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Page 2 - January 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Boulevard View
Soups On In
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
The goal of this monthly paper is to provide you with hyper-local information, involve you in our community, and present you with opportunities to better know your neighbors and local vendors. It’s meant to be a vehicle and platform to share victories, stories, events, and phoSoup Making starts with Great Tools tos. We provide an opportunity to learn about upcoming events and encourage your attendance, rather than informing you out about an event after the fact. Hopefully you are inspired to become involved with local organizations and causes that can always benefit from more volunteer time and donations to reach their goals. It’s heartwarming to hear that something positive was triggered by an article someone read in the paper. Recently I received an email from Dee Thompson, a participant of the Wreaths Across America project who was placing wreaths on the graves of 18 identified veterans buried at the Alamo Cemetery. As Dee wrote, “…because of the picture and caption, the project has mushroomed! A lady saw it and contacted us to let us know that there aren’t just 18 veterans buried in the cemetery, but there are 80!” A member of the Women’s group contacted Costco, and they quickly and generously donated additional wreaths to place on the graves. Not only was it great to have this extra information available, but now the knowledge also rests with a larger group of people. Another article, in the November issue titled “The Bulldozers Come in December,” featured a local group of kids and their fundraiser Home by the Holidays. See our wide selections of tools for the Cook The article, the website HomeByTheHolidays.com, and their video http://youtu.be/ All-Clad | Bodum | Bo’s Best | Capresso | Chantal | Couleur Nature | Cusinart | Dexas | Edgecraft | Emile Henry | Fagor | Govino | LeCreuset | Kyorcera | Lekue | Maviel | Microplane | Now Designs | Nordicware | vva6kgvrPic told the story of their efforts to relocate 229 Northern Uganda refuNespresso | OXO | Pillivuyt | Rosle | Rosy Rings | Shun | Sistema | USAPans | Wusthof | Zoku and more! gees. With contributions from readers and others, the initial goal of raising $28,000 was achieved, and the women celebrated their new homes as seen here - http:// youtu.be/6dvrFbL-SWM. Coordinator Kira Weiss noted, “Through the fundraisAlamo Ace Hardware |3211 Danville Blvd., Alamo | 925.837.2420 ing efforts we transported the women back to the land they had fled and let them www.AlamoHardware.com show us where they would like their new homes constructed…the locations were set and construction started on the first new homes!” I also received a card from a member of the Friends of Library endowment, who noted that an article resonated with someone and inspired a generous donation to the organization. Hearing that means a lot to me, and it helps me feel connected in a small way to these projects. Our connections can help others. Nobody has all the resources to make things happen, but we can all make a difference by working together. An oft-repeated question in our family when one is faced with a big task is, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is, “One bite at a time.” All mountains to climb are summited step-by-step. Goals must be broken into small pieces, smaller tasks. Families are often known for taking care of each other. However, a family doesn’t have to be the classic dictionary definition of “any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins.” A family can be a neighborhood or a town, and as is noted in the book Eat, Pray, Love, “We must take care of our families wherever we find them.” I’ve come to realize that this paper helps us reach and connect with that extended family. We do something unique by providing “Advertorial” columns written by local service providers. Their goal is to inform and educate you about their specific industry and give you insights to which you ordinarily wouldn’t be exposed. These on your next purchase of 50.00 writers are also your neighbors and local community members. They are there to or more in Mens, Boys, Kids, help you. Most of them are individuals or are working in small businesses and are directly accountable to you, the customer. These are not people who will require Womens, Jr’s, Lingerie, Shoes navigating through a phone tree maze to reach! While I find myself to be fairly handy, I don’t know everything, and I often don’t have the extra time, energy, strength, or skills to properly tackle a new task. I’ve learned to trust local experts rather than try to be an expert at everything myself. These service providers are passionate about what they do and have honed their Present this coupon at point craft. It’s part of their makeup, their DNA. They have the skills, tools, and passion of purchase for 10.00 off your to get the job done. Please support these amazing columnists who help bring you this paper each month. one-time combined purchase The final thought I’ll leave you with is that I choose to present positive news and of 50.00 or more. avoid drama in these pages. There are plenty of places for you to find that elsewhere. 1 coupon per family. Not valid on previous purchases, other coupons and/or promotions. As Greer Garson, a popular World War II era British American actress, once noted, No cash substitutes. May not be used on payment of account. Pandora, Brighton, Boy Scouts, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Lancome,Fragrance Dept., TOMS and UGG excluded. “I think the mirror should be tilted slightly upward when it’s reflecting life--toward Expires Jan. 31, 2015 the cheerful, the tender, the compassionate, the brave, the funny, the encouraging, all those things,” and that is the vision for what I present to you each month. I encourage Lafayette • Danville • Countrywood • Concord your sharing of ideas, stories, photos, and other local information. I look forward to Montclair • Orinda • Moraga • Sonoma • Auburn hopefully inspiring you and making our community even better as we begin a new year.
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