Northgate Living CA February 2021

Mailed Directly to Northgate Residents and Published Online

FEBRUARY 2021

Northgate LIVING CA

Meet the Davis Family: A family bonded through education and hard work Photo by Julie Cheshire Photography

The Rita Dhillon Team

#1 Northgate Realtor *Total Sales Volume in 2019

Rita Dhillon 925.570.1010 Rita.Dhillon@compass.com DRE 01109990 Tim Dhillon 925.570.0418 Tim.Dhillon@compass.com DRE 01521381 Khush K. 925.577.3422 Khush@compass.com DRE 01480990 www.RitaDhillonTeam.com

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FEBRUARY 2021

Table of Contents Letter to Residents

04

Expert Contributors List

05

Meet the Davis Family: A family bonded through education and hard work

06

ARF Adoption Stars

08

Real Estate Statistics

09

Calendar of Events

10

Body Love Cafe offers a holistic approach to health --Love your body. Heal your mind. Feed your soul.

11

Only A Moment

12

Love in the time of Covid

14

Better Choices in Bad Situations & a Metabolic Shift!

15

Orangely Delicious Salad

16

Cover Article

Business Profile

Reflections

Expert Contributor

Recipe

Our Mission

WHAT IS YOUR WORKING GENIUS?

17

An Engaging Idea: A Knack for the Stack: The Big Trend We Are Seeing for 2021

18

Expert Contributor

NORTHGATE LIVING CA 3

Dear Neighbors, Publication Team Publisher: Jo Peek

Content Coordinator: Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991 Designer: Emily Lund Contributing Photographer: Julie Cheshire

Jo Peek

Advertising Contact: Jo Peek Email: JPeek@bestversionmedia.com

Feedback/Ideas/Submissions:

Welcome to our February issue of Northgate Living. I’m excited to share the story of the Davis family this month; many of you will recognize Ron as he is a teacher a Foothill, a real estate agent, coach and 4-H mentor. The five Davis offspring have grown up in this community and exceled in sports and many other endeavors. Enjoy their story!

In this issue you will also find articles from neighbors sharing thoughts about life in the pandemic and how to make a stay at home Valentine’s Day special.

I’m looking forward to seeing you out in the neighborhood as I take my daily walk or bike ride, and 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. You can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook or visit our website: northgatelivingCA.com.

Have feedback, ideas, or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to www.bestversionmedia. com and click “Submit Content.”

You may also email your thoughts, ideas, and photos to: Knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.

Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2021 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.

Kara Navolio Northgate Living CA Content Coordinator Resident Since 1991

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FEBRUARY 2021

Expert Contributors

To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact Jo Peek at jpeek@bestversionmedia.com.

Design, Build & Remodeling

With over 35 years in business, our National Award-Winning Design Build firm has abundant experience with creating your dream space as your friend in the remodeling business! We design and remodel kitchens, baths, whole houses, and additions; from concept through completion, our highly skilled team of professionals are knowledgeable when it comes to transforming your living space. Great ideas, communication, and execution distinguish our process with award-winning results!

Functional Medicine & Nutrition

Dr. Brandy Zachary, DC, AFMCP discovered the power of Functional Medicine first hand when a “mystery illness” left her declared permanently disabled. Unwilling to accept that diagnosis, she fought back and launched Body Love Cafe, an award-winning holistic health clinic.

BLC is all about natural medicine that meets cutting-edge science to provide answers as to why you don’t feel well. We hear you. We see you.

We believe you. It’s not in your head and we’ve got the technique and labs to show why.

Patients have said “Dr. Zachary figures out why you feel like crap but your MD says you’re fine.”

Jewelry, Diamonds & Timepieces

Steve and Judy Padis own and operate Padis Jewelry, which has four locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. They founded the company in 1974 and are proud to have earned a reputation as one of the finest jewelers in San Francisco, serving generations of clients for their most precious moments in life, from engagement to anniversary to milestone gifts. Padis Jewelry maintains top-tier relationships with the most sought-after designers including Tacori, Forevermark, Verragio, Breitling, Tag Heuer, and Roberto Coin. As members of the American Gem Society, Padis is among the top 5% of jewelers across the country.

Landscaping

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

Pool Maintenance & Remodel

Family owned and operated for 30+ years, proudly serving Contra Costa and Solano counties. 42 years pool industry experience including former red cross water safety instructor. Former local lifeguard and swim coach. Former collegiate all american swimmer. California licensed contractor C-61 D-35, C53. CPO (certified pool operator) certified. National board of directors for the independent pool and spa service association. Warranty stations for all major swimming pool manufacturers. Water chemistry certified. Call us today for an energy and gas audit for pool equipment.

Real Estate

Rita has been a Northgate resident and selling neighborhood properties for over 25 years. She’s received numerous awards including being nominated as Realtor of the Year by the East Bay Business Times, previously ranked the #64 Realtor in America by the Wall Street Journal/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.

Reverse Mortgages

Annemarie’s been a reverse mortgage specialist for 6+ years. She grew up in Walnut Creek and graduated from Carondelet High School.

She is a travel enthusiast and unapologetic foodie, including knowing the profound effect a great cup of coffee or a smooth glass of wine can have. She’s passionate about the changes this product brings about in her clients’ lives and ensures they feel important, safe and honored.

Tree Service

From the diagnostic of tree problems, to pruning, cabling and bracing, tree removal, stump grinding and planting of new trees, Traverso Tree Service, Inc is here for all of your tree care needs. We’re a local business proud to have been serving the community for over 30 years.

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

Body Love Cafe Dr. Brandy Zachary, DC, AFMCP (925) 788-6300 Team@BodyLoveCafe.com www.BodyLoveCafe.com Steve Padis Steve Padis Jewelry info@padisjewelry.com www.padisjewelry.com

Vic Cvijanovic Pacific Landscaping 925-938-1777 vic@pacificscapes.com www.pacificscapes.com Brian Duncan Picture Perfect Pool Service inc 925-370-6675 www.pppsinc.com Rita Dhillon Compass Real Estate (925) 570-1010 Rita.Dhillon@compass.com www.RitaDhillonTeam.com Open Mortgage Annemarie Drosos 530-736-2295 annemariedrosos@openmortgage.com https://openmortgage.com/annemarie-drosos

John Traverso Traverso Tree Service (925) 930-7901 traversotree@gmail.com www.traversotree.com

Find us online NorthgateLivingCA www.NorthgateLivingCA.com

Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses

NORTHGATE LIVING CA 5

Resident Feature Kiron g preparin for p e e h s r e h ty n u o the c ir fa

Ron an d sons b the Davis ackpac kin throug h Euro g pe

The entire Davis clan including pets Lue Lue, Opus. Belle. Photo by Julie Cheshire.

Meet the Davis Family: A family bonded through education and hard work

By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

R

on Davis remembers the day he met Kim as if it were yesterday. “She walked into the Clayton Valley Bowl to visit some friends, and I saw her come in. I was captivated by her,” he recalls. “She wasn’t interested, but every time she came back, I kept up my persistence. Eventually, at the end of the season she agreed to go on a date.” That was in 1985, and she hasn’t left his side since. They married six years later in Carmel. Kim still sometimes comes to the bowling alley on the anniversary of the day they met to surprise Ron. Ron grew up in Concord and graduated from Concord High in 1971. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master’s degree in Agriculture; a Teaching Credential followed in 1977. He played on the Mustang’s Football team, rode bulls on the Rodeo Team and competed in Fencing. Ron was very involved in

the school’s agriculture department, serving on the Livestock Judging team. He was also part of the school’s ROTC, doing his initial training in Combat Warfare for the U.S. Army. He began his teaching career in 1977, uation ege grad ll o c r e mostly teaching at the high ft dia a Kris in In school level in Drafting, P.E., Ron and Science, Photography and Ceramics. He started the first Future Farmers of America at Concord High and led winning teams around the country. He has been an active member of 4-H since 1965 and was an All-Star in 1971. The 43-year veteran of teaching now teaches Woodshop and Veterinary Science at Foothill Middle School. It’s a true labor of love for Ron as he also works as a Real Estate Agent for his own company Northgate Realty. He has the honor of having several past students work for him now as agents or in the construction end of the business, helping him flip houses.

Kim, also an East Bay native, grew up in Antioch and Martinez and graduated from Antioch High in 1984. She then graduated from Los Medanos College in Business in 1987. She is a very active volunteer at all the schools their 5 children have attended. Ron also has two older daughters from his first marriage, so the Davis clan is large and busy!

“Kim is the rock of our family,” says Ron. “She keeps us on track and leads us to reach higher!” Kim is a quilter, a crocheter, and a fabulous cook.

“All my success has been through her patience and guidance,” adds Ron. “I’m always on the go, and she is the one responsible for keeping our home running effectively and guiding the success of our kids.”

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FEBRUARY 2021

And that has not been an easy task, with 6 kids raised and one more still at home. The two oldest daughters work in the medical field. Leesha is a phlebotomist, and Andrea is a surgical nurse. Next came four boys, all active in sports and 4-H like Ron, and then another daughter.

Kristopher also played baseball for Northgate and the Walnut Creek Bulldogs. He received his B.S. from the University of New Orleans in Business, then a Master’s in Accounting.

He now lives in New Orleans, working for a large accounting firm there and is engaged to Vivian, who is finishing her PhD.

Ronnie, 28, played baseball at Northgate High School for four years, then in college.

He graduated from Cal State Sacramento and is now a fire fighter in Marin County. He spent many months fighting the Woodward and Glass Fires that started as a result of the lightning strikes here in Northern California in August. He is engaged to Shannon, the manager at Citrus Salon in Martinez.

The last son, Clayton, also was a member of the Track team at Northgate where he did pole vault and sprints. He is attending Cal Poly too, majoring in Bio Research Agriculture Engineering (BRAE).

Cody was a member of the Northgate Track and Cross Country Teams, running hurdles and sprints. He received his B.S. in Dairy Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is now working on his Master’s degree in Agriculture. While at Cal Poly, he ran the College Dairy, which produced all types of dairy products for sale to the community. He now teaches at El Dorado Middle School and is one of Northgate’s Track coaches.

The youngest is a daughter, Kiron, who is a junior at Northgate. She is on the Track team and Dance team. She has danced at Dance Connection Performing Arts Centre in Concord since she was two years old and was the National Campion in Tap in 2017.

She plans to be a nurse.

The family has traveled each year with the goal of seeing all 50 states, which they have completed, along with 30 National Parks! Ron took the four boys on a Europe trip in 2008, traveling with backpacks, Eurail Passes, and no itinerary. Kim and

Kiron preferred to go to Palm Springs for the month to enjoy the amenities of a nice hotel. The entire family also enjoys cruises and has sailed to many beautiful spots including Alaska, Vancouver, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico and many Caribbean islands. In addition, each of the younger five children have a special trip with Ron after college graduation. Ronnie chose China; Kristopher and Cody both went to India.

In 2001 the Davises, who were living in Concord, wanted to move to the Northgate neighborhood. Ron had always wanted to live here and when an opportunity arose, he jumped on it. The original house on Northgate Rd. would need lots of renovation, and he had much help from past students. Unfortunately though, before they could move in, the house burned down. So they rebuilt it from scratch, room by room, as money was available. They now have the house of their dreams in the neighborhood where Ron has become a much loved teacher, baseball coach and 4-H leader to many of our kids.

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.

NORTHGATE LIVING CA 7

Pet Corner

Snickers:

ARF Adoption Stars Submitted by ARF Photos by Julie Cheshire Photography Looking for a furry friend during this trying time? Good news — ARF is now offering a no-contact virtual adoption process! If you see an animal you’re interested in on our website, just fill out an online inquiry form. Once your inquiry has been received, you will be added to our virtual adoption queue.

Four-year-old Snickers is a kindhearted gentleman with a tender, loving soul. Snickers is eager to romp, play and lean into his closest human friends for some petting and scratches.

He would make a fabulous sports companion and enjoys learning as much as he enjoys exploring. He will need a home that is eager to train and be active but makes time for naptime snuggles. Snickers must be the only dog in his new home. We recommend he does not go into a home that has cats or small animals.

Snickers’s adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor.

Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 6 pm Wednesday & Thursday, Noon to 7 pm Friday, and Noon to 6 pm Saturday & Sunday.

Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arflife.org, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

The adoption fee for puppies (<6 months) is $350, for adult dogs is $250, and senior dogs (7+ years) and special needs dogs are 50% off the adoption fee.

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Pinecone:

One-year-old Pinecone is a sweet gal with a magnetic personality. This girl is a social butterfly who’s always happy to introduce herself to new people. She’s also a cuddlebug with her close human friends.

Pinecone would love to be a part of a home that can provide her with lots of attention and playtime. Pinecone tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and should be kept indoors to protect her immune system. FIV is specific to cats, and does not spread through casual contact such as shared water bowls, litter boxes, snuggling, or playing with other cats. Pinecone’s adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor.

The adoption fee for kittens (<6 months) is $150, for adult cats is $100, $25 off each for multiple cats/kittens, and senior cats (7+ years) and special needs cats are 50% off the adoption fee.

FEBRUARY 2021

Active Listings Address List Price 850 Gail Ct 1190 N Gate Rd

$2,995,000 $1,890,000

Pending Listings Address List Price 3739 Shadowbrook Ct 4285 Arbolado Dr 3844 Arbolado Dr 61 Los Cerros Pl 3317 Ellesmere Ct 130 Nopal Corte 921 Walnut Ave

$3,500,000 $1,975,000 $1,895,000 $1,425,000 $1,300,000 $1,249,000 $1,050,000

Sold Listings Address List Price 3572 Eris Ct 3237 Bennington Ct 81 Los Cerros Pl 622 Sutton Ct

$1,375,000 $1,249,000 $1,150,000 $979,900

Real Estate

Real Estate is proudly sponsored by The Rita Dhillon Team

BD 4 4

BD 5 5 4 5 5 3 5

BD 5 3 3 4

BT

SQFT

4.5 3

5,267 3,455

BT

SQFT

4.5 4 2.5 3 3 2.5 2.5

5,222 3,376 3,103 2,387 2,569 2,038 2,016

BT

SQFT

4 2.5 2 2.5

3,689 2,465 1,450 2,152

DOM 34 81

Real Estate Listings in Northgate

DOM

1/12/2021

129 19 3 15 1 2 50

DOM

Sold Price

38 1 3 4

$1,375,000 $1,410,000 $1,215,000 $1,100,000

Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the real estate community in the area. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in the magazine is separate from the statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.

The Rita Dhillon Team

#1 Northgate Realtor *Total Sales Volume in 2019

Rita Dhillon 925.570.1010 Rita.Dhillon@compass.com DRE 01109990 Tim Dhillon 925.570.0418 Tim.Dhillon@compass.com DRE 01521381 Khush K. 925.577.3422 Khush@compass.com DRE 01480990 www.RitaDhillonTeam.com

Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses

NORTHGATE LIVING CA 9

February

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Feb. 3 and 10

Wed., Feb. 17

New Body Love Challenge

Live! From the Library— Scary Technology, Cybersecurity, and Literary Thrillers

@online via Zoom Join Dr. Zachary and her team for a free class. The NEW Body Love Challenge is for those feeling Stressed, Lazy & Quarantine Crazy. Every class has a different topic, meal plans are provided, questions answered and all are invited.

Feb 3 – Brain Fog, Zoom Fatigue, Chin Whiskers & no libido loca – hormone help and gut-brain Feb 10 – A Bucket of Feelings, Endless News and Heavy Hearts – cardiac and mental health to carry on Cost: FREE Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm www.BodyLoveCafe.com Sun., Feb. 14

Valentine Front Door Contest @your own home Let your creativity flow! Join in the fun and decorate your front door in a Valentine’s themed style. The options are endless -- red, pink, cute, elegant and so much more!

Submit your photo to our email at ArtRecEvents@walnutcreek.org by February 14 to be entered into a contest for best decorations. Upon contest entry, sign up for a theme. Winning doors will be featured on social media. Best part is that you can decorate your house, apartment, business, or even your car door or your dog’s house!

Our contest themes will be: Theme 1: Pink; Theme 2: Red; Theme 4: Cute; Theme 5: Elegant; Theme 6: Other Register online: https:// www.walnut-creek.org/ departments/arts-andrecreation/arts-rec-open-now/ holiday-events-with-artsrec or call 925-295-1490.

Cost: $10 to enter This contest is not sponsored by or endorsed by Best Version Media in any way.

@online virtual event Live! From the Library will host author and attorney Reece Hirsch for a discussion about turning cutting-edge privacy and cybersecurity issues into literary thrillers. Hirsch will describe how he draws upon frightening and surprising realworld issues from his legal practice to craft page-turning thrillers such as his latest, Dark Tomorrow. Hirsch will be in conversation with Terry Shames, author of the Samuel Craddock mystery series.

Reservations can be made online at www.wclibrary. org/live or by phone at 925.935.5395.

Cost: Free Time: 7-8:30pm Sat., Feb. 20

Rock Out Hunger Fundraiser @virtual event Join Loaves and Fishes community virtually for our largest fundraiser of the year celebrating 5 million meals served. Our annual gala is re-imagined this year.

Culinary Demonstration of complimentary appetizer (delivered to your home) by renowned local chef, Charles Vollmar, of Epicurean Global Exchange, Musical Entertainment, Guest Speakers, Exciting Live Auction, and lots more! LiveStream will last 60 minutes.

Cost: Free tickets available, or VIP tickets at $150 Time: 5:30 pm loavesfishescc.org Fri., Feb. 26

Movies Under the Stars: Gnomeo and Juliet

@Civic Park Socially distanced in Civic Park, families will enjoy an outdoor movie experience.

Registration includes hot

popped popcorn, 2 sweet treats, 4 “hot hands” super warmers, 2 mini-flashlights, and registration of up to 6 individuals in your household family. Each participant will receive a glow stick and activity packet. Completed sheets will be entered to win a raffle prize. Bring a blanket to sit on, low lawn chairs and any additional snacks you want. Bundle up as it will be cool but a festive experience!

Space is limited to comply with distancing requirements.

Rain cancels event.

Cost: $25 per family of 6 Time: 5:45 pm https://www.walnut-creek. org/departments/arts-andrecreation/arts-rec-open-now/ holiday-events-with-artsrec or call 925-295-1490 Sat., Feb. 27

Virtual Remodeling Seminar @The comfort of your own home Are you, a neighbor, a family member, or a friend looking to remodel, and just don’t know where or how to get started? Do you have questions like: • How do I get started?

•How do I make sure that the construction costs don’t exceed my budget? • How do I make design decisions I won’t regret later? • How do I choose the right contractor? • How do I avoid an ugly court battle?

• What is a mechanic’s lien and how do I protect myself?

• How do I make sure my remodel gets completed on schedule? Join us and get your questions answered. RSVP required at gordonreese.com.

Cost: Free Time: 10am-12pm https://gordonreese.com/ remodeling-seminar or call (925) 885-3770 today!

and at your own pace. The Heritage Walk is part of “Walk Walnut Creek: Art and History Live Here,” an immersive selfguided tour that tells the stories that shaped Walnut Creek’s history and describes the public art that graces the current city landscape. Check out Walk Walnut Creek.

Each site is marked with prominent, colorful signage on downtown street lamp posts. The signs include pertinent information about the site and details on how to listen to the audio and, for those with smart phones, how to access a mobile app.

Cost: FREE www.wchistory.org/ events/historical-tours/ Every day

Public Art Walking Tour @Downtown Walnut Creek There is now a self-guided audio tour available for 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. You can visit the Public Art Walking Tour web app online at walkwc.oncell.com/en/ public-art-tours-102961.html Every Monday

Book- Talk it Up @online Get great book recommendations by library staff as they share their adult and teen favorites with you.

Cost: FREE Time: 1-1:15pm https://facebook.com/ WalnutCreekLibraryCCCL/ Every Saturday

Farmers’ Market Every day

Self-Guided Downtown Heritage Walk @Downtown Walnut Creek Walnut Creek residents and visitors can explore Walnut Creek’s fascinating heritage through a free self-guided cell phone walking tour that allows you to visit downtown heritage sites on your own schedule

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@Castle Rock Farm, 700 Castle Rock Rd. Local farmers and neighbors provide organic produce grown right in the Northgate neighborhood.

Time: 10am-4pm www.castlerockfarmstand.com

FEBRUARY 2021

Business Profile

Body Love Cafe offers a holistic approach to health --Love your body. Heal your mind. Feed your soul.

By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

D

r. Brandy Zachary’s own “mystery illness” brought her into a new career helping others heal by combining natural medicine and cutting-edge science.

Dr. Zachary, who trained and practiced as a Doctor of Chiropractic, went on to a career as an executive business consultant after a car accident required her to close her chiropractic office.

She was a professional speaker and developed the world’s first personality profiling system, which was published by McGrawHill. Then she became very sick with a debilitating illness, one which medical doctors could not solve. The single mom was declared permanently disabled, had to move back to her mom’s home with her own daughter, took 8 prescriptions a day and visited the John Muir Hospital Infusion Center every 3 weeks to get IVIG treatments.

She was not getting better, but incurring a mountain of medical bills.

Dr. Zachary began to investigate and research her own illness. She returned to school to study Functional Medicine. She eventually pieced her health and life back together with what she learned. Other people wanted to know how she did it, and that’s when she decided to open Body Love Cafe, a holistic health clinic that recently won a “Best of the Bay” award from Diablo Magazine.

Using functional medicine, nutrition, body work (i.e. massage, acupuncture), and coaching, the practitioners at BLC help patients find the answers to why they don’t feel well and look for solutions that conventional medicine may overlook. “Real healing is a whole body endeavor,” explains Dr. Zachary. “You cannot separate the physical wellness of your body from your mental health…

At Body Love Cafe we hear you, we see you, we believe you.”

Dr. Zachary is a teacher at heart, which is why she enjoys sharing her knowledge at many free classes offered at BLC. She also teaches other functional medicine doctors.

Her favorite days are when she helps a patient discover that “aha” moment when they make the connection and begin to understand what is going on in their bodies.

Alleviating suffering is what motivates her every day.

Although the work is serious, the staff likes to have fun too. Laughter is great medicine, after all. In fact, Dr. Zachary once made it to the semi-finals of the Bay Area Comedy Competition. Dr. Zachary now lives in the Northgate neighborhood with her new husband, her 18-year-old daughter, and their cat named Kiki.

Check out their free classes and other great programs at bodylovecafe. com.

A Family Owned Business

Services Provided:

Interior & Exterior Painting Deck/Fence Staining Popcorn Ceiling Removal Refinish Cabinets Texturing Walls

Fernando Hernandez Marissa Hernandez

925-437-8302

xaspainting@yahoo.com LIC# 1063171

NORTHGATE LIVING CA 11

Reflections

Only A Moment

By Rachel Stanford, Resident since 2016

I

remember the scene from the musical “Hello Dolly” where Cornelius Hackl, played by Michael Crawford, goes on about the elegance of walking. He really sells it. Cornelius and Barnaby, his “PIC” (that stands for Partner in Crime in case you were wondering), have no money for a carriage ride, and they pitch the idea to their dates that walking is the epitome of true elegance and grace. Cornelius is a hopeless romantic and later in the film he shares a stroll with Miss Irene Malloy. Moments before they kiss, they sing the words, “It only takes a moment to be loved a whole life long.”

It’s a delightful treat to witness love. It is an honor to give love away. Today I watched my daughters grow a little and took them on an “elegant” walk around our neighborhood court. I sold them on the idea that we were going on a “Number Scavenger Hunt.” At first, we discussed

counting all the houses on our street. Our plan was to count by tally. I ensured they both knew how to properly create a tally mark. “1…2…3…4…SWOOSH goes the 5.” My intent was to do things quickly so that we could move on to the next “activity”, because there is ALWAYS yet another activity these days. By the time we reached the end of our driveway to embark on our journey, we had somehow talked ourselves into a new plan entirely. Instead of the swooshing tally marks we would write down the house number for each property we passed and then count up the total at the end. Am I the only one in my family that finds data collection fun and enjoyable?

Regardless, my kids bought the idea I was selling and off we went.

Along the way we stopped to observe where the house numbers were located. My youngest spotted numbers on a mailbox. I

thought, Ooops, two numbers were missing from the side of the box for house #136, will they notice? The one and the three had fallen off at some point, and the six was all that remained. My girls spotted the missing numbers and discussed the mystery of what could have happened to them. My oldest pointed to the curbside. On the pavement at the end of each driveway, you could see the painted house numbers. Many of the numbers had faded. The white paint on the curb was worn down and you could barely make out a three from an eight. One house we stopped in front of, numbers were nowhere to be found. Not on the curb, the mailbox, or the home. How would the mail carrier know what mail to deliver? The absence of proper markings would surely test even the most skilled and organized employee.

As I looked for a clue to tell the girls what the number was, the memory of a man that

Picture Perfect Pool Service inc.

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12

FEBRUARY 2021

used to stop by our home popped into my mind. He would come to the front door and offer to repaint our curb for a minimal fee. I don’t remember how long ago that was, maybe it was the year we had just moved in to the neighborhood or shortly thereafter, but the faded paint along the edge of the street made me wonder where the wind took that man. He seemed to have a gypsy soul, and I imagine the stories he could tell of his life adventures.

We approached the end of our court and in front of the house we notice the American flag painted next to the curb numbers. The red and blue paint was pale and worn thin. Yard signs adorned the nicely manicured lawn. This is one of my favorite homes in the neighborhood. The owners host the most wonderful holiday party with an entire room dedicated to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. They set the entire village up and my heart aches thinking that because of the pandemic, there may not be a gathering this year.

My oldest daughter asks me, “Mom, who is Cindy Darling?,” and my imagination takes hold of me again transporting me to a nursery room in London where Mrs. Darling is calming down her husband, George Dear. Wendy is telling her two brothers imaginative stories of Peter Pan and Neverland and father feels it’s time to put the childish dreams away. It’s time to grow up. I break away from this daydream, because daydreaming is what spending time with a five and eight year old looks like, to quickly transition into “MOM-MODE” or “ADULTING”, so that I can teach them something in this moment.

There is so much pressure, or so it seems, to be teaching and learning and becoming experts at things overnight. Instant gratification in a fast paced digital world is a tricky skill to manage and teach.

Back to the yard signs. I explain to the girls that the names on the colorful cardboard signs are the names of some individuals running for city council. My five year old then confidently recites our street address and proudly exclaims, “Our city is Walnut Creek!” I feel my cheeks start to lift, something that has been scarce living in the Covid world, and a smile beams across my face. I stand witness to her sense of pride for our little community, which to her seems so much larger than we as adults tend to realize.

Our walk continues and we notice two men unloading lawn trimers and leaf blowers from the back of a small pick-up truck. They are kind, saying hello and then continue on going about their routine. An older gentleman walks down the driveway towards us and we stop a little more than six feet away as we have left our masks at home. We were not expecting much action on our court in the middle of the day and we are unprepared. We exchange introductions. His wife joins and we engage in neighborly conversation. My daughters gain practice socializing with their elders. They are challenged to slow down a bit and I am pleased because they are polite and respectful.

Characteristics we value strongly in our family. He teaches them that each house number is six numbers apar,t which provides them a clue in figuring out the house with the missing numbers. We say our goodbyes and elegantly carry on back to our own home.

Like most people, our routines have changed living in this pandemic world. We continue to let go of how our world looked and embrace the family strength that has come from the many challenges. Gratitude fills my breath and I exhale.

attention to our surroundings, and nature in turn walks with us. She becomes part of our family and she heals us. She restores our soul and strengthens our community. It is along these walks that we notice the details. The details she has hidden in plain sight that make our community special. These moments shine light on what is beautiful and tickle our senses to indulge in their delight. We taste the change in the weather. We feel the air on our skin. We hear laughter among the birds and the leaves dance and sing, some floating to the ground in the breeze. My eyes rest on my girls. My gaze sits gently upon their details. They have changed in front of my eyes and yet I can not recall when each of these changes occurred. Slowly. Ever so subtle over the course of their eight and five years.

I savor this moment. I write down these words like the time is slipping away so that I may always remember what the day has revealed to me. Fall has this beautiful way of reminding us to be grateful and to let go. The season reminds me that distractions come in disguise. Distractions rob us of noticing the little details about life that bring us the greatest peace and provide light towards the pathway forward. Details that children see so clearly and adults too easily forget. Cornelius and Irene explain so simply: “And that is all that loves about And we’ll recall when time runs out”

These walks, these are moments we share together away from our screens and instead walk among nature with one other. We give our

I am grateful for the wind, the sun and the music of our community.

I am grateful for these moments. Moments that may seem plain and ordinary. A million tiny details that add up to a lifetime of reasons why it really “only took a moment to be loved a whole life long.”

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Love in the time of Covid

By Kristin Shopp, Resident since 2014

V

alentine’s Day is coming soon and if you are like my husband and me, you have already spent a LOT of time together and may not feel like celebrating a holiday focused on your relationship! While Valentine’s Day is often called a made-up “Hallmark Holiday,” marking the occasion is a positive way to break up the monotony of stay at home orders. Research indicates that having rituals for holidays offers structure that can positively affect our mental health, which is an area we all could use a little help with in these difficult times.

All it takes is a bit of creativity to make your stay-athome celebration romantic and fun: DECORATE YOUR HOUSE Most people don’t decorate for Valentine’s Day-maybe because they have just finished getting their December decorations put away! A few touches including a heartshaped wreath on your door or a sign board that says “love” that you picked up at a home store can show the neighborhood you are celebrating Cupid’s special day! Purchase red or pink flowers at the store for your loved one(much cheaper than delivery) and place them in vases in several rooms for a dramatic display. Hearts are easy to cut out, so kids can get in on the act with homemade heart garlands and giant paper candy hearts stuck to windows.

SERVE A COLORFUL BREAKFAST Strawberry milk is a special treat for the kids, and they will love pink heart pancakes. Add a bit of red food dye to your pancake mix, then pour into a greased heartshaped cookie cutter on your hot griddle. Top with strawberries cut across into heart shapes.

MAKE VALENTINES FOR EACH OTHER Skip the expensive cards and write valentines to each member of your family. You can even create valentine envelopes for others to stuff with their cards. Parents can use this as a time to write to their kids about what they really love about them.

HAVE AN INDOOR PICNIC Throw down the picnic blanket in front of the fire, send the kids to their rooms, and tell Alexa to play the romantic classical station! A perfect picnic requires a platter loaded with finger nibbles. My favorites are dried meats like prosciutto and salami, a soft cheese such as a brie and a firm Manchego cheese, french bread, Mediterranean olives, crudités, and rosemary almonds. See’s dark chocolate raspberry hearts are the perfect finish! Pair your picnic with your favorite bubbly (Roederer and Schramsberg are great choices).

If you prefer red wine, the choices are unlimited, but

I’d recommend to spend at least $30 on a Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.

COOK DINNER TOGETHER Sur La Table offers online date night cooking classes that are fun and easy to follow for $29. On Valentine’s Day there are several classes to choose from including Surf and Turf and Cooking with Wine. If you find this too structured, then develop your own romantic holiday meal and cook it together! Bonappetit.com and Tasteofhome.com have dozens of simple Valentine’s menus to choose from. No Valentine’s meal is complete without a sweet ending: Ina Garten’s recipe for panna cotta with balsamic strawberries is light and delicious.

If chocolate is a must have, I recommend the Three Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake on Ghirardelli’s website.

LET YOUR KIDS SERVE DINNER If having your kids out of the picture is difficult, then perhaps let them serve you dinner ala “The Parent Trap!” The kids can also help you bake the dessert in advance, and if you go with an easier dessert like chocolate covered strawberries, they can make those for you too! Children are naturally creative, so putting them in charge of decorating the table is a fun way to get them involved. Sandra Lee of Food Network has splendid “tablescapes” that can be a great inspiration for their designs. They can create menus, cut out placemat hearts and light votive candles for your special dinner.

HAVE A SPA NIGHT Pamper yourselves with a spa night. You can each take a long bubble bath with hydrating face masks. Give each other a relaxing massage with oil scented with lavender or rosemary-both relaxing for the senses. You will both have a Valentine’s glow!

DINNER AND A MOVIE Does all that sound like too much work? Put your feet up and support your local restaurants! Get your takeout dinner orders in early - you can preorder meals up to 5 days ahead on Doordash. Oprah Magazine online has posted 40 movies perfect for Valentine’s Day, including light-hearted favorites like Four Weddings and A Funeral, or innovative love stories like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Change it up with black and white classic movies like Roman Holiday or Casablanca.

Valentine’s Day at home is a wonderful time to remind the special ones in your life how much they mean to you. Enjoy your night in and Happy Valentine’s Day!

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FEBRUARY 2021

Expert Contributor

Better Choices in Bad Situations & a Metabolic Shift!

By Shelise Irby, RD with Body Love Cafe

H

ealthy eating is always about making the best food choice in ANY given situation, even when all the options in front of you are less than great. So, how can you make the best of the worst choices in those situations?

1. Focus on fresh herbs for their high Vitamin C and mineral content.

Rosemary, parsley, thyme, sage, mint and many other herbs have health benefits, especially if consumed raw, so do not skimp on those at the store. Garlic is a well-known natural immune booster and detoxifier, so make sure to integrate both raw and cooked garlic into your meal in some way.

2. Make mushrooms (Shiitake and Turkey Tail) the star of one of your daily or weekly meals. Not only are they naturally high in Vitamin D, which is vital for immune health, but they also have many other immune boosting effects, and some are even being researched for cancer prevention.

3. Making a robust salad or having most of your side dishes be vegetables can go a long way towards keeping your meal balanced and staving off the sugar cravings later.

4. Be wary of your drinks. Whether you are doing cocktails or apple cider, all those contain sugar so be mindful of your serving sizes.

5. When making those delicious desserts, add less sugar. Generally, when baking, you can have some flexibility with the ingredients without upsetting the whole balance of the recipe, so add anywhere from ¼-1/2 cup less sugar than the recipe calls for to reduce your overall sugar intake. As a bonus, try gluten-free flours and dairy alternative milks as these can reduce your body’s overall inflammation burden.

6. Hydrate yourself. Remember that even if you overdo it on the sugar, you can lessen the effects on your blood sugar levels by drinking plenty of water and “diluting” the sugar, in a sense. Being sufficiently hydrated also helps with the inevitable sugar crash after the sugar high.

Shelise is a registered dietitian who studied at UC Davis and has had an interest in nutrition from a young age. As

an RD she works with other functional medicine practitioners at Body Love Cafe to help patients get to the root cause of what is keeping them from their optimal health potential.

Fasting with Food - A Metabolic Shift for Anti-Aging and Weight-Loss Resistance February 17 - March 10th Shelise is leading a small group of participants through this 3 week course that includes all the food for a 5 day Fasting Mimicking Diet. A great way to create a metabolic shift in a quick and safe way.

It’s the only scientifically tested fasting diet utilizing funding from the National Institute of Health and research through the University of Southern California.

Benefits include healthy aging (cleaning and rejuvenation of cells), enhanced performance (mental clarity, focus, energy), & weight loss results (on average 5 pounds, particularly belly fat while protecting lean body mass).

Space is limited, please reach out with questions to Team@BodyLoveCafe. com.

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Recipe

Orangely Delicious Salad

By Lisa Assoni, Short Cut Cook, Resident since 2015

O

ranges will be in full bloom for February. This yummy salad can be made in minutes. Get your load of vitamin C, and enjoy every bite.

Also aids with blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, helps control blood sugar, and lowers the risk of cancer. WOW! Who knew?

Also prior to preparing my fruits and veggies, I wash and rinse.

• 4 medium size Navel Oranges (Cut off top and bottom of orange, and cut away the peel as well. Slice to 1/2 inch thickness)

• 1/4 bunch Italian parsley or Cilantro (tips only)

• 1/2 red onion, sliced

• 1/4-1/2 cup oil and vinaigrette dressing

• Lightly Salt and pepper

Lay orange slices on a medium size platter. Cover sparely with onions, parsley, and top with dressing.

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FEBRUARY 2021

WHAT IS YOUR

WORKING GENIUS?

By Patrick Lencioni, founder and president, The Table Group

W

hen it comes to work, we all have gifts. Natural, God-given talents that give us energy and allow us to contribute to the success of organizations and teams. We are meant to use those gifts, and it is frustrating, sometimes tragic, when we can’t. Of course, if we don’t know what our gifts are, we can’t be sure that we are using them.

be more joy and less misery in society. But that has to happen one person at a time and that person might as well be you. What are your areas of genius?

Now, in addition to our gifts, we all have limitations—natural areas of deficiency that drain us of our energy and frustrate our ability to contribute to work. Though we can’t always avoid those areas, we are meant to minimize the time we have to spend on those tasks, though again, if we don’t know what those deficiencies are, we can’t minimize them.

The Six Types of Working Genius is a model and an assessment tool that allows anyone—CEOs, schoolteachers, factory supervisors, college students—to identify their gifts and limitations so they can maximize their satisfaction and success in any kind of work they do. In thirty minutes, someone can radically alter their day-to-day job fulfillment or even their career direction.

What a difference that can make in a person’s life.

As it turns out, those six types of genius—Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement and Tenacity—make up the six required activities for any work endeavor.

Whether you’re engaged in running a company, a department, a project, or even a family, all six are necessary ingredients for success. No one person can possibly embody them all, which is why teamwork is so important.

Among those six types, everyone has two that we call areas of genius, where we get our joy and energy and have natural ability. We have two that we call areas of frustration, where we get drained of joy and energy and have little natural ability. Then there are two in the middle, areas where we might have some ability, but that are not a source of energy and satisfaction.

The Genius of Wonder (W)

The natural gift of pondering the possibility of greater potential and opportunity in a given situation.

The Genius of Invention (I)

The natural gift of creating original and novel ideas and solutions.

The Genius of Discernment (D)

The natural gift of intuitively and instinctively evaluating ideas and situations.

The Genius of Galvanizing (G)

The natural gift of rallying, inspiring and organizing others to take action.

The Genius of Enablement (E)

The natural gift of providing encouragement and assistance for an idea or project.

The Genius of Tenacity (T)

The natural gift of pushing projects or tasks to completion to achieve results.

Imagine if every company, every organization, every team knew the areas of genius, competency and frustration of their people and organized them for success. Imagine if every parent knew those areas of genius for their spouse and children. It’s not an exaggeration to say that there would

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Patrick Lencioni was named in Fortune magazine as one of the “ten new gurus you should know.” His passion for organizations and teams is reflected in his writing, speaking and executive consulting. He is the author of eleven best-selling books.

Annemarie Drosos Branch Manager and Reverse Mortgage Professional

NMLS #1197293 | NMLS #1025108 1801 N. California Blvd. Suite 106 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 530-736-2295 annemariedrosos@openmortgage.com openmortgage.com/annemarie-drosos

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©2020 Open Mortgage, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Open Mortgage® is a registered trademark. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CA CA-DBO1197293 Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, #4170030 This material is not from or approved by HUD, FHA, or a Government Agency. Rev. 12/20

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Expert Contributor

An Engaging Idea: A Knack for the Stack: The Big Trend We Are Seeing for 2021

By Steve Padis, Padis Jewelry and The Forevermark Boutique at Broadway Plaza

A

s your love grows and marriage is on the horizon, engagement rings are imagined, designed, or discovered. Though the sea of rings is infinite, one will inevitably stand out above all the others and become “the one.” Here is what we are seeing as the biggest trend for engagement rings in 2021.

Stacking fashion rings aren’t new, but in the bridal space it’s a trend that is really gaining momentum. A beautiful engagement ring begins the journey of a stacked look. When searching for an engagement ring, consider a classic solitaire in a shape you desire. Alternatively, a sparkling halo with a gorgeous pavé band is eye-catching as well as timeless. Or slip back to times past with intricate filigree, beadwork, or engravings on the band that will stand out like designs by Tacori and Verragio.

Should you decide that the stacked look is right for you as well, take care that the diamond is set in such a way that other bands that sit beneath it create a combination that is both attractive and comfortable. Women are happy to not just wear their engagement and wedding ring anymore but to add on with curved diamond bands and other interesting stackable rings allowing them to really express themselves and showcase their unique personal style. These “additions” not only look trendy and modern but make great gifts to celebrate important occasions such as birthdays and anniversary gifts.

When selecting your accompanying bands, consider whether the style will work with other rings over time. You will want to add pieces that mark commemorative occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays, the birth of your children, or just periodic celebrations of your love. Whatever you choose, your rings should be a reflection of your love and spark memories of the moments shared throughout your life.

Join us at one of the five Padis Jewelry locations (our three San Francisco stores, our Forevermark Boutique at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, or our new downtown Napa location) to view fine designers such as Tacori, Verragio, A Jaffe, Gabriel & Co and Forevermark and find the ring that speaks to you. Our stores are always a comfortable noncommissioned shopping environment.

Whatever you select, your rings should be always reflection of your love and spark memories of the moments shared throughout your life. And don’t forget, we offer complimentary cleanings at all of our locations. Be sure to stop by one at your convenience - you’d be surprised at what it can do!

Our team at Padis Jewelry is happy to assist you in any way. Don’t hesitate to visit us at the store, schedule a virtual consultation, give us a call or shoot us an email!

Concierge@padisjewelry.com

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FEBRUARY 2021

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