Northgate Living Magazine January 2019

Exclusively Serving the Northgate Community.

J A NUA RY 2 019

Northgate LIVING

Meet Contra Costa County’s 2018 Teachers of the Year:

Rosie and Kelly COVER PHOTO:

by Julie Cheshire Photography

2

JANUARY 2019

We Are Now Online!!

Northgate LIVING

www.NorthgateLivingCA.com

Publication Team Publisher: Jo Peek

Content Coordinator: Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991 Designer: Emily Lund Jo Peek

Contributing Photographer: Julie Cheshire

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

Feedback/Ideas/Submissions: 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.

Dear Residents As we begin our second year of Northgate Living, I am thrilled with how the community has embraced it. I love this neighborhood and this city we live in and love sharing stories about the great things going on here. I love that this magazine is designed to build community and help neighbors get to know each other better.

procedures Enjoy getting to know our two neighborsThe on theoral cover,and Rosiemaxillofacial and Kelly, who were both selected as Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year for 2018. In this issue we also have dental implants spotlights on a few organizations doing great work in our community. If the new year brings an opportunity to volunteer, checkbone out thesegrafting stories.

o

wisdom I’m eager to hear from you and wouldremoval love to hear of what you would teeth like from our neighborhood magazine. I believe that interesting stories don’t justsurgery come from celebrities, corrective jaw but from our own communities. Everyone has a story to tell, and I’d love to hear yours. trauma reconstruction Send your suggestions, articles and photos to knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.

Happy New Year!

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. © 2019 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.

treatment of nerve injuries oral pathology

Kara Navolio

Content Coordinator, Resident since 1991 Our practice covers the diagnostic, surg

defects of a person’s mouth, jaw and fac

We treat both functional and cosmetic c

and diagnose the problem and then, to h Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery costCA, effective 1800 San Miguel Drive, Walnutmost Creek, 94596way Phone: (925) 933-6190 • Fax: The(925) Sierra945-7320 Miguel Professional Center:

Diplomate, American Board Of Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery.

Phone: 925-933-6190 The oral and maxillofacial procedures offered by Dr. Nestor Karas include: Website: www.drnestorkaras.com Phone: 925-933-6190

• Dental implants • Bone grafting • Removal of wisdom teeth • Corrective jaw surgery • Trauma reconstruction • Treatment of nerve injuries • Oral pathology Our practice covers the diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitative procedures to treat injuries, diseases and defects of a person’s mouth, jaw and facial areas. We treat both functional and cosmetic conditions for patients of all ages. Please visit our website at www.drnestorkaras to find out more about Dr. Karas and his practice.

NORTHGATE LIVING 3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January Through January 26

Wed., Jan. 16

Every Monday

Winter Math Challenge

Brave Little Nell, the Eleanor Roosevelt Story

Picture Book Time

@Ygnacio Valley Library For children in grades K-12. Come on in to the library, and take The Winter Math Challenge. Hone your math and estimating skills and receive a fun pencil or wristband reward. You can take the challenge today, or any day the library is open through January 26.

Cost: Free Time: 4-5pm www.ccclib.org

Sun., Jan. 13

Altered States Opening Reception @Bedford Gallery Guest curated by Heather Marx, Altered States features artists across generations living and working along the California coast who harness natural elements or the environment to create their artwork.

This exhibition highlights the natural cycles of our complex environment and offers patrons an opportunity to slow down and reflect on how we are all interconnected by the sun, moon, air, and tides. Show will run through March 24.

Cost: $5 adults, $3 youth 13-17 Time: 3-5pm www.bedfordgallery.org

@Walnut Creek Library Bay Area actress Laurie Strawn will present her one woman show, performing as Eleanor Roosevelt. One of history’s most famous women, both beloved and despised, belittled and adored she became First Lady of the World.

Cost: Free Time: 7-8:30pm www.ccclib.org

Wed., Jan. 13

Northgate HS Dance Department Winter Show @Northgate HS Gym Featuring Dance One, Dance Two, Dance Production and the entire Spirit Program; Dance Teams and Cheer Teams, nearly 150 students will take the stage!

Cost: $5 presale, $8 at door Time: 7pm

@Ygnacio Valley Library Helps build kindergarten readiness using longer books, flannel board stories, songs, crafts and other literacy building activities for ages 3-5.

Cost: FREE Time: 10:15-11am www.ccclib.org/ygnaciovalley.html

Every Saturday

Farmers’ Market @Shadelands Business Park Farmers bring their best from the nearby farming areas, kid’s craft corner, live music.

Time: 9am-1pm www.cafarmersmkts.com/ diablo-valley-farmers-market

Sat., Jan. 19

Book Sale – Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library @Ygnacio Valley Library Find your next great read; children’s, teen and adult books.

Cost: FREE Time: 10am-5pm www.ccclib.org/ygnaciovalley.html

Sat., Jan. 26

Northgate Athletics Annual Crab Feed @Centre Concord The Athletics Boosters will host their largest annual fundraising event with auction, games, dancing, and crab dinner.

Cost: $70 Time: 6-11pm www.northgatebroncos.org 4

Save the Date…

Wed., Feb. 6

Ygnacio Valley Book Group @Ygnacio Valley Library All are welcome to drop in and join the discussion. This month’s book is The Girls of Atomic City: the untold story of the women who helped win World War II by Denise Kiernan.

Cost: FREE Time: 6:30-7:30pm www.ccclib.org/ygnaciovalley.html JANUARY 2019

We Are Now Online!! www.NorthgateLivingCA.com

Expert Contributors Active Seniors

Happy Holidays!

Jenny Shively The Heritage Downtown www.theheritagedowntown.com (925) 943-7427

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

The Heritage Downtown is “the” Bay Area’s #1 Active Senior Living Apartments, focused on providing the highest Quality of Life for each and every one of its residents. The Heritage Downtown promotes, facilitates and encourages our residents to continue to lead a Full Active Life in Retirement.

The Heritage Downtown is beautifully and conveniently located in Downtown Walnut Creek.

Mention this ad to learn more about our

New Year 2018 Move-In Special!

Place a holding deposit before January 1st & The Heritage Downtown will donate $1,000 to the Charity of your Choice this Holiday Season!

Discover the Almond / Shuey Neighborhood, Home to our Boutique, Condo-Style Senior-Living Community!

Call 925.943.7427

to learn more, and to schedule your visit!

www.TheHeritageDowntown.com 1785 Shuey Avenue

(off of Bonanza & California)

Healthy Aging Medicine Paul H. Kim, MD Previ Medical Group (925) 979-0979 www.Previmd.com

HVAC & Plumbing

Ryan Stewart Stewart Heating & Air (925) 427-5522 ryan@stewartair.net www.stewartheatingandair.com

Stewart Heating, Air and Plumbing has dedicated its 44 years in business to our customers’ comfort and home efficiency. We believe our customers should have a home more comfortable than their neighbors, breathing the cleanest air, with Eco friendly water, and energy efficient dual fuel heating and cooling systems. We exist to make your life better.

Insurance

Vanessa Sisemore, owner of a Farmers Insurance agency since 2016, grew up in Walnut Creek and received her college degree from UNLV in 2006.

She is the loving wife to Isaac of 7 years and mother to 3-year-old daughter Mckenzie. After working for Farmers for 8 years, Vanessa is proud to serve people in the community that have given her so much.

Mortgage Lending

With over 14 years in mortgage banking, Erik has closed hundreds of transactions for clients, exercising great care and taking time for consultations to ensure they receive the best program to meet their goals. Purchases, refinances, Conventional, FHA/VA, Jumbo products. His business is built on integrity, professionalism and expertise. Referrals and repeat business are key! He is a Little League coach and father of two.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Dr. Karas and his staff are focused on providing advanced treatment for oral and facial conditions. As both a licensed dentist (D.D.S.) and physician (M.D.), we can assure you that when you require state-of-the-art Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery we will work with you at the highest level of individualized care dedicated to your safety and good health. Please feel free to ask Dr. Karas or his staff about any of the treatments that our office provides.

Plastic Surgery

Dr. Vivian Ting (Veritas Plastic Surgery) is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Walnut Creek, California in practice since 2003. She specializes in cosmetic rejuvenation of the face, breast augmentation and body contouring as well as reconstruction for breast and skin cancer. Her philosophy is to combine proven surgical techniques with the best in technology to achieve superior results and high patient satisfaction.

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.

Wealth Management & Financial Planning

David and Frank started Nissim & Gavidia Wealth Management & Financial Planning, LLC to give their clients the flexibility and independence that they deserve. They pride themselves in working with families and understanding their long terms goals, from retirement to setting things up for the next generation by removing emotions from investing and taking the time to understand their client’s individual needs.

Vanessa Sisemore Vanessa Sisemore Insurance Agency (925) 943-6762 vsisemore@farmersagent.com www.farmersagent.com/vsisemore Erik Oberbruner Diversified Capital Funding NMLS#433990 (925) 586-5474 EOberbruner@divcap.net

Dr. Nestor Karas Nestor D. Karas DDS, MD (925) 933-6190 www.drnestorkaras.com

Dr. Vivian Ting Veritas Plastic Surgery (925) 949-8587 www.viviantingmd.com

Rita Dhillon Compass Real Estate 925.570.1010 Rita.Dhillon@compass.com www.RitaDhillonTeam.com

David Nissim & Frank Gavidia Nissim & Gavidia Wealth Management & Financial Planning, LLC David (925) 239-0117 Frank (925) 239-0116 DavidNissim@NissimGavidia.com FrankGavidia@NissimGavidia.com www.NissimGavidia.com

Dr. Kim graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the Temple University School of Medicine. He completed a Family Medicine Residency at the Carle Clinic in Champaign, Illinois. He started in private practice in Clayton, CA. However, frustrated with the reactive form of medicine, Dr. Kim went for additional training and is now board-certified in Anti-Aging Medicine and in Obesity Medicine. Dr. Kim now practices a more proactive approach to medicine known as Valengerontology (Healthy Aging Medicine). Dr. Kim lives in Danville with his wife and 2 children.

NORTHGATE LIVING 5

Resident Feature

Meet Contra Costa County’s 2018 Teachers of the Year:

Rosie and Kelly

By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

T

he Northgate neighborhood is home to two of our county’s top educators: Rosie Ried and Kelly Perkins.

Rosie, who teaches English and English Language Development at Northgate High School, lives with her husband and five children in the Diablo Shadows area. “We moved here because we wanted to be able to send our kids outside to go play and to be able to say, ‘Don’t come back until dinner’ like our parents used to say to us,” says Rosie.

Kelly, who teaches Special Education at Ygnacio Valley High Scholl, lives near Foothill Middle School. Her two daughters graduated from Northgate HS, and her son is currently a senior there. Kelly grew up right here in Northgate and also graduated from NHS. “What I enjoy most about the Northgate neighborhood,” states Kelly, “is the quiet community, nice neighbors, beautiful surroundings, wonderful trails to bike and hike on, and the wonderful shops and restaurants so close by.”

Each year teachers are nominated by parents, students, administrators or colleagues to be considered for “Teacher of the Year.” Each district in the county then selects a finalist by an extensive process including observing the teacher in the classroom, reading essays submitted by the nominees and interviews. Larger districts like Mt. Diablo Unified get two finalists. The district finalists then compete for the County Teacher of the Year title. Because Contra Costa is a very large district, it also chooses two finalists to compete for the State Teacher of the Year. It is very unusual that both of the 2018 County Teachers of the Year would come from one neighborhood and the same district. As Rosie explains, “The fact that both Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year were from Mt. Diablo Unified School District is really unusual and speaks very highly of our district.

MDUSD is doing really great things, because teachers are only as strong as their community!”

Rosie was chosen from all of the counties in California to go on to represent our state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

“This entire experience has been such an honor, and my hope is

Rosie and family at Lego Land

that it sheds light on the great work that is happening in our public schools right here in our community,” says Rosie.

Rosie, who has a B.A. in English Literature from Westmont College and a Master’s from UC Berkeley, has been teaching for 17 years.

“My teaching philosophy can best be described with the Albert Einstein quote, ‘If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.’

I seek to engage students to pursue a more just world, and I work to give them the tools to do so.” Her husband, Jeff Hagerstrand, is also a teacher, now working at Horizons Center for Independent Study.

They and their five children, who range in age from 14 to 1, (Leo, Elondra, Atticus, Ariana, and Zora) are a family of readers. Their dog Shindig rounds out the family of seven. When they are not too busy with all the kids’ activities, they enjoy time in Point Arena in the Mendocino area where Rosie grew up or spending time at the Woodlands Cabana Club.

Kelly has been teaching for 27 years and has experience in elementary, middle and high school special day classes. She received her credential and Master’s degree from St. Mary’s College in Moraga and is also on faculty there as an adjunct instructor and supervisor of student teachers. As a special education teacher at Ygnacio Valley HS she works a great deal on life skills as well as academics. She teaches her students to be independent by teaching them cooking, budgeting, planning and shopping. Her class also makes a music video each year which can be seen on YouTube. “My philosophy of education is the same as it has been since I started teaching 27 years ago, and that is: Given the right environment - one that is conducive to learning, given the right materials - which include technologies

6

JANUARY 2019

when appropriate, and the right mental can-do attitude of both the teacher and student - ALL STUDENTS are capable of succeeding, regardless of their socioeconomic background, ethnicity or ability levels. It’s up to me to tap into each and every student’s learning potential with whom I come in contact.”

Her dog Duke, who is a trained service dog, comes to school with her every day to help with student behavior and emotional support. Her daughter Cassie is a graduate of Westmont College and now works with seniors at Aegis as an Activities Assistant. Both Cassie and her sister Kara were very involved with dance most of their lives, dancing at Dance Connection Performing Arts Centre in Concord.

Kara is continuing to dance at Chico State University. Carson is 17 and has played baseball, football and basketball. In addition to Duke, the family also has a kitten named Remi. However, she only answers to Baby Kitty or Kitty Kitty.

Kelly and her boyfriend Dave Goldman enjoy a vacation once a year to check off bucket list destinations like South Africa and Peru. The family also enjoys time each year in Maui with Kelly’s parents.

Join me in congratulating Rosie and Kelly on their selections as Contra Costa Teachers of the Year and thanking them for their commitment to the children of our community.

Kelly with boyfriend Dave and her three children

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.

REVEAL YOUR TRUE BEAUTY Vivian Ting, MD, FACS Veritas Plastic Surgery 1776 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite 202 Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (925) 949-8587, Fax (925) 949-8420 www.veritasplasticsurgery.com

Surgical and Non-Surgical Rejuvenation of the Face, Neck and Eyes Breast Augmentation, Lift and Reduction Body Contouring and Buttock Enhancement Tummy tucks and Mommy Makeovers Scarless Breast, Arm and Face lifts with BodyTite and Facetite Ultherapy and Laser Botox, Fillers (liquid facelifts) and Skin Care

• Chair, Division of Plastic Surgery • John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek • Clinical Assistant Professor, UCSF • Board Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery • Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program • Voted a Top California Plastic Surgeon

NORTHGATE LIVING 7

Pet Adoption Corner

Manny

Kit Kat

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.

One-year-old Manny is a goofball with great enthusiasm for playtime! This active pup is looking for the same in a guardian: long hikes, tug, chase games, food-puzzles -- he’s game for games!

The adoption fee for puppies <6 months is $300, for adult dogs is $250, and includes a discount on the first six-week session of a manners class.

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.

One-year-old Kit Kat is an outgoing and sociable young lady who is fond of people and easily makes new friends with them.

She’s a very perky and active girl who would love to have a houseful of toys to play with in her forever home. She’s fond of petting and looks forward to being pampered by her forever family. In return, she’ll be a great companion.

The adoption fee for kittens <6 months $125 and for adult cats is $75.

Get Cash From Your Home FOUR OPTIONS TO UTILIZING UNTAPPED EQUITY. CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT

LOWER PAYMENT

CASH OUT

KEEP PAYMENTS FROM RISING

If you want to get out from under high interest rate charges from credit cards, student loans, or other forms of debt, then a cash-out refinance might be the solution for you.

A great way to save money on your home loan is to refinance for a lower interest rate. Just a small drop in interest rate can lower your mortgage payment significantly.

Refinancing your home to take advantage of its equity can be a great way to get the funds you need for home improvements, retirement, vacations and more.

Do you plan to stay in your home for an extended period?

If so, then refinancing to a fixed-rate mortgage is a great way to keep your payment from rising.

Call me today, let’s discuss your options.

Loan Officer

NMLS #433990

a Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #1850

Erik Oberbruner 925.586.5474

E-mail: eoberbruner@divcap.net Web: www.divcap.net 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 295, Alamo, CA 94507

Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Diversified Capital Funding is a Branch of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation. This is not an offer to extend credit or a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriting approval. Some products may not be available in all states and restrictions apply. Equal Housing Opportunity. Copyright © 2018 Diversified Capital Funding a Division of American Pacific Mortgage, NMLS #1850, DRE #01215943 | 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 295, Alamo, CA 94507

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JANUARY 2019

Active Listings Address List Price 2455 Deer Valley Ln 375 La Casa Via 3708 Northgate Woods Ct 168 Brodia Way 3685 Vista Charonoaks 3832 Arbolado Dr 30 Corte Ellena 2026 Belford Dr 740 Sutton Dr

$3,459,888 $3,498,000 $2,099,988 $2,250,000 $1,679,900 $1,689,000 $1,539,000 $1,385,000 $1,350,000

Pending Listings Address List Price 376 La Casa Via 2538 Pawnee Dr 252 Clyde Dr 245 Firestone Dr

$2,498,000 $1,475,000 $1,325,000 $1,125,000

Sold Listings Address List Price 41 Amberwood Ln 829 Stonehaven Dr 2571 Chinook Ct 1950 Blackstone Dr 329 Castle Rock Rd 412 Castle Rock Rd 3119 Broncho Ln

$2,295,000 $1,475,000 $1,295,000 $1,220,000 $995,000 $969,000 $798,000

12/16/2018

BD 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4

BD 5 5 5 5

BD 5 4 5 4 3 3 3

BT

SQFT

3.5 5 4.5 3.5 3 3 3 3 2.5

7,568 7,972 4,306 3,644 3,505 3,488 3,457 2,621 2,665

BT

SQFT

4 2.5 3 3

4,005 2,900 2,499 2,562

BT

SQFT

5.5 4 2.5 2 2 2 2

5,100 2,894 2,810 2,032 1,692 1,709 1,762

Real Estate Listings in Northgate DOM Lot Size 193 84 89 189 55 82 30 46 32

65,200 SF / 1.50 AC 84,942 SF / 1.95 AC 40,075 SF / 0.92 AC 40,075 SF / 0.92 AC 13,400 SF / 0.31 AC 17,859 SF / 0.41 AC 13,500 SF / 0.31 AC 10,043 SF / 0.23 AC 10,560 SF / 0.24 AC

DOM Lot Size 32 17 11 44

37,897 SF / 0.87 AC 15,376 SF / 0.35 AC 11,310 SF / 0.26 AC 12,480 SF / 0.29 AC

DOM Lot Size 177 50 14 23 7 15 8

Sold Price

55,321 SF / 1.27 AC 11,900 SF / 0.27 AC 11,000 SF / 0.25 AC 10,260 SF / 0.24 AC 11,960 SF / 0.27 AC 11,040 SF / 0.25 AC 5,198 SF / 0.12 AC

$1,900,000 $1,452,200 $1,380,000 $1,235,000 $1,100,000 $935,000 $810,000

Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. Any real estate agentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ad appearing in this magazine is separate from any statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.

NORTHGATE LIVING 9

Charity Spotlight

TAPS Offers Teens and Parents Opportunity to Volunteer Together Q&A with Sonja Hongisto, Resident since 2002, and Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

Kara: What made you want to volunteer for the Teen and Parent Service Group (TAPS)?

Sonja: I loved TAPS’ purpose/mission of offering high school teens a variety of meaningful community service opportunities.

I fully endorse the pillars of TAPS to serve others with a joyful heart with no expectation of applause/recognition, to step forward to help as a leader or helper or do what is needed, and to be themselves a changed life by their experiences in TAPS. The vision for teens to graduate with a life-long interest in helping others and serving the community, striving to make the world a better place, stuck with me. In a world where teens are glued to their cell phones, reaching out beyond their high school circle to helping others in need is very important. My daughter has learned about being thoughtful and helping others whether through simple random acts of kindness (such as writing candy cane decorated thank you notes to her Northgate teachers before winter break) or participating in more formal organized activities, such as teaching underprivileged youth basic swim skills and water safety. To me, volunteering together is also one of TAPS’ highlights; our favorite TAPS activity is serving together a full turkey dinner to low-income families on Thanksgiving Day. Additionally, my daughter has developed valuable leadership skills, as class president, where she has organized and led meetings and service projects.

Kara: Why do you feel it is important to give back to the community?

Sonja: Walnut Creek and Diablo Valley are wonderful communities. We are very lucky to live here, but there are many residents that do not have the same opportunities as we do. One of the TAPS projects was assisting with Christmas at the Fair (at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds) this past December. This was a holiday festival day with activities, gifts from Santa, etc.

Children were happy to receive one simple gift, a little attention from girls dressed as princesses, and have their faces painted.

Bringing joy to these families was the biggest gift of the holidays.

The pure joy of helping others is what keeps me volunteering.

Smiles and words of gratitude are priceless.

Kara: Do you have a special story you want to share about your volunteer experience?

Sonja: When the fires struck Sonoma last fall, Cindy Greenberg (a TAPS mom) asked our leadership team how TAPS could assist our nearby devastated community. Together with Cindy, we quickly brainstormed ideas and by the end of the day, put a plan in place to collect food and supplies for the Redwood Empire Food Bank. A week later, we drove three very full truckloads of food and supplies, generously donated by our community, to

Sonoma. The food bank was short on supplies and was so grateful that neighboring communities were helping out. As we left, we saw a long line of cars waiting for supplies and food and knew that the hours quickly dedicated to this project were more than worthwhile. The flexibility of helping those in need quickly and creatively is a wonderful feeling.

Last year, we also collected prom attire for foster teens for our own “Prom Project” and boutique items for a shopping day at a socioeconomic disadvantaged elementary school. At the boutique, TAPS moms and daughters worked with the elementary school children to select and wrap Valentine’s Day gifts for their moms. The children’s smiles and excitement made our work worthwhile. TAPS gives us a to wonderful platform from which to serve the community. New ideas are always encouraged and welcomed.

Kara: What advice would you give people who want to volunteer?

Sonja: I would suggest looking at your skills and interests and thinking about how you can make a difference. Look for an organization that offers flexibility and can work with your schedule. As a former TAPS Service Chair and President, my daughter and I volunteer for those activities that interest us most.

To us, we enjoy activities where we can directly with those in need. However, for others more administrative volunteer roles, may be more appealing or comfortable.

Kara: How can people learn more about this volunteer opportunity?

Sonja: The TAPS recruitment drive for the next school year (2019-2020) starts this month (January 2019). For membership information, please e-mail danielarinard@gmail.com and for more information about TAPS and the community we serve, please visit our website at tapservice.org.

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JANUARY 2019

Expert Contributor

Get Cash from Your Home and Put Your Equity to Work for You

By Erik Oberbruner Sr. Mortgage Consultant, NMLS#433990, Diversified Capital Funding, NMLS 1850

I

f you’re considering a cash out refinance to cover the cost of home improvements, credit card debt, or unexpected medical expenses, at Diversified Capital Funding, we are here to help.

What is home equity? Equity is your ownership in your home, or the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe on your mortgage.

You can build and increase the equity in your home in the following ways: •

The appreciation of your home’s value over time

•

Renovations or improvements made that increase the value

•

Cash provided for the original down payment (depending on value and market conditions)

•

Additional payments made toward the principal balance of the mortgage

What can a cash out refinance be used for?

Anything you want. Make improvements to your home, put money down on a

second home or investment property, pay for school, take a vacation, purchase an automobile, fund your retirement … it is your cash, and you can do what you like with it!

A cash out loan with a low interest rate may be a better solution than high-interest credit cards if you have unexpected medical bills, unforeseen expenses, or surprise improvements that need to be made on your home.

How much cash can you get from your home? We can show you how much your monthly payments would be with a new loan or additional home equity line of credit.

Wondering about your options? We can go over all your refinance options to help you discover solutions that might work for you and your cash needs.

For more information, contact Erik Oberbruner Sr. Mortgage Consultant, Diversified Capital Funding Cell (925) 586-5474 NMLS#433990/1850

Bringing Your Remodeling Vision To Reality www.bluediamondbuildersinc.com jordan@bluediamondbuildersinc.com janae@bluediamondbuildersinc.com

Kitchen Remodels Bathroom Remodels Whole Home Remodels Custom Home Builds In-law suite/Additions We take on every aspect of the project as if it was our own.

We are transparent with our clients and walk them through every step of the way.

Testimonial from a Resident

"We had a great experience with Jordan and his crew. I'm a stickler for communication. I always was able to contact Jordan by text or phone. He returned calls promptly which really helped our relationship.

He also has a project manager who follows up on the progress. I remodeled a bathroom, two fireplaces, flooring, and new doors. The subs he uses are top quality and they were all polite and cleaned up daily. I have referred many friends and would not hesitate to use them again for another project."

BT.W Danville, Ca NORTHGATE LIVING 11

Expert Contributor

Too Much Estrogen?

By Carolyn Krieg, D.O. and Paul H. Kim, M.D.

E

strogen is a beautiful thing. It’s what gives us our female characteristics, controls our monthly cycle, maintains bone health, and more. But sometimes you can get too much of a good thing. For you to feel your best, you want your estrogen and progesterone to be balanced. If these two hormones are out of balance, you can experience unpleasant symptoms.

An all-too-common imbalance is when estrogen levels are higher than progesterone. We refer to this as Estrogen Dominance.

This causes symptoms such as severe PMS, painful and heavy periods, mood swings, anxiety, migraines, breast tenderness, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, water retention and bloating. It can even increase the risk of certain estrogen-related cancers such breast or endometrial cancer.

Common things I hear from patients: • “My periods are heavier with clots. My recent period lasted 2 weeks …”

• “I’ve always had heavy periods and struggle with anemia …”

• “My breasts feel swollen. It hurts sometimes when I get a hug …”

• “My hands are swollen and I can’t wear my rings …”

• “My PMS symptoms have gotten so much worse …”

Furthermore, we are increasingly exposed to xenoestrogens. These are toxins in our environment that get into our body and mimic estrogen. They cause unwanted side effects such as those listed above for estrogen dominance.

Xenoestrogens are also referred to as endocrine disrupting compounds and affect men, children, fetuses, and wildlife too.

Therefore, it’s important to do whatever we can to limit our exposure to toxins.

What Can You Do to Treat Estrogen Dominance?

There is so much that you can do naturally to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of Estrogen Dominance. Detoxifying your estrogen is key, both to reduce circulating estrogen levels and to metabolize it through the “good” pathways in the liver. Diet and lifestyle play a big part in this. Also, taking targeted supplements will help decrease estrogen levels and clear it from your body.

We frequently recommend specific supplements to our patients with good results.

Please contact Previ at 925-979-0979 if you want to learn more.

What Causes Estrogen Dominance?

The main causes of estrogen dominance are: Perimenopause As we approach menopause (during perimenopause which typically starts in your 40s, five to ten years prior to menopause), hormone production by our ovaries starts to taper off. Progesterone levels can start to decline before estrogen levels do, causing an imbalance. Estrogen levels in the body are now elevated relative to progesterone causing this “dominance” of estrogen.

Overproduction Some women make too much estrogen. Aromatase is an enzyme in our fat cells. This enzyme makes estrogen out of other hormones in our body (progesterone, DHEA, and testosterone).

Women with a lot of body fat have more aromatase and are said to “aromatize” these other hormones into estrogen, causing the estrogen excess or dominance.

Difficulty getting rid of estrogen Estrogen is metabolized through the detoxification pathways in the liver, similar to how toxins and other substances are metabolized (or cleared) from our body. Many of us don’t process estrogen well through the liver, and/or process estrogen through pathways that are less than optimal. This can be due to genetics — some of us are inherently poor detoxifiers — or due to a high toxic burden, which affects the ability of our liver to properly do its job to get rid of estrogen.

12

JANUARY 2019

Community Event

Enrich Your Life: Become a Bedford Gallery Docent!

B

edford Gallery, located in the Lesher Center for the Arts, offers enriching, educational volunteer opportunities!

Bedford Gallery Docents receive training in art history and effective touring techniques, presentations by artists, and opportunities to learn about various media and approaches to art-making.

Docents lead school tours of the gallery and provide hands-on art projects that are germane to the current show. Bedford Gallery exhibitions offer an arts education that many schools no longer provide and gallery Docents engage students with lively, participatory tours.

Get Involved Registration for Docent Training is open!

WINTER 2019 DATES: Wednesdays, 1pm -3.30pm; January 16, 23, 30 & February 6, 13.

To sign up, contact Carmen Kelly at 925295-1416 or kelly@bedfordgallery.org.

Once your inquiry is received, a gallery Docent will contact you to enroll.

Join today!

Volunteering at Bedford Gallery is fun and provides opportunities to make friends, learn about art, and help foster the arts in our community. No prior art knowledge is required. Tours are given to school children Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Learn more at: http://www.bedfordgallery. org/support/volunteer Information 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek Tuesday - Sunday, Noon - 5:00 p.m.

We want to hear from you!

We are looking for stories from you, our Northgate residents. We’d love to add columns on the following: • Green Ideas • Kids’ Corner (art, stories, etc. provided by children of the community) • Northgate High School (student reporter or columnist) • Book Reviews • Acts of Kindness • Show Us Your Best Shot (photography) • Hobbies • More ...

If you’d like to submit something, please send an email to knavolio@ bestversionmedia.com.

NORTHGATE LIVING 13

Charity Spotlight

The Walnut Creek Seniors Club Provides Many Benefits to those Over 50

By Frank Napoli, Resident since 1996

Thought life couldn’t get any better?

Think again! Especially for Walnut Creek residents who are 50 and over and are members of the Walnut Creek Seniors Club. You might think that at age 50 people would be on the downslope of the bell curve. Not true.

For over 2,500 residents of Walnut Creek things are just getting started.

The WC Seniors Club (WCSC) is a non-profit organization with an Members of Senior Club take a Lake Walk Walnut Creek Seniors Club offers exercise classes Advisory Board and elected officers and has been around since 1952. For an Community Center for some socializing over myriad of activities. annual membership fee of $15 these residents enjoy participating Most recently, this service was augmented by the City’s affiliation in special events, and significant savings on local as well as with Lyft, which is used when the minivan service is unavailable international trips. or not operating. The seniors I interact with during my volunteer hours are a very special group, and I look forward to seeing them So, what exactly does the WCSC provide? each week.

Through the Club’s monthly newsletter (which is also available online at www.walnutcreekrec.org), members find out about and can Staying social – It’s important! avail themselves of free social services, such as financial counseling, What all WCSC seniors have in common is their desire to remain blood pressure checks, medical insurance counseling, income tax social and interact with their peer group. Healthy relationships preparation, will preparation and legal advice. But that’s not all! are necessary at every age, but the importance of socialization for seniors is particularly important to keep them mentally, physically The Walnut Creek Seniors Club and City of Walnut Creek Recreation and emotionally fit and helps fend off the difficulties inherent to staff partner to provide a wide variety of social programs and isolation. More importantly, when these social interactions include services at Civic Park Community Center. The Seniors Club hosts the exercise groups as provided by the WCSC, the benefits of both “drop in” programs including Bridge, Bingo, Pinochle, Book Club are increased significantly. and movie showings. The Cycling and Hiking clubs seem to be very popular with the more outdoorsy members.

So, what’s on tap for 2019?

Coming in 2019, a new Wellness Trail will be marked in Civic There are also several social events and trips organized throughout Park allowing you to follow along for a quarter mile stroll through the year. Recreation staff oversee quarterly classes including the park. The popular monthly Market Days with local produce at Health & Fitness, Technology, and Personal Enrichment, as well as wholesale pricing will continue every second Tuesday of each month, overseeing partnerships with other service providers like AARP, and one-day volunteer opportunities are available quarterly through Meals on Wheels, and Contra Costa County Aging Services. They the Giving in Gratitude program. And look for new cooking, fitness, are responsible for the day to day operations of the Community and enrichment classes offered throughout the year!

Center.

A Volunteer tells all – spotlight on Hope Ford As a member myself since 2015, I’ve personally enjoyed the WCSC One of the front desk volunteers, Hope Ford, has lived in Walnut in two significant ways. First, I get to play softball twice a week for Creek for 27 years. She loves to help people who come in for various two teams as part of the WC softball league (The Creakers). In 2018 reasons; to join the club, sign up for special events, and answer the Creakers had over 230 players across 13 teams. The constant general questions about what activities are offered. ribbing is all in good fun and part of the atmosphere of camaraderie.

For many Creakers it means turning back the clock and reliving Much of her enjoyment comes from meeting new people and some of those joyous moments experienced playing baseball as a kid becoming personally acquainted over time, which eventually – even if just for nine innings. develops into long-term friendships. Hope says the front desk suits her perfectly since prior to retirement she worked as a receptionist at Second, I’m lucky to be one of several volunteer drivers with the a real estate company and for a physician’s group – fielding calls from privilege of taking out a WC minivan for several hours on Thursdays doctors regarding appointments, and patients needing doctors. Hope to drive seniors to do grocery shopping, doctor visits, or down to the also did a stint in retail…..all good grounding to be a people person.

14

JANUARY 2019

STEPS AWAY

FROM WORLD-CLASS SHOPPING, DINING, AND ENTERTAINMENT Bridge games and other social activities are popular at Senior Club

Beyond volunteering, she loves music, dancing, going to concerts and museums and taking road trips throughout the U.S. As an avid reader, Hope spends a lot of time at the library next to the Senior Center where she leads a discussion group.

How to sign up to volunteer: Part of staying socially active includes volunteering at special events, as a receptionist at the Community Center, or transportation program driver, and other positions. If interested, just call 925-9435852 to learn about current openings and to receive an application form. You can also reach out with ideas, feedback, and questions via email to recreation@walnut-creek.org.

WE ARE ONLINE!

www.NorthgateLivingCA.com Share our magazine with your friends and family today! www.NorthgateLivingCA.com

WALNUT CREEK’S PREMIER ACTIVE SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF THE CITY The Heritage Downtown places you at the crossroads of nature and culture, food and theatre, fitness and programs. A walkable community, shops, restaurants, and tree-lined streets are all within easy access. It doesn’t get better than this! Schedule a tour of our beautiful garden property and join us for a delicious meal in our farm to table restaurant, Newton’s.

“Walnut Creek Active Seniors Complimentary ticket to our next event! “

Call or email Jshively@theheritagedowntown.com

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NORTHGATE LIVING 15

Northgate High School

Northgate Girls Cross Country Makes its Mark

By Tai Chang, Northgate parent, and Ruth Seabrook, Northgate Girls Cross Country Coach

M

y eyes followed the small black footprints on the carpet, wondering where they came from and where they would go. “Oh no,” I thought as I looked more closely at the carpet, “these footprints are made of ink!” My 6-year old daughter, who had a knack for finding other uses for things, had repurposed her socks into pockets, where she kept her pen, which had broken, creating the oddlooking one-footed prints before me.

Ten years later, on the eve of North Coast Sectional cross country championships, I was wondering whether she would be making any footprints at all. It was November 20, and the fires in Butte County, the most destructive in California history, had raged for almost two weeks.

The devastation from that fire was and continues to be a much larger issue, but

on that night I was also worried about the smoke from the fire and whether the air quality would be healthy enough to enable my daughter to run the race the next day.

It was a challenging way to think about ending the season, one that had started with so much potential for the Northgate Girls Varsity Cross Country team. The coach, Ruth Seabrook, said this of the team, “On paper this was a loaded team, one of the best girls’ teams we had fielded.

Having sent one or two girls as individuals to the state meet, I finally felt we had the whole package - five seniors with multiple years of experience under their belts who had all committed to the challenge, and three juniors and a sophomore ready and able to step up if we needed them.” The team’s first race was up in Sonoma at the Viking Invitational, where they took

Varsity girls at the Viking Invitational

second place, followed by third place the Artichoke Invitational and second at the Castro Valley Invitational. The Diablo Athletic League races came soon after that, with the girls running well enough to enter the League championship race

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Frank A. Gavidia, CFP ® Managing Partner Chief Compliance Officer 1299 Newell Hill Place, Suite 303 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 FrankGavidia@NissimGavidia.com (925) 239-0116 www.NissimGavidia.com JANUARY 2019

Northgate Varsity Girls Cross Country Team (in yellow shirts)

tied for third. At the DAL championship race, the team didn’t quite perform up to their expectations or the coach’s, and they faded to 6th place in the League. One of the bright notes was the performance of Katrina Kohlmeyer, who placed 17th in the race and earned a League Honorable Mention medal.

My own daughter had been improving steadily and had one of her better races of the season; still, she felt she could run faster and looked forward to the North Coast Sectional. The goal for the team was to peak at North Coast because the fastest teams and individual runners from there would advance to the State Championships. With that in mind, the girls’ sense that they had more to give and faster races to run propelled them to continue to train, even though it meant they had to run indoors because the smoke from the Butte fires made the air too unhealthy to run outside. (A special thanks goes to Crunch Fitness for providing the team with treadmills for 10 days.)

In the days before the North Coast Sectional, everyone was aware of the possibility that they might not be able to run because of the poor air quality. I hoped that my daughter would understand that there was more to the running than the race. As a sport, cross country is demanding and unrelentingly grueling, and it’s hard to continue doing it unless you can find meaning in it and things that you like about it. It takes a bit of repurposing – like making a nice pen holder out of a dirty sock. Just like all the other girls, my daughter had figured out that there’s so much more to cross country than running.

There is the camaraderie of the team pasta feeds, long bus rides to places as far away as Southern California, and get-togethers like the beach party after the Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay. There are

friendships forged from hard practices, really hard practices, and really really hard practices, and supporting one another through it all. There is the focus on overall health, including Coach Ruth’s healthy diet contests (truth be told, as parents we cooked healthier meals during those contests), sleep (we felt grateful when the coach told our daughter to go home and get some sleep instead of practice), mindfulness and yoga, weight training during the offseason, listening to your body and paying attention to injury, and a regimen of daily stretching and weekly Pilates.

There’s also the beauty of the outdoors - the flat, serene canal paths populated by lazy ducks taking refuge on the banks in shady overhangs; stunning Castle Rock Park, where the runners explore legendary routes passed down from one runner to the next, such as “Lord of the Rings,” with its impossibly steep hill that you have to slide down in the winter, or “Waterfall,” where a student lost her shoe last winter and the rangers had to rescue her by golf cart, while the coach ran with one spare shoe in hand; and in our own backyard, Shell Ridge, with its dramatic hills and winding single track trails linking to the broad earth of the Mt. Diablo-Briones super highway trail. And last but not least, there is the mental strength – learning to push yourself beyond what you thought you were capable of and to endure endless hours of training, not for any external reward (as most runners don’t earn any medals), but for the sake of improvement.

The morning of November 20th, I woke up early, checked the air quality reports, saw that they were bad, and explained to my daughter that she would not be able to run the race that day. It was hard for me to tell her that, but it was even harder for her to take in.

I emailed the coach, who called my daughter and told her it was a good decision. In the end, none of the girls ran that day. Their race, along with the races of many other girls and boys in Northern CA had been cancelled, just a tiny footnote in the tragedy of the Butte County fire. That day, I knew my daughter, like the other girls on the team, would be disappointed, but I knew she’d be fine with it. I could see her footprints, knew where she had been, and where she was going.

Epilogue: At the end of the season, Coach Ruth asked the team to write about how they felt about their cross country season (and careers) at Northgate. Here’s what they said: “When I began high school, I never would have imagined the impact cross country would have on my life. It’s taught me skills that I will carry beyond running and I’ve made lifelong friends and memories through the team. Together we’ve pushed each other to do our best and succeed.” Olina Wong ‘Although this season was one of the most difficult mentally, my time running at Northgate has been beneficial to me, and I’ve progressed as a runner over time. Showing up and working hard, regardless of the stress you may be put under from school makes you realize how strong you are and allows you to grow more confident as a runner and person overall.” Amanda Lewis “This season we became more aware of our mentality and applied this knowledge to our races. We supported each other well and formed a strong girls team.” Viviana Castro “Cross country has been the most important part of my time at Northgate. It has made me more resilient and hardworking than I ever would have been otherwise, and it introduced me to some of my best friends.” Sara Wheeler “As someone who is often injured and not running, I realize that I do cross country for the friends, memories, the challenges, and the lessons I learn, not just for the running and races. I’ve learned more about myself and my limits through cross country than I have doing anything else.” Lark Chang Yeh “I viewed this season my strongest in terms of my workouts and race performances. I think the way we focused on pushing each other as a team had a lot to do with how we performed.” Katrina Kohlmeyer, who ran the Walnut Creek Half Marathon on December 8, 2018, and finished first in her age group.

NORTHGATE LIVING 17

Community Event

26th Annual Turkey Trot Benefits all Walnut Creek Schools and other Nonprofits

By Rachel Galaraga, RISE Manager

T

he Forma Gym Turkey Trot is a great Thanksgiving Day tradition for the entire family. Registration fees from our participants and generous donations from our community partners go directly to the Walnut Creek Education Foundation, P.E.A.K. Education Foundation, Wellness in Action, the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, the Rollins Family Foundation, and the Forma Kids Foundation. We also have an annual Turkey Tuesday giveaway where we give away 500 turkeys and all the fixings to needy families in East Oakland.

The Forma Gym Turkey Trot, a 5K or 10K run/walk, originally started as a fun way to encourage our health club members and their families “to move their feet before they eat” on Thanksgiving morning, but has evolved from that concept into a tremendously successful charity event. The scenic course, which winds through beautiful Downtown Walnut Creek, offers the participants an opportunity to enjoy a first-class running event in one of the finest cities in Northern California.

This year a special participant was Walnut Creek resident Ian McLaughlin, who participated for his first time since his stroke two years ago. He and his family had participated for many years in the Turkey Trot before his stroke, and Ian was recommended to the RISE Paralysis Recovery Center at Forma. Through RISE he has increased his strength and aerobic capacity and enjoys using the “Expresso” recumbent bike at Forma to play games & work on coordination. All of his hard work recovering is paying off, and his sense of accomplishment was evident as he crossed the finish line.

The Turkey Trot has raised over $500,000 for local charities since its inception.

Ian McLaughlin completes Turkey Trot 2 years after suffering a stroke.

Photo credit Facchino Photography

Photo credit Facchino Photography

You Can Beat High Natural Gas Prices

Plus Get a $680 Trade-In for Your Old Energy Wasting Furnace It’s about time someone made it easy to win at this game; read on…

WE PAID through the nose for gasoline last summer.

And now this: The Walnut Creek area is warned to “Brace for a Surge in Natural Gas Prices.” So, how much is this surge supposed to be?

Oh, just a little 20% increase on top of your already high heating bill!

If you paid $180 or so per month last winter, count on spending $220 a month this year.

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18

JANUARY 2019

Expert Contributor

Quick Chicken Cacciatore

By Lisa Assoni, Resident since 2016

S

uffering from the post Holiday Blues? This recipe will cure most ills. This was my signature dish when designing food for my ShortCut Cook Television show. If cooking for one, leftovers are a quick-next-day fix. The holidays can bring forth some uncomfortable feelings. Some feel depressed, unhappy, or unmotivated to engage with others. It’s time now to just get ready to sit right down to a healthy, fast and easy meal. Share with a friend.

•

1 whole cooked deli chicken, prefer organic (remove skin, separate into pieces) In medium to large microwaveable bowl or casserole dish, mix • 14 ½ oz diced, stewed tomatoes (fresh tomato slices really all the above ingredients. Make sure chicken is smothered in makes the dish more enticing) sauce. Microwave approximate time is 7 to 8 minutes, or until DATE • 8 oz. fresh, pitted Italian olives or 14oz. can whole ripe hot. CarefulDATE when removing. pitted olives, drained PLEASE REPLY PROMPTLY PLEASE REPLY PROMPTLY For a nice thick sauce, drain liquid from bowl into a sauce pan. In San · Danvillecooked · Blackhawk · Alamo · Diablo • Ramon 8 oz. freshly mushrooms DATE THIS AD WILL RUN AS IS UNLESS WE San Ramon · Danville· Dublin · Blackhawk · Alamo · Diablo Walnut Creek · Lafayette · Pleasanton · Livermore a separate smallAD bowl,WILL add twoRUN ounces AS cold water and 1 teaspoon • 4 ½Walnut oz. jarCreek marinated artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed THIS IS UNLESS WE · Lafayette Pleasanton Vacaville · Fairfield · Travis AFB · Suisun· City · Dixon· ·Dublin Winters· Livermore RECEIVE CHANGES PRIOR TO PRESS. PLEASE REPLY PROMPTLY corn starch or flour.

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20

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