Silicon Valley Local

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SPRING/SUMMER 2015

silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection

M A G A Z I N E

The Art of Helping Many Where Help is Needed A Visit With Dr. Emmett Carson & Silicon Valley Community Foundation


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CONT ENTS Inside THE ART OF HELPING MANY WHERE HELP IS NEEDED

DAVE RIGHETTI

Dr. Emmett Carson & Silicon Valley Community Foundation

HEALTH & FITNESS

THE LOCAL STATE OF REAL ESTATE

FEATURED LOCAL BUSINESSES

Whether buying, selling or just interested, learn more about the local real estate scene

ANDY DOLICH Looking Down Not Up

A conversation with the Giants’ pitching coach

Age is just a number

THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY A crossroads of wealth creation

TERRI NORVELL Accountability is motivational

LEADER AMONG LEADERS

FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Carl Guardino and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group

JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU

LIVE STADIUM FOR NEW CONVERSATIONS MAKING SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES A special place that can’t be beat Avery COMEBACK

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Ken Packer Ken&Packer Publisher Executive Editor

Publisher & Executive Editor ken@svlocalmag.com ken@svlocalmag.com

Whats What’s right with this picture/ Whatsright rightwith withthis thispicture/ picture/ What’s wrong with this picture Whats wrong with this picture Whats wrong with this picture II call this episode, “What matters most, matters most”. Think “What matters most, matters most”. Think aboutcall it, this and episode, it will make sense.

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… it’s time. All the best,


4 8 T H A N N UA L

2015-16 Foothill College Celebrity Forum Michio Kaku, Ph.D.

October 21, 22, 23

He is a theoretical physicist and futurist. While at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, he famously built an atom smasher in his parent’s garage. He has the ability to make complex scientific ideas not only understandable but also fascinating. Michele Bachmann vs. Donna Brazile

November 18, 19, 20

Michele Bachman was a congresswoman best known for her conservative Tea Party politics and her candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Donna Brazile is an American author, academic, political analyst and Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

Andrew Fraknoi

March 23, 24, 25

He is a popular, award-winning astronomy professor at Foothill College and the 2007 California Professor of the Year. The International Astronomical Union has designated an asteroid in his name for his contributions to science education and to the public understanding of astronomy. Katie Couric

April 20, 21, 22

She co-hosted The Today Show for 15 years, was anchor of the CBS Evening News and a correspondent for 60 Minutes. She has interviewed many of the world’s most famous political figures and celebrities. She is Yahoo’s Global News Anchor, an award-winning journalist and best–selling author.

Mark Russell

January 20, 21, 22

He is America’s best-known political satirist and comedian who also sings and plays the piano. Known for skewering Democrats and Republicans alike, he says his jokes and songs are very topical and have “a shelf life shorter than cottage cheese.” Malcolm Gladwell

February 17, 18, 19

He is a master storyteller on how ideas spread in The Tipping Point, on the roots of success in Outliers, and in his latest, David and Goliath, on how we think about underdogs and misfits. He is a staff writer for The New Yorker and was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people.

Bill Maher

May 18, 19, 20

He is an American political satirist, writer, producer, political commentator, television host, actor, media critic and standup comedian. Fran Lebowitz, who is an author known for her sardonic social commentary on American life, will interview him. • • • • •

Doors open at 7 p.m. Programs begin at 8 p.m. Programs are 90 minutes total. There are no intermissions. All programs are presented at the Flint Center on the De Anza College campus. Voted Best Lecture Series in the Nation by The International Platform Association

www.celebrityforum.net


SPRING/SUMMER 2015

silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection

M A G A Z I N E

Board of Advisors Daniel Considine

Founder, Boone Energy

The Art of Helping Many Where Help is Needed A Visit With Dr. Emmett Carson & Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Rich Borell Founder & CEO Ken Packer

Publisher & Executive Editor

Rosanne Foust

President & CEO, SAMCEDA San Mateo County Economic Development Association

Harry Kellogg

Vice Chairman, Strategic Relationships Silicon Valley Bank

Gay Krause

Executive Director, Krause Center for Innovation Foothill College

Joe Parisi

President, Therma Corporation

Larry Schreiber

President, NFL Alumni Northern California Chapter

Karen Tucker CEO, Churchill Club

Silicon Valley Local Magazine is a community magazine published by Bay Area Mags LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text or photographs without the written permission from the Publisher is strictly prohibited. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or photographs. The opinions expressed in Silicon Valley Local Magazine are of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Advisers, Management or Owners. The magazine assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made by advertisers in the magazine. All rights reserved. Publisher and/or Advertiser shall be held blameless for any and all pricing errors, along with any expired dates typing errors or trademark infringements. If any errors are found, we will correct when brought to our attention within 48 hours. For advertising and editorial inquiries, contact us at info@bayareamags.com


Editorial Contributors Scott Budman Award-Winning Reporter

Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, who appears nightly on NBC Bay Area News, as well as on KNBR radio. He is the co-creator and host of the syndicated NBC program “TechNow,” which airs Saturday nights at 6:30pm. Scott has covered Silicon Valley since 1995, and is still on the lookout for interesting personalities, startups, and gadgets. A Bay Area native, Scott was born in Oakland, and attended Skyline High School before heading south to UCLA. You can reach him at scott.budman@nbc.com. He’s also on Twitter: @scottbudman

Marina Gavric

Marina Gavric Health & Fitness Training Marina is a long time fitness enthusiast. She is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness & Sports Nutritionist. She has a BA in Fitness Leadership, and enjoys being a Bootcamp Specialist, a Functional Movement Specialist and a TRX Suspension Training Specialist. Marina has over 20 years of experience motivating individuals to safe and effective fitness, including health and wellness lifestyle changes, while achieving their fitness goals. She is trained in and extremely passionate about weight loss, strength training, as well as endurance and athletic programming. Being a long time runner and body builder, she often takes part in community runs & events and is a strong promoter of sustainable living. As an independent Personal Trainer & Nutritionist, Marina is a corporate trainer throughout the Bay Area, plus she also meets with and trains her private clientele. www.marinagavric.com

Jan Hutchins

Former News Anchor & Mayor of Los Gatos Jan Hutchins is a yogi, shaman and sage. He’s been professionally involved with transformational arts like health, sports, consciousness and yoga for more than 40 years. He’s the owner of the Yoga Center of Los Gatos (since 2001) where his authentic spirit, healing energy, wisdom, sense of humor and attention to individual needs make his classes unique. A Yale graduate, Hutch has lived transformation, excelling at several careers prior to opening the Yoga Center. For 20 years he was a television journalist in the Bay Area. He’s run Community PR for the San Francisco Giants, produced Emmy award winning children’s television programs and held numerous public service positions, including serving as Mayor of Los Gatos. He is active in the ManKind Project (mkp.org) doing his own inner work and helping initiate men into their sacred masculinity.

Andy Dolich Andy Dolich is a Partner in Odgers Berndtson’s North American Sports Practice based out of San Francisco. He joined Odgers Berndtson in 2013, bringing over four decades of experience in the professional sports industry. From 2007-2010, he was the COO of the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers, where he was responsible for all revenue generating operations. Previously, he held two executive positions in the National Basketball Association, including President of Business Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies and President and COO of the Golden State Warriors. Andy has a BA in government from American University and an MA in sports management from Ohio University. He currently serves on a number of sports industry and community-invested boards and organizations, and is also an instructor at Stanford’s School of Continuing Education.


Editorial Contributors

(continued)

Porcia Chen Silverberg

Executive Director, Thrive - The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo Porcia brought over twenty years of experience in public relations, marketing, sales and social entrepreneurship to Thrive over 6 years ago. A collaborations advocate at heart, in 2001 Porcia founded the National Center for Community Collaboration (NCCC) based in Denver, while she was in charge of community relations for the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network. NCCC is dedicated to inspire community-based partnerships across public, private and nonprofits organizations through exchange of knowledge and resources. Porcia is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley; graduate of the Redwood City/ San Mateo County Chamber Leadership Program and the San Mateo County Citizen’s Academy. She also serves on the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council.

Russell Hancock

President & CEO, Joint Venture Silicon Valley Russell Hancock is President & CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, a position he has held since 2003. In this role Dr. Hancock is best described variously: as a civic leader, community gatherer, institution builder, social entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for regionalism. Since taking the helm of Joint Venture he has quadrupled the size of the organization; assembled a potent board filled with mayors, CEOs and university presidents; built strategic partnerships; recruited a highly talented staff; and launched initiatives that are delivering measurable results to the region. Russell is also the founder of the annual State of the Valley conference, a “town hall” meeting attracting more than 1,500 leaders for a day spent in dialogue and discussion about the Valley’s opportunities. The conference features the release of Joint Venture’s Silicon Valley Index, a document now receiving national and international attention. Dr. Hancock’s leadership in the Silicon Valley region builds on earlier work he led as Vice President of the Bay Area Council (1994-1999). There, he spearheaded the campaign extending BART to the San Francisco Airport. He also directed a broadly-based effort which ultimately created the Bay Area Water Transit Authority, charged with delivering a highspeed ferry system to the San Francisco Bay. Educated at Harvard in the field of government, Russell received a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University where he currently teaches in the Public Policy Program. Fluent in Japanese, Russell returned to Stanford in 2000 to become the inaugural director of the Shorenstein Forum for Asia-Pacific Studies, Stanford’s gathering place for ranking officials, senior executives, journalists, and scholars who shape outcomes in the Pacific Rim. In addition to the research output of the Forum, he built up corporate programs, established international fellowships, raised money, and generated public events featuring a stream of presidents and ministers.


Editorial Contributors

(continued)

Muhammed Chaudry

President & CEO, Silicon Valley Education Foundation Muhammed Chaudhry is President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He is one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent voices for education and serving the underserved student. Under his leadership, SVEF has become the leading education foundation in the South Bay supporting students, teachers, parents and the larger academic community. He has supported children and education causes since his days at San Jose High Academy when he led several youth campaigns aimed at improving the lives of students. Later at San Jose State University, he worked summer jobs as a city recreation leader, tutoring “at-risk” youngsters and teens in math and English and encouraging them to achieve in school and go to college. He has forged partnerships with the business, technology, academic and civic communities to advance education causes, such as improving high school graduation rates and overall college and career readiness, and raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science to help narrow the student achievement gap. He is especially focused on developing intervention programs – particularly in the STEM fields of math and science – to help struggling youngsters reach for college and become Silicon Valley’s next leaders and innovators. Prior to leading SVEF, Chaudhry held management positions in brand marketing with The Clorox Company and Dazzle Multimedia. He also worked for IBM. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University and is a graduate fellow of the Stanford Executive Leadership Program. He serves on numerous community boards, including the California Consortium of Education Foundations, the Hispanic Foundation and Partners in School Innovation. He is an active member of San Jose Rotary Club and personal interests include golf, long-distance running and volunteering with various philanthropic causes, including the national Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Youth Association and its “Muslims for Peace” initiative. He resides in San Jose with his wife, Rabia, and their 6-month-old twins. Contact him at muhammed.chaudhry@svefoundation.org or on Twitter: @macrhamuhammed.

Carole Pertofsky

Director, Wellness and Health Promotion Services, Stanford University Carole Pertofsky, M.Ed., is Director, Wellness and Health Promotion Services at Stanford University, national speaker, and seminar leader. She teaches positive psychology, mindfulness and wellness courses at Stanford University, businesses, Esalen Institute, and other leading retreat and seminar venues. She is co-founder of “Tools for Healing”, a non-profit wellness support for individuals living with life-threatening illnesses. Carole is a certified leadership and wellness coach and consultant for individuals, and teams focused on high performance. She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards.


Editorial Contributors

(continued)

Julie Hart Conde Wedding and Event Planner Owner of Celebrations By Heart

Julie Hart Conde, wedding & event planner, is the owner of Celebrations By Heart (a full service wedding & event planning company). Julie has spent her entire working life in the service industry. She studied Hospitality Management at University of San Francisco and has extensive expertise in catering, restaurants and hotels (Embassy Suites, Hyatt and Joie de Vivre Hotels). All of this experience (both hands on and in management), as well as her deep passion and enjoyment for serving people and making their lives easier, inspired her to create Celebrations By Heart to help brides and grooms plan meaningful, authentic and memorable weddings.

Terri Norvell

CEO, Trust Yourself Now – a people development company Terri Norvell is a breakthrough speaker and founder of Trust Yourself Now – a people development company. Prior to 1996 Terri was VP of Training & Marketing for a $1.2B Silicon Valley property management & development company; GM of a $9M temporary housing firm; President of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce; Founding Board member for the Housing Industry Foundation and the Mountain View Performing Arts Center. Terri is co-author with Jack Canfield and Ken Blanchard of the highly-acclaimed book, The Masters of Success. Terri@TrustYourselfNow.com www.TrustYourselfNow.com

Jean-Michel Cousteau

Explorer, Environmentalist, Founder, Ocean Futures Society Since first being “thrown overboard” by his father at the age of seven with newly invented SCUBA gear on his back, Jean-Michel has been exploring the ocean realm. The son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel has investigated the world’s oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone for much of his life. Honoring his heritage, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work. Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a “Voice for the Ocean” by communicating in all media the critical bond between people and the sea and the importance of wise environmental policy. As Ocean Future’s spokesman, Jean-Michel serves as an impassioned diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media.



Watching Your Health? By Scott Budman

I

t will tell you the time. The weather. Your stock prices. You can book an Uber ride, a hotel room, or a pizza, all by touching the screen. But, unlike your smartphone, you don’t have to expend the effort to take it out of your pocket. After all the hype, the Apple Watch is here. My first impression? It’s an awful lot like an iPhone – not that that’s a bad thing – but with Budman a much smaller screen. Now, to be honest, if you’ve already spent the money for a smartphone (and are spending more money on the monthly data plan), do you really need its mini-me? Which brings me to my second impression. Admittedly, I haven’t worn a watch since buying my first cell phone. But the Apple Watch will, eventually, be a lot more than just another way to check your text messages. It may take awhile, but this could be the next wave of devices: Connected, literally, to our bodies, and telling us a lot about what’s going on in our world. And by “our world,” I mean a lot more than text messages and stocks. Before rolling out the Watch, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased a feature called ResearchKit that will collect health data from Apple devices. If you agree to it, your data would be collected anonymously and studied by doctors.

The possibilities here go way beyond ordering food or making a phone call from your wrist. It could soon mean a new way to fight diseases. Silicon Valley companies like 23andme have been collecting DNA for purposes like this. Imagine if millions of us could learn about, and fight, a disease like Parkinson’s by wearing a watch. App makers are already working to help; Doctors and hospitals are already lining up to collect data. We in Silicon Valley are always on the lookout for the next “New” thing. The Apple Watch is the next entry. Look for brisk sales in the beginning, and lots of imitators. But what happens next should be even more interesting. And, dare I say, healthy. Scott is the business & tech reporter for NBC Bay Area. He’s on Twitter: @scottbudman


A culinary oasis in Silicon Valley “The Lion & Compass is to the Silicon Valley what Sardi’s was to the theater district.” —The New York Times

For more than a quarter of a century, the Lion & Compass has maintained a special status in the Silicon Valley. Opening in 1982, the Lion & Compass quickly established its reputation as the premiere dining spot for the hightech cognescenti. From business dining and banquets, private corporate events, wedding receptions, to a fine dining experience for two, the Lion & Compass is a culinary oasis in the Silicon Valley.

1023 North Fair Oaks Avenue Sunnyvale, California 94089 (408) 745-1260 http://www.lionandcompass.com


BayAreaMags.com Greetings to all, Welcome to our new website BayAreaMags.com! For your convenience, we’ve established a single gateway to the information you seek via our various publications that include Silicon Valley Local, Peninsula Local, San Francisco Local, East Bay Local and Finally Friday Weekend Magazine, with more to come. We hope that you have shared in the excitement of some of our recent cover features that have included Jed York, Owner/CEO San Francisco 49ers, Larry Baer, CEO San Francisco Giants, Lew Wolff, Owner Oakland A’s and Congresswoman Jackie Speier. We simply couldn’t deliver without our terrific team of editorial contributors who lend their expertise and insight to what’s going on in the Bay Area. And what about what our readers have contributed? When you’re wondering what to do on a weekend in the Bay Area, be sure to visit FinallyFriday.com. Since October 2007, community members, like you and me, have been sharing what’s fun – old or new, refined or funky! Be on the lookout as we begin publishing our network of Webzines in selected cities throughout the U.S. Read us soon, Rich Borell, Founder & CEO and our discerning mascot, Hailey


BayAreaMags.com

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Looking Down Not Up By Andy Dolich

At a recent sports industry forum there was a fair amount of discussion regarding the “Looking Down Not Up” media mode of how Millennials and many other two-eyed creatures are consuming their favorite spectator sports. It’s yesterday’s news, especially in Siliconia, the worldwide capital of innovation, that our lives are crowded with super communicating devices. The sports world continues to keep shrinking through hyperconnectivity. There are several mega-trends that I’ve diagnosed which are changing, cash registering and confusing the sporting landscape. A PICTURE’S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Technology sometimes hinders human integration. It’s clear that millions of us now communicate through pictures and videos and less in words, especially if they are big with lots of letters. The heck with baseball cards, box scores, 8x10 glossies and printed programs - let me send you an Instagram. Here’s a shot of my favorite linebacker walking his Schnauzer in Santa Clara. The positive interactivity of fans at games is going to be changed if we pay no attention to the fans sitting right next to us.

CONTENT IS KING Why would you want to buy a super pricey ticket to sit behind home plate when MLB.com offers access to every one of its 2,430 regular season games for $130? We now have NFL Red Zone, NHL Center Ice, NBA Gametime and MLS Live. There is so much video and statistical information that you’ll need to have as many eyes as the Jumping Spider who has four sets to watch the cornucopia of choices. Looking down is becoming much more compelling, Look Up and you may miss something. Confusing. WHOSE DEN IS IT ANYWAY? The visual experience of viewing a game in a stadium has been changed by the Cowboys gargantuan LED center hung “galaxy’s largest” TV at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. No matter how hard you try to look down at actual players and live game action on the field your eyes will be pulled to the board. This is an analog of the Looking Down Not Up equation but, nonetheless, it takes you away from live action. Fans want the best possible experience and they will determine which way they want to watch/communicate with their favorite teams/ sports. That being said, it’s hard to give a standing ovation with a phone in your hand. Sports fans are the ultimate committed customers - they will do what they want no matter what the marketing mavens have up their sleeves.


CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT IDEAS.

For over 25 years, the Churchill Club has been a place in Silicon Valley for important people to say important things. We encourage an open exchange of ideas and different perspectives in pursuit of innovation, economic growth, and societal benefit. That’s a noble cause, no matter how you see the world.

churchillclub.org

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Enjoy The Special Memories

of a Lifetime Here At The Beautiful

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here’s no more perfect spot for an ocean view wedding than Monterey Bay. And there’s no more ideal Santa Cruz resort than Seascape Beach Resort. Rated a four-diamond resort with luxurious amenities, Seascape is the ultimate destination wedding resort with 285 suites and beach villas overlooking Monterey Bay. Rehearsal Dinners - Bring everyone together for a grand welcome reception or an intimate family affair. The property features numerous catering venues that make Seascape Beach Resort the memorable beginning to your California coast wedding event. Ceremonies - The staff at Seascape Beach Resort can create a dream Monterey Bay wedding for you on our magnificent wedding bluff. Ceremonies are scenic and special, lending natural beauty and casual elegance to the event of your lifetime here in spectacular Santa Cruz. Reception Packages - From an informal cocktail reception to a black tie wedding, let Seascape’s wedding coordinators create a memorable combination of food, wine and décor that reflects your image of the dream Santa Cruz wedding. The professional wedding coordinators specialize in creating receptions-of-a-lifetime for up to 300 guests. Bridal Showers - What better place to host your bridal shower than at Seascape Beach Resort? Whether you’re planning a reception for 300 or a bridal shower for 20, Seascape’s wedding

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Santa Clara Valley’s undiscovered wine country By Mike Wasserman Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 1

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urple and brown road signs have been sprouting up in South County thanks to the new Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail Route officially adopted by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Until recently, the South Santa Clara Valley Wine Region had been the “undiscovered wine country” of the Bay Area. The new Wine Trail is a 28-mile loop through Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy marked with directional wayfinding signage to help drivers locate two dozen wineries. “Don’t Drink and Drive” signs can also be found along the route. Many who live in Silicon Valley are surprised Mike Wasserman to learn of our region’s role as California’s first premium wine production region. The first known planting of Mission grapes took place at the Santa Clara Mission in 1798, ushering in some of the richest wine traditions of anywhere in the country. During the Gold Rush era, French and Italian immigrants who settled here recognized the rich soils and Mediterranean climate as the perfect New World home for their European grape varietals. California and Wine Industry Historians credit Santa Clara Valley as the original premium wine growing region in the modern era of winemaking in America. Promoting our County’s assets, including our agricultural heritage, is important to me as a County Supervisor. In fact, when I first took office in 2010 I pledged to help our agricultural industry remain viable in Santa Clara County. In 2012, we overhauled the County’s outdated and unclear rules for wineries based on feedback from the local industry. The new, improved rules streamline the permitting process, reduce cost to the wineries and advance the County’s goal to promote agritourism. I heard from our wine community that there

was a growing desire to establish a Wine Trail. We started by identifying obstacles and then tackled them oneby-one. No single person made the Wine Trail happen. It was the result of many determined people and organizations working collaboratively towards a common goal. The Santa Clara Valley Wineries Association, the Cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, the Gilroy Welcome Center, the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance, the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau, and many individuals came together to turn this dream into a reality. By working together, we were able to overcome past hurdles and create a directional sign program that is both aesthetically pleasing and promotes our local wineries -- a real win-win for our County. The South Valley is a treasure for our County: open space, parks, farms, and of course, wineries. We have so many award-winning wineries right here in our backyard, but not everyone knows about them. It’s time for Santa Clara County residents to stop spending hours driving to and from Napa Valley, spending $25 or more on tastings, and fighting the crowds, when they can enjoy a much better experience right here in the Santa Clara Valley. Many South County residents have known for years what others will soon discover; that our awardwinning wineries are one of our best kept secrets in the South Bay. But it won’t be a secret for long with the new Wine Trail! I expect that we will see a steady increase in South County tourism as word spreads about our Wine Trail. Choosing to spend money locally not only supports local businesses, but it also means those tax dollars are used locally too. I hope that you will join me in supporting local agriculture and local businesses by planning a visit to the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley.


LOCAL AGENT NAPA/SONOMA EDITION

SPRING/SUMMER 2015

MAGAZINE


FERTILITY PRESERVATION 5 Things You Should Know By Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh

Your fertility isn’t skin deep. It’s as simple as that. Just because you look like you’re 28 when you’re 42, doesn’t mean your ovaries are the same. Unlike men who don’t run out of sperm, it is totally normal and expected for every woman to run out of eggs by a certain age. The average age of menopause is 51 and it’s very difficult to get pregnant during the 10 years leading up to that age. Some of us are born with more eggs or run out at a slower rate but at the end of the day most women are not fertile in their 40’s. It’s unfair for women to be made to feel like there’s something wrong with them when they’re told they’re not fertile at the age of 40. Not many women are fertile in their 40’s. Empower yourself with knowledge about your fertility so you can learn more about your options. Running out of eggs doesn’t mean you also run out of options. Women in their 40’s often turn to more creative ways to grow their family: donor eggs, donor embryos and adoption just to name a few. I find that most of my patients who see me over the age of 40 say they wish they had frozen their eggs when they could have. Women today sadly learn that they’re running out of eggs at the same time that they decide to start a family. Egg freezing technology has changed dramatically over the past 5 years or so. Women don’t have to say that they wish they froze their eggs 10 years ago…..a time when egg freezing success rates weren’t as good as they are today. The time is now to ask your doctor whether egg freezing is for you. Here’s what you should know: 1. There are tests you can do to find

Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh Photos by Jennifer Crandall

out more about your fertility. Your doctor can order an Anti Mullerian Hormone level (AMH) as a guide regarding how much battery you have in your biological clock. Cycle day 3 FSH and estradiol levels and an antral follicle count (ultrasound looking at your ovaries often done by a reproductive endocrinologist) can also be used clinically as a guide. 2. If your Mom or other female family members had fertility issues related to conditions like endometriosis or early menopause, you should strongly consider preserving your fertility and seeing a doctor


to talk more about your options. 3. There are some medical conditions that require drug treatments that can be what we call “gonadotoxic” ie result in damage to eggs or sperm. Patients who are diagnosed with conditions like Lupus, blood disorders, and cancer are often put on chemotherapeutic Dr. Eyvazzadeh has been hosting “Egg Freezing Parties” designed to raise awareness of fertility issues since 2014. drugs. Freezing eggs/sperm Harvard Medical School, she completed a can give these patients a chance for pregnancy in the future fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at University of Michigan. She after their treatment is over if they run out also completed a Masters in Public Health in of eggs earlier because of the treatments. Health Management and Policy at University 4. Freezing eggs for future use is best in of Michigan. She has a private practice in younger women because our eggs have a the SF Bay Area. higher chance of being viable the younger Each day she hears story after story we are. If you’re considering freezing your from women struggling to conceive. In her eggs in your late 30’s, you could still have a attempt to alleviate some of this heartbreak, good chance for pregnancy. Speaking with she has gone on a mission of “fertility a fertility specialist would be helpful before awareness”. Her hope is to empower you decide to freeze your eggs. women at an early age, making them more 5. Egg freezing involves a surgical aware of their own personal fertility levels procedure. Women have to take selfadministered shots in the skin of their lower and allowing them to be better educated about their options. Never again does she abdomen for about 10 days prior to the egg want to hear “If I had known 10 years ago extraction procedure. To hear more about the process of IVF or that my egg reserves were running low, I would have done things differently”. egg freezing, please read Dr. Aimee’s next In 2014, she launched her message with article. “Egg Freezing Parties”. These hosted parties Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is a native of offer women a chance to learn more about the Bay Area. She is a graduate of UCLA egg freezing and ask their questions in a School of Medicine. After completing her comfortable, safe environment with likeresidency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at minded women. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and




State of the Valley THE WORLD’S HOTTEST ECONOMY By Russell Hancock President & Chief Executive Officer, Joint Venture Silicon Valley

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he world’s hottest regional economy keeps getting hotter. Our current pattern of growth really must be characterized as extraordinary. We’re poised now to blow through all the employment, venture capital and patent records that were set during the crazy dot-com period, only this time we haven’t spiked into it. We’ve arrived here Russell Hancock through a steady five-year process of incremental growth, each year more impressive than the last. There’s little talk of bubble this time, and with so many promising new areas of development (big data, the internet of things, security and encryption, boutique manufacturing, the share economy) it seems our region will keep growing for the foreseeable future. This kind of growth is a thing to celebrate, surely. But there are perils associated with prosperity, and anybody trying to navigate their way around the region feels it. The growth is straining our infrastructure, and putting housing out of reach for too many. Perhaps most vexing of all, the growth is uneven. Though we’re proliferating high-wage and low-wage jobs, we’re steadily losing share in the middle. It’s as if the economy has lost its spine, and this has important implications for the kind of community we become. Documenting these developments is the purpose of Joint Venture and our Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies, which produces the annual Silicon Valley Index, a comprehensive analysis of the economic strength and overall

health of our region. Here are the highlights from the 2015 Index: Jobs – The number of new jobs grew by 4.1 percent, bringing the region’s job total to nearly 1.5 million. Silicon Valley added 57,951 new jobs between Q2 2013 and Q2 2014; San Francisco added another 18,499 for a total of 76,450 in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Investment– Venture capital investments in Silicon Valley and San Francisco shot up, reaching $14.5 billion in the first three quarters of 2014 alone – more than in any other year since 2000. San Francisco’s share was $7.1 billion, a 68 percent spike over 2013. IPOs/M&A – 23 of the 275 U.S. Initial Public Offerings in 2014 were by Silicon Valley companies, three more than the prior year. As of Q3 2014, Silicon Valley was on pace to reach 2013 merger and acquisition activity levels. During that time period, there were 560 M&A deals involving Silicon Valley companies. Innovation – The number of Silicon Valley patent registrations continued to rise, reaching 16,975 in 2013 (1,910 more than the previous year). The largest share (40 percent) of the patents was in Computers, Data Processing and Information Storage, with another 24 percent in Communications. Population – The entire Silicon Valley region (including Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Fremont, Union City, Newark and Scotts Valley) grew by nearly 42,000 people between January 2013 and January 2014. During that period of time, Santa Clara County was the fastest growing county in the state at 1.5 percent – nearly twice the growth rate of the state as a whole (0.9 percent.


Income – Average annual earnings (including wages and supplements) in Silicon Valley as of Q2 2014 was $116,033, compared to $96,663 in the nine-County Bay Area, $70,847 in California and $61,489 in the United States. Median household income in 2013 in Silicon Valley was $94,534 and $79,778 in San Francisco. Housing – Home prices and rental rates continued to rise in 2014, with a median home sale price of $757,585 (7.5 percent higher than 2013 and more than $360,000 higher than the median price throughout the state) and an average rental rate of $2,333 per month (11 percent higher than 2013) in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Commercial space – The amount of approved development hit skyscraper levels in FY 2013-14 to 12.9 million square feet – nearly twice the floor area of the Pentagon, the largest U.S. office building. This amount of net nonresidential development is far more than any other year over the last decade, and is 2.6 million square feet more than the last peak in 2004. The 2015 Silicon Valley Index is accessible online at www. siliconvalleyindicators.org and may be downloaded from the Joint Venture website at www.jointventure.org.


Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone

By Mike Wasserman Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 1

Urban vacant lots may soon become lively gardens thanks to Santa Clara County’s proposed Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone.

land can now be transformed into urban farms that the entire community can enjoy.

Urban farms have been shown to increase surrounding property values, and selling crops to local stores and restaurants provide even more incentive ur Valley has a significant and vibrant agriculto join the program. Besides the economic benefits, tural history that dates back centuries. The which are considerable, there are other direct imregion’s soil is rich and the weather ripe for agriculmeasurable benefits. Gardens that the entire comture. Over the past thirty years, the area affectionmunity can enjoy will greatly enhance the quality of ately known as “The Valley of the Heart’s Delight” has the neighborhood, while also creating opportunibeen transformed from farmland to the epicenter of ties such as: providing healthy nutrition, educationthe tech industry. MIKE WASSERMAN al programs, cooking classes, after-school garden The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, aimclubs, and better access to healthy and fresh foods ing to counter the loss of farmland and take advantage of unused for an entire community. urban areas, is proposing an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone. Many people have noticed the success and benefits of the numer- Most people, especially the majority who live in urban areas, have ous urban agricultural nonprofit organizations such as Veggielution grown farther apart from the farm and where their food comes popping up around large cities and neighborhoods, which provide from. Healthy farm-to-table foods are hard to come by, especially for low-income families and the homeless. Now, a greater number local residents with fresh produce and healthy food options. of people will have access to more food options; even growing it Small-scale “micro” farms have been gaining in popularity and the themselves. County’s proposal would be among the first in California once approved by the Board of Supervisors. A voluntary agreement be- An Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone puts farming in cities, where tween the County and a landowner designates the use of vacant thousands of people will benefit. Neighborhood farms have the poparcels of land for crop production, thereby entitling the property tential to become a vital and prized community asset. This program owner to a significantly reduced property tax bill. Unused parcels of will allow micro farms to become a part of the community.

O


APRIL 17 - 26, 2015 AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 9 - 11

DECEMBER 5 - 14, 2014 AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 9 - 11

MAY 8 - 17, 2015 AUDITIONS: MARCH 17 - 18

MARCH 6 - 15, 2015 AUDITIONS: JANUARY 6 - 7

JULY 24 - AUGUST 2, 2015 AUDITIONS: MAY 18 - 19

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 1, 2015 AUDITIONS: JANUARY 6 - 7 AGES: 8-14

NOVEMBER 14 - 23, 2014 AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 16 - 17 AGES: 8-15

APRIL 30 - MAY 3, 2015 AUDITIONS: MARCH 10 - 11 AGES: 8-14

JULY 10 - 19, 2015 AUDITIONS: MAY 5 - 6 AGES: 10-14

AUGUST 6 - 9, 2015 AUDITIONS: MAY 12 - 13 AGES: 6-9


5.7% Technology

3.8% overall increase for 2015

3.5%

Accounting & Finance

3.5%

Creative & Marketing Administrative & Office Support LegalLegal

3.4% 3.0%

Tech Leads Bay Area Hiring Spree BY SHARON BLACK, SENIOR DISTRICT PRESIDENT As metro San Francisco and Silicon Valley activity is primarily centered in the SoMa offers. To compete, managers are alterhiring soars to new heights, a so-called (South of Market) and Mission districts, ing recruitment practices — for example, war for talent has emerged across although other neighborhoods — in- expediting the hiring process to avoid multiple industries, not just tech. What’s cluding the Presidio and even NOPA losing a top candidate. Bay Area hiring different this time around, managers also are offering as opposed to the pre-reattractive perks, signing boFIND OUT WHO CAN EXPECT THE BIGGEST cession bubble, is that job nuses (which were recently PAYCHECKS IN THE COMING YEAR, WHAT NEW growth is diverse and wideresurrected) and very comspread, and the long-term JOB TITLES ARE EMERGING AND HOW THE HIRING petitive wages. The 2015 employment forecast looks Salary Guides from Robert ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING. Half predict the average more sustainable. Here starting salaries for San are some of the key factors Francisco professional positions to be 38 impacting Bay Area hiring trends: (North of the Panhandle) — are housing percent above the national average — these companies as well. As of August 2.5 points higher than 2014 figures. SAN FRANCISCO IS HOT 2014, the unemployment rate in San As the recruitment environment heats up, Francisco County was just 4.7 percent — companies are chasing down talent rath- the third lowest in the state. ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS er than waiting for applicants to come to MULTIPLY them. Since many tech gurus reside in RECRUITMENT GETS REVAMPED San Francisco and Silicon Valley hiring San Francisco, Silicon Valley companies With unemployment dropping, special- mangers are bringing in recent grads are opening second locations in the city ized talent is in such high demand that to get a jump on the competition. Not in an effort to attract them. The surge of some job seekers are receiving multiple only do these new recruits bring fresh

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insights, but upper management can also mold them according to their company’s vision. On-the-job training for those without industry experience is becoming more commonplace, as are internship programs for students. Competing companies aren’t letting age stand in the way: Some tech interns are barely in high school.

RETENTION IS KEY

Considering San Francisco’s techfueled housing shortage and demand for skilled labor, employers need to step up their retention efforts. Turnover is not only expensive and time-consuming, but also risky: Despite noncompete and non-disclosure agreements, departing employees could still take business knowledge and clients with them. Bay Area hiring managers also have to work hard to retain young adults, who are rapidly becoming the workforce majority. Millennials are mobile, constantly connected and prefer to blend, not balance, work and personal life. By cultivating an attractive

image and staying competitive with pay and perks, like housing subsidies and remote work options, companies can boost worker satisfaction — from baby boomers to Gen Y and even the upcoming Gen Z.

RISING TECH TIDE LIFTS OTHER BOATS

The battle for talent originated in the IT industry, but it has spread to other sectors as well. With a burgeoning population, construction is up. Similarly, an influx of workers means retail and healthcare also need to keep up. A buzz in activity has created a surge in the hospitality and tourism industry, which is projected to gain almost 190,000 jobs by 2020. In addition, the Bay Area is experiencing a manufacturing revival, and the sector is experiencing growth for the first time in 25 years. Widespread economic growth has prompted a surge in jobs and hiring in the banking and finance industry. Although IT talent is in high demand, especially in software and web development,

TOP 10 POSITIONS TO WATCH Starting Salary Increase

Starting Salary Increase

3.9%

4.0%

4.0%

4.2%

4.3%

Content Strategist

Compliance Officer**

Staff Accountant*

(1-3 yrs., experience)

Sr. Business Systems Analyst***

Human Resources Assistant

$72,000$100,000

$99,750$132,750

$45,500$59,000

$81,000$99,250

$31,500$42,000

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Lawyer****

Mobile Designer

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Chief Security Officer

Mobile Application Developer

$134,000$184,500

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$134,250$204,750

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TRENDS AFFECTING BAY AREA HIRING Demand for talent is solid across the board. Unemployment rates for highly skilled workers can be half of the national rate, or even less. Hiring is half the battle; turnover is costly, making retention a top priority for companies. Flexible staffing is the new normal. The lines are blurred; companies are taking a “hybrid” approach to more roles.

companies are also intently looking for specialized accounting and finance professionals, a trend that continues to pick up speed. Bay Area hiring trends reflect a high demand for financial analysts, controllers, senior accountants and accounting managers. Compliance and big data jobs also are sprouting up where tech companies flourish. From IT to tourism, the Bay Area hiring market is developing so fast that companies are struggling to keep up. Although San Francisco’s unemployment rate has not (yet) dipped below December 2000’s low of 3.0 percent (before the dot-com bubble burst), it’s close enough that employers from restaurants to aerospace are having trouble finding, hiring and retaining workers. It’s not hard to imagine that the employment picture will be challenging for hiring managers — and rosy for job seekers — for years to come. The chart at left shows some of the hottest positions in the Bay Area, along with the national average starting salary range for each and how much compensation is expected to rise in 2015.

Call us today at 1.800.803.8367 roberthalf.com/salary-center *Small companies: up to $25 million in sales | **Midsize companies: $25 million to $250 million in sales | ***Large companies: $250+ million in sales | ****Small/midsize law firm 10-35 lawyers Figures reflect national average starting salaries only. © 2014 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. RH-1114.


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

A Great Job … What Does That Mean and Where Is It? Are you thinking about a job position change to another company? Do you see yourself working for a company that’s a great place to work? Would you enjoy working for a company that engages with its employees and provides opportunities for overall job happiness and growth? If you answered “yes” to the above questions, then you would most likely be a candidate to work for a company whose values are implemented in its workplace culture. Silicon Valley Local Magazine in the coming weeks and months will take a more personal approach and go to the source … to find out more on what makes a company tick.

Ken Packer

Publisher & Executive Editor ken@svlocalmag.com

Our goal is to search out, through our independent research, companies to work for and find out from key individuals some good answers to some good questions: What makes their company fun, what is their leadership philosophy and what is the meaning, and joy, in being a part of their organization. Indeed, there are key factors to be considered before making one of the most important decisions of your life, and career, when searching to join a new organization, such as: A company that respects its employees, shows fairness to all, rewards its employees with perks, and by other means, and offers fair compensation, along with benefits. How does an organization communicate, do they encourage diversity, is there team building, how can you advance, how can your ideas be welcome, how are your efforts appreciated and how is the compensation opportunity toward meeting your needs … and also your goals? And, so, how does one who is possibly looking, and hopeful, find and learn more about great companies to work for … many of which may be under people’s radar? There may be many, and, yet, even just one, may be for each person such a great find. If you are thinking about a change of companies, or looking to start your career with a company that’s a leader in its industry, we invite you to check out … as we continue our quest on finding … “Featured Companies To Work For In Silicon Valley”.


SILICON VALLEY’S

FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Connecting Employers and Employees

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FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

NVIDIA CORP

Chris A. Malachowsky, Co-Founder, SVP and NVIDIA Fellow SVL: What does corporate culture mean to you and your company? How important is it? CM: This was one of the very first things we discussed shortly after founding the company, when we had just a handful of people. We felt our values, and the culture they would inspire, was a paramount issue for us, literally on par with the product and technology ideas behind our formation. Two decades later, we continue to put a premium on instilling a culture that reflects the core values and guiding principles that our early team felt was important. It’s even more critical now that we have nearly 9,000 employees around the world. Our culture is part of the glue that holds us together. It helps us operate effectively as one team. And it serves as the basis for operational consistency, and execution excellence. SVL: What strides does your company take to enhance your corporate culture and also support and empower your employees? CM: We strongly believe that you can’t artificially create and mandate culture. Bullet points on a poster do not work. A wallet-size card with a motto doesn’t work either. It has to be lived, practiced, cultivated, nurtured, protected. Our culture is evident just about everywhere you turn here. It’s reflected in the very high standards we drive to, our celebration of critical debate, the forthrightness of commentary, the lack of politics or personal agendas, and the level of creativity and thoughtfulness brought to everything we do.

SVL: What do you love most about your company culture? What excites you and others about working here? CM: I think it really empowers the individual to do good work, unimpeded by nonsense. It encourages our people to always be proud of what they and their colleagues accomplish, and to work in a supportive environment that recognizes them as individuals and members of a bigger community. I still find this invigorating. It allows everyone to play a role in our collective success, in a way they can be proud of. I love it that as hard as we work, as large as our commitment is to corporate success is, we play just as hard, find time to laugh, and work to better our communities. A great example of this is Project Inspire, our year-end company-wide volunteer project where we spend a weekend transforming a school or community farm instead of holding a holiday party. It’s one of the best things we do. In some ways, it’s our whole culture, writ large. SVL: What does it take for someone to be successful here? CM: It starts with playing your role, and playing it well. And to do that requires a high degree of skill, plus very high standards. But that’s really just the beginning. People succeed here by collaborating, by steering clear of the kind of politics that might exist elsewhere, but most of all by being passionate about what they’re doing.


THE VISUAL COMPUTING COMPANY nvidia.com


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

ADOBE

Donna Morris, Senior Vice President, People and Places SVL: What does corporate culture mean to you and your company? How important is it? DM: Our business continues to evolve and this includes our culture – but we are grounded on the set of values since our inception 30+ years ago; Genuine, Exceptional, Innovative, Involved. With our values as the foundation, our priority is to have an environment to enable the success of our people that will contribute to the success and growth of the business. At Adobe our employees are our core asset, driving the innovation and creativity at the company. SVL: What strides does your company take to enhance your corporate culture and also support and empower your employees? DM: We continue to look at initiatives to enable the success of our people. Our business continues to transform and this means our people processes also must evolve. For example, we replaced the annual performance review with the Check-in approach – a flexible framework for providing continuous, genuine and reciprocal feedback between managers and employees. The Check-in approach has been well received by managers and employees alike and is helping to drive the success of our business transformation. SVL: How does your company support its employees’ development, learning and wellbeing? DM: To help Adobe employees reach their fullest potential, we take a holistic approach in providing an exceptional experience through wellness, workplace, and career development programs. As we continue to grow globally, we are using digital platforms to engage and cultivate leaders through highly interactive, virtual lab sessions. We are also focused on innovating around our workplace experience including

creating open, collaborative workspaces as well as hosting community events like our Adobe Field Trip day for employees and their families. SVL: What kinds of sponsorships, community or philanthropic activities does your company participate in or support? DM: It is important for Adobe to help foster the next generation of tech innovators with creativity and coding initiatives. Over the past 8 years we have engaged 150,000 students around the globe in the Adobe Youth Voices program – producing media and learning digital skills they may not have had access to otherwise. To help bring more gender diversity into the tech industry, we are providing grants to and partnering with Girls Who Code, an organization that educates and inspires high school girls with the skills to pursue opportunities in computing fields. This summer we hosted 20 enthusiastic young women at our San Jose headquarters and were inspired by their passion and dedication.


Inspiring. Empowering. Rewarding. Fun.

These are some of the words people commonly use to describe their careers at Adobe. As an Adobe employee, you’re encouraged to be creative. Think way outside the box. And work with some of the industry’s most innovative minds on highimpact projects. No matter what you do at Adobe, you’ll play a part in shaping the future of digital experiences.

adobe.com


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

WELLS FARGO

Brian Pearce, Senior Vice President, Head of Retail Mobile Channel and Digital Innovation for Wells Fargo’s Digital Channels Group

Bank Apps Make Money Management A Snap SVL: In recent years, we have seen Mobile Banking change so much. What stance has Wells Fargo Bank made in embracing the future and how has it become a leader in modern Banking Technology? Brian Pearce: We are proud, and excited, that Wells Fargo Bank recently earned #1 in overall mobile performance and best iPhone and Android apps in Keynote’s Mobile Banking Scorecard, a bi-annual assessment on how well firms’ digital channels meet the needs of their customers. Wells Fargo isn’t innovating for the sake of innovation, but rather to help customers succeed financially. The bank is also an industry leader in security, privacy and fraud protection, and was awarded “Best Privacy and Security” by Keynote last year. SVL: With so much recent growth behind Mobile Technology and Apps and the Wells Fargo Bank of today, what is the significance of all this and what are you and Wells Fargo Bank most proud of? Brian Pearce: The app’s recent enhancements, for sure, are not lost on customers, as mobile continues to be the bank’s fastest growing channel in history with 13.1 million active mobile customers, up 22 percent year-over-year. SVL: You talk about a good number of important new features … What are some of them and what are the special meanings and benefits they have for your customers? Brian Pearce: Indeed, there are a good number. For example, here are just three we feel are helpful for and appreciated by many. *Wells Fargo SurePay contact list import: Wells Fargo SurePay makes it simple for our customers to send money to their friends or family using the recipient’s email address or mobile number, eliminating the pain of memorizing an account number. Now customers can even import their contacts into the app to easily add new people to

their recipient list. * Wells Fargo Mobile Deposit video capture: Ever-popular mobile deposit is now complimented by auto-capture technology, which initiates and takes the check’s picture for the customer, in addition to more specific guidance when a check can’t be processed. Instructions include, “Hold steady,” “More light,” or “Get closer,” to help customers complete their deposit. * Make an Appointment: Make an Appointment enables customers to easily schedule via mobile an in-person meeting with a banker to discuss their financial needs. As more people continue to use their phones and tablets for their general banking needs, Make an Appointment allows them to easily access our store-based banking team for those more complex or nuanced transactions that require guidance from an expert. For more information on mobile banking, search your app store for “Wells Fargo”, visit www. wellsfargo.com or come in and talk to a banker. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.


Financial options for every phase of your life

Whether you want to save for the future, secure a personal loan, utilize exclusive online and telephone banking services, or enjoy the convenience of our ATMs and many locations, we are here for you. Call, click, or stop by and talk with a banker. If you would like to open an account over the phone, call 1-800-932-6736 any time (or 1-800-311-9311 for service in Spanish).

wellsfargo.com All loans are subject to application, credit qualification, and income verification. Š 2014 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. 122933 08/14


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

ROBERT HALF Sharon Black, Senior District Director

SVL: What does Corporate Culture mean to you and your company? How important is it? SB: At Robert Half, we help businesses grow by matching the right talent to their specialized staffing needs, and we build rewarding careers for the professionals we place. Our employees have a passion for helping job seekers and businesses. We treat our customers with professionalism and respect and adhere to a philosophy of “Ethics First” in everything we do. SVL: What do you love most about your company culture? What excites you and others about working here? SB: The company culture at Robert Half is dynamic. Our mission is to create a work environment where employees can thrive and innovate. We constantly explore new ideas; look for more effective ways of doing business and pilot technologies that will help our employees work more efficiently. We also never forget the importance of providing unparalleled customer service and building strong relationships with our clients and job candidates. People here are engaged and passionate about their jobs. They’re not afraid of “rocking the boat” if they think that a new way of doing something will produce better results. They are problem solvers. Robert Half’s renowned customer service has always been inspired by a sincere desire to find solutions for the everyday business challenges our customers face. We have a saying in our office: “We lead by example, and hire the best!” SVL: What does it take for someone to be successful here? SB: Our secret to success, besides hard work and a sincere belief in helping others, is our determination to earn the long-term loyalty of our clients and job seekers. You need a desire to

give customers and colleagues your finest effort. Our best performers understand that success comes to those who earn it. Robert Half promotes from within and awards growth and future opportunities to recognize hard work and dedication. We have many professionals worldwide who have built lasting and rewarding careers with Robert Half. SVL: What is your definition of leadership? SB: Leaders appreciate the value of collaboration. They focus on group performance as well as individual contributions. They encourage a competitive spirit, but also promote the sharing of techniques, tips and best practices.


Recommended by 9 out of 10 customers. “Robert Half has a passion for finding the right people for the role and not just someone to fill a chair. We value their quick response and excellent follow-up.” Support Project Manager, Regional Airport Authority

1.800.803.8367 roberthalf.com

Robert Half once again was named to FORTUNE® magazine’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” Source: FORTUNE, March 17, 2014 © 2014 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. 0310-9005


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

T herma CORPORATION Nicki & Joe Parisi, FouNders

SVL: What does Corporation Culture mean to you and your company? How important is it? TC: Corporate culture is very important to Therma Corporation. All of our employees are empowered to execute any project or task as if they had full freedom in the decision making process. This freedom allows our employees to flourish with creative ideas and solutions for our customers. SVL: If you could describe your corporate culture in three words, what would they be? TC: Quality, Innovation, and Relationships. SVL: What strides does your company take to enhance your corporate culture and also support and empower your employee? TC: Therma Corporation takes great strides to support our employees by providing them with the very best of equipment and management tools that allows each employee to be successful.

SVL: What's the best part you feel about working in this environment that is so clearly apparent as you walk around? TC: It's inspiring to see the creativity at work as you walk around our company, you can feel the pride in all of our employees. SVL: What does it take for someone to be successful here? TC: The most successful employees at Therma Corporation are self-driven with a hint of hidden entrepreneurship. SVL: Are there opportunities available to your employees for helpful advisors, mentors or coaches? TC: All of our employees are encouraged to serve as a coach or a mentor. Therma Corporation's front office was designed with an open space concept to encourage interaction between employees so that they can share in each other's knowledge.


From vision to implementation. Therma Corporation is a full-service design/build mechanical contractor with nearly 50 years of industry experience. Our solution-based approach is tailored to each client, resulting in the most efficient and economical designs for your project. Whether it’s a “one off” custom part or a full-service, design/build mechanical system, we’re experts at finding the perfect configuration for your needs. Our teams can help you with creative solutions in HVAC, process piping, plumbing, architectural sheet metal, maintenance, controls, custom fabrication, and more. At Therma Corporation, we’re fond of saying, “If you can imagine it, we can build it!” Ph: 408 • 347 • 3400 | Fax: 408 • 347 • 3418 | www.therma.com


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

CMT

Computer Media Technologies

SVL: What does corporate culture mean to you and your company? How important is it? KMK: At CMT, corporate culture isn’t just a single component to our company—it defines the way we do business. For 30-plus years, our culture – and the family, values and ethics behind it – has helped to shape a workplace that’s diverse, balanced, aggressive, focused on winning and, most importantly, commitSVL: What does corporate culture mean to ted to fostering customer and you and youremployee, company? How important is it? community relationships. CM: This was one of the very first things we ‘Fostering relationships’ is a founding theme contindiscussed shortly after the company, when uously ouraminds hereofatpeople. CMT, andWe a felt our values, we hadonjust handful and thethat culture they nearly wouldeverything inspire, was a paramount mission permeates issue for us, literally on par with the product and we do. These special relationships reside technology ideas behind our formation. within the building here at CMT, but they Two decades later, we continue to put a also reside within our partner relationships premium on instilling a culture that reflects the with companies like Symantec, NetApp, core values and guiding principles that our early Brocade, Veritas, Storage and team felt wasPure important. It’sothers. even more critical Most importantly, it’s a nearly theme that defines now that we have 9,000 employees around how we conduct business with our custhe world. Our culture is part of the glue that holds us together. It helps usbusiness operatewith effectively as one tomers. We’ve been doing team. And it serves as the basis for operational the same integrity, loyalty and dedication consistency, and execution excellence. for 30-plus years—and our customers can see that clearly. In the future, our management staff, as a team, will continue to cultivate SVL: What strides does your company take our culture for the better.

NVIDIA Kurt M. Klein, CEO CORP

tivities does your company participate in and support? KMK: Being a part of this community here in Santa Clara, and California in general, is extremely important to us. We have sponsored many charities over the years, including the Glide Memorial Church and several others. Giving back to organizations tied to our own employees at CMT is vital. These kinds of organizations include bake sales, cancer walks and SVL: What do you your of Girllove Scoutmost cookieabout sales (pounds company culture? What excites and others which are still in you our refrigerator!) We about working here? are committed to supporting the indiCM: I think it really empowers the individual vidual children of our employees here to do good work, unimpeded by nonsense. It at CMT. encourages our people to always be proud of We’ve supported one of ourand anchor what they and their colleagues accomplish, to charities, Second Harvest Food Bank, work in a supportive environment that recognizes for several years of running. A second them as individuals and members a bigger community. charity we support, the scholarI still find this invigorating. It allows everyone ship-based Pursuit of Excellence, helps to play a role in our collective success, in a way to equip under-funded college-bound they can be proud of.kids I love that for as college. hard asSponsorwe with it money work, as large as our commitment is to corporate ing and being involved in our commusuccess is, we play just as hard, find time to laugh, nitycommunities. has always been very important to and work to better our A great us, and it’s a philosophy we’ve been committed to for more than example of this is Project Inspire, our year-end 30 years. company-wide volunteer project where we spend

Chris A. Malachowsky, Co-Founder, SVP and NVIDIA Fellow

THE ULTIMATE BACKUP APPLIANCES SIMPLE

SCALABLE

FLEXIBLE

RELIABLE

Kurt M. Klein, CEO

to enhance your corporate culture and also support anditempower yourto employees? SVL: What does take for someone be successful here? CM: We strongly believe that you can’t KMK: It takescreate a number of qualities to be successful here at CMT. artificially and mandate culture. Bullet One, as Ion previously discussed, To be an outpoints a poster do notrelates work.toAculture. wallet-size card with a motto doesn’t workyou either. It has to–be standing member of our team, need to fit into and have lived, practiced, cultivated, a thorough understanding of – ournurtured, culture andprotected. priorities. These Our culture is evident just about everywhere priorities include qualities like the drive to win and a strong focus you turn here. It’s reflected the on very high on forming relationships, as well as in a focus being positive, passtandards we drive to, our celebration of critical sionate and always thinking about the customer first. These valdebate, the forthrightness of commentary, the ues tend to embody the typical CMT employee, and those are the lack of politics or personal agendas, and the folks committed to staying growing within this environment. level of creativity andand thoughtfulness brought to everything we do. SVL: What kind of sponsorships, community or philanthropic ac-

a weekend transforming a school or community SVL: What is your definition of leadership? farm instead of holding a holiday party. It’s one of theFrom besta technical things we do. Inbeing somea leader ways,means it’s our KMK: definition, guiding whole culture, writ large. corporate culture and having the the company vision, direction,

ability to lead and inspire. It also relates to the products, services SVL: What does it take for someone to be and markets we address. successful here? However, a personal leader means much CM: from It starts with approach, playing being your arole, and more than means team around me that’s playing it that. well.ItAnd to building do that arequires a high stronger in means empowering those degree ofareas skill,I find pluschallenging. very highIt standards. But that’s around just me, to work with their underlings, and to make us collecreally the beginning. People succeed here by collaborating, by steering clear of the of , tively successful. In essence, a large part of the wordkind ‘leadership’ politics that might exist an elsewhere, but most of all for me, translates to building environment that’s positive, dyby being passionate about what they’re doing. namic and supportive—all while empowering our team and allowing our brightest employees to shine.

F R E E D O M

www.gocmt.com

O F

Choice

590 Laurelwood Road, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Phone: 408.734.3339 Veritas and the Veritas Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries.


FEATURED COMPANIES TO WORK FOR WHY WE’RE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

CMT

Computer Media Technologies

SVL: What does corporate culture mean to you and your company? How important is it? KMK: At CMT, corporate culture isn’t just a single component to our company—it defines the way we do business. For 30-plus years, our culture – and the family, values and ethics behind it – has helped to shape a workplace that’s diverse, balanced, aggressive, focused on winning and, most importantly, commitSVL: What does corporate culture mean to ted to fostering customer and you and youremployee, company? How important is it? community relationships. CM: This was one of the very first things we ‘Fostering relationships’ is a founding theme contindiscussed shortly after the company, when uously ouraminds hereofatpeople. CMT, andWe a felt our values, we hadonjust handful and thethat culture they nearly wouldeverything inspire, was a paramount mission permeates issue for us, literally on par with the product and we do. These special relationships reside technology ideas behind our formation. within the building here at CMT, but they Two decades later, we continue to put a also reside within our partner relationships premium on instilling a culture that reflects the with companies like Symantec, NetApp, core values and guiding principles that our early Brocade, Veritas, Storage and team felt wasPure important. It’sothers. even more critical Most importantly, it’s a nearly theme that defines now that we have 9,000 employees around how we conduct business with our custhe world. Our culture is part of the glue that holds us together. It helps usbusiness operatewith effectively as one tomers. We’ve been doing team. And it serves as the basis for operational the same integrity, loyalty and dedication consistency, and execution excellence. for 30-plus years—and our customers can see that clearly. In the future, our management staff, as a team, will continue to cultivate SVL: What strides does your company take our culture for the better.

NVIDIA Kurt M. Klein, CEO CORP

tivities does your company participate in and support? KMK: Being a part of this community here in Santa Clara, and California in general, is extremely important to us. We have sponsored many charities over the years, including the Glide Memorial Church and several others. Giving back to organizations tied to our own employees at CMT is vital. These kinds of organizations include bake sales, cancer walks and SVL: What do you your of Girllove Scoutmost cookieabout sales (pounds company culture? What excites and others which are still in you our refrigerator!) We about working here? are committed to supporting the indiCM: I think it really empowers the individual vidual children of our employees here to do good work, unimpeded by nonsense. It at CMT. encourages our people to always be proud of We’ve supported one of ourand anchor what they and their colleagues accomplish, to charities, Second Harvest Food Bank, work in a supportive environment that recognizes for several years of running. A second them as individuals and members a bigger community. charity we support, the scholarI still find this invigorating. It allows everyone ship-based Pursuit of Excellence, helps to play a role in our collective success, in a way to equip under-funded college-bound they can be proud of.kids I love that for as college. hard asSponsorwe with it money work, as large as our commitment is to corporate ing and being involved in our commusuccess is, we play just as hard, find time to laugh, nitycommunities. has always been very important to and work to better our A great us, and it’s a philosophy we’ve been committed to for more than example of this is Project Inspire, our year-end 30 years. company-wide volunteer project where we spend

Chris A. Malachowsky, Co-Founder, SVP and NVIDIA Fellow

THE ULTIMATE BACKUP APPLIANCES SIMPLE

SCALABLE

FLEXIBLE

RELIABLE

Kurt M. Klein, CEO

to enhance your corporate culture and also support anditempower yourto employees? SVL: What does take for someone be successful here? CM: We strongly believe that you can’t KMK: It takescreate a number of qualities to be successful here at CMT. artificially and mandate culture. Bullet One, as Ion previously discussed, To be an outpoints a poster do notrelates work.toAculture. wallet-size card with a motto doesn’t workyou either. It has to–be standing member of our team, need to fit into and have lived, practiced, cultivated, a thorough understanding of – ournurtured, culture andprotected. priorities. These Our culture is evident just about everywhere priorities include qualities like the drive to win and a strong focus you turn here. It’s reflected the on very high on forming relationships, as well as in a focus being positive, passtandards we drive to, our celebration of critical sionate and always thinking about the customer first. These valdebate, the forthrightness of commentary, the ues tend to embody the typical CMT employee, and those are the lack of politics or personal agendas, and the folks committed to staying growing within this environment. level of creativity andand thoughtfulness brought to everything we do. SVL: What kind of sponsorships, community or philanthropic ac-

a weekend transforming a school or community SVL: What is your definition of leadership? farm instead of holding a holiday party. It’s one of theFrom besta technical things we do. Inbeing somea leader ways,means it’s our KMK: definition, guiding whole culture, writ large. corporate culture and having the the company vision, direction,

ability to lead and inspire. It also relates to the products, services SVL: What does it take for someone to be and markets we address. successful here? However, a personal leader means much CM: from It starts with approach, playing being your arole, and more than means team around me that’s playing it that. well.ItAnd to building do that arequires a high stronger in means empowering those degree ofareas skill,I find pluschallenging. very highIt standards. But that’s around just me, to work with their underlings, and to make us collecreally the beginning. People succeed here by collaborating, by steering clear of the of , tively successful. In essence, a large part of the wordkind ‘leadership’ politics that might exist an elsewhere, but most of all for me, translates to building environment that’s positive, dyby being passionate about what they’re doing. namic and supportive—all while empowering our team and allowing our brightest employees to shine.

F R E E D O M

www.gocmt.com

O F

Choice

590 Laurelwood Road, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Phone: 408.734.3339 Veritas and the Veritas Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries.


The Magical World of Kevin Hauge & The Children’s Musical Theater San Jose

Y

ou have not fully lived until you have seen a musical performed at CMT San Jose. All who have, know this. And, yes, it’s true, the more shows, the merrier. And, what’s more, now celebrating its 47th year, CMT has been recognized and continues to be arguably the best youth musical theater in the country. How and why this is, is indeed very special. It is no secret, one important reason is the brilliant Artistic Director, Kevin Hauge, who soon will be celebrating his 20th year at CMT. People wonder, people ask all the time, just how does he do it? There are so many musical performances, back-to-back, so many children, multiple casts even, with so many who have never even acted a day in their life (not officially anyway) or even been on a stage before (act, dance, sing, in such a big


perfect production, are you kidding?) and with so little time to rehearse and prepare, just a few weeks to put it all together, from nothing to totally magnificent. And it becomes just that, the most wonderful show … every time. But how? How does CMT do it? With this model, the youngest performers, ages 6 to 14, are placed in what is called “Rising Stars”. They perform upwards of five shows a year and many have racked up 30 theater credits by the time they age out to CMT’s next level, “Mainstage”. During Mainstage, these high school and college kids take on three shows a year from Ages 15 to 20. In addition, CMT also provides Silicon Valley with two “Marquee” productions a year, which this year also includes the very popular Mary Poppins. For the older productions, Kevin has a direct hand in choreographing and directing. Even more impressive, since its founding in 1968, CMT casts everyone who auditions. If you have the guts to get in front of the artistic staff, you’re in. CMT never wants to turn anyone away for financial reasons, so scholarships are available. Even children with special needs, and performers where English is their second language, have been a part of these performances. Raw numbers can also tell the story of CMT. Take, for example, its first Rising Stars production of this season, the Sound of Music. The title - which Kevin secures for each of the 10 productions - along with CMT’s reputation, have led to 250 children auditioning. In a first for CMT, it went from normally a two-cast production to four casts. It also added shows both in the evenings and for school-sponsored field trips. That’s a lot of von Trapps! For Kevin, it was all about creating an enriching experience on stage, that a 60-person cast entails, compared to larger casts. And with more school shows, there would be twice as many opportunities for school children to experience a live performance. Kevin would ask, “Can we continue to raise this bar, to meet the challenges of the community? I am so very pleased to have this job. The ultimate is this, where the kids can learn and grow. Getting in touch with what’s inside of them – that’s the real joy of this job. And turning it into something special. For each of them to find their niche, to find their direction, this is always something delightful.” The families, the children, the audiences all love CMT. The shows are all fantastic productions. The children enter raw and exit

as stars. The audiences jump out of their seats with such great appreciation and the children (yes, they seem bigger than life on stage, and yet they are indeed children) have established such great relationships and wonderful memories, not just for a moment, but for a lifetime. This is the magic that you will see, hear, experience … and enjoy here, like nowhere else. It is a very unique, special and magical place. “One key lesson is, ‘Don’t underestimate the ability of children’. People cannot believe later on, following the show, when the actors are outside to greet the audience, that they are real children. The experience of rehearsals and performances brings out and stretches something from within as far as they can go. It gives them this, the confidence, of being successful and accomplishing something wonderful … “The greatest thing here is the life-long relationships. I still see lots of families, even if their kids are grown, who keep coming back. And we now have children of children we had years ago who come … and we are not far off from our third generation.” Kevin would share, “One of the greatest joys I have is being a father and the pride I have and what this experience is like. Watching the kids grow up through CMT is so very moving. We can’t take ownership for their accomplishments and growth, it’s theirs, but we certainly can and do appreciate the being in with them on the journey … “There are six former CMT’ers who are currently on Broadway. Yes, but that number is always changing. It’s fun going to Broadway and seeing our kids. It was hard work on their part, the school work, the additional time and work that they put into getting there. We have been a part of that journey together. It is such a joy to be around … and indeed how very proud we all are. We are not a star machine. And, yes, we all take great pride in all, as many go on to become great teachers, or directors, or are usually busy in all walks of life. We are here to develop children for the joy and we take great pride in their growth and their lives. Indeed, here at CMT, we are so blessed and have so much to look forward to.” Here’s to CMT … and Kevin Hauge … and everyone who helps to make this the very special place that it is. For children and parents and grandparents, alike … people of all ages… and many wonderful memories for the ages … Here’s to this special, joyful and exciting magic … Enjoy! www.cmtsj.org


Are Live Conversations Making a Comeback? By Caroline Moriarity Sacks Director of INFORUM

I

n the technology capital of the world, San Franciscans know better than most about the latest messaging or communication apps. In a city turning conversations more virtual by the minute, a phenomenon is also developing: its citizens are wanting more interactions offline, with real people. At INFORUM, The Commonwealth Club’s Innovation Lab, we’re constantly seeing the benefits that come from live interactions. While some may argue that social media, forums, podcasts or live video streams are just as useful as the real deal, you miss the events that aren’t captured by film or social media. These are the experiences that can only be seen or heard firsthand. Notice the facial expressions on the executives on stage? Or, the way a panelist lights up because he/she noticed their family in an audience? These cues provide more color and context that can

add to a person’s individual experience. Let’s not forget the benefits of making real human connections. Sometimes the best part of an event is simply hearing the commentary from attendees. Conversations that happen before and after a program is just as impactful, if not more rewarding. Plus, these conversations often open up doors to meeting new people who can become a connection in the future. There’s also a difference between witnessing it online vs. in-person. Yes, we can listen to audio from a conversation between Marissa Mayer of Yahoo! and Marc Benioff of salesforce.com, but being there to laugh with the audience, feel the tension or witness history is something that you can always look back on. That experience is one of a kind. There are more benefits and we encourage you to see for yourself at our next INFORUM event. Check out our site for the next program; we hope to see you there: inforumsf.org

Salesforce Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff and Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer photo by Ed Ritger


INNOVATION. EDUCATION. HERITAGE. A HOME FOR 49ERS FANS OF ALL AGES. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Monday through Sundays (10am - 6pm) Gamedays: Open - 2 hours prior to kickoff Close - 30 minutes prior to kickoff

WWW.LEVISSTADIUM.COM/MUSEUM


3 ! s g a

R

A CONVERSATION WITH DAVE RIGHETTI, PITCHING COACH OF THE THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

T

hey call him “Rags”. Dave Righetti was born and raised locally, in Willow Glen, San Jose. He enjoyed a 16-year major league pitching career and is currently in his 16th season as the extraordinary pitching coach of our three-time World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. Three World Series Championships in the last five years. It’s very special, as was our conversation. What’s It Like Being Dave Righetti? I’ll be honest with you, it feels good. You get in this mode, coaching in baseball, and fortunately it’s easier to stay in the game longer as a coach than as a player. There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. It’s great, but there’s also the heartache. If you don’t win the World Series, you’re considered a loser. Unfortunately, many don’t have this gratification of

winning at the end. There’s only one team in 30 each year that does. The Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958. There have been many great players and many great teams. In all those years prior to 2010, they hadn’t had this great experience of winning it all, not like we have, in 2010, 2012 and 2014.


“The Giants Win The Pennant!” What Does That Feel Like? To see the faces of Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, each time when we won the World Series, it’s been priceless, so gratifying. When I was with the Yankees, the old-timers all had rings. These past five years, when relaxing during our off-season and watching a 49ers or Warriors game, the thought, the feeling would come over me, ‘Gosh darn it, we won it!’ It’s such a great feeling. You win as a team, as a city … something everyone will remember and they so appreciate. Is There A Magic Formula To Winning? There are people who have been here, it seems, forever. Somewhere along the line, you’re grateful for that longevity. With the Yankees, I saw 14 different managers come and go … Billy Martin four of those times! Lou Pinella twice! Just in my time. It just doesn’t work well; it wears guys down. The reason the Yankees started winning again, was Joe Torre came in to manage. The core got good and stuck together. And you build around that … fill in for players that don’t fit. It became good when Joe Torre came around. He calmed the boat, things settled down, and together they kept the pieces together. Sounds a lot like us, with Boch, and where we are as a team and an organization, today. This Attitude of Winning It All, Where Does It Come from? Here, we thought it was going to happen even sooner than when it did. With Larry Baer and Brian Sabean and the scouting team … the fabulous ownership group that’s put money into this team, starting back in1992, and the building of our beautiful ballpark … I’m very happy for these folks. It’s an amazing organization. They treat people really well. They understand the team, the

organization, the community. I cannot believe the stamina of Larry Baer and everyone in the front office. It’s a love affair between the team and the community and the community with the team. It’s working out, I can tell you that. A Special Moment, What Was It Like Throwing Your No-Hitter? It was July 4th, 1983. That day, that moment, made me feel very good, and over the years you just don’t forget it. It was against our rival, the Boston Red Sox. It was Yankee Stadium. It was Lou Gehrig’s Day … AND it was also George Steinbrenner’s birthday. And the YES Network (the Yankees TV Network) plays it every year, all the time. Now, it’s a good thing. But then, I was kind of afraid. You know if George saw your name in the paper too much, it wasn’t a good thing. There was a mentality there for a young guy, ‘Don’t get too big for your britches’. It was a ‘They could send you out of here’ kind-of-thing. I was leary of that when I did it. I was happy we won the game and we beat the Red Sox, but I was still afraid. It was also the All-Star “Getaway Day”; it was like ‘Spring Break’, where everyone immediately took off following the game. After my interviews, everybody was pretty much gone. They got three days off, they had their packed suitcases with them at the stadium and they left. When I walked into the clubhouse, there weren’t many guys left. So, too, the team record for saves. It was something that just felt natural, not like today, where everything is so celebrated. I held the record for a long time (it was not until years later when Mariano Rivera broke it). But if we lost, if we didn’t win the World Series (which happened each year I was there), it was awful. I didn’t have a family there, I didn’t have kids, yet, back then; so, who could I enjoy it with?


Over the years you finally start to appreciate it. But until then, when you’re not winning championships, there wasn’t all that much to celebrate. Your Greatest Moment? Indeed, by far, my marriage to my wife, Kandice and the birth of our three wonderful kids, beautiful triplets. It was hard when the triplets were born. I was with the Giants then, and we were on the road in Montreal, about ready to come back home. It was early yet when I got the call that the babies would soon be born, I would be back in time for everything, or so everyone thought. The moment came, and proceeded, quickly. Our three came prematurely, and to this day, it’s painful for me that I wasn’t there. And also you always want the very best for your kids. Being triplets, it was a challenging delivery. Today, they are all doing awesome. To see them doing their things and finding their niche, it’s so very wonderful. I couldn’t be happier or prouder. What’s It Like Being At The Ballpark? The coaching staff, and in particular, Gardy (the Giants Bullpen Coach, Mark Gardner) and I, are all very close and work very well together. You know this family thing we talk about? When you are together for such a long period of time, you are lucky. There’s no story book ending all the time. You know, the Brady / Belichick winning / success tandem is what everyone strives for. In our game, it’s about consistency and being good. I’m happy to be around that and coach that. If not being able to share that, then it’d be just a paycheck. For me, for us, it’s all so much more, so much about everything else. I feel we couldn’t be more fortunate or love more what we do. Do You Have Heroes? Yes, my parents … and the people I grew up with. For example, the mailman, the milkman. These are the people I saw all the time, they were our friends. These were my role models. I ‘lived’ at the bowling alley. My parents bowled and I kept score. My father was a truck driver and my friends

from school all went to community college or trade school. It was a simple life … that’s all I thought of being. Once I got to New York, the dynamics changed. It was the largest city in the world … and with so much going on. Were You Close With Anybody In Particular? Yes, everybody. I got drafted at a young age, at 19, by the Texas Rangers. There were a lot of guys from my home, from the Bay Area and California, on the team when I got drafted. “Paddy” Cottrell was the scout for the Rangers and was from here. He was the outstanding baseball coach at Santa Clara University (and had also been my father’s Quarter Master in World War II). He wanted to draft me, and people like that, of course, you listen to. They have been around and they have seen a lot. Back then you didn’t have many people telling you things; but, bits and pieces from someone like “Paddy”, for me, it was big. If you got any advice, it was helpful. Remember, there was no video. My father had been an exminor league player (with the San Francisco Seals!). He played for 14 years. He couldn’t tell me how to pitch. But what he did do, ‘You know this fellow at that school, he’s pitched, go ask him’. My parents were my role models. In a funny way, George Steinbrenner was, too. You wondered how he did so much of what he did, but you had to admire him. In the sports world when you think of greatness you think of


achievement, and in society you have to earn it. You feel you have to keep your eye on it, or someone will come along and take away your job. Those mentors stayed that way for me. People like Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry were like brothers. Guidry was my locker mate. Who Can You Talk To … Anyone? Can you talk with Don Mattingly? We’re very close and, of course, Don is now the manager of the rival Dodgers. We’d love to, but the players don’t like it if we talk before a game. We’d love to talk … and, of course, we wouldn’t share anything. We have the highest respect for each other and that will never change. Another is Matt Williams, now the manager of the Washington Nationals. We were locker mates for three years with the Giants. Mike Matheny, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals is, yet, another; I coached Mike here with the Giants, and Mike Aldrette, his bench coach. We were teammates and close friends. Bob Melvin, manager of the Oakland A’s is, yet, another; he, Bob Brenly, Matt Williams and I have always been very close … we still are and always will be. When we won our championships, yes, I heard from my former Yankee teammates … and many others, as well … from all around. Yes, a ton! A Love and Appreciation For The Game … When the old timers came in for Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium, we let them share our lockers. Mine, I shared with Lefty Gomez. It was such a thrill for me to see him and everyone there. For a young guy, and being a Yankee, it was a huge thing! I wish the Giants held an annual Old Timer’s Day. The Giants do a lot for their alumni, but I think this would be great, much like it is every year in New York … for the players and the fans. In New York you had two wants – One was to make the team and be there for Opening Day because Opening Day at Yankee Stadium is something you just can’t explain. And two, Old Timer’s Day, you need to be there for that. Indeed, having your picture taken on Opening Day and for Old Timer’s Day, there’s nothing quite like it. You know, when we won our three World Series Championships, all three were on the road. It’s too bad that we couldn’t do it in front of our fans. But, each time, with the ballpark afterward being empty, it allowed us to come back to the field and soak it all up – which I would do. This last series, vs. the

Royals was especially meaningful for me. The Royals were our big rival when I was with the Yankees. Those were the George Brett years, so to beat them is always big. And the Royals pitching coach, Dave Elland, was my teammate from the Yankees. What’s This About The Energy, The Magic, The Particles? How do you explain how the team keeps coming back, there being such magic in the air, particles? Tell me sports aren’t important. They are. We all know they are. Speaking of “Pep Talks” … They’re not easy. They have gotten bigger perhaps because of football and TV. But in baseball you have been at it for 162+ games, working together for eight months, and how to keep everyone’s attention? Do they really need to be motivated at this point? Maybe a meeting to come together and relax? It’s an art. Boch does it as well as anybody I have ever seen. Whatever Boch does, it’s always very good. Hunter Pence? The players encourage Hunter to speak. It’s motivating. It’s not boring… that’s for sure. It might take some needling from his teammates, like Buster, for example, ‘Come on, come on, we need you to do this.’ Buster Posey, What Can You Say About Buster? He’s truly amazing. I felt when he came up, he was young and great from the start. He replaced Bengie Molina, which was huge, because Bengie was very popular. There was room for only one regular catcher. Buster, along with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, formed quite a core of young starters … and Buster brought a kind of energy and confidence that inspired everyone around him. Our relievers have been a constant. They have all stayed intact all these five years and have been stellar, working so very well together with Buster. Since Buster arrived, he always sits next to me on the bench and he vents. He says, ‘If I can’t vent to you, there’s no one else I can vent to’. Our relationship is solid … as it is with everyone here. There’s a rhythm. There has to be a rhythm, if you’re going to do this over and over and over again. If we can stay healthy, we have that rhythm. Are You As Excited As Ever? Yes. Quite honestly, I feel we can do this again, that we’re on a good run. I hope so. We all do.


Featured Local Biz Buzz SHOPPING LOCAL IS SUPPORTING LOCAL Think local. Yes, think local. Think of it, all local businesses depend on our support. Each year brings more national chains displacing locally-owned businesses throughout the country. How can we not lose sense of our local community? By our choosing local and independent businesses for your services, shopping, dining and other needs, you are not only getting real value and personal service, you are helping to build a stronger local community, while also helping to create local jobs and opportunities.

Ken Packer

Publisher & Executive Editor

ken@svlocalmag.com

Most important, local owners are local contributors, as well, who make contributions to our communities and neighborhoods. Larger firms contribute primarily to the area where the corporation is headquartered, not necessarily where they do business. Buying local can help local economies withstand cycles of downturn. After all, it’s not how much money we have but how much we can keep in circulation in our local economy. In closing, please keep this thought in mind, as we begin introducing you to various local businesses … Each dollar you spend on average at a local business will return 3 times more money to our local economy than every one dollar spent at a chain store or buying from a large retailer online. The local businesses, in turn, employ many supporting services themselves, such as designers for their new offices, local sign-makers, contractors, accountants, insurance brokers, attorneys, and many others to help build and prosper their local business. This “chain” ultimately creates more jobs and more local economic sustainable success. All the best,

Ken


Featured Local Businesses KEEPING DOLLARS IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY


Featured Local Business

Comprehensive Legal Services Since 1955


PERSONAL INJURY • WORKERS’ COMPENSATION • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLAIMS • DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW • DUI & CRIMINAL DEFENSE • BANKRUPTCY LAW

If your legal concerns seem complex and over your head, you are not alone. Understanding your legal situation requires an attorney who knows the law and can explain it to you in plain English. At the Sunnyvale law offices of Scher, Bassett & Hames, we know how to talk to our South Bay clients and we know how to get real results. Handling everything from personal injury and workers’ comp to criminal defense and family law since 1955, Scher, Bassett & Hames has established a strong reputation based on experience and results. Offering continuity of representation across a broad range of legal areas, we are always there for our clients, providing effective counsel during their most difficult times. When you come to our Sunnyvale law office, you will speak directly to an attorney. Handling your intake and evaluation up front, our lawyers will be there to protect your rights until you have reached a successful conclusion. Staying in touch throughout your case, we make a point to always be accessible, and your case will not be passed off to an inexperienced associate or non-lawyer staff member. Our goal is to help people when they are in trouble. Whether you are going through a divorce or you have suffered a serious personal injury at work, we can answer your questions, help you understand your options and take action. Whatever legal concerns you may have, we want you to feel confident that your legal matters are in competent hands, so you can carry on with your life.

SCHER, BASSETT & HAMES 298 S. Sunnyvale Avenue Suite 209 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 739-5300 http://www.scherandbassett.com

http://www.scherandbassett.com


Featured Local Business

PHELPS & COHEN Eric Phelps, DDS, MS • Jason Cohen, DDS, MS

ORTHODONTICS

At our office, consultations are complimentary. This article includes some frequently asked questions and answers from orthodontics consultations.

I see a lot of kids with braces at eight or nine years old. Isn’t that too young?

Although eight and nine year olds typically still have 12 primary teeth, many children this age can greatly benefit from early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase I Orthodontics. Reasons for early treatment include: severe crowding, impacted teeth, jaw size discrepancies, crossbites, and many more. While the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children have an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7, a simple ‘Rule of Thumb’ is: “Eight is great, nine is fine!”

Am I too old for orthodontic treatment? Over the past three years, about a third of the consultations at our office have been for adults. No matter what your age, if you have healthy teeth and healthy gum tissue and bone around your teeth then you are a candidate for orthodontics. PRIMARY MOLARS

I have been told that I need four bicuspids extracted because my teeth are crowded. What is your opinion?

With the development of self-ligating braces (we use Damon braces: www.damonbraces.com), I believe it is easier to create enough space to avoid extractions in most cases. The extra space typically is created by widening the arch form which results in a nice, broad, esthetic smile. Avoiding extractions is another great reason for Phase I Orthodontics (as shown in the images below). Creating more arch width in an eight or nine year old patient often provides enough space to avoid the need for bicuspid extraction. On the other hand, a primary goal of treatment is to get the incisors (front teeth) in an esthetic and functional position. Sometimes bicuspid extraction is needed to achieve orthodontic treatment goals.

Can you tell me about Invisalign?

Invisalign is a treatment option for patients that would like to have their teeth moved but are not

PHASE 1 ORTHODONTICS CREATING SPACE FOR PERMANENT CANINES

MADE SPACE FOR BICUSPIDS AND CANINES

(AVOIDED NEED FOR BICUSPID EXTRACTION)

NO ROOM FOR ADULT CANINES

PHELPS

Eric Phelps, DDS, MS • Jason Cohen, DDS, MS 2075 Forest Avenue, Suite 2 San Jose, CA 95128

ORTHODONTICS

(408) 298-3433 Fax (408) 298-6304 http://www.phelpscohenortho.com

& COHEN


interested in wearing braces. We now have an iTero digital scanner at the office that produces a digital 3D model of the patients upper and lower set of teeth in just over 10 minutes. No more impressions!!! Digital models are more accurate than models created from impressions and can be uploaded instantly to Align Technology for treatment planning. The orthodontist uses advanced Invisalign software to create ideal final positions of all teeth. A series of high-tech clear plastic aligners are then produced that move teeth in small increments.

great time to be a Bay Area sports fan because of the success of our local teams. In my opinion, it is even a greater time to be a parent of a sports fan because of great role models like Buster Posey and Patrick Willis!

For more information visit: www.invisalign.com

I would like to thank the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers for supporting our inaugural charity concert in Campbell, CA on September 1st, 2012 in support of the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST). Please read about ichthyosis on the following page and join us for next year’s concert at the Flint Center in Cupertino on September 7th, 2013.

Why is everyone wearing jerseys?

Eric Phelps, DDS, MS

Everyone Wednesday and Saturday are jersey days at our office. We started the tradition a few years back and it has become a highlight for our staff and patients. Jerseys create some interesting conversations, especially when one of our assistants wears her Dodgers jersey. It is a

For more information about our practice (offices in San Jose and Pleasanton), please visit our website at www.phelpscohenortho.com.


Featured Local Business

he Adobe Lodge, built in 1822, is just steps from the Mission Santa Clara de Asis. This cherished, historic gem is perfect for your most special occasions. We specialize in creating memorable wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, family reunions and anniversary parties.

Set amongst the beauty of the Mission Garden and in the shadow of the historical Santa Clara Mission Church, the Adobe Lodge is a true hidden treasure. One of the remaining origina l buildings left on the Santa Clara University campus, the Adobe Lodge offers a serene atmosphere for all those who wish to visit. As the in-house caterer at Santa Clara University’s beloved Adobe Lodge, we are pleased to offer a full range of event coordination serv ices. Whether you are planning a social or business function, for 5 to 1000 people, the Adobe Lodge will be happy to meet your needs. We also have full video and IT services available for any and all presentations. Our Adobe Lodge chefs are committed to bringing you the best loca l ingredients, authentic flavors and impeccable service. We at the Adobe Lodge pride ourselves in making every event special.

Our menus are custom tailored for each event. We create “perfect fit” menus and event planning every time and look forward to doing so for your special occasion. For your private consultation with our event planning staff, please call 408.554.4059 or email at adobelodge@scu.edu. The Adobe Lodge at Santa Clara University 500 El Camino Real, Building 108 Santa Clara, Ca 95053 408.554.4059 adobelodge.cafebonappetit.com

Photo by Chung Li



Featured Local Business

Quality Fitness Equipment For Your Home and Workplace


A

ll American Fitness has served the specialty fitness needs of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas for over 25 years, since 1984. All American Fitness is owner-operated, and the owners are serious about fitness, training 5 days a week. At All American Fitness, it is our goal to offer quality fitness equipment and accessories to meet our customers’ needs. We continually review the industry for new and innovative products.

and dedicated to their satisfaction. We currently offer accessories to aid you in your toning, strength training, or cardiovascular workout. We are presenting the items we feel our customers are most interested in. If you are looking for a particular item and don’t see it, feel free to contact us via phone or our online form and we will let you know if we carry it.

All American Fitness offers high-quality fitness equipment from the leading manufacturers in the All American Fitness is committed to bringing the industry. The experienced staff at All American highest quality products to the consumer at a fair Fitness will provide product education, facility design price. We want your shopping experience to meet services and planning expertise regardless of the your highest expectations. size or scope of the project. We are committed to understanding each client’s unique goals to ensure All American Fitness is sensitive to our clients’ needs their complete satisfaction.

www.allamericanfitness.com • (408) 293-9966 1223 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126


Featured Local Business

Authentic Italian Dishes With Fresh Ingredients

T

he menu at Antonella’s Ristorante features a wide

array of great selections for lunch and dinner, sure to please every member of your group. Join us for lunch or dinner, whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just feel like enjoying a great meal.

Antonella’s Ristorante

SPECIALS!

“The restaurant is the brainchild of Colorado

Sun.Mon.Tues

native Lyle Koch, proprietor, who attributes

Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chicken Dinner,

his love of cooking to his mother. “My moth-

with choice of soup or salad and Tiramisu for

er was a great cook and I liked cooking,” he

Dessert. $12.95 plus tax. Evenings.

explains. “I had to take a home economics

Wednesday

class in school and the teacher said I had a

All you can eat Spaghetti and Meatballs,

knack for cooking.”

with Salad and Garlic Bread.” No take out.

Authentic Italian Dishes, with Fresh Ingriedients! WELCOME! Antonella’s Ristorante is proud to serve fabulous food at great prices. We do not compromise quality, and are committed to providing our guests with foods that are prepared in-house.

Lyle Koch (Chef & Owner)

(408) 279-4922 • 1701 Park Ave San Jose

Saturday

Ask about our Party Platters! Takeout and Catering are available for any menu item and Antonella’s will accommodate special orders as possible. We personalize and plan special menus with you & deliver for large catering orders.

Half off any Bottle of Wine.

Everyday Large 2 Item Pizza, Cheese Ravioli, Caesar Salad and Foccocia Bread $21.95 plus tax. Evenings. MONDAY - FRIDAY Lunch 11:00AM - 4:00PM Dinner 4:00PM.-9:00PM

SATURDAY Dinner Only 4:00PM-9:00PM

SUNDAY Dinner 4:00PM - 9:00 PM

Antonella’s is available for semi-private and private parties.

www.AntonellasRistorante.com


Featured Local Business

Authentic Italian Dishes With Fresh Ingredients

T

he menu at Antonella’s Ristorante features a wide

array of great selections for lunch and dinner, sure to please every member of your group. Join us for lunch or dinner, whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just feel like enjoying a great meal.

Antonella’s Ristorante

SPECIALS!

“The restaurant is the brainchild of Colorado

Sun.Mon.Tues

native Lyle Koch, proprietor, who attributes

Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chicken Dinner,

his love of cooking to his mother. “My moth-

with choice of soup or salad and Tiramisu for

er was a great cook and I liked cooking,” he

Dessert. $12.95 plus tax. Evenings.

explains. “I had to take a home economics

Wednesday

class in school and the teacher said I had a

All you can eat Spaghetti and Meatballs,

knack for cooking.”

with Salad and Garlic Bread.” No take out.

Authentic Italian Dishes, with Fresh Ingriedients! WELCOME! Antonella’s Ristorante is proud to serve fabulous food at great prices. We do not compromise quality, and are committed to providing our guests with foods that are prepared in-house.

Lyle Koch (Chef & Owner)

(408) 279-4922 • 1701 Park Ave San Jose

Saturday

Ask about our Party Platters! Takeout and Catering are available for any menu item and Antonella’s will accommodate special orders as possible. We personalize and plan special menus with you & deliver for large catering orders.

Half off any Bottle of Wine.

Everyday Large 2 Item Pizza, Cheese Ravioli, Caesar Salad and Foccocia Bread $21.95 plus tax. Evenings. MONDAY - FRIDAY Lunch 11:00AM - 4:00PM Dinner 4:00PM.-9:00PM

SATURDAY Dinner Only 4:00PM-9:00PM

SUNDAY Dinner 4:00PM - 9:00 PM

Antonella’s is available for semi-private and private parties.

www.AntonellasRistorante.com


FeaturedLocalBusiness

Craftsmen’s Guild, Inc. Unique Homes, Additions & Resources

The Craftsmen Guild. Build it Right. Design it Right.

MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Design & Build All under one Roof from a to z

Planning • Building Design Engineering • Permitting • Interior Construction • Managment • Genreal Contracting • Consultating

The Amini Brothers

1 0 5 6 6 S . D E A N ZA BLV D . , C U P E RT I N O , C A 9 5 0 1 4

C A l l ( 4 0 8 ) 3 6 6 -1 0 0 0 t o d ay t o f i n d o u t h o w w e d o i t be t t e r i n t h e b ay a r e a !

MOE@CRAFTSMENSGUILD.COM

W W W. C R A F T S M E N S G U I L D . C O M


FeaturedLocalBusiness

Craftsmen’s Guild, Inc. Unique Homes, Additions & Resources

The Craftsmen Guild. Build it Right. Design it Right.

MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Design & Build All under one Roof from a to z

Planning • Building Design Engineering • Permitting • Interior Construction • Managment • Genreal Contracting • Consultating

The Amini Brothers

1 0 5 6 6 S . D E A N ZA BLV D . , C U P E RT I N O , C A 9 5 0 1 4

C A l l ( 4 0 8 ) 3 6 6 -1 0 0 0 t o d ay t o f i n d o u t h o w w e d o i t be t t e r i n t h e b ay a r e a !

MOE@CRAFTSMENSGUILD.COM

W W W. C R A F T S M E N S G U I L D . C O M


Featured Local Business

Since 1977 — A Tradition in Downtown Mountain View

The Garcia-Lopez family invites you to enjoy our family recipes that have been handed down to us for generations. From our “Mole Poblano” to our “Grandma’s Special”, enjoy the taste and ambiance of Mexico. We feature the greatest Margaritas, more than 200 Blue Agave Tequilas & a wide selection of beers. Thank you all - We appreciate again being voted: The Best Mexican Restaurant in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice, The Best Margarita in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice and also The Best Mexican Restaurant in Silicon Valley by the Metro. Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch and Dinner, plus a Champagne/Sangria Brunch Saturday and Sunday. Banquet facilities available with seating up to 40. Wonderful for Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements, Quincineras - any and all Special Events and Get Togethers - for Families and Friends.

Champagne/Sangria Brunch Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm

Banquet Facilities Seat up to 40 Monday-Thursday 11:00am-2:00pm and 5:00pm-9:00pm Friday 11:00am-2:00pm and 5:00pm-10:00pm Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm • Sunday 11:00am-9:00pm

Contact us today! (650)968-1364

240 Villa St., Mountain View, CA 94041 • (650) 968-1364


Featured Local Business

Since 1977 — A Tradition in Downtown Mountain View

The Garcia-Lopez family invites you to enjoy our family recipes that have been handed down to us for generations. From our “Mole Poblano” to our “Grandma’s Special”, enjoy the taste and ambiance of Mexico. We feature the greatest Margaritas, more than 200 Blue Agave Tequilas & a wide selection of beers. Thank you all - We appreciate again being voted: The Best Mexican Restaurant in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice, The Best Margarita in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice and also The Best Mexican Restaurant in Silicon Valley by the Metro. Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch and Dinner, plus a Champagne/Sangria Brunch Saturday and Sunday. Banquet facilities available with seating up to 40. Wonderful for Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements, Quincineras - any and all Special Events and Get Togethers - for Families and Friends.

Champagne/Sangria Brunch Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm

Banquet Facilities Seat up to 40 Monday-Thursday 11:00am-2:00pm and 5:00pm-9:00pm Friday 11:00am-2:00pm and 5:00pm-10:00pm Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm • Sunday 11:00am-9:00pm

Contact us today! (650)968-1364

240 Villa St., Mountain View, CA 94041 • (650) 968-1364


TECH’S YOUNG GUNS

Is the next Steve Jobs out there? By Scott Budman

T

hey’re the Young Guns. Seen by some as too young and too cocky; seen by others as the future of the world’s greatest wealth creation engine. Here in Silicon Valley, we hold a special place for young executives. Men and women who wouldn’t get the time of day in most traditional smokestack industries, but who are treated like royalty in tech. They start Budman companies, convince people twice their age to part with hundreds of millions of dollars in Venture funding, and

then become billionaires. Recently, we’ve referred too many of them as “The next Steve Jobs.” But they’ve been here as long as there has been a Silicon Valley. And thanks to people like Jack Dorsey, I’m confident that there will always be a Silicon Valley. We catch up to Dorsey at the headquarters of Square, a growing company changing the way we buy things. The “Square” in question is a small attachment to your iPhone or iPad that lets you accept credit cards payments anytime, anywhere. It’s simple, and extremely lucrative. And it’s not all Dorsey does for a living. He also started Twitter, the much larger company currently informing just about everyone about just about everything. Nowhere near 40, Dorsey is what the tech industry is all about: Youth cool, and success. He is, however, a lot older than Mark Zuckerberg. Another executive clearly ahead of his time, pushing through decisions that, after


initial skepticism, prove to be spot-on. Speaking of Facebook, let’s not forget Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. Not as young as Mark, but ahead of her time in the tech world, with a strong feeling that education is what’s needed for a better tech industry (remember, Apple used to push that pretty hard, too). All corporate neighbors, by the way, of Aaron Levie, the young CEO and co-founder of Box. His is a company focusing on cloud storage - not as consumer sexy as Facebook or twitter, but crucial to the future of tech. He has written several posts recently pretty much saying that he does what he does because he watched Steve Jobs do it. Touching and thoughtful, from someone who will surely be part of the next big tech wave. Box’s chief competitor is called DropBox, and there’s more in common there than storage, and the word “Box” in the name. DropBox also has a young hotshot founder. Arash Ferdowsi, along with his co-founder (they were classmates at MIT) just pulled in enough money to rate a staggering $4 billion valuation. Which, while impressive, is likely dwarfed by even the personal wealth of Google’s Marissa Mayer. While young in age, Mayer is already treated (deservedly) like a Valley veteran, taking a big role in guiding Google to its huge success. One of the company’s first hires, Mayer is given credit for the company’s easy to use design, and much-imitated culture. Search “success,” and you’ll find her. Also in the neighborhood (what is it about Palo Alto, anyway? Is there something in the water that makes young people more ambitious than you or me?), a company called Pulse, with two co-founders still in their twenties, Akshay Kothari and Ankit Gupta. Both out of Stanford (again, where else?), they’re quiet young men, but determined to change the way we find and read news. Their app makes the iPad an intelligent device. On top of that, the Amazon Kindle Fire chose Pulse as the first built-in app for its new, popular tablet. And, how about Ernestine Fu? We first met her as a High School student, already starting companies. She went on to Stanford, and

while still there, became an associate at Alsop Louie Partners, a Venture Capital firm. Wait a minute, you ask, a 20-year old VC? Well, why not. This is, after all, the land of the 20-something founder of companies used by twenty somethings; why not tap into a young mind when it comes to deciding who to fund? Admittedly, some of the youth movement is here because good times are here; When the dot-com boom went bust, it also took also took a lot of the young founders down with it. This makes some sense: When people get nervous, they’re less likely to take risks, and

We here in Silicon Valley love our risk takers, and we love our rock stars.

few things say “risk” like trusting ten million dollars of your money to someone who could be your kid. That said, we here in Silicon Valley love our risk takers, and we love our rock stars. We have a special place for young people – after all, Jobs and Wozniak were young founders, so were Marc Andreessen of Netscape, Jen-Hsun Huang of Nvidia, and many others. They’re not worried about being the “next” Steve Jobs, as much as they’re worried about their next round of funding, next line of products, or when the IPO hits. And as long as they’re still here, Silicon Valley will rightly be known as the Wild West, where the Young Guns rule. Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman


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With over 300 days of sunshine annually and an innovative spirit, Santa Clara is known as a city where big ideas happen. The city-built world-class 68,500 seat Levi’s Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers and will host Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016 and WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015. In addition, the stadium hosts college football, international soccer, concerts, and other special events. Visitors can experience Levi’s Stadium first-hand on a tour and/or see the 49ers Museum by Sony. The City of Santa Clara is named after the Spanish mission, Mission Santa Clara de Asis. It is the eighth of 21 California missions established in 1777. The Mission sits on the picturesque campus of the state’s oldest institution of higher learning at Santa Clara University. Along with Mission Santa Clara de Asis, Santa Clara’s visitor attractions feature Northern California’s Best Choice for Family Fun and Adventure at California’s Great America theme park.It is the only theme park in California to offer a complete water park inside free with admission. The 100-acre Park also hosts “Red Zone Rally” tailgate prior to every 49ers home game. Other unique attractions include the interactive Intel Museum, two renowned art museums in the de Saisset Museum and Triton Museum of Art, and the region’s largest enclosed shopping mall at Westfield Valley Fair. Santa Clara also hosts a Farmer’s Market each Saturday at Franklin Square.

Across from Levi’s Stadium is the Santa Clara Convention Center. The city’s ultra modern Convention Center features 31 breakout rooms, three ballrooms, 100,000 sq. ft. column free exhibit hall, 607-seat theatre, in-house full service caterer ARAMARK, and high quality telecommunication and audio/ visual services. . Santa Clara has 3,800+ deluxe hotel rooms and is easy accessible to/from San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland International Airports. For more information on Santa Clara visit www.SantaClara.org or visit the “49 Awesome Things To Do in Santa Clara” blog at www. VisitSantaClara.WordPress.com.


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The

San Francisco 49ers

Community Relations and

49ers Foundation

A PROUD TRADITION BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD

ncer sula with Breast Ca m To Jim h ac Co ad 49ers He r 2014 Warriors in Octobe

49ers Linebacke rs visit Good Samaritan Hos pital


H

ow do you define a Class Organization? From the very top on down. An organization that, internally, has everyone’s attention and 100% participation. Pride that’s felt everywhere and amongst everyone. Like one big family that cares. That’s the 49ers. The Season is actually 12 months long for the 49ers – as they like to say, “There is no off-season” – both on and off the field. As the on-field football season ends, the Foundation gets to work, hosting charitable events that raise millions of dollars to benefit non-profit organizations in alignment with the 49ers Foundation’s mission to keep kids “Safe, On Track, and In School.” During the season,

ving dinner to Serving Thanksgi at Loaves & Fishes homeless families

each week on the players’ day off, the 49ers orchestrate community events that transform people’s lives. The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the 49ers, now in its 23rd year.

TE Vernon Davis host ing kids a a Player t VISA Sho p With

49ers honor breast cancer survivors at an October home game


The Foundation supports programs for underserved youth that keep them “Safe, On Track and In School.” Over the past 23 years, the Foundation has donated nearly $30.6 million - $4.6 million in 2014, including a $1 million gift to launch the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute in collaboration with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the Santa Clara Unified School District with significant support from Chevron. The philanthropic efforts of the 49ers Foundation are highly focused and strategic; remaining true to the well-developed mission statement and purpose and committed to creating measurable results through transformational grants and impact programs. In 2014, 49ers players participated in more than 50 events, donating over 400 hours of volunteer time, impacting over Joanne Pasternack 80,000 people in Director of Community need annually. Relations and the In 2014, 100% 49ers Foundation of the players participated in one-or-more community events. Meet Joanne Pasternack, the Director of Community Relations and the 49ers Foundation for the San Francisco 49ers. Joanne attended high school in the Bay Area. Her father was a dedicated fan of the 49ers and Joanne grew up cheering for the 49ers as well. She went to college at the University of Pennsylvania, then to law school at Santa Clara University. Following law school, she went to Washington, DC, where she worked with the Kennedy and Shriver families for the extraordinary non-profit, Special Olympics. At Special Olympics, she found a perfect marriage of her two passions – sports and philanthropy. It was the beginning of Joanne’s path towards a position that seems tailor-made for her interests and skills.

After working a World Winter Games for Special Olympics in Alaska, Joanne returned to the Bay Area where she secured a job with the City of Mountain View in the City Manager’s Office and the Police Department. While there, she co-founded the Mountain View Police Activities League (MVPAL), where she once again found a natural proclivity for event management, charitable outreach and using sports as a vehicle to transform perceptions and, in turn, a community. She was at the City of Mountain View in a variety of roles for over six years when, one day, she saw a job posting. She remembers how her heart began beating with excitement as she read the position description. “Looking for the right person … The San Francisco 49ers … Community Relations.” She couldn’t believe what she was reading. This would be her dream job and she wanted to go for it and boy, did she! Joanne was interviewed extensively. It was a very thorough process - it was that important to them. They certainly knew that they found the right person and she certainly knew that she found the right organization! They complete each other, on and off the field. Her words: “I live this … I breathe this … and I love this job.” Joanne told me about the 49ers and their overall commitment to charitable work. Their concept of Sports and Philanthropy was no afterthought. Leading by example, are John and Denise and Jed York and their entire family. John, Denise and Jed live and breathe philanthropy, vigorously engaging in activities and throwing considerable energy, effort and support towards the team’s charitable endeavors. John and Denise’s daughters, Jenna and Mara, are active participants in nearly every community event, sharing their zeal for transforming the lives of at-risk youth through hands on service. Their brother, Tony, is also involved and spent time with his father in New Orleans, visiting a school that had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and taking time to get to know the students, among other activities. Daughter-in-law, Danielle (Jed’s wife), is a former school teacher and worked for years in an underserved middle school deep in the heart of one of the most challenged parts of San Francisco. From the top down, it’s the


49ers honor troops aboard the USS America

culture, the fabric, the very spirit. Their desire has always been, and will always be, to see “Philanthropic change through sports.” Indeed, they want to be not just the best in the NFL, but in all sports. In 2013, they achieved this goal and were named the national recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s prestigious Steve Patterson Award for excellence in sports philanthrophy. They were also one of four finalists for the Global Beyond Sport Award for outstanding sports team. The San Francisco 49ers Foundation was honored by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal for being No. 13 in corporate philanthropic giving in 2014. Not bad for a company that has only 250 employees. The No. 2 Company, by comparison, was Cisco, with 72,000 employees. There are many examples of their contributions. The San Francisco 49ers Academy – a school for low income middle school youth in East Palo Alto – not only bears the name of the 49ers football team, but it is also indelibly stamped with the spirit of their storied franchise. The school focuses on the underlying socioeconomic situations that were barriers to the students’ success by collaborating with teachers, police officers and strong mentors. Recognizing the challenges faced by youth in the economically disadvantaged community of East Palo Alto and seeing an opportunity to make a measurable difference for these youth, the 49ers Foundation has been a part of the Academy since 1996, giving grants while also providing

Coach Tomsula Greeting Football Camp for the Stars Participants - a camp for athletes with Down syndrome

49ers STEM Leadership Institute

hands on support through collaboration, 1000s of game tickets, mentorship, facility enhancement, and donations. With an increase in obesity rates among our nation’s youth, the 49ers have incorporated the PLAY 60 youth fitness program into the Academy to increase the students’ overall health, building a $75,000 outdoor fitness zone and bringing national visibility to the school and its commitment to fitness through a partnership with Matthew McConaughey. With the 49ers involvement, test scores have skyrocketed to the highest level in the school district – on par with far wealthier ZIP codes. In 2014, the 49ers Foundation facilitated $750K in contributions to the Academy, hosted eight events and dedicated countless volunteer hours to assist the youth. And there is so much more! Breast Cancer Awareness, helping feed the homeless, where Jed has been the Food and Fund Drive CoChairman for Second Harvest Food Bank for


LB Patrick Willis with Make-A-Wish recipient

QB Colin Kaepernick with a Make-A-Wish guest

two years. The Bayview Hunters Point YMCA near Candlestick Park is another place they love supporting. They are also strong supporters of City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, Hedge Funds Care (eradication of child abuse), the Center for Youth Wellness, Fresh Lifeline for Youth (FLY), and the Football Camp for the Stars (a camp for athletes with Down syndrome), and many others. The 49ers Taube/Koret Touchdowns for Kids program is another wonderful example of the giving spirit of the 49ers. For every Touchdown, Field Goal, Interception and Sack, in partnership

with the Taube Family Foundation and the Koret Foundation, the 49ers, philanthropist Tad Taube and Koret have raised $1.25 million to help support Bay Area charitable organizations. Again, here is a collaborative commitment that helps improve the life, safety and educational opportunities for the children of the communities they serve. The 49ers host two very popular — and philanthropically productive — fundraising events. One is the Pasta Bowl. This has become their popular annual kick-off to the new season, the night before pre-season training begins. All the players come together and literally serve their designated table of admiring fans with food and pictures and fun. All proceeds go to benefit the community. There is also the 49ers Foundation Winter Fest, held in March in Lake Tahoe. This event always sells out. It’s a fun time for all and in 2014, the 49ers Foundation brought in $2 million during the weekend to support local Bay Area charities. That primarily is the Foundation side. There is also the Community Relations side. Each week, the players have one day off. Typically it is on Monday. On their day off, the Community Relations team organizes community events where players have an opportunity to participate in hands-on service events where they can directly impact those in need in the Bay Area. From hosting a board game tournament for youth with serious illness at the Ronald McDonald House to building a playground in East Palo Alto, inspiring incarcerated youth to choose a different and more productive path and so very much more, for the 49ers philanthropic outreach efforts, it is always about the people and for those in need in our community. There are a good number of players who can relate to coming from hard upbringings and they pour their hearts into the events. FLY is a perfect example, where the players and students talk about issues and goals. The players inspire and make a difference for the kids they personally reach through such community visits. Even on the road, like when they have traveled to Youngstown to train in between East Coast games, they made a huge difference visiting a local hospital, school, and community center. In October 2010 and 2013, when


dedication and passion. they traveled to London to play in the NFL “The key here is that the members of the International Series game, they had one day off. Instead of site-seeing, they arranged special 49ers family recognize that they have been blessed with a special opportunity - one that days with a hugely popular Premier League is not to be taken for granted,” Joanne said. team – Tottenham Hotspur – and together, in “The 49ers take this responsibility seriously. one of the poorer districts of London, they held That is why we do what we do. Whether it a collaborative event for 100 low-income youth is a rookie or a seasoned veteran, ownership showcasing the PLAY 60 movement and the or a 49ers alumnus, we are so very proud of importance of getting out to play, 60 minutes a day, through both football and soccer. It was an amazing day. The 49ers were the first to host such a large scale event while playing the International Series game. The following year, another team repeated this warm, monumental gesture. The 49ers are also very active in spreading the messaging of the NFL “Play 60” Campaign to inspire children to be active and keep healthy. Vernon Davis has been a 49ers spokesperson. 2014 49ers Foundation Contribution Announcement at Levi’s® Stadium One year, inspired by the youth’s our 49ers and their authentic commitment to commitment to the campaign, he hosted a transforming the lives of those in need.” team of 15 students from the 49ers Academy Indeed, when I visited with Joanne, there who participated in a competition to write a was definitely an energy, a spirit that touched commercial for “Play 60.” Vernon arranged for a Limo ride to a special evening held at his home everything and everyone there. It was obvious – all about helping benefit community – and with an Academy Awards Red Carpet look, plus infectiously and fantastically impactful. The Paparazzi and Oscar-like statues for the kids. A fun, memorable event for everyone for a life time! 49ers feel that community has done so much to benefit them as an organization and, as Another example of the tremendous a result, the organization in turn is happy player participation is Joe Staley who, with and proud to be able to give back to the a librarian for a mother, loves reading to community - as it has and will continue to in elementary students and was honored with perpetuity. If there were a Super Bowl Trophy a national accolade for helping build literacy among youth. It does make a difference. And given to the organization based on what they do off the field, as well, no doubt the San the list of what all the 49ers do, individually, Francisco 49ers would be winners of that one as a Team and as an organization is a very each and every year. long one. All without fanfare, but with total


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County Passes Comprehensive Living Wage Ordinance By Ken Yeager Santa Clara County Supervisor, District Four

T

he County is the primary provider of safety net services. The widening economic gap in this region causes more residents to need those services. In response, the Board of Supervisors passed a Living Wage Ordinance in December. It is one of the most comprehensive laws of its kind. A living wage Ken Yeager ordinance is different from a minimum wage law. A minimum wage law sets a floor for pay to all employees in a city, state, or region. A living wage ordinance goes further. It ensures that county tax money paid to contractors is not spent for low-wage jobs that increase poverty and the need for more social services. According to the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, a family with two wage earners and two school-age children would need $17.22 an hour to meet a “self-sufficiency standard” in California. Almost 30% of residents in Santa Clara County earn below that wage level. Each year, the County spends about $2.5 billion on contracted services. Under the Living Wage Ordinance, County-paid service providers will have to pay their workers $19.06/hour, indexed for inflation. Employers can receive up to $4/hour credit against that rate if they provide health and retirement benefits.

Under the ordinance, employees will also receive at least one hour of compensated time off earned per 20 hours worked, up to 12 days a year, to care for their own or family member’s illness. Workers will also receive up to five paid days off per year for jury duty. The ordinance also bans retaliation against workers who request their rights under the Living Wage Ordinance or for engaging in lawful efforts to unionize. It also bars employers from asking applicants to disclose conviction history unless the applicant first meets the minimum employment qualifications. The ordinance will go into effect for service contracts with businesses in July. A separate process outlining provisions for nonprofit service contracts is being developed. The County will also add language creating contract preferences for targeted hiring of disadvantaged jobseekers and local residents, worker retention, predictable employee scheduling, and fulltime work.

A family with two wage earners and two schoolage children would need $17.22 an hour to meet a “self-sufficiency standard” in California. Almost 30% of residents in Santa Clara County earn below that wage level.


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The Art of Helping Many Where Help is Needed A VISIT WITH DR. EMMETT CARSON & SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION “Lifelong Philanthropy - Here in Silicon Valley, we have a front-row seat to view trends, not only in the tech sector that gives us our name but also in philanthropy. Here, where the ceiling for wealth is high, and so are the needs of those without it, we’re seeing a major shift … “We are seeing more people embrace philanthropy … Developing ways to partner with them in achieving their charitable passions is our job … Philanthropy is becoming a lifelong pursuit, one that addresses a wide range of problems, issues and needs … The effect this trend will have on our communities is up to all of us.” - Dr. Emmett Carson A VERY SPECIAL MERGER It was October, 2006, when Dr. Emmett Carson was recruited to oversee the merger of the Peninsula Community Foundation (San Mateo County) and the Community Foundation Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County). The merger took place in January, 2007, and for Dr. Carson it meant moving to California from Minnesota to undertake the unprecedented challenge of merging two separate community foundations – an attempt to unite donors in two very different counties, as well as bridge many different business communities and city politics. Predictably, there would be a lot of resistance. Dr. Carson accepted this challenge, becoming CEO and President in late 2006. He is the first to say that the merger of the two entities – whose staffs

were almost completely unknown to one another – was a collaboration that took shape over time. As CEO, Dr. Carson has continued to lead a unified Silicon Valley Community Foundation to new heights. The nonprofit organization has grown exponentially thanks to the great staff, the many wonderful relationships built, the overall inspiring group of partners, and its many donors. Silicon Valley Community Foundation has become the largest community foundation in the nation and in the world. SVCF’s work in the community locally, nationally and globally continues to grow. “Our grantmaking activity in 2014 is just one example of the incredible generosity of individuals and corporations throughout the Bay Area,” said Dr. Carson. In addition, SVCF launched the Center for


Early Learning, reinforcing its commitment to Silicon Valley’s young children and their families. Research completed last year included the 2014 Silicon Valley Index in partnership with Joint Venture Silicon Valley, and a report on human trafficking in Silicon Valley, completed in partnership with Juniper Networks Foundation Fund and Not For Sale. The first project of the Center for Early Learning was the Parent Story Project, a first-of-its-kind on the well-being of Silicon Valley parents. Plus SVCF also was honored to co-host a historic meeting at the White House of representatives from more than 150 community foundations and government agencies. SVCF “By The Numbers” 2014: Contributions: $1.96 Billion … Assets under management $6.5 Billion Grants: $474 Million (awarded from all funds) … Number of Grants: 65,500, including those from matching gift programs Grants: $216 Million to Bay Area charities ... Grants: $18 Million to International Charities … Countries: 57 received grants, including the U.S.

attended Chicago public schools, then Morehouse College and then Princeton University. When he was very young he experienced a tragedy when a neighbor’s child was shot and killed. Dr. Carson’s family quickly picked up and moved across town. He remembers, it was between 3rd and 4th grade. His life, he said, changed. The family moved just 30 blocks away and, yet, it was a world of difference. He saw and he experienced the differences in inequality and social justice. It was two worlds apart. This would impact him and his work - his entire life - to this very day. Role models were his mom and dad. They taught him about “Heroes” and “Sheros” in black history. His father would read to him every night about successful African-American professionals, which truly inspired the young Dr. Carson. He had learned so much about African-American professionals, and all minorities, that it fed him a sense of wanting to make a difference for many, for all people. This spoke to him: “Hey, the world can be what you make of it.” At Morehouse, he EXPERIENCING AN thought he would go to law ALL-IMPORTANT school and be an attorney. PARTNERING But he had a professor With its individual, (who was kidding at family and corporate the time) who said he donors, as well as nonprofit would not endorse him partners, Silicon Valley for law school (he would SVGives, hosted by SVCF, raised $8 million Community Foundation have, he later admitted). for local charities in one day in 2014. is working to make a big Instead, he recommended positive difference for many Economics and Public of our nonprofits and our community as a whole. Policy, saying: “It would be a stronger major for Dr. Carson added, “There are many who live you … that you can influence people every day.” and work in Silicon Valley, who are wonderful It would be more impactful for Dr. Carson, he supporters of Silicon Valley Community suggested, and as things have turned out, he was Foundation, who are from all around the world. right. He was Dr. Carson’s advisor in school … Many donors are multi-dimensional. They see and is one of his “Heroes.” themselves as global citizens. It is important to them where they want to make a difference, for PREPARATION FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE where they have come from, and also for a better Morehouse, Dr. Carson said, prepared him very world.” When asked if he thinks philanthropists well. It was a time when being African-American can move mountains, Dr. Carson responded, “I felt challenging and that the education he received hope so.” there gave him confidence … and a feeling that he was ready, prepared, for the highs and the lows of THE ROAD TO SILICON VALLEY attending Princeton. Dr. Carson was born and raised in Chicago. He The mental preparedness was so helpful, being


just one of a handful of African-American students to complete that program … and the first to have been accepted in the middle of the year. There would be positives and negatives … It was a whole new world, he felt. “Someone’s got to be first, so being a first at anything, you have to carry your own weight.” FIRST DESTINATION: THE FORD FOUNDATION. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? Fresh out of Princeton, the young Dr. Emmett Carson was recruited to work for the Ford Foundation. “It was a fantastic opportunity,” he said. “There were many brilliant people all around me. It was like a university with some of the most brilliant people … together there to create a better world.” He had a mentor while there, from whom he learned much about philanthropy. He learned plenty, he said, about what philanthropy can do and how to work it effectively. This helped prepare him early on and very well for what was to come. NEXT DESTINATION: THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? From the Ford Foundation, he was recruited to become the CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation. At the young age of just 33, he was already being asked to be the CEO of one of the largest community foundations in the country. Emmett shared, “The pressure was, for example, when making a $500,000 decision on something … making sure I got it right. I learned it was so important to know the people, the histories, the politics … who over-promises and who under-delivers. It’s about big risky things. It’s not as risky when we know the actors and who we are betting on. It’s also very important to be a part of the community.” THEN THE WEST COAST CALLED … WELCOME TO SILICON VALLEY At that time came this challenge, this opportunity, to come to Silicon Valley. Dr. Carson shared: “It was exciting to come here, to execute a merger that was unprecedented. (1) Can you get this merger off the ground; can you get it to work? (2) Can you be an advocate on important issues, where it would be tough, and still raise the money and the support needed? (3) Can you bring our partners, our companies, our governments

together to approach and find solutions for these large issues facing us? Dr. Carson, as we have seen, was up to it … and also with the great art of collaborating. Here and now, working closely together with Carl Guardino, the CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, is a perfect example. He discussed the importance of “the three-legged stool” functioning right, together, in this case, namely: Nonprofits, Business and Government. It’s imperative that we need to work together for rightful solutions. Just the night before our meeting, he and Carl went together as a team to Sacramento (Dr. Carson representing the nonprofits community sector and Carl the business community sector) and met with our legislative leaders (representing the government community sector). Their

Emmett Carson greets families in December, 2014, at Caltrain Holiday Train presented by SVCF.

message was this: “If we don’t address these pressing issues that we face today in housing, transportation and education, if we don’t take action, it has certainly reached the crisis point that we will choke off our own success … for our present and our future.” ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC? When asked if he’s optimistic, without hesitation, Dr. Carson responded, “I’m very optimistic because we have all the raw materials here. We have amazing smart people here who have figured out such amazing things. We have resources here that are financial to help us get what we will need. And we have a state of mind


regarding changing rapidly, a cultural mind set, to change. What’s been missing has been the political will. And we have reached a point, especially with housing, transportation and education, a convenience for some and a problem for others. It has become a problem for everyone … that has become intolerable for all.

many together, making a big positive difference. A SPECIAL DAY AND CAUSE OF CARING: SILICON VALLEY GIVES. Another great example is “Silicon Valley Gives.” Initially, it was to have been a one-dayonly event. There have been Days of Giving in other cities - some successful, some not. Here, there would be challenges … In Santa Clara and THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL AND A PLAN IN San Mateo Counties, where there are 41 different PLACE? communities. People are busy, tens of thousands “Do we have a 5-10 year plan that we of commuters from the South Bay heading north presented or are things on the drawing board? and tens of thousands heading south. Unlike No, I think it’s somewhere in between … where other cities, where there is a central city, with a we have a good idea where the Valley is … central media, newspaper and social network: institutions where we’re doing well … and where “which you could depend on for a successful we’re falling down. Now the issue is to see if the campaign” … not so here, this was totally political energy is there to move forward with unchartered waters. some of the issues that we face. Now, it’s a matter Key sponsors stepped forward in 2014: The of the government to make specific bills and turn John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and them into action. To hopefully get enough support Microsoft, also the Sobrato Family Foundation and behind them … and then hopefully a Governor’s the David & Lucile Packard Foundation and PayPal, signature on them.” meaning the costs would be met and everything raised would benefit local grant-making initiatives. FROM WORKING TOGETHER COMES The staff at Silicon Valley Community Foundation POSSIBILITY diligently researched how other communities were What is Dr. Carson’s vision? He sees that there successful … and a significant commitment of time are a lot of nonprofit and for-profit leaders who are across the organization was allocated to plan and heroes, too many to mention or single out, plus implement for the overall event. many partners that they are very blessed to work Silicon Valley Gives 2014 was a wonderful with. “It is a pleasure and privilege to meet with success. By The Numbers: $8,000,833 was raised, people every day to help make their dreams into 674 nonprofits participated and benefited. There reality … and our community a great and better were 14,889 donors, 21,869+ unique donations place to live and work.” and $233 was the average gift size. All in one He added, “It is this belief that is so inspiring day, a day no one was sure about, speaks well of for our community and the world … So what’s Possibility. exciting is that we get together with donors and discuss with them ‘Possibility Starts Here’ and how WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT OUR NON they would like to see our community benefit, how PROFITS? WHERE WOULD OUR NON PROFITS they would like to see change in the world. Our BE WITHOUT SVCF? donors are generous to all kinds of great causes.” P.S. There’s great news ahead. On May 5, 2015, there will be a Silicon Valley Gives II ! What WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP? a Cinco de Mayo it will be. There’s also a Silicon Two great examples. One is “The Big Lift” in Valley Gives 2016 planned now, too. What a San Mateo County. This effort to ensure all the Big Positive Difference this will make in helping county’s children can read well by third grade benefit many nonprofits and our community. has been undertaken by a consortium of over It is these special partnerships and the many 100 nonprofit organizations, including the county people working together that make these kind Board of Education. A federal grant of $7.5 of Possibilities real for our today and tomorrow. million in private donations will help the entire These are but a few examples where Silicon Valley county. It’s not one single effort, but many, where Community Foundation has done much and each one is important, and this represents so continues to help many where help is needed.


48th Annual

2015-16 Foothill College

Speaker Series

Donna Brazile

Michio Kaku, Ph.D.

Andrew Fraknoi Bill Maher

Malcolm Gladwell

Katie Couric

Michele Bachmann Mark Russell


4 8 T H A N N UA L

2015-16 Foothill College Celebrity Forum Michio Kaku, Ph.D.

October 21, 22, 23

He is a theoretical physicist and futurist. While at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, he famously built an atom smasher in his parent’s garage. He has the ability to make complex scientific ideas not only understandable but also fascinating. Michele Bachmann vs. Donna Brazile

November 18, 19, 20

Michele Bachman was a congresswoman best known for her conservative Tea Party politics and her candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Donna Brazile is an American author, academic, political analyst and Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

Andrew Fraknoi

March 23, 24, 25

He is a popular, award-winning astronomy professor at Foothill College and the 2007 California Professor of the Year. The International Astronomical Union has designated an asteroid in his name for his contributions to science education and to the public understanding of astronomy. Katie Couric

April 20, 21, 22

She co-hosted The Today Show for 15 years, was anchor of the CBS Evening News and a correspondent for 60 Minutes. She has interviewed many of the world’s most famous political figures and celebrities. She is Yahoo’s Global News Anchor, an award-winning journalist and best–selling author.

Mark Russell

January 20, 21, 22

He is America’s best-known political satirist and comedian who also sings and plays the piano. Known for skewering Democrats and Republicans alike, he says his jokes and songs are very topical and have “a shelf life shorter than cottage cheese.” Malcolm Gladwell

February 17, 18, 19

He is a master storyteller on how ideas spread in The Tipping Point, on the roots of success in Outliers, and in his latest, David and Goliath, on how we think about underdogs and misfits. He is a staff writer for The New Yorker and was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people.

Bill Maher

May 18, 19, 20

He is an American political satirist, writer, producer, political commentator, television host, actor, media critic and standup comedian. Fran Lebowitz, who is an author known for her sardonic social commentary on American life, will interview him. • • • • •

Doors open at 7 p.m. Programs begin at 8 p.m. Programs are 90 minutes total. There are no intermissions. All programs are presented at the Flint Center on the De Anza College campus. Voted Best Lecture Series in the Nation by The International Platform Association

www.celebrityforum.net


Our

Private Cooking Lesson With Alex Tishman

Regional Head Chef, Big City Chefs

Perhaps you like to cook. For my wife and I, cooking is the last thing we would ever want to do. Our feeling has been, if you want to eat good food, someone else needs to cook it- Boy was I wrong!

By Rich Borell, Founder & CEO of Bay Area Mags LLC

N

ow, you’re probably thinking I must eat a lot of junk food and be extremely overweight. Thankfully, I don’t indulge in junk food and I enjoy exercise - be it playing tennis or using my home gym. Still, it’s hard to believe I weigh 149 based on how I eat. For us, and as it is for many, cooking can be frustrating. You spend good money on ingredients. You invest time and effort to put a dish together, and the end result just isn’t as good as you thought, or hoped, it would be. Eating healthy can be a challenge. We have busy lives and are on the go all the time, so we don’t always set aside the time to prepare a healthy, flavorful meal. That being said, we decided to bring Regional Head Chef Alex Tishman from Big City Chefs into our home for a Sunday afternoon and teach us how to prepare a couple of delicious meals. While this sounds very exciting, my first question to my wife, when she suggested we should have a private cooking lesson, was: “We’re spending how much to do what?” Boy, was I wrong. If only I knew before what I know now … So, let’s get started. Our planned menu was based on what we wanted to learn along with some valuable suggestions from Chef Alex. He came up with the following: • Hanger Steak with mushrooms pan jus • Chicken (one whole, which we will butcher and then cook the different cuts) • Salad with English peas, shaved carrots and radishes, and simple shallot mustard vinaigrette. Preparing for Chef Alex was pretty painless. He requested that we take a few pictures of our cooking utensils, and simply make our kitchen counters, along with some space in the refrigerator, available to him. Once Chef Alex arrived, we kicked back and let him get things rolling. It was awesome that the price included the shopping of food and other needed ingredients. He sure saved us a lot of time and frustration. From the start, with his vivacious personality, you feel as if you’ve known him all your life. We knew right away we were in for a fun day of cooking, right in our very own kitchen. Chef Alex came so well prepared with a delightful customized class for us. He fully understood our busy schedules and our desire to create some great food from our own kitchen. He would teach us what we would like and not what we wouldn’t like.

As we started, his friendly, informal teaching style put us at ease. We immediately felt comfortable that we’ll be able to reproduce the same fantastic results later on. As the class went on, Chef Alex engaged us in the preparation of the entrées and salad. Most importantly, we learned tips on how to do all those little touches that make a big difference in flavor, texture and presentation; like, how to make carrots attractive and crunchy in your salad. Some of the items we went over during the three hour private-class included: • Proper cooking techniques along with presentation • A big concern of ours … timing of the entrée and side dishes • Some good tips on safety … those knives are very sharp – especially the “Mandoline” (a dangerous but highly efficient instrument) • We learned some tips on nutrition and other health information, including good answers to questions we had about Fish As time went on, we tested some of the Chicken, Hanger Steak, Mushrooms and sauce that we prepared. Delicious. We were amazed also how good our kitchen could smell. Next, our jaws we’re dropping - we couldn’t wait to dive in and reap the rewards of the last three hours. As the end of the class came, and my wife and I had just about finished everything we had cooked, Chef Alex had tidied everything up. Our kitchen was left squeaky clean. It was all a wonderful experience. In sum, indeed, for many people, cooking can be frustrating. We spend good money on ingredients. We invest time and effort to put a dish together, and the end result just isn’t as good as we thought, or hoped, it would be. What we learned and experienced is, with a little help and guidance, we all can create successful dishes packed with flavor and nutrition that are a joy to create. I encourage you to treat yourself and invite Chef Alex Tishman of Big City Chefs into your home, as we did. You will learn to have fun in your own kitchen and cook some great meals. Bon appetit!


Our

Private Cooking Lesson With Alex Tishman

Regional Head Chef, Big City Chefs

Perhaps you like to cook. For my wife and I, cooking is the last thing we would ever want to do. Our feeling has been, if you want to eat good food, someone else needs to cook it- Boy was I wrong!

By Rich Borell, Founder & CEO of Bay Area Mags LLC

N

ow, you’re probably thinking I must eat a lot of junk food and be extremely overweight. Thankfully, I don’t indulge in junk food and I enjoy exercise - be it playing tennis or using my home gym. Still, it’s hard to believe I weigh 149 based on how I eat. For us, and as it is for many, cooking can be frustrating. You spend good money on ingredients. You invest time and effort to put a dish together, and the end result just isn’t as good as you thought, or hoped, it would be. Eating healthy can be a challenge. We have busy lives and are on the go all the time, so we don’t always set aside the time to prepare a healthy, flavorful meal. That being said, we decided to bring Regional Head Chef Alex Tishman from Big City Chefs into our home for a Sunday afternoon and teach us how to prepare a couple of delicious meals. While this sounds very exciting, my first question to my wife, when she suggested we should have a private cooking lesson, was: “We’re spending how much to do what?” Boy, was I wrong. If only I knew before what I know now … So, let’s get started. Our planned menu was based on what we wanted to learn along with some valuable suggestions from Chef Alex. He came up with the following: • Hanger Steak with mushrooms pan jus • Chicken (one whole, which we will butcher and then cook the different cuts) • Salad with English peas, shaved carrots and radishes, and simple shallot mustard vinaigrette. Preparing for Chef Alex was pretty painless. He requested that we take a few pictures of our cooking utensils, and simply make our kitchen counters, along with some space in the refrigerator, available to him. Once Chef Alex arrived, we kicked back and let him get things rolling. It was awesome that the price included the shopping of food and other needed ingredients. He sure saved us a lot of time and frustration. From the start, with his vivacious personality, you feel as if you’ve known him all your life. We knew right away we were in for a fun day of cooking, right in our very own kitchen. Chef Alex came so well prepared with a delightful customized class for us. He fully understood our busy schedules and our desire to create some great food from our own kitchen. He would teach us what we would like and not what we wouldn’t like.

As we started, his friendly, informal teaching style put us at ease. We immediately felt comfortable that we’ll be able to reproduce the same fantastic results later on. As the class went on, Chef Alex engaged us in the preparation of the entrées and salad. Most importantly, we learned tips on how to do all those little touches that make a big difference in flavor, texture and presentation; like, how to make carrots attractive and crunchy in your salad. Some of the items we went over during the three hour private-class included: • Proper cooking techniques along with presentation • A big concern of ours … timing of the entrée and side dishes • Some good tips on safety … those knives are very sharp – especially the “Mandoline” (a dangerous but highly efficient instrument) • We learned some tips on nutrition and other health information, including good answers to questions we had about Fish As time went on, we tested some of the Chicken, Hanger Steak, Mushrooms and sauce that we prepared. Delicious. We were amazed also how good our kitchen could smell. Next, our jaws we’re dropping - we couldn’t wait to dive in and reap the rewards of the last three hours. As the end of the class came, and my wife and I had just about finished everything we had cooked, Chef Alex had tidied everything up. Our kitchen was left squeaky clean. It was all a wonderful experience. In sum, indeed, for many people, cooking can be frustrating. We spend good money on ingredients. We invest time and effort to put a dish together, and the end result just isn’t as good as we thought, or hoped, it would be. What we learned and experienced is, with a little help and guidance, we all can create successful dishes packed with flavor and nutrition that are a joy to create. I encourage you to treat yourself and invite Chef Alex Tishman of Big City Chefs into your home, as we did. You will learn to have fun in your own kitchen and cook some great meals. Bon appetit!


Alexander’s patisserie

Nestled alongside bookstores, boutiques and art galleries, Alexander’s Patisserie stands

EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF

Dries Delanghe

out as a premier location for

Chef Dries Delanghe was formally

coffee, sweet treats and a

educated in pastry and baking at Ter Groene Poorte in Belgium. He started his career staging at

wonderful experience.

the 5-star hotel Le Sangliers

LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL & HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MOUNTAIN VIEW

des Ardennes and Patisserie de Baere in Brussels. Chef Delanghe then honed his skills working in Paris, France, for Pierre Hermé. French Vogue magazine dubbed Chef Delanghe “The Picasso of Pastry.” He continued his career moving to the United States to work at the highly acclaimed, 3 Michelin starred Joël Robuchon Restaurant in Las Vegas. The Alexander’s Patisserie team is extremely passionate about the products and experience we provide

EXQUISITE DESSERTS

our guests. Each indulgence is made

209 Castro Street

SWEET & SAVORY TREATS GORGEOUS GIFTS

Mountain View, CA 94041 T: 650.864.9999 www.alexanderspatisserie.com

in-house with the highest quality ingredients. Our offerings and flavors rotate to highlight the best of each season. We invite you to savor all the pleasures Alexander’s Patisserie has to offer!


Alexander’s patisserie

Nestled alongside bookstores, boutiques and art galleries, Alexander’s Patisserie stands

EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF

Dries Delanghe

out as a premier location for

Chef Dries Delanghe was formally

coffee, sweet treats and a

educated in pastry and baking at Ter Groene Poorte in Belgium. He started his career staging at

wonderful experience.

the 5-star hotel Le Sangliers

LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL & HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MOUNTAIN VIEW

des Ardennes and Patisserie de Baere in Brussels. Chef Delanghe then honed his skills working in Paris, France, for Pierre Hermé. French Vogue magazine dubbed Chef Delanghe “The Picasso of Pastry.” He continued his career moving to the United States to work at the highly acclaimed, 3 Michelin starred Joël Robuchon Restaurant in Las Vegas. The Alexander’s Patisserie team is extremely passionate about the products and experience we provide

EXQUISITE DESSERTS

our guests. Each indulgence is made

209 Castro Street

SWEET & SAVORY TREATS GORGEOUS GIFTS

Mountain View, CA 94041 T: 650.864.9999 www.alexanderspatisserie.com

in-house with the highest quality ingredients. Our offerings and flavors rotate to highlight the best of each season. We invite you to savor all the pleasures Alexander’s Patisserie has to offer!


John A. Sobrato and the Art of Making a Difference


stories@svlocalmag.com

A

recent sampling: The Sobratos Donate $20 Million To The New Packard Children’s Hospital Addition To Be Called The Sobrato Pavillion … The Sobratos Donate $5 Million To Build The Sobrato Pavillion at the Valley Medical Center (which is the largest donation ever to a general hospital west of the Mississippi) … The Sobrato Cancer Center at VMC (a most important addition, opened 2009, on a floor in the new Specialty Center Building) , … The Sobratos Donate Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to the Community Foundation Silicon Valley … The Sobratos Build and Maintain Three Centers for Non-Profits That House 65 Non-Profit Organizations … The Sobratos Help Build Schools and Training Centers…

I believe in Positive Role Models and here is clearly a shining example unlike any other. From a tiny seed comes a Giant sequoia tree, something that is far bigger, beyond imagination or belief. One’s life can be like that, too, how we can help shape infrastructures and benefit others along the way, that makes such a difference in other people’s lives. In this regard, leading by example and helping make this a better world, John A. Sobrato is truly a giant among giants, a champion among champions. This is not your typical story, but again, this is not your typical person. It’s about making a difference in this world we live in. How fortunate are we? You couldn’t begin to imagine. Our Silicon Valley would not be a fraction of what it is today had it not been, and continues to be, because of John A. Sobrato, the Sobrato Organization, the Sobrato Family Foundation, the Sobrato Foundation … and especially the Family Sobrato, John A. and his wife Sue, their son, John Michael, their daughters, Sheri and Lisa, and Lisa’s husband Matt Sonsini. They all work diligently together, committed to serving and contributing back to

The Sobrato Family Learning Commons at Saint Francis High School.

our community. To answer the question, “I am but one person, what difference can I make?” - If you were to listen to John, an only child of immigrant parents, who became a selfmade multi-billionaire, and does so much for community, you will be amazed. What do you attribute your success to? He said he was lucky, that one thing after another just fell into place.


I believe he was referring to the love of his family and the work ethic that was instilled in him from an early age. He is persistent and committed to what he believes in: excellence, quality and service. He grew up going to school at the Palo Alto Military Academy (now Harker School), Bellarmine College Prep and then

The Sobrato Center for Humanities & The Arts at Bellarmine College Prep.

Santa Clara University (graduating with Honors with a degree in Business), where he was also a classmate and lifelong friend of, yet, another great Positive Role Model, Father Paul Locatelli, who for half a century was that for Santa Clara University, Silicon Valley and The Vatican. John worked his entire life, as a youngster and all through school. His real estate career began also at an early age; in fact, it was when he was a student at Santa Clara University and he began working with Nick Carter & Co. Part-time, he devoted three days to his class schedule and three days to his work schedule, working in real estate. It was at age 21, while still a student at Santa Clara University, John became the youngest to enter the Millionaires Club in Palo Alto Real Estate. He did this by

selling Eichler Homes (“and that was a lot of homes, at $20,000 a home”). I believe John made his own luck - and throughout our entire conversation, he was focused not at all on himself, but on serving, and helping benefit our families, causes and community – which he has been doing for many years (more than half a century himself), and is still very actively doing today, as much as is humanly possible. I was excited and looking forward to having this one hour talk with John. I arrived early, for which I am grateful – this allowed me time to admire all the framed portraits of their buildings that adorned all their walls, from top to bottom. Each and every one is absolutely beautiful. The framed pictures were hanging there as if displaying one’s own family, indeed so proud of each and every child. I want to add, too, that John is an extremely humble man. He is all about what’s good for community – and helping to make a difference. He was concerned at the time when I called him about too much publicity – he was about to be honored by 1,200 of our greatest community leaders with the distinguished David Packard Award at Joint Venture Silicon Valley and was about to be written up in the Business Journal. He asked if I could please possibly wait, for he felt it was a bit much at this one time. It was I who asked for this article, not he. He came to meet with me punctually at 2pm, flanked by important meetings before ours and then again right after. As busy as he was, he was as gracious as could be. He looks like a movie star, he may be 72 years old, but his looks defy his age and he has so much energy. He had a smile on his face throughout our talk. What really lit up his face, though, was when we started talking about his family and the Non-Profit projects they have done and


are doing. There are indeed many, and he is grateful for and proud of them all. It is so apparent, everything is very close to his heart. To say he cares, is an understatement – it is a passion. And to him it is not about just giving, it’s about a gift being used in a way that will serve them, perpetually, over time. Our needs today are greater than ever. I often say to the many wonderful Non-Profits, who all do so much: “Where would we be without you?” Shudder that thought. So many of the Non-Profits have been, and are, supported in a very large way by the Sobrato Family Foundation, and so I say again: “Where would we be without this generosity and devoted hard work?” Again, shudder that thought. Indeed, without this support, it would be a very different community world that we live in. John was selling residential real estate when he joined his mother in the development of some of the first tilt-up high technology buildings in the early 1960’s, after founding and running Midtown Realty in Palo Alto until 1973. It was then, in 1973, when he sold Midtown Realty and moved to Cupertino to concentrate on development, where he has been busy ever since. Silicon Valley was just being born and this became the beginning of what was to become an illustrious builder / developer career, par excellence. Imagine what it was like back then. I will not forget how John said, when he first started in the early 1960’s, how there was no Silicon Valley yet at that time, just orchards everywhere. He added, too, that it was Southern California, at the time, that was considerably ahead in the look of commercial buildings. A decade later, John visited Southern California to talk with and learn from the people in the industry, and he also took with him his 10 year-old son, John Michael, to absorb everything. Silicon Valley was about to be launched … and John M, would later become, and currently is, the CEO of The Sobrato Organization. Never too early … How

purposeful and dedicated are they? Indeed, very … An interesting note: the three children, and all their children (the grandchildren), all become Board Members of the Sobrato Family Foundation and start attending all Board Meetings once they reach age 18. John went on to build many of Silicon Valley’s most beautiful buildings. He said that from all what he had learned, that he would pay more to have better materials that would provide for a better, more beautiful building … it was always about the quality … and that reputation has consistently followed him wherever he goes, in everything he does. In our conversation, John also made a point about contributing, that people think

John went on to build many of Silicon Valley’s most beautiful buildings. contributing means simply donating money. People don’t have to, it may not be in everyone’s means to do so, and that it is just as important to volunteer - that, indeed, it may be even more important. Can you imagine if more and more people were to get involved by volunteering, what a big positive difference it would make? What John A. Sobrato has done for our Silicon Valley these past 50 years goes well beyond words. The Sobrato Family Foundation, established in 1996, thankfully is in place to continue to help support our Non-Profit community for many years to come. This may be called the Sobrato Way … caring for community … and helping make our Silicon Valley a better place in which we live. What we can learn from all this is truly a masterpiece … and is namely John A. Sobrato and The Art of Making A Difference.


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Ken Korach, Oakland A’s Radio Announcer A GREAT PASSION FOR THE GAME AND LIFE ITSELF

K

en Korach has been living the life of a dream come true. For the past 19 years he has been and is the radio voice of the Oakland A’s. He was born in Los Angeles in 1952. He is the son of a high school and junior college baseball and basketball coach. He has loved sports since the day he was born and remembers playing catch before he could walk. He grew up minutes from Dodger Stadium, but in his childhood grew up an Angels fan … because they were local and born then, too, in 1961. It’s as if real life angels have been watching over Ken and everything has been in an exciting and perfect alignment. Beyond a doubt, Ken grew up in a family and household that has always loved life, sports and broadcasting. As Ken puts it, he had heroes growing up. Growing up, “We were a CBS Family”. Every night, they would watch Walter Cronkite. He was certainly one. There was a book, The Morrow Boys … Ed Morrow was yet another … and the family tree of great broadcasters … also an inspiration. He grew up listening to the greats: Vin Scully and Chick Hearn and Dick Enberg … and another he loved listening to: Bill King doing the Warriors games. Also Bill King doing the Raiders games, and then Bill King and Lon Simmons doing the A’s games. “Indeed, I loved broadcasting as much as I loved sports.” Ken first went to San Diego State, where he was Sports Editor of the school newspaper, and then graduated from UC Santa Barbara. His broadcasting career began in Petaluma in 1980, doing a variety of things, including high school sports and eventually Sonoma State football and basketball in 1982. He went on to do A-ball part-time in 1981 and a full-season of A-ball (California League) in 1984. The team was in Rohnert Park … and then AAA-ball in 1986 in Phoenix. It was a distance, yet, from where he was heading. He was growing and so was his reputation. Unbeknownst to him, perhaps, it would be just a matter of time and he was enjoying it all. In addition to baseball, he would also broadcast both football and basketball for San Jose State and UNLV. He was also broadcasting AAA-ball (Pacific Coast League) in Las Vegas … that was when he got “the call” … To read the rest of this great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www.siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category “Sports”.


LAA

SD

BOS

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SD

LAA

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12:35 ● 7:10 ●

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28

5:05 ●

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SF 276 HOU SF 27 SF ●27 7:05 MIN 137 TOR 7 MIN 10:10 7 MIN 9:37 10:10

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4:05● 1:05 ●

SEA

5:10●

TEX

7:05 TEX ● 7:05 ●9 16 SD 7:05 SD ●16 12:40 SD 16 12:40 23 TEX 12:40 TEX 23 5:05 TEX ● 5:05 ●23 30 COL 5:05 COL ●30 7:05 COL ● 7:05 ●30 7:05 ●

2 DET DET 2 4:08● DET 2 4:08● 7 NYY 4:08● NYY 7

TEX

7:05 TEX ● 7:05 ●10 17 SD 7:05 SD ●17 7:05 ● SD ●17 7:05 24 TEX 7:05 TEX ●24 5:05 TEX ● 5:05 ●24 5:05 ●

TEX

12:35 TEX 11 12:35 18 SD 12:35 SD 18 12:35 SD 18 12:35 25 TEX 12:35 TEX 25 11:05 TEX 25 11:05 11:05

2 CLE CLE 2 1:05 ●2 CLE 1:05 ● 9 HOU 1:05 HOU●9 1:05 ● HOU 1:05 ●9 16 BAL 1:05 ● 16 BAL 10:35 ● 16 BAL 10:35 ● 23 TB 10:3523 ● TB 1:05 ● 23 TB 1:05 ● ARI 1:05 ●30 30 ARI 1:10 ● ARI 1:10 ●30

3 BAL BAL 3 7:05 BAL ● 7:05 ●3 7:05 ●10 10 10 17 BAL BAL 17 4:05 BAL ●17

LAA

7:05 LAA ● 7:05 ●12 19 LAA 7:05 LAA ●19 6:35 ● LAA ●19 6:35 26 KC 6:35 KC ●26 7:05 KC ● 7:05 ●26 7:05 ●

JULY JULY JULY

3 SEA SEA 3 6:05 1:05● ● SEA 6:05 1:05● ●3 8 CLE 6:05 1:05● ●10 8 10 CLE 4:05● 4:05●10 7 4:05● 8 NYY NYY CLE 4:05● 4:05● 4:05● 15 16 MIN 4:05●14 4:05●17 14 4:05●15 10:05● 16 MIN 17 7:05● 14 15 16 7:05 17 ● MIN 7:05● 7:05 ● 21 TOR 22 TOR 23 7:05● 24 TOR SF 7:05 ● TOR 21 TOR 22 TOR 23 SF 24 7:05 7:05● 7:05● TOR ● TOR ● TOR 23 7:15 SF ● 7:05 7:05● ●21 7:05 7:05 7:05● ●22 12:35 12:35 7:15 ●24 28 29 30 LAD 7:05 7:05● ●28 LAD 7:05 7:05● ●29 CLE 12:3530 CLE 7:15 ●31 31 LAD LAD CLE CLE 5:10● 7:10 ● 11:10 7:10 ● 7:05 ● 6:35 ● 28 29 30 LAD ● 11:10 LAD ● 7:05 CLE ● 6:35 CLE ●31 5:10● 7:10 7:10 5:10● 7:10 ● 11:10 7:10 ● 7:05 ● 6:35 ●

4 BAL BAL 4 7:05 ●4 BAL 7:05 ● 11 TOR 7:05 TOR ●11 4:07 ● TOR 4:07 ●11 LAD 4:07 ●18 18 LAD 7:05 LAD ● 7:05 ●18 25 SEA 7:05 SEA ●25 7:10 SEA ● 7:10 ●25

4:05 ● 24 SEA 4:05 SEA ●24 7:10 SEA ● 7:10 ●24 31 LAA 7:10 LAA ●31 7:10 ● 7:05 LAA ● 7:05 ●31 7:05 ●

COL COL 12:35 10:08 COL 12:35 10:08 NYY 12:35 10:08 NYY

1 1 1

2 SEA SEA 2 7:05 6:05● ● SEA 7:05 6:05● ●2 NYY 7:05 6:05● ●99 NYY 10:05● NYY 9 10:05●

5 BAL BAL 5 12:35 5 BAL 12:35 12 TOR 12:3512 TOR 4:07 ●12 TOR 4:07 ●

19 LAD 4:07 ● 19 LAD 12:35 ● LAD 19

12:35 ● 26 SEA 12:35 ● SEA 26 12:40 26 SEA 12:40

6 HOU HOU 6 7:05 ●6 HOU 7:05 ● TOR 7:05 ●13 13 TOR

9:37 TOR 9:37 9:37

13

20 20 20 27 27 27

12:40

KC KC KC 7 HOU HOU 7 7:05 ●7 HOU 7:05 ● 14 BAL 7:05 ● 14 BAL 4:05 ● 14 BAL 4:05 ●

21 TB 4:05 ● 21 TB 7:05 TB ● 7:05 ●21 ARI 7:05 ●28 28 ARI 6:40 ● 28 ARI 6:40 ● 6:40 ●

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

5

6:05●

SEA SEA

SEA SEA

6 6

1:05● SEA 6 1:05● 13 TEX 1:05● TEX 13 12:05● TEX 13 12:05● 20 HOU 12:05● HOU 20 1:05● 11:10● HOU 20 1:05● 11:10● 27 SF 1:05● 11:10● SF 27 1:05 1:05● SF 27 1:05 1:05● 4 SEA 1:05 1:05● SEA 4 12:10● SEA 4 12:10● 12:10● HOME

1 1

1:05● SEA 1 1:05● 7 HOU 1:05● HOU 7 5:10● 1:05● HOU 7 5:10● 1:05● 14 CWS 5:10● 1:05● CWS 14 5:10● CWS 14 5:10● 5:10●21 21 7:05●21 7:05● 28 LAA 7:05● LAA 28 7:05● LAA 28 7:05● 7:05●

1 LAA LAA 1 7:05● LAA 7:05●1 HOU 7:05●88 HOU

7:05● 5:10● HOU 5:10●8 7:05● CWS 5:10●15 7:05● 15 CWS 5:10● CWS 15 5:10● 22 TEX 5:10● TEX 22 7:05● TEX 22 7:05● 29 LAA 7:05● LAA 29 7:05● LAA 29 7:05● 7:05●

LAA LAA

2 2

12:35● LAA 2 12:35● 9 HOU 12:35● HOU 9 5:10● 7:05● HOU 5:10● 7:05●9 16 CWS 5:10● 7:05● 16 CWS 5:10● CWS 16 5:10● 23 TEX 5:10● TEX 23 7:05● 12:35● TEX 23 7:05● 12:35● 30 LAA 7:05● 12:35● LAA 30 4:05● LAA 30 4:05● 4:05●

3 3 3

10 10

11:1010 11:10 17 CWS 11:10 CWS 17 11:10 CWS 17 11:10 24 TEX 11:10 TEX 24 12:35 5:05● TEX 24 12:35 5:05● 12:35 5:05●11

4 SEA SEA 4 7:05● SEA 7:05●4 11 TEX 7:05● 11 TEX

4

4 SEA 1:05 7:05 ●4 SEA 1:05 7:05 ● 11 CLE 1:05 7:05 ●

4 SEA SEA 4 1:05 7:05 ●4 SEA 1:05 7:05 ● 11 CLE 1:05 7:05 ● 11 CLE TBD● CLE TBD●11 18 MIN TBD● MIN 18 6:05 ● MIN●18 6:05 25 SF 6:05 SF ●25 1:05 SF ● 1:05 ●25

1:05 ●

1 CLE CLE 1 6:05 ●1 CLE 6:05 ● HOU 6:05 ●88 HOU 1:05 ●8 HOU 1:05 ● BAL 1:05 ●15 15 BAL 4:05 ● 15 BAL 4:05 ●

22 TB 4:05 ● 22 TB 6:05 TB ● 6:05 ●22 ARI 6:05 ●29 29 ARI 5:10 ● 29 ARI 5:10 ● 5:10 ●

5 SEA SEA 5 6:05● SEA 6:05●5 12 TEX 6:05● 12 TEX

5:05● 7:10● 6:10● 5:05● TEX TEX 12 5:05● 7:10●11 6:10● 5:05● 18 19 HOU HOU 5:05● 7:10●18 6:10● 5:05● HOU HOU 19 5:10● HOU 18 4:10 HOU 19 5:10● 4:10 25 26 SF SF 5:10● SF 25 4:10 SF 26 5:05● 7:05● 5:05●● SF 25 1:05 SF 26 5:05● 7:05● 5:05●● 1:05 2 3 SEA SEA 5:05● 7:05● 5:05●● SEA 2 1:05 SEA 3 7:10● 6:10● 1 SEA 2 SEA 3 7:10● 6:10● 7:10● 6:10● As of 2/2/15 As of 2/2/15 As THE of 2/2/15 ALL GAMES ON 95.7 GAME

FIREWORKS ALL GAMES ON 95.7 THE GAME HOME FIREWORKS ALL GAMES AND TIMES ALL TIMES ALL GAMES ON THEPACIFIC GAME ALLHOME GAMES ANDFIREWORKS TIMES SUBJECT SUBJECT TO TO CHANGE CHANGE ALL95.7 TIMES PACIFIC ● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ■ ESPN ▲ FOX ALL GAMES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE ALL TIMES PACIFIC ● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ■ ESPN ▲ FOX

INFORMATION VISIT SEA

SEA 3 SEA 6:05 1:05● ●33 SEA 6:05 1:05● ●10 CLE 6:05 1:05● ●

LAA

7:05 LAA ● 7:05 ●13 20 LAA 7:05 LAA ●20 1:05 ● LAA ●20 1:05 27 KC 1:05 KC ●27 1:05 KC ● 1:05 ●27 1:05 ●

HIT & RUN - 12 GAMES

AUGUST AUGUST AUGUST

1:10 ●

1 DET LAA 1 DET DET 4 BOS 5 BOS 6 SEA 16 HOU 17 DET HOU 28 DET HOU 39 DET 104 BOS TEX 115 TEX 126 LAA 1:05●1 4:08● 2 4:08 3 10:08 4 4:10●5 BOS 1:05 ●6 1 DET LAA DET DET BOS 1:05● 1:05● 5:10● 4:08● 5:10● 4:08 7:05● 5:10● 7:05● 10:08 11:10 4:10● 5:05● 7:10● BOS 6:10● 5:05● 1:05● 1:05 ●13 7 8 9 10 11 12 BOS TEX TEX TEX 17 LAA LAA 1:05● 4:08● 4:08 4:10● ●19 13 14 15 16 10:08 18 1:05 TEX CWS CWS CWS CWS HOU HOU 7 8 9 10 11 12 BOS TEX ● 7:05 TEX TEX LAA ● 7:05 LAA 13 10:35 ● 7 8 7:05 9 TEX ●10 12:35 11 7:05 12 LAA ●13 BOS TEX TEX LAA 12:05● 5:10● 7:05 5:10● 5:10● 11:10 7:05 5:10● 7:05 4:10 10:35 ● SD 19 LAA ●20 14 15 SD ●16 7:05 17 12:35 LAA SD ● SD 18 LAA ● 10:35 ● ●16 ●17 ●19 20 21 7:05 22 7:05 23 12:35 24 7:05 25 7:05 26 HOU TEX TEX TEX SF SF ●20 14 15 18 LAA SD ● 12:40 SD SD ● 12:35 SD LAA ● 1:05 LAA 12:3514 ● 7:10 7:05 6:35 ●20 15 16 17 18 19 LAA SD SD SD SD LAA LAA 1:05● 11:10● 7:05● 7:05● 7:05● 12:35● 12:35 5:05● 5:05● 7:05● 5:05●● 1:05 12:3521 ● 7:10 ●22 12:40 23 7:05 ●24 12:35 25 6:35 ●26 1:05 ●27 LAA TEX 29 7:05 TEX ●30 12:35 TEX KC ● 2 1:05 KC ● 3 12:35 ● 7:10 ●28 12:40 27 21 SF LAA 23 TEX LAA 24 TEX 251 6:35 SEA 26 KC SEA 27 LAA ● LAA 22 TEX KC 1:05 5:05 ● 5:05 ● 11:05 7:05 ● 1:05 21 22 TEX 23 TEX 24 TEX 25 KC 26 KC ●27 LAA 1:05 1:05● 7:05● 7:05● 4:05● 7:10● 6:10● 1:05 ●28 5:05 ●30 5:05 ● 11:05 7:05 ● 1:05 ● COL KC ●4 COL 29 5:05 1:05 SEA 28 COL 29 COL ●30 5:05 ● 11:05 7:05 ● 1:05 ● KC 1:05 ●28 7:05 ●29 7:05 ●30 COL ● 7:05 COL ● KC As of 2/2/15 12:10● 1:05 ● 7:05 1:05 ● 7:05 ● 7:05 ● ALL GAMES ON 95.7 THE GAME FIREWORKS HOME ALL GAMES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE ALL TIMES PACIFIC JULY ■ ESPN ▲ FOX ● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA

FOR UP TO DET

15 15

1

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER SEA

SD SD

7:10 SD ● 7:10 ●15 7:10 ●22 22

APRIL COL 1 SEA 2 SEA 3 SEA 4 APRIL APRIL 12:35 10:08 1 7:05 6:05● ●2 6:05 1:05● ●3 1:05 7:05 ●4

TEX ● 7:05 TEX ●7 7:05 HOU●14 7:05 14 TOR ●21 HOU 5:10 14 HOU 7:05 7:05●21 5:10 LAA ● 5:10 ● 28 LAD ●21 LAA 7:05 21 LAA 5:10● 7:10 ●28 7:05 LAA 7:05 ●28 LAA 7:05●28 LAA 7:05● 7:05 ● 7:05● 7:05 ●

CLE 254 BAL CLE 25 CLE ●25 7:05 MIN 115 TOR 5 MIN 5:10● 5 MIN 4:07 ● 5:10● 12 BOS 18 5:10● LAD 12 BOS 7:05 ●12 BOS 7:05 ● 7:05 ●19 HOU 7:05 SEA ●25 19 HOU 5:10●19 HOU 7:10 ● 5:10● 26 DET 5:10●26 DET 7:05 ●26 DET 7:05 ●26 TEX 7:05 ● TEX 26 TEX 26

8

SAC FLY - 26 GAMES

JULY 1

10:35 ● 7 BOS 10:35 ● 14 LAA 10:35 ● LAA 14 12:35 ● 14 LAA 12:35 ● 21 LAA 12:35 ● LAA 21 1:05 ● 21 LAA 1:05 ● 28 KC 1:05 KC ●28 1:05 KC ● 1:05 ●28 1:05 ●

● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ■ ESPN ▲ FOX


BAY AREA LEGENDS A WALK & TALK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH

AL ATTLES W

e met in what was a different day and age. Yet, it seems like yesterday. I remember the team arriving … It was amid a lot of excitement back then. It was 1962. Professional basketball was coming to San Francisco and the Bay Area! Meet the NBA … Meet the Warriors … Meet Al Attles. It was just a few years before, in 1958, Major League Baseball had just successfully moved the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles and the New York Giants to San Francisco, becoming the first two professional baseball teams west of the Mississippi. In 1962, the National Basketball Association (the NBA) followed, and successfully moved the Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles and the Philadelphia Warriors to San Francisco, becoming the first two professional basketball teams west of the Mississippi. It was quite an era here back then. John Kennedy was President, no sign yet of the Beatles (and their concert at Candlestick Park coming just a bit later in 1964) and our San Francisco Giants, in just their 5th year here and playing in what was a “beautiful” new Candlestick Park, were playing the New York Yankees in the World Series. It would be two years later, in 1964, San Francisco would host the GOP National Convention here at the San Francisco Cow Palace, starring Barry Goldwater. It would be 23 years later, in 1985, for Super Bowl XIX at the older Stanford Stadium and 54 years later, in 2016, for Super Bowl 50 to return to the Bay Area. During this time, the 49ers have won 5 Super Bowls, the Giants have won two World Series and the Warriors have won one NBA Championship, in 1975, with Al Attles as the Head Coach. Fast forward to the present day and it’s the same wonderful Al Attles. The same warm, friendly smile, the same positive endearing energy and the same unforgettable and most recognizable voice. And, now, there’s all this wonderful history, stories and people we can talk about, too. Al is everyone’s best friend and everyone is Al’s best friend. Case in point, to this very day, his North Carolina A&T basketball teammates are all still extremely close. They won championships playing together as a team some 50+ years ago and they still talk with one another, frequently, all the time, and as recently as just yesterday … To read the rest of Coach Al Attles’ great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www.siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category “Sports”.


Offering a Modern Interpretation of the classic American steakhouse with hints of Japanese influence.

SAN FRANCISCO 448 Brannan Street 415-495-1111

CUPERTINO 10330 N. Wolfe Road 408-446-2222

PALO ALTO 4269 El Camino Road 650-213-1111

W W W. A L E X A N D E RSST E A K H O US E . C OM


Marina Gavric

Marina Gavric Health & Fitness Training www.marinagavric.com

Age is Nothing But a Number Y

ou don’t spend 20 years in the fitness industry without learning a few things about numbers. A valuable term I learned early on, and attest to, is the age old adage that “Age is nothing but a number”. Each of us has a calendar age and a biological age. We’ve all seen this … Often I will see a 30 or 40 year-old who may look and feel considerably older than his or her actual age … or a 60 or 70 year-old who may look and feel considerably younger. How and why is that? Good health and well-being, so much of it is in our mind. Also our diet and exercise. It includes an attitude, our habits, our way of life. Healthy and vibrant, the good news is we don’t have to be stuck, where we might not be happy. The choice is ours and there are things we can do to improve. We should control our health rather our health control us. Health, fitness and wellness, no matter what our age, is a great recipe that works … and is everyone’s best reward. When and how did those years get stuck within layers of unhealthy fat, lining our frames? Can you pinpoint the time you became older than you really are? Think back. Was it when you were 12 trying to get out of gym class? Maybe in college when all your time was spent studying and socializing over noodles

and cocktails? Perhaps your fitness years were lost when the children began ruling your world or work sucked you in to the career abyss? Is it possible you just haven’t found your way out. Resolving when you began losing those years is key to getting them back. No matter what your current age or fitness level, taking action in changing your fitness age, to grow younger as you age, to become a fitter and wiser you, begins with some simple, clean life choices we can all make. Ask yourself: How old am I? How old do I feel? What is my fitness age? If I have lost years of vibrant life, when did I lose them? How can I get them back? And when do I begin taking action in the fight to take them back? Don’t let your “real” age rule or get the better of you. You can do it ... let your fitness age take the spotlight! … Stay Hydrated, Stay Focused, Stay Fit!


Name: Jeff Selzer Last ride: Redwood Gulch Favorite Ride: Anywhere in Tuscany Last book I read: The Road to Character by David Brooks

Photo: Jay Watson

My Bike: Trek Madone 7.9

171 University Avenue, Palo Alto • 650.328.7411 • www.paloaltobicycles.com • Hours: Mon – Fri 10am – 7pm, Sat 10am – 6pm, Sun 11am – 5pm


WEEKEND GETAWAYS

The Presidio: It’s What’s Going On!

F

By Rich Borell

or many of us, the Presidio of San Francisco may only be 10-40 miles down the road. Perhaps you drive through it from Lombard to get over the GG Bridge. However, ever since the Inn at the Presidio opened a few years back, my wife and I have spent a few weekends each year staying at this historic hotel … right in the middle of the Presidio of San Francisco. This former military base has so much to offer - from its many hiking trails to enjoying the open space with your pet. This vast land has over 1,400 total acres and just under 1,000 acres of open space. If you’re looking for something to fill a day … or a weekend … or more, this vast open land sure has plenty to offer. For you history buffs, you can check out over 400 historic buildings. A good place to start is the Presidio Officer’s Club. There, you will get a good

taste of history through multi-media exhibits. One of our favorite pastimes is to hop on the PresidiGo Shuttle. One thing we really enjoy is seeing, and experiencing, the Presidio on foot. Each time we stay, we explore a different route … our favorite is going down to Crissy Field – and observing the spectacular views of the bridge. You can feel free to get off the shuttle anytime, as it has 40 stops. No matter what one’s age, one activity


WEEKEND GETAWAYS everyone would want to catch is The Walt Disney Family Museum. At the Disney Museum you will capture the true history and timeline of Walt Disney’s life and the Disney enterprise. I would suggest allowing at least four hours for this selfguided tour, as well as your hands-on experience with exhibits and taking in all the original artwork that’s there. Wish you could stay here? Well, you can. You can keep the car parked and stay at the Inn at the Presidio. This Georgian Revival-style hotel, built in the early 1900’s, was once home for bachelor officers when the Presidio was a U.S. Army post. Now you can stay here at this historic landmark. When we stay, we always put a request in for a room on the third floor. From here you get incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge, also the fog rolling in and, on clear days, you can see many sailboats. Each room is extremely spacious, offering Wi-Fi, flat panel screens and mini-fridges. For a bit more, I would suggest getting a suite on the third floor. This has a large sitting area and a gas fireplace. The hotel offers an evening wine and cheese reception … usually there’s live music, as well. Or you can stroll outside with your wine and kick back on their outdoor deck that features a large fire pit with cozy rocking chairs. It’s truly delightful. You’re also within walking distance to some nice restaurants on base. Recently opened is The Commissary, a new restaurant by the awardThe Inn at the Presidio

winning chef, Traci Des Jardins, featuring Spanishinfluenced California cuisine. One of our favorite places to eat is the Presidio Social Club – which once was the home of the ex-military barracks. Inside the Presidio Officer’s Club, you can try out Arguello. This restaurant offers Mexican food with a contemporary bar. If you still have a little time on your hands, there’s plenty more to do in the Presidio, such as: A beautiful stroll along Baker’s Beach … perhaps a round of golf at the Presidio Golf Course with its enchanted forest setting … and, yes, there’s even a bowling alley. And think you might miss that latte or cappuccino at Starbucks? Not to worry, they have one of those, too. People would love coming from all corners of the world to experience this, and do. A far away distant world that’s literally just a few minutes away. There’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow … for us, this is a gem at the foot of the Golden Gate.


WEEKEND GETAWAYS

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

town Palm Springs. The views and grounds are awesome of the Golf Resort, they have a large pool with two hot tubs. We were also able to enjoy a little tennis. We had an early dinner reservation so we didn’t get too much activity in today. We did walk downtown and strolled the Palm Springs Walk of Stars … I heard that there are over 400 stars! Interesting and delightful to see and experience.

Palm Springs – Fun In The Desert Sun!

L

By Rich Borell

ooking to relax? Perhaps a nice getaway and some sun, some fun, some R&R? How about a nice quiet desert resort? Sounded great to us. Just 100 miles east of Los Angeles was our recent long weekend getaway destination … Palm Springs. For this weekend destination we decided to do a road trip. Our journey started out early Friday morning with a quick cup for the road from Starbucks.

Along with its gift shop and Beef & Bakery store, it’s the best service along I-5 you can encounter.

Our first stop along the way was breakfast at the Harris Ranch, located in Coalinga, about two hours from Silicon Valley. If you’re traveling along Interstate 5, you may know the Harris Ranch is a welcome oasis for travelers.

After stopping off at a few rest stops to stretch a bit, our next encounter was going to be lunch. As we we’re driving, we saw a sign for a restaurant I didn’t even know still existed, so we pulled over and had lunch at Bob’s Big Boy... Yes, it was great to see them still around.

There are many amenities at this fine establishment including comfortable lodging, some of the best steaks you will ever enjoy, along with a café for that quick bite.

We arrived in the Palm Springs area around 2PM. Our stay for the next few nights was at the Desert Princess Inn. This Golf Resort is located about five miles from down-

If you’re in the Palm Springs area, then the Purple Room Restaurant & Stage is a must for dinner and a show. It all started in 1960 … The still popular venue is considered to be one of Palm Springs “Original“ Rat Pack Hangouts ... where Frank Sinatra would bring friends to Eat, Drink and Play. Saturday morning we were up early to meet our group for the Desert Adventure Tour. This is an open Jeep tour that takes you along the San Andreas Fault. The tour was great and very informative. You can experience the landscape of an active fault, walk between the steep canyon walls – we actually we’re able to have one foot on each of the two major plates in California. The tour took us through a natural Palm oasis. We also learned about the culture and lifestyle of the Cahuilla Indians and how they used the desert’s plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter and more. Our tour was about three hours. We had lunch planned at the Peaks Restaurant, located on top of the San Jacinto Mountain, over 8,500 feet up. The aerial tram will take you up the mountain. The gondola floor rotates while ascending and descending so that everyone sees everything. Yes, this is a “must” if you’re in the Palm Springs area.

Ticket prices are reasonable if you only want to take the ride up for photos and get some great hiking in. There are a couple of cool trails anyone can enjoy, and also a couple of cafés that offer a different price range, being considerate of people’s budgets. If you’re looking for entertainment in the evenings there certainly is no limit as to what’s available. You will find several high end Indian Casino Resorts close by. To fill our evening, we took in a few shows. At the Morongo Casino, we saw the very talented comedian, Lilly Tomlin. Saturday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort, we saw the very talented singer, Marie Osmond. With many points of interest, the World’s largest rotating Aerial Tramcars, over 130 Hotels & Resorts, over 100 Restaurants and sunny days practically every day of the year … If you’re looking for a nice relaxing and fun getaway, plan on enjoying a nice weekend in sunny Palm Springs. We sure did.


WEEKEND GETAWAYS

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

town Palm Springs. The views and grounds are awesome of the Golf Resort, they have a large pool with two hot tubs. We were also able to enjoy a little tennis. We had an early dinner reservation so we didn’t get too much activity in today. We did walk downtown and strolled the Palm Springs Walk of Stars … I heard that there are over 400 stars! Interesting and delightful to see and experience.

Palm Springs – Fun In The Desert Sun!

L

By Rich Borell

ooking to relax? Perhaps a nice getaway and some sun, some fun, some R&R? How about a nice quiet desert resort? Sounded great to us. Just 100 miles east of Los Angeles was our recent long weekend getaway destination … Palm Springs. For this weekend destination we decided to do a road trip. Our journey started out early Friday morning with a quick cup for the road from Starbucks.

Along with its gift shop and Beef & Bakery store, it’s the best service along I-5 you can encounter.

Our first stop along the way was breakfast at the Harris Ranch, located in Coalinga, about two hours from Silicon Valley. If you’re traveling along Interstate 5, you may know the Harris Ranch is a welcome oasis for travelers.

After stopping off at a few rest stops to stretch a bit, our next encounter was going to be lunch. As we we’re driving, we saw a sign for a restaurant I didn’t even know still existed, so we pulled over and had lunch at Bob’s Big Boy... Yes, it was great to see them still around.

There are many amenities at this fine establishment including comfortable lodging, some of the best steaks you will ever enjoy, along with a café for that quick bite.

We arrived in the Palm Springs area around 2PM. Our stay for the next few nights was at the Desert Princess Inn. This Golf Resort is located about five miles from down-

If you’re in the Palm Springs area, then the Purple Room Restaurant & Stage is a must for dinner and a show. It all started in 1960 … The still popular venue is considered to be one of Palm Springs “Original“ Rat Pack Hangouts ... where Frank Sinatra would bring friends to Eat, Drink and Play. Saturday morning we were up early to meet our group for the Desert Adventure Tour. This is an open Jeep tour that takes you along the San Andreas Fault. The tour was great and very informative. You can experience the landscape of an active fault, walk between the steep canyon walls – we actually we’re able to have one foot on each of the two major plates in California. The tour took us through a natural Palm oasis. We also learned about the culture and lifestyle of the Cahuilla Indians and how they used the desert’s plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter and more. Our tour was about three hours. We had lunch planned at the Peaks Restaurant, located on top of the San Jacinto Mountain, over 8,500 feet up. The aerial tram will take you up the mountain. The gondola floor rotates while ascending and descending so that everyone sees everything. Yes, this is a “must” if you’re in the Palm Springs area.

Ticket prices are reasonable if you only want to take the ride up for photos and get some great hiking in. There are a couple of cool trails anyone can enjoy, and also a couple of cafés that offer a different price range, being considerate of people’s budgets. If you’re looking for entertainment in the evenings there certainly is no limit as to what’s available. You will find several high end Indian Casino Resorts close by. To fill our evening, we took in a few shows. At the Morongo Casino, we saw the very talented comedian, Lilly Tomlin. Saturday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort, we saw the very talented singer, Marie Osmond. With many points of interest, the World’s largest rotating Aerial Tramcars, over 130 Hotels & Resorts, over 100 Restaurants and sunny days practically every day of the year … If you’re looking for a nice relaxing and fun getaway, plan on enjoying a nice weekend in sunny Palm Springs. We sure did.


WEEKEND GETAWAYS

A MEMORABLE WEEKEND TRIP TO JAMESTOWN AND YOSEMITE By Rich Borell

Hello Everyone, I want to share with you a recent long weekend getaway my wife and I took. This road trip took us to the Gold Country, where we enjoyed fascinating historic Jamestown and the most breathtaking views of Yosemite National Park. Our trip started out Friday around noon to beat the Bay Area getaway crowd. We had accommodations for Friday evening, just outside of Jamestown, at the Jackson

Rancheria Hotel & Casino. We really want to extend a warm thank you for a great room. While driving up to Jackson, my wife always wanted to visit Daffodil Hill located in Volcano, CA, a few miles outside of Jackson. It’s the perfect time of year since all the daffodils are in full bloom. If you’re in the area traveling, this is a great place to get out and stretch and walk through the gorgeous gardens. You will see some rather loud and colorful peacocks, too, as you walk along the path.


WEEKEND GETAWAYS Daffodil Hill is open only in the spring, usually from the end of March through the first three weeks of April … best of all, admission and parking are free. From there, we drove to the hotel to settle in for the evening, grab a bite; yes, pay our dues on the casino floor; and, of course, do some shopping in the gift shop. Our Saturday morning started out with a quick bite in the café, and then it was on to the Gold Country. Our first stop was Angels Camp, also known as the City of Angels. The story goes that Mark Twain based one of his short stories, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”, from a story he had heard here in 1865. Thus, a great reason to celebrate every year with the jumping Frog Jubilee each May at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Some say that Angels Camp other name is “Frog Town” – now you know why! Angels Camp is a very historic town … I’d suggest definitely stopping by the Angels Camp Museum to get the scoop on the town. The hours are Thursday – Monday from 10AM – 4PM. From Angels Camp we drove to Jamestown. This amazing town is filled with many historic homes and buildings near Main Street. The first gold here was discovered by Benjamin Wood, who had come from Oregon. The

crossing and also Woods Creek, which runs through Sonora and Jamestown, were named in honor of him. This was in the early summer of 1848; just a few months before, the famous gold discovery took place at Sutter’s Mill about 100 miles north, which started the Gold Rush. Jamestown is the home of the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park; and for you TV buffs, the TV shows, “The Wild Wild West” and “Green Acres”, were filmed in and near Jamestown. If you visit the Gold Country, I’d definitely make time to visit Jamestown, park your car, step back in time and walk the street. I’d suggest dining at the Willow Steak House (established 1864), where the builders of the Sierra Railway once hung out in the bar. If you decide to stay in Jamestown, there are several historic hotels, including the Royal Carriage Inn, the National Hotel and the Jamestown Hotel. After our stop in Jamestown, we continued for another hour’s drive to Yosemite National Park. There are several choices for lodging. We decided to stay at the Yosemite Westgate Lodge. Normally, you would want to spend 3-4 days in the park; however, we didn’t have that much time. We did work in some of the most famous areas like Half Dome which is Yosemite’s most familiar rock formation. A “must” is getting a view from the viewpoint at Valley View; there, visitors can take in Yosemite Valley in its entirety. Clearly visible are the original lines formed by the glacier which carved out the valley. Of course, there’s Bridalveil Fall. It’s just a short hike on a paved trail and you’re right up to the front of the waterfall. Another “must” is El Capitan – a giant granite rock that stands more than 3,000 feet from the base... a great thrill, I’m sure, for the rock climbers of the world. The beauty of Yosemite is astonishing, whether you have a day or a week. One visit and you’ll gladly want to come back again and again!


WEEKEND GETAWAYS

WHAT HAPPENS IN By Rich Borell

Hello Everyone, When we think about weekend getaways from the Bay Area, we may consider Monterey, Santa Cruz, Napa, Lake Tahoe … Ever think about parking the car and flying to Vegas? That’s exactly what my wife and I did recently. Our last trip there was very memorable since we spent New Year’s Eve celebrating with hundreds of thousands of people on the Las Vegas strip. This time we thought how fun to have a long weekend getaway there. Our trip started out on a Friday late-morning flight via Virgin America out of SFO. Once we landed, you can feel the party starting … Indeed, this city radiates so much energy. Cab fares are posted so you will have an idea of what to pay. With gratuity you can figure on $20, or a little more, for the fare.

Our stay was at Harrah’s Resort Hotel. They were very nice to work with, and we would like to thank them for the suite upgrade they gave us. We were early (about 3PM); yet, our room was ready and we could drop off our luggage. We had a few hours before our 5:15PM dinner at The Strip Steakhouse located inside the Planet Hollywood. Dinner was early since my wife wanted to get some shopping time in at the Hard Rock Café prior to seeing the Kiss Concert at 8PM. For our short time before dinner, we strolled the mall next door to Planet Hollywood. The Strip Steakhouse is a chain; however, it’s a great place to eat with excellent service. I don’t usually eat red meat; however, tonight I had the urge to have a nice Rib Eye Steak. My wife had the Filet along with her two favorites, Lobster and Crab. If you have time for a long dinner, with the urge to


WEEKEND GETAWAYS be catered to, then this is the place to come. We also had the opportunity during dinner to chat with their Operations Manager and want to send a thank you to her. BTW, if you enjoy Ports, you may want to cruise their exclusive selection. As I mentioned, the Kiss concert was at the Hard Rock Café - the band featured two of its original cast, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley – and they played to a delighted full house. If you have a chance to see them, they put on a great show. On Saturday, we prepared a list of fun things we could choose from; however, since the weather was a sunny 70 degrees, we opted for a nice walk instead. Some suggestions of interest during the day might include: *An all-day visit to Area 51 *There are four thrill rides at the top of the Stratosphere Tower *At the New York New York you can hop on a 67 MPH rollercoaster *Drive a race car at Exotics Racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway *Crime Solving at MGM’s Grand CSI – The Experience We spent some time at the Mirage at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, which defines wildness in a whole new way. You can also catch a glimpse of several white Tigers and

Lions along with the Dolphin Habitat. The shows were awesome! Saturday, night we had two shows on tap, first, was a Murder Mystery Dinner put on by Marriage Can Be Murder. It was a great show and dinner was delicious. The cast of characters did a great job in getting the audience involved. Our main show was at 10PM, at the Mirage, to see Ray Romano from the very popular TV Show, Everybody Loves Raymond. Kevin James opened the show, getting the audience involved, and was hilarious. Of course, Ray Ramano was himself, and everybody was in stiches. I’ve seen some great comedians, and I would put Ray high on my list as one of my favorites next to Jerry Seinfeld. When he was closing the show and about to say good night, he said I have one more thing for you … He brought out Adam Sandler to sing a few songs. The lyrics we’re hilarious, so you guessed it, not your typical song to sing along to. After Adam played, Ray and Kevin came back out and, together, they did a Q&A with the audience. We also got to meet Ray’s twin sons, sitting near us in the audience. So if you’re looking for a weekend getaway, and don’t want to drive, check out sin city! Yes, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas … except for the great experience of it all and good memories.


Marina Gavric

Marina Gavric Health & Fitness Training www.marinagavric.com

Commit to Balance, to Your Fitness Success and to Yourself S

taying committed to an exercise and health plan is not always the simplest task. Breaking bad habits is never easy. “I have tried and tried!” … Yes, I know, I hear this, everyone’s story, all the time! Regardless of what age you may be or at what point you are in your life, men and women, boys and girls … a corporate executive, a student, an employee, a stay-at-home parent … we’re all busy all the time. Please recognize that health & wellness, as well as fitness & nutrition, are interrelated. It’s all a good thing and it’s a choice we make in our busy lives. Once you have resolved a priority to yourself of “health & fitness” in your life … make “finding balance” a key component. You can stay genuinely dedicated, enjoying your commitment, while not falling victim to excuses. What a positive difference in our lives and how we feel (the energy alone, perhaps meaning better sleep) we all seem to know it would make. It’s a matter of doing. For example, Jane is a busy executive and, although Jane is a fictitious character, she represents a good number of men and women. She is up at 5am, by 5:15am has her coffee in hand and for the next hour, before she rounds up the kids for school, she reviews her yesterday and prepares for today. In no time, she then packs up her home team, briefcase in hand and is out the door. Finally, she’s at the office and sits with another cup of coffee, with breakfast in hand … whatever pastries there may be. The sodas come later. Day in and day out, Jane reflects on making life changes to improve her well-being and feel good about herself, inside and out. Yet, day after

day, Jane’s willpower gives in and she seems to repeat the same old routine, a cycle, she wishes she could break. When? She feels too busy. She feels not up to it”. She believes there is no other way. She speaks for many, many people. No matter the phase of the health cycle one is in, we all struggle with this … to get in that workout in or say no to an extra helping of our favorite foods. The first step is to find your balance … and to commit to change. It starts with that commitment … even if one step at a time to begin with and to win. Regularly reflect on all your priorities … then decide on the commitments you can realistically make and stick with them. Whether this week it’s a 30 minutes for 3 days-a-week commitment or next week a 40 minutes 6 days-a-week commitment. A key is to write your commitments down. As you would keep your word to your boss or loved ones, keep your word to yourself. Stay Hydrated, Stay Focused, Stay Fit


BAY AREA

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Trust: Your BusinessBuilding Currency by Terri Norvell CEO, Trust Yourself Now – a people development company

TRUST MATTERS If you want a stronger ROI—build trust. If you want a team that delivers reliable service—build trust. If you want customers to buy more and post positive comments online—build trust. Why? Because it’s the cornerstone of creating a sense of community with your product or service. Ultimately, Terri Norvell the degree of trust you build with people will determine your organization’s success and its profitability. It’s possible you’re eroding trust without being aware of it. Distrust is fueled by not believing another, by neglecting to follow through on promises; and by feeling disconnected. In the extreme, distrust can damage the relationships that make a business run smoothly. Not good. Instead, regard trust as the currency for nurturing relationships. Make it your new strategic advantage. That’s a bold goal, but it’s exactly why trust needs to be as your focus at three levels.

TRUST REQUIRED AT THREE LEVELS The first level is trusting yourself, the second is building trust among team members and the third is having your customers fully trust you and your team - in each position. You need self-trust to lead your teams confidently. And if your team members don’t have a high degree of trust with each other, how can your customers ever be expected to have faith and confidence in your organization? Without it, how can community building ever happen? THINK OF TRUST AS DEPOSITS AND WITHDRAWALS In my work with organizations, I define trust as belief in the honesty, reliability, and ability of someone (including yourself). So, really, I regard trust - an ongoing, active process - as a verb rather than a noun. It’s never stagnant because a person’s trust level adjusts based on his or her ever-changing thoughts and actions. Think of it as having a trust bank account with deposits and withdrawals. Every time people do what they say they’ll do, a deposit goes into the trust-building account. Conversely, every time they don’t do what they say, it’s like a withdrawal. At the end of the day, have you and your team members built up your trust accounts with each other or taken away from them? … To read the rest of Terri’s great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website at (www.siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category: “Business Owners”.


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Leader

Among Leaders

Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, who has worked tirelessly to bring BART to Silicon Valley, tosses a shovel of dirt at the official groundbreaking for the extension in 2012.

Carl Guardino & The Silicon Valley Leadership Group

SVL: What is the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and what are you working so diligently on? Carl Guardino: The Silicon Valley Leadership Group is an association of 375 member company CEOs that was created 36 years ago by tech legend David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. It is the Leadership Group’s vision to ensure the economic health and high quality of life in Silicon Valley for our entire community by advocating for adequate affordable housing, comprehensive regional transportation, reliable energy, a quality K-12 and higher education system and prepared workforce, a sustainable environment, and business and tax policies that keep California and Silicon Valley competitive in a global economy. Membership is open to Silicon Valley firms and supporting industries including software, systems, manufacturing, financial services, accounting, transportation, health care, defense,

communications, education and utilities. For 2013, out top three priorities are US Comprehensive Tax Reform, High Skilled (Worker) Immigration Reform and California Environmental Quality Act Reform. All three of these policy areas need modernization to help grow jobs and the innovation economy. SVL: What are some of the Silicon Valley Leader Group’s prodest moments? CG: There have been numerous achievements of the Leadership Group in its first 36 years. In just the past year alone, those achievements have included: • BART: Successfully championing the BART extension to Silicon Valley. In 2012 construction began and the extension will open on-time and ahead-of-schedule in 2017. • Regional Patent Office: Successfully secured


one of our nation’s first regional patent offices, to be located in Silicon Valley with an opening date this year. • CalTrain: Successfully advocated through the Legislature and CA Transportation Commission for more than $1 billion to improve and electrify the CalTrain Commuter Rail System. • Air Travel: With San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, secured a direct flight by All Nippon Airlines between San Jose and Tokyo, launched on January 11. • Community: Founded and still direct the popular Applied Materials “Silicon Valley Turkey Trot” each Thanksgiving morning. In 2012, in only its 8th year, the Turkey Trot attracted 24,200 paid participants, raising more than $1.2 million for three local charities who help needy families.

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a great law that has been greatly abused for nonenvironmental purposes. SVL: You work closely with many of our exemplary CEO’s, who help lead our Silicon Valley to being the special place it is. How would you define a hero and who are some we should know about? CG: The Leadership Group is proud to be owned and driven by nearly 375 Silicon Valley CEOs, primarily in the innovation economy spaces of high-tech, bio-and med-tech, clean-and-green

SVL: You work closely with many of our devoted elected officials in Sacramento and Washington DC. Are there some we should know about? CG: We have the pleasure of working closely with State and Federal officials to improve the Carl Guardino emcee’s at the opening ceremony of All Nippon business climate to create jobs. Recent Airways first Dreamliner 787 flight from Mineta San Jose partnerships include the following International Airport to Tokyo. The event included dignitaries and more than 50 media. Carl and the Leadership Group leaders: worked directly with Mayor Chuck Reed, the city and airport • Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, staff to secure the important non-stop flight. with strong support from Congressmembers Anna Eshoo and Mike Honda, played a leading role tech, venture capital and financial services. I in our mutual efforts to secure a regional have many mentors and role models amongst patent office in Silicon Valley. those leaders. Among them is Aart de Geus, CoFounder and CEO of Synopsys; Tom Werner, • San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed was a key CEO of SunPower; Mike Klayko, CEO of Brocade; partner in helping finalize federal funding for our BART extension, secure the regional Mike Splinter, CEO of Applied Materials; Godfrey Sullivan, CEO of Splunk; and Bill Watkins, CEO patent office, secure the direct flight of Bridgelux. They all share key common traits between San Jose and Tokyo on ANA and to enhance the regional business climate in they care deeply about their employees and the communities in which they do business, investing Silicon Valley. the time to personally participate in solutions, • State Senator Michael Rubio, who has been while still balancing family and running globally a courageous and thoughtful leader for competitive companies. meaningful modernization of the California


SVL: You have always been and always are the ultimate optimist. Are you optimistic about our future economy, education, transportation, housing and health departments, say for the next 5, 10 or 20 years? CG: I continue to be an optimist, as I have never met a successful CEO in Silicon Valley who was not optimistic. You just cannot change the world as a pessimist. Unfortunately, I cannot look out 5, 10 or 20 years from now, as the rapid nature of change does not make that possible. Think of the innovation in just the past five or ten years. Who could have predicted many or any of those disruptive technologies that are now just standard in our lives? Six to seven years ago Silicon Valley companies were not a driving force in the mobile phone business, but Apple and Google now practically own the space. This type of innovation has occurred repeatedly here, ever since orchard farmers innovated around spraying machines and other farm equipment. SVL: What are our greatest challenges and if you could wave a magic wand, what needs to be done to meet these challenges? CG: Our biggest challenges are not technological, but political. It is incumbent on

the Leadership Group and others to continue to reach out to well-meaning elected officials - especially at the state and federal levels - to help them better understand the impact of policy to create and keep jobs in California and America. Most elected officials, while incredibly smart and well-meaning, have little to no private sector experience, especially when it comes to executive roles. We need to help them understand the realities of competing globally, and the impacts that policies can have - positive or negative - to create jobs. SVL: In the various areas of philanthropy and volunteerism, what can we do to help make this a better community? CG: There is so much more that each of us can do to make our communities a better place to live, work and contribute. I try to live by example, with a “Time, Treasure, Talent� approach. In that way, I try to invest the time that I can to help others, with appropriate amounts of treasure as best as I can afford, bringing to bear whatever limited talents I might have to contribute. Each of us have gifts - be they time, treasure or talent - and we simply need to match those gifts with our passions in the community.

Carl interviews Rep. Anna Eshoo on stage at the first-ever California Economic Summit, held May 11, 2012 in Santa Clara. It was an unprecedented gathering of leaders focused on working together to put California’s economy on a sustainable path for growth.


SVL: Please share with us - what is it that gives you so much satisfaction, joy and happiness in all that you do and how, at the end of each day, it all helps make such a big difference for so many? CG: I am reminded of standing on the stage at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, with my friend and mentor Mike Splinter, CEO of Applied Materials and our Title Sponsor. As we prepared to the race start, we looked out at a sea of participants totaling

Repeatedly, people realize that CEOs are just like the rest of us, normal people working as hard as they can to make a difference with their lives and taking care of their families. more than 20,000 people. As far as the eye could see, people were smiling and waiting our race to start. The sense of community, of caring for others, of starting the holidays in a fun and healthy way, brought tears to my eyes. Scenes like that, the culmination of literally thousands of hours of hard work in preparation, make our volunteer efforts worthwhile. SVL: You host your outstanding weekly radio program: “The CEO Show” on KLIV 1590. For anyone who may not be familiar, what is it about and what have been some of the most memorable moments? CG: Years ago, I grew frustrated that the only time most people read or heard about CEOs was the occasional “Enron” or “Worldcom,” when a small fraction of executives do things that are both illegal and unethical. Almost every CEO with whom I have had the pleasure to work is incredibly smart, but also wise, thoughtful and caring. They all work 80-hour plus weeks, usually traveling globally on a constant basis with huge sacrifices to themselves and their families. Yet on top of that, the CEOs in our network also give back to their employees, the communities in which they do business

and to numerous non-profits. Through that frustration, “The CEO Show” was born. Thanks to the generous support of Empire Broadcasting CEO Bob Kieve, who owns KLIV and KRTY, “The CEO Show” is in its sixth year on the air every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The goal is simple - bring on a CEO for a live broadcast in which both I - and anyone who would like to call in - can ask questions of the CEO. Repeatedly, people realize that CEOs are just like the rest of us, normal people working as hard as they can to make a difference with their lives and taking care of their families. SVL: Under the: What people don’t know about you category … or what most people probably do know by now … is that you commute 32 miles every day by bike. What does this unique daily routine mean to you? CG: I try to practice what I preach, or when it comes to cycling to work, to peddle what I preach. America has an epidemic with 35 percent of our friends, family and neighbors including our colleagues at work - overweight or obese. We are literally eating ourselves to death, with improper diets and nutrition and a woeful lack of exercise. Part of my way to stay in shape, ease stress, and take one more car off of the road is to commute to work by bike It is also a time-efficient way to exercise without taking more time away from my wife Leslee and our two little girls, Jessica and Siena. SVL: Life is great – you have your wonderful family. I believe this illustrates what it’s all about … the “what” and “why” you do what you do … for today, for tomorrow. Your thoughts? CG: I am incredibly blessed to have Leslee as my wife and partner. She is the most selfless person I know and one of the most entrepreneurial. She is a successful businessleader, the Co-Founder of CanyonSnow, while balancing life as a wife and mother. Her ability to balance it all while still remaining calm under pressure is inspiring. Our two little girls, Jessica (8) and Siena (3.5) are forces of nature. As an Ironman Triathlete, I always thought I had boundless energy . . . then I became a father. Wow! My appreciation for and respect of single parents has only grown, as it takes the two of us to chase our girls around and still make it through each day with any energy left at all.


! o d e l o T Holy LESSONS FROM BILL KING: RENAISSANCE MAN of THE MIC

H

oly Toledo! Nobody could ever say it like Bill King! Nobody! The life and times of Bill King … a trip down memory lane … unlike any other … a great man who transcended sports … greatly … and life, too. So many pictures … so many memories. It’s funny how things come full circle. Oakland A’s Announcer, Ken Korach, in his childhood grew up in Southern California. He had his share of broadcast heroes right there: Vin Scully, Chick Hearn, Dick Enberg, three of the best ever. And, yet, there was one in faraway Northern California, Ken would listen to, never missing: Bill King. If you were to consider the best announcers of all-time, Vin, Chick and Dick would be in at the top of that short list. So, too, would be Bill King. One the very best of them all. Basketball (with the Warriors), Bill and Chick (with the Lakers) were the all-time best. Football (with the Raiders), there was no one better. Baseball (with the A’s), the broadcast team of Bill and Lon Simmons, couldn’t be beat. For thirty years, Ken listened to his hero, Bill King. And then in 1995, Ken was hired by the A’s and would be working together in the same booth, at home and on the road, with his life-long hero, Bill King. He was indeed a real-life hero of Ken’s and also a great influence. They worked ten years together – Bill was always great to him and made him feel comfortable, on and off the air. There was humility, never an ounce of standoffishness, as some might have been or might be. Not Bill, he could not have been kinder or more supportive. “During these ten years, he was the world to me. He was a wonderful friend. We had a great friendship and a great broadcast partnership.” In addition to Bill’s being perhaps the best

announcer of all time, there was so much more in so many ways. He really was ‘the most interesting man in the world’. After the passing of Bill, Ken felt compelled to write this book about him and his life lessons. He had had such an amazing life, his story needed to be told… To read the rest of this great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www. siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category “Sports”.


Wherever your day takes you‌

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Dining

Scott’s offers extensive, balanced menu

SS

cott’s located in downtown San cott’sSeafood, Seafood, located in downtown Sanon Jose onAve. Park Ave. is situated Jose Park is situated perfectly and perfectly and just awayMuseum, from just steps away fromsteps the Tech the Tech Museum, the San Jose Museum of the and San Jose MuseumSt. of Joseph’s Art and the historicGet St. Art the historic Basilica. Joseph’s tourist out yourBasilica. tourist Get mapout andyour you’ll findmap that and it’s just from Chavez you’llacross find that it’s Cesar just across fromPlaza, Cesarwhere Chavez you’ll surelyyou’ll enjoy Music in the Park during Plaza, where surely enjoy Music in the Park the summer and within eyesight of the Cenduring the Performing summer andArts. within of the ter for the Its eyesight prime seating Center aforterrific the Performing Arts. Its prime seating offers view of the City’s downtown and, to mention, it’s City’s in perfect align-and, offersnot a terrific view of the downtown ment catch ait’s plane or two making to a catch not to to mention, in perfect alignment descent to the San Jose Mineta International a plane orYour two making descent to the Airport. parkinga is validated in San the Jose Mineta International Airport. Your parking is valiground floor garage. Stepininside the sixth floor dining room dated the ground floor garage. and you’ll be treated to a bright, butroom warm Step inside the sixth floor dining and atmosphere with lots of wood accents. Take you’ll be treated to a bright, but warm atmosome time to lounge in the centralized, full sphere with wood accents. somemartini time favorservice bar lots thatoffeatures manyTake of your ites and a in large TV. The ample, bar main dining to lounge the screen centralized, full service that features space seats 270; the banquet room can comfortably many of your martini favorites and a large screen TV. The handle up to 100. At Scott’s, your dining experience ample, main dining space seats 270; the banquet room can will be led by first class service that will be delivered comfortably handle up to 100. Atvisit. Scott’s, your dining expeconsistently throughout your rience will be led by first class service that will be Nava delivered Executive Chef and General Manager Alex began his career with Scott’s back in 1992. In 2003, consistently throughout your visit. heScott’s took over as Executive Chef and General offers an extensive, well-balanced menuManager. with a seWhen asked of what he’s most proud about Scott’s, lection that ranges from the local an assorthe takes only a second tofreshest point to hisseafood, loyal staff and ment of pasta and chicken dishes, to prime, dry-aged the family like atmosphere they all work hard tosteaks. create.As you peruse the menu, you’ll enjoy warm French bread Alex offers an extensive, well-balanced menu andChef ice water punctuated with a slice of lemon. Drawing with a selection that ranges from the freshest local from the seasons, you mayofenjoy suchdishes, as Jumseafood, an assortment pastaappetizers and chicken bo Wrapped Prawns, filled with fresh Dungeness crab and to prime, dry-aged steaks. As you peruse menu, you’ll enjoy warm mushrooms servedthe with a mildly spicy peanut sauce. AnFrench bread and ice water punctuated with a slice other tasty appetizer choice might be the Seared Blackened of lemon. Drawing from the seasons, you may enjoy Ahi with Seaweed Salad and Wrapped Sesame Soy dressing. Look for appetizers such as Jumbo Prawns, filled other reliable salads such as a traditional Caesar and a yumwith fresh Dungeness crab and mushrooms served with a mildly spicy my Oven Roasted Beetpeanut option.sauce. Another tasty appetizer choice might the Seared Blackened For your main entrée,bethere’s certainly somethingAhi for evwith Seaweed Salad and Sesame Soy dressing. Look erybody. Yep.salads Fresh such local as seafood like Salmon, Halifor otherPasta? reliable a traditional Caesar but, Sole, Trout and Lobster? Mouth watering! How about and a yummy Oven Roasted Beet option. ForMignon, your main there’s certainly Rib something Filet Newentrée, York Steak, a dry-aged Eye, or a for everybody. Pasta? Yep. Fresh local seafood like Roasted Chicken? Got it! Salmon, Halibut, Sole, Trout and Lobster? Mouth If you still have a little room left to take care of your sweet watering! How about Filet Mignon, New York Steak, a

A Bay Area Tradition

Scott’s Scott’s Seafood Seafood 185 Park 185 ParkAvenue Avenue San Jose San Jose (408) (408)971-1700 971-1700 www.scottsseafoodsj.com www.scottsseafoodsj.com Beautifullyremodeled remodeledon on the the inside Beautifully inside ......and and also on the outside with this splendid rooftop also on the outside with this splendid rooftop patio. Enjoy thethe private dining or intimate dining patio. Enjoy private dining or intimate ambiance for your special occasion ... and also the dining ambiance for your special occasion delightful view overlooking downtown San Jose. ... and also the delightful view overlooking downtown San Jose. tooth, then you might want to consider some of Scott’s dry-aged Rib Eye, or a Roasted Chicken? Got it! heavenly desserts like; Key Lime Pie, Warm Molten ChocoIf you still have a little room left to take care of late Cake, ortooth, maybethen Scott’s Jack, (that’s your sweet youClassic mightRaspberry want to consider Frenchofvanilla, cream with raspberries, Triple secPie, and some Scott’siceheavenly desserts like; Key Lime Warm Molten Chocolate Cake, or maybe Scott’s Claswhipped cream). sic Raspberry Jack, (that’s French vanilla, ice cream At Scott’s you’ll also have a fabulous choice of fine local with raspberries, Triple sec and whipped cream). wines from Northern California, with an extensive At Scott’s you’ll also have along a fabulous choice of selection of world beers. fine local winesclass from Northern California, along with anLunch extensive selection of world class beers. hours are from 11:30 to 5PM Monday-Friday; dinLunch hours are from 11:30 to 5PM Monday-Friner is served up starting at 5PM Monday-Saturday and day; dinner is served up starting at 5PM Monday-Satstartingand 4:30PM on 4:30PM Sunday. on Scott’s accepts Visa,accepts Masterurday starting Sunday. Scott’s Card, Discover, Diners, and American Reservations Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners,Express. and American Express. Reservations are recommended! are recommended!

SCOTT’S SEAFOOD

185 Park Avenue 420 Castro Street #1 Town & Country Village 185San P ark #1 T own & C ountry V illage P alo A lto Jose A venue • S an J ose Mountain View Palo• Alto (408) 971-1700 (650) 323-1555 (408) 971-1700 (650) 966-8124 (650) 323-1555 www . scottsseafoodsj . com www . scottsseafoodpa . com www.scottsseafoodsj.com www.scottsseafoodmv.com www.scottsseafoodpa.com


Dining

Scott’s offers extensive, balanced menu

SS

cott’s located in downtown San cott’sSeafood, Seafood, located in downtown Sanon Jose onAve. Park Ave. is situated Jose Park is situated perfectly and perfectly and just awayMuseum, from just steps away fromsteps the Tech the Tech Museum, the San Jose Museum of the and San Jose MuseumSt. of Joseph’s Art and the historicGet St. Art the historic Basilica. Joseph’s tourist out yourBasilica. tourist Get mapout andyour you’ll findmap that and it’s just from Chavez you’llacross find that it’s Cesar just across fromPlaza, Cesarwhere Chavez you’ll surelyyou’ll enjoy Music in the Park during Plaza, where surely enjoy Music in the Park the summer and within eyesight of the Cenduring the Performing summer andArts. within of the ter for the Its eyesight prime seating Center aforterrific the Performing Arts. Its prime seating offers view of the City’s downtown and, to mention, it’s City’s in perfect align-and, offersnot a terrific view of the downtown ment catch ait’s plane or two making to a catch not to to mention, in perfect alignment descent to the San Jose Mineta International a plane orYour two making descent to the Airport. parkinga is validated in San the Jose Mineta International Airport. Your parking is valiground floor garage. Stepininside the sixth floor dining room dated the ground floor garage. and you’ll be treated to a bright, butroom warm Step inside the sixth floor dining and atmosphere with lots of wood accents. Take you’ll be treated to a bright, but warm atmosome time to lounge in the centralized, full sphere with wood accents. somemartini time favorservice bar lots thatoffeatures manyTake of your ites and a in large TV. The ample, bar main dining to lounge the screen centralized, full service that features space seats 270; the banquet room can comfortably many of your martini favorites and a large screen TV. The handle up to 100. At Scott’s, your dining experience ample, main dining space seats 270; the banquet room can will be led by first class service that will be delivered comfortably handle up to 100. Atvisit. Scott’s, your dining expeconsistently throughout your rience will be led by first class service that will be Nava delivered Executive Chef and General Manager Alex began his career with Scott’s back in 1992. In 2003, consistently throughout your visit. heScott’s took over as Executive Chef and General offers an extensive, well-balanced menuManager. with a seWhen asked of what he’s most proud about Scott’s, lection that ranges from the local an assorthe takes only a second tofreshest point to hisseafood, loyal staff and ment of pasta and chicken dishes, to prime, dry-aged the family like atmosphere they all work hard tosteaks. create.As you peruse the menu, you’ll enjoy warm French bread Alex offers an extensive, well-balanced menu andChef ice water punctuated with a slice of lemon. Drawing with a selection that ranges from the freshest local from the seasons, you mayofenjoy suchdishes, as Jumseafood, an assortment pastaappetizers and chicken bo Wrapped Prawns, filled with fresh Dungeness crab and to prime, dry-aged steaks. As you peruse menu, you’ll enjoy warm mushrooms servedthe with a mildly spicy peanut sauce. AnFrench bread and ice water punctuated with a slice other tasty appetizer choice might be the Seared Blackened of lemon. Drawing from the seasons, you may enjoy Ahi with Seaweed Salad and Wrapped Sesame Soy dressing. Look for appetizers such as Jumbo Prawns, filled other reliable salads such as a traditional Caesar and a yumwith fresh Dungeness crab and mushrooms served with a mildly spicy my Oven Roasted Beetpeanut option.sauce. Another tasty appetizer choice might the Seared Blackened For your main entrée,bethere’s certainly somethingAhi for evwith Seaweed Salad and Sesame Soy dressing. Look erybody. Yep.salads Fresh such local as seafood like Salmon, Halifor otherPasta? reliable a traditional Caesar but, Sole, Trout and Lobster? Mouth watering! How about and a yummy Oven Roasted Beet option. ForMignon, your main there’s certainly Rib something Filet Newentrée, York Steak, a dry-aged Eye, or a for everybody. Pasta? Yep. Fresh local seafood like Roasted Chicken? Got it! Salmon, Halibut, Sole, Trout and Lobster? Mouth If you still have a little room left to take care of your sweet watering! How about Filet Mignon, New York Steak, a

A Bay Area Tradition

Scott’s Scott’s Seafood Seafood 185 Park 185 ParkAvenue Avenue San Jose San Jose (408) (408)971-1700 971-1700 www.scottsseafoodsj.com www.scottsseafoodsj.com Beautifullyremodeled remodeledon on the the inside Beautifully inside ......and and also on the outside with this splendid rooftop also on the outside with this splendid rooftop patio. Enjoy thethe private dining or intimate dining patio. Enjoy private dining or intimate ambiance for your special occasion ... and also the dining ambiance for your special occasion delightful view overlooking downtown San Jose. ... and also the delightful view overlooking downtown San Jose. tooth, then you might want to consider some of Scott’s dry-aged Rib Eye, or a Roasted Chicken? Got it! heavenly desserts like; Key Lime Pie, Warm Molten ChocoIf you still have a little room left to take care of late Cake, ortooth, maybethen Scott’s Jack, (that’s your sweet youClassic mightRaspberry want to consider Frenchofvanilla, cream with raspberries, Triple secPie, and some Scott’siceheavenly desserts like; Key Lime Warm Molten Chocolate Cake, or maybe Scott’s Claswhipped cream). sic Raspberry Jack, (that’s French vanilla, ice cream At Scott’s you’ll also have a fabulous choice of fine local with raspberries, Triple sec and whipped cream). wines from Northern California, with an extensive At Scott’s you’ll also have along a fabulous choice of selection of world beers. fine local winesclass from Northern California, along with anLunch extensive selection of world class beers. hours are from 11:30 to 5PM Monday-Friday; dinLunch hours are from 11:30 to 5PM Monday-Friner is served up starting at 5PM Monday-Saturday and day; dinner is served up starting at 5PM Monday-Satstartingand 4:30PM on 4:30PM Sunday. on Scott’s accepts Visa,accepts Masterurday starting Sunday. Scott’s Card, Discover, Diners, and American Reservations Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners,Express. and American Express. Reservations are recommended! are recommended!

SCOTT’S SEAFOOD

185 Park Avenue 420 Castro Street #1 Town & Country Village 185San P ark #1 T own & C ountry V illage P alo A lto Jose A venue • S an J ose Mountain View Palo• Alto (408) 971-1700 (650) 323-1555 (408) 971-1700 (650) 966-8124 (650) 323-1555 www . scottsseafoodsj . com www . scottsseafoodpa . com www.scottsseafoodsj.com www.scottsseafoodmv.com www.scottsseafoodpa.com


y k c e B & Jim n a g r Mo

GOOD LEADERSHIP INSPIRES GOOD MORALE

Photo credit: Jim Gensheimer


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ilicon Valley has been and is blessed with many great people, companies and organizations doing great things … those who work hard and give of themselves to help make our world, our society, our region a better place.

You have no idea my delight when I got the green light to meet with Jim & Becky Morgan. With perhaps only one exception, that being David Packard and William Hewlett, H-P and their respective Foundations, no one has done more to help support our Silicon Valley community in the ways that Jim & Becky Morgan, Applied Materials and their Morgan Family Foundation have. If by chance you may not know yet who they are, please know two things: they are Morgan Family Foundation Board Members (l to r): an incredible Team and their long list of accomplishments, Valerie and Jeff Morgan, Becky and Jim Morgan and Photo credit: Carol Turner and accolades, far surpass the Dr. Mary Finegan four pages I have to tell their everyone was back then. Eight moves in story. Their story begins in nine years, it was “not much of a smooth the 1950’s, having met as students at Cornell. They recognized a very special quality sailing”. Jim had been ROTC and was a 2nd Lieutenant in the military – the time was in each other and, as the saying goes, the during the Vietnam War. Becky said that rest would become history. Jim was from Indiana – he was his dorm her dream was for a family and she hoped, someday, for a $40,000 house. rep to their class Council. Becky was from Fast forward, they arrived in 1968 Vermont – she was the VP of her class. It in Palo Alto and moved into, yes, their was 1956, women were not allowed to be $40,000 home … their 1st house … an class President. Becky said, it was not like Eichler. Becky added: What kind of home an 18 year old guy to be as supportive as can you buy here today for $40,000? Thirhe was. He was special. They have now been happily married for 53 years and that teen years later they sold their home for $210,000. Becky, in the meantime, had support of and for each other has never gone on to get her MBA at Stanford, and changed. They have two terrific children Jim in 1976 became President of Applied that they are extremely proud of and what they do - their son, who founded a founda- Materials. I asked Jim if he could see that very first day the wonderful success that tion to preserve historical landmarks and was about to come? “You know, Ken, my their daughter, who is an OB GYN. first day as President of Applied, the quesSuccess did not just find Jim and Becky tion was whether we would go bankrupt Morgan. They were young, fresh out of college, working to find their way, much like or not. We were losing money, had little


equity and were $10 million in debt. In 1976, that was a lot of money!” That was not the answer I was expecting. It was what he said next that put everything so into perspective. “We turned it around. We established a vision and kept to it. We cut 5 of the 6 businesses that were away from our core and added some new ones. We started thinking of propelling the business rather than working in the fear of going bankrupt. And we quickly saw a tremendous rise in millions of dollars in sales.” Yes, this is an illustration of Leadership and how it worked and how it transformed everything. Jim went on to say that in 1976, the company leaders were located and working separately in Palo Alto, away from the company employees in Santa Clara. One of Jim’s very first acts as President was to move the management group back to Santa Clara – where they would be a visible and inclusive part of the company. This was very important to Jim. “Morale is important to success!”, he said. “Good leadership inspires good morale!” He realized later that his personal mission was to help individuals and organizations realize their potential. If you want to know in a nutshell, who and what Jim and Becky Morgan are about, I would say, this is it. They are on the same page, and always have been. Jim moved to CEO 1977-2003 and then Chairman 1987-2009. During this time, Applied Materials grew to become one of the most successful and most respected companies in Silicon Valley and the world. I mentioned how it seems he has always surrounded himself with outstanding people, that his Board of Directors read like a Who’s Who. He and Becky both said how very important that was and still is today. In 1996, Jim won the National Medal of Technology for Industry Leadership. He was awarded the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Lifetime Achievement Award for his ethics, community engagement and business success. And he takes great pride in being a founder and supporter of the popular Tech Awards – honoring people who help humanity through technology. He was then surprised that they selected him to be the first recipient of the Global Humanitarian Award.

Photo credit: LucieXYZ Photography

Under his leadership, Applied Materials won every award or has been on every good list imaginable: The 100 Best Corporate Citizens, The Super 100, Biggest Best Companies, 100 Most Important Companies in the World, 100 Best Management Teams in the World, Best Companies for Asians, Blacks & Hispanics To Work For, 100 Best Companies To Work For … and endless times, too, for always being among the very best, here or anywhere, in their corporate giving. It was as if all these years, Applied Materials was synonymous with success and giving. The interesting thing? When financial times were hard, and community charitable giving was often cut back, Applied Materials employees gave more. Yes, more. They felt community would need more. For Becky, what has always been an extremely important and driving force is: “Public Service” and “Collaboration”. That in a nutshell helps to describe who she is. She doesn’t care to be called a politician. Rather, she likes to be called “Public Servant” - and that it’s about our working together and finding solutions. Indeed, she has dedicated her entire life to being, and doing, just that. She has served as a Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor, and as our State Senator in Sacramento, and then as CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley – a


job for which she was recruited and for which Also, there is “Teen Success, Inc.” to help she felt suited. support teen mothers. We know that without Many of her achievements will forever be a this support, the outlook for teen moms is rather positive difference for Silicon Valley. For exbleak. Over 23 years, first with Planned Parentample, she led the fight to save Caltrain. Gov- hood and now with an independent organizaernor Deukmejian did not want the state to tion, more than 4,500 girls have been helped be in the transit business. Had it not been for to avoid a second child until ready, to graduate Becky, who negotiated the sale with Southern from high school and to learn life skills. “They Pacific, whose legislation set up the Joint Pow- respond so well with our weekly group help,” ers Board and who said Becky. worked very hard to And third, there get the needed votes is the Morgan Family – and who is especialFoundation in which ly grateful to Willie the Morgans are truly, Brown, John Vasconand fully, engaged. cellos and Al Alquist, These first two efwho helped greatly to forts are supported see it through – makby the Morgan Faming it all happen. It ily Foundation. It is would indeed be a all a passion of love very different picture and dedication to the of us standing still Morgans. Over 200 today. Back then it grants a year are given was 17,000 - today it to many great causBecky Morgan with two Teen Success, Inc. is 30,000 daily riders, scholarship winners. Photo credit: Kris Ahmed, es in the community who would be withsupporting education, Teen Success, Inc. out transportation or youth development stuck in even more and many non-profits traffic on 280 or 101. such as Breast Cancer Connections and Bring Me The construction of Highway 85 was origia Book. One cause close to their hearts is the nated by Becky. She had heard the complaints Eastside College Prep. An example I thoroughly coming from the people in West Valley, that enjoyed hearing was a story of this young girl, so many were driving through their neighboreleventh child in her family, who graduated from hoods. What would life be like, here and now, the school, was accepted at MIT, had an internif we didn’t have our Caltrain and Highway 85? ship at Hewlett-Packard and is now a sophomore I shudder to think. in Boston. That brings us to today – with that special What the Morgans left me with was this. vision of theirs. What matters and is of imIt’s about making a difference where we can. portance to the Morgans is to help make this Their message was that of generosity, giving a better world - work that others have done, and paying forward, for our present and fuand are doing - and what together we can do, ture. When fortunate, we can do more and collaboratively, which we can learn and grow must make a difference. We don’t want our from and make a difference. families to go from rags to riches to rags in There are three facets that keep the Morgans three generations. Time also means so much. as busy as ever. First, there is the Northern Sier- Please volunteer if and when possible. Helpra Partnership in the Sierras – to help preserve ing and giving means so much to others. The and protect the landscape, the rivers and lakes. strength and well-being of our community 60% of all Californians and all northern Nevadepends on what we all can do. dan’s get their water from there. It’s taking care The Morgans are great leaders, inspiration of our present and looking ahead for our future – and role models for us all. I am and we are this water supply is essential for our living. indeed most grateful.


Dave Cortese

County Supervisor, Third District

Children and Seniors: Time to leap ahead

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am pleased to tell you that after years of belt tightening and negotiated labor concessions the county finds itself in better financial shape than it has been in decades. At our mid-year, we will be reporting a positive budget variance for the first time in years. Do we still have challenges? Yes we do. But the reality is that with voter support of a new 1/8 cent county sales tax and with the state on the brink of balancing its budget for the first time in recent memory, we can now look at restoring essential services and reigniting key programs for children and seniors. It really is time to start catching up—to take a leap ahead. In 2011 as President of the Board of Supervisors, I declared it “The Year of the Child” citing the United Nations quote, “Humankind owes to the child the best it has to give.” As a nation, we have slipped severely in education; as a consequence juvenile justice issues have become more challenging and our workforce has become deficient. But in 2011 we rolled out a new initiative called School Linked Services that puts county services to assist our children and their families right on our school campuses. With our financial prognosis improving, this is an area you should expect to pay big dividends on your taxpayer dollars.

Children were not the only priority in 2011. That year we also launched another initiative called the “Senior Agenda”. It has

already started paying off. Thousands of seniors receive hot meals every day and not one senior nutrition meal was cut during the back-to-back recession. Moreover, senior programs like transportation are being expanded to account for the fastest growing sector of our population. So, the county is on the move! Look forward to more from us in 2013. Please contact my office at 408-299-5030 or dave.cortese@bos. sccgov.org if you have questions, concerns, or anything we can assist you with.



HAPPINESS WITHIN REACH: The Open Secret By Carole Pertofsky

“I want to be happier. I just don’t know how.” In my work as faculty, presenter and leadership coach, I hear this confession from adults, 18-80. We live complex, stressful and often disconnected lives, often bombarded by media that convinces us that buying all kinds of stuff will make us happy, beautiful, successful, prestigious, and even more loveable individuals. Sometimes it does, in the short run. The Pertofsky real problem, however, is that this media-created trance can blunt our quieter universal quest for deeper joy and kindness. But there is very good news. Deep happiness is within reach. By peering into the lives of the happiest people, we can discover the research-based secrets about the quality of “happiness.” What makes the happiest people more joyful and kinder? Let’s begin with your unique life. Take a “timein” and think about this: What makes you happy? Stop reading, make your complete list, and when ready, place your experiences within these 3 categories: 1. SHORT TERM PLEASURES: Feeling the rush of sensory pleasures, such as great food and wine, great sex, sports, entertainment, is terrific. The happiest people intentionally organize their lives so they have time to kick back and enjoy life. But here’s the catch- these experiences are fleeting. We want more, we crave more, and we’re bombarded by media that encourage us to get out there and grab “more” pleasure. But the problem is that our brains have faulty wiring. The

harder and stronger that we pursue that great rush of pleasure, the more we want. The more we want, the more unhappy we become. And as unhappiness soaks into our day, the more we seek to avoid the discomfort and find another pleasure jolt. Whether the rush comes from food or drugs; money or prestige; gambling or overwork, this downward cycle inevitably leads to discontent, social comparison, restlessness, depression and even addiction. Enjoy those healthy fun pleasures, but understand that they alone will not result in sustainable happiness and contentment. Sorry! 2. FLOW: Does your “this makes me happy” list include experiences that lead to that zesty feeling of a “YES” fist pump? Maybe you love untangling complex coding problems, mastering a new level of communication skill or fixing a gnarly machine? This great feeling of accomplishment, called “flow”, sparks curiosity, adds vitality and helps us thrive. The happiest people deliberately seek out engaging challenging experiences and they love achieving new levels of mastery. But here’s the secret: Those happy folks also know how to fail! Why? Inevitably, the “flow” urge prompts us to take new risks and step out of our comfort zone. And what do we find there? When we outgrow our current competency level, we hit the “don’t know how” zone, which feels like incompetence or a setback. If we stick with it keep trying, and keep failing, until finally comes the day when we master a new skill set and we experience the great feeling of flow. The happiest people understand that gaining mastery requires resilience- to bounce back after a setback or failure, and eventually enjoy that great experience of flow. Nelson Mandela reminds us that “the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Flow, being fully engaged, mastery. These are powerful ingredients


for deep life satisfaction. MEANING: Did your list include connecting with others, offering compassion, being kind to yourself? Meaning is the real sweet spot for the happiest people. Happy people know how to notice and savor the good that surrounds us so often in our day. Think about this - if you hang out in the zone of negativity or threat or stress, you’ll find something to criticize in almost every second. The happiest people chose to be happy - they deliberately focus on and seek the positive benefits of each moment. We call this a positive mindset. But here’s the trick- life is never trouble free. Even the happiest people also struggle and face disappointment and adversity. They understand that pain is part of life too, and deep meaning and purpose arise when we deliberately reframe life’s difficulties into opportunities for meaning and compassionate action. Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, reminds us: “Everything can be taken from us but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Meaning isn’t an abstract or general life principle. It’s a vibrant, deliberate frame of mind that recasts life’s inevitable difficulties into purposeful thought and action. Almost nothing imbues our lives with meaning and purpose as intensely as when we contribute to the happiness of others and when we treat others and ourselves with kindness and patience. The Dalai Lama teaches,” If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Happiness IS within reach. Enjoy life’s healthy pleasures. Challenge yourself to grow, engage with life and master new accomplishments and skills. Above all, discover your unique capacity to bring greater joy and meaning to your personal life, as well as to the greater good of our world. When you seek opportunities to help others and heal the world, you’ll find that you will truly flourish as your days will be imbued with wonderful sensual pleasures, inner peace, meaning and purpose. And that’s the open secret to deep, sustainable happiness.


PREMIER HOME & DESIGN SPECIALISTS OF SILICON VALLEY

Meet Chris Larson

Owner - Premier Door Services, Inc.

DESIGNING BEAUTIFUL GATEWAYS FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME SVT: What sets Premier Door Service, Inc. apart? Premier Door Services, Inc.: We believe it is because we offer what is called a true “turn-key service” This is something that many of our clients really appreciate. As often desired, we can be counted on from beginning through completion. We can do everything for you, including customdesign and installation, whatever your needs may be. We offer full service. SVT: What does it mean when you say “Full Service”? Premier Door Services, Inc.: Everyone’s home is unique; so, too, is everyone’s wants and needs. Our clients may come with their architect and contractor that they are working with. They may wish to simply select the doors they like and will install them themselves. Many, on the other hand, may wish that we design and custommake doors to fit their home and have us install them. Yes, they like that we can do it all. Indeed, it can be both convenient and re-assuring. SVT: What are some of the most requested things you do and offer? Premier Door Services, Inc.: We love our Entry Doors. The Entry Door to one’s home sends a statement. There are many beautiful selections to choose from. This will often depend on the style of your home. For example, there’s Modern, Contemporary, Craftsman, French Country, Spanish Mediterranean. The glass and ornamentation, too, so often is also a work of art. Whether it’s for your doors, windows, mirrors, we love the coordinating, making it all a good, artful fit. We all take pride in all that we do.

Premier Door Services, Inc.

Door Sales and Service Quality, Professional Installations * Residential and Commercial * Moulding and Hardware * Wood and Vinyl Windows Two Showrooms 394 State Street, Los Altos (650) 559-8281 5853 Winfield Blvd., San Jose (408) 281-3219 info@premierdoorservices.biz www.premierdoorservices.biz


Not all doors are created equal From inception to installation, we take great pride in our ability to provide you and your home with the finest products and service possible.

Premier Door Services, Inc. 394 State St., Los Altos • 650.559.8281

5853 Winfield Blvd., San Jose • 408.281.3219 www.premierdoorservices.biz Contractor License #790327


PREMIER HOME & DESIGN SPECIALISTS OF SILICON VALLEY

WHY THE GRANITEROCK DESIGN CENTER IN CUPERTINO IS SUCH THE AMAZING ATTRACTION FOR EVERY HOMEOWNER

I

have had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Graniterock Design Center in Cupertino several times and have thoroughly enjoyed it each and every time. Be prepared for your inner and outer senses to be touched. The ambiance there – as beautiful and peaceful, as it is – is extraordinary. Everyone there could not be nicer or more helpful. This is what they do - they enjoy being there. They love it - and they are happy to share this beautiful experience with you. SVL: What is it, Graniterock, and why so special? GDC: The Graniterock Design Center in Cupertino specializes in any type of masonry or landscape material for your home or business. From Stone Veneer and Stone Cladding to Flagstone to Limestone and Granite Flooring; Graniterock sources material from all over the world to find that perfect material to fit your project. Are you building your new dream home or remodeling an outdated landscape? Are you looking to add curb appeal to your office complex or building? Do you need to freshen up your property before you sell it to maximize its value? Graniterock is here to assist. No project is too large or too small for you to experience the Graniterock value of “Yes We Will!”

SVL: What are people’s most frequently asked questions and what sets you apart? GDC: The experience you will find at the Graniterock Design Center is like no other. With over 200 different materials on display, you will be able to touch and feel many options of interior and exterior stone to start your dream project. Let our highly experienced and well trained staff show you the type of service and professionalism that has garnered Graniterock the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge award as well as the Forbes list as one of the “Top 20 Places To Work”. Our people take pride in making sure your experience at Graniterock is memorable and well worth your time and energy. SVL: What do your clients, and you at Graniterock, love most about what you do (and offer)? GDC: Graniterock has been serving the construction industry and design community since 1900. Being in business for over 114 years demands that Graniterock listens to our customer’s needs and demands. Having a sustainable business requires constant and evolving material choices to satisfy our customers. Graniterock will find and source the perfect material for your project and your dreams from all over the world.


Great Projects.

Great Products.

Great Lives. CUPERTINO DESIGN CENTER 408.996.4500 1505 South DeAnza Boulevard

www.graniterock.com

REDWOOD CITY BUILDING MATERIALS 650.482.4100 330 Blomquist Street


PREMIER HOME & DESIGN SPECIALISTS OF SILICON VALLEY

REBARTS INTERIORS: A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE & HEART E

ver walk into a store where you immediately love not only the store, but also the people … and all that they do to help? It’s as if they are friends, like family, who really care … it’s indeed a special feeling. This was my experience at Rebarts Interiors. I am not alone – Perhaps good reason why they have been recent Board Members of ASID (their regional chapter of the American Association of Interior Designers) and over many years have so many loyal customers. At Rebarts Interiors, they are great at what they do … and who they are … and they are well worth checking out for your home.

SVL: Rebarts Interiors offers a unique and special combination. How would you describe it? RI: Rebarts Interiors is your one stop shop for all your window covering needs. We make it easier for our clients when you come in and explore our

gallery showroom. You are able to see, feel and experience all the latest window treatments and innovations. We help you to design your home with our custom blinds, shades, shutters, roman shades, and draperies in many styles, colors and textures to custom fit any shape and size. Our commitment and our goal is to develop a working relationship with you, our valued client, in making your window fashion vision become reality, from the beginning stages to the end. SVL: What inspired you to get into the business with your family? RI: We are a family-owned and operated business which started in 1985, and just like fine wine, our business keeps improving with age. Today, we have two design gallery showrooms, combined with window covering cleaning and repair service. Rebarts Interiors has gained something new from each generation that has contributed to its growth and prosperity. Becky manages the main showroom in Burlingame, and our daughter, Alexandra, manages the San Carlos showroom, while our son-in-law, Michael, operates and manages the Certified Hunter Douglas Repair Service and also the On-Site Cleaning Service. Most of our staff includes our family, too. It is our experience and commitment to excellence which allows Rebarts Interiors to thrive, hopefully for many decades to come. SVL: What do your customers, and you, love most about what you do? RI: Since we are a family-owned business, we treat our customers like family, too. It is a blend of family traditions and values which we incorporate into our business practices. We treat every customer that comes in, or calls us, like a new friend of the family. We get to know you, our valued customer, from the initial stage of the consultation to the final reality of your beautiful window fashions installed. The highest percentage of our business comes from referrals of our past clients, because we like to make sure that everyone has a thoroughly satisfying experience at Rebarts Interiors.


The w o d n Wi s n o i Fash rts e p x E Your one-stop source for all your interior design and home décor needs, including custom window shades, shutters, draperies, curtains and more.

247 California Drive • Burlingame, CA 94010 990 Industrial Rd. Ste 106 • San Carlos, CA 94070

650-348-1268 www.rebarts.com


PREMIER HOME & DESIGN SPECIALISTS OF SILICON VALLEY

MEYER APPLIANCE & KITCHENS BY MEYER – WHERE DESIGNING FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE IS OUR PASSION

M

eyer Appliance and Kitchens by Meyer is a third generation company that my family and I have personally known, and shopped, my entire life. Their large showroom in Mountain View features many new kitchen vignettes from contemporary to traditional. They have new countertops in quartz, granite and marble - in over 20 different colors and styles. If you are considering buying new appliances or remodeling a kitchen or bath - their showroom is full of practical and exciting ideas. They also have a team of qualified real designers that help their customers through the remodel experience. With 65 years of experience, they know the pitfalls and the ways to make the most out of your remodel experience. Whether it’s your dream or their custom design, expect that they will exceed your expectations. SVL: Please tell us more about your Kitchens … Meyer: Our kitchens are a signature product and feature elements from around the world. From modern to traditional, Tuscan and Scandinavian, expect the best in quality products. Whether it’s your dream or our custom design, expect that we will exceed your expectations. No room in a house draws a crowd like a well done kitchen; with its high-end appliances, flooring, counters and cabinets. SVL: Please tell us more about your Bathrooms … Meyer: Bathrooms are unique in a house in that they are forgotten until needed. But, they can also be the ideal place in a home to pamper yourself. With a little planning and some of our featured bathroom products, a bathroom can also be a work of art. With gorgeous fixtures, flooring and optional

jacuzzi, you may find yourself spending more time in the relaxation of a Meyer Signature bathroom. SVL: Please tell us more about your Appliances … Meyer: At Meyer, we not only remodel kitchens and bathrooms, but we also sell the appliances that install into the home. This allows us to be appliance experts. We know which are the best appliances on the market, how best to install them, and which ones are right for you. This is an advantage over our competition and allows us the edge in customization, which suits our clients that are looking for something unique.


A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

MEYER APPLIANCE & KITCHENS BY MEYER

KITCHENS • BATHROOMS • APPLIANCES Please visit our large showroom: 861 East El Camino Mountain View, CA 94040

(800) 540-8318 www.kitchensbymeyer.com


PREMIER HOME & DESIGN SPECIALISTS OF SILICON VALLEY

TUBZ – THE LARGEST ARRAY OF “HANDS-ON/ FEET-IN” BATHTUBS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! AND SO MUCH MORE: TOTO TOILETS & WASHLETS, FAUCETS, SHOWERS & SHOWER PANS, VANITIES, ETC.

W

hile Tubz’s showroom is a sight to behold, it’s so much more than that: It’s a place to be experienced. You will find 400 bathtubs: every imaginable size and shape, even some really special lines unavailable elsewhere. What I enjoyed was seeing that this family-run business still has the passion that made this company famous. Way back in 1980, Tubz founders, Tom & Kay Harrison began designing tubs with their patented recessed back jets and ever since have specialized in extra deep tubs with an emphasis on back and neck therapy. The folks at Tubz really encourage you to, as they say, “Come put your tootsies in our tubs – because you wouldn’t even buy a new pair of tennis shoes without trying them on first.” With all they offer, you’re sure to find just the right tub for your bathroom, your body and your budget. SVL: What is Tubz? Tubz: Tubz is the result of a 30-year passion to collect and offer the widest possible array of tubs, first in San Jose, then the Bay Area, then the State, then the Country, and now in the World. It’s true! I can’t tell you just how hard we had to work, what we had to do, and still do, to have been so successful. BUT, it wasn’t the growing selection we offered that made us famous. Customer after customer says they are here because they were referred to us by their builder, their designer, their architect, whoever. That sustains us. What we offer is sound advice based on decades of

“We believe every home in the country ought to have one of these ... the ‘oh so civilized’ Toto Washlet.”

manufacturing, designing, testing, repairing and ultimately marketing perhaps some 50,000 bathtubs. SVL: What is Tubzology 101? Tubz: Well, that is the title of the book I’ve yet to write in response to all the people who tell me I should do so because it’s apparent to them that they learn more about tubs in one short visit to our showroom than they ever learned anywhere else they’ve ever gone. Nobody knows tubs like Tubz does. SVL: What’s so special about your specials? Tubz: It’s like this: Tom is a compulsive buyer. Kay is a compulsive seller. I swear, she looks for any excuse to slap a rubber duckie and a clearance priced purple sticker on a tub. For more information about Tubz, please view our Tubz videos on YouTube by typing in: “Welcome to Tubz in Fremont”.


YOU WANT STYLE?

volcanic limestone baths volcanic limestone baths

HERE IT IS!

WE FEATURE THESE FABULOUS BATHTUBS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AT OUR INCREDIBLE

SHOWROOM IN FREMONT

YES, OF COURSE WE HAVE ALL THE “OTHER” BATHROOM FIXTURES SUCH AS NEARLY EVERY TOTO TOILET INCLUDING THEIR BIDET WASHLETS IN ALL 3 RESTROOMS; FAUCETS, VANITIES, STEAMERS, SHOWERS, ETC.

COME EXPERIENCE 400 “HANDS-ON/FEET-IN” MODELS

(510) 770-8686

4796 Davenport Place Fremont, CA 94538

www.tubz.net

30 Different Walk-In tubs including the largest selection of whirlpool bathtubs in a single showroom anywhere in the world! OPEN: Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CLOSED: Friday & Saturday!

May we suggest wearing slip-on shoes and bring measurements of your available space.


PREMIER HOME & DESIGN SPECIALISTS OF SILICON VALLEY

BROTHERS HOME IMPROVEMENT A LABOR OF LOVE, PASSION AND FAMILY SVL: What is Brothers Home Improvement? Brothers Home Improvement: Brothers Home Improvement was incorporated in 1994. We are very proud to be celebrating more than 20 years in the window replacement business. Before then, one of the two original brothers brought in more than ten years of window installation experience and the other the business expertise. Coming from a close large family, both shared the dream of working with their siblings. Today each one of the nine brothers and sisters runs a different department and is involved in the day-to-day operations. At Brothers, we specialize in offering and installing a variety of window replacements from good quality manufacturers. With the mutual goals, eyes, and ears of the family members, we have evolved into a family business large enough to command the purchasing power necessary for competitive pricing, but not too large where we might lose sight of our customers. SVL: What do your customers, and you, love most about what you do? Brothers Home Improvement: Our customers love that we bring our showroom to them with our no-pressure in-home sales estimates. They love that we focus on educating our customers so they become well-informed consumers and minimize the potential confusion that often comes with window quotes. They often seem surprised to find a business, in this day and age, whose focus is to truly take care of people with the emphasis on our good name. Our hard work and caring ways have culminated in a tremendously high referral rate as our customers share their experiences with neighbors, friends and family. We are very proud that our ratings, customer reviews, and record reflect how we run the business. Our happy customers, in fact, make Brothers a great place to come to work at every morning. SVL: What’s so special about Brothers Home Improvement? What sets you apart? Brothers Home Improvement: Being a part of such a large family business is pretty unique and, through the years, the nine brothers and sisters have been joined by sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, cousins, and close trusted friends. When new employees join us, the excitement and hospitality of our family culture quickly becomes an

integral part of their day-to-day business practices. Secondly, from the onset, with longevity in mind, we structured our business for high volumes with low margins resulting in wins for our customers and for us. With so much family looking out for the business, managing the higher volumes became a no-brainer. Key to this goal was specialization; hence our commitment to window replacements rather than taking on different ventures. This goes hand-in-hand with having all our own employees rather than having subcontractors do the work for us. We know our customers will receive true TLC when all personnel entering their homes work for us, answer directly to us, are trained by us, and are insured by us. They are a part of our family business and this is in proud display when working with our customers.


Your Window Replacement Company Energy Efficient • Noise Resistant • No Stucco Damage

Celebrating More Than 20 Years! Over 50,000 Satisfied Customers

• Quality Craftsmanship • No Subcontractors • Lifetime Warranties • No High Pressure Sales • InstallationMasters™ Certified Installers • AAMA & Lead Certified • Free Estimates

Experience a True Family Business Owned & Operated by Nine Brothers & Sisters Always Striving for your Complete Satisfaction

www.BrothersHomeImp.com See Our Reviews on Yelp.com

San Jose • 408-295-0852 Peninsula • 650-573-0256 Alameda • 510-498-5987 Contra Costa • 925-828-5789 Sac/Placer County • 916-724-1473


Having An Impact & Making A Difference For Community Where Would We Be Without Our Nonprofits? “Our Nonprofits play a critical role in the world we live in today. People in the community don’t realize how much they do and how that affects the quality of life for every one of us. They contribute so much.” Thus began this insightful and inspiring conversation with Porcia Chen Silverberg. SVL: Where do you work and what do you do?

PCS: I am the Executive Director at Thrive – The Alliance of Porcia Chen Silverberg Executive Director, Nonprofits for San Mateo Thrive - The Alliance of County Nonprofits for San Mateo Thrive was established County in 2000 by a group of leaders from the nonprofit sector to help promote collaboration and support nonprofits, in order to strengthen the economic and social health of San Mateo County. With a membership of nearly 200 members,

Thrive is a “go-to hub” for people who want to make a difference for San Mateo County, as well as the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. We are a conduit for Government and Nonprofits. Instead of making 50 to 200 calls, they can make one call to me. I love to connect people and organizations. For Thrive, I do pretty much everything that’s asked of a nonprofit leader - I am the chief Fundraiser, Evangelist, Member Relationships Director, Outreach Director and Ambassador. I am very fortunate to have an incredible associate, Cindy. Together, with the support of a handful of volunteers, we run all of Thrive’s programs. I am very proud of what we are able to accomplish. SVL: Where did you grow up, go to school and what did you study?

PCS: I was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, until I was almost 14 when we moved to Denver, Colorado. I went on to study Communications at the University of Colorado at Boulder … To read the rest of Porcia’s great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www.siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category “Non-Profits”.



| | your wellness world

Valley Medical Center: World-class care. Regional specialty services. A growing need for YOUR help.

T

he day started like any other in the Emergency Department of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (VMC) – fast-paced and action-packed. But as morning turned to afternoon, the staff knew something was different. New patients just kept coming; via ambulance, helicopter and walking themselves through the door. It was a rush like no other. By day’s end, over 500 patients had come through the door for treatment, more than double the daily average from six years ago. It was a new record. And this was just a regular day, seemingly like any other. There were no major storms or disasters to speak of – just a lot of sick and injured people who needed to see a doctor. The day was emblematic of the challenges facing the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System (SCVHHS). As the economy has worsened, more and more residents of Santa Clara County have nowhere else to turn when they need medical attention. In fact, fully one-quarter of all Santa Clara County residents get their care at Valley Medical Center and VMC community clinics. From primary care for children, to emergency care for adults, VMC forms the backbone of this community’s health system. As a teaching hospital, VMC trains an overwhelming number of local physicians and nurses, including all Stanford University School of Medicine students. VMC operates the busiest emergency department in the region, and one of two burn trauma units in northern California. But as costs rise and public dollars decline, the staff of VMC has to do more with less. In fact, over the past 10 years, the patient demand for SCVHHS services has doubled, all the while undergoing nearly a decade of year-afteryear budget cuts. In that time, SCVHHS staff has gone to enormous lengths to realize efficiencies, reduce waste, innovate, and find ways to serve more people with less money. But if current trends continue, VMC will face dire financial and operational challenges.

The doors of Valley Medical Center are open to all. It’s up to all of us to keep it that way. Your help is needed now, more than ever. To learn more about how you can support VMC, contact the VMC Foundation at 408-8855299, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or visit www. vmcfoundation.org.

For these reasons and more, all of us, regardless of where we get our healthcare, have a stake in the future of VMC. No other public institution – save the folks who bring us clean drinking water – do more to protect the health and wellbeing of this community than VMC. Without it, emergency departments at private hospitals would be overwhelmed, contagious diseases would go unchecked, and hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, co-workers and friends would be without care. If you are among those who have helped, thank you. In 2008, you may have voted for a bond measure to re-build Valley Medical Center, and construction is going strong. You may have recently donated to support the Sobrato Cancer Center, or our Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab program, or VMC’s Burn Center – all state-of-the-art services, made stronger by our generous supporters. You may have even received care at VMC, Silicon Valley’s biggest and busiest hospital, and told others that the quality of care is top-tier.


The Sobrato Cancer Center

at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

World-class cancer care. Available to all.

The Sobrato Cancer is located in the new, state-of-the-art Valley Specialty Center building (left) on the campus of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Dr. Aemonn Dunphey explains to John A. Sobrato and Jeffrey Sobrato (top right) how the Varian Trilogy® Linear Accelerator delivers ultra-accurate radiation treatment, eradicating cancer cells while preserving healthy ones.

Everyone, no matter rich or poor, should have access to the finest oncology services. At Valley Medical Center’s new Sobrato Cancer Center, that mission is met daily. But with budget challenges and growing need, VMC’s talented team can’t do it alone. They need your help. Please support the VMC Foundation. Your public hospital is here for all, regardless of ability to pay. Let’s make sure it stays that way.

www.vmcfoundation.org


Meet Gregg Adams VMC’s top trauma surgeon

G

regg Adams, M.D., Chief of Surgery at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is on a mission to keep you alive. For the faint of heart, his job responsibilities would seem daunting; manage over 130 surgeons, maintain VMCs high standards for trauma services and disaster response and – oh yeah – scrub in for between 200 to 400 surgical procedures each year. VMC Foundation Executive Director Chris Wilder sat down to talk with Gregg about his career, his day-today-day responsibilities, how he manages the stress of life-and-death situations, and what makes VMC such an inspiring place to work. Chris Wilder: True or false - the trauma team springs into action only when an ambulance drives into the ambulance bay or a helicopter lands on the roof.

Gregg Adams: False. Trauma begins with prevention. We go out and talk about wearing set-belts, and talk about wearing helmets on motorcycles and bicycles, and talk about the problems with drinking and driving and talk about gang violence. CW: There have been times where you have actually been called to the scene of accident. Can you tell me one of those stories?

GA: I’ll use the example of a young man who was at a worksite. He was digging a hole for a foundation that collapsed around him and was buried up to his neck in dirt. He could obviously not hop into an ambulance because we was completely surrounded by dirt, and they couldn’t just dig him out, because they feared it might destabilized more of the structures around him, endangering everyone around him. So we figured out a way to slowly remove

the dirt, to reinforce the hole, monitoring his vital signs - because when you are crushed by dirt, actually releasing the pressure can be as dangerous as the crush himself.


CW: That makes me think of every medical drama and movie. Hollywood does a pretty good idea of showing people what an emergency department looks like. But what do they get wrong?

GA: One is that they have an enormous number of exciting things that happen in 60 minutes with time for commercials. The second thing is that we are not all beautiful. CW: One thing the TV shows do is make the emergency departments feel like controlled chaos. Does it feel like that in real life?

GA: You are never confronted with one problem. You are confronted with 5, 10 or 50 problems. Someone that was hit by a car may be drunk, may have cracked their spleen, have a head injury, etc. The only information you have may be what their vital signs are, or what laboratory tests tell you. So, to a certain degree, it’s a little bit of sensory deprivation and learning to make decisions in a data poor environment.

CW: So it would seem to me that would take a bit of the pressure off if the patient doesn’t survive, but it doesn’t.

GA: No. I think that we are all set up as a system, as human beings, as professionals, as people who have pride in their work - I would love for everyone to survive. Trauma in particular is a killer of young people. That takes a toll and you have to learn to manage that as a human being. CW: How do you do that?

GA: Everyone does it differently. You get a hobby, you get a pet, you hug your kids, you get involved in public service in a different way, you begin to give lectures on wearing your helmet, safe practices, gang avoidance. They become passions for you because you are tied up in the last patient you treated that didn’t survive. CW: And you find that passion in so many people who work at VMC.

GA: Oh absolutely. And it’s one of the reasons why people not only come here to work but stay here to work. You come here because you want to take care of the most complex, most interesting, and challenging patients you can imagine. And ultimately you stay here because you are working with some of the best colleagues you find anywhere in the world. Dedicated. Smart. Funny. Compassionate. Absolutely beautiful human beings.

www.vmcfoundation.org


PHELPS & COHEN Eric Phelps, DDS, MS • Jason Cohen, DDS, MS

ORTHODONTICS

At our office, consultations are complimentary. This article includes some frequently asked questions and answers from orthodontics consultations.

I see a lot of kids with braces at eight or nine years old. Isn’t that too young?

Although eight and nine year olds typically still have 12 primary teeth, many children this age can greatly benefit from early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase I Orthodontics. Reasons for early treatment include: severe crowding, impacted teeth, jaw size discrepancies, crossbites, and many more. While the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children have an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7, a simple ‘Rule of Thumb’ is: “Eight is great, nine is fine!”

Am I too old for orthodontic treatment? Over the past three years, about a third of the consultations at our office have been for adults. No matter what your age, if you have healthy teeth and healthy gum tissue and bone around your teeth then you are a candidate for orthodontics. PRIMARY MOLARS

I have been told that I need four bicuspids extracted because my teeth are crowded. What is your opinion?

With the development of self-ligating braces (we use Damon braces: www.damonbraces.com), I believe it is easier to create enough space to avoid extractions in most cases. The extra space typically is created by widening the arch form which results in a nice, broad, esthetic smile. Avoiding extractions is another great reason for Phase I Orthodontics (as shown in the images below). Creating more arch width in an eight or nine year old patient often provides enough space to avoid the need for bicuspid extraction. On the other hand, a primary goal of treatment is to get the incisors (front teeth) in an esthetic and functional position. Sometimes bicuspid extraction is needed to achieve orthodontic treatment goals.

Can you tell me about Invisalign?

Invisalign is a treatment option for patients that would like to have their teeth moved but are not

PHASE 1 ORTHODONTICS CREATING SPACE FOR PERMANENT CANINES

MADE SPACE FOR BICUSPIDS AND CANINES

(AVOIDED NEED FOR BICUSPID EXTRACTION)

NO ROOM FOR ADULT CANINES

PHELPS

Eric Phelps, DDS, MS • Jason Cohen, DDS, MS 2075 Forest Avenue, Suite 2 San Jose, CA 95128

ORTHODONTICS

(408) 298-3433 Fax (408) 298-6304 http://www.phelpscohenortho.com

& COHEN


interested in wearing braces. We now have an iTero digital scanner at the office that produces a digital 3D model of the patients upper and lower set of teeth in just over 10 minutes. No more impressions!!! Digital models are more accurate than models created from impressions and can be uploaded instantly to Align Technology for treatment planning. The orthodontist uses advanced Invisalign software to create ideal final positions of all teeth. A series of high-tech clear plastic aligners are then produced that move teeth in small increments.

great time to be a Bay Area sports fan because of the success of our local teams. In my opinion, it is even a greater time to be a parent of a sports fan because of great role models like Buster Posey and Patrick Willis!

For more information visit: www.invisalign.com

I would like to thank the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers for supporting our inaugural charity concert in Campbell, CA on September 1st, 2012 in support of the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST). Please read about ichthyosis on the following page and join us for next year’s concert at the Flint Center in Cupertino on September 7th, 2013.

Why is everyone wearing jerseys?

Eric Phelps, DDS, MS

Everyone Wednesday and Saturday are jersey days at our office. We started the tradition a few years back and it has become a highlight for our staff and patients. Jerseys create some interesting conversations, especially when one of our assistants wears her Dodgers jersey. It is a

For more information about our practice (offices in San Jose and Pleasanton), please visit our website at www.phelpscohenortho.com.


CREATING HOPE AND THE DREAM

FOR A COLLEGE EDUCATION


by Stephen E. McMinn

A Collaboration That’s Making A Huge Difference In Our Local Public Schools THE CALL FOR HELP

G

reat minds develop great ideas often as a result of a great need. These elements came together to spawn a very special and gratifying project to address a huge need. G.W. Hellyer Elementary School Principal, Sheilah Lane, needed help. She was concerned about the test scores at her school, scores that were placing her at risk with the State of California. The learning challenges were daunting and something had to be done to Sheilah Lane - Retired Hellyer Elementary School Principal. She saw her school’s test reverse a trend headed in the scores increase dramatically through the Junior University Program she helped create. wrong direction. With limited funds and resources, how would it be possible to not only significantly, but quickly increase Hellyer’s scores? This journey began in 2007. At Hellyer, many parents did not know how best to support their children. “Good”, it was felt, meant just showing up each day at school. The truth appeared in the numbers and test scores and it was evident that “good”, in reality, wasn’t. The test results proved something was missing; low achievement seemed uncorrectable. This was the barometer used by the state to measure From academic probation in 2007 to API scores well above 800 in the school. There was not much room or reason 2013, Hellyer test scores were among the highest in the county left for optimism. They had tried everything, she for at-risk student populations. thought. The discouragement also reflected an stands for Academic Performance Index – and accurate picture of the school’s student culture. “STAR” stands for Standardized Testing and Was school fun? Was learning fun? What Reporting. This, in essence, is the grade given chances, what opportunities, what future laid annually to each public California school based on ahead for the children? Did these children even have a dream of going to college? For many, sadly, the average student body academic achievement results. It shows how the students in any the answer was no. The results were clear … and particular school are faring when compared with it was disheartening. Hellyer Elementary School received their annual similar schools. The results came in and they were not good. API STAR achievement results that year. “API”


The Hellyer API was a startlingly low 736. The passing California state standard is 800 with a top score being 1,000. Hellyer was about to be placed on probation. Principal Lane realized something needed to change, but what? The administration, faculty and staff had worked hard to improve learning and this is what came back. The school seemed out of options. It was around this time that Liz Nandakumar, a Resource Specialist for Hellyer Elementary had a short discussion with Claude Fletcher, the Chancellor of Valley Christian Schools. Claude and Liz’s families attended the same church and they were acquainted with each other. Valley Christian sits on a hill overlooking the south valley of San Jose and was clearly visible from Hellyer Elementary. Many times Liz had looked up at Valley Christian where her children attended and wondered if help might be available from them. Liz had the same concerns as Sheilah Lane and asked Chancellor Fletcher if they might have interest in a collaborative partnership to have high school students tutor the Hellyer students. Claude’s answer was positive and from this small discussion came a first meeting held at Valley Christian. Attending were Dr. Clifford Daugherty, President of Valley Christian, Principal Lane, Liz Nandakumar, Cindy Nardi, the Valley Christian High School Outreach Coordinator and Dr. Joel Torode who at the time was the principal at Valley Christian. Ideas were exchanged, concepts mapped out and from this small meeting the Junior University was born. To carry the theme further, the high school mentors were coined by Principal Lane as Junior Professors as a way of planting the seed to her students that college was a viable, reachable option in the future if they worked hard enough.

The excitement of learning is evident in these Hellyer Elementary students as they begin to dream about going to College.

The task of implementing the program fell to Cindy Nardi and Liz Nandakumar. Working tirelessly, they developed a curriculum to teach the Valley Christian students how to mentor. They worked with Principal Lane to secure valuable class time for the mentoring activities. Valley Christian students had to be recruited to join the effort as mentors. And students at Hellyer that would benefit most from the mentoring had to be identified. Even seemingly mundane issues such as transporting the older students to Hellyer had to be arranged. The program was kicked off during the 2007/2008 school year and immediately embraced by the students, teachers, and parents. Once the program became established, Cindy Nardi and Liz Nandakumar began to dream of an extension of the program to include after-school activities such as athletics


The Making of “Junior University” – A Newly Created Foundation for Excellence and Joy in Education and School

Junior University and Lighthouse Initiative Team members from Franklin-McKinley School District, Andrew Hill High School and Valley Christian Schools meet with San Jose District 2 Councilman Ash Kalra (3rd from left) and Madison Nguyen, Vice Mayor of San Jose and District 7 Councilwoman (3rd from right).

and music combined with bible stories attended by students under parental permission. If a child wanted to learn the trombone, they would be teamed with a high school trombone player. The same would hold true for those interested in soccer, cheerleading, painting, robotics, or baton twirling. The opportunities were limited only by the children’s imagination and integrated with faith based activities. The initial attempts were rebuffed but then the results of the hard work of Junior University began to bear fruit. What was happening was a culture shift among the students and the teachers in confidence… in learning… and API STAR results. Where before there was pessimism, there was now optimism. Where there was despair, there was now hope, and with it amazing progress. In 2008, the first year following Principal Lane’s initial meeting with the leadership at Valley Christian, there was an astonishing 54 point increase from 736 to 790 in Hellyer’s scores! That indeed was a BIG positive upswing. In 2009, it

dipped a bit to 773; however, it has taken off since then and increased every year. In 2010, it jumped to 808. In 2011, it was 818. In 2012, it was 819. In 2013, it was 828. Armed with these outstanding results, Cindy Nardi and Liz Nandakumar decided to again propose the after school program to include additional activities. Their hard work was rewarded when the request was approved. The results had spoken for themselves and in this case “more was better”. Thus came the renaming of the program from the Junior University to the “Junior University and Lighthouse Initiative”. The students are motivated to learn and excited to be there. Parents are delighted with the turnaround. The principal at Sylvandale Middle School, Dan Fowler, even commented on the high quality of students he was receiving from Hellyer and wanted to know how he could help. Changes as big and as drastic as these don’t happen overnight. But they have. What had happened? Could the program maintain its momentum?


WHAT A DIFFERENCE THE “ASK” MADE As explained by Principal Lane in a FranklinMcKinley School District newsletter from 2009, “Junior University has the objectives of improving

An Andrew Hill High School mentor gives one-on-one instruction to his mentee.

One-on-one mentoring creates a spark driving the mentees to excel.

academic achievement of students and the school culture through one-on-one mentoring and tutoring of elementary students by volunteer high school students, serving as Junior Professors.” Success at Hellyer continued under the direction of Principal Jerry Merza, who succeeded Sheilah Lane upon her retirement, at the end of the 20082009 school year. Principal Merza commented on his goals upon taking over at Hellyer, “The State of California requires all schools to have an API score above 800. That is every school’s goal. “My first year here we were not at 800. When we made that tremendous growth that catapulted us above 800, it was a huge accomplishment and put us where the state wanted us to be. With the help of Valley Christian High School and the Junior University and Lighthouse Initiative, we have been able to sustain and grow our score each year.” Hellyer students were so successful that the program was attracting the attention of officials in the FranklinMcKinley School District, of which Hellyer is a member. In a meeting with Dr. John Porter, Superintendent of the Franklin-McKinley School District, he urged the schools to continue working together and answer the question in everyone’s mind: “What is the magic”? In 2012, Carla Haakma, then Principal of Los Arboles Literacy and Technology K-3 Academy and now a district administrator, collaborated with Jerry Merza to bring Junior University to Los Arboles. Dr. Daugherty, realizing that Valley Christian students couldn’t scale their resources to multiple schools, reached out to Andrew Hill High School Principal, Bettina Lopez. She endorsed the program and appointed Joshua Greene, Support Services Coordinator, as the coordinator to find mentors from Andrew Hill to work in conjunction with Valley Christian students at a third school, Lairon College Preparatory Academy (Grades 4-7). More wonderful high school “Junior Professor” mentors were needed and Andrew Hill High School delivered. Principal Maria Dehghanfard of Lairon was delighted with the involvement of Andrew Hill, commenting that, “We’ll be involved with Andrew


Sam, a Valley Christian student mentor, teaches two aspiring Hellyer trombone players.

“Our students via mentors in the Junior University and Lighthouse Initiative, are exposed to the qualities of Goodness, Peace and Joy. These positive role models create a desire to learn and emulate these qualities in their own lives.�

Jerry Merza Principal Hellyer Elementary


Hill High School, where most of our children end up … so for us to have both schools involved as mentors is really a great opportunity for all of our kids.” This collaboration was so successful that through the efforts of Cindy Nardi and Liz Nandakumar, the program expanded even further to include the after-school Lighthouse program offering even more enrichment opportunities. By 2013, the program blossomed into a three-day-aweek schedule involving over 700 student trips and seven collaborating schools. The “Junior University and Lighthouse Initiative” is now under the direction of the Leadership Team. This team includes Carla Haakma, Franklin-McKinley Director of Categorical Compliance and Assessment Programs, Dr. Maria Dehghanfard, Principal of Lairon College Preparatory Academy, Dr. Ricardo Balderas, Principal of Los Arboles Literacy and Technology Academy, Jerry Merza, Principal of Hellyer Elementary and, most recently, Dan Fowler, Principal of Sylvandale Middle School. Principal Mark Lodewyk of Valley Christian High School and Principal Lisa Arnett of Valley Christian Junior High School also serve on the team with the support of Dr. John Porter, Superintendent of the FranklinMcKinley School District and Dr. Clifford Daugherty, President of Valley Christian Schools (K-12). More than 325 volunteer high school and junior high school students are now transported to three Franklin-McKinley elementary schools, including Hellyer, Los Arboles and Lairon. Cindy Nardi, Valley Christian High School Community Outreach Director and Joshua Greene, Andrew Hill

Robotics and dance are two of the Lighthouse programs taken advantage of by the Simon family.

Mentors look forward to their interaction with mentees, such as Ramatu and Kasandra.

Support Services Coordinator lead volunteer Junior Professors as they inspire and mentor their eager elementary mentees. The initiative expanded offerings for a wider range of student gifts and talents including not only academics, but also the arts and athletics for the Seven Trees Community elementary students. Participating schools are asked to join an organization called the “Quest Institute for Quality Education”. The Quest Institute serves as a conduit for the development of capital and human resources to support collaboration. Expanding the program to after-school elective type activities was a key for Dr. Ricardo Balderas, Principal of Los Arboles. As he relayed, “When students are exposed to different things, who knows where they’ll find their passion? Maybe it will be service, maybe mathematics, maybe music, maybe acting. So the more things they are exposed to, the more choices they have. We look forward to those opportunities.” Principal Lane initially envisioned this program as providing cross-age learning, an older student teaching a younger learner, providing inspiration and academic support in an effective, comfortable environment. Connecting with successful, motivated, college-bound high school students implants the idea in impressionable elementary students that they too can go to college. Many of the Seven Trees Community students are secondlanguage learners and with extra tutoring provided by Junior University and Lighthouse mentors, they are achieving great success. The benefits are twofold: the elementary students receive tutoring and support, improving their academic performance, and high school mentors discover that they can


truly model success and transform lives by their volunteer service. As each week comes and goes, the excitement in the young students’ faces is tangible as their Junior Professor mentors disembark from their buses and arrive on campus. As Dr. Daugherty explained, “More comes back on the bus than goes over on the bus as the Valley Christian and Andrew Hill High School mentors realize the joy of selfless service.” At each visit to the three schools, Valley Christian High School and Andrew Hill High School students Javier worked with his Grandfather to create a special hat for his mentor, Jeevan, a Valley Christian provide kindergarten High School student. through sixth grade students with one-onart, robotics and more. Volunteer high school one academic, artistic and athletic mentoring students develop a highly personalized connection, opportunities. Under the supervision of offering inspiration, encouragement and a professional teachers, each “Junior Professor” is challenge to hundreds of elementary students to assigned one or more students to teach reading, plan and prepare to attend college. math, choir, dance, weekly instrumental lessons, From the start, the students became more excited about learning. Each time the buses arrived, they exuded enthusiasm and with anticipation … they looked forward to their new friends from Andrew Hill and Valley Christian who spent time with them, serving as tutors and mentors. The “magical” connection of the minds and hearts between high school students and elementary children, combined with the “Of course you’re going to college like me” message, brings a feeling of “Goodness, Peace and Joy” to involved students. The test scores reflect that. During the summer of 2013, the Leadership Team debuted a Lighthouse Initiative called “Splish! Splash! Learn to Swim Camp”. This special program paired Valley Christian High School student volunteer athletes with almost 200 elementary school students from the FranklinMcKinley School District. Held at Valley Christian Schools’ Aquatic Center, the program consists of swim lessons, Bible stories, prayer and training Maddie, a Valley Christian Junior High School student (left) looks in the Christian faith, all done with parental forward to weekly mentoring to help Zeke with reading. permission. Special reduced fees from $150 to


have received such mentorship … the joy, confidence and appreciation … are abundant. The answer to a call … met with success and meaning and results … that go well beyond words, pride and happiness. It may seem awkward that a private Christian school can collaborate with a public high school to make such a difference in the lives of atrisk younger students. The key to the cooperation and success can be found in one of our most important documents – The Declaration of Independence. The program has relied on a foundational segment of that document which states the following: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are

only $25 for eight lessons over a four week period are available to students from the three Seven Trees Community Schools, where 85% or more of the children qualify for low cost or free lunch programs. Cathy Manthey, head of Valley Christian’s Aquatic Center, directs “Splish! Splash!” by recruiting enthusiastic Valley Christian High School athletes and alumni as volunteer swimming instructors. She explains, “Drowning is a leading cause of accidental deaths among children in the United States, ranked second only to car crashes. Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%. Our athletes are happy to volunteer. They realize these children may never learn to swim without their help.” “I have never heard of a program such as this where swim lessons are offered at a discount Cathy Manthey, Valley Christian Aquatics Director encourages a for children. It is such an innovative idea. young “Splish Splash” participant. Because not only is it benefiting children in this community, but the students that are providing the swim lessons from Valley Christian High School are receiving a benefit by participating in this and being part of this experience for the kids It’s a “win-win” for everyone involved”, said Carla Haakma, District Administrator for the Franklin-McKinley School District. Andrew Hill and Valley Christian students love every moment of their involvement in these initiatives. There is a team spirit of community … the bus ride back is always one of happiness. They feel they have received more than they have given when they leave. Clearly, the real joy for the high school mentors is Antonio and Luis give a “thumbs up” to “Splish Splash.” in the giving. And for the students who


“We are anxious to spread into our schools and the surrounding community these concepts of value building and joyfulness.” Carla Haakma Franklin-McKinley School District Administrator

individuals, puts the time in to prove it, leading to created equal, that they are endowed by their the students beginning to realize that life is what Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that they make of it. among them, are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Thus far, the results are a testament to the Happiness.” This one phrase puts us all on equal footing. We powerful receptivity of students to the time that’s invested in their lives from outside role models. It have a platform for common virtues. In every in no way seeks to diminish the love and support child there is value and promise. The goal of the of their teachers and family structure, but rather Junior University and Lighthouse Initiative is to works to affirm and support it. create within the students a light of promise that as equally created individuals they can experience Comments or inquiries are welcome at life as it was intended. StephenMcMinn@creighton.edu This leads to a thirst of learning and dreaming about what they can achieve. This combination of Light, Life and Learning is the process through which these students become successful. It is the “Magic” that Dr. Porter spoke of when he challenged the Leadership Team to discover and answer the question, “What’s the Magic?” in such achievement scores. Students at this young age have no concept of the barriers that exist between private and public, religious and non-religious schools or those with or without extraordinary means. Applied Math Science & Engineering students learn team building through Robotics competition. (Standing L-R) Timmy, Kevin, Jerry Merza – Principal at Hellyer Elementary, Annette Lane What they do have is an – Robotics Director at Valley Christian, Joshua, Dale. Jason and Troy, kneeling. understanding of when someone values them as


| | local schools

Valley Christian focuses on excellence

V

alley Christian Schools, in San Jose, California, was founded in 1960 and has grown into one of the largest independent K-12 Christian school systems in the United States. Their “Quest for Excellence” has been evident both inside the classroom and out in the community. With its strong foundation of Christian values, the school challenges its 2300 students from kindergarten through high school to discover their God-given talents as expressed in A3: Academic Excellence, Artistic Beauty, and Athletic Excellence. Accredited by both ACSI and WASC, Valley Christian takes pride in its top-notch facilities that are among the finest in California—two campuses, an extensive sports complex, and the new 46,000 square foot Conservatory of the Arts (music, theatre, dance and visual arts) & Student Life Center. Along with its unique Conservatory of the Arts opportunities for students passionate about the arts, the Applied Math, Science and Engineering Institute [AMSE] allows students of high ability to enjoy unique challenges. An example of such an opportunity is the International Space Station project, in which Valley Christian students pioneered the first-ever high school Cube Lab™ experiment place aboard the Space Station in January, 2011. Valley Christian High School is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon “No Child Left Behind” school and was just voted “Best High School” in the 2011 annual survey of parents by Bay Area Parents magazine. In addition, 54 sports teams allow students to compete and develop character at the highest levels of high school athletics. Valley Christian Junior High School recently achieved national recognition, taking top honors, including Intel School of Distinction—Middle School Mathematics Excellence 2011 and Intel School of Distinction—2011 Star Innovator”.

Schools recognized for this award have demonstrated excellence in math and science education and their ability to promote students’ problem solving. Valley Christian Elementary School additionally benefits from all the award-winning programs throughout the upper and middle school campuses being integrated into special hands-on science learning, AMSE enrichment curriculum, and conservatory training, and Little Warrior sports opportunities for students in grades K-5. Daily Bible classes, weekly chapel services and many community service events give students a loving environment in which to learn more about the Christian faith, and to become excited about the eternal perspective Jesus Christ brings to their lives. A special Student Support program at all campuses is available for students with diagnosed learning challenges. There is also an International Student program at Valley Christian Schools that integrates 90 students from around the world to give a broadened perspective to the campus. Families are encouraged to learn more about Valley Christian Schools’ remarkable programs and dynamic, loving faculty through www.vcs. net. To arrange a personal tour by campus— call 408.513.2500.



VCHS reaches for the stars V

alley Christian High School continues its journey back to space for 2013. The International Space Station (ISS) project and the Satellite Development program, both features of the Applied Math, Science, and Engineering (AMSE) Institute at VCHS, are continuing a path unique among all high schools in the world. Returning to the ISS for the third consecutive year, VCHS students constructed four new experiments. The launch to NASA’s U.S. National Lab on March 1, 2013, was aboard the SpaceX Dragon launch vehicle. These microlab experiments include studies in plant growth, ferro fluids, electro-plating, and bacteria growth. AMSE Institute leaders and students have also been mentoring other schools and organizations to develop their own experiments to launch to the ISS. Current partners include Los Gatos High School, the Girl Scouts of Hawaii, as well as other high schools ranging from Southern California to Minneapolis. Dr. S. Pete Worden, Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, said, “I am very proud of our collaboration with Valley Christian Schools and the Quest Institute for Quality Education. This year, they have expanded this scientific endeavor to include seven additional organizations, making this STEM activity one of the most exciting space programs available to high school students.” With these experiments now operating on the ISS, another group of students will continue their efforts towards an astonishing goal: the first-ever high school-designed and constructed satellite launched into space.

This satellite contains a camera to view the launch out of the Space Station, as well as a GPS, accelerometer, tilt sensor, thermometer, hygrometer, gyroscope, anemometer, and compass. Data from the satellite will be directly communicated to the ground tracking station recently constructed at VCHS. Preliminary testing, including a pre-launch of a model of the satellite attached to a six-foot helium balloon, has been successful. Encasing the enclosed experiment, senior Gabe Davis makes final preparations on the cube lab to be launched to the International Space Station.

Mason Ivy, the head of the ISS Development team commented, “It’s an honor to be a part of such a historic program and I am proud to see the team’s hard work pay off.” The satellite will be transferred by rocket to the ISS for deployment in August, 2013. More information on these or other programs within the AMSE Institute at Valley Christian may be found at www.vcs.net/mathscience


245 students strong, the band marches down historic Colorado Boulevard for the Tournament of Roses® parade

VCS Students in

T

Rose Parade

he long-held dream of being invited to play international language of music. These young in the Tournament of Roses Parade® came ambassadors had the time of their lives sharing true for the students, parents, and faculty of Valley cultures and having fun in this once-in-a-lifetime Christian High School’s opportunity” said Sally Marching Band and Color Bixby, President of the Guard. For the first time Tournament of Roses in the Rose Parades’ 124Parade. year history, a combined The combined group marched as a bands performed Crown unit, comprised of Valley Imperial March, by Christian and Chinese William Walton, and high school students from Aztec Fire, by Jay Bocook. No. 57 School in Beijing. In addition, Valley This “East-West Fusion Christian commissioned All-Star Band” was among Valley Christian High School student, Brooke an original work by Read, leads the East-West fusion band in the final 22 marching Mr. Bocook for the Pasadena. bands selected from 2013 parade. The work over 450 applications to combines western and participate in the annual Tournament of Roses eastern styles of music that reflected the fusion Parade, which has run consecutively since 1890 of the two bands. in Pasadena, California. The 2013 parade was “The participation in the Rose Parade is just viewed by 39 million TV viewers in the US and one of the examples of how Valley Christian 28 million around internationally. Schools’ Conservatory offers unique international “I’m very proud of the Valley Christian experiences for high school students to broaden Schools’ role in creating the first East-West Fusion their knowledge in music, varied cultures, and All-Star Band for our 2013 parade. This was a world affairs,” says Dr. Clifford Daugherty, spectacular combined band to showcase the President of Valley Christian Schools.


What is ichthyosis? Ichthyosis is a family of genetic skin disorders characterized by dry, scaling skin that may be thickened or very thin. The prefix “ichthy” is taken from the Greek root for the word fish. Each year, more than 16,000 babies are born with some form of ichthyosis. Ichthyosis affects people of all ages, races and gender. The disease usually presents at birth, or within the first year, and continues to affect the patient throughout their lifetime. What is FIRST? FIRST is a vibrant, growing foundation connected to its members and families by the special skin and unique management needs of individuals and families with ichthyosis and related skin types. FIRST supports families across the country and around the world. An example of how FIRST can have an immediate impact in your community is the online ‘Tele-Ichthyosis’ tool: http://www. firstskinfoundation.org/content.cfm/Ichthyosis/ Tele-Ichthyosis/page_id/762 If a baby is born with a rare skin disorder, doctors can upload images, documents or questions to the Tele-Ichthyosis web portal and receive guidance from an expert panel. What causes ichthyosis? Most forms of ichthyosis are very rare. The genetic mutation that causes the disorder is passed from parent to child. In some cases however, neither parent exhibits the disorder themselves, but they are carriers of the defective gene. When two carriers pass their mutated gene on to a new life, the child will inherit the disorder. In some very rare cases, the genetic mutation occurs spontaneously in the affected generation.

Who is Tommy? Tommy is a friend of FIRST and the NFL’s Biggest ‘Little Fan’ (pictured in his favorite FIRST overalls). Tommy is currently touring the NFL. So far, Tommy has visited the Colts, 49ers, Broncos, Eagles, Bengals, Chargers, Raiders, Browns and Giants. He has met great people in the front offices of the different teams as well as some amazing players. All of us at FIRST greatly appreciate the NFL’s support! Please visit the following link to follow his journey and see photographs from his travels: http://www.firstskinfoundation.org/news-details. cfm/Ichthyosis-News/NFL-s-Biggest-Little-Fan-is-onthe-move/id/164 Dane’s Friends for First Concert Our son, Dane Christian Phelps, showed signs of ichthyosis at 6 weeks old. His rare form of ichthyosis, which was likely caused by a spontaneous gene mutation, also affected his heart. Although Dane only lived to be 3 ½ years old, he touched many lives and will continue to reach thousands more with Dane’s Friends for First Concert. Please join us on September 7th, 2013, for an inspirational night of music and dance at the Flint Center (De Anza College, Cupertino, CA). There will also be a silent auction that will include special items Tommy collects on his journey around the NFL. We would love for you to join us! For more information please visit: https://www. facebook.com/DanesFriendsForFIRST Article submitted by Suzanne and Eric Phelps of San Jose, CA.


Silicon Valley Non-Profits

I

Introducing Silicon Valley Non-Profits!

n this day and age, many of us are looking for purpose and asking ourselves how we can help make a difference in our community and our world. If we were to ask ourselves, where would we be without our Non-Profits, that’s a good question - they do a lot! With them, it’s hard enough in our world. Without them, it would be unthinkable. Indeed, we have many Non-Profits doing great works and they are always looking for people, like you, who can and would like to help.

At the same time, there are many people, like you and me, who wonder what specifically more we can do with our money or, especially, just by volunteering – indeed, what a difference that does and will make. The greatest gift of all is in the giving and what a big positive difference it makes in the lives of others. In Silicon Valley Non-Profits, learn about various great people and great organizations doing great things. May it become a growing Resource for you and many others, there’s nothing like teamwork, that can help us all in making a big positive difference for a better community here at Home.


Housing Trust Silicon Valley works to make our community a more affordable place to live by increasing the supply of affordable housing, assisting first-time homebuyers, and preventing homelessness. Since 2000, Housing Trust Silicon Valley has invested over $75 million in our community and created over 10,000 affordable afforda housing opportunities.

Leading the way home for Silicon Valley Residents www.housingtrustsv.org I 408.436.3450 I info@housingtrustsv.org


Coverage for every child Santa Clara Family Health Foundation (SCFHF) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization whose focus is on raising funds to support the Healthy Kids insurance program and the Children’s Health Initiative in Santa Clara County. Through the Foundation, community leaders, community members, foundations, corporations, local businesses, friends, and other supporters can contribute funds to help achieve the goal of providing every child in Santa Clara County with access to quality health care through insurance. We believe that one uninsured child is one too many. If you have a child or know a family with children who do not have health coverage, live in Santa Clara County and the family maximum monthly income is below $5,700 for a family of four, please call us at 1-877680-4555 or visit our website.

Santa Clara

Family Health Foundation www.healthyfamilyfund.org (408) 874-1999


Join the STEM movement at STEMpower[ed]!

At Silicon Valley Education Foundation, we support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education as the gateway to 21st century jobs. Our STEMpower[ed] website is an easy-to-use site to help parents and educators find the best STEM programs to create that critical spark in their students.

Visit stempowered.svefoundation.org for the one-stop-shop for STEM education in the Silicon Valley. About SVEF: Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) is a not-for-profit resource and advocate for students and educators. We are dedicated to raising student performance in the critical areas of STEM.


Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley

Strengthening families, Changing lives. “Our daughter started the year suicidal. Thanks to her therapist, she’s now in better emotional shape than she’s been in many years.” - Parents of a teenager served

through our school-based clinical counseling services

You can help! Each year, we reach more than 7,000 children, teens, and adults in Silicon Valley in need of counseling and support. We invite you to join us in strengthening families and changing lives. Find volunteer opportunities, ways to give, special event dates, and news:

| www.fcservices.org | 650.326.6576 | 408.292.9353

Based in Palo Alto and San Jose. Serving our neighbors at community-based locations throughout Silicon Valley.

Continuing a tradition of service since 1948. To protect the privacy of our clients, we use licensed stock photography for illustrative purposes.


DO GOOD

BY DONATING YOUR GOODS!

SHOP • DONATE • VOLUNTEER

Cabinets Doors Appliances Electrical Tiles Plumbing Paint Lighting Flooring Hardware Tools Windows

donate your new and reusable building materials, appliances, cabinets, furniture, tools, and home improvement materials to help build affordable housing. Your donation may be tax deductible and pick-up service is available in the East Bay and Silicon Valley. Drop-offs end 30 minutes before closing.

proceeds from the ReStore help build Habitat for Humanity homes in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties, making the dream of homeownership a reality for families with limited incomes. Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

BayAreaReStores.org • 800-SHOP-090 (800-746-7090)

OAKLAND 9235 San Leandro St.

SAN JOSE 1008 S. 2nd St.

San Jose 1608 Las Plumas Ave.


You a r e

CoRdIAllY INVITed to a

SpeCIAl ToUR of

VAlleY MedICAl CeNTeR in San JoSe

Join us for a special insider’s tour which will include a look at our state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rehabilitation Center and highlight the new construction on the VMC campus.

Schedule Your Tour

About VMC Foundation

Tours are scheduled on an ongoing basis. If you are interested, please call 408.885.5206 or email vmcfoundation@hhs.sccgov.org. Individuals and groups—large and small—are welcome.

VMC Foundation raises donations from the community on behalf of our hospital and the entire Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System. The Foundation seeks these funds for programs that support community well-being, improve the quality of care, and promote access to medical treatment for all residents of Santa Clara County regardless of their ability to pay.

Valley Medical Center 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128


Cr e a TVPr oSe r v i c e s Af ul l ar r ayofvi deopr oduct i onser vi ces andequi pmentf oryourpr oduct i on needsatcompet i t i ver at esi ncl udi ng:

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Building a community free of bias, bigotry and violence by ▌transforming youth into community builders and ▌empowering crime victims to thrive

FACES IMPACT annually

▌Educate over 4,300 youth and adults on social emotional intelligence: peaceful conflict resolution, appreciation of differences and upstanding leadership skills

▌Assist over 9,000 victims of violent crime to overcome the traumatic experience and to rebuild their lives

CAMP EVERYTOWN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COMMON GROUND VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ADVOCACY

EXTREMES OF HATE: GENOCIDE STUDIES AND CRITICAL THINKING FINANCIAL RESTITUTION COURT ACCOMPANIMENT

"

To this day, my Camp Everytown experience remains very impactful because it reminds me that no matter where you are in life, you have to remember to look back, to look forward and

408-286-9663 ▌ www.SVFACES.org

"

next to you, and be there for each other. ― Thy Truong Camp Everytown alumna 2005



Anyone is at risk of homelessness. Everyone deserves a decent place to live. HomeFirst helps people find and keep permanent housing. With your support, we can end homelessness.

www.HomeFirstSCC.org


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wit hre se arc hsuppo rt e do by L S. F o rge t so me .We ’ re mak ing6 c ure appe nt o day .Are F i nd utL at l l s .o rg/ gba o rday c al l4 0 8.4 9 0 .2 6 6 . sh Make a donation. Volunteer your time. Be an ambassador for LLS areo fh o wc lo sewearet omanyne w lif e saving bre ak t h ro ugh s? O rh o wy o uc an h e lp? within your community. Help us make someday today. o utatl l s .o rg/ gba o rc al l4 0 8.4 9 0 .2 6 6 6 . Greater Bay Area Chapter San Francisco Office 221 Main Street, Ste. 1650 San Francisco, CA 94105 Silicon Valley & Monterey Bay Office 675 N. First Street, Ste. 1100 San Jose, CA 95112


Family Giving Tree’s

Back to School Drive

Education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty In the Bay Area, 74% of low-income 10th graders score below Algebra standards. When 80% of jobs created in next decade will require STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills, not having the proper school supplies can be a barrier to learning. The Family Giving Tree’s Back to School Drive gets kids started off on the right foot!

“ Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

THREE EASY WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

1

Lead a Drive

2

Buy a Backpack

www.FamilyGivingTree.org

3

Visit us Online


Dedicated & Working Hard for The State A CONVERSATION WITH CALIFORNIA LT. GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SVL: What you know today, what would the Gavin Newsom of today like to say to the young Gavin Newsom? GN: I would tell myself that success is not a place or a destination; it’s a direction. There is no “having made it.” As Winston Churchill said the secret to success is moving from failure to failure with enthusiasm. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Oh, and I would definitely tell myself to use less hair gel. SVL: Who have been your role models and who has inspired you in politics and life itself? GN: Sargent Shriver, Bobby Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez, Mahatma Gandhi, Vaclav Havel and Richard Branson to name a few. My wife and three children also inspire me every day.

The Lt. Governor is with Gina McCarthy, the head of the EPA, as she takes a look at San Francisco’s grease recycling program.

SVL: What prepared you for this path in politics and when did you discover this idea of being Mayor of San Francisco and Lieutenant Governor of California? GN: For a life in politics you have to

be passionate, care about issues and most importantly people. My background in business, particularly in restaurants, certainly did not hurt. The spark to get involved in local government came from the frustration of navigating San


Francisco’s bureaucracy when I opened my first business, Plumpjack. SVL: What did you enjoy most about being Mayor of San Francisco? GN: Cities are laboratories of innovation. A city shows the cause and effect, the good decisions and bad decisions in real-time and with immediate feedback. As mayor you have the ability to customize policy to address the needs of a diverse citizenry. You can have a two-way conversation with citizens that result in “bottom up” solutions without having to wait for the state or federal government.

The Lt. Governor is at an event with AT&T’s Futurecast.

SVL: What do you enjoy most about being Lieutenant Governor of California? GN: Just as cities are a laboratory for innovation, the state is a laboratory for democracy. To be a part of the most diverse state in the world, with the most diverse democracy, is an honor. Because of California’s size, diversity and economic power, we are the perfect place for scaling innovative ideas that can then become a model for the nation. Few places can boast the kind of dynamism and influence we enjoy here in the Golden State. SVL: San Francisco went through a great renaissance with you as Mayor. Looking back, what are some of the proudest moments or accomplishments you saw during your term as Mayor? GN: I am proud of many things we did in San Francisco. From implementing the first city wide universal health care plan in the nation, to getting 12,000 people off the streets and addressing the pressing issue of homelessness and poverty. We also raised the bar on environmental stewardship and helped pave the way for this new tech-boom. Beyond anything else, I am most proud of representing citizens who not only tolerate diversity but also celebrate diversity. San Francisco

The Lt. Governor discusses how cities and metros are fixing the economy at the Milken Institute in Los Angeles.

is a city that celebrates its interesting differences but, at the end of the day, also unites around our common humanity - the fundamental idea that we are all in this together. It was this spirit that led to San Francisco opening up City Hall to same sex couples in 2004. SVL: As Lieutenant Governor of California, you are as close to this Governor as anyone ... and the same is true with the relationships with other Governorships and politicians throughout the country. What have you learned from these relationships and this extraordinary experience? GN: I’ve had the opportunity to work with some extremely gifted politicians from Willie


Brown to our current Gov. Jerry Brown, both of whom are two unique and distinct personalities. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with former President Bill Clinton and when I was Mayor of San Francisco, I worked with mayors John Hickenlooper in Colorado and Martin O’Malley in Maryland, who’ve both gone on to be Governors of their states, and I am now honored to call them friends. The one thing I’ve been able to learn from all of these individuals is that the best politics is a better idea and that ideas matter. SVL: What in these past four years as Lieutenant Governor are some of the greatest, proudest accomplishments? GN: I’m proud of the economic development plan my office put out in 2011 and the resulting statewide economic summit, both of which articulate a vision for success in building the “Next Economy” in California. Additionally, last year I released a report on college education, Boosting California’s Postsecondary Education Performance, which has started a conversation around the changing needs in higher education. Additionally, I am an active member of the UC Board of Regents and CSU Board of Trustees, I have voted against tuition increases in order to keep higher education affordable and accessible. I am also proud of the work we do on the State Land’s Commission, particularly around making this important state agency more open, transparent and collaborative. SVL: Presently, and looking ahead, what are some of the biggest challenges or concerns we’re facing, needing our attention? GN: The rapidly recognizable and growing divide of income inequality and social mobility in our state and nation is of great concern. It’s real. Alan Krueger referred to it as the “Great Gatsby Curve.” As everyone knows, we live in two different worlds in the same state - a coastal California and an inland California - we must reconcile this growing economic divide. As I tell my business colleagues, businesses can’t thrive in a world that’s failing and all of us are better off when everyone is better off. SVL: If you could wave a magic wand, what would you like to see happen these next four

The Lt. Governor is at Ross School in Marin County. He is sharing the stage with 4th graders who have taken on the role of Lieutenant Governor for the year. They get to interview him and hear his thoughts.

The Lt. Governor is at Long Beach City College for an event centered around his higher education report … examining California’s higher education framework and providing recommendations for improvement.

years? GN: I would like to see a 21st Century governing model based on openness, transparency and collaboration, a system that is designed for participation, two-way conversations and active engagement with citizens. I’d like to see a system that treats citizens as partners, not as subjects. Rather than doing things to you, we do things with you. An effective, flexible and accountable system of government where the short term interests of Sacramento do not get in the way of the long term interests of California.


SVL: What advice do you give to aspiring students, and young professionals, wanting to get ahead, wanting to make a difference? GN: I would tell young professionals to learn from, don’t follow others. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Be open to argument and interested in evidence and not to be ideological. I would say that everyone’s expression is unique - no one else has it. Be sure to maintain your authenticity and stand on principal.

The Lt. Governor is visiting Yosemite National Park, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the park.

SVL: Who are some leaders we should be watching for who are doing great things? GN: Mayor Greg Fisher of Louisville, Kentucky, is doing some extraordinary things with citizen engagement; having just met Malala Yousafzai, who is changing the world for women and girls, there is no question her influence is growing every day. One thing is clear, leadership can be found anywhere – in our schools, our churches, our community centers, not just in our state capitals or legislative chambers. SVL: What is your definition of leadership? GN: There is no better definition then the quote by John Quincy Adams, “if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Leaders are not born or “made,” they decide in a moment that now is the time to be and do more.

The Lt. Governor celebrates San Francisco Pride during the annual parade.

SVL: Are you encouraged with politics in Sacramento? In Washington D.C.? GN: If you are referring to our nation’s capital where ideas go to die, then absolutely not. I’ve always believed that if you don’t like the way things are going when you’re standing up, then stand on your head and go local. Remarkable things are happening at the local level. While Sacramento has had its struggles, in the past few years we’ve been able to turn things around. At the end of the day, however, I look for inspiration at the local levels. It’s bottom up, not top down; regions rising together.

SVL: Are you an avid sports fan? Who do you root for? As Lieutenant Governor, who can you root for? GN: I grew up a Bay Area sports fan watching the Warriors, 49ers, Raiders, A’s and Giants. I spent countless nights falling asleep to Giants. SVL: If you were to have a dinner party and could invite anyone (living or not), who would you like to invite and what would you want to ask them or talk about? GN: I would have Vaclav Havel, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez and Mother Teresa over and we’d talk about leadership. I envision the topic for the evening focusing on this question: “Which is more effective and long lasting, the application of one’s ‘moral authority’ or ‘formal authority’?”


SCORE: Often The Answer To A Small Business Owner’s Prayer

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or those of you small business owners who face not only numerous challenges from the economy, but also from changing technology, changing market needs and changing government regulations, SCORE often can and does provide important valued assistance. Would you like to find a place where you could talk to seasoned small business owners, experienced senior managers who you can level with in confidential meetings to find new solutions and bounce off ideas you have? Here is where 1000 s of small business owners turn to each year in Silicon Valley for assistance - The Silicon Valley Chapter of SCORE. Indeed, there are over 50 volunteer experts waiting for you to call the San Jose offices. SCORE understands your challenges, as well as your lack of time and resources. Many small business owners and entrepreneurs have benefited over the years from these valuable services and consultations - why not you? Silicon Valley SCORE is part of a national network of chapters helping small businesses grow and prosper. Here you will find to assist you: • Unlimited no charge one hour counseling appointments with two experts when you are available.

• On site or at a mutually convenient location with an appointed mentor where needed. • Meeting seminars and workshops on key topics at minimal charge. • On line counseling where you ask the critical question and get an answer in a day or so. If you are starting a new business, SCORE has both workshops and seminars geared to rapidly bring you up to speed as to the key things you need to know to maximize your chances of success. SCORE can help you with that critical plan you will need. Counselors are available by appointment for free to guide you and you can continue to make counseling appointments for as long as you need their help. SCORE also offers two counselors per appointment with a long history and plenty of experience in owning, managing and starting a business. Please call (408) 453-6237 or visit the SCORE website at www.svscore.org where you can request an appointment or register for one of their workshops or seminars. SCORE is located near the San Jose International Airport at 234 E. Gish Road, Suite 100, San Jose. SCORE always looks forward to your call and wants to help.


SCORE Success Story Janis King, In Home Support Network, LLC

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anis King is an amazing and versatile woman. She was born in San Jose and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area her entire life. She worked in the electronics industry for some years when she decided she wanted a change. She began working for a home care agency as a personal attendant, and within six months of becoming a caregiver, a close friend suggested that she start her own business. Janis contacted SCORE and started regular counseling. In 1987, with the help of her SCORE counselor Lloyd Michaels, Janis started her first business, Loving Hands Home Care Services Inc. The business provides in-home care services to the elderly and developmentally disabled. By 1995, the business became a success! Loving Hands generated more than a million dollars in annual revenue. In 2004, Janis sold Loving Hands. In 2005, she kicked off a quarterly, upscale magazine called Soul Mag, published by her enterprise, Soul Publications, a subsidiary of Fit for the King International, a non-profit corporation established in 1995. Within the first year of its inception, Soul Mag became a nationally distributed publication through Anderson News and was placed on news racks in more than 356 stores and 327 chains. In July 2006, Janis King developed The King Media Group, a multi-media corporation that

staged its first music festival at Arena Green Park across from HP Pavilion. In January 2007, Janis was offered her own television show on a local commercial station, KICU Channel 36. She accepted the challenge and decided to use the content of Soul Mag in a weekly lifestyle television show called The Art & Soul of Urban Living. Janis’s passion is to market her dance fitness

“SCORE aided me in discovering and developing the ability to be an entrepreneur.” program, “It’s in the Dance,” and promote an annual music and wellness festival. The nonprofit corporation still reaches out to those in need, reinvented as Fruitful Living, Inc. Fruitful Living’s mission, through a collaborative effort linking other corporations, is to enrich our community. In 2010, Janis decided to go back to her original business. Under the name of In Home Support Network, LLC, Janis started again a new home care agency, The Caregivers, which provides in home care services to seniors, developmentally disabled, cancer patients and our veterans. “Every business I have developed is as a result of the workshops, collaborations with my SCORE mentor and the many other counselors I’ve been blessed to work with,” said Janis.


Paul Talks Green: What Will We Do About Global Warming…And When?

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an you “see” accelerating change without study, science and effort?

Is it part of our survival kit, built in from birth? Seems not. Two facts that matter. You are aging. Global warming is real, but the destinations defined in part by the speed of these trends may not be obvious without proper perspective, study and trained skills. They are mostly ignored without science, measurements and your willingness to study and accept reality. If you are a healthy 50, it may seem that your health is robust and steady. But it rarely is. System breakdown is underway and is accelerating. Life has an expiration date. That change is hard to see without measurements, tools and directed attention. After 50,000 years, the human experiment, at about 1800 AD, reached a population of 1 billion people. In the next 212 years the population reached 7 Billion with only a slight increase in RATE of change. Hard to see in the early graph. Then came a “dramatic population spike” that was in the math and numbers all along. Global warming rates and anthropogenic cause, were quite accurately calculated and published in a paper by Svante Arrhenius in 1895...and ignored. The facts Paul Wingate were in. The cause was us. (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Arrhenius/ arrhenius_2.php) Back then coal was extracted and burned by 1000’s of tons. Now coal is removed from earth at 23 million tons/day. Plus oil at 12 million tons/day. Plus over 300 billion cubic feet of methane/day. And they are burned, except for too much of the methane which is lost to leakage. A worse condition. The chemistry is unchanged. Burned carbon fossils release CO2 into our atmosphere, trapping heat. The leaked, unburned methane is a nastier blanket gas. Most of us know the facts, but will you give up junk food, cigarettes and overindulgence for a longer, better life? Walk a bit more? What will you do about global warming...and when? Will your children and grandchildren be toasty warm...or toast? Wake up. Learn more. Vote for survival. Buckle up for a rough ride.


Love matters. At GLIDE, we express our love by actively working to break the cycles of poverty and marginalization in our community. We feed the hungry, house the homeless, train the jobless, and are deeply committed to creating social justice for all. But our work depends on your generosity. Please, show your love by donating what you can at glide.org. Thank you.

Please donate at glide.org Follow glidesf


Open Wide & Save Your Dog With Good Oral Hygiene By Sue Lee

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t is very common at the start and end of each day for you to brush your teeth and maintain good oral care but do you realize how important it is for your pets? Your dog can’t walk into the bathroom alone, grab a brush and work on those pearly whites. As the responsible pet owner, you need to ensure you care for your pet’s teeth and gums in much the same respect as you do for yourself and your family does for themselves. It would be ideal to brush a dog’s teeth daily as the family routine, but every day is not always feasible. Making a commitment at least a couple of days each week will help your dog maintain a healthy mouth. Oral hygiene can take just a few minutes at a time, but without it, your pet can pay a lifetime of discomfort and diseases. Without proper oral hygiene, the plaque and tartar will build on your dog’s teeth and eventually seep into the gums, causing gingivitis, periodontitis and pyorrhea that can be serious to fatal. • Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. If the gums get infected with bacteria, it can get into your pet’s bloodstream and quickly became fatal. • Periodontitis is a disease that attacks the dog’s gums, bones and the soft delicate tissues that surround the teeth. • Pyorrhea affects not only the gums, but the tooth sockets, through infection and inflammation. Teeth in the area can loosen, fall out or need to be removed and the gums can result in pus.

This sounds like so much to put your dog through when you can save his or her discomfort with a small brush, flavored pet toothpaste and in-between dog treats. If you are new at entering that mouth full of teeth, your veterinarian or dog groomer can demonstrate the simple techniques in brushing your dog’s teeth. The sooner you start this process, the easier it is to get full cooperation from your dog. The ideal time to introduce your dog to oral hygiene is in the early puppy years. This is the time that the little one is learning behavior, obedience and duties necessary for its growth, health and happiness. To begin the process, you need to get a soft bristle toothbrush, one that is size appropriate for your particular pet. Pet toothpaste is available in pet stores in various flavors such as chicken or beef. Aim to introduce your dog to your brushing its teeth at least once a week, and build up to twice a week, minimum. For better maintenance and oral hygiene, choose some good healthy treats for pleasure and in-between oral care. Some options may be crunchy milk bones, dental chews and bones, and nearly any type of rawhide chew that works to scrape and keep the teeth clean. In fact, to avoid more plaque and tartar on a pet’s teeth, provide your dog with a nutritional dry dog food rather than canned, wet varieties. A little bit goes a long way in keeping your dog healthy, starting from the top, with good oral hygiene and care. There’s nothing better than good preventative care.


4 8 T H A N N UA L

2015-16 Foothill College Celebrity Forum Michio Kaku, Ph.D.

October 21, 22, 23

He is a theoretical physicist and futurist. While at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, he famously built an atom smasher in his parent’s garage. He has the ability to make complex scientific ideas not only understandable but also fascinating. Michele Bachmann vs. Donna Brazile

November 18, 19, 20

Michele Bachman was a congresswoman best known for her conservative Tea Party politics and her candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Donna Brazile is an American author, academic, political analyst and Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

Andrew Fraknoi

March 23, 24, 25

He is a popular, award-winning astronomy professor at Foothill College and the 2007 California Professor of the Year. The International Astronomical Union has designated an asteroid in his name for his contributions to science education and to the public understanding of astronomy. Katie Couric

April 20, 21, 22

She co-hosted The Today Show for 15 years, was anchor of the CBS Evening News and a correspondent for 60 Minutes. She has interviewed many of the world’s most famous political figures and celebrities. She is Yahoo’s Global News Anchor, an award-winning journalist and best–selling author.

Mark Russell

January 20, 21, 22

He is America’s best-known political satirist and comedian who also sings and plays the piano. Known for skewering Democrats and Republicans alike, he says his jokes and songs are very topical and have “a shelf life shorter than cottage cheese.” Malcolm Gladwell

February 17, 18, 19

He is a master storyteller on how ideas spread in The Tipping Point, on the roots of success in Outliers, and in his latest, David and Goliath, on how we think about underdogs and misfits. He is a staff writer for The New Yorker and was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people.

Bill Maher

May 18, 19, 20

He is an American political satirist, writer, producer, political commentator, television host, actor, media critic and standup comedian. Fran Lebowitz, who is an author known for her sardonic social commentary on American life, will interview him. • • • • •

Doors open at 7 p.m. Programs begin at 8 p.m. Programs are 90 minutes total. There are no intermissions. All programs are presented at the Flint Center on the De Anza College campus. Voted Best Lecture Series in the Nation by The International Platform Association

www.celebrityforum.net


Local Community Spotlight

Sponsored by Toyota of Sunnyvale

Welcome to Sunnyvale Sunnyvale, California has long been known as the heart of the world famous Silicon Valley. Sunnyvale has always excelled in quality of life and in business recruitment, retention, and expansion. Recently, the Dr. Oz Show announced, with the statistics from GallupHealthways Well Being index, that Sunnyvale is the happiest city in America. We are known for our top ranking schools and our expansive pool of quality employees in the fields of technology and innovation. To top that off, Sunnyvale is the number one leader in patents per capita over any other city in the nation. That can be attributed to our legendary corporations such as Rambus,

Motorola, Yahoo, Advanced Micro Devices, Microsoft, Apple, NetApp, Juniper Networks, Intuitive Surgical, Google, Lockheed Martin, Synopsys, Spansion, Broadcom, Applied Signal Technology, Blue Coat Systems, Northrop Grumman, Fujitsu, Maxim, Infinera, Dionex, Serious Energy, Silicon Imaging, Cepheid and many others. Our economy is resilient as a result of our business diversity and we are always the leader in the nation’s economic recovery. Sunnyvale’s city government has a reputation for facilitating smart development and for encouraging sustainable business and environmental practices. Our police and firefighting personnel are cross trained and are combined into a single department of Public Service. The Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce is known providing opportunities and benefits for all ranges of business from individual shop owners to world renowned corporations. http://www.svcoc.org


Featured Sunnyvale Business

Green is Good!

What Makes a Vehicle “Green?” When you think about buying a new vehicle, there’s more to consider than just how many people it will seat, or whether it comes with a navigation system. You also may be concerned about the effect your vehicle has on the environment. Going green is a serious choice to make with your vehicle. It may not be easy being green, but Toyota is working hard to bring green — or environmentally friendly — technologies to the vehicles we drive. Green vehicles produce fewer harmful impacts to the environment than standard internal combustion engine vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel. Green vehicles use alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies for power and locomotion. As part of their contribution to sustainable transport, environmentally friendly vehicles reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to energy independence by reducing oil imports. Battery-powered Toyotas and plug-in hybrid Toyotas are getting more and more popular. They have better fuel economy than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, and increase the range or maximum distance attainable, before discharging the battery.

Currently, Toyota offers several green-technology vehicles:

These special vehicles show the world that Toyota Green is Beautiful — in more ways than one!

all-electric WE QUOTE PRICES ON THE PHONE!

Phone: 408-913-9082

Shop online at: ToyotaSunnyvale.com • 898 W. El Camino Real • Sunnyvale


Teachers of Silicon Valley

Scott & Lily Homer

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o have one virtuoso string musician at a school is rare, but to have a married couple, each with elite training, experience, and a passion for imparting excellence to students, is like catching lightning in a bottle! Scott Homer, the Dean of the Conservatory of the Arts program at Valley Christian Schools, became the youngest concertmaster of a major symphony (the Sacramento Symphony) in modern U.S. history— he was just 22—and later served as concertmaster for other symphonies and chamber orchestras in New York. He founded the Symphonic Orchestra at Valley Christian High School and has pioneered their unique Early Music Ensemble where, for the last five years, accomplished string students learn to play baroque-period instruments. He also teaches the Conservatory strings class for the VCS fifth graders, as well as

Valley Christian Schools, San Jose even younger musicians. Mr. Homer loves “the infectious enthusiasm” of his students and his role in enabling them to “skip all the bad habits” of learning their instrument. Graduating from The Julliard School and the Hong Kong Conservatory of Music, Lily Homer served as the Concertmaster of the Australia Broadcasting Sinfonia in Sydney, and has appeared with Yo-Yo Ma and other recording artists. At Valley Christian Schools, Mrs. Homer is

the Director of String Development and teaches ensembles from third grade through high school. While she dearly loves her new learners in the younger grades, she is especially energized by the advanced students. “They experience music at a deeper level of enjoyment, as you can bring out much more of the history and background of the music, and develop advanced techniques; you can also joke around and talk about issues of life with them,” says Mrs. Homer.


Teachers of Silicon Valley

Jennifer Gerlach latest project on campus: a Biosafety Level Two lab, enabling students to replicate current cancer cell research developments and expand upon those research techniques. She loves the focus and drive of the VCHS students she mentors (many of whom are also working at Stanford in their spare time) as well as their high innate intelligence. The result: “we can collaborate Valley Christian High School, San Jose together and come up with creative approaches opportunity to pioneer as to the projects in which hat brings they are engaged.” Mrs. a biologist the Director of Scientific Gerlach is very excited specializing Research, part of VCS’ about her contribution in parasitology (well, unique Applied Math, Science, and Engineering to their futures. “This someone has to love program provides high (ASME) Institute. Aside them!), who was also school students with a biological defense from her Honors Biology researcher for four years classes, Gerlach heads up critical lab and research a special class created as skills that will allow at Lawrence Livermore a venue for the school’s them entry into research Lab, as well as current adjunct professor at atomic force microscopes. universities and careers. Valley Christian is giving She mentors select Ohlone College teaching them opportunities which Infectious Disease to students using critical so very few students become an educator at lab and research skills, ever get to have, and I’m and is also overseeing Valley Christian High playing a part in this!” the completion of her School? Perhaps it is the

W


Teachers of Silicon Valley

Graciela Marques-Hahn

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rs. Graciela MarquesHahn is the Executive Director of Neighborhood Christian Center. As a founding member, Mrs.

Marques-Hahn helped to open our childcare facility in 1981. Her vision has been the driving force behind the center for years, and her creativity

Neighborhood Christian Center

and knowledge has helped us remain a leader in Santa Clara. The Green philosophy is the brainchild of Graciela who has been a relentless visionary. I can truly say: “All I learned in life I learned from my parents or the freedom they granted me to be one of the “local kids”. What does this have to do with learning and NCC preschool? At a very early young age we give children an opportunity to: “Explore”, “Create”, “Wonder” and “Discover”. This is the basic foundation of all learning. This is what we need as human beings. To use all our senses to experience making choices and taking real risks. I am free to unhurriedly explore my life and this amazing world and universe.


Teachers of Silicon Valley

Kristin Annab

Neighborhood Christian Preschool

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ristin has worked in Christian education for the past 22 years. Her education began in 1988 as a preschool aide while attending San Jose State University. Once she completed her first semester of college in 1989, she had enough units to become a preschool teacher. Kristin then rose to become Assistant Director in 1991, after the opening of the 2nd NCP location in San Jose, all the while earning her B.A. in child development with a minor in special education. Kristin received her degree in 1994. After earning a California state teaching credential, she began teaching special education at Valley Christian Elementary School. She then taught first grade for VCES, all the while keeping the books for NCP. Kristin became director

in 2007 upon the opening of the new facility located at Crossroads Bible Church. Kristin is married to her wonderful

and supportive husband Mike, and together they have 3 children, Emily-10, and twins Jacob and Kaitlyn-6.


Local Schools

Bellarmine College Preparatory S

ince 1851, Bellarmine College Preparatory has educated young men in the Jesuit tradition of the development of “the whole person.” Simply stated, Bellarmine graduates are well prepared academically, and have also become men who pursue truth and justice and who have matured with a great sense of the importance of providing service to others. While the “Bellarmine experience” is unique to each student, there are commonalities shared by all. Among them is the depth of unparalleled academic programs, a wide variety of award-winning co-curricular opportunities, transformative immersion and Campus Ministry experiences, and faculty and staff who model the Saint Ignatius of Loyola philosophy of cura personalis: care for the person. From its beginning 163 years ago as Santa Clara Prep on the campus of what is now Santa Clara University, to its newly renovated campus in the College Park neighborhood of San Jose, Bellarmine College Prep has always been a Catholic secondary education institution respected for its caliber of students, quality of education, and tradition of developing “men for others.” Bellarmine’s commitment to educate qualified students regardless of the financial circumstances of their families is the reason

behind its need-based financial aid program, with 24 percent of its students receiving tuition assistance. In academic year 201415, Bellarmine’s Financial Aid budget will be an unprecedented $4.1 million, an amount generated partially from the

school’s endowment, with the remainder the result of direct fundraising with generous support from parents, alumni, parents of alumni, corporations, and foundations, and through events such as the annual Golden Bell Auction and the Mothers’ Guild Fashion Show for Financial Aid. Although nearly one in every four students is a recipient of tuition assistance, all students benefit from this, as its socio-economic and cultural diversity makes Bellarmine the exemplary school it is today. To learn more about Bellarmine College Preparatory, visit online: www.bcp.org



Local Community Spotlight

Sponsored by La Fiesta Restaurant

Welcome to Mountain View

Downtown Mountain View has become one of the most popular destinations, day or night, and so, too the surrounding city of Mountain View. Here you will find many wonderful restaurants to choose from, as well as shops and one of the nicest Performing Arts Centers anywhere. Every year, Mountain View offers many wonderful community activities and festivals throughout the year. Always fun, for example, is the Summer Outdoor Movie Night Series, and you also would not want to miss the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, one of the oldest and largest of great annual traditions in the Bay Area. Named for its views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the lovely city of Mountain View is also home to many of our large hi-tech companies that share such a storied presence, the likes of Google, Microsoft, Verisign, Mozilla, Symantec, Linkedin, Intuit and many others. The Farmers Market is also a very popular weekly tradition. It features over 70 growers and food vendors with peak season produce, including organic produce, and many other offerings. Open Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you enjoy the outdoors, Mountain View boasts one of the most popular parks in the South Bay - Shoreline Park, which includes the

nationally-renowned Shoreline Amphitheater for concerts and special events, and also the beautiful, very popular Shoreline Golf Course. If you’re into history, be sure to check out and enjoy the delightful Rengstorff House or one of the world’s largest computer collections at the Computer History Museum. Mountain View is one city you would like to come to and enjoy a day or evening, when the city comes alive. Enjoy the restaurants and pubs, shops and bookstores and the Performing Arts Center. In Mountain View, you can stroll and experience and enjoy the many cuisines of the world. Here many people have come to know just how pleasant it can be.


Featured Mountain View Business

La Fiesta Restaurant Unsurpassed Mexican Cuisine Since 1977 — A Tradition in Downtown Mountain View The Garcia-Lopez family invites you to enjoy our family recipes that have been handed down to us for generations. From our “Mole Poblano” to our “Grandma’s Special”, enjoy the taste and ambiance of Mexico. We feature the greatest Margaritas, more than 200 Blue Agave Tequilas & a wide selection of beers. Thank you all - We appreciate again being voted: The Best Mexican Restaurant in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice, The Best Margarita in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice and also The Best Mexican Restaurant in Silicon Valley by the Metro. Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch and Dinner, plus a Champagne/Sangria Brunch Saturday and Sunday. Banquet facilities available with seating up to 40. Wonderful for Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements, Quincineras - any and all Special Events and Get Togethers - for Families and Friends.

La Fiesta Restaurant

www.lafiestarestaurant.net

240 Villa Street (between Castro & Calderon Streets), Mountain View. CA 94041

Telephone: (650) 968-1364


Photos courtesy of The Tech Museum of Innovation

The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater is the largest IMAX Dome screen in the West. It allows guests to be immersed in a giant wraparound screen for an unforgettable film experience with crystal clear images eight stories high and 13,000 watts of wrap-around digital surround sound.

Reactable lets visitors experiment with a revolutionary electronic instrument to create new music.


MEET TIM

RITCHIE THE EXTRAORDINARY PRESIDENT OF OUR SILICON VALLEY’S WORLD FAMOUS THE TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION

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recently had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Tim Ritchie, President of The Tech Museum of Innovation in downtown San Jose.

My conversation with Tim, who arrived at The Tech in October 2011, was so insightful and inspiring. Technology is in many ways determining our world’s present and our future. All ages, especially the young, need to be able to grasp it, and to find confidence in it. The Tech welcomes 400,000 to 500,000 visitors a year. Its mission is “to inspire the innovator in everyone,” and, as Tim says, it’s not so much a museum as an The Tech Studio is a collaborative design space with digital fabrication, exhibit production and experience. prototyping. Visitors see first-hand how The Tech creates new exhibits – and be among the first The Tech also to test them. Some examples of programming in The Tech Studio include Beta Jams, Computer houses the Hackworth Science Education Week, Makerspace @ The Tech, and Social Innovation Workshops. IMAX Dome Theater, ago, a group of women from the Junior League an absolutely stunning of Palo Alto wanted to create a science center. experience that attracts an additional 150,000 They breathed life into this by making a few visitors a year. It is the largest IMAX Dome screen key calls, including to Bob Noyce (co-founder of in the West, and it’s such a different experience Intel), who responded: “Let’s get this thing going.” than a flat screen. If you have seen a film here, He called Bill Hewlett and David Packard, and you know. If you haven’t, you really should. It’s they responded: “Let’s make this happen.” And that great. Gordon Moore (Intel), too. Quite the Who’s Who How did The Tech begin? More than 30 years


Social Robots is the newest hands-on experience where you can design and build a real robot using sensors, controllers and actuators.

of Silicon Valley. The first Tech Challenge design and engineering competition took place in 1988. The idea was for students to discover their inner innovator, to gain confidence, and to be inspired by this grand experience. The participants learn as much about themselves as they do about the world. The competition started where The Tech offices are now, next to the Civic Center in downtown San Jose. Then, the beautiful building housing the museum opened in 1998. Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale had all wanted it. But it was the City of San Jose that became the champion of this cause. No one wanted this more than San Jose, and no one more than its mayor at the time, Tom McEnery. Tim Ritchie was born and raised in Louisville. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in North Carolina, his law degree from Duke Law School, and his master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. Was there something in particular that inspired Tim early on? The answer is a definite yes, and it was as early as the eighth grade. Tim read a book that truly inspired him and influenced his life:

Social Circles promotes social enc

How To Start Your Own School and Why You Need To Start One. It was about learning and society. “I knew how much I loved learning,” he said. “The premise being: How institutions of learning can and do make a difference … and, if and how we can master it, this is vital for a better world.” Throughout Tim’s career, his love and appreciation of learning, serving others and making a difference for society became very apparent. From 1998 to 2002, Tim, a lawyer at the time, felt there was a different course meant for him to make a more significant difference. At that time, he had been doing volunteer work in Birmingham, Ala. It was impactful and he was enjoying it. His greatest ambition and love was to help people toward imagination and success. Tim said many people inspired him along the way, in particular his father, who was entrepreneurial and never afraid of taking a risk. That confidence to think big and try and try again would become important in Tim’s way of thinking about possibility. And his father volunteered, helping those in poverty. This would influence Tim as well. By 2004, Tim was running the McWane


counters through playful interaction.

Science Center in Birmingham. It was this experience at McWane, as well as his outstanding previous professional experience in law, community development, education, finding solutions and community leadership that prepared him very well for what soon would be his calling at The Tech. As Tim puts it, “I have a good sense for what ‘there’ looks like, what success looks like, and how to get ‘there’. The definition of success and good leadership is how to move institutions from ‘here’ to ‘there.’” Indeed, it’s essential for the direction of The Tech in the 21st Century. “At The Tech, the students are greeted as our treasured guests. We believe there’s a light bulb within each and every one. When we see that light bulb turn on, there’s hope. The key is keeping that light on.” “Students need a safety net to fail. They also need an ‘I want to.’ I want this so badly that I’ll stick with it to the end. Here at The Tech, it’s safe to fail, and we instill the wanting. Enter the confidence, the encouragement, the ‘it’s OK,’ the perseverance, the want to keep on going. Yes -

I want to. It’s safe to. And I can do it. Indeed, it’s all enriching.” Is there a book that stands out that Tim would highly recommend? “Yes, there is. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is a great book, one I feel everyone should read. It’s an inspirational true story of how one boy’s idea improved the lives of everyone in his community including himself -harnessing technology to make the world a better place.” “There are challenges we face, and we need to find solutions. Technology is really a means to an end, a way to solve problems. There has to be a better way, which means we have to find a way to figure these things out. Such solutions will come from technology. We are in trouble if we do not find technological answers to the problems we face.” Tim is also a big champion of finding ways to ensure more women are engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Numbers are rising for women in technology and science, but not as much as they are in law and medicine. Tim added that high-tech companies are enthusiastic and supportive of this effort as well. This year’s Tech Challenge program had more than 2,000 participants, and more than 40 percent were girls. “We are very excited about the program and we want to make it more accessible for more students wanting to participate.” The open-ended, design-challenge experience in The Tech Challenge is evident on the museum floor, too. Social Robots, on The Tech’s lower level, allows visitors to design and build their own robot. It’s not the kind of experience you can skim through; it takes time, and that helps develop confidence and encourage perseverance. The Tech is in the middle of a $50 million capital campaign to revitalize the entire museum including exhibits and educational programs. As part of that, Tim is aiming to raise $3 million to convert the IMAX Dome Theater to a digital format so that The Tech can expand its educational capabilities. “The Tech is not a museum. It’s an experience,” Tim said. “People need to come and experience it.” With Tim Ritchie at the helm, it’s a VERY special experience, getting better and better all the time as a model for our children, our community and our society to learn, grow and become the best they can be.


Redefining Seafood in the Bay Area THE SEA By Alexander’s Steakhouse is the Bay Area’s premier seafood dining destination. The restaurant distinguishes itself by focusing on rich sumptuous morsels from the sea, prepared with modern technique and flair. Chef Yu Min Lin blends contemporary cuisine with Japanese sensibility and ingredients to transform The Sea’s menu into the extraordinary. Experience The Sea at its best. Lin’s approach to cooking is inspired from his extensive training and experience in both Japanese and French cuisine for over 20 years abroad and here in California. He aims to source wild, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients from land and sea. The goal is to bring out the natural flavors of freshness and present the dishes in a simple and pure form. Since he was 14 years old, Yu Min began his culinary career as an apprentice and worked his way up to Executive Sushi Chef at Shintori Cuisine Japonaise in Taipei and Shanghai. During his 10 years at Shintori, Yu Min was also trained extensively under traditional Japanese chefs in Tokyo and Yokohama, honing his knife skills and knowledge to bring out the best of the highest quality fresh seafood.

After moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Yu Min took a position as line cook at Water Grill where he worked with celebrated chef Michael Cimarusti. Chef Cimarusti’s classical French cooking techniques have a great influence on Yu Min which are reflected in his cuisine. Yu Min then accepted Chef Cimarusti’s invitation as opening Sous Chef at Providence in 2005, and was promoted to Chef de Cuisine after two years. During his tenure at Providence, the restaurant was named “One of America’s Top 50 Restaurants” by Gourmet Magazine, “Best Seafood Restaurant 2006” by LA Magazine, and awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide. To further develop his culinary skills and techniques, Yu Min performed stages at The French Laundry in Yountville and Manresa in Los Gatos. While on a family trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, Yu Min was recruited by Alexander’s Steakhouse to be its opening Executive Chef at The Sea in Palo Alto. With his passion and impeccable culinary background, Yu Min aims to redefine the seafood culinary experiences in the Bay Area.


Offering a Modern Interpretation of the classic American steakhouse with hints of Japanese influence.

SAN FRANCISCO 448 Brannan Street 415-495-1111

CUPERTINO 10330 N. Wolfe Road 408-446-2222

PALO ALTO 4269 El Camino Road 650-213-1111

W W W. A L E X A N D E RSST E A K H O US E . C OM


Local Community Spotlight

Sponsored by Outback Steakhouse

Welcome to The Great Mall

The Great Mall is located in Milpitas, just off the Great Mall Exit, between 880 and 680. It was built by the Ford Motor Land Development and Petrie Dierman Kughn in 1994. The Great Mall was later acquired in 2003 by the Mills Corporation and then in 2007 by the Simon Property Group, today’s proud owners. Early on, since the 1950’s, the Great Mall had been a Ford Automobile assembly plant. Believe it or not, Ford Mustangs were produced at this plant; bearing the name “San Jose” as the assembly location, which, in fact, was actually Milpitas. It was a busy plant back then – where Ford Fairlanes, Torinos, Pintos, F-Series pickup trucks and Escorts; Edsel Rangers and Pacers; and Mercury Cougars, Montegos, Comets, Bobcats, Lynxes, & Capris (the US version) were all being assembled – that is, up until 1983. Then, in the early 1990s, developers converted what had been that old automobile assembly plant into this beautiful new shopping center - soon to become known as the Great Mall. Commemorating the Great Mall’s history, there is a plaque located in the southwest section of its parking lot, for everyone to enjoy reading. The Great Mall of the Bay Area officially

opened its doors on September 22, 1994. Unlike many other malls, yet common for Mills malls, the Great Mall “became a flat”, or a spread out mall, and became the second largest mall in Northern California. Here, now, you will find everything in this one destination - from Century 20 Theaters, to nearly 200 stores, plus a wide-variety of some 31 Restaurants. There are so many things for you to experience at the Great Mall. In the heart of it all, you will find the always delightful Outback Steakhouse. It’s as if you’ve found your way down under, Mate - where the menu, the accent and the flavor are a joy - and a combined fun day, or evening, for everyone.


Featured Great Mall Business

Where everything is

FRESH

( 4 0 8 ) 2 6 3 - 5 4 0 0 | W W W. O U T B A C K . C O M 1246 Great Mall Drive (Located in the Great Mall) Milpitas, CA 95035


Accountability is Motivational by Terri Norvell CEO, Trust Yourself Now – a people development company

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ccountability IS motivational when your company culture is supportive and consistent. Yet too often the first thought about accountability is negative. As in, ‘Who’s accountable for this mess up?’ Bottom line, accountability gets a bad rap and suffers due to a lack of knowledge. Terri Norvell The lack can be in limited knowledge, skills, direction, measurement, feedback, acknowledgment or trust. That’s when the workplace feels like a maze in the unknown...with people being paid to guess at what to do.

Let’s change that. Accountability deserves to be defined and discussed with each team member regularly. Here’s why. Accountability is about setting people up for success in advance. This is how accountability becomes motivational. There’s a simple 4-step process that when followed provides the clarity and infrastructure for everyone to thrive. With clarity of direction, the internal motivation to excel is more than possible, it’s probable. Motivation is an inside job. This cycle becomes self sustaining with consistent reinforcement. Take a look at these four accountability culture building steps: 1. Sharing the Big Picture - the overall company focus and specific goals so that everyone knows, ‘how what I do every day ties into the results that must be achieved‘ 2. Setting Expectations - providing clear individual expectations and involvement encourages engagement and accountability 3. Monitoring Progress - manager monitoring and monitoring one’s self provides opportunities to reinforce actions 4. Providing Feedback - good performance = praise feedback, poor performance = corrective feedback...feedback drives performance Accountability is a personal choice to rise above circumstances and own achieving desired results. It’s an inside job. When team members are accountable to deliver results - no matter the challenges or obstacles and know they’ve done their best.... there is indeed a feeling of satisfaction from the inside out. Being accountable is motivational and the business results are quantifiable. This is the desired cycle in all businesses!


A European Auto Repair Shop You Can Count On

Autohaus Schmid european auto repair

B rake Se r vice • Transmission R epair • Check Engine Light Diagnostics • A /C R epair Specializing in Me rcedes™ & BMW™ Se r ving Burlingame, Califo rnia, & The San Francisco Bay A rea Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 1213 R ollins R oad • Burlingame, CA 94010-2407 Phone: (650) 342-224

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Education in Silicon Valley

STEM Education Crucial to Economy and U.S. Competitiveness By Muhammed Chaudhry

W

ith President Obama and education and technology leaders urging that STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) education become a national priority, now is the time to make a stronger push for STEM literacy and STEM integration in our local schools. This is especially important here in Silicon Valley, center of innovation and out-ofthe-box thinking. Silicon Valley understands the need to prepare our students for 21st century jobs and the innovation economy, which require strong math and science knowledge and critical thinking skills. Not enough students are following this path to replace the generation of innovators and visionaries who built Silicon Valley. We know our K-12 students, here and across the nation, are not performing well in science and math (the “S” and the “M” in STEM), which does

Muhammed Chaudhry is President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He previously worked in the corporate world for IBM, Dazzle Multimedia and the Clorox Company. He serves on numerous community boards, including the California Consortium of Education Foundations, the Hispanic Foundation and is on the advisory board of Fundly. Contact him at muhammed.chaudhry@ svefoundation.org or on Twitter: @ macrhamuhammed.

not bode well for our future workforce and maintaining America’s reputation as a global technology leader. American students consistently rank near the bottom in science and math literacy among students from developed countries. Here in Silicon Valley, where the world thinks we produce only high-achieving students, too many of our kids are not mastering the important “gateway” subject Algebra I, whose success in 8th grade is critical to prepare for college and a possible

degree in a STEM field. We need to turn this around if we are to keep moving forward to build a competitive workforce for tomorrow. The Silicon Valley Education Foundation is working toward this goal, presenting rigorous science and math (algebra) courses in summer and yearround programs for middle school students to master the basics before hitting high school. More than 5,000 Silicon Valley youth have achieved success in these programs, supported by top Silicon Valley companies, such as Flextronics, SAP, Texas Instruments, Walmart, JP Morgan Chase and Ernst & Young. These programs offer resources to arm students with skill for college and eventually work in STEM fields. The effort will drive the economy and ultimately provide American employers with home-grown talent.


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Jean-Michel Cousteau

President, Ocean Futures Society www.oceanfutures.org

Secret Oceans 3D – Unveiling Some of the Seas Best Kept Secrets

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aze across the glistening sea and watch as the sun’s rays glimmer and bounce off the glassy seas and ocean waves. A body of water that covers more than two-thirds of the planet and yet below the surface of the ocean lies a world still so mysterious to us– from those who merely marvel at its beauty to scientists who spend their lives searching for answers to its secrets. Over the course of my life, I have had the honor and privilege of dipping below the surface of the sea to soar nearly weightless among the animals that inhabit the ocean world below. My dream has always been to share with the world these beautiful and precious underwater cities that teem with the dazzling diversity of life. With new advanced digital and macro-camera technology, along with the unwavering dedication of the Ocean Futures Society and 3D Entertainment Films teams, I am sharing with the world some of the ocean’s most beautiful mysteries. Secret Ocean 3D is my newest film set for release in March 2015 and with it I bring to the large format screen the secrets and beauty of the sea that have touched me most deeply. What a dream it is to bring such a world

beyond the scope of our naked human eyes and onto a magnificent 3D cinema screen. I am confident this will bring each one of us closer into the heart of the ocean world. Life began in the sea – and for millions of years, every form of life has been forced to find ways to adapt and evolve to challenges they face. What has emerged from evolution is an ocean world bound by an intricate system of balances, with each process of life influenced and altered by the living and nonliving world around it. Secret Ocean 3D brings us up close and personal with some of evolution’s most ingenious relationships. Among these creations is the web of life wherein all creatures, plant and animal and microbe, are intertwined and interdependent. In a sense these linkages and relationships are symbiotic – a term that means living together. This oceanic cohabitation has resulted in some really amazing interactions among very unlikely partners. —Co-authored by Jaclyn Mandoske To read the rest of Jean-Michel’s great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www. siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category “Leadership”.



A Modest Proposal for CHARACTEREDUCATION for

Youth

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by Jim Thompson

f we wanted to create the most effective character-education program for kids in this country, what would we need? We’d need a place for them to gather. We’d need adults to work with them. It would need to be a program that parents would support. It would be great if it was an activity kids liked so they didn’t have to be dragged kicking and screaming to it. And wouldn’t it be great if that activity had a lot of teachable moments built in so adults could teach life lessons to kids? I have good news. We don’t have to spend billions of dollars creating an infrastructure for character-education. It already exists; it’s called youth sports. We have fields and gymnasiums all over the country. We have four million coaches in youth and high school sports, the vast majority of whom are volunteers. Parents are willing to make sacrifices to get their kids to practices and games. Kids LOVE sports. And finally, high school and youth sports are virtual classrooms for life lessons, with an endless procession of teachable moments. The bad news is that this major institution in our country is not living up to its potential as a character-education program. That’s largely because the dominant sports culture is an entertainment sports culture, meant to

entertain fans, primarily by their team winning. Thus, there’s a win-at-all-cost mentality that colors every level of sports in our society. Fortunately, there is a competing vision, where high school and youth sports offer a Development Zone culture for developing better athletes and better people. As many as 40 million kids play high school and youth sports in any given year. We know how to create development zones in high schools and youth sports organizations. And if we do, we can provide the character-education necessary to create the ethical leaders and positive contributors we need so desperately in this country. Jim Thompson is Founder and CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, a national non-profit based in Mountain View that creates Development Zones for developing “Better Athletes, Better People” through resources for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators and student-athletes at www.PCADevZone.org and via live workshops delivered in partnership with roughly 3,000 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide.



TYK Group is a group of companies that were founded by Dr. Tae Yun Kim. Each company was created with the purpose of helping people through different industries and different methods. Dr. Kim’s life mission is to help people discover their full potential so that they can utilize it in their lives.

Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions is the world’s leading supplier of real time contamination monitoring systems and airborne particle counters that work to monitor any clean environment. With its superior software design, data integration ability and worldwide support offices, Lighthouse provides its customers with leading edge contamination monitoring solutions. www.golighthouse.com

Jung SuWon is essentially the art of living life itself. This is the true “way” of the martial arts warrior– not just overcoming in combat, but a complete overcoming in every aspect of our daily living. When you learn this art, there will be no obstacle you cannot overcome. At Jung SuWon, students from ages 3 to 73 learn how to face & conquer their own fears & weaknesses to become the best they can be! www.jungsuwon.com

With the motto of “He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not Me!”, the non-profit TYK Foundation helps individuals, families, and communities to improve quality of life by offering support to those facing hardship, helping people succeed in their lives and personal goals, and teaching people to take charge and become leaders to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. www.tykfoundation.org

The Tae Yun Kim International University is dedicated to the complete development of Body, Mind and Spirit of each student. Here, we combine meditation, physical training and discussion classes with practical real life experiences to uncover the truth about our strengths and weaknesses so that each student may become the Master of his/her Life. www.tykuniversity.com

Executive Leadership & Coaching is more than just Life coaching. It provides a specific process of interaction over a period of time that encourages a shift in who you are, how you feel about yourself, what you do, and how you do it. As your confidence grows, you can learn to take control of your life, and expand your ability to make significant changes, move forward in new areas and have more of what you want in your life. www.executiveleadershipandcoaching.com

Wherever Dr. Tae Yun Kim goes, the unique and eye-catching designs of her custom created clothes and shoes always create an exciting buzz. Now she is sharing her wisdom and experience of Ki Energy with you through the colors and designs of clothes, shoes and jewelry at TYK Fashions. TYK Fashions is Dr. Kim’s creative expression of Ki Energy. www.tykfashions.com


He can do, she can do,

Overcome and succeed

me?

why not

The story of Dr. Tae Yun Kim is a timeless, epic journey. It has been a monumental struggle with the hearts and minds of a world that tried to tie her down at every turn of her life. Through it all, Great Grandmaster Dr. Tae Yun Kim has demonstrated the power of her motto “He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not Me�. Tae Yun Kim offers her life story as a message of hope to all who want more from their lives. For those who find themselves wrapped in their own struggles, bound by weakness, taken over by the negative influences, or just simply those who feel there must be more to their lives, the life story of Dr. Tae Yun Kim is a point of inspiration and a road map for others to use so they can find completeness and fulfillment in their own lives.

Overcom succeed

Dr. Tae Yun Kim


To find out the latest events going on in Silicon Valley and throughout the Bay Area, log on to finallyfriday.com


INNOVATION. EDUCATION. HERITAGE. A HOME FOR 49ERS FANS OF ALL AGES. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Monday through Sundays (10am - 6pm) Gamedays: Open - 2 hours prior to kickoff Close - 30 minutes prior to kickoff

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Photo by Nicolas Genin/Flickr

Investing With the Stars By Scott Budman

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’m hustled down a hallway, for a secretive, exclusive one-on-one. No one can see, and the crowds are kept away. The handler says “You’ll have three minutes.” This, as you might imagine, rarely happens when we reporters talk to Venture Capitalists. This is no ordinary VC, though. It’s Jared Leto, heartthrob thespian and winner of this year’s Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (“Dallas Budman Buyer’s Club”), certified rock star (“30 Seconds To Mars”), and tech investor. Within seconds of talking to him, you can tell that Leto is the real deal. Yeah, sure he’s handsome, famous, etc, etc. He also knows his technology, having invested in rising startups like Zenefits, Surfair, and Wish, while starting his own companies that blend art and technology. “Artists deserve a seat at the tech table,” Leto says, to explain why an already stratospherically famous person would seek out tech startups. “I’m looking for creative opportunities, and I see a lot of creativity in technology.”

Leto joins a growing list of well-known entertainers jumping into tech with their wallets. Ashton Kutcher invested in AirBnB. Jada PinkettSmith invested in a safety app called bSafe. Andy Samberg, T.I., Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, the list goes on. Clearly, tech is the hot spot for famous people. They tweet, they show up to board meetings. They’re clearly serious about learning and making money. Kutcher recently spoke at TechCrunch “Disrupt,” telling the crowd that he looks for creative people and good ideas, not “people talking about market cap and social media platforms.” At a recent Consumer Electronic Show (think: geek paradise) in Las Vegas, I saw no fewer than three rappers talking up headphones. 50 Cent, insisting that sound quality made his ‘phones the best; Ludacris, talking about why his brand is aimed exclusively at the high-end listener; and of course, Dr. Dre, who started Beats Electronics, brought celebrities like Lady Gaga into the fold, and just sold his company to Apple for a cool three billion dollars. So, again, why take the time to invest? Well, according to Forbes, Dr. Dre is now worth $620 million. Who wouldn’t want to play that role? Scott is the business & tech reporter for NBC Bay Area. He’s on Twitter: @scottbudman


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Thinkaholics Anonymous or “What the hell were you thinking?”

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now what is the most rampant, destructive and largely untreated disease ravaging our world, destroying lives, fomenting conflict, war, misunderstanding, misery? It might be hard for you to hear this and almost certainly challenging to understand, but you are not who you think you are. In fact, it is the very thoughts you hold about yourself and identify as your self, that create much of the suffering in your life. Certainly did in mine. I’ve started my own deadly-playful recovery program, Thinkaholics Anonymous, dedicated to freeing us from the tyranny our thoughts. Our motto is “What the hell were you thinking?” TA helps us relieve the suffering caused by our belief in thinking. Our meetings are silent because only in the silence can we hear the thoughts for what they are and not automatically believe and identify with what they’re saying. Don’t get me wrong, I love thinking, recognize its value as a survival mechanism and enjoy communicating ideas. I just know I’m a Thinkaholic, easily get hooked by my thoughts, and have too often “come to” after

a binge of belief-ing asking myself. “What the hell were you thinking?” The fellow they named Buddhism after, described thinking as “the waterfall,” because we are so easily carried over a cliff by it and fall out of touch with reality. This is how it happens: The mind is always measuring our experience as either pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. It uses all its tricks to reach out for more of the pleasant. It contracts and creates reasons to avoid, the unpleasant. It’s bored by the neutral. Here’s the trick. We create stories around the thoughts the mind is creating based on those sensations. It’s how we can love someone so much one minute and hate them the next. They didn’t change; the reality about how we feel about them in our heart didn’t actually change, but our thoughts about them changed in response to the sensation they just triggered in us … To read the rest of Jan’s great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www.siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category: “Business Owners / Health & Fitness”.


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FIREWORKS ALL GAMES ON 95.7 THE GAME HOME FIREWORKS ALL GAMES AND TIMES ALL TIMES ALL GAMES ON THEPACIFIC GAME ALLHOME GAMES ANDFIREWORKS TIMES SUBJECT SUBJECT TO TO CHANGE CHANGE ALL95.7 TIMES PACIFIC ● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ■ ESPN ▲ FOX ALL GAMES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE ALL TIMES PACIFIC ● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ■ ESPN ▲ FOX

INFORMATION VISIT SEA

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HIT & RUN - 12 GAMES

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FOR UP TO DET

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APRIL COL 1 SEA 2 SEA 3 SEA 4 APRIL APRIL 12:35 10:08 1 7:05 6:05● ●2 6:05 1:05● ●3 1:05 7:05 ●4

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CLE 254 BAL CLE 25 CLE ●25 7:05 MIN 115 TOR 5 MIN 5:10● 5 MIN 4:07 ● 5:10● 12 BOS 18 5:10● LAD 12 BOS 7:05 ●12 BOS 7:05 ● 7:05 ●19 HOU 7:05 SEA ●25 19 HOU 5:10●19 HOU 7:10 ● 5:10● 26 DET 5:10●26 DET 7:05 ●26 DET 7:05 ●26 TEX 7:05 ● TEX 26 TEX 26

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SAC FLY - 26 GAMES

JULY 1

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● COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ■ ESPN ▲ FOX


The first time I met

By Scott Budman remember, as if it was yesterday, the first time I interviewed Steve Jobs, one-on-one, with no other crews in the room. Of course, I also remember when Steve Jobs got fired. I wasn’t reporting back then, but knew of Apple, because it was cool, I was from the Bay Area, and some of my friends had Apple computers. But back to the interview. I wondered if I’d get to experience the “Full Steve.” You know: cocky, impatient, brilliant. The whole “reality distortion field” thing. I wasn’t disappointed. We set a chair a few feet in front of the new eMac for Budman classrooms. Then we hit the top of the machine with a bright light with a red gel on it. The photographer shooting the story was pleased with the look. Then Jobs walked in. Not pleased. “Why do I have to sit AWAY from the eMac? I want to touch it.” And, after another glance, “Why is it RED?? The computer is WHITE! What’s going on here?” We quickly did away with the setup, lights, and chair. Practically trembling, 99 percent sure I’d already blown the interview (not to mention all the good will built up with the Apple PR team to actually get the interview), I attached a wireless mic to Jobs’ black turtleneck. We were silent for a bit, him checking the time, me thinking law school might have

actually made more sense, when I had a lastditch idea: “Steve, how about you just show me around the new computer?” That did it. Jobs spent the next 30 minutes (we were given five) walking around the eMac, touching it, showing off every nook and cranny of it. He was wonderful. He even sat down to talk strategy, and how the new machine would usher in all sorts of easy computing for its fans. I came away with a new appreciation of Jobs that day. I though back to the day when Jobs left Apple. And, years later, when I was living outside Apple’s Cupertino headquarters on a day when times seemed so bad, a competitor flew a plane overhead with a phone number so laid-off Apple employees could call for work. It was during that time that Dell CEO Michael Dell famously suggested Apple sell the company and move on. Several hundreds of billions of dollars later, Michael Dell is still in business, but his products are dwarfed by Apple’s -- and Steve Jobs. Jobs himself has often told reporters that leaving Apple the first time was the best thing that ever happened to him. Did he become humble and meek? No, thank goodness. But on the day he came back, I remember him sketching out what Apple was selling at the time, crossing it all out, and replacing it with just four boxes, to represent the categories Apple was going to focus on -- and eventually dominate. Now, years later, Jobs is gone, and I’m faceto-face for the first time with (of all people) Michael Dell. The man of the notorious “sell the company” comment. As it turns out, Dell was among those who said very nice things about Jobs on the day


he died. He told me he respected Steve Jobs, tried to lead by his example, and “probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Steve.” Pretty impressive stuff to hear from a billionaire. We got to talking, for a bit, about Jobs’ legacy, and could there be another like him? After all, even with all the deserved respect and thoughtful tributes to what Jobs accomplished for Apple and the tech industry as a whole, we here in Silicon Valley are known for looking ahead. What’s next, and who will lead us to it? As for candidates for the next Steve Jobs, let’s start young. Mark Zuckerberg? An obvious choice, because he’s clearly ahead of his time, pushing through decisions that, after initial skepticism, prove to be spot-on. Speaking of Facebook, how about COO Sheryl Sandberg? Not as young as Mark, but ahead of her time in the tech world, with a strong feeling that education is what’s needed for a better tech industry (remember, Apple used to push that pretty hard, too). I’ve also been impressed by Aaron Levie, the young CEO and co-founder of Box.net. His is a company focusing on cloud storage - not as consumer sexy as Apple, but crucial to the future of tech. He has written several posts recently pretty much saying that he does what he does because he watched Steve Jobs do it. Touching and thoughtful, from someone who will surely be part of the next big tech wave. But, In the interest of keeping this somewhat concise (and feel free to let me know if you have ideas of your own), I’ll just add one more: I was reminded of someone else I’ve spoken to a lot lately, when I read a tweet that said, “Apple needs to buy Square and make Jack Dorsey the new CEO.” Ha, ha, that’s a good one. But wait a minute. Two companies at once, both changing the game. Add in a focus on the future and -- remember Apple’s early days? - a keen fashion sense and the similarities are almost eerie. If we have to crown a “next” Steve Jobs, why not end the game with a Square, and a tweet? Jack Dorsey, the pressure’s on.

It’s no fun being the “next” anything, but the tech world is looking for a new icon. Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman


A SCOTT BUDMAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE EVOLVING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

Let Them Play Video Games! I

know, the conventional wisdom is that video games are bad. I’ve heard that since I was a little kid, which takes us back to the early days of the Atari 2600, where “Pac-Man” was made of little squares, and “Space Invaders” was cutting edge. Games were evil way back then, just like they supposedly are now. Here’s the thing: Since I was a kid, and have grown up, lots of engineers have also grown up, started companies, and changed the world. Some of them are the kids I grew up Budman with. The ones who insisted on playing video games while the rest of us were, you know, outside playing games and inside reading books. Many of the game players were also creating, coding, and programming

their own video games, and yes, those are the aforementioned people now running companies. Of course, not all young gamers grow up to be CEOs. But I cover tech, and the thing techies cite most as their inspiration for jumping into computers, or engineering, or science (besides watching “Star Wars” a lot of times) is video games. The challenges, competition, even the cheat codes. Maybe that’s why, when Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was holding court among a few of us reporters about a year and a half ago – and found out that some of us had daughters, she said “Let your daughters play video games. Encourage it!” This from the current authority on how women can advance in the workplace. As a father of two daughters, those words stuck with me. Not enough to actually go out and buy a video game console (I really want them outside playing games, or inside reading books), but enough so that when I see them playing something on an iPad, I don’t cringe. I dream of future college scholarships, and enough future stock options to keep their parents set well into retirement. The debate over good vs bad will continue, with lots of stats on both sides. But let the record (and Sheryl Sandberg) show: Sometimes, playing around can lead to curiosity, which can lead to really good things. Scott Budman is a Technology correspondent for NBC News. He’s also on Twitter: @scottbudman


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Love & The Art of Seeking

A Wonderful Romance by Tana Marie

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hhh, LOVE — supreme mystery, exquisite commodity — the imperative goal. Mankind has pondered it, adolescents toy with it, adults yearn for it, yet children give it freely. We all possess an intrinsic understanding the natural flow of love — whether expressed or not. So why is there so much pain or confusion surrounding it? How can love be such a sublime mixture of pleasure and pain? Romance is wrought with conflicting experiences because: being in relationships for the wrong reason; unrealistic expectations; trust issues; fear of intimacy; or disillusionment. Love isn’t supposed to hurt — EVER. Period. It wasn’t constructed that way. Love’s very nature is comfortable, nurturing, growth oriented and sustaining. Make love your friend by reconnecting with that fresh, childlike belief in love. If you are seeking a wonderful romance, the first thing to do is get very specific about the characteristics, values, physical characteristics, lifestyle, goals and personality traits you want and need in a romantic partner. This will become your ‘Romance Wish List’, which is essential for everyone who is truly ready for a sustainable love relationship. One of the reasons a specific list is so powerful, is that too many

people enter a relationship by default. They don’t necessarily know what they want or need in a relationship, so they begin a relationship with “someone” hoping that love will grow, and conquer all. It doesn’t. Love must be given a helping hand. By specifying your needs and desires before you create the relationship you will accomplish two things: 1. You’ll have a better chance of creating a healthy relationship right from the start. 2. You’ll know if they are a viable contender, because you’ll both have similar wants and needs. ‘The List’ is not to be some edict from on high that is impossible for anyone, short of Superman/ Superwoman, to measure up to. Instead, it is a guide for you to know if they match your criteria. If they don’t, you’ll save untold hours/days. If they do, you’re so ahead of the game! Enjoy. Remember, stop ‘looking for love’, just BE love and see what happens. Tana Marie Award Winning Author * Intuitive Counselor * Reverend * Romance & Dating Strategist * Weddings * Your Perfect Life Exists – Let’s Create It Now!” (831) 646-1137 * TM@TanaMarie.com * www.TanaMarie.com


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Rotary World Leader Comes to Silicon Valley G ary C. K. Huang, President-elect of Rotary International for 2014-2015, came to San Jose recently to speak to several hundred upcoming club presidents at the Far West President–Elect Training Seminar (PETS). The Rotary year begins July 1, so Huang is traveling around the world to help train the 34,000 club presidents who will lead their clubs next year. The greater Silicon Valley, known in Rotary as District 5170, includes 53 clubs from Oakland to Santa Cruz and from Palo Alto to Livermore. With the motto, “Service above Self’’ every club has community projects and international projects. Rotary has about 1,200,000 members worldwide. They meet weekly, hear wonderful speakers and have a lot of fun. Clubs are always looking for new members. Huang will be the first Chinese president of Rotary International, a goal he set many years ago. He was born in southern China and grew up in Taiwan. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University and has an MBA from the College of Insurance in New York. He and his wife, Corinna, have three children. In 2004 Huang wrote a book about his business and his Rotary experiences called “Finding Solutions, Not Excuses.” Local Rotarians honored Huang and his wife with a lovely reception in the Taiwanese Culture Center in Sunnyvale. Delighted by seeing friends he knew even as long ago as high school, Huang spoke to them in the Taiwanese dialect,

Presentation of artwork to President-Elect Huang. Lena Zee, Gary Huang, Jim Lechner, Arthur Ku (the artist) Henry Yin and David Sheen Photo by Steve Cho

encouraging them to become Rotarians. He then taught everyone his trademark “Happy Clap.” “Eradicating polio has been a goal of Rotary for many years,” said Huang. “By partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other organizations we hope the world will be polio free by 2018.” He said he chose the theme Light Up Rotary for his presidential year because he was inspired by the teachings of the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, who said: “It is better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness.”


APRIL 17 - 26, 2015 AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 9 - 11

DECEMBER 5 - 14, 2014 AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 9 - 11

MAY 8 - 17, 2015 AUDITIONS: MARCH 17 - 18

MARCH 6 - 15, 2015 AUDITIONS: JANUARY 6 - 7

JULY 24 - AUGUST 2, 2015 AUDITIONS: MAY 18 - 19

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NOVEMBER 14 - 23, 2014 AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 16 - 17 AGES: 8-15

APRIL 30 - MAY 3, 2015 AUDITIONS: MARCH 10 - 11 AGES: 8-14

JULY 10 - 19, 2015 AUDITIONS: MAY 5 - 6 AGES: 10-14

AUGUST 6 - 9, 2015 AUDITIONS: MAY 12 - 13 AGES: 6-9


Meet Chris Wondolowski If You Are Looking For A Great Role Model…You Need Not Look Beyond The Great “WONDO” I had the great pleasure the other day of meeting and talking with Chris Wondolowski, the San Jose Earthquakes and MLS (Major League Soccer) Striker and Star Player. I have met many “famous” people / star athletes before. But this was different. He was as interested and excited about talking with me, as I was with him. I complimented him on ‘this’ or ‘that’ and he would say “Thank you very much. I really appreciate it” - and it was genuine. It was a breath of fresh air and I appreciated that. He had just completed an arduous workout session – and he was being so gracious to stand with me and spend this time conversing with me. We talked about a number of things, and then in particular, we talked about his heroes. Did he or does he have heroes, people who have inspired him to this very day? Oh, yes, many, he said. Former teachers, and especially his Dad, his coaches, fellow players he has played with and plays with. The accomplishments he was proud of were all team oriented and he always wanted to talk about the team. Then he also included in the conversation his excitement for the new stadium. We both would glance just a 100 yards away from the practice field where we were standing

… admiring as if we could get a glimpse of the joy around the corner. But none of the talk was a focus on him, it was him that also included his teammates, the gratitude and sure the hope of what was to come. It was different. He was different. Wondo’s father played soccer at Cal Berkeley, so soccer was in Chris’s blood since early childhood. One of his brothers, Stephen, also played soccer and played professionally for the Houston Dynamo. He now is a development soccer coach in the Earthquakes youth organization. Wondo was born in the East Bay and played soccer at De La Salle High School in Orinda. De La Salle has been famous all these years for its football, its Football Hall of Fame Coach, Bob Ladouceur, and its great football winning tradition. Coach Ladouceur was one of the winningest coaches in high school football history - or any sports history for that matter. He was / he is a legend in his own right. I asked Wondo if he was an inspiration and hero of his? … To read the rest of Wondo’s great article, please go to our Silicon Valley Talk website (www.siliconvalleytalk.com) and enjoy the balance under the category “Sports”.


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Bold Action Needed to Combat the Childhood Obesity Crisis By Ken Yeager Santa Clara County Supervisor, District Four

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hildhood obesity is a topic that is very important to me as a person and as an elected official. It is not just an issue of concern. It is a crisis, and there is no magic bullet that will serve as a solution. It is a multifaceted, complex issue that will require government, businesses, schools, and parents together. One in four middle Ken Yeager school and high school students in Santa Clara County, ages 13-17, are

overweight or obese. For some populations, such as Latinos and African Americans, those numbers are one in three. More than half of adults in Santa Clara County are overweight or obese. Children who are obese after age six have a greater than 50 percent chance of being obese as an adult. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. If this trend continues, this will be the first generation of children to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Childhood obesity is not just a health issue. It is an economic issue as well. Obesity costs the taxpayer millions of dollars in related healthcare costs. Employers are effected through lost productivity and increased insurance costs. The cost of obesity in Santa Clara County are estimated at $420 million in healthcare and $496 million in lost productivity.


Even though there is a lot of new work happening through governments and regional partnerships, we are a long way from solving the childhood obesity crisis. While we must continue to educate, increase access to healthy food, and make physical activity a bigger part of city living, bold actions are also needed to draw attention to this problem. Because the effects of childhood obesity often seen later in life, too few people are motivated to act now. Sometimes new and even controversial ideas can help move the discussion along. An exciting idea that we passed in Santa

Most of us instinctively know that fast food is bad for you. When you look at the data, it is even worse. Clara County was a first-of-its-kind ordinance I authored to require restaurants to meet minimum health requirements for its kids meals that are linked to toys or other incentives. It has often been referred to in the media as the “Happy Meal Ban,” but it is not a ban at all. Rather, it gives parents a tool to resist the millions of dollars spent on marketing unhealthy meals to their children.

Most of us instinctively know that fast food is bad for you. When you look at the data, it is even worse. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for children 6-8 years old is 1500 calories, 58 grams of fat, and 1800 mg of sodium. If you look at a basic kids’ meal of a cheese burger, small fries, and 12-oz soda, it has 750 calories, 30 grams of fat and 895 mg of sodium. One meal would provide 50% of total daily calories, 52% of fat and 50% sodium. Fast food restaurants sold more than 1.2 billion meals with toys to children in 2006. In 2006, restaurants spent at least $360 million on toys. Toy giveaways are estimated to be the second highest child-directed expenditure by the industry, after TV advertising. In a study of children’s meals at restaurants, 10 of 12 of the highest calorie meals came with toys. All this money is being spent to influence children when they are young and their taste buds are developing. In essence, these toy offers get kids hooked on the taste of fast food at an early age. Santa Clara County’s ordinance ensures that food provided along with toys meet minimum health standards. A few months after Santa Clara County passed its ordinance, San Francisco passed an ordinance of its own, and New York City is considering one as well. Now the restaurant industry is taking notice. Recently, Jack in the Box announced that they will no longer offer toys as part of their kids’ meals. McDonald’s— the fast food chain that started the kids’ meal toy craze—is making changes of their own. They announced that they will be reducing the serving size of french fries and including fruit in all of their Happy Meals. The awareness being raised by Santa Clara County’s ordinance is helping the restaurant industry and parents to confront the need for change. We have made some good first steps, but much more still needs to be done.


Jean-Michel Cousteau

President, Ocean Futures Society www.oceanfutures.org

Dive into underwater treasures S

tanding on the edge of a boat peering into the vast blue deep of the ocean is a thrilling – and sometimes intimidating— experience. My father “helped” me get over my nervousness by simply throwing me overboard at the age of seven with the newly invented SCUBA tank on my back, but for folks without such assistance, you have to simply take a deep breath and make the plunge. In the past five years California dove enthusiastically into ocean conservation when the Fish and Game Commission voted to adopt a network of underwater reserves along the coast between Oregon and the Mexican borders. It is encouraging to have these new marine protected areas as a statewide system of protected ocean waters. For me, it gives me a sense of hope that future generations will have similar experiences of diving the giant kelp forests off our California coast as I did on my first dive after my father’s passing in 1997 at Anacapa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary. I remembered that dive vividly as if it was just yesterday. There was an unusual opening in the kelp. The sun’s rays were shining brightly through the kelp, lighting up this little, inexplicable patch of sand-like a spotlight on an empty stage. All around me there were tiny garibaldi, brightly colored damsel- fish native to the area. In normal light, they’re a fantastic, shimmering orange, but here in this bright sunlight, they were like festive candles, a string of party decorations

Photo: © Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society

announcing some underwater fiesta. What can I do but follow these playful, carrotcolored fish to the sandy bottom? What can I do but give myself over to their sweet allure? I drop to my knees and fall on the spot and I am overcome with emotion. It is almost mystical. I have been thinking of my father, of course, and now it feels as if he is here with me, on this sun-splashed ocean floor. For the first time since his death, he is near.


Lydia. Raising children is the hardest and most rewarding job I will ever have and one that SVT: How long have you been keeps me challenged, grateful doing this and what do you and very proud. Lydia is 13 and love most about your work? in 8th grade. She is a terrific RF: I joined SAMCEDA in July of student and excels at multiple 2008 and thoroughly enjoy what sports. She has a wonderful I do. Having a vibrant economy sense of humor and makes impacts all our communities on me think! Julia is 18 and in her many levels. On the Peninsula, first year at the United States we expect our cities to provide Naval Academy in Annapolis, top notch services, we expect MD. When we were looking at to have well-maintained parks various colleges and universities and open space to enjoy, Russell Hancock Rosanne Foust Scott Budman she said more than once that and we expect an efficient she wanted to go somewhere transportation infrastructure. In that would challenge and order to have all this (and more) motivate her. When she decided we need a vibrant economy on the Academy many people that can sustain and enhance asked why. Her answer was simple, “I wanted our quality of life. SAMCEDA works to ensure that these expectations become reality. These are tough to be part of something greater than me.” As issues, but I am energized by finding solutions that a parent, I could not be more proud of both daughters. make this a great place to live, work and play. business advocacy organization.

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SVT: What are some key challenging issues we SVT: There are many organizations you work are facing you would like us to know about? with and Boards you serve on – you are a hub RF: The biggest challenge I see on the horizon of everything and everyone – who and what is fear of change. Society is moving at a faster inspires you? pace than I think anyone could ever have RF: My parents never had very much from a anticipated and sometimes the immediate material point of view. By todays’ standards we reaction is “No. Stop. I want everything to slow would be poor, actually very poor and yet I never down.” this Recognizing change felt poor. We never owned a home, my Dad The Pulse of Silicon Valley ... Experience in thethat form of isaninevitable we collectively need to find ways that engage both worked three jobs at various points in his life, extraordinary roundtable - where experts leaders, points of view. Thoseand that see change as positive we never had a new car…always a used one, weCommunity andfamily citizens, all under one speak out and share and roof, those that see change as negative. never professionals went on an overnight vacation, we didn’ttheir have music, artand or dance lessons and yet we stories ideas. SVT: What can we do to help make this an even were rich in what really mattered. They instilled in me and my brother and sister the value of hard better community? a positive and others upbeat, informative inspiring Be open, flexible,place patient,where kind, resourceful, work, It’s education and treating as you want to RF:and we will learn about and learnoffrom people, great companies creative, hardworking, dedicated, committed, be treated. They instilled the importance familygreat willing to engage and grateful for the freedoms and faith. readorganizations newspapers and doing watchedgreat the things. andThey great and opportunities we have. news and made sure we were aware of current


| | DINING OUT

A Delicious Taste of Italy

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he dream came to Joe Antuzzi II, the proprietor of Il Postale: to create a fun, festive and popular restaurant similar to what you would find in the Old World Italian fare — located in a historic downtown, close to the train station, where people would come from near and far, and feel right at home — enjoying such delicious Italian food and wine and in such a warm, friendly and comfortable setting. So it came to be that in 1995, Il Postale, the ItalianAmerican Bistro, was born. Il Postale, is Italian, meaning the Post Office. It is conveniently located in historic downtown Sunnyvale (yes, down the street from the train station), located in what was the original post office building. Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Il Postale’s setting seems perfect, in an old world charm of its own. There, you will experience award-winning ItalianAmerican food and at reasonable prices. The intent was not to reinvent the Italian culinary world, but to include already very popular old Italian family recipes and in an open-kitchen, very friendly ambiance, inside and also outdoors. Thus, it is a bistro, meaning it is meant to feel casual,

Il Postale, The Italian-American Bistro A Delicious Taste of Italy 127 West Washington Avenue Sunnyvale (408) 733-9600 www.ilpostale.com

where people would feel comfortable whether wearing shorts or a suit and tie. Laura Reiley of CitySearch wrote: “Il Postale is an Italian gem of a restaurant in Sunnyvale, with generous portions and


attentive service.” Good Life Publications wrote: “Big-hearted and two-fisted, this robust restaurant likes to lavish its customers with generous portions and attentive service. Here is a place that turns out food Dean Martin would have loved. The marinara is perfection, and there’s invariably some seafood pasta dish that will hit the exact al dente mark with plenty of pizzazz. The decor is classic ItalianAmerican and so is the menu. A place to be casual and get involved with the food.” As another reviewer wrote: “The menu is plentiful and not to mention excellent.” There is also an array of popular vegetarian and vegan options, plus an outstanding wine selection and a full bar, as well, to choose from. Come and enjoy Il Postale, the ItalianAmerican Bistro. When not able to attend, you may also wish to consider their very popular “Cater your next event” menu. This way you can bring Il Postale’s delicious, fun and friendly festivities to you. Buon appetito!


The

Beautiful Wedding

By Julie Hart Conde

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y passion is bringing peace, joy and beauty into people’s lives. I especially enjoy doing this for brides and grooms, who often find it overwhelming when planning their wedding. If the multitude of details involved in planning your wedding is starting to get you stressed, below are 8 ways to keep you at peace as you plan one of the most important days in your life. 1. Breathe: When things start to get overwhelming, breathe deep, take a look at your options and focus on the most pressing one.

2. Focus: Keep a notebook near you or use your notebook app to jot down the myriad of thoughts that distract you from the task at hand. This will help you to focus and give you reassurance that you won’t be forgetting something important. 3. Hit List: While the long list of details can be overwhelming, the key is to break your list down into smaller bites. Find a wedding timeline online and use that to break down your list into separate monthly plans. Then focus on just one month at a time. 4. Stress Reducer: If you find yourself getting stressed, talk with a friend or call your wedding planner. It’s great to get a different perspective and encouragement from those who love you and those who have the expertise.

Similar to the point above, keep focused on the positive and the possibilities. Look to your future and keep people around you who want your true happiness. 6. Vendors: When considering working with any vendor, read their contract thoroughly. Make note of the specifics and ask questions if anything isn’t clear. If something doesn’t fit in with what you originally had in mind, decide now if it is a deal breaker or if you are willing to compromise. 7. Possibilities: You don’t have to do a wedding a specific way, anything is possible. This day should be all about the two of you coming together and your guests should leave feeling like they saw who you are and what you like. 8. Wedding Style: Pinterest is a great tool that can help define your style. Once you have pinned a set of pictures that you love of the various elements of your wedding, look for common themes among your selections. Next, pick 3 to 5 words that describe your style. Moving forward, if you have a question about whether something is right for your wedding, you can go back to these words and decide if it fits in.

Remember, at the end of the day you will be married to the one that you love and the one who loves you: deeply, completely and unconditionally. No matter what elements you put into your day … take joy in this and savor the moments that bring you the most joy during the planning process.

Julie Hart Conde, Wedding and Event Planner, is the owner of Celebrations by Heart. www.celebrationsbyheart.com 5. Positivity: Surround yourself with positive people.


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Involving your toddler in recycling he routines you create for your child while he is young will grow into habits over the years. Although your toddler may be too young to understand the need to be eco-friendly, it is possible to get him into the routine of recycling by presenting it in an entertaining way. Here are some tips to get your toddler involved in recycling some common household items. Sorting the Household Waste Sorting the household waste is a fun activity to carry out with toddlers as it appeals to their natural inclination to categorise and sort items. It also gives them a sense of achievement when they get it right. Set up three plastic boxes and label each of them with pictures of what they should contain: one for paper, one for plastic and one for glass. Your toddler can help you search through old magazines or catalogues for suitable pictures for each box, which you can then cut out and stick on. This gives you an opportunity to talk through what types of waste should go in each box. The pictures will serve

as a useful reminder to your toddler when he is deciding what to place in each box. When sorting the household waste, give your toddler the responsibility of spotting which items can be recycled and into which box they should be placed. He will need a lot of direction at first, so be sure to offer praise and encouragement when he gets it right. Where items have a recycling symbol stamped on them, point it out to your toddler. He will soon start to recognise it on a range of everyday items. Composting If you have enough space in your garden, a compost heap can be used to recycle your biodegradable household waste. The setting up of the compost heap is a job for an adult, but your toddler will enjoy finding things to throw on to it.


Choose a suitable area of the garden and start the compost heap by placing green garden waste, brown garden waste, fruit and vegetable peelings and shredded newspaper in a pile. The pile should rest directly on the earth, not on concrete or plastic. You can enclose the compost heap with wood or wire to keep it neat, but this is not essential. The compost will take a few months to rot down and will need to be dug over once a month. When the bottom of the heap starts to turn brown and crumbly, the compost is ready to be used. Set your toddler the task of finding things to add to the pile. Along with garden waste and peelings from the kitchen, the compost heap will benefit from old teabags and eggshells. Avoid anything synthetic, oil and cooked food scraps which could attract vermin. Again, it may be helpful to sit down with your toddler and go through some old magazines and catalogues to choose pictures of items which can be added to the compost heap. These can be cut out and stuck on to a piece of card to be used as a reminder for your toddler when he is choosing what to throw on to the heap. Clothing Toddlers can also get involved in recycling old clothing. Although you may be passing wearable items on to a younger sibling or another child, you may have clothing that is unfit to be worn again. There are recycling outlets for used clothing which pay an amount of cash per kilo. If your toddler attends a nursery or daycare facility, they can use such a scheme to raise cash and to teach the children about the benefits of recycling. Nursery managers are usually happy to receive fundraising suggestions. Alternatively, you could

By involving your toddler in recycling and making it an entertaining activity, you are building a positive habit for the future.

use the money raised as an incentive for your child by saving it towards a treat, such as a day out or a coveted toy. Old Toys Another key area for recycling is your toddler’s toys. You may face some resistance to passing on items he has enjoyed playing with. A long forgotten toy can suddenly become the current favourite if your toddler thinks he may have to part with it. One approach is to explain that these can be passed on to children who have fewer toys than he does, although he may be a little young to empathise with their situation. Another tactic is to schedule such a clear out shortly before Christmas or his birthday. They attraction of new toys arriving may persuade him to part with some of his existing collection. By involving your toddler in recycling and making it an entertaining activity, you are building a positive habit for the future. Before you know it your child will be recycling items without prompting and may even be the one reminding you to be eco-friendly. stories@svlocalmag.com


BACK IN TIME

2000

• The Seattle Kingdome is demolished by implosion • The NASDAQ reached an all-time high of 5,048 • Bill Clinton is the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam • The U.S. Supreme Court stops the Florida Presidential recount giving the state to George W. Bush • Average cost for a gallon of gasoline $1.70 • U.S. Postage stamp 33 cents • Microsoft chairman Bill Gates steps aside as Chief Executive Officer • Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams beat Tennessee Titans, 23-16 at the Georgia Dome Atlanta MVP is Kurt Warner, St. Louis QB • In a pre-dawn raid, federal agents

seize six-year-old Elián González from his relatives’ home in Miami, Florida.

• 100th US Golf Open at Pebble Beach • Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana Pacers 4-2 in NBA finals MVP is Shaquille O’Neal, L.A. • Sammy Sosa’s becomes the second player to hit 50 or more home runs in three consecutive years, joining Mark McGwire • The 100th Space Shuttle mission (STS-92) is flown. • NY Yankees defeat NY Mets 4-1 to win their 3rd straight World Series Championship; MVP is Derek Jeter, NY Yankees • U.S. retailer Montgomery Ward announces it is going out of business after 128 years.


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Former ‘49ers star Steve Bono is now helping other Bay Area athletes make the right decisions with their investments.

The San Francisco Bay:

A Crossroads of Wealth Creation

F

ew places in America are surrounded by as much wealth as the San Francisco Bay. While entrepreneurial technology companies and the venture capitalists backing them have been getting all the headlines, a half dozen major sports franchises have been consistently generating wealth in the Bay Area for years. And regardless of the various sources of wealth, the inevitable complexities remain the same. One California sports icon, Steve Bono, who played collegiate football at UCLA and professional football as quarterback from 1985 to 1999, including five years with the San Francisco 49ers, is now dedicated to helping these Bay Area athletes make the right decisions with their money. “I was lucky enough to be surrounded by trustworthy advisors during my career and

was able to avoid the unfortunate financial situations we often hear about,” said Bono, now a principal at Constellation Wealth Advisors in Menlo Park. Bono helped establish Constellation’s newest Steve Bono division, Constellation Sports Wealth Advisors, to focus on the unique financial challenges faced by professional athletes and coaches. “The assets earned during an athlete’s relatively brief playing career need to be properly managed to support a financially secure and comfortable post-retirement lifestyle,” said Bono. “Money doesn’t come with a game plan or a coach.”


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HOW TO PERFECT YOUR GOLF SWING

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he search for the perfect swing is the Holy Grail for golfers all over the world as they strive to ďŹ nd an action that will permit them to play the game to a high standard. Grooving a golf swing that is repeatable and dependable can only be achieved through practice, and this will require time and patience. Trying to perfect a swing while playing in competition is never advisable as you cannot possibly give your full concentration to the areas that need attention. Professional golfers will work tirelessly on their swings, some even hiring teachers who will give advice on elements of the swing. For recreational golfers, perhaps securing the services of a club professional will help, but for most golfers, it is a case of trial and error on the practice range. What can you do to improve

you swing? The starting point for anyone who hopes to improve their game is to ensure that the fundamentals are in place. These include a good grip, proper stance, correct alignment and tempo of the swing. When the basics are in place, you will be in position to hit golf shots that are reasonably good. Your next step is to experiment with things that may improve your swing allowing you to hit the ball longer, straighter and with more spin. For example, ball position is something that can have a real impact on your swing as it often determines the angle at which you approach the ball and how this affects your arms and shoulders on the downswing. If you position the ball too far toward your front foot, this can encourage an over-the-top pass at the


ball, probably resulting in a pull or a slice. On the other hand, if you position the ball too far back in your stance, you may find you are blocking the ball to the right or hooking it wildly. Experiment with ball position and you will most likely find that placing the ball in the middle of your stance or just fractionally toward your front foot will reap dividends. On longer clubs like the driver, the ball will be further toward your front foot. A tip you will find helpful when working on grooving your golf swing, is to experiment on the practice range with different tempo swings. Some recreational golfers swing very hard and fast in order to attempt to hit the ball further. You may be surprised to find that with a more leisurely, smooth swing, you will actually achieve greater distance. In reality, you want to hit the ball better, not harder. Fast swings tend to pull the arms into play too quickly and this often results in cutting across the ball, leading to a slice. The tempo of your swing is possibly the most crucial element you can work on as it will promote a repeatable swing you can rely on under pressure. In fact, you can groove such a swing in the garden at home without the need to hit golf balls. Find the tempo that works best for you, and make this part of your golf game. Another element that impacts on your swing

is how you stand to address the ball. This can make a real difference to the quality of your shots and determine how high or low your ball trajectory will be. It can also influence how you bring the club head to the ball. Are you possibly stretching for the ball at address? Or is your stance too upright causing you to slice? Again, take time on the practice range to experiment by hitting shots while taking a variety of address positions. A tall person will naturally stand more upright to the ball while a shorter person will reach more for the ball and have a flatter swing. On that subject, if you are serious about grooving a solid, repeatable golf swing, you would do well to make sure you are using golf clubs suited to your height. Badly fitted clubs will have you swinging on an arc that is unnatural and will inevitably result in hooking or slicing. As is true for even the best of players, grooving a good golf swing is a matter of practice. You may find that there is a great deal of trial and error involved until you find a swing that suits you individually. Do not treat this as a chore, but enjoy those times you spend on the practice ground, realizing that it will result in a better golf swing that will in turn, allow you to derive greater enjoyment from the game and improve you score. stories@svlocalmag.com

As is true for even the best of players, grooving a good golf swing is a matter of practice.


Protecting Our Pets in Santa Clara County

By Mike Wasserman Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 1

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s a dog owner and the elected County Supervisor from Los Gatos (“The Cats”), it’s fitting that I am an animal lover and strong supporter of animal shelters. County residents will be happy to know that all 2,309 healthy animals that came through the Santa Mike Wasserman Clara County Animal Shelter last year were either adopted, placed with fosters, or reunited with their owners. This is especially impressive when considering the fact that we operate a “no-kill” Shelter which handles not just cats and dogs but also goats, horses, and chickens. Throughout the year, a variety of low and no-cost pet adoption days as well as low-cost

vaccination clinics are offered. At a recent pet clinic, over 100 animals were vaccinated and 71 microchips were installed which will help to reunite lost pets with their owners. The Shelter also recently participated in the nation’s largest free adoption day where 110 animals were adopted in one weekend! Pets adopted from the County’s Shelter are all spayed or neutered, Microchipped with ID implantation and registration, vaccinated, de-fleaed, and de-wormed. Providing low-cost spay and neuter services for cats and dogs is an important investment since it helps control our animal population. These services are available to all County residents through participating veterinary clinics in most cities for as low as $10. The existing Shelter in San Martin is at capacity much of the year and we are in the process of creating a 501(c)3 to take donations toward a new Shelter. We benefit from the hundreds of volunteers who annually help the Shelter through donations of blankets and food, spending time with animals waiting for adoption, and fostering pets. Please go to www.sccountypets.org to learn how to donate, volunteer, foster pets or obtain spay and neuter services.



Helpful Ways To Eat Better & Below Budget With the price of food continuing to rise, many are looking for ways to adopt a healthy diet without breaking the bank. After all, healthy foods cost more than unhealthy ones, right? While this can be true in certain cases, it’s not usually the opposite. Here are four ways to eat better below budget: Shop The Outer Perimeter Have you ever noticed how all of the whole, fresh foods are located in a store’s outer perimeter? If you’re looking for more wholesome options, this is where you should do most of your grocery shopping. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and dairy feature more nutrition and better flavor, and they’re often far cheaper per-serving than their dried, canned, frozen or pre-cooked counterparts.

Steer Clear of Processed Foods You’re faced on a daily basis with new food products that claim to be healthy, but are they really? While some products may have a reduced content of fat, sodium or sugar, those are not the only important factors. For instance, artificial sweeteners, which are often used to replace the sugar that was removed, are tied to health problems like pancreatic cancer and obesity. In addition, although the item price might seem reasonable, on a per-serving basis, they cost significantly more than the same food made from raw ingredients. Your best bet for both your health and budget is to steer clear of these convenience foods. Go For The Cheapest Options Although fresh foods are almost always cheaper than their processed variants, not all are priced equally. With whole, fresh produce like cabbage, apples, oranges and carrots, you get a lot more food for less money than with leafy greens, sweet potatoes and pre-bagged salads. The same applies to meat. Skinless chicken breasts are considerably more expensive per-pound than leg quarters, which you can de-skin yourself. The key is to pay careful attention to the pricing of different foods and select the ones that have the least impact on your budget. Cook At Home More Many people lead busy lives, which often makes fast food an appealing choice. However, while the large salad you ordered is most likely very healthy, it’s certainly not cheap. For what you paid, you could have made several days’ worth of salads at home. The same applies to hot meals, too. Instead of paying for convenience, try making quick meals ahead. Mix up enough salad for a couple of days and put it in individual containers. You can also toss veggies, meat and whole-grain pasta into a slow-cooker for multiple no-hassle meals … Bon appetit!



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Reasons to Shop at Local Stores

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ou may already shop locally because it is convenient, or perhaps you don’t shop locally at all. There are however, many excellent reasons why shopping at local stores is very beneďŹ cial to you and the community in which you live. Here are the top ten reasons why you should do more local shopping: Better Customer Experience

Are you tired of being served by a grumpy, miserable, or even downright rude checkout operator? If you shop locally you are more likely to be received with a smile and have a very pleasant customer experience. At your local shop you are not just a faceless money-carrier, you are a person. Building a friendly relationship with the local shop owner makes for a much more relaxed atmosphere and a nicer shopping experience allround. Rather than making your day worse, shopping at a local store might just brighten your day. Helping to Local stores are owned and Maintain the operated by local people. The Community very same people as yourselves who care about the neighbourhood they live in. Local businesses donate to local charities and causes and improve the surrounding area. Why? They care about the area in which they live, just like you. Support local stores and you are supporting your local community.

Local Economic Properity

Money you spend at local shops and businesses is money that is kept in your community, enriching it for all. When you spend at a superstore the profits are taken by the corporation, whereas when you spend locally your whole community indirectly benefits, since that money will be re-invested in your region.


Unique Nothing destroys a region’s Community character like the imposition of Charactor an all-purpose megastore store. Local communities are unique places that have their very own culture, history and individual quality. Local stores are a part of this rich history and culture, having usually been around for several decades serving as pillars of the community. By supporting these local businesses you are ensuring the maintenance of the tradition and character of your area. A traditional diner or grocer is part of a town’s identity, and you would do well to support them with your custom. Unique When you shop at a local store, Products and you get to buy unique, local prodQuality ucts of a diverse range that you Produce would not find at a superstore. The stock has been carefully picked by the owner, rather than the dictates of market research and profitability. Especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables, shopping locally is superior to supermarket shopping in every way. The produce is fresher and tastier than supermarket goods, often picked only a day or two beforehand. Fresh, organic, locallygrown food is also not only healthier for you, but it is also healthier for your community, as you are sustaining local agriculture.

Using local businesses encourLocal ages healthy competition. This Competition ultimately brings you, the consumer, and a cheaper, wider range of goods. Multiple companies competing in individual markets is much better for everyone than one huge conglomerate selling a narrow range of every type of product. More Local Jobs

Small local companies create a wide variety of local jobs which help sustain community economies. By shopping at local stores and using local businesses you are ultimately creating a supply of jobs in your local area, through increasing demand for goods and services. Supporting Regional Agriculture

Through buying your fruit and vegetables from local outlets there are multiple positive effects. Aside from cheaper food bills and fresh produce, by supporting local farmers you are reinvesting money into your community and also helping the environment by reducing transport pollution. Helping In the world today everyone wants the to do what they can to help conserve Environment the environment and the planet’s natural resources. Shopping locally serves this cause in several ways. Major road congestion is reduced, as is general transport pollution. Buying goods from local stores also reduces fuel and energy consumption by bypassing the need to import from around the world. Local shops require little infrastructure, further decreasing our impact on the environment. Local Decision Making

Important decisions made by local stores and businesses ought not be harmful to the community since the owners are part of the community too – they have a vested interest and are committed to the area’s future themselves. Decisions affecting the community are not made in corporate board rooms hundreds of miles away, they are made by fellow members of the community who appreciate their impact. Happy Shopping! stories@svlocalmag.com


TR TIP

WHERE TO STAY AND WHAT TO DO


RIP PS

O, SEE AND EAT ACROSS THE GLOBE


Forever Delightful CHRISTMAS IN LONDON … AND PARIS, TOO! By Rich Borell

Hello Everyone, Ever think about having a jolly holiday in London, England one of the most beautiful cites during Christmas time? We have … we just did it … and we loved it! Our trip starts Saturday, December 20th. It’s going to be a pretty quick turnaround trip; just a week, which will also include a night in Paris. We’ll be flying out of the Norman Mineta San Jose International Airport. We had already upgraded our tickets, but decided we wanted to live a little and had them upgraded yet again. This time, into business class. Booking through American Airlines directly, we were fortunate. It was a great price, only $499 per ticket. For those of you who travel a few times a year, here’s a suggestion. Ever thought about getting approved by TSA? Yes, you need to fill out an application and have a personal interview (and write a check). But it was a pleasure. You might think it’s worth it the first time you show your credentials … and are nicely directed through a separate line. This time, there’s nothing to take off … shoes, belt, etc. Plus, instead of waiting in the lines, we were promptly on board and on our merry way. Saturday: We had a 12:55PM flight from San Jose to Dallas that was late in taking off. The pilot fortunately was able to make good timing. When we arrived in Dallas, there was still a plane at our gate. We waited for 10 minutes, and then they found us another gate so that we could de-plane. The only problem, though, there was no outside agent to assist, so we sat still yet for another 10 minutes. Some people were going to miss their connecting flights. We were very fortunate … we had another hour-plus as our flight to London was delayed. On board once again, we fastened our seat belts - the champagne has been poured – and we toasted our trip ahead … on to London! Sunday: We arrived in London about an hour late, which was fine. We didn’t have a lot planned other than getting on the


city tour bus. For our trip, we would be staying at the Marriott London Square, right near the world famous London Eye. This is our favorite place to stay when we visit London, one of our favorite cities in the world. Here’s a few stops you may want to visit while on the city tour. • St. Paul’s Cathedral • The world-famous London Bridge • London’s number one attraction “The London Eye” • Buckingham Palace • Big Ben • Westminster Abbey • The Tower Bridge Monday: Today started with a complimentary breakfast at our hotel. We had a few hours before our tour was to begin, so we took a long walk along the River Thames enjoying some really beautiful sites. The holiday season is certainly in full swing as all the vendors were getting set up for the day. Today we had an afternoon tour planned at the Warner’s Studio where the blockbuster film Harry Potter was filmed. If you’re a Potter fan, as we are, this is a must when in the London area. The team behind the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter wanted to preserve and showcase these iconic props, costumes and sets so that Harry Potter fans could experience the magic of filmmaking first-hand. Many of the original cast and crew returned to reassemble the sets and recorded their memories from filming, and on March 31st, 2012, the Studio


Tour opened its doors. After a greeting in the Grand Hall, you have a self-guided tour seeing all of the sets and original outfits worn. On the set adjacent to the working film studios, where all eight Harry Potter films were made, the studio tour offers visitors the unique opportunity to explore two soundstages and a backlot filled with original sets, animatronic creatures and breath-taking special effects. Here’s an interesting tidbit - The film studio where the Harry Potter film series was filmed was originally an old aircraft factory and runway where planes such as Mosquitos and Halifax Bombers were manufactured. Tuesday: Today we again start with breakfast at the hotel. We’ve set up for an 8.30AM taxi pick-up to take us to the train station for our 10:25AM departure to Paris. A brief note about the taxi system in London: It seems only 30 percent accept credit cards … so, be sure to inquire when making your reservation … and have some cash (pounds) on you. It was a quick two hour journey through the English Tunnel to Paris. For those of you who may not like the thought of taking a train underwater, rest assured, it goes pretty fast. The tunnel at its lowest point is 250 feet deep and it only takes about twenty minutes from end to end. Also, the good news is, they don’t even announce that you’re going through it. We arrived in Paris around 2PM. Our accommodations were at the Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel. We didn’t have a lot of time today, so we strolled the Avenue des ChampsElysees, which is one of the main shopping streets in Paris. On one end of the street, it offers a nice view of the Arc de Triomphe; and, on the other end, it offers a nice view of the Place de La Concorde. This evening we had tickets to see the world famous cabaret Moulin Rouge. I assure you, visiting Paris can only be complete if you see a performance at the Moulin Rouge. The cabaret is spectacular - with excellent dancers in an array of stunning outfits. There are two shows offered - One which includes dinner & champagne (which I would recommend) and another show excluding dinner. Tickets can be

expensive based on your seats … but most tickets do include a nice bottle of Champagne. Wednesday: Today we started out with a short walk to Starbucks for a lite breakfast. We had a private tour planned today to drive us through Paris. Although we’ve been to Paris previously, we wanted to capture more of the city. In our last trip we didn’t have time to visit the Pere Lachaise, which is the largest cemetery in Paris and is actually located right in the middle of the city. Although there are many famous people interred at this cemetery, the reason for our visit was to view Jim Morrison’s gravesite. We understood that there may be large crowds and also the site is regularly guarded; however, this day was neither. Our tour lasted about four hours with our driver taking us to the train station for our trip back to London. For some other site-seeing recommendations while in Paris, I can recommend the following: • The Louvre (I strongly recommend purchasing Fast Track tickets – lines can be rather long) • Versailles • Dinner at the Eiffel Tower • Notre Dame de Paris • Champs-Elysees • Disneyland Paris Thursday: For Christmas Day we had a 10 hour walking tour scheduled to start at 6AM. We arranged this several months in advance with our guide, Peter Berthoud. Peter is an excellent guideknowledgeable, perceptive and amusing. We met sharply at 6AM near the London Eye, along with 30 other people, who were also brave enough to get up this early morning in 35 degree weather … and it wasn’t going to get much warmer as the day progressed. After meeting with Peter and his assistant, Lindsey, everyone was given a bag with lots of


Jane Seymour. The castle is usually closed for tours on the weekend since that is when the Royal Family stays. Salisbury: Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England, and the only city within the county. This is definitely a “countryside” city that has much history.

goodies to munch on during our tour. Despite the frigid cold weather, we really enjoyed it and found out lots of interesting facts and saw lots of interesting hidden bits of Soho and Picadilly. We also visited other interesting areas which we never would have known about. This is definitely the best time to see London; there were empty streets, it was if we had the city to ourselves. We found out things that you would never discover in a guide book. Peter has a very good knowledge of London. We saw many interesting historical sites, plus having all these tidbits being thrown in. We also enjoyed making a few stops at some nice coffee shops, that were thankfully open on Christmas Day, as well as having a delightful lunch at a local pub. Friday: Today we had an all day tour that would take us to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath. We were picked up at our hotel promptly at 8AM for our journey to our first stop … Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle: Built high above the River Thames, Windsor Castle has been the home to the Royal Family for the past 900 years and is still the official residence of the Queen. You will enjoy strolling through the castle grounds and the fourteenth century St. George’s Chapel, the burial place of kings and queens, including Henry VIII and his third wife,

Stonehenge: Clouded in mystery, this ancient stone circle is the most pre-historic site in England. Going beyond its archaeological and even astronomical role, it’s a place of spiritual importance as early legends link it with Merlin and King Arthur, as it’s still one of Europe’s best known pre-historic monuments around. The stones are surrounded by several hundred burial mounds. They have recently opened a fabulous, worldclass Visitor Centre that includes a museum with extraordinary exhibitions, along with a spacious shop and café. Our tour included lunch at the Antrobus Arms Hotel located a few miles from Stonehenge. This is a gorgeous boutique hotel featuring 20 individually styled en-suite rooms, one of which is the Beatles Suite, where the Fab 4 stayed while filming “Help” on Salisbury Plain. Bath: The final stop of the tour is the beautiful Georgian City of Bath. We had a walking tour of some of the finest architectural sights in Europe including Bath Abbey, the Royal Crecent, the Circus, Assembly Rooms and the famous Pulteney Bridge. These Roman Baths, built around thermal springs, have been supplying water for over 2,000 years. Saturday: Well, today it’s back home with a flight to Dallas and then our connecting flight to the Bay Area, getting us in around 11PM. Spending the holiday in London, and Paris, was everything we thought it would be. Beautiful, interesting and most enjoyable. It was indeed delightful. Stay tuned as we look forward to sharing more trip tips with you during the New Year!


Scandinavian Splendor & Many Memorable Smiles

By Rich Borell

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reetings Everyone! I want to share with you our recent trip to Scandinavia that included stops in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. This trip actually came together just a few weeks before we left. We had tickets to fly into Copenhagen, then on to Finland. From that point, we were going to take the train and spend most of our time in Russia. We had our Russian Visa and were ready to go. Unfortunately, due to the most recent events, we were advised not to go. I want to thank our tour guide in Moscow for all he did and we look forward in seeing him on a future trip to Russia. So, if you are considering a venture to Northern Europe, we certainly found it to be such a beautiful region. We loved all the natural scenery and European sights and, yes, the delicious food, too … and, what was extra nice, the people were always very friendly and hospitable. Even though the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish languages are known as Scandinavian languages, you can be well-assured most everyone understands and speaks English. You should travel with a money converter, and if you carry an iPhone, you already have the app. Contrary to popular belief, not all countries have converted to the Euro. Finland has; however, the other three countries have not. You will need to convert your USD in Denmark to Danish Kroner, in Sweden to Swedish Kronor and in Norway to Norwegian

Kroner. I also want to mention something about using your credit card. First, you should check with your credit card company to see if you have a foreign transaction fee. Indeed, it can add up. I can recommend Capital One Visa, as they currently don’t charge a fee. Since 2013, the EU went to a chip card and the US has not quite adapted to that as yet. Most businesses will accept your credit card; however, you need to let them know it’s a signature card … meaning you will need to sign. Most will ask you for a PIN based on this chip … I believe we will have new credit cards with chips sometime in 2015. Here are some ideas from our itinerary:


Friday: First of all, we would like to thank Frank & Teri over at Wireless Rides for the limo service up to SFO. Our trip began on Friday with a relatively short, very nice three-and-a-half hour flight to Chicago O’Hare. Once there, we enjoyed a brief hour-plus layover. From Chicago, our transfer flight was with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which departed on time. We had upgraded our seats and really enjoyed the plenty of extra leg room we had for the eight hour flight to Copenhagen. Saturday: We arrived in Copenhagen early afternoon the following day on Saturday. We took some time and strolled the Copenhagen Town Mall. From there, we enjoyed walking to Nyhavn, the popular 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district, and then shopping along the long streets of Stroget, experiencing this pleasant traffic free district. We stopped for a bite to eat at the Hard Rock Café, and along the way, we enjoyed some more shopping. Next, we went to the Visitor’s Center for some helpful info that would fill our day for tomorrow. Of course, we were on the prowl for our first local Starbucks … you will find a new one that recently opened at the train station.

Our first night was at a boutique hotel … the Grand Hotel Copenhagen … in a nice city central location. Sunday: Up early, we strolled back to Starbucks. We didn’t have a lot of time today, as most of our time in Copenhagen was reserved for when we would return towards the end of our trip. Today, we would have a 3:30PM flight to Helsinki, Finland, so we took advantage of our great location and enjoyed walking around. Our flight to Helsinki was short. We grabbed a cab (you will get a cab inside of the airport), which was approximately 30 Euros to our hotel. We stayed at Hotel Kamp, the only 5-star hotel in Finland. By the time we got in, it was time to find a place for a relaxing dinner. We didn’t have to go far, just outside of our hotel and about 100 yards to our left was an amazing restaurant called Kappeli. We had a fabulous two hour dinner … my only advice is that this may not be the place if you’re traveling on a budget. It boasted a great menu that included something for everyone … even that something special, if you wanted to try a plate of Reindeer. I went with their fresh Salmon, my wife enjoyed her Chicken mushroom and


stew dinner. For dessert, we had the traditional Blueberry cake and ice cream … everything was delicious. Since it was Sunday, most retail businesses were closed; however, we did come across the Helsinki Hard Rock Café and were able to enjoy doing some shopping there. Monday: Today, we started out with breakfast at the hotel and then took a nice walk through the city square in Helsinki. There was some light rain in the morning that later broke way for blue skies and sunshine. Our tour took us to some cool places... while in Helsinki, you may want to visit a few of these spots: Olympic Stadium (site of the 1956 Summer Olympic Games) Sibelius Monument Nature History Museum Parliament House (the guards are very friendly and not camera shy) Uspenski Cathedral Tuesday: Today is another travel day, so we enjoyed

Helsinki, Finland

strolling the very popular Stockmann’s, the largest department store in Finland and all Scandinavia. We had lunch back at our Hotel Camp … I’d highly recommend the Salmon Soup, and also a few other favorites, which were the Shrimp Sandwich and Club with Fried Egg. From our hotel, it was a 15-minute walk to the Viking Cruise Line Terminal. First stop was our Bon Voyage Picture, then going on board for our overnight cruise to Stockholm, Sweden. For an overnight cruise, the ship had everything you could ask for … There were several restaurants, bars, casinos, theatre, a kid’s game room, live shows and much more. I had another fabulous Salmon dinner. We enjoyed a stunning sunset, the weather was perfect. Our ship, the Marella, was filled with such the warm friendly staff. One red flag, going back to the credit card pin number situation, the ship is a stickler on the pin number. Good news, they do offer currency exchange, so as always, carry some cash with you. During the night, the seas did get a bit choppy. I’d suggest getting a room in the middle and upper floor.


Wednesday: Our ship arrived at 10:30AM, there were plenty of taxi’s at the terminal to take you to your hotel. Even though we arrived several hours before check in, our room was ready. We stayed at the “First Hotels” centrally located on the waterfront in old town. Our room had a large window with great views of the pier area and amusement park. We took a walk around old town, which looked a bit like Venice, once you’re away from the water. We stopped and had lunch at Sally’s. Service was a bit slow, they may not be used to the American’s fast pace. We had an authentic Swedish Shrimp plate with fish eggs. After lunch, we bought our ticket and went on the “Hop on Bus” tour which will take you throughout Stockholm for two hours. Stockholm, Sweden After our delightful city tour, Grenka, a chic hotel, comparable to the W Hotel in we put in another couple of hours San Francisco. on foot, enjoying going through the shops of old town. We wound our day down with a drink at our Friday & Saturday: hotel bar before turning in. We started the day with what was a great buffet breakfast at our hotel. Our hotel was nice; however, Thursday: our room was very small. So first thing this mornWe started our day with Breakfast at our Hotel. ing, we checked out and went over to the Grand We had purchased a two-day pass on the tour bus, so we got back on. While in Stockholm, you might Deluxe Suite Hotel. The price went up, up, up … but was well worth it. want to check out a few of these sights: While in Oslo, we dined at Café Christiania a Vasa Museum few times, delicious seafood soup. If you’re into Drottningholm Palace Abba – The Museum (everyone on our tour real- Starbucks, like us, you will find plenty of them around Oslo. ly enjoyed this stop) Nordic Museum Oslo is a great city … it is very clean, which we Museum of Medieval (one of our favorites) enjoyed, also such friendly people. If you make it Rosersberg Palace up to Viking country, I can highly suggest stopping Skyview off at a few of these sights: Viking Ship Museum After our tour, our stay in Stockholm wouldn’t Akershus Fortress (a must see) be complete without another round of shopping Nobel Peace Center (where the Nobel Peace and grabbing a bite at the Stockholm Hard Rock Prize is given) Café. Next up would be our flight to Oslo, Norway. Royal Palace We arrived in Oslo around 8PM. It was a long University Botanical Garden day, so we chose to take a taxi to our hotel. City Oslo Tramway Museum center is a bit distant from the airport, so expect a hefty cab fare... like $240 USD. Our hotel was the First Hotel Grims


Oslo, Norway

Sunday: Our day started with breakfast at our hotel. We then walked to the train station... Remember when I mentioned it was a $240 USD cab fare before? For both of us to take the train, it was only $29.00 USD … Yes, for both of us! Norway is a beautiful country; however, it’s one of the most expensive. Today, we flew back to Copenhagen, just a brisk 55-minute flight. We checked in at the Palace Hotel. We took a short walk over to the Visitors Bureau to book our tour which we planned for the next day. After that, we had a long leisurely dinner at the delightful restaurant, Il Petal. Monday: Today, our day started early with breakfast at our hotel. Then off for our Grand Day Trip, which will take until early evening. Our tour stared with our guide Andersen picking us up near the hotel. Our tour was with four other couples … Andersen was a very thorough guide and spoke English very well. Our tour for the day included:

Roskilde Cathedral (the astonishing church with burial places of no less than 39 kings and queens) Kronborg Castle (an impressive fortification that guarded the entrance to the Baltic Sea for six centuries, and is where Shakespeare’s Hamlet lived) Frederiksborg Palace (this is the largest and most beautiful renaissance castle in Scandinavia) Viking Ship Museum (modern rebuilt models and excavated original ships from the time when the Vikings conquered much of Western Europe and ruled the North Atlantic) Tuesday: Our last full day was jammed to get in as much as we could. So our day started with breakfast, a quick bite at Starbucks. From there, we joined the Copenhagen Walking Tour, which would be for three hours. Some of our stops along the tour included: Copenhagen Town Hall Tivoli Gardens Danish Royal Palace Hans Christen Andersen Danish Parliament


Academy of Fine Arts Stroget Shopping Mile After our tour, we got back on the “Hop on Bus”. While in Copenhagen, below are some places you might want to put on your list: Statens Museum for Kunst National Museum of Denmark Copenhagen Opera House Museum Erotica Royal Danish Playhouse We finished our day with what was again a delicious meal, this time at the Restaurant Barock in Copenhagen. Wednesday: Today’s our day to return home, we admitted we were very much ready to get back. Our non-stop flight was from Copenhagen back to SFO. Our flight was perfect and again we arrived on time. SAS is a great airline to fly, excellent on time schedule and with very courteous attendants. As always, I suggest paying to upgrade your seating, if you can, it makes a world of difference. Again, a big thank you to Wireless Rides for warmly welcoming us on time at the airport and taking us home. Scandinavian Splendor … & Many Memorable Smiles, indeed. It was such a great trip and such a wonderful time. We enjoyed sharing it with you. Until next time …

Copenhagen, Denmark


Europe’s LOW COUNTRY

HIGHLIGHTS

The triumphal arch at the Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels.


Story by Rich Borell, CEO & Founder

Hello Everyone, I want to share with you my itinerary from my recent trip to Europe. It was a whirlwind trip traveling to Belgium, Luxembourg, Amsterdam along with Hamburg and Berlin Germany. We booked our trip 6 weeks in advance using European Destinations Travel Agency. They had a very good website to navigate hotel upgrades and get enough info to plan our trip. We also spoke with one of their senior travel agents to put the final touches with private drivers to pick us up as we arrived in each of our destinations. What we like about them is they are available 24/7 which was a plus for us. Our trip started early on a Wednesday, with our flight originating from San Jose, our first plane change was in Denver, from Denver we flew to Chicago, then Chicago to Brussels. We had an uneventful flight, taking United Airlines along with their Star Partners. We arrived on time in Brussels the next day at 9:20AM. While in Chicago we checked in with United’s customer service and was able to purchase and upgrade for a modest fee for the long flight to Brussels … very cool. Thursday: We had a nice driver waiting for us –the drive to our hotel was about 45 minutes. We stayed at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels; a luxury hotel that was once a Palace. The staff at the Metropole were very welcoming, the hotel is in a good location close to major shopping areas, the rooms are good size and very clean. After lunch we took the hop on hop off bus to get acquainted with the city. Every two years the Grand Place comes alive in Brussels with a stunning flower carpet of begonias. They say there are over 100 volunteers and over a million begonias. This event brings out the locals and is a hot tourist spot. For dinner we wandered around and checked out various menu’s and ended up at nice local restaurant, we took a table outside so we could

The Atomium, Brussels

do some people watching. I started out with a standard in Brussels, a bucket of mussels and Salmon. Our waitress spoke excellent English who lived in L.A. for a number of years. For dessert, of course, we shared a Belgium Waffle. Friday: Our day started with breakfast which was included at the hotel. We started out getting back on the hop on trolley with our first destination being the Atomium, which was the main pavilion and icon of the 1958 World Fair. Representing an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times; The Atomium offers the only true 360° panoramic view of the 19 municipalities. The whole thing is made up of 9 spheres (one at each of the 8 points and one in the middle) connected by 20 tubes


(12 cube edges plus 2 tubes for the 4 diagonals): the structure rests on 3 pillars (or bipods). After lunch we walked down to a park located at the foot of the Atomium called “Mini - Europe” Mini-Europe is the only park where you can have a whistle-stop tour around Europe in a few short hours. A truly unique voyage! Stroll amid the typical ambiance of the most beautiful towns of the Old Continent. While there you can enjoy some great shopping to bring home. For dinner we decided to check out the all new Hard Rock Café located in the Grand Place. The menu is complete with all your favorites like New York Steak, Twisted Mac, and Chicken & Anne Frank House Museum, Amsterdam Cheese to one of my stand by favorites, Grilled Salmon. While there, you can enjoy an upscale Flea Market where everyone brought some great rock memorabilia with some pieces their treasures out to sell; it was interesting so from John Lennon, The Sex Pistols, Jimi Hendrix we spent a few hours browsing around. We also and Elvis Presley. bought a pass for the hop on hop off to get a feel of the area. We had a 5:30PM flight out to Saturday: Amsterdam with a brief layover in Munich. Our Our day started out with breakfast at the hotel travel agent suggested flying as opposed to the train before our train to Luxemburg. Our train arrived on to save time, however it would have been nice to time; our driver met us and drove us to the Le Royal see more of the country. Resort Hotel. Our room was ready; the heat wave Our flight arrived on time around 10Pm we had we left in the U.S. has certainly followed us to Europe. a friendly driver pick us up; our drive was about Luxemburg was pretty warm, in the high 80’s. 30 minutes from the airport. Our driver gave us The hotel is ideally located, if you want to the low down on Amsterdam. We arrived at our walk around downtown to enjoy Plaza D’Armas, hotel around 11PM; fortunately, there were a few shopping on the upscale stores, sightseeing or for upgrades available so for our two nights we were eating at the numerous restaurants in the area. The able to get a nice room. breakfast buffet offers a great variety of choices of While in Amsterdam we stayed at the Convent fruits, cereals and breads etc. Amsterdam Hotel in one of their suites which Le Royal Hotel comes with a five star Spa if provided ample space and comfort. The room was you’re looking for a great place to relax. There’s very quiet with a view of the street. The staff was also a pool and sauna along with a fitness room. very friendly and polite … nothing was too much Things to check out while in Luxembourg include: trouble. The hotel is centrally located with access to Cathedral Notre-Dame all the major sites and all forms of transport. William Square Palace of the Grand Dukes Monday: St. Michaels Church Our day started out with breakfast at a nearby Starbucks, and a short walk where we stood in a Sunday: long line to get into the Anne Frank Museum. The We did a lot of walking today, they actually had museum opens at 9AM, if you get there around


8:30 the line goes pretty fast, again, even at 8:30 the line was quite long. If you remember the story of Anne Frank, you will enjoy the museum as there’s a large TV screen in most rooms that offers a narrative of the events. On display at the museum is the Academy Award Shelley Winters won and later donated to the mueum for her character performance of Petronella van Daan in the Diary of Anne Frank. You can see the award as it’s displayed in a bullet-proof glass case in the museum. After Anne Franks we found a quiet place for breakfast. After breakfast we – yes found the hop on hop off bus, bought a ticket and journeyed to the Van Gogh Museum. This museum boasts the world’s largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh which features over 200 paintings and several hundred drawings. If you happen to be there on the weekends, it can get crowded. Virtually across the street from the Hard Rock was the Heineken Museum. This was a cool attraction and a must see while in Amsterdam. You get to know everything there is about the history of the Heineken family, how they brew and of course the best part, sampling. It’s about a 90 minute tour from start to end, lots of interactive activities. You also get a couple of drinks included with the price of your ticket. During the evening after dinner we took in a guided tour of the Red Light District. We had a great time; all I will say is that the Red Light District of Amsterdam leaves nothing to the imagination.

and gives you a great feel of the city, you will stroll through some of the bombed out locations during the WW2. Steve was our tour guide, great personality and very informative. Here are a few places you may want to check out depending upon how much time you have in the area: Emigration Museum Warehouse District St. Michaelis Church Planten un Blomen (beautiful botanical garden) In case you got to Hamburg after Amsterdam and need another fix, there is a Red Light District in Hamburg. While in Hamburg we stayed at the Marriott City Center. This is a great location as you’re only a few minutes’ walk to shops and some nice restaurants. The rooms are above average on size, plenty of amenities. For dinner we ate at the Restaurant Franziskaner. If you’re looking for delicious Bavarian Food, this is the place. The owner was real cool, spoke great English. The waitress thought there was a problem since we hardly touched our food, but it was just that the portions were too much for us. Maybe, we were also a little full from enjoying some shots of Schnapps?

Tuesday: Once again, our day started out at Starbucks, we had until around 2PM in Amsterdam before we took a flight to Hamburg Germany. We did some shopping and finished at one of the “coolest” attractions in Amsterdam. For around 20 Euros you get to put on a large heavy coat and gloves to step into an ice freezing room with a bar and musical video. The price also includes a free shot of something that was pretty good. Did I mention your seat for the video is an ice block. Our flight to Hamburg left on time; we had a brief layover in Copenhagen Denmark and enjoyed a nice dinner at the airport.

Thursday & Friday: Today we took the Ice Train which is the best way to travel; the trains are fast and comfortable. Our trip to Berlin would be a pleasant two hours. My only recommendation would be that they should have the stops also in English to alter tourists of their destination arrival. Our driver was on time, met us at the deck and drove us to the Ritz Carlton where we will be spending the final nights of our trip. If you want to travel and really feel pampered trust me, the Ritz Carlton is the way to go. While in Berlin, you will want to check out and get some pictures at Check Point Charlie. This was the famous crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. You will also want to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial. The memorial contains the last piece of Berlin Wall with the preserved grounds behind it and is thus able to convey an impression of how the border fortifications developed until the end of the 1980s.

Wednesday: Today, the heat wave finally left and it cooled down with a light rain as we did the “Great Walking Tour” in Hamburg. By the way this is a free offered by Sandeman Tours. The tour is just over 2 hours

Saturday: Like all vacations, this one was coming to an end. We have a 7:45AM flight from Berlin to Frankfurt, with a short layover then non-stop to Denver and finally back in the Bay Area.


p i r T a s y a w l A the Ages 5 for

NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE!


Story by Rich Borell, CEO & Founder

R

ecently, my wife and I decided to take a trip to Orlando, Florida, over the summer. We planned to spend a few days at each attraction: The Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Studios and Downtown Disney. We also included a day tour to the Kennedy Space Center. We planned our stay at the Waldorf Astoria for the week. Both the Waldorf and the Hilton Orlando are connected with a world-class convention center, creating a hip oasis in the middle of Orlando’s Theme Park magic. Truly convenient, the hotels are located inside the Disneyworld gates. The name Waldorf Astoria is synonymous with luxury. If you have ever stayed at the Waldorf in New York, you will see that this Orlando property nicely brings together that New York style with the ever-delightful Floridian charm. Whether you stay there, or not, I encourage you to dine at its legendary restaurant, Bull & Bear. This restaurant is definitely the area’s most popular go-to restaurant when it comes to fine dining. Along with this fabulous restaurant, be sure to also check out the spa, awardwinning designed golf course, state-of-the-art workout center … and our favorite: your own chic private cabana with a personal server. Before I go any further, I want to wholeheartedly thank the management for their wonderful hospitality. Here’s the scoop on what I highly recommend: be sure to buy a planning app before you even arrive in Orlando to help you map out your day(s). Indeed, it’s well worthwhile. Then, you can use the app on your phone, update wait times, re-optimize your schedule, etc. By having a plan, we were able to see every single attraction, including parades and fireworks. The longest we ever waited was 20 minutes. This was in the middle of the summer during peak days.

Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando.

The Magic Kingdom is a great place. This is a good combination of rides and, of course, you have to ride the coasters. The Castle draws everyone’s attention – this is where they play shows with all the characters. Space Mountain is where you must go first. Get yourself a fast pass early before the lines are long. One of the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood-style action with live shows, thrilling attractions, backstage tours and star-studded


special events. Feel like the star in your own movie as you romp through the streets and sections of the park that blend together like a large, bustling movie set. Immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood heydays from the 1930s and 1940s, captured by the neon, chrome, art deco and modern architecture. Step into the action with exhilarating attractions and experiences inspired by television and silver screen favorites. Go center stage and into the spotlight with the American Idol Experience, stunt shows and more. Collect autographs and pose for photos at special events. Another cool ride is the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow and, of course, the Rock n Roller Roller Coaster staring one of my favorites – Aerosmith. When it comes to rides, be sure to check out The Great Movie Ride, the 18-minute tour of some of Hollywood’s most famous films. Then there’s the 50’s Prime Time Café, which is located at the Disney Hollywood Studios. Bring your appetite and your sense of humor. The theme is Mom’s kitchen circa 1955. There are TV’s throughout the restaurant showing black and white sitcoms, from “Father Knows Best” to the original “Mickey Mouse Club”. You can’t help but smile when you see these blasts from the past. Everyone is “family”. Your server will introduce you to your “cousins” while giving you warnings to keep your elbows off the table and remind you to eat your vegetables. It’s all in good fun and adds to the unique experience. There are a lot of 50’s knick-knacks and the dessert menu is on a View master! For people who have never been here before and who love animals, this is an ultimate great place to visit. We loved the safari ride and the different animals from all around the world that they had. The only downside is that it’s so far away from all the other parks. However, this park is still worth checking out, if you are here. Disney gives you a unique look at nature and animals through Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Enjoy yourself and take your time in the Animal Kingdom. If you have time to spend extra days at any of the parks, I would recommend doing

The Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Orlando are connected with a world-class convention center.

this park and the Magic Kingdom for more than one day. I would recommend going to the park early or late afternoon. If you are staying at a resort, take advantage of “Extra Magic Hours.” When you enter the Animal Kingdom, you will walk through what is called “The Oasis”, with animal exhibits, exotic plants, jungle habitat etc.- all of which is really cool. This park is divided into five parts: Discovery Island, Camp Minnie, Camp Mickey, Africa and Rafiki’s Planet. Outside of the Animal Kingdom, I can recommend the Rainforest Café. Dinner was great; so, too, was the service. It was impeccable and you can also get in some shopping. This park is fun and there is a lot to do. You can visit the world in less than a day … and the fireworks at night are amazing. From the food to the gift shops, you will have a blast. We were on the go all day and crammed just about everything in! The Future World was great, a few nice little attractions there. I really enjoyed the greenhouse … which is about one living with the land. I had read about ‘Soarin’ and was eager to see what this was. It was excellent. The more popular rides, such as Soarin and Test Track, have long waits. It would be a good idea to get a fast pass for these, unless you don’t mind waiting an hour or more. Epcot Center, the world showcase, was


brilliant! It was much better than what I thought it would be. It’s very well done. We really enjoyed going from place to place, different attractions from around the world. There are different shows going on during the day that are very interesting. The fireworks/ lights illumination, which start around 9pm, were truly amazing! It’s very well done. We also had a wonderful time eating at Les Chefs de France. Of course, always remember to make a reservation here 2-3 months before you go. But, hey, it’s in Disney, what can you expect? This is one of Epcot’s overlooked gems. Many of the tables overlook the ‘streets’ of France and give you a bird’s eye view of the comings and goings while you enjoy your delicious meal. The tables are covered in crisp white linens, the interior is light and airy and the service is always top notch. I’m going to first talk about the ambiance. It really does make you feel like you’re dining at some French bistro in Paris. The wait staff is from France, with the accent, and they would speak with you in fluent French if you were to ask them to. When we first arrived, our server brought us French baguettes, and it was really good. Indeed, it was warm, crisp, but soft and fluffy inside. Then I ordered the Salmon dish (with red pepper sauce and chive mashed potato) - it was delicious. The fish was cooked to perfection … I was a real big fan of sauce. It had this light, tangy and tomato-based taste to it and it complemented everything very well. After being out in the heat and crowds for a few hours, this restaurant in the French section of Epcot was a welcome respite. We were seated promptly, and the service was spot on from the moment we arrived throughout. We could not have enjoyed this experience more. Downtown Disney, originally the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the Walt Disney World Resort. This 120 acre shopping, dining, and entertainment complex is loaded with great things to do, and consume, if you’d like to spend a day away from the parks. Parking is free here. Downtown Disney is awesome. This place

is what I call a mall outside. It has shopping, dining, and attractions - and you can spend a day here by itself. You must stop here even if you are not going to Disney. There are shows and many places to eat. My favorite part besides the giant pin trader’s tent was the candy store. Who doesn’t love candy? You must stop by Downtown Disney. There are three main areas here. Marketplace (East Side), Pleasure Island and West Side. Market Place (or East Side), Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, Planet Hollywood - Reservations are highly recommended. Rides are totally awesome. Shopping and food and beverage are nice. Rides not to miss: Harry Potter’s Forbidden Journey, Spider-Man, Poseidon, Popeye (water ride), and Simpson’s. I’m not into roller coaster rides, but they have several. Also most rides are 4D with special effects … and you also get sprayed with water. What an amazing park; from the moment you drive up to the park, you tingle, Rip ride rock it (AMAZING), Shrek, Mummy Returns, Simpsons are all great, but TRANSFORMERS is awesome (as the Americans would say), great shows throughout the day, must stay for the show at night - my advice buy a unlimited fast pass for both parks. If you are disciplined, you will ride them all over and over. The Kennedy Space Center is a must-see attraction if you are visiting the Orlando area. It’s about a two hour drive. We were very fortune to attend a lecture by Astronaut Sam Durrance, who flew on many Space Shuttle missions. There are two museums there - including one that houses the actual Atlantis that went to space - with lots of information to educate you on the space program. There are two IMAX movies that will take you back into history. Be sure to make the Atlantis exhibition part of your plans. The gift shop will have a lot of cool stuff – plus, lots of good places to eat. I also want to extend my thanks to the management at the Kennedy Space Center for making our visit such an enjoyable and memorable one.


SPOTLIGHT ON TRAVEL

r o d n e l p S & y t u a e B The that is Old Europe Prague

WHERE SIGHTSEEING IS A MAJESTIC WALTZ By Rich Borell Hello Everyone, I wanted to share some of our recent adventures as my wife and I enjoyed what was a wonderful visit to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. If you are planning a visit to Prague, Bratislava or Budapest you can definitely cover a lot by walking. Vienna is a larger city, so you will need other forms of transportation to get around.

buildings. We continually caught ourselves saying to each other: “check out that building!”, because everywhere we looked, everything was so unique. The city was like an architectural museum, very much older Europe. Here’s a brief list of some places you want to be sure to see while in Prague: • Charles Bridge • Prague Castle • Old Town Square • Church of St. Nicholas • Stalin Monument

Prague Let’s start with Prague. As we walked around (and I DO mean WALKED … yes, about 7miles per day) you will be mesmerized by historic

The heart of Prague, Old Town, is filled with many houses, churches and other structures dating back to the 13th century. When visiting, be sure to include the Old Town Hall


and Astronomical Clock, the Carolinum, the Municipal House and the Estates Theater. Located in the center of Prague is a vibrant square surrounded by baroque buildings, lively cafes, street entertainers and craftspeople. Situated at the Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral is the most important and largest church in Prague. The cathedral is the burial place of the former Czech kings and a home of the Czech Crown Jewels. You definitely want to include this stop when planning your itinerary. Connecting the Old Town with Lesser Town, this popular pedestrian bridge is filled with musicians, painters, vendors and tourists during the summertime. Here you will be able to take some great pictures. Once the initial charm of Prague has sunk in –I encourage you to take a trip to the Castle District and be even more amazed with some awesome sights. This fairy tale castle on a hill overlooking the Vltava River is the most popular sight in the city, reflecting the city’s “Bohemian Baroque” architecture. The seat of Czech rulers for

Bratislava

1,000 years, today it houses the office of the President. Contained within the castle walls are three courtyards, beautiful gardens, shops, and restaurants. St. Vitus Cathedral, a Gothic landmark of the city since 926, that has always been the center of Prague’s religious and political life, is in this giant castle. Bratislava Next we took the train to Bratislava, Slovakia. I suggest purchasing a first-class ticket; it’s more comfortable and less crowded for your four hour journey. The first-class ticket will also get you access to the business lounge where you can relax and enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks before you depart. You will also be able to get assistance taking you to your train and loading your luggage up. Keep in mind … not a lot of English is spoken in these parts. Here’s a brief list of some places you want to be sure to see while in Bratislava: • Bratislava Castle • Michael’s Gate • Primate’s Palace


Budapest

Old Town, Bratislava, was a delightful surprise to both of us … lots of shops, museums to see. One item I suggest seeing is the St. James Chapel. It’s the oldest sacral medieval structure in Bratislava. Be sure to take a walk downstairs. A must-see on your trip is the Bratislava Castle. The castle was originally built as a frontier post for the Roman Empire; a later version was built by King Sigismund in the 15th century. This castle burnt down in 1811, leaving only ruins … and it took until 1956-68 for the castle to be rebuilt to its current format. The castle is located on a hill overlooking the River Danube, the southern-most hill of the Small Carpathian Mountains. There are two ways to walk up to the castle - up Beblaveho Street from the Old Town or from Mudronova Street by the Slovak Parliament building up at the hill. You will find a museum along with a restaurant that has a full service bar. Weather permitting, I suggest eating outside and enjoying the beautiful views of the Danube. Budapest Our next train ride was just a little over two

hours and took us to the brightest jewel on the Danube: Budapest, Hungary. Budapest was created in 1873 from the separate towns of Buda, Pest and Obuda. Its population of two million resides in 23 districts. Here’s a brief list of some places you want to be sure to see while in Budapest: • Buda Castle • Chain Bridge • Hungarian Parliament Building • St. Stephen’s Basilica • House of Terror We both felt Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities we have ever seen. Since we have traveled through Europe extensively, that says a lot. Between the view from Fisherman’s Bastion, the Matthais Coronation Church and the nighttime view of the five lighted bridges and Parliament Building, it’s a must tour … and, if you have time in the evening, so, too, is a cruise along the Danube a must. We were very impressed with Budapest being the largest city and capital of Hungary. It’s clean, feels safe and it’s also very easy to get around by foot … and, best of all, the people of Budapest


speak good English. The cost of eating out is look into when planning your trip to Eastern inexpensive, with lots of options. There are also Europe. many Hungarian wines and beers to choose from. Mamaison Suite Palace Hotel Prague: Vienna The hotel is clean and the hotel staff Our final two hour train ride took us to extremely polite and helpful. They were able to Vienna, Austria. The historic center of Vienna is help us with all our queries concerning tours and rich in beautiful architecture, including Baroque restaurants … and recommendations made by castles and gardens, as well as the late-19ththem all turned out fantastic for us. century Ringstrasse, that is lined with grand You can book your tours through them; buildings, monuments and parks. however, keep in mind they will charge, I believe, Here’s a brief list of some places you want to a 10% add-on fee; however, well worth it. be sure to see while in Vienna: You are within three minutes of walking and • Schonbrunn Palace being at the Charles Bridge. • Hofburg Palace Choose a large or junior suite on the upper • St. Stephen’s Cathedral floors so you can have a great view of the river. • Millennium Tower • Historic Center of Vienna Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava: Nice hotel located in Old Town. Pleasant staff, The most important fine arts museum in very good breakfast. Good views, you can see Vienna is the Kunsthistorisches Museum. It is not only the Hviezdoslav Square, but also the one of the most impressive museum buildings of Castle. the 19th century. The architects were Gottfried The old city center is a one minute walk Semper and Carl von Hasenauer and it opened away. The River Danube is two minutes away. in 1891. The museum shows the art collection of Overall the hotel has a welcoming and warm the Habsburg Dynasty, collected over centuries. atmosphere. Staff is happy to help, and most On the stairway going to the second floor is the speak very good English. Rooms are spacious sculpted group of Canova, Theseus Slaying the and clean. Minotaur. The number one tourist attraction of Vienna Marriott Budapest: is St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom), This property is beautifully located on the located at Stephansplatz, and is the most Danube - has the best staff and just the best important Catholic Church in Vienna. It has attention to detail. We were very impressed. a multi-colored tile roof with a diamond Rooms are typical Marriott, perhaps slightly pattern and two tall towers which are the most more spacious than in the average property. If recognizable symbols of the city. you qualify for the executive lounge, this is an If visiting museums is at the top of your list, excellent amenity. Not only is the view great you won’t be disappointed in Vienna. but breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres were I will briefly mention, if you do decide to visit ample and of a good variety. the Mauthausen-Gusen Concentration Camp, it’s about an hour train ride outside of Vienna … be Marriott Vienna: sure to schedule a private tour. Not much English The staff at the hotel was all very helpful and is spoken in this town. the rooms were comfortable and clean as you A word regarding currency: Austria and would expect. Slovakia use Euro’s; however, the Czech Republic The hotel has a great location, within walking has their own called Czech Koruna, and Hungary distance to all of the major sites and near two uses the Hungarian Forint. Don’t worry, it’s metro stops. not that confusing, and if you have an iPhone, The breakfast was good, a big spread with there’s an app that does everything for you. fantastic quality. Before I wrap this up, I wanted to suggest If it sounds like a delightful trip, it was. a few hotel accommodations you may want to Until next time … Bon Voyage!


| | BODY & SOUL

Gaining ‘satisficience’ By Jan Hutchins Former News Anchor and Mayor of Los Gatos Zensun30@gmail.com

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atisficient, a created word meaning a combination of satisfying and efficient. An antidote to perfectionism… I intend you have an experience of satisficience and need your cooperation. Please read only these first few words using your mind. Instead, shift your attention into your body. Make it your intention to experience these words as something happening in your heart and belly rather than your head. None of what is to come is for your mind. I invite you to breathe and enact this word, RELAX, until you do actually relax some. I imagine living in a culture where almost everyone is anxious, at least slightly dissatisfied and repressing something, so before we do anything else, let’s relax. I also imagine you are busy trying to get, do and/or be something and reading this article is a diversion from that “need”. Thank you for your time and attention! I hallucinate that the distance, or difference between here and now, with all it’s so-called “problems”, and being or having the things you want or reaching the goals you’ve set is the very definition of stress. These words are meant to be a means of easing the anxiety, stress, urge to control that come with the territory here in our Silicon Valley rush toward imagined (or actual) success and riches. I’m checking into our connection after doing what I’m inviting you to try. I’m feel-

ing relaxed as I write. I feel lots of joy imagining you experiencing this. I feel frustrated we’re not in the same space so I could see you and guide you. I am comfortable if this is not your medicine and you move forward “as stressed as I damn well am, thank you”. If you’re still with me, try relaxing again but this time allow an even deeper release with each exhale. You might feel like you’re deflating yourself, like you’re letting the air out of a balloon, releasing the pressure that keeps it stretched out of it’s natural shape. Like the balloon, we’re festive when we’re all puffed up with effort and ego playing our roles in this modern day gold rush. In my desire to survive and thrive, fear of failure arises and I become artificially happy, even festive, in an attempt to hide my fear and vulnerability from you and even from myself. Puffing myself up to hide being so stretched by the strain I’m about to burst is a way of life in our worlds. With each exhale continue relaxing layers of tension out of, or perhaps it will feel like off of, your body. When the next thing; the call, meeting, encounter, emotion, thought comes, see if you can meet it with a little relaxation, first. Some awareness you are actually breathing, next. Try that “relax and breathe” thing again and this time add a pause between the exhale and inhale. Repeat a few times until you get your face to relax a little, releasing tension from the forehead, jaw, tongue, eyes as you exhale, continuing to let it tension drop from your body and mind during the pause.


Start to allow the pause between the breaths to be at the top of the inhale and at the bottom of the exhale so you rest and relax, inhaling, pausing, exhaling, pausing as you gently slow down and find your way energetically to the ground. If you’re actually trying this, “You’re welcome!” I imagine I have your attention and you’re experiencing or being reminded of an alternate reality. Silence, stillness, enlightenment without words are available in these spaces. Enjoy and play for a while then come back when you imagine you’re ready for more. I imagine energy being birthed in my belly and rising up in me as I inhale. Try it a few times. I source it from the sensitive areas at the bottom of my torso, my genitals, anus and the area between. More on this delicate subject in my next article. I cannot overestimate the power waiting for you in this part of the body. So relax and breathe, lifting energy up from the bottom of your torso and pausing at both ends of the process until how you think and feel, your thoughts about what is happening,

your “story” in your head, becomes less interesting than playing with the vertical power residing in the energies this squeeze releases. Women might recognize this squeeze as the exercise recommended to help them be better lovers, men are taught to do this to keep their Prostate healthy. Either way, this as a vitality pump that not only produces energy but a sense of self-confidence and lightness in the body. This combination of pause breathing and conscious lifting of energy up from the bottom of the body are key elements in the practice of yoga and provide those of us striving to be, get and become with a convenient, free, technique to bring ease and acceptance, body wisdom and freedom from being controlled by anxiety. Practice this in moderation. Stop if it’s at all uncomfortable. It should be pleasurable almost beyond imagination. Discuss with your yoga teacher the nuances of this technique and/or contact me or this publication with feedback about your experience.


Carly Cleverly

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Finding YOUR Place in the World: Selecting a Major for the Future I applied to the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University as an incoming freshman, guided by my father’s insistence that a business degree would secure me in an ambitious career after graduation. Unfortunately I was waitlisted, along with the vast amount of other young students with the same thinking influencing their decisions. I then switched into the College of Arts and Sciences, with a slight triumph, since I would now be able to pursue a major of my own liking. I have always loved the humanities subjects in school and knew that I would flourish in a degree such as History, English or Psychology. Now looking back as a recent graduate, I am entirely grateful that I was able to strengthen my critical thinking and writing skills through English because

these abilities are versatile and can be used in any career. It is with dismay that I reflect on the decline of humanities majors, due to this transitional view that undergraduate majors must connect with potential careers. On the whole, I believe that my major has been better rounded and unbounded, liberated from the restricting core requirements of a business major which has little room to explore outside of their major. It is my advice to new college students that they select a major that they find sincere interest in and can enjoy. I was able to succeed in my major because I love literature and writing. If at all possible, try to deter from these ways of thinking that discourage majors that may not have obvious connections to careers.


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Senior service agencies

getting creative

In Silicon Valley, approximately one-fifth of the population is 65 and older. This figure will jump to one-infour by the year 2030. While we have all heard about the demographic “age wave,” what is less known is that half of adults 60 and older in Santa Clara County (50%) live below the Elder Economic Standard Index (EESI), an area-specific measure of poverty, according to the latest report from Council on Aging. Right now, many benefit programs only serve individuals that meet the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) - a cost of living at about $1000 per month. While 25% of seniors fall under the FPL, an additional 25% live below the EESI, a more accurate measure of poverty, leaving them in ‘the eligibility gap.’ Local senior service agencies are coming up with creative solutions to engage the community in helping their neighbors. For the past two years, The Health Trust partnered with Council on Aging to engage 90 volunteers and 270 agencies to inform 28,000 adults 50+ of local resources and keys to healthy aging. Resources highlighted included free and income-based local programs for health, fall prevention, housing, transportation, in-home support, caregiver support and food and meal programs. Volunteer ‘Health Champions’ connected with faith communities, libraries, health clinics, senior lunch programs, ethnic sites, after-school programs, hospitals, the Veterans Administration, and more. Silicon Valley is one of the wealthiest areas

in the nation, but at least one-half of our seniors have a myriad of unmet needs. ‘Healthy Steps’ is one of many volunteer opportunities to help ensure that older adults spend more years in good health and engaged as vital members of our community. How can you help to make this a place where we can all age with dignity and health? For more information about how to get involved, please contact: Pauline de Lange, MA Health Promotion Coordinator The Health Trust in partnership with Council on Aging paulined@healthtrust.org (o) 408-879-4105


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THE LOCAL STATE Will the elements that drove market prices in 2014 be with us in 2015? 2014 was the second consecutive year with record low inventory. In fact, Silicon Valley began this year with the lowest level of inventory in over 18 years. Even casual real estate enthusiasts are well aware of the markedly similar environment near the end of 1999 and early 2000. As low as our available supply was in January of 2000, this January 2014 launched Chris Trapani with even fewer properties Founder & CEO, for sale. Real estate has Sereno Group long been a supply and (650) 947-2901 demand driven market. serenogroup.com When listings are abundant and demand is soft, we mostly see declining values. Conversely, the climate of these past two years with historically low inventory in the face of significant and increasing demand has resulted in dramatic appreciation. The rate of this appreciation has caused some to pause wondering if we have reached a peak for this recovery and growth cycle. Real estate listing activity follows a seasonal pattern. Each January begins with the inventory low point relative to that given year. As we enter spring, new listings tend to enter the market and climb to an annual plateau sometime around mid to late summer or early fall. The fourth quarter of most every year sees a tapering off in listing count as colder weather and household priorities, holidays and other factors come into play. There are presently 10% fewer listings than during the same point of the prior year. Fast forward to January 2015, we will quite possibly have even fewer properties for sale than January of 2014. If this theory proves correct, then January of 2015 will become the inventory lowpoint record of any year dating back more than 18 years. Our forecast is that January of 2015 will be the inventory low point of the current market cycle. We also do not see buyer demand diminishing in any significant manner. Therefore, it’s probable that 2015 will be another year of appreciation for Silicon Valley real estate.

Rainy Hake

Executive Vice President, Alain Pinel Realtors (408) 741-1111 apr.com Is 2015 going to be a sellers or buyers market in Silicon Valley? Real estate in the Bay Area will continue to be a good investment in 2015. CAR has reported units to be down but sales volume to be up, given constrained inventory yet increasing home prices. Home prices have finally returned to their 2007 standard, and CAR expects existing-home sales to rise 5.8% in 2015 after an expected 8.2% drop in 2014. In general, the CAR projections for 2015 are quite optimistic, forecasting that the supply of homes on the market will continue to grow, prices will flatten, and home sales will rise minimally as fewer investors will be bidding up prices. Industry sources also expect, that despite previous predictions that mortgage rates would rise, mortgage interest rates are now forecasted to remain at historic lows. Price appreciation will begin to taper off as the statewide median home price is projected to rise only 5.2%, following an unprecedented 11.8% increase this year. Affordability is a continued concern in the Bay Area where the Housing Affordability Index is projected to drop from 30% in 2014 to 27% in 2015. I foresee an increase in building and new construction to help meet demand. However, locally, the SF Bay Area always leads the curve and our strong economic growth sets us apart from the rest of the state and nation, and 2015 should bring a more stable real estate market.


OF REAL ESTATE 2015 Do foreign buyers still see Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area as ideal havens for their money? Will this phenomenon continue to grow? Foreign buyer interest in U.S. real estate only continues to grow, and the Bay Area is one of the most sought after markets for offshore buyers. Asian buyers have become the fastest-growing segment of international buyers for U.S. homes, according to the National Association of Realtors Mike James (NAR). NAR estimates President, that total international sales from Chinese buyers Coldwell Banker nearly doubled in a year, Residential Brokerage increasing to $22 billion (925) 275-3085 during the 12-month CaliforniaMoves.com period ending March 2014. Buyers in China represented 22 percent of the $92 billion spent by international buyers. Asian buyers are attracted by the strength of our local economy, including the tech sector, the stability of the U.S. political system, our world-class universities, and the relative affordability of real estate here. While high, our real estate prices are still seen as attractive when compared with the prices in many other cities around the world. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is uniquely qualified to serve this growing market. We have the international presence in Asia that no other brokerage can match. Add to that our position as the leading brokerage company in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, and you can see why this is a very important demographic for our company. We’ve deployed a very targeted marketing program to reach these consumers in a variety of ways, and our efforts are showing positive results in terms of Bay Area sales to offshore buyers. I suspect that trend will only grow in 2015.

How high will mortgage rates rise in 2015? Will the local market stall if rates go too high in Silicon Valley? Consensus states, YES, expect to see a small rise in interest rates throughout 2015. Both NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun and C.A.R.’s Vice President & Chief Economist Leslie AppletonYoung predict the rates to Tom Tognoli climb to 4.5% COO, Founder - 5%, up from Intero an average of 4.2% on a (408) 863-3000 30 year fixed InteroRealEstate.com loan in 2014. Needless to say, rates within 2015 will stay at historically low levels. The Silicon Valley housing demand will continue to be strong due to a local vigorous job market and tight housing supply. As 2014’s market frenzy continues to cool off bringing less multiple offer transactions, we expect 2015 to be a win-win for both sellers and buyers. Look forward to would-be buyers having an easier time finding the home of their dreams … as well as sellers to continue to reap the rewards of a strong market with countless buyers and an ever increasing home value.



Northern California Chapter 2014-2015


2014 SuperBowl of Golf The Northern California Chapter of the NFL Alumni was well represented by team captain Jim Otis from Iguana Design and Print. The Super Bowl of Golf is the Annual NFL Alumni Golf Championship played by the winning teams of the Nation’s NFL Alumni Chapter’s local Golf Tournaments. This year the SBOG was played in Las Vegas. The 2015 SBOG will be played in April 2015 at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Verde, Florida. This world renowned golf facility is the home of the PGA Tour Player’s Championship.

Jim Otis, Team Iguana

Ron Jaworski, Larry Schreiber, Joe Pisarcik

SBOG SUPER BOWL OF GOLF

Ricky Ervins

Steve Thurlow, Larry Schreiber

2014 2011 LEGENDSMAGA ZINE

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NFL Alumni

Strides for Life Freddie Solomon Scholarship Awards NFL Alumni Allan Kennedy and Gary Weaver participated in presenting local youth the Freddie Solomon Scholarship Award at the Strides for Life Annual Fundraiser in March. Strides for Life is a Burlingame, CA based colon cancer awareness organization that began giving scholarships in honor of the late 49er receiver after he passed away from colon cancer.

Chapter Vice President, Allan Kennedy, Gary Weaver, Scholarship Winner Megan Dickerson from St. Ignatius Prep, Larry Cappel, Board President of Strides for Life

Scholarship winner Issac Straznickas from Mission High School talks to NFL Alumni Executive Committee Member and former Raider, Gary Weaver at the Strides for Life, Dinner and Auction

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2014 LEGENDSMAGA ZINE


31st Annual

Golf Classic The NFL Alumni had a spectacular day at the Olympic Club where they raised money for their Caring for Kids program. The event had an extra tournament flair attached to it with the addition of a new electronic scoring system that players used with their cell phones. A dinner, silent and live auction closed another great experience at the historic Olympic Club.

Team Captains

John Taylor, Cliff Branch

Guy McIntyre

Gordy Soltau, Larry Schreiber, Skip Vanderbundt, Frank Nunley

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Jim Plunkett

Dave Fiore

2014 LEGENDSMAGA ZINE

Dennis Brown


NFL Alumni

Salvation Army

The Chapter teamed up with the Salvation Army’s Redwood City branch to distribute food for the holidays. Hundreds of local families were provided meals at the facility. Many local companies and stores contributed the groceries for these meals.. The Chapter collaborates annually with the Salvation Army to serve families and continue giving in the holiday spirit.

Henry “Model T” Ford, Allan Kennedy

2014 LEGENDSMAGA ZINE

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Red Ribbon

Drug Awareness Day The NFL Alumni Northern California Chapter held its 12th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Prevention and Education Clinic on October 22, 2013, at St. Pius School Gymnasium in Redwood City. The theme for the event was “Make Good Choices to be Healthy and Drug Free, and Your Future Will Be Bright.” The keynote speaker was the amazing Eason Ramson, former SF 49er, who once again captivated the audience of 400 students from over 12 Bay Area schools. Also speaking about the perils of drugs and alcohol were Karl Nichols from the DEA, Captain Mike Maskarich from the California Highway Patrol, and representatives from DARE and San Mateo County Sheriffs Department. Former 49ers Dennis Brown and Allan Kennedy and former Raider Gary Weaver were also there to support this important program that was coordinated by NFL Alumni Executive Committee Member Carolyn Hoskins. A special thanks to Rick and Janice Lozoya who donated the backpacks to all students who attended the Clinic. The 2013 Award Winners were: Laly Madera – The Eason Ramson Celebrate a Drug Free Life Award Our Common Ground – R.C. “Ally Oop” Owens Don’t Quit Award Woodside High School – Coach Ben Parks Community Service Award West Bay Christian Academy – SF 49ers Gordy Soltau Special Recognition Award Henry Ford Elementary School – Caring for Kids – Henry “Model T” Ford Award If you would like more information about this program or to become a sponsor, please contact Jeff Bayer @ 650-533-4949

Dennis Brown, Gary Weaver, Mike Dotterer

Eason Ramson

Henry “Model T” Ford, Carolyn Hoskins

2014 LEGENDSMAGA ZINE

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Sherman White

Mike Merriweather, Annika Sorenstam

Michael Pritchard, Gary Weaver

Dan Bunz

Allan Kennedy receives Community Service Award

Ted Kwalick, Len Rohde

Jesse Sapolu, Dennis Brown

Mike Dotterer, Alonzo Emery, Gary Weaver, Ray Mueller

In the Community The NFL Alumni prides itself on being active in the Northern California Community. Our members attend and enhance many local fundraisers throughout the year. From scholarship presentations to being celebrity captains, the NFL Alumni remains committed to our mission of Caring for Kids.

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2014 LEGENDSMAGA ZINE



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