Alamo Today, August, 2014

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

August 2014

Serving Alamo and Diablo

Save the Date - Alamo Music and Wine Festival Saturday, September 6

The Rotary Club of Alamo will be sponsoring the 32nd Annual Alamo Music and Wine Festival on Saturday, September 6th, from 3:30pm. to 10:30pm at Alamo Plaza.

The fun-filled event will benefit the Alamo community and the music programs at six local schools including Alamo and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools, Stone Valley Middle School, Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley High Schools and the Lucille Mauzy School.

The Festival will also feature a raffle with great prizes including the following: • VIP Tour for up to six people of ABC-7 News (KGO), hosted by Spencer Christian, includes a live broadcast sitting and pictures at the anchor desk with the news team.

• A scenic two-hour flight for up to three people with viewing ranges from the San Francisco coast, the Delta or a tour of the Lake Tahoe area.

• VIP tour for up to four people on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange • A Diamond Back Outlook Mountain Bike • A Day on the Bay - a sailboat tour of San Francisco Bay on the 34 ft. “Full Tilt” for up to four people including lunch on Angel Island • Cline Cellars Winery Tour and wine tasting for up to four people • Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Tour and wine tasting for up to four people • $100 gift certificate to Faz’s Restaurant

See Raffle continued on page 24

Two New Members Join the Alamo Council

By Sharon Burke

Alamo’s Supervisor Candace Andersen has appointed Jill Winspear and Aron DeFerrari to the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council.

Jill Winspear is to be a full voting member of the Alamo MAC. A native of Walnut Creek and an Alamo resident for ten years, Jill brings a wealth of business and community volunteer experience to the MAC. She has an extensive background in sales and marketing management. Jill earned a degree in fine art from UC Berkeley, and was the Managing Director of a fine Jill Winspear art gallery in Houston Texas. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation, as well as for the Diablo Regional Arts Association, where she is Marketing Chair and she has co-chaired DRAA’s largest fundraiser, “On Broadway,” multiple times. Jill told me one of her most rewarding volunteer accomplishments was when she served as the Scholarship Chair for the Alamo Women’s Club, helping to New Alamo Council Member Aron choose deserving local recipients of the AWC DeFerrari enjoys the Farmers’ Market with his daughter.

Local Postal Customer

See MAC continued on page 23 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA

ECRWSS

Talking with owners, attendees learn the stories behind the classic cars.

Hot Summer Nights: Celebrating Classic Community Fun By Jody Morgan

In 1994, three friends decided to share their love of classic automobiles with fellow enthusiasts by staging a series of car shows. Initially the Danville Hot Summer Nights Hot Rod and Classic Car Show was held four times each year, but a half dozen years ago the decision was made to concentrate on two outstanding productions each summer. Thanks to the tireless efforts of a core team of volunteers, the show has evolved into a favorite family pastime. Showcasing downtown restaurants and retailers as well as local non-profits to crowds of as many as 15,000 spectators, Danville Hot Summer Nights Car Show, open free to the public, generates an old-fashioned sense of community spirit with a totally

See Nights continued on page 23

Alamo Residents Flock to Farmers’ Market

By Sharon Burke

The new Alamo Farmers’ Market got off to a great start on July 27, with hundreds of Alamo residents showing up on a hot morning to check out the vendors from far and wide. Vendors I talked to came from Brentwood, Modesto, Morgan Hill and Sonoma. They brought fresh cage free eggs, jams and jellies, olive oils and vinegars, yummy baked goods, smoked salmon and salmon jerky, kettle corn, potted plants and seedlings, juicy sweet peaches, apricots and nectarines, vine ripe tomatoes, all

See Market continued on page 30

Volume XIV - Number 8 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Sharon Burke ~ Writer

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

A friend’s father used to say to him, “Everybody wants to live forever, but yet they don’t know what to do on a Thursday night.” Kids complain, “I’m bored.”

Teenagers echo the kids and add, “There’s nothing to do around here.” It’s so easy to get in a rut. Go to work. Cook dinner. Watch TV. Go to bed. If you have kids the day might include a sporting practice, or, all to soon, another year of school and homework.

Breaking out of the rut usually involves preplanning, effort, coordination...one more thing. However, time flies and who wants to go through life in a “lather-rinse -repeat” cycle?

Irish playright Oscar Wilde noted, “To live is the rarest thing in the world.

Most people exist, that is all.” The area we are privileged to live in is a place that people from all over the world come to see. Opportunities abound to visit new sights, explore world-class museums, enjoy nature, dine on the finest cuisine or grab a meal from a food truck, and be entertained by concerts in the park or performances on a large stage and yet, how often do we take advantage of what we have been given?

The other night I planned a family and friend outing to the Exploratorium.

Thursday evenings from 6-10pm the museum holds “Exploratorium After Dark.”

Entrance fee is half price, a cash bar is open, and the venue is open for adults only.

It is a playground for a friends gathering or a date night. There is always something new to see, and there are so many exhibits that it takes multiple visits to see them all.

One of my favorite newly-found exhibits was a small room with a gravel path. The A camera and a drop of water catch my goal was to walk on the path from end to reflection at the Exploratorium.

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end as quietly as you could without making too loud of a “crunch” in the gravel.

A decibel meter tracked how much sound you created. I felt very proud when I made a fifth of the noise as the guy in front of me, however, my husband eclipsed everyone and made it down the path with barely a squeak.

I have discovered two websites this month that tell of slightly off-the-beaten path and less known interesting things and places to see. The websites are www. roadtrippers.com and www.atlasobscura.com. They are great for planning a local outing or a road trip and are worth checking out if you are looking for new ideas.

Centenarian Lili Rudin; who was born in July 1912, and was married four times and has two children, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; was interviewed for an article in Real Simple magazine. She was asked how she made it to age 100 and said, “I left school when I was 12, but I traveled the world, and that was my real education. People interested me then and still do. That’s why I go out every day and mingle: I go shopping and take exercise classes. Plus, I see members of my family almost every single day. I remain very curious about life, and if something new happens, I want to be involved in it. I want to live another 50 years—after all, there are still so many countries I need to see.” She gave her best live-long advice noting, “Do something interesting every day; otherwise you disintegrate.”

When I wake up each day I have as much time as the President or a Fortune 500 CEO. In the poem, The Dash by Linda Ellis in part she says, I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

How are you going to fill in your dash? What story will that little line tell?

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Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 3

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Sale Price $2,200,000 $1,638,000 $3,250,000 $3,500,000 N/A $1,097,000 $1,460,000 $905,000 $1,839,000 $1,600,000 $1,400,000 $ 1,700,000 $ 2,300,000 $ 870,000 $ 1,030,000 $ 1,390,000 $ 1,569,000 $ 1,500,000 $ 1,460,000 $ 1,300,000 $ 1,750,000 $ 1,825,000 $ 1,200,000 $ 1,410,000 $ 1,501,000 $ 1,290,000 $ 1,298,000 $ 1,988,000 $ 1,740,000 $ 1,765,000 $ 1,800,000 $ 1,050,000 $ 2,340,000 $ 1,375,000 $ 1,325,000

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Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley, along with local veterans’ organizations, is hosting the Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony for the residents of the San Ramon Valley (SRV).

This event will feature prominent guest speakers, hundreds of Boy and Girl Scouts with an array of American Flags, joint Police and Fire Department Honor Guard, the San Ramon Valley High Chamber Choir, a flight of doves, and many other patriotic contributions. There will be an essay contest based on this event with cash prizes for students in grades 1-12 who are residents of the five San Ramon Valley communities.

The event will take place on Thursday, September 11th starting at 5:50PM and concluding at 6:40PM, at All Wars Memorial, which is located at Oak Hill Park at 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville.

Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Karen Stepper, Past President of the Exchange Club of SRV. Keynote Speaker will be David Yuers, and current Exchange Club President, Richard Price will be a guest speaker.

For information about the Exchange Club of SRV, please contact our website at srvexchangeclub.org.

Help Give Cancer the Boot

Forget your suit and bring your loot on Saturday, August 16th starting at 5pm.

Give cancer the boot at the classic country western round-up benefiting the Danville based Lazarex Cancer Foundation. Enjoy a country elegant menu, cocktails, and breathtaking views. Channel your inner cowpoke and test your shooting, riding, and roping skills. Tap your feet to California’s remarkable Western Swing band Lost Weekend. This is an elegant taste of the west, in a fun and festive setting, on a private ranch in the Fremont hills, all to benefit a great cause. The evening takes place at 41401 Vargas Road in Fremont. The cost is $250 per person.

To participate in the auction, donate, or purchase tickets, visit https:// lazarex.ejoinme.org/givecancertheboot.

Donations can also be made in lieu of attendance to Cancer Foundation by visiting the Lazarex Cancer Foundation event website at https://lazarex.ejoinme. org/givecancertheboot or by mailing a donation to Lazarex Cancer Foundation, P.O. BOX 741, Danville, CA 94526. For more information about the event, call Lazarex Cancer Foundation at 925-820-4517 or email Susan@lazarex.org.

ChrisCampbellRE.net

Volunteers Needed for Event to Help Bay Area Homeless Veterans in September

Organizers of the East Bay Stand Down (EBSD) 2014 are in the final stages of planning a major initiative to help up to 450 homeless and displaced veterans and their families, and are looking to recruit over 2,000 volunteers to help. This large-scale community program will take place at the Alameda

All Veterans live at East Bay Stand Down for four days.

County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton from September 11 - 14. Concerned citizens with various skills and abilities are needed to support the operation of the four-day “tent city.”

“Stand Down” is a term used during war to describe the practice of removing combat troops from the field and taking care of their basic needs in a safe area, and this same concept has been successfully used to provide assistance to veterans who are in need. Many of these veterans are suffering from physical and mental injuries, sometimes both, suffered while in service to our country.

A wide variety of voluntary positions are still needed, especially priorto the start of EBSD for physical labor in setting-up and maintaining the “tent-city” encampment. Volunteers are also needed after the event to break down camp and to perform many other support functions during the four

See Veterans continued on page 25

Page 4 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Get Yours At

• ALAMO BIKES • & skateboards

1483 Danville Blvd Alamo

925.837.8444

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Sons in Retirement Luncheon Meeting

Sons in Retirement (SIR) will hold their next luncheon meeting at 11:30am August 18th. A performance by SIR member Paul King and his singing partner Terry Shields will be held. Paul and Terry perform locally as members of the Jump-In band which features music from the 50’s and 60’s similar to that of the Kingston Trio and the Limeliters. Paul plays six and 12 string guitars, and Terry plays banjo and guitar. Like the name suggests, the audience is encouraged to jump in and join in singing familiar favorite songs. Cost of lunch is $15. The meeting is held at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge located at 1475 Creekside Dr. in Walnut Creek. Guest are welcome. Please make reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by Wednesday, August 13th.

If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, participate in fun activities, and better enjoy your leisure time, you are welcome to join the fun. Having an active life in retirement is not only what the SIR organization encourages, but it provides the opportunity to do so with volunteer organized events such as guided walking tours of San Francisco.

An upcoming guided walking tour of San Francisco is scheduled for Saturday, August 23rd. This tour will explore the transformation of the Mission Bay area which includes the largest construction project in San Francisco since the 1906 earthquake. This tour should provide a unique perspective on the transformation from a backwater area of the bay to a modern biotech center. The tour will be conducted by a docent from the SF Public Library at a cost of $10 per person. Guest and spouses are welcome to join and may make reservations by calling 925-322-1160.

The hiking and walking group, also known as the Amiable Amblers, meets the 2nd and 4th Fridays of most months. This is a couple’s event to promote good health and friendship among the members. Each walk is coordinated by one of the members. These walks generally start at 8:15am and last about an hour.

The walks are followed by coffee and/or breakfast at a convenient local spot selected by the coordinator. Most of the walks follow an “out and back” route so that people of all levels of physical ability may participate at their own pace.

For information about SIR activities for retired men, please visit www.

Branch116.org.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club

The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club will hold its monthly luncheon on Thursday, August 21st, at the Brass Door Restaurant. This luncheon is open to current and prospective members in the San Ramon Valley area.

For further information or a reservation, please contact Susan Polk at (925) 487-3515, or www.srvnc.com.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

Are you new to the area or a long time resident interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? We are a women’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner.

Check out all we have to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers. com. Our next new member coffee is August 26th at 10am. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.

Exchange Club of SRV

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. For more information, call Karen Stepper at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo. com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

Scottish Country Dancing

Come dance every Thursday evening, year-round (with the single exception of Thanksgiving)! No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is required. Adult beginner classes for Scottish Country Dancing take place each week with free lessons at 8PM. More experienced dancers also begin at 8PM. Once a month Ceilidh dancing will take place as well. Dancing will be held at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Rd in Danville. All dance nights are drop-in. The first beginner lesson is free, afterwards the cost is $8/night or $6/night if attending a 10-week session paid in advance.

Call Witsie at (925) 676-3637 or Kathleen at (925) 934-6148 for more information. For children’s classes ages 7 and up, please contact Cathy at (925) 284-9068 for dates and fees.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Alamo ~ Stunning remodel! Desirable Whitegate location, 5 bedrooms 3 full baths 2743 square feet on a private .35 acre lot. Gourmet kitchen, formal living room and dining room, large family room. $1,499,000 Russ Darby Tim Palumbo

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Groveland ~ Two family vacation get away Close to Yosemite! Gated community on 1 acre view lot at Pine Mountain Lake.

Amazing 7bdrm, 5bath. 6800 sf & 2 separate lvng areas w/sauna, steam shower, wine cellar, library, exercise rm. Enormous game rms w/full bar set ups. $699,750 Jay Weymouth • 925.915.1100 jayweymouth@yahoo.com www.12881greenvalleycircle.com

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 5

Alamo Oaks ~ 3.21 acres. Magnificent view, quiet lane setting, approved for Two lots.

Vintage home included. Build one palatial estate or develop into two home sites. Located at 141 Dean Road, Alamo. $1,950,000

Alamo ~ JUST LISTED! Enjoy the tranquil views from this custom built 5bdrm, 5 bath 2 story home w/separate office located on a cul-de-sac at Round Hill North.

Open floor plan w/large gourmet kitchen.

Beautiful cherry hardwood floors. Oversized 3 car garage. Must See!$1,998,000.

Jay Weymouth • 925.915.1100 jayweymouth@yahoo.com

Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com

Diablo ~ OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS! Private lane leads to single story rancher packed with Potential and Unlimited Possibilities.

1.63 FLAT Acres, with Pool/Spa, Entertainment Cabana and Tennis Court. Plant a vineyard, stable horses or build your estate home. It’s all possible! $1,849,950

Walnut Creek ~ ONE OF A KIND custom hm w/VIEWS forever yet close to dwntwn W/C, Bart, & freeway. 5200 sf w/5bdrms, 5baths + 6th bdrm/office. Wonderful chef’s kit w/lg center island open to family rm. Private setting, a must see! $1,998,000

John Lopes

Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com

~ 925-998-6262 acelopes@aol.com

Page 6 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

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Assistance League of Diablo Valley Looking for Prospective Members ®

It’s all in the details MB Jessee is the Bay Area’s premier painting company, specializing in interiors, exteriors and specialty finishes for homes and estates. Call us for a complimentary consultation.

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Search and Rescue

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 646-4461.

Alamo Sheriff’s Station Staffed and Ready

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Station, located in the Alamo Shopping Center, is now staffed with volunteers to assist you Monday through Saturday from 8am-5pm and Sunday from 8am-12:30pm. When closed, citizens can use the outdoor red phone for all emergency and non-emergency calls.

For help or information, call (925) 646-6180 or visit the office at 150 Alamo Plaza #C.

Want to Become a Better Speaker?

Toastmasters allows its members to practice their speaking and presentation skills in a supportive environment. Our local club, Danville AM Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at Father Nature's Restaurant in downtown Danville (172 E Prospect Ave). Please drop by and visit us! For more information, contact Hans Thoma at danvilletoastmasters@outlook.com.

Upcoming Community Meetings and Events

AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - Please visit www.alamoca.org for upcoming meetings - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd.

Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo Women’s Club P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm - Meets at Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office located at 120 -B, Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www. firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp

Assistance League® of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit, member volunteer organization which is dedicated to improving lives in our community through hands-on programs. You might have heard of our primary fundraiser, the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette.

In response to a growing client base, we are actively pursuing prospective members who would enjoy providing clothing to elementary schoolchildren for a more successful educational experience, testing preschool children for vision, performing educational puppet shows for schoolchildren, reading to second grade students, or helping in supplying emergency clothing, food, and supplies to those in crisis. Two other philanthropic programs address the needs of our seniors.

A Prospective Member Coffee will be held on Wednesday, August 13, at 9:30AM, at the Community Resource Center, 2711 Buena Vista Avenue, Walnut Creek. If you are interested in spending quality time while serving the needs of others in our community, please phone (925) 934-0901 for details. For more information about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s eight philanthropic programs, please visit our website at diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

Teens Coordinate 5K Walk to Benefit Impoverished of County

The seventh annual Friends of the Poor® Walk, benefiting the needy and those living in poverty who are served by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), is scheduled to be held in Danville on Saturday, September 27.

Teens from Alamo and Danville are coordinating this walk, which is intended to raise awareness of county residents living in poverty and the St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County programs in place to support assistance for the needy. Carondelet High Students Siena Armanino, Katie Kuptz, Mia Malone, and Sami Martellaro are coordinating the Walk. The county walk has raised over $10,000 for SVdP programs over the past four years.

The local walk is taking place at St. Isidore Church grass field, 440 La Gonda Way, Danville, 9AM – 11AM. Anyone interested in participating or making a pledge can log on to www.fopwalk.org, Walk #222 the Contra Costa Walk.

SVdP programs in Contra Costa County include free dining room, free medical clinic for the uninsured, food pantries, housing assistance, job training and placement, clothing, transportation and utility costs, thrift stores, home visits, care for the elderly, medicine, and youth outreach. In 2011-2012, over 140,000 Contra Costa residents received assistance from SVdP of CCC. All proceeds from the county walk directly benefit the people served by SVDP in Costa Contra County, and there are no administrative fees associated with the event.

Participants can also become virtual walkers and make an online pledge.

“The economic recovery has been slow, and it may surprise many in Alamo and Danville to learn that many in the county are living in poverty, especially East County, where poverty has risen by 33% over the last twenty years. Unfortunately, we’re seeing more and more children who are affected as a result of those issues,” noted Jim Noe, SVdP of Contra Costa County board president.

“People who participate can take comfort knowing that any money they raise will stay local,” adds Melanie Anguay, SVdP of Contra Costa County executive director. “I think that’s one reason why we’ve seen so much growth in the people participating and the monies raised from this event in the few short years we’ve been holding it.”

One of the oldest and most effective charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org) is a Catholic lay organization of more than 700,000 men and women throughout the world who voluntarily join together to offer person-to-person service to the needy and those living in poverty in 142 countries on five continents. Providing more than $572 million in tangible and in-kind services, SVdP serves more than 14 million people in need each year, performs more than 644,000 visits to people in their homes, and delivers more than seven million service hours to those in need. You can help by donating to St. Vincent de Paul by calling (925) 439-5060 or going to www.svdp-cc.org.

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Totally Trains and Pageant of the Pacific Exhibits

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley proudly presents Totally TrainsModels and Memorabilia running again through the Freight Room at the Depot through August 17. Also during this time the Pageant of the Pacific: 75th Anniversary of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition exhibit will be featured in the Depot Waiting Room.

The Golden Gate International Exposition created a magical city of Treasure Island 75 years ago. The Museum and friends have trotted out the scrapbooks and raided old storage boxes for pictures, mementos, and stories that recount the Treasure Island Fair in all its glory. Tired of the long depression and tuning out distant conflicts, the San Francisco Bay Area threw a gigantic party for a few months before the inferno of war overwhelmed any lighthearted spirit.

Once again the Museum is using its own wonderful train collection, including the popular Lady Lionel or Girl’s Train. The exhibit will feature the Museum’s O-Gauge models that span the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries with freight and passenger trains pulled by both diesel and steam engines. The Museum’s scratch-built village models, including the replica of the Museum, the former Danville SP Depot, will be on display along with selected Lionel pieces on loan again to the Museum from Bob and Cheryl Miranda.

Don’t forget to purchase a Totally Trains Family Pass! The family ticket is only $10 again this year and allows for a daily visit to the Museum during the train exhibit’s run.

The Museum is open Tuesdays through Friday from 10AM to 1PM, Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM, and Sundays from 12PM to 4PM. The Museum is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. For more information, call (925) 837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv. org.

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 7

Delta Nu Psi Care Packages for the Troops

Delta Nu Psi will be at Lunardi’s Market in Danville on August 8th from 11am-2pm to collect “gourmet junk food” and postage for shipments for our servicemen. With your help the group has now sent 29,413 pounds of foods in 1,199 boxes to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Please visit deltanupsi.org for more information as well as photos and emails from the men and women in the War Zone.

O’Neill Festival Celebrates the Art of the Escape

The 15th Eugene O’Neill Festival gets underway in early September with a series of theatre productions and events honoring the only American playwright to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for his works.

This fall the Eugene O’Neill Festival focuses on the human yearning for escape. The Iceman Cometh and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof represent two of America’s most celebrated playwrights at the height of their dramatic powers. In these masterpieces, Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams reveal what we all experience when the stories we tell ourselves are challenged. At the intersection of truth and fiction, we all struggle to determine what role illusions play in our lives.

During the month-long O’Neill Festival, additional events further explore “The Art of the Escape” through sneak peek presentations, a visual arts exhibition, panel discussions, a walking tour, and a special showcase performance.

Reservations for each event are available online at www.eugeneoneil.org or www.roleplayersensemble.com.The O’Neill Foundation is also offering, through August 15, a special All-Inclusive Festival Ticket Package, providing a 25% savings on all Festival events.

Festival events

Join us for a sneak peek at this year’s festival. Get the inside scoop from the directors, designers, and actors who are going to be bringing these classics to life this September. Admission is free.

• Lafayette Library (3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd), Thursday, August 21st 6:30pm • Danville Library (400 Front Street), Saturday, August 23rd 1pm

See Festival continued on page 27

Page 8 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Alamo Elementary School

By Stan Hitomi, Principal

The summer break has provided us an opportunity to perform some much-needed cleanup and repairs around campus. Like our general operations during the school year, work over the summer is a team effort.

Our custodial staff, district maintenance staff, consultants, and members of the community all have a hand in getting our school ready for the next school year.

Over the summer our custodial team gives each classroom a thorough cleaning, from washing the carpets to stripping and waxing the floors. They clean the library, multipurpose room, and administrative building, and perform minor repairs, change lights, and move furniture as needed. All of this is done in a 35-day window, including vacations, to be ready for the return of office staff early in August.

The summer also provides the district team a chance to get some work done that would be difficult or impossible to do with students on campus.

This year major work included repair and painting of gutters on all of our classroom buildings, roof repairs on our 400-wing, and the repainting of safety lines. Landscape work was also performed, as well as repair and repainting of benches around campus…the kids will appreciate this! The biggest project performed this summer was the updating of our electrical system on campus. Your measure “D” dollars at work!

This summer we were also fortunate to have another alumnus return to provide leadership and labor to complete a major project on campus. David Henderson (Class of 2008) completed his Eagle Scout Project with the installation and landscaping of a tree stump amphitheater in our Teaching Garden.

Much of the work done over the summer is not obvious to the casual observer. The work does not directly improve student learning, but it makes our school safer for students, teachers, and families. A clean and wellmaintained campus creates an environment that we can all take pride in.

Important Dates August 6 August 11 August 14

August 18 August 25

Annual update (online) – window opens Alamo School Office reopens New Family Orientation, 3:30PM – 4:30PM Walk through registration, 4PM – 7PM Walk through registration, 9AM – Noon First day of school

Important Message to Alamo School Families

You will be receiving an email from the district announcing the opening of Annual Update (formerly known as “Fall Registration”) on or about noon on August 6. The Annual Update online process allows you to verify and change (if needed) contact and emergency information, as well as complete required forms for your student(s) for the upcoming school year.

Upon completion of the Annual Update, you will receive a confirming email with a link to Alamo’s Registration Site, which will give you all the information you need for our Walk-Through Registration.

In order to complete the Annual Update, you will need a Parent Portal Account, which most of you have already set up. If you have not set up an account you can do so by visiting www.srvusd.net/parent_portal.

If you do not have your GUID (unique key) to set up your account, please send an email to portalhelp@srvusd.net. If you need any help with your Parent Portal account, please contact portalhelp@srvusd.net as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing you at registration!

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Rancho Romero Elementary School

By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal

July was a quiet month at Rancho Romero, allowing our custodial staff and district maintenance department access to rooms and grounds. We look forward to meeting and greeting all of our new and returning students and families to a pristine campus in August.

Important Dates:

• Online Registration begins Wednesday, August 6 • School office reopens to the public Monday, August 11 • Walk-Through Registration (optional) Rancho Romero Courtyard - Thursday, August 21, 4:30-7PM • Parent Portal Change Requests: Annual Update is scheduled to be available beginning August 6, 2014. At this time you will be asked to verify and be able to update important household, emergency contact, and student information for the 2014-2015 school year.

• Missing the First Three Days of School 2014 2015: As you plan out the last few weeks of summer vacation, be aware that school begins on Monday, August 25. Because the district is growing, schools are very full and many continue to have wait lists.

If your child does not attend the first three days of school, he/she will be dropped from the school’s roster on Thursday, August 28. If that occurs, you will need to reenroll your child. A space at your resident school will not be held. If space is not available, your child will be placed at the closest school site based on availability.

• Rancho Romero Web Page is http://rres-srvusd-ca.schoolloop.com.

Failure to Read is not an Option

Children who have made the leap to fluent reading will learn exponentially, while those who haven’t will slump. ~ Annie Murphy Paul Volumes of research exist on the importance of early literacy, decoding skills, fluency, and reading comprehension. It may not come as a surprise that thirdgraders who lack proficiency in reading are four times more likely to struggle significantly in middle and high school, and they are considered at high risk of not completing their twelfth grade education. As we move into the first year of Common Core Standard’s implementation, the shifts required in elementary school in the area of reading, specifically with text complexity and informational text, are at the forefront. The district-wide reading and writing program is grounded in the literacy-rich content instruction of the New York Reading and Writing Project out of Columbia University. Whole school sites, all teachers and administrators, will continue to engage in targeted professional learning in reading and writing during the 2014 2015 school year. Specific strategies will layer our work to ensure that all student needs are met by differentiating tasks, processes and/or products.

Students who are ready for enrichment, advanced content or acceleration will be challenged, just as those who require forms of intervention. A strategic change to reading intervention will include early literacy screening in the primary grades, using a district common assessment administered by a district intervention team.

Students who are considered at-risk of not having foundational reading skills will receive intensive reading intervention.

With several more weeks before the start of school, parents and families can help prepare their child for reading in the new academic year.

Parenting Tips that Inspire and Connect Reading

• Set up a quiet time for your child to read every day, either independently or together with another proficient reader.

• Acquire a library card for your child. Regular visits to the library will increase their vocabulary, imagination, and desire to learn. A library card is a great way to introduce the concepts of borrowing and responsibility to a child, too.

• Visit museums; different neighborhoods, such as those found in San Francisco and surrounding communities; and exhibitions. These venues will inevitably foster exploration, interest, and an understanding of perspectives outside of a child’s own.

• Avoid prolonged viewing of television, video and computer games.

• Children feel confident and competent when they read books that are “just right.” Have your child read the back and front cover, and first page of a book of interest. If there are more than five words that he/she cannot pronounce or understand in context, the book may be too challenging for independent reading.

Choosing the right book will help your little reader feel successful.

• It is important to provide your child with a variety of fiction and non-fiction reading.

• Read any topic of interest such as comic strips. Share favorites from your childhood, and have your child put his/her favorites on the fridge. Read them aloud and often – repetition is a great way to build reading skills. Recipes, grocery lists, and sports pages are easy and accessible.

Enjoy the remainder of summer break.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com bit.ly/Brett-Jill-Greene

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 9

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Stone Valley Middle School

By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal

What’s new at Stone Valley for 2014-15?

STEM Classes

Students entering Stone Valley will have multiple opportunities to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) classes. The U.S. Department of Labor statistics show 1.3 million STEM jobs will be needed by 2020, only about 25% of those will be filled by our college graduates. Careers in STEM fields will continue to grow beyond 2020, so it is important that we provide STEM opportunities for students now so that they will develop an interest in STEM careers. Our feeder elementary schools and receiving high schools all offer excellent STEM programs.

Here’s a thumbnail of our offerings.

• 6th grade Exploratory Wheel – Environmental Science and Computers • 1:1 Devices in science.

• 7/8th grade- Advanced Math classes, electives: Environmental Science, Social Media and Video Production, Robotics, Engineering, and Forensics.

• Our campus now invites students to join our BYOD (bring your own device) wireless network.

Common Core State Standards Focus Area

The 2013-14 school year was the year of implementation for the Common Core. The Stone Valley staff did a remarkable job transitioning from traditional, teacher centered instruction, to more student-centered classrooms. As a school we focused on two anchor standards for language arts, speaking/listening and argument writing. Based on input from the entire staff, we agreed to focus on a reading anchor standard, finding the main idea for the 2014-15 school year.

The standard reads: “Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.” Learn more at www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/CCRA/R.

e-period

Last year we introduced a block schedule two days each week. The extended 83-minute periods allowed teachers the time to delve deeper into activities that required

a higher level of thinking. The Wednesday block included an extra 45-minute period that we call e-period. The e-period has evolved into a time where students can choose to participate in an additional elective, study hall, intervention, and makeup testing.

Intervention Classes

Stone Valley will offer an extra level of support for students who are struggling in math or language arts. Students identified as below grade level in reading comprehension and/or math skills will be enrolled in a support class for one semester in place of an elective.

Preparation for Return to School

Developing stamina as a reader is a critical skill for students at all grade levels. Reading is a foundational skill for all subjects. Here’s the language from the framers of the Common Core State Standards - “To build a foundation for college and career readiness, students must read widely and deeply from among a broad range of high-quality, increasingly challenging literary and informational texts.”

Reading for an hour a day is a minimum expectation. I highly recommend visiting the public library or favorite bookstore and letting your reader choose books that interest them. You may also be interested in some of the young adult literature and want to read along with your children. Remember Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, and Insurgent?

Facilities Update

We continue to move forward with plans for the construction of the new Stone Valley. The school board approved the conceptual design in May, and on June 11th teachers and community members provided input to the facilities department.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2015, and the opening is scheduled for fall 2017. The next facilities meeting will take place in September.

Updated information on construction projects throughout the district can be found at www.srvusd.net/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1346747333230.

Dates to Remember August 18

19

21

25

28

Registration 3PM – 6PM Registration 10AM – 1PM WEB Day 6th Gr. 7:45AM – Noon, 7/8th Gr. 9:30AM-Noon 1st Day of School 12:17PM dismissal Get Acquainted Pizza Night 6PM

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Page 10 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

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Meals on Wheels

Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers.

Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.

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San Ramon Valley High School

Monte Vista High School It is hard to believe that summer is winding down, and we will be starting school in just a few weeks.

If you have an incoming 9th grade student or a student new to Monte Vista, please encourage the student to attend our New Student Orientation and Dance on August 21. It is a great introduction to Monte Vista and high school life. Students will have an opportunity to hear a motivational speaker, get a tour of the school, meet other students, and participate in some fun activities.

Enjoy your last few weeks of summer vacation. Please keep the following dates in mind as you begin to plan your last few summer activities: • Registration Packet Pick-up: August 13 and 14 ~ Drama Room • Registration: August 18 and 19 ~ Gym • New Student Orientation: August 21, 8:00AM – 1:15PM • New Student Dance: August 21, 7:30PM – 9:30PM ~ Small Gym • First Day of School: August 25, Minimum Day schedule If you want to know more about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at http://www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.

2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433

One of the best things about education is that every year students and staff get to start over! There aren’t many professions where you follow the same annual cycle, but in education, every year is truly an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. Students buy new paper, binders, pens and pencils as they vow that this year will be different, and they will keep their new backpack clean!

Teachers come back from the summer break refreshed and relaxed, nervous about the first day and wondering who all of their new students will be. The excitement as staff and students return to campus is palpable. Schools are strangely quiet places over the summer when only a few staff members are working, and everyone looks forward to the start of the new school year when our campus is buzzing with energy and anticipation again.

This year presents an opportunity to really assess how we are doing in our transition to Common Core and the shift towards 21st Century Learning.

Education is going through one of the biggest transitions of the last 100 years.

Learning styles are changing, curriculum and instruction is evolving and the range of educational resources available can be overwhelming when staff are trying to match their instructional strategies with student needs.

In April/May 2015 our Juniors will be assessed using the new Common Core Assessments in English and Math for the first time. It is going to be fascinating to see exactly what the assessments look like, how our students do, and what the data shows. One thing is certain - our students will be some of the best prepared in California and will set the bar high in terms of achievement on these new tests.

August Dates:

August 18th and August 20th: 1pm - 7pm Wolf Pack Days Registration; August 21st: Freshman Orientation; August 22nd: Teacher Work Day/Professional Development; August 25th: First Day of School.

I would like to thank all of the parents who have been involved in the planning for the 2014-2015 SRVHS School Registration. We are introducing a new online system to SRVHS this year. Shelly Clark is our new PTSA president and is bringing the “Togeda” system to SRVHS to simplify and streamline our registration process. This should make everything quicker

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

The Night Before School: A Vigil of Hope

By Nick Vleisides

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 11

Cherubini Coffee House

Every year towards the end of August parents, students, and community members gear up for the start of school. The first day of school seems to always come upon us way too soon or for some of us parents...not soon enough! Right? I remember as a kid getting out of school in mid-June and returning Your favorite coffee house invites you to enjoy your summer afternoons with us. in mid-September. That was a full three months of Wednesdays-Frirdays from 3-7pm join us at Cherubini’s for Wine, Beer, and Tapas. summer vacation! Now summers are barely more than two months! But the start of school is always like the start of an annual clock which tells Tapas plates include Shrimp Salad, Mediterranean Pasta Salad, Antipasta our time. Indeed, the calendar year begins January 1, but the cycle of life Platter, Caprese, Beet Salad, Cream Cheese & Salmon Spread, for us in the community begins when school starts, and it is our practical Cheese & Crackers and a wonderful wine selection.

“New Year.” Everyone is back home from vacations...maybe rested...probMonday & Tuesday 7-4 • Wednesday - Friday 7-7 • Saturday 7-3 • Sunday 7-1 ably not. The day school starts the traffic returns as thousands of students 37 Alamo Square, Alamo (behind Alamo Hay and Grain) • 743-0824 are being transported to the many schools around us all around the same time each morning. Working parents all coordinate their starting time at work with the morning school routine.

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be We embrace all the “back-to-school” sales, buying up Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your supplies and new clothes for the kiddos. We register our kids for school and anxiously wait to find out who their Home for Sale teachers are going to be. Tryouts for the fall sports teams Alamo - According to industry experts, away altogether. In most cases, you can in our high schools brings about a lot of nervousness and there are over 33 physical problems that make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself anxiety among prospective athletes AND their parents. will come under scrutiny during a home if you know what you're looking for, and Most of us look forward to the start of the school rouinspection when your home is for sale. knowing what you're looking for can help tine, though. It puts us in our rhythm. We like the homeA new report has been prepared which you prevent little problems from growing work factor as leverage to keep our kids off the TV and identifies the 11 most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. away from their favorite video games...something most problems, and what you should know about To help home sellers deal with this issue of our kids do way too much of, right?! For our older them before you list your home for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report kids we get nervous about the choices they will make Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11Things You Need to Know to as young adults. We live in a wonderful community but new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been certainly not one exempt or untouched by drug and alcothat can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. hol abuse that goes along with the party scene. We have home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, excellent schools, but we also know our kids are under dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter more pressure now than ever to perform and succeed in critical that you read this report before 2001. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, academics. Somehow “average” has become akin to failyou list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. ure in some ways. We see more and more young people building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn suffering through low self esteem partially as a result you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't of the extreme pressures, and it often leads to high risk costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. behavior and abuse of drugs, prescription medications, sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers and alcohol. We love our children but we know how life This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 can be fraught with dangers and consequences of poor choices. On Sunday night, August 24, at 7PM there will Local Families Needed for Exchange Students be a vigil of hope offered for our community of parents and students and ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is seeking concerned citizens, The Night Before School: A Vigil of Hope. This will be local host families for international high school boys and girls. These a brief time to hear from a few speakers... perhaps a teacher...a student...a students are 15 to 18 years of age and are coming to this area for the parent...a chaplain. We will offer up prayers for our kids that they would upcoming high school year or semester. These personable and acathrive in safety as well as emotional and spiritual health. This Vigil of demically selected exchange students are conversant in English, bright, Hope is dedicated to the memory of Robert Orlando who was killed the curious, and anxious to learn about this country through living as part night before school last August. His life AND his death reminded many of of a family, attending high school, and sharing their own culture and us in the community how precious our children are but also how tenuous language with their newly adopted host family. The exchange students life can be. Please come...students, parents, and anyone who wishes to join arrive from their home country shortly before school begins and return together and seek to bless our students. The Night Before School: A Vigil at the end of the school year or semester. Each ASSE student is fully of Hope will be held in the park at Oak Hill Park located at 3005 Stone insured, brings his or her own personal spending money, and expects Valley Rd. in Danville. to contribute to his or her share of household responsibilities, as well Nick is a chaplain with the Danville Police Department, San Ramon as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles. The stuPolice Department, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, Contra dents are well screened and qualified by ASSE. Families can choose their students from a wide variety of backgrounds, nationalities, and Costa County Sheriff. He is a board member for Teen Esteem (www. personal interests. teenesteem.org) and speaks at school assemblies on the subject of teen Those persons interested in obtaining more information about becoming pressure, anxiety, and suicide. Nick serves on the Contra Costa County a host family should call toll free to 1-800-733-2773 or go to host.asse.com.

Suicide Prevention Committee, and he is the Director and Chaplain for There are many students to choose from, so call or go online,and begin the Community Chaplain Resources (www.communitychaplainresources. process of selecting your new host son or daughter today! org). Nick can be contacted at nvleisides@yahoo.com.

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Page 12 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

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Your Input Needed: Help Us Keep Contra Costa Moving

By Candace Andersen, County Supervisor

Our local City Councils and the County Board of Supervisors work closely on transportation issues and serve together on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). CCTA is responsible for maintaining and improving Contra Costa’s transportation system. It works to improve our local transportation systems by planning and funding key projects like the Caldecott Tunnel and BART system extensions. It also helps maintain our local streets, reduce traffic congestion, and make Contra Costa safe for bikes and pedestrians. We want to help you get to where you need to go.

We’re currently updating the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP), which outlines our vision for improving how we travel throughout our County. It establishes goals, strategies, projects, and other actions that will help achieve that vision. It’s a plan for the next 25 years of transportation planning in our county.

We want your input! What is your transportation vision for Contra Costa?

What programs should we invest in? Should we extend BART, put more buses on the road, fix local streets, create more bike lanes, make our streets more pedestrian friendly, or improve our highways? Help us set priorities for our transportation system and suggest new ideas. This is your chance to share your ideas for new projects and programs in Contra Costa.

There are many ways you can participate: • Attend a public workshop to hear more about the CTP process and give your feedback. The meeting in our end of the County is going to take place on Wednesday, September 10, at 7PM at the Lafayette Veteran’s Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette.

• Participate in a Telephone Public Workshop. Visit www.ccta.net for more information.

• Visit www.KeepContraCostaMoving.net to fill out an online survey.

• Call (925) 256-4720 to get a copy of the survey mailed to you.

I hope you’ll use one of the ways listed above to participate in this important planning tool. Your opinions and ideas matter and will help shape Contra Costa County’s transportation planning for the next 25 years.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.

Alamo Police Statistics

Girl Scout Troop 32422 Seniors Krista Henehan and Dorene Wong plant a plum tree in the Stone Valley garden as part of their “Sow What” Journey action project. They are assisted

by Stone Valley 8th grader and Girl Scout Troop 30623 Cadette Sophia Nunes (center).

There were a total of 44 total crimes reported during the month of June in Alamo which included alarm calls, assault with a deadly weapon, four residential burglaries (Crest Ave, Crest Estates Dr, La Serena Way, and Oakraider Dr), two deaths (one unknown cause, one non-criminal), drunk in public, forgery/fraudulent documents, four cases of found property, two cases of grand theft from a building and one case of grand theft from a vehicle, two cases of identity theft, two medical/hospitalization calls, one mentally ill commitment, one juvenile runaway, petty theft, four cases of suspicious circumstances, two cases of vandalism, and a violation of a court order.

The assault with a deadly weapon incident was the result of a Deputy conducting a traffic stop on Stone Valley Rd. The driver decided to flee in his vehicle and dragged the primary Deputy approximately 120 feet. A second officer pursued the vehicle for approximately three miles when the suspect crashed his vehicle and was taken into custody.

During the above mentioned burglaries, cash, a safe, electronics, and other miscellaneous items were stolen. One arrest has been made relating to one of the incidents, a triggered burglar alarm led to less loss at one of the homes and the other two cases are still ongoing investigations.

Please remember to take precautions to prevent similar issues in your own homes and neighborhoods.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Alamo Today ~August 2014 - Page 13

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Brown is the New Green

By Cynthia Ruzzi, Sustainable Danville Area

Homeowner associations can no longer fine residents who stop watering their lawns or take other conservation measures during droughts under state legislation passed recently. While yards must still be maintained and neat – eliminate dry grass and weeds that might be flammable – there’s no requirement to keep a lawn green or even to keep the lawn. We ‘lost our lawn’ the last time a 20% water reduction was required to preserve this very limited and precious resource. Although the earth is comprised of over 70% water, 97% of that is salt water and 2% is frozen in ice caps and glaciers, which means only about 1% is fresh water available for human use. My husband and I still chuckle whenever we see somebody spending their weekend mowing their lawn. And, while the drought has made it acceptable and even trendy to be ‘brown,’ going ‘lawn-less’ doesn’t have to mean being colorless. Check out the lovely gallery of native and drought tolerant gardens posted by the East Bay Municipal Water Utility District (EBMUD)at www.ebmud.com/water-and-wastewater/water-conservation/ lawn-goodbye-landscape-gallery.

Earn ‘Cash for Grass’ from EBMUD’s landscape and irrigation equipment rebates. Upgrade your yard, replacing grass with California native and climate-appropriate plants or permeable hardscapes with materials that allow water to pass through. A single residence can earn up to $2,500 to create low water use landscaping, improve irrigation efficiency, and LOWER your water bill. Commercial properties and multi-unit residences with more than five units can earn up to $20,000. Get all the details by visiting www.ebmud.com/for-customers/water-conservation-rebates-and-services/ lawn-conversion-irrigation-upgrade-rebates.

We found the EBMUD publication Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry climates of the San Francisco Bay Region an invaluable resource during the plant selection process. EBMUD also has a resource list found at www.ebmud.com/ sites/default/files/pdfs/LRP%20resources.pdf of local nurseries, demonstration gardens, classes and events, and books where you can learn about and view native plants. Additionally, some local nurseries will design a lawn conversion planting plan for a fee and then rebate the fee as credit toward plants purchased.

Looking for other ways to lower the water impact of your yard? Instead of using fresh drinking water in your yard, consider a gray water system – safely and legally. Reusing the water that usually goes down the drain after bathing or laundry can keep your landscape healthy and recharge our depleted groundwater sources. Up to 80% of indoor water can be captured and reused as gray water. EBMUD offers rebates to offset the costs of installing hardware, equipment, and systems that result in predictable water savings learn more at www.ebmud.com/water-and-wastewater/water-conservation/ graywater-rebates. Learn how you can save water and dollars, and learn about regulations, health and safety, soaps and products at a gray water workshop sponsored by EBMUD on Wednesday, August 13th or Wednesday, September 10th. Visit www.ebmud.com/about/events for information.

Even if you’re not ready to go native, you can save dollars by watering your lawn deeply instead of daily. It’s also best to water in the early morning hours before dawn to give the soil and plant roots adequate time to absorb the water instead of being evaporated by the sun first. However, it’s best not to water at night to prevent fungus and disease that is encouraged in the wet of foggy nights. For more helpful instructions, check out this guide from EBMUD - www.ebmud.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/WateringGuide_0.pdf.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EBMUD have many more water conservation resources on their websites. To learn more about how you and your family can conserve water, visit www.epa.gov and www.ebmud.com.

Let us know if you have questions. Write to us at sustainabledanville@ gmail.com or join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook: @greendanville and www.facebook.com/sustainabledanville.com. Post a picture of your ‘lose the lawn’ project and tips you have for our followers.

Page 14 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Mare Island

By Linda Summers Pirkle

My Welsh godmother loved to tell stories about her adventurous life. In the 1940’s she was a young nurse in London, and her riveting tales of survival during the Blitz were my favorites. With her charm and her delightful accent, she always had an attentive audience in me. Perhaps because of my dear godmother, Betty Haviland, I am very interested in the history of WWII. Mare Island is only 23 miles northeast of San Francisco and played an important role in WWII history.

My husband and I recently visited Mare Island Navy Shipyard in Vallejo.

Many of the industrial buildings are now empty, but we learned that in the year 1941, over 18,000 people were employed at the Yard. During WWII, busses were used to transport employees from as far as San Jose, Healdsburg, and Sacramento to work on Mare Island. A June 1939 article by L.L. Thoreson published in the Magazine of the Pacific says, “Mare Island is Uncle Sam’s principal seat of Pacific Coast defense. Here, in the West’s first and greatest U.S. Navy Yard, lies the task of maintaining the Pacific fleet at topmost efficiency, and the additional job of building new warships as the American defense program increases. Mare Island Navy Yard is the largest single industrial plant west of the Mississippi, representing nearly $100,000,000 investment.”

The Preservation of Mare Island is a work in progress. A brochure about the Navy Yard says, “For over 142 years, our country’s defense depended on Mare Island Navy Yard as well as over 100 organizations which were in operation here over the years. The Mare Island Historic Park Foundation’s master plan is to recover as much of that history as possible plus the operating character of the shipyard.”

According to Michael Turrini, President of the Vallejo Navy and Historic Museum, the wireless station on Mare Island, which was erected in 1904, received the first mainland transmission of the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor.

We toured Building 46, once know as the “Pipe Shop” home to Mare Island Historical Museum. Don’t miss the display about the court martial of Captain Charles Butler McVay. There is a lot to see: table after table of Navy memorabilia, photography, ship replicas, and just about everything related to the Navy and the history of the Island.

A volunteer at the museum, George Higgins, added tidbits about the his-

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tory of the Navy Yard. He mentioned that in 1850 the Island became a government reservation, and in 1854 Commodore David G. Farragut was sent to California to establish and take charge as first commandant of Mare Island Navy Yard. I learned that Farragut began his sailing career early; he commanded a ship captured One of the gorgeous homes on “Officers Row,” Mare Island, Vallejo in the war of 1812 when he was only twelve years old.

• A few blocks from Mare Island Historical museum is St. Peter’s Chapel, most famous for the 29 stained glass windows, 25 of which were designed by Tiffany Studios of New York.

• In the film Destination Tokyo, 1943, starring Cary Grant, dockside scenes were shot on Mare Island. Submarine Command, 1953, starring William Holden, was filmed entirely on Mare Island and Vallejo.

• Visions of the Wild Festival (September 3-6), sponsored by the U.S. Forest service whose Pacific Southwest Regional offices are located on Mare Island, commemorates 50 years of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The multi-day festival will include author talks, panels, concerts, art exhibits, a film series and field trips including a boat cruise, and free ranger led walks on the preserve. For more information, call John Heil or Steve Dunsky at (707) 5629004. The website is VisonsoftheWild.org.

• Tours of Mare Island Shipyard last 2-3 hours. For more information, call (707) 644-4746. The museum is open the first and fourth weekends from 10AM4PM and Mon.-Fri., 10AM-2PM. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years.

Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

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Printing and Scanning

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 15

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

For a long time most of the attention in the computing world has been focused on “the cloud,” social networking, and the next killer application. The less glamorous but nonetheless important areas of computing such as printing and scanning don’t garner much attention, outside of their respective industries.

They’re just not very sexy!

Printing remains an important, if under appreciated, facet of the computing environment and one where important decisions still need to be made. Hopefully I can add something useful to help you make better decisions.

I remember when the oft-repeated premise of the computer revolution was to eliminate paper from our midst. How many times have you heard the term, “paperless office”? How’s that going? I don’t know about your home or office, but mine still uses paper. Maybe there are certain functions that don’t need as much paper use, but overall, my paper recycling pile is just as deep as it’s always been. When I first started working at a computer store, the salesman I worked with was always trying to sell the idea that a housewife would want to “store all her recipes” in a database on the computer for use in the kitchen. Certainly, this guy never cooked, because we all know the best recipes in the book are the ones with the splatters and smudges of continuous use for the most popular dishes!

How could you get the same experience from a computer in the kitchen?

But that’s the thing. The real objective isn’t to eliminate paper. The idea is to use it intelligently, to print efficiently, and to minimize expense while maximizing quality. I learned an interesting statistic from an office printer/ copier company. That statistic is that those big office-style copiers are actually the cheapest to use, per-page. The mid-sized all-in-one laser printers for small offices, such as the Canon MF-series, are the next cheapest to use. The worst deal by far is any inkjet printer, whether it’s just a standalone printer or an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier/fax unit. This is due to the cost of the consumables, such as ink, toner, and paper. The most apt analogy to explain the cost of inkjet printers is the razor you buy for $4 and the refillable pack of razorblades that costs $44. It’s ridiculous, but by selling the printers at artificially low prices, they trick millions of people into buying into the model.

The real breakthrough in the printing world is actually on the other end of the equation – scanning. The software to intelligently recognize printed words and turn them into something usable has become extremely sophisticated. The ability to optically recognize printed characters is useful for those who wish to scan information into their computer. Instead of simply scanning a document into a PDF file, advanced recognition software (OCR) can optically recognize the individual characters and words on the page. It can then categorize the words and index them for search, which makes the information easier to find in the future. The idea isn’t new; it’s been around for years. But it’s gotten a lot better, and in my experience the technology is actually usable now.

Advanced OCR packages can also take actions based on specifically identified information pulled off a scanned page. For example, in one business we learned how they scan their invoices, and the OCR software is intelligent enough to pick up the Payee, amount, description, and date off of every invoice. It does this dynamically as invoices vary in size, shape, and format. By categorizing this information they are able to keep images of all invoices they pay, while retaining the amounts in a searchable format for future reference.

There are also smaller versions of this software for personal use. One of the combos I like is that of using the Evernote organizing software bundled together with the Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner. That bundle has been optimized to work together, and for people wishing to be as paperless as possible, this represents one of the most accessible methods I know of.

If there is one thing I would want to leave you with from this article, it is to strongly consider buying a laser printer the next time you need a new one. While inkjet printers seem inexpensive, they’re actually horribly expensive to operate and are a fairly disposable commodity when compared with laser printers. As I hate to see people waste money, I recommend buying “up” and getting the laser instead.

If you need help, a lot of people run their computer and printer configurations by the staff of Portable CIO before making a purchase. If you’d like to do that, email us at helpdesk@theportablecio.com, or call 925-552-7953 to Advertorial speak with one of our friendly staff.

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Page 16 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

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Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 17

New Store in San Ramon

Grand Opening Celebration

We are celebrating in both stores. Come visit for all your decorating, crafting and creative inspiration.

AT AT

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Page 18 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Pruning for Fire Safety

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

In the spring and early summer, the landscape grows lush, beautiful. Our Mediterranean climate is blessed by sufficient winter rains to make plants grow, but our dry summers, and our even drier autumns, can make that new growth a fire hazard. In the greater Bay Area, we live surrounded by an ecosystem that has been shaped, over the last 10,000 years, by frequent wildfires. Because these woodland fires are inevitable, landscape trees, even healthy ones, require occasional pruning to prevent them from becoming fire ladders––bridges of flammable material that could carry flames from a woodland fire to your home.

Wine with Chilled Soups

By Monica Chappell

Paired with Rose

What’s the first thought that comes to mind when someone says soup; a big cauldron of boiling, rich and filling broth? That sounds great if it’s December.

But during the dog days of summer, when you’re eating outside in the heat and humidity, that’s about the last thing you want set in front of you. Try serving a cool, soothing chilled soup, with a refreshing glass of wine to go along side your al fresco summer meal.

Is there any soup that screams summer more than gazpacho? This mélange of vegetables, including summer’s best tomatoes, deserves a wine that best matches hot summer nights and outdoor dining - Rose.

These vegetable-loving dry pink wines complement the acidity of the tomatoes and are friendly with any herbs from the garden you may add to your gazpacho.

Paired with Chardonnay

Perhaps you have an abundance of leeks and potatoes? It’s time for some cold leek and potato soup, which sounds so much fancier when you call it “vichyssoise.” Make it vegetarian by replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock. Since this soup contains a fair amount of cream, try complimenting that richness with a chardonnay with a touch of heft from oak aging. But you still want the wine to have a refreshing finish to cleanse your palate, so check out what the Chablis region of Burgundy has to offer. You’ll find those wines have prices well suited to casual summer dining, too.

The threat posed by fires in the greater Bay Area is real and significant. The Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire of 1991 caused $1.7 billion in property damage, and it was the nation’s worst urban fire since the San Francisco fire of 1906.

Failure to properly maintain landscape trees and shrubs played a significant role in allowing that fire to grow, intensify, and move. The Comprehensive Overview of the Berkeley/Oakland Hills Fire recommends that the risk of wildfire can be reduced by proper care of landscape plants: • Break up fire ladders.

• Limb trees back from structures.

• Reduce flammable biomass by thinning crowns.

• Remove dead trees and shrubs from the landscape.

• Remove deadwood from live trees and shrubs.

Breaking up fire ladders helps prevent a fire from moving easily from the woods, or from your neighbor’s property, to your house. To break up fire ladders, increase the space between plants, both vertically and horizontally.

In the 1991 fire, blowing brands of flammable material landed on ground plants and, if there was sufficient dry matter, caught the ground cover on fire.

The fire burned along the ground plants horizontally for as long as it found material to burn. If it encountered trees with low branches, the fire would move vertically from the ground up into the crown of the tree. If those burning trees were close to a house, they would set the house on fire. If their crowns touched the crowns of other trees, the fire spread from crown to crown.

Landscape plants pose little fire hazard when they are properly maintained, and proper maintenance does not mean sacrificing a natural, woodland aesthetic. If the limbing up, dead-wooding, and crown thinning are done by a craftsman with a sensitivity to plant aesthetics, then the trees will look natural, even though they may have had 30% of their biomass removed. Knowing how to identify potential hazards is important, but it is also important to know how to reduce those hazards in a manner that keeps your property looking natural and which doesn’t sacrifice important screening plants. Brende & Lamb specializes in balancing the conflicting needs for privacy, fire safety, tree health, and landscape aesthetics. It is possible to improve the fire safety of your property while promoting the health and beauty of your plants.

Tree care is a craft requiring study and experience. Our trimmers are master craftsmen who understand that a well-pruned tree should not only be safer and healthier, it should look beautiful as well. At Brende and Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning.

If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, Advertorial and work in your neighborhood.

Paired with Sauvignon Blanc

One of the basic rules of pairing wines with food is that rich dishes match well with wines that have good acidity. This silky soup—a simple puree of onion, yellow corn and chicken stock—is no exception. Not only is yellow corn a good source of vitamin B, magnesium and thiamin, but it also contains carotenoids not found in white corn.

What is your favorite summertime soup and wine combo to beat the heat? Let us know at wineappreciation101@gmail.com.

Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator.

Visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com for upcoming classes.

Books for the Homebound

If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.

Offer expires 09/30/14

Offer expires 09/30/14

Offer expires 09/30/14

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Life in the Alamo Garden

Water-wise Design

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

It appears that dreaded “D” word is very present in our news and current events. Drought! There I said it! If California does not see significant rain this winter, we will be in a world of hurt for water next year. Over the years I have implemented into my practice water-wise landscape design. I am a 5th generation native Californian and have been designing landscapes for over 35 years here. During this time, living in and out of drought conditions I have learned to stay the course of good water-wise landscape design. As residents of Alamo, it is vital to conserve water as a habit. It seems we should know better by now, but we get fooled from season to season when we experience many years of El Nino. With global warming concerns it is time to get smart and stay smart. Here are seven practices I always implement into my designs, and these are some of the same practices you can take to implement into your new or existing landscape no matter what the forecast might be.

One: Start with your soil. Thriving soil with good organics is the foundation of a water conserving landscape. How much water you need to keep your landscape alive is directly equivalent to the amount of compost in your soil. Compost increases permeability and capacity to hold water, thus reducing the amount needed for irrigation and thus lowering your watering bills.

Two: Use Plants and Landscapes for Summer-dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region, an EBMUD book. The types of plants described in the book have adapted to summer dry conditions and once established can survive dry summers with little or no water. There is an old gardener’s adage, “right plant – right place.” Appropriately designed planting requires less watering, pruning, fertilizing and spraying, thus lowering operating costs and use of resources.

Minimize your lawn area. 1,000 sq. ft. of turf can save about 10,000 gallons of water per dry season. If you absolutely need a lawn, minimize the size and place them where they will be used for relaxation and play, or consider artificial turf.

Three: Cluster your plantings by water needs. This method is known as hydro-zoning. In a hot sunny location group sun-loving, low water use plants and then design the irrigation system to water that cluster of plants. Same goes for shade areas. Hydro-zoning can more easily match plant requirements thus saving water. Hydro-zoning allows you to separate your irrigation valves so each zone can be managed more accurately. This method can save you an unbelievable amount of water!

Four: Design and install high efficiency irrigation systems. Use bubbler and drip irrigation where possible so that water can be applied directly to the root zone. Minimize spray irrigation where possible. Use the newest irrigation technology: MPR (matched precipitation rates) sprinkler heads, bubbler, drip, micro-sprays, soaker lines, and upgrade to a new controller. There are many choices that offer high technology that uses historical weather data, solar and moisture sensors and rain sensors. Some of these can detect problems like a broken sprinkler head. I installed a “Water Smart” controller last summer and have been able to save 20%. With new technology I believe you could easily save 25-50% of the water you use for your landscape now!

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 19 Five: Manage your landscape water use. Know your landscape watering needs such as how much water is being applied. Adjust your controller often as weather conditions change. Install a new “Water Smart” controller.

Set your controller to water early in the morning when evaporation rates are low and wind is calm. Water deep and less often which will allow water to get into the root zones. Avoid overwatering and run-off. Most people over-water! Good water management saves thousands of gallons!

Six: Mulch! Mulch reduces water loss and prevents weed growth. Mulch often! Regularly mulch around your trees, shrubs and ground covers and cultivate your soil regularly to allow water to penetrate more easily.

Seven: Make saving water important to you! Every drip counts. Get involved in your garden. Use licensed landscape professionals to assist you in water-wise design and implementation of your garden.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Investing in a waterwise planting and irrigation design for your new or existing garden can save you thousands of dollars over time! The savings can well exceed the cost of the design itself!

Gardening Quote of the Month: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.” ~ Native American Saying If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com. For design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

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Page 20 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

Need Drought Tolerant Landscape Design or Maintenance?

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Cinema Classics Auntie Mame

By Peggy Horn This month’s movie is Auntie Mame, (1958), starring Rosalind Russell. The movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Patrick Dennis, written in 1955, regarding his real-life aunt.

Owing to its huge popularity, the movie generated a sequel movie, a play and a Broadway musical.

Angela Lansbury won a Tony Award for best musical actress of the year for her performance in the Broadway musical, Mame, in 1966. In the movie, Auntie Mame, Mame is an eccentric, jovial, and lovable kook, with a generous heart and a tolerance we would strive for today. She becomes the guardian of her pre-teen nephew, Patrick, when her only brother, the boy’s father, dies. She teaches Patrick how to make a martini, she increases his vocabulary, but most importantly, she teaches him how to live, live, live. Although her antics are wacky, her overall openminded view of the world is to be applauded, a view illustrated by one of the most quoted lines from the movie, “Life is a banquet, and most pour suckers are starving to death.” This is a statement definitely worth thinking about.

One of the most tender moments in the movie is a scene at Christmas time when Mame has lost her job and has no money, but she manages to give gifts to her dear friends Norah, Ito, and her nephew Patrick. As their gift to Mame, Norah and Ito have paid the overdue grocery bills for Mame. These actions result in a tearful, loving exchange between the four and remind us about the real object of gift giving.

This movie is funny, warmhearted and memorable even if a bit corny at times, and it is worth seeing. It is available inexpensively online for purchase.

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Holes disrupting the harmonious composition of my garden’s greenery are disturbing. Nevertheless, I try to overlook the damage caterpillars cause, because baby butterflies eat foliage rather than supping on nectar-bearing flowers. I am even beginning to welcome certain weedy wanderers to my flowerbeds.

As I learned when my younger son chose installing a butterfly garden at a local nature center for his Eagle Scout Project, many species I was routinely eradicating from my yard are critical to the life cycle of butterflies. At that time we were living in Southeastern Pennsylvania, but the same principle of ceasing to destroy larval host plants applies everywhere.

Most people who love butterflies have gotten the message that Monarchs and milkweed are inseparable. Live Monarch (an organization that promotes planting milkweed and eliminating use of the herbicides and pesticides that could cause the extinction of Monarchs in our lifetime) notes that this past winter marks “the lowest number of over wintering Monarchs in the Mexican mountains in the last 20 years. There are 97% fewer than at their recorded height and 50% less than there were last year.”

Monarchs are not the only butterflies whose caterpillars require a special diet.

Violets – those pesky plants that take over lawns - are essential to the survival of the Great Spangled Fritillary and many of its cousins. If you wonder why there are so many Cabbage Whites coursing through your yard, it’s because their young can thrive by consuming any member of the prolific mustard family.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), one of the more noisome weeds I am beginning to value, nurtures Red Admiral and Painted Lady caterpillars. Native to Northern California and many other parts of the world, this weed is hard to manage in any well-kempt yard. You can grow it in tubs to feed butterfly larvae, but at least one source will sell you seed for a controlled garden plot.

As “nettlesome” as they are, these plants are extremely nutritious and also an excellent soil builder.

Nicole Spiridakis extols the virtues of nettles in an NPR piece entitled “Nettles Bring Spring to the Kitchen.” After avoiding nettles for years as she explored the area adjacent to her in-laws’ property on the Northern California coast about an hour from San Francisco, she says: “I had an inkling despite their sting, nettles might be an overlooked bit of nature’s bounty, their prickly leaves couching a hidden secret: Not only are they good-tasting but they are good for you.”

Cooking neutralizes the chemicals that cause the sting, as does drying.

Young greens can be savored in soups, tarts and even a kind of pesto. Nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, potassium, and manganese. Dried nettles are 40% protein.

The potency of the stinging mechanism does not dissipate over time.

Fearing Linnaeus’s treasured specimens might be destroyed during the impending war, his collection was moved in April 1939 to Wobur Abbey in Bedforshire, England. A 1940 Carnegie Foundation Grant provided for a photographic record to be made. As photographer Gladys Brown moved the specimen of stinging nettle - mounted 200 years previously - into position, she was stabbed on the arm. A blister equivalent to that caused by a fresh plant immediately erupted.

The Scotsman quotes a recent speech by Professor Ray Harwood urging his countrymen to grow fields of nettles as a cash crop. “Farmers in Scotland may be sitting on a real goldmine.” Aiming to create a profitable, earth-friendly textile industry based on nettle fiber, Harwood calls his project “STING” – Sustainable Technologies in Nettle Growing. Nettles are a green alternative to crops like cotton, which commandeers 20% of the pesticides used worldwide to survive.

The oldest known nettle fabric shrouded individuals buried in Denmark during the Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC). Native Americans used the fiber for fishing nets and ropes. Before nettle usage went totally out of fashion, Scottish poet Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) wrote: “In Scotland, I have eaten nettles, I have slept on nettle sheets, and I have dined off a nettle table cloth.”

Cosmetic and medicinal properties don’t motivate caterpillars, but many people appreciate a plant producing a dandruff-diminishing shampoo that makes hair glossier. While modern science doesn’t support all 61 of the remedies utilizing nettles listed by Hippocrates and his followers (460-377 BC), nettles are currently known to be effective in treating allergies, arthritis and additional ailments.

Researching larval host plants suggests that humans can also benefit from the amazing properties of common weeds.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 21

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How Much do you Know About Your Title?

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

WARNING: “The manner in which your real estate is titled has serious legal and tax consequences.” A phrase similar to this is present in nearly all standard form real estate contracts. But, in a world of voluminous documents and increasing bold print, how many people who buy property pay attention to these cautionary words? If you own property, did you heed the warning?

Having practiced trusts/estates and real estate law for more than twenty years, I’ve asked hundreds of clients how they hold title to their residences, vacation homes, and investment property. Most answer that they have no idea, or they are uncertain.

Given how common it is that property owners are unfamiliar with the ramifications of holding title one way versus another, I’d like to help. This article (and my tri-fold brochure I can send you upon your request) explores common titling alternatives and optimal methods. Of course, identifying the optimal method always depends on one’s particular facts and circumstances. Furthermore, it may be prudent to hold title to certain of your properties one way and other properties another way.

Typically, unmarried buyers simply take title in their own name (e.g. “Jane Roe, an unmarried woman”). If you’re not married and you buy property with one or more others, you and your co-buyers generally take title in one of these two forms: 1) as “tenants-in-common” or 2) as “joint tenants” [Note: joint tenancy ownership form is only available if all co-owners own equal interests].

As a tenant-in-common, you can dispose of your interest on your death by Will.

Alternatively, joint tenancy carries with it “the right of survivorship” (“R.O.S.”).

This means that, upon your death, the fractional interest you owned in the property automatically becomes vested equally among the remaining (surviving) co-owner(s).

It may be helpful to clarify something important. Joint tenancy trumps a Will.

Suppose John owns a property with Jane in joint tenancy, but John’s Will states that on his death, everything he owns goes to Ed. On John’s death the property will not go to Ed per the Will; it will go to his joint tenant, Jane (by virtue of the R.O.S. feature).

In California, if you’re married (or have a registered domestic partner), you may also choose to hold title in “community property”; or “community property with right of survivorship.” Married owners typically hold title in either joint tenancy or one of the community property forms. These forms are very popular and appealing

on the surface. But, are they optimal? Usually not!

Both joint tenancy and community property (with or without R.O.S.) have a major shortcoming for married couples. On the surviving spouse’s death, the asset will be subject to probate.

Probate – a court-supervised estate administration process – is an expensive, inconvenient, lengthy, and public process. Contrary to a popular misconception, having just a Will (without a trust) does not help you avoid probate; rather, it virtually guarantees a probate.

But don’t worry - probate is avoidable!

Holding title in a living trust is almost always optimal for both unmarried and married property owners because property titled in a living trust is statutorily exempt from probate. On an owner’s death, Trust administration (compared to Probate Administration) is typically less expensive - often dramatically so, more convenient, takes less time, and is handled privately.

Aside from the potentially detrimental consequences on death of holding title in all of the common forms (tenants-in-common, joint tenancy and community property), there are also serious lifetime implications. If a co-owner or surviving owner becomes incapacitated, who will have legal authority to refinance, rent manage and/or sell the property on behalf of that incapacitated person? Nobody will unless: a) the incapacitated person has a valid power of attorney granting such authority to a trusted agent, or b) a cumbersome and expensive court conservatorship proceeding is initiated.

Again, this is where a Living Trust comes in very handy. You designate a person or institution to serve as successor trustee (i.e. manager) of your trust who will privately and seamlessly have legal authority to handle your property matters on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

The “bottom line” is that how you hold title can make a BIG difference as to what might happen with your property and how your loved ones may be affected – both during your life and on your death.

Upon your request, I would be happy to provide you with any or all of the following, free: i) a tri-fold brochure on the pros/cons of alternative methods of holding title to property, ii) an “Estate Planning Primer,” iii) a complimentary introductory meeting.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors.

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Page 22 - August 2014~ Alamo Today

Managing an Inheritance

By Peter Waldron

In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor

An inheritance in the form of cash, real property, jewelry, or stocks can enrich your life in many ways.

Oftentimes, gifts from an estate are intended to help move the heir forward financially or to keep a prized possession within the family. To fully realize the value of an inheritance, consider how the assets affect your overall financial plan.

The key to successfully managing any inheritance is to plan before you act.

Certain types of inheritances may require you to make some decisions right away, but it’s crucial to be conservative in your actions and allow yourself some time to grieve. Then, work with financial advisors to maximize the value of your inheritance and decide whether to keep it, share it, invest it or liquidate it. Your options depend on your personal and financial circumstances, long-term goals and the type of inheritance involved.

Fast Money

Cash inheritances are the simplest assets. Your financial planner can help you determine the impact the money could have on your short- and longterm goals. This will help you refine your financial objectives, such as your approach to retirement income, college funding or real estate.

If you receive a cash inheritance, keep in mind that probate information is publicly available, so you may receive unwanted solicitations for investment schemes. Seek counsel from a qualified and financial advisor before risking any money. You may want to place the funds in a certificate of deposit or money market account until you can first meet with your advisors.

In addition, consider placing investments where your exposure to personal or professional liability claims is limited. You should consider consulting a tax attorney if the inheritance substantially increases the size of your estate.

Family or Company Stocks

Many people leave their favorite stocks as a birthright to an heir. Perhaps the stocks are emotionally valued because grandpa worked for the company

Hospice Volunteers Needed

Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

Museum Volunteers Needed

Looking to get involved in the community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas: • Walking Tour Docents • Docents • Events Committee • Greeters • Educational Programs (One Room School/ Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693, or email srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net for additional information.

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or they supported grandma’s lifestyle. But when deciding whether to keep stocks, it’s crucial to determine if they’re an appropriate asset for you relative to your personal investment philosophy. Consider how the stock affects your investment portfolio’s diversification profile, risk exposure and tax bracket.

If you inherit stocks, most capital gains can be lessened by re-valuing the stock to the date of the grantor’s death.

For example, if your grandmother purchased stock for a $10 base and the stock is worth $150 today, the capital gain would be assessed on the difference of 140 if the stock were sold. But if she passed away and left the stock to you, the base value of the stock is $150, adjusted to the day of her death.

This decreases capital-gains liability by the time you receive the stock.

Property Values

If you inherit real property, its value as an asset or liability is largely determined by whether you plan to live in, rent or sell it. To understand the cost factors involved, review the property and tax laws pertaining to the asset, along with any maintenance fees or out-of-state property management costs. Then, balance that against any rental income, if applicable. If you want to sell the property, consider the capital-gains implications and the time and cost of waiting to liquidate it at the best price.

Jewelry and Collectibles

Most people inheriting jewelry or collectibles value them as family heirlooms, not as assets. These items usually hold great sentimental value. They are not liquid assets that you want to sell quickly, if at all. Keep in mind that these valuables need to be protected. While an estate planning attorney can determine a valuation for each item, for insurance purposes you should consider getting a neutral, certified evaluation. You may also need to obtain a separate insurance rider against loss. Jewelry and collectibles appreciate, so be sure to update your insurance every three to five years. Working with your advisory team and using strategic planning can help you preserve and enhance your inheritance.

If you expect that some assets may eventually be passed on to you, you may want to speak with the grantor to determine the optimal way to receive the gift to increase its value to your estate and to decrease tax liability.

Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, (925) 659-0383 or peter.waldron@lfg.com.

Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offer investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. California Insurance License #0E47827; CRN201305-2080400 Advertorial

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Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 23

scholarships. She also has served as a member of the City of Walnut Creek’s Wayfinding Committee, which was tasked with the design and placement of signage and information for the city of Walnut Creek. Jill also participates as a managing member of the board of directors for a specialty logistics service company serving corporations in the high technology industry. Jill is a resident of Alamo, where she lives with her husband, Malcolm, and daughter Julie.

Aron DeFerrari is to be a permanent alternate member to the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council. He will be able to vote on Council matters in the absence of any of the seven other Council members. Aron grew up in the Sacramento area and attended Cal Poly and Hastings College of the Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. For the past ten years, he has been a deputy district attorney in the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office. Aron told me he got involved in Alamo issues when he moved to town and someone told him “If you like the way Alamo is, then join the Alamo Improvement Association.” So he followed that advice, and has become active on several AIA issues, and he is particularly interested in public safety and transportation concerns.

He has become very knowledgable on the state regulations and county guidelines that govern Alamo’s Area of Benefit Fund expenditures for capital road improvements. Aron has enjoyed considerable success in his ten year career as a district attorney, serving as in house district attorney to the Richmond Police Department in its street gang prosecution unit. He was also chosen by the D.A. and the Sheriff as a teacher at the Pittsburg Law Enforcement Training Center which trains all deputy sheriffs. He teaches search and seizure law and the laws governing arrest.

Aron resides on upper Round Hill Road with his wife, Kate, and two preschool daughters.

Nights continued from front page

contemporary flair. If you didn’t get a chance to catch the action on July 17th, the second 2014 show on August 14th runs from 4PM – 9PM with live music, food and kid-friendly activities complementing the display of hundreds of classic cars.

David Miller, who characterizes himself as the “bandleader” of the group that orchestrates the show, extols Danville’s virtues as a venue.

He notes that the historic buildings make an ideal backdrop. Seeing the same models of cars parked in front of buildings today that would have been parked there when the buildings were built is like turning back the hands of time. “It is a breath taking experience to observe a quite sleepy little town transform within two hours into an amazing mega event with more than 300 gorgeous show cars pulling into our town and more than 15,000 visiting guests enjoying a wonderful and safe family night out on the town.”

A key member of the organization for almost 20 years, Lou Marchiorlatti handles the registration and staging of all the show cars before they are released for placement on Hartz Avenue. Miller’s admiration for Marchiorlatti’s dedication is evident. “His contribution during the year helps to make the show the enormous success that it is.”

Linda Mannina not only designs the vendor placement, but she also interfaces with all volunteers and vendors during the event to make sure any problem that arises is corrected immediately. Asked what keeps her involved, Mannina writes: “After the hours of preparation, the nights of discussions and sleepless nights wondering if we will be able to pull it off in time, when that first car comes down the street and you see not only the ‘proud’ look on its owner but the spectators ‘oohing’ and ‘aaahhhhing,’ you know you’ve done a good thing and the only way it would have happened is by ‘all’ of us pulling together and working as a team.

No glitches marred July 17th’s show, but Mannina does recall a near disaster one year when the porta potties did not appear as scheduled. Once the dispatcher finally contacted the driver, Linda was told the critical facilities would not arrive until 5PM. Whatever she replied was so effective that the driver re-routed everything, and the crowd never realized a delayed delivery had been avoided.

Danville Mayor Robert Storer and his family have participated in the show

for many years as volunteers and proud owners of two classic cars: a gold 1974 Challenger he purchased new as a junior in high school (“well I had half the money, my Mom had the other half”) and a 71 plum crazy Challenger purchased for the kids “so they could have memories of driving a cool car in high school.” Storer believes his offspring might consider the day they discovered their car was being featured on t-shirts sold at the show as their favorite Hot Summer Nights memory. But the Mayor puts his conversation with an 84-year-old exhibitor who had owned his car for 60 years at the top of his list. “He told me his wife was no longer alive, but each time he started the engine he remembers laughing with her as they drove through the country on Sunday drives.” He proposed to his wife in that car and drove his wife to her final hospital stay in the same vehicle. “He reminisced about raising kids and going on vacation in that car and all the memories that filled his life.”

Danville Councilwoman Renee Morgan agrees. “I enjoy speaking with

See Nights continued on page 28

Page 24 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Contra Costa Community Warning System

By Roger Smith, President

Last August 2013, many Alamo residents remember being alerted by text or email that there was a need to evacuate due to a PG&E pipeline leak. Although this was limited to the immediate area surrounding the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Stone Valley Road, the message to evacuate was sent to all Contra Costa County (CCC) residents. This led to confusion by many who were not near the incident and pointed out the need to upgrade the County system to handle local emergencies that are not county-wide.

CCC has been working on improving the Community Warning System (CWS) after the leak which exposed several shortfalls with the warning system.

As stated by Heather Tiernan, Community Warning System Manager: “The biggest issue that day was due to a technical error in our coding that made us inadvertently activate the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) that we have access to.

WEA is a part of the federal Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

WEA is a tool on the federal IPAWS platform, not the County’s platform. The County doesn’t have any control over IPAWS or WEA, but we have access to it the County is just a user of the IPAWS platform and the two year old WEA tool.

WEA broadcasts text-like messages over cell phone towers countywide. These are separate from the text messages and emails that our system can send out to registered users, and we do control both the activation and behavior of those messages. All of the tools on our platform were activated exactly as intended.”

The second issue isn’t necessarily in the activation of WEA, but more the content of the message that is sent out - it sends a very short message that the County has no control over. Over the past year, WEA has been updated to allow a little more flexibility by the alert senders (the County) as far as the content of the message. The content is still short, but its a little more detailed.”

From a historical perspective, the CWS is part of FEMA and our State Warning System originally designed to alert County residents of impending weather

Raffle continued from front page

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emergencies, such as tornadoes. In Contra Costa, its use has been focused on oil refinery accidents such as the two Chevron refinery fires that have occurred.

Throughout our county and others, sirens are synchronized to alert residents of county-wide emergencies, and residents are asked to tune to certain radio stations, such as KCBS, 740AM in our area, which are designated to provide information in an emergency.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Government asked state and county officials, including a representative from CCC, to participate in a forum to improve communication of emergencies.

Various new and additional ways to alert the public were discussed, including the use of weather radios, cell phone, and text messaging platforms.

In addition, providing a single standard web-based reporting form for Emergency Awareness personnel and use of standard language terminology to trigger Awareness Alerts was discussed, All alerting methods were approved and implemented to increase the effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System.

However, although the process of implementing improvements in sirens, radio, and weather radio alerts can be easily tested, the process for phone and text messaging is still undergoing development.

This is primarily due to having to coordinate the on-line status of numerous cellular transmission sites throughout CCC provided by numerous private company vendors, such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.

Although most sites have complied and are on-line with Emergency Alerts, not all cellular sites are yet online. The main difficulty in this process is that there is no platform to test the online status of the various sites.

Communication that is accurate, timely, and specific is key to making our County’s warning system fulfill its intended role.

Please consider registering to receive emergency information about an incident on your cell phone, text, or email by visiting www.cococws.us or www. co.contra-costa.ca.us/161/Community-Warning-System.

Visit Alamo Improvement Association’s new website www.AlamoCA. org for more Emergency Preparedness Information and AIA membership information.

Mark your calendars! The “Autos of Alamo” event is coming to Alamo Plaza on Thursday, September 4th at 4pm!

• $100 gift certificate to Izzy’s Place Restaurant • Golf for four people, including cart at Round Hill Country Club • Three liter Jeroboam of Cline Cellars Cashmere • 1.5 liter Magnum of Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Mourvedre • 1.5 liter of Cline Cellars Cashmere Raffle tickets may be purchased from Alamo Rotarians anytime leading up to the event and throughout the day of the Festival from Rotarians, members of the Interact Club or at the Rotary booth. Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20.

Headlining the event will be the Groove Doctors, an 8-piece band, who will perform from 8 to 10:30pm. The band’s incredibly diverse song list of home run hits from the last 50 years gets people of all ages onto the dance floor. Whether you want Disco/Funk, Motown/Soul, Classic Rock, 80’s-90’s, today’s top Hits or Ballads & Standards/ Jazz/Swing, the Doctors can play it all.

Also performing from 4 to 7pm will be the Monte Vista High School Jazz Band, the San Ramon Valley High School Jazz Band, the Stone Valley Middle School Jazz Band, and the Alamo Elementary School Children’s Choir.

The afternoon will also be filled with many activities for the entire family. Food, games, and business booths will be set up throughout the Festival. Kids will especially enjoy the play zone.

Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 8pm featuring selections from FAZ’s Restaurant, Izzy’s Place, and the Rotary Burger Barn with hamburgers and gourmet sausages. Dinner tickets are $15.

Bring your family, neighbors and friends to what is definitely Alamo’s biggest and best block party.

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

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Philosophy

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

I have had the great fortune of practicing in this community since 1993. I can’t believe how quickly time goes by. For the past 10 years I have been in practice with my wife, Dr. Monica Brar, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of leg veins. Throughout the years patients have asked me many questions. A few weeks ago a new patient asked me a question that really started me thinking. She asked, “Dr. Potozkin, what is your overall practice philosophy?” I discussed this with my wife, and we found that we share a practice philosophy.

Our practice philosophy is simple: deliver the very best care we can in the very best way we can. To us, that means we make each and every patient feel welcomed from the moment that they walk in the door until they leave the office. It means that we listen to what the patient has to say and address those concerns. It means we give advice and recommend treatments based on our extensive training with leaders in the field, our wealth of personal experience, and our commitment to excellence. For our cosmetic patients, it means working with the patient to achieve results that look natural, not overdone or exaggerated. It means that we always strive to do the right thing for the patient, as we value very highly ethics, honesty, and integrity. It means we stand behind what we do and will do everything in our power to get the best results we can for the patient. It means we carefully select the highest quality staff to represent us and help us carry out these goals. Lastly and most importantly, it means that we treat the patient the way we would want ourselves to be treated, with respect and kindness. Because at the end of the day, without all of our loyal patients, we wouldn’t have a practice.

Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information.

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Veterans continued from page 3

days including kitchen help, the serving of meals, meal clean-up, and the escorting of veterans to appointments. See details on all volunteer positions on the EBSD website, www.eastbaystanddown.org. Registration must occur in advance and closes September 1. Volunteer now and make a difference!

In addition to volunteers, the Stand Down is also looking for additional financial support, corporate sponsors, tent sponsors, and in-kind donations and services such as a 20’ truck with lift and locked security trailer and temporary cyclone fencing. Donations of such things as new men’s underwear, socks, water bottles, and other items for the kitchen are appreciated.

Participants are bussed in from various points throughout the Bay Area and transported to the event site. Once checked in, the veterans will be provided with food, shelter, clothing, showers, haircuts, and other basic necessities. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) and Military Health Care providers will be available to assist veterans with physical, dental, and mental health needs.

Other counselors will be present to address substance abuse issues, shelter and rehabilitation concerns, employment options, legal issues, veterans’ benefits, on-going health care, and spiritual concerns. Each meal is sponsored by a community organization or business.

Since the first EBSD in 1999, these events have continued on a biannual basis and have proven to be uniquely effective in helping to break the cycle of homelessness among many Veterans. The objective of the EBSD is to place 20% to 30% of the eligible participants directly into follow-on programs.

Opportunities that can lead to shelter/housing and direct employment are provided. Other connections with community agencies on-site can help with stabilization of the participants’ lives, helping these Veterans to come in off the street and become productive citizens. According to Jerry Yahiro, Director of the Stand Down, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of this program and extend the ability of the program to work with the maximum number of veterans on a limited budget.” For those who would like to know more about this non-

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 25

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profit, all-volunteer event and meet the organizers before volunteering there will be a final public meeting on Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30PM at the Palm Pavilion, Alameda County Fairgrounds. All are welcome and community members, groups, and organizations are encouraged to attend.

Those wishing to sign up as volunteers or donate to EBSD can register and view list areas such as days and hours volunteers are needed as well as “wish list” needs at www.eastbaystanddown.org. Click on “How You Can Help.” then click on “Volunteer Now” or “Donate Now” button/s.

Financial donations to the Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation-EBSD (DVVF) are tax-deductible. The DVVF is a non-profit corporation, IRS tax identification 26-3198472. Check contributions may be sent to Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation – EBSD at P. O. Box 2133 - Danville, CA 94526-2133.

For more information, contact Jerry Yahiro Executive Director EBSD at (925) 743-8850 or email jyahiro@aol.com.

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Page 26 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Breast Cancer, Reconstructing Female Form

By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

After the initial shock of diagnosis, a woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer is understandably overcome with disbelief and fear. Suddenly, she is faced with the question of how to preserve the essence of herself as a female and at the same time treat her cancer.

Thankfully, advances in breast cancer treatments can often remove the cancer while preserving her shape. One option is reconstructive breast surgery, which can help maintain both personal and feminine identity, In many cases, breast reconstruction can be performed in conjunction with a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction rather than mastectomy alone can drastically improve a patient’s emotional and mental recovery. Many national studies support immediate reconstruction (done at the same time as the mastectomy) to preserve our sense of ourselves as women. Women who opt for immediate reconstruction can keep their physical form closer to what it was, never wake up without any breast form, and can feel more whole during their recovery. The challenges of possible chemotherapy or radiation are less daunting with breasts more intact. Based on the size and spread of the cancer, and patient’s intended therapy, a patient’s reconstructive surgery options vary widely.

Many women can have a lumpectomy alone or a lumpectomy with radiation and be essentially cured of breast cancer. For others, the best treatment and chance of remission is with bilateral mastectomies, removal of the breasts and reconstruction with implants or with tissue flaps. The breast cancer team can help you decide what is best for you. This usually means seeing a general surgeon, who frequently performs breast surgery. This surgeon will refer you to the other doctors as required to treat your cancer. These include the oncologist, the radiation oncologist, the genetic counsellor, the radiologist, and the plastic surgeon. The entire reconstructive process, if a mastectomy is needed, generally takes three to twelve months and three surgeries - one major and two minor procedures for implant placement and nipple reconstruction.

Changes to Cancer Screening Guidelines

By Tiffany Svahn, MD

Let me start with some good news...in the US, the death rate from cancer is declining. We attribute this reduction in part to more effective and aggressive screening guidelines. The bad news is that people still get cancer. In fact, our lifetime probability of developing cancer (all sites) for men is 1 in 2 and for women the probability is 1 in 3. Recently, my colleagues and I were asked to give a cancer screening guidelines update talk to local physicians. Allow me to summarize our presentation in efforts to help you manage medical care for yourself and your loved ones.

Lung Cancer Screening

According to early trials, chest x-ray screening does not show overall survivor benefit. Instead, a large randomized trial showed that low dose, noncontrast CT in high risk individuals yielded a mortality benefit of 20%.

Therefore, in 2013 the recommendations changed and now call for annual low dose CT scan screening for high risk individuals. High risk is defined as being between the ages of 55 and 80 with a 30 pack year history of smoking and currently being a smoker or having quit within the past 15 years.

Breast Cancer Screening

The recommendation is that all women receive mammograms at age 40 and continue annually until age 70 or older, depending on overall health, life expectancy, and ability to tolerate treatment. It is also recommended for women ages 20-39 to have a clinical breast exam (by a medical professional) at least every three years and for women 40 and over to have this exam annually. Routine ultrasound for dense breasts is not currently recommended as it showed no survival benefit. However, the decision to order an ultrasound should be an individualized decision. The surprise recommendation is that self breast exams are discouraged and not recommended unless taught correctly. Most important is for women to know how their breasts normally feel

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If you do not need removal of the entire breast (mastectomy), lumpectomy, with or without radiation, may be used to treat your breast cancer. For larger lumpectomies, oncoplastic techniques are both therapeutic and breast-preserving.

These techniques involve removal of the lump followed by local tissue rearrangement to fill the defect.

For patients requiring mastectomy, it is the current standard of care to offer immediate initial reconstruction. This first stage reconstruction commonly involves placement of a special kind of breast implant, called a tissue expander, that can be expanded over time to create the look of a breast immediately following the breast removal. Unlike the final implant, this must be initially small in volume to protect the breast skin as it heals after the mastectomy. It can be expanded over a few months to the desired volume and changed out for a silicone gel implant in a minor surgery. If the nipple had to be removed, nipple reconstruction is the final stage of reconstruction, and this is performed as an outpatient surgery.

In certain circumstances, the use of an implant is not ideal. In these cases, a flap reconstruction offers an effective and aesthetically acceptable alternative.

Flaps utilize extra folds of muscle, muscle and skin, or fat and skin to create breast tissue post-therapeutic surgery. With this technique the breast can be created using a patient’s own tissue and with or without an implant. The lower abdominal wall, the back, the buttocks, and the hips are all viable donor sites for breast reconstruction.

I work with a team of local doctors and surgeons in treating breast cancer. Your general surgeon will remove the involved breast tissue. If they feel that you need a mastectomy or that removal of the breast cancer will leave a defect, they will refer you to a plastic surgeon. This may lead you to see me. I see many breast cancer patients each week and maintain a steadfast commitment to my patients physical and mental wellbeing before, during, and after surgery. My staff and I recognize that finding and picking your team of surgeons is an important step in your recovery process.

Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or Advertorial drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. and report any changes to their health care provider.

Prostate Cancer Screening

Here is where it gets controversial. Several reputable organizations recommend PSA and digital rectal exams (DRE) for prostate cancer screening, while other reputable organizations do not recommend screening. In those who support screening, their recommendation is to obtain DRE and PSA baseline at 45-49 years of age. If PSA is over 1, repeat every 1-2 years. If under 1, repeat at age 50. If PSA is under 3 at age 50 and over, repeat the test every 1-2 years. If PSA is over 3 at age 50 and over, with a suspicious DRE and/or individual at excess risk based on multiple factors (family history, ethnicity, risk calculators), obtain a biopsy.

Colon Cancer Screening

The average risk individual should be screened at age 50 with a fecal occult blood or immunohistochemical test (annually) and a flexible sigmoidoscopy (every five years) or colonoscopy (every 10 years). However, some experts recommend starting the screening process at age 45 for African Americans since they are at a higher risk. Individuals with family history of colon cancer or polyps should be screened at age 40, and those with personal history of colon polyps should be screened every five years. Individuals with history of ulcerative colitis should be screened every 1-2 years after age 8-15 years.

Lynch syndrome individuals should be screened at age 20, every 1-2 years.

Cervical Cancer Screening

For women at average risk of cervical cancer, the US guidelines recommends screening be initiated at age 21. The preferred screening test for ages 21-29 is the Pap test, and should be performed every three years. For ages 3065, the HPV and Pap tests should be performed every three years. Women can stop screening at age 66 if the last two to three HPV and Pap tests have been negative. However, high risk groups (HIV infection, immunosuppressant, previous CIN2, CIN3 or cervical cancer) should be screened more frequently.

Now, back to the good news...cancer is much more treatable and curable when detected early, which is why screening is so important.

Dr. Svahn is a Medical Oncologist & Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon. Dr. Svahn Advertorial can be reached at (925) 677-5041.

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Bladder Infections in Females

By Parminder Sethi, MD

A bladder infection, also called cystitis, is the most common of all kinds of urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are 10 times more common in women than men, and more than 50% of women will develop one UTI within their lifetime.

Microbes traveling upward through the urethra to the bladder cause most bladder infections in girls and women. Because the female urethra is usually less than two inches long, bacteria can easily access the bladder and multiply.

The first sign of bladder infection is usually pain during urination.

Other signs may include a sudden and strong desire to urinate or increased frequency of urination. About half of women sufferers experience fever, pain in the lower back or flanks, nausea and vomiting, or shaking chills.

Though these symptoms are not as common, if you are experiencing them, call your physician, as they may be signs the bacteria has reached the kidneys.

Risk factors for UTIs in women include:

• Sexual intercourse.

• Use of a diaphragm for contraception • An abnormally short urethra • Diabetes or chronic dehydration • Inadequate personal hygiene In many cases, your primary care physician will try to find out if you have a urinary tract infection by examining samples of your urine under a microscope. Normal human urine is sterile. In contrast, the presence of bacteria in the urine usually indicates infection.

Urinary tract infections are treated with oral antibiotics. The number of days and doses of medicine you must take depend on the type of infection you have and its severity. It is important to take medications as prescribed and not to stop them simply because the symptoms have subsided. Unless urinary tract infections are fully treated, they frequently return.

Tips for reducing risk of a UTI include:

• Urinate when you feel the urge, empty your bladder regularly, and try not to hold urine more than three hours.

• Take your time when you urinate to empty your bladder completely.

• Urinate after having sex.

• See your doctor at the first sign of a problem. Urinary tract infections are very common, and they are easiest to treat if caught before they become severe or spread beyond the bladder.

• Drink eight or more glasses of water daily to help wash out bacteria.

• Eat a diet rich in grains, vegetables, and acidifying juices.

• Avoid or eliminate foods that irritate the bladder: coffee, black tea, alcohol, and chocolate.

• Avoid high-sugar foods such as sweet vegetables, fruits, sugar, and honey.

• Drink unsweetened cranberry juice to acidify the urine and provide hippuric acid. Cranberry capsules can substitute for the juice.

Women with recurring UTIs or blood consistently in their urine should be seen by a urologist who will perform more sophisticated tests that may include a urine cytology, ultrasound, CT Urogram, or cystoscopy.

Dr. Sethi is a urologist with Pacific Urology. Pacific Urology has offices in San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Concord, Livermore, Brentwood, Antioch, and Rossmoor. Dr. Sethi can be reached at (925) 830-1140.

Advertorial

The Many Faces of Prostate Cancer

Come and experience the Many Faces of Prostate Cancer, an event focusing on the unique issues of prostate cancer patients, on Thursday, August 28 from 6:30-8:30PM at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd in Lafayette. Join an engaging panel of medical experts as they discuss early detection, screening guidelines, latest surgical techniques, treatment options, supportive care, and survivorship issues. A Question & Answer session will follow the presentation.

Advanced registration recommended. Admission and refreshments complimentary. To RSVP, please call (925) 677-5041 x272.

Alamo Today ~August 2014 - Page 27

Fine Mexican Dining

743-8997 In Stone Valley Shopping Center

Enjoy Our Patio Dining Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner Sunday: Dinner only We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty

Festival continued from page 7

Two and Three Dimensional Artwork influenced by the Festival theme is featured at the Village Art Gallery (233 Front St.) in Danville from August 28 - September 28. Join us for the Gala Opening and Artists’ Reception on August 29th at 5pm. This event is presented by the Alamo-Danville Artists Society and the Town of Danville, and admission is free.

“The Secrets of O’Neill in Danville” is an hour-long walking tour which will provide stories about Danville and the O’Neills when they lived at Tao House from 1937-1944. It begins at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave, and ends at the O’Neill commemorative sculpture on Front Street, across from the Danville library. Docent led tours will be held on Saturdays, September 6th at 10am and September 27th at 1pm.

Admission for the tours is free.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley (205 Railroad Ave., Danville) will host a panel discussion on the festival’s featured playwrights, with a special focus on the role of “escape” in their works and lives. The discussion will take place on Saturday, September 13th at 2pm. Admission is $12.

In keeping with the festival theme of escape, “Truth, Lies and Illusions” is an afternoon of short scenes presented by theatre companies from around the Bay Area which explore the stories we tell others, or tell ourselves, in an effort to cope with our circumstances. The event will take place on Saturday, September 20th at 2pm, in the Old Barn at Tao House.

Admission is $25.

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams - Dates: September 5, 6, 7*, 12, 13, 14*, 18 and 20. Village Theatre, Danville; Tickets: $28(* post-show discussion) • The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O’Neill - Dates: September 19, 21*, 25, 26, 27 and 28*. The Old Barn at Tao House, Danville; Tickets: $35 (* post-show discussion) Early Bird Specials and All-Inclusive Festival Packages are available.

Tickets can be purchased at www.eugeneoneill.org.

Page 28 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Breaking the Cycle

By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Boot Camp

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Human beings are designed for movement, but in today’s convenient world, little movement is required to survive. We can easily sit at a desk all day and make a great salary doing it. We can drive our car to work, get drive through fast food on the way, get take out, and watch our favorite shows at night. We can do this for weeks, months, and even years on end. Someday it will catch up to us, and the price we will pay is a great decline in our quality of life much earlier than we expected.

One hundred years ago this lifestyle would have been impossible. In 1914, most jobs required fairly significant tasks and movement. Cars were for the very wealthy, and television didn’t even exist. Today, the average American sits 14 hours per day, which means most of their waking hours are spent sedentary. This is not what our bodies were built to do, so it should come as no surprise that lifestyle diseases are rampant and rapidly increasing in our culture. The physical devolution of humanity is a new problem, and we are just now starting to see the results of sedentary living. If we don’t figure out a way to balance our lives and break the cycle, the cycle will break us.

When we neglect movement, our bodies suffer. Our circulation and metabolism slow down and contribute to lifestyle diseases. Neuromuscular degeneration begins to take a toll, and we start to lose the ability to do very basic tasks. Bending over, squatting, reaching, walking, and even standing become laborious. Though quality of life is a sacrifice that no one would mindfully choose to make, we don’t notice it creeping up over a long period of time. We can, however, take daily measures to lessen and prevent a decline in quality of life. We can create a living and working environment that works for us in today’s world.

With many physical fitness programs being cut from school budgets, it seems the problem will only get worse. The exercise habits children form directly affects their ability to live an active lifestyle as an adult. Involving a child in an activity they enjoy that keeps them moving is one of the most valuable gifts you could ever give them. Setting a healthy example for your child is another critical component. Don’t think for a second that you don’t have to practice what you preach when it comes to exercise. Kids may make excuses at first, but eventually their bodies and minds will respond positively to regular exercise, and it will simply be a part of their routine.

If you have been sedentary for a while, the last thing you should do is punish yourself by going to the gym and hitting hard classes or loading up big on the weight room floor. Though it may be humbling, the best entry back to exercise is simply walking and stretching. Walking promotes mobility and stability, and it improves circulation. It is what are bodies are perfectly designed to do. Signing up for an event that encourages you to train is a great way to set a realistic time frame for your goal. Most 5k’s and 10k’s allow walking. Training for these events for 10-12 weeks before hand will allow your body to acclimate to the length of the walk and help prevent overuse injuries.

Its never too late to make positive changes to your lifestyle. The first step toward change can be intimidating. Consult a wellness professional to help you better understand where you are and how to get to where you want to be. Don’t delay. Start moving today and be consistent with your movement, and before you know it positive change will simply be the result!

Michelle Brown is an ACE certified fitness professional, 2nd Degree Kung Fu Black Belt Disciple, Level 2 certified TRX Functional Trainer, TRX RIP Certified Trainer, TRX Mind Body Certified Trainer, Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, board member on the California Health Corps, blogger, public speaker, and owner of Gumsaba Outdoor Fitness. Michelle has been helping clients surpass their goals since 1998. Gumsaba has been voted Best in the East Bay by Diablo Magazine readers for two years running, and offers outdoor fitness programs year round. Join Gumsaba for a FREE CLASS. Visit our website at gumsaba.com to get started. Use promo code GOGOAL to redeem your free week. For fore information visit www.gumsaba.com or call (925) 683 – 5630. Advertorial

Nights continued from page 23

the car owners and hearing their stories about their Pride and Joy. Although a vehicle may not be completely restored – perhaps it has a heartwarming story.” Morgan recognizes that nostalgia plays a role in her response to seeing many of the cars. “It feels like a piece of history being brought back to life. Or perhaps just a part of my memory reignited.”

“This show is about the community,” Mannina explains. “It isn’t about how much money can be made. It’s about providing a ‘safe’ and ‘friendly’ atmosphere where everyone can enjoy themselves by having an opportunity to see some lovely classic cars and enjoy time with family and friends.”

Miller recalls a time when the show, regularly running in the red, seemed likely to fold. With sponsors, local vendors and entertainment for the whole family helping to offset costs, the non-profit organization is now not only self-sufficient, but it is also able to give back to the community by contributing to the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies at Oak Hill Park and supporting the goals and objectives of the new Veterans Hall Marchiorlatti, Linda Mannina and David Miller lead the team at 400 Hartz Avenue Lou of 50+ Danville Hot Summer Nights Car Show volunteers. as well as the One Hundred Club of Contra Costa County, which provides immediate financial aid to the surviving spouse and children of a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty.

Over the course of the decade or more that she has been volunteering, taking on whatever car show tasks require doing, Danville Councilwoman Karen Stepper is proud to have seen the productions develop to be more community and business oriented each year. The Stepper family’s 1968 Camaro convertible - bought brand new back in the day - now carries three generations of family members along Danville’s 4th of July Parade route. Karen admits that going two miles an hour for an extended period on a hot summer day is hard on an old car. Having her classic vehicle displayed on the show’s 2009 t-shirt was fun, but what Stepper finds most rewarding about taking an active role in Hot Summer Nights is what the event does for Danville.

While giving out the Town Choice Awards one year, Karen was struck by 300+ Classic Cars are displayed along Hartz Avenue and side streets where visitors can also pause for good food, music and kid-friendly activities.

See Nights continued on page 30

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 29

STONE VALLEY DENTAL welcomes

Dr. N. Yamato PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST and Dr. Y. Lai ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST to the practice.

FREE Orthodontic Consultation for New Patients FREE Fluoride Treatment for children under 12 (must be accompanied by exam, teeth cleaning, and x-rays) Expires September 1, 2014

Page 30 -August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Market continued from front page

www.yourmonthlypaper.com Our mission is to provide personalized care, help

kinds of vegetables, and fresh cut flowers. A maintain independence and enhance our folk singer provided live music. A BBQ booth client’s quality of life on a daily basis. cooked up tasty lunches.

• Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits Supervisor Candace Andersen officially ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & for you • Live-in care Supportive opened the market with a ribbon cutting • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt.

AM ceremony at 10 . Alamo Improvement As• Elder referral and placement sociation President Roger Smith welcomed At All Times...

3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D everyone and thanked all those involved with Lafayette, CA 94549 (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 bringing the market to Alamo. Particularly deserving of special mention are Alamo Plaza property manager MJ Kroll, who supported the market concept and whose Nights continued from page 28 company fronted the county fees necessary for the land use permit prothe incredibly stylish ensemble the girlfriend of one recipient was wearing. cess; AIA member Jim Wadsworth, who got the ball rolling; and All Bay As the car owner engaged in conversation with admiring spectators, his Farmers’ Market Association president Bill Harlow, who brought the idea companion took the opportunity to shop. In Danville, she found a stunning to AIA for its consideration. sundress, matching hat, and amazing accessories. Because attendees stroll all through Danville viewing the cars, dancing to band music and sampling gourmet treats, they get a sense that when they next want to buy a gift or celebrate a special occasion, Danville will have exactly what they are seeking.

Judging for the 20 prestigious Town Choice Awards is not done on the basis of a rigid point system concerned with quality of restoration or engine maintenance. Instead, judging keys in on attributes that speak more to the story behind the vehicle and the pride with which the owner is staging it. As the show website notes: “The award is a beautiful engraved plaque, and it is our way of saying ‘Thank You’ for bringing your car to Danville...we think your ride is awesome!”

For more information, visit www.danvillehotsummernightscarshow.com.

The new Farmer’s Market opens up with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The market turned out to be a great social occasion as friends and neighbors recognized each other. Julie Millias gave two thumbs up to the market. “It’s a good location for the market in the Plaza, and it was so nice to visit with people I hadn’t seen in awhile. Even my 25 year old son wanted to come with me to check it out.” Julie has spent most of her life in Alamo, growing up here, and returning after college to raise her children.

She and son Stephanos bought hummus and really sweet peaches, and she said they’d be back next week.

It was evident as I walked around that many of the vendors present were the proprietors of their business. I spent a few minutes speaking with Don Della Nina of Olio Bello d’Olivo. Don patiently explained to me the process that goes into his handcrafted extra virgin olive oil that he produces from olives he grows on his Byron ranch. He also offers bagna cauda, which translates to “hot bath,” a traditional Italian dipping sauce for vegetables.

Rounding out his product line are some nice vinegars and flavored oils.

The Alamo Farmers’ Market will be open from now through November 23, every Sunday from 9AM to 1PM. The Market is located in the parking spaces between the Bank of America and High Tech Burrito in the northeast corner of Alamo Plaza.

Danville Town Council Member Renee Morgan presents a Town Choice Award to Al Tureaud pictured with his restored '57 Chevy.

To place an ad, share a story, or for more information about our papers, call 925.405.6397 or visit www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Grief Support Groups and Classes

Hospice of the East Bay has announced a schedule for their support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one.

Classes will be offered at Hospice’s Administrative Offices located at 3470 Buskirk Avenue,Pleasant Hill.

Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need, however, donations are greatly appreciated.

Pre-registration is required for all groups and classes, except the drop-in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681.

Groups for Adults

•Adults Who Have Lost a Parent ~ Mondays, 6pm - 8pm, October 6 - November 24 •Widow and Widowers’ Support ~ Thursdays, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, September 4 - October 23 and Mondays, 6pm to 8pm, September 29 - November 17 •Drop-In Bereavement Support Group ~ 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4:30pm - 6pm

Groups for Children and Teens

•The Bridge - Bi-monthly support program for grieving children and teens. Support is also available for parents/guardians. Sign up now for the fall session.

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay has served over 22,000 patients and their families since 1977. To learn about making a donation of time or money, contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Flashes and Floaters

Alamo Today ~ August 2014 - Page 31

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We’ll haul away just Y O U R J U N K R E M O V A L S P E C I A L I S T S about anything - from old household junk to construction and yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are hazardous • Computers materials. We make getting • Cables rid of your • TVs unwanted • Monitors junk as easy 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers as 1-2-3; www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com • Phones we load, we 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Printers sweep, and Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed •Copiers then we haul • Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes away. It’s that easy!

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Thankfully in my field of practice there are very few ocular emergencies. However, one of them is sudden onset of flashers and floaters.

This can be a potentially serious eye condition that warrants immediate attention, so I will discuss some of the causes and symptoms and what to do if you experience any of the effects.

When patients call the office complaining of sudden onset of flashes and floaters, the most common diagnosis is a posterior vitreous detachment or PVD. Most patients will notice in their field of vision squiggly lines, small dots, a “spider-web” appearance, or any combination of these. Most of the time the cause of floaters is idiopathic, meaning it just happens; other causes include trauma and age.

The vitreous gel, which fills the posterior 2/3 of the eye, is made of tightly-packed translucent collagen fibers. Over time, the fibers that make up the gel liquefy and condense, causing it to move forward and pull away from the retina. Since there is now an area of fibers that are situated in front of the retina, as light enters the eye it goes through this area and casts a shadow onto the retina; this is what the patient perceives as floaters.

This situation alone is completely benign and might cause slightly decreased vision but will have no long term effects on the eye. However, as the gel pulls away from the retina there are tractional forces that develop and can pull a part of the retina away causing a retinal hole and/or detachment.

This is what needs immediate surgical intervention by a retina specialist.

If the retina is detached from the back of the eye, it is not receiving any oxygen and will die like any other tissue or organ in the body. Generally speaking, the prognosis for visual recovery is directly related to how quickly the diagnosis and treatment is initiated and the location of the detachment. This is why it is absolutely imperative that if you notice a sudden onset of floaters, flashes of light, decrease in vision, a veil or curtain coming over your vision, or any combination of these that you have your eyes dilated as soon as possible. If you have any of these symptoms, we will always squeeze you in for a same day appointment. If the diagnosis is a PVD, there is no treatment. We will discuss some precautions and some things to watch for and do a repeat dilation in four weeks. Most studies have shown that if a retinal complication is going to occur, it is going to happen within the first four weeks, most likely sooner.

If there is a retinal hole and/or detachment, a prompt referral to a retinal specialist is ordered. Many treatments now can be done in office; however, outpatient surgery is sometimes indicated. The retinal surgeon will discuss FOR RENT your options with you and recommend the procedure and treatment plan CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury with the greatest likelihood of success.

2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Patients will invariably ask if there is anything that can be done to remove Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, Alamomgt@usa.net the floaters, and unfortunately the answer is no. The only way to clean out the floaters is to do a procedure called a vitrectomy, which involves going NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL into the eye and removing all of the vitreous and replacing it with clear fluid.

GOPHER REMOVAL SERVICE However, the risk of retinal complications is relatively high with this proceTRAPPING-NO-POISON dure. Therefore, retinal surgeons will not do surgery for a benign condition, Safe for your family, pets, and the ecosystem: Call Tri Valley Trapper for free albeit an annoying one, to avoid risk of loss of vision. Thankfully, your brain consultation/estimate: 925-765-4209. learns to “tune out” the floaters over time, so they are not as noticeable. They never actually go away or disappear; your brain just learns to suppress them.

Reach over 6,500 homes and businesses in Alamo & If you actively look for them, are out in the sun, or are around a lot of light Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lesor glare, it is relatively easy to find them. sons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for If you have had a recent episode of floaters with or without flashes of up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. light, please have your retina evaluated as soon as possible. I would rather Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd you come in for an office visit and the diagnosis is floaters versus waiting #117, Alamo, CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper. for the symptoms to go away and having possible decreased vision from a com. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers retinal complication.

“Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or by check made out to “The Editors” must be received visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

Advertorial Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

C L A S S I F I E D

Alamo Today Classifieds

Page 32 - August 2014 ~ Alamo Today

The Combs Team

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

Joe

Call the Combs Team

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92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com

Alamo Real Estate: Roaring Recovery Continues in 2014

At the six month point we have enough market data to consider the Alamo Real Estate Market as a whole this year. So, this month we will perform a simple review of Single Family Homes, Condos, Land, and Rents to see what is happening in the overall market. A quick glance at the included chart will show you what you need to know. The market is on fire again this year.

Single Family Homes, the majority of the Alamo Real Estate Market homes, have advanced 15% year over year in the first six months of 2014. The average price moved from $1,325,897 to $1,526,255, while dollars paid per square foot advanced a little less dramatically at 7.6%. Interesting to note is 16 fewer homes sold so far in 2014 than in 2013. That represents a 15% decrease in unit sales. In the first half of 2013, Alamo saw 10 distressed property sales. In 2014 that number dropped to four and likely has had some degree of positive price impact. Lower interest rates, low inventory, and pent up demand in combination are the most likely reasons why we are advancing so briskly.

Town Home and Condo sales remained flat at three, however, prices advanced strongly. The average condo/townhome is 29% more expensive in 2014 than it was in 2013. Dollars per square foot jumped 13.7% from about $350 to $398. Alamo is not a big condo market, but it is a very desirable place to live, and as the early wave of retiring Baby Boomers enter retirement and begin the process of downsizing, we should expect prices to remain firm, if not continue to advance.

Land is always the last recovery point in a real estate turnaround. During the first six months of 2013, only two Alamo parcels sold. One was a short sale. So far this year, five parcels have sold. None sold short. The average purchase price for the Land has advanced from $697,500 in 2013 to $890,200 in 2014. This represents an average increase of 28% in average price, although dollars paid per square foot dropped by 9%.

Undeveloped parcels are difficult to compare. What is most positive is the number of units sold compared to last year and the average purchase price. Both these numbers are very positive indicators of a market recovery.

Alamo Rents, as reported on Alamo Jan1-June30, 2014 2013 2014 % Change the MLS service, are advancing Homes Price $ 1,325,897 $ 1,526,255 15% in lockstep with the rest of the $/Sq. Ft. $ 434.64 $ 467.90 7.6% market. The average rent paid in 2013 was $4,299 per month. In $ 500,266 $ 643,666 29% 2014 the average has increased Condo Price $/Sq. Ft. $ 349.71 $ 397.55 13.70% 23% to $5,308 per month. The dollars paid per square feet Land Price $ 697,500 $ 890,200 28% increased by 14.6% year over $/Sq. Ft. $ 17.10 $ 15.52 -9% year to $1.88. Noteworthy is that only five properties appeared on Rents Price $ 4,299 $ 5,308 23% $/Sq. Ft. $ 1.64 $ 1.88 14.60% MLS in 2013 and a total of 12 appeared in 2014. More than twice as many people are making the decision to rent their homes as last year. I can imagine it is difficult to make the decision to part with an asset that is growing so rapidly in value when there is a strong market for Alamo Rentals.

The data for the first six months of the year are compelling. The Alamo Real Estate Market is roaring upward, and there appears to be nothing on the horizon to push it back down. A flood of available inventory might slow it a bit, but where would it come from? Until a yet to be identified market force comes into play, we can probably expect more of the same.

Nancy and I have more than 2,800 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. You can add yourself to the list by sending me an email or signing up for it on our website www.thecombsteam.com. I assure you no spam will follow.

Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to make your decisions? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. No charge and no pressure just our honest opinions.

Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

Magee Ranch Executive Home

Diablo Creek Single Story

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D

IN D N E

P

Danville Executive Home

OLD

S

Spacious, luxurious, 4 bed 3 bath home, Chef’s kitchen,view lot, putting green and spa. Priced to Sell $1,099,000

SOL

Immaculate 5 bedroom Single Story, Great Flow, Pool spa Level play yard. Priced to Sell $1,639,000

Amazing updated 4 bedroom single story has it all. Large level lot beautiful pool and pavilion.

Alamo Oaks

Anderson Ranch Single Level

D SOL Updated 4 bedroom 3595 sq. foot home with 1.13 acre lot. Perfect for horses or a vineyard.

Priced to Sell $1,839,000

Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources.

Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

Priced to Sell $1,679,000

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Nicely updated 4 bed single level with level lot and Views!

Priced to Sell $995,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526