Alamo Today "Teaching Foster Youth to Cook" May

Transcription

[email protected]
May 2014
How to Cook and Make a Meal
By Vick Koc
It began with a survey of
teenagers who were facing
upcoming emancipation
from the foster care system.
The teenagers were about
to transition to being independent with no safety net
– some were as young as 17.
Asked what the teens needed
help with as they looked
forward, the most common
responses were how to cook
or how to make a meal. With
those responses from Youth
Homes After Care teens,
the Alamo Women’s Club
(AWC) liaison Peggy Fleming and Philanthropy Chair
Pamela Singh began asking
for help from Club members
to meet the teens’ needs.
Patt in action during the cooking class for the Youth Homes
Fortunately, AWC mem- foster kids.
ber and long time Alamo resident, Patt Larkin had the time, the skill, and
the background as a former Home Economics teacher to respond to this request. And she loves doing it! With a kitchen facility at the Alamo Women’s
Club, Patt began enthusiastically planning for classes of six to eight Youth
Homes children and their counselors. Every month since last August youth
have come to learn to cook and to make complete meals.
Patt’s detailed recipes are geared to all reading levels. She understands needing to blend both aspects of learning how to cook to making a cost-conscious
meal at the same time. She gives students the whole picture -- starting with
how to chop, to how to be creative, to what to cook. She also bases recipes
See Cook continued on page 24
Local
Postal Customer
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit 263
Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Serving Alamo and Diablo
From the Heart: Embracing the Ability to
Enable Others By Jody Morgan
Thanks to the inspiration of three local men collaborating with the
creativity of area educators, 48,000 students in 53 schools are enjoying a
fresh approach to Ability Awareness this academic year. Founders of Del
Corazon (From-the-Heart),
Don Routh, Josh Routh, and
Bill Wheeler, support the
curriculum with informative
videos, personal presentations, and the loan for a
week to each participating
school of 10 wheelchairs.
Children learn to appreciate their own abilities and
embrace the challenge of
enabling others to realize
their full potential. Also
known as the Wheelchair
Foundation Schools Project,
the initiative fosters respect
for the strengths of peers
coping with intellectual, Elizabeth Campos at Montair Elementary found
from a wheelchair a daunting experience.
developmental, and physi- teaching
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Compos.
cal challenges, while raising
funds to send wheelchairs to hundreds of individuals who would otherwise
remain immobile.
The Wheelchair Foundation, established by Ken Behring in 2000, provides wheelchairs to people around the world who need but cannot afford a
wheelchair. In many countries, a wheelchair costs a worker’s entire annual
income. To date, 955,000 wheelchairs have been delivered, bringing mobility, dignity, and hope to individuals aged two to over 102.
Since Bill Wheeler, founder of Blacktie Transportation, first invited Don
See Ability continued on page 31
Volume XIV - Number 5
3000F Danville Blvd. #117,
Alamo, CA 94507
Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397
Fax (925) 406-0547
A goat herd has been brought in to keep tall
grasses at bay and help with fire-suppression
of local hillsides. The goats move from plot to
plot and are contained by temporary fencing.
Photo by Ted and Barbara Shapas.
Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher
[email protected]
Sharon Burke ~ Writer
The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do
not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today
is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising
herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - May 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
I recently went to a gathering in the town of
Lincoln, California which is about an hour and a
half northeast of our area. When I programmed the
address I was going to into my Maps program, I
was given three routes I could take. The first route
was the quickest, and the trip was all traveled major
highways. The second choice added an estimated five
minutes to the journey and traveled on some lesser
traveled highways and back roads. The third choice added 30 minutes to the
route and took more a few more back roads. I figured that for an extra five
minutes I would change up the scenery a little and see a few new roads in
California that I had never traveled.
The drive started off on the busy multi-lane highways of 680, 80, 505, 5,
and 99. As soon as I exited the highway for the back roads part of my venture,
I found myself on a narrow two lane road. I was in another world. Where I
could have been in a bustling pack of cars and looking out at billboards, retail
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
establishments, and fast-food joints, I found myself in the midst of farms and
rice fields. I heard flocks of birds and passed roads named with simple names
like “Critter Creek.” Only nature and a few homes and farms surrounded me.
I took an extra few minutes out of my journey and scoured around for a
few hidden geocaches (learn more at www.geocaching.com) en route to my
destination, learned a little history of the area, and added a couple logs to
my geocache collection.
Where before I may have arrived at the gathering feeling frenzied, instead
I arrived calm and refreshed.
With just a minimum of planning there are a lot of things to see and do
that might be a little different or unique when going on a trip. When planning
vacations I always search the internet with queries such as “unique things
to do in ____location.” This has led me away from some of the tourist trap
hotspots in favor of a jaunt off the beaten path.
I recently stumbled upon a website called Atlas Obscura (www.
atlasobscura.com). The site is “for people who still believe in DISCOVERY,” their “About Us” page describes. They go on to say the site is the
“definitive guide to the world’s wondrous and curious places.” While they
list unique places and sites to see all over the world, such as homes built
entirely out of paper, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, the Smile Face
museum, and the “Crypt of Civilization,” considered to be the first conventional time capsule; there are also over 100 places that have been shared on
the site that are within an hour of our local community. There is the Mazzariello Labyrinth in Oakland, the “Cow Bones of Mount Diablo,” the Niles
Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, the “Gnomes of Lake Merritt,” the
Bohart Museum of Entomolgy at UC Davis that holds a collection of over six
million insects from all over the world, and the Pacific Pinball Museum in
Alameda. I have had a chance to visit a few of the local spots and now have
a queue of sites to see when we have out-of-town guests or are just looking
for “Staycation” ideas.
As summer is drawing near, now is the time to put a list together of places
to see and things to do, before heading out on the road less traveled!
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Alamo Today ~ May 2014 - Page 3
Down a country lane, yet close to
everything! Craftsman style built in 2007. 4
bed, 4 bath, plus office or bonus rm. Crown
molding, “Old World” textured interior &
exterior walls, 8ft solid core doors etc. Flat
as a pancake .55 acre lot w/pool/spa &
volleyball court.
$1,849,000
ATTENTION NEW HOME
BUILDERS! COUNTRY PROPERTY SETTING.
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location. So close to Monte Vista, Oak Hill
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hm w/VIEWS forever yet close to dwntwn
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baths + 6th bdrm/office. Wonderful chef’s
kitchen w/lg center island open to family
rm. Private setting, a must see!
Tony Cristiani • 925.785-8948
[email protected]
Jay Weymouth • 925.915.1100
[email protected]
Gretchen Bryce • 925.683.2477
[email protected]
Alamo ~ Charming family home features a
formal living room with fireplace &
dramatic vaulted ceilings, family rm w/
fireplace. Large master suite with separate
deck and tall ceilings, engineered hardwoods in the kitchen & family rm. Stunning
yard w/Black Bottom Tech Pool w/Solar.
$1,299,000
Single story hm w/pool in
desirable Round Hill. Private lane,
4 bdrms, 2 full bths, formal dining rm,
living rm w/fire place, eat in kit., & family
rm w/fireplace. Private 1 acre lot w/lush
landscaping, pool, & built-in BBQ perfect
for entertaining!
$1,249,000
Concord ~ New On Market!!!
Most awesome newly-built 4 bedrooms, 3
bathrooms, private gates, panoramic
views, cul-de-sac, huge lot. A Must See!
Call for more details.
Russ Darby • 925.943.3333
Tim Palumbo • 925.943.3332
Russ Darby • 925.943.3333
Tim Palumbo • 925.943.3332
Michael Hatfield • 925.984.1339
[email protected]
$1,999,000
$1,199,000
AAUW Garden Tour
The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of
University Women (AAUW) is hosting its 14th annual Garden Tour on Friday,
May 9th and Saturday, May 10th from 10AM to 4pm. Begin your Mother’s
Day weekend by treating your mothers and daughters to this self-guided tour
of five of the loveliest gardens in the Alamo and Danville area. From the
calm serenity of an artist’s studio garden to an exquisite entertainment garden
featuring expansive lawns, a terraced hillside and multiple patio areas, you
will be inspired by the creative elegance of each of these unique gardens.
Tickets can be purchased at East Bay Flower Company (206 Sycamore
Valley Road West in the Danville Livery) or online at http://daw-ca.aauw.
net/garden. Light refreshments will be provided. All proceeds from the tour
benefit scholarships, research, and grants for aspiring women scholars.
Delta Nu Psi
Service group Delta Nu Psi has sent eight 30 pound boxes of “gourmet
junk food” to 145 squads located in the War Zone since 2004. The total
weight of the food-filled boxes is 28,660 pounds spread over 1,172 packages.
Our upcoming collection will be held May 9th at Lunardi’s in Danville.
The collection time will be from 11am to 2pm.
Please come by, grab a list, and shop for our men and women in the War
Zone. For more information, visit deltanupsi.org.
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Second Annual Alamo Run
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San
Ramon Valley - meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans
Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, located on the
corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. The next meeting will be
held Wednesday, May 21st. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at
7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at
(925) 362-9806. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092,
Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the
internet at www.vfwpost75.org.
The second annual Alamo Run will be held on June 22nd. The race will
start and conclude in the downtown Alamo area. The run includes a 5k competitive run and also a fun run for the Alamo community.
Last year, participants ages 4 to 85 ran pushing strollers and alongside
pets and family members.
The run is sanctioned by the USATF and is professionally managed by
On Your Mark run management. Entry costs $35 per person (pre-registered)
and $40 on the morning of the event. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt.
Runners can sign up through www.Active.com or through www.AlamoRun.com. All proceeds will benefit the educational programs of the non-profit
Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center in Walnut Creek.
Let’s Chile Up!
Pinot’s Palette Danville is dedicated to bringing a fun experience through
art entertainment. Join our 2 to 3 hour painting class where you can sip
your favorite wine and paint!
15% off your next visit with promo code DANTODAY15
Pinot’s Palette | 410 Sycamore Valley Rd West |Danville, CA 94526
Join the Town of Danville for toasting some stellar Chilean wines, eating tasty
925-743-9900 | www.pinotspalette.com/danville
Chilean tidbits, and enjoying the sounds and rhythms of a Chilean dance troupe.
Taste and Toast of Chile will be held on Thursday, May
• Grooming and horse care
15 from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Danville Senior Center located • Daily horseback riding • Safety around horses • Horse anatomy class
at 115 East Prospect Avenue.
The cost is $5 for residents, $6 for non-residents and $8 • Arts and crafts • Care of farm animals
at the door. For more information or to register, please call • Obstacle course • Games and more!
the Danville Senior Center at (925) 314-3490.
This is the third program in the Taste and Toast of…series
for adults, ages 21 and older. The series celebrates countries
Summer Camps in Alamo
from around the world in a festive and informative style.
All the King’s Horses
Kitchen Tour
The Lafayette Juniors will hold their 15th Annual Kitchen
Tour on Saturday, May 17th, from 10am – 3pm. Tour six special
Lafayette homes with unique rustic, ranch, Cape Cod, open
concept, traditional, and farmhouse style kitchens.
The tour benefits First Place for Youth, STAND!, the Lafayette Library, SEED, and Twin Canyon Camp. Tickets are
$40 ($30 tax deductible), with a box lunch available for $15.
Purchase tickets online at www.lafayettejuniors.org or from
Douglah Designs and Premier Kitchens in Lafayette.
• Three summer sessions for kids 6-12
• June 23rd-27th, July 21st-25th, August 4th-8th
• Camps run 10am – 3pm Monday thru Friday
• $425 per session
Contact Kim for information 510-928-3867
www.allthekingshorsesequestrian.com
[email protected]
Alamo’s Real Estate Expert
Call us today for your complimentary staging and market analysis of your home!
Real Estate Broker Associate
Alamo Home Sales – April 2014
CALBRE Brokers License #01345618
133 Alamo Springs Drive
115 Angela Avenue
169 Canyon Vista Place
27 Cole Court
1285 Danville Boulevard
30 Ina Court
11 Jay Court
11 La Serena Court
1681 Las Trampas Road
66 Mayfair Court
111 Megan Court
1495 Paseo Nogales Road
10 Ray Court
2568 Rolling Hills Court
2378 Roundhill Drive
3059 Sandstone Road
3083 Sandstone Road
15 Stone Creek Place
3282 Stone Valley Road
311 Twin Peaks Lane
330 Twin Peaks Lane
168 Via Bonita
185 South Via Lucia Lane
1475 Vine Lane
125 Winestone Court
Real Estate Broker
The Hemme Depot Train Station
Bed/Bath
5 5½
3 2½
5 3
4 3½
4 4
4 3
4 3½
4 3
3 2
4 2½
4 3½
5 4½
6 3
5 4½
4 3½
5 4½
8 7½
4 2
4 2½
4 2
4 4
4 3
4 5½
6 6
4 2½
List Price
$2,838,500
$1,299,000
$1,175,000
$3,295,000
$1,180,000
$1,100,000
$1,698,000
$1,299,000
$1,100,000
$1,200,000
$2,349,888
$1,750,000
$1,169,000
$1,649,000
$1,249,000
$1,749,000
$2,595,000
$1,198,000
$1,470,000
$1,249,000
$1,389,000
$1,298,000
$2,595,000
$2,548,000
$1,299,000
Sale Price
$2,838,500
$1,300,000
$1,150,000
N/A
$1,155,000
$1,100,000
$1,725,000
$1,220,000
$1,135,000
$1,230,000
$ 2,350,000
$1,720,000
$1,150,000
$1,700,000
$1,234,000
$1,716,075
$2,450,000
$1,175,000
$1,425,000
$1,188,000
$1,375,000
$1,400,000
$2,750,000
$2,575,000
$1,275,000
* All single family homes sold in Alamo 03/22/14 thru 04/25/14
Dea Campbell
925.640.1727
CALBRE #01734129
C
hris Campbell’s family has lived in Alamo for nearly 100 years. As a lifetime Alamo resident,
Chris’knowledge and affection for the area give him unique insight into the Alamo real estate
market and local community. Chris Campbell is your neighbor and Alamo’s Real Estate Expert!
®
Direct
925-838-5700 • E-mail [email protected] • Web
ChrisCampbellRE.net
Museum of the San Ramon Valley Exhibit and Saturday Speakers
On May 10, a new exhibit, Connecting Parks to People, the 80th Anniversary of the East Bay Regional Park District, will open at the Museum of the San
Ramon Valley which is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. On three Saturdays at 11AM, there will be speakers on Regional Parks topics.
Saturday, May 17 ~ 80 Years of Regional Parks
Hear a history of the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) from one of the Park District’s most knowledgeable historians, Jerry Kent, former Assistant General Manager of EBRPD Operations.
Saturday, May 24 ~ The Iron Horse Regional Trail -- 30 years, 35 miles
Promoters of the Iron Horse Trail (IHT) and members of the original Right of Way Trail Advocates (ROWTA) share the challenges of creating this
popular trail. Speakers will be Bickford Hooper, first president of ROWTA and avid hiker, Mary Lou Oliver,
former San Ramon Mayor and equestrian, and Beverly Lane, EBRPD Director, hiker and occasional biker.
Saturday, May 31 ~ The Beginnings of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
Two people who advocated for Las Trampas as a regional park will share their stories from the 1960s and
1970s. Speakers will be Manfred Lindner, Chair of the Las Trampas Wilderness Committee and Sally Germain
Goldner, Danville chair for the successful annexation of Contra Costa County to the EBRPD in June of 1964.
In the depth of the Depression, 1934, voters in Alameda County created a special district to acquire and
manage parks for the public. It was an extraordinary decision, supported by cities, UC Berkeley and legislative
leaders, the Contra Costa Hills Club, the Sierra Club, and many others. The first parks were Tilden, Sibley,
Temescal, and Redwood. During the thirties, the parks were developed using Contra Costa County and Works
Progress Administration workers. In 1964 Contra Costa County voters joined the EBRPD. Today there are
65 parks covering 115,000 acres in the East Bay.
This exhibit will trace the history of EBRPD in the East Bay, focusing on the Iron Horse Regional Trail
and Las Trampas Regional
Wilderness Preserve. There
will be a video, maps, brochures, artifacts displayed,
and programs.
For more information
about the museum, call (925)
837-3750 or visit museumsrv.org. The museum is open
Tuesday-Friday from 1-4,
Saturdays from 10-1, and Sundays from 1-3. For EBRPD
information, visit ebparks.org.
JEWELRY
FINE
& CRAFT SHOW
Mo
eekend
W
y
a
D
ther’s
Saturday 10 - 6
Sunday 10 - 5
Alamo Plaza
Shopping Center
Stone Valley Rd West
and
Danville Blvd.
Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the
2014 Summer Concert Series
Fridays 6:30
6:30-- 8:30p.m.
at Livorna Park
(At the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo)
Admission is Free
June 20th: The Sun Kings
Performing the music of The Beatles with driving
energy, authentic arrangements and spot-on harmonies,
reminiscent of the earliest Beatles concerts!
July 11th: The Fabulous
Cruise Tones
Enjoy a wide variety of familiar dance songs from any
decade up to the hits of today!
July 25th: El Desayuno
“Great musicians, a Latin groove, killer live
performance...connect the dots and you’ve got El
Desayuno.” Roy Jeans ~ Armando’s
August 8th: Moonalice
An original blend of Rock, Country and Blues music.
Evoking a communal experience between band and
listener, Moonalice has something for everyone!
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, and friends.
For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
Alamo Women’s Club
The Alamo Women’s Club is open to any woman who
would like to join a “place where women come together
to work toward a better community for all.” We have
nearly 100 years of community involvement and a growing vibrant membership.
At the May 28th Speaker Series Luncheon Jan Wahl
returns to entertain us about movies and Hollywood.
The luncheon is open to the public for a non-member cost of $25 which includes lunch. Please RSVP by May 22nd to [email protected]. The
luncheon starts at 11:30am.
Do you have a story idea?
How about sporting news?
Call us at 925.405.6397, or email us at
[email protected].
Odyssey of the Mind team, Fear the Brain, took 1st place in their problem (It’s How We Rule)
and division at the state level and will be competing in the World Tournament in May. The team
is excited this year to have sponsorship from the Alamo Rotary. Pictured left to right: Ellery
Lewis, Sae Joon Oh, Kieran Woerner, Hayden Neustadt, Cayla Quinn, and Kristian Woerner.
Congratulations to
R a n c h o R o m e ro ’s
5th grade Odyssey
of the Mind team that
came in first place at
Regionals and second
place at the State
competition. The team
coached by Sarah
Belzer and Danielle
John is headed to
Iowa to compete in the
World competition at
the end of May. Team
members created and presented a performance about a community that feels threatened
by something in a location it has never visited. The team includes Sam Belzer, Milly John,
Andrew Corkern, Cole Lourenco, Emma Hinckley, Tyler Pollack, and Kate Schiermann.
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Please join the San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated at their upcoming Candidates and Scholarship
Winners luncheon on Tuesday, May
27th at Crown Canyon Country Club
located at 711 Silver Lake Drive
in Danville. Social hour begins at
11:30am and lunch at noon. The cost
is $25. Come meet Judge Tue Phan who is running for Congress 11th District
and Catharine Baker who is running for the Assembly 16th District. Also in attendance will be our high school scholarship winners - Natalie Baldacci from
Las Lomas High, Kathryn Clark from California High, Isabella Salazar from
Dougherty Valley High, Carley Zenker from Monte Vista High, and Mikayla
Flicek from Dougherty Valley High.
For reservations, call Mary at 925-837-5465 or email srvwf.
[email protected]. Reservations are due by Friday, May 22nd.
2/24/14 4:52 PM
[email protected]
A SPECIAL INVITATION!
Join Michael and Pat for lunch and an informational presentation of:
“A lovely home, a solid portfolio, a great financial life.”
Thursday, May 22 at 12:00pm
Roundhill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo
No cost, but reservations are required.
Call 800.472.8305, option 1
www.dontinvestandforget.com
For Portfolio, Contact:
Pat Vitucci, CEO
Call: 800.472.8305
www.dontinvestandforget.com
Securities and advisory services offered through National
Planning Corporation (NPC), member FINRA, SIPC, and a
Registered Investment Advisor. Pasquale Vitucci, CA
Insurance Lic.#0758212, is an Endorsed Agent of Vitucci &
Associates Insurance Services CA Insurance Lic.# 0I06319.
Vitucci & Associates Insurance Services - 877 Ygnacio Valley
Rd., Suite 220, Walnut Creek, CA 94696 - and NPC are separate and unrelated
companies. Alamo Luxury Homes, RE/MAX Accord & Michael Hatfield are not affiliated
with NPC. You may be contacted by a representative as a result of attending this
seminar and insurance sales presentation. #83022
Pet Adoption Days
A miniature schnauzer named Maddie inspired a $300 million legacy dedicated
to giving every dog and cat in the United States what she had: a loving home. This
year, $10 million of that legacy will go to Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days, a free
pet adoption event for the nation’s homeless dogs and cats, now in its fifth year.
Maddie was a beloved four-legged family member of David Duffield,
founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, and his wife, Cheryl. For the last four
years, Maddie's Fund®, their family's foundation, has sponsored Maddie’s®
Pet Adoption Days to honor her memory.
“When we look into the eyes of the dogs and cats at the adoption event,
we see Maddie's spirit in every one of them,” says Duffield. “We want all
of them to have a chance to inspire, love, and enrich the lives of their future
families the way Maddie did ours.”
This year, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days will be held the weekend of May
31 - June 1, and will expand to include 200 animal shelters and rescue groups
in 14 communities across the United States. Maddie’s Fund has earmarked
$10 million as a way to give back to the participating organizations, donating
up to $2,000 per adopted dog or cat. The goal of the event is to find loving
homes for 10,000 homeless dogs and cats over the weekend by waiving all
adoption fees for the public.
For locations and hours of upcoming adoption sites, please visit adopt.
maddiesfund.org.
Sons in Retirement
If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, participate in
fun activities, and better enjoy your leisure time, we welcome you to join Sons In
Retirement (SIR) - Las Trampas Branch 116. The group has a monthly luncheon
where guest speakers address the branch members on topics of general interest.
Meetings are held at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr,
on the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Group
activities include book discussions, bridge, computers, fishing, golf, walking,
investments, photography, poker, travel, and more fun things.
For information about SIR activities for retired men, please visit www.
Branch116.org. Luncheon guests may make reservations by calling (925)
806-8874 by the preceding Wednesday. Cost is $15.
For Home, Contact:
Alamo Luxury Homes
Call: 925.984.1339
[email protected]
www.AlamoLuxuryHomes.com
CalBRE#01493761
Blackhawk Republican Women Present Laer
Pearce
Join the Blackhawk Republican Women on
May 14th for hors d’oeuvres and no-host bar
cocktails to hear Laer Pearce, California public
affairs expert and author. For 32 years, Pearce has
had a front-row seat to what he sees as California
becoming progressively more anti-business, more
spend-thrift, less rational, and less competent.
Experiencing this dysfunction up close
prompted him to write Crazifornia: Tales from
the Tarnished State, copies of which will be
available for signing. Every time Pearce feels
he has a thorough grasp on all California has done to make things worse,
another “Crazifornia moment” crops up, requiring the play book to be updated.
Pearce gained his insights at his public affairs firm, Laer Pearce & Associates, which he opened in 1982. His firm helps developers, water agencies, local
municipalities, airports, healthcare plans, and other regulated businesses find
success in the face of regulatory over-reach and bureaucratic ineptitude. He’s
picked up a lot of great stories along the way, which he’ll share at the event.
The event will take place at the Blackhawk Country Club with check-in
and social time beginning at 5:30PM, and the speaker beginning at 6PM. The
cost is $25. Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Monday,
May 12 by contacting Marianne Lyons at 856 Turrini Dr., Danville, 94526,
[email protected], or (925) 820-6452.
Exchange Club of SRV
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at
11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The
program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. For more
information, call Karen Stepper at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.
com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
Fine Mexican Dining
743-8997
In Stone Valley Shopping Center
Enjoy Our Patio Dining
Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner
Sunday: Dinner only
We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge
3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty
Danville Girls Chorus Presents Annual POPs
Concert, “Heroes and Villains”
The Danville Girls Chorus (DGC) will perform their POPs Concert, “Heroes and Villains,” on Saturday, May 31 at 11AM. The performance will take
place at East Bay Four Square Church, located at 2615 Camino Tassajara
Road in Danville. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children, and they
can be purchased at the door. Come join DGS for an energetic tribute to your
favorite “heroes” and “villains” of stage and screen!
The Danville Girls Chorus is made up of 135 girls from 3rd to 8th grades
from schools across the Tri-Valley area. The primary goal of DGC is music education. Under the direction of Ken Abrams, award-winning Choral
Director for the San Ramon Valley High School, girls are taught the basics
of vocal production and learn the fundamentals of musicianship and note
reading. Girls are also introduced to a variety of musical styles, ranging from
classical to contemporary, folk tunes, and pop music.
Please see DGC’s website at www.danvillegirlschorus.org for more information.
8
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find her and your name is drawn!
Alamo Zoe is Missing
Alamo Zoe has become lost in this paper...
Search through Alamo Today and see if you can find her!
She is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find her.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found her,
along with your name and address, to:
Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today
3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507
Dakota Sandland is our winner
Rancho Romero Elementary School
By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal
Victor Hugo once wrote, “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea
whose time has come.” (Hugo, 1883-1884). Teachers,
parents and students committed to improving education through rigorous curriculum, meaningful context,
and life skills should be heartened by Hugo’s assertion.
It has been an unprecedented year in building understanding, consensus and excitement for sustained,
substantive school improvement. Rancho Romero’s theme of Strengthening
the Core was driven by the goal that each teacher and administrator would
develop a deeper understanding of the Common Core Content Standards, and
align lessons and assessments to those standards. Additionally, each grade level
team would develop English Language Arts and Mathematics Units of Study
to promote increased depth of knowledge, problem solving and complexity
of thinking. Recently, as staff met to score, analyze and evaluate common
math and writing assessments, student results exceeded goals in both areas,
evidence that powerful teaching and learning has been taking place. The school
is never one to rest on its laurels, but pausing to reflect on accomplishments
and celebrate successes is a necessary part of the process.
Hard work and commitment to excellence does not stop with the staff. Our
parents and families make it possible to augment and enrich our programs
and services. The Rancho Romero Education Fund is busy 365 days a year
engaging the local communities and collaborating with School Site Council
and PTA in support of the instructional program. Addressing the whole child
comes about with strong curriculum and instruction, appropriate and timely
interventions, and promoting a positive school climate to support the well-being
of all students. The 2014 Rancho Romero Auction themed Midnight In Paris,
also exceeded goals this year in raising funds. Some of the wonderful programs
and services students will experience in 2014 2015 as a result of our Education
Fund include visual art, general music, instructional technology and projectbased learning, reading intervention, social-emotional/behavior intervention,
additional 4th and 5th grade science labs, and noontime sports. On behalf of
the Rancho Romero Staff, I wish to thank our parents, families and community
partners for continued collaboration and the creation of a guiding coalition.
2013 2014 Staff Awards & Honorees:
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sarah Ware - Rancho Romero Classified Staff of The Year
Jen Harrington - Rancho Romero Educator of The Year
Matt Graham - Rancho Romero Shining Star
Connie Adelson - PTA Honorary Service Award
Julie Holcomb - PTA Honorary Service Award
Danielle John - PTA Honorary Service Award
Tatiana Wolkenhaurer - PTA Honorary Service Award
Kay Krein, first grade teacher at Rancho Romero, will be retiring in June
after 15 years. She has worked with close to 400 students during her tenure
and touched every child in a profound manner. Students that come into her
classroom in August grow and thrive in unimaginable ways. She is surely
the teacher they will remember for the rest of their life. Kay will miss the
students, families and staff who have been like a second family. In her retirement she is looking forward to spending more time with family, visiting her
own parents more often and traveling to see granddaughters on the east coast.
Kay is excited to be
able to volunteer in
her grandson’s kindergarten class and
her daughter’s 4th
grade classroom. All
in all Kay has been
teaching for 29 years
and she is quick to
acknowledge that education will always
be important.
[email protected]
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Alamo Elementary School
By Stan Hitomi, Principal
Springtime at Alamo School
Springtime at Alamo School seems to be an exercise in seeing just how much activity we can pack
into the last eight weeks of school! To start, some of
the most important learning of the year takes place in
these last eight weeks. There is no review at this time
of the year, everything our students are learning is
expected to carry them into the next grade.
th
th
For our 4 and 5 graders the spring means outdoor education. Our 4th
graders made their annual trek to Camp Arroyo, while our 5th graders will finish the year at the Marin Headlands. Both programs are important from both
an academic standpoint as well as our students growing their independence.
Springtime is also loaded with long-time traditions at Alamo School. On
April 25th we held our annual Camp Alamo. Over 100 students enjoyed an
evening of specialized camps that ranged from claymation, to carpentry, to
carnival games. This year Camp Alamo was headed up by Jaime Garson,
Alice Lee, and Elisabeth Masoudi. Staffing each of the camps were teachers,
parents, and community volunteers. The evening started with a pizza dinner
and ended up with ice cream. Food, fun, and fundraising...what could be better?
Speaking of fundraising, for the first time, Alamo School participated in the
Wheelchair Project. The Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organization
leading an international effort to create awareness of the needs and abilities of
people with physical disabilities, to promote the joy of giving, create global
friendship, and to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult in the
world who needs one, but cannot afford one. The Wheelchair Foundation was
founded in 2000, by Ken Behring of Blackhawk. The week-long program
featured an assembly where our students learned about disabled people around
the world in need of a wheelchair. The students also had a chance to try using
a wheelchair in PE or PMT. This was followed by a fundraising campaign
that included coin collections and a lemonade sale by the Student Council. In
total Alamo School raised nearly $900, which will provide the foundation with
enough money to deliver six wheelchairs to those who need them!
For music lovers there are many opportunities to enjoy the sounds of music
throughout the month of May. Our annual kindergarten concert kicks off the
concert season on May 11th, followed by an evening performance of the 2nd
grade play coordinated by Mrs. Herrmann and Mrs. Hennon the same night.
May 21st at 7PM our students will perform at the District Strings Festival at
San Ramon Valley High School, followed the next night – May 28th with the
Alamo Instrumental Music Concert at 7PM. May 30th at 7PM is the night of
our 4th grade play coordinated by Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Benit and Mrs. Raaum.
Moving into June we have our annual Spring Vocal Music Concert on June
6thand our 1st/2nd grade concert on June 10th.
Spring would not be complete without some awards and recognition.
Competition was very stiff this year for the Hoedown T-shirt contest! The five
finalists were Sarah Keilman, Tabitha Rountree, Maggie Heil, Olivia Chrisman
and Madison Siu. Congratulations to our winner Madison Siu, whose artwork
was proudly displayed on this year’s T-shirt!
Spring is also when we give out four very special awards of recognition.
Our incredible custodian, Mr. Roberto Bonilla, was named the Alamo School
Classified Employee of the Year. Roberto was honored at a special reception
by the San Ramon Valley Board of Education. Margie Hart, former president
of the Alamo School EdFund (2010-2013) and co-chair of Citizens for Measure D, was named the Alamo School Shinning Star for 2014. Margie, along
with Stars from the other 34 schools, was recognized at a dinner on April 29th
at the Diablo Country Club.
This year the Alamo School Rotary Educator and Student of the Year are
Jolene Martin and Ane Kiepen, respectively. Mrs. Martin (4th grade) has been
a fixture at Alamo School for over 15 years and is recognized for her leadership
in the areas of professional development and literacy. Ane Kiepen (5th grade)
has spent all six years here at Alamo School and excels in sports, dancing, and
academics. She has an incredible attitude and positive outlook that she uses to
make a positive difference with others. Congratulations to all of our awardees!
Stone Valley Middle School
By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal
Hey Where’s the Fire?
On Tuesday, May 6th the San Ramon Valley
Fire Protection District will train all 7/8 students
in CPR/AED during their regularly scheduled
PE classes. Training 400+ students in these life
saving skills will lead to a safer place for residents of San Ramon Valley. All middle school in
the district are participating in this free program.
Vertical Articulation
On May 6th Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley high schools’ 9th
grade English teachers will join Stone Valley Middle School 8th grade
language arts teachers in collaboration with staff developers Gianna
Lillig and Nicole Chaplan to develop common pathways and expectations from middle to high school.
CLR Strategies
Culturally and Linguistically Responsive (CLR) teaching strategies continue to grow. Our original cohort of “experts” (Jim Purcell,
Courtney Konopacky, and Melinda Daly) will be joined by a second
CLR cohort of teachers (Rachel Lynch, and Chris Sherwood) who will
lead a third round of training for staff on May 14th. For information
on this program, visit http://culturallyresponsive.org.
Summer Plans for Professional Development
Many of our staff have made plans to attend summer workshops.
Our math department received a grant to attend the Silicon Valley Math
Initiative training for one week.
Physical education staff will be attending two separate week-long
trainings focused on implementing Common Core strategies in their
program.
Special Education staff will attend a Google Apps for Education
workshop.
Language arts teachers will attend district-led staff development
activities and history workshops sponsored by the National Council
for History Teachers.
Construction Process has Begun!
Put on Your Red Shoes and Follow that Yellow
Brick Road
An enthusiastic group of five to 18-year olds has been busy following that
famous yellow brick road as CAE’s Youth Theatre Company (YTC) prepares
its production of The Wizard of Oz.
“This is the one time each year that all four components of YTC
work together on one production,” explains producer Rachel Pergamit.
“Junior Theatre students play the main parts with Mini Kids, Kids
Theatre, and Teens playing ensemble roles like the munchkins, Ozians,
and so much more.”
The Wizard of Oz runs May 16 at 7pm and May 17 at 11am, 2pm and 7pm at
Del Valle Theatre, 1928 Tice Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Tickets are $12
– 16.75 and can be ordered by calling 925-943-SHOW or going online at
www.lesherartscenter.org.
To date we have had two meetings related to the new construction
on the Stone Valley campus. I met with the architects and facilities
personnel to discuss the construction process. A second similar meeting was held with members of the Stone Valley staff, as well as facilities oversight committee members Margie Hart and Dwight Winn,
Superintendent Mary Shelton, Assistant Superintendents Toni Taylor
(Education Services), Gary Black (Facilities), community member
Stan Hitomi, Senior Planning and Development Manger Tina Peralt,
Facilities Director Rich Lowell, Senior project Manager Rick Kendrick,
and the architects.
Our meeting focused on conceptual design plans for our new school.
We are hopeful for a summer/fall 2015 start date. Our next meeting
will be held in mid-late May. Updated information on construction
projects throughout the district can be found on SRVUSD’s website at
www.srvusd.net/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1346747333230.
By the way, all students completed the new Smarter Balance testing
– try the sample test at www.smarterbalanced.org/sample-items-andperformance-tasks. This year we are testing the test, so no individual
results are given.
Upcoming Community Meetings and Events
AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - Please visit www.alamoca.org
for upcoming meetings - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd.
Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each
month 6pm - Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office 120-B, Alamo Plaza
P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm
- Meets at Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office located at 120 -B, Alamo Plaza
P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of
each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room
CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www.
firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp
[email protected]
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San Ramon Valley High School
By Ruth Steele, Principal
May always feels like the calm before the storm.
We rush through the spring, following state testing
windows, CAASPP pilot tests and the AP tests, and
then suddenly things are quiet for just a few weeks
before graduation in June.
This year, May is the month of many of our
school’s culminating events - senior ball, our new
talent show/art auction, and a safe driving assembly.
The pace does not let up until we hit finals week and then graduation.
Every year this is a bittersweet time as we watch our seniors get ready to
graduate and move on with the next phase of their lives. We have watched
them grow for four years, develop, learn, and mature, and it is so exciting
to see them in the final weeks before they leave SRVHS for bigger, better,
and more exciting adventures.
Our parents have been doing an amazing job planning grad night and
getting everything ready for the graduation ceremony. It is always a team
effort to get us through the end of the year.
We have also seen the completion of our new bleacher project, the finishing touches have been added to our pool, and a new batting cage for the
baseball program has been installed.
Finally, we are planning retirement events for a group of our outstanding veteran teachers. Lisa Sabatini, Ken Castleman, Mike Slater, Carol
MacPhail, Hans Delannoy, Jeff Torquemada, and Lorrie Harris are all
leaving SRVHS this year after exemplary and distinguished careers.
They will be graduating along with the 100th graduating class in June, and
their contribution and commitment to SRVHS is unparalleled. I would like to
recognize each of them for their incredible work with our students over the years.
Monte Vista High School
By Janet Terranova, Principal
Spring break is over and we are heading into the last
six weeks of school, but Monte Vista is definitely not
slowing down.
Before our break Monte Vista students were able to
participate in the “Every 15 Minutes” program. “Every 15
Minutes” is a two day event that was originally conceived
of by the CHP and the Office of Traffic Safety in 1990.
At that point, alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurred
every 15 minutes in the United States. The focus of the presentation included
driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs, and
distracted driving while texting. The program challenged students to think about
their choices and their responsibility as they get behind the wheel. The first day
featured a “crash scene” with the police, fire, ambulance, and coroner on scene.
The second day featured a “funeral assembly” where the students who “died”
in the accident were honored, and students had the opportunity to listen to community members who have lived through a tragedy caused by impaired drivers.
Bob Pack, from the Troy and Alana Pack Foundation, spoke to the students and
urged them to think and act responsibly.
While no program can guarantee that our students will always think and act
responsibly, I was so impressed with the respect and attention they paid to this
program. During the 75 minute crash scene, students in the stadium were quiet and
attentive. The funeral assembly took place in the gym for our 11th and 12th grade
students, and a live feed to classrooms was provided for our 9th and 10th graders.
Students were visibly affected by the speakers and took to heart their stories.
A huge thank you to our PTSA and parent community for sponsoring the
program and for the hours of volunteer time they donated. A very special thank
goes you to Laurie Terzolo who was the Chairperson for this program. Without
her dedication and organization, the students would not have had this opportunity.
If you want to know more about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit
our website at www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.
County Victims Assistance
Program Gives Victims a Voice
By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra
Costa District 2
Recently, I attended the District Attorney’s (DA’s)
Office Victims’ Rights Week Recognition Ceremony.
This annual event honors individuals who make a
difference for crime victims in Contra Costa County.
This year’s recipients included Victim Assistance
Program support staff, District Attorneys and Investigators, local Law Enforcement Officers, community crime victim advocate volunteers, a witness
to a crime, and a crime survivor.
The Contra Costa County Victim Assistance Program seeks to empower
victims and witnesses of crime through advocacy and support. Support staff
and volunteers work tenaciously to give victims a voice in the criminal justice
system, protect their rights, and treat each individual with dignity and respect.
The programs are 100% grant funded through Cal-OES, the Governor’s
Office of Emergency Services. Victim Witness Centers are located in all 58
counties in California and provide mandated services under Penal Code section 13835. The Centers were put into effect with the Victims of Crime Act
(VOCA) in 1984 with the recognition that victims needed access to services
to recover from trauma and to give them some rights in our justice system.
Advocates are assigned to all filed violent crimes that are being prosecuted
Search and Rescue
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other
critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program
provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and
compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also
include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or
other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.
org or call 646-4461.
Carroll Shelby Memorial Classic Car Show
The Pacific Coast Region of Team Shelby will be hosting their Carroll
Shelby Memorial Classic car show at the Blackhawk Museum Plaza on Sunday, May 10, from 10AM to 1PM. This inaugural memorial car show, honoring
the legacy of Carroll Shelby to NorCal “Powered by Ford” enthusiasts, will
feature Shelby, Ford GT, Cobra, and Boss vehicles. The event will benefit the
Carroll Shelby Foundation and also the Wheels for Wheelchairs Foundation.
Father’s Day Car Show ~ Sunday June 15th
Each Father’s Day the Blackhawk Automotive Museum and Blackhawk
Plaza host a car show for all dads to bring out and enjoy their favorite classic, collectible, rod, muscle, or special interest car.
Driver’s receive free admission to the Museum and a goodie bag (first
300 cars). You can pre-register at www.blackhawkmuseum.org or enter the
day of the event.
There will be a variety of family oriented activities in the Museum and
on the Plaza and live music during the day. The Bay Area Engine Modelers
and the European Train Enthusiasts will have working displays.
Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art & Craft Show
Painters, jewelers, sculptors, and other artisans will be gathering on Mother’s Day weekend at Alamo Plaza Shopping Center for the annual “Alamo
Jewelry, Fine Art and Craft Show.” This popular two-day event will be held
Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11 from 10AM to 6PM.
This year’s show features local and regional artists exhibiting original
works of art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, glass,
woodwork, mixed media, photography, and more.
“This celebration of art offers a great opportunity for art lovers to meet
with and purchase directly from some of the West Coast’s most talented artists and artisans,” said festival director John Holland.
To reach the Alamo Plaza, take the Stone Valley Rd.West Exit from Hwy.
680, then turn right 1 block on Danville Blvd.
Admission to the festival is free. For more information, visit www.jhfestivals.com.
in the DA’s Office. An advocate makes contact with the victim or family and
will stay with them through the end of the criminal case and even beyond.
The focus is to provide information about the court process, offer resources,
and assist with applications to the California Victim Compensation Program.
They also help protect and advocate for victims’ rights --under Marsy’s Law
which was passed by the voters in 2008 and is part of the California Constitution -- assist with restitution and victim impact statements, and provide
emotional support. Advocates go to court with victims and act as a liaison
with Deputy District Attorneys, law enforcement, and community agencies.
There are two Victim Assistance Centers, one in Martinez at 900 Ward
Street, (925) 957-8650; and one in Richmond at 100 – 37th Street, (510) 3743272. There are also Advocates located at the Pittsburg and Richmond Police
Departments who focus on reaching out to crime victims shortly after a crime
occurs to provide services and resources as soon as possible. They work closely
with law enforcement in East and West County to offer support and information
about the criminal process. These advocates help victims in situations where
there may not be a suspect or not enough information to file charges, or when
the investigation may take a lot of time to complete. Advocates are reaching
out to people who were previously underserved to make sure that they have
the needed resources to begin recovering from the crime.
The program is always in need of volunteers to help support the work
the advocates do. In fact, grants require that volunteers are utilized to help
provide services to victims. If you are interested in volunteering, call (925)
957-8650 or email [email protected].
My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District
2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap,
Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don't hesitate to
contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic
or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.
cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.
Interested in Participating in Government?
Seeking Volunteers for County Advisory Boards
Supervisor Candace Anderson is looking for interested, motivated residents to serve on a few Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards. These
voluntary boards usually meet monthly and advise the Board of Supervisors on a variety of issues. They play a vital role in county government and
provide important input.
District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda,
Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Saranap, and Walnut Creek (West of N.
Main Street). Applications are currently being accepted from residents of
District 2 for seats on the following boards:
• Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board: Applicants shall have a
professional interest in, or personal commitment to, alleviating problems
related to drug abuse and inappropriate alcohol use in their community.
• Aviation Advisory Committee: Advise the Board of Supervisors on
aviation issues as they relate to the airports in Contra Costa County.
• In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee:
Make recommendations to the BOS regarding the IHSS program.
• Mental Health Commission: Reviews and evaluates the community's
mental health needs, services, and facilities. Consumer Seat available.
• Alamo Municipal Advisory Council: Advise the District 2 Supervisor
on issues and concerns related to services provided by the County or other local agencies located within its boundary, which includes parks & recreation,
lighting & landscaping, land use, code enforcement, public safety, and transportation. One Alternate Seat and one Youth Seat available.
• Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee: Advise the District 2
Supervisor and the Sheriff on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community
for extended police services.
• County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee: Advise the District
2 Supervisor and the Sheriff on the needs of the Roundhill, Regency Woods, and
Windsor Green communities for extended police services.
For more information about each board, go to http://contra.napanet.net/
maddybook/. For an application, go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/6433. For additional assistance, you may contact, Jill Ray
at (925) 957-8860 or [email protected].
[email protected]
PROM SPECIAL
FREE Professional Teeth Whitening for New Patients
(must be accompanied by exam, teeth cleaning, and x-rays)
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Alamo Municipal
Advisory Council
By David Barclay, Chair
Livorna Park Bocce
Ball Update
Last summer the Alamo Municipal Advisory
Council (MAC) approved
the construction of two
bocce ball courts that will
replace the sand volleyball area at Livorna Park.
Construction of the bocce
ball courts should start in
the spring of 2015. Public
Works has completed the
preliminary design and
applied for Measure WW
Funds through the East
Bay Regional Park District. Given the popularity
of bocce ball, we anticipate these new courts will
get plenty of use.
Pedestrian and
Traffic Safety
Improvements
Last summer Supervisor Candace Andersen’s
office, in conjunction with
the Alamo MAC, conducted several public meetings
to get community feedback on how to use Area
Limited quantity available, while supplies last.
of Benefit (AOB) funds The Kitchen at Alamo Hardware & Garden Center 3211 Danville Blvd.
Items
from the Kitchen availbale at Alamo Store Only!
available to the commuAlamo, CA 94507 Call (925)837-2420 Text (925)272-9262
Expiration date May 31st 2014
nity. Every few years the
AOB project list is updated, and the Alamo MAC recently went through a an’s Club on Danville Boulevard. The public is encouraged to attend the
process of prioritizing the project list.
meetings and provide comments and ideas on issues relating to the Alamo
Based on community input and priorities, future AOB projects will focus Community. If you would like to be on an email list for the monthly agenda,
on pedestrian and traffic safety in the downtown area along Danville Bou- please contact Donna Maxwell at (925) 957-8860 or by email at donna.
levard, the intersection of Wilson Road and Livorna Road near the Alamo [email protected].
Elementary School, and Hemme Avenue near Rancho Romero.The Public
Taste of Lafayette
Works department will be restriping Danville Boulevard between Jackson
Don’t miss the town of Lafayette’s favorite dinner party – the “Taste of
Way and Stone Valley Road this summer and will reconfigure the stripLafayette” restaurant stroll is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th from 5:30-9pm
ing near Jackson Way to improve pedestrian safety. Public Works is also
There will be 24 participating restaurants. Tickets are on sale now.
working on a comprehensive downtown plan that will improve pedestrian
Sample signature dishes from the town’s regionally popular Restaurant
safety and keep traffic flowing smoothly. Elements of this plan will focus
Row restaurants and local caterers as you stroll through downtown Lafayette.
on the Jackson Way and Orchard Court intersections on Danville BouleThe evening starts with entertainment and a hosted wine and beer recepvard. It will also look at ways to improve and make safer our downtown
tion for all at 5:30pm at the Lafayette Plaza Park.
Boulevard of Trees.
The “stroll” begins at 6:30PM, when ticket holders head out at their own
New Methodist Church Gymnasium
pace to stop at any or all of the participating restaurants for sampling over
On April 1, the Board of Supervisors approved construction of a new the next two hours. Participating restaurants include Amarin Thai Restaurant,
church gymnasium at the Methodist Church on Danville Boulevard. The American Kitchen, Back to the Table, Chevalier Restaurant, La Finestra
facility will be available for youth programs throughout the community. Ristorante, Mangia Ristorante, Patxi’s Pizza, Postino, Round Table Pizza,
The MAC actively supported this project on behalf of the community and Rustic Tavern, Susan Foord Catering, SusieCakes, The Cooperage, Uncle Yu’s
is looking forward to its completion.
Szechuan, and Yankee Pier. Two free shuttle buses will also serve the route.
Alamo MAC
At the end of the stroll everyone meets back at Lafayette Plaza Park at
The Alamo MAC is made up of seven Alamo residents, each with the goal 8:30PM to compare notes over dessert and coffee.
of representing their neighbors’ interests to Contra Costa County Supervisor
Tickets are available online at www.lafayettechamber.org, at the Lafayette
Candace Andersen, who in turn, makes decisions and recommendations to Chamber offices, located at 100 Lafayette Circle, Suite 103 or by calling 925her fellow supervisors that impact our community.
284.7404. Tickets are $45/person when you buy them by May 9th and after
The MAC meets at 6pm on the first Tuesday of every month at the Wom- that date $50/ticket.
[email protected]
Ruth Bancroft Garden
By Linda Summers Pirkle
My sister and I inherited our mother’s jade plants. Mine are planted in
three very heavy terra cotta pots. Every winter I drag the pots from the edge
of my patio to a place near the house to keep them from freezing, then come
spring I drag them back out to their spots. My mother had them for many
years before I got them; they are at least forty years old. I have to admit, they
are not my favorite plant -- I always thought they were a bit old fashioned, a
M th
ay
bit like the purple carpet of ice plant we had in our front yard. But they were
May 10th & 11th
mom’s, so of course they have a special place in my heart.
Succulents, like my jade plants, echeveria, and aloes are very popular plants
now, because of their drought resistance and easy maintenance. The latest Martha
PLEASE JOIN US!
Stewart Living magazine features an article called “Sensational Succulents.” A
portion of the article states, “This group of plants is quickly becoming popular with
Let Us Help You “Fill” Your Bucket List
home gardeners because of the ease with which they can be propagated, raised,
Alamo World Travel presents
divided, and even shared with friends and other gardeners. In addition, because
most require only small amounts of moisture, little cultivation, and pruning, and
modest amounts of growing medium, they are excellent varieties to enjoy in even
drought-plagued areas and warm or hot climates.”
Thursday, May 22 from 5:30 to 7:30pm
For Ruth Bancroft, age 105, of the Ruth Bancroft Gardens in Walnut Creek,
At Round Hill Country Club’s Vista Ballroom in Alamo
these plants have never gone out of “style” and have been a focus for her
incredible collection for the past 40 years. According to the website for the
Garden, when Ruth was in her 60’s she began to plant succulents on the threeacre property, and her garden attracted much attention from horticulturists and
gardeners. She learned about gardening from reading and experimenting and
figuring out what worked. The garden opened to the public in the early 1990’s.
I visited the Ruth Bancroft Gardens on one of the few rainy days this spring.
Wine Reception 5:30 to 6:30pm
Although the garden is located on a parcel of land between the busy streets
of Treat and Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, it is a very serene spot.
Grand Prize Drawing
With umbrellas, our group of ten followed Adrian, our guide, down pathways,
Verandah Suite on
under trees and into a glorious green house filled with gorgeous, sometimes
Holland America Pacific Coastal Cruise
eerie plants that are examples of what may be a garden of the future because
of its ability to thrive with little water.
Adrian shared stories of how Ruth collected some of the plants and pointed
out various drought tolerant plants, all unique, each with its own story.
There is a lot going on in this special garden. They offer tours, seminars,
and events including author events, art and jazz, agaves and tequila, and
sculpture displays in the garden.
The garden is a nice spot to take a picnic lunch; there are picnic tables and
Please RSVP to Lisa-Lorene 925-837-8742
benches tucked in among the many plants.
th
*The 20 annual Sculpture in the Garden event, is a one of a kind event
or email [email protected]
combining outdoor art with the garden’s stunning sculptural succulents.
Alamo World Travel 3201 Danville Blvd. #255, Alamo, CA 94507
Opening day is June 13.
925-837-8742
800-848-8747
*Outdoor weddings are now available at the garden. As of April 2014,
the beautiful grounds are available for your special event. This brand new service is not being advertised, but the garden will most likely be a very popular
venue for outdoor weddings of 75 to 150 people.
*Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek. Their phone number is 925-944-9352. Their website is www.Ruthbancroftgarden.org.
* Hours are 11AM to 6PM, Monday thru Sunday, and 7PM on Thursdays.
Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several
years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “If it’s a trip for
my husband and me, my husband drives and I talk (he’s a captive audience) – the perfect combination! What a great place to live, so much to see, so much
to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email [email protected].
Vacation Showcase 2014
Volunteers Needed
Contra Costa Wind Symphony Presents “Johan Museum
Looking to get involved in the community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley
needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas:
de Meij Live!”
The Contra Costa Wind Symphony (CCWS) will present “ Johan de Meij
Live!”on Sunday, May 18 at 7:30PM. The event will feature a rare Bay Area
appearance by the Dutch composer, who will conduct several of his works
including the West Coast premiere of his new “Symphony No. 4, Sinfonie der
Lieder (Symphony of Songs).” This work features acclaimed mezzo-soprano
Kristin Gornstein from New York and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir.
The performance will take place at the Lesher Center for the Arts, located
at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Tickets can be purchased by calling
(925) 943-SHOW(7469) or visiting lesherartscenter.org. Tickets are $25 for
adults, $18 for seniors, and complimentary for students.
To learn more, visit the CCWS website at www.CCWindSymphony.org.
• Greeters
• Docents
• Walking Tour Docents • Events Committee
• Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life)
Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693, or email [email protected] for
additional information.
Want to Become a Better Speaker?
Toastmasters allows its members to practice their speaking and presentation
skills in a supportive environment. Our local club, Danville AM Toastmasters,
meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at Father Nature's Restaurant in downtown
Danville (172 E Prospect Ave). Please drop by and visit us! For more information,
contact Hans Thoma at [email protected].
Energy Matters
By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar
As a business owner, there is no better place than the
contracting industry to apply some very basic principles
which I was fortunate enough to learn while on active
duty as an officer in the military.
A business needs to have and execute a “mission statement.” Ours is simple: do what we say, when we say, for
the price we say. A business must also recognize the importance of continually communicating to its customers.
Price changes are rarely legally justified and typically inappropriate. There are obvious differences between business and military missions, but
success is a result of planning, executing, and improving for the next project or mission.
To guarantee success of a solar project: Find a high quality contractor with the
appropriate licenses to install your solar PV system. Ninety percent of construction
litigation stems from issues involving water damage which are mostly preventable
with use of licensed roofer. In addition, many municipalities require an electrician to
do the electric portion of the solar work because of the complexity of the installation.
A high quality contractor will recommend products that have a 25 plus year history
of performance in the field. If documentation of long-term performance history is
not provided, find a contractor who will provide documentation. Trust, but verify.
NEMA (Net Energy Metering Aggregation) is a new PG&E solar rate which
allows an electric customer with a single solar system to reduce electric costs to
multiple electric meters on the same or contiguous properties. Electric connection to
only one of the meters is required. Cost offset percentages are proportioned by the
property owner and credited to the other meters on the account via PG&E software.
The ability of a consumer to check a businesses’ performance and customer
satisfaction via online review websites is getting very popular. Review websites
GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction, Inc is seeking a
recently separated United States Marine or other armed service member
for an entry level position. The candidate should be disciplined, have
the ability to work with people, be agile, and motivated. SFC Inc/
GoSimpleSolar will offer a true career path to the right individual for
growth in earnings, experience, and leadership.
Cinema Classics and Musical Notes
My Man Godfrey and Kleingeld
By Peggy Horn
This month’s Cinema Classic recommendation is,
My Man Godfrey, (1936) starring William Powell,
Carole Lombard, and Gail Patrick.
Although this movie is described as a screwball
comedy, it has as its plot a valuable social commentary:
the treatment of the “forgotten man.” The forgotten
man refers rather indelicately to members of the
homeless, unemployed population, many of whom are living at the local
city dump. The homeless population was a genuine problem since the 1929
stock market crash predated the filming of this movie by only a few years.
The movie begins with a scathingly inappropriate scavenger hunt in which
a “forgotten man” was to be furnished to the scavenger hunt headquarters.
Sisters Cornelia Bullock, played by Gail Patrick, and Irene Bullock, played
by Carole Lombard, are each vying to be the first to find a forgotten man.
Cornelia goes to the dump in her evening gown, finds Godfrey, and offers him
five dollars to make an appearance. Finding Cornelia’s behavior insulting,
Godfrey turns her down flat, but he offers to help Irene whose approach is
more tactful, even endearing. Irene ends up hiring Godfrey to be the family
butler, providing him with much needed employment and an opportunity to
think things through. Through his job as butler, Godfrey is able to improve his
own state of affairs and that of the Bullock family, as well.
My Man Godfrey, is a delightful film and was deemed “culturally
significant” by the United States Library of Congress in 1999. It is available
for purchase or rental online.
have the potential to become “the great equalizer” between businesses, large and
small. For the most part, it’s a valid process and makes companies’ business practices transparent to the public. Unfortunately, some false reviews do exist. Some
consumers choose a local small business because of an assumed service quality
advantage, while others find comfort by doing business with big box companies
for the perceived stability of that company. But no longer can a large business hide
behind its size as an obvious consumer choice if it has a history of poor reviews. The
moral of the story for construction and solar projects: Do business with those with
the best business record and products. These things are easily searchable online these
days. Even Facebook is getting into the review business. Of course, back up your
initial choice by checking license status at www.cslb.ca.gov, confirming liability and
workman’s comp insurance status, and the oft forgotten step of calling references.
State rebates, still available: The New Solar Homes Partnership is a program
which provides rebates to solar projects on new and fully remodeled homes. Most
new homes automatically qualify because of local efficiency regulations for a
new build. Today’s average rebate is about $8,000 additional monies back to the
homeowner for an average sized solar system. The 30% Federal Tax Credit is still
available for two and a half years.
A recent article in Solar Today titled “Sorting Out Legal Responsibility for
Defective Solar Panels” was a head shaker yet provided me much business model
validation. If a business offers safe product choices to its customers, and installs them
properly, “defective solar panels” and “sorting out responsibility” will never be an
issue. The best warranty IS the best product. The finger pointing in the article is tragic;
the manufacturer blames product failure as a result of poor installation practices
on the installer, and the installer blames poor quality control at the manufacturing
plant. The agreement between the insurer and solar panel project owner restricts the
ability of the claimant to identify the solar panel manufacturer so as to not “harm”
the manufacturer. Who suffers? The consumer. Why put risk into an investment that
essentially doesn’t have any if done properly and with the right products?
Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). GoSimpleSolar can be reached at 925-331-8011. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s NEW and larger
showroom at 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite B, Danville (behind Pete’s Brass Rail)
and receive a $500 discount on your solar system. Go to www.GoSimpleSolar.
com for a free quote, or email [email protected].
Advertorial
Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents
2014 Movie Under the Stars
Friday, July 18th
Movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
at Livorna Park in Alamo
(Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)
Musical Notes
To complement this month’s movie, why not download the soundtrack
from the Broadway play, Annie? In the Broadway production, Andrea
McArdle plays the starring role which was nominated for a Tony award.
Bring blankets, chairs, flashlights, snacks, family and friends.
For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
[email protected]
Sustainable Danville Area Tip of
the Month
By Carol Rossi
There’s something about spring that inspires folks
with even the brownest of thumbs to celebrate the season of rebirth and
renewal by getting out in the garden and planting something, only to watch
their cherished seedlings struggle, flounder, and then wither and die. Don’t
despair if your horticultural efforts of the past have produced disappointing
results. Even experienced gardeners have disappointments in the garden
because Mother Nature does not always cooperate. Success in gardening, as
in life, is often just a matter of good timing.
Yes, the days are getting longer and warmer, and the nurseries are full of
seedlings - heirloom tomatoes, exotic peppers, eggplants, squash, cucumbers
– all symbols of summer’s vegetable bounty. But spring night temperatures
still drop into the 40’s. April brings its showers and May its desiccating
winds. These are conditions that can permanently stunt heat-loving summer
varieties, causing poor growth and fruit production even if they do survive.
The wise gardener knows to wait until mid to late-May before setting out
the long-season summer seedlings and to channel his or her enthusiasm with
traditional spring crops that thrive in the cooler weather and gentle rains
which grace our region from February through May.
Sugar snap peas can be direct sown as early as mid-February and will
produce for almost two months until they are cleared out in late May to make
way for tomato plants. Lettuce and spinach seedlings can be set out every two
weeks staring March 1st to ensure a steady harvest until June. Fast-growing
Bok Choi, set out after the last frost date in late March, will be providing
tender baby leaves for salads within three weeks and larger plants for stir
fry before the end of April. Green onions are another great “catch crop” that
will fill vegetable beds from mid-February through May. Simply buy yellow
onion bulbs (or “sets”) at the nursery, and harvest the baby seedlings when
their bottom stems are as big as a pencil.
While their spring gardens are producing wonderful salad fixings and
sweet, crunchy sugar snaps, patient gardeners can be growing their own
tomato and pepper seedlings indoors or watching the nursery sales until day
and night temperatures are warm enough to ensure thriving summer crops.
Proper selection of varieties is often the key to success at this point. All
heirloom vegetables were cultivated to grow in a specific region or climate.
The Georgia Streak, for example, was bred to thrive in the heat and humidity
of southern summers. San Francisco Fog, as the name implies, was bred to
produce even in that city’s famously cold and overcast summers. But neither
variety can be expected to do well outside of the environment to which they
are inherently acclimated. Gardeners who want happy, productive plants
should always check to make sure their selections are adaptable to their
specific microclimate.
“Wannabe” vegetable gardeners can also improve their chances for success by taking a class or receiving rudimentary instruction from more experienced garden hands. A fun way to improve your vegetable-growing skills
is by signing up for a season of growing at The Bounty Garden, located at
Hap Magee Park in Danville. The hands-on program at The Bounty Garden
brings together community volunteers in a fun and friendly environment to
learn about growing sustainable, organic vegetables. There is no cost and
no experience necessary to be a vegetable grower at the Garden. Volunteers
are asked to commit to one growing season of the year and attend two group
meetings to meet one another, be introduced to the Garden and the program,
and register for a raised bed. Three free workshops on seedling propagation,
composting, and harvesting are also offered and are a great chance to learn
basic gardening techniques and get questions answered. The Bounty Garden
is committed to providing fresh, nutritious greens to people who need them.
So, you can keep what you learn, but all vegetables grown in the Garden
are donated to the local Food Banks of Contra Costa and Solano Counties.
Learn more about The Bounty Garden, its program, and its mission at www.
thebountygarden.com.
Visit www.sustainabledanville.com or join us at www.facebook.com/
sustainabledanvillearea for local green events and resources.
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Life in the Alamo Garden
By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect
Timeless and Transitional
I like to follow-up with my clients after a period
of time to see how they were enjoying their beautiful yards. After 35 years of creating gardens, I have
discovered a new distinction for how a landscape
matures and why some of my clients were disappointed even though they absolutely loved their
gardens initially. Timeless and Transitional, that’s it!
At first glance the phrase “Timeless and Transitional” seems a little dramatic. Well, it isn’t really and I will tell you why. It all begins with expectations! We all know a garden can be beautiful, relaxing, stunning, delightful,
therapeutic, and all those great things I usually write about. On the other
hand, gardens can be ugly, annoying and agitating, and sometimes they just
don’t meet your expectations, and that is disappointing! Most likely you have
felt the way I feel about my own garden sometimes; you too, at one time or
another, have been disappointed and down right upset about your garden.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my garden and my clients love the ones I design
for them, but sometimes it just seems like nature (and untrained gardeners)
get the best of our expectations. Case in point, I went to visit one of my client’s gardens only to find plants that I had designed in the plans were either
missing, woody and misshaped, or turned into little balls and squares. Plants
were missing because nature over the last two years had taken its toll. Perennials were missing, lavender was just woody half broken stalks, and lovely
arching shrubs turned into balls and squares in their prime bloom time! This
is not what I expect, and most of my clients didn’t either.
I have written about the importance of the hardscape (built elements) timeless element as one aspect of creating an outdoor environment while the other
element is the softscape (living elements) transitional. What I discovered in
this distinction of timeless and transitional is that while the backbone of the
design of the garden was still there, beautiful and functioning just as I had
designed it to be, the softscape was displaying the transitions of the years. If
it wasn’t the harsh cold
winter, the ultra-wet
spring, and the long
hot Indian summer, it
was untrained gardeners, the varmints, the
pets, fungus, and youname-it that thrashed
our expectations for a
beautiful and everlasting show-piece.
Here is the good
news and the bad
news...Good news,
there is hope! Bad
news, rearrange your
expectations! Gardens
are truly “Timeless and
Transitional.” Good
design will always be
timeless and will last
over the years. The
timeless aspects of a good landscape design are the beautiful and elegant
elements of the hardscape such as well-crafted stone work on your patio, seat
wall, and pool; a detailed trellis, pergola, arbor, fences, and garden gates;
well-placed timeless trees like Oaks, redwoods, maples, olives, crape myrtles;
and long-lasting plantings like laurel, boxwood, mock orange, wisteria, camellias, and more than I can name in one article.
While “Timeless” is a little easier to swallow, “Transitional” is the one that
forces us to rearrange our expectations. We need to learn to understand that
the living aspect of your design is a moving target and more unpredictable.
It has taken me almost 30 years to get it. Snails eat your plants, fungus curls
your peach leaves (unless you remember to spray at the precise time), aphids
arrive every year to devour
your roses, and plants need
replacing every so often just
like your home needs fresh
paint and new carpet.
Now you can relax in your
garden; watch the transitions
happen, replace and update
as necessary, appreciate the
majesty of your timeless elements, and rearrange your
expectations to accept the
transitional! I have a newfound appreciation and patience for the transitional after
thirty-something years in the
garden.
A hot tip from your local
Landscape Architect: One
of the services we offer is
to work with my staff horticulturist to do consulting for
clients who don’t need a full
Master Landscape Plan. This
service offers on-site practical advice addressing your “transitional” concerns.
Check out my website!
Gardening Quote of the Month: My green thumb came only as a result
of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant’s point of
view. - H. Fred Ale
If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas
to [email protected] or for design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial
Walnut Creek Garden Club
The Walnut Creek Garden Club (WCGC) will hold a meeting on Monday,
May 12 at 9:30AM at The Gardens at Heather Farm, located at 1540 Marchbanks Road in Walnut Creek.
The event will include a business meeting, social time, plant exchange, and
visits to several members’ gardens. You do not need to be a “gardener” to attend a
meeting or join the WCGC. For more information, contact [email protected].
Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center
The Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center is hosting an evening with Miko Peled,
author of The General’s Son, on Thursday, May 29th. A potluck will be held at 6PM,
and Peled will speak and make his presentation at 7PM in the Owl Room at Mt. Diablo
Unitarian Universalist Church which is located at 55 Eckley Lane in Walnut Creek.
Peled is the son of an Israeli General who believes that peace for Israel and the entire
region will only come when the walls come down and a secular democracy is established where Israelis and Palestinians are able to live as equals in their shared homeland.
He will share his vision for transforming what he views as an Israeli apartheid system
into a secular democracy. For more information, visit www.mikopeled.com.
Suggested donation is $20, and bring a dish to share if attending the potluck
(No one will be turned away). Students attend free of charge. Additional information is available at www.ourpeacecenter.org or by calling (925) 933-7850.
[email protected]
The Incense-Cedar
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
The incense-cedar graces many Bay Area
gardens with its shade, beauty, and intriguing
fragrance. Calocedrus decurrens, its Latin
name, means beautiful cedar. The striking
contrast between the vibrant greens of its
leaves and the trunk’s rich reds creates a pleasing aesthetic further enhanced by the
relaxed elegance of the weeping foliage. The beauty of this tree is not confined to the
realm of the visual. The incense-cedar gives off a distinctive fragrance that fills the
air with a pungent aroma strongly reminiscent of grade-school classrooms and the
unforgettable smell of the pencil sharpener. In my youth, and still largely today, pencils
were made from the soft and distinctively fragrant wood of Calocedrus decurrens.
The incense-cedar is not a true cedar (thus the hyphen). The so-called “true
cedars” are native to the Mediterranean and the Himalayas, and are members of
the genus Cedrus. These include the majestic Deodora and Atlas cedars, as well
as the famous Cedar of Lebanon.
The incense-cedar, which may live a thousand years and attain a height of 150
feet, is a true California native. It evolved in North America, and its current range
extends from the Cascade Mountains in northern Oregon, through the Sierra Nevadas, and down to the Sierra San Pedro Matir of Baja California. Throughout its
range it has been important in the lives of Native Americans. The Klamath tribe
of Oregon wove its bark into baskets. The California Paiutes made infusions of its
leaves for colds. The Round Valley tribe of Mendocino Country used leaflets as
flavoring when leaching acorn meal. This species has provided Native Americans
with food, shelter, clothing, and music.
The incense-cedar’s natural resistance to rot made it very useful both in antiquity and in modern times. Homebuilders use it for siding, decking, moulding, and
interior paneling. Landscapers use its chips and bark for mulch. Its wood is made
into furniture, shingles, and railway ties. Sawdust and wood scraps help fuel cogeneration of electricity.
The softness of the wood and its resistance to splintering make the incense-cedar
ideal for encasing pencil lead. However, these qualities also make the wood fragile,
brittle, and potentially somewhat problematic as an urban landscape tree. When it
grows as one trunk from a thick base to a single pyramid-shaped crown, the incensecedar is relatively stable; it requires little work other than the periodic removal of
deadwood. But if the trunk of the tree divides into multiple columns or has large
branches which turn up and rise parallel to the trunk, the tree has structural problems
that make it vulnerable to column failure. After some recent winter storms, Brende &
Lamb looked at many incense-cedars that had shed branches and sometimes entire
columns. Most of the failed trees suffered from a malady of tree anatomy called
included bark. This structural defect occurs when the bark at the crotch folds inward,
and interrupts the continuity of the fibers supporting the columns.
Good pruning can ameliorate many structural problems. Co-dominant stems
(more than one column of roughly the same diameter) are more likely to fail than
trees with a single leading column. Sometimes reducing one of the competing
leaders can minimize the hazard. If column removal is not advisable for aesthetic
or functional reasons, it is often possible to cable the multiple stems together.
However, individual trees are so unstable that removal is the safest alternative.
Whatever you do, do not top these trees. Topping a cedar will eventually produce
many unstable columns multiplying the risk and, ultimately, the expense of keeping
the tree. Preventative medicine is almost always less expensive and more effective
than later surgery. If you plant an incense-cedar, choose nursery stock with only
one trunk and no crotches with included bark. Remember that a seedling cedar
can grow to over a hundred feet, and that tall trees may cause view concerns for
yourself and your neighbors.
Calocedrus has graced the California landscape for almost 200 million years.
With a little forethought and good pruning, the incense-cedar can continue to bless
Bay Area gardens with the subtle fragrance of childhood. It takes a little effort to
live at peace with this large California native, but its bounty of colors, shapes, and
scents make that effort worthwhile.
If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us
at [email protected] for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.
brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in
Advertorial
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Since
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1211138-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1
11/16/12 9:28 AM
Clip Notes By Jody Morgan
Every tour at the Ruth Bancroft Garden takes a
different route, but each one I conduct pauses beside
the Palo Verde tree in Bed 7. Green even in the direst
drought, this desert denizen dresses its branches with
glorious yellow blossoms in spring. The delicate foliage
provides filtered shade. Most remarkable among the
Palo Verde’s survival skills is its ability to drop all its
leaves to conserve moisture, yet continue to photosynthesize utilizing chlorophyll in the green branches from
whence it takes its name, which means “green stick.”
The talking point visitors are likeliest to remember, however, has little
to do with the tree’s horticultural virtues. As witness for the prosecution, a
Palo Verde was the first plant to provide DNA testimony at a murder trial.
While guiding a tour together several years ago, fellow docent Bud Rotermund introduced me to the tale. The magazine Science ran an account of
the investigation in the May 14, 1993 issue. In 1994, PBS aired the story as
part of the Scientific American Frontiers series with Alan Alda narrating.
When the strangled body of a young woman was discovered outside
of Phoenix, Charlie Norton became lead detective. A beeping pager at the
scene focused his attention first on the subscriber Earl Bogan and then on
his son Mark, who had been using it. Mark feigned delight at the recovery
of the device. He claimed he had given a hitchhiker a ride, but she had tried
to steal his wallet. He grabbed the wallet back before she ran away, carrying
his pager with her.
Reducing Waste: What you Buy Speaks to
your Conservation Priorities
By Lois Courchaine, Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority
As a society, we are becoming more and more aware of our dwindling natural
resources and the increasingly important role resource recovery and recycling
play. But how much does each of us really do every day to make sure we are
part of the solution and not the problem?
An easy way to start is by just being aware of what you're doing or not doing with
the things you buy, use and then discard. Here are some things for you to consider.
• Let Your Dollars Do the Talking: What you purchase (or don't purchase)
speaks volumes about your priorities. Being more conscious about what you
put in your shopping cart is really where the rubber meets the road. If we don't
take the time to look at labels or pay attention to packaging, we send a signal
to the marketplace that the status quo is just fine, and we are settling for less
than we deserve (e.g. healthy food and a cleaner environment).
• Know the Rules of Recycling: We’ve all been there.
You can’t remember if your empty container is recyclable,
and you just don't have the patience to look for that recyclables list. What to do? If the container is made of paper
or metal, chances are it goes into your burgundy recycling
cart. If it’s plastic, turn it over and look for the triangular
recycling symbol with a number. If the number is 1-5,
then it’s recyclable.
And what about packaging that is made from various
materials, like kids’ juice boxes? Rule of thumb: When
in doubt, recycle it.
• Bag the Bag: Plastic bags may be convenient, but they
contribute to litter issues and ultimately marine pollution.
Most of us have a stockpile of reusable bags in our garage
or car, but we can’t remember to use them. If you are committed to using fewer plastic bags this year, you should try:
• Writing a reminder at the top of your shopping list
• Leaving your reusable bags on the passenger
seat of your car
• Carrying bags that fit in your pocket or purse.
If you only have a few items, you can forgo a bag altogether. Remember: You can’t put plastic bags into your
recycling container; they need to go back to the retailer.
• Take the “3 R’s” to Work: Sure, you're recycling
at home but why not take that same routine to work? If
See Waste continued on page 30
Offer expires 06/30/14
Norton believed Bogan was prevaricating. Could he find sufficient evidence to establish guilt? The crime scene yielded neither footprints nor tire
tracks, but the detective noticed a Palo Verde tree with a fresh cut in its bark.
He picked up a few pods. Examination of the truck Bogan drove revealed no
damage, but the truck bed contained some Palo Verde pods.
Asked by his superior officer if a DNA match could be made using the
pods, Norton called 14 geneticists who considered the task totally impractical before reaching Tim Helentjaris, Professor of Molecular Genetics at the
University of Arizona in Tucson. Helentiaris was not optimistic, but he was
intrigued. He casually commented that the chance of conclusively matching
a pod to the parent tree was a million in one. Many plant species are so genetically uniform that individuals are not distinguishable by DNA markers.
A posse was dispatched to bring in pods from trees in the Phoenix area.
Samples collected from 38 Palo Verdes showed each to have a profile as
distinct as a fingerprint. The pods in Bogan’s truck matched exactly the
gouged Palo Verde at the site where the body was found. For the first time,
DNA evidence from a plant was presented in a criminal trial. On May 27th,
1993, Mark Bogan was convicted of first-degree murder.
Indigenous to the deserts of the southwestern US and Mexico, several species of Palo Verdes provide shade essential to the development of seedlings
of other drought-tolerant plants including the Saguaro Cactus. Native people
ground the seeds for flour, boiled the pods to eat with meat, strung the seeds
for necklaces, and produced red dye from the flowers.
Arizona designated the Palo Verde as its official state tree in 1954. The
Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida) and the Yellow Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) are native to the Sonoran Desert. The tree in Bed 7 at
the Ruth Bancroft Garden, Mexican Palo Verde (Parkinsonia aculeata), is
native from central Texas to northern South America. All three species share
similar traits, but the Mexican Palo Verde is especially spiny. All grow in full
sun and require well-drained soil.
Nature has no laws prohibiting cross-pollination by horticultural kissing
cousins. Studying Palo Verde seedlings at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
in Tucson in the early 1970s, Mark Dimmit discovered a spineless specimen
with the best characteristics of each the three species listed above. Careful
testing indicated all three had contributed to its genetic composition. By 1981,
this remarkable hybrid was ready for release as Parkinsonia ‘Desert Museum.’
‘Desert Museum’ blooms from early spring to early summer and may rebloom during the summer if given supplemental water. The flowers are larger
than those of the three straight species. ‘Desert Museum’ can tolerate temperatures as low as 15oF. The branching habit is upright. Growth up to 20-30 feet
is rapid, but pruning will keep ‘Desert Museum’ sized to fit your landscape.
[email protected]
Kiwanis Club is Taking
Applications for the 2014
Danville 4th of July Parade
SMART Homeowners
The organizers of the San Ramon Valley
• A trusted, high integrity, locally owned
Kiwanis Fourth of July Parade in Danville are
company
now accepting parade applications thru June
AM
• Highest quality installations
23, 12 . The theme of the 2014 Parade will
be “Celebrating Our American Freedom.”
• Experienced with installations in your
Sign up now at www.Kiwanis-SRV.org for
neighborhood
your parade entry. The parade will start at
• Flexible financing options to suit a wide
9AM. Mark your calendars!
spectrum of fiscal situations
Sponsorships for the 2014 Parade are still
• Free estimates
available and are a great way to publicize
• Government incentives
your business and support the local comare still available
munity. Kiwanis donates 100% of the net
proceeds of the sponsorships to local community non-profits through the SRV Kiwanis
Foundation Grants program.
Organizers are proud to announce that
there will be two Grand Marshals this year.
• Art Gaskin, a local WWII Vet, who
was an armored officer with the Second and
Thirteenth Armored Division during WWII.
He also served in the armies of occupation
in both Germany and Japan.
• Noah Bailey, a SPC with the 173rd AirUse promo code: NEST to
borne Brigade in a Scout Sniper platoon
recieve a
as a designated marksman and gunner in
Afghanistan. He was severely injured when
the vehicle he was in took a direct hit from
an IED.
About 125 entries in 15 different categories are expected. Parade categories are
with your installation
Parade Theme, Animal, Auto Special Interest or Antique, Band, Church, Community
Be a SMART Homeowner, choose
Service, Dance/Theatrical, Float, Marching
Unit, Neighborhood/HOA, Novelty-Comic
Group, Retail Business, Scout Unit, Service
Business, and Sports Team. Parade winners
will be posted in the newspaper and online.
Every participant will receive a ribbon with
925.228.4SUN (4786)
club info, the theme, and the date.
th
www.solaruniverse.com
The Kiwanis-Danville 4 of July Parade
CSLB Lic. #785075
is an incredible event which typically attracts between 35,000 and 40,000 attendees,
including local community residents as well as friends and family from Contra Costa Cribbage Club
areas far beyond Danville. Some folks describe the parade as something
15-two, 15-four, a pair for six and a run of three make nine. Hearing this
from “The Music Man,” and others say it’s simply the last vestiges of gibberish while seeing two opponents, a deck of cards and a slab of wood
small town America.
that looks like it was attacked by a crazed, but linear minded woodpecker,
The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley is a community service club can only mean one thing. The game is cribbage, a two-person card game
comprised of local business leaders and community residents who enjoy dating back to its inception in England during the early 1630s.
The Contra Costa Cribbage Club (CCCC) is one of 188 active Grass Roots
sharing good fellowship, building enduring friendships, and helping local
organizations and individuals with community service projects and grant clubs across the country. Club director Adrian Levy learned the game when he
funding. For information on membership or how to be involved, please was 10-years old from his British father. Decades later, he’s still happy to play
email [email protected] or visit www.kiwanis-srv.org. The the game and offer it to others. “Cribbage is a game of probability and psychology, much like poker. But most of all, it’s a fun social game for people of all
club holds weekly luncheon meetings at noon on Thursdays at Round
backgrounds and ages,” says Levy.
Hill Country Club in Alamo. Please join the club for lunch, and find out
The members of the CCCC can be found every Wednesday evening at
more about the organization
pm
6 “salting the crib” and avoiding the dreaded “skunk.” They play a nineKiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing game format. The CCCC offers cribbage aficionados a chance to play this
the world one child and one community at a time. More than 600,000 great game at an affordable price, too. Members pay a $1 entry fee to the
Kiwanis family members in 96 countries make their mark by responding club. Optional pools are paid out to the top 25% of the participants, as well
to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address as the high hand. The Club meets at the offices of Dudum Real Estate, 1910
worldwide issues. Through these efforts, Kiwanis International truly is Suite100, Walnut Creek. Visitors are welcome.
For further information, call Adrian Levy at 925-899-1928.
“Serving the Children of the World.”
WILL get solar soon…
The question is…
WHO will they get it from?
FREE
Nest Thermostat
Cook continued from front page
on accessible grocers, such as the dollar stores and
grocery outlets.
Many basics are taught. The students may take
frozen vegetables and learn to incorporate them into a
pasta meal. In another class students will learn to make
three dishes from a pound of hamburger: Sloppy Joe’s,
enchiladas, and meatloaf. They may focus on cooking
staples such as starches using mashed potatoes, rice,
and pasta. Many students work with ingredients or
techniques foreign to them, such as artichokes or peeling fresh vegetables.
Beginning with basic knowledge of the differences
between fresh, frozen and canned foods, Patt uses her
skills to give this opportunity to students with very limited circumstances and resources. She strongly believes
that teaching any child to use their hands, particularly
in cooking, gives them a platform for success that can
be parleyed into other areas. Patt feels when students
realize they are competent in cooking they can then
build on that success in other areas of their lives.
Many of the kids involved in the cooking program
have had 10 to 12 home placements in their lives, lots
of turmoil, and hard knocks. Some of the students come
to the class and refuse to do anything. Patt’s response,
“That’s fine! This isn’t school so you’re welcome to
just watch.” Students come around as Patt’s relaxed and
fun methodology eventually pulls them in. One story
Patt tells is about a student who was determined not to
participate but then began to stir a pot and eventually
suggested how to modify a recipe! In another lesson
a previously sullen “watcher” said that although she
‘hated’ cooking, she was having a good time - since then
she has been a regular in Patt’s program. These successful classes will help these youth as they emancipate,
find jobs, and have a place of their own.
Patt believes each student’s cooking experience may
be one of the few times they have had a successful
outcome. She finds that the children are truly surprised
and often can’t believe they made something they enjoy
eating. Patt said, “You can tell they’re proud of what
they create when cell phone pictures are being taken
of each dish!”
This has been a highly successful program that the
AWC is pleased to sponsor for Youth Homes. AWC
knows there are many ways to help a community, but
for a hands-on experience that meets an immediate need,
Patt Larkin’s “How to Cook and Make a Meal” classes
have surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Pictured below in white is Patt, AWC liaison Peggy Fleming to the
right of Patt, and counselors from Youth Homes who come with youth
to supervise the lesson.
v
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No cash substitutes. May not be used on payment of account. Spartina, Pandora, Brighton, Boy Scouts,
Estee Lauder, Clinique, Lancome, Fragrance Dept., TOMS and UGG excluded.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society was formed in 1985 and
now has over 170 members. The group meets at 10AM the third Tuesday
of every month, except in August and December. The group gathers at the
Danville Family History Center located at 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo.
The speaker for the May 20th meeting is Kay Speaks wither her topic,
“Passengers Lists and Annotations.” The June 17th meeting will feature
Richard Ferman talking on “Pennsylvania Research.”
The group also conducts educational classes for its members and has
various special interest groups.
Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881,
visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email [email protected].
[email protected]
Don’t be Afraid of
Windows 8
By Evan Corstorphine,
Portable CIO
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be
Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your
Home for Sale
Alamo - According to industry experts, away altogether. In most cases, you can
Recently I was invited to speak to
there
are over 33 physical problems that make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself
a large group of gentlemen in Walnut Creek. We covered a variety of will come under scrutiny during a home if you know what you're looking for, and
topics, however there was one sub- inspection when your home is for sale. knowing what you're looking for can help
ject which is beginning to be a com- A new report has been prepared which you prevent little problems from growing
mon part of any computer discussion I’ve had lately. That identifies the 11 most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones.
is, “I need a new computer, but do I have to get Windows 8 problems, and what you should know about To help home sellers deal with this issue
before their homes are listed, a free report
with it? I’ve read reviews and they all said it’s terrible…” them before you list your home for sale.
Whether
you
own
an
old
home
or
a
brand
entitled "11Things You Need to Know to
The Windows 8 situation is a very good example of what
new
one,
there
are
a
number
of
things
Pass Your Home Inspection" has been
can happen when you have a great idea but don’t execute it
that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved.
very well. This month we’ll explore the issue, and I’ll give
home inspection. If not identified and dealt
To hear a brief recorded message about
you a great tip you can use to make Windows 8 as tame as
with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report,
your Windows 7 or XP computer.
dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter
I respect Microsoft for their accomplishments just as I
critical that you read this report before 2001. You can call any time, 24 hours a day,
respect any successful company which has managed to be you list your home. If you wait until the
7 days a week.
huge and prosperous like Xerox, Apple, and IBM. They are building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn
all great companies which have taken the market by storm at you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't
one point or another, and who have faced good times as well costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home.
as bad. They all survive today because they employ smart sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers
people who figure out their problems and keep innovating,
This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013
even when they make mistakes or the market doesn’t go their
way. Sometimes, companies seem to succeed despite repeated missteps that sabotage their own Alamo Sheriff’s Station Staffed
success. Microsoft is in this category.
Do you remember the Windows Vista operating system? It was actually just the early version and Ready
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Station, located in the
of the popular Windows 7 operating system, but Vista was released prematurely. It was slow and
worked poorly. To make things worse, Microsoft “certified” it to work on under-powered com- Alamo Shopping Center, is now staffed with volunteers to asputers to try to sell more units. Millions of computers were sold with insufficient processors and sist you Monday through Saturday from 8am-5pm and Sunday
am
pm
memory, and they ran very poorly as a result. The issue ensured that millions of people would from 8 -12:30 . When closed, citizens can use the outdoor
have slow computers, and consumers held Microsoft responsible. It hurt Microsoft’s reputation, red phone for all emergency and non-emergency calls.
For help or information, call (925) 646-6180 or visit
and millions of people switched over to computers running the Apple Mac operating system as a
the
office at 150 Alamo Plaza #C.
result. Apple rightly made out like a bandit.
Because of these missteps we’re perhaps a little too quick to believe the next negative piece San Ramon Valley Newcomers
of information we hear about Microsoft. Windows 8 is a target for that negativity because it
The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club is holding its
introduced significant changes into the sacred “triangle of user experience.” The triangle of monthly luncheon on Thursday, June 19th at Alden Lane
user experience is the keyboard, the mouse, and the display, which encompasses what you see Nursery in Livermore. This luncheon is open to current and
and experience. If you impact what people interact with, you’re going to get some reaction, prospective members in the San Ramon Valley Area. For
and that is exactly what the market did.
further information or a reservation, please contact Dee
The two biggest things that bother people about Windows 8 are the “Metro” interface – the new Bradshaw at (925) 837-9600 or www.srvnc.com.
way all of your programs are represented as multi-colored tiles, and navigating the “hot corners”
to switch between the “Metro” tiles and the desktop that we’re familiar with. People get lost and Diablo Singles Dance Club
Diablo Singles Dance Club holds a public dance the last
frustrated because it’s not intuitive as to how to navigate the new environment. Consumers are so
Wednesday
of each month from 7:30pm-10:30pm at the Shadefrustrated they don’t have time to appreciate how much faster and better their system runs.
The reason for the creation of the Metro interface is because Microsoft is unifying the lands Art Center located at 111 N. Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek.
“look and feel” of their product-line, including their telephones, their tablets, and their laptop There is live music, refreshments, and free parking. The cost
and desktop operating system. The good news is that this “Metro” interface works very well is $7 for members and $9 for non-members. For information,
on the phones, tablets, and laptops that have touchscreens. It’s very smooth and intuitive call (925) 837-2851.
when you have a touchscreen, but it can be difficult if you don’t have one. That means every
laptop and desktop sold which doesn’t have a touchscreen is potentially frustrating for the
user. Not good.
Some software engineers recognized this problem and wrote a program they call “Classic Shell,”
which is a program you can use to bring back the “Start Menu” button in the lower left corner of
your screen. It works great as-downloaded, but is also very customizable if you want to change
TM
the way your menus work. It’s available at www.classicshell.net. If you or someone you know
has been struggling with Windows 8, download this program, run it, then reboot the computer. It
will change everything for the better. When your system reboots, it will again look like your old
Cars • Trucks • Vans • Boats • Real Estate
familiar Windows desktop. Just like that, you’re going to enjoy using your computer again. Try
Live Operators on hand 7 days a week
it out and let us know how it works. I think you’ll love it.
Tax deduction • All transfer documents handled
As you revel in how much more usable your computer is after installing Classic Shell,
Free pick-up • Running or not in most cases
remember Portable CIO is your local resource to fix computers of all varieties, networks, and
888-694-5250
just about everything else electronic. Call 925-552-7953 or email helpdesk@theportablecio.
www.thefallenheroes.org
com to speak with one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff. Advertorial
DONATE
YOUR
CAR!
Living Trusts – How Far Does
Privacy Go?
By Robert J. Silverman
One of the many benefits of a revocable Living
Trust is substantial privacy. This is in sharp contrast
to the court-supervised probate process that’s virtually
guaranteed upon your death if you just have a Will, in
which many private details about your assets, creditors,
and close family members are open to the public.
In general, when you establish a Living Trust, you
dictate who will play key roles on behalf of you and your loved ones, when those
roles will commence, how your plan will be implemented, and to whom and
when you disclose important estate planning information and give copies of key
estate planning documents.
Some people incorrectly believe that you are required to have your Living
Trust recorded or registered with some governmental agency. Fortunately, this
is not true since your privacy would obviously be compromised if you needed
to make your trust a public record. For the most part, you don’t need to disclose
the terms of your Living Trust nor give a copy of it to anyone unless you choose
to do so.
Of course, you may voluntarily communicate with loved ones about your
Living Trust, and you may give third parties a copy of the document. However,
since you may decide to make significant amendments to your Living Trust in
the future, you should exercise caution about when and to whom you elect to
provide such crucial, private details.
This broad privacy associated with Living Trusts is, however, trumped to a
certain extent by a California Probate Code statute that requires that notification
about a trust must be given by the trustee within 60 days after part or all of the
trust becomes irrevocable. Recipients entitled to the notice include: a) those
mentioned in the trust and b) “heirs” (i.e. closest of kin) of the person(s) who
established the trust.
The notification must: i) state certain basic data about the trust and who is
serving as the trustee (i.e. manager); ii) enclose a full copy of the trust or inform
recipients that they may request a copy; and iii) state in certain minimum font
size and in bold that any recipient who wishes to contest the trust must do so
within 120 days of the notification or 60 days after the recipient receives a full
and complete copy of the trust, whichever is later.
A common client question is: “When must I [or we] give a copy of our trust
to our children [and/or other loved ones]?” Applying the above-referenced
statute, if you are unmarried, the answer is when you die – because that’s when
your revocable Living Trust becomes irrevocable. If you are married and have
a trust, the answer depends on how your trust is structured.
Those who are married and have a “streamlined” trust, under which all assets
owned by both spouses are kept in the same trust pot after the first spouse dies
(i.e. the surviving spouse owns and controls all the assets), have a trust which remains revocable during the surviving spouse’s life. As such, the above-referenced
notification requirement is not triggered until the surviving spouse dies.
Alternatively, for those who are married and have an “A-B” trust (or other
such trust under which “his” and “her” assets are allocated into two or more
separate pots after the first spouse dies), the “B” trust – that sub-trust containing
the deceased spouse’s assets - becomes irrevocable upon the death of the first
spouse. So, with an A-B trust, the notification requirement is triggered at that
time and may not be withheld or delayed until the surviving spouse dies.
As I’ve written about previously, a major Federal Estate Tax law change occurred in early 2013. One of the consequences of the new legislation is that most
married couples no longer need an “A-B” Living Trusts for Estate Tax purposes.
So, for this and other potentially compelling reasons, married couples would be
wise to review their trust with an estate planning attorney to evaluate the pros and
cons of restructuring it to the simpler “one pot” trust. A relevant consequence of
converting to a simpler trust is that no notification requirement is triggered until
after the surviving spouse dies.
Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd.,
Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474, rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.
com, www.silvermanlaw.com.
* Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor
should it be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely
upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication
is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal
Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters
addressed herein. Advertorial
Danville Community Band
Join us on Sunday, June 8th as the Danville Community Band presents a "Summer
Vacation" performance. The band offers a
selection of musical destinations for you to
visit--from Zacatecas, to Rome, from the
British Isles to Indiana--there is something
for everyone. We will also announce the winner in the band's annual Student Instrument
Scholarship Award. The free concert begins at
3pm at Community Presbyterian Church, 222 W.
El Pintado Road, Danville. For more information about the band or its
concert season, please visit www.danvilleband.org.
Singer, Songwriter Makky
Kaylor To Perform
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
Backed by a trio of top musicians, a renowned Nashville vocalist will take his audience on a sentimental
journey back to an era in music history when country
was cool, smooth, classy and king! Join the Town of
Danville in welcoming Makky Kaylor to the Village
Theatre, at 233 Front Street, on June 19 at 7:30PM.
This special event will transport audience members
through Nashville classics plus the award-winning
songwriter’s own soon-to-be standards which are all
presented with Makky’s renowned vocal stylings and
his winsome southern charm. It is a wonderful, historic
foundation of southern music with a fresh coat of paint
applied by a gifted artist, Makky Kaylor, along with
some of Nashville’s most elite musicians.
Beer and wine will be available for purchase in the
lobby. Tickets are $20 presale and $25 at the door. For
more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.
villagetheatreshows.com or call (925) 314-3400.
[email protected]
A Trust Made for Marriages
Brought to you by Peter Waldron
In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln
Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor
One of the things that made the now iconic TV show
The Brady Bunch stand out when it first hit the airwaves
in the late 1960s was that it depicted what was, at least
at the time, a very unusual family dynamic: a second
marriage bringing together six children—three from
each parent—under one roof.
These days it’s hard to imagine a show like The Brady
Bunch even raising an eyebrow. Indeed, with upwards of half of all marriages
ending in divorce, households full of brothers and sisters who don’t share the
same biological parents are hardly out of the norm.
The increasing prevalence of this sort of mixed-family situation, whether due to
divorce or the death of a spouse, poses some estate planning challenges. How, for
instance, can you ensure that your children from a first marriage aren’t disinherited
should you pass away and your second spouse remarry and start a new family?
One of the tools available to estate planning with these increasingly common,
and complex, family situations is the Qualified Terminable Interest Property
trust, or QTIP. A QTIP can be a powerful way to ensure that assets built up over
a lifetime end up where you want.
When the assets are from a decedent and they’re transferred to a trust that is
irrevocable on their death, the assets are generally protected from creditors and
bankruptcies and second and third marriages. So it’s a way to help protect the
surviving spouse, number one, and it’s also a way to protect the remaining children, so that the surviving spouse could remarry and not redirect the assets away
from the decedent’s children.
Securing Your Wishes
The way a QTIP accomplishes both of these important goals is fairly straightforward. Sticking with The Brady Bunch analogy, here’s how the QTIP, which
is a type of a marital trust, works: Let’s say Carol Brady, the mother, brought
several million dollars with her into her marriage to Mike.
Taking the hypothetical case a bit further, assume that Carol wanted to ensure
that, should she die first, not only would her widowed husband be taken care of,
but also that her three daughters would ultimately inherit the bulk of her estate.
One option would be for Carol to take advantage of the unlimited marital deduction, which allows a husband or wife to pass their entire estate, no matter how
large, to their spouse without getting hit by the estate tax—which, in 2014, kicks
Young Writers Contest Winners Honored
The Young Writers Contest Award Winners will be honored at the next
meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC)
on Saturday, May 10 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane,
Pleasant Hill.
Special Guest speaker, Ellen Klages, will address the contest winners,
members, and guests. Her topic is “Building a Story from the Ground Up.”
She will talk about the process of writing: first drafts, developing characters,
plot and structure, and how to get “unstuck.”
Ms. Klages is the award-winning author of the novels The Green Glass Sea
and White Sands and Red Menace, and the story collection Portable Childhoods. Sign-in is from 11AM to 11:30AM, with presentations and luncheon from
11:30AM to 2PM. Registration is $20 for CWC members and $25 for guests.
Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on
Wednesday, May 7. Contact Robin Gigoux at [email protected] or by phone
at (925) 933-9670. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.
The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http://
cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/.
To place an ad, share a story, or for more
information about our papers, call
925.405.6397 or visit our website
in when assets total more than $5.34 million.
It would be understandable if Carol was leery about handing over her estate
and its eventual disposition entirely to Mike; he had been married before, after all,
and who knows what his future circumstances might hold? A QTIP trust would
provide the perfect solution. When Carol dies, her assets would go into the QTIP,
which she would have established as part of her will, and would generate income
for Mike to take care of his living necessities. Upon Mike’s death, the remainder
of the estate would then go to the three Brady girls, just as Carol wished.
Estate Planning/Asset Protection and Tax Issues
While important, ensuring that children from a prior marriage get an inheritance isn’t the only reason to use a QTIP. Indeed, the core purpose of a marital
trust like a QTIP is to provide support to the surviving spouse. Let’s take the
case of a couple in which the surviving spouse— the wife—was a physician.
Understanding that in the reality of today’s world of medicine that the doctor, an OB-GYN, would always be threatened by the possibility of litigation, the
couple drafted a QTIP trust. It was a move that ultimately eliminated what could
have been a lot of anxiety after the doctor’s husband died and the husband’s assets were left to the wife in a QTIP trust.
Why? The doctor was named in a lawsuit against the hospital where she had
worked. But no matter what had come of the litigation, the assets in the marital
trust were protected from that kind of claim.
An equally important reason to utilize a QTIP is for the estate tax advantages
it can provide. Because it’s a tax-deferral technique, it allows for the entire estate
from the decedent’s spouse to be untaxed until the surviving spouse’s death.
Overall, a QTIP is an effective strategy for estate planning/asset protection,
as well as deferment or reduction of estate taxes.
Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your
financial situation at 925-659-0383 or [email protected].
Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln
Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offer investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a
division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 3000 Executive
Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and
Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax
advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content
of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. Advertorial
Portable CIO
Computer Service
Serving Bay Area businesses and residents since 2002
How Can We Help You?
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Page 28 - May 2014 ~ May Today
By Roger Smith, President
Pipeline Safety Information
California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Pipeline Safety Division coordinates with the Office of the State Fire Marshall (SFM) in regulating the
safety of approximately 5,500 miles of intrastate hazardous liquid transportation
pipelines and acts as an agent of the Federal Office of Pipeline Safety concerning the inspection of more than 2,000 miles of interstate pipelines. The SFM also
maintains Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based maps of all regulated
pipelines and have been named the state repository for pipeline data by the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS).
NPMS enables the user to view their data by County. NPMS data consists of
gas transmission pipelines and hazardous liquid trunk lines. However, it does not
include information on the connection lines to residences. To learn more, visit
www.npms.phmsa.dot.cov/PublicViewer.
NPMS advises that their data is for information purposes and that anyone
excavating needs to “contact 811” to verify locations before any digging occurs.
Additional information is available at http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/pipeline/pipeline.
php www.osfm.fire.ca.gov/pipeline/pipeline_locationrequest.php. NOTE: This
site has information on the Kinder Morgan Pipeline Walnut Creek accident site
along Iron Horse Trail.
On January 3rd, 2012, the Pipeline Safety Act was approved and signed into
law. It increases federal oversight of oil and gas pipelines. It provides for enhanced
safety, reliability, and environmental protection in the transportation of energy
products by pipeline. It increases fines to up to $200,000 per violation and up
to $2 million for a series of violations. It requires pipeline operators to assist in
investigations into accidents or incidents and provides separate penalties for “obstruction” of investigations. It also removes the $2 million cap on civil penalties
for administrative enforcement actions regarding pipeline safety.
Additional regulations provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to be
Kiwanis Named 2014 Charity of the Year
The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley was presented with the 2013 Charitable Organization the Year award by the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce
at its recent annual State of the Town and Community Awards luncheon. The
local Kiwanis Club is most recognized for being the organizer of the Kiwanis 4th
of July Parade in Danville, an event that they have
been conducting since 1975. The parade draws over
40,000 spectators annually, and typically has about
125 entrants.
For the past 16 years, Kiwanis has been soliciting financial sponsors for the parade, and dedicating
100% of the net proceeds of the sponsorships to their
grants program. Each year, the affiliated San Ramon
Valley Kiwanis Foundation conducts a competitive
grants application program, and distributes an average of $40,000 to 35-40 local non-profit groups.
Since 1998, the Foundation has distributed over
$600,000 in the Tri-Valley area to more than 70
worthy non-profits.
In addition to the parade and the grants program, the Kiwanis Club also performs numerous
annual community service projects in the valley,
sponsors Kiwanis Key Clubs at each of the four
high schools, and also sponsors two Boy Scout,
three Cub Scout Troops and a new Aktion Club
for young adults living with disabilities. Kiwanis
welcomes prospective members to attend a luncheon program at noon on Thursdays at Round
Hill Country Club. For more information visit
www.kiwanis-srv.org.
issued include status of shut-off valves, leak detection systems, and excess flow valves.
Kinder Morgan is required to perform periodic physical checking of their
pipeline and to provide regular Integrity Measurement Analysis reports on the
construction status of their pipeline to the California State Fire Marshall’s office.
The Federal Department of Transportation and the State Fire Marshall’s office
have been contacted by our County’s Hazardous Materials Ombudsman and asked
about these “Integrity Measurement Analysis” reports and their review status.
After a six month wait for a response from the State Fire Marshall, in March 2014,
the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, through their Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Sub-Committee (of which our Supervisor Candace Andersen is a member),
now has made a written request of the State Fire Marshall to provide suitable information about their reviews of Kinder Morgan’s Integrity Measurement Analysis reports.
The State Fire Marshall’s response is expected during May and, if it is ready,
will be reported on during the Sub-Committee’s next meeting held on the first
Thursday of each month at 1PM in Martinez.
Due to the failure by the State’s Fire Marshall to respond for so long to the County’s
original request, it is now of concern that the State Fire Marshall’s office may be
negligent in their review process. Should Alamo residents be concerned about the
frequency, the detail, and the objectivity of the State Fire Marshall’s review process?
A Farmer’s Market for Alamo
Alamo residents having to travel to other communities to enjoy the benefits
of a Farmer’s Market may soon be getting their own.
Bill Harlow of the Bay Area Farmer’s Market Association is leading the effort
to make an Alamo Farmer’s Market a reality. Bill’s family has lived in our Alamo/
Walnut Creek area since 1977. He has a genuine interest in the sustainability of small
family farms, the “heart and soul” of California Agriculture, and the “Buy Fresh – Buy
Local” movement that Alice Waters has supported and popularized. He has been the
Manager of several Bay Area Farmer’s Markets including those in Alameda, Burlingame, and Cupertino and is enthusiastic, as are many Alamo residents, about the
opportunity to have fresh produce from certified growers available to our community.
AIA’s Annual Membership Drive
Now in its 59th year,AIA, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has the longest history
of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to
live”! Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the AIA and working in support
of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.”
As Board President, I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and
present, for their efforts during the last 59 years in making Alamo the wonderful
community that it is today. Please watch for the AIA membership letter and form,
and complete and return it to AIA at P.O. Box 156, Alamo, CA. 94507.
Please visit our website at www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles
of interest to Alamo residents, membership forms, and more.
ACTION POOL REPAIR
Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979!
Ask us about the IntelliFlo pump by Pentair,
proven to save $100 or more each month.
In addition, as certified
PGE installers we can
offer a $100 PGE rebate
on the pump!
925.820.3640
Visit our website at www.actionpoolrepair.com
Contractor Lic# 978033-C53
[email protected]
Skin Cancer
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
May marks Skin Cancer Awareness month. There
are about 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed each
year in the United States, making it the most common form of cancer. Fortunately, it is also preventable. This year there will be about 132,000 cases
of melanoma diagnosed. Melanoma is the most
serious form of skin cancer because it can be lethal.
However, the good news is that early diagnosis can
lead to complete cures. Surprisingly, melanoma is the most common form
of cancer for young adults aged 25-29. Approximately 75% of skin cancer
deaths are from melanoma. While melanoma can be deadly, most patients
that we see are diagnosed at an early and fully curable stage.
Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are the two most
common types of skin cancers. These can appear as non-healing sores or
crusted bumps. Some simply appear as a red patch that can be misdiagnosed
as dry skin or eczema. The good news is that these skin cancers are much
less likely to spread than melanoma.
Most skin cancers have a genetic component. The other key ingredient
is sun and ultraviolet exposure such as that from tanning beds. In order to
prevent skin cancer, I recommend an ounce of prevention. Do what you
love but avoid the peak sun hours between 10am and 2pm. A good guideline,
is that if your shadow is shorter than you are then you are out during the
suns peak hours. Apply and reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Do not
allow your skin to burn as sunburns can dramatically increase your risk of
developing melanoma. Forget about going to tanning beds (spray on tans
are fine). People who use tanning beds increase their risk of melanoma by
75%. Lastly, see a board certified dermatologist once a year for a full body
skin check. It is often a good idea for you to check yourself once a month
so that you will be able to notice if a mole or a spot is changing.
Many people have started to worry about getting enough vitamin D if
they use sunscreen. The simple solution is to take a vitamin D supplement
which is equally as effective as the vitamin D you get from sun exposure.
If you have any spots that you are concerned about or if you can’t remember
the last time you were checked from head to toe by a board certified dermatologist, please call my office now at 925-838-4900 to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the
local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser
facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He
is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com
for more information. Advertorial
Hospice Volunteers Needed
Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients
and their caregivers. Opportunities include:
• Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling
• Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy
• Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents
• Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members
after their loved one has died
• Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance
To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678
and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email [email protected].
Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that
helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual,
and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.
To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact
(925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Hearing Loss Association
Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association
of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United
Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education
Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are
welcome. Donations are accepted. An assistive listening system is available for
T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.
org or (925) 264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org for more information.
Alamo First in County to Detect West Nile
Virus Activity
By Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District
The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District is reporting an
America crow found near Danville Boulevard and Camille Avenue in
Alamo tested positive for West Nile virus.
“This bird is one of the earliest signs of West Nile virus we’ve had in a
season in the county to date,” said the District's Scientific Program Manager
Steve Schutz, Ph.D. “Unfortunately, the earlier West Nile virus is detected,
the earlier we may see human cases.”
According to Schutz, it’s “no big surprise” that the virus is already here.
Signs of an early season include an unusually warm winter that allowed
mosquitoes to thrive. They are out early this year and District mosquito
inspectors are already treating mosquitoes sources -- a month earlier than
usual. To hone in on where to concentrate their control efforts, the District
needs the public’s assistance.
“The public’s dead bird reports to the state hotline are crucial for us to
understand where to concentrate our mosquito control efforts and to reduce
the risk of West Nile virus transmission,” said Schutz.
Birds are the reservoir for West Nile virus. The two species of mosquitoes in Contra Costa County capable of transmitting the virus prefer to feed
on birds; however, people can become infected when a mosquito bites an
infected bird and then a person. West Nile virus symptoms of the mild form
include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, and swollen lymph glands.
While the illness can last only a few days, even healthy people have reported
being sick for several weeks. West Nile virus of the severe form can be fatal.
Residents are urged to help reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne
diseases by following these guidelines:
Report dead birds to the state hotline 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473)
or www.westnile.ca.gov.
To help protect yourself:
• Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can’t begin their life without water.
•Defend against mosquito bites by using repellents containing DEET,
Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
• Report neglected swimming pools by calling 925-771-6195 or visiting
www.ContraCostaMosquito.com. Anonymous calls are accepted. Just one
neglected pool can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people
up to five miles away.
Since 2005, 49 people in Contra Costa County have been diagnosed with
West Nile virus. In 2006, two people died from the disease. Recent studies have
shown that the majority of cases are not diagnosed and grossly under reported.
Visit the District’s website at www.contracostamosquito for current information about West Nile virus activity or to receive automatic emails for
when the District fogs for adult mosquitoes.
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District is an independent special
district and public health agency. They are located at 155 Mason Circle in
Concord. Call the District to report mosquito problems at (925) 771-6195
or visit their office between 8am and 4:30pm to get FREE mosquitofish for
ornamental ponds, horse troughs, or neglected swimming pools.
Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets
When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death
of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may
ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack
of support for pet grief.
Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation
is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings
and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the
first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal
Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.
For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services
at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required.
Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge
to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.
Your Personal Nutritionist
Lose Weight Forever the Right Way and
Only Way
By Linda Michaelis RD,MS
Lately, I’ve been seeing many clients who are casualties of the latest quick weight loss schemes such as
Ideal Protein, Paleo, Cambiati Cleanse, and John Muir’s
Fasting Program. As I commonly hear, my client Jim told
me he lost 40 pounds in six weeks on Ideal Protein and
was very happy about it but did not feel well throughout the time he was on the
program, often felt food deprived, and did not have the energy to exercise. As I
see in almost all these programs, Jim gained back the 40 pounds he lost plus more.
I feel that it is my job as a Registered Dietitian to educate my community, where
people have sophisticated tastes and enjoyment of the good things in life, to help
them achieve their weight loss goals and keep those pounds off forever.
The story has not changed with fasting programs. Your body gets used to a
regimen of 800 calories a day, and then when you get off the fast and eat 1,500
calories a day, the weight comes back - plus more. Unfortunately, these programs
have a major downside because they do a very poor maintenance job – people are
confused as what to do after the initial weight is lost. I tell the post-fasting people
who find me that I am adamant about them exercising at a high level twice a day
and eating meals close to the time after they exercise so that their food will be
burned off more rapidly.
The best of the new fads is the Paleo Diet since it includes fruits, veggies, and
nuts and eliminates all processed foods that tend to have ingredients which do not
provide much nutritional benefit such as excess fat, sugar, salt, and preservatives.
The negative side of this diet is that it does not allow for whole grains, potatoes,
and legumes that are important sources of B vitamins for energy, or dairy that
contains calcium, which many people lack in their diet, for bone health. The big
failure of these diets is that they rigidly restrict eating for enjoyment which leads
to cravings that cause binging that can often lead to low self esteem and a sense of
defeat. When I hear about their experiences on these crazy fad diets, I only wish
my new clients had seen me first to save time, energy, and money so I could put
them on the road for permanent weight loss.
I was very overweight as a young person, and only through quality nutrition
education was I able to finally lose the weight permanently. To this day I know my
method is the only effective way to achieve weight loss forever.
When I work with a new client, I take a lot of time to look at their home and
work life to understand how food, restaurants, and social life play a role in their life.
Everyone is different with their own unique triggers for eating the wrong things. I
know that taking an individualized approach is the essence of my success with people.
Whether they are sophisticated foodies, overindulge due to emotions, or are plain
uneducated about nutrition, I work with each person to establish a day-to-day meal
plan right for them. It is an exciting challenge for me to do whatever it takes to make
my client successful with weight loss. I will often visit my client’s home and evaluate their present food shopping habits, go food shopping with them at their favorite
store, discuss and help them decide on restaurant choices, and be there for motivation
and support to help create successful days or encourage them to keep going when
they fall apart from binges or when they hit plateaus. If my client wants to have their
martini and a glass of wine for dinner, I show them how. If they want to have pizza
every Friday night with the kids, I show them how. If they don’t want to give up the
desserts they love, I show them how. For example, I show them how to avoid sweets
on an empty stomach or in between meals where the result is usually feeling tired,
dehydrated, and brain dead. Instead I tell them to eat those delicious desserts after a
meal when they can better control portion size. There is no need to deprive yourself
of the foods you enjoy; you just need to consume them in the right way.
You can learn, once and for all, how to enjoy your favorite foods and not make
them the enemy while permanently achieving your weight goals.
Linda has found that she is most successful when she interacts with her
clients, often daily, to help them navigate their way through their food world.
Each phone call spans across client meals from the previous day through the
following day. The phone calls enable clients to receive just enough nutrition
information to take them forward to the next day. Linda is very excited tell you
how this method has proven to be very successful for weight loss. Linda’s services
are often covered by health insurance. Please feel free to call Linda at (925) 8550150 or e-mail her at [email protected], and tell her about your nutrition
concerns. Refer to website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and
Advertorial
nutrition tips in her blog section.
Is Food a Problem for You?
Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through
shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive
overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone
suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and
bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
Waste continued from page 22
your workplace is already recycling, make sure they're doing it right. If not,
why not send out a friendly reminder about why and what to recycle? While
you're at it, is your office using recycled content copy paper? What about
reusable cups, plates, and cutlery?
The most important thing of all? Know that you are not the only person
affected by your actions. Your family, community, and the planet are counting on you to care enough to make an extra effort.
Contact Lois Courchaine at [email protected] for more info on recycling.
Death Cafe in Danville...Are
you Curious?
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
Are you curious about what others think about
death and dying? Do you have concerns or feelings
about your own death?
Death Cafe is an international movement, started
in Europe, dedicated to taking death out of the closet
and discussing it publicly to increase awareness of
death with a view to help people make the most of
their (finite) lives.
Death Café is NOT a support group, a counseling
session, or a workshop!
Death Café is simply people coming together
in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere, sipping tea
or coffee, munching treats and sharing a respectful, engaging, thought provoking and life affirming
conversation.
Join in or just listen at the upcoming gathering on
May 15th from 6-8PM at the Chapel of San Ramon
Valley, located at 825 Hartz Way in Danville. The
evening is free. Please RSVP to Alan Vengel, who
is a consultant, author, and professional facilitator,
at 925-837-0148.
[email protected]
Ability continued from front page
Our mission is to provide personalized care, help and Josh to join him on a Wheelchair Foundamaintain independence and enhance our tion distribution trip, “the Three Amigos” have
client’s quality of life on a daily basis.
made 23 distribution trips to 14 Latin Ameri• Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits
can countries, delivering 72,000 wheelchairs.
ensure the right care plan • Hourly care
Heartfelt &
Asked to identify his favorite trip, Josh insists:
for you
• Live-in care
Supportive
• Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt.
“All of them!” His father, Don, concurs. Each
• Elder referral and placement
trip is different, every journey life changing.
At All Times...
3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D
Josh demonstrates to wheelchair recipients
Lafayette, CA 94549
that their personal goals are achievable. Doc(beside Trader Joe’s)
www.excellentcareathome.com
925-284-1213
tors predicted Josh, born with Cerebral Palsy,
The San Ramon Valley Uniwould be a quadriplegic incapable of speech. At 3 ½, he spoke his first word:
“Soup!” His indefatigable spirit continues to feed his father’s dedication. A fied School District (SRVUSD)
recommended the project to all of
graduate of San Ramon Valley High School, Josh relies on a wheelchair for
mobility. Now 35, he lives independently, drives his own car to work, and its schools for 2013-2014, as did
PUSD. Over the course of four
has multiple sports accomplishments to his credit.
months from late spring through
In Paraguay, From-the-Heart delivered a wheelchair to another Josh. Seesummer, Don worked with Special
ing his own son in the four-year old also coping with Cerebral Palsy, Don
translated his parental experience into a message of hope for the mother. Needs Parents and SRVUSD professionals to enhance the existing
Recalling how grateful he would have been for the advice of a mentor, Don
Ability Awareness curriculum to
happily shares his experience, encouraging caregivers to believe in the posinclude lesson plans for all grades
sibility that their charges will be, like Josh, successful adults.
In spring 2012, Don Routh presented the concept of a schools program to addressing physical, intellectual and
Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi. developmental issues.
Terry Koehne, SRVUSD ComAhmadi immediately recognized the value. “The potential of this endeavor
munications
Director, gladly acas a true service learning project was incredible, and it was obvious that the
impact to all involved would be profound,” she comments. “The project al- cepted the task of promoting the prolows our students to learn and apply their knowledge while serving others gram with district principals. “Don is Wheelchairs delivered to Costa Rica and
globally.” Six PUSD elementary schools participated the following academic amazing – he provides every ounce of Honduras this summer will carry the SRVUSD
year. Six teachers joined a wheelchair distribution tour that summer and all support a school needs, including back- or PUSD logo, connecting donors and recipients.
ground information, monthly newsletcame back as zealous advocates of the program.
Five Elements for Facial
Rejuvenation
By Barbara Persons, MD,
Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
I was in the checkout line at a local drugstore when
a gal next to me was talking on the phone. She said,
“My sister needs a facelift and a laser peel.” She then
looked over at me and we both started laughing…seeing me in scrubs with my John Muir Hospital badge
saying Barbara L. Persons, MD, Plastic Surgeon.
We went on to laugh some more and also to talk about the basic concepts
of facial rejuvenation while checking out.
You simply would not believe how many men and women around you have
had facial rejuvenation surgery. When facial rejuvenation is done correctly, no
one will ever know. This is not your great grandmother’s wind swept look or the
slick advertisements of a style that does not last and has many complications.
My patients seek the five elements of facial rejuvenation intuitively without
knowing the terms. They seek improvement not out of vanity or because they
want to look 22 again. They want to be perceived as naturally vibrant, happy,
confident, and whole. As a natural Healer and Hypnotherapist who came to
me for eyelid rejuvenation said, “Our bodies are the vessels through which we
project our personalities.” It is okay to want to look better. Today, however, in
my opinion, we are at times using fillers and Botox, facials, and light therapies
because we are afraid to go ahead and fix issues with minor surgery.
There are five elements that come together to create a youthful face (with
naturally balanced bone structure and volume, skin and fat in the right position,
no sun damage, and minimal scarring), fix a broken face, or create the beautiful
face the patient envisions.
The five elements are structure, volume, support, stress expressions, and skin.
Structure: The temples, cheeks, chin, and nose should form a pleasant
balance. We lose bone volume with age, especially in women, which can
lead to a weak jaw line, loss of cheek projection, sad looking eyes, temporal
See Ability continued on page 32
hollowing, and recessed nasal folds.
Volume: The overall volume of the face is reduced and temples begin to hollow. The rounded curves and heart shape of the upper face volume give way to a
more squared look as volume is both lost and “moves south.”
Support: The ligaments of the face, superficial muscular aponeurotic
system fascia beneath the skin, and deep layers of the skin sag with age. This
can cause heavy eyes, tear troughs, sagging cheeks, nasal folds, marionette
lines, jowls, and extra neck skin.
Stress Expressions: These include forehead creases, glabella 11 lines,
crow’s feet, bunny nose, smokers lines, and downturn of the mouth. A balanced approach in addressing these issues is key.
Skin: Pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, red spots, scars, and laxity.
These signs of ageing are especially noticeable around the eyes and mouth.
To start the process of facial rejuvenation, I examine the patients face. I immediately see what procedures will create or recreate the beautiful normal that they desire.
Many of you know I am the poster child for facial surgery. At 25 I was hit
by a semi-truck whose driver had a seizure from drinking and not taking his
seizure medication. After 18 surgeries, bone grafts, implants, titanium plates,
and screws, I still work on the five elements every year. I want the beautiful
normal. I have personal experience with the products I use on my patients.
I value my plastic surgeon’s expertise and know my face is worth it. Many of my patients have wasted tens of thousands of dollars on therapies that simply do not work. When
a modality actually works, I will add it to my other modalities and promote it like crazy.
When I see you, I will be honest about what will make the most significant
and excellent improvement in your face over time, with the least risk, and within
your budget. I will make sure you are within your comfort zone, doing what I do
best, which is to perform surgery and procedures. Using my hands, my heart, and
my artistic sense, our private surgery center in Lafayette is one of my most perfect
places on this earth where I can make a real positive
difference in your life.
Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at
911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@
Advertorial
personsplasticsurgery.com. Page 32 - May 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Ability continued from page 31
this, a few students brought up the fact that they actually think name-calling
has decreased at school since Ability Awareness and the Wheelchair Foundation project because kids learned to accept others for who they are, no matter
what they look like or their abilities.”
Gale Ranch Middle School ran the program in February. Counselor
Lori Olson volunteered to coordinate. The opportunity for a field trip to the
Blackhawk Automotive Museum was a huge incentive for students, and they
returned from meeting Wheelchair Foundation President David Behring even
more committed to the cause. Blacktie provides field trip transportation and
also stores and delivers the two sets of project wheelchairs.
Student reflections indicate how much Gale Ranch pupils learned spending time in a wheelchair. One student commented, “Before this I had never
really thought about being in a wheelchair, not being able to do things normal
people could, and feeling like you are separated from everyone.” Friends
treated them differently. Another student said, “I now know that people in
a wheelchair just wanted to be treated the same way as everyone else.” The
value of mobility was clearly recognized. A third student said, “When the
founder, Don, came to our school, he said not to feel sorry for the people
who have wheelchairs but for the people who don’t have one.”
San Ramon Valley High School and Monte Vista are holding Basketball
Game Fundraisers showcasing their athletes competing against the nationally
ranked BORP Warriors Wheelchair team. Local teams have volunteered to
accept the challenge of playing in wheelchairs. Carly Lutz, SRVHS Leadership student reports that sign-ups for “Ride-in-a-Wheelchair for a Day”
are filling up quickly. Janet Willford, SRVHS Leadership teacher, describes
planned lunchtime activities: “a wheelchair relay race, wheelchair bowling,
and a pep rally.”
Costa Rica and Honduras (getting Foundation donations for the first
time) are slated to each receive a container of 280 wheelchairs at a cost of
$42,000 per container. As of April 17th, $61,258.05 has been collected, with
many schools about to commence the project. Teachers, parents, and older
students accompanied by an adult have been invited to come on this summer’s distributions trips. Ken Behring is awarding stipends of $2,000 toward
travel costs to the elementary, middle, and high school achieving the highest
per student donations.
Visit www.del-corazon.org for information or to donate.
ters and updates, and makes himself available to do presentations for any group
that needs it.” Support materials include a 17-page booklist, movie suggestions featuring characters coping with disability, fun ways to try wheelchairs,
and fundraising ideas.
Proud that
the fundraising aspect of
the program
will provide
hundreds of
wheelchairs
to people who
lack mobility,
Koehne notes,
“Providing
students with
real opportunities to experience the
issue themselves gives
more meaning to the
fundraising
component,
and inspires
them to get
even more involved.”
Students
8 year-old Alejandro's grandmother carried him to receive his first and faculty
wheelchair, delivered by From-the-Heart in March.
members find
Don Routh’s presentation riveting. He opens by explaining: “There are
more than 100 million people with physical disabilities worldwide who are
in need of a wheelchair. Thirty million of these
are children, and 90% of them do not go to
Dumploads OnUs
school.” Lacking mobility, they have no access
to education and often no social interaction with specializes in
other children. Sometimes they have to crawl to providing the ultimate
junk removal solution.
reach basic items beyond their reach.
Y OUR J UNK R EMOVAL S PECIALISTS
Montair Elementary School ran the project We’ll haul away just
in October/November, embedding the program about anything - from old household junk to construction and
in all aspects of academics. Coin-counting sup- yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are
ported math, writing persuasive letters to the hazardous
business community underscored language les- materials. We
• Computers
sons, and walking into Danville to speak to lomake getting
• Cables
cal business leaders bolstered oral presentation
rid of your
• TVs
skills. Dennis Simkin, Vice President, Manager
unwanted
• Monitors
recalls the day the students came to J. Rockcliff.
junk
as
easy
925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515
“I was in awe of how professional and cute they
• Servers
were.” Simkin estimates that 30 or 40 people as 1-2-3;
www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com
• Phones
we load, we
came out to hear their presentation.
1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek
• Printers
Taking turns, students participated in a sweep, and
Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed
•Copiers
wheelchair basketball game. When one student then we haul
finally managed to score, the crowd erupted in away. It’s that easy!
• Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes
cheers. Elizabeth Campos spent part of a day Plus we do it
• Scanners • Printer Cartridges and Toners • And More...
teaching in a wheelchair and found maneuvering with a smile!
around her classroom a major challenge. Months
later, in February, another school activity highlighted how much the project affected students.
Campos wrote: “At Montair this week we are
participating in a No-Name-Calling Week, and
as Leadership was discussing ways to promote
s
d
a
o
l
p
m
OnUs
Du
[email protected]
Knee Pain Management and
Prevention
By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Boot Camp
It is likely that at some point in our lives we will
all experience knee pain. For many of us, knee issues were brought on by an acute injury from vigorous sports play. For others, knee pain comes in the
form of an unwelcome mid-life surprise, a squeaky
wheel we ignore until it becomes a chronic injury
we have to deal with. The structural complexity of
the knee and the fact that it is an active weight-bearing joint makes it one
of the most commonly injured joints in the human body. Regaining knee
health without surgery will be a long road, but it is achievable in many
cases. More and more, people are taking preventative measures to avoid
invasive procedures that often require eventual knee joint replacement. Be
warned, patience as well as persistent rehabilitative attention are required
and well worth the effort!
The symptoms of knee pain can tell a lot about the cause of the pain. For
example, pain on the sides of the knees below the knee cap may indicate that
the hamstring muscles in back of the thigh are strained. If this issue is not
addressed, the knee joint will destabilize, becoming misaligned and causing
a variety of other issues that compound the problem. Tight hamstrings are
common in many cultures like ours where sitting is the primary position.
Regular movement out of the seated position, daily stretching, and myofascial release techniques can alleviate chronic tension of the hamstrings.
Knee swelling is fairly common with knee pain, and it can indicate a
need for rest due to overuse or misuse. If swelling from an acute injury does
not subside with three days rest, consult a physician or physical therapist.
Gently stretching and rolling of the muscles around the knee can bring
much needed relief. A trainer that is certified in myo-fascial release, like
Trigger Point Therapy, can help you learn how to relieve acute or chronic
joint pain with minimal equipment and effort. If you work out on your
own; whether its a long walk, tennis game, or weight training; make time
for a solid warm up as well as extended stretching and rolling at the end
of your workout. This measure alone is a huge part of injury prevention.
Consider it a part of your workout...not an added bonus!
Added weight is one of the most common reasons for Osteoarthritis of
the knee. For every pound of unneeded weight we lose, we take four pounds
of pressure off our knees. Dropping that extra weight with a combination
of exercise and a nutrient rich diet will definitely have a positive effect on
knee health.
Acid producing foods such as processed sugar, heavily processed wheat
products, alcohol, and caffeine can be culprits of ongoing knee pain and
weight gain. Limiting and eventually eliminating foods that cause inflammation from our diets will not only help knee health, but our overall health
and longevity. Recent studies show that anti inflammatory foods including
Vitamin C rich fruits, foods with high levels of Omega 3, and herbs such
as turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, coriander, and ginger curb
joint pain when added to a balanced diet.
Listen to your body. Balance exercise and rest. Preventative care is the
key to longevity, and in many cases, surgery is not the best option. If you
don’t know how to approach a preventative care program, contact a trusted
local trainer or a wellness coach. Many of us offer a free first consultation,
and, at the very least, we can point you in the right direction.
Michelle Brown is an ACE certified fitness professional, Kung Fu
Black Belt, Level 2 TRX Functional Trainer, Certified Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, a board member on the California Health Corps,
blogger, public speaker, and owner of Gumsaba Outdoor Fitness. Michelle
has been helping clients surpass their goals since 1998. Gumsaba has
been voted best Boot Camp in the east bay by Diablo Magazine readers for
two years running, and offers Co-ed, Womens Only and Mens Only and
Teen outdoor fitness programs year round. Join Gumsaba for a FREE
FITNESS CLASS. Visit our website at gumsaba.com to get started. Use
promo code ALAMO to redeem your free week. For more information
call (925) 683-5630. Advertorial
Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer:
Treatment Options
By Sophia Rahman, MD
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed
cancer. Some form of skin cancer is diagnosed in
more than three million people each year in the U.S.
The vast majority of skin cancers (over 90%) are of
the non-melanoma variety, with most being basal
cell (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).
While they have malignant potential, most BCC and
SCC are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body when caught early.
They may be locally disfiguring if not treated. Because non-melanoma skin
cancers rarely metastasize, the prognosis is generally very good. There are
certain characteristics, however, that are linked with a higher risk of recurrence or metastasis. Some of these high risk features are large tumor size,
greater tumor depth, poorly defined tumor border, aggressive tumor growth
pattern, tumor invasion near nerves or blood vessels, recurrent tumors, and
tumor location in the head and neck region.
Treatment of most non-melanoma skin cancers depends on the size and
location of the cancer, whether it is a BCC or SCC, patient age, and overall
medical condition. Treatment of the majority of BCC and SCC most often
involves surgery, but there are non-surgical approaches that may be considered
in certain situations. With surgery, the goal is to destroy or remove the entire
skin cancer with a margin of cancer-free tissue around the tumor.
There are different types of skin cancer surgery, and the choice of which
to use depends in part on the characteristics and location of the tumor. Mohs
micrographic surgery is a highly specialized type of surgery for skin cancer
and requires special expertise. The Mohs procedure removes the skin cancer
one layer at a time, checking each layer for cancer cells, until it is completely
cleared. The Mohs procedure removes the least amount of normal tissue and
also has the highest published surgical cure rates for both primary and recurrent skin cancers. Other common types of skin cancer surgery are simple
excision and curettage with electrodesiccation. Simple excision involves the
use of a scalpel to remove the skin cancer with a small margin of surrounding
normal tissue. Curettage uses a spoon-shaped instrument (curette) to scrape
off the skin cancer, and electrodesiccation uses an electric current to cauterize
the edges to control bleeding and destroy any remaining tumor cells.
Common non-surgical options for BCC and SCC include cryotherapy,
topical therapy, and radiotherapy. Cryotherapy is used to destroy a skin
cancer by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Topical skin cancer therapy involves application of medications like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or Aldara (imiquimod) directly to the tumor on the skin. Radiotherapy for skin cancer is
completely non-invasive and uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells by
preventing them from growing and dividing. Common types of radiotherapy
used to treat skin cancer include electron therapy, superficial or orthovoltage
therapy, and brachytherapy. Like Mohs surgery, treatment with radiotherapy
is very technical and, in order to optimize outcomes, requires expert involvement of a highly trained team of personnel, including radiation oncologist,
radiation physicist/dosimetrist, and radiation therapist. Radiotherapy may
be appropriate for older patients with wound-healing problems who cannot
tolerate surgery or in cases where surgery may be difficult and/or disfiguring.
Sometimes, radiotherapy is recommended after surgery to kill any residual
cancer cells that may be hiding in the operated region.
When diagnosed in the early stages, the cure rates for BCC and SCC are
very high (over 95%) with good cosmetic outcomes. Within the first five years
after diagnosis of a non-melanoma skin cancer, between 30% and 50% of
patients will develop another non-melanoma skin cancer. Patients who have
had non-melanoma skin cancer are also at an increased risk for developing
melanoma, which is known to be more aggressive and challenging to treat.
Dr. Rahman is a radiation oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. Located in the California Cancer and Research Institute at 400 Taylor Blvd
in Pleasant Hill, the practice is home to the largest single site for cancer
treatment in Contra Costa County. For more information call 925-8258878 or visit our website at www.DVOHMG.com.
Advertorial
New Treatment for Advanced
Prostate Cancer
By Brian Hopkins, MD
A new treatment that effectively targets cancer
cells is offering pain relief, improved quality-of-life,
and extended survival time for men with late-stage
prostate cancer that has spread to the bones.
This new cancer treatment, Xofigo (Radium-223
dichloride), is for patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bones but not
other organs. Xofigo was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) in May 2013 for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate
cancer. Diablo Valley Oncology’s cancer center in Pleasant Hill is among
the first in the Bay Area to offer this new treatment.
Xofigo uses radiation to target cancer cells in bone tissue, while causing
less damage to surrounding tissue than other types of radiation treatment. Its
ability to chemically mimic calcium makes it especially effective in bone tissue.
“This drug has very low toxicity and has the potential to create comfort
in men who are suffering, and it may even prolong their lives,” says Sachin
Kamath, M.D., a Diablo Valley Oncology radiation oncologist. “It is an important drug — similar to other types of radiation treatment but more effective.”
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States,
and it is the second most common cause of cancer death in men. The New
England Journal of Medicine published results of a study in July 2013
showing Xofigo significantly improved overall survival rates in men with
advanced prostate cancer.
Dr. Hopkins is a urologist with Pacific Urology. He sub-specializes in
cancer of the prostate, kidney and bladder. He also has extensive experience
with reconstructive and minimally invasive surgeries. For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit www.pacificurology.com or
call 925-937-7740. Advertorial
Cancer Support Community
The following classes are held at Cancer Support Community, located
at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Classes are free of charge, but
reservations are required. For information, call (925) 933-0107.
Estate Planning Basics – Tuesday, May 13th ~ 6PM – 8PM
Learn the components of a good estate plan, what should be updated,
things to look for, beneficiary reviews, and more. Understand gifting and
estate planning strategies and how you can leave a legacy that can make a
difference. With Tandall Thompson, JD, an attorney with Thompson Law
offices and Julia Gordon, Relationship Manager at Schwab Charitable. For
people with cancer and their caregivers.
Return to Wellness Series – Tuesdays, June 10th - July 29th ~ 5:30PM – 7:30PM
This series focuses on survivorship practices that enhance quality of life
and decrease risk of recurrence for people who have completed treatment.
Includes group support along with nutrition instruction, incorporating exercise, and managing emotions. Facilitated by Anne Case, MFT. For people
with cancer and their caregivers.
[email protected]
The Eye Opener
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Why Do I Need to Get My Eyes Dilated?
As you can imagine, I get this question at the office
on a daily basis. Most patients understand that having
their eyes dilated is part of the comprehensive examination, but they don’t always know the reasoning behind
it. Therefore, patients are always trying to get out of
doing it. The dilation is a very important (some would
argue the most important) part of the exam, which helps
determine the status of your ocular and systemic health.
The most valuable asset of the retina is that it is the only place in the body
where neural tissue (the optic nerve and retina) and blood vessels can be directly
viewed without an invasive procedure. Trying to evaluate the retina through an
undilated pupil is very difficult because as light is used to see into the eye, the
pupil constricts to a pinhole. Looking through a very small aperture does not allow
the entire retina to be viewed. The dilating drops will open up the pupil and will
not allow it to constrict. Since the muscles within the eye control the focusing
power of the eye and the opening and closing of the pupil in response to light
levels, paralyzing these muscles is why patients will experience light sensitivity
and poor reading for a few hours after the drops are instilled. The typical timing
for the drops to wear off is between two and three hours.
A dilated examination can both diagnose and evaluate the progress of many
systemic diseases; along with assuring the patient that the eyes and retina are
healthy and free of any conditions. The main ocular conditions found during dilation include cataracts, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, glaucoma, macular
degeneration, and retinal holes, tears, and detachments. Systemic ailments such
as diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, and heart and
carotid artery disease can be diagnosed in the course of a dilated evaluation. For
otherwise young and healthy patients, dilation should be done about every two
years. For patients who are diabetic, have cataracts, have glaucoma, or are taking
certain medications, dilation should be done annually at the minimum. For these
patients, in addition to visiting your internist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist,
etc., an annual dilated examination should be conducted. Most physicians realize the importance of dilation and will require it of their patients. When these
patients come into the office, a letter to the primary doctor will be sent to update
him/her on the condition of the eyes.
C L A S S I F I E D
LACROSSE GOALIE COACHING
WOMEN’S LACROSSE GOALIE COACHING available June 25-September 15. Eight years playing experience, has won College Club (WCLA)
National Championship, All-League Team (WWLL), All-Tournament Team
(WWLL/WCLA). Please contact Amy Corstorphine at amy.corstor@gmail.
com for more information.
NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL
GOPHER AND MOLE REMOVAL : NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL Trapping No poison, safe for your family, pets and the ecosystem.
I’m a licensed and insured state trapper; resolving human and animal conflicts. Habitat modification, ( to make your home or property less desirable),
exclusion barriers, (fencing, wire mesh or sheet metal to keep the animal/s out
of your home or property), and trapping, (removing problem wild animals.)
For more information visit www.trivalleytrapper.com. Call TRI VALLEY
TRAPPER for a FREE phone consultation and estimate (925)765-4209.
DECK REPAIR
GOT AN UGLY DECK? IS THERE SUN DAMAGE, DRY ROT, OR
DINGINESS? Decks are subject to the same elements as your home resulting
in mold, stains, mildew, moss, and structural failures. KDL CONSTRUCTION helps maintain the integrity of your deck and the safety of your family. Proper maintenance enhances the longevity and beauty of your deck.
Cleaning, repair, color restoration, and refinishing. Call for a free assessment.
Ask about our OTHER SERVICES. KDL CONSTRUCTION RestorationRemodel-Maintenance-Repairs CA License #989926. Call 510-590-2846. Alamo Today ~ May 2014 - Page 35
When an eye professional needs to assess the health of the back portion of
the eye, dilation is still the standard of care. There are new digital imaging systems that take relatively good views of the retina. However, they are generally
not able to reach the far periphery of the retina, and they are only able to give a
two-dimensional view of the retina as viewed on a computer monitor. Dilation
using an instrument called a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO) allows
the doctor to see all around the retina in three-dimensions. Keep in mind that
although reading ability will be impaired for a few hours, distance vision remains
the same. Light sensitivity might make it harder to see outdoors, but the actual
vision does not change. Please bring your sunglasses with you to your exam; if
you don’t own any, we have some shields that will help protect you from the sun.
Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding
service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622
or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly
updated website at www.alamooptometry.com, and like us on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial
Meals on Wheels
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and
Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly
Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now
more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local
homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as
substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour
companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program,
please call (925)937-8311.
Stroke Support Group
The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its May
meeting on Monday, May 12th in the Sequoia 1 Meeting Room at John Muir
Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley
Road, Walnut Creek from 7-8:30pm. The speaker will be Alayne Balke, from
the Fall Prevention Program of Contra Costa County. After the program,
attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without
aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke
survivors -- each group led by a trained professional. For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218.
Meetings are free and open to the public.
PARENTING WORKSHOP
PARENTING WORKSHOP - Learn to find the peace and joy amidst the
chaos. Saturday, May 17, 9:30-1:30 at The Lounge at Civic Park, Walnut Creek.
You’ll learn how to respond and not react, have more effective discipline, and
create greater connections with your child. Visit www.joreerose.com or call
925-212-2996 for more info or to register. Class taught by Joree Rosenblatt, MA.
HEALTH
NEW ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION TAI CHI CLASSES starting, call
Linda Summers Pirkle at 925-820-8101 for meeting times.
FOR RENT
CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury
2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact
Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, [email protected]
Alamo Today Classifieds
Reach over 6,500 homes and businesses in Alamo &
Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for
up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words.
Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd
#117, Alamo, CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.
com. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers
“Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay
half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment
by check made out to “The Editors” must be received
before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your
receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.
The Combs Team
Nancy
Professionals You
Can Count On
Joe
Call the Combs Team
®
92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6
www.TheCombsTeam.com
Average Sales Price
As a reality check, at least once during the calendar year, I like to look at the market for 4 bedroom 2-3 bath homes, since the majority of Alamo properties fall into this segment. It makes sense
to view this grouping of Alamo homes apart from everything else as I believe it provides the least
cloudy view of the Alamo Real Estate Market, free from the distortion of luxury homes and condos.
If you look at the attached chart you can see that the market bottom for Alamo was calendar
year 2011 when average home prices dipped to $1,083,000 and square foot prices dove to $360 per
square foot. That was indeed the true bottom for the Alamo Real Estate Market. It hasn’t stopped
climbing up since then.
Last year, was a huge year for this segment of the market in Alamo. Square foot prices advanced
from $379 per square foot to $445 per square foot, for an amazing 17% increase. The average home
price climbed faster at about 19% to $1,297,000. As of this writing (April 21, 2014) the average square
foot price is up 2.49% for the first third of the year and average price is up about 5% to $1,362,000.
Given we are coming into the strongest part of the selling season, it’s a reasonable guess the
year will end with prices somewhere between 7% and 15% ahead of last year. Looking at the nine
currently active properties in this category, they are carrying an average asking price of $477 per
square foot and a list price of $1,513,000. One of these properties is our own listing with a square
foot price of $521 and a list price of $1,875,000. It’s currently under contract and furthers the argument for continued market strength.
Nearly every day I talk to someone, still sitting out the housing market rebound, whose question is,
“When is it going to go back down again, so I can get in?” The assumption is that we are in another
bubble and it will be bursting soon. My answer is, “I don’t think it’s going to burst, I don’t think
this is a bubble. The Alamo
4 bed 2-3 bath homes Sales Alamo
Real Estate Market is just
Year
$ Sq. Foot
Avg. Price
Size Sq. Ft. now returning to normal.”
2010
$ 380 $
1,126,000
2964 Someday, yes of course, the
2011
$ 360 $
1,083,000
2980 market will correct again
2012
$ 379 $
1,108,000
2923 like it did in 1929 and again
2013
$ 445 $
1,297,000
2914 in 2008. I just don’t think
it will happen again in my
2014
$ 456 $
1,362,000
2986
lifetime.
Alamo Family Home
People sitting out
Alamo Family Home
$1,600,000
the market from 2011
until today have lost
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
26% in what might best
$1,400,000
$1,200,000
be called “Rebound
$1,200,000
$1,000,000
Appreciation.” These
$1,000,000
$800,000
Avg. Price
were gains due largely
$800,000
Avg. Price
$600,000
to the market over sell$600,000
$400,000
ing to the down side
$400,000
$200,000
and quickly returning
$200,000
$to more normal levels.
$11
33
5 5
In “Alamo Average
Years
2010-14
Years
2010-14
Dollars,” missing that
initial rebound cost a fence sitter $279,000. Ouch!
To return to normal, Alamo average price will need to be $1,529,000 and square foot price for
this class of home will need to exceed $504 per square foot. Those numbers were achieved between
2006 and 2007 and had very little to do with the massive sub-prime melt down that led to the financial
crisis of 2008. At that time there were more than nine 4 bedroom homes on the market, interest rates
were pushing 6%, fewer people were living in the East Bay, Alamo incomes were lower, and if I’m
not mistaken, the dollar was worth more than it is today, so it’s not a huge leap of faith to think these
numbers will be eclipsed in the not too distant future.
I am often asked the question, “When is the best time to buy or sell a home?” My usual answer
to both questions is, “When the prices are moving up.” If you asked me that question today, my
answer would be, “right now!”
Nancy and I have more than 1,100 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. You can add yourself to the list by sending me an email. I assure you no spam will follow.
Even if you are not thinking about putting your home on the market, you should know the
value of your home. It’s probably worth more than you think and given the run up you may not
be adequately insured. Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a free personal consultation. Just call 925-989-6086 or send me an email [email protected]. It will be our
pleasure to provide you with this service.
Average Sales Price
Alamo Real Estate Market: Prices Continue Rising
Auction Sale
Diablo Creek Single Story
G
IN
D
N
E
P
Danville Executive Home
Beautiful 4 bedroom 4 bath 4200 sq. ft.
home. We are representing the buyer.
$1,450,000
Amazing updated 4 bedroom single story has
it all. Large level lot beautiful pool and pavilion.
Call for details.
Alamo Oaks
Danville Single Story
g
in
m
o
C
Spacious, luxurious, 4 bed 3 bath home,
Chef’s kitchen,view lot, putting green
and spa. Call for details.
Updated 4 bedroom 3595 sq. foot home with
1.13 acre lot. Perfect for horses or a vineyard.
Call for details.
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 Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
!
n
Soo
The picture is the view from the level back yard
of this charming single story 3 bedroom home.
Call for details.
J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526

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