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July 2013 Serving the Lafayette Community Restoring the Eye of Diablo: Save Mount Diablo The Gift of Sight By Fran Miller Mary Alice Pinkham has been in love seven times in the past 16 years. Lights the Way Each “romance” By Jody Morgan
has lasted approximately 14 months before the inevitable “breakup.” And as each relationship comes to an end, and the tears flow, she believes she will never love so deeply again. But each time, she is mistaken. Pinkham, of Lafayette, is a serial puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Her first pup experience was in 1997, a few years after a Burton Valley Elementary School field trip to Guide Dog’s San Rafael campus. Her young daughter Jenna became smitten with the pups. Mary Alice Pinkham and one of her many guide dog puppies, Perrin. They signed-up, Photo by Dave Pinkham. attended meetings at the local puppy raising club, got the stamp of approval, and waited for an available charge. Di was their first. Then came Stanza, Gabriel, Persia, Perrin, Piper and her current, Brianna. Each successive dog claimed the role of favorite, and each drive back to San Rafael to turn the dog over for additional training, and ultimately a new owner, was as hard as the first time. “I always have someone else drive me to the Guide Dog Campus on Recall weekend because I’m crying too much,” laughs Pinkham. She learned early on that the best way to cure the emotional pain of returning a dog is to get another, though she does allow for a grieving period between each one. And when she stands on the Guide Dog stage at the annual graduation ceremony, she sees what a difference her dogs are making in the lives of others and realizes her sadness in giving up her pups is nothing compared to the joy they bring to others in need. “It’s extremely rewarding for our family to know that our efforts are making such an impact for Volume VII - Number 7 someone else,” adds Pinkham. 3000F Danville Blvd #117 Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind Alamo, CA 94507 See Beacon continued on page 16 Telephone (925) 405-6397 provides enhanced mobility to disabled Fax (925) 406-0547 individuals by partnering them with PRSRT STD editor@yourmonthlypaper.com extraordinary dogs who will become U.S. Postage PAID Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Local their eyes and ears. These companions The opinions expressed herein belong to the Permit 21 begin their journey with loving writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of LaPostal Customer Lafayette, CA Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible families who commit to teaching the fayette for the content of any of the advertising herein, ECRWSS nor does publication imply endorsement.
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 installaRestoration will keep the Beacon watching over the Diablo tion. foothills and valleys for years to come. Photo by Cris Benton. 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, while the Diablo Civilian Conservation Corps provided labor. The Beacon was moved to its 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 as to Black Out.” Radar developed during the war rendered the string of transcontinental lights obsolete as navigational aids.
See Dogs continued on page 24