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December 2013 Alamo Tree Lighting Festival is Almost Here!
Serving Alamo and Diablo
Sunday, December 1st, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
The Alamo Chamber of Commerce will present the 2013 Alamo Tree Lighting Festival at 4:30pm, Sunday, December 1st in the Alamo Oak Tree Plaza next to Andrew H. Young Park at the corner of Danville Boulevard and Jackson Way. The festival signals the beginning of the Christmas holiday season for families with an evening of caroling, entertainment, beverages, and crafts. “Guests are urged to come early and stay late,” said the organizers. Opening the program and singing throughout the evening will be choirs from local schools, including San Ramon Valley High, Monte Vista High, Rancho Romero Elementary, Stone Valley Middle School and Alamo Elementary. They will be performing some beautiful holiday songs sure to get everyone in the spirit! Santa will hear the desires of the little ones. He will arrive early and be ready at 4:45pm for pictures so all kids will have a chance to share their Christmas wishes. Tables will be set up by various organizations with beverages provided by local civic groups including the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, and others. Supervisor Candace Anderson will speak to the crowd, share a few words, and switch on the lights for the beautiful tree. Contra Costa Food Bank will provide barrels for participants to fill with non-perishable canned or boxed foods to help the many families in need. An added barrel is available in front of Richards Arts and Crafts in Alamo Plaza all season long.
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The Medical Clown Project: Reaching the Person Inside the Patient By Jody Morgan The seven professional clowns of the Medical Clown Project (MCP) bring skills honed with Cirque de Soleil, the Big Apple Circus, and other worldrenowned companies to medical facilities throughout the Bay Area. Laughter, proven by recent scientific studies to be excellent medicine, is only one part of the therapy they provide. Whether relaxing pediatric patients by stimulating their inherent desire to play or temporarily reconnecting dementia patients with their ability to respond to others who care, the clowns engage the person inside the patient. In 1986, the Big Apple Circus started Clown Care, the first program in the United States utilizing professional clowns to provide therapy in medical facilities. At right, Jef Raz, MCP co-founder and Artistic Director. (Photo courtesy of MCP)
Local Postal Customer
See Clown continued on page 30 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
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Adopt a Family Bikes
Where did they go? Remember that pop-up bike shop last year that was open during the holidays in the old Blockbuster place in Alamo? They are located in Danville this year at 500 La Gonda Way at the corner of El Cerro. Adopt a Family Bikes is a local non-profit organization that collects donated used bikes during the holiday season. The bikes are cleaned, repaired, and safety checked before being distributed to local non-profits serving the homeless, foster children, unemployed, underemployed, persons in recovery, and Richmond school children identified by their teachers as unlikely to receive a holiday gift. Used bikes and volunteers are urgently needed to fill the huge need for bikes. The program got a late start this year as staff struggled to find an available work space, so the need for donations and help is especially great. No experience is needed to volunteer. Bikes can be dropped off Saturdays
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Alamo Updates By Sharon Burke
Report of November Alamo Liaison Meeting
On the third Monday of each month, Alamo’s Supervisor Candace Andersen hosts an “Alamo Liaison Meeting” and welcomes any Alamo resident to attend and participate. Residents receive updates on police and traffic issues, air their concerns, ask questions, make announcements about community events, and stay updated on Alamo organizations. Following is a report of the November 18 meeting. The next Alamo Liaison Meeting is at 8am on December 16, 2013, at Sup. Andersen's Danville office. RSVP beforehand with Donna Maxwell, donna. maxwell@bos.cccounty.us. Supervisor Andersen began the meeting with the following announcements: The County Administrator's office is still researching her questions about the Police District 6 zone funds generated by newer homes built in Alamo. The Alamo Police Services Committee has been seeking answers as to whether these funds can be spent only in Alamo instead of countywide. The land use permit for the community gym at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church was approved by the County Zoning Administrator. Use restrictions are required: no windows on the building can Volume XIII - Number 12 face nearby neighbors, no more than 450 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, persons can be on site at any one time on Alamo, CA 94507 the church property, use of the gym must Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 be stopped at 9pm Monday through SatFax (925) 406-0547 urday and at 7pm on Sundays. Neighbors Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher have appealed the decision to the County Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Planning Commission. Sharon Burke ~ Writer Branagh Development has withdrawn sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do from its plans to develop the Westminster The not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today Retreat House property on Hemme Avenue. is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising
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