2024 JANUARY ~ Alamo Today & Danville Today News

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1

& JANUARY 2024

MEANING IN MUSIC: YOUNG MUSICIANS GIFTING THE MEANS OF MAKING MUSIC

By Jody Morgan

Meaning in Music (MIM) is the remarkably innovative and unforeseen result of keeping talented students stuck at home learning remotely during the COVID lockdown. Inspired by the positive impact continuing their music programs

virtually made on their days of pandemic confinement, Ryan and Brendan Kang devised a plan to offer free virtual instruction and provide musical instruments to youngsters unable to afford either. Enthusiastically embraced by additional high school musicians dedicated to sharing the joy and discipline of music with aspiring elementary and middle school pupils, the Kang brothers’ initiative has already served some 50 students new to music. As one of Oakland Public Education Fund’s fiscally sponsored projects since November 2022, MIM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Danville resident Brendan Kang, currently a junior at Athenian School, writes: “Meaning in Music began at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. During that time, my brother Ryan and I realized that our weekly virtual music lessons were one of our main sources of happiness amidst the prolonged period of social isolation. We also recognized that Instructor, Uma at top right is in a virtual lesson with one of it was a privilege to her piano students. have been able to take music lessons since we were young children, and other children didn’t have this same access to music education. This realization, along with an interest in entrepreneurship, led to the creation of Meaning in Music, a

See MIM continued on page 10

POSTAL CUSTOMER

On February 4th the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV) will open its exhibit titled “Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American Household.” From light bulbs to coffee makers, and from Velcro to MP3s, you will connect the past with the present and engage with history through the scavenger hunt-style Gadgets Galore!

Gadgets are an important part of our everyday lives, and they are often objects that we take for granted. Take a closer look at historic household gadgets from the MSRV collection and consider how the gadgets of yesteryear formed our modern technology.

At one time, these gadgets were new inventions, the latest and greatest items, and something everyone wanted to own. Uncover the histories of these strange objects and how their invention led to the gadgets that are integral to our lives today!

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1PM-4PM, Saturday 10AM-1PM, and Sunday noon-3PM. For more information, visit museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750.

SMALL WORKSPACE NEEDED

Lindsay Baloun Photography captures most of the MIM instructors.

*******ECRWSSEDDM*******

GADGETS GALORE! TRANSFORMING THE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo, CA

The non-profit Contra Costa Interfaith Coalition (CCIC) has been putting together essential kitchen essential kits, for individuals and families transitioning from homelessness. In 2023, over 130 families were helped.

The current work space, a backyard playhouse by North Gate High School, which is used for donation storage, kit assembly, and holding until distribution, is too small and not centrally located.

CCIC is looking for a generous donor that could offer space on an ongoing basis of at least 250 square feet (larger is fine too). An office space, storeroom, garage, or small warehouse space in Alamo, Walnut Creek, or east Lafayette would be incredible.

Can you help? If so, please email contracostainterfaithcoalition@gmail. com. Learn more about CCIC at www.ccichope.org.

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

Taken from in front of the Alamo Post Office between December 16th and 17th. Fifteen foot, 300 pound, vintage, fiberglass Santa statue shared with the community by an Alamo Rotarian.

Just looking for its return, no questions asked. Reward.

Call Dale Bridges 925-876-9710 or contact Alamo Today & Danville Today News at 925-405-6397.

The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville

Volume XXIV Number 1

Volume XV Number 1

3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors.

The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

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BOULEVARD VIEW

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor and Publisher

“There is nothing permanent except change.” ~Heraclitus Change is inevitable. It’s sometimes hard. It’s usually best approached head-on, but it often opens new doors and opportunities.

I recently received a call from my printing press. I had been a customer with them for almost 20 years. They had been in business over 50 years, and even printed my high school newspaper decades ago when I was a photojournalist for the South Bay, Homestead High School Epitaph. The call was the dreaded one...they were closing up shop and retiring.

While printing presses are probably not considered a “growth industry,” I had at least three Bay Area choices. Fortunately, a decade ago my former sales rep and friend had moved jobs to one of these three presses. We had amicably parted ways even after he tried his darnedest to have me move to his new company. Not burning that relationship paid off. A quick visit to my buddy and I knew I was in good hands and would be taken care of. They proved that to me and my readers when printing a great December edition. My dread and worry of something new was all for naught.

You might not know how to deal with change, but being prepared for the unexpected and brushing up on your improvising skills can never hurt...I’m a big fan of “Fake it ‘til you make it!”. Pick one new route and try it. If you fail, move on to the next, and the next, and even the next if necessary.

In a blog by writer Amanda Polson titled “7 Reasons Change Is Important - Why We Need To Give Change A Chance,” she notes, “Yes, change can be scary. But it also pushes us into things we would have never done before.” She lists reasons that you should give change a try. These are: “Change forces you to grow. If you never change you’ll never be given the opportunity to improve. It also forces you into new situations where you can expand your knowledge and abilities.

Change ensures you learn. After all, when you’re trying and failing, you’re learning the ways that don’t work. And, then eventually, the ways that do.

Change brings adventure. Heading into To the Alamo Community unknown territory is nothing but a somewhat scary adventure. Don’t let it intimidate you.

Alamo Tree Lighting Festival-2023 And be sure to take advantage of the change We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Alamo and surrounding communities for making the of routine. This might be the thing that breaks Alamo Rotary Club's Tree Lighting Event such a success on Sunday, December 3rd at Andrew up some monotony in your life. Or, helps you H. Young Park in Alamo. break through mental walls or chains.

The festive evening was filled with joy and a strong sense of community spirit. The sounds of Change brings you closer to your commusic and singing voices from Alamo local schools and a surprise visit from Santa Claus and munity. Maybe that’s your family. Or, your Mrs. Claus delighted attendees of all ages. Hot chocolate, popcorn, and other treats helped lift the spirits. friends. But, sometimes change force us to lean on others when we normally would not.

A special thank you to each attendee, volunteer, and sponsor whose unwavering support Use those opportunity to become closer. made this magical evening possible. We extend our gratitude to our Diamond sponsors: Brent & Teri Tucker, Contra Costa County, Stone Valley Center; Gold sponsors: Morgan Bonano Change highlights your strengths. Just Development Co., Bach Group @ Morgan Stanley, and Thompson Consulting. imagine what life would be like if you’d never We also express our appreciation to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, as well as the been forced to find something you’re good at! incredible performing groups: Stone Valley Jazz Band, SRVHS Chamber Singers, Monte Vista Like maybe you can create killer calendars if Barbershop/Beautyshop Quartet Singers, Athenian School A Capella Choir, Alamo School life suddenly got busy. Or, you find out you Chorus, MV Freshman Spiritleaders, and East West Martial Arts. know your way around a garden if you’re During the event the Rotary Club of Alamo presented checks to the three local schools, Alamo trying to save money on food because of a and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools and Stone Vally Middle School to support their library change in finances. programs.

Change makes you more compassionate.

Special recognition goes to the dedicated Alamo Rotary Club event chairs: Katia Atanassov, When you’re struggling with change, you’re Tom Carman, Kevin Musante, Peter Waldron, Steve Larmore, and countless others who contributed their time and efforts. making new decisions and failing in new ways.

Sometimes it takes a different perspective on We are actively seeking new members! If you are passionate about making a positive impact on our community and beyond, consider becoming a part of the Alamo Rotary Club family. life to understand why or how someone else To learn more about the Alamo Rotary Club and how to become a member, visit our website makes their decisions. In other words, it opens at www.alamorotary.org our blinders to the world around us and helps us understand the people in it better.

Change tests your faith. This isn’t even specific to faith in a religious sense. In my case, yes it has tested my faith in God’s plan for my life. However, for you this could mean that your faith in yourself is being tested. Or your faith in your abilities. Whatever the case may be, you can learn a lot about yourself and those around you when life gets tough.”

Like it or not, the calendar has changed to a new year. How we move through the year and embrace it is for us to choose.

I hope whatever direction you choose that 2024 is full of hope, joy, opportunity, friends, and family.

Once again, thanks for your readership. I look forward to many more years together.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3

Downsize Your House, Enlarge Your Life You are invited to come and learn what retirement communities such as Rossmoor, Stoneridge Creek, and The Glen offer people just like you! Representatives will be on hand to discuss the type of housing available, amenities, and costs. Also learn how you can easily buy before you sell, and hear from professional organizers how to begin the process of purging. You’ve been thinking about this for a long time, don’t wait any longer! Join us for this informative one-hour community meeting and enjoy appetizers and beverages with your neighbors.

HOSTED BY ALAMO RESIDENT CAROLYN GWYNN

Where: 3236 Stone Valley Road West, 2nd floor in Alamo When: Sunday January 21st 4:00pm RSVP required: Please send the name of each attendee to Carolyn.Gwynn@TheAgencyRE.com or call (925) 336-7525

CAROLYN GWYNN Carolyn.Gwynn@TheAgencyRE.com CarolynGwynn.com 925.336.7525 | LIC. #01888136 TheAgencyRE.com

©2024 UMRO Realty Corp., dba The Agency. Registered service marks; all rights reserved. The Agency fully supports the Equal Housing Opportunity laws. CalDRE #01904054

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING CLASSES

Are you looking for a fun and energetic exercise routine? Adult beginner’s Scottish Country Dance classes are starting on January 4th! Classes for both beginners and intermediate dancers are held weekly on Thursday evenings from 7:30PM – 9:30PM at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Road.

No partner is needed. Wear comfortable clothing and flat soft-sole shoes; no heels!

Fees are $8 per class.

For more information contact Monica at monica.van.eck@gmail.com.

SRV GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) was organized in 1985 to provide its members with resources, assistance, and educational opportunities that help them successfully research their ancestry. The group publishes a monthly newsletter and offers monthly meetings of small groups with common interests to discuss their specific areas of research.

SRVGS also provides resources ranging from a large selection of reference books to information on local genealogical libraries.

You are invited to join the next meeting on Tuesday, January 16th, AM 10 - noon via ZOOM, with a presentation by Tina LaFreniere titled “Connecting Faces Through Time using AI for Facial Recognition.”

To join in the Zoom talk, learn more, or become a member of SRVGS, visit srvgensoc.org. For questions, email president@srvgensoc.org.

HELP! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO GIVE RIDES TO SENIORS AND VETERANS

Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that gives rides to seniors and veterans in Contra Costa County. Volunteer drivers are needed to escort seniors to medical appointments and grocery shopping.

Volunteers must be 25 to 75 years old.

Call Mobility Matters at 925-284-2215 or visit www. mobilitymatterscc.com for more details.

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PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON GIRLS: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUPPORT

Join with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch and Jamie Nunez, Western Regional Manager at Common Sense Media, on Thursday, January 18th from 6-8PM at the Danville Congregational Church located at 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Danville to unpack a most important topic – the impact of social media on our girls.

Social media and tech use are at the center of our kids’ lives. From TikTok to Instagram, our kids are distracted by their devices. Where do kids go to connect and what draws them there? What risk do these platforms pose for our kids, specifically girls? Social media misuses have had a tremendous impact on mental health. You will learn: • Latest research on social media's impact on girls • Ways in which social media is used and abused • How social media tools are and can be used for good Jamie supports school administrators, educators, students, and parents in addressing digital literacy skills. A former high school teacher, school administrator, and an education center director, Jamie addresses tech misuse through TED Talks on student identity in online spaces to statewide initiatives addressing digital literacy policies in schools.

Enjoy an engaging presentation and group discussion on the challenges, opportunities, and possible ways to support girls affected by social media misuse. And, find out why lawmakers have begun considering whether younger teens should be on social media at all. To learn more, visit daw-ca.aauw.net/ january-2024-general-meeting-girls-and-social-media.

The program is free for AAUW members, non-members are $10.

FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION

Free income tax preparation for the 2023 tax season will again be offered by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program, providing IRS certified tax counselors for local Contra Costa County residents.

Service is offered to people of all ages with limited to moderate income with special attention given to those age 50 and older.

The tax preparation service will be available at the Danville Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Ave. The site will be open on Tuesdays from 9AM to 2:30PM beginning February 6th and run until April 9th.

Beginning in early January, call 925-272-0902 to make an appointment or 925-726-3199 for general information.

WHITE PONY EXPRESS TO EXPAND FOOD RESCUE

With a move to new facilities in 2024, White Pony Express (WPE) looks forward to expanding its food rescue program to serve our hungry neighbors.

The mission of WPE is to eliminate hunger by recovering fresh, healthy food and delivering it to our neighbors in need. WPE’s Food Rescue Program operates seven days a week, rescuing a daily average of 12,000+ pounds of high-quality, surplus, fresh food from over 70 local food outlets. This food is redistributed within 24 hours to 90+ nonprofit partners who feed the most vulnerable individuals in our county.

WPE will be moving to a larger facility in Concord in early 2024 to meet the demand for healthy food in our county.

They currently have 46 non-profit agencies on their wait-list for food. The new location will allow them to operate more efficiently and safely and enable future growth.

Their fundraising campaign ‘ACCESS FOR ALL’ is underway and all donations up to $250,000 will be matched.

Help WPE provide access to free, nutritious food and bui ld community resi lience by volunteering (www.whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer) or donating (www. whiteponyexpress.org/donate-funds) today.

EXCHANGE CLUB

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at The Grille at Blackhawk, located at 3540 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville.

Sign-in and social time begin at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The one-hour program features guest speakers and business networking. Guests are welcome with luncheon reservations. The cost is $30. For reservations and information, please contact Karen Stepper at 925-998-8865 or coachstepper@yahoo.com.

DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB AUTHOR EVENT

Please join the members of the GFWC Danville Women’s Club at their upcoming Author Event on February 8th at 7pm. The event will be held at the Danville Women’s Club, located at 242 W. Linda Mesa Ave. in Danville.

Authors include Dave Iverson and Andriana Mendez.

Dave is a former KQED broadcaster and author of Winter Stars. He will discuss the growing eldercare crisis, what to do when it affects you, and how to manage emotions and reactions. He will also discuss where to lean in for help and sanity while care-giving. His book can be purchased on Amazon or at the event.

Andriana is founder of Sensational SeniorsTM Workshops by Custom Moving and Hauling. She will discuss how to create a happy and healthy living environment for your loved one, how to initiate dispersal of excessive belongings, and options for care-giving assistance.

The event cost is $10. To learn more or register, visit www.danvillewomensclub.org/just-one. All proceeds go to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and eldercare organizations.

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

Danville residents interested in the inner workings of law enforcement are invited to apply for the Citizens’ Police Academy, which begins a new session on March 27, 2024. Danville police officer instructors will cover a number of topics, including Patrol Procedures, Traffic Enforcement, Investigations, Crime Scene Processing, Crime Prevention, Criminal Prosecution, and Driving Instruction.

Classes are held in-person on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9PM for seven consecutive weeks, with two Saturday sessions.

If you’re interested in participating, complete an application found at danville.ca.gov.

For more information, contact Lindsay Ortiz at 925-314-3717 or lortiz@danville.ca.gov.

UPCOMING BOOK SALE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27TH ~ 10AM TO 2PM

The Friends of the Danville Library (FODL) will host a pop-up used book sale to raise money for our local library on Saturday, January 27th from 10am to 2pm. The sale will be held in the Mt. Diablo Room of the Danville Library located at 400 Front Street, Danville • Most books will be $1-5; less for children’s chapter books • Cash, local checks, and credit cards accepted • Book donations will be accepted during the sale. Limit of four bags For more information, talk with any of the Pop-Up Sales Associates wearing green aprons. Or, visit the bookstore Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm to speak with a volunteer.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5

DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP

Dudum Real Estate Group seamlessly blends intrinsic local knowledge and unmatched global reach f rom truly inspiring agents who are passionate about relationships, service, and homeownership. Join us in the search for your next home.

F E AT U R E D P R O P E R T I E S

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

SOLD

277 LARK LANE, ALAMO 5 BEDS, 5 BATHS, ±5,300 SF, ±.65 ACRE LOT

3212 LOS PALOS CIRCLE, LAFAYETTE 4 BEDS, 4 BATHS, ±3,757 SF, ±.37 ACRE LOT

0 HOMESTEAD AVENUE, WALNUT CREEK ±7,405 SF LOT AVAILABLE

1032 HILL MEADOW PLACE, DANVILLE 5 BEDS, 2.5 BATHS, ±2,676 SF, ±.20 ACRE LOT

OFFERED FOR $4,200,000

OFFERED FOR $3,495,000

CALL AGENT FOR DETAILS

SOLD FOR $2,025,000

MARGY LYMAN | 925.963.6380

LORI LEGLER & CHERYL HATA | 925.298.2249

EVA ELDERTS | 925.726.9409

BONNE WERSEL | 510.304.3303

OFF MARKET SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

117 WOOTTEN DRIVE, WALNUT CREEK 5 BEDS, 4 BATH, ±2,850 SF, ±0.21 ACRE LOT

105 MARVIN DRIVE, PLEASANT HILL 4 BEDS, 1.5 BATHS, ±1,668 SF, ±.35 ACRE LOT

245 PAULA COURT, MARTINEZ 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, ±1,335 SF, ±0.33 ACRE LOT

2560 OAK ROAD #221, WALNUT CREEK 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, ±998 SF

SOLD FOR $1,700,000

SOLD FOR $1,005,000

SOLD FOR $930,000

SOLD FOR $615,000

COLOMBANA GROUP | 925.878.8047

COLOMBANA GROUP | 925.878.8047

SUZY PECK | 925.200.2988

MARGY LYMAN | 925.963.6380

W I S H I N G YO U A H E A LT H Y A N D P R O S P E R O U S 2 0 24 !

ANGIE CLAY 925.207.9366

BONNE WERSEL 510.304.3303

JULIE DEL SANTO 925.818.5500

COLOMBANA GROUP 925.878.8047

EVA ELDERTS 925.726.9409

REALTOR® | DRE# 01361143

REALTOR® | DRE# 01173288

BROKER/OWNER | DRE# 01290985

DRE# 01979180 / 01979180

REALTOR® | DRE# 02039328

FONIA HUMPHRIES 925.998.4444

LORI LEGLER & CHERYL HATA 925.298.2249

MARGY LYMAN 925.963.6380

SCOTT HUMPHRIES 925.298.2249

SUZY PECK 925.200.2988

REALTOR® | DRE# 01019063

DRE# 02078065 / 01019063

REALTOR® | DRE# 02067680

REALTOR® | DRE# 02078065

REALTOR® | DRE# 01224695

©2024 The information herein was obtained by sources deemed to be reliable by Dudum Real Estate Group. Dudum Real Estate group has not independently verified the information contained herein and therefore, assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should investigate any matters or items disclosed, identified or about which they have concerns to their own satisfaction. DRE Lic. 01882902

PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

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THE HISTORY OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFFS, A FREE VIRTUAL PROGRAM

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV) is happy to announce the return of local historian and author Steve Minniear for the January program.

Steve, remembered for his engaging presentations on Highway 21 and Camp Parks, is set to return on January 18th at 11:30AM, shedding light on the compelling history of the Alameda County Sheriffs.

Travel back to 1853, when Alameda County emerged on the eastern shores of the San Francisco Bay. In its early days, this primarily agricultural region faced challenges ranging from cattle rustling to thievery on the route to the California goldfields, earning a reputation as one of the most lawless areas. From legendary lawmen like Harry Morse to infamous outlaws such as Joaquin Murietta, the sheriffs and deputies of Alameda County navigated a tumultuous landscape.

As the county evolved, so did the challenges for law enforcement. The 20th century brought a shift to handling antiwar demonstrations, riots, kidnappings, suburban and rural crime, earthquakes, and other disasters. The men and women of the county’s law enforcement were consistently prepared to respond, their endeavors often making headlines. Notably, during the 1960s and 1970s, the sheriff ’s office crowd control unit gained international recognition as the “Blue Meanies.”

Steven, in collaboration with the Alameda County Sheriff ’s Archive, has meticulously collected photographs and information from across Alameda County.

Join MSRV as he unveils previously unseen images and recounts forgotten stories that have shaped the sheriff ’s office and the communities it serves.

This virtual program promises to be an enlightening journey through time, providing a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs faced by the Alameda County Sheriffs. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the rich history of our community. The program is free, but registration is required. To attend the online presentation, visit museumsrv.org and go to the “Events” section or call 925-837-3750.

MSRV is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1PM-4PM, Saturday 10AM-1PM, and Sunday noon-3PM.

ENTERTAINMENT ABOUNDS AT THE VILLAGE THEATRE & ART GALLERY

Movies, music, and maybe a little magic...find it at the Village Theatre and Art Gallery. Located in a historic building at 233 Front Street, the Village Theatre brings rich cultural arts experiences to Danville. The new year kicks off with events for the whole family. The Preschool Performances series continues with The Bubble Lady, returning for a special two performance event on January 13th. Classical Music Corner also returns with Laudami Ensemble, a musical duet, on January 19th.

Just outside of the theatre curtain is the gallery, featuring works by regionally known artists across a wide array of media. With a new exhibition quarterly, in addition to public art exhibitions, the gallery is a destination for Bay Area art lovers. Patrons of the theatre also get to enjoy a show before the show as they peruse the gallery.

The upcoming exhibition “Driven to Abstraction” opens January 20th and runs until March 22nd. This exhibition consists of artwork from five diverse female artists. While they each come from different cultural backgrounds (Polish, Indian, Jewish, Irish and Italian), they all enjoy abstract visual art and are inspired by nature and local landscapes.

The exhibition opens with a free public brunch held from 11AM to 1PM on January 20th. The gallery is open Wednesday-Friday Noon-5PM, Saturday, 11AM-3PM, as well as Monday and Tuesday by appointment only. For more information, please visit www.danville.ca.gov/arts.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7

THE GATTI REPORT: YOUR GREATER DANVILLE AREA REAL ESTATE UPDATE

By Joe Gatti

The New Year is here! We hope your Christmas/December holiday was healthy, happy, and filled with family and friends. We’re proud to announce the Compass agency, and our local Danville office hit new heights in 2023. If you’re looking to sell or buy in 2024, The Gatti Team with Compass, incorporates our 60+ years of combined Greater Danville Area expertise with the #1 Real Estate Brokerage in the United States. We strive to provide extensive local real estate services with the best brokerage practices for our clients.

As we enter 2024, our local real estate market has two economic indicators to watch for that will eventually open up to more real estate activity. First, inflation has continually gone downwards in the last half of 2023. One year ago the inflation reading was 7.1%. As of the last reading on December 12th, the current US inflation level came in at 3.1%. At the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of 2023, they forecast that at some point in 2024 they would be in a position to cut their base interest rate three separate times. Lower inflation levels are going to lead to lower mortgage rate levels, which will lead to more seller activity in our local market, and more opportunities Market Share Reports: Updated 2-3 times per year for future buyers.

Our local real estate market began seeing mortgage rate decreases after the Federal Reserve’s November 1st meeting where rates went from just above 8% to 7.34% in a matter of two days.* After the last Federal Reserve meeting, rates fell even further. This time from 7.1% to 6.64% at the time of this writing.* If inflation continues towards the Fed’s goal of 2%, look for mortgage interest rates to fall further. The question becomes whether the Fed begins cutting rates at their March, June, or late summer meetings.

The beginning of a new year is the end of the winter real estate season and historically a market preparation period for the Greater Danville Area. Look for the busiest season, spring, to begin in mid-February. The earlier the Fed makes their first rate cut, the likelihood of more homes entering our market will increase. Potential sellers will be less locked into the current interest rates they have on their current homes, and future buyers will re-enter the market because home affordability is less daunting.

If you would like a proactive price valuation for your home during this period of changing interest rates, please reach out to the Gatti Team for a private consultation. Our services and full time local experience are here to help you maximize your selling and buying goals in the Greater Danville Area. We look forward to seeing everyone in the coming months and Happy New Year!

I hope you found this article helpful. I’ve been serving our real estate community for 11 years. Ron Gatti, my business partner and father, has been a full-time real estate professional for over 40 years, all in the greater Danville area. We both are Associate Brokers with Compass out of the 760 Camino Ramon, Suite 200 office in Danville. If you have any real estate questions during this extraordinary time or have questions about this article, please email GattiRealEstate@gmail.com or call Joe Gatti at 925588-3590. Our services are here for you!

JOE & RON GAT TI Happy New Ye ar! Hav e a joy ful ne w y e ar ahead. War me st w ishe s.

O

M LA

A

TERIFFIC BUILDING OPPORTUNITY! ~1.84 ACRES NEAR MONTE VISTA AND OAK HILL PARK | $1,500,000

JOE GATTI

RON GATTI

Associate Broker Associate Broker 925.588.3590 925.596.1972 DRE 01914487 DRE 00623995

JULIE CYGAN REALTOR® 510.501.5160 DRE 02059093

g a t t i r e a l e s t a t e @ g m a i l .co m

AS DANVILLE NATIVES, WE KNOW DANVILLE AND THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

GattiRealEstate.com

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL

By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal

The holidays have come and gone, and the Monte Vista (MV) community spread goodwill throughout the Tri-Valley area. Through Contra Costa County’s Adopta-Student and Adopt-a–Family programs, our students and staff filled a truck full of gifts and loaded up a second truck with food for our local food banks. MV Leadership delivered stockings full of gifts to Verde Elementary in Richmond in addition to eating lunch and playing games with Verde’s students. I can’t say enough about our students and faculty for their willingness to help their community and by demonstrating what the special holiday season is all about. In particular, I would like to thank Tommy Greenless, Chris Connor, and our Leadership Class students who took the time and effort to make these wonderful actions a reality.

I would like to follow with a big thank you to MV’s PTSA for the Holiday Bake. I am always amazed by the sheer number of baskets and goodies that the PTSA shares with our staff and our community. Thanks to PTSA President, Jenn Walsh and her amazing group of volunteers for this incredible event.

There are a lot of great things happening in MV’s classrooms as well. In December, I had the opportunity to visit Magali Le Bouder’s English Language Learner classroom and observe the amazing work she is doing with our students. While this is a brand-new program to MV, Magali has created a class that is engaging and impactful for each student. In addition to Magali, this program would not be possible without the efforts of Lauren Bell, one of our counselors, and Angie Corritone, one of our assistant principals, who have spent many hours identifying, assessing, and supporting our English Language Learners (ELL) students. I am so grateful for this team and all the great things they are doing.

In December, I was also able to split a few evenings between athletics and the theater. I caught our Women’s Soccer opener against Tamalpais which resulted in a convincing 1-0 win. Congrats to Chris Lum and our Women’s Soccer Team for a great win in their first match of the season.

We are looking forward to a great season. Next, I attended MV Choir’s Winter Concert - which was also nothing short of incredible. Our students are so talented, and our Choir Director Rosalind Neisinger does great work in challenging them with more complex music selections. Congrats to Rosalind and our choir students for such an awesome Winter Concert.

I then got to see MV’s Men’s Basketball team square up with a tough Bellarmine team. The game went back and forth all night with the Mustangs pulling out a 48-45 win. Congrats to Head Coach Nick Jones and our amazing team. I also shared time that evening with our incredible instrumental music program. Throughout the performance, MV’s Symphonic and Concert Bands and Orchestra were truly excellent as they played a variety of complex and beautiful music. Hats off to Music Director Ed Cloyd and Orchestra Director Sara Dasovich for bringing out the best in our students.

As MV’s students finished up their finals to close out the Fall Semester, I would like to thank the whole Monte Vista community for an amazing first half of the year. MV’s students and faculty are now ready to enjoy a well-deserved Winter Break and are looking forward to a great Spring Semester.

LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS

The Rotary Club of Alamo meets the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Round Hill Country Club, visit their Facebook page “Rotary Club of Alamo.” More information is also available at alamorotary.org, alamorotary@ hotmail.com, or by calling 925-718-6601. The Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley meets at the San Ramon Community Center on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays from 7PM-8:30PM. For more information, call Valerie Munoz at 925-683-6310 or visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com. The Rotary Club of Dougherty Valley/ San Ramon meets Wednesdays from 5:15PM-6:40PM at Amador Rancho Community Center. For more information, call 925-998-2924. The Danville San Ramon Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at the LAB meeting room at Roundhouse located 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon. Meetings are held at 7AM on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, noon on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, and no meetings in months with a 5th Tuesday. For more information call 925-997-6664.

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SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH

By Hailey Gunderson, San Ramon Valley High School, Junior

Cheers to the start of a new year. SRV students wrapped up finals with a strong finish to 2023.

Students dressed up for the winter spirit week, studied hard for finals, took a trip to our sister school Peres Elementary and fall sports came to an end. Looking forward to the start of 2024, there are many exciting events planned.

The SRV community showed up in big ways to support all our fall sports.

Looking back at the conclusion of our fall sports, the Women’s Cross Country team won both the EBAL and NCS championships. Football took first in EBAL and were NCS runner-ups. Both Women’s and Men’s Water Polo and Women’s Volleyball teams were EBAL runner-ups.

We had many individual athletes with league awards as well (to see a full list check out @srvhs.athletics on Instagram). SRV is extremely proud of all of our fall athletes and their amazing accomplishments.

SRV is looking forward to winter sports now that they are in full swing. Both Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams are off to an incredible start to their season, both looking to advance far into NCS and State. Women’s and Men’s Soccer are eager to start league games this month.

Wrestling has also had a great first few tournaments with many individuals, both men and women, placing very high. We are excited to cheer on our winter sports throughout the next couple of months.

On Monday, January 29th the SRV leadership class will host the Tri-Valley Leadership Conference (TVLC). This is a yearly leadership conference that brings together about 15 school leadership programs from multiple districts to share ideas and collaborate with each other in order to build stronger leaders and programs at every school. The SRV leadership class is very excited to be hosting this year. They have a full schedule of activities planned.

The trip to our sister school, Peres Elementary, was a success. The SRV community collected over 600 hundred toys and brought joy to these kids during the holiday season. The SRV chamber choir singers sang at the Danville Tree Lighting and sounded phenomenal, bringing the holiday spirit to the entire town. SRV Choir had their Holiday Show in December, showcasing their amazing voices and talent.

Inclusive Schools Week is January 22nd-26th in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The goal of this week is to celebrate all students with disabilities by showing respect, empathy and high expectations for every student with disabilities. SRV students, faculty and staff wish everyone a Happy New Year!

NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE TAKING APPLICATIONS

The National Charity League’s (NCL) mission is to foster community service while supporting mother-daughter bonds, and develop leadership skills and an appreciation for cultural traditions.

The Rolling Hills NCL chapter is now recruiting mothers and daughters in the San Ramon Valley School District who are interested in strengthening their bonds through philanthropic work and leadership building, in their 2024-2025 membership drive.

The Rolling Hills NCL chapter currently has 207 members spanning from th 7 grade through 12th grade.

Rolling Hills is taking applications for the classes of 2027 through 2030. Applications are accepted now through March 1, 2024 at 5PM. A Membership Inquiry Form is available at https://tinyurl.com/y2rpys43. Once the completed membership application has been received, the mother and daughters will be invited to attend the prospective members meeting on January 25, 2024 from 7-8:30PM. For general membership questions, please email rhnclmembership@gmail.com.

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January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9

LOOKING FOR ADMISSION TO A TOP COLLEGE? PRACTICE YOUR SCALES By Karen Van Dyke

It is no exaggeration to say that the other night, the Stanford Flute Ensemble delivered a spell-bounding performance to end fall quarter: very difficult works, all played masterfully. Along with the glowing audience reviews after the concert, was the repeatedly asked question: “How many of these students are music majors?” The answer? None.

One might wonder how in the world students majoring in math, international studies, or a science-related subject can also play an instrument at such a high level. And, the answer to that question is simple: the two things are not mutually exclusive. Despite their widely varied backgrounds (geographic area, demographic, interests, etc.) they all share one thing in common: they all studied the flute privately from a young age. Their admission to Stanford, and their ability to successfully navigate the daunting academic load it presents them, is not in spite of the time they spend studying music, but (at least partially) because of it. They embody the findings of studies that have proven a connection between musical study and academic achievement, such as the study published by the American Psychological Association: www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/06/music-students-score-better.

There is good news for flutists who have been meaning to embark on private study. My flute studio has a few openings for both in-person and on-line instruction.

Lessons cover tonal work, technique, musicianship, interpretation, performance skills, and sight reading through examination of the classical solo repertoire. All ages and levels are welcome. All-state band, college music major/minor hopefuls, school band students, adult amateurs, and total beginners thrive in my studio.

A resident of Danville, I am a lecturer in the Music Department at Stanford University, where I founded the Stanford Flute Ensemble over two decades ago. In addition to my work at Stanford, I maintain an active and versatile career as a private flute teacher, freelance orchestral and chamber musician, and for the last 30 years as Director of Northern California Flute Camp, an international summer program for students ages 12-18 held in Carmel Valley (www. flutecamp.com). In my 35+ years of private teaching, my students have occupied the flute sections of all-state, county, and area youth ensembles, ENGAGING CLASSROOMS have won competitions, and numerous graduates of my private studio have

By John Black, The Dorris-Eaton School gone on to major in music at top music schools.

When I was in high school (which admittedly was For further information on lessons or to schedule an introductory many years ago!), I had a science teacher whose idea of Zoom lesson, please email kvandyke@stanford.edu, or visit www. an engaging classroom was the sound of his own voice.

Advertorial karenvandykeflute.com.

I would sit at my desk near the back of the classroom, taking copious notes, completing all the required SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN assignments, and studying for a seemingly endless ACADEMY By Jamie Westgate, Principal number of tests and quizzes. And, when it was all done, There is something so refreshing about starting a new I had learned one thing: how to dislike science. For year. Taking a minute to consider the potential blessings for during that entire school year, only twice did we do a lab experiment. Twice! the next twelve months allows us all to focus on a moment of Fortunately, I had a very different experience in college where I learned optimism. This past Christmas season, our community was to love science -- not only because of the many experiments we did, but also encouraged to focus on the hope that God offered through because I finally saw the relationship between math and science. I was a math His Son, Jesus The book of Romans reminds us that by His major, but often struggled to see how the math concepts that I learned would Spirit, He provides joy and peace as we learn to trust in Him. ever be used in the so-called real world. In high school, math and science Through trials and tragedies, the trust we develop then had always been two subjects which rarely saw any convergence. Suddenly produces the hope needed to carry on despite anything coming our way. in college there were connections.

I am grateful to be in a Christian school where we can focus heavily on the Looking back, I credit the professors for this. They undoubtedly planned promises of God. Knowing that He produces good things from challenges lessons together, finding ways to encourage students to develop their proboffers reassurance and meaning. Spiritual formation is at the core of what lem-solving and critical thinking skills using concepts learned in both subject we do at SRVCA and we see it penetrate the hearts of our children as they areas. I even remember a time when my philosophy teacher came to our science grow and develop. To help you better understand the spiritual growth we lab to lecture us about the life sciences. While I don’t remember the exact topic, experience in our school, I have shared some of these below: I do remember thinking how odd it was. However, as the year progressed, it • One of our middle school students started a “teacher support club” gradually made more and more sense as I grew to better understand how evwhere students give up their lunch break to clean teachers’ classrooms, make erything is connected in one way or another. Ironically, that same philosophy copies, or support with projects.

• Recently at recess, one of our 5th grade students was noticeably professor later encouraged me to join the Peace Corps where I taught math and encouraging another peer to join the flag football game despite not having science to high school students in a small village in central Africa. played before. Although this class loves competition, the student continued A few days ago, I was observing a science lesson in a middle school classroom at to coach and encourage his peer until he felt successful being part of the fun.

Dorris-Eaton School, a private school in San Ramon. The students were engaged, • Our church/school Controller received a card from two students with they were enthusiastic, and they were challenged. Their teacher was moving a dollar taped to it. The note said, “Thanks for delivering Christ in people’s around the classhearts.” This unprompted act of generosity is inspiring. room and guiding • One of our 4th grade girls stays behind at the end of every recess to clean the students up the playground equipment so that our aides don’t have to do it alone. through an experiment which required them to use some of the equations and Then she scurries off to class to still show up on time. conversions they had learned in math class earlier in the week. Later in the day, • A first grade boy saw a girl in kindergarten hurt herself during recess. as the students were exiting the building to meet their parents in the parking lot, I Although he didn’t know her, he made room for her on the bench, put his overheard a student from that same science class telling his father about the experarm around her, and consoled her until she felt better. iment.

The student was genuinely excited, and the parent was clearly very proud.

• Earlier this year, a student was taken by ambulance to the ER for precautionary My point is this: good teaching encourages students to explore, and the best reasons. As the ambulance pulled away, one of our TK students immediately form of exploration is hands-on. Reading about a concept in a textbook, listening grabbed the hands of her friends and said, “We need to stop and pray!” Right there, to a lecture about it, or even watching a teacher demonstrate it, is not the same as the kids prayed the sweetest heartfelt prayer for the injured student’s wellbeing. physically experiencing what you are learning about. When teachers can pull in These examples may seem small, but it’s the daily interactions of grace concepts learned in other classes that encourage students to make connections and kindness that tell the success of our efforts to disciple the hearts of our students. We all know this world presents challenges at various times, across the curriculum, well, you have the sort of dynamic learning environment but I take great hope in knowing our students will be ready with words of that can produce engaged, enthusiastic learners. Such engagement can help to encouragement and tender responses of care to those around them. unlock a student’s full potential and foster a love for lifelong learning.

Wishing our friends and neighbors in the San Ramon Valley a very Happy New Year!

Advertorial Learn more at www.dorriseaton.com.

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PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

ENVISION CONTRA COSTA 2045 By County Supervisor Candace Andersen

One of my favorite roles as an elected official in local government is planning for the future of our community. What will our county look like 20 years from now? How will we preserve our parks, trails, open space, and charming downtowns while encouraging the appropriate transportation, jobs, and housing needed for our children, grandchildren and others who move to the area? Making decisions that will ultimately impact the next 20 years requires careful strategy and extensive public input.

Cities and counties in California are required to have a detailed document called a “General Plan.” The plan is essentially a road-map for the future, and expresses the community’s long-term vision for how it will be developed in coming years. Contra Costa County’s last General Plan was approved in 1991, and was intended to chart our future growth through 2020. The Board of Supervisors, the County Planning Commission, and County Staff use the General Plan to guide decisions about zoning, development, public services, and transportation improvements.

Needless to say, things have changed considerably since 1991. There has been significant growth in Contra Costa County, and it is now time to adopt a new plan. The County Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) has been working on the Envision 2045 (formerly called Envision 2040) General Plan for the last several years and are close to completing it. They have held hundreds of public meetings throughout the County.

THE GENERAL PLAN INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS

• Stronger Communities - Environmental justice, community health, healthy homes, arts and culture, workforce development, business and innovation, and community engagement.

• Land Use – Land use designations and map, Urban Limit Line, 65/35 Land Preservation Standard, sustainable growth, quality design, land use and infrastructure coordination, and intergovernmental coordination.

• Transportation – Transportation safety and sustainability, coordination with other agencies, roadway definitions, connectivity, biking and walking, goods movement, and airports.

• Conservation, Open Space, and Working Lands – Open space, agricultural resources and economy, ecological resources, water resources, Delta and shoreline resources, historic and cultural resources, tribal communities, scenic resources, mineral resources, and energy resources.

• Public Facilities and Services – Water and wastewater service, drainage and flood risk, public safety and emergency services, solid waste management, parks and recreation, schools, and libraries.

• Health and Safety – Air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate change resilience and adaptation, flooding, sea level rise, wildfire, extreme heat, hazardous materials and waste, seismic and geologic hazards, emergency preparedness, evacuation, and noise.

• Growth Management – Growth impacts on facilities and services, cooperative planning with regional agencies, efficient land use patterns, infill and redevelopment.

In conjunction with the General Plan update, the County is updating the Climate Action Plan (CAP) which was first adopted in December 2015. The CAP is the County’s strategic approach to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources throughout the unincorporated areas of the County.

The CAP reflects programs and actions to decrease energy use, improve energy efficiency, develop renewable energy, reduce vehicle miles traveled, increase multi-modal travel options, expand green infrastructure, reduce waste, and improve the efficiency of government operations.

The County’s Zoning Code (ZC), which was originally adopted in 1947 and has been modified regularly, will also be updated. The ZC has been designed to ensure consistency between the General Plan and to meet modern standards. While the General Plan sets the broad goals and actions of the County, the ZC deals with individual properties and sets rules and regulations to guide development. It is likely that the Board of Supervisors will hear an update on Envision 2040 in the summer of 2024.

In conjunction with drafting the next County General Plan, DCD has also been working on the Housing Element, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 12, 2023. The General Plan and Housing Element are two separate processes. The County is required by law to distribute the State-mandated housing allocation amongst the unincorporated communities. As part of the Housing Element of the General Plan the County is required to prepare a “housing sites inventory” that demonstrates the County’s ability to accommodate these units. The County will not build the units, but ensures that the zoning would allow a potential developer to build on these sites. The County’s allocation is 7,610 units for the upcoming eight-year cycle.

The County’s updated General Plan will also be subject to thorough analysis of potential environmental impacts in conjunction with the updated CAP, and any changes to the ZC, as required by California law. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will address potential environmental impacts and measures that could negatively impact the community.

I encourage my constituents to participate throughout the entirety of this process. Your feedback is wanted. You can join the conversation and participate online at envisioncontracosta2040.org.

You may also contact my office as well with any suggestions, questions, or concerns you may have at supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-655-2300.

MIM continued from front page

non-profit organization that provides virtual music lessons at no cost for elementary and middle school students.”

How did the intention develop into a workable reality? Gail Kang, the founders’ mother, recalls: “I was thrilled when my sons decided to combine their entrepreneurial interest with their love for music.

We have always valued musical education as a family, and some of my favorite memories are of my three children playing music together.

While my sons always seemed genuinely interested in music, I do think it was during the pandemic that they realized the extent of how much they valued their music lessons; I can clearly recall their virtual music lessons being such a bright spot throughout the pandemic. It has been heartwarming for me to recall many dinner time conversations in which my sons brainstormed together about the concept of Meaning in Music and then to see the organization come to life. This experience has shown me how much time and effort it takes to run a non-profit organization, which is especially challenging for high school students, but I can also see how rewarding it has been for my sons, the other high school instructors, and the students.”

At first, Ryan and Brendan used social media to offer free lessons. Most of the current 20 or so MIM students attend Franklin Elementary School in Oakland, California. Principal Lusa Lai writes: “Meaning in Music has

made a big impact for our Franklin students.

Music plays a vital role in a child’s development as it fosters cognitive skills, emotional expression, and creativity. It can enhance a student’s le ar ning, memor y, and even contribute to improved social skills, making an invaluable influence on a child’s Meaning in Music founders Ryan (L) and Brendan Kang (R). overall growth. I can’t thank Meaning in Music enough for bringing free online music instruction to our students. They are young but ambitious and have golden hearts!”

Original instructors were all Athenian students. As the organization has grown, MIM has recruited high school musicians from other institutions by making announcements at local schools, emailing music programs, and directly messaging school music groups on social media platforms.

Voice teacher Marguerite Benham was reached in faraway Maine through her high school band’s Instagram page. Like all MIM instructors, her resumé posted

See MIM continued on page 15

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January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11

VALLEY VIGNETTE

By Beverly Lane A CENTURY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN CALIFORNIA AND THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

After World War II, California experienced a boom in population and jobs, unlike the state had seen since the Gold Rush a century earlier. Population in 1940 was 6,450,000 and in 1950 it was 10,490,000. The war years had introduced soldiers and war workers to the state’s many attractions of weather, open spaces, and job opportunities. Black war workers joined others at the Kaiser shipyards. By 1960, the California census reported 15,700,000 people.

This influx brought changes for the San Ramon Valley. New housing appeared in the 1940s, 20 years before the I680 freeway opened. All this was reported in The Valley Pioneer, a weekly newspaper which began in 1945 and provided a treasure trove of news, advertisements, and social life.

One 1946 front page story of The Valley Pioneer was titled, “Subdivision To Open Saturday.” The subdivision was called Rancho San Ramon Heights.

Realtor A. J. Geldermann was the exclusive agent and the land (1/2 mile from Danville along Diablo Road) had formerly belonged to the Flournoy family. The article touted the views, the newly paved roads, and trees planted every fifty feet. Lots ranged from one-half to two and a half acres and cost $1,800 to $4,500.

Rancho San Ramon Heights is one example of the housing developments which sprang up throughout the Bay Area and the state. Worthy of note is one sentence in the newspaper which points out that not all residents with funds to buy a house were welcome. It states: “The tract is restricted to protect the people who will build their homes there.”

New housing which allowed young people to prosper and acquire equity for their families was not available to African Americans, Latinos, and Asians. Today many CC&R descriptions for home associations (and some homes) still include these restrictions. While such racial covenants are now illegal, the sentence remains. These racist attitudes began with the Gold Rush in California.

In the 1850s, California immigrants brought racist opinions with them into a Mexican state which was very different. For 80 years, Alta California had been a multi-racial society which provided social, political, and economic opportunities for its residents, few of whom were actually Spanish. The first settlers and their descendants were people of color, a mixture of Spanish, Indian, and African-American, known as Californios. At the missions, Spanish padres wanted to baptize Indians and teach them to become “civilized” laborers. They supported marriages between native women and soldiers. Later, Indians and Mestizos became essential workers on Mexican ranchos.

As Americans moved west, an implicit part of Manifest Destiny was white supremacy. With statehood in 1850, laws against people of color were immediately enacted since immigrants believed themselves to be a priori, racially superior to Indians, Mexicans, Chinese, and Californios. One historian, Reginald Horsman, pointed out, “The emphasis was on the American Anglo-Saxon as a separate, innately superior people who were destined to bring good government (and) commercial prosperity to less civilized people.”

California entered as a free state but that freedom was problematic for people of color. The new state legislature levied a $20/month foreign miners tax against Asians and Mexicans, and, when they could not afford the fee, barred them from the mines. Vigilante justice against non-whites was condoned. Rough American miners massacred whole Indian villages and Indian scalps were paid for by the government. State laws enslaving Indians and free blacks weren’t repealed until the 1860s during the Civil War. The new Californians also barely acknowledged the land titles of Californios which had been guaranteed in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo after the Mexican American War of 1846-48. As Americans took over, they brought the common law system and their racial attitudes with them, many settling as squatters on former rancho lands.

Many other laws supported discrimination over the years such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The California Real Estate Association created a Race Restriction Committee in 1942 and ultimately sponsored Proposition 14 in 1964 which would have allowed open discrimination on ethnic grounds. Although the Proposition received 65% voter support, the California and U.S. Supreme Japanese Americans in the San Ramon Valley, 1929.

Courts ruled it unconstitutional.

Kevin Starr, California state librarian and historian, recently wrote “The most egregious American racist and ethnic prejudices have been curtailed by a century and a half of struggle, down to the civil rights movement in our own time, but the surviving traces of the Forty-niners’ disease – hostility to people who are the Other – is as lingering and self-evident as today’s headlines.”

Sources: California Historical Society, Contested Edem (1997) and Rooted in Barbarous Soil (2000), The Valley Pioneer, May 2, 1946.

PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle

ANCIENT REDWOODS & 100 YEAR OLD STEAM TRAINS

I was hooked after the first episode of HBO’s Gilded Age, written and produced by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame. As in Downton Abbey, every detail is researched for authenticity. There are grand mansions with stunning interiors, sweeping staircases and ballrooms, long tables of food, exquisite china, crystal stemware, floral arrangements, and candles.

There are lovely costumes, with footmen, cooks, lady’s maids, and butlers who are as interesting as the gentrified people they serve. It is a period piece set in New York during the 1880s in the middle of the Gilded Age. Sir Julian Fellowes said in an interview, “History is the ultimate soap opera, the most gripping story of all. I try to use (history) in a way of saying to the audience… this really happened or something similar to it.”

Back in the late 1880s when New Yorkers were dealing with their power struggles, another kind of drama was underway in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. A battle was waged between loggers and the preservationist movement to save ancient groves of towering redwood trees, some over 1,000 years old.

In 1867, entrepreneur Joseph Welch purchased 350 acres in the Santa Cruz mountains thus saving a grove of majestic redwood trees, some approaching 300 feet in height, from the woodman’s axe. By 1899, “Welch’s Big Trees Grove” was known internationally. It was a Group in front of Redwood Trees popular tourist venue with a steam train, hotel, circa 1890s. Photo courtesy of cabins, and a dance pavilion. Guests from all Santa Cruz Library. over the world were welcomed. Historian and former ranger, Jeff Jones, recounted that in 1899 an English publication hired San Jose artist, photographer, and writer Andrew Hill, to take some photos of the famous redwoods in Welch’s Big Trees Grove to accompany a story.

As Hill was setting up his cameras, the owner spotted him and yelled at him

CLIP NOTES By Jody Morgan

Many times, my New Year’s resolutions prove difficult to fully achieve. In 2023, I intended to participate in the Great Flower Sunflower Project counting pollinators visiting flowering plants of my choice to identify the best species for my geographic region. The good news is my gardens, which include trees and shrubs, entice beneficial insects throughout the growing season. The bad news is each time I tried making a five-minute observation, I got dizzy following the happy insect horde from flower to flower and plant to plant.

Would you rather dine on a multi-course meal at a single restaurant or travel from one location to another for each course? While progressive dinner parties were once in vogue, beneficial insects have always preferred the single location option. Density of desirable food sources matters. The typical gardening approach keeping each specimen spaced apart from unrelated neighbors won’t get pollinators to patronize your horticultural buffet.

Although I gave up on documenting the number of visitors to each specific plant during a fixed time frame, I succeeded in making myself stop to watch and think about how every native or compatible non-native grouping supported the little things that never entered my yard before I began growing for nature. Note that I include non-natives in my nature-friendly landscape. Observation has taught me that the many generalists in the insect world are attracted by virtually every closely related species whether native or exotic. But saving populations of specialists like monarch butterflies requires providing the small selection of species critical to their survival. Milkweeds nourishing monarch caterpillars must be native to your garden’s precise location.

How do you define “native?” I once volunteered as a garden host during the annual “Bringing Back the Natives” tour for a dedicated individual who planted only species native to the San Pablo Dam watershed in her front yard.

At the other extreme, I’ve known many people who believe any species native to North America fits their definition.

Honeybees are not native to North America, but neither are many of the crops

www.yourmonthlypaper.com to get off the land since they did not allow commercial photos without payment.

The following year, the photographer (who was still angry with the way he had been shooed off the property) avoided the owner and went deeper into the backcountry. He was determined to get some photos of the redwoods. Jones writes, “There he photographed extensively and became so inspired by the ancient majesty of the trees that he and his friends formed the Sempervirens Club. The members dedicated their organization to the preservation of redwood trees for all to enjoy. In fact, their dedication led to the purchase of Big Basin and established California’s first State Park.” He cheekily adds, Kevin R. Hill, Conductor / Locomotive “All this was set in motion by a British magazine Engineer ~ Roaring Camp. Photo by Linda Summers Pirkle. and some photographs NOT taken.”

My daughter, granddaughters, and I recently spent a weekend in Santa Cruz.

One of our fun activities was visiting historic Roaring Camp, the location where the photographer Andrew Hill first tried to take his photos. Today, Roaring Camp is home to 100 year old steam trains that journey through the ancient coastal redwoods.

We met Kevin Hill, conductor and narrator on one of the locomotives that winds up to the top of Bear Mountain. “My favorite thing about the Narrow Gauge Railroad,” he shared, “is that it is really the only place in the country today where one can still see and hear the narrow gauge steam locomotives doing exactly what they were built to do over one hundred years ago (which is) working to the limit of their ability on steep grades and tight curves.”

Up we went, over trestles, under ancient redwood trees, on a winding narrow gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain. The trip was just the right amount of time, with informative narration as we chugged along. At the top of the mountain we had 15 minutes to walk and use the facilities as well as enjoy the magnificent trees all around.

The “Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt” event is scheduled for March 30-31, 2024 when the Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp and guests can hop aboard the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain for an Easter Egg Hunt and participate in Easter activities in Town. Learn more at www.roaringcamp.com.

Linda Summers Pirkle is a travel writer and long-term Danville resident. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com. they pollinate that are essential components of our diet. Honeybees are valuable contributors to the biodiversity required to support our way of life. Their foraging preferences are compatible with those of many types of native bees. But, while honeybees have accepted management by humans for centuries, our native bees are, for the most part, determined to maintain their right to live free.

Watching native bees and butterflies feasting on cosmos and zinnias in a small container this summer convinced me that everyone with space for a pot of flowers can support an amazing variety of pollinators. When the annual flowers faded at the end of the season, the parsley planted in the same container remained lush with two black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars fattening themselves up on the foliage.

I find the perspective offered by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West in Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes speaks directly to my experience. “Designed plant communities put the emphasis on a plant’s ecological performance not its country of origin.” In keeping with the positive outlook of Doug Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park initiative, Rainer and West insist: “We are grounded in the reality of today’s environmental challenges. Yet we are entranced by the potential of plants in our human landscapes. ... The front lines for the battle for nature are not in the Amazon rain forest or the Alaskan wilderness, the front lines are our backyards, medians, parking lots, and elementary schools.”

Community is a key word. In The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, Peter Wohllebren demonstrates the ways trees nurture their relatives and battle interlopers trying to settle beside them. In his latest book, The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us If We Let Them, he adds insights prompting my current resolutions. Study the few places on earth where humans have not interfered to “fix things” before causing further harm. Acknowledge how much humans need to learn about organisms that make our existence possible.

Wohlleban writes: “The researchers took about six hundred soil samples in New York’s Central Park and analyzed the genetic material they contained. The team found traces of 167,169 different species -- all microorganisms the size of bacteria, of which about 150,000 were hitherto unknown.”

Even if you’ve made your list of resolutions for 2024, there’s time to add another.

Plant for pollinators, observe, and enjoy. Life on our planet depends on you.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13

ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN BUSINESS GROWTH AND PERSONAL WEALTH

By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Waldron Partners

“Capitalism does a number of things very well: it helps create an entrepreneurial spirit; it gets people motivated to come up with new ideas, and that’s a good thing.” ~ Bernie Sanders Starting and managing a business comes with its fair share of challenges and rewards. While the fulfillment and freedom of being an entrepreneur can be exhilarating, the financial aspect can be daunting, and it takes a savvy entrepreneur to balance business growth with personal financial health. Many business owners face a significant challenge in bridging the gap between the financial success of their business with their personal wealth management.

This blog post aims to explore Waldron Partners’ approach to balancing business and personal financial health to achieve entrepreneurial success.

1. A STRONG FINANCIAL PLANNING FOUNDATION

Waldron Partners is a firm of experienced wealth advisors who understand the various challenges of owning and managing a business. The company’s approach to helping entrepreneurs achieve financial success is to begin by working on a strong financial planning foundation. This includes help with budgeting, debt management, and cash flow analysis, allowing the entrepreneur to tackle the challenges of running their business with confidence.

2. BUSINESS PLANNING AND FORECASTING

Waldron Partners’ approach to helping entrepreneurs is entirely tailored to their clients. The process of business planning and forecasting begins by gathering vital information about the client’s business and includes an in-depth analysis of their assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. This data is then used to build an accurate picture of the business’s current and future financial situation. The purpose of this approach is to help clients understand their business’s financial position and navigate their way through any challenges they may be facing.

3. MANAGING BUSINESS RISK

Risk management is a significant aspect of Waldron Partners’ approach to helping entrepreneurs achieve financial success. The firm develops customized strategies designed to enable clients to mitigate their business risk and protect their wealth. This may include strategies such as business succession planning and the use of insurance products to lessen the financial impact in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, disability, or death. The goal of these strategies is to protect the entrepreneur’s personal wealth while still growing their business.

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VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION MEETINGS

Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) meet at the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, except as otherwise noted. For more information, call the VSO at 925-313-1481.

• American Legion Post 246 meets on the first Wednesday of each month (except August) at noon. For information, visit www.americanlegionpost246. org, email commanderpost246@gmail.com, or call 925-272-8480.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 75 of San Ramon Valley meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30PM. For information, visit vmbsrv.org or email info@vfwpost75.org.

• Viet Nam Veterans of the Diablo Valley meets on the first Thursday of each month at 5PM at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville.

For information, visit http://vnvdv.org/index.html or call 925-838-6445.

• Marine Corps League Detachment 942 meets on the fourth Saturday of each month at 8:30AM. For information, visit www.mcldet942.org.

• Blue Star Moms Detachment 101 meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7PM. For information, visit www.bluestarmoms.org or call 925-587-4037.

• Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley holds coffees on Saturdays from 9AM to noon.

5. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

Effective communication and collaboration are essential for Waldron Partners’ approach to helping entrepreneurs achieve financial success. The commitment to open and transparent communication fosters a relationship of trust between the client and the team at Waldron Partners, which is essential for developing a customized financial plan that helps the entrepreneur achieve 4. TAX REDUCTION STRATEGIES their goals. With regular check-ins and ongoing communication, the team at Tax reduction strategies is a critical part of financial planning for entre- Waldron Partners ensures their approach is meeting the client’s needs, and preneurs. By partnering with Waldron Partners, entrepreneurs can access the client continues to feel informed and confident in their financial future. tax strategies that help reduce their overall tax burden. By understanding a Achieving entrepreneurial success requires more than entrepreneurial spirit client’s business, financial, and personal goals, the team at Waldron Partners and business acumen. It requires a holistic approach to financial management can develop tax-saving strategies that work within the framework of their that bridges the gap between business growth and personal wealth. Waldron clients’ businesses while achieving their long-term financial objectives.

Partners’ approach to balancing business and personal financial health is designed to help entrepreneurs achieve their long-term financial objectives. Through a strong financial planning foundation, business planning and forecasting, managing business risk, tax reduction strategies, and effective communication and collaboration, entrepreneurs can feel confident in their path to success.

By partnering with a team like Waldron Partners, entrepreneurs can rest assured that their financial future is in good hands.

Independent Travel Advisor “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”~ Albert Einstein 650-283-0707 We can help you with your financial situation. You do not Virtuoso affiliate want to go through life wondering what could have been contact Peter today at 925-708-7397 or peter.waldron@lfg.com. jennifer.lopez@fora.travel

What Amazing Getaway Can I Plan For You?

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Mallorca, Spain

Disclosure: Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and its representatives do not provide tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding any tax information as it relates to your personal circumstances.

Peter T. Waldron, California Insurance License #0E47827, is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory services through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Waldron Partners, 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 190 PO Box 528, Alamo, CA 94507. Waldron Partners is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. Insurance is offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., and other fine companies. This material is for use with the general public and is designed for informational or educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, tax, or direct investment advice. Lincoln Financial Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice. CRN 6177631-12123 Advertorial

PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

I GOT “GOT”

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.

There are plenty of phishing, con artist, thievery, and other scams of all sorts to trip over. Today’s article is about how easy it is to make a mistake and to offer you a real-life cautionary tale. As many of you know, I’m a guy with a sore back. It’s an old injury, a “gift that keeps giving.” Whether it’s a new exercise, a stretch, cold, heat, electro-stimulation, or massage, I’m always looking for ways to make it feel better. In the last couple of years I have tried hemp-based CBD. For some people it helps knock down the discomfort with no side effects beyond drowsiness. The hemp-based product is perfect because it doesn’t make me feel loopy. I want relief, not to get high.

There’s not a lot of regulation in the CBD market yet, so it’s important to know the provenance of the products we purchase. For example, I’ve purchased mislabeled CBD that still had a notable amount of THC in the compound, and that made for an unpleasant situation. Caveat emptor.

Recently, I wanted more CBD “gummies” and searched online for firms that had the product I wanted. Amongst many, I found a site that said all of the right things and had them for a great price. In fact, if I got two bottles the price was even better. If I got three bottles, it was hardly much more, so I settled on that. The price was $39.99.

At this point you’re probably lamenting that I broke Life Rule #1: If it seems too sweet of a deal (too good to be true), it’s not real. There were all sorts of lab certifications plastered on their very professional website, and I fell for them. I entered my information, and away we went. I didn’t think about it more until I received my order a few days later. Only, there were six bottles, not three.

Hmmm. I thought that was odd and filed it away as “look at this later.” I also didn’t notice at the time that I never received a sales receipt in my email.

I tried the product and it was fine. A few weeks passed, and in early December I received another six bottles. Uh oh, I certainly did not order six bottles the first time, and I definitely did not setup a subscription, so I knew I had to get in touch with them and straighten this out. At this point my antenna was up, but I still didn’t think I’d been scammed.

My wife and I began digging into this to unravel the purchase details, send them back the December product, and have the charges reversed. Only, I couldn’t find the website. It was at this point I realized I never got a receipt nor any refer-

www.yourmonthlypaper.com ence back to the website. Not good. We then reviewed our credit card statement and discovered that in November we were charged $239.99, not $39.99, and they charged $239.99 again in December. The penny dropped and I knew I’d blown it. Luckily there was an 888 number on the Visa statement. We called the number and spoke to a girl who was probably not paid nearly enough to handle their “customer service.” What was immediately apparent is that they were used to getting complaint phone calls, and she offered me a “deal” of having half of the December charge refunded, and I could keep the product. She also made a point of saying there was no refund for the November charge because it was past 30 days. We declined her offered “deal” and told her we would take it up with our credit card company, and they could work with them instead of us. Which we did.

We filed complaints with our credit card company, and they graciously refunded both charges. We did further research on the 888 number and found many people had been scammed by this company…because they’re crooks. They purposely registered a domain name that was one letter different than a notable bio-chem certification lab, and “borrowed” their certification icon from someone else’s website to appear legitimate. It all appears normal to the casual shopper.

Here are some of the red flags and my mistakes. Please learn from them.

1 - I bought something online that isn’t regulated. I should have purchased it from a local store.

2 - I used my normal credit card instead of the “Virtual” credit card I wrote about last month. It’s a new habit, and I simply forgot. Learn more at www.privacy.com.

3 - It was too good of a deal. Life Rule #1.

4 - What kind of company doesn’t email a sales receipt? A company that doesn’t want you to come back!

Unless you’re buying from a known retailer you have an account with (like Amazon or equivalent) please use a virtual credit card, and don’t be in a hurry. Remember Life Rule #1. If I had used a virtual card loaded with the $39.99 agreed price, I would have caught them on day #1 when they tried to overcharge my card, and I could have avoided a big waste of time.

Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone deserves a little grace. Bring your situation to PCIO and let’s see if we can unwind it, then protect or educate you against it happening next time. Our friendly staff can be found at 925552-7953, or by email at Support@PCIOIT.com.

Advertorial

SONS IN RETIREMENT

Sons in Retirement (SIR) provides a way for semi-retired and retired men over 50 to partake in social activities, make new friends, stay active, and have fun.

LAS TRAMPAS BRANCH #116

SIR Las Trampas Branch #116 offers many social activities including golf programs and groups that partake in reading, fishing, pickleball, bridge, walking, local travel, group dinners and wine tastings with spouses and friends, and more.

There are minimal dues and no major commitments. Monthly meetings are held at Boundary Oak Golf Course. To learn more or become a member, visit https://sirinc2.org/branch116 or call 925-322-1160.

SAN RAMON VALLEY BRANCH #128

Are you looking for ways to stay active, make new friends, and have more fun in retirement? SIR #128 is a social organization for men over 50 who are retired or are nearing retirement. We believe that retirement is an opportunity to pursue new interests, travel, and spend time with friends and loved ones. We offer a wide range of activities that cater to every taste from walking, fishing, bocce ball, book clubs, wine tasting, cribbage, dining, golf, local tours, and more.

Membership includes a monthly luncheon with a guest speaker. Luncheons are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 11AM at the Bridges located at 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. The January lunch speaker will be Beverly Lane.

Beverly is a local historian, open space advocate, and co-chair of the Friends of San Ramon Creek. She has lived in Danville for 50 years and has been deeply involved in the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House, and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Lane has written four history books about the San Ramon Valley, Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon and curated many exhibits on these communities. She will be speaking about “The San Ramon Valley, Water and Change.”

If you’re interested in attending a luncheon/meeting as a guest, email membership@sir128.com. To learn more about the group, visit www.SIR128.com.

Kitten and Cat Adoptions Saturdays 11AM-3PM | Sundays 1-4PM

Petco 2005 Crow Canyon Place, San Ramon All cats are indoor, fixed, tested, vaccinated, & microchipped.

Learn more at feralcatfoundation.org

925-829-9098 KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN RAMON VALLEY

The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley meets every Thursday at noon at Black Bear Diner located at 807 Camino Ramon in Danville.

New and prospective members are welcome!

The Club organizes the Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville and participates in many community service projects. The Club has an interesting and informative weekly program speaker and specializes in fun and entertaining camaraderie. There is no charge for a guest lunch.

For more information, email info@srvkiwanis.org, or visit www.srvkiwanis.org.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

LIVING TRUSTS – CAN YOUR CHILDREN HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO?

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15

AGGRESSIVE & SKILLED LEGAL ADVOCACY Protect your rights after serious injury or wrongful death.

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq., Silverman & Jaffe

This month, my goal is to question the way people conventionally provide for their children in their Living Trusts. Parenthetically, this discussion also applies to people who have no children and/or who choose to leave their assets to loved ones other than their children.

Most people who have a Living Trust provide that, upon their death, their children are to receive the assets outright, with no strings attached.

Often, the only condition is that a child’s share will remain in Trust for the child’s benefit until the child has reached a particular age(s) (e.g. outright distribution of 50% at age 25, and the balance at age 30).

Of course, there are exceptions in which Trusts are drafted with no mandatory outright distributions – for example, those for children with special needs, substance abuse issues, mental health problems, etc. However, for parents who have, or expect to have, mature adult children without any mitigating circumstances, their reasonable premise is that once an adult child reaches a desired age(s), the child will likely be mature enough to responsibly handle all of the assets. Frankly, most people are inclined to provide for outright distribution to enable their children to manage the inherited funds any way they wish.

But, might there be a better way? A growing estate planning trend, and one many people would be wise to consider, is to NOT mandate outright distribution to their children at any particular age. Why? There are two primary reasons: 1) creditor protection, and 2) marital protection.

This article will explore creditor protection. Next month’s article will explore marital protection.

Suppose that a 40 year-old child, who has $1 million of personal assets, inherits $3 million outright from his parents’ Trust (because he had reached the Trust’s stated threshold age of 35). A few years later, he makes a mistake that results in a creditor obtaining a judgment against him in the amount of $10 million. Tragically, the judgment creditor takes all of the inheritance.

In contrast, what if that child’s parents had structured their Trust to provide the child access to, but not mandatory distribution of, that child’s $3 million inheritance. Let’s hypothesize that the first few years, before the creditor’s judgment, the child received Trust distributions of $200,000 for his needs. Finally, let’s assume that the estate planning attorney included proper “spendthrift protection” language in the Trust.

In that instance, the trustee is compelled to clamp down the child’s Trust assets and pay out nothing to the Trust beneficiary’s creditor. Typically, such creditor will receive nothing, or at most, the trustee will settle for “cents on the dollar.” As such, the child ends up with all, or virtually all, of his $3 million inheritance (minus only the amounts that had already been distributed to the child – here, $200,000).

When a parent(s) creates a Revocable Trust, it becomes irrevocable upon their death. The “bottom line” is that applicable law and appropriate “spendthrift protection” language in a Trust can be extremely effective in preserving the assets for the children and/or other ultimate Trust beneficiaries.

Some people are perfectly satisfied in providing for their children conventionally – via outright distribution. They don’t believe their children will ever need creditor or marital protection. They are satisfied leaving such protection to their kids to figure out, or they just want to keep it simple by avoiding any ongoing Trusts after they’re gone. But, clients who understand the potential value in setting up their Trusts without mandatory distributions often embrace the concept – viewing it as enabling their children to “have their cake and eat it, too”! |Estate Planning | Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate | Business| Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting.

I am an attorney with Silverman & Jaffe, 1910 Olympic Blvd., Suite 330, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@silvermanjaffe.com.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors.

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MIM continued from page 15

on the non-profit’s website is impressive: “Marguerite has recently attended programs revolving around vocal instruction and health. She has performed at the local, state, and national level.”

“The primary focus for Meaning in Music is to provide musical opportunities for students with limited access to music education due to financial circumstances or attending schools with underfunded music programs,” Brendan explains.

Lessons are given virtually once a week, but there is no limit to how many lessons each student may receive. Because the instructors are all advanced high school musicians closer in age to the children they mentor, the hope is that the young folks they are teaching, who are new to experiencing music lessons, will feel less intimidated by the discipline and freer to relax and enjoy each session. While providing the basics of music education, the instructors pay close attention to the type of music that most excites each individual with the goal of eventually incorporating the student’s preferences into their lessons.

Each advanced high school musician volunteering with MIM receives training in how to teach fledgling musicians. Brendan explains: “Our most experienced instructors will work with new instructors for about four hours in the beginning. In these sessions, instructors learn how to teach absolute beginners, which includes a curriculum about technique, theory, and sight reading. To teach these three subjects, we have accumulated workbooks and activities from the internet that make this process more fun. For example, we use books from the “Faber Piano” series which contain fun exercises that engage the student, including silly rhymes or drawings to remember notes.”

The emphasis is on understanding how to generate a love for learning to Brendan Kang delivers free musical make their own music in each MIM in st r u me nt s to O a k la n d’s Fra n k lin student. Brendan adds: “AdditionalElementary School. ly, because for little kids, 30-minute Zoom lessons can feel very long, we encourage our instructors to do fun, non-piano activities with the kids for a couple of minutes to give them a brain break. For example, we have an instructor Dilan who has a super high-energy student, so before starting the lesson, they will do jumping jacks together to try and get some of his energy out. After an instructor’s student starts to reach higher levels, they will have more sessions with instructors to keep developing their curriculum and so forth.”

Uma Raghavan, a sophomore at Athenian, writes: “The part I love most about teaching is how genuinely enthusiastic and passionate the kids are about music. It’s wonderful to see their excitement when they’re able to play their favorite songs.” Uma plays piano competitively and has performed twice at Carnegie Hall.

Katie Cooper began playing flute as a sixth grader. A senior at Athenian, she writes: “Working with Meaning in Music this year and last has been an incredibly rewarding service experience. Working with younger students has taught me a lot about myself. It’s been a bit of a retrospective experience, as I get

See MIM continued on page 17

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

PROVIDING AN OUTSTANDING CONSULTATION FOR PLASTIC SURGERY By Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS

ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)

By Roger Smith, President HAPPY 69TH BIRTHDAY

AIA, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has 69 years of serving our community and helping shape it into “the place where we love to live!”

Visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to local residents, membership forms, and more.

As Board President, I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present for their efforts over the years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today.

Visit www.AlamoVision2040.org for housing information, a citizen’s survey, and a community poll.

HOW TO USE A ROUNDABOUT

• The secret to seamless navigation through a roundabout is to remain focused.

• When entering a roundabout, treat it like a right turn on red. Look to the left and enter only when there is a safe gap.

• Always keep to the right of the central island.

• Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and traffic that’s already in the circle.

• If you miss your exit, go around the circle again, and then exit. No one is counting the number of times that you go around.

Learn more at www.marketplace.org/2022/12/22/dont-panic-its-just-aroundabout.

ALAMO FARMER’S MARKET

Please join us and your neighbors in experiencing the live music at the Alamo Farmers Market, pick up some beautiful produce including citrus, grapes, persimmons, apples, and pomegranates, ready-made food, and other goods, and take a moment to reflect upon the bountiful relationship agriculture provides for us. Our vendors welcome the opportunity to discuss their work and produce with you. Stop by and say hello to our new fresh flower vendor, Kenya Kreations.

The Market is sponsored by AIA and is open rain or shine on Sundays from 9AM – 2PM in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd., near Bank of America.

PIPELINE SAFETY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT (TAG)

The AIA has received a $59,520 Technical Assistance Grant from the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to promote Pipeline Safety in Contra Costa County.

AIA, through two previous grants (in 2015 & 2017) has provided a series of Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Workshops for residents of Antioch, Alamo/Danville, Martinez, Richmond, and their surrounding areas.

At the conclusion of each award period, a detailed safety report developed by Pipeline Safety Trust, a nationally recognized organization, was provided to Contra Costa County. Among a number of recommendations was to replace older manual pipeline valves with automatic valves. This project has now been completed.

This current grant has been used to provide Pipeline Emergency Response Training for our West County First Responders, a specialized drone for monitoring fire emergencies (San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District), drone software, and on-site field training (Contra Costa County Fire Protection District).

In addition, a Pipeline Information Center (PIC) website has been developed for Contra Costa County as a resource for pipeline and related information.

Please visit www.ContraCostaCountyPipelineInfo.org or www.Pipeline-Info.org for more information.

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy and Safe 2024!

Your journey with plastic surgery is an incredibly personal one. It begins with your consultation. Patients from all over the Bay Area visit Persons Plastic Surgery to receive a great experience from start to finish. An outstanding consultation goes beyond a mere information session—it is a personalized and empowering experience that allows patients to make informed decisions about their desired procedures.

I strive to ensure that patients leave their consultation feeling educated to be able to make the best possible decision for their health and aesthetic goals by fostering open patient-surgeon communication, making thorough and individualized recommendations, and creating an office environment that is comfortable and welcoming.

OPEN COMMUNICATION & ACTIVE LISTENING

The best consultation is one in which a plastic surgeon establishes a comfortable and open environment that encourages patients to express their aesthetic goals, concerns, and expectations. The surgeon actively listens to the patient’s desires, ensuring a deep understanding of their unique needs. This open communication fosters a sense of trust and partnership, enabling the surgeon to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to the patient’s specific goals.

EVALUATION & INDIVIDUALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS

During a consultation, I conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s physical features, medical history, and desired outcome. Through a meticulous assessment, I can then determine the feasibility and appropriateness of the desired procedure. Based on this evaluation, I am able to make individualized recommendations that align with the patient’s goals, taking into account their anatomical considerations, lifestyle, and overall well-being.

EDUCATION & TRANSPARENCY

I strive to provide patients with detailed information about their procedure of interest, including its benefits, potential risks, and expected outcomes, as well as the surgical techniques, recovery process, and post-operative care This transparency empowers the patient to make informed decisions and manage their expectations realistically. More importantly, an environment where patients feel encouraged to ask questions throughout the consultation is fostered during my consultations.

VISUAL AIDS & TECHNOLOGY

To enhance the consultation experience, the use of visual aids and advanced technology can be invaluable. I utilize before-and-after photo galleries to allow patients to visualize potential results and gain a deeper understanding of the possibilities, which also helps align the patient’s expectations with what can be realistically achieved through the chosen procedure.

CLEAR TREATMENT PLAN & TIMELINE

An outstanding consultation results in a clear and well-defined treatment plan, outlining the recommended procedure, expected timeline, and associated costs. This comprehensive plan ensures that the patient has a complete understanding of what to expect, leading to a smoother surgical journey, which is my goal with each and every patient I see.

COLLABORATIVE DECISION-MAKING

This collaborative approach ensures that the patient feels ownership over their decision, leading to increased satisfaction with the outcome.

Throughout the consultation process, my patients hold tremendous power.

They have the ability to express their desires, share their concerns, and actively participate in their healthcare decisions. The power lies in their voice and their right to make informed choices about their bodies. By articulating their aesthetic goals and engaging in open communication with their plastic surgeon, patients can guide the consultation process and collaborate on a personalized treatment plan, allowing patients to take ownership of their incredibly personal journey.

TAKEAWAYS

An outstanding consultation for plastic surgery sets the stage for a successful and satisfying patient journey. It involves open communication, thorough evaluation, education, transparency, and collaborative decision-making. In my practice, I am fully committed to addressing patient concerns, providing personalized recommendations, and creating a supportive environment that empowers patients to make informed decisions about their desired procedures.

Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc., located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She can be reached at 925-283-4012 or drpersons@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17

THIS IS YOUR YEAR TO FEEL NEW AND IMPROVED!

By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

In the pursuit of optimal health and vitality, the year 2024 brings exciting possibilities through cutting-edge advancements in personalized wellness. The combination of three powerful therapies can be transformational on the anti-aging front. Our NutriPRO test (tests both genetics and nutrients), coupled with customized corrective supplements, and our customized regenerative IV therapy, combines as a transformative approach to rejuvenating your health and restoring vitality.

THE NUTRIPRO TEST: UNLOCKING CELLULAR WELLNESS

The NutriPRO test is like a personalized health road map. It looks at your unique genetic code and checks your body’s nutrient levels. This helps us understand how your body processes things like vitamins and minerals. NutriPRO is a revolutionary tool that delves into the cellular landscape of your body, providing a comprehensive analysis of nutrient levels, antioxidant capacity, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrate metabolism, mitochondrial function, and essential compounds like Coenzyme Q10 and glutathione. This detailed insight allows for a personalized understanding of your unique nutritional needs. With this information, we create a custom plan just for you to ensure your body gets what it needs to function at its best.

CUSTOMIZED SUPPLEMENTS: PRECISION NUTRITION FOR YOUR BODY

Armed with the insights from the NutriPRO test, the next step involves crafting a personalized supplement plan to address specific deficiencies or imbalances. This precision approach ensures that you’re supplementing with the proper nutrients in the right amounts, promoting optimal cellular function and overall well-being.

Whether it’s bolstering vitamin levels crucial for energy production, supporting antioxidant defenses, or optimizing amino acid profiles, the tailored supplements derived from NutriPRO results become a powerful tool to enhance your body’s resilience and vitality.

REGENERATIVE IV THERAPY: NOURISHING FROM WITHIN

Once your cellular nutrient needs are met, our regenerative IV therapy is a groundbreaking treatment that enhances cellular communication, repairs damaged tissues, and optimizes cellular function. When delivered through IV therapy, our regenerative therapy can help to improve skin texture, enhance cognitive function, repair tissue, increase energy levels, and promote a general sense of vitality.

THE TRIFECTA OF ANTI-AGING: NUTRIPRO, CUSTOMIZED SUPPLEMENTS, AND REGENERATIVE IV THERAPY

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OUTLOOK FOR 2024: A HEALTHIER, MORE VIBRANT YOU!

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LIONS CLUB OF DANVILLE

The Danville Lions Club meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM at Mangia Mi located at 406 Hartz Ave, Danville. The group is looking for like-minded people who wish to volunteer their time to raise funds and provide services to those in need, both locally and worldwide, through fun and gratifying projects.

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MIM continued from page 15 215 Alamo Plaza, Suite D. Alamo

to see a lot of the pure joy and passion that I had while growing up and learning music.

Whenever I teach, I love seeing the sheer determination and passion that 925-202-2846 my students have for music. It’s something really new to them, and they’re able towww.poplarspecs.com embrace every part of it, especially including their mistakes. As teenagers, I think it’s easy to get caught up in everything going on and forget about how we started. We’re all so stressed about the next grade, the next competition, or the next piece. We never really stop to realize how much we’ve grown or reveal the joy that our childhood selves would have with our successes. As cliché as it may be to say, I think that doing this has helped me remember how to do that, and I can’t articulate how grateful I am for that experience.”

Brendan, who started playing at age six, enjoys both classical and jazz piano.

In fifth grade, he added drum lessons. “Taking inspiration from jazz drumming legends such as Art Blakey and Elvin Jones, Brendan began studying jazz early in his drumming career.” A member of Athenian's advanced jazz band, he’s recently joined the Rossmoor Big Band.

What happens when an instructor graduates from high school? Ideally, the instructor continues teaching. Otherwise, a student already taking MIM lessons is assigned a new teacher. Ryan Kang decided to take time this fall during the first semester of his freshman year at Northwestern University to get acclimated to campus life. He plans to return to giving MIM lessons soon. In the meantime, he continues to play jazz piano.

Providing musical instruments is a key component of enabling aspiring musicians to make their dreams a reality. To date MIM has received over 30 donations of instruments, often from families who no longer need them. Danville Music offers the non-profit much appreciated discounts on essential repairs.

Funding for purchasing new instrument cases comes from small fundraisers such as bake sales at school, flyers distributed in instructors’ neighborhoods, and by requesting contributions when playing at venues. Moving a piano to give students at an underfunded school the chance to play is a big ticket $300 item.

To fulfill requests by prospective pupils for instruction in specific instruments, more instructors are needed to supplement current availability in piano, drums, flute, clarinet, guitar, violin, bass, and voice.

Visit meaninginmusic.org to learn more, donate instruments, provide monetary contributions or join the MIM team of advanced high school musicians as an instructor.

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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST By Linda Michaelis RD, MS

THIS NEW YEAR LOSE YOUR WEIGHT FOREVER -- THE HEALTHY WAY

Happy New Year! Are you using this time as a motivator to drop the weight you have been struggling to lose all year round? Do you have the best of intentions to lose weight as the New Year begins, but somehow, life happens and you often find yourself going back to your old ways?

Try a different approach this New Year. Instead of making a diet and weight loss resolution, focus on improving your health by making weekly nutrition and fitness goals. Decide what goal you will work towards for the coming week. Log your progress and check in with yourself at weeks end. This is the process that I follow when I work with clients.

Don’t look at this year’s resolution as a temporary change; look at it as a lifestyle change. Making too many changes at once can cause you to burn out before the end of January, and cause you to break your commitment. Therefore, instead of changing your entire way of living all at once, try making these small changes every day.

Use the following nutrition and fitness goals, and see how great you’ll feel.

1. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Every day have two servings of veggies. Add veggies to your egg white omelet, have soup with veggies at lunch or a salad. Have a piece of fruit at lunch and one after dinner. The new dietary recommendation is half your plate should be filled with veggies and fruit and the other half should be a ½ cup of grains and 4 ounces of protein.

2. Portion control. Work your way to smaller portions. This will help control your amount of calories consumed. If you use a big dinner plate and fill the whole plate, try using a smaller size plate. You will always eat more when you have a pile of food in front of you.

3. You do not have to avoid sweets. The key is moderation. If you enjoy dessert and sweets several times a day, make a goal to limit sweets to either once per day, or a few times a week. I teach my clients to have sweets after a meal instead of randomly during the day which will prevent cravings. I always say, “Think about how you feel after eating too many sweets. You may typically notice a headache, stomachache, and irritability.”

4. Swap out the soda and juice. These beverages are loaded with sugar and contribute to your daily calories. And, let’s be honest, most people don’t only drink a can a day. Imagine how many extra pounds in one year are contributed from soda alone. There are many popular beverages that have no calories.

5. Begin a walking program. Commit to a daily walk, first thing in the morning or after dinner. Learn about interval training which shocks the metabolism and causes us to burn calories faster.

6. Schedule your workouts. Just like you schedule a doctor’s appointment or a lunch date with a friend, schedule your workout on the calendar and make it a part of your routine five times a week. Set up a meal plan based on your exercise schedule for the day.

7. Make sure to get enough sleep. It will be easier to listen to what your body needs in terms of food and exercise. I often see that when my client is having a problem with overeating it is because they have not gotten enough sleep or are overwhelmed with family and work. They use food to get through these stressful times.

8. Practice mindful eating. Since you have vowed not to diet this year, practice being mindful when you are eating. Listen for your hunger and fullness signals and respond appropriately. Don’t eat when you are not hungry, yet don’t let yourself get to the ravenous point either. When eating, stop midway and ask yourself if you are still hungry. If not, stop and save the rest for another time. I take a lot of time to practice this technique with my clients.

Nutritional counseling is usually covered by health insurance including ABMG, Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CCHP, Hill, Sutter, UHC and others. I am happy to call on your behalf and see what your plan offers. Please visit www.LindaRD.com to learn more about my services. Email me at Advertorial lifeweight1@yahoo.com, or call me at 925-855-0150 to tell me about your nutritional concerns and see how I may help you.

THE EYE OPENER

GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry

I am sure many of you have seen the new commercials and advertisements for Geographic Atrophy (GA). For those of us who are a little older, we recognize Henry Winkler as one of the new spokespersons for this disease; I guess even the Fonz can get GA. As this condition affects approximately one million people in the United States and has been publicized heavily in the past few months, I wanted to discuss the condition and the treatments that are now available.

There are two main subtypes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): wet and dry. Dry tends to be less visually significant, but up until recently there has been limited medical intervention available. In early dry AMD, patients are instructed to monitor their vision daily and to start vitamin therapy with either Ocuvite or Preservision. Wet AMD comes with more pronounced vision loss due to the development of new blood vessel growth in the retina which tends to leak and cause hemorrhages in the macula region. Eye injection treatments such as Lucentis, Avastin, and Eyelea have been the mainstay of treatment for several years.

These treatments have been successful in slowing the progression of this disease.

Geographic atrophy is the advanced form of dry macular degeneration. The underlying etiology is now better understood, which has led to new treatment options. This condition is characterized by a progressive loss of the retina tissue at the macula and the immediate surrounding area. This loss of tissue causes photoreceptor (rods and cones) death. Since these cells are the major contributors to light perception, vision is therefore decreased and/or lost. The rate of progression varies within the population, but typically occurs within several years. GA tends to affect both eyes and leads to permanent vision loss. Factors that contribute to GA include increased age, personal and family history of AMD, and smoking. Diagnosis is made during a comprehensive eye exam and is aided by a dilated exam of the retina along with digital imaging tools such as fundus photography and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) which gives a non-invasive detailed image of the layers of the retina that

cannot be visualized by direct observation alone. These instruments allow for detection and monitoring of the disease moving forward.

Thankfully, there are two new medications that aim to halt the progression of this condition, Syfovre and Izervay. These injections are given every one to two months (depending on the state of the condition and the medication used). There are no long-term studies available as the FDA approved medications this year. However, in FDA studies and in early widespread clinical use, these medications show a lot of promise. As with most new medications/ treatments, there are always improvements moving forward so there is more promise in the future for improved efficacy and efficiency.

Like most medical conditions, early diagnosis makes an absolute difference in outcome. Since GA does lead to permanent vision loss, the earlier in the process the disease can be diagnosed and treated, the increased likelihood of a better visual outcome. Especially as we age, there is a higher chance of eye conditions such as AMD, glaucoma, and cataracts, to name a few. We recommend comprehensive annual exams to hopefully detect these conditions early and therefore have a more favorable outcome. In the event of GA, a referral to a retina specialist will be made for further consultation and/or treatment.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 8206622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165, in Alamo. For more information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, or follow on Facebook Advertorial and Instagram @Alamo Optometry.

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January 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19

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Dr. Hyland has been in private practice since 2000. She received a DDS degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas.

Following dental school, she pursued a hospital-based General Practice Residency at the Veteran’s Medical Center in West Los Angeles for two years. Realizing this was not the end of her formal education, she completed a successful three-year post-graduate surgical residency in periodontics. Dr. Hyland’s experience and professional skills excel in every aspect of dentistry from general cosmetic procedures to complex surgical cases. She has placed thousands of successful dental implants and is highly trained in all phases of gum disease therapy, tissue and bone grafting procedures, and wisdom teeth extraction.

Dr. Hyland understands the desire to provide the very best care for the entire family. As a resident of Alamo, she strives to meet community needs by providing unparalleled services for those seeking the finest complete dental care in one location. In her spare time, Dr. Hyland enjoys spending time with her husband Terry, two sets of twin boys, and their three rescue dogs adopted from ARF.

TIK TOK, A GREAT PLACE FOR DERMATOLOGY AND SKIN CARE ADVICE?

By Jerome Potozkin, MD

TikTok has become a hub for quick tips, hacks, and trends in various domains, including skincare and dermatology. While it’s an entertaining platform, it’s important to acknowledge the potential dangers associated with taking skincare advice from unverified sources. Here’s a look at the top seven worst recommendations for skincare and dermatology that have circulated on TikTok, highlighting their potential risks: 1. Lemon Juice for Acne Treatment The advice to use lemon juice as a natural remedy for acne has been popular on TikTok. However, lemon juice is highly acidic and can cause irritation, burns, and increased sensitivity to sunlight, exacerbating skin issues rather than resolving them.

2. DIY Sunscreen Some TikTok creators have shared DIY sunscreen recipes using ingredients like coconut oil or essential oils. However, homemade sunscreens often lack the necessary SPF protection and proper formulation, leading to inadequate protection against harmful UV rays and increasing the risk of sunburn and skin damage.

3. Toothpaste for Pimples A widely circulated TikTok hack suggests applying toothpaste to pimples to dry them out overnight. However, toothpaste contains ingredients like menthol and fluoride that can be harsh on the skin, causing irritation, dryness, and potentially worsening acne.

4. Baking Soda as an Exfoliant Using baking soda as an exfoliant is another popular recommendation on TikTok. However, it’s highly alkaline and disrupts the skin’s pH balance, leading to irritation, redness, and damage to the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to infections and inflammation.

5. DIY Microneedling DIY microneedling, where individuals use needles or dermarollers at

home to create tiny punctures in the skin, has gained traction on TikTok. This practice can lead to infection, scarring, and damage if not performed by a trained professional, risking serious harm to the skin.

6. Undiluted Essential Oils Some TikTok users advocate for applying undiluted essential oils directly to the skin for various skin issues. However, undiluted essential oils can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and even chemical burns, especially for those with sensitive skin.

7. Charcoal Masks for Blackhead Removal Charcoal masks are often promoted as a quick fix for blackhead removal on TikTok. Yet, these masks can be overly harsh, stripping the skin of natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and potential damage to the skin barrier.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TIKTOK SKINCARE ADVICE

The allure of quick fixes and trending skincare routines on TikTok often overshadows the potential risks. Using these unverified and sometimes harmful methods can result in adverse reactions, skin damage, increased sensitivity, and long-term issues. Additionally, what works for one person may not work for another due to individual skin types and conditions.

When it comes to skincare and dermatology, it’s crucial to consult board-certified dermatologists or skincare professionals for tailored advice and treatments. They can offer personalized recommendations based on individual skin concerns, ensuring safe and effective skincare routines. While TikTok serves as an entertaining platform, it’s essential to approach skincare and dermatology advice with caution. Relying on unverified information or DIY remedies shared on social media platforms like TikTok can pose significant risks to skin health. Prioritizing professional guidance and evidence-based skincare practices is paramount to maintaining healthy and radiant skin while avoiding potential harm.

Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Board Certified Micrographic Dermatologic Surgeon specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. He is the author of “Botox and Beyond: Your Guide to Safe Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures.” The practice is accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and www.

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PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • January 2024

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The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted, and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker.

Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker ® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

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