Northgate Living CA December 2022

Publication Team

Dear Neighbors,

This December marks our 5 year anniversary of Northgate Living Magazine! We have learned a lot about our community over the past 60 months and have had a blast doing it! We have many more wonderful families to feature and stories to share. On behalf of our publisher, Jo Peek, our photographer, Julie Cheshire Photography, myself, and all of our talented contributors, we want to thank you for letting us share the stories of our community. We also want to thank all of our sponsors for making Northgate Living Magazine possible. Our feature family this month is local photographer Anne Wladyka and her two kids who make art and adventure part of a full life; I hope you enjoy their story.

I’m wishing you all a happy holiday season. This year, especially, I will be counting my blessings and remembering how special it is to be with family.

I’m eager to hear from you and share your stories whether you have gardening or book tips, an adorable pet, an interesting adventure to share, a hobby, a recipe, a charity you’re involved with, or any other topic you think the Northgate neighbors would like to hear more about. I’m also looking for families to feature each month on the front cover. I believe that interesting stories don’t just come from celebrities, but from our own communities. Everyone has a story to tell, and I’d love it if you’d let me tell yours. Send your articles and photos to knavolio@ bestversionmedia.com. Look for us online too at www.NorthgateLivingCA. com and on Facebook and Instagram.

Warmly,

Kara Navolio

Northgate Living CA Content Coordinator

Resident Since 1991

Northgate Living Magazine is devoted to sharing stories, events and news among our neighbors in this wonderful community. If you have a story, event or news to share please email me at knavolio@bestversionmedia.com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: NorthgateLivingCA.

Jo Peek

Dentist

Life Dental & Orthodontics

Brian J. Hockel, DDS 925-357-3630 admin@lifedentalortho.com www.lifedentalortho.com

Design, Build & Remodeling

Gordon Reese Gordon Reese Design Build (925) 885-3770 Marketing@GordonReese.com GordonReese.com

Financial Advice

Element Wealth Management

Chris J. Held, CFP®, CRPS® CA Insurance #0E56816 (925) 433-9533 chris.held@elementwm.com www.elementwm.com

Hardscape Restoration

Concrete Paver Restorations

Drew Bogetti 408-828-6903 www.cprpaver.com drew@cprpaver.com

HVAC & IAQ

Evergreen IAQ

JC Garcia 925-444-5069 jc@evergreenIAQ.com https://evergreeniaq.com

Insurance Services

Crusberg-Decker Insurance Services, Inc.

Scott Decker and Patrick Decker (925) 239-0004 Scott@cdinsurance.com Patrick@cdinsurance.com http://www.cdinsurance-walnutcreek.com/

Landscaping

Vic Cvijanovic Pacific Landscaping 925-938-1777 vic@pacificscapes.com www.pacificscapes.com

Real Estate

Rita Dhillon

Compass Real Estate (925) 570-1010 Rita.Dhillon@compass.com www.RitaDhillonTeam.com

Religious Education

Contra Costa Christian Schools 925-934-4964 afullmore@cccs.org www.contracostachristianschools.org

Sports Medicine

Precision Sports Medicine & Chiropractic Dr. Christopher Matock, DC CCSP (925) 322-8074 info@precisionsportsmedicine.com www.precisionsportsmedicine.com

Dr. Brian Hockel graduated from UCSF School of Dentistry in 1989 and has practiced dentistry for over 30 years next door to the Ygnacio Val ley Library on Oak Grove Road. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Hockel is active in several professional organizations. He combines his cosmetic, orthodontic, airway treatment and gnathology skills to bring about great changes in people’s smiles and health.

Since 1984, our family owned business has been guiding busy and successful homeowners in and around Walnut Creek through the design and construction of their dream spaces, providing them with price certainty, a stress-free experience, the highest level of professionalism, and environmentally sustainable methods and products. Contact us to turn your dream into reality with our 3D design and remodeling process.

For over 17 years, Chris has been working with families in Walnut Creek and the surrounding area. As a Certified Financial Planner™, he en gages people with all aspects of money management. Originally from Plymouth, Minnesota, he is a huge fan of the outdoors, vintage cars and Minnesota Vikings. Chris has given back to the community by coaching and mentoring youth, organizing food drives, and lending professional services for those in need. He lives in the Diablo Shadows neighborhood with his wife and son.

We specialize in hardscape restoration, repairing, cleaning, sealing and staining to enhance your outdoor surfaces. We have developed state-of-the-art equipment with steam cleaning capability of 280-degree, disinfecting and melting away years of dirt, debris, algae and moss. Our technicians are ICPI certified in paver repair, root damage, settling cracks and correcting trip hazards. “We Bring Your Hardscapes Back to Life!”

We are a family owned, residential AC and heating company specializing in indoor air quality and high efficiency system mainte nance. I truly believe that every household should be able to control their comfort level while keeping their energy costs to a mini mum AND ensure clean, fresh air to breathe inside their own homes. It IS your castle after all.I am committed to reinventing the in dustry and showing the world a new way to do business and get things done... The Evergreen Way.

Crusberg-Decker is your local independent insurance agency with experience in both personal and commercial insurance. As independent agents, representing only “A” rated insurance companies, Patrick and Scott work with their clients to provide proper coverage, competitive premiums, and outstanding service. They take pride in establishing relationships and offering personalized service to each and every client.

Pacific Landscaping has been a premier provider of landscaping services in Contra Costa since 1986. We provide 1st class quality at com petitive rates. For three decades, we’ve upheld a reputation of integrity and professionalism by strict dedication to our motto: “When Prom ised, As Promised.”

Rita has been a Northgate resident and selling neighborhood properties for over 25 years. She’s received numerous awards including be ing nominated as Realtor of the Year by the East Bay Business Times, previously ranked the #64 Realtor in America by the Wall Street Jour nal/REAL Trends, previously ranked the #1 Realtor in Contra Costa County, and ranked the #1 Realtor in Northgate for total sales volume over many years.

For over 40 years, Contra Costa Christian Schools has maintained its original mission to Prepare the Next Generation with Christian values and a quality academic foundation. While the instructional strategies and curriculum have evolved, the core mission of serving families in the East Bay has remained the same. CCCS provides a high quality 21st century education within a Christian context that equips students for success, whatever they choose to pursue.

Dr. Matock received his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science from CSU, Fresno. He attend ed Palmer College of Chiropractic West, where he received his Doctorate, graduating magna cum laude. Dr. Matock earned his Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician certification (C.C.S.P.) in 2010. He opened Precision Sports Medicine & Chiropractic in Walnut Creek in 2012.

Meet the Wladyka family:

Bonded through a love of art and adventure

By Jill Brandenburg, Resident since 2017

Creativity and thirst for adventure is deep rooted in the Wlaydka family.

Anne Wladyka lives with her two children Lily (10) and Kieran (13) in the Brooktree area of Northgate. Anne was raised by her Japanese mother, a revered artist and master calligrapher, and her South African father who is also an artist and retired educator.

This international family had many adventures and moved often during Anne’s younger years. “I was born in Spokane, Washington then we moved to Beauvais, France, then Kyoto, Japan for 7 years, Elgin, Illinois, Portland, Oregon and eventually my family settled in Carmel, California.

When Anne was 14, her father gifted her his old 35mm camera and she soon developed a love of photography, snapping away at everything that caught her eye, whether it be an old building, meandering cobblestone pathways of downtown Carmel, a field of wildflowers or surfers on the beach.

With creativity clearly in her DNA, it’s no surprise Anne followed a creative path too. After gaining a BA in Communication Design from CSU Chico, she moved to Long Beach where she had many different roles in hospitality and the role of Marketing and Events Coordinator at the Long Beach Museum of Art. “On the side, I pursued modeling and acting. I’ve always enjoyed being part of a creative production, no matter how big or small. One summer I lived on a vineyard in Sonoma County, assisting an Oscarnominated actress while she prepared for a movie role.”

Anne had longed to buy a fixer property, and she was keen to put down roots in which to raise her two children. As fate would have it Anne’s aunt had a house in Northgate

that was left unattended. She had moved elsewhere and no longer had the energy to keep up two homes. So with the stars aligning, in 2017, Anne and her husband at the time, purchased that home, off-market, and tackled renovations, doing much of the work themselves.

“There are countless reasons why I enjoy living in Northgate - lovely neighbors, walkability to open space and biking trails, and great schools. There is a real sense of community here. I’ve made wonderful friends here too. During the pandemic, myself and a group of local mom friends took up hiking on a regular basis. It seemed like a good way to clear our minds and burn off stress. As time progressed we attempted longer and more challenging hikes. Hiking to the top of Mount Diablo and back down was one such hike. We loved hiking so much, we decided to cross something off our bucket list. Four of us set off to Peru and did the four day Inca trail hike through the Peruvian Andes, to Machu Picchu. It was a trip we will remember for a lifetime.”

Anne and her family are artistic, musical and sporty. Anne loves music and singing. In fact, back in 2006 she auditioned for American Idol. Kieran plays the guitar. Often, you will find him strumming his guitar in the living room, while Anne sings along. He’s also been playing ice hockey since the age of 5 and is currently playing for the Oakland Bears team. Lily has inherited the artist gene from her grandmother and enjoys drawing, painting and illustrating her own comic books. She also plays soccer for Walnut Creek Surf.

They are big SF Giants fans. It’s been an exciting two seasons watching my new beau’s nephew (lefty pitcher Sam Long) from the family section at Oracle Park. It has further ignited our passion for the game and we love cheering him on.”

The Wladykas have a Chihuahua named Erpath, who they adopted from ARF four years ago. “We didn’t expect to come home with a small dog, but it was love at first sight” she says. Erpath is the best road trip dog. Despite his size, he keeps up with us on our adventures.”

“Moving often as a child definitely ignited my love of travel,” adds Anne. “I find it fulfilling and fascinating, traveling to new places to mingle with the locals, learn about their traditions, admire their art, to taste their foods or to simply admire mother nature’s wonders. I’ve been to 34 countries to date and there’s so much more I want to experience, especially with my children.”

This year they camped in Joshua Tree National Park where they enjoyed stunning sunsets and scrambling over the enormous rocks. “It was my first solo trip with my kids and who should we bump into while we were there? Another Northgate family. It really is a small world!

Anne’s love of adventure has come with a price. In her case, a near death experience in Panama! An over-water hut collapsed on Anne and some friends, trapping them under water. “It happened at night so it was completely disorienting. I thought this was the end for me,” says Anne. Miraculously, everyone managed to escape unscathed, and Anne turned this nightmare into something positive by writing about her experience and submitting it to a Travel magazine. To her surprise, she was awarded the grand prize for best travel story: A trip to Tahiti! Despite the temptation to stay in an

over-the-water bungalow, she was happy to stay firmly on the ground this time.

Anne has been a professional photographer for 8 + years, and living in Northgate has provided her with inspiration and wonderful families to connect to. “Location scouting is one of my favorite parts about my job. I have spent countless hours on foot and in the car, in search of the perfect setting for dreamy portraits. “I fully appreciate the beauty and light that our open spaces have to offer and love capturing local families’ stories with Northgate and surrounding areas as a backdrop.” Her website is http://www.lilyannephotography.com/

“As much as my family loves adding stamps to our passports we also love coming home to Northgate and we intend to call it “home” for many years to come.”

Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.

Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses

Gordon and his team were very professional and responsive throughout our entire project and made themselves available whenever a discussion was needed He provided full services (engineering plans, demo, construction, finishes) and was very attentive to our needs. We are truly enjoying our new forever spaces thanks to GRBD's efforts!

ANNOUNCING THE NORTHGATE LIVING TEEN JOURNALISM TEAM

Submitted by Kara Navolio and Diana Daymond

Sharing

the teen perspective with the neighborhood

• Do you have a teen writer in your family?

• A budding journalist?

• A student looking to contribute to the community through volunteer work and build their college application portfolio?

• Adult writers: Please join us as a teen mentor!

spaces, history…. your ideas!

• Have your work published and enjoyed by your neighbors.

• Support your community.

• Work with other teen journalists.

• Create material for your college application portfolio.

• Volunteer Work

• Be willing to commit to attending the monthly meeting and devote about 6-8 hours a month to create an article.

Encourage

your teen to join the Northgate Living Teen Journalism Team!

• Writers in grades 8-12

• Research, investigate, interview, report and write about life in our Northgate neighborhood: athletic teams, neighborhood events, interesting classmates and neighbors, volunteer projects, parks and open

• Monthly meetings First Tuesday of the month.

• Next meeting: Tuesday, December 6th 6:30pm. Email for location.

• Mentored by Diana Daymond and Kara Navolio

• We are also welcoming adult mentors who love to write and will help guide our Teen Team

• Questions? Email: dianadaymond@ gmail.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS December

Dec. 1 – Dec. 11

Holiday Teas

@Shadelands Ranch Museum

Featuring a three-course luncheon with scones, homemade lemon curd, and secret Shadelands Tea Blend, held inside the historic 1903 Hiram Penniman home. Reservation required: 925-935-7871. Time: Luncheon Teas every day 11am and 1:30pm Champagne Teas Dec. 3 and 10 at 4pm

Sat., Dec. 3

Celebrate the Season

@Downtown Walnut Creek

Bring the family together. Write letters to Santa. Enjoy a Horse and Carriage ride under the stars. Relax and indulge on delicious sips & savors at downtown restaurants. Enjoy fun and festive activities during your holiday shopping in downtown Walnut Creek. Visit walnutcreekdowntown.com for more details.

Sat., Dec. 3 – Sun., Dec. 4

Handcrafted Holiday Sale

@Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Ln. Center for Community Arts’ annual handcrafted sale will be open for holiday shopping with handcrafted items by Community Arts students and teaching artists. A portion of the sales will benefit Center for Community Arts, the Clay Arts Guild and the Community Arts Foundation. www.communityarts.org

Cost: Free

Time: 10am-5pm Sat.; 11am-4pm Sun.

Dec.

9 - Jan. 16

Walnut Creek on Ice

@Civic Park

Enjoy ice skating in downtown Walnut Creek. Tickets will be available at walnutcreekdowntown.com; private cabana rentals; birthday parties.

Tues., Dec. 13

Live! from the Library presents “Who Could Ask for Anything More?”

@Walnut Creek Library

Musician Dulais Rhys, PhD, will be joined by Tim Lynch, a local singer, for an interactive presentation, Who Could Ask for Anything More? Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Begin The Beguine, Cheek To Cheek, I Got Rhythm, I Love Paris, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, Nice Work If You Can Get

It, White Christmas, You’re the Top are all famous songs of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. Beloved by Americans everywhere, they are but a mere fraction of the Great American Songbook. Rhys will discuss the evolution of these timeless pieces; the lives, careers, and tragedies of the composers and lyricists; and how these songs have inspired new generations of American performers and composers through the years, demonstrating that the best music never grows old. Reservations are required and can be made online at wclibrary. org/live or by phone at 925.935.5395. Time: 7:00-8:30 PM. Cost: Free

Through Jan. 7 (Thurs. – Sun.)

Garden of D’Lights

@Ruth Bancroft Garden Experience the Ruth Bancroft Garden in a whole new way at this year’s Garden of d’Lights. With more lights and more lasers, this year’s Garden of D’Lights is set to be better than ever. Guests of all ages are in for a holiday treat as they meander through the Garden’s 3.5 acres of mature cacti, succulents and trees that are transformed into magical colorful botanical sculptures by thousands of lights. Don’t miss this special opportunity to enjoy the holiday season safely outdoors in the Garden of D’Lights! Timed tickets by reservation only @5:30, 6:30 or 7:30 pm. Cost: $20 adults, $10 children 6-15, free for children 5 and under Ruthbancroftgarden.org

Throughout December

The Harmon & Harriet Kelley

Collection of African American Art: Works on Paper

@Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts Curated from the extensive collection of Harmon and Harriet Kelley, this exhibition highlights seventy works on paper by 54 African American artists spanning the 20th and early 21st centuries. Cost: $5 Time: Gallery open from Thurs. –Sun., 12-5pm, excluding holidays

Any day

Public Art Self-Guided Audio Tour

Enjoy a self-guided audio tour of Public Art in Walnut Creek, featuring 33 stops about the artwork in the downtown area. Look for the pink and orange Public Art signs around town, located by artworks. Dial the number on the signs to hear about that artwork. More information: https://www. bedfordgallery.org/public-art/public-art-tours Cost: free

Every Saturday Farmers’ Market

@Shadelands Business Park

Farmers bring their best from the nearby farming areas, kid’s craft corner, live music. www.cafarmersmkts.com/ diablo-valley-farmers-market Time: 9am-1pm

Save the Date:

Tues., March 7, 2023

Bay Area Women’s Conference @Lesher Center for the Arts

The 18th annual EBWC is celebrating 18 years of excellence. Reserve your seat now with early registration pricing through Dec. 30. Keynote and guest speakers, exhibitor booths, bookstore and author signings, networking. Walnut-creek. com or EBWC for updates and tickets.

Diablo Ballet celebrates its 29th Season featuring Gerald Arpino’s Confetti in honor of his Centennial Celebration

By Krissy Gray

Diablo Ballet will celebrate its 29th Season with thrilling ballets featuring a brand-new production of Shakespeare’s magical and enchanting A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Julia Adam, set to Felix Mendelssohn’s beautiful score; the magic and artistry of the legendary Swan Lake featuring highlights from the ballet including the White and Black Swan divertissements; an expanded version of the smash holiday hit, The Nutcracker Suite by Julia Adam; the thrilling Tarantella, by George Balanchine; the company premiere of the festive Confetti by Gerald Arpino the former Artistic Associate of the Joffrey Ballet in honor of his Centennial Celebration, and the classical ballet Paquita featuring the whole company. Also included is the return of Orange choreographed by Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet; a command performance of the glorious Sur le Fil by Penny Saunders; and a new work by company dancer and choreographer Michael Wells and Derion Loman who was featured on “So You Think You Can Dance” and “World of Dance”.

Performances will be in-person at the Lesher Center for the Arts with a virtual option if preferred. Season Subscriptions are now available, and single tickets are also available. For more information, visit www.diabloballet.org.

About Diablo Ballet

Since 1994, Diablo Ballet has been the award-winning, professional dance company for Contra Costa County. Presenting acclaimed classical and contemporary ballets, the company is committed to exposing youth to the arts through its renowned PEEK Outreach Programs which has reached over 70,000 underserved school children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 1995. Also, Diablo Ballet has served hundreds of at-risk teenagers incarcerated within the Juvenile Justice system since 2015, and in 2019, the company began working with teenagers housed at the Behavioral Health Unit at John Muir Hospital, Concord. In August 2019, Diablo Ballet opened the first Ballet School in Contra Costa County run by a professional ballet company, located in Pleasant Hill.

Company dancers Julia Meister and Lucas Tischler.

Photo by Rosselyn Ramirez

ASK THE REMODELER

By Gordon Reese, Gordon Reese Design Build. Resident since 2008

This is our second installment of “Ask the Remodeler”. Last month’s question was “How do I start my remodel?”. In the November article I briefly covered the most common design team choices. A remodeling project is no small undertaking and the last thing anyone wants is a project that did not turn out the way they had hoped.

This month I would like to talk about the Dreaming part of a home remodeling project. Even if you’re not yet actively planning a remodeling project, it’s never too early to start imagining, dreaming and researching. Knowing exactly what you want and need ahead of time helps ensure you’ll have a good experience and get the results you want.

So what’s something you can do right away to have a better remodeling experience?

Think about how you want your space to feel, and about how you want to live in it.

• How does your home make you feel now?

• What are the things that make you feel frustrated, or just “blah”?

• How would you like it to be different?

• What details or features would make your day to day life easier?

Make a list that creates a mental picture of how you want your home to feel, and how you’d like to better live in it, after you remodel. Keep that list handy as you begin conversations with remodeling teams.

Another great source of inspiration is the website: Houzz.com. There you can create a free account and use the search bar to see beautiful images of projects others have completed.

• For example you could search “white cabinet kitchen” or “Chimney Hood” to see images of kitchens with white cabinets or chimney hoods.

• By scrolling through the images you will be inspired by the different design choices of materials: countertops, tile backsplashes, cabinet hardware, wall paint colors, pendant lights and more.

• You can save the images you like, including any notes, to your idea book.

• You can share your idea books with anyone including your design team.

If you are considering ways to love your home a little more, why not attend our next monthly remodeling seminar where you will learn valuable tips to help navigate your next home improvement project.

We look forward to answering your home remodeling and repair questions.

Email us at: Questions@GordonReese. com.

Happy Remodeling!

You Can Help Seniors and Veterans!

By David Benet, Volunteer Coordinator for Mobility Matters

Volunteer

Drivers are needed in Contra Costa County

Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that provides free rides for ambulatory seniors and veterans who cannot take other forms of transportation. We are looking for volunteers that are willing to help out our community by driving homebound seniors and veterans to medical appointments. Most volunteers drive once every week or two.

Come join our team and find out what a difference you can make in another person’s life. It will change their life, and it will most certainly change yours!

For more Information please call: (925) 284-2215 or email david@ mobilitymatterscc.com

How to create a holiday dinner party that sparkles

By Lisa Crossett, Resident since 2001

The holidays are a magical time of year. With a chill in the air, a warm fireplace roaring and a hint of pine and cinnamon in the air, I get excited to share the holiday spirit with friends and family. It brings me immense joy to host dinner parties for friends during the holidays. Over the years, I have fine-tuned my dinner party skills and wanted to share my game plan and tips with all of you. Ideally my guest list is up to 8 people, which allows for great conversation, manageable menus, and most importantly creates a memorable evening.

To kick off the dinner planning details, first step is to select a date and guest list. To ensure everyone enjoys the evening, ask about any dietary restrictions or food aversions to aide in your menu planning. To add a special personalized touch, create and print individual menus to add at each place setting. Since it is holiday time, it is great to glitz up the table décor with sparkly objects, small trees, candles, ornaments, greenery, festive linens, unique dinnerware, fun chargers, seasonal floral arrangements, and surprise elements; adding small touches for your guests to take home like a mini champagne bottle, box of chocolates or homemade jam.

My best advice is to create a party planning preparation list that includes your menu, a grocery shopping list and what needs to be done before the party starts (i.e. – clean house). Planning and preparation are the key to a successful, relaxing, and fun holiday dinner party. Two days prior to your party, go grocery shopping, set your table, determine your music playlist, print menus, and prepare any food items that can be made in advance. A day before the party, continue to prepare menu items, select, and chill wine, assemble floral arrangements, determine your outfit, and cross off completed items on your party planning list. On the day of your holiday dinner party, finalize any menu preparation, empty dishwasher, and trash, get yourself party ready 2 hours prior to dinner party. An hour prior to guests arriving, light the fireplace, set the ambiance with lighting, open wine to let it breathe, light candles on dinner table by using battery powered tea lights and light your favorite candle. I am obsessed with Charles Ferris V candle – British expedition that is scented with cloves, tobacco, and mint tea.

Have a glass of wine or take a moment for yourself, so you are relaxed when your guests arrive. Greet each guest when the doorbell rings and let them know how excited you are that they are here and that you look forward to a fun evening. A special touch is to serve a signature cocktail to your guests to kick off the evening. A tradition at my house, it to take a “kitchen selfie” with my guests, so I can memorialize the evening. Cherish each moment, keep the conversation light and fun, and don’t worry if something is not perfect – no one will know except you. I have included a simple holiday appetizer that is a proven crowd pleaser – Cranberry Orange Ginger Compote Brie Cups. Happy Holidays!

Lisa has been a Northgate resident since 2001. Professionally she is the Head of Talent Acquisition for Mechanics Bank with headquarters in Walnut Creek. She is the President of California Recruiters and on the board for Community Arts Foundation based in Walnut Creek. Lisa’s passion is Food, Wine and Entertaining. She publishes a food blog called Authentic Suburban Gourmet and loves to throw elegant dinner parties, explore wine country, collect wine and cook great food.

authenticsuburbangourmet.blogspot.com authenticsuburbangourmet@gmail.com Instagram: @authenticsuburbangourmet

OrangeCranberry, & CompoteGinger Brie Cups

By Lisa Crossett, Resident since 2001

Compote

• 2 tablespoon olive oil

• ½ cup onion, fine dice

• Pinch salt

• Pinch pepper

• 2 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

• Zest of 1 orange

• 1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries

• ½ cup sugar

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• ¼ cup orange juice

Over medium heat in a saucepan, add the olive oil, onions, salt and pepper and sauté until soft. Add ginger, orange zest & juice, cranberries, sugar, and red wine vinegar. Stir until combined. Turn heat up and bring to a boil, then turn down to low heat. Press cranberries until they pop and stir. Cook for 10 minutes and let cool.

To assemble: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the mini phyllo cups from package and place onto cookie sheet. Add a teaspoon of brie into mini phyllo cups and bake for 5 minutes or until brie is melted. Remove from the oven and top with a teaspoon of compote on each cup. Serve immediately and enjoy!

The Benefits of a Musical Education

By Jason Hansen

Awellrounded education, including music education, is more important now than ever before. In this era of endless screen time and short attention spans, we as a society need to prioritize what is truly important for children to learn in school. I would argue that music is of essential importance. Our brains process information in two basic ways: linear and holistic thinking. Linear thinking is when information is handled bit by bit, and results in knowing facts. Holistic thinking, when many bits of information are processed at once, is basic to emotion, imagination, and creativity. In our daily lives, we use facts and emotions at the same time, and each is an important part of making sound decisions. Studies indicate that there is a high correlation between positive self perception and involvement in school music. Students who participate in school music often have a higher overall GPA in high school and score an average of 21-38 points higher on SATs. 90% of more than 1000 CEOs and legislators said that playing a musical instrument as a child helped them develop character and leadership skills.

At Contra Costa Christian Schools, we emphasize music as an essential part of life in God’s world. Among all the different kinds of life God created, he gave humans the gift of music, and we teach our students to give that gift back to Him in songs of praise, worship, and thanksgiving. Our students begin learning about music in kindergarten, and continue to study music all the way through high school. We have instrumental music (band) and choir classes that teach kids how to use music to express their emotions and feelings, and to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. We make music

of all different kinds, sacred and secular, but with an emphasis on music that is good for the soulmusic that builds up the musician and the listener alike. So the next time you hear a young person practicing or performing music, give them some love, and appreciate how their lives are being enriched with each note, for the good of us all.

Looking for Sports Stories

Have a star athlete in your home or on your team? Know of a coach that’s been around forever? Is there an undefeated team out there or a team doing great things?

We have an opportunity to share our amazing local sports on a national level with the new BVMSports website. There are so many fantastic teams across all levels (youth through professional!) represented right here in our town, how great would it be to get them nationally recognized?!

If you know of an athlete, coach, or team that you would love to shine a light on? Send me an email at knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.

Read about our local athletes at www.bvmsports.com.

ARF Adoption Stars

By Christa Noriega, ARF Adoption Manager

Daddy Longleg

Four-year-old CD comes with a personality even bigger than he is! This American Bulldog mix is a lover of all his human caretakers, as well as his canine companions. He is smart as a whip, adaptable, and resilient, too!

Adopt

a new best friend at ARF in Walnut Creek! View available dogs and cats online or visit ARF in-person: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6pm, with early-bird sign-in available on weekdays beginning at 9 am. Our team is excited to guide you in choosing a pet, share information about their history and behavior, and provide helpful resources. This process can take time—please allow 60-90 minutes for in-person appointments. Here are a few of our adorable animals looking for love:

Four-year-old Daddy Longlegs is as regal as they come! A noble king of a Pomeranian mix who could probably star in a shampoo commercial. He is polite to everyone he meets but is looking for his special somebody to cuddle up next to on the couch every night. Daddy Longlegs has a positive history with other dogs and currently weighs 14 pounds.

CD has a positive history with other dogs and currently weighs 81 pounds.

ARF Adoption fees: $125 for an adult cat, $175 for a kitten (<6 months), $200 for two adult cats, $300 for two kittens, $75 for a special-needs cat, $100 for a special-needs kitten (<6 months), and $75 for a senior cat (7+ years). Adoption fees are waived for US military Veterans.

ARF adoption fees: $250 for an adult dog, $375 for a puppy (<6 months), $150 for a special-needs dog, $200 for a special-needs puppy (<6 months), and $150 for a senior dog (7+ years). Adoption fees are waived for US military Veterans.

Pet Corner

Yoga poses for relaxation, rejuvenation, clarity and healing

By Kelly Perkins, Resident since 2006

As the holiday season approaches and stress increases, try these yoga poses to re-center yourself.

1. Child’s pose: (one of the top most important poses in yoga) and so adequately named. This pose takes you into a quiet, gentle space to come into your center. I encourage yoga practitioners to take this pose during classes when they need to take a break and reset.

2. Standing mountain pose with cactus arms: This is a great pose especially as you are first getting started in your morning. This pose fills you with energy and a gentle stretch through your shoulder blades and down your spine. This is also a great chest opener. I love to follow up by folding forward and down, grasping opposite elbows and swinging side to side (rag doll pose.)

3. Back over block: I use this pose in all the classes I teach (restorative, yin and vinyasa flow.) If you have a block, give this a try. Start by rolling up in a bridge pose, then carefully place a yoga block underneath you- half of the block under

your lower spine and half the block on the top of your bootie. Let arms relax by your sides or perhaps try cactus arms. There are many other options while in this pose to work your spine. (Please come to a class and I will show you all the ways to use the block :o)

4. Seated twist: I highly recommend various twists for all my clients- young and old. This variation is fairly simple to get into and gives many benefits. Besides loosening your spine and giving your back a gentle stretch, twists are great for your digestion. We do reclined twists in all my yoga classes. I recommend twists after a little warming up.

5. Pigeon pose: I had to include this one as it’s one of my favorites as well as a favorite to all my clients. This pose can be modified using blocks for support under your hip or thigh. I also do this pose in restorative yoga using a bolster. This pose helps get deeper stretching into your hips and hip sockets, providing relief for people experiencing discomfort in these areas.

Kelly is an Education Specialist at Ygnacio Valley High School, an Adjunct Professor at Saint Mary’s College, 2019 CCC Teacher of the Year, Unified Sports Coach, Best Buddies Program Advisor, and a Certified Yoga Instructor. She started teaching yoga to her special needs students four years ago. Her students superseded expectations, and she felt this was something she should pursue with proper training in order to better meet her students’ needs. As she was going through her certification programs, friends and family came to classes to provide feedback and help her grow in her expertise.

She currently teaches beg/intermediate vinyasa flow classes, restorative and yin classes. Her son recently passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Following that experience she began teaching restorative yoga to other young adults going through trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Working with these young adults has helped her in the grief process, knowing how healing yoga can be for those going through these difficulties.

You can find more about her classes on her website: www. abyhasa.com

Your first class is free, and she would love to start working with you!

Northgate Football Advances to Post Season and beats Las Lomas in Round 1

The Northgate Bronco Football team has once again made the NCS Division 3 playoffs! This year the road to the postseason had plenty of ups and downs. First, the Broncos went a perfect 5-0 in non league play with the signature victory over Ukiah at Ukiah. Lead by 3 year starting Quarterback John Pelletier and standout receiver Emilio Pucci, the team went into league play confident but aware of how stiff the competition was going to be. After tough losses to Las Lomas, Miramonte and Campolindo (all now playoff teams as well), the Broncos secured their playoff berth with a hard fought victory at Benicia, which concluded with a game winning field goal by Lucas LeSieur in the final seconds of the 4th quarter.

Bronco standouts this season include Seniors James Bondad, Manny Webster, Coleman Kemper, Lionel Smith, and more. Those Seniors depend on their underclassmen support from the likes of Max Anum, Tony Pucci, Jake Berger,

On Nov.11 the team set their sights on the first ever rematch and playoff version of the Battle of the Creek with a trip to Las Lomas. The clash of the two Walnut Creek schools resulted in a Broncos win in an incredibly exciting and hard fought Battle of the Creek rematch with a final score of 24-21! They advance to the semi finals to face #1 seed El Cerrito at 7pm on Friday, November 18 @ El Cerrito!

Go Broncos!

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AND

Submitted by Zack Torrey, Assistant Varsity Football Coach

Liam Walsh, Ben Hosler, Jack Kessler, RJ Anderson, Bo Molinelli, Blayne Ballard, Peyton Reid-Day and Zach Knisley.

Northgate Girls Water Polo has first winning season

in almost a decade

Submitted by Jane Bergez, Girls Water Polo Coach

As many know, this was a season of many firsts. My first year as head coach, first winning season in almost a decade, first league championship in the same scope of time. These achievements were in no way easy to obtain and required great sacrifice from every member of the team. I am humbled to see the dedication of each player and every member’s development as an athlete has left me awestruck. While the season is not yet finished, every player should take a moment to reflect on what their labors have manifested. It was clear from the very beginning that this team wanted to win, and they have. I am abundantly grateful for the opportunity to be your coach and hold nothing but optimism for the remainder of the season and the seasons to come.

Update:

The girls water polo team won the NCS Division II Championships!! They play in the first round of Norcal at press time (mid November) vs. Ripon HS at Northgate. Check the broncos website for more updates.