2021 JUNE ~ Alamo Today & Danville Today News by The Editors, Inc

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1

& JUNE 2021

FRIENDS OF THE SAN RAMON CREEK: REVITALIZING A VALUABLE RESOURCE

ANNUAL PARADE MOVED TO LABOR DAY

While the beloved annual Kiwanis 4 of July Parade will not be held this July, plans are underway for the Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Valley to partner with the Town of Danville for a Labor Day Weekend parade to be held in September. As life continues to move back towards normalcy, the Town continues to work with community partners to find creative ways to keep the Danville spirit alive. While prioritizing the need to maintain community safety, event planning continues to adjust accordingly. After discussions between the Town of Danville and the Kiwanis Club, the announcement has been made that plans for a Labor Day Weekend Parade to be held on Saturday, September 4 th in downtown Danville are underway. The 45 year traditional parade is a community favorite. Always a

By Jody Morgan

Friends of the San Ramon Creek (FSRC) was launched in 2012 by three dedicated women: Beverly Lane, Sally German, and Linda Ballantine. The volunteer organization supports programs and projects which promote a healthy San Ramon Creek and its 54-square mile watershed. In addition to providing informative

See Parade continued on page 15

HISTORIC TALES OF ALAMO, CALIFORNIA

STOP BY FOR A SIGNING OF THE JUST RELEASED BOOK BY BEVERLY LANE WITH SHARON BURKE

FSRC volunteers form a kind of bucket brigade to pass cut Arundo stalks up steep creek banks. Photo courtesy of FSRC.

SNAKE TALES

ne of the oldest communities in the East Bay, Alamo is brimming with tales of hope, loss and triumph. Discover the story of the Romero brothers, who lost their rancho to a shrewd and litigious attorney, and the early pioneers who banded together to buy it back at an extraordinary sum. Learn about the deep agricultural roots that supported newcomers drawn to the temperate climate and beautiful valley. Revisit this rural community’s transformation from grazing land for Mission San Jose to a beloved home for generations of ranchers, writers and activists. Join historian Beverly Lane and researcher Sharon Burke as they share fascinating tales of Alamo’s past.

See FSRC continued on page 14

FACT & FICTION ABOUT OUR LOCAL RATTLESNAKES By Wally De Young, Board member and Outreach Chairman for the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, and docent for Mount Diablo State Park

$21.99

See Snakes continued on page 19

Local Postal Customer

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

ECRWSS

lane

As animal populations ebb and flow based on a multitude of factors, and as warmer weather brings out our no-legged friends, it is important to learn about our venomous neighbors, the Crotalus oreganus/Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Let’s separate fact from fiction. “The only snakes that are venomous to humans in California are rattlesnakes.” • True – Of the 33 snake species in California, only six species are venomous, and they are all rattlesnakes. (There are a number of mildly venomous snakes in California, such as the Night snake.) “The Bay Area, and a large portion of California, has only a single species of rattlesnake.”

H I S TO R I C TA L E S o f A L A M O , C A L I F O R N I A

presentations and promoting school environmental education projects, FSRC helps local property owners remove infestations of Arundo donax, Ranches, orchardsa gargantuan and championship bamboo-like grass. Commonly called giant reed, this invasive planthorses eradicates the native vegetation wildlife needs to survive and isOso flammable it burns even when still green. Since 2013, FSRC has identified 131 stands and treated 35.

Historic Tales of

ALAMO CALIFORNIA BEVERLY LANE with Sharon B urk e

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

Volume XXI Number 6

Beginning with the area's geology and native peoples, Historic Tales of Alamo provides a comprehensive history of this vibrant community in the northern part of the San Ramon Valley. The first book written about Alamo in more than 40 years, the book's timeline follows the town's story from its earliest days to the present. Land speculators and title controversies plagued the first pioneers, but the rich soil meant Alamo became a premier wheat growing area, vineyard, and fruit orchard terrain, and the town was the center of California's walnut industry for many years. Twentieth century growth and governance challenges are detailed, and readers

See Book cont. on pg.16 3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News Instagram:@AlamoandDanvilleToday

Volume XII Number 6

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.

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: : SOLD $2,150,000

SOLD 4/7/21

Results. Pure and Simple.

1420 Finley Drive, Pleasanton

$2,999,900

4 Bedroom | 3 Bath | 2445 Sq Ft | 3 Car Garage

5 Bedroom | 4/2 Bath | 7269 Sq Ft | 5 Car Garage

Beautiful Single Story Home in Round Hill Country Club on the 4th Fairway! Lovely Home Boasts Four Bedrooms Plus an Office, Stunning Kitchen/Family Combo Remodeled Less than Two Years Ago. Private Park-like Backyard Features a Sparkling Pool Plus Amazing Views of the Golf Course, Round Hill North and Las Trampas Ridge. Don represented Seller.

Fully Remodeled and Rebuilt from the Ground Up in 2011, Gated Custom Estate on Secluded Flat 2.5 Acres. Gorgeous Gourmet Chef’s Kitchen Perfect for Entertaining Featuring Two Sub-Zero Refrigerators, Two Dishwashers, Two Ovens, Large Center Island & More! Magnificent Outdoor Entertaining Boasts Custom Kitchen Including Covered Patio. Don Represented Seller.

: : SOLD

SOLD 4/22/21

24 Tracy Court, Alamo

: : SOLD

April Closed Sales

PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

SOLD 4/9/21

641 Adobe Drive, Danville

$1,900,000

SOLD 4/1/21

1160 River Rock Lane, Danville

4 Bedroom | 3 Bath | 2344 Sq Ft | 3 Car Garage

3 Bedroom | 2.5 Bath | 1544 Sq Ft | 2 Car Garage

Remodeled Top to Bottom with Quality Upgrades on 1/3 acre Lot. Perfect for Entertaining with Gorgeous Park-like Yard Featuring Built - in Barbeque, Spacious Bar Area, Stone Patios, Putting Green, Gas Firepit, Hot Tub and More! Fabulous Kitchen with Wolf Gas Range, Sub Zero built-in Refrigerator, Quartzite Countertops. Don represented Buyer.

Highly Desirable Location, Walk to Downtown! Light and Bright Throughout the Home. Absolutely Immaculate Oak Hill Model with Hardwood Floors, High Ceilings, Updated Kitchen, Recessed Lighting, and Plantation Shutters. This home was sold as a Coming Soon and Sold as the Highest Comparable for this size home in the Neighborhood. Don represented Seller.

BOULEVARD VIEW

Don Magalhaes

$1,100,000

925.786.1855 don@compass.com DRE 00897221

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

An unattributed online quote was posted in a forum. It caught my attention. It read, “I find myself worrying most that when we hand our children phones, we steal their boredom from them. As a result, we are raising a generation of writers who will never start writing, artists who will never start doodling, chefs who will never make a mess of the kitchen, athletes who will never kick a ball against a wall, and musicians who will never pick up their aunt’s guitar and start strumming.” I treasure my childhood that had less technology, fewer “to-dos,” and carefree summers. I enjoyed many summers spent at scout camps. We went to the beach, canoed, sailed, rock-climbed, and swam. We learned how to macrame and lashed our bed frames between a strand of trees. We became master campfire builders and learned how to cook over an open fire. We finger-painted with pudding, made hand-crank ice cream, tie-dyed our clothes, sang silly songs, and made new friendships. One summer when I worked as a camp counselor, I helped lead a covered wagon horseback trip on logging roads through Washington and Idaho. The horsemanship skills I learned there carry over and enable me to join friends and explore the trails on our beautiful Mount Diablo. When I was back at home, I was cooking (our family made fantastic egg rolls and wontons that were quite a production!), reading, backyard camping, working towards scouting badges, learning photograph and darkroom skills, perfecting the art of riding our tandem bicycle and switching riders as the bike was in motion, and numerous crafting activities. We lived close to a creek where we went wading, and many an evening was spent playing kick-the can and hide-and-seek with the neighborhood kids. The longer days and sunny weather that are upon us provide a great opportunity to renew and refresh. With restrictions being lifted and venues, activities, and restaurants becoming more accessible, now is the time to step away from the electronic screens we have all found ourselves in front of too much lately, and explore! While many activities, camps, and programs have been rapidly filling up, there is still a lot our area has to offer! Check out the Town of Danville Recreation programs at danville.ca.gov/197/Recreation-Arts-Community-Services, visit Mt. Diablo (parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517 and mdia.org), go fruit picking in Brentwood (harvestforyou.com), visit the world-class Blackhawk Museum and their new exhibits (blackhawkmuseum.org), see new exhibits at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (museumsrv.org), visit the Eugene O’Neill Tao House located in the Las Trampas Hills of Danville (nps.gov/ euon), or spend the afternoon at a local park or hiking in the hills (www.ebparks.org/parks/default.htm). What are some local gems that you enjoy visiting? Drop me a line at editor@yourmonthlypaper. com. I’d love to hear from you.

Gopher/Mole Removal No Poison Tri-Valley Trapper

925-765-4209

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3

IN SAN RAMON 3181 Crow Canyon Pl. next to Sprouts

More Than a Hardware Store ALAMO ALAMO

BLACKHAWK BLACKHAWK

SAN SAN RAMON RAMON

DUBLIN DUBLIN

3211 Danville Blvd.

3438 Camino Tassajara

3181 Crow Canyon Pl.

7373 Village Parkway

just south of Stone Valley Rd.

at Crow Canyon Rd.

between I-680 and Camino Ramon

at Amador Valley Blvd.

925-837-2420

925-736-6380

925-234-9080

Store Hours: Mon–Fri 6 am–7 pm Sat 7 am–7 pm • Sun 8 am–7 pm

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 8 am–7 pm Sun 8 am–6 pm

Store Hours: Daily 7 am–7 pm

Visit our website for news and information at alamohardware.com

PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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“THE YEAR THE DEPOT MOVED” PRESENTATION

Over the past 12 months, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley has offered free virtual presentations on the third Thursday of the month. This month on Thursday, June 17th at 11:30AM, the Museum is excited to offer a presentation on their history: “1996 -- the Year the Depot Moved.” The last train passed through the Danville station in 1978. With the ending of train service, the train depot became a feed and grain store. Over time, it fell into disrepair. It’s future survival was in question. A group of concerned citizens wanted to save this important piece of San Ramon Valley history. Twenty-five years ago this month, the Lopez Brothers home movers arrived in Danville to move the Southern Pacific Depot from its original location (near where the Lunardi’s store is located today) to its new home on the corner of Railroad and Prospect Ave. in downtown Danville. The Depot building became the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Ed Best; a longtime museum volunteer, former president of the museum, and a key member of the team that was involved in the move and restoration; will give a first-hand presentation of that eventful day. It is fair to say that moving an old building in disrepair is not for the faint of heart! During the presentation, you will see pictures of the actual move as well as hear about some of the surprises the move encountered. To attend this free online presentation, please visit museumsrv.org and go to the “Events section,” or call 925-837-3750. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. The museum is now open. Please check the website or call, for a list of open days and times. Alamo Municipal Advisory Council Presents the

2021 Movie Under the Stars Movie starts at 8:15 p.m. Livorna Park in Alamo

(Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)

Admission is Free

SUMMER NIGHT Friday, July 9th

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Friday, July 23rd

FREE ADMISSION!

July 2nd: Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys

Tribute band to the Beach Boys bringing precise harmonies, dynamics, and excitement.

July 16th: The Sun Kings

Performing the music of The Beatles with driving rhythm, spot-on arrangements and vocal harmonies.

July 30th: Fog City Swampers Tribute band to Creedence Clearwater Revival, inspiring all to sing and dance.

*PENDING ANY COVID RESTRICTIONS OR CANCELLATION* Bring blankets, chairs, family, and friends. If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact call (925) 313-2181 at least 72 hours prior to the event date. This program is not sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Approval to distribute flyers is a community service and does not imply endorsement.

ALL ABOARD AS TOTALLY TRAINS RETURNS TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is happy to announce that model trains will be returning for their ninth year. This popular event will open on June 19 th at the Museum, located at 205 Railroad Ave., Danville. The main layout will feature a village scene with models of Danville and San Ramon’s present and past buildings. The newest addition is the Danville Presbyterian Church, which was located on Front Street from 1876 to 1932. The trains will travels over trestles, bridges, and through a mountain. The Totally Train’s Family Pass costs $15 and is available for purchase. The pass allows you to visit the exhibit as many times as you like. So “All Aboard” for summer fun! The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. Contact the Museum at museumsrv.org, or call 925-837-3750 for current hours and other information.

SAN RAMON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED

The San Ramon Valley Republic Women Federated invites you to their June 22nd meeting and luncheon. Social time begins at 11:30AM followed by lunch at noon. The meeting will be held at the Brass Door restaurant located at 2154 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon. The cost is $25. Please send your RSVP to Elaine Kowalik at ekowalik1@comcast.net or call (760) 500-5668.

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The “Inventory” Problem

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5

By Joe Gatti

In this inaugural article regarding our local real estate market, I’m going to address the hot topic of local real estate inventory. How I will define “inventory” here is the number of active listings on the Multiple Listing Service available for a motivated buyer to view and potentially write an offer on, in order to purchase. The national storyline is that inventory is low for the entire United States. This headline can be misleading, especially concerning our local market. In regards to brand new homes being built, this is correct. After 2008, home builders decreased their new-home production across America. Between 2007 and 2020, just under 400,000 fewer homes on average were built each year compared to the historical average of 1.1 million homes built between 1956 and 2006*. For our local market, inventory largely consists of existing homes being resold with only small amounts of new home developments coming online (in recent years, primarily in San Ramon). The areas of Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, and Diablo are primarily built out with very small exceptions. When I write of our local market, I’m comprising what I consider the greater historical Danville area, which consists of Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo, and San Ramon. Between February 1st and May 25th of 2021, 765 detached houses were sold in these combined areas. In looking back to 2018, more inventory was sold in the beginning of 2021 by at least 200 detached homes than in 2018 and 2019 and almost double than the pandemic year of 2020. See figures below from the local Multiple Listing Service**: Year Total Sold Feb. 1 - May 25 All Areas Danville Alamo Blackhawk Diablo San Ramon February to early-mid June has historically been the spring housing 2018 548 205 69 30 8 236 532 202 71 28 4 227 market for our area. In 2021, all four areas exceeded the previous three 2019 387 160 51 22 2 152 years in detached properties sold. As of this writing, 313 detached 2020 2021 765 313 112 50 8 282 properties have been sold in Danville, 112 in Alamo, 50 in Blackhawk, 8 in Diablo, and 282 properties in San Ramon for 2021. From these numbers, our inventory has seen a significant uptick in properties compared to the same period between 2018 through 2020. Then why is there the perception of low inventory? There are two main reasons why. First, as the 2020 pandemic progressed, there was a distinct push away from urban settings and towards nearby suburban markets with more interior space (containing an office or even multiple work areas within the home), larger backyard spaces with pools, and the ability to have self-contained gatherings for family and friends. Our greater Danville area received specific attention with the high quality of our local schools, the high safety rating for the area in general, large companies forecasting to their employees that work from home will continue for the intermediate future, and large lot sizes combined with lower home prices in comparison to urban areas immediately in and around San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. The second reason involves properties going into contract prior to ever entering the Multiple Listing Service as officially active or just after they enter as active. For sellers and buyers, it has never been more essential to have a real estate professional tapped into the local market. As of this writing, there were 129 active detached properties for sale in Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo, and San Ramon combined. The amount pending or in contract was 249 properties, and the amount sold in the month from April 25th to May 25th was 250 detached properties**. We have a situation where pending properties are replacing sold properties almost to the exact amount; however, active listings are trailing these two other categories by more than 100 properties. In the next article, I will address how off-market offers, coming-soon listings, and preemptive offers are the cause of this disparity between active and pending listings. I hope you found this article helpful. I’ve been serving our real estate community for close to the last 10 years now. Ron Gatti, my business partner and father, has been a full-time real estate professional for over 40 years, all in the Danville area. We both are Associate Brokers with Compass and work out of the 15 Railroad office in downtown 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 925-588-3590. Our services are here for you! *Figures cited from Imannews article “How long will the housing shortage last? Years—here’s why” by Ben Caballero 05/12/2021 **Data taken from the MLS during specific dates and under the criteria mentioned within article.

Recent Activity in Your Community! As Danville Natives, We Know Danville and the San Ramon Valley Sold $50,000 Over Asking

Sold $200,000 Over Asking

Coming Soon

201 El Sobrante Drive, Danville

101 Via Serena, Alamo

357 Cordell Drive, Danville

3 Beds | 3.5 Baths | 2,846 Sq Ft | $2,050,000 Custom Craftsman luxury home built in 2010 with gourmet chef’s kitchen/great room combo. Flat .33 of an acre lot with RV/boat parking access. 3 car finished garage. Newly landscaped backyard. Near downtown Danville.

4 Beds | 3.5 Baths | 3,183 Sq Ft | $2,400,000 Single story home in one of Westside Alamo’s most coveted neighborhoods. The ample backyard features a pool and built-in barbeque area. Moments from the Iron Horse Trail.

4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,666 Sq Ft | $2,495,000 Westside Danville location on one of the most soughtafter streets. Located on a flat 1/2 acre, the future home possibilities are endless. A short distance from the Iron Horse Trail, and award-winning schools.

Call us regarding how our Compass Concierge and Bridge Loan programs can help you!

Ron Gatti Broker Associate 925.596.1972 gattirealestate@gmail.com DRE 00623995

Joe Gatti Broker Associate 925.588.3590 gattirealestate@gmail.com DRE 01914487

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.

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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I S S T I L L P E R S O N A L

COMING SOON

JUST LISTED

PENDING

1064 MILLER DRIVE, LAFAYETTE 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 3,150 SF, 0.40 ACRE LOT

151 KELL COURT, ALAMO 5 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,932 SF, 0.41 ACRE LOT

166 MADELIA PLACE, SAN RAMON 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,368 SF, 0.17 ACRE LOT

110 SAINT ALICIA COURT, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,925 SF, 0.48 ACRE LOT

OFFERED AT $1,999,000

OFFERED AT $1,749,000

OFFERED AT $1,039,000

OFFERED AT $2,275,000

MARY PISCITELLI | 925.765.9095

KORY MADGE | 925.366.9899

SUZY PECK | 925.200.2988

BONNE WERSEL | 510.304.3303

PENDING

SOLD

218 CASTLE CREEK PLACE, ALAMO 6 BEDS, 4 BATHS, 4,196 SF, 0.50 ACRE LOT

1733 SPRINGBROOK ROAD, LAFAYETTE 5 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,464 SF, 0.65 ACRE LOT

1640 RIDGEWOOD RD, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 3,875 SF, 0.50 ACRE LOT

1003 RIVER ROCK LANE, DANVILLE 3 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 2,050 SF

OFFERED AT $2,849,000

OFFERED AT $1,665,000

SOLD FOR $2,400,000

SOLD FOR $1,400,555

BRYAN HURLBUT | 925.383.5500

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047

ALISON PETERSEN | 925.984.7214

SOLD

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

261 GLADYS DRIVE, PLEASANT HILL 2 BEDS, 1 BATHS, 1,320 SF, 0.25 ACRE LOT

416 OSHER COURT, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 3,200 SF, 0.69 ACRE LOT

303 ROBERTA AVENUE, PLEASANT HILL 5 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,328 SF, 0.31 ACRE LOT

360 CARDONA CIRCLE, SAN RAMON 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,824 SF, 0.55 ACRE LOT

SOLD FOR $1,002,000

SOLD FOR $2,900,000

SOLD FOR $1,635,000

SOLD FOR $1,525,000

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047

MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL | 925.984.1344

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047

SCOTT & FONIA HUMPHRIES | 925.298.2249

ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

BONNE WERSEL 510.304.3303

BRYAN HURLBUT 925.383.5500

REALTOR® | DRE#01177737

REALTOR® | DRE# 01173288

REALTOR® | DRE# 01347508

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA 925.878.8047 925.482.4142

EVA ELDERTS 925.726.9409

JOHN FONDNAZIO 925.817.9053

REALTOR® | DRE# 02039328

REALTOR® | DRE# 01938194

SUZY PECK 925.200.2988

REALTORS® DRE# 01979180 / 01979181

KORY MADGE 925.366.9899

MARGY LYMAN 925.963.6380

REALTOR® | DRE# 01345227

REALTOR® | DRE# 02067680

DRE# 01882902

WWW.DUDUM.COM

DANVILLE

MARY PISCITELLI & PETER GILLIS 925.765.9095 925.765.0629

MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL 925.984.1344 925.980.9952

SCOTT & FONIA HUMPHRIES 925.298.2249 925.998.4444

REALTORS® DRE# 01426129 / 01364038

REALTORS® DRE# 00905114 / 01364056

REALTOR® / BROKER DRE# 02078065 / 01019063

WALNUT CREEK

LAMORINDA

BRENTWOOD

SIERRA TAHOE

REALTOR® | DRE# 01224695

Distinctive Properties

©2021 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

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MOVIE UNDER THE STARS

Contra Costa County Public Works, Alamo Parks & Recreation, with support from the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council invite you to enjoy Movies Under the Stars at beautiful Livorna Park. This summer, two family fun films will be featured. Onward will be shown on Friday, July 9th and Toy Story 4 on Friday, July 30th. Livorna Park is located at the intersection of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo. Showtime is at 8:15PM. Bring family, friends, chairs, blankets, and flashlights. If special accommodations are needed to participate in this event, please contact Alamo Recreation Staff at least 72 hours prior to the event date. Alamo Recreation Staff can be reached at 925-313-2181 or by visiting www.cccounty.us/alamoparksandrecreation. Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage, and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as parks and recreation, sand bag distribution, and flood control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. CCCPWD operates two airports: Buchanan Air Field in Concord and Byron Air Field in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit www. contracosta.ca.gov/227/Public-Works.

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. Classes are also offered for the beginning researcher and those interested in genetic DNA. You are invited to join the Tuesday, June 15th, 10am ZOOM meeting with a presentation by Stephanie West on “Canadian Genealogical Research.” Not sure where to start with your Canadian research? This presentation will get you started! Canada is formerly a colony of France and Great Britain. Since Canada is a relatively new country (in comparison to Europe), you will find that your ancestors immigrated from somewhere else, probably in the last two to seven generations. Gain an understanding of the country and its records. An overview of the online genealogical resources will be presented. Stephanie West is an educator and researcher with a focus on genealogy, genetics, and environmental science. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology with an emphasis in genetics. Her current research projects focus on New England, Pennsylvania, and New York with an emphasis on migrations to the west coast, as well as genetic genealogy. To become a member of SRVGS, visit srvgensoc.org and click on the “Join SRVGS” tab on the left side of the Home Page. To attend as a guest, please email your request to president@srvgensoc.org.

SONS IN RETIREMENT

SAN RAMON VALLEY BRANCH

Looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement (SIR) San Ramon Valley Branch 128. There are monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of Zoom related activities including investing, book groups, fantasy football, technology, wine tastings, and much more. With the easing of COVID restrictions, members are also now participating in various outdoor activities including golf, bocce ball, bicycling, and hiking. NOTE: The June meeting will be a virtual event using Zoom. The guest speaker will be Mr. Paul Stich, a technology executive and entrepreneur whose expertise is in internet security. Be ready for an interesting presentation, and question and answer session. The presentation will be held Wednesday, June 16th at 11AM. If you’re interested in accessing the virtual meeting as a guest, please email membership@sir128.com. To learn more about the Retirement branch, please visit www.SIR128.com.

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Contra Costa County Public Works, Alamo Parks and Recreation, with support from the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council present the 2021 “Alamo Summer Concert Series” at Livorna Park, in Alamo. Livorna Park is located at the intersection of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue. This three-concert series features live music from a variety of genres. Concerts will take place on Friday evenings from 6:30-8:30PM and feature a schedule full of dynamic bands including: ~ July 2nd - Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys (Beach Boys tribute band) ~ July 16th - The Sun Kings (Beatles tribute band) ~ July 30th - Fog City Swampers (Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute) Bring family, friends, chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner, and enjoy music in the park. If special accommodations are required to participate in this event, please contact Alamo Recreation Staff at least 72 hours prior to the event date. You can reach the Alamo Recreation Staff at 925-313-2181, or visit www.cccounty.us/alamoparksandrecreation.

“SWING FOR CHARITY” GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Knights of Columbus of St. Joan of Arc Church in San Ramon are proud to announce that registration for their 15th Annual “Swing for Charity,” Golf Tournament has opened! The tournament, scheduled for July 19th, will take place at the Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville. The tournament will feature 18-holes of golf, pre-golf and on-course contests, and a catered BBQ lunch. Land Rover of Livermore has generously donated a 2021 Range Rover Velar as the prize for a hole-in-one. The proceeds from the tournament will benefit the RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul (a partnership between St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County and RotaCare Bay Area), St. Joan of Arc Church, and other local charities. The free medical clinic, built and developed by St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, was opened in 2011 and has provided over 13,500 medical visits for those without insurance. “This last year has been difficult for so many people, and we are finally now able to get out and renew friendships while raising money for families that need help,” said Roberto Piccioni, Grand Knight of Council #9206 at St Joan of Arc Parish in San Ramon. “Charity is a core value of the Knights of Columbus, and we’re so pleased to work with our friends at St Vincent de Paul to host this fun event and support this very worthy cause.” Those interested in registration or sponsorship can visit knights-golf-tournament.eventbrite.com/ to sign up. The Knights of Columbus is an international organization founded in 1882 and has over 1.9 million members around the globe, each dedicated to providing charitable aide to those in need. The Knights of Columbus strive to promote the values of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. For almost 140 years, they have provided impactful aide to those in need and their families. St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) has provided safety-net services in the county for over 57 years, serving 180,000 people annually and distributing over $1M of direct financial assistance and over $1.7M of in-kind aid. More than 750 SVdP volunteers and a small staff lead operations in Contra Costa County including the SVdP Family Resource Center in Pittsburg, 29 branches, and three Thrift Stores. One of the largest charitable organizations in the world, SVdP is an international, nonprofit, Catholic lay organization of more than 900,000 men and women who voluntarily join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in 155 countries on five continents.

MT. DIABLO BRANCH CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB

Liz Tucker will present “Writing Deeper into Theme” at the virtual meeting of the Diablo branch of the California Writers Club on Saturday, June 12st. Sign-in begins at 9:30AM followed by Breakout Rooms at 9:45AM, Writers Table at 10AM, Business Meeting at 11AM, and the speaker from 11:15AM - 12:15PM. Ms. Tucker will use excerpts from published works to strengthen writers’ techniques to deepen artistic motifs in all writing genres. Participants will receive exercises to apply to their work. Topics include the following: 1. What is theme and why is it important

See Writers continued on page 26

PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

AAUW SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek group has announced their 2021 scholarship awardees. Twelve talented young female leaders from Alamo, Danville, Walnut Creek, and San Ramon were chosen for the $1,500 scholarships. Eligibility requirements are that applicants are female, attending third year or higher at a four-year college in the fall, attended high school in the San Ramon Unified or Walnut Creek districts, or currently reside in Alamo, Danville, or Walnut Creek. The scholarship winners, all talented young local leaders, are pursuing varied majors. Three of these awardees are DVC students who are transferring to UC this fall. Five of them are graduate students, and two are in med school.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

• Carly Glasson, U. of Colorado - Psychology/Sociology/Forensics • Cameron Hui, UC Berkeley - Computer Science/Art Practice/Animation • Erika Monasch, UC Davis School of Medicine - Pediatrics • Maria Ji, Des Moines University School of Medicine - Pediatrics • Fracesca “Kiki” Callahan, University of Edinburg - Fine Arts/Illustration • Lidia Woolery, Syracuse University - Fine Arts/Environmental and Interior Design • Helena Chan, Columbia University - Mailman School of Public Health • Kristina Skrenek, Samuel Merritt University - Physical Therapy • Holly Langbein, U. of Missouri - Public Affairs • Mary Locher, UC Berkeley - Education • Valerie Alexinian,UC Irvine - Business Admin/Finance • Tahne Kariguddaiah, UCLA - Economics The annual scholarships are funded through garden tours and through generous donations from local citizens and businesses. To learn more about the program, or make a donation, visit daw-ca.aauw. net/local-scholarships/. The 2021 Local Scholarship team consisted of Nancy Murray, Jennifer Brandenburg, Carole Allen, Gailyn Johnson, and Dianne Tinnes, chair.

ROTARY CLUB OF ALAMO HONORS MONTE VISTA INTERACT CLUB MEMBERS

At a recent Rotary meeting, a special awards luncheon was held where the Rotary Club of Alamo recognized the accomplishments and activities of the student members and officers of the Interact club at Monte Vista High School. The Rotary Club of Alamo has sponsored the Interact club for over 20 years. Interact is a Rotary International service club for students aged 12-18 and is one of the oldest and largest youth service club in the world, with over 20,000 clubs in 142 countries worldwide. Interact is celebrating its 60th anniversary this past year. The Interact club is the largest service club at Monte Vista. It was chartered in 1992, and this year it had over 40 members. The school year ’20-’21 was an exceptional one, as the Interact members met only virtually, and yet they participated in 10 service activities and projects in spite of the significant limitations imposed by the pandemic. Led by an outstanding senior, Interact President Kaitlyn Firestone, the Interactors made a difference in the lives of children and adults in the Bay Area. They wrote and sent cards of encouragement to senior citizens in assisted living facilities and wrote cards of thanks to servicemen and women in the armed forces. They collected warm coats for the homeless and food for the Contra Costa Food Bank. They put together care packages for the Livermore Homeless Refuge. For the Crayon Initiative project, they collected used crayons to be melted down and made into new crayons for Children’s Hospital. For a service activity called “Project Linus,” Interactors made blankets for needy animals and children. They also colored pages to be sent to those “needing a smile” in nearby hospitals and shelters. Lastly, the Interactors made “friendship bracelets” for the children at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. A number of these projects were done in partnership with the Rotary Club of Alamo, supporting both clubs’ purpose of “Service Above Self.” In spite of the limitations of a difficult year, these 40 outstanding high school students made a difference, and the Rotary Club of Alamo was pleased to honor the top 16 Interactors with medals recognizing their efforts. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Club has 36 members and is meeting in-person at Forli’s Restaurant in Alamo on Wednesdays at 12:15PM. Meetings are also being held via Zoom. For more information about Club meetings, visit www.alamorotary.org.

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CATCH UP ON SOME “Zs”

SUMMER DAYZ By Jaime Kaiman, Monte Vista High, sophomore

The energy that summer brings is unlike any other season. Summer is a time of fun and unforgettable memories! With the events of the last year, we still have to be cautious, but it’s great to know that we are a lot closer to getting back to normal than we were at this time last summer. The weather is getting pretty hot, and the sky is shining a beautiful blue. I know that I’m looking forward to being outside a lot more often and absorbing the sun! There are so many different elements that make summer exciting, and being a part of Generation Z, I’m going to tell you some of things I absolutely adore about summertime. One thing that I can always count on summer for is to give me a lot more free time. As a student, much of the year is occupied. From school work to after-school club meetings, even try-outs, many students have a jam-packed schedule. In summer, a lot of that is relieved. For some, that could mean hours of new ways to spend time, and for others it can mean only a sliver of time. Regardless, there’s still new time in our schedules to try out new things! Another thing that summer brings is amazing weather. As I said earlier, summer is a time in which the weather becomes a lot nicer and opens up more opportunities to do fun activities outside. One of my favorite activities is to hang out with my family! The weather stays nice for so long that my family and I usually stay outside to eat dinner. Although we always end up with annoying mosquito bites the next day, it is still enjoyable. To me, summer is a nice time to enjoy both days and nights outside, and without any deadlines to worry about, spending time outside listening to music, playing ping pong, eating, or simply just reading a good book in a comfy chair is very relaxing. Lastly, I feel a lot of people in my generation like new adventures that can be experienced in summer. Many people are going on vacation for summer break, which is a big change from last year, and obviously vacation brings adventure! One of my favorite things about going on a vacation is seeing the different things that make that place what it is. I love discovering new foods, new locations, new shops, etc. Summer is the perfect time for adventure, and I’m thrilled to see what’s to come. In conclusion, summer is pretty awesome. It’s so exciting that summer has finally begun, and new adventures can begin, too. Summer days include sun, warmth, and a whole lot of excitement. It’s amazing how far we’ve all come from last summer. Hopefully this summer, we can all stay safe, but also have a whole lot of fun, and make a lot of great memories.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Neighborhood Watch is a community action and problem-solving program, and one of the most effective means available for resolving issues within your community. Through organized problem-solving activities, your block can remove crime from your neighborhood and address any community issues that concern residents. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff will be hosting meetings via Zoom. If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more information, please email the Community Services Unit at csu@so.cccounty.us.

VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) meet at the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, except as otherwise noted. • American Legion Post 246 meets on the first Wednesday of each month at noon. For information, visit 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 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 mcldet942.org. • Blue Star Moms Detachment 101 meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7PM. For information, visit bluestarmoms.org or call 925-587-4037. • Bay Area Navy Nurse Corps Association holds two general meetings in June and December. For information, visit nnca.org or email bannca@nnca.org.

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SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH

By Liz Pagano, Principal

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9

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After beginning our school year on a more tentative note, our school year closed out with a series of celebrations that both honored the Class of 2021 and marked a transition to more normalcy. Though we have had to change the structure of some of our events -- we held an outdoor Senior Ball and TWO graduation ceremonies -the spirit of the Wolfpack is strong. I am so proud of our students and staff, and the resilience they have shown through- This report is courtesy of The Jackson Group-EXP Realty DRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2020 out the year. One of the strongest examples of how our students thrive, even in the face of adversity, came in mid-May when we MONTE VISTA HIGH celebrated the transition of our four seniors who are students in our Special Needs Program. These students have accomplished a great deal in their time at San Ramon By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal and in our district, and I know that they will continue to build on the skills they have Monte Vista (MV) is finishing up the 2020-21 school developed. Like all of our students who are transitioning from high school, they year in great fashion as our state and community work are entering a world that is opening up to new opportunities just at the moment towards a full reopening in mid-June. Students attending when they are ready to greet the world as newly-hatched graduates. How perfect! school in our in-person learning model are continuing to For those students who are in the midst of their high school careers, please thrive, and many of our students in our remote model are know that we are busily preparing for the next school year. We are so happy finding ways to reconnect to our campus. In addition, a to be able to return to five-days-a-week of in-person learning in the fall. series of senior events have given our 2021 graduates the On a personal note, it has been a pleasure being able to serve the San Ramon opportunity to get together and celebrate a little. Valley High School community as interim principal. I know you will be in MV seniors got to share their future selves as we celebrated Life Decision Day. good hands next year as I hand the reins over to Whitney Cottrell this month. Everyone had the chance to dress up in their future college or workplace swag, and Have a wonderful summer break! take a picture with their peers. Next, the Class of 2021 got to celebrate together at Senior Night – which combined the Senior Ball, Grad Night, and Homecoming SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN into one incredible event. MV’s seniors enjoyed a DJ, games, and a variety of food but they also had the chance to spend some time with their classmates, and ACADEMY By Jamie Westgate, Principal trucks, that seemed to bring the most joy to everyone. Finally, Senior Week started with a I think most every child has spent a summer day barbecue lunch and our Senior Awards Ceremony. The event was followed by cap creating a lemonade stand. It’s a great opportunity to and gown pick up, textbook returns, and grad ticket distribution. The Class of 2021 experience the challenges and successes of operating got together again for Senior Sunset, where our grads see each other one more time a business in a kid-friendly way. If ever there was a before finals and graduation. A huge thanks to all of the staff and parent volunteers year to turn lemons into lemonade, it was this one! We who worked hard to put these events together for our seniors. certainly experienced challenges and successes due MV’s visual and performing arts programs continued taking the route of into the COVID-19 pandemic, but we finished the year novation as they closed out the school year with several virtual events. MV Dance strong and learned a lot along the way. provided us with an outstanding performance that was live-streamed to our This year, many schools in our country opted out of standardized testing, community. MV Choir followed suit with their own virtual performance and MV knowing there may now be a gap in academic achievement. Since most of our Drama finished up the month with a live-streamed version of the play Museum. learning was spent in-person, we felt it was a good year to capture this typical MV Athletics also enjoyed a strong showing in May as our programs closed annual data. We are thrilled to report our scores are reflective of a typical school out their seasons and celebrated their seniors – sometimes in dramatic fashion. year. I commend our teachers for their wholehearted commitment to their MV Men’s Water Polo gutted out a double overtime win against DeLaSalle in our students’ academic achievement, even during a pandemic. Our school averaged home finale. Not to be outdone, MV Women’s Water Polo also enjoyed a blowout scores in the mid 80th percentile for both Math and English/ Language Arts. Our win against rival Carondelet. On their senior night, MV Women’s Volleyball kindergarten students averaged 99% in both of these areas of critical learning, roared back to defeat Dougherty Valley in five games, and MV Baseball defeated thus confirming the importance of in-person instruction. Congratulations to rival SRV twice in one week with the second win coming on a sixth inning grand students for their academic achievement this year! slam. These are just a few snapshots of what MV’s athletes were doing this spring. On May 25th, we graduated 38 eighth graders who are now heading on to high Thank you to our athletes, our coaches, and most importantly our seniors for such school. Ironically, the very next day, we welcomed back more than half of our 2017 a memorable spring sports season. SRVCA graduates who are now graduating high school for a “walk through the halls” The school year culminated on June 4th in Sam Zackheim Stadium with two event. The blend of new and former graduates reminded me that our Eagles really in-person graduations. The split was necessary in order to meet our state and county’s current COVID guidelines. Nevertheless, we are grateful that the MV never leave our nest. We grow an attachment to one another, creating lasting bonds. As we prepare for this summer, we’re excited that much of our planning Community had the opportunity to come together and celebrate the Class of 2021. MV’s students and faculty would like to thank our community for their continwill include intentional efforts to rebuild community. We have missed having ued support throughout the 2020-21 school year. It has been a year like no other, parents and community helpers on campus, and we look forward to renewing and we are appreciative that we can stand together in the most difficult of times. our partnership next year. In the meantime, we wish you all a wonderful summer We have learned a lot over the past 18 months, and we need only to look to our of recovery and refreshment. Perhaps I will see some of you at a local lemonade 2021 graduates to see that the future is bright. stand! I’m already looking forward to having our students back in August.

PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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VALLEY VIGNETTE By Beverly Lane

AUGUST HEMME: ALAMO’S OUTSTANDING CITIZEN

When histories of nineteenth century Alamo are studied, no early pioneer rivals August Hemme as a leader of the community and of the San Ramon Valley. August married Minerva Ish, who lived in Alamo, was a rancher unrivaled for his innovations, was prominent as an entrepreneur in San Francisco, and was pivotal in bringing the Southern Pacific Railroad to the Valley in the 1890s. August was an immigrant from Germany. As a teenage boy in 1846, he came to California for the Gold Rush and made his stake mining and herding cattle to the Sierras for miner consumption. In 1852, he settled in Alamo next to the Ish family and married Minerva Ish in 1856. They had eight children. After ranching for a period of time on several hundred acres, the family moved to San Francisco where he opened an assay business, became a successful stock broker, and was well known as a philanthropist, donating substantially to build the Central Presbyterian Church on Mission. The Hemme family eventually moved back to Alamo. Minerva Hemme began to purchase land in 1871, and in 1876, their elegant mansion was complete. By 1883, the Hemme’s ranch covered south Alamo and north Danville. Several newspaper articles and history books sang the praises and innovations of this ranch. For example, seven miles of tubing were used on the Hemme ranch to pipe water from springs to crops and buildings. In 1889, even before the new railroad opened, Hemme was the first to ship refrigerated fruit from Martinez to England. An 1879 County history recorded: “August Hemme has by far the finest farm in Contra Costa County, situated in the heart of the San Ramon Valley, extending from hill to hill and comprising about 2,000 acres. The neatest and most substantial board fences line the highway, which passes through the center of the valley and farm. Shade trees have been planted along the roadside and are growing with the rapidity peculiar to our soil and climate, and stand in marked contrast to the sturdy oaks which here and there occupy the interior of the fields. There are four orchards on this place, producing fine crops of choice apples, pears, plums, and other fruits. Wheat is the chief production, of which large crops are raised; this land and valley is noted for its superior wheat. On the place are about 175 head of choice breeds of cattle, 20 extra large mules, and other stock required on such a farm.” Another article on the Hemme Ranch listed 110 acres of pear trees, 275 acres of cherries, 275 acres of apples, and 1,000 acres of quince. Hemme grazed and bred cattle on other ranch land near Livermore and also had a large ranch in Arizona.

See Hemme continued on page 25

VETERAN SERVICES BRING THE “OFFICE” TO YOU

With the COVID-19 County Health Order making it more challenging to get services from government offices, the Contra Costa County Veterans Services Office is removing barriers by opening a virtual office space. The virtual Veterans Office can give you close to an inperson experience. Veterans can learn about and apply for benefits, access VA health care, receive referrals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder therapy, and much more. Visit the office website at www.contracosta.ca.gov/vets during open office hours for one-on-one assistance. Hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm, and on Fridays 9am to noon. Staffing the virtual office are Veterans Service Manager Sidney Jones, an Air Force Veteran, and Veteran Services Representative Buck Carmichael, a Marine Corps Veteran. Both have long-time experience connecting vets to critical services. For more information, please call the Veteran Services Office at 925-313-1481.

GO '10-8' WITH CHIEF SHIELDS

10-8

The Shelter in Place order prevented the Danville Police Department from continuing programs like Coffee with the Cops, which allowed police a chance to directly interact with the community in a non-threatening environment. Not to be deterred, Danville Police Chief Allan Shields is coming to you via Facebook Live in a community program called “10-8.” “10-8” is the radio code every officer says at the start of their shift and every time they finish helping someone and are ready to help someone else. “10-8” seemed to be a great title for the weekly program to reinforce to residents and businesses that the officers in Danville are here in service to the community. Come join the “10-8” meeting every Wednesday at 5PM on Facebook Live. Each program will have updates on what is happening in the Town of Danville, crime prevention tips, and answers to viewer questions. Community members can email questions to mailbag@danville.ca.gov. Questions can also be asked in the comment section on Facebook Live. The Facebook page is “Danville Police Department.”

TOWN TALKS FOR DANVILLE RESIDENTS

Danville residents have a new way to stay informed as Mayor Renee Morgan has begun a monthly livestream broadcast called “Town Talks.” The Zoombased program will take place at 9AM on the first Friday of each month. The program is intended to provide a safe way for residents to hear from their community leaders and get up-to-the-minute information on the issues and topics facing Danville. Viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions in the chat and have them answered in real-time. Questions can also be asked in advance by emailing towntalks@danville.ca.gov. Following the program, residents can either view the entire program or short snippets from each episode on the Town of Danville’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TownofDanvilleCA. Each month, Mayor Morgan will feature new guests and topics of interest to the community. To get more information or register for upcoming talks, visit www.danville. ca.gov/798/Stay-Connected. Look about half-way down the page for the current link. You can also contact Assistant to the Town Manager Diane Friedmann at (925) 314-3378, or email her at dfriedmann@danville.ca.gov.

DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE

Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist now have a designated neutral ‘Exchange Zone’ in the upper parking lot of the Danville Town offices to conduct their business. Signage has been installed, and the Danville Police Department has designated parking spaces at the Town of Danville offices, 510 La Gonda Way, for residents to conduct transactions in a constantly video-recorded space. With proximity to police headquarters and video recording, the goal is to have an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers while dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes. To learn more, contact Sargent Ron Hoekwater at (925) 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov.

WOMEN’S CLUB “FREE THE GIRLS” SUCCESS

The Alamo Women’s Club recently sponsored an event called “Free the Girls” where they collected bras and cash donations to help others. The event was a huge success. Over 1,400 new and like-new bras were collected, along with $1,455 in cash donations. The donations enabled generously discounted purchases of new bras from Macy’s and Kohl’s, and money to put toward the organization’s oversees shipping costs. The Freethegirls.org site notes,“Just four bras provide a living wage for a woman in the El Salvador program.” “A donation of 200 bras makes half a month’s inventory for a woman in Mozambique to sell and support herself!” Learn more about the Alamo Women’s Club at www.alamowomensclub.org.

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11

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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 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle

MILITARY MUSEUMS

From Berlin in 1939 to the invasion of Warsaw, on battleships and ending with a cliffhanger when Pearl Harbor is bombed in 1941, Winds of War was the most watched mini-series up to that time with over 140 million viewers for all or part of the 18 hours. It seemed that everyone was tuned into the 1983 mini-series, an adaption from author Herman Wouk’s World War II (WWII) bestseller with the same name. Aired on ABC-TV, the production, broadcast in seven parts, was a phenomenon. The book and miniseries tell the story of the fictional family of Victor “Pug” Henry (played by Robert Mitchum), a naval officer who as an advisor to Franklin Roosevelt meets with Hitler, Goering, Churchill, Mussolini, and Stalin. Wouk said of his book, “I gave it my best to shake up the familiar elements so that those who might read and picture what happened in this worst world catastrophe-the worst that is so far.” As compelling as WWII books and movies are, there is nothing quite as impactful as standing at a site where actual events occurred. Pearl Harbor Memorial in Oahu is one of those locations. An active military base and headquarters of the Pacific Fleet, it is an important historical landmark. The USS Arizona is the somber reminder of where WWII began for Americans, and close by is the USS Missouri, the site where the surrender of the Empire of Japan took place, ending WWII. Not far from the Waikiki shore near Hilton Hawaiian Village, a low-profile battery made to look like a grass-covered sand dune is a site with significant history. Completed in 1911, Battery Randolph is made of steel reinforced concrete up to 15 feet thick and housed the Army’s powerful coastal defense weapons. Today, the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii is located inside the battery, and its museum galleries depict military history of pre-Imperial Hawaii and the post-annexation history of US Army history in the Pacific hemisphere from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Closer to home, in Richmond CA, is another WW II site where at its peak 90,000 people worked in the shipyards to support the Allied troops and answer the call of Roosevelt to make America the “great arsenal of democracy.” Now the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Homefront Park, the National Park system chose this location partly because some of the wartime structures, including Shipyard No.2 basin and Shipyard No.3 building docks, remained intact after the war. The Kaiser Richmond Shipyards with 27 shipways produced 747 ships during the war era, more ships than any other shipyard complex in the country. Besides the shipyards, the park includes Rosie the Riveter Memorial which honors the “Rosies,” SS Red Oak Victory, a tank factory, housing developments, and other facilities that were important in the war effort. The best way to enjoy this historic site is to walk the shoreline with gorgeous views of San Francisco and the bay. The Visitor Education Center is a great place to start a walking tour. Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront National Historic Park Visitor Education Center is located at 1414 Harbour Way, Richmond. Rosie the Riveter Memorial is located off Regatta at Melville Square in Marina Park. SS Red Oak Victory is moored at end of Dornan Drive, Point Richmond. Their website is www.nps.gov/rori. Good news for Winds of War fans: A new production of Wouk’s best seller will be adapted and shepherded by Seth MacFarlane in a project with NBC Universal. Linda Summers Pirkle, a travel writer, Francophile, consultant, and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

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ICELAND:

NATURAL WONDERS AT YOUR DOORSTEP By Jeff Rabb, Alamo World Travel & Tours

Iceland is a land of many contrasts; an island rising out of the stormy north Atlantic Ocean that keeps on rising until it seems to touch the sky. It is a land of cold, ice, and snow but also a land of volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs; a seemingly barren land, as if you are on the moon itself. But then amazingly, it’s also teeming with life. One may walk out the door on a spring morning to look at the flowers blooming and find oneself in the middle of a snowfall! As a result of the climate, Icelanders are an extremely hardy folk, and are amongst the warmest and friendliest people on the planet. Icelandic spoken on the island is actually Old Norse, spoken by the original Viking settlers from the 9th century. But fear not, thanks to British and American military garrisons stationed on the island from the second World War until 2006, nearly everyone on the island is equally conversant in English, as is all signage on the island. The natural world is never far away in Iceland. Even in the capital city of Reykjavik, one only needs to look out across the harbor to see the stark, barren mountains rising straight out of the water to only disappear into the clouds. Driving in from the excellent and modern international airport, one must pass through a barren lava flow that makes you feel like you just landed on the Moon. Taking one of numerous available day tours of the island, one can get a jaw-dropping view of this remarkable nation. The ever-popular Golden Circle Tour is a tour created by Icelanders to show the king of Denmark the highlights of the island on the first royal visit to Iceland while it was under Danish rule. Your tour bus will drive you through the mountains surrounding Reykjavik and take you to the Thingvellir National Park in the interior. There, you will look out at the humble buildings of Iceland’s first parliament. At the same time, in the same view, you will also be looking out across the divide where the North American and the European continental plates are spreading apart from one another, causing the island to grow by several inches a year. Also on this route, a stop at the spectacular Gullfoss waterfalls is in order, followed by the geyser fields of Geysir. A drive along the island’s south coast reveals a landscape of breath-taking beauty that uncovers the country to be a land of waterfalls as well as fire and ice. Speaking of fire, you’ll pass by the now-quiet, ice-covered, and almost invisible Eyjafjallajokull volcano whose eruption back in 2010 brought all trans-Atlantic flights to a screeching halt for a number of weeks. The ice of the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier is amazing. One can approach within a few yards of the glacier without any special guides. However, it is restricted to groups with a professional guide to actually climb up onto the glacier itself. Two and a half hours down the south coast from Reykjavik, one will encounter the beautiful Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach set next to the rocky pinnacles and cliffs near the fishing village of Vik i Myrdal. With this trek, you have seen all of these wonders and have only driven half a day outside of Reykjavik. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what you’ll find when you visit Iceland. For adventure and nature lovers, Iceland is your dream destination. Iceland tours and cruises are now available and ready to book with just your passport and proof of vaccination required. Please call Jeff Rabb with Alamo World Travel & Tours at 925-837-8742, or email jeff@alamoworld.com for more information on the best way for you to visit Iceland or other destinations around the world. Located at 3201 Danville Blvd., #255 in Alamo, Alamo World Travel & Tours is celebrating 40 years of helping with luxury travel. Learn more at www.alamoworld.com. Advertorial

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13

925-831-8310 Meet Dr. Yvonne Hyland & Her Family 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 threeyear 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.

Open Monday - Thursday and the first two Saturday’s of each month.

PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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DELVING INTO THE DETAILS: THE COUNTY BUDGET REPORT

By County Supervisor Candace Andersen

Every citizen has the right to know where their tax dollars are spent. A County budget; which is adopted each year following public hearings, input from the community, and work from County staff and the Board of Supervisors; shows how Contra Costa County is using its funds. A copy of the budget can be found at www.contracosta.ca.gov/770/Budget-Documents. With the impact of the coronavirus since early 2020, many County matters and priorities shifted accordingly. COVID-19 has presented a wide variety of new challenges for us, in addition to the ones we customarily encounter when it comes to our County budget. In 2020, we also saw several other milestones that greatly affect the configuration of our County, from the 2020 Election to the Census Count. At the conclusion of the 2020 Census Count, our County’s response surpassed its 2010 self-response rate, achieving the third highest Census 2020 self-response rate of all California counties with a rate of 77.4%. When the census data becomes finalized sometime this fall, we will begin the public process of redrawing our County Supervisor district boundaries. The recommended County budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year is $4.06 billion. How we spend 70% of that, or $3.037 billion, is mandated by law, and the majority of the budget ($2.3 billion) comes from State and Federal Revenues. As the “safety net,” we administer many State and Federal programs to provide healthcare and assist those in need. Our General Fund includes normal operating expenditures financed typically by property taxes and charges for services. It is $1.853 billion. Fifty-seven percent of it is spent on our health and human services, 26% on law and justice, and 17% on general government. With the coronavirus still prevalent, it is worth noting that our County received $227.8 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to assist with our response to the virus - $201.2 million came from Federal direct allocation and $26.5 million from State sub-recipient allocation. Additional funding of $110 million has been allocated this year from the American Rescue Plan to pay for COVID related expenses incurred by the County. Another $113 million will be available next year. Homelessness and housing have been serious concerns during the pandemic, and a series of eviction moratoriums and protections were passed by the state and the Board of Supervisors. We were pleased to see the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) allocate $75,822,311 to Contra Costa. Of that, we are working with the State to distribute $75,307,866 to tenants and landlords for past rent due and $514,445 for local programming to advise those who are behind on their rent payments. Help is offered to both tenants and landlords, with past due rent paid directly to landlords. For more information on rent freeze ordinances, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/7836/Eviction-and-Rent-Freeze-Ordinance-FAQs. For more information about COVID-19 Rent Relief, visit www.housing.ca.gov/covid_rr/. Another significant budget development in our County was the passage of Measure X in November. The ballot measure authorized an additional sales tax of 0.5% for 20 years to go towards essential services such as the regional hospital, health centers, emergency response services, safety-net programs, and early childhood services. Measure X is anticipated to generate approximately $90 million in fiscal-year 2021-22. A crucial element of the passage of Measure X was the formation of the Measure X Community Advisory Board, which saw an immense number of applications from distinguished individuals for available spots. The Measure X Community Advisory Board has begun to meet to develop funding priorities for presentation to the Board of Supervisors. These meetings are online and open to the public via Zoom. The fiscal-year 2021-22 Recommended Budget included $650,000 in Measure X revenue for a new Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice which will support and expand initiatives already in place to address racial equity and justice throughout the County. It is anticipated that Measure X will help fund a robust Community Crisis Response program that provides appropriate alternatives to police. Last year, a collaborative effort led by the County’s Behavioral Health Department began to explore and define what it would take to ensure that anyone in Contra Costa County can access timely and appropriate behavioral health crisis services anywhere, anytime. More information about this ongoing effort can be found at www.cchealth.org/bhs/crisis-response/. Additionally, to address the issue of those with a mental illness cycling through our jails, the Sheriff has been working with our Health Services Detention Health Division to ensure that those entering County jails receive a comprehensive evaluation and are referred to the appropriate mental health and substance use treatment to address their needs. Rather than wait for a state hospital bed to become available, our county is developing an Incompetent to Stand Trial Program within our Martinez Detention Facility. The budget recommendation includes $7.5 million in additional staff costs for mental health services in the jails (40.6 full time employees). We will continue to work on bold long-term goals to improve our public services, promote economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for our constituents. If you have any questions about the budget or other County matters, please don’t hesitate to contact me or my staff. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

FSRC continued from front page

Pioneers settling the San Ramon Valley shortly after California achieved statehood in 1850 were delighted by the abundance of available water. Co-author (with Laura Grinstead) of Vintage Danville, Lane quotes from Professor James Smith’s Recollections: Early Life in the San Ramon Valley: "Newcomers drove into the valley ... attracted by the splendid valley with its rich pastures and streams of running water.” In Historic Tales of Alamo, California, co-authored with Sharon Burke, Lane remarks: "During the nineteenth century, San Ramon Creek had wetlands on each side and was not as incised as today.” She adds Smith “recalled that the creek was a fine stream of water with Beverly Lane (L) and Sally German (R) introduced FSRC's many trout and an mission at a 2012 Water Conservation Faire at Home Depot abundance of willow San Ramon. Photo courtesy of FSRC.

trees in different sections.” Hardly what newcomers arriving in the 21st century experience. With headwaters fed by springs in the Las Trampas Wilderness and Mount Diablo State Park, the San Ramon Creek Watershed has 137 miles of creek channels. Part of the Walnut Creek Watershed, the system flows north, so debris entering the channels in Danville and Alamo moves downstream through Walnut Creek. On June 30th, 2012, Beverly and Sally displayed a watershed model borrowed from Chris McCann, Danville Clean Water Program Staff, for their table at the Water Conservation Faire which was held at Home Depot San Ramon. They also received support from Mary Grim, Contra Costa County Resource Conservation District. Dick Heron, now Co-Chairing FSRC with Beverly Lane, discovered the group when they helped sponsor a creek walk that fall in Walnut Creek's Civic Park. Inspired by Arundo removal projects being done by Friends of the Creeks, a Walnut Creek organization established in 1994, Beverly asked founder Lesley Hunt to help assess Arundo infestations along a portion of the San Ramon Creek near El Portal Bridge. In 2013, they walked the area together. Bill Gillespie recalls their visit. “I was working in the yard when two ladies

See FSRC continued on page 22

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15

BE ACTIVE, BE HEALTHY, BE HAPPY

By Andy Brown, owner 3B Personal Training

Whether you are beginning your health and wellness journey or wanting to advance it, I will help you achieve your goals. If you want a lifestyle change, please reach out, and together we can build the grassroots for success. 3B Personal Training, “Be Active, Be Healthy, Be Happy,” provides a website and personal fitness professional dedicated to your health and wellness. The 3B program combines three major areas that make up a balanced lifestyle. These areas include fitness, nutrition, and injury prevention. The three elements have many benefits including improved sleep, decreased risk of disease, increased energy, weight loss, building of lean muscle, fat burning, and much more. Get in-shape for summer. In-person personal training is available in the Alamo/Danville/Walnut Creek area or via Zoom. Your safety during exercise is always my top priority. All fitness equipment necessary to meet your goals will be provided. Begin your journey with 3B Personal Training by visiting www.andybrownnow.com, calling 925-209-1986, or emailing andybrown198813@gmail.com Advertorial

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Parade continued from front page

popular summer event, the Kiwanis-Danville 4 th of July Parade was recently canceled for 2021. This mutual decision by the event organizers, the Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Valley and the Town, was driven by uncertainty regarding how or whether the state would be permitting large-scale outdoor events. The Kiwanis Club manages logistics and volunteers for the parade while the Town financially supports the event and provides resources and staffing. An event of this magnitude, which routinely draws around 40,000 spectators from around the Bay Area, requires months of planning and logistics including multi-jurisdictional police support, fire and emergency medical services, road closures and traffic management, as well as additional garbage receptacles, street sweepers, signage, and portable restrooms. In addition, the event organizers need to secure sponsors and enlist parade entries. With the proximity of the state’s June 15th reopening date to July 4th, a determination was made that there wasn’t enough time to safely plan a large-scale event for this July. “We sincerely value our partnership with the Kiwanis and applaud their flexibility and energy in adapting to the current challenges of planning large events,” said Mayor Renee Morgan. She added, “The Town and the Kiwanis are working together to organize a safe event, and we are thrilled that Danville will be able to have a parade this year for our community. We urge everyone to get vaccinated so that this event can be a safe and fun occasion, and we look forward to the 4th of July parade returning next year.” Town staff continues to work with event organizers to monitor what activities are safe and realistic to implement, and they are hopeful that more events will return as the county continues to move forward. A number of other event organizers for community events have elected to cancel their events this year including the Danville Summerfest, Hot Summer Sundays Car Shows, and Danville d’Elegance Car Show. As the community continues to move forward toward normalcy, the latest information on all Town events can be found on the Town’s website calendar at www.danville.ca.gov/calendar. For additional information, contact Lianna Adauto at (925) 314-3309 or ladauto@danville.ca.gov.

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PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

Book continued from front page

SHRUMEN LUMEN, A LUMINESCENT WONDER

The Town of Danville is pleased to present its newest temporary Public Art Installation, “Shrumen Lumen” which will be on display in downtown Danville through Labor Day. Two, larger-than-life, kinetic mushroom sculptures will be installed in the downtown area at the Town Green by the Danville Community Center and Library, and in front of the Village Theatre & Art Gallery. By day, the 12 x 14 ft mushrooms are an ethereal white, at night they come alive, as the mushroom caps open and close and a rainbow of LED lights cycle through from top to bottom back to the top again in a stunning display of art and engineering, creating a surprising and delightful experience. The sculptures were conceived and created by a Bay Area group of engineers and artists: The FoldHaus Artist Collective. The mushrooms were first created for the world-famous Burning Man event in Blackrock, CA, and have since traveled to be enjoyed by audiences in cities all over the world. Now, residents and visitors to Danville will have an opportunity to experience these marvelous pieces as well. The Shrumen Lumen Public Art is an extension of the exhibition Altered & Reimagined taking place in the Art Gallery at the Village Theatre beginning June 19th. An opening reception for both exhibits will take place on Saturday, June 19th from 7-9PM on the patio of the Village Theatre & Art Gallery located at 233 Front Street. COVID safety guidelines will be in effect and masks must be worn. As always, the reception is free and open to the public. Please visit www.danville.ca.gov for future events associated with the Mushrooms including Art After Dark at the Art Gallery on select Thursday evenings during the summer, and a Fairy Hunt that will take place in the Danville Arts District, and will be geared toward children. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov.

By Fran Miller

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will discover when events in Alamo made national news. Numerous historic Alamo photos, including some never published before, are a feature of the book, and there is a special section on the origins of Alamo street names. Ranches, orchards This book is a must read for present or and championship horses past Alamo residents or anyone with a curiosity about this great community. O The official book launch will be held at the following locations: • Saturday, June 12th at The Museum of the San Ramon Valley/Danville Farmer’s Market, located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville, from 11AM-1PM. • Saturday, June 12th, Alamo ACE Hardware, located at 3211 Danville Boulevard, Alamo, from 2PM-4PM. • Sunday, June 13th, Alamo Farmers’ Market in the Alamo Plaza shopping center, from 10AM-1PM. The authors have assigned all royalties from the book to the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Shop locally and help support the Museum! Come by, meet the authors, and get a signed copy of Historic Tales of Alamo. If you are not able to attend a book signing event, you can purchase a copy of the book at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave., Danville, or Alamo ACE Hardware, located at 3211 Danville Blvd., in Alamo.

Tiny house builders and Danville Athenian School students, Lexi Gates and Abbie Bly who were featured in the January 2021 issue of Alamo Today & Danville Today News, recently delivered their completed tiny home Historic to Oakland’sTales Operation Dignity. o f Operation Dignity will turn the space into a commu n i tCy Ac Le nt resI FeOr Rf oNrI A i d e nt s . S ai d L e x i, “ T he project was an incredible experience that Abbie and I w i l l s u re ly re m e mb e r forever. We both worked BEVERLY LANE u rku e rs to h u n d r e d sw ithoS haro f nhB o complete the project, and we are grateful to have had amazing support from our parents, friends, volunteers, and donors.” To help contribute to their efforts, visit www. gof u n d m e . c om / f / bu i l d ing-tiny-homes-for-thehomeless.

ALAMO

FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED

Food insecurity for many is becoming more dire as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Stepping up and helping out are members of St. Timothy’s Church, located at 1550 Diablo Rd., Danville. The members have been holding bi-monthly food drives to support the Monument Crisis Center (MCC). MCC is a community-based non-profit family resource center which offers food, resources, and referrals to low-income individuals and families in order to help them become stable and secure in the community. St. Timothy’s Church food drives will be held the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 2-4pm for the foreseeable future. Of particular need are tuna, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetable, pasta, canned meats, rice, beans, oatmeal, soups, ethnic foods, and baby food. In addition, pet food and diapers are appreciated. Items in glass containers cannot be accepted. Monetary donations can also be made directly to MCC via www.monumentcrisiscenter.org/donate. Your contributions are deeply appreciated. Learn more about the drives at www.sainttimothysdanville.org.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Many of our neighbors cannot afford to feed and clothe themselves or their families. Volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, and groups to serve the community are available at White Pony Express. White Pony Express, founded by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner in 2013 and headquartered in Pleasant Hill, is a nonprofit that rescues fresh surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers markets. This nutritious food is then delivered free to organizations that feed the hungry. In addition, high-quality clothing, children’s toys, and books are distributed free of charge. Hundreds of volunteers make White Pony Express possible. They volunteer because they believe in the mission and know they are helping others who have urgent needs at this critical time in their lives. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer or call Mandy Nakaya, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 925-818-6361 or email Mandy@whiteponyexpress.org.

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17

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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

CLIP NOTES

www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews

By Jody Morgan

Reading this description in the 1997 edition of the American Horticultural Society’s A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, you might be tempted to make the grave error of planting the species described. “A. donax is grown for its attractive bamboo-like foliage. Where not hardy, the variegated cultivars are ideal for a cool conservatory or greenhouse, or for large containers. In warmer areas, use as a specimen plant or at the back of a large border.” Resist the urge to include this invasive member of the grass family in any planting and eradicate it if you find it taking root on your property. Commonly called giant reed or simply Arundo, it might better be labeled “Curse of the Creeks.” Probably native to the Eastern Mediterranean as well as parts of Asia and Africa, Arundo was well-known throughout the ancient world, eventually finding its way to Europe. The reed was used in a Greek wind instrument called the aulos that was single or double-reeded and played vertically as depicted in ancient art. Still used today for reeds in clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, oboes, and bagpipes, Arundo has been made into fishing poles and walking sticks, employed as a windbreak, and utilized in durable construction materials. “Commonly called giant reed or simply Arundo.” The giant nuisance was brought to Southern California in the early nineteenth century to serve a specific purpose as a roofing material and then planted along riverbanks to control erosion. Unfortunately, none of the factors limiting Arundo’s aggressive behavior in the Old World, including insects, came along with the plants. Finding an ideal home in riparian habitats with plenty of moisture and warm weather, giant reed easily out-competes native plants. Able to grow as fast as four inches a day, Arundo takes out plants that provide shelter for birds and shade to cool water for fish and amphibians. Mature canes may be as tall as 30 feet, but they provide no benefits to indigenous wildlife. Mark Hoodle, Director of the Center for Invasive Species Research at UC Riverside, describes the enormity of the ongoing effects of Arundo’s invasion in text posted on the Center’s website. “In the Santa Ana River Basin in Southern California, the fire fuel load in riparian areas has almost tripled because of Arundo infestations. During floods, large rafts of dislodged Arundo can cause bridges to collapse as tons of Arundo pile up around bridge supports.” Using much more water than native plant species, Arundo has an adverse effect on that critical resource. “Arundo transpires 56,000 acre-feet of water per-year in the Santa Ana River, compared to an estimated 18,700 acre-feet that would be consumed by native vegetation.” That amount of water would be enough to serve about 190,000 people. Arundo is grown as a cost-effective source of biofuel in parts of Europe and Africa. In Northern Italy and Southern Greece, it benefits farmers with marginal land where nothing else will grow. Solar Impulse Foundation, with projects in Western Africa, notes Arundo has a high caloric value close to that of coal without the fossil fuel’s negative environmental impact. But initiatives to introduce Arundo cultivation in the US have met with significant resistance. Allen G. Breed writes in “Is the giant Arundo reed a renewable fuel miracle, or nightmare?” (Associated Press, November 17, 2012): It’s fast-growing and drought-tolerant, producing tons of biomass per acre. It thrives even in poor soil and is a self-propagating perennial, so it requires little investment once established.” After saying: “North Carolina boosters are salivating over the prospect of an ethanol biorefinery that would bring millions of dollars in investment and dozens of high-paying jobs to hog country,” Breed adds: “More than 200 scienWALNUT CREEK GARDEN CLUB tists recently sent a letter to the heads of federal agencies including the You are invited to visit meetings and to become a part of The Walnut Creek Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Agriculture Garden club! You’ll find friendly members, with varying interests including: and Energy, urging them not to encourage the commercial planting of • Creating and improving our gardens with new plants and techniques invasives such as Arundo.” • Supporting garden education in local schools An Agriculture Research Service study in Texas indicates that three • Supporting local environmental charities with community grants insect species host-specific to Arundo donax (meaning that’s all they • Learning about the fun of arranging flowers eat) shows promising results for Arundo control. ARS entomologist John • Volunteering to help local gardens, fundraisers, and plant sales Goolsby reports that following release of the insects in 2007, measureThe group meets the second Monday of each month at 10AM, September through ments taken in 10 field sites in 2014 reveal an average 22% decrease in June, at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. Arundo biomass across the areas where the insects were introduced. If interested in joining the Club or for more information, please visit www. There’s an Arundo wasp, an Arundo scale, and an Arundo fly. “Tiny walnutcreekgardenclub.org. Insects Take a Big Bite Out of Giant Reed” (AgResearch Magazine, October 2016) suggests reed reduction by these biocontrol agents “will HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE save more than $4 million worth of agricultural water per year.”

COLLECTION

Have you done some spring or COVIDtime cleaning? Do you find yourself with paints and paint thinners, cleaning supplies, pesticides and garden-care items, batteries, motor oil and other automotive products, solvents, fluorescent tubes, personal care products, or unknown rusty containers that are needing safe disposal? Our local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility operated by the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District is open with modified operations and offers this free service to residents. HHW drop-off is available Monday-Saturday from 7AM until 2PM with no appointment needed. Drop-off appointments for small businesses are being scheduled as well. Learn about how to transport your items, as well as other instructions for bringing your items to be safely disposed of at www.centralsan.org/ overview/household-hazardous-waste-collection-facility.

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19

Snakes continued from front page

Danville Glass Shower & Windows • True – Crotalus oreganus oreganus, aka the Northern Pacific rattleBest Quality, Prices, & Service snake, may exhibit a variety of colors, but they are all the same sub species. We are lucky that “our” rattlesnake is not aggressive and as highly venomous All types of residential glass as some other species in California. Fogged Dual Panes • Mirrors “Baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults because they can’t ‘regulate Broken Glass • Shower Doors their venom’ when they bite.” • False – Bigger rattlesnake equal more venom. While it is true that very small rattlesnakes do not regulate their venom, adults only do so (“dry By appointment only: bite”) less than 25% of the time, and they carry much more venom. 4115 Blackhawk Plaza Cir #100, Danville “Rattlesnakes can strike up to the length of their bodies.” 925-277-0555 • False – The maximum strike distance of the rattlesnake is about 2/3 of their Sho p Lo length, and this distance cannot be attained when the snake is stretched out (uncoiled). cal! danvilleglasscompany.com “Snakes are deaf.” Email for free estimates • Yes and no – Snakes don’t have external ears or eardrums, but they do Licensed and Insured dgc94526@gmail.com #795837 have inner ears. Some research indicates they not only sense vibrations in the ground through bones in the jaw, but they can also pick up airborne vibrations. “Rattle snakes can detect infrared heat.” • True – As “pit vipers,” rattlesnakes have infrared thermal sensing facial pits to help them detect prey and aid thermoregulation. On extremely hot days, these facial pits can help them find cooler shady areas. In the cool of the mornings, or as temps begin to drop nearer nightfall, these receptors can guide the rattlesnake to warmer locations – like the trail you’re walking on! “Rattlesnakes chase people.” • False – No…just, no. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: they just want to get away from you! “Rattlesnakes are most active when it’s very hot.” • False – The most active periods for ratPhoto by Wally De Young tlesnakes are dawn and dusk, when temperatures are 75 – 85 degrees. These are the times of the day that you are most likely to see them. “Kingsnakes will eat rattlesnakes.” • True – Kingsnakes have a high immunity to rattlesnake venom and rely on their incredible speed when hunting. But Kingsnakes do not only prey on the rattlesnake. “The number of rattles is the age of the rattlesnake.” • False – Each shedding produces one rattle, and snakes shed more often when they are young and ROSE GARDEN growing quickly. Rattles can also break off. Danville’s Osage Station Park Memorial The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that assists Rose Garden boasts a plethora of over 1,000 the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park rose bushes that grace the area with their for its 700,000 visitors each year. Through education, sponsored activities, and publications, MDIA fosters beauty and a wide variety of perfume scents. appreciation and the enlightened use of Mount Diablo State Park. To learn more, visit www.mdia.org. To The planter boxes filled with flowers ring the contact Wally De Young, please email wallacedeyoung@comcast.net. park throughout a 3/4 mile walking loop..

The rose garden was dedicated in December 1984 and is located at 816 Brookside Drive in Danville.

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PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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HAP MAGEE RANCH PARK CANINE CORRAL

The Canine Corral at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way, Danville, is the perfect place for your four-legged dog friends to get out and play, leash-free! The 1.5 acre Canine Corral provides plenty of space for your dog to run, as well as a small agility obstacle course to master. Countless hours can be spent tossing a ball, watching your pet frolic in the water trough, or just enjoying a potpourri of all breeds in one place. Park benches are placed throughout, for the two-legged folks to socialize as well. Located at the far north end of the park, the Corral is divided into two separate areas - one for dogs under 20 pounds, and one for dogs over 20 pounds. For up-to-date Canine Corral information, visit www.danville. ca.gov/263/Dog-Park---Canine-Corral. The dog park is part of the larger 17-acre Hap Magee Ranch Park that has a playground, picnic tables and barbecues, volleyball court, large grass area, walking trails, and the Bounty Garden (thebountygarden.com)-- a community garden with the mission of providing “fresh organic produce Dog owners and their pets enjoy a romp at the Canine Corral. to the food insecure.” To reserve a picnic area visit www.danville.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5278, call 925-314-3405, or email facilities@danville.ca.gov. For general park questions, call 925-314-3405.

EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TRAILS CHALLENGE 2021

Every year more than 10,000 people participate in the free self-guided hiking and bicycling program to explore the East Bay regional parks and to keep fit outdoors. The 28th annual Trails Challenge is sponsored by the Regional Parks Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and East Bay Regional Park District. A Guidebook, available to download at www.ebparks.org/activities/hiking/trails_challenge.htm, includes 20 detailed trail descriptions available for all levels of fitness, from easy to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians, and some trails are wheelchair accessible. To complete the challenge, hike five of the 20 trails, or 26.2 miles of trails within East Bay Regional Park District. You can submit your log, online or by mail, by December 1, 2021 and receive a commemorative pin, while supplies last. The pins will be available in late June. All 20 featured trails are available on the AllTrails app. First, download the free app, sign-up and log in. Then, go to https://www.alltrails.com/lists/ebrpd-trailschallenge-2021, and click on “Copy to my lists,” followed by “Continue in App.”The featured trails will show under “Lists’ in ‘Plan.’” The app indicates where you are on the trail, enabling easy return to the trail if you stray from it. You can also record your hikes, and share your photos and comments with other park users.

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TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

CRYPTOCURRENCY By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.

If you have followed financial news over the last few months, you may have seen articles about cryptocurrency being at all-time highs. More recently, you may have read about a tremendous sell-off in cryptocurrencies. The most notable sell-off has been Bitcoin, which has fallen from a high of $58K/coin, to a low of $35K/coin. So, what is the big deal? What exactly are cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. Why do people care? Cryptocurrency is a digital currency whereby the generation, transfer, and operation of all transactions are via blockchain encryption techniques. There are no physical coins; it is a digital-only currency. The number of units of the money is hardcapped. For instance, the total pool of Bitcoin will not exceed 21 million units. All transactions are online. It is difficult to counterfeit a blockchain currency due to its highly distributed and encrypted nature. Unlike an everyday credit card transaction, cryptocurrency can be made untraceable with some simple precautions. Nation-states are also creating virtual currencies. I am skeptical of virtual currencies issued by nation-states because of the propensity for abuse. (Full disclaimer: I am not an economist; these are my opinions after some reading and participation in these markets. These are growing issues, and I believe we ought to be having this discussion.) For example, China recently introduced the digital yuan, and they will begin creating enticements for the world to use their currency for everything they transact with China. Past behavior is the foremost predictor of future behavior, and I believe the probability exists that China will govern this digital currency the same way they govern internet access. I assume that the digital yuan will probably not be a bastion of personal privacy, liberty, or freedom for their citizens or world citizens. In the future, digital transactions will be ascendant. There are many books and articles about the “death of cash,” and some tend to proselytize doom and gloom. I believe the future of cash is more nuanced, and I do not think we’ll experience the end of our civilization because of this transition. I think it will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. We don’t want a world absent any type of simple, secure, person-to-person currency that two people can exchange in private. It is true that with the maturation of the internet and the wide-scale use of credit and debit cards for most consumer transactions, our lives are increasingly open books to anyone with the power and access to see our records. I value my privacy, and it does not matter that I am not a criminal; what I do is my business. When my money and transactions are 100% online in a traceable digital currency, my transaction history (and thus, my life) is an open book for anyone with the power and access to snoop. That means anyone in the financial industry and, of course, the government under which you happen to live has unparalleled knowledge and insight, and thus potential control, over your life. Maybe that does not matter at all. Maybe it does. That is why we should talk about this. Back to cryptocurrency. Why would I use a cryptocurrency instead of a nationstate virtual currency? What is the difference? The most significant difference is that cryptocurrencies are secure and semi-anonymous, decentralized, free-market currencies that by design cannot be inflated indefinitely by the instant creation of more supply. Remember, Bitcoin will grow no larger than 21 million coins. Devaluation happens to nation-state fiat currencies like the dollar and yuan (and the pound, and the rial, etc.) when the government prints more money to cover out-of-control spending. Cryptocurrency is controlled by individuals, not by a nation-state. Blockchain encryption transactions were designed to keep their participants honest. There have been hiccups along the way; however, overall, they’ve worked amazingly well. Part of what created the run-up in Bitcoin’s per-coin price to $58K/coin this year was Tesla’s announcement late last year that they would accept Bitcoin for the purchase of their cars. Cryptocurrencies went wild. And, recently Tesla walked back that statement and said they would hold off for now on accepting Bitcoin due to environmental concerns. Both of those statements were earth-shaking in the cryptocurrency world. One announcement caused cryptocurrencies to go on an unprecedented bull run, and the other resulted in a pull-back to preannouncement levels. Although you cannot buy a Tesla with Bitcoin, several other companies will accept the coin for their products, including PayPal, Microsoft, Overstock.com, Expedia, CheapAir, eGifter, Shopify, Subway (sandwiches!), and Bloomberg.com. At least for now, cryptocurrency is here to stay. Ready for a tune-up so you can track your online trading? Call our info line at 925-552-7953 or email info@pcioit.com. We’ll be happy to nudge you in the Advertorial right direction.

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21

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Explore some of the East Bay’s premiere hiking spots with Save Mount Diablo (SMD) in 2021, including areas rarely open to the public. The Discover Diablo hike series offers interpretive family walks, guided hikes, and property tours, all free to the public. Trailblazers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. SMD is adding hikes and new activities to the series. New offerings will include climbing, mountain biking, and bilingual hikes in Spanish and English. The ever-popular tarantula walk will be offered twice, and a special hike will celebrate the California State Parks centennial. Hikes are guided by experts steeped in the natural history and lore of the region, who both educate and entertain while emphasizing the breathtaking beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer. See the full schedule of upcoming hikes, and RSVP online at http://bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-Hikes-Calendar.

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PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

FSRC continued from page 14

came up to the back fence. I think the t-shirt I was wearing suggested I would be receptive to their request. They asked to come on my property and check the tall plant growing by the creek. I thought it was bamboo, but half an hour later they told me it was a major infestation of Arundo.” Happy for the offer of volunteer assistance to address the problem, he relates, “Beverly Lane told me she would put together a crew of volunteers to do the heavy lifting if I would agree to have them work on removing the Arundo on my property. In 2013, I worked with the group for four to five hours.” 5/30/2021

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SUMMER WORD SEARCH

U K M T N J U N E G K U T T O H P H N M H V D M R S W I N G P K W M I TJ N P JS U K N Q EO G P U I U A TA TQ O N H I PW H S N E M A K C V V D B M E R H SF W A II N R G I H B IL JZ PP SG K E Q E O M PK PN W I A O Q E N E IR W F SE ET A M II A C V N B E EP H O FR A L IL R B IP C S B V LJ ZL PE G L EX EI M C K I N P EE EI R F FC EU TE M G IX IT O B N X EF PV O J R Y LD LC B L PT C M JN LU EC LO X I IO C E IR SE V L TA PV EL IH FM C N U D EB G T X D X A FE V Y JN Y A D E C P LR TI B S N C U H C U O L IS O S EA R A EC M E V M LO H S M A N V D I B T TS LK A V A J EU Y H N L A M EJ PL R E IM D C S C H• DINE U L S • SLOCAL A A • ALAMO • BBQ K E M O• EXPLORE S A V • IOPEN T S • BICYCLES • GRADUATION • OSAGE V J U H• HAPMAGEE L M J •L E M PICNICS • CAREFREE • CELEBRATE • HIKING • DANVILLE • HOT • DIABLO • JUNE

• RESTAURANTS • SHOP • SUN

RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN

JuneOL

N D M I H R E W S E K N C D S M E IO N N R T EC W I H P N T SB EA K V SU EK O A C C TR C R IU N I A A PU TD B H U N K N A A V A R T R G U R C S U M D G IP A M N S N H A O H A TF G Q R A A Z G Y PG SR M E SJ H J O Q M E FN Q C A U A W R C ZZ Y J G E• SWIMMING J J Q E• SWINGS N C U • WATER W C Z J

B A O LI D B W A IA T D E W R A TQ EP X R S Q PU N X SF U N F

See answer key on page 26

Self-guided tours are happening this summer at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Explore all the garden has to offer at your own pace! The Garden is one of the finest dry gardens in the world. See a vast collection of water-conserving plants and succulents that have been collected and grown for over 50 years. The staff are also hosting virtual events such as the upcoming “Essential Cacti in Dry Gardens” webinar being held Saturday, June 19th at 10AM, and a Garden Gala and online auction on June 11th. The Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek. For information or to sign up for events and presentations, visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org or call 925-944-9352.

ALAMO

PICNICS

Work crew tackling Arundo on the Gillespie property in 2013 included Dick Heron (second BBQ RESTAURANTS from L), Beverly Lane (Center), Pepper and Bill Gillespie (R). Photo courtesy of FSRC.

Removal begins with cuttingSHOP canes that can grow up to 30 feet tall. VolBICYCLES unteers form a kind of bucket brigade to hand the stalks uphill. Heron notes, CAREFREE SUN PICNICS ALAMO “Removing Arundo is hard, dusty work on steep, loose slopes. Volunteers CELEBRATE SWIMMING needBBQ to navigate the slopes and RESTAURANTS work in a team to cut and move the stalks to bundles which are then hauled up the creek bank. We typically work for about DANVILLE SWINGS SHOP BICYCLES three hours until everyone is too tired to be effective anymore. Even though DIABLO WATER SUN CAREFREE it is difficult and dirty, our volunteers seem to love the satisfaction of seeing DINE CELEBRATE a giant infestation disappear dueSWIMMING to their hard work. The hard work generates EXPLORE SWINGS a sense of community.” DANVILLE The cut canes are hauled GRADUATION WATER away, stacked to dry, and evenDIABLO HAPMAGEE DINE tually chipped. Following a fire, Arundo regenerates from its HIKING EXPLORE underground rhizomes, giving HOT GRADUATION native vegetation no chance to grow. After a heavy rain, pieces JUNE HAPMAGEE of Arundo wash downstream LOCAL HIKING to sprout and infest another MTDIABLO HOT spot. Once cut down to a 2-4 inch height, Arundo stumps OPEN JUNE FSRC volunteers removed a forest of Arundo from the need to be treated annually OSAGE LOCAL Gillespie property in 2013. Photo courtesy of FSRC. for several years. Appropriate MTDIABLO native species can be planted about two years after the initial OPEN treatment. Because the banks OSAGE are steep and unstable, mechanically removing the roots is seldom an option. To date, the only reliable technique to counter resprouting involves painstakingly painting each stump with herbicide to ensure that none of the product After Arundo removal the Gillespies had a clear view reaches beyond the Arundo. of wildlife along the creek. Photo courtesy of FSRC. With Arundo gone, Pepper and Bill Gillespie have a lovely creek side space to enjoy. Although Pepper initially worried about using the herbicide, after more than seven years of experience, Bill affirms the process benefits all manner of living things. “You name it: if it has legs, we have it, from raccoons and skunks to bobcats and foxes. My wife has never met a tree she didn't want to hug. No animal or plant has ever been harmed by the carefully targeted applications of herbicide used by FSRC to control regrowth

See FSRC continued on page 30

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IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY

By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Spectrum Wealth Partners

“Wealth is not his that has it but his that enjoys it.” Benjamin Franklin This month I am writing from the road. More specifically, I rented a 30-foot RV and loaded it with my five children and lovely wife. Together, we embarked on a journey to invest in our kids’ memories. The experience that we shared as a family allowed us to create unforgettable memories of traveling to 11 states and seven national parks across a blistering 4,000 miles! While this might come off as boasting or braggadocios, my intent is to shine a light on priorities. One of my personal goals is to give my family a world of experiences, because experiences last and have potential to get us through tough times. These experiences give us the opportunity to touch base with the “why” in our lives. While having money does help create these opportunities, without proper planning, your money won’t be utilized effectively to achieve your goals. We started our journey in California and traveled though Nevada, Oregon, and to Idaho to our first national park where our adventurous spirit was jumpstarted. Our personal concierge, Merry Yen of www.bemerry.us, had planned our gas stops and told us that one of the gas stations was near Craters of the Moon. So spontaneously, we found ourselves running up Inferno Cone (a half mile hill that rises from a volcanic field) to reveal a 360-degree view that extends for miles into Idaho. While financial planning helps us define our monetary goals, it’s important to allow for some spontaneity as well when planning for your future. It is sometimes (I should stress sometimes – not all the time) important to throw caution to the wind and say, “That sounds like fun!” After Idaho, we went to Yellowstone (hitting Montana and Wyoming). It was at this national park where I discovered the greatest aspect of the RV: breakfast wherever you want! While this simple fact is lost on some, I am a true fan of a hot cup of coffee and a warm breakfast. Many days, we spent the morning finding the perfect spot in the park to have breakfast, and once we found our spot, we would start up the generator and get all the fixings made. While I think this was lost on my children, it was one of the highlights for me as this tradition continued for the rest of the trip. This reminded me that sometimes you need to stop and do what brings you joy. And, boy, did this bring me joy! I can say that I had one of the best seats in the house for almost every meal on this trip – views that money cannot buy! In South Dakota, I was tested, precisely with claustrophobia and acrophobia (fear of heights). After visiting Mount Rushmore (which is a beautiful testament to our nation’s history and foundation), we went to a nearby adventure park that included cave tours and mountain coasters. Normally, these both would have been a hard pass for me, but I wanted to show my kids that sometimes we must do hard things and that, as a result, we are better for doing it. And I can say that because of those experiences, I was quicker to jump in line with my kids for rollercoasters at Legoland (the last part of the trip). From South Dakota, we traveled through Nebraska, ending in Colorado. In Colorado, we met up with an old friend who had moved there from California. He got me thinking about an article that I had written back in 2019 that was titled, “Keeping up With the Joneses.” In the article, I dispel the fallacy that we all must have the same priorities (home, college, money). Our friend mentioned how Californians love their cars and stated that his car was purchased solely to help him and his family experience the outdoors and the world around them. Let’s put this in context. This is a man who once drove a fancy car, wore suits every day, worked every day, grinded! He shifted his focus away from a pure monetary priority and instead engaged in the exercise of balance. Upon moving to Colorado, he focused on connecting with people who shared similar passions so he could put his passions in line with his work. He is now making more money and spending more quality time with his family. He’s not worrying about the Joneses, just worrying about his experiences. After leaving Colorado, we found ourselves captivated by the views from Moab, Utah’s Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, which led us to the grand view of Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. As you look down into

See Money continued on page 26

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23

UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE (“UM/UIM”): A MUST FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY

TIPS FROM A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY By Michael E. Gatto

Recently, a client sustained severe injuries in a high-speed head-on collision. The responsible party only had $100,000 in coverage. My client, a 78 year old married man, sustained a fractured nose, fractured patella, and horrible overall bruising as he was on anti-coagulation therapy. He also suffered enlargement of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Medical bills were about $60,000 as covered by Medicare. Because my client had uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, I secured a very nice settlement for him. Otherwise, he probably would have only received a very small net recovery, my fees, and reimbursement of Medicare. I have been told as high as 70% of Californians are uninsured or have State minimum coverage of $15,000/$30,000 for personal injury claims. Thus, if seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision, you have a 70% chance of not being properly compensated for your injuries. Indeed, most of the cases I handle have injuries valued well in excess of even extremely large automobile personal injury liability coverage. The solution for this danger is to purchase UM/UIM coverage. Most people require the ability to work to manage a household. Even minor automobile collisions can preclude employment for a significant amount of time, interrupting vital income. Next, medical treatment costs and out-of-pocket expense can be extraordinary, too. You can protect against these risks by purchasing UM/UIM coverage. In general, UM/UIM coverage is insurance protection you purchase for the possibility you will be injured by someone with little or no automobile liability coverage. Like all insurance, the cost is based on many variables including your age and amount of coverage desired. UM/UIM coverage issues vary in complexity and are factually dependent. Should you have such a possible claim, you should obtain legal counsel to advise you. Generally, UM/UIM provides a means of recovery for injuries inflicted by people with insufficient insurance. I universally recommend my clients purchase the maximum UM/UIM available. The specifics should be discussed and part of a comprehensive financial plan. In a horrific collision, UM/UIM may be the greatest asset you have. UIM coverage “kicks in” in excess of insurance carried by the responsible party. Thus, if the responsible driver has $100,000 in coverage and UIM is $500,000, the Insured (you, the reader who owns the UIM) is entitled to up to $400,000 in coverage from their automobile insurer. You may also have heard of Third-Party Claims. Unlike claims against a responsible party, in Third-Party claims (where the injured party is a “third party” to the contract of insurance between responsible driver and his/her insurer), a UIM insurer owes its Insured a Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing. Therefore, if not treated fairly, the Insured could also sue for “Bad Faith” and recover additional funds. Because of this dynamic, insurers are much more realistic in valuing and settling UIM claims than Third Party Claims. I regularly represent victims of automobile collisions to include uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. In addition, I am available for consultation for disputes between Insureds and their insurance companies. Also referred to as coverage disputes and/or “bad faith” claims. I offer free consultations and can be reached at (925) 587-9949 or mgatto@ gattopc.com, or visit www.gattopc.com. In support of COVID-19 safety protocols, virtual face-to-face consultations can be arranged. The Law Office of Michael E. Gatto PC is located at 2540 Camino Diablo, Suite 200 in Walnut Creek. Advertorial

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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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DANVILLE LIONS CLUB

ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)

By Roger Smith, President FIRE PREPARATION AND EVACUATION PLANNING

Please join AIA’s Zoom meeting on July 21st at 6PM for “Fire Preparation and Emergency Evacuation Planning during the Wild Fire Season.” The guest speaker will be Ron Marley - Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) with over 35 years in the emergency services field. He will give a presentation and answer your questions. Find details at www.AlamoCA.org.

MEASURE K

A big “Thank You” goes out to our Alamo’s Keep Our Deputy Funded – Yes on Measure K Committee of Sharon Burke, Christy Campbell, Ross Hillesheim, and a host of volunteers that enabled this measure to pass with more than 80% of the votes!

ALAMO’S TREE CANOPY (CONTINUED)

Residents of Alamo have invested their funds and fought hard to create and keep our community beautiful. (Refer to our previous articles on the history of Alamo’s Zone 36 Tree Committee.) Unfortunately, our County’s latest revision of the new Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance appears to be limited in scope, arbitrary and unscientific in its basis as to be even less, not more, effective in protecting our tree canopy than our current Ordinance. A case in point: during last summer, neighbors in the Hagen Oaks Drive area of Alamo became concerned about the rapidly declining health of several large Valley Oak trees, located on one of several key building sites of an adjoining vacant parcel. Because of the rapid decline in health, neighbors suspected that the previously healthy trees were in some way being damaged. Although calls and appeals were made to various County Officials, under the current Tree Ordinance, there are no clear penalties for failure to secure authorization for tree removal and only minor mitigation measures through planting of replacement trees. Several of the impacted trees died suddenly and were then removed by the property owner, without a County permit. As a general comment, our Alamo Community has been experiencing a number of these “incidents” of land owners taking unauthorized actions in tree removal with no real deterrent. Just to ask for after-the- fact forgiveness without penalties has no impact. The County needs to do significantly more in enforcement of penalties for these clear violations of the Ordinance. To speak up about the erosion of our tree canopy in Alamo, contact the Contra Costa County Planning Commission at (925) 674-7792, or email them at PlanningHearing@dcd.cccounty.us. Please also email Supervisor Andersen through Alamo’s Field Representative Cameron Collins at Cameron.Collins@ bos.cccounty.us, or contact her directly at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us. In addition, AIA has prepared a Change.org petition to protect our green canopy and is requesting an “Alamo Overlay” to our County’s proposed tree ordinance so Alamo could function as a pilot program on how to more effectively manage our tree canopy. Your signature would be greatly appreciated. Please visit www.AlamoCA.org for more information and a live link to the petition. Let our officials know that “Alamo needs to be Green.”

ALAMO CERTIFIED FARMER’S MARKET

Watch for fresh strawberries and asparagus in addition to all of the other wonderful produce, prepared foods, dairy items, and more at the Alamo Farmer’s Market! The Market is open Sundays year-round, from 9AM – 2PM, in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd., near Bank of America. There is plenty of free parking, live music, and friendly vendors.

AIA SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

Now celebrating its 66th year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has an outstanding history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live!” Please visit our website www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo (including Danville and Walnut Creek) residents, membership forms, and more.

The Danville Lions Club meets virtually at 6:30PM on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of every month. Danville Lions Club raises funds and provide services to those in need, both locally and worldwide through fun and gratifying projects. Lions are well known for successful initiatives in vision health. Please contact Nancy for a guest connection to the next Zoom meeting at nbircher@ mac.com Visit www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/danvilleca to learn more. For club information, contact Truman Howard at 925-820-1711.

LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS

The Rotary Club of Alamo meets virtually on Wednesdays at 12:15PM. For information about the group visit alamorotary. org, email alamorotary@hotmail.com, or call 925-718-6601. The Danville Rotary Club meets virtually every Monday at noon. Learn more at danvillerotary.org. If you are interested in the Danville/ Sycamore Valley Rotary Club, contact Daniel Kodam at daniel@dsvrotary. com, call 925-336-0000, or visit dsvrotary.com. The Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley meets via Zoom every Wednesday night 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 via Zoom, on Wednesdays from 5:30PM-6:40PM. For more information, call 925-998-2924. Rotary Club of San Ramon meets via Zoom every Thursday between noon and 1:15pm. For more information, visit sanramonrotary.org, email chris@gallagherwealth.com, or call 925-831-3043.

EXCHANGE CLUB

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant, located at 600 Hartz Avenue 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 $20 for members and first time guests, and $23 for returning guests. For reservations and information, please contact Karen Stepper at 925-998-8865 or coachstepper@yahoo.com.

KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN RAMON VALLEY

The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley meets every Thursday at noon. Meetings are currently being held via Zoom. The Club organizes the Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville and many other exciting events. 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.

GAZEBO TO BE REPLACED

The well-loved gazebo located at the Alamo-Danville Hap Magee Park is slated for replacement this summer. Harkening back to its’ installation in 2005 the gazebo has served as a focal point of engagements, weddings, graduations, and other events. Sadly, the gazebo has suffered deterioration from weather and use, and is in need of replacement, which is slated for this summer. The new gazebo will feature a similar design, while also being slightly larger in area.

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LIVING TRUSTS - PRIVACY FEATURES

By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

One of the many benefits of a Revocable Living Trust (“Trust”) is substantial privacy. This is in sharp contrast to the court-supervised probate process that is virtually guaranteed if you die without a Trust (regardless of whether or not you have a Will). In Probate Court, many private details about the decedent’s assets, creditors, and close family members

are open to the public. Fortunately, if you value privacy, you should appreciate that your Trust does not need to be recorded or registered and does not become a public record. Moreover, you have no obligation to give a copy nor disclose its terms to anyone unless you choose to do so. Of course, you may voluntarily communicate with loved ones about your Trust and/or opt to give certain people a copy of the document. However, since you may decide to amend your Trust in the future, you should exercise caution about when and to whom you provide such crucial, private information. This broad privacy associated with Trusts is, however, modified somewhat by an important California Probate Code statute that requires a notification to be given by the trustee within 60 days after all or a portion of the Trust becomes irrevocable. Recipients entitled to the notice include: a) those mentioned in the trust and b) “heirs” (i.e. closest of kin) of the person(s) who established the trust. The notification must: i) contain certain basic data about the Trust, including who is serving as the trustee (i.e. manager); ii) enclose a full copy of the Trust or inform recipients that they may request a copy; and iii) state in large, bold font that any recipient who wishes to contest the Trust must do so within 120 days of the notification or within 60 days after the recipient receives a full and complete copy of the Trust, whichever occurs later. Clients commonly ask: “When must I [or we] give a copy of our Trust to

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25

our children [and/or other loved ones]?” If you are unmarried, the answer is when you die, since that is when your Trust becomes irrevocable. If you are married, the answer depends on how your Trust is structured. First, let’s examine the situation for married couples who have a highly “streamlined” Trust under which all assets owned by both spouses are kept in the same (one) pot after the first spouse dies (i.e. the surviving spouse effectively owns and controls all the assets). Such “one pot” Trusts remains revocable during the surviving spouse’s lifetime, and therefore, the above-referenced notification requirement is not triggered until the surviving spouse dies. This is not the case for married couples who have a classic “A-B” or “A-B-C” Trust (under which the assets of each spouse are allocated and transferred into two or more separate pots after the first spouse dies). For multiple pot Trusts, when the first spouse dies, the deceased spouse’s portion of the Trust nearly always becomes irrevocable; thus, the prescribed notification requirement is triggered. Notification may not be withheld or delayed until the surviving spouse dies. Due to Federal Estate Tax legislation passed in and after 2013, most married couples no longer need a multiple pot Trust for Estate Tax purposes. For this and a host of other reasons, any married couple with a multiple pot Trust would be wise to review it with an estate planning attorney to evaluate the pros and cons of restructuring it to a simpler “one pot” Trust. A one pot Trust is certainly not right for everyone, but among its advantages is prolonged privacy – notification is only required after the surviving spouse is gone. |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 R. Silverman Law Group, (please note new address) 1910 Olympic Blvd., Suite 330, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@ rsilvermanlaw.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. Advertorial

Hemme continued from page 10

Hemme was a pivotal leader in convincing the Southern Pacific Railroad leaders to build a branch line through the San Ramon Valley. He probably knew several of them from his time in San Francisco and met with both Collis P. Huntington and Charles F. Crocker. Southern Pacific was willing to build the line if the right-of-way came to them free. Hemme shared Crocker’s promise: “If we give the right of way immediately, (Crocker would) blow his whistle in Danville…60 days from signing articles.” Alamo property owners Myron Hall, D. P. Smith, A. T. Hatch, Joshua Bollinger, and Hemme deeded land and helped persuade others to do the same. After multiple meetings, subscriptions were raised to purchase right-of-way from recalcitrant owners. James Foster, an Alamo pioneer who then lived in Walnut Creek, chaired several committees to obtain the right-of-way. The train’s construction began in 1890 with stations planned along the line. A flag stop, the Widbero station at mile 50.6, was placed about two miles south of the Walnut Creek Station at the northern end of Alamo. In two more miles, the Hemme station was built on his ranch. Alamo was small, and people evidently didn’t mind that Alamo’s station and freight depot were south of the village. Initially called Hemme Station, it was re-named the Alamo Station after Hemme passed away in 1904. Alamo is featured in a Contra Costa Gazette description of the train’s first public ride on June 7, 1891: “The first passenger train over the San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad left Martinez on Sunday morning at 9:20 o’clock….included Martinez residents and a delegation from San Francisco…The beauty of the country seemed to increase as the train sped on and reached its height as Hemme’s was approached. Here, the train passes through the famous orchard of A. T. Hatch, and it is worth going a long journey to see. The trees are trimmed to a model with mathematical precision, and their luxuriant growth would attest the careful cultivation of the ground, were it not evident from ocular inspection.” Hemme suffered financial reverses toward the end of his life, but his civic leadership in San Francisco and Alamo definitely left a positive mark. Sources: Irma M Dotson’s MA thesis “The Impact of August Hemme on Nineteenth Century Agriculture and Cattle Ranching with an analysis of His Economic Failure” and a monograph

“Hemme: A Big Man in a Small Valley.”

More about Hemme is available in the new History Press book, Historic Tales of Alamo, California, which is available this June at ACE Hardware in Alamo and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in Danville.

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PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

Money continued from page 23

MEALS ON WHEELS

the vastness that is the canyon, you quickly realize the detail and depth that is FRIENDLY HELPER PROGRAM lost from your vantage point. As you focus, your eye catches the river at the Meals on Wheels (MOW) Diablo Region bottom, the great Colorado River that is dwarfed by the expanse in front of launched the Friendly Helper Program you. These grand views are an amazing metaphor for the world of financial planning: while you can see what is in front of you, just around the corner (FHP) to assist seniors with their everyday errands, such as grocery shopping and there are mountains, valleys, and rivers that can change your path. picking up medications at a local pharmacy. This pilot program will make it The last national park we visited was not originally included in our trip, but our journey brought us to Joshua Tree in California, a park filled with easier for seniors to remain at home, especially during Covid-19. “With most Joshua trees and granite rock formations. When we arrived at the park, we of our seniors sheltering-in-place, MOW Diablo Region can now provide another essential service that our seniors truly need,” said MOW Diablo had intended to visit Skull Rock (which is clearly visible from the road and Region Health and Wellness Division Manager, Cynthia Black. impossible to miss), but we mistakenly walked right past it! This led us on a The guidelines below determine if a senior is eligible for the Friendly journey around the rocks that had my youngest child climbing thirty feet into Helpers Program: the sky and then exclaiming, “I can’t get down!” while our older children yelled • Seniors must be a participant in the existing Friendly Visitors or Friendly mutinous expressions at me for not following the signs. Although getting lost Callers program. wasn’t great planning, it did lead to a fun story and a successful rescue mission • Seniors must provide at least a four-day notice before the errand is to of helping my daughter down from the rock. This shows that it takes a team to reach a good outcome, even when they aren’t always on your side. We did be completed. • Weekend errands may be available with a seven-day notice. eventually find Skull Rock and had plenty of time along the way to climb in • If the volunteer pays for any item on behalf of the senior, the volunteer and around its beautiful rocks and Joshua trees. must be reimbursed at the time the item is delivered (cash or checks only). We made it home safely and with very few family squabbles, despite • There is a $50 limit on all purchases. fourteen days of close confinement. As you begin to prepare yourself for • MOW Diablo Region requires all seniors and volunteers to adhere to the summer vacations, I leave you with this: make memories that you and your children will have for the future; there is no one who can take those memories Contra Costa County Department of Health guidelines pertaining to COVID. For more information on the Friendly Helper Program, visit www.mowdiaaway, and your children will always pay dividends in the up and down markets of life. And, most importantly, when one day you sit in a rocking chair re- bloregion.org/get-involved, or contact Eileen Stephens at estephens@mowdr.org, or 925-482-2622, or Tuyet Iaconis at tiaco-nis@mowdr.org or 925-891-4872. membering your life, you can count on memories to warm your spirit as your life is winding down. So, go enjoy your family! Time is precious. Make those Writers continued from page 7 memories, and enjoy the view! 2. A word on plot versus theme 5/30/2021 Search :: Create yourisown word find worksheets @ A to Z Teacher Stuff “Every day is a bank account,Word and time is Generator our currency. No one rich,printable no 3. The when, where, and how of developing and deepening theme one is poor; we’ve got 24 hours each.” - Christopher Rice 4. Generative exercises to unearth and explore To schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, please Liz Tucker is a sixth-generation Californian who lives in the Sierra Nevada MAKE YOUR OWN WORKSHEETS ONLINE @ WWW.ATOZTEACHERSTUFF.COM contact me at 925-786-7686 or email peter.waldron@lfg.com. with her husband and two children. She is a two-time finalist with Glimmer

Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T.Generator Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln 5/30/2021 Word Search :: Create your own printable word find worksheets @ A to Z Teacher Stuff

Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, Train’s Short Story Award for New Writers. Chapters from her novella, Fault a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners is not an affilLines, were published in The Bangalore Review, and another chapter, “Paniate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 190, Alamo, CA 94507. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This oramic Highway,” was published in the JuxtaProse Magazine in 2018. Her MAKE YOUR OWN WORKSHEETS ONLINE @ WWW.ATOZTEACHERSTUFF.COM information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax poetry and short fiction have been published in numerous literary magaadvisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives zines including Transfer Magazine, Red River Review, The Aroostook Review, and their clients. CRN-3611237-052721. Advertorial

NAME:_______________________________ DATE:_____________

June SUMMER WORD SEARCH

and Tahoe Blues. She’s on the board of Adventure Risk Challenge, a youth

NAME:_______________________________ DATE:_____________ leadership non-profit that empowers at-risk teens to make positive changes continued from page 22

U K H P U I K C H PN II C C S N IX B C SE L X D B EC LK V D C K

K U V W K A U V V B W I A N V V B IT X N M V TA A X S M E A J A S E

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B A O LI D B W A IA T D E W R A TQ EP X R S Q PU N X SF U N

through integrated literary and outdoor wilderness experiences. Learn more about her at liztucker.wordpress.com. TheALAMO meeting cost is $5 for members and $10 for guests. Register online at PICNICS cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting. Once registered, you will BBQ RESTAURANTS receive a link to join the Zoom meeting.

BICYCLES SHOP CAREFREE SUN PICNICS ALAMO Advertise in CELEBRATE SWIMMING RESTAURANTS BBQ your hometown DANVILLE SWINGS paper! SHOP BICYCLES DIABLO WATER SUN CAREFREE Share with the community, DINE a story SWIMMING CELEBRATE or let usSWINGS know about a EXPLORE DANVILLE local group to profile! GRADUATION WATER DIABLO HAPMAGEE DINE HIKING EXPLORE 925.405.6397 HOT GRADUATION Editor@YourMonthlyPaper.com JUNE HAPMAGEE LOCAL HIKING #atdtnews MTDIABLO HOT Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News OPEN JUNE Instagram:@AlamoandDanvilleToday OSAGE LOCAL MTDIABLO OPEN

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June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27

There’s No Better Time To Move! Your health and well-being remain our top priority. With universal screening, on-site testing, enhanced cleaning protocols and maximized safety precautions, you can enjoy peace of mind in an extraordinary wellness setting. Come see how we thrive.

NOW THROUGH JUNE 30, 2021 Enjoy up to two months rent-free when you move in by June 30, 2021. To Take Advantage of This Exceptional Offer: Call 925-725-1485 or visit sanramon.watermarkcommunities.com/stay-safe-and-save.

Stay Safe, Be Well And Save – Today! 12720 Alcosta Blvd. • San Ramon, CA 94583 • 925-725-1485 • watermarkcommunities.com

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PICOSURE LASER

By Dr. Barbara Persons

Sun damage, wrinkles, and acne scars; who needs them? PicoSure® laser is fast, effective, safe, and requires little to no downtime for you. You can be back to work after a lunchtime procedure, and it is okay to get this treatment in the summer. In fact, I get my yearly Fraxel treatment on my birthday, July 5th! With PicoSure® laser, say “hello” to rejuvenated healthy skin, stimulate collagen and elastin production, and gain a glow with the laser revitalization. For best results, four to six treatments are recommended, four weeks apart. PicoSure’s® pressure-wave technology uses a unique wavelength of light (755nm) and a specialized lens to convert laser energy into gentle pressure. This pressure “squeezes” cells, activating the natural cell signaling process that creates new collagen and elastin without burning or damaging the skin. This process can also reduce unwanted pigmentation during the course of treatment. The skin is left looking healthy, bright, and revitalized. Because PicoSure® utilizes pressure wave instead of heat, patients of all skin types can be treated and experience very little downtime. Do you have a tattoo that you no longer love? Say goodbye! PicoSure® removes unwanted tattoos faster and more effectively than ever before. Over the course of approximately six or seven treatments, lasers remove the ink by targeting the ink’s pigment with a high intensity light beam, causing it to break into smaller molecules. The ink is then absorbed by the body naturally, fading the tattoo until it is no longer visible. Like other cosmetic procedures, individual results may vary, but our team’s dedication to your satisfaction won’t! Ready to look as good as you feel? Call our office, and let’s discuss your goals to healthy, revitalized skin! Treatment packages are available. 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 Advertorial info@personsplasticsurgery.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

RIDES NEEDED FOR 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. Please call Mobility Matters at (925) 284-2215 for more details. You can learn more about Mobility Matters at www.mobilitymatterscc.com.

NEEDLES DROPBOX

If you treat a medical condition such as diabetes or cancer that requires the use of a needle, and you need to dispose of the used ones, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District offers a convenient and no-cost way to get rid of your “sharps.” Working together, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, the City of San Ramon, the Town of Danville, Allied Waste Services, and Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority hope to reduce the risk of needle sticks in our community. Improper disposal of used or unwanted needles can cause a serious injury and pose significant health risks. Waste workers are exposed to potential needle stick injuries and potential infection when inappropriate containers break open inside garbage trucks or sharps become exposed when sent to recycling facilities. Used needles can also lead to painful infections and transmit serious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis. A Needles Drop Box is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The box provides for the safe, secure, and environmentally-responsible collection and disposal of needles, syringes, and lancets. The drop box is located near the front door of the Fire Protection Districts’ Administrative Office Building, located at 1500 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon.

PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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LOW BACK PAIN OR SCIATICA? THERE’S HOPE!

By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

The condition known as sciatica is one of the most common conditions that we treat at Align Healing Center. Some of the typical symptoms of sciatica are sharp pain in the low back and/or buttocks accompanied by numbness, tingling, aching, or burning down the back of the leg. In severe circumstances, weakness in the leg may also be seen. The sciatic nerve is large and travels down the back of the leg to the foot. The nerve is buried deep within the muscles of the buttock and leg, making it difficult to treat with common physical therapy methods. The sciatic nerve is composed of several smaller nerves and originates from the low back. It passes under the piriformis muscle (underneath the main buttock muscles) on its way down the leg. Irritation of the sciatic nerve at any point along its path is commonly known as “sciatica.”

UNDERSTANDING SCIATICA

Let’s talk about nerves for a moment. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. They carry the signals that allow us to move, feel, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and much more. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work, the body will not work. That being said, it is important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. If a nerve becomes impinged or compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition that are needed for the nerve to heal. Over time, neural impingement leads to a painful chronic condition called neuropathy. The definition of neuropathy is a disease or injury affecting nerve cells. The common symptoms of neuropathy include sharp pain, burning, muscular weakness, numbness or tingling either at the site of the nerve injury or wherever the nerve travels. The condition known as sciatica is a form of neuropathy that specifically affects the sciatic nerve.

WHAT CAN I DO TO RELIEVE MY SCIATICA WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY?

Since 1999 Align Healing Center has been offering many different modalities to heal sciatica. We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offer outstanding results in healing stubborn sciatica. Class IV laser therapy allows the practitioner to stimulate healing within the damaged tissue by delivering the necessary energy directly to the injured area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces pain and inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, and stiffness. In addition to laser therapy, we implement spinal decompression to restore spinal disc health. Decompression works by gently stretching the spine, creating a vacuum effect, which can restore disc height and even reduce the severity of bulging disc conditions associated with chronic pain and neurological symptoms. We have found laser and decompression therapy to be most beneficial for patients with pinched nerves, arthritis, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure. The treatment is finite and typically lasts for about a month. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic sciatica treatments. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine and nervous system, you can be back to your healthy self quickly! Dr. Niele Maimone, DC of Align Healing Center in Danville has been active in natural health and wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult, call 925-362-8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com. Advertorial

CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area (CSC) now offers its entire range of support services, educational workshops, and exercise and creative arts classes online, entirely for free. Anyone affected by cancer—patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, the bereaved—can now benefit from these programs no matter where they live, without having to travel to the organization’s community center in Walnut Creek. “Cancer doesn’t just affect us physically,” said Rob Tufel, CSC’s Executive Director. “It affects us psychologically, financially, and socially, increasing stress and feelings of isolation. With the crisis of COVID-19, cancer patients and their families are especially affected. They’re suffering treatment delays, fears about compromised immune systems, uncertainty over their finances. Perhaps worst of all, they’re more isolated than ever—many are unable to get to the hospital, while being physically separated from friends and loved ones. And that’s where Cancer Support Community helps. Now we can help even more people, no matter where they are—in their home, visiting a loved one, or from their hospital bed during treatment.” CSC doesn’t just provide workshops and counseling; it builds bridges between people and creates a community of help and healing, where people facing cancer can get support, advice, education, and a deep sense of belonging and being understood. Research has shown that cancer patients who use programs like those provided by CSC are better able to manage their stress and anxiety, feel more in control of their treatment, and express a higher quality of life. As it has been for 30 years, CSC’s programs remain entirely free of charge, funded by charitable donations. The calendar of programs can be found on the organization’s website at www.cancersupport.net. For those new to Cancer Support Community, please contact Margaret Stauffer at mstauffer@ cancersupport.net to learn how to access CSC’s free virtual programs. Celebrating 30 years in the East Bay, Cancer Support Community provides comprehensive, integrative care—including counseling, support groups, nutrition training, exercise classes, and patient education programs—for people with cancer, their caregivers, and their families. Their evidence-based services enable cancer patients to partner with their medical teams to manage their treatment and recovery most effectively, increase their chances for survival, reduce their chances of recurrence, and provide for the highest possible quality of life. No one is ever turned away, and all of their services are always provided free of charge.

TELECARE CONNECTS WITH THE HOMEBOUND

Since 1971, member volunteers of TeleCare, a philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making weekday reassurance calls, to seniors and the homebound in our community. Clients can anticipate a friendly exchange of ideas with trained volunteers who provide high quality, consistent communications. If a client cannot be reached, family members will be notified. This service is free! Additional TeleCare activities include an annual holiday party, and they also receive greeting cards from the Assisteens, an auxiliary where tweens and teens learn to participate in a community service at a young age. Make that call to get you or someone you know connected! For more information, call 925-934-0901. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, please visit www.assistanceleague.org/ diablo-valley.

COUNTY HEALTH RESOURCES

Below are resources to get updated COVID-19 health information in Contra Costa County. • Visit coronavirus.cchealth.org for updated and comprehensive information and answers to the most frequently asked questions. • Additional resources of all kinds can be found at contracosta.ca.gov. • Email Supervisor Andersen at supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us, or call her office at (925) 957-8860. The Supervisor is able to respond to questions you have that cannot be answered at the County Health website.

Place Your Classified

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THE EYE OPENER

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry MEDICAL VISITS

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 29

Medical & Surgical Dermatology For Healthy Skin Offering Treatments for: Skin Cancer Moles Precancerous Lesions Acne, Eczema, and Rashes Warts, Molluscum Keloid and Scar Revisions Psoriasis and Vitiligo Cysts and Lipoma Hair and Nail Disorder Underarm Sweating Physician-Strength Skin Care Products

As your local full-serINTRODUCING vice eye care office, we EMSCULPT D strive to address all ONLY FDA CLEARE medical issues with the eyes along with meeting ELECTROMAGNETIC ETING your primary eye-care needs. Most common issues TECHNOLOGY TARG ABDOMINAL AND that need immediate attention, such as pink eye, FOR BODY GLUTEUS MUSCLES flashes/floaters, foreign bodies, styes, etc. can be PAD CONTOURING, FAT Offering Cosmetic Treatments for: completely managed and treated at our office. Other LIFT! TT REDUCTION AND BU Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars lpt cu MS /E long-term medical conditions such as diabetes and DrWilliamTing.com Face, Neck, Body Tightening, high blood pressure are also monitored for both Lifting, and Rejuvenation acute and chronic ocular complications. We are Frown Lines and in-network for most major PPO medical plans, Jawline Reduction and these plans will cover your visit minus any Rosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and Post-injection Bruising office co-pays and deductibles like it would for your Pigmentation and Melasma regular medical exams and specialist visits. Sun Damage and Scars A place where beauty Body Sculpting For ocular medical visits, it is always advisable Thinning Hair and/or Balding and healthy skin meet to see an eye care professional. We are trained speHair Removal Visit us at our Center of cifically to treat eye disorders and infections better Technology & Procedures Excellence with a combined than pediatricians, internists, and emergency room Offered 12,000 square foot, state Cellfina physicians. We see patients of all ages from kids to Cool Mini for neck of the art, newly renovated adults, and we have the equipment and knowledge, Coolsculpting® Our Women’s suite. We are dedicated along with the best treatment options, to handle Cryoshape Wellness Center to Medical, Cosmetic, and Diolite 532 laser most eye conditions. Our microscopes, dyes, drops, now offers EMSella, EMSculpt Surgical Dermatology and and tools allow us to fully view and assess the eye to FDA approved noninvasive EMSella are a place for medical electromagnetic technology Excel V Laser help reach the correct diagnosis and proper treattreatment (with clothes on) Excimer Laser skin consultation, aesthetic ment. In our office, we routinely diagnose and treat Fractional CO2 Laser for urinary incontinence rejuvenation, and face and conjunctivitis, corneal infections, foreign bodies, GenesisPlus Laser and feminine intimate body contouring. Infini Microneedling RF corneal abrasions, and allergies. These conditions rejuvenation! Models are used. Kybella DrWilliamTing.com/EMSella are effectively managed and resolved for the patient Liposonix® within a short period of time. Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com Microneedling with PRP for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, MiraDry In addition to these more common acute condiMohs Micrographic Surgery product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. tions, we are always managing patient with chronic NBUVB Phototherapy Pico Genesis conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Schedule your free cosmetic consultation appointment today! PicoSure Laser Diabetes and high blood pressure can have both short William Ting, M.D., PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon and long-term visual and ocular manifestations that Vbeam Laser 2262 Camino Ramon Silhouette InstaLift need constant monitoring and/or a speedy referral San Ramon, CA 94583 Spectra Laser Tel: (925) 328-0255 to ensure vision is not permanently lost. Issues Superficial Radiotherapy TEXT us at (925) 328-0255 24/7 such as retinal hemorrhages and stroke can be both Thermage™ Email: staff@caldermcare.com Ultherapy™ sight-threatening and an indication of an underlying Vaser Shape drwilliamting.com undiagnosed systemic issue or a poorly controlled VLase for Feminine Rejuvenation *Welcoming new Medicare patients condition that has already been diagnosed. Our office can properly diagnose these and other issues of the retina and be able to educate and begin the proper course of treatment or refer to a specialist as needed. Some conditions such as retinal detachments and glaucoma can be diagnosed at our office but would generally require a referral to an ophthalmological specialist for surgery or further treatment. These certain situations would require a visit to a specialist, regardless of which type of doctor is seen first, i.e. an optometrist, general ophthalmologist, internal medicine, or emergency room physician. However, eye-care doctors should be the first-line doctor to see the patient as they are more likely to correctly diagnose and be able to refer to the proper specialist. Appointments for red eyes, floaters, allergies, etc. generally can be seen by the next day or same day as needed, depending on the severity of the situation. We ask that you call when the symptoms arise, and we will do our best to triage the situation and accommodate you as soon as we can. Even if you are squeezed into the schedule and have to wait for a little while, it is better than having to sit in an emergency room for a few hours. Since the eyes can be very sensitive, a quick diagnosis and initiation of treatment is paramount for a full and speedy recovery. In addition to providing primary eye care including glasses and contact lenses, our services include medical care to our patients. Next time any medical situation with the eyes arises, give our office a call, and we will try to get you a quick appointment to help treat your ailing eyes. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. For more information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, and join in on Facebook, Instagram, Advertorial and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

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PAGE 30 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

FSRC continued from page 22

of Arundo. The herbicide is painted on the stalk stumps individually using a device the size of a magic marker.” He has spread the good news to his neighbors and convinced several local residents to rid their properties of giant reed. Mike Anciaux, FSRC Webmaster, has mapped Arundo stands throughout the Walnut Creek Watershed. Within the San Ramon Creek Watershed, 96 infestations remain on 74 separate properties. The majority of those parcels are privately owned. Anciaux explains, “We need private property owners to help fight this invader!” Every piece of the procedure is site-specific. “We work with each landowner individually to develop a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines which party is responsible for each step, including long term maintenance.” As an incentive to clear Arundo before it infests more downstream areas and restore the health of the watershed, FSRC is offering to split Arundo removal costs with landowners. The FSRC website announcement reads: “FSRC is offering to share the cost of removal of your Arundo when you use a contractor to remove your Arundo and treat it with herbicide to keep it from coming back. You can use either a contractor FSRC recommends or, if you have a contractor who can do it cheaper, then your own contractor. FSRC will pay 50% of the invoice after removal and treatment. FSRC has limited funds, so this offer is good until this year’s allotment of funds is exhausted.” Cost estimate is about $3/sq ft for first time removal and treatment. Density of the stand and accessibility of the site affect the actual expense. Marty Buxton, Curator Emeritus from Lindsay Wildlife Experience and Certified California Naturalist, looks forward to publishing information about upcoming FSRC birding walks. Routes were being identified with help from Mount Diablo Audubon Society members when the COVID-19 pandemic put plans temporarily on hold. Before she first met Beverly Lane staffing an FSRC information table, Marty had volunteered to advise the Town on wildlife along the Green Valley Creek and was told there was no wildlife. Marty writes: "Our creeks are important for wildlife attempting to live among us and our developments. The creeks are water sources and pathways around human development. The cleaner we can keep the creeks, avoiding dumping pollutants in the creeks and into the storm drains that drain into the creeks, the healthier all the wildlife is including insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. As we build more into the open spaces, the creeks will become even more important as pathways to allow populations of a species to find each other and interbreed to keep the wild populations healthy.” Cycles of flood and drought as well as human inter vention have reshaped t he cours e of local waterways. Storms that started in late 1861 and continued into `1862 In June FSRC will tackle this huge Front Street Arundo stand. After t u r n e d C a l i a major slide the Town of Danville installed the retaining wall and fornia valleys cleared the near creek bank. Photo courtesy of FSRC. into lakes. One quarter of the state’s cattle drowned in the flood. Then, everything dried up. In Up and Down California, William Brewer describes entering the San Jose Valley on May 27, 1864: “The drought is terrible. In this fertile valley, there will not be over a quarter crop, and during the past four days’ ride, we have seen dead cattle by the hundreds.” Following 1958 flooding that washed out Danville Boulevard north of Alamo and caused extensive erosion, the Army Corps of Engineers led an effort to install concrete “drop structures” to stabilize the situation. On or about June 18th, FSRC will tackle a huge Arundo infestation on Danville's Front Street north of Diablo Road. You can watch from the road. FSRC is a member of the Walnut Creek Watershed Council. Learn more about Arundo removal, FSRC projects, and how to get involved at wcwatershed. org/friends-of-san-ramon-creek.html. See the “Clip Notes” column on page 18 for additional Arundo information.

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UNWANTED HAIR? WE CAN HELP

By Jerome Potozkin, MD

This is a great time of year. The weather is getting warmer, and we can go out with less clothing than in the cold winter months. For some of us, this means being annoyed by unwanted hair. Fortunately, laser hair removal is an option that has recently undergone major advances. Laser hair removal started to take off like a rocket in the late nineties. There was huge demand for this procedure. Lasers remove hair by emitting a beam of light that passes through the skin and targets the pigment or melanin in the hair. This light energy is converted to heat energy to destroy the hair follicle. The lasers pulse on and off so fast that, in theory, no heat is spread to surrounding skin structures. This minimizes the risk of scarring. Most lasers used for hair removal protect the outer layers of the skin by cooling. The laser may use contact cooling where the laser tip is chilled and comes in direct contact with the skin or with dynamic cooling where a cryogen or cooling spray hits the skin just as, or before, the laser fires, protecting the skin. This allows the laser to deliver more energy to the hair follicle while protecting the pigment in the epidermis or outer layer of the skin. For many years, we used one of the gold standards for laser hair removal. This year we added Cocoon’s Primelase laser hair removal device as it is a dramatic improvement over the existing technology we were using. We are one of the first laser centers in the United States to add this device. The major advantage of this device is that it combines the same great results we have been able to achieve, but treatments can be performed comfortably and in far less time. The ideal candidate for laser hair reduction has light skin with dark hair. This scenario results in the maximum amount of energy destroying the hair follicle with minimal absorption by the outer layers of the skin. Darker skinned patients with dark hair can be successfully treated, but they will usually require more treatments with more conservative energy settings. People who are tan should postpone treatments as far lower, less effective settings have to be employed. Unfortunately, lasers are ineffective in treating light colored hair or peach fuzz. Other technologies are being investigated to remove light colored hair, but they are still on the horizon. Men and women who come to our office typically seek treatment for different areas. Women usually seek treatment for any facial hair, armpits, legs, and bikini area. Men often seek treatment for hairy backs and shoulders. Most people will require at least three treatments spaced about eight weeks apart. Some will require some ongoing maintenance. The cost for the procedure depends upon how large of an area is treated. If you have unwanted hair and are interested in laser hair removal, call us today at 925-838-4900 to schedule a hair removal consultation. Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. The practice is accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and www. MyBeautyMd.com. Advertorial

FREE CONSULTATIONS TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED CONCERNS

Hope Hospice has launched video conference service that is, at this time, complimentary to the public in our area.“Many of the family caregivers who attend our classes find themselves in the caregiver role unexpectedly and without resources,” says program manager Jill Smith, RN. “The face-to-face classes have helped these individuals tremendously in learning about the changes to expect in their loved one and how to adjust techniques as the disease progresses.” Zoom conferencing will be used to conduct private consultations with family members who have questions on specific challenges they are facing in caring for a loved one living with dementia. Submit a meeting request via email to jills@hopehospice.com, or call (925) 829-8770. Email is preferred. Learn more at www.HopeHospice.com.

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YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST By Linda Michaelis RD, MS HOW TO ENJOY SUMMER PARTIES AND NOT FEEL DEPRIVED

We are all excited to be out there in the world again and enjoying parties. Often at parties, there is an enticing spread of appetizers begging to be devoured even before the main meal is served. Does digging into those sound familiar? You are not alone. It is not unusual to consume an entire day’s worth of calories in a short time. Mindful eating is crucial to health and is all about listening to your hunger, paying attention to portions on your plate, and making sure the food is tasty, or if not, just pushing it aside. You can put the waste on your hips or better, put the waste in the garbage. Adopt the following tips, and you will be able to control your appetite at a party.

EAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE

When I work with new clients, I often hear how they starve themselves all day before a party and reserve a great appetite for the event. They go from one extreme of being famished to the other in being uncomfortably stuffed in a short period of time. It is important to eat well before a party. I suggest a pre-party snack of an egg white omelet with vegetables, tuna stuffed in a tomato, or a shrimp salad. Each are high in protein and fiber, and will leave you with a reasonable appetite for the party. Arriving at a potluck, consider bringing a healthy appetizer that will prevent you from grazing.

CREATE AN INSTANT PLAN

Like we plan our day, we need to plan how we will execute the meal presented to us. If it is a buffet, walk down the buffet line first, and decide what you would like to enjoy. A party is not necessarily the time to have perfect nutrition, but it should be a time to enjoy foods you don’t eat often. Usually, party foods are richer, and we need to have reasonably sized portions. Balance out the delicious gourmet cheeses and great breads and crackers with a protein and some veggies. If you are at a sit-down meal, you can order an extra salad. Don’t eat a meal you don’t particularly like. It is better to eat a little and save yourself for a yummy dessert.

June 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 31

EAT SLOWLY

This is a time to enjoy and savor your food. Pay more attention to the flavor, texture, and aroma. If you are seated, put your hands under your butt or pull your chair away from the table to take a break from the food. Pick up your utensil and put it down in between bites of food, and then take a drink of water. This will slow down your consumption.

ENJOY ALCOHOL

Another reason to eat before you arrive at a party is to avoid drinking on an empty stomach. With an empty stomach, you will quickly get buzzed and end up eating more in order to chase the feeling. When you order a drink, always have water next to it, and alternate drinking. Vodka and gin with mixers are the lowest calorie alcoholic drinks, and people tend to drink less because they are so strong. Drinking several glasses of wine equates to consuming a lot of sugar, and it leaves you with not a great feeling the next morning. It is best again to chase it with water to prevent hangovers.

WORK THE ROOM

Working the room means becoming more of a social butterfly. Eat your meal and then walk away and make it a point to talk to as many people as you can. Invite a friend to come and sit with you away from the food, and relocate yourself and your companion so you can mingle. During my nutritional counseling sessions, we always walk through social engagements and gain confidence on how to handle the situation. Over time, I see my clients becoming very successful in feeling like they know how to put into action the plan we have reviewed. Often, I see people who overindulge on the weekend, and then it takes an entire week to lose the extra weight. Oh my goodness, somehow we do it again the following weekend. Please feel free to call me to help you prevent this vicious cycle. I am glad to inform you that I am contracted with most insurance companies including Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CCHP, Sutter, UHC and more. I am happy to call your insurance company on your behalf to see what coverage your plan offers. Please visit my website, www.LindaRD.com, to learn more about my services. Feel free to email me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com, or call me at 925-855-0150 to tell me about your nutritional concerns and see how I may help you. Advertorial

PAGE 32 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2021

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Coldwell Banker is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

2021 JUNE ~ Alamo Today & Danville Today News

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