editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
June 2013 Restoring the Eye of Diablo: Save Mount Diablo Lights the Way By Jody Morgan
The Beacon atop Mount Diablo first lit up the night sky in 1928 as part of a string of transcontinental aviation guides. Doused in December 1941 in compliance with the World War II blackout, the Beacon has been switched on once a year since 1964 at sunset on December 7th to honor those who served at Pearl Harbor. Over time, the Beacon, also known as the Eye of Diablo, has suffered the ravages of the elements and become almost inoperable. Recognizing its historical significance and the need for intervention before irreparable damage extinguishes its light forever, Save Mount Diablo (SMD) has taken on the task of preserving the Eye of Diablo, the sole known working survivor of its line. In 1928, Standard Oil of California, now Chevron, provided five 36” Sperry Gyroscope Beacons along the West Coast. Charles Lindbergh pressed the Eye of Diablo into action by remote control. Mounted on a 75-foot tower, the Beacon boasted the latest technology including a timer that automatically adjusted start and stop sequences seasonally. Walter Frick, who owned the land at Mount Diablo’s summit, gave his consent for the installation. By 1939 when work commenced on the summit building, the Eye of Diablo surveyed surrounding valleys from within State Park territory. Standard Oil financed the cost of steel and concrete needed to support the new tower constructed of locally quarried sandstone, The 1928 Standard Oil tower had neon letters while the Diablo Civilian Conservation Corps flashing S for Standard and D for Diablo in Morse provided labor. The Beacon was moved to its Code. Photo courtesy of Save Mount Diablo. present location before the order came to turn it off. A note in the ranger’s logbook dated December 8, 1941 reads: “trip to shut off Beacon
Serving Danville Perils and Passions on the Farm Offers Family Fun at Forest Home Farms By Jody Morgan
Teaming up for their second annual joint theatrical fun-filled fundraiser, Role Players Ensemble (RPE) and the San Ramon Historic Foundation (SRHF) present three short plays in different venues around the 16-acre Forest Home Farms property at 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, San Ramon. Showcasing the various types of melodrama that Rehearsing a melodramatic moment for Perils and would have been Passions on the Farm (L to R) Charles Woodson enjoyed by San Parker, Eden Neuendorf, Craig Eychner. Photo courtesy of Role Players Ensemble Ramon Valley residents during the 19th and early 20th centuries, performances on June 22nd and 23rd are geared to entertain the whole family. Building on last year’s successful Tennessee on the Farm production, RPE and SRHF have broadened the appeal for this year’s event. The classic good triumphing over evil melodramatic material chosen has been popular with generations of summer audiences all across the country since the time the original circa 1850 barn was first raised at Forest Home Farms. See Beacon continued on page 22 Children especially appreciate the invitation to boo and hiss at the villain and shout encouragement to the hero during the action. The three pieces selected by RPE Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes represent the vast variety of the genre: one from Victorian England, one from the Wild West, and one from 1930’s Crime Fiction.
See Plays continued on page 8
Volume IV - Number 8 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 The Monte Vista High School Men’s Lacrosse Varsity and JV teams recently visited Children’s Hospital in Oakland to meet with Ms. Shelley Hamilton, (925) 405-6397 Manager of the Center for Child Protection, and Dr. James Crawford, MD. The Center for Child Protection handles all types of child abuse cases and Fax (925) 406-0547 provides therapy for children and their families. Dr. Crawford was able to give a tour of their department building, provide an overview of the program, show the therapy garden, and discuss the security in place to protect the young victims. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher The players presented Ms. Hamilton and Dr. Crawford with 100 teddy bears wearing a replica of the MVHS lacrosse shooting shirts worn by the players. editor@ These bears will be given out at Camp CCP - “a unique yourmonthlypaper.com and innovative program that combines the rite-ofPRSRT STD passage experience of summer day camp with group The opinions expressed herein belong U.S. Postage PAID psychotherapy support for children and teens impacted to the writers, and do not necessarily Local Permit 263 by abuse and/or exposure to violence” - a camp of reflect that of Danville Today News. Postal Customer Danville Today News is not Alamo CA fun games, silly songs, and now a bear to take home responsible for the content of any of to cuddle. The MVHS lacrosse family hopes the bears the advertising herein, nor does ECRWSS publication imply endorsement. will bring the children comfort and a feeling of safety.
Monte Vista Men’s Lacrosse Donates Bears to Children’s Hospital