The Valley Sentinel_July 2021

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Park Named After Thurgood Marshall Summer Harvest Activities Spiral Snake Craft Summer Stars in Dark Skies Hot-Weather Hiking Tips Plus many more fun activities for kids and families!

28 wounded veterans graduated from Sentinel of Freedom Bridge for Education program this semester, SoF expecting to graduate 16 more by the end of the year.

Sentinel’s Bridge for Education assists wounded veterans in finding their unique path to a fulfilling post-military life, by filling the gaps that GI Bill payments do not cover.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our

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As we move through the month of July, there are certainly reasons to celebrate the gradual lessening of restrictions.

However, it’s important to remember that this crisis, this Pandemic, isn’t over. The celebration of the birth of our nation and now the rebirth of our way of life must be protected by each of us remaining vigilant and doing our part to protect our nation and those we love. Make sure to get vaccinated, be vigilant when in public spaces both inside and out and continue using mitigation against this virus and its mutations.

Meet the American Dipper

By James M. Hale

The American Dipper or Water Ouzel (Cinclus mexicanus) is an uncommon vagrant or visitor to East Bay streams. Fast-moving, western rocky streams, from Panama to Alaska, are the Dipper’s preferred habitat. I have observed them in rare encounters at Jewel Lake, Wildcat Creek, the Tilden Botanical Gardens near Lake Anza, Kaiser Creek, and Alameda Creek during the rainy season. The Dipper is a plump, dark gray bird with stiff, short tail feathers.

The head is cloaked with hazel brown feathers. White highlights cover the eyelids, wings, and tail feathers. A dark, dagger-like beak is adapted for capturing its prey. Juvenile birds have a yellowish bill and barred, lighter underparts.

The American Dipper is about six and one half inches long with a nine-inch wingspan. They average one and one half ounces in weight.

The habit of bobbing up and down

on its long, pinkish` legs, during pauses while foraging, gives the American Dipper its name. Naturalist John Muir offers this account of the American Dipper: “Find a fall, or cascade, or rushing rapid … and there you will find the complementary Ouzel, flitting about in the spray, diving in the foaming eddies, whirling like a leaf among foam-bells; ever vigorous and enthusiastic, yet self-contained, and neither seeking nor shunning your company.”

One of the world’s most unusual songbirds, the American Dipper is adapted to its niche with scaly nose plugs, dense plumage, strong claws, ‘eyelids’ for protection from water spray, and an oil gland for water-proofing its feathers. While foraging along fast-moving streams, the Dipper

will suddenly pause, flash its white eyelids, then plunge into the frigid waters. The bird will walk or “fly” along the rocks and gravel of the streams, in search of aquatic insects and their larvae, fish fry, or eggs for food.

This Month’s Special Section:

Senior Living page 6

Dragonfly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, small crayfish, tadpoles, and small fish are common food items. Then it will pop up where See DIPPER page 5

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL July 2021 valleysentinel.com

Coal Mine Exhibit Now Open

by Beverly Lane East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors

mines and towns had been a b a n d o n e d . T h e l a rg e s t mining company moved to Washington State, where a better grade of coal had been discovered. In addition, as the Contra Costa mines dug deeper, the cost of extraction began to exceed the value of the product obtained.

Coal mining has always been hard and dangerous work.

You can gain new appreciation of how hard and dangerous it was by experiencing a new exhibit at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch.

To set the scene: from the 1850s through the early 1900s, the area including what is now the park was California’s largest coal mining region. Some four million tons of coal were extracted from half a dozen mines, fueling California’s industrial revolution.

At the peak of operations, more than 900 miners and their families lived and worked in the area. Some of the miners were boys as young as eight years old. The now-vanished towns of Nortonville and Somersville were among the most populous places in Contra Costa County.

But by about 1910, the

Mining resumed between the 1920s and the late 1940s, this time for silica sand. The mine at Somersville supplied sand for the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company in Oakland and the one in Nortonville supplied foundry sand to the Columbia

Steel Works in Pittsburg.

But a shift to better quality glass sand from Belgium eventually closed down the local sand mines.

After acquiring the property and opening the preserve in 1976, East Bay Regional Park District established an underground mining museum in the old sand mine tunnels. The former coal mines are too dangerous for public entry.

Tours of the former sand mine tunnels give visitors lots of information about the history of both coal and sand mining within the park. And now, the district has converted one of the small sand mining tunnels into a replica coal mining operation offering 30-minute tours.

Walking into the short tunnel, you encounter mannequins dressed in 19th century work clothes, smudged with gray coal dust.

Up a short slope, an adult miner lies prone, wielding a pick at the coalface, while a young boy pushes lumps of coal down slope towards a steel cart for transport to the surface. Through a recording, miners’ conversations are

Mclaughlin Eastshore State Park

by Ned MacKay, East Bay Regional Parks

If you are looking for a cool place on a hot summer day, one of the best is McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, which is operated on behalf of the state by the East Bay Regional Park District.

The park is a linear combination of parkland and trails that gives public access to San Francisco Bay’s eastern

shoreline for 8.5 miles between the Bay Bridge and Richmond.

It is named in honor of longtime environmental activist Sylvia McLaughlin, co-founder of Save the Bay, whose decades of efforts led to preservation of the shoreline in open space.

A good access is Albany Beach at the bay end of Buchanan Street in Albany.

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Amenities include a parking lot (though parking can be limited on weekends), a toilet, and a sand beach where you can swim. Swim at your own risk; there’s no lifeguard service.

You can also walk or bicycle out to the adjacent Albany Bulb, owned by the city of Albany. A former dumpsite, the Albany Bulb is notable for its ever-changing collection of artwork fashioned from old construction rubble and other refuse.

If you go to the bulb, watch your step. Off the wide dirt roads, the paths through the brush and rocks can be hazardous underfoot.

From Albany Beach, the paved multi-use San Francisco Bay Trail leads north towards Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond.

Heading south, the trail leads to Berkeley Meadow at the foot of University Avenue and on to the Emeryville Crescent just north of the Bay Bridge toll plaza.

Other attractions along the way are the Berkeley Yacht Harbor, Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park, the Emeryville

heard in English and Welsh, since many of the miners were immigrants from Wales.

Tours of the underground mining museum cost $6 per person, and tours of the new coal mine exhibit cost $3.

Advance reservations are necessary, and for safety reasons, participants must b e a t l e a s t s eve n ye a rs old. For more information and reservations, call the park district reservations department at 888-327-2757, option 2.

Admission is free to t h e p a r k ’s u n d e rg ro u n d Greathouse visitor center, which is where the new coal mine tour starts. The visitor center is in a large former sand mining chamber. Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on

weekends, it contains photos and artifacts from the park’s coal and sand mining eras.

All ages are welcome in the visitor center.

Another historic feature of the park is Rose Hill Cemetery, where many of the miners and their families are buried. The cemetery is a 10 to 15-minute walk up a hill from the Somersville townsite.

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 in Antioch.

There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended.

For more information on Black Diamond Mines and other regional parks, see the district’s website, www. ebparks.org.

Marina and Emeryville’s Shorebird Park.

The Brickyard site across University Avenue from the Meadow is currently closed for site stabilization and a vegetation management project.

Acting as agent for the state, East Bay Regional Park District used funds from the district’s 1988 Measure AA and state park bonds to acquire the Eastshore State Park property and clean up contaminated areas at a cost of more than $33 million. There are more improvements planned for the future.

For more information about McLaughlin Eastshore State Park and a downloadable map, visit www.ebparks.org.

Click on “Parks & Trails” at the top of the home page.

parks can reach capacity quickly on summer weekends, especially parks that have swim beaches or pools. Some parks have to stop entries as soon as 11 a.m. So arrive early and avoid disappointment.

Please be patient if entrance kiosks are extra busy.And be sure to keep an eye on your children at the swim areas. The lifeguards are well trained, but always appreciate your vigilance.The district is still encouraging visitors to observe social distancing and have masks available to wear when distancing isn’t possible, such as on narrow trails and at indoor or crowded venues.

* * * Covid-19 update: generally speaking, regional park district campgrounds, picnic sites, swimming and some programs are open and available. But check first before you go. Go to the website, www.ebparks. org, and visit “Register and Reserve” for more information.

Remember, too, that regional

* * * If you are reading this before July 4, or even if the date has passed, a reminder: fireworks of any kind are illegal in the East Bay Regional Parks. Moreover, smoking, including vaping, is not allowed. Compliance is especially urgent this season, given the extreme fire danger due to months of hot, dry weather. With everyone’s cooperation, we can have a safe and fire-free summer season.

valleysentinel.com

July 2021

Regional In Nature

by Ned MacKay, East Bay Regional Parks

Usually the Fourth of July is occasion for lots of parades, special events, and other celebrations. However, because of covid-related concerns, this year’s holiday was more subdued.

Nevertheless, there is plenty you can still do to celebrate in the regional parks and elsewhere. Regional in Nature has lots of good suggestions.

First of all, everyone should be aware that fireworks of any kind, even the supposedly safe and sane variety, are prohibited in the regional parks. Compliance is especially urgent this year, due to the ongoing drought and high fire danger. And smoking, including vaping, is against the rules, too.

If you do plan a picnic in a regional park, it’s best

to arrive early. Parks tend to be crowded on holiday weekends, and you can find that all the picnic tables are taken.

Crowds are especially likely at regional parks with swim areas. Swimming is first-come, first-served at D e l Va l l e Re g i o n a l Pa r k south of Livermore, with no attendance restrictions until park capacity is reached.

The swim beaches at Lake Anza near Berkeley and Lake Temescal in Oakland remain closed because of water level and water quality issues. The swim area at Quarry Lakes in Fremont has been closed, too, because of low water levels. However the district has now reopend it.

Other swim facilities no longer require reservations

and will accept walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis until maximum swim c a p a c i t y i s re a c h e d . A l l swim registrations made online through July 4 will be honored.

To ensure you get a spot, you can still make optional swimming reservations for weekends and holidays at Contra Loma in Antioch, Cull Canyon in Castro Valley, Don Castro in Hayward, and Roberts Pool in Oakland. The pool at Castle Rock in Walnut Creek is now drop-in only, no reservations needed.

The reservations number is 888-327-2757, Option 2.

Other activities include berry picking at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.

Registered participants will be able to pick berries at the farm 9:30 a.m. on Sundays, July 25, August 1 and 15.

To register, visit ebparks.org/ Ardenwood.

Parks Provide Healthy Activities and Education Safety in Transition

by Ned MacKay, East Bay Regional Parks

In what park district counsel Carol Victor described as “a milestone moment,” East Bay Regional Park District’s board of directors voted unanimously at their July 6 meeting to end the district’s emergency status that had been invoked at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move is in response to a June 15 announcement by the state of California that industries statewide can resume usual operations, with appropriate risk reduction measures including masking and vaccinations.

The park district activated its own Emergency Operations Center 15 months ago, with re p re s e n t a t i ve s f ro m a l l district departments. Its final meeting was on June 16.

Although the district’s C OV I D - 1 9 r e s t r i c t i o n s remain in place, the district has resumed more normal operations, including reopening of visitor centers a n d s w i m f a c i l i t i e s, i n person recreation and nature i n t e r p re t a t i ve p ro g ra m s, facility rentals, and the return of remotely-working staff back to in-person work.

District staff has determined that although the pandemic is not over, the situation is within the normal capacity of the park d i s t r i c t t o a d d re s s. T h e decision follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health.

Director Ellen Corbett called the district’s response to the pandemic “a shining example of how to deal with COVID in a very effective way.” While encouraging precautions such as masking and social distancing, the district has kept almost all its parks and trails open during the pandemic, offering safe places for outdoor recreation.

As in-person programs and special events resume, the schedule will be announced at the park district website, www.ebparks.org. You can view the calendar of events by clicking on “Activities” at the top of the home page, then on “Naturalist Information/Programs.” * * * And it’s not too late to join in the 2021 Trails Challenge, the self-guided way to explore new regional parks.

Trails in the challenge range the spectrum from easy and flat to strenuous and steep. Hike any five of the trails, or 26.2 miles of trails within the park district, turn in your trail log by Dec. 1, and receive a commemorative pin (while supplies last).

For more information, v i s i t w w w. e b p a r k s . o r g / TrailsChallenge. * * * While you are out there, remember to be prepared for

the hot weather. When you’re on the trails, be sure to carry (and drink) plenty of water.

Once you are away from the trailheads and picnic areas, there isn’t any potable water available. And don’t forget water for your dog, if you have Fido with you.

Trail travel is best in the morning, before the heat of the day. And whether you go early or later, plot a route through more shady areas. Some good examples include the Bay View Trail at Pt. Pinole in Richmond, Wildcat Gorge Trail at Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, the Stream Trail at Reinhardt Re d wo o d Re g i o n a l Pa r k in Oakland, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland hills, and Big Bear Loop at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley. Trail maps of these and other regional parks can be downloaded from the district website.

Cover up from the sun, too. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, light-colored clothing, and lots of sunscreen.

If you go alone, be sure to tell someone responsible where you are going and when you expect to return.

Check in with them when you get back.

With a little common sense and some advance planning, we can all enjoy safe and enjoyable recreation experiences as the regional parks and other public open spaces move toward more normal pre-pandemic operations

THE VALLEY SENTINEL Independence Day was cause for elaborate observances back in the 19th century at present-day Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. The n ow - va n i s h e d t ow n s o f Somersville and Nortonville hosted parades, picnics and dances.

Those days are gone, but you can catch some of the flavor through an article and photos in Regional in Nature.

There’s also a cookie recipe from a 1900 coal country cookbook.

At Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, the visitor center is open for self-guided tours. The center has lots of displays and information highlighting the culture of the Ohlone Indians who inhabited a village there for millennia before the arrival of Europeans.

For more information, visit the website, ebparks.org/parks/ coyote_hills.

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Other visitor centers are open, too. Since hours of operation are changing as we speak, it’s best to check them on the district website, www. ebparks.org.

Astronomy is an activity you can enjoy in your own backyard. The July/August Regional in Nature has an article with instructions on where to spot the summer triangle. It’s a shape formed by three stars: Vega, Deneb and Altair, each of which is part of its own constellation. Vega is almost directly overhead. Read the article, get a reclining chair, and enjoy the celestial show.

These are just a few suggestions. But however you spend it, have a safe visit to the regional parks and other public open space.

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL July 2021 valleysentinel.com

Contra Costa Animal Services Partnering with PetHub on New License Tags

CCAS/PetHub Partnership: Pet Identification for the 21st Century CCAS is excited to announce that we are now partnering with PetHub to ensure lost pets in Contra Costa County find their way home as quickly as possible.

Since July 1, 2021, CCAS began issuing our new PetHub tags for all new license applications and renewals.

And if you’re as excited as we are about these awesome new tags and simply cannot wa i t u n t i l yo u r re n ewa l date to get your updated tag – don’t worry, we are also accepting replacement license applications.

PetHub’s system links a p hys i c a l I D t a g t o a n animal’s online profile that

can be accessed through an encrypted connection by anyone with a mobile device, whether a smartphone or standard cellular phone.

That profile can be updated free-of-charge at PetHub. com to allow the owner to list emergency contact information, including that of anyone who helps care for the animal, such as spouses, pet sitters, veterinarians, and other family and friends.

Optional upgrades include “ f o u n d p e t ” a l e r t s, G P S notifications, and a way to broadcast a missing pet’s profile to local shelters and businesses (think “Amber alert,” but for pets).

This is a powerful new tool that we are providing to pet parents in Contra Costa County that will support our goal of getting pets back to their families more quickly and reducing the number of lost pets coming into our shelter.

For more information please call (925) 608-8400.

Contra Costa County Library Celebrates an Increase of 121 More Open Hours at 17 Libraries Following Contra Costa County Library is now celebrating an increase in open hours at 17 community libraries.

Nine libraries have increased hours thanks to funding from city partners. The County has also increased the number of base hours it funds at each library from 35 to 40, allowing for an increase in hours at eight libraries.

In total, libraries will be open an additional 121 hours per week, 16.5 hours more per week than before the pandemic began.

“It is wonderful that so many cities and towns in the county see the immense

value library services provide to our communities,” said Diane Burgis, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “Prioritizing an increase to library hours means more access to important services and resources for everyone.”

Five libraries have also changed their hours of operation. The new schedules help to align staffing at libraries across the county and address a goal in the Library’s Strategic Plan, to deliver a consistent, high-quality, and inviting experience at all points of contact.

STAND DOWN ON THE DELTA is a four-day, threenight event in which Veterans are provided medical and dental, court and legal services, DMV, Housing, addiction and mental health counseling, employment, and a myriad of other community services.

September 10 – 13, 2021 Thank you for your contribution to Delta Veterans Group.

Your support will help out Veterans and their families in the greatest need to make the toughest transition of their lives.

Delta Veterans Group is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.

Tax ID #462650624. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law

Register Online at:

www.DeltaVeteransGroup.Org Registration is open until 9/1/21

Understanding a pay stub

• L o c a l Ta x : S o m e cities or counties levy a local tax. Depending on where you live or work, you may not be subject to this tax and, therefore, won’t see anything withheld.

• Social Security Tax: This tax might be abbreviated as FICA, SS, SSWT or OASDI. T h e f e d e ra l g ove r n m e n t requires that 6.2 percent of your wages be withheld.

• Medicare: This tax is typically abbreviated as MWT or Med. The federal government requires that 1.45 percent of your wages be withheld.

• Year-to-date (for pay and deductions): The year-todate fields show how much you have earned up to that point and what has been deducted for each tax or benefit.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.

The agency also helps colleges manage their student loan default rates and verify information submitted on the FAFSA. For more information about those services, visit www.kheaa.com.

In addition, KHEAA disburses private Advantage Education Loans on behalf of its sister agency, KHESLC. For more information, visit www. advantageeducationloan.com.

When a student gets their first job, one thing they need to learn early on is how to read and understand their pay stub, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KKHEAA.) Federal and state tax codes are complicated, so learning about the deductions you see on your pay stub is vital to managing your money and budgeting. When it comes to the federal income tax withheld from your pay, you should make sure the right amount is being taken out. When you file your taxes, you don’t want to discover that you owe a large amount because you didn’t have enough withheld throughout the year.

Each employer’s pay stub is different, but you will usually see these items: • Gross Pay: This is what you earned during that pay period before any taxes or benefits, such as insurance, were withheld.

• N e t Pa y : T h i s i s your take-home pay after withholdings.

• Fe d e ra l Ta x : T h i s might be abbreviated as Fed Tax, FT or FWT. It shows how much was withheld from your paycheck in federal income taxes.

• State Tax: This could be abbreviated as St Tax, STW or simply by the abbreviation of the state in which you reside. Your state many not have a state income tax.

Historic Tales of Alamo, California

The just released book by Beverly Lane with Sharon Burke, published

by History Press

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.

$21.99

The book can be purchased at The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville.

(925) 837-3750.

lane

Beginning with the area’s geology and native peoples, H i s t o r i c Ta l e s o f A l a m o provides a comprehensive history of this vibrant community in the north part of the San Ramon Valley.

Tales about Ranches, the early orchardssettlers, horses the originandofchampionship Alamo’s name, O the early ranchos, and title controversies. The book also covers the twentieth century challenges the community has faced. In addition are new as well as rarely seen photographs of Alamo. A special section on the origins of the street names is also included. This book is a must read for any present or past Alamo resident or anyone with a curiosity about this great community.

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

Contra Costa County Fairgrounds located in Antioch

the Independence Day holiday, three additional libraries were open to the public for the first time in more than 15 months. The Ygnacio Valley Library in Walnut Creek is no longer serving as a COVID-19 test site. The parking lot will be replaced this summer and the library is scheduled to reopen in early fall. No exact date is available at this time.

“Our libraries served our communities in so many ways during the pandemic, with a safe Front Door Service option, as COVID test sites, using 3D printers to create PPE, collecting donations, and with more than 70 staff members working in disaster service roles,” said County Librarian Alison McKee. “We are very proud of the work we provided but are more excited to have all 26 of our libraries open to the public very soon.”

Visit ccclib.org to sign up for a library card and get connected to books and resources. For questions about Library services and programming or account information, contact the Library via online Chat, email ask@library.cccounty. us or text questions to (925) 290-7627.

Fo r m e d i a i n q u i r i e s, please contact Public Information Officer Brooke Converse at brooke. converse@library.cccounty. us or (925) 329-8414.

Money Tip for Students

Historic Tales of

ALAMO CALIFORNIA BEVERLY LANE with Sharon Bu rk e

valleysentinel.com

July 2021

Danville’s Amazing Race Check Back In for the Fall 2021 Amazing Race It’s a race around Downtown Danville with your three fastest friends for the third annual Danville Amazing Race!

Teens in sixth through twelfth grade can sign up a team of four people for an Amazing Race scavenger hunt through Downtown Danville. Participants will receive clues at different locations around town that will prompt them to finish

challenges in order to receive their next clue. Challenges include blindfold frosting, improv skits, pop quizzes and more.

The team with the most points will win the grand prize.

For more information, contact Teen Coordinator, Lindsay Gallardo at (925) 31 4 - 3 4 0 3 o r l g a l l a r d o @ danville.ca.gov.

showed up for pancakes on July 4th.

All the food was donated

by Luna Loca, except an anonymous donor who provided the breakfast sausage.

The event raised over $2500 for local non-profits in the San Ramon Valley.

A huge thank you to everyone who showed up to re-live the tradition and support the Kiwanis

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The Walnut Creek Garden Club Welcomes You We welcome you to visit our meetings and to become a part of The Walnut Creek Garden club!

Yo u ’ l l f i n d f r i e n d l y members, with varying interests including: • C r e a t i n g a n d improving our gardens with new plants and techniques • Supporting Garden Education in local schools • S u p p o r t i n g l o c a l environmental charities with community grants • Learning about the fun of arranging flowers

4th July Pancake Breakfast hosted by The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley raises $2500 for local non-profits Foundation Grants Program.

For many years, there was a pancake breakfast in Danville before the Kiwanis 4th of July parade.

Because there was no parade on July 4th this year, the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley, who normally put on the parade, decided to put their efforts toward a pancake breakfast instead. So in partnership with the Town of Danville and Luna Loca restaurant, over 300 people

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

Please visit srvkiwanis. org/grants for more information on the groups we support. Kiwanis members would love to continue the pancake breakfast tradition, but in the short term, they are working on organizing the 2021 parade. It is scheduled for 9am on September 4th, with the theme of Honoring our Healthcare Heroes and all First Responders.

• Volunteering to help local gardens, fundraisers and plant sales We meet the second Monday of each month at 9:30 AM, September through June at The Gardens at Heather Farm.

If interested in joining our Club or for more information, please visit our website at www.walnutcreekgardenclub. org.

DIPPER from page 1

you least expect it, bob up and down from its perch, and sing with magnificent whistles and trills. Both sexes sing all year. The American Dipper defends a linear territory or home range along its streams.

This indicator species shows good water quality. During the spring nesting season, the American Dipper will build a globe-shaped nest out of moss, lichen, and vegetation, in a well protected ledge along a stream or waterfall. The entrance is at the bottom.

The female will incubate two to four eggs for fifteen to seventeen days. The nestlings will fledge in twenty to twentyfive days.

A South Dakota American Dipper lived to be eight years

and one month old. Habitat loss, poor water quality, and drought are serious limiting factors to the American Dipper’s survival, and have resulted in thirty-five percent range reduction.

James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist, ethnobiologist, and ecological consultant based in Contra Costa County. Please visit his website at www. dochale.com

Senior Living page 6

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

July 2021 valleysentinel.com

Why Caregivers Should Breathe Deeply

6 Breath Exercises to relieve stress

by Mary Brook, Senior Living Specialist

Caregivers have a tough job and right now is the most stressful time they have ever experienced. As an Administrator, it is important to help your staff relieve stress both on and off the job.

This is how you can help.

By practicing these 6 simple breathing exercises you are offering them life skills they can use in their daily lives.

1. Take a deep breath in through your nose and slowly let the air out of your mouth.

And, as you exhale start to smile and think of something that makes you happy.

2. Inhale through your nose as you reach your arms toward the sky in a sweeping motion and exhale through your mouth as you bring them down through your heart center.

3. Stand upright, stacking your shoulders over your hips, and soften your knees.

Place your mind’s eye on your

breath and slow your breath down. As you slow your breath relax your face. Let go of the tightness in your muscles around your mouth. Relax your jaw. Calmly breathe in and out of your nose.

4. Sit in a chair. Close your eyes and focus on your breath.

Watch your breath travel from your diaphragm, lungs, and up through the back of your throat, and out through your nose and in through your nose.

Repeat.

5. While sitting in a chair hold your breath briefly and then let your breath go until your breath is out of your lungs, and belly.

6. Place your left hand on your heart and your right hand on your belly. Take a deep breath filling up the belly, diaphragm, and lungs like a balloon. Then let all your breath out of your belly until there is no more air in your diaphragm and lungs.

It has been proven that breathing deeply will lower your blood pressure, reduced tension, and bring a sense of calm to yourself and others around you. Helping caregivers take care of themselves so they can take care of others.

Mary Brook has worked in several Assisted Living communities throughout the

HOSPICE

is not what you think it is.

Did you know that you can receive hospice or palliative care services and still…

• Go out to lunch with friends?

• Attend religious services or club meetings?

• Play golf, tennis or any physical activity you can handle?

• Travel? Enjoy life?

Call us for more information.

HospiceEastBay.org | (925) 887-5693

United States. It has given her a unique perspective on the Senior Living Industry.

Because of her life experiences she brings a special point of view to Assisted Living communities. Currently, she holds an RCFE Administrator’s certification, Personal Training, and Yoga certificates. When not working, she can be found

hiking with her dog Mia and creating healthy living recipes for friends and family.

If you have any questions about the Assisted Living industry, please feel free to email her at: Mzm.brook@ gmail.com.

Check out more of her writings at: Clippings.me/ marylbrook

valleysentinel.com

July 2021

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

Local High School Graduates Honored at Military “Swearing-In Ceremony”

SENTINELS from page 1

These young graduating students ‘take an oath’ to honor and serve our country.

Graduates entering military service from high schools in the San Ramon Valley were honored at a special “SwearingIn” ceremony held at the Town Green in Danville on Sunday, May 23.

They were welcomed by the keynote speaker, Brigadier General Erich Novak of the US Air Force who said that it was an honor to recognize these young men and women who have volunteered to serve their country in the branches of the military that they have chosen.

He then called up each group of new recruits to stand and recite the Oath of Enlistment for their respective branch of service.

Enlistees entering the US Marine Corps: David Chee Joshua Rosado Paiom Zargar Arturo Escobosa John McGee Enlistees is entering the US Navy: Anthony Carbone Enlistees entering the US Army: Bennett Keefe Gavin Gannod

Enlistees entering the US Air Force: Joseph Powada Anthony Green Owen Lynch Five graduates were also recognized who are entering US Military Academies: Jackson Collier-US Naval Academy Timothy Greenhouse-US Military Academy Olivia Romo-US Military Academy Lily Holtmeier-US Military Academy Charles Lee-US Military Academy After being sworn in, each enlistee received a rose to present to their parent.

At t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f the formal ceremony, Major General Ronald Lowe, US A r my ( re t . ) a n d D e n n i s G i a c ove l l i , P re s i d e n t o f the Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley, presented each enlistee with a Veterans Memorial Building challenge coin. These recruits also re c e i ve d C e r t i f i c a t e s o f Appreciation from local civic leaders.

Scalia and Ginsberg are Coming to Walnut Creek Searching for a great way to put behind all the craziness that was 2020 and begin healing the divide between the right and left? Look no further than Solo Opera’s production of Derrick Wang’s one-hour comedic opera in English, Scalia/Ginsburg. Inspired by the opinions of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg (liberal) and Antonin Scalia (conservative), the opera highlights their unlikely bi-partisan friendship and mutual love of opera. They

disagreed on how to interpret the constitution but were both unwavering in their reverence for the sacredness of it. Filled with witty humor and musical nods to favorite composers, this charming opera is sure to appeal to everyone!

The opera’s message is, “We are different. We are one”, a message of healing, friendship, diversity, and inclusiveness.”

Scalia/Ginsburg is booked for Friday, Sept. 10 - 8:00pm and Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 - 2:00pm at the Lesher Center for the Arts. The chamber opera will be accompanied by a sevenpiece orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alexander Katsman.

Seating is reserved and ticket prices are Adults: $50, Seniors: $40, Youth 17 and under: $25.

For tickets call (925) 943-7469 or visit the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office: 1601 Civic Drive Walnut Creek, CA.

Danville Vice Mayor Newell Arnerich served as Master of Ceremonies. The event started with the singing of the National Anthem by Cynthia Lee and was followed by an invocation

by Hugh Keith, Chaplain VFW Post 75. Renee Morgan, Mayor of Danville proceeded with brief remarks, welcoming the local graduates and thanking them for their commitment to serve.

The Blue Star Moms, parents of those currently serving in the military, had a welcome table at the event and spoke with the parents of the newly enlisted service members.

The “Swearing-in Ceremony” was organized by a committee headed by Eric Ardell, Commander of American Legion Post 246 and Mike Regan, Commander of VFW Post 75.

For more information contact: eardell@aol.com 925-984-3184 www.vmbsrv.org

Sentinels stayed positive and on track in their studies through virtual learning. 44 veterans will complete their higher education this year and move on to their next level of achievement.

Sentinel John Arroyo (pictured), a 20-year Army veteran, joined the military because he wanted a change.

John originally planned on serving three years, developing a new skill set then heading home.

John joined the U.S. Army Special Forces and eventually became a highly decorated officer. After completing three combat deployments (two to Afghanistan and one to Iraq) and returning stateside after his final deployment, John was assigned to a medical unit at Fort Hood, Texas. While on duty, John was shot in the throat and neck by another soldier who then went on to kill four more soldiers, including himself, and wounding sixteen others. A bullet traveled through John’s throat and

page 7

right shoulder leaving him paralyzed from the right arm down. After his injury, John battled the unknown and it was through family, faith, and finding Sentinels of Freedom that he was able to move on to the next phase.

John joined the program in January 2019 and recently c o m p l e t e d a M a s t e rs i n Christian Leadership from the School of Urban Missions (SUM) in San Antonio, Texas.

In conjunction with his studies, John felt compelled to highlight the events that took place during the Fort Hood Shooting and published his first book, Attacked at Home: A Green Beret’s Survival Story of the Fort Hood Shooting. His book also tells how he recovered from his life-changing wounds and how he continues to use his Christian faith to protect himself and fellow Special Forces “Operators” while deployed to the Middle East.

To read more Sentinels success stories or to donate go to www.sentinelsoffreedom. org.

Second (Indianhead) Division Association, Inc. Annual Reunion The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the Army's 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the association and our 99th annual reunion in Kansas City, Missouri from September 29 - October 3, 2021; visit our website at www.2ida.org or contact Bob Haynes at 2idahq@comcast. net and (224) 225-1202.

Sentinels of Freedom is a national nonprofit organization that helps severely wounded post-9/11 Veterans with comprehensive personal support and financial assistance as they complete their higher education and achieve success in their post-military careers.

HELP OUR SENTINELS STORY CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. WWW.SENTINELSOFFREEDOM.ORG

Sentinel John W. Walding Business Owner

Sentinel Lina Efremenkova Louisiana State Univeristy

Sentinel Cardia Summers Columbia University

Sentinel Christopher Lamy Juris Doctorate

Contact Us at 925-380-6342 or info@sentinelsoffreedom.org

valleysentinel.com

July 2021

All Aboard for Totally Trains at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is happy to announce that model trains are now running through the museum for their ninth year.

This always popular event is open now.

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 travel over trestles, bridges and through a mountain.

Totally Trains is one of our most popular exhibits.

We will again be offering our Totally Train’s Family pass which for $15.00 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 Danville CA 94526. Our hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10-1, and, Sunday 12-3. You can contact the museum at museumsrv. org or call 925-837-3750

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 8

The Village Theatre Art Gallery Presents: Art After Dark An evening of Live Music, Art, and Dessert The Town of Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery is pleased to announce another date for Art After Dark on Thursday, August 5, 2021.

The event allows participants to enjoy a beautiful Danville summer evening exploring the Art Gallery’s current art exhibit, as well as the colorful l a r g e r - t h a n - l i f e, k i n e t i c mushroom sculptures and live music on the Town Green.

Art After Dark is a ticketed event for over 21s only. Tickets are $10 and include a glass of wine that can be paired with an assortment of desserts. Ticket

holders are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or chairs and settle at the Town Green to enjoy two hours of live classical guitar and jazz music while admiring the changing glow of the larger-than-life mushroom art, Shrumen Lumen.

The Village Theatre Art Gallery patio is the site of the second mushroom sculpture and the Art Gallery will remain open late for those who wish to take in the artwork inside the gallery.

The current exhibition is Altered & Reimagined and features the eclectic and fun

creations of ten Bay Area artists.

Parents can make it a fun evening for the whole family by taking advantage of Kid’s Night Out at The Danville Community Center.

The program runs on August 5, from 6:30 p.m.10:00 p.m. A $5 discount will be offered to those who purchase tickets for the Art After Dark event. Contact the Danville Community Center at 925-314-3400 to book at the discounted rate.

Tickets for Art After Dark are available at www. danville.ca.gov/vtart.

Eugene O’Neill Foundation Festival 2021 Tiny Horizon Stories

Moonlight Movies returns to the Town Green The Town is excited for the return of Moonlight Movies to the Danville Town Green this month. The Town will be showing the animated film “Onward” on Friday, July 30.

Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs, grab a picnic from home or get some food to-go from any of Danville’s local restaurants and settle in to enjoy a movie under the stars.

Movie times are projected to start at around 8pm. but the start time could vary slightly depending on how much light is still out. Free crafts and activities will also be available from 6:30 p.m.

This event is free and preregistration is encouraged. To register visit www.danville. ca.gov/recguide. Socially distanced 6-foot circles will b e m a r ke d o n t h e g ra s s on the Town Green at 420 Front Street. Each circle can accommodate up to 4 people.

Circle availability will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

The latest information on all Town events can be found on the website calendar at www.danville.ca.gov/ calendar For additional information, contact John Dunn at (925) 314-3418 or jdunn@danville.ca.gov.

This year’s Eugene O’Neill Foundation Festival feature production Beyond the Horizon touches on the universal human desire to imagine a wider world of possibilities and a better life. Young Robert Mayo yearns to reach beyond his life on the family farm. He dreams of what awaits him just over the horizon.

As we begin to emerge from these historically challenging times, many of us imagine a future of new possibilities. Eugene O’Neill processed his real-world experiences through storytelling. We invite the community to do the same by writing a tiny story of 100 words or less, similar to Tiny Love Stories made popular by the NY Times Modern Love column. Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes notes “ Pe o p l e a re i n ve s t e d i n their own stories, and this p ro j e c t a l l ows f o r u s t o weave many individual stories into our story.”

Why Tiny Horizon Stories? Why now? Because “the stories we tell can be connective and cathartic - that’s the power of stories – and storytellers are everywhere,” as noted

by Korn Ferry CEO Gary Burnison, who goes on to share “the best stories unify us through common ex p e r i e n c e s, w h i l e a l s o celebrating the differences that broaden our thinking.”

We’re excited to engage our community both locally and globally on stories that are as unique and varied as the possibilities we envision.

So how do you participate? First – Imagine what possibilities and dreams await you just beyond the horizon. Tiny Horizon Stories can be about any theme that inspires you. Next – Write a tiny story about that future you envision in 100 words or less. Then – Send in your Tiny Horizon Story using the form on the eugeneoneill.org website.

A selection of Tiny Horizon Stories will be featured as part of this year’s festival season. With a little

Whether you journal, sketch, paint or hand write notes, document your “tiny story” perspective on what lies beyond! (These antique postcards and junk-journals are handmade by Cottage Jewel artisans for Beyond the Horizon inspirations)

help from mom, a featured story from our youngest contributor Warren, 4 years o l d , f ro m D a n v i l l e, C A , envisions a playful future in his story Licking Lemons: I wish I could meet 50 people at one time. I want to play with them all in my backyard. We don’t have enough balls so we will share them because we can. We will throw them into the basketball

EONF Artistic Director, Eric Fraisher-Hayes hikes the Las Trampas Ridge line for an aerial view of the Tao House.

hoop and kick them to each other, and we will have five or six teams to play soccer. After, we will drink water together and share our snacks. We will lick lemons together and make sour faces. And when we are done, I will say “bye bye” and kiss them...all 50.

Visit eugeneoneill.org for more information on Tiny Horizon Stories and watch for a full production of O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon filmed at Tao House in the fall.

Stroll under the shade trees in Front Street Park across from the Danville Library to read the Eugene O’Neill Commemorative plaques!

valleysentinel.com

July 2021

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

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Danville provides workshops to inform residents about 2023-2031 Housing Element Since its incorporation in 1982, Danville has been a carefully planned community, balancing the desire to preserve its history and open spaces with the need to provide facilities, infrastructure and a c c o m m o d a t e p ro j e c t e d population growth.

This growth is reflected through the Danville Housing Element, one of the seven mandated elements of the General Plan, which is required to be updated in eight-year cycles. Learn more in our Housing 101 section.

RHNA The foundation for the Housing Element is the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), in which the State projects each region’s housing needs for all income groups for the upcoming eight years.

Danville falls within the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) region.

The State has determined that

the Bay Area must plan for an additional 441,176 new units, of which Danville is currently expected to provide approximately 2,241 new homes.

Since the Town does not have a large inventory of vacant land or lands that are primed for redevelopment, accommodating this number of new homes will be a significant challenge.

State Laws State laws govern how cities review and approve housing and housing plans.

As an example, the process and timelines for updating the Housing Element are prescribed by state law. Additionally, the California state legislature has enacted – and continues to propose – new legislation to facilitate housing construction.

While all of these laws focus on spurring housing production, they are not necessarily associated with the housing

Town continues to provide ways for the community to participate in the mandated Housing Element Update As part of a continued effort to harness community input in Danville’s mandated 2023-2031 Housing Element U p d a t e , t h e To w n ’ s engagement platform, www.DanvilleTownTalks. org, now includes a forum where community members can join the discussion and provide ideas, comments, and feedback. In the 2023-2031 update, the Town is mandated by the State to accommodate a minimum of 2,241 new homes.

Launched in Spring 2021, www.DanvilleTownTalks.org also includes surveys, an ideas board, videos, FAQs, and factsheets.

O u t re a c h e f f o r t s i n July also include the third in a series of housing workshops aimed at helping the community understand exactly what Danville is facing in the State mandated Housing Element Update, pending state legislation aimed at eliminating single-family zoning and allowing residents t o a s k q u e s t i o n s. W i t h three previous workshops completed, Town staff will continue to talk about the issues facing Danville and answer questions from participants on Thursday, August 19, Tuesday, August 31, and Saturday, September 18.

Community members can register in advance for this virtual workshop

at https://us02web.zoom. us/webinar/register/WN_ LnRWMEj6RRiZDwBiPmATGA o r v i s i t w w w.

D a n v i l l e To w n Ta l k s . o r g .

Previous workshops can also be viewed at www.

DanvilleTownTalks.org.

The workshops will discuss the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process, state law requirements, and the Housing Element policy document that identifies where and how Danville will accommodate existing and projected future housing needs for people of all income groups.

Additional workshops are scheduled. In addition, a postage-paid, mail survey will be delivered to Danville addresses in the center pages of the Town’s Summer Live Locally Newsletter. The survey asks residents to comment on which aspects of Danville they would like to see preserved as Danville grows. The survey is also available at www.

DanvilleTownTalks.org.

The Town is encouraging community participation and input so that the final plan balances the mandate to accommodate growth while preserving Danville’s history and character.

For additional information, contact Public Information Officer Nicola Shihab at (925) 314-3336 or nshihab@danville.ca.gov.

element update. Learn more in our Housing Legislation section.

Housing Element 20232031 Update Timeline In February 2021, Danville initiated the process of updating its 2023-2031 Housing Element: • Launch Winter 2021 • Engage Spring 2021 • Alternatives SummerFall 2021 • Draft Spring 2022 • Adopt Winter 2023 Stay Informed, Participate The public’s input is critical. It provides insight into resident needs and helps inform decisions on how best to accommodate the RHNA assignment.

Community input and collaboration will be vital as we navigate the challenges expected in the upcoming 20222030 Housing Element Update.

Helping the public to understand the process and

participation and input, we believe we can balance the need to accommodate growth while preserving Danville’s history and character.

V i s i t w w w .

DanvilleTownTalks.org to learn more about the Housing Element Update, sign up for updates, add your comments and register for any of the other workshop dates.

Join us at any of these 2021 Housing 101 Virtual Workshops by registering at www.danvilletowntalks.org.

There will be workshops on Thursday August 19 at 6pm, Tuesday August 31 at 6pm, and Saturday September 18 at 10am.

Residents can also stay informed on the Housing Element Sign up for e-mail updates by visiting https:// www.danville.ca.gov/list. aspx?ListID=303.

provide input will be critical in seeking balance among state mandates and local priorities.

Housing 101 Virtual Community Workshops For The 2023- 2031 Housing Element Update.

The Town of Danville invites the community to register for one of the 2021 Virtual Housing Workshops to join the discussion about Danville’s state-mandated 2023 - 2031 Housing Element Update.

During the workshops we will be talking about the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process, state law requirements, and the Housing Element policy document that identifies where and how Danville will accommodate existing and projected future housing needs for people of all income groups. In the 2023-2031 update, the Town is expected to accommodate a minimum of 2,241 new homes. With your

Take A Break At Big Break

By Ned MacKay, East Bay Regional Park District

Among the East Bay Regional Park District visitor centers offering programs as pandemic-related restrictions ease is the center at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley.

Located on Big Break Road off Main Street (Highway 4), Big Break is a window on the Delta’s rich cultural and natural history. Outside, there’s a kayak launch, a fishing pier, a small amphitheater, a scale model of the entire Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and shoreline trails leading to Brentwood and the Marsh Creek Regional Trail, which is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The shoreline trails at Big Break are open every day during daylight hours. The visitor center is now open from 1:30 to 3:30pm , Thursdays through Sundays. for information and walkthrough exhibits. The center also is offering free, 30-minute programs led by a naturalist at 10am, 11am and Noon on Saturdays and Sundays on the patio outside the visitor center.

The programs are geared for children and their caretakers, but everyone is welcome.

Advance registration is required for the patio programs.

You can register by phoning 888327-2757, option 2.

For information on the status of programs at all the park district visitor centers, check the district website, www.ebparks.org. * * * A song written by Merle Travis advises that coal mines are “dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew, where the dangers are double and the pleasures are few.”

You can sense the truth of his words, without the danger, by experiencing a great new exhibit at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch.

Lands including the present park were the site of California’s most extensive coal mining industry from the 1850s through the early 20th century. Then from the 1920s through late 1940s, sand was mined there for glass and steel production. The park district later obtained the property, and opened the park in 1976.

For many years the district has offered underground tours in the former sand mine tunnels.

Now, a replica of a coal mine section has been created in one of those tunnels, because the actual coal mine tunnels are too dangerous to enter. Mannequins represent the miners, and there’s sound track dialogue in English and Welsh, since many of the miners came from Wales.

The coal seams were sloped and low in height, so you’ll see a miner on his side

digging at the coalface, and a young boy called a knobber pushing coal downslope to be loaded onto a steel cart for transport to the surface.

Knobbers were as young as eight years and worked long shifts underground.

Tours of the new exhibit are 30 minutes long and cost $3 per person. For safety reasons, only ages seven and older are allowed.

Reservations are required.

For reservations and more information, call 888-3272757, option 2. At the same number you can book a tour of the sand mine. Also open to ages seven and older, it’s longer and costs $6 per person.

The park’s underground Greathouse Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays, with limited capacity. Admission is free. All ages are welcome.

Black Diamond Mines is located at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is staffed.

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page 10

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

AUTO March 2009 July 2021

2021 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks 4x4

By David Colman

Red Lobster restaurants used to have a luncheon special called the Outer Banks Sampler.

For under ten bucks you got

before I look at the Monroney sticker. In this Bronco’s case, I picked a number substantially above $40,000, so I was very pleasantly shocked to discover

a delicious combo of shrimp, scallops and clams, plus a nice garden salad and potato of your choice. Although the chain discontinued my favorite lunch years ago, I think it’s resurfaced at Ford with the all-new Bronco Sport Outer Banks 4x4, a very tasty SUV sampler that goes for just $36,045. In automotive dollars, that’s the equivalent of a sub-ten buck lunch.

When I assess a test vehicle, I always try to estimate its price

that the newest addition to the Ford SUV line lists for an eyeopening price of just $32,160.

This number includes the many considerable attributes of the Outer Banks model. Add an additional $1,495 for the Ford CO-Pilot 360 Assist+ package that provides adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, speed sign recognition and voice activated touchscreen navigation.

The Outer Banks interior features lovely “Navy Pier” blue

leather trimmed bucket seats.

These puffy chairs cool you with mini perforations. They also remind you what you’re driving every time you climb aboard because both seat backs feature subtle impressions of a bucking Bronco. The wild horse motif carries over to the start-up logo on the TFT screen when you first open the door. Depress the Start button and you’re treated to another graphic display of boulders loosed from a mountain top by stampeding horses. The list of Outer Banks attributes continues with a shadow black roof which does a great job of visually lowering the SUV’s tall 70 inch profile.

Both front seats are heated, as is the leather steering wheel whose hub is decorated with a chrome bronco emblem.

Dual USB ports (Type C and A) are located inside the center console.

The Outer Banks model features a 4x4 system which Ford humorously calls “G.O.A.T” –an acronym for “Goes Over Any Terrain.” In fact, a central

console knob allows you to dial up 5 GOAT modes as part of the terrain management system. Our favorites for paved road use were Normal for freeway cruises, and Sport, which afforded a well snubbed, athletic pace over poorly maintained country back roads.

The other two mode choices are for “Slippery” and “Sand.” The Outer Banks is the only Bronco Sport equipped with standard 18 inch alloy rims. These machined face aluminum and ebony rims not only improve appearance over the standard 17 inch alloys, but also mount 18 inch Michelin Primacy A/S tires that upgrade the vehicle’s paved road handling. These 18

valleysentinel.com inch Michelins (225/60R18) roll on 60 series sidewalls versus the taller 65 series sidewalls of the 225/65R17 equipment.

Ford offers 5 different versions of the new Bronco Sport. You can buy a Base model ($28,315), Big Bend ( $ 2 9 , 81 5 ) , O u t e r B a n k s ($32,160), Badlands ($34,315), and First Edition ($39,655).

The less expensive models are powered by a turbocharged 1.5 liter, 3 cylinder motor producing 181hp. Upper echelon Bronco Sports replace the inline 3 with a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbo that ups output to 245hp.

Our test Bronco coupled the See BRONCO page 11

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*Place a new vehicle retail order for a 2021 Bronco Sport, EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, F-150 or Ranger between 4/1/2021 and 8/2/2021 and receive $1,000 bonus cash offer. Offer not available on 2022 Models (except for 22MY Transit Connect) or 2021 Super Duty, Mach-E, Bronco, Transit, Mustang Shelby GT500 & Mach-1, Ford GT, or F-150 Raptor. See dealer for complete details and eligibility.

valleysentinel.com

July 2021

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 11

Fuel for Thought: How are our Roads Being Improved by the Gas Tax The project will improve the serve as Class 2 bicycle lanes

By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

Gas prices have certainly been on the forefront of many people’s minds as of late, with drivers noticing a substantial increase in the cost to fill up one’s vehicle.

In California, we can boast having the highest gas prices in the country. For a little over a decade now, as the state legislature has increasingly made it a priority to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy and gradually move away from traditional energy sources, we have seen our state gas tax fluctuate.

These efforts, such as the “Cap and Trade” system of 2013, to reduce such emissions have led to a bump in prices at the pump. And while a tax on gasoline has existed in California for almost a century now, the “Road Repair and Accountability Act,” Senate Bill 1, earned the moniker of “gas tax” in 2017, and it became a watershed moment for statewide policy on infrastructure and transportation.

SB1 raised the price of the tax by 12 cents per gallon in its inaugural year. The

legislation also nearly doubled the diesel fuel tax and created a transportation improvement fee based on a registered vehicle’s value.

The gas tax was billed as a road maintenance bill and thusly, most voters were adamant that SB1 dollars be spent accordingly. A year after Governor Jerry Brown signed SB1 into law, Californians voted to ensure SB1 funds could only be used for transportationrelated purposes.

When it comes to how these funds are allocated, particularly at the local level, it is through a fund established

by SB1 and administered by the State Controller, the Road Maintenance & Rehabilitation Account, that distributes the money equally among cities and counties.

Half of gas tax funds go to the state, while the other half is for local governments and is required to be utilized on transportation projects. The 10year total amount of SB1 New Local Streets & Roads Funding for all of Contra Costa County is $245,179,000.

The breakdown for the cities and towns in District II are as follows: Danville, $12,245,000; Lafayette, $7,082,000; Moraga, $4,717,000; Orinda, $5,356,000; San Ramon, $22,386,000, Walnut Creek, $20,002, 000.

Last year the Bay Area also secured over $400 million in SB1 funding through the California

Transportation Commission (CTC) that will send $18 million to Contra Costa County for the final design of further improvements to the Interstate 680/State Route 4 Interchange.

Caltrans has received most of the SB1 funding, with construction projects going toward programs such as highway repaving, construction of bicycle lanes, sound walls and HOV toll lane construction – all significant measures that make our roads safer.

Funding for County road projects comes from an array of sources beyond the Gas Tax. Our current slate of projected projects gathers funding from sources ranging from SB 1, Contra Costa County, the Active Transportation Program (ATP), Bay Point Area of Benefit, Navy Mitigation Funds, Rule 20A funds, Measure C/J transportation sales tax, regional Measure 3 funds, and the Priority Development Area (PDA) Planning Grant through the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA).

However, the Gas Tax is helping to fund projects in our district, such as the Alamo Roundabout and Danville Boulevard/Orchard Court Complete Streets Improvement Project, located at Danville Blvd and Jackson Way to Stone Valley Road.

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smaller engine to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Under most circumstances, this combination worked well. It will run the 0-60 mph sprint in a fairly athletic 8.4 seconds, and reach the standing start quarter mile in 16.4 seconds (at 84 mph). However, a couple of twolane passing forays convinced me that I would definitely opt for the more powerful 2.0 liter turbo motor for my own Bronco Sport. Certainly, if you have ambitions to tow anything, you’ll definitely want to opt for the bigger engine.

The newest Bronco is a lively, athletic, good looking package that will provide a lot of driving fun. It handles exc e p t i o n a l l y we l l . I t ’s beautifully appointed. Inside, it feels huge, and in fact the numbers bear out that feeling.

With all seats folded flat, you can carry 65.2 cubic feet of cargo inside. Better yet, if you’re a biker, Ford offers a slide out

two-bicycle platform to carry your rides inside the cabin for just $238. I can’t think of much competition for that kind of lockable bike security.

A lot of air will be expended about how the Bronco Sport compares to this model Jeep and that model Subaru. But I think this package is so well conceived and sophisticated that you could put it up against ridiculously overpriced SUVs like the Range Rover Velar and Evoque and come out way on top buying this fetching new Ford instead.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks 4X4 Engine: 1.5 liter DOHC 12 valve inline 3 turbocharged Horsepower: 181hp Torque: 190lb.-ft.

Fuel Consumption: 26MPG City/31MPG Highway Price as Tested: $36,045 Hypes: Handsomely Done, Sensible Fun Gripes: Go for the Turbo 2.0 Star Rating: 10 Stars out of 10

and will conform to existing bike lanes on the east end of the project site near Ashbourne drive. The project will also install a Midwest Guardrail System on the south side of Norris Canyon Road near the west end of the project. This guardrail will be approximately 380’ long.

Of course, these are just a few of the many projects improving our community.

All Contra Costa County Road Construction projects are designed and managed by our in-house Design/Construction staff. To see road construction projects up for bid and future project visit www.contracosta. c a . g o v / 2 61 / Ad v e r t i s e d Upcoming-ConstructionProject. In the coming years, as more eligible projects are taken up and completed, I am hopeful such infrastructure will improve the lives of Contra Costa drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

safety of vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic along Danville Blvd by incorporating complete streets improvements along this corridor. These improvements include improving and widening existing sidewalks and providing bicycle facilities along this segment of Danville Blvd. Pedestrian safety will be enhanced by shortening the length of the crosswalks and providing pedestrian refuge areas in the road medians; creating a roundabout at the intersection to reduce vehicle speeds and conflicts while maintaining movement of traffic through the intersection; reconstructing sidewalks that will accommodate many of the existing mature trees along Danville Blvd; and providing landscaped greenspace along the project corridor and in the roundabout center.

In unincorporated San Ramon, Norris Canyon Road Safety Improvements will widen approximately 550’ of Norris Canyon Road between Ashbourne Drive and the Alameda County Line. Funded through Measure J and the Gas Tax, the project is scheduled to begin construction next summer.

In addition to widening the roadway approximately 12 to 14 feet, the project will also accommodate 11’ travel lanes and 5’ shoulders in each direction. Paved shoulders will

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