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January 2013 Sprucing up the Interchange
Serving Alamo and Diablo
By Al Makely, Rotary Club of Alamo Recently members of the Rotary Club of Alamo, led by president John Jones, gathered alongside Stone Valley Road near I-680 to begin planting in the first phase of their project to landscape and beautify the area around the interchange. Alamo resident, Rotarian, and owner of Devil Mountain Nursery, Pat Murphy, had trees delivered. Pat is a major benefactor of this project. Rotary members Brad Gai, Steve Larmore, and Kent Johansson transported the other plants to the site. Other club members participating were Don Morton, Bart Gledhill, and Carolyn Thiessen. At the end of the day, over 400 plants were put in the ground.
Monte Vista High School Marching Band. Photo courtesy of Perry Lentine
Jazz in the Moonlight
Rotary members begin planting at the western Stone Valley Road interchange.
An area along the sidewalk has not been planted. This has been left unplanted so that trucks from tree service companies can have access to the area beyond the plants to deposit mulch that will be spread to suppress weed growth. The plants at the site are Crepe Myrtle trees, Aristida Purpurea, and Emerald Carpet Manzanita. The landscape architect, Alamo resident John Montgomery, says that the grassy plants are the Aristida Purpurea. They will grow about two feet tall and three feet wide. In the spring they will have purple flowers and will green up a little. The Emerald Carpet Manzanita will grow about 10” tall and will spread about four feet and will have white flowers in late winter and early spring.
See Interchange continued on page 28
Monte Vista High School’s award-winning instrumental music department includes String Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and two Jazz Bands. In addition, Monte Vista has a Marching Band that was wildly successful in this past season’s Northern California competitions, at one point earning the highest score in their division in the State. Monte Vista musicians are routinely chosen by audition to participate in County and Northern California Honor Bands, and they have gone on to participate in music programs in college. Music students are clear about the benefits of studying music in high school. Monte Vista’s 2012-13 Drum Major, senior Nick Loey, reports, “Practicing music and leading marching band has helped me develop time management skills, and the music program has introduced me to some of my best friends.” Despite the success and popularity of Monte Vista’s Instrumental Music Program, they receive no school or district financial support beyond teacher Ed
See Music continued on page 30
Meet the Friends of the Danville Library
By Jody Morgan
The Friends of the Danville Library (FODL) has been providing support for purchases and programs that would otherwise be unaffordable since the organization’s inception in 1958. Rising to the challenge of recent public spending cuts, this all-volunteer non-profit group doubled the funding for new acquisitions available from Contra Costa County this year. FODL also finances free programs at the library for members of the community of all ages and helps secure grant money for many additional educational events. Used book donations are the main source of income for FODL. Careful sorting gives the library first refusal on current year’s offerings. High value books are culled for Internet sales. Books from the past three years as well as certain notably saleable Volume XIII - Number 1 titles are sold in the Friends Bookstore at the library. 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Older books in good condition are boxed by category Alamo, CA 94507 and stored for the big quarterly Book Sales. When Melody Trapp, President FODL and Seng Lovan, Senior Community Library Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 multiple copies of a particular volume are donated, Manager, review acquisitions funded by FODL. Fax (925) 406-0547 overstock goes on the “Free Book” carts Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PRSRT STD in the library lobby. Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com U.S. Postage Volunteers encourage donors to Sharon Burke ~ Writer PAID Local provide contact information so persburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 Postal Customer sonal property can be promptly returned. The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today Bookstore Co-Manager Lynne Elizondo is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
See Friends continued on page 20