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October 2011 Roger Smith Named Alamo Citizen of the Year
At the 29th Annual Alamo Music and Wine Festival held on Saturday, September 10th, the Rotary Club of Alamo named Roger Smith as the 2011 Alamo Citizen of the Year. “This is the 27th year that the Rotary Club of Alamo has presented this award,” said Chris Suter, Club president. The Rotary Cub of Alamo selects the Citizen of the Year based on service, integrity, and citizenship and is a person who has demonstrated a unique commitment to the Alamo community that places her/him in a special place deserving this recognition. All members of the Alamo community are encouraged each year to nominate that person who best meets these criteria. Roger Smith is a 15 year resident of Alamo and is currently co-chair of the Alamo Improvement Association's Planning Committee. He is also president of Benefits Store Insurance Services. Roger has contributed to Alamo’s independent voice with all the surrounding governments and districts which impact Alamo neighborhoods, businesses, and L TO R: Emylin Struthers, representing State Senator Mark DeSaulnier and community groups. Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, presented certificates honoring Roger Smith His approach is to (middle). Chris Suter, (right) President of the Rotary Club of Alamo presented present the scope of the Citizen of the Year award to Roger. Alamo opinions to governments and support the rationale to resolve to issues impacting individual neighborhoods or Alamo as a community. He is a champion of community interaction, consideration and mitigation of issues impacting planning, and transportation/traffic control. For fifty years, the Planning Committee of the Alamo Improvement Association has reviewed discretionary applications referred by Contra Costa County or development in Alamo. Roger Smith has chaired the AIA Planning Committee since 1998. Under Roger’s leadership, the AIA application review process has become more efficient and more inclusive. He improved the process by assigning each building project a lead Planning Committee member who oversees all phases and coordinates the work of the project among all parties the County, the applicant, and project neighbors. He facilitates resolution among these parties by bringing them together in a respectful and deferential manner, persuading them to talk to each other, and helping them to compromise. He was nominated for his respect for his fellow citizens in the complex, contentious, and vital process of planning and development in Alamo. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971 and has 50 members. Each year, the Club sponsors the Alamo Music and Wine Festival, which supports the music programs at Alamo and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools, Lucille Mauzy School, Stone Valley Middle School, Monte Vista and San Ramon High Schools, as well as other community and international service projects. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Round Hill Country Club located at 3169 Roundhill Road in Alamo. To learn more about the Rotary Club of Alamo and its many activities, visit the Club’s website at www.alamorotary.org. PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
Serving Alamo and Diablo
Back Row Left to Right: Nicolette Allen, Amelia Abramson, Jeff Abramson, Tom Miner, and Glen Robins. Front Row Left to Right: Dashiell Miner, Dallin Robins, Ryan Nearon, Joshua Miner, Michael Reeve, Weston Nearon, Jack Vonsosen, and Jared Robins.
Scouts Begin Building Bounty Garden Beds
Under the guidance of Life Scout Josh Miner, local teens began construction of The Bounty Garden’s raised vegetable beds. For much of the summer, Josh has been finalizing the construction of the beds with The Bounty Garden Co-Founder, Amelia Abramson. The Bounty Garden, to be located at local Hap Magee Ranch Park, will be a community place to grow fresh produce for local Food Bank programs. Recently a Josh lead a construction day to begin assembly of the beds. In two short hours, six beautiful boxes were finished. Josh
Guitars Not
See Garden continued on page 13 Guns By Fran Miller
Jimi Hendrix or John Mayer they likely will never be, but the children and teens who participate in weekly guitar lessons through the Guitars Not Guns program don’t seem to care. Most simply are pleased to have some positive adult attention – something to which most are not accustomed. Guitars Not Guns (GNG) California Vice President and lead guitar instructor Randall Davis recalls a particular lesson session in Martinez, attended by three sisters, who all had different fathers, each in prison. Due to their mother’s drug issues, the girls lived with their grandmother. “About halfway into their eightVolume XI - Number 10 week course, the girls did not ap- 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 pear for class although they were Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 always eager to attend and had each made great progress,” says Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Davis. “We inquired and learned Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Sharon Burke ~ Writer that the County's Child Welfare sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Service Agency had made a suropinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do prise visit to the home and found The not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not the grandmother smoking crack responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor
See Guitars cont. on pg. 20
does publication imply endorsement.