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September 2014 15th Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival: “The Art of the Escape” Continues By Jody Morgan
The 15 Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival launched in August continues through September with live theater, lively debate, vibrant visual art, and free walks in the wake of the “Father of American Drama.” Thanks to the partnership initiated in 1980 between the Eugene O’Neill Foundation Tao th
At the Tao House property where O'Neill penned The Iceman Cometh, the cast rehearses their escape into the roles he created. (Photo courtesy of John Carter)
House (EONF) and the National Park Service (NPS), residents of the San Ramon Valley don’t have to escape their home territory to experience the legacy of Eugene O’Neill, four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the only
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Mustang Matrix - U11 Oswego Nike Cup Champions had an impressive run and took home the championship win in Portland, Oregon. Top left: Sofie Baker, Gianna Leontini, Carly McPherson, Lilly Van Wagenen, Avarie Phillips, Bianca Zamora, Coach Gina Archimede-Medina & Zach Medina; Front Row: Abby McCabe, Jayna Huang, Kylie Musante, Peyton Clawson, Ryan Hayden, and Shannon McGowan.
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Serving Danville Discovery Counseling Center: Building a Healthy Community By Jody Morgan
Serving Valley families for over 40 years, the Discovery Counseling Center (DCC), located at 115 Town & Country Drive in Danville, is a remarkable resource for affordable, high-quality mental health care. In addition to partnering with the San Ramon Valley United School District (SRVUSD) in a variety of innovative programs, DCC provides training in Mental Health First Aid and counseling for Seniors Citizens. Services at the clinic supplement school-based and community outreach offerings. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Friends of Discovery and generous grants from sponsors, DCC, a non-profit organization, is able to offer some programs free of charge, while keeping other fees modest. Staff includes over 40 licensed and pre-licensed therapists, social workers, and psychologists. DCC Executive Director Kathy Chiverton quotes National Institute of Mental Health research: “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older – about one in four adults – suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” Chiverton continues, “When you include families, neighbors, colleagues, you can see how the vast majority of us are impacted in some way by someone dealing with a mental health issue. As a community we need to talk about mental health and become more aware of the support and resources available to those who face mental health issues.” Evolving over the past 25 years to fill District needs, the School Counseling Intervention Program (SCIP) now provides guidance in all SRVUSD elementary schools. Research indicates fostering resilience by helping students develop self-esteem and master skills critical for coping with whatever challenges they face is the most effective way Danville Town Councilmember Newell Arnerich, DCC Board Members to maintain safe, Lorraine Frey and Julie Liu, and DCC Executive Director Kathy Chiverton drug-free schools. celebrate the launch of the Senior Program. Photo courtesy of DCC. DCC counseling is available two days per week in 16 schools and once a week in the five smaller facilities. This short-term intervention of 10-12 sessions can be continued at the clinic as needed. Kathy Kane, DCC Clinical Director and SCIP Director, comments, “The need and interest in supporting children’s social and emotional development is very keen in this area. Families are very fortunate to have this level Volume V - Number 11 of service.” Follow-up evaluation shows that 95% 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, of students receiving DCC support exhibit positive Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 change in at least one area of adjustment. Seventy Fax (925) 406-0547 percent of students show improvement in five or more. Predominant problems addressed include Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher family transition, anxiety, low self-esteem, social editor@ isolation, social skill deficit, behavior manageyourmonthlypaper.com ment, and emotional regulation issues. opinions expressed herein belong DCC interns are essential to SCIP success. The to the writers, and do not necessarily Overseeing their work is an aspect of her job reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not that Kane finds thoroughly rewarding. “I love responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does watching the interns blossoming in the field. We
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publication imply endorsement.