editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
November 2014 Lighting of the Old Oak Tree
Serving Danville The Bulldozers Come in December
Friday, November 28 ~ 5:15 - 8:30pm
Downtown Danville will come alive on the evening of Friday, November 28th beginning at 5:15pm for the celebration of the traditional “Lighting of the Old Oak Tree” on Diablo Boulevard. Everyone is welcomed to come enjoy music, merriment, and refreshments with Father Christmas and the Snow Angel. After the tree is lit, Father Christmas and the Snow Angel will lead the crowd through downtown where shop owners will serve cookies and hot beverages. For more information visit ci.danville.ca.us or www.danvilleareachamber.com or call 925-837-4400.
The Weiss family of Danville lived and loved soccer. As soon as the kids could walk, they were kicking a soccer ball. Dad became their coach and their weekends and weeknights revolved around the sport. In 2006, eight-year-old Kira, along with her older brothers Kyle and Garrett and their parents, traveled to Germany to attend the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They found themselves at a game featuring Angola and Iran. They saw the Iranian fans in their green and red team colors flooding the stadium, and then in the corner they saw a very small section of red shirts and Angolan flags. It was Angola’s first year ever playing in the World Cup, and the players knew that they were not nearly as competitive as the other teams. However, the Angolan fans loved their team, and the feeling
Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes By Jody Morgan
News accounts labeled March 21, 2009, the deadliest day for California law enforcement since 1970 and the worst loss of life for police officers nationwide since 9/11. A shooting rampage triggered by the routine traffic stop of a convicted felon claimed the lives of four Oakland police officers. The response of shocked and saddened San Ramon Valley residents determined to help evolved into an organization that not only pays tribute to California police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty, but also provides scholarship support to the children they have left behind and preventative financial assistance to agencies throughout the state otherwise unable to afford basic safety equipment. Now past the five-year mark defining a nonprofit as viable and The Fallen Heroes organization pays tribute to CHP Officer Kenyon here-to-stay, Police Youngstrom, shot in the course of a traffic stop on I-680, Alamo. Photo and Fire: The Fallen courtesy of The Fallen Heroes. Heroes continues to be small enough to act immediately and large enough to make a major impact. Oakland Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Gallinatti was sidelined with the injury that led to his retirement when the 2009 tragedy occurred. Reaching out to him as a member with personal ties to the agency involved, Diablo Country Club asked if he could organize a fundraiser at the club for the families of the slain officers. Gallinatti had no idea he was about to launch a new career and create a non-profit organization when he began putting together the golf tournament that now serves as an annual tribute to all California police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty. “Changing careers from public safety to business involves a significant learning curve,” Gallinatti admits. “At first I didn’t know what a 501(c)(3) organization
See Heroes continued on page 28 Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Kira visits with the women crafters in happier times, before they knew their homes would be demolished and they would be homeless.
was contagious. Just their team making it to the World Cup was a major achievement for this impoverished country. Organized sports are a luxury that most cannot afford in Angola. Daily life for many African children consists of little or no education, near starvation, and lack of medical care. The Weiss kids realized their fortune of having grown up in the Danville area with playable fields, sufficient equipment, and organized soccer teams. Meeting the Angolan fans, seeing their excitement, and hearing their passion for a mutually loved sport motivated Kyle and Garrett to return home and create an organization they named FUNDaFIELD (FaF). They hoped to bring to African children the same enjoyment they had experienced growing up on a soccer field. The initial goal was to raise $100,000 for soccer fields and equipment. In the last seven years the kid-run FaF team built 10 soccer fields in three countries; held 12 soccer tournaments with 2,602 kids competing and many thousands of spectators; distributed 11,810 soccer socks, jerseys, balls, shorts, and cleats; and currently has one soccer field under construction in Haiti. Volume VI - Number 1 In 2010 Kira was 12 years old when she 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 took her first trip to Uganda with FaF. She (925) 405-6397 connected with the people in the village Fax (925) 406-0547 of Kireka. She met Aburi who at just eight years old witnessed most of her family be- Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ ing killed by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s yourmonthlypaper.com Resistance Army. Aburi’s parents, brothers, sisters, and an uncle were all murdered. The opinions expressed herein belong the writers, and do not necessarily She only survived because the soldiers toreflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not didn’t notice she was still alive. Kira also responsible for the content of any of met Aida Anek who had fled her village in the advertising herein, nor does
See Bulldozers continued on page 26
publication imply endorsement.