend?
13 “adventures in lifelong learning”
17 do-si-doing (two words)
group (two words)
20 The kind of walk you take in #8
14 exercise AKA “Hatha Vidya”
across
15 angling
21 donating your time
18 Winnebago
23 those who can’t do, _____
19 Cessna
24 your autobiography
25 related to bocce & petanque (two 22 “a good walk spoiled”
words)
See answers on page 26
[email protected]
June 2007 - Page 25
Lafayette Senior Services Center Events
All events are held in the Elderberry Room located at the Lafayette Community
Center/Senior Services Center at 500 Saint Mary’s Road in Lafayette. A minimum
$1.00 donation at the door is appreciated to help us sustain our programs. SPACE
IS LIMITED so please call Mei Sun Li or Aletha Anderson at 925-284-5050 for
questions or to reserve your spot.
Stability & Strengthening with Anthony Anast, Physical Fitness
Educator
This 10-week program will include simple stretching exercises that will
improve your posture, range of motion, coordination, and balance. You do
what feels comfortable for you! Learn to relax, to really feel good, and even
look marvelous! Bring an exercise mat and band (can be purchased at Big 5/
Target). We’ll meet twice a week in the air-conditioned Community Center.
Session 1: Tues.& Thurs 6/12 – 7/5 (skip 6/21), 10:30am-noon, $18
Session 2:Tues 7/10 – 8/7, 10:30am-noon, $10
Walk/Stroll Your Way to Health with Anthony Anast, Physical
Fitness Educator
The annual Reservoir Run is scheduled for Sunday, October 28th. We would
love to see all of you there – whatever your current aerobic condition or walking stamina. Join our instructor who will carefully show you a smart start walking
exercise program. He will help you attain a reachable, short-term goal (such as
increasing your walks by 5 minutes or adding to the number of steps you take
each day) to attain our mutual objective of participation in the October Reservoir Run. You can do it, Lamorinda Seniors! Bring your grandchildren, your
kids; lets all work together to stay fit and healthy. Meet at Lafayette Community Center for the first session (it may vary afterwards)
Tuesday and Thursdays weekly for 10 weeks
8:30a – 9:30a, $20
Golf Fitness: Better golf without hitting a single ball
Monday, June 25th, 10am-11am
Reduce the likelihood of golf related injuries and play better golf. Golf
professional, Bob Anderson will teach about physical conditioning, and create
an individual training program that will shave strokes off your game. Class
will look into both pre-round stretching, flexibility exercises, and long term
conditioning goals toward improving your game.
Protecting Our Community from Financial PredatorsPresented by
a Panel of Elder Law Experts and Others
Thursday, June 28th, 10:30am - noon
Contra Costa County has the unfortunate distinction of being the California county
with the highest incidence of identity theft crimes. Financial predators who deceitfully gain access to personal information generally target vulnerable populations
such as our aging citizens. Stolen credit card and bank account data, illicit but
convincing phone callers, “dumpster diving” and so on can create havoc and heartbreak. Join a panel of experts from the JFKU Elder Law Clinic, Contra Costa
County Adult Protective Services, our local Police Department, and Barbara Schuh,
senior advocate and Lafayette Senior Services Commissioner, to discuss these issues and learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
This Year I Will…. How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a
Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True By Best Selling Author
and Speaker MJ Ryan
Monday, July 16th, 10:45am - 12:15pm
“I’ll finally drop these extra pounds,” “I’ll get along better with my family,”, I will stop spending beyond my means,”….Have you heard this before? Good intentions, bad follow up – not because we don’t want to achieve
our goals but because we don’t know HOW to change. MJ Ryan will be
here to help you beat the odds and be successful. As MJ says, “Each of us
holds the potential for our unique form of greatness. Whenever we bring
something positive in ourselves into being, we come closer to living that
greatness in all its dimensions.”
When Fat Attacks! True Confessions of a Woman Who is
Conflicted About Whether She Should Worry More About
Middle Age or Middle Spread
Thursday, July 19th, 10:45am - 12:15pm
Joan Morris, Contra Costa Time Reporter and Founder of The Times Diet
Club has a lifetime of dieting experience. Joan will speak about her own personal issues, how learning to diet out loud - writing about her dieting attempts
in the paper and on-line - brought her to a new understanding about her weight,
herself, and the importance of dieting for health instead of appearance.
Internet 101 … with Ed Zeidan, Nerd4Rent
Thursday, July 26th, 10:45am - 12:15pm
Point and click your way to the World (Wide Web). Look up anything,
shop till you drop, plan a vacation – all this from home.
Lafayette Book Club
Read a wide variety of books and have lively discussions; join us on the
2nd Monday of every month from 10:30am-noon in the Alder Room at the
Community Center. Summer Quarter meets 6/11, 7/9, 8/13. Call for more
information or a list of upcoming books.
Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group
Caring for frail older adults in the home often creates great stress and
emotional anguish for spouses and family members. Licensed geriatric
care managers Barbara Schuh and Carol Shenson offer a bi-monthly support group for individuals who are considering or currently involved with
the direct care of an older relative.
To sign up, please call 284-5050. Drop-ins are also welcome.
Mondays 6/4, 6/18, 7/9, 7/23, 8/6, 8/20
1:30 – 2:30 PM
www.lafayettetodaynews.com
Page 26 - June 2007
Coping With the Holidays: Pleasant Hill Tuesday Evening, 7pm 9pm; November 6, 2007
All groups and classes are offered for a fee and require pre-registration. Fees are waived for those who cannot afford them. For further information and/or to register, please call: (925) 887-5678.
Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps
people cope with life-threatening illnesses by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.
Specialized programs include Anna’s Program (for women with recurrent breast cancer), Comfort for Kids (pediatric hospice and palliative care), Skye’s Angels (perinatal hospice care), and Bruns House (in-patient hospice facility). To learn more, or to
make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678, or visit
www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Visit www.lafayettetodaynews.com to see
past issues, check print deadlines, and
view advertising rates and guidelines.
Answers to crossword puzzle found on page 24
H J
Adult Grief Class:
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Footsteps: Pleasant Hill Tuesdays, 5:15pm – 6:30pm, September 25th
- October 30th
Elected JLOEB President for 2007-2008, Elizabeth chaired the
Strategic Planning Committee from 2006-2007. Elizabeth’s career
with the League began in 1993 with the San Francisco Junior League
chapter. She transferred to the JLOEB in 1994 and is an honored
active and experienced leader having served on a number committees within the organization including: the New Member Committee,
Marketing & Corporate Relations, the Women’s Business Conference
Committee, and in her current position on the Strategic Planning
Committee.
“The Junior League is unique because it is an organization that
leaves a legacy in the community with its many good works. Locally,
we have been involved with more than 150 community partners over
70 years and many of the programs we started are still running strong,
making a difference every day in our community and in the lives of
our children,” said Elizabeth.
The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. (www.jloeb.org) is
an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through
the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose
is exclusively educational and charitable.
E E
Children’s and Teen’s Support Group:
Sharing Experience
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Adults Who Have Lost a Parent: Pleasant Hill - Wednesdays,
7pm - 9pm, July 11th – August 29th
Widow and Widower’s Support: Pleasant Hill Wednesdays
6pm - 8:00pm. ; June 13th - August 1st; September 13th - November
1st; November 21, 2007 - January 9, 2008
R S
Adult Support Groups/Classes:
On June 1, Elizabeth Gebhardt will become the 68th president of
the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. (JLOEB).
“We are incredibly lucky to have Elizabeth leading League members in the coming year,” said Diane Stevenson, JLOEB President,
2006-2007. “She has tremendous experience, and has made signif icant contributions to both the League and the East Bay community
surrounding her.”
K N I T T I N G
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Hospice of the East Bay (formerly Hospice and Palliative Care of
Contra Costa) is pleased to offer a variety of support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of
a loved one. Classes are offered at Hospice’s administrative offices: 3470
Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill.
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Hospice Offers Support
Lafayette Resident Elizabeth Gebhardt Heads
up Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc.
[email protected]
Lamorinda Senior Transportation - A Fleet of
Cabs and a Herd of Donkeys
George Moore, owner of Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company, (925-284-1234) is one of our valuable partners in the Lamorinda Senior Transportation alliance. He has been kind enough to offer senior residents of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda a 20% discount when they use his
taxi service. Having driven a cab himself for many years, George is aware of
the problems that seniors face, and he genuinely wants to help. What makes
him a perfect partner for Lamorinda Senior Transportation is his commitment to customer service and his warm, caring heart.
George has lived in the Walnut Creek area since 1949, raises donkeys in
Lafayette, has three aviaries at his home that house primarily canaries, and is
generally a lover of both animals and people.
When asked why he chose to raise miniature donkeys, he grinned and
said he wants to create a 20-mule team to drive in parades. Initially he was
thinking about raising miniature horses but was advised by a family member
that donkeys make better pets. George finds that to be true, saying his donkeys are very loving – “just like puppy dogs”.
George is very proud of his latest aviary which has double pane windows,
lights that go on at 4:00pm every day, an exhaust fan to pull out the heat in
the hot days of summer, and which will shortly have running water.
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June 2007 - Page 27
As I listened to George tell me about his wonderful family, his donkeys
and canaries, building aviaries, and caring for seniors and their transportation needs, his face lit up; and I remembered all the times he has volunteered
to help us out: installing new tires on the van, performing the 45-day maintenance, finding and installing a new driver’s seat, driving the van to North
Concord BART so that our volunteers could practice drive, driving for the
Taste of Lafayette (a community fund-raising event), and not to be forgotten
: all the times he greets us with a big smile and a hug.
George’s commitment to customer service shows in everything he does,
whether it’s providing a 20% discount to Lamorinda seniors or sitting on our
Advisory Committee and helping out wherever needed. What a delightful
and welcoming man to have on our team. And what a contribution to seniors
in Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga!
The Lamorinda Senior Transportation Program is an alliance of
transportation programs designed to help our elder citizens stay mobile and
therefore able to live independently longer. For more information call:
• Lamorinda Spirit Van – 283-3534
• Orinda Seniors Around Town – 254-0800
• Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors – 284-6161
• Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company – 284-1234
(20% discount for Lamorinda Seniors.)
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HELP WANTED
TUTORING
REVIEW SPANISH FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOOL. Spanish
teacher at Albany High School (a Stanley and
Acalanes graduate) offers individual or small group
tutoring in July and August. C a l l A m y a t
(510) 593-8119.
SEWING
Have sewing needs? We are here to help! We do
basic alterations, home decorator projects and
costumes
costumes. Have a special request? Please let us
know, we love a challenge! Please call 925 -202-1184
GOT FABRIC? GOT THREAD? Need Inspiration? Need Fun?
Need a Class? Need a Sewing Machine? If you need any
of these we are the shop for you! The Cotton Patch
where sewing and creativity come together!
1025 Brown Avenue, Lafayette, Ca. 925-284-1177
Part-time employment wanted. 30 hours+ a week,
some Saturdays. Small, established Lafayette retail
business is looking for a mature person with
experience in dealing with customers, in a “fastpaced”, friendly environment. California notary
license if possible. Minimum 5 years in the job
market or re-entry into the job market. Salary is
$12.00 an hour. Fax resume to (925) 283-7699 or email to [email protected]
.
[email protected].
OUTDOOR FITNESS
CONTRA COSTA ADVENTURE BOOT CAMP - Outdoor Fitness
Classes for Women.Helping you meet your fitness
goals.1 hour/day, 3, 4 or 5 days a week.Join these
fast paced fun and supportive classes.You can’t get
this
kind
of
workout
in
a
gym!
www.ContraCostaBootCamp.com
925-457-4587
Lafayette Today Classifieds
Reach over 11,500 homes and businesses in Lafayette - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets,
Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words.
Send or email submissions to: PO Box 1335, Lafayette, CA 94549 or [email protected].
Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled
check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.
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Page 28 - June 2007
www.lafayettetodaynews.com