Alamo Today January 2007.pmd

Transcription

January 2007 -
January 2007
A Brighter Holiday for Shelter Families
Serving Alamo, Diablo and Surrounding Communities
Sixth graders in Girl Scout troop 2090 went out into the Alamo community to
collect toys, toiletries, and other gifts for the women and children at Shepherd’s Gate
Shelter. Shepherd’s Gate helps women and children who are homeless and victims of
domestic violence. The response from the families and businesses of Alamo was overwhelming. The girls received bags and boxes filled with gifts from neighbors. Longs
Drugs and Rite Aid, and State Farm of Alamo all pitched in to help. Many donations
were placed into bins located at Long’s Drugs and Rite-Aid. Thanks to the generosity
of the community, the holidays were brighter for many families.
Look For the Winter Parks & Recreation
Guide on pages 18-21. Class Sign-ups begin
NOW!
Eighth Graders Raise Funds for St. Jude
Children’s Hospital
Pictured from left: Terilyn Stoflet, Sandy Pihowich, Drew Ditano, Larissa Severns, Alisia Martinez, Haley
Pihowich, and Hannah Wald (front). Not pictured: Cameron Poon, Julia Francone
Monte Vista Leadership Delivers to Verde
In conjunction
with the San Ramon
Valley Council of
PTA’s Cross County
Pa r t n e r
School
Program,the Monte
Vi s t a L e a d e r s h i p
class donated items
for over 400 stockings for the children
at Verde Elementary
School in Richmond. The Leadership class delivered
the gifts, sang to the
kids, and then spent
time playing with
them at recess. A
great time was had
by all.
“To Make a Difference in Our Community” was an assignment for the 8 th grade class at Athenian Middle School. During
the 6 th and 7 th grade years at Athenian the students are encouraged to give back to the community. In 8 th grade each student
comes up with a plan to help their community or world. One student, Mercedes Antonini, chose to raise funds for St. Jude’s
Children’s Hospital.
Mercedes is very active in the local 4-H Club and horses are
a big part of her life. Combining the two loves, she decided to
lead a trail ride on Mt Diablo to raise the money. She chose St.
Jude Children’s Hospital mostly because of the kids. Mercedes
says, “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to ride my
horse on the trails of Mt Diablo. There are so many very sick
children in the world that only get to see the inside of a hospital
– I wanted to do the ride for them in their honor.”
The money Mercedes collected will go to help make some
children’s lives a little better. St. Jude Children’s Hospital never
turns down a sick child even if they can’t pay for their care.
Once Mercedes came up with the idea she enlisted fellow student Morgan Ramos, who rides horses with Mercedes at Summit
Ranch in Alamo. Together they found local horse owners and riders who agreed to volunteer their time to attend the Trail Ride.
Then the pair asked others to donate money towards the ride.
Mercedes was surprised by the generosity she received towards
See Fundraiser- continued on pg. 13
Volume VII— Number 1
3000 F Danville Blvd. #117
Alamo, CA 94507
PRSRT STD
U.S.Postage
PAID
Permit 263
Alamo CA
Telephone (925) 820-8662
Fax (925) 406-0737
[email protected]
Mercedes Antonini and her horse
Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher
Page 2 - January 2007
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January 2007 - Page 3
Boulevard View!
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
A New Year, A New Look
Alamo Today is excited to start the year with a new
banner and many new local advertisers. I encourage
you to look through the paper and patronize those that
make the delivery of this paper possible.
I am also excited to announce the addition of
our latest venture, Lafayette Today. The new paper
will feature stories and highlights of the Lafayette community.
The significance of community and making a difference in the lives of others was very apparent during the holiday season. Many people contacted me to
share stories of generous giving by Alamo residents. Toy
barrels were filled with gifts
at the Tree Lighting ceremony.
In addition, local resident and
realtor, Don Morton, shared
his experiences with the Toys
for Tots program he participates in. Don was overwhelmed by the tremendous
support and generosity of
Alamo residents who contributed to Toys for Tots via collection barrels which were
graciously given space for at Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of America in Alamo.
Don noted the number of donations this year was amazing. He wanted to say
thank you to Alamo residents for giving so much to this program which is run
by the US Marine Corps Reservists.
“Concerned Kids” in the community left a flyer in my mailbox the other day
which read “Turn off a light, Carpool, and Conserve energy. Help prevent Global
Warming and save the Polar Bears.” It went on to say “You can do more than you
think. Little things like turning off lights when you are not in the room, using compact
florescent light bulbs and unplugging cell phone chargers and video game consoles
that are not being used. Did you know that 10% of the average energy being used in
homes is from chargers and other things not even being used? You can help!” From
young to old, people are finding ways to reach out and make a difference.
Another member of our community is trying to make Alamo safer for pedestrians crossing Danville Boulevard. After witnessing a few too many accidents and close calls he took matters into his own hands and supplied red flags
on both sides of the street along with flag holders. The flags are maintained and
monitored in case too many flags end up on one side of the street. Pedestrians
using the flags have noticed a difference with their higher visibility.
The Jackson Way intersection will also soon be outfitted with in-pavement
flashers as the Danville Boulevard improvements begin early this month. Signal lights for the reconstructed Stone Valley Road/Danville Boulevard
intersection are slated to arrive January 15th and will be installed shortly
thereafter. The project is slated to take 45 working days.
Happy New Year!
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find him and your name is drawn!
Alamo Joe is Missing
He has become lost in this paper.
He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him,
along with your name and address, to:
Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today!
3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507
January’s Winner Is ~
Derek & Tyler Chew
Previous Winners: Daphne Clements, Frank Zuerner, Jake Horne,Cecelia Barraza, Charlotte Mc Culley, Gloria
Hummel, Carolyn Qutami, Carolyn Fluehr, Chris Gouveia, Robyn VandeCater, Rosemarie Gillette
Alamo Joe contest and image Copyright Alamo Today! 2007. All rights reserved.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
AIA - Alamo Improvement Association
January 10th , 7:00pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd
Alamo Community Council - January 11th, 5:00pm - Swain House at Hap
Magee Park
Alamo Parks and Rec R7A- January 17th, 4:30pm - Swain House at Hap
Magee Park
Hap Magee Ranch Park Joint Planning and Operations Committee February 22nd, 5:00pm- Hap Magee Ranch Park
Police Services Advisory Committee - P2B - January 6th, 4:30pm at Valley
Station - 150 Alamo Plaza
Police Services Advisory Committee - Round Hill - P5 - January 9th,
7:30pm - Round Hill Country Club
Zone 36 - Alamo Beautification Committee - No scheduled meeting
Fine Mexican Dining
743-8997
In Stone Valley Shopping Center
Enjoy Our Patio Dining
Students crossing at Jackson Way and Danville Boulevard use red flags which were set
at the intersections of Danville Boulevard with Jackson Way and Orchard Court.
Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner
Sunday: Dinner only
We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge
3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty
The Dog Park at Hap Magee Ranch Park will be closed for maintenance until March 1st
Veterans of Foreign Wars January Meeting
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon
Valley - meets every second Thursday of the month at the Danville Veterans
Hall at 400 Hartz Avenue, on the corner of Hartz and Prospect in Danville.
The next scheduled meeting will be Thursday, January 11th. Doors will open
at 7:00PM, meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information contact Post Commander Mac McCuskey at 925-837-2740 or visit www.vfw.org.
Alamo-Danville Newcomer’s Club
If you are a new or long time resident of Alamo or Danville (or the surrounding area) and are interested in making new friends and learning more
about the area, please call 925-775-3233 or email [email protected] for
the next Welcome Coffee date.
Artist Ann McMillan Gives Demonstration
Ristorante and Bar
Award-winning oil and pastel painter, Ann McMillan, will share her insights and techniques Tuesday, January 9th at 7:30pm. The demonstration is
free and the public is welcome. Dessert and refreshments will be served. The
event, hosted by the Alamo-Danville Artists Society, will be held at the
Danville Congregational Church Social Hall located at 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd. For more info call 925-691-5030 or adas4art.org.
Role Players’ “Incorruptible”
New Owner - New Attitude
Fine Italian Food
Music & Dancing Thursday-Friday-Saturday Nights
Alamo’s Neighborhood Restaurant
Schedule Your Next Personal or Business Gathering
in our Semi-Private Banquet Room
Expert Off Site Catering
for Birthdays, Weddings, and other special events
Located in Longs Shopping Center
3160 Danville Blvd • Alamo • 925.820.1711
Lunch Monday-Friday 1130- 230 • Dinner Monday-Friday 430-930
Saturday 400-1030 & Sunday 300-930
Role Players’ “Incorruptible” makes a 12th century monastery look like 21st
century government. Based on real events, this sharp-edged comedy shows how
monks who are failing to market their saint-in-residence solve their problems
through a combination of larceny, cunning and avarice. Sounds like today’s politics? Some things don’t change with the passage of centuries….
In the middle ages, incorruptibles (saints whose bodies didn’t decompose
after death) offered spiritual solace, healing, an occasional miracle, and a
steady source of income to the monasteries that housed them (or the body
parts they had successfully acquired or stolen). In this case, Saint Foy, the
resident miracle producer at Priseaux, the site of Hollinger’s comedy, has
failed in her miracle-producing duty for 13 years, and, worse, is in danger of
being appropriated by the neighboring monastery.
The monks decide that keeping the doors open requires them to act in a
decidedly unholy way – but the end justifies the means, at least in their
minds. This production is uproariously funny, but also conveys a sharp and focused message. Organizations will always do what it takes to survive.
“Incorruptible” opens January
19 th at the Village Theatre in
Danville and runs through February 10th with shows Thursday thru
Saturday at 8.00pm and Sundays at
2.00 pm . For information visit
www.villagetheatreshows.com or
call 925-314-3400.
The Latest on Yardbirds
What Are You Getting Your Sweetheart?
The Alamo Yardbirds store is in the early stages of
demolition and remodel right now. The shell of the store
(floors, ceilings, electrical, offices, etc.) is being finished
out in preparation for setting fixtures, racking, and ultimately merchandise, according to Kathryn Gallagher,
Home Depot Western Division Public Relations Manager.
Kathryn notes that the store is on track for an April-May
opening. Signage reflecting the new name, The Home
Depot Yardbirds, will be installed shortly.
As noted by Kathryn, “We’re seeking to capture the
essence of the neighborhood hardware store that Yardbirds
was known for, accented with key attributes from Home
Depot. The store is designed to meet the needs of community residents for everyday home repair, as well as facilitate interior remodels of rooms that lend distinction
to a home. Every store will have a full complement of
tools and hardware items (door locks, nuts, bolts, fasteners, builders hardware) - categories that will receive proportionally more space in these stores than they do in a
standard Home Depot. Similarly, the Yardbirds stores will
satisfy everyday needs for plumbing, electrical, and wall
patch-and-repair jobs.” There will also be light bulbs,
stain removers, tapes, picture hooks, and 3,000+ colors
in the leading paint brands. The garden center will feature plants and shrubs from area growers, complemented by patio sets
and barbecues.
In addition, the store will feature items for homeowners seeking to
upgrade key living areas, such as floor tile, granite countertops, bath
vanity, and range and hood sets. Product experts and designers will be
on-staff and backed by experienced installation services for turn-key
projects. Enhanced assortments of lighting fixtures, bath accessories,
cabinet hardware, and hard surface flooring will be available in-stock.
Get Yours At
ALAMO BIKES
1469 Danville Blvd
Alamo
925.837.8444
Become a Caring Hands Volunteer
Volunteer Training Session Scheduled for January 19, 2007
Have you made a New Year’s resolution yet? If not, volunteering can be an
extremely rewarding experience and just might be the commitment you’ve been
searching for. You can lend a caring hand and make a significant difference in
someone else’s life. Caring Hands creates “matches” between caring volunteers
and frail, isolated, and disabled seniors who are living in our community.
As a Caring Hands volunteer you would commit to spend 1 to 3 hours each week
with an elderly person to provide simple assistance such as friendly visiting and companionship, transportation to and from medical appointments, or errands and grocery
shopping.You may choose the services you would like to perform, the communities in
which you would like to serve, and your own schedule.
Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program has seniors waiting to meet
you! We will be hosting our next volunteer training session on Friday, January 19th, from 8:45a.m. to 3:30p.m., at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut
Creek. An interview and pre-registration by January 10th is required. For
more information or to register, please call (925) 952-2999.
“Services provided by Caring Hands can mean the difference between
aging at home or in an institution,” said Carol Louisell, Caring Hands Program Manager. “It is amazing to think that 1 to 3 hours each week can make
such a difference, but it does.”
Seniors who benefit from Caring Hands may include those who have a vision
or mobility impairment that prevents them from driving, seniors without family
in the area, family caregivers, and people with routine medical appointments.
The Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program is a collaborative effort
of John Muir Health, congregations of various religious faiths, representatives from social service agencies, and the community-at-large. Caring Hands
volunteers serve frail, isolated, and disabled seniors over the age of 60 free
of charge in Central, South, and East Contra Costa County.
Condo Vacation Rental - Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island.
New luxury two bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay.
Contact Alamo owners for discounted rates. 925.855.8977 [email protected]
To place a classified ad send your submission to Alamo Today! 3000F Danville Blvd
#117, Alamo, CA 94507. Classified ads cost $10 for up to 36 words. Additional lines
of 12 words are $3/each. Please mail a check along with your ad.
Happy New Year! Come and Enjoy...
Rotary Donates Dictionaries to Third Graders
Alain Pinel Realtors is a proud sponsor of
Downtown Walnut Creek On Ice!
Toss a festive scarf around your neck and head downtown to
Walnut Creek for the second annual Walnut Creek on Ice, located
at Civic Park. The ice rink will open on Friday, November 17 and
continue through January 15, 2007. The rink is open Monday
through Saturday at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday. It is brought to
the community by the Walnut Creek Downtown Business
Association and the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce.
For more information please call me or visit
http://www.iceskatewalnutcreek.com/
Bonne Wersel
Alain Pinel Realtors
588 San Ramon Valley Blvd.
Danville CA 94526
925.791.2550 direct
[email protected]
Olofson Realty & Tax Service
Real Estate • Tax Preparation • Notary Public
837-7788
3200A Danville Blvd, Suite 204 • Alamo
[email protected] • fax: 837-5712
Mention this ad for One Hour Free
Tax Assistance/Problem Review
Tax Preparation
Electronic Filing • Corporations and Partnerships
Estates and Trusts • Personal and Business • Prior Years Taxes
Year-Round Representation
Tax Planning
New Business• Retirement• Sale of Assets
Computer Accounting Services
Bookkeeping • Payroll Reporting • Sales Tax •
Quickbooks Software Installations
Janie Olofson
Enrolled Agent, MS Taxation, Accredited Tax Advisor,
Master Fellow, National Tax Practice Institute,
25Years in Alamo as a Real Estate Broker
Visa • Mastercard • American Express
Alamo Rotary donated dictionaries to all classes of third graders at Rancho
Romero School and Alamo School. The dictionaries are one of many community programs that Alamo Rotary provides and is paid for by their numerous fundraisers.
Garrett Jeffrey Mason Receives Boy Scout
Eagle Award
Boy Scout troop 236 member,
Gar rett Jeffrey Mason, was
awarded the American Eagle
Award by the Boy Scouts of
America. For his Eagle project
Garrett planned the project then
led members of the troop in the
restoration of a donor board located in historic Borges Ranch in
Walnut Creek. This donor board
gives recognition to all individuals and organizations who gave
their time, effort or donations to
the upkeep of Borges Ranch and
Walnut Creek Open Space.
Garrett is 18 years old and a Senior at Monte Vista High.
Bank of America –
Nominates Chien for
Local Hero Award
Bank ofAmerica recently presented Ms. Chia Chia
Chien, with their Local Heroes Award. Chia Chia has
been actively involved with various grass-rooted community services and community building programs.
In support of the White House’s Millennium Save
America’s Treasures program, she coordinated the
Save Angel Island League (SAIL), which aimed at
preserving Angel Island and promoting public awareness of its historical significance.
As a social worker, her deepest passion is promoting the mental health of AsianAmericans. She founded the Culture to Culture Foundation, which offers various
programs to the Chinese-American community.
Chia Chia is a resident of Alamo and a wonderful asset to the people she helps.
Alamo School News
By Beverly Tom, Principal
Happy New Year! We hope that you are enjoying
time with family and friends. We have been doing so
much to inspire our students to reach their fullest
potential.
Instructional Excellence – Our fourth graders
“Walked through California” days before our winter
break. Students had two weeks to become an expert
in some aspect of California history and wow! They learned so much. “Walk
through California” is a highly engaging and interactive assembly. Students
share their knowledge of California, search for gold, and travel through time
all in the course of a couple of hours.
After reading When the Soldiers were Gone , grandparent Denise
Schwarzbach, who experienced first hand the tragedy’s of the Holocaust,
shared her story
with our fourth
graders. This
was a rare opportunity for
our youngsters
and one that
will have a lasting impact. She
is an inspiration
to us all. Thank
you,
Mrs.
Schwarzbach,
for sharing your story with our students.
Creative Expression – Our winter concert was fabulous! We enjoyed the
talents of our instrumental music, chorus, and hand chimes students. We
thank our teachers, Mrs. Raaum, Ms. Brown, and Dr. Thayer for all their
hard work.
Congratulations to our art student of the month, Bailey Ferguson. Bailey
has earned this award because he has grown incredibly as an artist. He gives
110% to all his pieces. Congratulations Bailey, you are a rising star!
Respect for Individual Differences – Congratulations to our awesome
job winners who continue to demonstrate respect, responsibility and honesty. December winners were Nicole Johnson, Madison Kiepen, Natasha
Pantic-Horne, Cayla Quinn, Alyssa Brosamer, Jenna Bloom, Lauren Louie,
Kiyomi Okano Foell, Bailey Ferguson, Meg Carter, Griffin Smith, Madeline
Hammitt, Taylor Wright, Jarryd Pineda, Mallory McCormick, Nicole Clause,
and Elizabeth Fraysse. Awesome!
A Healthy Lifestyle - Intramurals has begun thanks to all the parent
volunteers who stepped in to help us out. At lunch, students are anxious to
be part of the dodgeball games. What a fun way to exercise!
Thanks to the suggestions of our Student Council, we now have sliced
apples at our salad bar and what a fantastic salad bar it is! Encourage your
child to try some fresh fruits and vegetables
when they buy lunch.
Enhancing the Global Community Thanks to Linda Hora, Kids Helping Kids, and
Student Council, most of our lost and found
items have been reclaimed. Items not claimed
were cleaned and donated. Ms. Hora also organized a special holiday luncheon for the
teachers at our partner school, with the help
of parent volunteers from Alamo. What a wonderful idea!
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goals they want to reach – even when they
know it will be very hard. They do it because,
if they succeed, it will be wonderful and great
for all people in the world.” - Matthew Hensen
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3319 Mt Diablo Blvd
Lafayette
Near Lafayette Park Hotel
D.A.R. Recognizes Good Citizens
At their annual Christmas Tea, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Mt.
Diablo Chapter, featured four Good Citizen
award-winning students. They were Susan
Friedberg from Monte Vista High, Carolyn
Talley, San Ramon Valley High, Jenna Schuck
from California High, and Megan Kirkaldie
from Athenian.
Susan Friedberg, Carolyn Talley, and Jenna
These awards are based on the students’ Schuck. Missing: Megan Kirkaldie
academic standing and participation in school and community activities.
The Mt. Diablo Chapter meets in the Vista Room at Hillside Clubhouse in
Rossmoor, the second Tuesday of the month at 11:45a.m. The next meeting is January
9, 2007. Past California State Secretary, Cheryl Rios will present a program on DAR
Insignia: The Significance and The History.
Prospective members are welcome to attend our meetings. Anyone with an ancestor who fought in or rendered aid in the American Revolution may be eligible for
membership. For more information, call Barbara Beratta at 925-837-8551.
Stone Valley Middle School
By Shaun McElroy, Principal
Double Your Fun - Winter Concert Series/
Blue Ribbon Celebration
Stone Valley parents students and staff officially
celebrated our National Blue Ribbon Award (NBRS)
on Wednesday December 13th. The NBRS celebration
followed Winter concert part I, featuring our two steel
drum bands and the jazz band. We were joined at the
ceremony by SRVUSD Board Member and former Stone Valley parent Joan
Buchanan, Christopher Wright from U.S. Department Education and Marie
Morgan, Director of Instruction.
P.T.A. President Michelle
Tomalinas and Education Fund
President Janet Evans raised the
new banner before a cheering
crowd of over 500. The ceremony concluded with a raffle
for NBRS apparel and the
awarding of $15,000 (shredded)
cash from the Bureau of Engraving, to a lucky parent. Stone Valley was one of 250 schools nationwide to be recognized in 2006 and there are
approximately 125,000 school in the United States.
The excitement continued the following evening with Winter Concert part II.
Another near capacity crowd enjoyed seasonal favorites along with the jazz
bands favorite, Mas Que Nada. The Symphonic Band opened the evening
with a choreographed procession of flutes.
Over the two evenings nearly 1,000 people heard twenty five musical selections from the six bands, two Steel Drum bands. Jazz Band, Symphonic Band,
concert band and cadet band, all under the direction of Ms. Teri Musiel. We are
thankful to all who participated in making this holiday bright and festive.
Technology @Stone Valley State of the Art or State of the Ark?
This month we will launch our technology fundraiser aimed at soliciting
funds from corporations and businesses. We are replacing the over sevenyear-old equipment in both of our laboratories and adding an additional laptop
mobile lab. All computers will be dual platform “Mactells”.
Our campus has just completed a technology facelift by replacing the
entire technology infrastructure and a wireless network. However, we are
stuck in the technological void of not being able to make use of these state of
the art upgrades with our outdated computers.
The total cost of the project is an estimated $200,000. We welcome any
donation. The average cost of a new computer station is $1,300. If you are
interested in participating please contact me directly at [email protected]
The corporate donation letter and a tour of our computer labs is available
at: www.svms.srvusd.k12.ca.us
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Serving Contra Costa and Bay Area for 27 Years
Alamo, Blackhawk, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek
Principal’s Report
By Becky Smith, Monte Vista High Principal
UC Davis Women’s Lacrosse Signs
Senior - Christina Corsa
The UC Davis head women’s lacrosse coach signed
a class of eight prospective student-athletes to National
Letters of Intent during the recent signing period. Senior Christina Corsa was one of them. The program is
completing its four year reclassification to NCAA Division One membership. Corsa is an attacker at MV and led her team with 76
goals and 27 assists in 2006, earning first-team All-East Bay Athletic League
honors. She had captured second-team All-EBAL distinction in 2004. Corsa, a
four-year veteran of NorCal Elite Lacrosse in Berkeley, played for the Pacific
Regional team at the US Lacrosse national tournament and was a candidate for
the U.S. National under-19 squad. She has earned, as a member of the MV lacrosse squad, Team MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards respectively.
Varsity Football Team Recognized by North CoastSection, CIF Scholastic Football 4A East Bay Championship Team Award
The Boys Varsity 4A East Bay Football team has attained the highest goal of
educational athletics, combining outstanding academic performance with interscholastic athletic participation. With the grade point average of 3.10, Monte
Vista student athletes have earned the North Coast Section Boys Scholastic
Football 4A East Bay Championship Team Award for fall, 2006. This award is
presented to the top three NCS varsity teams in each division or classification in
each sport with the highest composite GPA of 3.0 or above. Recognizing that
there are 171 schools in the NCS, this is an outstanding achievement.
Four Students Selected for Contra Costa County Honor Band
Congratulations to the following students for their selection to the 2007 Contra
Costa County Honor Band. They are: Lisa Miyamoto, Michael Chen, and Jennifer
Larsen (clarinet) and Elizabeth Fay (tenor saxophone).
All-America Soccer Team Selects Junior, Courtney Jones
Junior soccer stand-out Courtney Jones was named to the 2006 National Soccer
Coaches Association of America Secondary School Girls All-America Soccer Team.
Only 78 girls in the nation made the team. Only 14 juniors were selected.
MV Speakers Win at Second League Events Tournament
The Monte Vista High School Speech Team attended the Second League Events
Tournament of the year at Pinole Valley High School. Three hundred students from
sixteen Bay Area schools completed at the tournament. Junior Addison Heimann led
the team with a 1st Place finish in varsity humorous interpretation. Senior Raj Sidhu
continued his winning ways by capturing 2nd in varsity foreign extemporaneous speaking
while junior Tira Johnson finished 2nd in varsity dramatic interpretation. The Mustangs entered 37 students in the tournament and 23 advanced to finals and came home
with awards. Varsity winners were: Addison Heimann (1st place- Humorous Interp);
Jeffrey Chen (3rd place- Humorous Interp); Tira Johnson (2nd place-Dramatic Interp);
Raj Sidhu (2nd place- Foreign Extemp); Shahryar Abbasi (Finalist-Foreign Extemp);
Hinh Tran (Finalist- Foreign Extemp); Hao Tran (Finalist- Foreign Extemp); Armand
Domalewski (3rd Place- National Extemp) and Kelsey Negherbon (3rd Place- Original
Advocacy). First place- junior varsity winners were: Michelle Lee- Dramatic Interpretation and Travis Bailey – Foreign Extemp.
Columbia University Picks Softball Pitcher Maggie Johnson
Monte Vista High School softball pitcher senior, Maggie Johnson received
a formal acceptance letter to attend and play softball for Columbia University in New York, N.Y. in the Fall of 2007. Maggie, an academically strong
student with a 4.16 GPA, is thrilled to be heading to the east coast and looks
forward to the opportunity presented by such a prestigious school as Columbia University to participate in their athletic and academic programs.
Van Muijen and Whalen Nominated to National Football
Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Program
Seniors Brook Van Muijen and Ryan Whalen have been nominated as
Scholar-Athletes in the Northern California National Football Foundation
and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete program. This nomination is an
indication of the high regard Coach Bergman has for these two football players
both as athletes and scholars.
Asian House
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3162 - C2 Danville Blvd., Alamo
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(925) 837-8298
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Saturday 4:30pm - 9:00pm
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ouse
H
n
a
Asi
y
r
T
1
Bond, James Bond
2
By Sarah Alvarez
3
ACROSS
4
1
3
4
6
9
10
11
12
14
16
18
19
20
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
New movie (two words)
Bond's occupation
Never say _____ again
JB movie: Au + digit
James Bond "M" actress
Fourth Bond actor
First JB movie (two words)
Third Bond actor
"Yeah Baby" Bond spoofer (two words)
Fifth Bond actor
First Bond Girl Honey _____
A ____ to a kill
Second Bond actor
DOWN
13
14
1 New Bond actor
2 Author ___ Fleming
3 Martini preference
5 These are "forever"
7 Hat throwing Bond villian
8 "Q" makes these for Bond
12 "Live and Let Die" composer
13 First Bond actor
14 Classic Bond car _____ Martin
15 M's secretary Money_____
16 Thunder____
17 Bond's f irst military branch
15
16
18
17
19
20
Answers on page 24
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How to Select Your Eyewear . . .
By Anna Fuentes, A.B.O. Certified, Art and
Science of Eyewear
Selecting your eyewear can be an enjoyable experience
when you partner with a well-qualified and experienced
optician. Perfect eyewear should support your lifestyle and
complement your personality.
To Start . . .
Begin with a visit to your eye doctor who will examine
your vision and screen you for eye diseases. An annual eye exam is recommended,
especially if you have a family history of eye problems.
Frames For Your Lifestyle. . .
Executive, fashion focused, sports enthusiast – whatever your image, your frame
can dramatically reflect your personality. It is important to be exposed to a wide
selection of frames.
The shape of your face is a consideration in the selection of the perfect frame.
Other factors also come into play; comfort, style, lifestyle, and your doctor’s prescription all should be considered.
Start by trying on all different shapes, colors and styles of frames. Stretch yourself
– if you are presently wearing a metal frame then try a colorful plastic one. Check out
the virtually invisible rimless or a 22 carat gold frame with rubies or diamonds. Each
will give a distinctive look and feeling.
Working with your professional optician, narrow down your selection to the frames
that are best suited to your life activities; office or hobbies, evening wear or fun! Your
optician will steer you away from the definite “no’s”.
Consider opportunities to enhance your best facial qualities like eye color or skin
tone and stay away from frames that do not flatter you. For example, if your face is
round, selecting a round frame shape will exaggerate this feature.
Lenses Customized For You . . .
Progressives, Polarized, Photochromic — which is best for me?
Progressives, sometimes called no-line bifocals, are excellent solutions for individuals who have trouble reading that fine print in a favorite magazine or for those
who have to reach for the candle to read the restaurant menu. Progressive lenses
provide power for distance, then move down into intermediate vision and settle into a
reading area – all in one seamless visual transition and with no visible lens lines.
Advances in technology have developed thinner and lighter lenses. And now, there
are many more lens manufacturers, offering a variety of lens choices.
Proper lens measurements and correct eye positioning within the selected frame
are essential to get the best vision results. Expect that you may need an adjustment
period, especially if you are a first time wearer of progressive lenses.
What about lens coatings and finishing?
At a minimum your lenses should have a layer of hard-coat to minimize scratching.
No lenses are scratch proof but with a hard-coat layer your lenses will resist scratches
from normal use.
In addition, an ultraviolet treatment applied to the lens surface will protect your
eyes from harmful radiation. Just like your skin, your eyes need protection from the
sun. Overexposure to UV light can accelerate the development of cataracts, or lead to
retinal damage and other severe eye conditions.
Also, anti-reflective finishes increase light transmission allowing you to see more
clearly. Reflection from artificial light and ghost images can be eliminated. They
dramatically reduce the nighttime glare from oncoming car headlights and allow your
eyes to be seen better.
Additional options would be polarizing, photochromic darkening, mirror coatings, gradient tinting and edge-polishing.
Polarized lenses eliminate glare and enhance visual acuity. While driving or on the
water, a polarized lens will cut out the glare.
Photochromic lenses turn darker when outside and lighten indoors.
Mirror coatings sometimes called “flash” coats are strictly cosmetic and are available in a variety of colors to match the wearer’s mood or attitude.
Gradient lens tinting can also be done at various percentages of color – yellows,
pinks, blues, oranges, etc. As with mirror coatings, lens tinting is primarily cosmetic.
Finally, it is possible to finish your lenses with a bevel and high polish lens edges to
minimize the appearance of thicker lenses when you require a strong prescription
correction. Your qualified optician is your best resource to help make all of these
custom lens finishing decisions.
Anna can be reached at Art and Science of Eyewear, La Fiesta Square, 3547B Mt.
Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, 925-283-2244.
Fundraiser - continued from front page
reaching her goal.
Mercedes noted, that one of the best parts of the event was going
out and talking about her project to local people in the community.
She said, “I got such a great response- it seemed like everyone wanted
to help in some way or another. The hardest part was
trying to find a day without rain.” On the day of the
ride ten riders came together and set out from
Summit Ranch to ride on
Mt. Diablo.
The girls collected a
little over $1,000. They
plan to present the funds,
along with a card and pictures, to a local representative of St. Jude’s Children’s
Hospital. Donations are
still welcome. If you would
like to contribute, please
make checks out to St.
Jude Children’s Hospital,
and mail them to: Mercedes
Antonini, PO Box 2921
Morgan Ramos helps out and participates in the
Danville, CA 94526.
Trail Ride fundraiser
Bistro
Comfort Food Served in a
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Why Cook At Home?
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• Dine In
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Dinner
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5:00-9:30 Fri & Sat
115-A Alamo Plaza, Alamo
925-855-9000
The Alamo Improvement Association greets you in the New Year with SCENES OF ALAMO.
Our thanks to AIA Board members Joe Bologna and Steve Mick for the photographs.
Cherubini, a downtown Alamo coffee house
with a previous life as Alamo Lumber.
The horse atop the building adjacent
to historic Alamo Hay and Grain at
the Stone Valley/Danville Boulevard
intersection in downtown Alamo.
The entrance to Hap Magee Park, which serves both Alamo
and Danville and is represented on Contra Costa County
government by an appointed advisory committee of residents
of both communities.
The entry to Monte Vista High School on
Stone Valley Road which, along with San
Ramon Valley High School on Danville
Boulevard, serves Alamo public school
students.
Stone Valley Road and Danville Boulevard.
Alamo Hay and Grain, one of Alamo’s oldest existing
downtown businesses.
Alamo residents collect donations at
Alamo Plaza for US troops in Iraq.
Happy beneficiaries of Alamo caring in Iraq.
The volunteers of the Alamo Improvement Association wish you health and happiness in 2007.
For more information about AIA, visit our web site at www.alamoca.org.
What Affects Your Interest Rate?
By Chris McCartney, Lamorinda Funding Group
This month’s article is devoted to explaining the various
factors that affect your mortgage rate. Some are obvious
and some not but the more you know about exactly what
factors impact your rate, the better off you’ll be.
Credit – Perhaps the most obvious factor is your credit
score. What is not obvious, however, is the type of score.
Lenders only care about your FICO score (i.e. your score
as calculated by the proprietary algorithm of Fair Isaacs &
Co.). Many web-based credit firms provide scores that use other algorithms.
Documentation Type – All mortgage applications are submitted to the lender
using a particular Documentation Type (e.g. Doc Type). Doc Types specify what types
of documents are required to qualify for various loans. Perhaps the most common
Doc Type is called Full Doc. In this mode, the borrower provides all income and assetrelated documents necessary to qualify for the loan. Full Doc loans typically get the
lowest interest rates. Many borrowers, however, cannot qualify as Full Doc applicants
perhaps because their income is heavily dependant on commissions or bonuses. For
these borrowers, lenders allow a Doc Type called “Stated Income.” With this Doc
Type, the borrower simply states what they anticipate they will earn but does not
provide any proof to document that amount. Since there is more risk with this type of
applicant, the rates for Stated Income applicants are slightly higher than for Full Doc
applicants. There are other Doc Types used in the mortgage world – too many to be
discussed here. Suffice it to say that the Doc Type used is an extremely important
aspect of what interest rate you end up getting.
Property Usage – In the eyes of a residential lender, there are three types of properties: Primary Residences (which get the best rates), Second Homes (which get the
next best rates), and Investment Properties (which get the highest rates).
LTV – Loan-to-Value is the ratio of your first mortgage and your property value.
For example, a $700K loan on a $1 Million property has an LTV of 70%. The higher
the LTV the higher the risk for the lender and therefore, the higher the interest rate.
CLTV – Combined-Loan-to-Value is the ratio of all your mortgage debt com-
pared to your property value. If you do not have a second mortgage, then your CLTV
equals your LTV. If you do have a second mortgage, then your CLTV equals the ratio
of your first mortgage amount plus your second mortgage amount and your property
value. Again, the lower your CLTV, the better interest the interest rates.
Property Type – Lenders prefer Single Family, detached homes. Other types of
properties such as Condos, Duplexes, tri-plexes and four-plexes often will be charged
a higher rate. Furthermore, condos with 2 or less stories often get better rates than
condos with more than 2 stories.
Loan Purpose – Lenders categorize all residential mortgages into three types:
Purchases, Rate & Term Refinances (where only the current debt plus the cost of the
loan is financed), and Cash-Out Refinances (where the borrower accesses some amount
of equity from the property). Purchase loans typically get the lowest rates and CashOut Refinances typically have the highest rates. The spread between the two could
range from 0.125% to 0.500%, or more!
Lock Duration – Most lenders offer a standard 28, 30 or 35 day lock time. If
however, a borrower can move more quickly, then their Mortgage Broker would have
the option of using a 12 or 15 day lock, which can typically reduce their interest rate by
about 0.125%. If a borrower knows that they’ll be getting a new mortgage, it is in their
best interest to get everything back to their Broker or Lender as soon as possible.
Impounds – “Impounds” is a common term used when the lender 1) charges an
extra 1/12th of your property tax and home owners insurance bills and, 2) pays these
bills directly. Many borrowers like impounds because they do not have to come up
with the occasional lump sum payments to pay both their property taxes and insurance. From an interest rate point of view, however, lenders have determined that borrowers that opt for impounds with their loan represent a lower risk, in general, then
borrowers who do not want point, impounds. So, most lenders charge some type of
penalty for borrowers that do not want impounds. This penalty ranges from 1/16 to
3/8 of a point higher interest rate but the most common is 1/8 (0.125%) higher.
Points – Points can be paid to buy down the interest rate. Basically, the more Points
paid, the lower the rate will be.
If you have questions on any mortgage-related issue, please contact me at
[email protected], or at 925-913-0711.
June Engle MD, MS ~ Aesthetics Medicine
Dr Engle is pleased to announce the relocation of her medical practice to Alamo. Join us in our
expanded and beautiful new location, downtown in the Alamo Commons building.
925.831.1324
Our Services Include:
• TitanTM - a skin tightening procedure for face, arms and abs
• Laser Photo Rejuvenation - Photofacials and treatment of age spots and broken capillaries
• Laser Hair Reduction • BotoxTM • RestylaneTM - a filler for wrinkles
• Physician Strength Peels • Microdermabrasions
• EndermologieTM for the treatment of cellulite • Esthetician Facials
• Permanent Make Up • Physician Strength Cosmeceuticals - (Including Obaji,
Skin Medica, Prevage, and Vitamin C serums for sun damage.)
Top row - Karen Powell - Cosmetic Consultant, Kristin Harris - Office
Administrator Bottom row - Elena Bentchev - Laser RN, Dr June Engle
- MD, Maureen Barrett - RN Restylane & Permanent Make-up
Monthly Special
Receive $150 OFF a package of 3 Titan Skin Tightening procedures.
Purchase a Chemical Peel or Microdermabrasion package and get
20% OFF the package price.
Take 20% OFF any Obaji product.
Join us for our Open House
Thursday January 18th from 5-7pm
Door Prizes, Food and Drinks
Alamo Commons Building
3201 Danville Blvd #155
Alamo, CA 94507
www.lasersolutionsmd.com
Dr. Engle has been in medical practice for 21 years. She is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine and holds a Masters
of Science Degree from Cornell University. She is a resident of Alamo, (“it’s great to be so close to my practice; I can even take the
Iron Horse trail to work”) wife, and mother of 2 boys and 4 stepchildren.
Page 16- January 2007
www.
The Combs Team
.com
ProfessionalsYou Can
Count On!
925-989-6086
Nancy P. Combs
Visit www.thecombsteam.com
The Alamo Danville Condo Market Dead or Alive!
During a recent Holiday Party a young couple who are facing difficulty in selling their Alamo Condo asked us if the market for condos in this area is falling apart.
The question was a good one so we thought we would take a look at the market for
Condos and Town Homes in Danville and Alamo and try to get a sense for what is
really happening.
Taking a look at the Condo market as it stands today (Dec. 20th 2006) we find 34
properties on the market. The average list price for these homes is $582,121 and
they carry an average square foot price of $430. As of Dec. 20th there are 17 Condos
Pending Sale. Their Average list Price is $594,714 and they carry a list sq. ft. price
of $407. We cannot know the actual sale price, but from experience we can surmise
that is somewhat less. The highest priced town home currently on the market is
listed at $794,000 and the lowest price in these data is $399,988. Among the 17 properties currently pending sale the highest price is $735,000 and the lowest is $535,950.
Looking at a year to date comparison (Jan.1-Dec. 20) we can see that 189 condos
sold in 2005 and 135 Condos have sold in the same time period during 2006. This is
29% decrease in unit sales year on year. Average sold price in 2005 was $629,392
compared to $622,639 in 2006. Unit sales are down and average selling price has
decreased by 1% Price per square foot paid for Alamo homes year to date has risen
from $420 in 2005 to $431 in 2006, a gain of 2.4% on a square foot basis.
During the first quarter of 2005, 39 Alamo/Danville Condos sold. This compares to 33 Condo sales in the same time period in 2006. This represents a unit sales
drop of 15%. Average sold price in Q1 2005 was $604,074 whereas the selling price
in 2006 was slightly .05% higher at $607,298. Price per square foot during the first
quarter in 2005 was $387 compared to $427 in 2006 reflecting a 10% increase in
price per square foot in the first quarter of the New Year. Not surprisingly, days on
Joe Combs
market more than doubled from 9 to 19.
The second quarter in 2005 saw 52 Condo sales while the second quarter in
2006 decreased modestly to 50 sales for a 4% decrease in units sold. During the
second quarter of 2005, average sales price was $663,879. Average Sales price in
Q2 2006 dipped to $650,377 or stated more simply the quarter on quarter comparison shows a 2% decrease in average selling price for Condos and Town Homes in
Danville and Alamo. Per square foot price jumped 5.6% from $413 in 2005 2nd
quarter to $436 in 2006. .
Third quarter sales for 2005 were 61 properties sold compared to 29 sales in
2006. That’s a very significant decline of nearly 52% quarter on quarter. Average
selling price in Q3 ‘05 was $619,427 while average selling price in Q3 2006 dipped
to $611,820 a decrease of about 1%. Median price also declined 1% from $625,000
compared to $620,000. On a price per square foot basis Q3 ‘06 prices increased
ever so slightly from $437 in’05 to $440 in Q3 ‘06.
Preliminary 4th quarter data through December 20th suggests a pronounced softening in the market. Unit sales have declined from 37 to 23 a 38% drop quarter on
quarter. Average selling price Q4 ’05 was $624,044 compared to $597,991 in ’06,
reflecting a hefty price decline of 4.2%. Price per square foot declined nearly 5%
as well from $434 to $414. While it may be too early to pronounce the Condo
Market dead, it isn’t premature to suggest that it is ailing a bit.
If you would like receive our quarterly Alamo Property Analysis including the
detail please send an email to [email protected] and
include Alamo market in the subject line. Please visit our web site
www.thecombsteam.com to view properties for sale.
ACCORD
Happy New Year!
Alamo Sold!
Alamo White Gate 4 Bed 2.5 Bath,
$1,099,000
Walnut Creek Duplex 3 Beds 2 Baths
each side $900,000
Alamo Sold
San Ramon Sale Pending
Diablo Building Lot, 1.6 Acres
Magnificent Views. $1,500,000
5 Bedrooms plus Den and Family, Living and
Dining Rooms, 3 Baths. Pool and Spa
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, Remax and the MLS service do
not guarantee the accuracy of this information.
Remax Accord 313 Sycamore Valley Road West, Danville CA. 94526
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during the past 23 years!
From the Richards’ Staff!
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Alamo Parks & Recreation Alamo Activities Guide Winter 2007
Welcome to the Winter 2007 Alamo Activities Guide. Below are the course listings and class descriptions for this session.
You may also visit www.alamore.org for the complete Guide and printable registration form.
If you are an Alamo resident in the County Service Area R-7A, you will enjoy a 50% reduction of the class fee as the rest of the
program costs are being supplemented by your Parks & Recreation tax dollars from the R-7A Special Tax District.
IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN THE R-7A TAX DISTRICT (this includes Round Hill Country Club residents), PLEASE PAY THE NON-RESIDENT RATE.
To register, simply fill out the registration form and mail it, along with your check made payable to Contra Costa County, to Alamo Parks & Recreation, 3000F Danville
Blvd., #386, Alamo, CA 94507. Please call (925) 451-9176 or email [email protected] with any questions. Thank you for your participation. Enjoy!
Tiny Tots
Preschool Spanish
Participant’s Age: 3-5
Date(s): Session I: Mondays, January 22February 26 (no class on 2/19) (5 classes)
Session II: Mondays, March 5-26 (4 classes)
Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m. — Location: Hap Magee
Ranch Park, Magee House
Cost: Session I: $74 resident; $149 non-resident
Session II: $59 resident; $119 non-resident
$10 Materials fee payable to the instructor on the first
day of class.
Instructor: Francisca Bustos, A+ Spanish Academy
This preschool program is designed for 3-5 year olds.
The curriculum consists on learning language time
(vocabulary words), exercise time (command words,
i.e. down, jump, etc.), hands on activities (puzzles,
books, etc.), songs (singing & playing instruments);
family members, and much more.
Boogie with Your Baby
Participant’s Age: 19-30 months
Date(s): Tuesdays, January 23-March 13 - 8 classes
Time: 9:30-10:15 a.m. - Location: Hap Magee
Ranch Park, Swain House
Cost: $42 resident; $84 non-resident
Instructor: Castro Valley Performing Arts
Join the fun as you and your baby “boogie” to their
favorite nursery songs. Hop, jump, and dance with
scarves, beanbags, parachutes and more. This
class encourages imagination and creativity and
is lots and lots of fun for everyone. Parent participation is required.
Twist and Shout
Participant’s Age: 2.5-4 years
This class encourages creativity and imagination
as children and parents twist and shout to some of
their favorite preschool songs. Students explore
dance and movement through use of beanbags,
scarves, balls, parachutes, and more. This class is
designed to enhance basic motor skills and introduce students to a classroom environment. Parent participation is required. Join the fun and prepare to boogie with your favorite tot!
Parent and Me Gymnastics
Fitness and Fun Preschool P.E. Classes
Participant’s Age: 18-23 months
Date(s): Thursdays, February 1-March 8 - 6 classes
Time: 8:45-9:30 a.m. - Location: TBA
Instructor: California Gymnastic Services
This popular class, designed for parents and toddlers,
will enhance your child’s motor development and confidence. Emphasis is placed on movement, rolling,
climbing, handing and jumping. Equipment incorporated into the class includes gymnastic mats, single bars,
double bars, balance beams, vaulting blocks, incline and
barrel mats, ladders, bouncers and spring board, parachutes, rhythm sticks, tunnels, and various other equipment. Music games and group activities are incorporated into the class. Children learn in a fun and social
environment. Parent Participation is required.
Participant’s Age: 3-5 years
Each week, kids will experience different games and
activities that emphasis fitness, coordination, and
cooperation. The games and activities focus on body
and space awareness, balancing, jumping, throwing
and catching, hand-eye coordination, locomotor
skills, strength, flexibility, gross motor skills, and
group activities that help develop cooperative learning. Activities include ball games, kids aerobics, circuits, gymnastics, dance, parachute games, soccer/
kicking games, and indoor scooters. Children learn
in a fun and social environment and at their own pace.
Tiny Tumblers
Participant’s Age: 3 years
This class is designed to enhance your child’s motor
development skills, balance, coordination, and confidence. Emphasis is placed on developing beginning
gymnastic skills in a fun and social environment and
also introducing children to learn to participate in a structured class without their parents. Equipment incorporated into the class includes gymnastic mats, single bars,
double bars, balance beams, vaulting blocks, incline and
barrel mats, ladders, bouncers and spring board, parachutes, rhythm sticks, tunnels, and various other equipment. Music games and group activities are incorporated into the class. No jeans or dresses please.
Preschool Gymnastics
This class teaches beginning gymnastics and tumbling skills. Students will flip over the opportunity
to learn the basics of all gymnastic events, as well as
additional skills to enhance strength, coordination,
agility, and confidence. Equipment incorporated into
the class includes gymnastic mats, single bars, double
bars, balance beams, vaulting blocks, incline and
barrel mats, ladders, bouncers and spring board, parachutes, rhythm sticks, tunnels, and various other
equipment. No jeans or dresses please.
Children/Youth/Teens
School Age Gymnastics
Participant’s Age: 5.5-8 years
Time: 4:45-5:45 p.m. - Location: TBA
This class teaches beginning and intermediate gymnastics and tumbling skills and is designed to develop strength, flexibility, agility, and confidence in
a fun, non-competitive environment. Students learn
the basics of all gymnastic events including tumbling, vaulting skills, bars and balance beams. Students are also introduced to strength and flexibility
exercises with fun and challenging games. Equipment incorporated into the class includes gymnastic
mats, single bars, double bars, balance beams, vaulting blocks, incline and barrel mats, ladders, bouncers and spring board, parachutes, and various other
equipment. No jeans or dresses please.
Let’s Hear It for Cheerleading
Date(s): Wednesdays, January 24-March 14 - 8 classes
Time: 5:00-6:00 p.m. - Location: Hap Magee
Cost: $34 resident; $67 non-resident (a $13 fee will be
collected by the instructor at the first class for poms)
Have you always wanted to be a cheerleader? Now you
can!!! This class will introduce the fundamentals of
cheerleading. Learn sideline cheers, jumps, kicks, turns,
and dance routines. Invite your friends and family as
you cheer for your “last class team performance.”
Hip-Hop classes are for those students who want to have
some serious fun while learning all the latest “moves.”
Dress in comfortable clothing.Yoga is conducted in bare
feet and is best on an empty stomach.
Hip-Hop for Youth
Pilates on a Roll
Do you want to dance like your favorite Hip-Hop
video artists? Hip-Hop is a fast moving street style
of dance made popular by music videos. Classes will
help the dancer loosen up, gain rhythm, and have
controlled isolated movements. Hip-Hop classes are
for those students who want to have some serious
fun while learning all the latest “moves.”
Participant’s Age: 18+
Date(s): Tuesdays, January 23-February 27 - 6 classes
Instructor: Connie English
Using the flexband for strength training and the roller
for balance and self-massage, this class offers a complete body tune up! If you have not experience all of the
benefits of the foam roller and flexband, here is your
chance. This is the most complete system you will ever
need to to gain strength, posture, flexibility and body
awareness under the direction of your experienced and
certified instructor, Connie English. Expect to pay approx
$20 for a foam roller. Instructor sells flexbands for $5.
Blue Angels Youth Ski & Snowboard
Program
Babysitting for Beginners
Date: Saturday, March 10 - 1 class
Time: 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. - Location: Hap Magee
Instructor: Suzy McCreary
Learn the skills needed to be a trusted and responsible babysitter. This class will cover child development, safety, bedtime strategies, and ways to make
babysitting fun for you and the kids. Participants
will also learn what to do in an emergency. Students
should dress to play and bring lunch.
Pre-Ballet
Aspiring young dancers learn basic ballet positions as
well as simple exercise combinations to increase coordination, flexibility, musicality, and grace. Students are
encouraged to use their creativity as they experience the
joy of interpretive dance to classical music. Leotards,
tights, and soft ballet slippers are required.
Hip-Hop for Kids
Date(s): Tuesdays, January 23-March 13 - Hap
Magee Ranch Park, Swain House
Young dancers have fun learning their favorite upbeat
dance moves to the latest music. Hip-Hop is a fast moving street style of dance made popular by music videos.
Date(s): Saturdays, January 20-February 24, 2007
(excluding 2/17) – 5 classes
Time: 6:00 a.m.-7:45 p.m. — Location: Sierra
at Tahoe Ski Resort
Instructor: Blue Angels Youth Ski & Snowboard
Program
In its 15th season, the Blue Angels provide youth, ages
7-16, an opportunity to ski or snowboard the local mountains with their friends and other snow sport enthusiasts.
The five Saturday coaching program is geared towards
everyone from first timers to experts and includes five
full days of coaching taught by professional resort instructors, five Saturdays of lift tickets, luxury bus transportation to Sierra at Tahoe Resort, all day adult supervision, lunch, a Pro-Tec helmet, sponsor bag, and rental
discounts at select sports shops. The Blue Angels provide a learning environment that fosters athletic skills,
independence, and self esteem. Before the start of the
program, there will be a mandatory parent meeting.
Please visit the web site www.BlueAngelSnow.com for
more program information.
Fitness
Hatha Yoga for All Levels
Date(s): Sundays, January 21, 28, Feb 4, 11,
March 4, 11, 25 - 7 classes
Time: 7:30-8:30 p.m. — Location: Hap Magee
Instructor: Lorey Wallace, Yoga Light Center
Create a more peaceful mind and a stronger more flexible body.Yoga can assist in building balance, coordination, and energy flow.Yoga movement releases stiffness
from the body, and meditation clears the mind. Yoga
and meditation reduces stress and blood pressure, building the energetic pathways between breath, movement
and spirit. The aim ofYoga is to reestablish the condition
of health and wholeness. This is a multilevel Yoga class.
Please brink a thick blanket and a sticky mat to class.
Tai Chi Chuan
Date(s): Mondays, January 27-March 26 (no class
on Presidents’ Day, 2/19) - 8 classes
Instructor: Douglas Henry
Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient martial arts form, that
combines the very best of Tuina (Chinese Yoga) with
classical Chinese boxing and meditation. Tai Chi is
suitable for all ages, body types, and fitness levels.
Far more than a set of calisthenics, Tai Chi is a mental as well as a physical discipline. Benefits include
stress reduction, relaxation, muscle/bone alignment,
movement therapy, internal massage, and in the long
term, powerful self-defense. Style offered is the 24
Yang. Requirements: loose clothing and comfortable
shoes (flats, or sneakers are fine)
Adult Dance
Belly Dance 1
Date(s): Wednesdays, January 24-February 24 – 5 classes
Wednesdays, February 28-March 28 – 5 classes
Cost: $42 resident fee; $84 non-resident fee
Instructor: Yosifah Rose
Ladies, strengthen your core muscles and improve
your posture as you belly dance and shimmy your
way to increased fitness and joy! Learn the basic
muscle-based isolations, steps, and movements of
Raqs Sharqi, commonly known in the USA as
“belly dance” with Yosifah Rose! In this class you
will also learn some of the basic Middle Eastern
rhythms commonly used in Raqs Sharqi music and
learn to dance with a silk veil. Optional belly dancing haflas (parties) every session with student performance opportunities.
Supplies needed: optional dance supplies (finger
cymbals and hand-dyed silk veils) available for
purchase in class. Sweat or jazz pants and close
fitting shirt or sports top. Soft leather-soled shoes
recommended (jazz or ballet practice shoes), no
rubber soles or bare feet.
Hip-Hop for Adults
Participant’s Age: 12-Adult
Would you like to learn the latest street-type style of
dance made popular by music videos? Join this energizing and electrifying dance class and get ready to loosen
up and have some fun!! Improve your strength and agility
while exercising your mind and body!
Parent Education
Use what you already have! Learn what the professionals already know: how to identify the focal point, furniture placement for flow comfort and how to create harmony, warmth, balance, decorating tips, and more.
Clear and Simple Organizing
Date: Wednesday, January 24 - 1 class
Ranch Park, The Cottage
Cost: $15 resident, $30 non-resident
Instructor: Gloria Bullock, Professional Organizer
Clutter getting out of hand? Can’t find anything?
Don’t have enough time for the important things
in life? This is your class! Learn a simple strategy of organizing that works anywhere from home
to business. Create a plan for your next organizing project tailored to your needs and goals.
or paint pencils, photos of scenes that you would
like to paint, and appropriate painting clothes.
Creative Floral Design
Date(s): Tuesdays, February 6-27 - 4 classes
Ranch Park, The Cottage
Cost: $39 resident, $78 non-resident
Instructor: Najat Nicola
This program is designed for people who would like
to learn the basics of floral design. The instructor
will demonstrate three arrangements during the first
class, and the students will work on one arrangement per class for the next three weeks. Students
will learn how to pick and condition their flowers
and create arrangements for many occasions.
New and Expectant Parent Sleep Workshop
Participant’s Age: Parents with babies up to one
year of age
Date(s): Saturday, February 3 - 1 class
Time: 10:00 a.m.-Noon - Location: Hap Magee
Instructor: Karen Pollak
Make the dream of a good night’s sleep come true with
this helpful class by Karen Pollak, Founder of
Babies2Sleep. Karen will guide you through a variety
of techniques to help you establish great sleeping habits
for your children from the start. Parents will learn to
understand their baby’s cues to improve not only their
night sleep, but their days as well. For over five years,
she’s been helping parents help their babies sleep through
her workshop programs and private consultations.
Twins! Surviving With Infants the
First Six Months
Participant’s Age: Parents with babies up to 6
months of age
Date(s): Saturday, February 17 - 1 class
Time: 10:00 a.m.-Noon - Location: Hap Magee
Instructor: Karen Pollak
Got twins? Join multiples educator and DoubleTalk
founder Karen Pollak as she reveals all you need to know
to survive and thrive in your new role as the proud parent of twins. Learn tips and tricks for scheduling your
twins and creating an effective sleep plan. Find out the
equipment and tools every parent of twins can’t live
without. Hear from someone who’s been there and done
that and meet other new parents of twins who are sharing the same challenges and joys as you.
Adult Enrichment
Interior Redesign – No Cost Decorating
Date: Tuesday, January 30 - 1 class
Organizing Your Piles of Photos
Date(s): Saturday, March 3 - 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- 1 class
Saturday, March 24 - 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - 1 class
Location: Hap Magee Ranch Park, The Cottage
Additional Lab Fee (collected by the instructor): $35
Instructor: Carole MacLean
Do you have piles and piles of photographs that need to
be organized? Then this 3-hour workshop is for you!
Bring your bags, boxes, bins and envelopes of photos
and spend three hours sorting them into a photo safe
box that will preserve them safely for generations to
come. What relief you’ll feel having all your memories
safely stored in one place! Carole MacLean has been
teaching photo organization classes for over 10 years
and will share tips for organizing your photos, sharing
your precious stories, and getting your photos into albums. A $35.00 materials fee will be collected by the
instructor for the photo safe box that holds 2400 photos
up to 5x7 in size.
Arts and Crafts
Beginning Plein-Air Painting
Date: Wednesdays, January 31-March 7 - 6 classes
Instructor: Ron Moore
Have you ever wanted to stop along the road and
paint but didn’t know how? Please join me in
learning some simple on-site techniques and have
fun painting in nature! With so many beautiful
vistas in the Bay Area, and beyond, there are unlimited opportunities to travel and paint in gorgeous surroundings. We will start in the classroom with the basics, then work our way outdoors.
Students need to bring an 8 ½ x 11" drawing/
sketch/paint pad, brushes, disposable paint mixing palette, basic water based acrylic paints and/
Mosaic Glass Mirror
Date(s): Thursdays, February 8 & 15 - 2 classes
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m. (2/8) and 6:00-8:00 p.m. (2/15)
Location: Hap Magee Ranch Park, Magee House
Cost: $48 resident, $96 non-resident (a $75 materials & tools fee will be due to the instructor on
the 1st day of the class)
Learn the art of mosaics using assorted colored
glass, beads and more. During the class, students
will design & create a mosaic-bordered mirror.
The techniques students learn can be transferred
to all kinds of “functional art” such as tables, vases,
and candle holders. All materials and tools are
yours to keep so you can create more art long after the class. Wear project clothing. Class size limited, early enrollment encouraged.
Unfolding Creativity
Date(s): Mondays, March 12, 19 & 26 - 3 classes
Time: 10:00 a.m.-Noon (March 12 & 19); 10:001:00) March 26
Location: Hap Magee Ranch Park, Swain House
Cost: $30 resident, $60 non-resident (an $8 dollar materials fee will be due to the instructor on
the 1st day of the class)
Instructor: Reiko Fujii
Watching your creativity unfold through the playful process of learning and experimenting with art techniques
is one of the joys of life. Collage, photo transfer and
painting techniques will be presented to inspire the creative mind. Participants will learn how to produce handmade books and artist cards as part of the creative adventure. Prior art experience is not necessary. (A list of
required basic tools will be sent at time of registration.)
Health and Wellbeing
min supplements or why take a food supplement
rather than a multivitamin? In this class we will
learn about the functions of basic vitamins, minerals and herbs. We will also perform a personal
nutritional assessment so we can better assess our
specific vitamin, mineral and herbal requirements
and how best to fulfill them.
Heartsaver First Aid and CPR
Diets: Facts and Fantasies
Date(s): Thursday, February 15 - 1 class
Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $15 resident, $30 non-resident (a $3 materials fee
will be due to the instructor on the 1st day of the class)
Instructor: Dr. Robin Polokoff
Do you want to lose weight but are confused about
which diet plan to choose? In this class, we will
learn about the most current and popular weight loss
strategies, including Weight Watchers
Jenny Craig, Low fat(AHA diet), Zone, Atkins, South
Beach, and China Study, and understand what makes
them work or fail. This course will teach you how to
identify which dietary plans are the safest and most
effective, specifically for your weight loss goals.
UnderstandingVitamins, Minerals and Herbs
Date(s): Thursdays, March 8 & 15 - 2 classes
Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $18 resident, $36 non-resident (a $10 materials fee will be due to the instructor on the 1st
day of the class)
Instructor: Dr. Robin Polokoff
Have you ever wondered what’s inside your vita-
Date(s)/Time(s): Sunday, January 28 - 1:00-5:00
p.m.- 1 class
Sunday, March 4 - 1:00-5:00 p.m.- 1 class
Location: Hap Magee Ranch Park, Swain House
$16 Materials fee payable to the instuctor on the
first day of class.
Instructor: Rebecca Fontaine, Fontaine Fire
The American Heart Association (AHA)
Heartsaver Program is designed for the non-health
care professional who requires certification in
CPR/First Aid. Students will learn and be certified in basic life support CPR and adult first aid.
This course is designed for the teacher, coach,
nanny, life guard, camp counselor, office safety
worker, and others who may be required by their
employer to perform rescue at their work site.
Certification is valid for two years.
Financial Workshops
Organizing Your Financial Life
Date(s)/Time(s): Tuesday, February 6 - 1 class 7:00-8:30pm
Instructor: Cheryl Smith, Financial Advisor
Clutter leads to more clutter, whether it’s in our
files, our closets, or our heads! Start the year
by reducing clutter and stress and regain control over your finances. With financial chaos,
we end up paying late fees, stressing to find an
important document, etc. A filing system will
be presented and pre-labeled files will be provided. You will walk away from this seminar
organized and updated and with answers to such
important questions as: Has your trust been
funded? Have your beneficiaries been appropriately assigned? Does your financial strategy reflect your time horizon? Whether financial organization is on your list or not, you can’t
afford to let this one go!
“Putting It All Together”- A Comprehensive Perspective of Personal PlanningTax, Estate, Insurance, Financial and
Real Estate Planning
Date(s)/Time(s): Wednesdays, January 24 & 31 - 2 class7:00-8:30pm
Instructor: John Mullen, LLC
Estate Planning, Tax Planning, Insurance, Real
Estate and Financial Planning: Each discipline
affects the other—all are intertwined--yet each
is marketed or explained separately. This course
is designed to provide an understanding of each
subject, the interconnectedness of these disciplines, and how one can create and implement
their own personalized comprehensive plan.
Alamo Parks & Recreation Registration Form
Last Name:_______________________________________________ First Name:_______________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________________________________ State: ______ Zip: _____________________
Home/Evening Phone: _______________________________ Work/Daytime Phone:______________________________
Emergency Contact/Relation: _______________________________________ Phone:____________________________
Participant’s Name
Age
Activity Name
Activity Date
Fee
Total Fees Due:
Please write checks payable to Contra Costa County. Mail completed form and payment check to:
Alamo Parks & Recreation • 3000F Danville Blvd., #386 • Alamo, CA 94507
WAIVER AND RELEASE: I hereby release, discharge and agree not to sue Contra Costa County, its employees, officers or agents for any injury, death or damage to or loss of personal property arising out of or in connection
with my participation in the Event or Activity from whatever cause, including the active or passive negligence of Contra Costa County, its employees, officers and agents or any other participants in the Event or Activity. In
consideration for being permitted to participate in the Event or Activity, I hereby agree, for myself, my heirs, administrators, executors and assigns, that I shall indemnify and hold harmless Contra Costa County, its employees,
officers and agents from any and all claims, demands, actions or suits arising out of or in connection with my participation in the Event or Activity. PARENTAL CONSENT SIGNATURE (Required when participant is less than
18 years). As parent/guardian of this minor, permission is hereby granted for him/her to participate in the Event or Activity. My child does not have any physical or medical problems that would prohibit or limit participation in
the Event or Activity. I have reviewed the release and hold harmless agreement and hereby give my consent for him/her to participate in the Event or Activity. I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE, HOLD HARMLESS
AND AGREEMENT NOT TO SUE, AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. I AM AWARE THAT IT IS A FULL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY. I SIGN IT ON MY OWN FREE WILL.
___________________________________________________________ __________________________
Signature
Participant Parent Legal Guardian
Date
Alamo Parks & Recreation • (925) 451-9176 • [email protected]
Page 22- January 2007
Household Dangers
By David Birdsall, Medical Director, John
Muir Concord Campus ER Department
So you think that you have done your job as a parent.
You have warned your kids about talking to strangers. You
have talked to them about the hazards of alcohol, drugs,
and unprotected sex. That should be it, right? Wrong. There
are other dangers out there and they are very close to home.
In fact many of them may be in your home now. I am
referring to the dangerous activities in which kids use household agents to get high.
Kids are curious and experimental by nature. Their behavior is also highly influenced
by their peer group and the need to be accepted. This combination can turn deadly
when we consider the abuse of certain household products
The first dangerous product is probably in your medicine cabinet right now. If it is
not, it doesn’t matter anyone can buy it. It is a common cough suppressant called
Dextromethorphan. This medication, when used in excess can cause the individual to
feel high and drunk. It can be found in many cold medications, but the most popular
formulation is Coricidin. In order to reach the desired altered state, kids will take three
to five times the normal dose which leads them to act drunk, altered, and irrational. I
have personally seen a group of teenagers in my Department who were transferred
from school acting in this manner. It was later discovered that one student brought a
bag full of Coricidin pills and passed them out. While many think that the abuse of this
agent is safe, because it is an over the counter medication, it is not safe. Dextrothorpham
in excess can induce seizures, heart attacks, and deadly arrhythmias. Likewise, the
altered state, as with alcohol, can lead to poor judgment and risk taking behavior.
However, perhaps the greatest risk is due to overdosing on the other substances that
are added to the medication namely aspirin and Tylenol. Overdose on these compounds can lead to liver, kidney, and lung failure, as well as seizures and death.
It is not clear how many kids abuse this agent since the data is not well reported.
However, it is felt by many experts that the use is on the rise, particularly in the 12-20
year old age group. A simple Internet search using keywords such as ‘Robitussin
abuse’, ‘robotrippin’, or ‘Dexing’ will yield helpful information, anecdotal stories of
abuse, as well as instructions on how many pills to take in order to have the desired
effect. Scary.
Another dangerous activity in which kids are engaging is one known as “huffing.
This is where the individual inhales fumes in order to get high. The substances used
for this activity are those products found around the house: glue, keyboard cleaners,
deodorizers, correction fluid, butane, spray paints, and others. While most people
have never heard of this activity, chances are your kids have. A recent study has shown
that 16% of 8th graders have tried some form of “huffing”. Scarily, most kids think
that it is safe, because they are using common everyday household products and that
it is just “compressed air”. This activity is anything but safe. These kids are inhaling
highly toxic substances such as hydrocarbons, nitrates and other propellants that can
stay in their system for weeks. In fact, it is estimated that 22% of kids can die the first
time they do this. The cause of death may be cardiac arrest, suffocation, and even
suicide from a depression that can result from the use of such substances. Those that
don’t die, may be injured in accidents or falls due to their impaired judgment, they
may have long term damage such as memory loss, impaired concentration, hearing
loss, and permanent damage to their heart, lung, liver, kidney and brain. The younger
the brain the more severe and lasting the damage that can result. This is scary stuff.
So how do you know if your kid is “huffing”? Look for the signs. Strange odors
on their body or breath (not the usual teenage smells). Stains on their clothing, sores
on their mouths, complaints of nausea, lack of appetite, weight loss, nervousness,
outbursts of anger, or a drunken, dazed look. Clearly, some of these symptoms occur
in “normal” teenagers (there’s an oxymoron), but they are just things to be aware of.
Also, look at your child’s friends. Almost all abusers do this activity with other kids.
Finally, if you discover that your teenager is “huffing” seek help immediately. A good
website is www.inhalants.org. Your child can’t kick this habit on his/her own. They
need help as the relapse rate is extremely high and the risk of not quitting is too great.
There is no doubt that parenting is a difficult and full time job. We try to educate
and protect our kids while still working and living our own lives. Plus, there are so
many dangers out there. The key, as a parent, is to pay attention to your child. Be
involved in their life. Know their friends and check their computers. The consequences of not doing this are high. Good luck, be safe, or I will see you down the road
at the John Muir Concord Emergency Department.
Br
ain W
ellness L
ectur
e Series at
Brain
Wellness
Lectur
ecture
Alamo Chir
opr
actic Healing Center
opractic
Chiropr
Daniel S. Smith, D
.C. • www.alamochir
opr
actic.com
D.C.
www.alamochiropr
opractic.com
Alamo Chiropractic
Healing Center offers
an integrated
approach to MindBody Transformation.
Enter the doors and
you enter a place of
peace and quiet, a
luxury you well
deserve.
Enjoy a restful space
in time, away from
home, work and the
chaos of the world.
Experience a new
chiropractic approach
that connects your
physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual
needs to bring balance
into your life.
Dr. Daniel Smith, D.C. announces an informative series on the benefits of chiropractic, diet, nutritional
supplementation and lifestyle for brain and central nervous system health. Modern science is demonstrating
dramatic new discoveries about our brain as we age. Every month Dr. Smith will focus on issues of
neurotransmitter imbalances that negatively affect our health and moods.
Each workshop is held on the third Wednesday of the month, from 7:00P.M. until 8:30P.M. All sessions are free of
charge and held at 3200 A Danville Blvd., Suite 200, Alamo. (925) 831-0766 Call first, as space is limited.
January
17th……Brain Wellness
May 16th….Cognitive Disorders
February 21st ….Anxiety, Stress, Insomnia
June 20th….Depression/Fatigue
March 21st……..Weight Loss/Obesity
July 18th…..Addictions
April 18th……….Brain Wellness
Alamo Chir
opr
actic Healing Center ~ D
aniel S. Smith, D
.C.
Chiropr
opractic
Daniel
D.C.
Visit our new location 5 doors north of our old office.
anville Blvd, Suite 100, Alamo 925-831-0766 • dsmith @ alamochir
opr
actic.com
Danville
alamochiropr
opractic.com
3200A D
“Weight to Go” in Alamo
By Debbie Carmel
Second Annual Weight Loss
Challenge Begins January 13th!
During the holiday season many of us found ourselves reaching for
unhealthy snacks/drinks in response to many of life’s pressures instead of reducing the daily stress in healthy ways. Quick f ix “solutions” can only provide a temporary bandage and holiday photos are
showing the damage!
Our lives are busy. If we can make conscious efforts to eliminate
unnecessary constraints on our time, it will be easier to juggle the
remaining items that are important to us. Hopefully getting and staying healthy will be a primary goal in the coming months. I am determined to keep the exercise ball in the air this year and dodge the
balls that are weighing me down. What is your juggling plan for 2007?
* Endorsed by the American Heart Association and American Diabetes
Tis’ the season to trade in our post holiday
dough-like f igures for ones that are more flatCarolyn Uhland Photography
tering! Thankfully, a free eight week, National
of Alamo • 925-820-8989
Body Challenge* fitness and weight loss chal- Association. Please be sure to seek the advice of your physician/other health
lenge event is offered once again by the Discovery Health Channel
care professional about this program if you have any questions/concerns.
and anyone over 8 years old can join! For details on this
program that runs from January 13 th through March 10 th,
2007 and to register, visit www.discoveryhealth.com.
Last year, the f irst annual “Alamo and Surrounding
Areas Weight Loss Challenge” proved to be a huge success for all who made the commitment to improve habits
for an eight week period. The biggest losers were honored with gifts donated by local businesses at a f inale luncheon held at Roundhill Country Club. For those of you
who are motivated to take on the Second Annual Weight
Loss Challenge (top losers will receive prizes and have
their eight week weight loss percentages published in the
April issue of “Alamo Today”), please e-mail me at
[email protected] prior to January 12 th for registration instructions and additional details. In addition to losing weight and improving health, last years participants
gained new friends and exercise partners.
In 2007, one of my goals will be to f igure out how to A sunny winter day provides for a great opportunity for walking, jogging and bike riding down the
manage “what is eating me” versus “what I am eating.” Iron Horse Trail.
Alamo Chir
opr
actic Healing Center
Chiropr
opractic
Daniel S. Smith, D
.C. • www.alamochir
opr
actic.com
D.C.
www.alamochiropr
opractic.com
Alamo Chiropractic
Healing Center offers
an integrated
approach to MindBody Transformation.
Enter the doors and
you enter a place of
peace and quiet, a
luxury you well
deserve.
Enjoy a restful space
in time, away from
home, work and the
chaos of the world.
Experience a new
chiropractic approach
that connects your
physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual
needs to bring balance
into your life.
Deep Tissue Massage
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Alamo Chir
opr
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aniel S. Smith, D
.C.
Chiropr
opractic
Daniel
D.C.
Visit our new location 5 doors north of our old office.
anville Blvd, Suite 100, Alamo 925-831-0766 • dsmith @ alamochir
opr
actic.com
Danville
alamochiropr
opractic.com
3200A D
with this coupon
Winter Pruning
A good time to prune most
trees, and the only time to
prune many pines.
By Brende and Lamb
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Bond, James Bond Crossword Puzzle Answer Key
from page 12 puzzle
Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them against winter storms.
A judicious pruning can reduce the likelihood of branches falling and causing
damage to person or property. Evergreens, such as cedars, and many species of
deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in the late fall and early
winter, and now is by far the best time to prune pines. Monterey pines can only
be pruned between October 1 and February 15 without attracting pine beetles.
These potentially lethal beetles, which can smell sap from long distances, go
dormant in the winter. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly common fungal disease that disfigures pine trees, and sometimes
kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably
suffers from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of the diseased tree,
prune out the infected tips when the beetles are dormant.
Even healthy trees require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. Many trees are subject to branch and column failure. Thinning the
crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the
risk of the tree failing in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of
heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break.
Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A wellpruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende and
Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant
has a natural growth pattern. Our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape
given the plant by nature. Within the bounds of what is healthy for each species,
Brende and Lamb works to make trees as beautiful as possible. Our trimmers are
well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic flow inherent in
tree forms. The form may be weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. In
some species, such as Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the
trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the coast live oak bend and
twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and flow.
When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye: a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of
stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many
trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed
by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t
fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick
stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub
has been reduced in this way, it’s difficult to detect the cuts or tell that the
branches have been shortened.
Sometimes the form of trees needs to be modified to capture or accentuate
views. View pruning requires restraint, and a willingness to compromise. In
view work, the beauty of the view and the beauty of the tree often seem to be in
conflict. Many pruners focus solely on the view and simply hack back the tree.
However, more than the tree’s beauty is at stake. Topping stimulates production
of water sprouts, and it also causes disease and rot-––all of which make the tree
more, not less, dangerous. However, view problems can often be solved by looking at tree-and-view as an aesthetic unity, as two elements that complement and
frame each other. Sometimes, lightly bringing the tree back without cutting into
major branches can prevent further encroachment on the view.
To recover even more of the view, we create “windows” by selectively
removing branches not essential for the tree’s natural form. We can enlarge
these by removing small branches that rise or drop into the view. Thinning
above and below the window creates an overall feeling of openness, rather
than an abrupt gaping hole. The image of Mount Diablo framed by the trembling needles of a well-windowed Redwood proves that nature and civilization can complement each other - as can aesthetics and practicality.
If you are interested in finding out how Brende and Lamb can help
with your tree needs, please call 510-486-8733 or visit
www.brendelamb.com.
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Life In the Alamo Garden
Four Phases to a Successful
Landscape Design
By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape
Architect, Garden Architecture
parameters of your Landscape project to the necessary
contractors so they may provide you with “apples to
apples” bid proposals. This
will assist you in selecting
your contractor(s) to build
your project.
Phase four is the Construction Phase. It is very important that the design intent
and vision is brought to reality during construction. Construction Phase Services becomes a very important part of
completing the design. The design process actually continues into construction. During
construction, design decisions and interpretation are necessary in order to lay the design
onto the land and bring the design vision to reality. This part of the design process
ultimately guarantees the success of your design because it puts the control of the outcome in the hands of the owner and landscape architect.
A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Gardening is the world’s best-kept
exercise secret, as I found out (albeit the hard way). Recent medical studies have documented what backyard enthusiasts have known for years: gardening is good for us.
Gardening Quote of the month: “How much the making of a garden, no matter
how small, adds to the joy of living, only those who practice the arts and the
science can know.” - E. H. Wilson
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
What does it take to create a successful landscape design in Alamo? Some might say that success is measured
by critics and experts, but I believe it is measured by the
end user, you, the owner. A successful landscape design
has to meet all the expectations of the owner. Here are the four phases to creating a
successful landscape design that I use in my practice.
The first phase of the design process is a “Conceptual” design. Our first task, along
with you, the owner, is to develop design goals and a design program to fit your needs.
Some of these goals are practical and functional, while some are your dreams and
desires. After we develop the goals and design program we analyze the site and offsite conditions so that we are familiar with the existing conditions and parameters with
which we are working. Once we receive the necessary information, we draft a working scaled base plan (site plan) from which your conceptual design will be created.
When we complete your conceptual design you will have an accurately scaled,
illustrative, and schematic landscape plan that will represent your design goals, existing conditions, and your dreams and
desires. The “Conceptual” design is one the
first tools in helping the
owner “visualize” the
possibilities. Every
idea, even a conceptual
one, has an associated
cost to its creation. We
develop a Budget
Analysis, an itemized
spreadsheet detailing
the projected costs of the project. At this point the owner has enough information to
make an educated decision based on what they want and how much it costs.
Once we have created the Conceptual Design, phase two is Design Development,
where further development may be necessary to bring your project to reality. It is
much like the process of designing a home. You may have a floor plan you like, but
you do not yet know all the information necessary on how it will be constructed, what
materials are to be used, engineering that might be necessary and
whether the design will be accepted by the local planning department or homeowner’s association. The same analogy applies to the
design of your outdoor environment. During this phase of the Design Process we can provide services or you may choose to accomplish some of these development tasks on your own. Often times
these items need to be completed before the Construction DocuDanville’s premier tile
ments can be prepared or your project approved for permits.
and stone showroom
Phase three is the “nuts & bolts” of the design. We will need to
invites you to stop by
communicate to the contractor your design, details and specificaand see our exclusive
tions in order for you to acquire bids, accept a contract and build
selection of unique
your project. During the Construction Documents phase we promosaics, liners, glass,
vide services that will complete the Landscape design so that you
metals and much more.
may enter into the Construction Phase to bring your outdoor enviOur in house designer
ronment to reality. The Construction Documents will be the “buildwould love to assist
ing” set of drawings necessary for your contractor to acquire peryou in creating the
mits and build the project to the design and specifications. Most
beautiful
kitchen
building sets of Landscape Plans include a detailed Planting plan
backsplash
or
with planting specifications, botanical and common plant sizes and
bathroom of your
quantities, a Hardscape plan with lighting, drainage, site details,
dreams.
notes and specifications, Construction details on the “how to” build
www.artisticstoneworld.com
site elements and a Contractor Specification Packet.
After the completion of the Construction Documents you will
718 San Ramon Valley Blvd , Danville CA 94526
want to build your project. The Construction Documents and Contractor Specifications Packet is the vehicle to communicating the
Artistic Stone World
925-831-3500
The Unpredictable World of
Investing Made (Almost)
Predictable
By Rob Regan, Regan Financial Group
Last month’s article revealed that Nobel Prize winning
academic research has shown that most active managers
under perform their relative benchmarks after fees and
expenses. It follows that most of us are just wasting our
time when we try to beat the market, and we are just wasting our money when we try
to hire someone to do it for us.
This sounds like there is no hope but the good news is you don’t need to pick the
best stocks or hire a stockbroker or money manager to have a good investment experience. Fifty years of research provides the basis for a “passive” investment strategy
that can efficiently harvest the returns of the market.
In 1952, twenty-four year old, Harry Markowitz (now a Nobel Laureate) wrote a
thesis that said that diversification across asset classes reduces risk. An asset class is
a group of stocks that have similar characteristics and tend to move up and down
together. There are, however, asset classes that have expected returns of zero – like
gold, silver and other commodities. They add risk to your portfolio with no additional
expected return.
When the academics speak of asset classes, they include all stocks within the
class. They do not try to pick the best stocks within the asset class, as this would be
active management. This approach to investing is a “passive” strategy. You buy all
the stocks in an asset class and hold them. Management costs, trading costs and taxes
are greatly reduced thereby increasing your chances of a positive return.
In 1992 Eugene Fama of the University of Chicago and Ken French of Dartmouth
College put forth the Three-Factor Model. They demonstrated that investors are
compensated for the risks taken by investing in stocks versus bonds, small companies
versus large companies and distressed (value) companies versus strong, stable (growth)
companies.
The Fama-French Three-Factor Model calculates the historical compensation for
bearing the risk of equity (stock) investments to be around 8.1% per year and the
historical compensation for bearing the risk of small stocks to be an additional 3.2%
per year and for distressed (value) stocks to be an additional 5.0% per year. This is
based on data from 1927 to 20051.
It seems obvious to say stocks have higher expected returns than fixed income
(bonds and CDs). But is it obvious to conclude that small companies have higher
expected returns than large companies? And it goes against common sense to believe
that distressed (value) companies have higher expected returns than good, stable growth
companies.
Let’s take a closer look at why small companies have higher expected returns than
large companies and why distressed (value) companies have higher expected returns
than stable, growth companies.
Imagine you have the choice to invest in Apple Computer or Neoware. Both offer
an expected return of 8%. Apple is a $70 billion company that’s been around since
1976 (Can you say, “Ipod”). Likely, you have never heard of Neoware, an eleven year
old, $250 million company. Neoware may be a great company but if both companies
were offering an 8% expected return most people would choose Apple.
Now, hypothetically speaking, what if Neoware offered an expected return of 11%?
Now you might be willing to invest to get that 11% return. This example points out
another risk - individual stock risk. The Fama-French strategy nearly eliminates individual stock risk by buying almost every small company. What they have discovered
is that the returns of the winners make up for the losers and then some. If you own
them all, over time, you end up earning that extra 3% per year.
The same thinking applies to that completely crazy notion that owning distressed
companies will, over time, earn you that extra 5.0% per year. But again, where would
you invest to get an 8% expected return – Southwest Airlines or American Airlines?
Southwest wins. American Airlines has major woes. But if American offered an expected return of 13.0%, you might throw some money their way.
To sum it up:
Markets work – security prices reflect available information.
Diversification is the key – diversification reduces uncertainty; however, it does
not guarantee against loss. It is a method used to help reduce investment risk. Concentrated investments add risk with no additional expected return.
Risk and return are related – Exposure to meaningful risk factors determines
expected return – market, company size and value (distressed company) risk.
Portfolio structure explains performance – Asset allocation along size, value
and market exposure dimensions primarily determines the results of a broadly diversified portfolio.
Contact my office for information on how to implement this “passive strategy”.
Rob can be reached at 55 Oak Court Suite 100, Danville, CA 94526 (925) 8200640 [email protected] www.reganfg.com
Rob Regan CFP®, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Securities, Inc. a Broker/
Dealer, Member NASD/SIPC and Federally Registered Investment Advisor. NFP Securities, Inc. is
not affiliated with the Regan Financial Group or Symmetry Portfolio. License #0B07171.
1
Source: Dimensional Fund Advisors. Dimensional Fund Advisors, (DFA), from the database at the Center
for Research in Securities Prices, (CRSP), housed at the University of Chicago’s Graduate Business School.
Data is from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed or warranted.
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Sounding Like a Broken Record
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Over and over you hear it is important to backup your
computer data. However, you may find the process too cumbersome, you might not know which backup method is
best, you may forget to schedule time to do a backup, or
figure “heck, I don’t need to backup my computer, I am not
a business or anything”. The truth is every computer user
should expect and prepare for catastrophic data loss. Surveys show nearly 2/3 of computer users have had data loss. You have about a 1 in 12
chance of having your hard drive crash in any given year, a 10% chance of having your
laptop stolen, and about a 30% chance of serious data loss through your own errors.
Reflect on what is stored on your computer: photos, MP3’s (which you paid 99
cents each for), Word and Excel documents, emails, and Quicken and tax files. Recreating these files can be extremely time consuming, expensive or impossible. If you
lose your data through equipment failure the minimum fee to recover your data is
$1,000 and prices go up from there. You insure your home, your car, your business.
Insuring your data is just as important.
People say “How did my drive die? I have only had it a week/month/year…” The
platters on the drive where your data is stored can spin at up to 7,200 revolutions per
minute. Just as parts on your car or washing machine break, the parts on your hard
drive will fail too.
In order to be proactive in protecting your data you need to determine the level of
risk you are comfortable with. If you have a backup drive on site but your house burns
down, you were not protected. If you have a CD of your data stored at your neighbors
house and a “Hurricane Katrina” hits and your CD floats away down the street, you
are not protected.Your environment and tolerance for risk determines how thoroughly
you should protect yourself. In addition, the media used to backup your data needs to
be considered. The permanence of CD backups depend on many factors, such as the
brand of disk used, the chemical properties used to manufacture and the method of
storage. Because of this we encourage multiple methods for protecting your data.
If you choose to manually backup your data, consider the media which you will
back up to, as well as the probability that you will regularly and reliably backup your
data and store it in a safe place.
Backups should not cover installed programs. When a program is loaded on your
computer, it configures itself to your particular drive and computer. The program
spreads its’ tentacles across your drive which necessitates using the original disks to
restore the program. It is important to keep your original CDs in one spot so when
your hard drive fails the programs can be reloaded. Otherwise, programs need to be
repurchased which can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Instead, backup
your My Documents, photo directory, iTunes, Outlook email folder, Intuit folder (if
you use Quickbooks or Quicken), your Desktop, and any other specific data areas
you’re familiar with.
As one level of back up we have been using an online service called Carbonite
(www.carbonite.com) for offsite, constant, backups of data. The cost is a modest $5
per month for unlimited data storage. Data is encrypted twice – once by the user and
once by Carbonite to ensure data security. This combination makes the security comparable to what you would get with online banking or bill-paying services. Carbonite
is currently designed for Windows XP users. Anyone using older Windows versions
should strongly consider upgrading their computer as software and hardware compatibility will continue to diminish. For Mac users, Carbonite expects to be compatible
with the Mac systems early this year.
If you experience data loss on your digital camera, iPod or other storage device a
data recovery service is often able to recover it, the same as for your PC. So, if you
were like my sister whose kids accidentally erased wedding pictures off of their digital
camera, they are usually retrievable for a fee. When a mistake is made, it’s best to stop
using the device immediately, so that the lost data is as protected as best as possible on
the disk. Don’t keep fiddling with it or you risk overwriting and losing your data
permanently. We can take the ‘first look’ to see if our tools will work for a less expensive data recovery. If not, we have several firms we can recommend for serious data
recovery, and can help facilitate that for you.
If you would like help on creating a backup solution or safe-guarding your systems
from threats, please give us a call at 925-552-7953 or www.theportablecio.com.
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By Sarah Alvarez
Photos by David Horine
As a food writer, it’s no surprise that many of my
favorite movies feature great cuisine. I will be sharing these flicks through my column on an ongoing
basis. As watching food on the big screen tends to
cause hunger, I am developing recipes to be eaten
while enjoying each show.
The new year reminds me of my ongoing resolution to pack a lunch for work. How I wish I were in the shoes of young ShanShan whose chef godfather brought wonderful delicacies for her lunch at
school every day. This is one of the storylines in Ang Lee’s movie Eat, Drink,
Man, Woman. The movie, which came out in 1994, features a family living
in Taiwan. In 2001, it was remade in the U.S. as Tortilla Soup, which featured a Mexican-American cast. I much prefer the original version, but Tortilla Soup may be preferable for those who don’t wish to read subtitles.
The premise of Eat, Drink, Man, Woman is that three adult daughters are
still living at home with their father, a master chef who has lost his sense of
taste. Each week, Master Chu prepares a multicourse gourmet Sunday dinner that the sisters have come to dread. They love their father, but they are
not enjoying his lackluster cooking, which is a metaphor for their routine
lives still living at home. Each sister has her own storyline, as does Master
Chu. The oldest is a devout Christian and designated old maid, the middle
sister is a workaholic who doesn’t seem to have many deep relationships,
and the youngest is a college girl who works at a fast-food restaurant. The
story tracks how the girls successively leave home, and, in the process, how
each character develops more of a taste for life.
925.552.7953
CHICKEN POTSTICKERS
www.theportablecio.com
1 lb. ground chicken
2 T. sherry
Do You Have a Story to Share?
Contact us at [email protected]
925.820.8662 phone
925.406.0737 fax
c
Community Concerts Presents John M Cutcheon
Considered “one of the greatest performers in the English language,” Folk
Singer, Storyteller, Multi-Instrumentalist and Grammy nominated John
McCutcheon is a wonderfully thought-provoking
songwriter and storyteller as well as a master of a wide
variety of folk instruments including guitar and hammered
dulcimer.
The show will be held Saturday, January 20th at the
Wesley Center located at 902 Danville Blvd in Alamo.
Doors open at 7:15pm and the show begins at 8:00pm.
General Admission: Gold Circle: $40, Adult: $25, Sr/
Child $22. For the box office and other information call
925-229-2710 or visit www.communityconcerts.com
Playhouse West Academy Announces
Professional Acting Training
The Playhouse West Academy, now in it’s 22nd year, is holding interviews for the winter quarter of acting classes which begin the week of January 24, 2007. The Academy will be offering professional in-depth training
for beginning, intermediate and advanced students in Stage and Film acting
for adults, 15 and up. Playhouse West Kids, 7-13 will also be holding it’s
Winter Session. Tuition for an 8 week session is $235 for adults, $295 for
Children. Adult acting classes are taught by Bay Area Critic’s Circle awardwinning, Broadway actress, Director and Playhouse West Artistic Director,
Lois Grandi. Classes are held at Playhouse West Theatre, 1345 Locust St.,
Walnut Creek. For further information call 925-943-6464.
1 T. hoisin sauce
1/4 t. salt
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
8 whole water chestnuts, chopped
48 round potsticker wrappers
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cups chicken broth
Combine chicken, sherry, hoisin sauce, and salt. Mix in cilantro and water chestnuts. Spoon 2 t. of the chicken mixture onto the center of each round
wrapper. Moisten the edge of one half of the circle with water. Press sides to
seal together. Accordian fold about 6 times along the seam. Position the
potsticker to sit flat with the seam side up.
Potstickers are cooked in batches of 12. For each batch, heat a 10-12 inch frying
pan over medium heat. Keep the pan’s lid on a counter nearby. When hot, add 1 T. of
the oil to the pan
and swirl to coat.
Place 12 potstickers
equally spaced in
pan. Fry 6-8 minutes until bottoms
are golden brown.
Add 1/3 cup of the
chicken broth and
cover immediately.
Reduce heat to low.
Steam potstickers
for 8 minutes.
Serve hot. Makes
48 potstickers.
Alamo: the Beginning
Excerpted from Remembering Alamo…and Other Things Along
the Way by Virgie V. Jones. Published by Morris-Burt Press, 1975
making the tour on horseback.
Soon other families arrived from the Eastern states. Among the earliest
pioneers, some of whose descendants still reside in the neighborhood, was
Silas Stone, who came in 1853 and established a home east of Alamo, in
what became the Stone Valley. Having been chosen as “Alcade” for the
District, Mr. Stone was usually referred to as Squire Stone.
Another pioneer of the 1850s was James Foster of Maine who, before
starting west, provided for his future home by having the lumber for building it cut and fitted and shipped around the Horn. Mr. Foster was a wheelwright by trade. He was Postmaster of Alamo for a time and, later in life,
was elected County Assessor.
Alamo: where towered in days gone by, a giant sycamore. A tree which
was a landmark for Spanish vaqueros in rounding up the herds that roamed
at will over valley and hills; a tree which guided the few travelers who passed
that way before the settlement by Americans, and which game, to this spot of
the San Ramon Valley its name.
With the coming of American families in the early fifties, and the establishment of a Post Office, it was naturally given the name which the Spanish
January Evening
predecessors had bestowed…Alamo. Ever since that time, “Alamo” has
From Poetic Years at Alamo by B.F. Hall 1937
meant to the people that live there, not just the village itself, but the surrounding country from the base of Mt. Diablo to the western hills.
The Road flows swiftly past Diablo, massive
The first American families to make their homes in Alamo were: John M.
Jones (father of the late James Cass Jones, and grandfather of Alden Albert
Red against a cobalt sky, pink pastel shades
Jones), Cornelius Yager, a preacher, J.M. Thompson, and William Mitchell.
Above low ochre hills, in distance passive;
Mr. Jones, who had come to California in 1846, and had passed through
The rapid wheels turn westward where parade
the Valley in June 1847, was so impressed with the natural beauty of the
The fading yellow splendors of Day’s King,
place that he returned in 1851 to make his home here. He was accompanied
Whose rest begins as mountain tintings fade;
from San Jose by the three families just mentioned.
The canyons darken, but above still fling
In 1848 the Garcia brothers, having purchased a tract of land in what was
known as the Romero Grant, each built for himself a comfortable adobe
Cameo peaks against the glowing sky;
house. The Jose Miguel Garcia adobe was located on what a few years later
Fast-nearing evening moments bring
became the Albert W. Stone ranch in Stone Valley, Alamo.
From hundred points a motor’s blazing eye;
John M. Jones bought the Francisco Garcia holdings and, in November
The long Bay Bridge - its thousand arches bear
1851, the Jones family moved into the spacious adobe, which is described as
Above the lapping waves a passage dry;
being a two-story structure, with a stairway on the outside, and the whole
The glorious day, commune with Nature fair,
building surrounded by a veranda. Because Mr. Jones was appointed the
Postmaster for Alamo, the old adobe on the hill housed the first Post Office.
Ends with the light at home - without a care.
Mail arrived here twice a week, carried by a
Sh
man with a horse and cart, who made the
In Tutter
Affordable, Quick,
Beautiful women’s designer shoes
We wo s
round-trip between Martinez and Mission San
eks
Quality Service Guaranteed!
from around the world.
!
Jose in two days: thus supplying the three post
offices – Martinez, Alamo, and Mission San
Unique jewelry, handbags,
Jose, with bi-weekly mail service.
belts & scarves.
John M. Jones also served as County Assessor. It is an interesting fact that Mr. Jones,
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in his official duty as Assessor, visited propJanuary 15, 2007
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AMPA Christmas Party
The Alamo Tree Lighting, an event for the entire community, proved to be exactly that again this
year. We were honored to have as our guest Supervisor Mary Piepho who welcomed everyone to the
event. She thanked the Highway Patrol, Contra Costa
County Sheriffs Department and San Ramon Valley Fire Department for supporting our community
event. AMPA gives back to our county by promoting the Sheriffs Toy Drive. This year nearly $1,000
of toys were contributed to this worthy cause. Our
thanks to everyone who helped.
Many organizations, members of Alamo
Womens Club, Alamo Rotary and the YMCA participated in contributing enormously to the nights
success. CafeXpresso, Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea and Cherubinis provided hot
beverages for everyone.
Mark Curtis, KTVU morning newsman, felt at home, welcoming guests, announcing the arrival of Santa, congratulating AMPA’s Business Person of the Year
(Bruce Marhenke), and enjoying the music groups from MVHS, SRVHS, Alamo
School and Rancho Romero. New, this year was our Sing-along director and entertainer, Susan Skelton Fleming who got everyone in the spirit of the evening.
The community of Alamo can be tremendously proud of the music programs in
all of the participating schools and appreciative of the diligence of the instructors.
The talent of the students is magnified by the fine job these teachers are doing.
AMPA would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Ken Abrams-SRVHS, Bruce
Koliha-MVHS, Nancy Raaum-Alamo School, and Connie Forslind & Jill Thompson-Rancho Romero for their excellent programs at the Alamo Tree Lighting.
AMPA would also like acknowledge the local publications that so generously promoted the event. Our thanks and appreciation to Alamo Today, The
Valley Sentinel, Alive Magazine, Our Town Monthly, and Caterina Mellinger
Around Alamo in the Contra Costa Valley Times.
THANK YOU to Ginnie
Anderson, owner of United California Brokers and Patrick and Iris
Stone, owners of The Maids for
sponsoring and hosting the AMPA
Christmas Party.
The party was held at Ginnie’s
beautifully decorated home. She
served homemade canapés and other goodies. Her personal touch and the generosity of Ginnie, Patrick and Iris made it a special and fun way to kick off the holidays.
January Mixer
Happy New Year!! Join us Wednesday, January 24th for AMPA’s first
mixer in 2007 hosted by John Lineweaver, Property Manager, Diablo Holdings, Ltd. and Carmen Siems, Manager, Hospice Thrift Shoppe. The mixer
will be at the Hospice Thrift Shoppe located at 3162 Danville Blvd., Suite
A, in the Stone Valley Center in Alamo (near Longs Drugs and Forli’s
Restaurant). Guests are welcomed. For more information visit
www.alamobusiness.com or call Barbara Hause (925)743-0518.
February Mixer
Mark your calendar for the February mixer, Wednesday, February 28th
hosted by Judy Exley, Friendship Farms Antiques/Cheribini Coffee House.
Thanks From Fantasy Tree Committee
Thanks to Fantasy Tree decorators: Fantastic Sams, Yellow Wood-Sage,
Jenna Guy of Wolf Feathers, Linda
Bowman, San Ramon Valley YMCA,
Nancy Marhenke, Joanne Hirse of Kaleidoscope Interiors, Eileen Ferguson of
Alamo World Travel, Terry Silva of
Room to Move Staging, Marci Kahn of
MK Staging and Design, Connie
Peterson of Alamo Flower Company,
Sharon Schuyler of Celebrations on the
Bay, Rafael Bastillos and Erika Hill of
The Law Offices of Brian Thiessen,
Claudia Waldron of Waldron and Associates with the help of Alisa and Amy
Corstorphine and Morgan Ramos. The
Fantasy Tree Sale netted $1,550 which
will be used to maintaining and adding lights to the annual Alamo Tree
Lighting Event. AMPA wishes to extend a special thanks to Richard’s Arts
and Crafts store for the donation of the trees which were decorated.
Thanks to Tree Lighting Fund Contributors
Special Thanks to Alamo Tree Lighting Fund contributors
Safeway, Inc
AMPA Board of Directors 2006-2007
Richard Wood, E-Paynow.com - President, 788-5057
Sharon Schuyler, Celebrations on the Bay -VP, 510-499-4229
Bruce Marhenke, Alamo Communications - Secretary, 831-0352
Roberta Morris, Oak Hill Farm - Treasurer, 743-1133
Bess Affinito, Amore Studios - Hostess, 820-2312
A.J. Nisen, Bank of America Mortgages - Membership, 688-3820
Dick Bordeaux, CafeXpresso - Membership, 518-1004
Dan Harrington, On Track Learning - Membership, 522-5777
Barbara Hause,, Financial Recovery Counselor - Mixers, 743-0518
Joe Combs, The Combs Team - Awards, 362-1649
Claudia Waldron, Waldron Associates - Tree Lighting, 820-5968
Waldron Wealth Advisors
Morgan Bonanno Paving & Grading
Stone Valley Center
James & Lisa Laird
Ostrosky Enterprises
Alamo Shades & Shutters
Kaleidoscope Interiors
Roland L. Ferguson
Olofson Realty and Tax Service
Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant
Bali Nice Boutique
Lanaii Artists’ Studio
Bess Affinito Amore Studio
Barbara Hause
Alamo Women’s Club
Roberta M. Morris - Oak Hill Farm
Alan “AJ” Niesen - Bank of America Mortgage
January 2007 -
Coach Greg Weiss took the U9 Mustang Attitude with at the District Cup Games.
Top Left: Asst. Coach Mike Panconi, Strips (Jennifer Sharpe), The Wall (Sophia Friedler), Ali Cat
(Ali Panconi), Sweet Spot (Sophie Catalanello), Speedy (Kiana Kenny), Bumper (Morgan Burroughs),
Coach Greg Weiss. Bottom left: Thunder (Hanna Platter), Bullseye (Leila Gaemi), Buzz (Haley
Schreiber), Lightening (Brooke Starn), Crash (Kira Weiss) and Mad Dog (Madeline DeWalt)
Martial Arts Champions
For the past three years, a tournament of each nation’s best has been quietly gearing
up to take center stage. Although it is without the fanfare and media hype that typically
surrounds a World Championship, this tournament is no less significant.
Overshadowed by more popular sports on grander stages, few outside the Chinese
martial arts community are familiar with the World Kuoshu (Kung Fu) Championships. Fewer still, realize that some of America’s most talented and accomplished
martial artists study in Alamo. But since 1975, Richard Lee’s East West Kung-Fu has
produced national, international, and world champions. Under the tutelage of Bok Fu
Do and East West Kung – Fu school founder, Grandmaster Richard Lee, the United
States has competed in the World Tournament eight times.
At the World Kuoshu (Kung-Fu) Championships held in Singapore the students
were pitted against the world’s best martial artists and against one another. The World
Kuoshu Championships are the Chinese martial arts equivalent to the Olympics. This
year, over 37 countries participated.
Last July, at the U.S. Kuoshu Championships, which served as the national qualifier, four of Grandmaster Lee’s students repeated their 2003 performance and earned
a spot on the United States National Kuoshu Team. Morgan Newman, Morgan Malone,
Angie Dominguez, and Allen Parco, earned their right to represent their country in
Singapore. In doing so, they also helped Richard Lee’s West Coast Team win the
Nationals for the 6th straight year, making East West the #1 school in the country.
Master John Buckley, Grandmaster Lee’s top student and disciple, was named head
coach for the U.S. squad for the second straight time.
It was a combination of seasoned veterans and wide eyed newcomers on the team,
with four out of the eight returning to the U.S. squad after competing at the last World
Tournament held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2003. Newman, Dominguez and Parco were
looking to defend their World Champion titles, while Malone got one more chance to
better her 2nd place finish. Meghan Mannion, Ashley Dong, Gene Stein and Dennis
Saenz also made the U.S. team and made their World Tournament debut. Grandmaster Lee’s students earned 8 of the 17 spots on the U.S. team, with the remaining spots
earned by martial artists from around the country.
The results were nothing short of extraordinary. At the end of the tournament
seven Americans, five of which were Grandmaster Lee’s students, were crowned
World Champions. Newman, Malone, Dominguez, Parco and Dong all took
home the gold. Mannion and Saenz earned silver and Stein took fourth. Malone
also won overall Female Competitor of the tournament. For the first time ever,
the U.S. won first place in the overall team championships beating out host
country Singapore (second).
It’s amazing to think that one small school in the back of a shopping center can
outperform entire countries.
An American victory at the World Kuoshu (Kung-Fu) Championships will soon
be forgotten by the larger sports community, but for those who know Chinese martial
arts and for the eight U.S. team members who competed, it will live with them forever.
Page 31
U11 Girls Mustang Soccer Team Stampede the District Cup Champions .
Team Names: : Jennifer Barcellona ; Grace Reckers, Sydney Lance, Alina Sinclair, Melissa
Lawrence, Alex Weltz, Courtney Robone, Noelle Vleisides, Emily Evans, Madison
LeRoque, Ashly Pinckard, Sydney Biekert, Emily Biekert & Hailey Landman, Zoey
Bauman Coaches: Annette Lance & Ted Lawrence
Heard on the Street
What is Your New Year’s Resolution?
“I don’t make New
Year’s resolutions. I’m
perfect the way I am.”
-Mark Modersbach at
Lawrence’s Walnut Creek
Meat Co.
“To appreciate every
day and to make the
most of what comes
my way.”
-Bridget Bernhoft
“To make more time
for myself and all of
my loved ones.”
-Manny Bakis (right)
“To get back on my
diet.”
“To go to the gym
more often.”
“You’ve got me
totally stymied!”
-Zach Williams at
Safeway
-Tilly Duerson
-Alex Deeman (left)
2007
“Let’s Do Business”
Dale Bridges
Email
Rates Are Low
Good Selection Of Homes
List Your Home With Dale
Now’s The Time To Buy
If You Like It, Can Afford It, Buy It!
Relocating to the
Foothills of Auburn?
CALL SANDY BRIDGES
• Auburn • Meadow Vista •
• Cool • Newcastle • Lincoln •
• Grass Valley • Lake of the Pines •
It’s a Wonderful Area • Good Prices
Broker • GRI • Feng Shui Consultant Sandy Bridges
[email protected] OR www.DaleBridges.com
(925) 876-9710 mobile
K
O
O
L
(530) 888-1248 office
(530) 852-2858 mobile
Tis’ the Season ding
!
S
I
H
AT T
The Heritage Home
“Be that lucky family”
This New Year I thought that I would write about something that really has nothing to do with construction but
everything to do with life. It seems that most of us here in
the East Bay Area seem to spend most of our time living
our lives at freeway speed. There never seems to be enough
time in the day for all of the things that we need to do.
This New Year, take some time and make a resolution
to find ways to make your day to day life less stressful. Sometimes it can be as
simple as allowing yourself a little extra time to get to where you need to go or
even taking a few deep breaths when you feel stress coming on. I find that
when things start to get stressful, I stop and think about the things that I have
been blessed with in my life. I think about the fact that I am blessed with two
wonderful children and a beautiful loving wife. To me, if you have your health and
your family, you have the most important things in life.
We have all heard that life is a journey, which it truly is. What we sometimes forget is that it is that life is really about the journey! So this year stop
and smell the roses instead of driving by them at freeway speed (you can smell
them better).
Have a safe, prosperous and less stressful New Year.
299 Las Quebradas Lane • Alamo
Call for details!
Happy New Year!
“The Bridges”
Re/Max Accord
925-838-4100
CALL TODAY!
Robert McAdam, President
Custom Homes by McAdam, Inc
“Your Construction Specialist”
Cell: 925-260-7961
Email [email protected]

Alamo Today January 2007.pmd

Transcription

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