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June 2015 Save Mount Diablo Monitors the Mountain’s Natural Regeneration By Jody Morgan
Volunteers in Policing
One month after the September 2013 Morgan Fire left 3,111 acres of the Diablo Wilderness black and seemingly barren, new growth was sprouting. Once firefighters from dozens of agencies had put down the blaze without loss of homes or human life, scientists felt free to celebrate the remarkable opportunity presented to study the natural succession of regeneration. Ongoing research confirms their belief that allowing the mountain to heal itself without human intervention is a boon to the biodiversity of healthy ecosystems and a blessing to species that depend on the effects of fire to restore their populations. Save Mount Diablo (SMD) is sponsoring study of the effects of the
Most couples after 57 years of marriage are enjoying life, traveling, going to dinner, and visiting friends. Harry and Barbara Hubinger do all those things with an added twist. Every week or so, they don their blue and white uniforms, check in with the police department and head out on their patrol. They are a part of the Danville Police Department volunteer unit, along with 30 or so others who play a critical role in our community. “First and foremost,” says Police Chief Simpkins, “the volunteers are all members of our community, and that gives the police department a direct link to those we serve. The volunteers are de facto ambassadors to and for our community; they have insight into what we do as an agency and as residents, provide us with feedback in regard to the way our residents would like police services delivered. Also, they are a force multiplier! Our police department is twice as big with our volunteers.”
BioBlitz 2015 presented unexpected atmospheric factors to the 50 scientists and supporters who surveyed the Morgan Fire Footprint area in April (photo by Paul Salemme, paulsalemme.com)
Harry Hubinger, Sabrina Titelbaum and Bev Walsh, members of the Volunteers in Police(VIP) program at the Danville Farmers Market.
conflagration on ecosystems within the footprint of the fire through several three-year projects funded by the Mary Bowerman Scientific Research Grants introduced in 2014 and focusing their annual species count known as BioBlitz on that area.
Serving Danville
By Linda Summers Pirkle
Paul Cowell has been with the Sherriff’s All Volunteer Extended Service (SAVES) program for fifteen years. “Volunteers are expected to serve a minimum six hours per week, but many volunteers work way
See Volunteers continued on page 22
A.A., A Supportive Community By Fran Miller
One month after the Morgan Fire, new growth sprouts in the natural process of regeneration on Mount Diablo (photo by Brad Heckman)
“Botany and fire go hand in hand,” explains Heath Bartosh, SMD Board of Directors member and principal of Nomad Ecology. Ecologists establish plots called “quadrats” in order to quantify observations on cover, density and frequency of
See Regeneration continued on page 19
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The number of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings available within the greater Contra Costa area is illustrative of alcoholism’s pervasiveness. That these meetings are held privately and quietly, drawing perhaps your neighbor or your co-worker, is illustrative of AA’s success in maintaining anonymity for its members. Every day of the week, nearly every hour of the day, individuals in need can find a local AA meeting where members convene to share their experiences, their strength, and their hope in order that they may solve their common problem of alcoholism and help each other to recover. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
See A.A. continued on page 23
Volume VI - Number 8 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.