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April 2012 The Bounty Garden Set to Grow at Hap Magee Ranch Park By Jody Morgan After two years of research and planning, The Bounty Garden (TBG) is in the final stages of preparation to grow organic produce for the 132,000 individuals dependent every month on donations from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. April work on the smaller barn at the garden’s site at Hap Magee Ranch Park will include re-grading to correct drainage. Raised beds now stacked at the co-founders’Alamo home will be moved into place in May. On a day soon to be determined, park visitors will watch the earth move as wheelbarrow loads of soil parade down paths to fill the beds for planting. Heidi and Amelia Abramson, the Barn at TBG site ready to be renovated for garden tool and journal storage. mother/daughter duo responsible for creating the concept of a space where community members of all ages can come together to learn about sustainable practices while producing food for hungry neighbors, are eager to see their vision bearing vegetables. Heidi has grown vegetables for several years, making the switch to raised beds four years ago. Amelia, used to plucking oranges from a tree in her own yard, was raised with the sense that growing food can be simple. A visit to the Food Bank with her school group made her aware of how many people in her own county did not have access to fresh fruits or vegetables. “During the tour, most of the shelves that were reserved for fresh produce were alarmingly empty,” Amelia recalls. “Seeing the lack of fresh produce that should have gone out to feed the hungry was shocking, and later when I explained the situation to my mom, we discussed it and eventually came up with the idea for The Bounty Garden.” After surveying available spaces, Heidi and Amelia quickly identified Hap Magee Ranch Park, a 17-acre space straddling the Alamo/ Danville border, as the ideal place to locate TBG. From Heidi and Amelia discuss TBG plans. 1911 to 1946, the property known as Camp Swain welcomed orphans from the San Francisco Protestant Orphanage. Hap Magee’s parents bought the spread in 1947. Hap and his bride Ruth moved into the newly built Magee House in 1951. A rancher fascinated by Western memorabilia, Hap is said to have owned a collection of brands numbering anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 which seems to have vanished after his death in 1985. The Hap Magee location offers four crucial elements required to make The Bounty
See TBG continued on page 27 Local Postal Customer
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Serving Danville Hippity Hoppity on the Town Green Hop on down to the Danville Community Center, Saturday, April 7th for a fun-filled morning of egg hunts, arts and crafts, face painting, and more. Egg hunts will begin on time and are organized by age so every child has equal opportunity to find treasure-filled eggs. Bring your camera and take a picture with the Spring Bunny and the Spring Duck. There are two sessions during this event. The first session is from 9AM to 11AM with the second session from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Space is limited! Pre-registration is required, and no walk-ins are allowed. Registration is limited to online or mail-in only. Register online at www. danvillerecguide.com or mail registration forms to the Danville Community Center at 420 Front Street, Danville, CA 94526. If your bunny or chick is too old to participate, consider volunteering during the event. Volunteers are needed to assist with egg hunts, arts and crafts, games, face painting, food, and more. For more information, visit www.danville.ca.gov and search Volunteer, or call (925) 314-3400.
Together We Give - Earth Day Sunday, April 22, 1-4pm Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities See page 2 for more information on how you can help.
Project Second Chance By Fran Miller With nearly 20% of the United States population estimated to be dyslexic, it is almost certain someone you know struggles with reading. Many hide their illiteracy behind excellent coping strategies, and many have managed to get through school and even graduate with high school diplomas. Challenged readers are everywhere, and, according to Laura Seaholm, proProject Second Chance volunteer tutor Helen gram manager at Project Second Chance Byer with her student, Ike. literacy program, it is not due to lack of intelligence. “Many people, particularly those with dyslexia, simply needed to learn to read differently,” says Seaholm, who states that about half of Project Second Chance’s students were born and educated in the United States, but never learned to read and write at the level they wish – probably due to some type of learning disability. Project Second Chance (PSC), the Contra Costa Volume III - Number 6 County Library Adult Literacy Program, offers 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, free, confidential one-on-one basic literacy instrucAlamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 tion to people who are over 16 years of age, out of Fax (925) 406-0547 school, and conversant in English. Most students are between 35 and 55 years of age, and they come Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher from a wide range of economic backgrounds. Since editor@ it began in 1984, the program has helped more than yourmonthlypaper.com 4,000 adults improve their reading, writing, and The opinions expressed herein belong spelling skills. It has even brought out the poet in to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. Ike, a PSC student for the past 18 years. Danville Today News is not “Ike started at PSC when he was 54,” says his responsible for the content of any of tutor for the past four years, Helen Byer of Alamo. the advertising herein, nor does
See Chance continued on page 20
publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor The few times I have watched the TV show Hoarders I have immediately felt the itch to tidy and clean. My feelings were mirrored by a 20-year-old friend of the family who recently posted on his Facebook Wall, “Sooooo just finished watching Hoarders. Yep, time to clean every square inch of my room.” I get it. That’s just how I feel. It is time for some “Spring Cleaning,” the annual act of cleaning a home from top to bottom. Wikipedia says, “It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Iranian Norouz, the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of “khooneh tekouni,” which literally means ‘shaking the house’ just before the new year. Everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned, from the drapes to the furniture.” The citing continues, “During the 19th century in America, prior to the advent of the vacuum cleaner, March was often the best time for dusting because it was getting warm enough to open windows and doors (but not warm enough for insects to be a problem), and the high winds could carry the dust out of the house. For the same reason, modern rural households often use this time for cleaning projects involving the use of chemical products which generate fumes, opening up the winter darkness (although there was not as many dreary days this winter) and welcoming the warm weather.” A couple years ago my daughter started an event called “Together We Give,” and the event fits in nicely with the Spring Cleaning theme. This one-stop, one afternoon event is a gathering of local groups and organizations looking for your useful items you no longer need. They in turn collect the items and take them directly to their organizations. Do you have clothes you no longer wear, bikes you no longer ride, instruments you no longer play, or eyeglasses or hearing aids that are not your prescription anymore? Did you buy a five pack of deodorant or a case of paper towels at Costco and now wonder, “What was I thinking? I’ll never use up that much of this product!” If so, this is the perfect opportunity to share with others in need. As my daughter is away at college, the Alamo Women’s Club has taken over the Together We Give event. See the list of items below that the groups need and make your Spring Cleaning a personal scavenger hunt. Then, bring everything down to the Club located at 1401 Danville Blvd in Alamo on April 22nd from 1-4pm, and help out these
wonderful organizations. Please note all items must be “smoke-free.” For the full list of items, please email coordinator Pam Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com. • New/unused yarn (any type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns for Knit For The Kids • Bikes/protective gear, storage bins, DVDs for young adults, educational CDs/ DVDs, gardening kits & tools, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player, board games, bath/face/hand towels, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music Players for Youth Homes – Foster Care • Antiques, linens, glassware for Hospice of East Bay • Unopened hotel shampoo/conditioner/soap/razors, twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress covers), towels for STAND! For Families Free of Violence • Usable “sunshine gifts” – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping bags, children books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women, and professional accessories (shoes, scarves, handbags, jewelry) for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action • Eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lion’s Club • Cell phones for the Troops • New or gently worn dresses for 6th to 8th grade girls for Dress It Up 4 Girls • Diapers, baby clothes, baby toys, strollers, and car seats for Brighter Beginnings • School supplies, binders, nursery rhyme books, puzzles, towels, heavy push toys such as wagons, board games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, Hot Wheels, jump ropes, boys dress up clothes, men’s ties for We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5) • Shoes for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local communities) • Canned and boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano • Books, small furniture, Ewaste recycling - Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, stereos for CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled) • Gently worn coats, hats, mittens for One Warm Coat • Gently used clothing (men, women & children), household goods, books, toilet paper, paper towels for Shepherd’s Gate • Musical instruments for Local Schools • Adult dark colored knit hats, hand and foot warmers, paper back books, CDs, DVDs for Blue Star Moms • Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station • Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events, and donations for Canine Companions for Independence
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 3
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Volunteers Needed for Lend-A-Hand Day Danville PD Announces New Citizen’s Academy The Town of Danville and local community volunteers are joining forces to Lend-A-Hand in the community Saturday, April 28th, helping seniors in need who reside in Danville with their spring yard clean up. The annual Lend-A-Hand Day event, now in its eighth year, provides senior citizens no-cost yard cleanup and minor home repairs. Individuals who would like to assist as a volunteer should contact Senior Services at (925) 314-3490 or seniors@danville.ca.gov for an application. All volunteer applications need to be returned to the Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville, CA 94526 or emailed to seniors@danville.ca.gov no later than April 13. Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for information.
HELP! One Week Host Families Needed High school students from the south of France will be coming to our area for one week, April 13th - April 20th. Host families are needed to take care of the students on the weekend and evenings. Weekdays the students will travel with their class to explore San Francisco. This is a wonderful opportunity to expose your family to another culture and language. Students have a varying command of the English language and are looking to improve their English skills. There are five boys who still need a host home! For more information, visit www.exchange-students-lecas.com or email teacher Martine Causse at martine.causse@yahoo.com.
Huge Library Book Sale Friends of the Danville Library will hold a sale of gently used books, all for 50 cents or $1. Included will be childrens’ books, CDs, DVDs, and video tapes. The event will be held at the Danville Library located at 400 Front Street in Danville. The sale will take place on Friday, April 27th from 9AM-10AM for Friends only, and from 10AM -5PM the public is invited. The public is also invited Saturday, April 28th from 10AM-4PM and on Sunday, April 29th from 12:05-4:45 which is bag day all you can carry in a bag costs $5. Admission is free.
Class to provide inside look into Danville PD Town of Danville residents interested in learning about how the police operate and what happens behind the scenes at the Danville Police Department (DPD), will get the opportunity this spring as the DPD announces the formation of their second Citizen’s Police Academy. Over the next several weeks, police will be taking sign-ups for the newly forming Citizen’s Academy. Sgt. Jason Haynes will be heading up the Academy, which will focus on police methods and procedures. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6 pm – 9 pm over a six week period starting May 9 th, covering a wide range of topics. Class size is limited to 12 residents. More information can be found on the Town’s website www. danville.ca.gov. For more information, contact Community Services Coordinator Claudia Ray at (925) 314-3704 or cray@danville.ca.gov.
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Page 4 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Museum of the San Ramon Valley Special Presentations at the Museum • Saturday, April 7th, 10am, Gemstone carving and polishing will be featured along with a display of beautiful gems and handmade jewelry. Dick Friesen will share his knowledge of gem collecting along with the tools and equipment that he uses in his hobby. Join us for what will surely be a polished and brilliant talk. Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday 1pm to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 1pm. The museum admission is free to members, and there is a modest fee for non-members. Donations are always welcome. For more information, visit www.museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750. The museum is located at the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in downtown Danville.
Design Contest Area artists needed to design reusable shopping bag The Town of Danville is looking for all the budding Rembrandts, Picassos, and Monets out there to take part in the “All Things Danville” reusable shopping bag contest. The winning entry will best demonstrate the ultimate experiences of the Town of Danville. Show in your art all that makes Danville such a great Town. A pdf of the flyer for the contest is available for view and download on the Town’s web page, www.danville.ca.gov. All applications must be received by April 28, 2012. For more information, contact Economic Development Manager Jill Bergman at (925) 314-3369 or jbergman@danville.ca.gov.
ADAS Blackhawk Gallery Presents Spring Palette Alamo Danville Artist’s Society (ADAS) is hosting Spring Palette featuring 50 gallery member artists exhibiting oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, sculpture, ceramic, wearable art, jewelry, and note cards. The exhibit runs through June 10th seven days a week, Monday - Thursday 10AM - 7PM, Friday and Saturday 10AM - 8PM, and Sunday 11AM - 6PM. The exhibit is free of charge to the public. Among the artists are oil painter Juan Cantavella, specializing in photo realism who will display a variety of subjects, photographer Ojars Kratins, who’s work will depict foreign lands, and Victor Habib, who will present several of his fine wood working pieces. James Aarons, ceramicist, will exhibit exciting brightly colored dramatic work “Geode Bowls” to Spring Palette. James’ minimalist work incorporates non-representational and linear designs. Caryne Mount will display wearable art inspired by nature and textiles including her Vintage Kimono Series using obi and textiles from Japan. The Blackhawk Gallery is located at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Blackhawk Plaza. at the corner of Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road in Danville.
Authors for the Arts: It’s a Party and You are Invited! Call for Entries The Friends of the Danville Library Endowment is sponsoring a party to support Arts Enrichment in the Library, a program for elementary and middle school children based on books and enhanced with hands-on fun activities to promote the enjoyment and understanding of art, music, theatre, and the culinary arts. The gala will be held Friday, April 20th from 6:30 to 8:30PM in the Valley Oak Room in the Community Center which is located at 420 Front Street in Danville. This enjoyable evening will feature drinks, appetizers, and authors. Meet Anne Perry, best-selling author of the Thomas Pitt Victorian Mysteries, World War I stories, and Christmas Novellas. In addition, meet and chat with California Authors, including Sophie Littlefield, John King, Amy Franklin-Willis, Carol Fowler, and Lewis Buzbee. Tickets are $45 and available at Rakestraw Books and the Danville Library Bookstore.
Lost Dog! $50 REWARD
If you find him and your name is drawn!
Danville Dog is Missing He has become lost in this paper!
He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507
Christopher Pancoast is our winner!
The Town of Danville is hosting the Second Invitational Juried Exhibition in the Village Theatre Art Gallery and encourages all accomplished, mid-career and emerging artists living in the United States to apply. The theme is Spaces and Places. Artwork considered for this exhibition will depict either a real, invented, or a psychological space or place. Creative interpretations are encouraged. Work produced in the last three years is preferred. Accepted media includes painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media. The juror for this exhibition is DeWitt Cheng, a San Francisco-based art critic who writes for Art Ltd., Artillery, Sculpture, Huffington Post, Visual Art Source, and DeWittCheng.com. The deadline to submit entries is 5pm, June 1st. Any entries received after that date or that are incomplete will not be considered. Entries will not be returned. Artists will be notified of the results by e-mail no later than 5pm, June 8. Visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call (925) 314-3400 for more info.
Art in the Park, Call for Artists Applications are being accepted for outdoor booth spaces in the 14th annual Art in the Park Fine Arts Festival to be held October 6th and 7th from 10AM to 5PM each day. The show will be held in their new larger location in Central Park in San Ramon. Art in the Park is presented by the Alamo Danville Artist’s Society and the San Ramon Arts Foundation as a fund raiser for Art in the Schools of the San Ramon Valley Union School District and other community activities. For information about these organizations, see www.adas4art.org and www.sanramonarts.org. Categories for consideration are painting, photography, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, and graphics. There will be limited openings for fine jewelry. Work must be original and created by the exhibiting artist. A new feature this year will be a Sidewalk Chalk Art event. Contact Mark Ballock at (925) 998-2924 or info@SanRamonArts.org for chalk information. Inquiries for artists’ applications can be addressed to Norma Webb at normawebb@comcast.net or (925) 828-9170.
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 5
Vets Building Grand Opening More than a year and a half of effort has yielded fruit as the Town of Danville is proud to announce the grand opening of the newly renovated/ reconstructed Veterans Memorial Building. April 28th has been selected as the opening date for the venerable building, which has been undergoing a massive renovation effort since July 2010. The $8.1 million project has resulted in a beautiful facility which will serve the needs of area veterans, seniors, and community members. Plans call for a special opening for the veterans on Friday, April 27th with a community-wide opening ceremony set for Saturday, April 28th. For more information, contact Assistant to the Town Manager Nat Rojanasathira at (925) 314-3328 or nrojanasathira@danville.ca.gov.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. 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.
Delta Nu Psi Collection for the Troops We will be collecting supplies to give to American troops on April 6th at CVS in Alamo and on April 13th at Lunardi’s in Danville. The hours for both stores are from 11am to 2pm. Needed items include Girls Scout Cookies, toothbrushes (like the last one your dentist gave you), disposable razors, and chocolate candy. We have now shipped 22,865 pounds in 902 boxes. Thank you for your continued support. To find out more about our organization, visit deltanupsi.org.
Danville Fallen Soldier Memorial The recent passing of Marine LCpl Joshua “Chachi” Corral from Danville has been a rally call to unite and give thanks to the young men and woman who continue to put themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve this great nation. Chachi made the ultimate sacrifice. The Danville Fallen Soldier Memorial is dedicated to Corral and represents the duty, honor, and sacrifice of all current and future veterans. With your help and generosity, we will be able to construct the Memorial as well as give much needed support to military families in our community. Donated funds will be spent to fund the Danville Fallen Soldier Memorial Sculpture for placement in downtown Danville, adoption of the Third Battalion Seventh Marines (Chachi's unit in which he served), provide support provisions for deployed military members, assist Gold Star Families in need, and fulfill special requests and needs of Veterans and their families. Donations can be mailed to or dropped off at Danville Fallen Soldier Memorial, 145 E. Prospect Avenue, Suite 200, Danville, CA 94526. Please make checks payable to “Danville Fallen Soldier Memorial.” To pay online and learn more visit www.godspeedchachi.com.
Enjoy a fun and entertaining evening in the spirit of a Las Vegas headliner show of the ‘50’s - reprising the songs of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Louis Prima, Perry Como, and more!
SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2012
5:30PM Cocktails and Seating • 6:00PM Showtime and Dinner 5 COURSE DINNER includes • Appetizer • Salad • Pasta • Entrée • Dessert with Coffee $70 per person - plus tax and gratuity • Cocktails and Wine additional PREPAID RESERVATIONS • 72 hour cancellation policy Call 925.820.1711 to make reservations or visit www.forlialamo.com.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.
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Western Tableau with Rhodesian Ridgeback (Trails West), 1993, oil on canvas, 48 x 70 inches. Courtesy of Louis K. Meisel Gallery.
At the Newly Expanded
Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art
Richard McLean: Master Artist Tribute IX Horses, Landscapes and Portraits
April 22 through June 17, 2012 In conversation: Richard McLean and Paul Karlstrom April 22, 2 PM, Soda Activity Center followed by a reception Studio Gallery: Master Artist Tribute Series I – VIII Armistead Gallery: River of Words: Youth Art and Poetry Keith Gallery: William Keith and the California Oak stmarys-ca.edu/museum (925) 631- 4379
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Page 6 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
By Cynthia Ruzzi
Two fabulous concerts from the East Bay’s premier 140 voice chorus. Songs from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “West Side Story”, “The Sandpiper”, “Dirty Dancing”, “The Wizard of Oz” and much more……. Saturday May 5: Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 8pm 10550 Albion Road, San Ramon. Tickets: $25, adults, $17 children under 12. www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/ or 925-973-3343 Friday May 11: 8pm
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard, Dublin. Tickets: $25 adults, $15 children under 12 Call 925-828-1580
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek doctor, certainly got that right! Art is long, and life is short. Art influences how we see the world, and it gives us a means to express ourselves when words cannot. Certainly the impression a piece of art makes on the viewer can outlive the ability to recall the artists’ name. Yet finding a simple drawing you stored long ago can flood you with treasured memories of the artist, if it was your child. Giving recognition to a child’s artwork can build life confidence equal to scoring the winning homerun in a champion little league game. I’m at least as proud of my trophy from a city-wide art contest in the third grade as I am of my Best Girl Athlete medal from seventh grade. As parents and educators, we know how essential art is to teaching and encouraging our children. Since art is such a vital part of raising healthy children, shouldn’t we consider making sure the art supplies our children use to create their art are healthy for them too? Art supplies often contain toxins and pollutants that are both harmful to a child’s health and the environment. Many art supplies contain toxic chemicals (PBTs) that can accumulate in the environment when they are made, used, or discarded. These PBTs can also accumulate in your child and cause illnesses such as headaches, breathing problems, nausea, and possibly worse. A great way to prevent possible negative effects of art supplies is to make sure you and your school purchase only sustainable, non-toxic art supplies. Look for the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) seal of approval to make sure your art supplies are safe for the environment and your child. A guide to reading and understanding art supply labels can be found at the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition website www.cehn.org/files/Art%20supplies_2_14_11(6).pdf. With Spring Break just around the corner, now’s a perfect time to consider some environmentally friendly ways to spruce up your family art projects.
Recycled Materials
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Juniors’ masterpiece will last just as long and look just as good on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper as it would on virgin paper.
Natural Ingredients
“Life in the Walnut Creek Garden” Fundraiser Saturday, May 5th, 11AM to 4PM John Montgomery Landscape Architects is delighted to announce their third annual Garden Tour Fundraiser presenting gardens exclusively designed by John Montgomery. Celebrate Spring, chat with John, stroll the gardens, enjoy live music, attend demonstrations, and nibble goodies in our outdoor living environments. Proceeds from the sale of tickets benefit The Quincy Lee Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, and Contra Costa County Guide Dog Raisers, Inc.. To sign up, visit www.jm-la.com and click on Garden Tour. For questions, please contact Debbie at dblumhardt@jm-la.com, or (925) 820-8884.
AAUW Garden Tour The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) 12th Annual Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 11th and Saturday, May 12th from 10AM - 4PM. Six delightful gardens located in Alamo and Danville will be presented. Landscape designers and expert gardeners will be on hand to share their knowledge. Tickets are $30 before May 4th and $35 after. Seniors 65+ are $5 less. No children under 12 or pets, please. Mail your check payable to “AAUW Funds” with a business size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to AAUW Garden Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Tickets will also be available after April 9th at East Bay Flower Company at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. W. in Danville with cash or check payment only. All proceeds go to AAUW Funds, supporting aspiring female scholars. For further information about the tour, email gardentour@aauw.daw.org.
Newcomers Club The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time residents to its monthly luncheon on April 19th at Bridges Golf Club Restaurant located at 9055 S. Gale Ridge Rd. in San Ramon. We meet from 11:30 to 2PM and the cost is $21. The speaker will be Becky Worley, correspondent to the TV show Good Morning America. Call Grace at (925) 828-8554 for reservations and information.
Who doesn’t love coloring? But, traditional crayons are made from a non-renewable petroleum byproduct, paraffin wax. Look for crayons made from soy bean oil. Not only are they non-toxic, but they’re bio-degradable too. Looking to channel the Italian street artist within? Organic chalk with all natural ingredients is safe for small children. They can decorate away without you worrying about them putting their hands or the chalk in their mouth. Eco-friendly colored pencils are my ‘tool of the trade,’ and I use sustainably harvested wood ones like the ones found at Stubby Pencil Studio, www. stubbypencilstudio.com. Manufactured from California cedar wood and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to have originated from environmentally well-managed forests, they draw great cartoon aliens, flowers, trees, and dinosaurs.
Make Your Own Supplies You’re never too old to enjoy a day of finger painting! It’s simple to mix up a batch on your own. Form a smooth paste with a cup of white flour (not self-rising) and 8 tablespoons of water. Separate small portions into muffin tins, and add organic food coloring to get the color you want. Thin to a pudding consistency with additional water, and you’re ready to create a Picasso. Fancy yourself more of a Monet? Create watercolors by mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Allow the mixture to rest until the fizzling stops. Then, add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and ½ tablespoon of corn syrup. Mix until crumbly and divide in a muffin tin. Add about 10 drops organic food coloring to each cup. Paint away, mixing individual colors together to create a wide palette for your masterpiece. Our recipes wouldn’t be complete without offering one for eco-friendly play dough. Mix 1 cup white flour (not self-rising) with ½ cup of table salt in a bowl. Gradually add 1/3 cup water while kneading the mixture until it reaches a dough consistency. It should not be sticky. To tint the dough, add organic food coloring as the dough is mixed to create various shades. Store in the refrigerator in a well sealed container, but like all play dough – it will eventually harden. All Danville and Alamo K-12 students are invited to participate in the 2012 Earth Day Art Poster Contest with the environmental theme of “Our World, Our Community.” Works of art will be displayed at the Town of Danville Village Art Theatre Gallery on Friday, April 20th 12-5pm. A reception honoring our artists will be held at 4pm. Prizes will be awarded to finalists in each of the following grade categories: Kindergarten, Grades 1-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12. For complete instructions, please visit http://sustainabledanville.com/2012-earth-daystudent-art-poster-contest/. All art work must be submitted by 4pm on April 17th.
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 7
The Blackhawk Chorus Goes to the Movies! The Blackhawk Chorus, under the direction of founder Diane Gilfether, presents The Blackhawk Chorus Goes To The Movies, a concert featuring the full 140 member Chorus accompanied by its outstanding jazz quintet. The concert will be presented at 8PM on Saturday, May 5th at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Purveyors of classic, exotic, and Albion Road in San Ramon and at 8PM on Friday, May th high-performance cars for more than 30 years. 11 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin. California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer Who can forget the haunting theme song from BreakOver 200 vehicles in inventory! fast at Tiffany’s? “Moon River” has become an enduring American standard, recorded countless times in many different genres. Then there’s “The Shadow of Your Smile,” from the movie The Sandpiper starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and the title song from the stage and screen musical 42nd Street. And, who doesn’t remember Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? The Blackhawk Chorus movie music program includes a lovely setting of Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. “Somewhere” from West Side Story, while Blackhawk Jazz www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 will perform the signature song and dance number from Dirty Dancing – “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.” Special Blend will perform “Seasons of Love” from the movie Rent. All of this will be topped off with a wonderful medley from The Wizard of Oz and much more. Tickets for the Dougherty Valley concert at 8PM on Saturday, May 5th are available through the Center’s website at www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/ or by calling their Box Office at (925) 973-3343. For tickets for the performance at 8PM on Friday, May 11th at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin, call the church office at (925) 828-1580, Monday – Friday, 9AM to 1PM. The Blackhawk Chorus began in 1991 with 12 women whose dedication to and fondness for music was exemplary. Word spread of the success of the group, and in the following year, men were invited to participate. Now the chorus performs regularly in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The Blackhawk Chorus appeared in the From Sea to Shining Sea concert on March 21 2010 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. It leaves for the United Kingdom and Ireland on June 1this year to perform concerts in London, Wales and Ireland. For more information visit www.blackhawkchorus.com.
Blackhawk Republican Women Present Climategate Author
Role Players Presents a Wonderfully Silly Victorian Musical Farce The Mikado
On Wednesday, April 11th, the Blackhawk Republican Women will hold a luncheon featuring speaker Brian Sussman, KSFO radio host and author of Climategate: A Veteran Meteorologist Exposes the Global Warming Scam. The event will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club located at 599 Blackhawk Club Drive in Danville. Sign-in and a social will begin at 11AM followed by a luncheon and speaker. Brian spent a year of research to assemble the facts in this most comprehensive exposé ever written about the environmental movement - a movement that has become one of the most influential social phenomena in modern history. In this book, he illustrates that this “green agenda” was originally conceived in the minds of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, first employed on a national level by Russian dictator Vladimir Lenin, further refined by global elites at the United Nations, and now has become deeply engrained within the fabric of policy at every level of government within the United States. Come meet Brian in person, and get an advance copy of the book that he says Al Gore and the environmental radicals “will wish was never written!” Please make your reservation and payment of $25 written to “Blackhawk Republican Women” by noon, Monday, April 9th by contacting Marianne Lyons at 856 Turrini Drive, Danville, CA 94526, (925) 820-6452, or rlyons1009@ sbcglobal.net.
Come see The Mikado, an inventive staging of a wonderfully silly Victorian musical farce, April 13th through May 5th at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Sex and politics come together in this best-loved comedy of Gilbert and Sullivan. Set in the mythical village of Titipu, where flirting is a capital offense, we find a wandering musician named Nanki-Poo who is looking for his true love, Yum-Yum. Unfortunately, Yum-Yum is destined to marry KoKo. In the end, true love prevails with Gilbert and Sullivan’s bold satire and timeless music running throughout. The Mikado features captivating melodies, hilarious lyrics, and dialogue that would make any comedian of the last century envious. Musically, it features enduring favorites such as “A wand’ring minstrel I,” “Three Little Maids from School,” and “Tit-willow.” Showtime on Fridays and Saturdays is at 8PM, and on Sundays showtime is at 2PM. Tickets costing $18-$26 are available at www.villagetheatreshows. com, by calling 925-314-3400, or at the Community Center which is located at 420 Front St. in Danville. For more information, go to www.danvilletheatre.com.
Document Shredding Fundraiser A document shredding fundraiser will be held Saturday, April 21st from 1-3pm. This annual event is sponsored by Diablo Valley Oncology and raises money for the Cancer Support Community (formerly the Wellness Community). Bring old tax returns, business records, bank statements, cancelled checks, credit card statements, bills, receipts, and other documents containing personal information to our event, make a charitable donation, and ‘SHRED WORKS’ will shred your documents on the spot! The event will be held at the California Cancer and Research Institute located at 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill. For information, call 925-677-5041.
Gilbert and Sullivan Arrive in Danville • Wednesday, April 4 – Danville Library, Mt. Diablo Room - 7PM Join Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes for a celebration of the witty, wicked, and wonderfully weird world of Gilbert and Sullivan. Get a sneak peek at Role Players Ensemble’s upcoming production of The Mikado with the director, designers, and actors bringing this Victorian musical farce to life at the Village Theatre this spring. • Thursdays, April 26 & May 3 – Father Nature’s – 8PM Join Role Players Ensemble Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes and singers from the cast of The Mikado for a concert celebrating the wit, wickedness, and wonder of Gilbert and Sullivan.
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Page 8 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Greenbrook Elementary School
By Jenise Falk, Principal
“Number one’s George Washington, number two is John Adams.” Can you guess what our students are signing about? Yes, they are learning all about the Presidents of the United States. The song ends with “Maybe one day I’ll be President.” Our vocal music teacher, Mr. Gates wrote the song just for his students. Our 4th and 5th grade choir students sang this at the SRVHS area choir festival to great applause. This is just one example of how the character trait of “Citizenship” is portrayed each and every day at Greenbrook Elementary. Citizenship: “Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer” ~ Character Counts Examples of good citizenship abound on the campus. Every Wednesday morning, the Greenbrook community gathers together around our flag pole for our celebration of community. We recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing a patriotic song, announce current and historic events of the day, and often give out special EAGLE awards for students who have gone above and beyond is some fashion. Our Student Council is greatly involved in recycling efforts, in the classrooms and during lunch time. In addition, our council reps have organized fundraisers for diabetes and for the leukemia and lymphoma society, canned food drives, and spirit days. Our Eagles in Action club, formed by the PTA, is a group of students in grades 1-5 who learn about ways to be involved in their local community and to make a difference. The group has raised money for “Pennies for Puppies” and given to local charities. Many of our students are involved in Boy and Girl Scouts, which by the very nature of the groups emphasize good citizenship. Our PTA is involved in the Sister School Program which provides much needed school supplies, snacks, warm coats, socks, and books. Citizenship is just one of the character traits that we focus on through the year, but it’s a very important Greenbrook teacher Tara Hegarty with 4th graders Anna one as we nurture our students to become caring, active citizens of the world. Stout and Ethan Mihalic from Student Council, collecting You are invited! On April 17th, Greenbrook EAGLE fund is sponsoring our 3rd annual Drive Thru Tri- “Pennies for Patients.” Tip Dinner. The cost is $40 for a fantastic dinner of BBQ Tri-Tip, sides, and dessert! Tickets are on sale now at the school. Drive thru the school parking lot and pick up your fabulous dinner to enjoy at home. All proceeds go to supporting the educational programs at Greenbrook. come together for in order to work toward a collective solution. We study St. Isidore Catholic School the results of our plan in the form of student work. The results drive our next Easter is here! PDSA cycle. By Jean Schroeder, Principal At the end of the month, on Saturday, April 28th, our 2nd grade students will Last month, we had our first Family Bingo Night! make the sacrament of their First Holy Communion. Our teachers spend many What a fun night it was for everyone. Our school hours since the beginning of school preparing our students for this special council president and moderators organized this famday. We have 72 little ones that will take part in this sacrament. Many of our ily fun night. We had over 160 parents and students faculty, parents, and parishioners make it a point to attend this event in supplaying bingo, socializing, eating candy, and just port of our students. Per our Saint Isidore tradition, the 2nd grade students enjoying our community. Our teachers baked special get to wear their communion outfits for a second time and be honored by our homemade treats as bingo prizes, and we also had school community after an upcoming all-school mass. I love being a part of some gift cards. However, the favorite prizes were the “Free Dress Passes.” this celebration that will be remembered for many years to come. Students love winning these because having to wear a uniform everyday can SRV Christian Academy be dull, and winning a dress pass is a special treat! Thank you again to our By Jan Brunkal, Principal student council for a great evening. We recently welcomed our beloved grandparents Just a few months ago I remember writing about how excited our students and special guests for Grandparents’ Day. What a were to be having their Christmas break. Now, fast forward a few months, lovely time to honor and celebrate those special family and we are celebrating our Easter break. Being a Catholic School, our Easter members who will forever leave a lasting legacy in the celebration starts on Monday, April 2nd which is the beginning of Holy Week. lives of their grandchildren. rd th On Holy Thursday, our 3 and 6 grade students present Living Stations of the The day began with a heartwarming chapel in honor of Cross. This is one of our ongoing Saint Isidore traditions. Both of these grades those attending. Each grade level took turns performing a rd have prepared for this event for many weeks. Our 3 grade students act out skit, song, or presentation to celebrate the special relationth the station, while our 6 grade students narrate what happened at each Station ship children have with their grandparents and offer thanks for all they do. of the Cross. Our school community, parents, and faculty spend time going to Our Parent Teacher Fellowship coordinated the details of this special day, including each station remembering our Lord’s passion with prayer and meditation. a lovely reception with goodies and a DVD collection of family photos. In addition, This month we are piloting a new program called ZAP (Zeros Aren’t Proteachers welcomed grandparents into the classroom to share projects which children rd ductive) during our 3 trimester for our middle school students. Our school had made especially for them. In the Junior High classrooms, teachers hosted a Q & guidance counselor used this program when she was in the Moraga School A time for grandparents to share how their generations were similar and different. District. The goals of this program are to help students who are struggling One grandfather of an 8th grader commented how he has noticed a change in the ways with homework completion experience success and make sure students do people gain status today. He identified the fact that in his generation people gained not fall behind or miss critical skills and practice. The ZAP program is an status because of their character whereas in today’s society, teens seem to gain status opportunity to reinforce positive study habits and complete all work. because of the things they own. What a great discussion point and valuable difference Our teachers and staff have been working on professional development to identify, since the Lord’s plan for us isn’t found in tangible items. Truly, we are under the direction of our teaching coach on Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA). grateful for the wisdom we have from the generations that went before us! The PDSA process is very powerful when it is implemented as intended. Thank you to all of the community supporters and many local businesses who Teachers are asked to look at problems and identify the link to student learndonated gift certificates, products and services, jewelry, vacation destinations, and ing directly. Then they are placed in groups in which they are invested in the tickets for sporting events, performances, and tours at our recent auction. Your problem, have experienced first hand, and are focused on trying to make it generous donations are working to enhance the educational experience of every better. Data is collected, and some surveys may need to be created during the student that comes through the doors of SRVCA, and we are grateful for your process. The overall idea is to find a group and a problem that our teachers partnership! Thank you to our PTF and Auction Committee who worked tirelessly are willing to invest in, have direct experience with, collaborate upon, and to coordinate the event, “Denim and Diamonds.”
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Stone Valley Middle School A peek inside the Principal’s office… By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal Remember the General Motors ad campaign that featured the slogan “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile”? That slogan is appropriate to what happens in the Principal’s office today. Generations past may remember that a trip to the Principal’s office often resulting in a stern lecture, tears, or even corporal punishment! Today’s school administrator has a much different approach to running a school. The 20th century principal vs. the 21st century principal bears little resemblance to their 21st century counterparts other than the title. I host regular meetings with middle school principals from 22 different middle school, six school districts, and two counties. At our final meeting last June, we had a smaller than usual turn out which created an opportunity to have a more intimate conversation about our practice. The conversation quickly turned to why we choose to be school administrators (I know what you’re thinking…glamour, prestige, high salary). All present agreed that we choose our profession because we thought we could make a difference in the lives of children. Each principal recounted their experiences mentoring students who were considered “high risk,” and we shared our success stories regarding those students. Suffice to say that working with children is still the main motivation for school principals. About 20% of my time each week is spent working directly with students. I have a dozen students who visit my office voluntarily each week for academic counseling. These meeting are the highlight of my week. A typical week looks something like this: Daily meetings: • Office manger - we discuss my calendar, budget, any school or community issue that needs attention. • Assistant Principal - coordinate supervision, discuss discipline issues, staff development Weekly meetings: • Admin Leadership team – Assistant Principal, School Psychologist, Coun-
Charlotte Wood Middle School
Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 9 selor, Site Technology Support. School and INVESTMENT PARTNERS WANTED individual calendars, Foreclosed Real Estate Partnerships students achieving High Return Requires a below 20% in two or Minimum Cash Investment With more subjects, school No Experience in Real Estate or Construction. calendars • Parent conferContact: Adamsson Associates Inc. ences – primarily to address academic or 888-293-8793 social concerns • Classroom walk through visits – usually every Wednesday. Keeping a pulse on instruction and providing teachers with feedback • Teacher conferences, evaluations, student issues, professional development Monthly meetings: • Principal’s advisory council – made up of teacher representatives from each department. This group’s primary responsibilities are data collection and analysis, staff development planning, policy development • PTA, ED Fund presidents – conversations about community feedback and event planning • My Supervisor – monitoring my annual goals and problem solving site issues • Disciplinary conferences with students who are exhibiting a high discipline profile. • Supervision - before and after school, break time, three lunch periods. During lunch I monitor the cafeteria line and ask trivia questions on every topic from pop culture to “worst case scenario” survival game. Side note: The SRVUSD management team is one of the strongest, most respected groups of educational leaders in the state of California. Nearly a dozen principals in the district are certified leadership coaches. More information about leadership coaching can be found on my professional website at www.theschooladminstrator.net. The 21st century leader is made up of equal parts politician, counselor, staff developer, curriculum leader, budget analyst, mentor, and facilitator. If your child comes home from school and says they were in the Principal’s office, think good thoughts.
By Christopher George, Principal
Hard as it is to believe, we’re bouncing right into spring (since it appears we just skipped winter entirely this year) and all the fun that spring holds at Charlotte Wood. In fact, recently our counselor and I met with all of the elementary schools and introduced ourselves and Charlotte Wood to them. The challenge of that with the 8th graders, of course, is how to help them remain strong students here at Charlotte Wood while they begin the excitement of looking forward to the next stage of their lives in high school. To that end, we will soon be visiting all of our 8th graders in classrooms to help remind them of the expectations that we have for their last quarter, as well as let them know the behavioral and academic requirements for the promotion activities at the end of the year. We will also be sending that information home so that there is no confusion about those requirements. Either way, we know how exciting this time of year is for those students, and we share in their excitement. In the meantime, we also have a lot of great things happening at Charlotte Wood. Recently, and with essential help from the PTA and the Charger Fund, we had a ‘soft opening’ of Room 603 for our teachers. We have recently remodeled this room, our old wood shop, into a 21st Century Skills lab where students can have their lessons enhanced through multimedia. The room, equipped with video and audio equipment, computers, teleconferencing equipment and a greenscreen (to start!), is now available for teachers who are SERVING ALAMO & DANVILLE SINCE 1979! trained in its use and are ready to go. Students have already been busy creating movies, digital portfolios, music, newscasts, stopmotion animation and more. Along with that, on the technology front, we are on the verge (again, thanks to our Charger Fund) of purchasing another class set of iPads for one of our 7th grade departments. While we have Call us and ask about been eagerly awaiting the update of the new iPads (since the price dropped on the old ones, we are able to buy more), our teachers Pentair’s IntelliFlo pump have been working to see what opportunities there are for using which qualifies for a $100 that tool to enhance the 7th grade curriculum. As I said in a previous PG&E rebate! article, I do believe that we will soon be seeing an exponential rise in the use of personal devices in schools, and we can already see Want Soft Sparkling Algae Free Pool Water ? the benefits at Charlotte Wood. Ask about the IntelliChlor salt chlorine generator A big thanks to our PTA for their help in putting on our recent parent night presentation. Dr. Steve Saso’s presentation was well received (and attended). I found it helpful because it gave some practical and realistic tips for talking to adolescents and maintained Visit our website at www.actionpoolrepair.com a good balance of easing up on our kids, while maintaining firm boundaries and structures for them.
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Page 10 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
San Ramon Valley High School By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal We are ready to face the remainder of the school year. The last nine weeks will go by quickly as there are many activities to keep your son/daughter occupied both academically and socially. Please continue to talk with your student about the upcoming events, and continue to check the website (www.srvhs.net). Here are a few highlights for the month: Construction: The demolition on our “old pool” is complete. Construction of our state of the art new aquatics center will start this month! Renaissance Program: Thanks to Janet Willford and the leadership committee for another successful program. We have awarded almost 1,100 students for their improvement achievements. Student Course Selection sign ups: Students have completed their online course registration for next year, and we are beginning to build the master schedule for the 2012-2013 school year. If you have questions, please contact the Counseling office. Senior Ball: The month of April officially ushers in our Senior Ball (which is in May). As we prepare our students for their ball, we continue to emphasize using good judgment, taste, and, above all, safety. Please join with us to let your student know the importance of doing the right thing even when no-one is looking. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe, respectable event that creates wonderful memories for our students. I would also suggest that each parent become aware of what is taking place at pre-parties, after parties, as well as what is taking place in the buses and limousines that students take to and from their ball. STAR Testing: Standardized testing is one of many measures of a student’s performance. Unlike the periodic classroom assessments that are a direct match to what is taught measuring their performance individually, standardized tests are written to compare students using questions that are below, at, and above a student’s grade level. Questions are based on a national sampling of curriculum, and the results indicate a student’s strengths and needs based on a national norming study. A student’s standardized test profile is only one piece of the assessment puzzle reflecting growth and achievement.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com I ask that you begin to discuss with your student(s) the importance of taking these types of tests. Take the time to discuss the “whys” of testing and the important information we, as educators, can obtain from the results. Please join with the school to help our students understand what the results can do, also, to give them an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as what we can learn about our school’s curriculum and instructional programs. A good night’s sleep coupled with a healthy attitude toward the test will help foster a true reflection of what our students know and, in turn, give us an accurate picture of needed improvements. Senior Cut Day: Traditions are strong at SRVHS. They often begin with the best intentions in mind; however, they often include activities that are not in line with our best practices. The tradition of “Senior Cut” day is a strong one not only at SRVHS, but at schools across the nation. We do not endorse a senior cut day of any kind. To that end, please do not allow your student to cut school for a senior cut day. Students may tell you that their teacher has told them not to come to school. This is not true. If this situation does happen in your home, please feel free to call the school and investigate. We actively discourage the tradition from continuing. Please join us in our efforts.
San Ramon Valley High School Leadership Class recently held a See's Candy Fundraiser. In just a short time, they were able to raise $1,000 which they donated to the nonprofit organization Foster A Dream, located in Martinez. The money raised will enable an eighth grade student, who was unable to raise all the funds necessary, to achieve his dream of participating in his school’s trip to Washington DC this spring. Pictured left to right is Tamara Earl, Program Director of Foster A Dream, Samara Batoog, Brynne Ichiuji, Kim Castaneda Executive Director of Foster A Dream, and Aidan Struck. Photo by Kathryn Larson.
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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal April finds Monte Vista in the beginning stages of construction. Thanks to a very generous donation from the Dave Duffield family, construction on our new student center is underway. In February we moved eight classrooms, the library, the College and Career Center, and the Copy Center to new locations. Immediately the fencing went up, and the preliminary work for the demolition of the library and 100 buildings began. During spring break the actual demolition of these buildings will take place, and construction will begin. The student center is scheduled to open in August 2013. Once construction begins, we will have updates and pictures available on our website. On March 20th Monte Vista High Academic Boosters in conjunction with San Ramon Valley High PTSA hosted a parent resource night. The guest speakers were our Schools Resource Officers (SROs), Officer Roderick and Officer Richards, who spoke to over 120 parents about the “challenges” teens in our community face. Topics included drugs, alcohol, social pressures, and trends. Our SROs did an excellent job educating our parent community with both anecdotal information and Danville and national trends. They offered tips for parents on communicating with their teen and a list of warning signs of possible drug or alcohol use. The end result: parents want more information. Next year Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley hope to offer a series of four parent education evenings on these and other important topics. This month Monte Vista had the opportunity to welcome incoming 9th graders and their parents to an informational night. Students and parents learned about high school requirements and course offerings, and then they learned a little about student life on a high school campus. They were entertained by students from our vocal music, instrumental music, drama departments, and 9th grade cheer squad. Welcome class of 2016! If you would like more information about Monte Vista High School, please visit our website at mvhigh.org.
Tax Tips Today’s Technology By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent, H&R Block, Danville How tempting it is to take advantage of all the technological advancements and do your income taxes yourself. For many taxpayers, it is the correct choice. Being able to prepare your own tax return at a low cost using software that has all the rules of the tax code built in is very strong. Now, it is obvious that for me to give an opinion of whether to use a tax professional or do it yourself, I am biased. Do I see the tax preparation industry changing...of course I do. Every year technology is able to do more. However, there are certain keys to analyzing what you should do. More than half way through this year’s tax season, here are observations that I would like to share with everyone regarding this subject.
Know Yourself What I mean by this is how much do you enjoy the detail work it takes to do a complete tax return? If you enjoy working on your computer and entering data, ultimately seeing a finished product that YOU created, then much can be said in favor of going the self prepared route. However, I must share this...if the only reason you are self preparing your return is to save money, this is the wrong reason! Missing one deduction or credit negates the savings. More important is your being either frustrated or uncertain as you work on your return. Paying for a tax professional is a ONE TIME FEE. Is it worth the time you need to devote? This is a question you need to answer as it is different for everyone.
Second Looks H&R Block has had an extremely successful program of second looks at previously filed or completed tax returns. Eight out of every ten returns that I am asked to review were self prepared, not coming from another preparer. This alone substantiates my opinion of taxpayers feeling uncertain about their
Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 11
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work. Some that I review are perfect. Some are not. When I say that some returns are not prepared correctly, I am not saying that the return will be audited or incur penalties from the IRS. No, I mean that the individual has missed opportunities in their favor. Here are the areas I see where taxpayers cheat themselves out of money: Education Credits - There are three types of credits/deductions that can apply. Not choosing correctly can cost you thousands of dollars. Filing Status and Dependents - As automatic as you might think this function is, way too many opportunities are missed. Do you really know what the qualifications are and what the differences are between a qualifying child and qualifying person? Employee Business Expenses - What is considered a commute and what is not? IRA Deductible Limits - Roth vs. Traditional IRA’s. Net Operating Losses - Can you carry forward or back? OK, enough. Now I am letting my obvious prejudice show as I am extremely proud of my profession and what I do. Results and trends cannot be argued. Technology continues to get stronger and more robust every year. Yet the number of taxpayers having a professional prepare their return is growing tremendously, in many cases due to this same technology. The Danville office is growing this year at over 40% in client returns. You cannot put a price tag on peace of mind and convenience. Once again remember, the cost of tax preparation is a one time charge. My sincere thanks to all our new clients as well as our prior clients who continue to return. My goal is to have this office be an integral Bob Shalon, EA part of the Danville/ Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent Alamo areas. Please call me at 925.820.9570 any time at 925-820- 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville 9570 with quesSycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com tions. Advertorial
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Page 12 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Power Protection and Preparedness By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO We recently had a significant power outage, and it lasted for a few hours. I always enjoy these interruptions to the routine of daily work. It began the usual way. First the power went out, like a surprised boxer taking an unexpected jab to the chin. It recovered briefly, like the boxer steadying on his feet, but one more jab followed a few of seconds later and it was lights out! We were down for the count. Over the years, I’ve created a safe and convenient way to power my house independently off the power grid. I found this necessary as we do a lot of work from our home. I immediately went to the side of our home where I keep our generator. Once there I reviewed my checklist for switching our home over to independent power. It’s important to follow a strict procedure, so that nothing is damaged and everyone is kept safe. Within five minutes, I had us switched over to auxiliary power, and except for the din of the generator, one wouldn’t know that our neighborhood was in a power outage. It’s important to be prepared, and I enjoy having the right tools when these little hiccups happen. I like to think that when ‘the big one’ hits, we’ll be better prepared to comfortably and safely survive than most. Every time we have a little power outage we’re practicing our survival skills. And, when you take time to prepare, you convert yourself from being a victim into being someone that can help others. There’s no higher calling than to help others in their time of need. I still have a challenge with my auxiliary power system that I’ve not figured out. The problem is how to trick my solar system into believing the PGE power is ON when it’s OFF, so that it will keep generating even though PGE is offline. The primary reason home solar systems don’t generate when the PGE power is off is for safety, and rightly so. If your home is generating at capacity while PGE power is off, it could electrocute a linesman trying to repair the circuit out on the street. There are other considerations as well, but the safety of the repair crew is tops in my mind. To prevent that from happening, my system is completely disconnected from street PGE power as soon as we have an outage, so mine is a more technical challenge of feeding my system the right voltage and frequency to fool it into thinking its OK to generate, so that I can use my solar power instead of relying on my very loud and stinky generator. If anyone has done this in a home solar environment, I’d love to discuss it over a cup of coffee. Just a few days before the power outage we were installing a new Vulkano TV viewing system for a client, and we installed an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect their nice big TV and their network gear. Our timing couldn’t have been better, because this was exactly the kind of outage which is so hard on equipment. In fact, we got several calls afterward from people who lost network equipment and computers from the power outage. I protect all of our TV’s and computers with UPS’s. If you need to understand this better, call us, because it’s an inexpensive way to protect yourself. What would you do if the power was out for a couple of days? If we have a serious regional ‘event’, there may not be any option but to stay in your home sheltering in place until the infrastructure is repaired. Can you still cook? Is your stove electric or gas? Do you have non-perishable food in your pantry to last a few days? What about your water heater? An issue I need to address is that my ‘tankless’ Takagi water heater has electronic ignition, and needs 120vac to turn it on. When the power is out, I have cold water until the generator is online. Do you have any elderly citizens living with you who require supplementary oxygen? My father was on oxygen 24/7, and needed an automatically switched generator installed so that he wouldn’t have a potentially life-threatening oxygen interruption. Maybe your plans include “bugging out” and getting out of the area (if possible) when things get gnarly. If so, do you keep extra gas at home, and do you keep your car gas tank at least half full at all times? What if the highways are blocked? Do you have a motorcycle to use instead? Maybe that’s been the plan but you’ve become complacent. We all get complacent. Well, thank the power outage for reminding us to brush up on our preparedness! Why settle for being a victim, when being selfsufficient is so much more fun? If these topics surrounding power protection and preparedness resonate with you, and you’d like to improve your situation, we should talk and figure out a path forward that meets your goals. You can always reach the friendly staff at Portable CIO via email or telephone at info@theportablecio.com Advertorial or (925)552-7953.
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 13
Istanbul to Venice Cruise- Oceania
By Mike Mullery- Alamo World Travel
We cruised from Istanbul to Venice. It was a great trip. Our cruise ship the Oceania Nautica was a good size for the 684 passengers, and the service was good with 400 crew members taking care of us. The cruise began in Istanbul, Turkey, an exotic city that straddles the Bosporus Strait, with one part in Europe and another part in Asia. With an estimated population of 10-13 million, a rich history, diversified cuisine, and incredible shopping, there is something for everyone. Some things not to miss include the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar, which is truly incredible with thousands of shops. We could have easily enjoyed a few extra days in the area. Another incredible port was Kusadasi, Turkey, origination of tours to Ephesus, an ancient city dating to the 10th century BC, home to the 25,000 seat amphitheater where the apostle Paul stood accused. It was the inspiration for Paul’s Epistle to Ephesians. Near the amphitheater is the ancient Library of Celsus. Kusadasi was an expensive stop for us; they have a great variety of Turkish rugs. Athens was another stop with an incredible history. A thing you must do is ascend to the Acropolis. The Parthenon, built on top of the hill in the 5th Century BC, is an architectural marvel. Nearby you'll find the Theatre of Dionysus, the world's oldest theater where plays were performed in an open air space to crowds as large as 250,000. The walled city of Dubrovnik was another impressive port of call. We enjoyed the walk on the wall around the city. The views of Venice were great from the front of the ship as we cruised into port. Some things to see include the Basilica di San Marco, constructed in the 9th century, looking over Piazza San Marco. Doge’s Palace is another thing to see. Of course, no tour of Venice is complete without a gondola ride. A very pleasant surprise on the trip was Kotor, Montenegro. We took a tour of the city and saw people walking up a large hill. We checked further and found there was a fortress at the top of the hill, a climb of over 1,500 steps uphill. Although unprepared for the climb with the wrong shoes and little water, we made it to the top and got some good photos. There is a cruise for nearly everyone. We personally enjoy the smaller ships. Although classified in the medium ship category (600-2,500 passengers), Nautica is on the lower end in size but offered some variety as well as good service. Many people want a bigger Looking for Exceptional variety of things to do, and the larger ships are a good option for them. Some of the larger ships also have Real Estate Service? good programs for children and are a great option for parents that want to travel with their children but do Creative and innovative solutions for not want to spend every minute with them. Those who want even better service opt for the small ships. If today’s real estate challenges. you want all inclusive - drinks and gratuities included in the price, there is a cruise for you. Some cruise prices even include shore excursions. The fastest growing cruise segment at this time is River Cruising. Here, there is endless scenery, included shore excursions, beer or wine with dinner, and the opportunity to JUDY LYNN Kiersey, C.D.P.E.* ride bicycles between ports. 925.640.0040 To learn more about cruises (or tours), come see Alamo World Travel & Tours 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite Judy@JudyLynnHomes.com 255 Alamo, CA 94507 located in Alamo Commons between Ace Hardware and the Peasants Courtyard. *Certified Distressed Property Expert • CA DRE Lic# 01802558 (925) 837-8742 You can also see thousands of cruises and tours at www.alamoworld.com. Unlike the Internet, we’ve been there, and we will be here after your travel is booked. CST#2008416-10 Advertorial
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If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Air only excluded. Only one coupon/purchase Expires May 15, 2012 Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers Mt. Diablo Branch, California Writers Club Workshop check out and deliver books to homebound individuals Author Maria Murnane will present a marketing workshop, “Sell Your Book! Tons of Tips from a residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. PR/Marketing Pro” at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danon Saturday, April 14 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant locate at 611 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill. ville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information. She will discuss how to prepare a marketing campaign, tap new and existing networks to build a fan base, spread the word to a larger audience, and avoid costly mistakes. Murnane is the author of a self-published novel, Perfect on Paper, which was picked up by Amazon Publishing due to her creative Limit one per customer. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 4/30/12 marketing strategies. Amazon published her Free Pick Up second novel, It’s a Waverly Life. & Delivery For Qualified Check-in is from 8:30AM to 9AM, breakfast Businesses Limit one per customer. Not valid with any other offer. from 9 AM to 9:30AM, and workshop from Expires 4/30/12 AM PM 9:30 to 12:30 . The cost is $35 for CWC members and $40 for guests. Reservations are required and must be PLEASANT HILL DANVILLE received no later than noon on Wednesday, April 11. Contact Jean Georgakopoulos at (925) 609-9220 (925) 831-2008 jeaniegpops@comcast.net or phone (925) 1420 Contra Costa 730 Camino Ramon www.cartridgeworldusa.com/Store140 www.cartridgeworldusa.com/Store93 934-5677. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation. The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/.
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Page 14 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Art in Everyday Life By Tony M. Vecchio
ings. To find out about a more comprehensive list of plein air activities, search “plein air artists” and “Northern California” on Google. Local art exhibits in April: Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery's “Branching Out,” runs through April 13th. This exhibit will show how artists and painters explore the subject of trees and related concepts and interpretations. The Alamo-Danville Artists’ Society’s (ADAS) exhibition, “Sprint Palette,” runs through May at the Blackhawk Art Gallery in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza. An exhibit of over 40+ artists showing oils, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and textiles. The Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts presents Outfitters: The Contemporary Art of Clothing through May 13th. This intriguing exhibition presents artists who use the armature of clothing or actual clothing as a premise for creating sculptural exhibits. On April 27, the gallery will host a workshop with the contributing artists from 1-4pm St. Mary’s College Museum of Art presents the work of master artist Richard McLean April 22 – June 17th, featuring horses, landscapes, and portraits, with a public reception on Sunday April 22 at 2pm. Tony Michael Vecchio writes about visual imagery, painting, and style. Contact him at tonymvecchio@gmail.com.
Now that April is here, and we’re starting to see a few days of warming sun, the bright sound of chirping birds, and longer days of light, we’re all anticipating and sensing the soothing beginnings of our beautiful Bay Area spring weather. Bring it on. As nature starts painting the hills and landscape with her annual renewal and refreshed palette of green buds, yellow blooms, and native plants and flowers that exhibit a multitude of subtle variations of color and light, our local plein air artists – those who work “in the open air” - will be outdoors observing, sketching, and painting. You can notice them by their traveling easels, sometimes known as French Box Easels, with telescopic legs, built-in paint box, and palette. These highly portable easels allow them to happily trek into the forests and hills, canyons and shorelines, to find the perfect combination of light, location, and atmosphere on which to focus their attention and paint. Or meditate. Sometimes known as one and the same. Contemporary artists have always been drawn to paint outdoors, finding their favorite locations in nature, and regarding the natural, moving light, so revered by the 19th century Impressionists, as ideal for capturing the subtle and graceful touches of atmosphere, mood, and feeling. Especially abundant in our local artistic community, plein air artists follow a rich and storied California tradition of seeking out and capturing the incredible and varied natural beauty of Northern California. Each artist intimately expresses great appreciation for the Bay Area’s scenic diversity, from grand vistas of rolling hills and majestic coastlines to close-up detailed interpretations of nature, doing so through the type of media they feel most comfortable with, such as watercolor, oil, acrylic, or pastels. Focusing intently on what they’re observing, each artists captures a little bit of time, transforming the landscape’s natural light, colors, and shadows into an emotional clarity of moment. For this reason, purchasing an artist’s rendition of one of your favorite Bay Area or California scenic locations and displaying it in your home or work environment is an ideal way to recall nature’s beauty and remind you of a memorable place in time. And it’s not just a landscape, flower, or other nature subject that limits the plein air artist’s subject matter. There are beautiful cars, beautiful people, and many interesting architectural locations that are outdoors and bathed in wonderful natural light. Especially in the Bay Area. You could spend a lifetime, for example, just painting scenes in San Francisco, one of the most visually stunning cities in the country. And around Northern California, during the spring and summer, there’s a tremendous variety of outdoor wine and food festivals, automobile shows, and sports events where there’s unlimited subject matter for the outdoor painter. Whether it’s called plein air, open air, or outdoor painting, you can find many excursions, workshops, and exhibits planned for the upcoming spring and summer months, all around our Bay Area. Groups such as the Bay Area Plein Air Artists, California Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 Watercolor Association, Sonoma Plein Air, Sunday 11 to 5 • Closed Monday along with many others organize these out-
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 15
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Page 16 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Solar Energy: Passion and Purpose By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar My father tells the story of a young man who was driven by an inner principle. The story intrigues and humors me, because I’m the subject of the story. I don’t remember it quite like it’s told, but it’s set in the early 1980’s when the Soviet Union and their Iron Curtain were at the peak of their power. As a young man I was certain (according to the story) that I could personally do something about the threat that the Soviets presented to our nation. My dad chuckles when he tells the story. His understanding of me was validated when I joined the Marine Corps. My personal mission was to defeat the Soviet threat to our nation. Perhaps the fact that the Marine Corps offered meaningful employment and a paycheck minimized parental opposition to my pursuit. As parents do, they try to protect their children. In response to their attempts to have me “put more thought into it,” I reminded dad about the advice he always gave us: “You’ll spend most of your life working, so find a career that’s enjoyable and purposeful.” The rest is history. There was purpose in this pursuit. With bachelors degree in hand, I became one of “The Few, the Proud.” During the First Gulf War, I saw, smelled, and hacked up the resins of the burning oil fields in Kuwait. After some reflection, I knew there had to be a better way than energy from oil. After my active service I realized I could continue to contribute to the security of our nation via my passion for Solar Energy. I was still following dad’s advice. At GoSimpleSolar, we’re passionate about Solar Energy because it creates jobs which support the US economy and manufacturing base. The solar business reduces America’s reliance on foreign sources of oil, increases our domestic security, and improves our environment. The solar business is a rewarding business because the product provides financial return to the customer. The product often
What’s in Your Easter Basket? By Monica Chappell Easter is almost here, and families everywhere will be gathering around the dinner table to feast with friends and loved ones. This may not sound like the best time to think about serious food and wine pairings, but if your family is anything like mine, the end of Lent is one of the happiest of days. Whether you’ve given up chocolate, red meat, coffee or even (gasp!) wine for the last 40 days, it’s time to reintroduce yourself. The Easter meal should be a happy occasion, and what better way to enjoy good company than with a little vino at the table? If your family celebrates Passover, wow the crowd with a tasty kosher wine.
sells itself because of its financial returns. We feel strongly that those of us in alternative energy and citizens involved in resource conservation are making an important contribution to our nation. If you’ve installed solar, you’re also making contributions to your savings or retirement. A properly designed solar array with quality products installed for a reasonable price will generate significant financial returns. Five years ago, my home’s annual electric costs were over $1500. Thanks to solar, my annual PGE bill is now less than $250. Due to the average 6.7% annual cost increase of electricity, currently, my bill would have been over $2000 had I not installed a solar array Very simply said, my solar array is paying for itself, and it will continue to pay me well into my retirement. It’s like having an ATM on my roof. Solar Milestone Achieved: In 2011, the State Of California surpassed 100,000 installed solar arrays for homes and businesses. Over 100,000 solar customers are reaping the financial rewards of solar. What do they know that you don’t know? As we enter the “high solar season,” I’ll keep you informed with Danville Today articles. I’ll help you understand the financial benefits you’ll enjoy should you decide to go solar. Electric Vehicle Update: If an electric vehicle suits your lifestyle, they’re getting more and more affordable due to the current and rising price of gas. PGEs electric vehicle charging rate is significantly lower than their standard rates. The Department of Energy will install a free fast charger to all purchasers of a Nissan Leaf in the Bay Area, a $2000+ cost when purchased at the dealership. When “refueled” by a solar array, electric vehicles become even more cost competitive. The story I’ve related above about my childhood convictions is by no means a unique story. It is an all too familiar story across America as our nation’s young men and women respond to their own inner callings to protect our great nation. As mentioned above, contributing to the security of our nation can be achieved in many ways. I believe that solar can help solve our nation’s energy problems. It’s rewarding helping other people to become a part of the solution. If you have a home or business that you think may benefit from a solar electric energy system, please contact us at info@GoSimpleSolar.com. For more information, visit us at www.GoSimpleSolar.com. Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar/Semper Fidelis Construction, Inc, a residential and small commercial solar power installation firm based Advertorial in Danville. He can be reached at 925.915.9252.
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The Easter Ham Ham is often prepared with glazes or toppings that are sweet and can balance the inherent saltiness of the actual meat. Well-paired wines can accomplish the same objective. If I had to choose but one wine to accompany an Easter ham, I know what I’d choose in a heartbeat. Unfussy rosés are bursting with red fruit flavors and pair with a variety of holiday foods especially Easter ham. Rosé’s flavor profile has enough sweet fruit to balance the salt in the ham and enough acidity to support the combination without compromising the flavor in either the ham or the wine.
Rosé 101 Rosé wines are made from red wine grapes fermented just a short time with their skins. Colors range from light salmon to bright pink to medium-deep rose. The length of time the juice is in contact with the crushed skins determines not only the final color of the wine, but to a certain extent the amount of tannin extracted from the skins and seeds as well.
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A Rosé By Any Other Name Rosé spans the style spectrum. Because rosé refers to the color of the wine, as opposed to a specific grape variety, the wine can be made from a variety of red grapes and their blends, including Mourvédre, Sangiovese, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. With the variety of grapes used to make rosé, the character of the wine ranges from light and fruity to medium bodied with hints of tannin. Try rosé wines from California or Italy, but especially from Spain or from Provence, France. I’m happy to welcome spring with a glass of rosé, and as rosé becoming more popular people will discover the joys of drinking pink. Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in the East Bay. For a list of classes, go to www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 17
Life in the Danville Garden Celebrate Spring By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect This year has been a little tricky figuring out if spring is really here or not. Spring started early but winter is still threatening. If you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs and perennials, you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerging from the cold and wet. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous branches and bright new lime green leaves that stand out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom bright and cheery colors. The days are warming; the sun shinning and like clock-work life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring. Here are some of the plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of spring. Cercis occidentalis (tree-Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Daphne odora (shrub-Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fills the air, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (vine-Lilac Vine) weaves a lively trail of lilac flowers, Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (perennial-Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground, and one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (ground cover-Speedwell), blooms profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great note-worthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).
After a long winter’s nap, we long to connect with nature to rejuvenate, relax, recreate, and renew ourselves. A garden is one of those places that has the gift to touch all of our human senses; sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. Wandering through a beautifully designed Danville garden allows the senses to be stimulated by wonderful visuals, fragrances, textures, sounds, and tastes that nature can offer. Let your spirits be lifted twice this spring: first by strolling through inspiring gardens and second by knowing that you are helping to raise much-needed money for charity. Come join our spring tradition! I am thrilled to announce our 3rd annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: Life in the Walnut Creek Garden - a tour of five distinct Walnut Creek gardens designed by me. I personally invite you to come Celebrate Spring with us: stroll the budding gardens, nibble goodies, learn about urban farming in our veggie garden demo, listen to music as you meander, enjoy the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, chat with me, and enjoy other surprises we have planned while supporting our beneficiaries; The Quincy Lee Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, Contra Costa Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Urban Farmers. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 5th from 11am-4pm. For more info and tickets go to our website-garden tour page. It will be a pleasure to celebrate the glory of spring with you! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Come have some fun with us in the gardens, help raise needed dollars for our beneficiaries and CELEBRATE SPRING! Gardening Quote of the Month: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie If you would like me to write on any particular subject email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial
Page 18 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Tree of the Season Japanese Maples By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Japanese maples have an elegance and sculptural quality that resembles dance. Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties. Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden afflictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some trees succeed in fighting off the disease.
Clip Notes By Jody Morgan Gloomy winter days, even in a climate that fosters flowers year round, always bring to mind the opening lines of T. S. Eliot’s The Wasteland: April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. I’ve lost count of how many gardeners I know who have recently expressed to me their desire to once again grow the lilacs they fondly remember from time spent in cooler climates. Common lilacs, Syringa vulgaris, do not bloom well after warm winters and get disfigured by powdery mildew in summer heat. However, Persian lilacs, no less historic than the old-fashioned lilacs that bloomed in nineteenth century dooryards, are sweetly scented and heat tolerant. By late March, mine is in full flower in Danville, and the foliage is never an eyesore. The roots reach underneath my front lawn imbibing a moderate amount of water. Lilacs were first introduced to northern Europe in 1562. Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq is generally thought to have transported shoots from the court of Sulieman the Magnificent in Constantinople, where he was serving as ambassador, back to his employer, Ferdinand I in Vienna. In 1570, de Brusbecq took a lilac shoot along with him to Paris when he accompanied Archduchess Elizabeth on her journey to wed King Charles IX of France. Easily rooted from cuttings and naturally spreading from suckers (shoots that spring up from the roots), lilacs soon spread from royal enclosures to cottage gardens. Neither of the places claiming to be home to the first lilacs brought to the New World has documentation to prove the claim, but John Bartram’s 1753 response to Peter Collinson indicates the popularity of the shrubs. Collinson in London and Bartram in Philadelphia had been trading shipments of collectible plants. Having ordered some lilacs for his own garden, Collinson forwarded a box to Bartram. He was startled when Bartram wrote back that lilacs “are already too numerous as roots brought by the early settlers have spread enormously.”
www.yourmonthlypaper.com You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating. Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant. Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned. Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size. It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and Advertorial work in your neighborhood. A stand of lilacs that marks the site of William Brewster’s 1634 homestead in Duxbury, Massachusetts is said by local tradition to have been planted from shoots brought to Mayflower passenger Brewster by family or friends arriving later. Brewster died on April 10, 1644, leaving behind a library of 400 books. Included was a copy of the work most translated in its day after the Bible: Rembert Dodens’ herbal. Another old stand of lilacs on Mackinac Island in Michigan purports to have been planted about 1650 by French Jesuit missionaries. While the Brewster lilacs have been continuously tended to favor rejuvenating stock, the Mackinaw Island specimens boast ancient trunks almost 2 feet in circumference. In 1734, long before he began corresponding with John Bartram, Peter Collinson developed a plant-exchanging friendship with John Custis who boasted that his Williamsburg garden was “inferior to few in Virginia.” Among the plants Collinson shipped to Custis during their twelve-year arrangement was the Persian lilac. Since Collinson specifically selected species or cultivars recently discovered or highly fashionable for his shipments, the obvious conclusion is that the Persian lilac was a new introduction. Some scholars, however, believe this is a naturally occurring hybrid that was cultivated in Persian gardens for centuries and brought to England as early as 1621. Although the provenance of this lilac is debatable, its reliable performance in our climate is indisputable. The botanical name for lilacs, including species native to Southern Europe and Asia, comes from Greek mythology. Pan was in lustful pursuit of the nymph, Syrinx. Not wishing to be embraced by a god with the hindquarters and horns of a goat, Syrinx fled to the River Ladon where the sympathetic river god saved her by transforming her into a stand of reeds. Pan sighed deeply as he clutched the reeds and found the melancholy melody of his breath moving over hollow stems appealing. Gathering a bunch of small reed pieces, he fashioned the first Pan Pipes or “Syrinx.” Like the reeds, the stems of lilacs (Syringa) are hollow. Local nurseries offer a number of lilac varieties selected for their heat tolerance and low chill requirement. New on the scene is a re-bloomer trademarked “Boomerang.” Deer resistant like all lilacs, this hybrid (Syringa x “Penda’) gets its first flush of flowers in spring and then puts out more blossoms from summer into fall. I have no experience with this newcomer, but it has just made the top of my wish list.
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 19
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Spring Time is Here…Check Your Crawl Space By Bay Area Drainage If you recently purchased a home or even if you have been a long time homeowner, you should check under the foundation of your home for standing water. If you notice cracks in your drywall or cracks in your foundation, this could all be caused by soil expansion. In the crawl space you may find standing water (after a good rain) or damp soil up to twelve months after winter, or you may find visible water stains on piers or water rivets. There are several different types of drainage solutions that can be done.
French Drain Systems A French drain system will typically go around the entire perimeter of your home. A partial French drain will encompass only part of the perimeter of the home. The purpose of this type of drainage system is to prevent water intrusion before it enters into the crawl spaces of your home. A French drain system will start 12” below the foundation of your home. A four inch solid and perforated PVC pipe and Class II perm drain rock or ¾ drain rocks with filter fabric will be installed in this trench. All downspouts from the home will be connected to the solid drain line. Area drains are installed on the sub-surface and connected to the perforated pipe. With the full French drain system installed, all subsurface water, water that has penetrated into the ground, and all downspout water will be caught before it has a chance to enter into the crawl space or foundation of your home.
Surface Drain Systems This system is designed to catch surface water only. This system consists of one solid 4” PVC pipe with area drains and usually connects down spouts around the perimeter of a home. This system will capture service water and roof water and convey it away from home. These PVC pipes are all glued seam systems. This system is not designed to capture subsurface water or water that penetrates into the ground.
Sump Pumps A sump pump is generally used to pump water out of an area where there is not enough gravity fall to drain itself. A sump pump usually consists of an 18” sump, a debris sump pump, valve box, high water alarm (to alert the homeowner that the water
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is too high), and a 2” exhaust pipe with a check valve. When necessary, sump pumps can be included in a French drain project, where the slope is not great enough.
Underfloor Systems An underfloor system is used in cases where the water has already intruded under the home. If installed around the entire perimeter of crawl space, it will eliminate standing water under the home but cannot stop water intrusion into the crawl space. An under-floor system consists of a 3” or 4” perforated drain line in a trench filled with drain rock with possible finger trenches, and a vapor barrier.
Getting a Good Licensed Contractor Getting a good licensed contractor can make a world of difference when undertaking a household project. The first thing to consider when looking for a good contractor is to make sure that they are licensed with the State of California. The contractor should have their license number printed somewhere on his letterhead or business card. You can go to www.cslb.ca.gov to verify that their license is still valid. Also make sure that the company has liability and Workers Comp insurance. There are several different places that you can check to see if the company has any complaints against them such as State licensing board or BBB. You can also look for companies that belong to Diamond Certified.
The Problem with Hiring Uninsured and Unlicensed Contractors At times it sounds appealing to hire an unlicensed contractor. Their price is generally less, and they quote timeframes that the homeowner wants to hear. The unlicensed contractor does not pay into Workers Comp insurance nor do they carry liability insurance. Thus, they leave the homeowner open to liabilities. If a worker is injured while working on your premises, they can sue the homeowner. In addition, when the unlicensed contractor does not complete the job according to what timeframes or scope of work was agreed upon, the homeowner has no recourse. The unlicensed contractor does not offer a lifetime guarantee on their workmanship or product. Think twice when hiring this type of contractor, and don’t let the price fool you. Bay Area Drainage, Inc. specializes in drainage for the Lamorinda and 680corridor. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority, and this is proven with our lifetime guarantee on our workmanship. Every aspect of this company takes a very “hands on” approach with our customer from the first phone call to the last walk through. We are the only drainage contractor in the East Bay that is a Diamond Certified company. Please call us at 925-377-9209 for a free estimate. Advertorial
Page 20 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Four Money Mistakes You Might be Making
you can put yourself on a more disciplined course by having a fixed amount taken out of your paycheck automatically for retirement. Or, you can set up automatic transfers from your checking account to a savings or investment account.
By Jim Gebhardt
Mistake 3: Not having an emergency fund
Three years after the economic crisis led many Americans to re-evaluate their financial picture, economic uncertainty is still the norm. While there’s little you can do about the shaky economy, you can help stabilize your own finances over the long term by evaluating what you’re doing right ... and wrong. There’s no guarantee, but avoiding these four money mistakes may help you survive and ultimately thrive in any turbulent economy.
Mistake 1: Jumping on the bandwagon Are you letting economic news--good or bad--control your financial decisions? For example, are you selling gold because you’ve heard that prices are at record highs or buying real estate because you’ve heard that prices are at record lows? Have you decided to pull most of your money out of the stock market because you’ve seen headlines warning of a possible financial crisis? Unless you’re basing your decisions on your own needs and circumstances rather than on the opinions or actions of others, you can’t be sure you’re doing what’s right for you. Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, take a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to your finances, no matter what economic news you’re hearing or what other investors are doing. Revisit your tolerance for risk and your own financial goals, and try to prepare yourself for a variety of scenarios.Avoid basing money decisions on emotion, or you may find yourself facing unanticipated consequences down the road.
Mistake 2: Only saving what’s left over Do you continue to worry that you’re not saving enough? Do you routinely rely on credit rather than cash to pay for the things you want or need? Rather than blame your financial inertia on your income, look a bit deeper, because the real culprit may be for lack of financial priorities. If you don’t know exactly how you’re spending your money and you haven’t set financial goals, it’s unlikely that you’ll see much financial progress. Go back to basics by preparing (or reviewing) your budget. Check out mint.com which is a free budgeting tool we have found our clients like to use to get their arms around their spending. If you tend to save only what you have left over every month,
Chance continued from front page “He is now 72, and he has discovered through our working together that he has a passion for poetry. He even did a public reading recently – something he could not have ever imagined doing.” Like many PSC students, Ike passed through school, earning a high school diploma despite the fact that he never learned to read. While moving from grade to grade, his learning disabilities were overlooked, and he fell farther and farther behind. Regardless, he managed to hide his disability, and he went on to successfully support and raise four children. But he could not completely overcome the difficulties of not knowing how to read. “He is a very upbeat, generous, and determined person,” says Byer, who, through her 25 years as a PSC tutor has worked with four students. “Where he used to struggle with photo captions, he now is able to read entire magazine articles and book passages. We continue to work together, mostly on his poetry.” Byer was initially drawn to PSC through a radio ad seeking tutors. “I could do that,” she thought to herself. She was immediately taken with the feeling of helping others to achieve their dreams. “It has been so rewarding to see my students blossom and to witness the epiphany of their worlds opening up to possibility.” Danville resident Susan Klingman has been tutoring for just two years and is now working with her second student. “Tutoring at PSC is truly the highlight of my week,” says Klingman. “The changes in the lives of our students can be profound. They can sail over hurdles that have stopped them throughout their lives through the ability to read. My current adult learner was initially shy to read to her small son. Now she not only reads to him, but she is instilling in him a love of literacy! There are so many small joys - when a student arrives for a session smiling and saying they were able to read the words on the side of a truck or the ad on a store window! The gains they make each week are theirs forever - it’s just a privilege to be a part of their success.” PSC tutors must be 21 years of age or older and comfortable with their reading, writing and spelling skills. They tend to be empathetic, patient, able to give clear directions, and are willing to learn new skills themselves. PSC tutors work with students in communities served by the Contra Costa County Library, and in addition to working one-on-one, both tutors and students can participate in small group classes, practice their skills in the Computer Learning Center, and attend Families for Lit-
One lesson that you may have learned over the past few years is that the job market isn’t stable. That’s a major reason why one of your savings priorities should be an emergency fund. While it isn’t glamorous, this underappreciated workhorse really pulls its weight during hard times. Having cash on hand that you can use for an unexpected expense or to pay bills if you lose your job is vital because it can help you avoid having to rely on credit or tap your retirement savings. If you don’t have emergency savings to fall back on, a minor money shortfall can quickly turn into a major cash crisis. As a rule of thumb keep in reserve three months of living expense for a dual income household and six months reserves for a single income household.
Mistake 4: Not asking for help Even if your finances are in good shape right now, you may be overdue for a checkup. Reviewing your finances is especially important during periods of volatility because it can help reveal potential strengths and weaknesses, and identify changes you might need to make to adjust to the current economic climate. And if you’re already in financial trouble, don’t let fear or shame prevent you from asking for help. Facing financial problems early may help you make a full recovery. Many creditors are willing to work with you, but this may be much easier while your credit is still good and you still have time to turn things around. Take action by meeting with your financial advisor to create a plan. Not making a decision to do anything is in effect making a decision. Paralysis is the enemy of progress! Get in motion! Gebhardt Group, Inc. is an independent wealth management firm located in Lafayette, California, that holds integrity, honesty, and transparency as primary values. Gebhardt Group serves clients nationwide and wealth management services include financial planning, portfolio management, and insurance services. Hire Jim to speak at your next event, association meeting or conference. For information, visit www.gebhardtgroupinc.com or call 925-283-9150. Jim Gebhardt is a Registered Representative of and Securities are offered through Brokers International Financial Services, LLC. Panora, IA, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Gebhardt Group, Inc., A Registered Investment Advisor. Brokers International Financial Services, LLC and Gebhardt Group Inc. are not affiliated. The majority of information in this article has been prepared by Forefield, Inc. These are the views of Forefield, Inc. and not necessarily those of James Gebhardt or Brokers International Financial Services, LLC., and should not be construed as investment advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, Forefield, Inc. makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
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eracy events with any preschool children. Tutors are always needed, and 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 c u r r e n t l y, www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com PSC is seek1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek i n g t u t o r s Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed willing to work with students in Central or West County. Fourteen hours of training are required; each training series consists of one Wednesday evening and the following two Saturdays. The next training class begins April 25th. Laura Seaholm started at PSC as a volunteer seven years ago. She loved it so much that she jumped at the chance to be involved in the program full-time as a staff member. “I have been on staff now for about 5 1/2 years and have never for one moment regretted leaving corporate America,” says Seaholm. “I love seeing the confidence level of our students increase by leaps and bounds. Once they realize that they can learn to read, they blossom in every aspect of their lives. They start making better decisions for themselves, their family, and our community.” PSC tutoring services are free, confidential, and one-on-one. And students don’t have to go back into a classroom setting where they may have previously failed. “Our methods and materials work!” says Seaholm. “We are here for you, and you will be treated with the dignity and respect you deserve. I always say that this is the only job I’ve ever had where I cry for good reasons!” she adds. “It’s so encouraging when our students realize they are now able to do things many of us take for granted, such as reading to their child, voting, reading their medication, filling out a job application, etc.” One PSC student, Martha, said of her experience, “Learning is a joy now, and I am relaxed, comfortable, and pleased with where I am in my life. I regret the ignorance of people in my life, but I have left their insults behind. Everything I am learning from my tutor is taking root in my heart. Every new word I learn increases my confidence and self-esteem. I am very proud of myself.” If you know adults who need help with reading, writing or spelling, please call PSC’s Pleasant Hill office at (925) 927-3250 or visit www.ccclib.org/psc.
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How to Sleep Well Amidst a Growing Fear of Lawsuits By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law A recent article referenced a study showing that during this period of economic instability, the wealthiest American families are increasingly worried about being targets for big lawsuits. Even much more moderately wealthy people share this concern. Yet, the way many fearful people commonly conduct their personal and financial affairs leaves them unnecessarily vulnerable to the very litigation they fear. So, what are some of these common, dangerous actions and omissions? • Employing domestic help without proper insurance coverage • Owning real estate investment property in one’s own name • Owning a small business as a sole proprietorship • Having insufficient scope of personal insurance (e.g. home, auto) and/ or coverage limits • Serving as a board member or director of a charitable or non-profit organization that does not have sufficient (or any) directors and officers (D&O) insurance • Having no estate planning documents, or poorly or incompletely drafted ones The “first line of defense” for most potential liabilities should be strong, comprehensive personal insurance. Many people, including knowledgeable professionals, are not well informed about detailed aspects of their P&C (property and casualty) insurance coverage. During our busy lives, insurance often gets the short shrift. I encourage you to call your insurance agent and schedule a complete review of each insurance policy you own. During this review, identify what additional policies or coverage you may be advised to purchase. You should do this on a regular basis – perhaps every few years or more frequently as circumstances merit it. Most good agents initiate, or at least welcome, this review process. If your agent doesn’t, perhaps you should interview another agent. If you employ domestic help, talk to your insurance agent about “employment practices liability” insurance. If you are a board member or officer of an organization, conduct proper due diligence to make sure the organization has D&O insurance and that it’s sufficient to provide you comfortable protection from personal liability. If you don’t have a personal umbrella insurance policy (which serves to increase the coverage limits of any applicable underlying policies), obtain a quote for one. In general, manage your premiums, deductibles, and limits to ensure optimal coverage at an affordable cost. If you own real estate investment property in your own name or a sole proprietorship business, you should seriously consider forming a business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC), to shelter your personal assets (e.g. home and bank/brokerage accounts) from potential liabilities arising out of owning, renting, and/or managing a business or investment property. No matter how remote liability from your sole proprietorship or investment property seems, the costs and inconvenience of setting up a business entity, such as a corporation or LLC, is typically a minor price to pay for the limited liability (ability to shelter your personal assets) you receive in exchange. Having no estate planning documents or documents that are poorly or incompletely drafted can cost you or your family in countless ways. For example, I have a current client who is 102 years old (God bless her and her reasonably good health!) who has comprehensive estate planning documents. But when she and her late husband had their attorney at the time prepare a living trust for them, a commonly drafted “spendthrift” provision was not included. In short, a spendthrift provision enables the person(s) who establish a living trust to protect the assets that will be inherited by their loved ones from the potential creditors of those loved ones. As it happens, my client’s two grandchildren are her primary beneficiaries, one of whom has unfortunately run into difficulties and is defending several lawsuits that could lead to substantial judgments against him. So, I drafted a trust amendment to include a spendthrift provision that will po-
Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 21 tentially avail my client’s creditor-challenged grandchild approximately one million dollars (his share of the trust) of “inheritance protection.” A wise man once said (many attribute this statement to Thomas Jefferson) “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” The more vigilant you are in taking reasonable steps to protect yourself and your loved ones, the better off you and they will likely be. Besides being financially prudent, this vigilance just might help you sleep like a baby… Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@sbllp. com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial 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
Page 22 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
The Car Guy By Paul Matthew Peterson, Specialty Sales Classics Today at our Fairfield showroom, I had the pleasure of meeting a nine year old young man whose knowledge of classic cars, and cars in general, was amazing. His parents were not traditional ‘car people,’ but they have done a fine job of nurturing his interests. “He makes us watch the Mecum Auctions on TV with him,” said his dad while the boy (We’ll call the boy “Mr. B.” for this articles’ purposes) was sitting in the dune buggy we have in stock, showing his mother how a five-point harness works. Mr. B. inspected EVERY vehicle in inventory, and he named nearly all of them before he was told what each was. He knew which cars had V8s and which cars had six cylinders. He explained what a GTO Judge was to me. Mr. B. was quite impressed with the ‘Pistol Grip’ shifter in the six-pack Roadrunner we have here and the Air Grabber hood graphics. I could’ve hung out with that kid for hours. What I got from our encounter, besides being thoroughly entertained for nearly an hour (and finding a future Specialty Sales Classics employee), was the fact that these classic cars really DO appeal to ‘kids of all ages.’ The future of the collector car industry was just here, and the industry will be just fine if Mr. B. is any indication. Are you looking for a way to peel the young’uns away from the video game console or a way to get them interested in something REAL and tangible? Try attending the next local car show. Flyers are usually available at the local auto parts store, or they’ll know of a show or a weekly local ‘Cruise Night’ at a drive-in nearby. Pry the kids away from the TV, and take them to the old car event. If you can’t find one, stop by one of our showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, Fairfield, and Redwood City – opening in May of this year, and browse our huge classic car inventory. We are open seven days a week, and we have over 220 Collector and Investment vehicles in stock and on display. You may be surprised at the interest kids take in classic cars. Perhaps take in a race at Laguna Seca, or one of the other tracks in the area, to see if there’s a
Community Chaplain’s Corner Don’t Assume Everything is all Right By Chaplain Nick Vleisides, Community Chaplain Specialist “Don’t assume everything is all right.” That is what my best friend from childhood told me on the phone as I was walking on campus at San Ramon Valley High School to speak at a parent workshop a few weeks ago. My friend had lost JV, his 20 year old middle son of three sons, just a few weeks earlier. In many respects, JV was a typical SoCal boy growing up in a beach community very similar to our community minus the beach. JV loved the beach...surfing, body boarding, and being a part of a very tight group of friends. He and his friends liked to party and were caught up in the scene of alcohol and substance abuse, which is so prevalent in our community. He was flirting with trouble but really looking for adventure, excitement, fulfillment, and purpose. It all seemed kind of normal. JV had the same girlfriend since 8th grade. She was the love of his life, and she felt the same way about him. She was with him the night he died. Something was broken inside of JV which caused him to impulsively leap from a freeway bridge into oncoming traffic late at night several weeks ago. He had an accident of the mind. Even though he grew up in a Christian home with parents who love God, and even though JV had come to faith in God as a young teen, he was troubled in his spirit. But, you may not have ever have guessed it. It was virtually impossible to detect that something may have been terribly wrong as he ran in a circle of friends that were tight and giving the impression was that everything was okay...normal, as he and all the friends where attempting to figure out life. Fun was the idol. My friend said, “Don’t assume everything is all right.” JV was not very unlike his dad and me. When his father and I were both the same exact age, after years of partying hard and living what we thought was the good life, we came back to our roots of faith and love for God and started to turn our lives around. JV might have very well been in the same place, but he was
www.yourmonthlypaper.com spark of interest. By the way, take the girls too…Danica Patrick is a pretty good race driver, and she’s a far better role model than some entertainers. I’ve also met many very talented and knowledgeable women in this business, and they usually have better taste in cars than the men. There are many careers in the automotive industry, working with both classic and late model cars, that would be wonderful lifetime occupations for the young adults in your world. Who knows? You may have another Mr. B. or Ms. B. on your hands! With the weather warming up, the old cars will soon be peeking out from the garages and storage areas and expecting to be taken for a ride. If you parked yours last fall but neglected to put in a fuel stabilizing additive, you’ll want to contact a good shop to correct this problem...a shop that regularly deals with old cars. The gasoline without lead that we buy today will break down quickly, sometimes within a few months. There are many additives on the market available to combat this problem. However if it’s not specifically designed to work with Ethanol fuels, it won’t keep the gas stabilized. “Sea Foam” is available at most auto parts stores. It will help to stabilize your fuel (even Ethanol), and if the car has gas that hasn’t ‘turned’ completely yet, it will help keep the varnish from sticking to the inside of your entire fuel system. You can tell when you fuel is ‘bad’ when it smells like burnt varnish rather than gasoline. It is usually a lot browner as well. If your pride and joy does appear to have varnished fuel, DON’T START THE CAR! The repair bill for simply pumping out the bad gas and replacing it (Don’t try this at home unless you like that smell and want it around for a long time) will be one fourth of the bill to pump out the gas, flush the lines, change the fuel pump, and rebuild the carb. Call a shop (we have one in Fairfield that does this job daily) and have the car towed in to change the fuel out of the tank. Again, that bill will be far less than the one you will receive two days later after you try to drive it with contaminated fuel and have it towed to a shop anyway. I hope the spring weather gives you ‘Old Car Fever’ like it does me. See you at the shows, the races, and perhaps at one of our showrooms! Check out our inventory at www.SpecialtySales.com. Feel free to email me at TheCarGuy@SpecialtySales.com with any questions or comments, or call Advertorial 800-600-2262. living in a world much different than the one his father and I grew up in. This is a generation more lost and uncertain about their own future than ever before. They don’t see how to fit in or how to find their way in a future that is fast becoming exclusively “high tech.” Substance abuse is sophisticated. In the last nine months I have been involved with four tragic cases of young men in their twenties losing their lives where substance abuse or alcohol was involved. A deadly combination is created from “lost-ness” and the allure of high risk behavior. There were over 1,000 people in attendance at JV’s memorial. It was a very difficult day as my heart was breaking for my dear friends and their heavy loss. My friend eulogized his own son with some of the most beautiful words you could ever hear about a son. I had the sacred privilege of addressing the crowd, and God gave me the grace to proclaim how to have hope in such a tragic affair. My brother, who pastors a church in San Clemente, has young people coming to dialogue about how to reach their own generation. Some of JV’s friends have come forward to accept an invitation to address their issues and perhaps save their own lives, both physically and spiritually. Someone left a note on the freeway overpass memorial which stated that they were going to take their own life too, but the witness of outpouring of love and support for JV changed their mind. Sometimes it takes a life to save a life. None of us would ever want to give up a son to save life. Friends in the San Ramon Valley...parents...don’t assume everything is all right. Always go with your gut. If you have any inclination something is not right with your children, pursue finding out what is going on. I am not suggesting we treat our kids like suspects, always assuming something is wrong, but do not be fooled by the seemingly normalized behavior of our kids if your gut is speaking up. Get help if you suspect something is wrong and feel overwhelmed with knowing what to do. There are many resources available in our community. The school district has formed a Community Resource Network which is a consortium of organizations and agencies all dedicated to saving our kids from high risk behavior. They will have a website coming out soon. Feel free to email me if you would like to discuss anything related to this subject. Nick Vleisides is our local Fire and Police Chaplain contact him at nvleisides@yahoo.com or see his website www.communitychaplainspecialist.com.
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Spring Back into Summer Shape By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. With such a mild winter this year, it feels like spring came months ago. In reality, Spring arrived on March 22nd, and for many that means the beginning of the season when we start trying to shed the weight gained during the cold winter months. For me it means heading to the gym, walking the Lafayette Reservoir and, new this year, participating in The Dailey Method. We all want to get back into that bathing-suit shape we had at the end of last summer, and I’m no exception. As always, proper diet and exercise are keys to transforming our bodies into top form. However, every year as we grow older, our skin changes, we can’t metabolize fats like we used to, and we have slightly less muscle mass. This is why we inevitably begin to see the signs of aging as sagging, wrinkles, and those stubborn little pockets of fat that seem to stay no matter how hard we work out. Add to this any major change in weight such as having a baby, and gravity may have the advantage. While a healthy lifestyle will always be important in helping to postpone many of the signs of aging, there are ways to play catch up with the help of your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Spring is a great time to consider surgical solutions for making your chest, abs and legs summer ready. This is also a great season for considering that Liquid Facelift with Laser Genesis to rejuvenate your look.
The Chest The chest area of both men and women is susceptible to the effects of gravity and time. For women, pregnancy and breast feeding magnify gravity’s effects. The perfect solution for many of these cases is breast augmentation, which can often be combined with a mastopexy (breast lift) that can reverse the course of gravity and return the breast back to a natural youthful position. When combined under the trained hands of a plastic surgeon with either silicone or saline implants, the results can yield that perfect bikini look. For men, the breast becomes a stubborn area for fat deposits that no amount of exercise can fix. In most cases, small amounts of targeted liposuction can be a relatively easy solution. For more stubborn cases, I do have considerable experience with male breast reduction and mastopexy.
Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 23
Abs The abdomen tends to be one of the most troubling areas for both men and women. Luckily, targeted liposuction is a very effective way to combat stubborn midsections. Like most Plastic Surgeons, I prefer VASER Lipo because it uses LipoSelection®, which targets specific areas of the body and leaves surrounding vital tissues unharmed versus traditional liposuction which can result in lumpy or uneven skin. VASER Lipo (www.vaser.com or see the video vault on our website) is so precise and gentle that patients typically report dramatic reshaping with little downtime. Sometimes the effects of pregnancy and childbirth can be so demanding on a women’s body that simple liposuction is not enough and a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) may be the right choice.
Legs Inner and outer thighs, hips, knees and buttocks, are also very common areas for those difficult to lose fat deposits to settle. Our high definition VaserLipo is the ideal solution for dealing with these deposits of fat. This body contouring procedure produces natural looking results with minimal downtime.
Face Sagging, dull skin on the face and neck are obvious signs of aging. Full correction involves combining a Laser Genesis treatment, neurotoxins and fillers. This “Liquid Facelift” can cost around $1,600 and lasts six to 24 months depending on the filler used. Combine this with ongoing quality skin care including good sunscreen, and gravity will have to wait much longer to claim victory. As we prepare for upcoming bathing suit weather, I see many of you taking the most important steps in fighting this battle through proper diet and exercise. I look forward to becoming an additional valued resource by seeing you in my office for a personal and highly-tailored consultation on those problem areas that diet and exercise alone can’t fix. Let’s spring back into shape and have our bodies ready for the perfect summer! Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
What’s the Buzz for April?
Calling all Instructors!
Buzz Sessions are the buzz on topics and issues facing today’s older adults. Join us to talk with the experts. Sessions are held in the Danville Library’s Mt. Diablo Room. Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 3143400 for more information. Buzz Sessions are always free!
The Town of Danville Seniors Services division is looking for qualified instructors to offer classes for adults 55 years and over at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Building. If you have the knowledge and skills to teach nutrition, health and fitness, language, craft, and/or hobby classes to adults over 55, you are encouraged to submit a proposal. Classes will be offered at various times including early evenings and weekends. For more information on how to become a Town of Danville instructor, please contact Jenn Overmoe, Program Coordinator for Senior Services by email at jovermoe@danville.ca.gov or by phone at (925) 314-3491.
Nursing Homes Need to be Person-Centered On Tuesday,April 10th from 9AM - 10AM join Stan Husted, Nursing Home Volunteer & Board Member, California Culture Change Coalition as he discusses how nursing homes are changing slowly from institutionalized care to a culture of providing a quality of life with dignity, choices, privacy, and enjoyment for residents. As consumers we can accelerate the change by knowing what questions to ask and what to do.
Bone up on Bone Health On Tuesday, April 17th from 9AM - 10AM come learn about Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. Dr. Asha Bajaj will give a talk on medication, modalities, and myths of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis.
Hospice of the East Bay To register for the following classes, please call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. You can also find the most current Bereavement Services calendar at www.hospiceeastbay.org. Support Groups for Adults: Adults Who Have Lost a Parent: • Pleasant Hill - Mondays, 6 - 8PM ~ April 16 - June 11(No meeting May 28) Widow and Widowers’ Support: • Pleasant Hill - Thursdays, 2 to 4PM ~ April 5 -May 24 Drop-In Bereavement Support Group: • Pleasant Hill - 4:30 - 6PM ~ 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need; however, donations are greatly appreciated. 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. Hospice of the East Bay is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, organization that relies on the support of the community we serve.
Page 24 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Poison Oak By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
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CONCIERGE MEDICINE
Last week an athletic senior citiA New Level of Medical Care zen named John Personalized and Responsive came to see me because of an itchy s 0RACTICE LIMITED TO PATIENTS (traditional practices have 2000+ patients) s %XTENDED UNHURRIED OFlCE VISITS blistering rash on s ACCESS TO $R 0ARSONS VIA PERSONAL CELL PHONE his legs. John is s 3AME DAY OR NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS extremely active and, in his seventies, s #OMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL EVALUATION loves going on long hikes on Mt. Diablo s $EDICATED SUPPORT STAFF and the hills of Alamo. A week before s -EDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED seeing me he recalled going off trail to retrieve a ball that his dog had trouble DONALD S. PARSONS, M.D. finding. I was immediately able to diDiplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine agnose that John had an allergic contact dermatitis to Poison Oak. 925-855-3780 Allergic Contact Dermatitis is very 400 El Cerro Blvd., Suite 102, Danville common. Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, and www.danvillemd.com Poison Sumac cause allergic contact dermatitis for millions of people. Most people don’t react at the initial exposure. The rash represents your body’s immune reaction to the plant resin at subsequent exposures. An itchy, blistering rash usually appears 3-10 days after the exposure. There usually are lines of redness and blisters where the plant brushed up against the skin. There are other things that you might react to if you are sensitive to Poison Oak. The most common thing that I see in people sensitive to Poison Oak is the same reaction to Mango rinds. This usually appears as an itchy blistering rash around the mouth. If you are exposed to Poison Oak, you can prevent an eruption if you are able to shower within ten minutes of exposure. Most people are not so lucky. After your first shower you will not spread the resin from one part of your body to another. However, if you touch contaminated clothing that has not been washed, you will get additional exposure to the resin. The rash can appear to arise at different times on different parts of your body. It is not getting in your blood stream and spreading internally. Contrary to popular belief, the blister fluid is not contagious nor can it spread the eruption to another part of your body. If you have Poison Oak, the itching can be intense. Treatment for mild cases might include an over the counter hydrocortisone cream. More severe cases will require that you see a dermatologist who may prescribe a prescription strength steroid cream. Some people will require a steroid shot or pills. Itching can be minimized with oral antihistamines, topical anti-itch lotions, and Aveeno Baths. The eruptions usually resolve without any long term adverse effects. If you or someone you know is suffering from an allergic contact dermatitis, we would be happy to help. Having served the Danville community since 1993, I have helped countless residents with Poison Oak and other contact allergies. Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the Danville community since 1993. He is accepting new patients at 925-838-4900. You may also visit his website at Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial taxes� organizations. The proposition is a two-edged sword; either way it Vote YES on Proposition 29 cuts to the heart of illness. If smokers continue to smoke, then money is By Matthew N. Sirott, M.D., Diablo Valley raised for cancer research and treatment. If smokers rebel against the new Oncology tax and quit, then the bill is even more successful. Lives are saved and I would like to raise awareness of Prop 29, the health care costs drop. Nobody HAS to pay this tax! California Cancer Research Act. Diablo Valley OnThe major potential losers by passage of the proposition are the big cology is one of the major backers in Central Contra tobacco companies. If passed, cigarette sales are expected to drop signifiCosta County, in coordination with the American cantly. The very powerful tobacco lobby will spend millions of dollars to Cancer Society. Proposition 29 is a one dollar sur- mislead and misconstrue the purposes of the bill. They will talk about takcharge on each pack of cigarettes sold in the State. ing money from schools, taking money from existing revenues, the effects The purposes of the proposition include: on current budgets, and draining funds out of California. Their obfuscation 1. Raising funds for cancer research (and other cigarette related disease, cannot change the bottom line: fewer people will smoke, fewer packs of including heart disease). Expected to raise over 600 million dollars yearly, cigarettes will be sold, and big tobacco profits will drop. the money is sorely needed as other research funds have dwindled. The physicians and staff of Diablo Valley Oncology wholeheartedly 2. Saving lives. The California Department of Public Health has reported support Proposition 29. It is bad for the tobacco companies, but good for that the passage of this act will save 104,000 lives. the health of all Californians. Lives will be saved, kids and adults will 3. Preventing children from smoking. The California Department of quit smoking, and important research will be funded. Please vote YES on public Health has also estimated that 228,000 kids will stop (or never begin) Proposition 29 in June. smoking because of the increased cost. The act also helps kids obtain the Diablo Valley Oncology founded the California Cancer and Research tools and access they need to quit. Institute. Located in Pleasant Hill, the cancer center is the largest freeProposition 29 has safeguards and accountability. The money will stay standing, non-hospital based facility in Contra Costa County. The center in California and go to California based research projects. The dollars can- brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, not be siphoned off for other projects. Administrative costs are limited to diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, clinical trials and supportive 2%. Funding decisions are determined by an independent panel of leading care services – all in one convenient location. The facility provides the research organizations, public health advocates, cancer researchers and latest in technology and therapies – to better serve patients in the comdoctors, and cancer survivors. munity. 925-677-5041 www.DiabloValleyOncology.md. Advertorial Arguments against this proposition usually are raised by the “no new
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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Vision and Sports As we are entering spring, sports and other outdoor activities are in full swing. The two main things that need to be addressed to ensure an enjoyable time are vision and safety. However, depending on the activity, these are not mutually exclusive. I will discuss some options to help you fully enjoy your sports and outdoor activities. The key to enjoying your sport of choice is being able to see well. Whether you play golf, baseball, tennis, or target shooting, vision is an integral part of the game. It doesn’t matter how good you are. If you can’t see down the fairway or pick up the spin on the ball while batting or while hitting tennis balls, you will never reach your full potential and will be continually frustrated. Depending on your correction and motivation, several options are available to you. Assuming the interest and motivation is there, contacts are an option for a wide array of prescriptions and wearing schedules. For those who only want to wear contacts for outdoor activities, weekends, skiing, etc., daily disposables are probably your best option. These lenses allow for one-time use and are comfortable because they are thin and don’t have any build-up on the lenses. You will put them in the trash at the end of the day. They come in a wide variety of prescriptions including those for an astigmatism. Depending on your age, your up-close vision with these lenses will need to be addressed, but this type of lens allows for good vision with no fuss. In fact, because of the economical prices, comfort, and vision, these lenses are popular for full-time wear for a lot of my patients.
Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. My Housecall with Frank who was Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Let me tell you about my client Frank who recently called very distressed after his doctor diagnosed him with Type 2 Diabetes. He was adamant about reversing his diabetes and working closely with me to learn all he needed to know in as little time as possible. Frank insisted I spend an intensive two days with him. I met Frank at his home and made an inventory of the foods that he had on hand. I could see that the family was eating too many starches such as Rice-ARoni, macaroni and cheese, pasta, crackers, chips, granola bars, and high sugar cereals along with a lot of frozen tortellini, ravioli, pizzas, and Hot Pockets in the freezer. Frank said these freezer items were typical quick dinners he had when he came home late. Fruits and veggies were almost non-existent. Frank, his wife Betty, and I talked about what I saw. I explained his meals at home were too low in protein and fiber and too highly processed. For example, I showed him how his cereals fell short of the goal of 5 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and less than10 grams of sugar per serving, and I recommended substituting Kashi Go Lean cereal or oatmeal. I explained that he must substitute his white flour products with whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, legumes, and quinoa that I wanted to introduce to him. I realized he just needed me to take him by the hand and put it all together for him. Our visit to Trader Joe’s was an eye opener for Frank and Betty. I showed Frank all the great vegetables both fresh and steam-in-the-bag as well as precooked beets and lentils. There were also sweet potato fries that made great snacks and sides for dinner. Frank was surprised to see all the ready-made cooked chicken with different choices of seasoning that could be added to salads or sandwiches for lunch. He was excited about the Hebrew National 97% fat free hot dogs that are 40 calories each and taste great with baked beans or sauerkraut on Trader’s whole wheat buns. Frank bought potatoes as we discussed that the family could have a baked potato night and offer different toppings like broccoli or chili with cheese. We discussed the benefits of the 17 Bean and Barley mix, quinoa, precooked brown rice in pouches, whole wheat pasta and couscous that he was willing to try as well as all the great soup like the Roasted Red Pepper soup, Lentil, and Black Bean soups.
Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 25 Obviously, contact lenses are not for everyone. For those of you who cannot wear contacts because of comfort or prescription, glasses or prescription sunglasses are still a very good option. Depending on the sport or activity, a good wrap frame with clear lenses or polarized sun lenses might be a good option. For daytime sports, a sports sun frame from Maui Jim or Oakley can be made in a wide range of polarized prescriptions including progressive lenses. For those of you who do not like sunglasses, a smaller and lighter frame with a little wrap can accomplish your goal of comfort and vision during your game. Either way, we can make the lenses in polycarbonate, which will give impact resistance for those sports such as tennis and baseball where eye injuries are a possibility. Besides vision, the other component that needs to be discussed with sports is safety. If you are wearing glasses, the lenses should be made out of polycarbonate when there is any risk of trauma. For even better coverage, Rec Specs are a great option. These frames and goggles fit closely to the face so there is a very low risk of the frame coming apart and injuring the eye if an accident should happen. Rec Specs are made in child and adult sizes with several color options, and most have an elastic strap to ensure a good fit. Regardless of your activity or sport of choice, there are several possible ways to enhance your enjoyment. It might be a good pair of polarized sunglasses for water sports and fishing, or contact lenses for your baseball games or golf outings. Next time you are in the office, we can discuss your possibilities with you. 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 become a fan on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial Leaving with a full cart we were hungry and went to lunch at one of Frank’s favorite spots in town, Forli’s. He told me his favorite foods, and I made a point to show him how he can enjoy his favorites as long as he balanced his meal with the proper protein, fiber, and carbs. We both ended up ordering calamari steak sautéed in a lemon and wine sauce that came with veggies and roasted potatoes. I explained to Frank that he can have two servings of bread/starch at lunch so he could eat a slice of the great sourdough bread and half of the potatoes. I also suggested that when he comes home late he should order a bowl of minestrone soup or one of Forli’s great salads to-go. Or, if he wanted a meal he could eat half and take the rest home where he could have a dinner the next late night. We continued our two day intensive program by (1) reorganizing his pantry according to the food groups, (2) going to Safeway and Costco to discuss his normal purchases there and suggest new items, and (3) going to two other restaurants he frequents with either clients or family to discuss recommended selections for lunch and dinner. We also discussed the need for aerobic exercise at least five days a week for 40 minutes. It has been over a month since my two-day adventure with Frank, and we have been communicating thru e-mail and phone. Frank got a membership to a gym, and I am glad to tell you that his blood sugars are now averaging 120 without medication which is very close to normal. He is down 10 pounds and feels like a new man. Linda is located in her office in Alamo. She welcomes your call to discuss your personal nutrition challenges. Please visit www.LindaRD.com for more information, helpful tips, recipes, and Linda’s blog, or call her at (925) 855-0150 Advertorial
Cancer Support Community The following class will be held at Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. The class is free, but reservations are required. For information, call (925) 933-0107.
Cancer Survivorship 101 Saturday, April 21 ~ 10 AM – Noon This is an introduction to post-treatment recovery and beyond. Learn how to create a summary of your treatment and map out a care plan for your recovery. You will leave empowered with the tools to improve your quality of life and achieve a greater sense of well-being. Patients and support people are welcome. The class is led by Shell Portner, RN, Survivorship Nurse Navigator at John Muir Cancer Institute and also a cancer survivor.
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Page 26 - April 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Overdosed America By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.
CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY
To solve any problem you must first be aware of it. Men, women and children are currently using and abusing prescription medications at record rates, while chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and type II diabetes become more and more prevalent. So prevalent that one in two people are, or will soon, be suffering from a chronic condition. It is so prevalent that 75% of all healthcare expenditures are currently being used to address these chronic conditions. Right now nearly one in two American’s, regardless of age are using prescription medication. And yet, the incidence of chronic disease continues to rise along with the pain and suffering it places on you and the financial stress it places upon our country. The good news is that you have the power to change the course of your health. You can choose health over disease. But, to do so you must be willing to change how you live. It has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that eliminating three risk factors alone - poor diet, inactivity, and smoking - would prevent 80% of heart disease, stroke, and Type II Diabetes, and 40% of cancer in the U.S. The bad news is you have to change your behavior to do it. . . and that’s not easy! It’s not easy when all you hear on the radio and all you see on the T.V. is marketing that removes you from any responsibility for your health and leads you to believe all you have to do is pop a pill to regain your health. The current healthcare AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing WALNUT CREEK model in this country demonstrates and reinthe highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment SAN RAMON forces behavior that doesn’t lead to health. It programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized encourages us to change how we feel, instantly, CONCORD oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing with a pill. It desensitizes us from the reality that ROSSMOOR the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns drugs are dangerous and by themselves NEVER and challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated DANVILLE represent a prescription for healthy living. levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the We have become accustomed and proficient contracostaoncology.com utmost support, compassion, and respect. 925.939.9610 at treating our symptoms to change how we feel versus initiating behaviors that promote health and minimize pain and suffering. So accustomed and proficient that now even our children see no real harm in using and abusing prescription medications. Hey, if mom and dad do it along with all those active, pretty, happy people on the television why not me? In a 2005 survey by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 19% of U.S. teenagers - roughly 4.5 million youths - reported having taken prescription painkillers such as Vicodin or OxyContin or stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall to get high. Taking prescription drugs to get high has become so popular that now the kids even have a name for it. It’s called a Skittle party, which is essentially where you dump a mass amount of pills into a bowl at a party and eat them like Skittles. Yes, this is true and yes it is very, very scary. My gift to you today, more powerful than any prescription medication, the remedy to your health issues and those of our country, is making you aware that you have the ability to prevent disease and live a life of health and prosperity. An abundant life that may be shared with your family and passed on for generations is yours for the taking, but only if you are willing to change your thinking and the way you live your life. You must be willing to let go of the behaviors built around reacting to disease and adopt behaviors which promote health and longevity. In less than 45 days, by adopting a prescription for healthy living, you can move past your pain to achieve a higher state of health. But, to do so, you must be willing to let go of behaviors built around reacting to disease and adopt behaviors which promote health and longevity. By adopting healthy habits you can demonstrate to yourself and your family that healthy eating habits and exercise promote health, vitality, and self confidence. And empower other individuals to act proactively and independent of any need to medicate to change how they feel. From awareness comes action, now is your time. When we as a society begin to demonstrate health promoting behaviors and minimize our over-reliance on prescription drugs we will have created a healthier, safer environment for our children. For more information, go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Jeffrey Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group located at 115 Town & Country Drive, Suite E in Danville (925)743-8210. Advertorial
With Them
my story Continues.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com TBG continued from front page Garden work. First, park visitors and residents of Alamo and Danville provide a large pool of potential volunteers. Second, the site has a sufficiently sunny exposure. Third, the buildings on site have enough roof space to sustain rainwater collection. Fourth, old barns on site give the garden a focal connection to the agricultural history of the San Ramon Valley. Although the original plan to use the larger structure as a library and display gallery had to be abandoned when engineers condemned the building, use can be made of the smaller barn for storage of gardening equipment and garden journals. Based on the pro-bona study done by John Ehlert of JR Engineering, local contractor Jim Wood will revitalize the structure from the inside out, preserving its antique charm. Trained as an architect, Heidi Abramson is delighted to be able to finally realize her dream of designing a public park feature. “I have always had a keen interest in agricultural buildings and how these basic structures satisfy such specific sets of needs. I hope the ‘new’ barn will recapture the feeling of when it was part of a working ranch and our volunteers will feel a part of that very productive and self-sufficient time.” Heidi and Amelia began presenting their Bounty Garden plans to the Hap Magee Joint Planning and Operations Committee (JPOC) in 2010. Thrilled on December 2, 2010 when JPOC voted to make TBG a high priority, the Abramsons soon found they had a lengthy approval process ahead. As Heidi explains: “We began to worry as harvest after harvest slipped by that Amelia would be off to college before we could get our hands in the dirt.” A senior at the Athenian School, Amelia comments on her surprise. “To me it seemed like the kind of project that would have shot through the system and been built quickly.” Patience brought rewards. “Some questions would show a complication or issue that my mother and I missed, and by fixing it we knew we were one step closer to getting The Bounty Garden built and running.” On November 15, 2011, the Danville Town Council unanimously approved a license agreement with The Bounty Garden Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. On December 6, the Danville Parks and Leisure Sources Commission honored Heidi and Amelia with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Describing how much the award means to them, Heidi noted: “It represents the Town’s full support, and that is extremely important to the long term presence of the Garden.” Josh Miner and Dallin Roberts, Eagle Scout candidates from Danville’s Troop 228, led volunteers from San Ramon High School and the Athenian School in building raised beds for TBG. Although everything grown in the beds will be donated to the Food Bank, garden volunteers will have access to the plans and the ability to purchase materials to build raised beds at cost for their own home gardens. Education is an important part of TBG’s mission. At the beginning of each planting season, volunteers will attend three workshops to learn about rainwater collection, seedling production and composting, knowledge they can apply to their personal gardens. Although the original plan called for all water used at TBG to be harvested from rainfall, a study done by EBMUD revealed that total water consumption for The Bounty Garden if rainwater harvesting was done only for the seedling house would cost a little over $100 a year. Preferring to demonstrate a collection system that any home gardener could utilize, the Abramsons have elected to go with
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Danville Today News ~ April 2012 - Page 27 park water for the vegetable beds. Experts will advise volunteers at the start of the season on how to regulate sprinkler heads according to the crop planned for each bed. Crops will be chosen from the Food Bank’s wish list. Compost will include only lawn clippings and leaves from the park and trimmings from TBG beds. After harvest, each bed will be dressed with a renewing layer of compost. Three growing seasons will rotate the crops. For students seeking community service hours to fulfill graduation requirements, the six-month cold crop seasons from January to June and July to December will afford volunteers 30 hours of credit. The nine-month warm crop period from February-October yields 45 hours of credit. Individuals or groups are asked to commit to an entire growing season with the expectation that they will spend about one hour a week working in the garden. If you don’t have time to tend a bed, you can help by donating gently used garden tools, tool racks, storage units, an information desk or boxes to transport the harvest to the Food Bank or one of its Heidi Abramson with stacks of TBG raised beds. 180 partner agencies. The Bounty Garden Foundation Board is seeking grant money for some costs including a greenhouse for seedling production. Keeping the garden going will need only modest fundraising efforts. An annual garden party is planned. “We want to keep this a positive experience for everyone,” Heidi insists. She wants volunteer energy focused on growing, learning, and making friends. To donate tools, talent or treasure, e-mail thebountygarden@gmail.com. For information, visit thebountygarden.com.
Hearing Loss Association Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America meets at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Everyone is welcome. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or 925.264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.
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, undereating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. For information, visit www.how-oa.org.
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ELECTRICAL WORK EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL! Need new light fixtures, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, or track lighting installed? Need a dimmer switch or GFCI installed? Do you want to change the color of your outlets in your kitchen or install 220V power for the new hot tub or stove? I also troubleshoot electrical problems. FREE ESTIMATES. Licensed and bonded. 30 years experience. CALL 925-389-6964.
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Page 28- April 2012 ~ Danville D Today News
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
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925- 9 8 9 - 6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com Danville Real Estate Review: Rocky Start in First Quarter 2012 This month, I thought we might take a look at first quarter 2010 thru 2012 in Danville and see what sense we can make of the numbers. In the first quarter of 2011 we saw a pretty nice increase in average price and we were hopeful that we were beginning to see a market trend reversal and the beginning of an uptrend in price. This has proven not to be the case as we now see that average price has dropped to its lowest level of the three time periods standing at $681,975 or 10% less than 2010 and 12% less than 2011. Danville 1st Qtr Review Jan1-Mar 25* Homes Units Sold DOM $$ AVG $$ Median Avg. Sq. Ft. 2010 108 45 $ 755,351 $ 756,250 2,317 2011 113 53 $ 772,718 $ 727,950 2,558 2012 103 43 $ 681,975 $ 662,500 2,250 % Chg. -5% -5% -10% -12% -12% *Includes Multi-Family and Detached Homes
$$ Sq. Ft. $ 326 $ 302 $ 303 -7%
Median price has dropped by 12% which reflects a substantial shift in the sales mix to lower priced housing units including Condos and Townhomes. This reduction in median price probably shouldn’t be a surprise as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have reduced the amount of their insured lending from a maximum of $729,000 to $625,000 making it more difficult for buyers to qualify for cheaper government insured loans. Some of the potential negative impact from this change has probably been offset by lower interest rates this year and anyone who is concerned about Real Estate values hopes this will continue. Something to think about before ringing the alarm bell over this chart is that the size of a home does impact its sales price and the homes sold during the first quarter of 2012 were roughly 12% smaller than those sold during the same time period during 2011. A simple size adjustment suggests that the real value has stayed about the same and the price paid per square foot confirms this. At $303 per square foot the price of homes in
Danville are actually worth more than last year by $1 dollar per square foot. Not anything to write home about but a fairly good sign that prices are not actually dropping anymore. Also, one quarter’s worth of data is pretty thin and I am hopeful that we will see more positive movement in price as the year progresses and the sales mix normalizes. Pending sales are impressive with a total of 174. The average list price for the current pending sales is $778,721. This number, if it holds up, is about equal to last year’s average sales price and is higher than 2010 average sales price. The pending square foot price is sitting at $312 per square foot or a bit higher than 2011 prices. This is encouraging, but under the surface we discover that 55 or 32% of these pending sales are “Subject to Bank Approval” which means they are short sales or bank owned properties. Distressed properties accounted for 50% of last year’s pending sales, so while not great this decreasing number may also represent an improving condition. Inventory remains at historically low levels with only 124 active listings for sale at this time. That’s about 3.6 months worth of inventory assuming our current average unit sales rate. Three to six months inventory is considered a normal market, so Danville is on the low side of the green zone. Average price asked among active listings is $1,019,156 and the average price per square foot asked is $355. Just for fun, the highest price paid for a home in Danville so far this year is $1,780,000. It commanded a square foot price of $532 and was only 3,343 square feet. The least expensive home sold for $187,500. It was a 1012 square foot Condo. It sold for $185 per square foot. The largest Danville home sold so far this year was 4351 square feet. It sold for $1,210,000 and carried a square foot price of $283. Each of these homes is in the mixture of homes that produced the chart accompanying this article. It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest no strings attached opinion of your home’s current market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.
Westside Alamo Single Story
Three Large Lots for Sale
Dramatic, one-of-a-kind luxury home with amazing views.
Perfect throughout. 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Huge outdoor entertainment area and pool. $1,450,000.
Three large lots for sale by different owners. 1.2 acres with utilities at street, 7.93 acres, and 12.87 Acres. Call for details.
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El Pintado Loop
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Amazing executive estate. 3.1 acres, 5,000 sq. ft., pool, barn, 5 car garage. $2,395,000. We represented the buyer. We have more buyers.
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
2 bedroom 2 bath townhome with great views in a gated community. Updated granite and stainless kitchen, patio, attached garage. $540,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526