Northgate Living Magazine March 2020

Mailed Directly to Northgate Residents and Published Online

MARCH 2020

Northgate LIVING

MEET

Adem, Shayna, Sam and Andrea: A family created through friendship COVER PHOTO:

by Julie Cheshire Photography

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MARCH 2020

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.

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. © 2020 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.

Dear Neighbors, March is a month to welcome spring and change, to search for the first wild flowers in our beautiful open space, or to do some spring cleaning. It’s also the beginning of baseball and swim seasons and college basketball’s March Madness. Enjoy! I hope to see you out on the trails.

This month you will meet Adem, Shayna, Sam and Andrea. They share a home in the Diablo Shadows neighborhood and have made a family based on friendship. You will also find lots of great information about a local farm selling their fresh produce, co-working spaces, library resources, girl scouts serving the community, and one of our local swim teams, as well as helpful articles from our sponsors.

I’m eager to hear from you, our neighbors, with your stories about things you are involved in.

I’m also looking for neighbors to feature on our 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 to share yours. Send articles, questions, photos to knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.

Warmly,

Kara Navolio Content Coordinator | Resident since 1991

NORTHGATE LIVING 3

1401 N. BROADWAY SUITE 120 WALNUT CREEK • 925-322-8266

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walnut creek

2018 THE

WHERE YOU ARE THE TREND

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BEST of

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MARCH 2020

Expert Contributors Happy Holidays!

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)

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

Active Seniors

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.

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. Zachary was a patient first after a “mysterious illness” caused her to be written off by conventional medicine as permanently disabled and told she’d never recover. She refused to listen, used Functional Medicine to fight back and astounded all with her return to health. She then founded Body Love Cafe so others may have the same healing opportunity. Dr. Zachary is passionate and determined to help her patients thrive.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Vanessa Sisemore Vanessa Sisemore Insurance Agency (925) 943-6762 vsisemore@farmersagent.com www.farmersagent.com/vsisemore Steve Padis Steve Padis Jewelry info@padisjewelry.com www.padisjewelry.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 John Traverso Traverso Tree Service (925) 930-7901 traversotree@gmail.com www.traversotree.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

Find us online NorthgateLivingCA www.NorthgateLivingCA.com

NORTHGATE LIVING 5

Resident Feature

Bloom LLC, which is an educational and therapeutic consulting firm. “We work with children, adolescents and young adults to create plans to get back on track when things go sideways due to mental health, learning differences, substance abuse and family relational issues,” says Shayna. Her company also runs the successful Alternatives to College Fair each March where students can learn about alternate paths after high school.

Shayna adds, “I started the Alt Fair 6 years ago, seeing the needs of my clients who were not seeing themselves represented at their schools or by their counselors in the 2 and 4 year college path. At that point my friend Stacy, who worked as the Director of Admissions at Fusion Academy Walnut Creek, and I had the idea to start a fair that allowed families to start learning more about the alternatives to that path.”

MEET

Adem, Shayna, Sam and Andrea: A family created through friendship

By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

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dem, Shayna, Sam and Andrea have created a unique family – four adults sharing a home in Northgate in order to be closer to the people and things they all love. They also share their Diablo Shadows neighborhood home with three 4-legged family members: Buster, Chewy and Ally.

Adem and Shayna met in 2005 while taking salsa dancing lessons in Portland, OR and have been together ever since, living in various spots in the Bay Area. Adem started his career at Intel in research and development and now owns his own software company, Mental Nexus, with a focus on helping the behavioral health industry. Shayna is a graduate of The University of Missouri, Columbia and Lewis & Clark College in Oregon. She also owns her own business, Prepare to 6

Sam and Andrea became friends with Adem and Shayna through mutual friends and moved in with them in 2016, sharing a home in Pittsburg at first. In 2018 they all moved to Northgate together.

The housemate situation grew into a wonderful friendship, and Shayna was invited to officiate their wedding last year in Hawaii. They occasionally share “family dinners” and always celebrate their birthdays together. Sam is the manager at Orangetheory in Pleasant Hill, and Andrea is a medical assistant in the pediatric department of Sutter Health.

Both Sam and Andrea, along with Shayna, can be found most days at the gym or walking their pups on the trail or through the neighborhood. Shayna also enjoys being crafty and works with fused glass in her studio called Curly Q Glass Studio where she makes jewelry, plates and artistic pieces. They all enjoy family game nights or movie nights with a close friend group. “We are board game geeks; we play games like Splendor, Century Spice Road, Unlock and Lost Cities. While each of us has our own game playing style, Sam is by far the most competitive, and Adem is the most strategic of the four of us. There are typically drinks mixed in MARCH 2020

with our game playing nights, and we can get into some really deep conversations…”

The 4-legged family members include Buster and Chewy, 10-yearold Labradoodle brothers. They were adopted when they were two years old. Even though Shayna did not really want two dogs at the time, the previous family wanted them to stay together. Luckily, she fell in love with both of them at first sight. Buster is the ring leader of the pack, while Chewy “is really a cat in a dog’s body.”

He loves being petted more than anything and will squeeze his head under your arm or knock your elbow to get attention. Ally, a 4-year-old rescued pitbull mix, is just like any annoying little sister, alternatively loving her big brothers and then bothering them. She has a very stylish wardrobe that she enjoys wearing around town.

Adem, Shayna, Sam and Andrea all love being part of the Northgate community, and they especially enjoy their neighbors. They enjoy taking advantage of all the great food and beverage spots close by and are happy to call Northgate “home.”

NORTHGATE LIVING 7

Arts and Culture

New Venue Brings Live Music to Downtown Submitted by Jessie Sweeney

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he Broadway Club opened its doors on Feb. 21! With events planned every weekend, it’s a new place to see live music and other entertainment.

The Broadway Club features a talented collection of musicians, comedians, DJ’s, bands, thought leaders & more. The venue is an inspiring, versatile and inviting space with an electric vibe. The contemporary roll-up garage doors, high ceilings and open floor plan gives a relaxed yet upscale feel.

The Broadway Club is also available for private events from birthday celebrations, cocktail style parties, wedding receptions, to corporate retreats and beyond. With a capacity of up to 400 people, The Broadway Club is the perfect destination for any large event in the Bay Area.

Find out more at www.thebroadwayclubwc.com.

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MARCH 2020

Active Listings Address List Price 2060 Shell Ridge Trl 575 Pine Creek Rd 402 Kit Fox Ct 3315 Inverness Dr

$1,998,000 $1,799,000 $1,550,000 $1,278,000

Pending Listings Address List Price 2310 Quiet Pl Dr

$1,195,000

Sold Listings Address List Price 2900 Cedro Ln 609 Colby Ct 3350 Westport Ct 3136 Lippizaner Ln

$1,250,000 $1,075,000 $998,900 $950,000

BD 5 6 5 4

BD 3

BD 4 3 4 3

BT

SQFT

2.5 4 3 2.5

3,900 3,074 3,091 2,388

BT

SQFT

3

2,245

BT

SQFT

3 2.5 2.5 2

2,276 2,164 1,839 1,901

DOM 22 12 8 6

Real Estate Listings in Northgate 2/16/2020

DOM 1

DOM 6 19 65 17

Sold Price $1,265,000 $1,025,000 $973,000 $935,000

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

What if you could sell your home faster and for a higher price– with no upfront costs or interest?

Call us to find out more about our Compass Concierge program.

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

NORTHGATE LIVING 9

March

Sat., Mar. 28

Alternatives to College Fair

brings to life the early times of Walnut Creek revealing surprises about places we walk over, under, or by without realizing the stories they have to tell about Walnut Creek history. Offered the 2nd Saturday of the month, March through October.

Cost: Free Time: 9:30-11am More information: www.wchistory.com

@Shadelands Auditorium In its 6th year, the Bay Area’s largest and most successful Alternative to College Fair is designed to highlight the many post secondary paths that high school students may wish to explore. The event will showcase trade schools, young adult transitional programs, college support programs, gap year programs and more.

Cost: Free Time: 12-3pm More information: Shayna Abraham at shayna@preparetobloom. com or 650-888-4575

Wed., Mar. 17

Every Saturday

From Page to Stage: Pride & Prejudice

Farmers’ Market

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Mar. 1 - 15

International and Jewish Film Festival @Century 16 Theatres, Pleasant Hill Award winning films from Argentina, Chile, Czeck republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Lebanon, Slovakia, Spain, UK & USA. Check eastbayjewishfilm.org or 925-240-3053 for more information, times and ticket prices.

Thurs., Mar. 5 – Sat., Mar. 7

Musical America @Northgate HS Little Theatre Northgate’s Choral Music Program presents its yearly production of group and individual singers to entertain us all.

Time: 7-9pm www.northgatehs-pfc.com/ncmb.html#

Wed., Mar. 11

Heart Health - More Than Cholesterol @Body Love Cafe, 3093 Citrus Circle, #125 One woman dies every 80 seconds from heart disease and it is still the number one killer of men and women in the US. These statistics are sobering especially when you consider that half of the people showing up in the Emergency Room experiencing a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels. Why is this happening and what can we do to prevent cardiovascular disease? Join Dr. Zachary and her team for a free class that will teach you the important facts regarding heart health.

This is truly a life-saving educational class!

Cost: FREE Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm www.BodyLoveCafe.com

Sat., Mar. 14

Downtown Walnut Creek History Tour @ Liberty Bell Plaza (in front of fountain at Broadway and Mt. Diablo Blvd.)

Visit the past in downtown Walnut Creek on a tour sponsored by the Walnut Creek Historical Society. This easy 90-minute guided walking tour on city sidewalks

@ Walnut Creek Library Live! From the Library presents a sneak peek of Center REP’s upcoming production of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, adapted by acclaimed playwright Kate Hamill.

Center REP’s artistic director, Michael Butler, and select cast members will discuss and present hand-picked scenes from the upcoming show Pride & Prejudice. The show runs from March 27-April 26 at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Sponsored by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation.

Cost: Free. Reservations can be made online at www.wclibrary.org/ live or by phone at 925.935.5395 Time: 7-8:30pm

Thurs., Mar. 26

Remodeling Seminar @Gordon Reese Design Build, 3021 Citrus Circle, #170 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. Seating is limited, RSVP required.

Cost: Free Time: 6-8pm GORDONREESE.COM or call (925) 885-3770 today!

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

Sign-ups also available through March 31 for a limited number of weekly subscription boxes through the Spring season.

Time: 10am-5pm www.castlerockfarmstand.com

Save the Date…

Wed., Apr. 1

Ygnacio Valley Book Group @Ygnacio Valley Library All are welcome to drop in and join the discussion. This month’s book is Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesamyn Ward.

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

Mon., Apr. 6

Lifestyle RX Class @Body Love Cafe, 3093 Citrus Circle, #125 Learn what your mom never taught you and your doctor doesn’t have time to tell you about daily activities that will keep you healthy and well throughout your life.

Cost: FREE Time: 6:30-8pm www.bodylovecafe.com

MARCH 2020

Farm Fresh Produce grown in YOUR neighborhood

By Erin Eno, Resident since 2019

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astle Rock Farm is a 1-acre farm nestled at the foothills of Mt. Diablo in the beautiful Northgate neighborhood. Situated on Castle Rock Road, this organic farm produces a diverse mix of fruits, many vegetables, and fresh-cut flowers.

The farm focuses on crops chosen for select characteristics including short days to maturity, high yield per linear foot, and popularity.

Economy of space and motion are also key elements as well as flexibility and a willingness to try new things. The farm includes its own post-harvest processing station and cold storage which allows for a true farm-to-table experience. There are no middle-men. All of the produce is sold or delivered within hours of harvest by the farmers. It really doesn’t get any fresher than this!

Farmers Alex, Erin, and Tony have come from different backgrounds, but all have a passion for providing local, sustainable food to their community. Alex and Tony began their adventure at Gehringer Gardens, a community garden in Concord. After tasting their offthe-vine, fresh from the garden produce, they wanted to share this experience with the world. They found this property, prepped the

1st generation farmers Alex Ellison, Tony San Marchi and Erin Eno

land, and set up the facilities to what it is today. Erin began farming two years ago through a First Generation Farmers program, which included running her own farm, Cooper’s Harvest, out of Brentwood last year. Her passion for sustainability and a community-oriented farm brought her to Castle Rock Farm.

Your neighborhood farm is in production year-round. Its farmstand, located on the farm at 700 Castle Rock Rd., is currently open every Saturday from 10am – 5pm. Neighbors can also sign up for a weekly produce box, picked up at the farmstand or delivered for a small fee.

Find out more at castlerockfarmstand.com.

JON’S FEATURED NORTHGATE BUSINESS OWNER OF THE QUARTER I don’t need this space every month to remind you that I am a friendly neighbhorhood Realtor ®, So quarterly I will be featuring friends and neighborhood business owners who provide services that I believe can make your life better!

Kaae Trovato (925) 628-9000 simpleminimalistlife.com

Jon Gomez, Realtor ® DRE 01945685 Jon@dudum.com (925) 464-3027 www.jongomez.realestate

NORTHGATE LIVING 11

Expert Contributor

Outdoors Entertainment this Spring

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

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n entertaining outdoors area can be a fantastic extension of your living space. But is your yard and entertaining outdoor area looking a little run-down after winter? Don’t have space or facilities you’d like to have for your outdoor entertainment setting? Here’s what you can do to prepare your outdoor area for entertaining this spring.

CLEAN UP YOUR HOME EXTERIORS When you’re entertaining outdoors, it’s the exterior of your home that your guests are going to notice. Shabby roof shingles, peeling paint, stained stairs and patios, and damaged windows and doors are going to detract from your home appearance. If your exteriors are just dirty or covered with moss or lichen, a pressure clean can give your home a fresh new look. For heavier wear and damage, a fresh coat of paint, roof repairs or window/siding replacement could be needed.

REJUVENATE THE YARD Outdoor entertaining settings often overlook the yard, so now’s the time to get your garden into shape. Add decorative planter boxes or new seedlings to bring a fresh look to your yard. Consider replacing a dried-up lawn with a drought-friendly landscape.

ADD OUTDOOR LIGHTING Outdoor lighting can transform your entertaining outdoor space.

Focused lighting around stairs, walkways and food prep areas helps to improve safety and accessibility,

BUILD AN OUTDOOR SHELTER Is your outdoor entertainment area uncovered, leaving you and your guests exposed to the hot sun or occasional spring shower? Building an outdoor shelter for your entertainment area is the perfect way to keep your guests comfortable while entertaining outdoors.

SPRUCE UP YOUR PATIO OR BUILD A NEW ONE A patio is often the prime location for outdoor entertaining, so you want to ensure it’s clean, safe and inviting if your planning to entertain outside this spring.

INVEST IN AN OUTDOOR REMODEL Want to update so many aspects of your entertaining outdoor space that you’re not even sure where to start? A comprehensive outdoor remodel can help you address a range of aspects in your entertaining outdoor area.

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MARCH 2020

Fun in the Community

Rancho San Miguel Swim Club: Making Memories Since 1959!

By Nicole Muraoka, Resident since 2011

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ew to the Northgate area? Thinking of joining a swim club? Want your kids to learn to swim? Looking for a place for your family to gather with friends and neighbors during the summer months? Look no further. Rancho San Miguel (RSM) Swim Club has everything you’re looking for and then some. With an original Eichler clubhouse overlooking two beautiful swimming pools, a large lap pool with a diving area, and a smaller baby pool for our youngest swimmers, RSM Swim Club is a “backyard away from home” for many of our Northgate community members, and of course, home to the Polar Bears and Polar Cubs swim teams.

It’s important to find a good fit for your family in an environment where your child(ren) can become water safe and proficient swimmers. RSM is not only a great place to relax by the pool, but also employs a professional staff of lifeguards to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for your family. We are also fortunate to have Rasmussen Swimming swim school located at RSM, offering clinics and private lessons from the end of February through the beginning of November. Top-notch instruction for all ages!

At RSM you will have the opportunity to meet other families and enjoy new friendships. Whether you are new to the area, or an established community member, you’ll quickly discover RSM to be a social hub connecting families in the neighborhood. The swim club and swim team bring kids and families together creating and building lifelong friendships.

The club swimming season runs from midApril through October, hitting full swing June through August. Members are treated to a full menu of summer activities designed for the entire family. Activities range from our spring break swim season kickoff to our fun-filled adults-only evening socials, complete with great food and live music.

Families enjoy our Memorial Day Weekend BBQ event, the Last Day of School event, the Annual July 4th bike outing, the 4th of July

daytime festivities, movie nights, and many other family-friendly events throughout the summer. Parents enjoy many activities including: spending time around the fire pit, Poker Night, Trivia Night, and Mom’s Night Out. There are also many opportunities to enjoy a casual BYO dinner at the club on any given night during the summer.

To learn more about the RSM Swim Team, or swim lessons through Rasmussen Swimming, please contact Coach Christian: (925)323-9634 or email info@ rasmussenswimming.com To reserve the Clubhouse for your next event: rental@rsmswimclub.org

Our swim club, established in the Rancho San Miguel Eichler community in 1959, remains one of the few Eichler swim clubs in Northern California. Last year RSM Swim Club celebrated its 60th Anniversary. The 60th season celebrations concluded with a “Hot August Nights” antique car show and open house, complete with children’s activities and a huge birthday cake for club members! This fun event will be repeated this August!

RSM swim team is led by Head Coach, Christian Rasmussen. Christian has been coaching the Polar Bears for 17 years.

Christian grew up in Walnut Creek and swam competitively through college and now competes with the Walnut Creek Masters swim team. Christian coached a number of recreational, high school, and year-round swim teams before joining Rancho San Miguel. We are so thankful to have Coach Christian. Not only does he bring his expertise and a great sense of fun and team spirit to our Polar Bears, but, more importantly, he teaches good sportsmanship. Christian and his coaching staff are the heart and soul of the swim team and create a healthy and fun environment for kids to thrive. New members often say they joined the club/team so their child(ren) would learn how to swim. And then they are in awe of how much they have learned in just one swim season.

Rancho San Miguel Swim Club celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019

Lasting friendships are built through swim team

We look forward to hearing from you!

To learn more about the RSM Swim Club and/or Team visit www.rsmswimclub.org To inquire about Club membership: membership@rsmswimclub.org

Coach Christian and his family

NORTHGATE LIVING 13

Expert Contributor

Emotional Healing & Tending Your (Inner) Garden

By Katie Coelho, BA, ACN, Body Love Cafe

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multidimensional approach to healing looks at the integration of all aspects of health: Physical, Emotional, Mental, & Spiritual.

While much focus is put on treating imbalances in the physical body (organ systems, toxins, pathogens, structural misalignment, nutrition & lifestyle), the key to holistic healing is to consider a person as a whole.

Known as the mind-body connection, these wellness components impact one another. This means that our thoughts, beliefs, feelings and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological functioning. Our minds are indeed very powerful. More so than ever in the history of time do we have teachers and leaders re-affirming this truth. Different schools of energy work (Meditation, Reiki, Sound & Color Therapy, Tai Chi) are rapidly gaining popularity in conjunction with traditional therapies to activate the body’s innate healing abilities. Incorporating a variety of energy healing modalities into your self-care practice paves the pathway to health.

We can think of energy healing for nourishing mental & emotional wellness like gardening. For local gardeners, March is the time to start planting seeds. From there you nurture your seedlings into the vision of a booming summer garden with your favorite varieties.

Do you have the tools to start your garden?

The process of emotional energy healing involves working with a practitioner to identify what serves and what needs to fall away. What actually belongs to you and what might be inherited generationally or absorbed from media, society or the collective (un)conscious.

It’s always the right time of year to prepare the subconscious for the planting of truth, authenticity, light, hope and healing!

Katie Coelho’s passion for multi-dimensional healing inspired her to facilitate Emotional Wellness sessions at Body Love Cafe in Walnut Creek; working with patients to increase their energetic vibration & consciousness.

Introducing Your Neighborhood Functional Medicine Clinic

Have you prepared your soil?

Have you cleared your garden space?

Well, with all this love & care, what about your mental space?

As an avid gardener, part of garden prep is clearing the soft ground of what doesn’t serve. Tearing out plants, weeds, rocks and sometimes old sprinkler systems. Amending what exists to culture new life.

It’s a time to build the vision of what you want to cultivate in the landscape while thinking about the foundation that plants need to really thrive.

As an Emotional Healing practitioner I get to do exactly that for patients’ lives. I love working with individuals of all ages to envision what they actually want to see, hear, feel and touch in their lives.

Together, we prepare the foundation through releasing trapped emotions, ancestral trauma, and limiting beliefs. Another aspect is the uplifting process of Chakra Balancing, using the 5 senses (color therapy glasses, essential oils, tuning forks, and yes, even chanting).

Chakra balancing is believed to promote health by maximizing the flow of energy in the body - much as the perfect combination of soil pH, sunlight, and water enable a garden to thrive. When your energetic body is aligned and unblocked, possibilities not only feel limitless but attainable!

Love Your Body. Heal Your Mind. Feed Your Soul.

Functional Medicine Nutrition & Weight IBS & Gut Health Hormone Health Thyroid Health Heart Health ADHD & Mood Issues Allergy Care (AAT) Weekly Food Delivery

925-788-6300

Emotional Healing

3093 Citrus Cir. Ste. 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Bodywork & Massage Hot & Cold Laser Acupuncture Reposturing Physical Therapy Chiropractic

www.BodyLoveCafe.com Team@BodyLoveCafe.com Across From Nob Hill Foods

Pelvic Floor Therapy

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MARCH 2020

Community Safety

Emergency Preparedness

By Judy Camponigro, Resident since 2016, Northgate Area CERT Team

A

n emergency has just happened and you need to leave your location immediately.

What do you take with you?

According to www.ready.gov/kit it is important to have emergency “go” bags located in your home, office, car and any other locations you frequent. The contents of the bag can be as simple or complex as you want but keep in mind that the general rule of thumb is to have enough supplies to last three days.

A Basic Emergency Supply Kit should include: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Water (one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation) Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food) Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First Aid Kit Whistle to signal for help Dust masks (to help filter contaminated air) Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter-in-place) Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) Local maps

• Clothing • Fire Extinguisher • Matches in waterproof container • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, plastic utensils, paper towels • Paper and pencil • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed.

For more information on building your Emergency Kit, please visit www.ready.gov/kit Next month: Building an emergency kit for your pets

Stay Safe Out There.

If you are interested in learning more about CERT and/or how to become a volunteer, please visit our website at www.walnut-creek. org/cert

Additional Items to Consider Including in Your Kit: • • • • • •

Prescription medications and glasses Infant formula and diapers Pet food and extra water for your pet Copies of important family documents (i.e., insurance policies, ID’s, bank and credit card account numbers, passports, birth certificates) in a waterproof container Cash or traveler’s checks Sleeping bags

NORTHGATE LIVING 15

Business Spotlight

Downtown Co-Working spaces available

By Kathy Hemmenway, Downtown Business Association

W

orkplace environments have evolved into unique atmospheres that inspire creativity, collaboration and productivity.

As more residents maintain home offices, employees often seek workplace alternatives to engage with other people while still offering privacy when needed.

Downtown Walnut Creek has seen the arrival of a variety of coworking locations that offer meeting space, delectable treats and beverages all with a modern vibe. Grab your laptop, meet a colleague and come downtown to explore these coworking options!

Capital One Cafe opened their bankaffiliated coffeehouse chain in 2017 offering a full-service Peet’s store, free Wi-Fi, public and private meeting space. Don’t miss out on the second floor where cozy seating, downtown views and meeting rooms are found!

Victory Workspace is Walnut Creek’s longest operating pure coworking space.

Founded in 2012 as Laptop Lounge, Victory Workspace rebranded and expanded to their current downtown location in 2017. Victory Workspace is unique as they are primarily a membership driven coworking space,

allowing them to offer a more customized and cost-effective options. Victory Workspace members work primarily in open, collaborative space and pay for private space on-demand. This allows them to forge new relationships and truly engage with other members of the community, while maximizing productivity in the most cost-effective way.

Industrious is Walnut Creek’s newest addition located in Broadway Plaza (spanning the second floor above Lululemon to Starbucks). Industrious is a premium shared office, blending inviting hospitality and modern design with stunning views to provide an unparalleled office experience.

Members enjoy the productivity of a private office and the energizing atmosphere of a close community. Private offices are available for teams of 1-100 as well as limited coworking and dedicated desk memberships.

Office Evolution Walnut Creek (OEWC) is a highly personal workspace partner for entrepreneurs, solo professionals, remote corporate executives, and small teams.

OEWC provides professional, flexible workspace based on each member’s needs,

plus value-added services including fulltime receptionist, fully equipped meeting rooms, call answering, business address, virtual assistants, and large company benefit programs.

Its workspaces are furnished with modern office furniture, including height-adjustable work surfaces, and high-speed fiber internet accessible via Wi-Fi and ethernet connection. Located at Ygnacio Center, OEWC is located directly across from Walnut Creek’s BART station.

Walnut Creek Downtown coworking members: Capital One Café Victory Workplace Industrious Office Evolution

1139 S. Main Street (925) 298-8375 1261 Locust Street (925) 482-8300 1212 Broadway Plaza (925) 233-5080 1990 N. California Blvd., Suite 20 925.239.0658

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capitalone.com victoryworkspace.com industriousoffice.com officeevolution.com

MARCH 2020

Acts of Kindness

Girl Scout Troop Volunteers at the Food Bank

By Marci Cole Ekberg, Resident since 2015

F

oothill Middle School sixth grade Girl Scout Troop 33570 spent an afternoon in January volunteering at the Contra Costa Food Bank in Concord. The Troop sorted and bagged pears and apples to be distributed to local food pantries. They worked alongside a few other long time volunteers. Over the course of a couple of hours the girls sorted and bagged hundreds of pounds of produce. After their shift, Food Bank staff gave the girls a tour of the Food Bank facility. The girls learned a lot about what the Food Bank offers the community.

Lucy Ekberg stated, “The most interesting thing I learned was how many people do not have that much food.”

bottle filling station at Walnut Acres Elementary, as well as another school in the district, Ygnacio Valley Elementary. “I think it’s important [to volunteer] because you can help the less fortunate in the community while also feeling good about yourself for doing it,” stated Robyn Khaund.

Ava Contreras added, “About 15 minutes worth of sorting with about 11 helpers is like 750lbs of food.”

Note from the editor: In this “Acts of Kindness” column I

Troop 33570 has always had a strong ethic of citizenship. In the past they have conducted beach cleanups in Martinez, worked with rangers to enhance areas of Castle Rock park, and raised funds for the Red Cross. As part of their “Take Action” project last year to reduce plastic waste at school, the troop raised funds to install a water

invite you to share your stories. Tell us about what you or your neighbors are doing to spread kindness. I hope this will inspire us all to make the world a little nicer. Please send stories and photos to knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.

Show us your best shot -

Residents’ Photography Submitted by Kassie Wenzell, Resident since 1990 A rainbow over Northgate

NORTHGATE LIVING 17

Expert Contributor

Our Favorite 2020 Red Carpet Looks featuring Forevermark Diamonds

By Steve Padis, Padis Jewelry & the Broadway Plaza Forevermark Boutique

A

s all eyes turned to Hollywood for the awards season to recognize the talent and creativity of the film industry, there were a lot of diamonds on the red carpet. The past few years, statement necklaces have taken a backseat to large earrings: chandeliers, drops and studs. But on this year’s red carpet, it seemed like the more the merrier! We saw statement pieces of all kinds on some of Hollywood’s best and brightest front and center, seemingly on the neck, ears, fingers and wrists of nearly every actress who attended. Here are some of our favorites, wearing Forevermark Diamonds.

Rachel Brosnahan, Golden Globe winner for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, wore Forevermark long drop diamond earrings, a Forevermark two-stone diamond ring, a Forevermark diamond eternity rings, and Forevermark stackable diamond bangles to the Golden Globes this year. The responsibly sourced diamonds shined bright for the cameras and perhaps even served as a good luck charm; Brosnahan took home a trophy that night!

Forever mark diamonds have sparkled on some of the world’s most talented actors for their moment in the spotlight, with their unique appeal of being beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced. We loved this year’s red carpet glamour, and we invite you to see some of these fabulous red carpet jewels in our Walnut Creek Forevermark Boutique or our San Francisco or St. Helena Padis locations!

Awkwafina, another Golden Globe winner of the night for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, wore Forevermark Center of My Universe diamond halo studs and a Forevermark Force of Nature diamond brooch. The brooch was featured as a ring at our Walnut Creek Forevermark Boutique this holiday season and many of us in the Bay Area community got to try it on in advance of its creative appearance as a brooch on the Golden Globes Red Carpet!

At this year’s Oscars, Janelle Monae’s Forevermark statement diamond necklace was somewhat hard to spot amid the crystal embellishments of her gorgeous hooded gown, but it certainly added an extra oomph. She had an amazing performance to kick off this year’s Oscars and you couldn’t miss her sparkle!

Perhaps our favorite Oscar red carpet look is the golden glow of Scarlett Johansson. She was every bit the bombshell in a champagne-colored Oscar de la Renta strapless gown embellished to the rafters with her absolutely jaw dropping Forevermark x Anita Ko diamond earrings.

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MARCH 2020

NORTHGATE LIVING 19

The Rita Dhillon Team

Sold in 2019 53 Hidden Oaks Drive, Lafayette . Seller 375 La Casa Via, Walnut Creek . Seller & Buyer 111 Brodia Way, Walnut Creek . Seller & Buyer 750 Sycamore Road, Pleasanton . Seller & Buyer 66 Crest Avenue, Alamo . Buyer 2070 Shell Ridge Road, Walnut Creek . Seller & Buyer 3707 Northgate Woods Court, Walnut Creek . Seller 513 Burgoyne Street, Mountain View . Seller 123 Brodia Way, Walnut Creek . Seller 117 Brodia Way, Walnut Creek . Seller 760 Northgate Road, Walnut Creek . Seller & Buyer 156 Brodia Way, Walnut Creek . Seller 168 Brodia Way, Walnut Creek . Seller 705 Snyder Lane, Walnut Creek . Seller 3559 Eris Court, Walnut Creek . Seller 507 Tanager Heights Court, Pleasant Hill . Buyer 3520 Eris Court, Walnut Creek . Seller 616 Harrogate Court, Walnut Creek . Seller 215 Veritas Court, San Ramon . Buyer 1536 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette . Seller & Buyer 5244 S. Montecito Dr., Concord . Seller 37 Canyon Green Court, San Ramon . Buyer 7165 Calistoga Lane, San Ramon . Buyer 3112 Lippizaner Lane, Walnut Creek . Seller 3158 Hambletonian Lane, Walnut Creek . Seller 3020 San Miguel Road, Concord . Seller 780 Lakemont Place, San Ramon . Buyer 39 Long Creek Circle, Clayton . Buyer

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