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July 2014
Serving Alamo and Diablo
Alamo Volunteers Close to Final Approvals for Hap Magee Labyrinth By Sharon Burke
Alamo community members hoping to see a hand-crafted paver labyrinth installed at Hap Magee Ranch Park next winter are close to seeing their dream become reality. The project began with the tragic death of 24 year old Alamo resident Will Schramm, who died in a traffic accident on Stone Valley Road in spring of 2013. Friends and family members made donations in his memory to the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church to construct a labyrinth as a peaceful, healing memorial in stone. From that beginning, the project has become more inclusive and is no longer intended strictly as a memorial but as a gift to the community from the Church and friends of the Schramm family.
Concert-goers enjoyed an evening with The Sun Kings performing on June 20th as part of Alamo’s Summer Concert Series. An estimated 700 people enjoyed the outdoor music event. Check out page 2 for information on upcoming concerts to be held at Livorna Park on July 11, July 25, and August 8. Photo by Sharon Burke.
Save the Date for the Alamo Music Festival Saturday, September 6
Representation of potential labyrinth design.
The proposal for the labyrinth was first reviewed by the Danville Parks and Recreation Commission at its April meeting, and it received an enthusiastic 9-0 vote. Commissioners lauded the proposal for its beauty and its fit with the passive peaceful nature of Hap Magee Ranch Park. The next hurdle was the Alamo MAC, which likewise gave the labyrinth a unanimous thumbs up, followed by a unanimous recommendation from the Danville Arts Commission, which reviewed the proposal since the labyrinth is considered an art installation. The project will be reviewed by the Danville Town Council at its July 1st meeting where it is anticipated that approval will follow the recommendations of the two Town commissions.
See Labyrinth continued on page 20
The Rotary Club of Alamo will be sponsoring the 32nd Annual Alamo Music and Wine Festival on Saturday, September 6 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. Headlining the event will be the Groove Doctors, an 8-piece band, who will perform from 8 to 10:30PM. Performing from 4 to 7PM will be local school bands and choirs. The afternoon will be filled with food, games, and business booths for the whole family to enjoy. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 8PM and dinner tickets are $15. The 32nd Annual Alamo Music and Wine Festival will also feature a raffle with great prizes. Raffle tickets may be purchased from Alamo Rotarians, members of the Interact Club, or at the Rotary booth. Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20. Bring your family, neighbors, and friends to what is definitely Alamo’s biggest and best block party.
California Rescue Dog Association: Barking up the Right Tree By Jody Morgan
Founded in 1976, California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) is the largest search dog organization in the US. Highly motivated handlers teamed with high-drive canine partners make CARDA the standard-setting model for rescue dog operations throughout the country. An allvolunteer, non-profit organization available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist local, state, and federal agencies, CARDA has participated in 4,057 searches in the past 13 years. From 2000 through May 2014, CARDA volunteers served 103,835 hours and drove their personally owned vehicles 1,582,482 miles to support search and rescue efforts. Estimating expenses at $0.56/mile and time at $25/hour, CARDA contributed $3.34 million in aid to California Public Safety Agen- Kathryn Stewart follows Max’s lead. Photo courtesy of CARDA. cies during that time frame. The value of lives saved and peace of mind restored is incalculable. CARDA volunteers are devoted to the success of each mission and totally disinterested in individual recognition. In a large Area Search, such as when a hiker goes missing, each rescue team is given a sector to cover. The Volume XIV - Number 7 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, job is to find any trace of human presence. Success means missing no clues, but not necessarily finding the subject Alamo, CA 94507 who may never have passed through that particular space. Trailing, whether in an urban or rural setting, begins Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 with a scent article specific to the subject. An Alzheimer’s patient often travels the same path through a neighborFax (925) 406-0547 hood daily. Discerning the freshest PRSRT STD Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher U.S. Postage trail is important. Has a runaway teen Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com PAID Local hopped public transportation? Trailing Sharon Burke ~ Writer Permit 263 Postal Customer teams investigate BART stations and The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today bus stops to determine whether the not is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
See CARDA continued on page 28