Lafayette Today, January 2014 - Happy New Year !!

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Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 25

January 2014

Serving the Lafayette Community

Futures Explored 2014 Business Person of the Year

By Fran Miller

If you live, shop, work, or play in Lafayette or Moraga, it is likely that you have encountered a Futures Explored, Inc. participant.

John Kenny, for instance, has, for the past 24 years, held a number of positions in town – all of them found with the aide of Futures Explored. Currently a deli clerk at Safeway, Kenny had previous employment with Bill’s Drugs and Long’s Drugs. “I don’t think my life would be as good if Futures Explored wasn’t part of it,” says Kenny.

Celebrating its 50th The Nifty E-Waste photo is showing one of our anniversary this month, participants collecting electronic waste Futures Explored, Inc. provides life skills and work-related training to adults with developmental disabilities. By delivering a broad range of resources and ongoing guidance, the organization supports participants in reaching their optimum level of individual potential. This means that people such as Brandon Gregory, age 41, have a chance to prove themselves. For the past nine years, Gregory has found meaningful work through Futures Explored.

He has been employed in the organization’s e-waste warehouse, has been a mobility aide, and is now a prep-cook at the Huckleberry CaféTo-Go - Futures Explored’s own café and catering service, specializing in breakfast and lunch menus, party platters, and baked goods. “Futures completely changed my life,” says Gregory. “Before I met them, I was bouncing around from job to job. The people at Futures taught me and coached me, and they gave me a chance to prove to both myself and prospective employers that I can do it.”

Founded in Lafayette in 1964 by Helen Young, Futures Explored was, at that time, a new and innovative enterprise. It wasn’t until five years later that California law stipulated that those with developmental disabilities and their families were entitled to the same

See Futures continued on page 24

Local Postal Customer

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ECRWSS

Brian Aiello was named 2014 Business Person of the Year. Family Man, entrepreneur, coach, impresario of the Lafayette Art, Wine and Music Festival, Reservoir Run artist, board member and all around great guy are some of the nice things that have been said describing Brian. Brian is the guy who draws those crazy Res Run T-shirt designs, then prints the shirts. Brian is the guy who works all year bringing the best cover bands to Lafayette’s annual festival. Brian is the guy who successfully chaired the Art & Wine Festival the last two years. Oh yes, and in his spare time Brian raises his family and runs Pinnacle Apparel & Promotions with his bride Jennifer.

Behind the scenes, Brian has been contributing to our community, and now it’s time to toast and roast him. Help celebrate Brian’s contributions by joining in at a dinner in his honor. The Business Person of the Year award presentation, Mayor Tatzin’s State of the City Address, and the introduction of Lafayette’s 2014 Board of Directors under the leadership of Stacy Spell of Oakwood Athletic Club will take place on February 1st at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa. Reservations can be made by visiting the Chamber’s website at www.lafayettechamber.org.

The Blackhawk Automotive Museum Guild: Sharing a Legacy of Invention

By Jody Morgan

In 1991, three years after the Blackhawk Automotive Museum (the Museum) opened its doors to the public, Co-Founder Pat Behring organized the Blackhawk Automotive Museum Guild (the Guild).

Since its inception, the Guild’s primary mission has been Joyce Tucker, Docent and Guild Event Chair, enjoys sharing her raising funds for the knowledge of the Museum’s collection.

Children’s Education & Transportation Fund so that school groups can tour the Museum free of charge. Thanks to their efforts to reimburse student transportation costs, more than 175,500 school children have already Volume VIII - Number 1 enjoyed connecting with the Museum’s two3000F Danville Blvd #117 floor display of remarkable automobiles and Alamo, CA 94507 learning how the invention of the automobile Telephone (925) 405-6397 affected the course of history. Guild memFax (925) 406-0547 bers include the Museum’s volunteers editor@yourmonthlypaper.com and docents as well as numerous addiAlisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher tional individuals dedicated to keeping the The opinions expressed herein belong to the Children’s Education & Transportation writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible program adequately funded. for the content of any of the advertising herein,

See Museum continued on page 7

nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today Castro Ascarrunz

Owner, Chef, Waiter and Entertainer

Serving Dinner Tuesday – Saturday

The Friends Corner Book Shop will be holding a half-off everything sale on Saturday, January 18 from 9am-5pm at the store located at 1st Street and Golden Gate Way in Lafayette. Come stock up on some great reads for the winter!

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On Wednesday, January 29th at 3:30pm there will be a free sushi making event taught by one of our library staff members. Participants can learn how to make delicious sushi at home.

They will learn how to make both Hand rolls and Maki style sushi. Registration is required and is limited to 20 people.

On Saturday, February 1st, at 2pm group of professionals will gather at the library for two hours to talk about their careers and how to get started in them. The professionals include a photographer, graphic designer, a NASA scientist, a director of photography for lighting at Pixar and more.

Both classes will be held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Community Hall located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

For more information contact Patrick at pbrogan@ccclib.org or call 925-385-2280.

DONATE YOUR CAR!

Free Tax Preparation

Free tax preparation for the 2014 tax season is available starting February 2014 from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs.

All tax preparers are trained and certified by the IRS. While both programs serve taxpayers of any age, Tax-Aide does not have an income limit in whom they can serve, Tax deduction • All transfer documents handled but EKS can only serve individuals whose incomes do not exceed $50,000.

Free pick-up • Running or not in most cases Beginning January 6, for information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the Walnut Creek area, please call (925) 943-5851 for the Walnut Creek Senior Club site, (925) 405-6278 for the Walnut Creek Grace Presbyterian Church www.thefallenheroes.org site, or (925) 979-5013 for the Walnut Creek St. Paul’s Episcopal Church site. For general information and other site locations, call (925) 726-3199. For City of Lafayette Contacts information on EKS sites, call 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

Below are key Lafayette city departments and their contact information.

To complete your tax return, Tax-Aide will need you to bring to the Administration: Responsible for overall city operations such as human appointment your: • Social Security Card or ITIN letter for all individuals to resources, finance and office operations. Key staff members include the be listed on the return • Photo ID for yourself and spouse • Copies of all W-2s City Manager, Administrative Services Director, City Clerk, and Financial • 1098s and 1099s • Other income and deductions • Your 2012 Tax Return Services Manager. The City Offices are located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., am pm #210, Lafayette. Hours are 8 – 5 Monday-Friday. For information call Questioning our Culture (925) 284-1968 or email cityhall@lovelafayette.org.

In today’s culture, you can hear sexual assault jokes on major network TV Planning: Responsible for current and long-term planning for the shows like Two and a Half Men and Family Guy. Contemporary music, music physical development of the community that is consistent with the General videos, movies, video games, and television shows often degrade women Plan, Zoning Ordinance and the direction of the City Council. Planning and girls. One in four college- aged women are victims of sexual assault or Department hours are 12pm – 5pm Monday-Friday. For information call (925) attempted sexual assault, and the majority of these attacks on college campuses 284-1976 or email planner@lovelafayette.org. happen to women during their first four semesters on campus. The American Police: Responsible for public safety, law enforcement, emergency Association of University Women (AAUW) of Contra Costa County invites operations, and parking control. The Police Department is located at 3675 the public to watch a one hour film, Sexual Assault, Naming the Unnamed Mt. Diablo Blvd, #130, Lafayette. Hours are 8am-12pm & 1am-5pm MondayConspirator, on Sunday, January 26th at 1:30pm at the Lafayette Library Friday. For general questions call (925) 299-3220. For police dispatch call and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. In this film, Anne (925) 284-5010 or 911.

Munch, JD, examines how societal attitudes influence cases of sexual assault.

Public Works: Responsible for maintaining the infrastructure of the There will also be a panel of experts who deal with sexual assault who will be City including road repair, storm drains, and landscaping of public property. available for a discussion after the film. This free program is open to the public The Public Works Corp Yard is located at 3001 Camino Diablo, Lafayette. and is guaranteed to give you new insight concerning this very serious topic as Hours are 7am – 3pm Monday-Friday. For questions call (925) 934-3908. To well as actions you can take to start to change cultural attitudes. report potholes, streetlight outages, traffic signal problems and other issues call the Hotline at (925) 299-3259.

Parks & Recreation: Responsible for the management and operation FallenHeroes2x3_11-27-13.indd of a variety of recreation programs, special events and facilities including the Lafayette Community Center, the Community Park and a system of city trails. The Parks & Recreation (Community Center) is located 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette. Hours are 9am – 5pm Monday-Saturday. For questions call (925) 284-2232.

Code Enforcement: Responsible for enforcing the Lafayette Municipal Code. The Code Enforcement Officer concentrates on the investigation and abatement of complaints involving land use (zoning), housing conditions, abandoned vehicles, signs, animals and vermin, weeds/fire hazards, fences and general public nuisances. Contact Mark Robbins at 925-299-3207.

For more information, visit www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.

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Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 3

$10 Create Your Own Sale! $10 Womens Dept.

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McCaulou’s Stores Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda – MADISON, Lafayette – Hollyhock, Orinda

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

While wading through the several hundred emails that appear in my email box each day, I ventured over to my “Junk Mail” folder, and the following headline jumped out at me. It “shouted,” “NEVER SEE, CHANGE, OR DEAL WITH YOUR CHILD’S POOPY DIAPER AGAIN!” I thought, “Really?!

How could that be possible?” Then, I actually thought, “Why would you never want to see, change, or deal with a poopy diaper again? Can you just wave a wand and eliminate everything that is messy from your life for the sake of convenience? What on earth could they be trying to sell me or take advantage of? What could they offer that would change the reality of dirty diapers?” Looking deeper into the email there was a link to a video which may have talked about potty training, but if that were the path it was heading down, it would have been a misleading headline for dealing with, say, a newborn. I wasn’t willing to take the risk of infecting my computer for some crazy email.

Let’s face it -- everything about kids is messy, and in my mind that’s OK. Childhood, for both parents and children, is a stage to learn from.

I’ve got to believe that messy kids have been around since the beginning of time. Dealing with a messy kid, and a poopy diaper are stages to look back on and laugh, and cry, and sometimes be grossed out by. I could share some mortifying messy kid stories and even pictures, but my kids are old enough now where they wouldn’t appreciate stories of that sort, or the incriminating photos, printed for the public!

Life starts messy and it ends messy. Society as a whole has moved away from the dirt – the soil – as we now get our meat and produce from the grocery store, our water from a plastic bottle instead of a well, and many of our material goods from far away lands. We’ve become accustomed to all of life’s conveniences and to the products and services that people perform for us instead of us taking care of them for ourselves.

How many people still garden? And by that, I mean how many people actually stick their hands in the dirt, insert seeds or seedlings, pick weeds, and nurture their garden until the fruit of their labor arrives? How many people do you know who could change their car tire instead of calling AAA on the side of the road? When you go to the mountains and need chains, do you pay to have someone put them on for you, or do you plan ahead with a garbage bag to lay on and do it yourself? When a pipe breaks at your home, at the minimum do you know where to turn off the main water? Go ahead, get your hands dirty, muddy, and heaven forbid even poopy!

The point is, we’ve become far too sterile, far too removed from the willingness to plunge in and get involved in the messy details of life. For some people that works well. For me it doesn’t. I enjoy the satisfaction of seeing my seeds grow into tomatoes that my family will enjoy for dinner.

And I’ll gladly pocket the $35 that the guys on the side of the road are charging to put on chains.

Almost every skill you want to learn can be taught through an online article or YouTube video. Today’s technology has created a great database of knowledge to teach you how to tackle almost any task.

Instead of a declaring a New Year’s resolution, I’ll change my ways no matter what time of year it may be. An ongoing resolution I’ve made has been to be more self-sufficient and prepared. For example, if we ever have an earthquake or other natural disaster, there will be those who require help and those who can offer help. I have taken the local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) class, and I highly recommend that you check out and sign up for the free training. I’d like to be someone who is prepared enough to help those around me with whatever might be necessary. Hopefully the day never comes where this has to be tested, but if it does, I know my family and I will have a slight upper hand in making it through whatever happens.

Whether it’s vacuuming a room or mowing the lawn, you may find a sense of satisfaction by reclaiming something you currently delegate to others and reveling in the satisfaction of a job well done – by you! I hope your holidays were safe and warm, and that you and your family enjoy much prosperity in this new year.

Page 4 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

The Crosses: A Protest Against Forgetting

The Lafayette Public Art Committee invites the community to attend the opening of its newest art exhibit, The Crosses: A Protest Against Forgetting. A reception will be held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Gallery, located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette, from 4pm to 9pm on Monday, January 13th. The exhibit runs from January 13 to March 21st. The gallery is free and open most Monday evenings from 5pm to 9pm and during public events in the Community Hall (contact the Library Foundation to verify open hours: 925-283-6513).

The exhibition consists of digital prints of Daguerreotype images by noted photographer Binh Danh. Over several years, Danh documented The Crosses.

These images preserve moments in the history of the memorial.

Binh Danh’s work investigates his Vietnamese heritage and our collective memory of war. His work deals with “mortality, memory, history, landscape, justice, evidence, and spirituality.”

Weekly Dance Social

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Dance for joy at the weekly Social, or just come to chat; all are welcome. Twirl, chat, and tap your feet to the beat. The Social is for all-level and all-style dancers, music lovers, and observers. The Social is held Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:50PM at the Lafayette Community Center located at 500 St. Mary’s Road. The longtime event, with continuous, professionally recorded music, is held in the big, bright Live Oak Room. The Social specializes in ballroom, but any style dance adds to the charm.

For more information, visit sites.google.com/site/lafayetteteadance.

Fees for the event are $2 for members of the Senior Center and $4 for non-members.

Lamorinda Peace and Justice

The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the Fireside Room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. We are committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For information, call (925) 946-0563.

Meals on Wheels

Seniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services have been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever.

Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert

Kevin Rivard, Lafayette resident, co-principal of San Francisco Opera Orchestra, and principal horn of SF Ballet Orchestras has taken the Bay Area by storm. He has garnered worldwide praise for his horn calls at the opera and is a youthful and energetic performer. Kevin’s Gold Coast debut presents a great opportunity to hear him up close and to meet him after the concert. Joining Kevin in a pre-concert talk will be SF Opera colleague, principal oboist, Mingja Liu. Mingjia Liu joined the San Francisco Opera in 2010. Recognized for his charismatic performing skill and “singing ability” on the instrument, he is currently the youngest Principal Oboist of all professional orchestras in the United States.

Joining these musicians is pianist, Yana Reznik, violinists Annie Yano and Jennifer Cho, violists Pamela Freund-Striplen and Don Ehrlich and cellist Robert Howard in performances of music for mixed ensemble by Mozart, Brahms and Herzogenberg.

The award winning Gold Coast Chamber Players perform on Saturday, January 18 at 7:30PM at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. A pre-concert talk with the musicians begins at 7PM and is included with the ticket price. This concert is the second of five programs in the group’s 15th Anniversary Season.

Tickets are available at www.gcplayers.org and by phone at (925) 283-3728. Limited seating is available, so please reserve early.

Junior Achievement Needs You

Junior Achievement, a non-profit funded by foundations and businesses, offers an exciting opportunity for you and your office to partner with local schools to educate students about business and financial literacy. By volunteering in the schools or hosting a Job Shadow, companies can increase outreach. Programs are offered to the schools at no cost. For more information, please contact Shaun Rundle at 465-1082, email srundle@janorcal.org, or visit www.janorcal.org.

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Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 5

Mt. Diablo Branch California Writers Club

Victoria Zackheim will present a workshop on “Building Your Masterpiece, Start to Finish” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, January 11th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Ms. Zackheim will emphasize beginning a short story, non-fiction work, or novel. She will show how to begin with a short piece and grow it into a larger work, and how to build both diversity and a platform for writing.

She is the author of The Bone Weaver, a novel of history and suspense, and editor of five anthologies. She has written plays and screenplays, and she teaches personal essay writing in the UCLA Extension Writers Program.

Check-in is from 8:30 to 9am. The workshop is from 9am to Noon, with luncheon following the workshop.

The cost is $45 for CWC members and $55 for guests.

Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, January 8. Contact Robin Gigoux at ragig@aol.com, or by phone at 925-933-9670. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.

Host Families Sought for Visiting French Students

For the ninth consecutive year, students from a large high school in the South of France are coming to the area. Host families are needed during their stay. The students will arrive on April 27th and depart May 9th .

The teens stay with local families but have a full itinerary of activities with their class during the days and only require your attention in the evenings and on one weekend.

The visit is an ideal opportunity to experience another culture and hopefully consider visiting France in return. Anyone interested in hosting a student (or students!) is welcome to participate.

For more information or to find out about past year’s programs, please contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group) at caussefly@wanadoo.fr or dachary.martine@orange.fr.

There are many happy local host families ready to discuss any questions with you (including the editor of this paper!). The local contact is Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or 925-718-5052.

Time to Focus on An Inconvenient Truth

By Steve Richard, Co-Founder and President of Sustainable Lafayette

Sunday, Feb. 2

The Path to PURPOSE: HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR CALLING IN LIFE

Stanford Professor

William Damon Professor of Education and Senior Fellow, by courtesy, at the Hoover Institution.

10:15 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE-ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette

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Seven years has passed since Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, alerted the public to the perils of climate change from rising levels of CO2. Since then, the earth’s temperature has continued to rise, and the scientific Club Z! 1-On-1 Tutoring In Your Home! consensus has strengthened such that 97% of climate scientists now agree that Walnut Creek, Lamorinda, carbon pollution from humans is the principal cause of the rising temperature.

Berkeley, Castro Valley Lafayette resident Wei-Tai Kwok was troubled after seeing the film in 2006 • All Subjects • PreK-Adult and wondered, “Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?” He began his • Reading • Writing • Math quest to learn more and do whatever he had to do to become part of the solution.

• LD/ADD/ADHD • SAT/ACT Prep His first big step was to quit his 20-year career as an advertising executive • Study Skills Program• Affordable Rates and figure out an industry where the more you sold, the more it helped the • Degreed Professionals environment. He landed in the solar energy industry and is now working as a • Flexible Schedules Vice President in the residential solar division of NRG Energy. He also helped found the non-profit U.S. China Green Energy Council to help the world’s two largest carbon polluters work together towards common solutions. www.clubztutoring.com “We don’t have 100 years to solve this problem,” said Kwok. “The next 20-30 years are critical for us to find a way to turn the corner and avoid a catastrophe. That means today’s adults…us…we need to be the ones to act. It is not fair Presenting Author Madeline Levine to simply pass this crisis on to our children.”

The Lafayette and Acalanes High School Districts present Earlier this year, concerned about the lack of serious progress on climate change, Kwok author Madeline Levine who will speak on Thursday, January 23 decided he needed to step up his efforts. He signed up with the Climate Reality Project to from 7PM – 9PM at Acalanes High School Performing Arts Center, become trained as a public speaker that can deliver Al Gore’s latest presentation to local located at 1200 Pleasant Hill Road in Lafayette. Levine is the New communities. In August he traveled to Chicago for three days along with 1,200 other York Times Bestselling Author of Teach Your Children Well. volunteers to get personally trained by Al Gore on the latest facts. “It was an incredible Levine, clinical psychologist, author, and co-founder experience to see motivated people from every country on Earth and the training provided of Challenge Success at Stanford University, will discuss me with great clarity on this complex topic.” parenting for authentic success - why values and coping skills Sustainable Lafayette will host a special presentation featuring Mr. Kwok on Wednesday, matter more than grades, trophies, or “fat envelopes.” Levine January 22 from 7-8:30pm at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. We are very has studied the trends affecting our children over the past fortunate to have a trained climate presenter several decades and believes that our increasingly competitive right in our own community. Wei-Tai is world has led to tremendous anxiety about our children’s very inspiring to listen to, and this is the performances and futures. best and most current set of information Her latest book, Teach Your Children Well, tackles our that I’ve ever seen on climate change. current narrow definition of success - how Sustainable Lafayette plans to use the it unnecessarily stresses academically event to kick-off a new climate action talented kids and marginalizes many initiative that aims to share the latest facts more whose talents and interests are less with 1,000 people around Lamorinda and amenable to measurement. inspire local residents to find new ways to Tickets costing $10 for one ticket and be part of the solution.

For more information, visit Wei-Tai Kwok travelled to Chicago with 1,200 volunteers $15 for two tickets can be purchased at from around the world to get personally trained by Al sustainablelafayette.org. http://madelinelevine.eventbrite.com.

Gore on the latest facts about climate change.

510-984-3220

Page 6 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

The Bookworm

By Joan Stevenson

Each month before I begin to write, I contact the key players who have the inside track on events at the library. This month librarian Vickie Sciacca sent an inspiration for all of us who look at our new 2014 calendar and wonder how we will keep our New Year’s resolutions!

New Year, New You! - Let the Lafayette Library help you keep your New Year’s Resolutions this January.

January 7: T’ai Chi at the Library - 6-7pm, Homework Center Always curious about T’ai Chi, but not sure where to start? Looking for a low-impact way to improve balance and reduce stress in your daily life? Join us for a demonstration of the gentle Chinese martial art, T’ai chi ch’uan, with local instructor Robert Noha. Sensei Noha has more than 40 years experience teaching Aikido and T’ai chi ch’uan, and he will discuss the benefits of this practice, as well as provide a beginning lesson. Free January 9: Lawyer in the Library: Wills and Trusts, 6:30-8pm, Arts & Science Room Been wanting to get your will in order? Curious about Advanced Healthcare Directives? A lawyer from the Contra Costa County Bar Association will cover the basics of wills, durable powers of attorney, Advanced Healthcare Directives, trusts, and probate. Deborah Moritz-Farr, an experienced attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Wills, Trusts, and Trust Administration and Termination, will touch on additional issues of federal estate taxes, joint tenancy, uses and types of trusts, funding of trusts, and the titling of assets. Free January 23: Meditation: Isn’t it time you learned how?, 6:30-8pm, Arts & Science Room Please join Dr. Marshall Zaslove, a Board certified psychiatrist with over 40 years of daily meditation experience, in an exciting free workshop which will get you started on your rewarding journey through the wonders of accurate meditation. Dr. Zaslove will discuss the astonishing new research on meditation’s health benefits, pain relief, & stress reduction.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com January 30: Eating Healthy with Kids: Jill West’s 400 Moms, 6:30pm, Arts &Science Room Local author Jill West will discuss her new book 400 Moms: Discover What 400 Nutrition Experts Feed Their Kids. Jill has more than 25 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Consultant and Health Coach, and she’s also a mom to three boys. Jill consulted with more than 400 nutrition experts and parents and will share her findings and tips with parents. Free Learn to Make Sushi! - Wednesday, January 29th 3:30pm-5pm Learn how to make delicious sushi at home. We’ll be learning how to make both hand rolls and Maki style sushi (no raw fish will be used). Space is limited to 20 people aged 12 to 19 years old. Registration is required. Register for this free class online at tinyurl.com/m3maab6 or at the Information Desk.

Teen Networking and Career Day - Saturday, February 1st 2-4pm A group of professionals will gather together to talk about their respective industries and how to break into them. Free Please note that magic word “FREE,” and remember that is only possible because of the generosity of the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center whose revenue stream flows from the Friends Corner Bookshop. The next half-price book sale will be held on January 18 from 9-5pm.

The Friends provide two other free gifts to the community. WOW (Wonders of the World), focusing on Bay Area museums, will shine light on Tao House, the home of playwrigh Eugene O’Neill in Danville. The discussion will take place January 14th, 2pm in the Community Hall.

Sweet Thursday, the Friends monthly conversation and dessert with authors, will feature a discussion on the extraordinary women in Robert Oppenheimer’s life, on January 16 at 7:30pm. The authors, Shirley Streshinsky and Patricia Klaus, have written a gripping narrative of the love and betrayal of Robert Oppenheimer.

The Commonwealth Club welcomes travel journalist and author Patricia Schultz, author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die, on Wednesday, January 29at 6:30pm. Patricia has created a special Europe presentation for us, selecting a few dozen of her favorite European locations featured in her New York Times #1 best seller. Regaling us with information and anecdotes about destinations both well known and off the radar, Schultz promises to add to your bucket list and refuel your wanderlust. To register, visit www.commonwealthclub.org/events.

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Lafayette Historical Society - A Peek into the Past

By Judie Peterson

For this special New Year’s article we are providing a peek into the past.

Twenty-five years ago the Lafayette Historical Society was celebrating the 50th anniversary of three amazing feats of engineering, just as today we celebrate the opening of the Fourth Bore of the Caldecott Tunnel and the new Bay Bridge. You will see that as much as things change, many things remain the same. The following is from the December 1986 LHS newsletter.

From the President:

The Oakland Bay Bridge completed 50 years of service this year, the Golden Gate Bridge will reach 50 next year, and the Caldecott Tunnel is beginning its fiftieth year of service this week. The Contra Costa County Historical Society is hosting a luncheon on Saturday, December 6 to commemorate the tunnel’s opening The bridge and tunnel projects were, of course, in the process long before 1936. Discussion of an Alameda-Contra Costa tunnel, for instance, was already taking place in 1860. According to J.F.W. Sohst, an early tunnel proponent noted opposition to the building of a tunnel “sometimes arose where it was least expected.” For instance, “A mass meeting at Lafayette in March of 1898 was a blow,” he said. “Land owners, large and small, admitted that land would improve in value but feared that it would be held so high in price that no one would want to buy—and the project would therefore be detrimental to progress.”

Accounts in the Martinez Gazette and the Walnut Creek

Museum continued from front page

Guild President Pat Behring laughs as she comments that her husband Ken likes to tease her by referring to the Guild as “the Girls’ Club.” Although many of the Guild members involved in fundraising are women, the majority of docents are men. Pat feels strongly that every child should have the opportunity to visit a museum.

Dave Seabury brought his first group of students to the Museum from Pittsburg High School in November. Penning his thanks to the Guild he writes, “My students loved this trip. As you could imagine, the opportunities for trips like this are rare.” Two seniors in his auto-shop program had never previously been to a museum. His classes are still sharing photos and stories from their trip. Their only complaint is that they didn’t get to open up the hoods and hear the engines.

A Monte Vista High graduate, Seabury toured the Museum with his father when it opened in 1988. He is recommending the excursion to colleagues teaching a variety of disciplines, particularly Graphic Design.

Kristy Nass has been bringing kindergartners from St. Ignatius Christian Elementary School in Concord to the Museum for 12 years. The school now teams kindergartners with sixth grade buddies, so the two age groups arrive at Blackhawk together. The Museum then accommodates the interests and goals of each group separately. Nass explains that this popular adventure would be impossible without the Museum’s transportation funding. The trip supports two subjects in the kindergarten curriculum: transportation and community helpers.

Nass‘s students particularly enjoy hearing about historical community helper Berta Benz. Basing her presentation on Mindy Bingham’s book Berta Benz and the Motorwagen, Discovery Room Designer Robin Wiley recounts the daring journey Berta Benz took in August 1888 with two teenage sons to prove that her husband Karl’s 1886 invention was a practical means of transportation. The Museum’s replica of the Benz original, one of the few in existence, is a favorite starting point for tours. Fitted with over-size tricycle wheels, the vehicle boasts a water-cooled internal combustion engine. Fuel was originally available only at pharmacies where the product required was stocked as cleaning fluid.

Long-term docent Ed Holloway likes to follow up on the Berta Benz story

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 7

Courier-Journal in 1936 and 1937 were optimistic; many fairly glowed with anticipation— although there was no concern for the growing number of auto accidents on local roads.

On September 8, 1936, the Gazette reported that “Walnut Creek has 8,100 cars a day.” In June, folks in Lafayette had noted the need to improve local conditions since “vehicles were speeding at a dangerous rate through the town.” And in the same June issue of the Courier-Journal: “Lafayette building sites are selling fast… Good homes are making Brook Street one of the selective residential districts.”

Along with updates on King Edward’s romance, the Spanish Civil War, the Roosevelt-Landon presidential election, and even rumors that Hitler might be intending to retire in favor of Goering, the papers reported many significant local events which added luster to the name of Progress. In June the Lafayette Business Men’s Association was formed. The Lafayette Garden Club held its first annual flower show that year, the Horse Show Association was formed, and a new local high school district was set up.

A different sort of local story was reported in the December 17, 1936, Courier-Journal. It related the discovery of gold. “Four or five pieces of gold were found in the gizzard of a chicken killed by S.W. Parsons of Alamo, Monday. The fowl was raised from a baby chick by the Parsons family and was allowed to run the grounds at will. Upon examination of the gold by a Walnut Creek jeweler, it was determined the chick had swallowed a gold crown from a tooth.”

Gold or no, things were looking up!

The Museum's replica (one of a few in existence) of the 1886 Benz Motorwagen is a favorite starting point for tours. (Photo courtesy of Ken Brown, Blackhawk Automotive Museum).

by discussing the influence of women on classic car design. When Cadillac introduced an electric ignition system in 1912, the arduous operation of crank starting became obsolete, putting many more women in the driver’s seat. Women wanted cars with sleeker lines and more fashionable colors.

They wanted comfortable interiors and eye-catching exteriors.

“I have been giving tours at the Blackhawk Auto Museum for 25 years (since a month after they opened) and I have never – once – lost the feeling of excitement when walking into either gallery and seeing the brightly illumined cars with a backdrop of black wall and black marble floors,“ Holloway writes. He praises the regular tours conducted for docents by docents. “Just when I think I’m beginning to know a lot about the cars, I go on a docent tour and realize how much I still have to learn. Each docent brings his own perspective and interesting tidbits of knowledge.”

See Museum continued on page 18

Page 8 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Sustainable Lafayette Tip of the Month Green New Years Resolutions

As we embark on a New Year, it’s a perfect time to make a green New Year’s resolution. Try something new that will help your family continue to reduce its impact on the environment. Everything we do adds up and makes a difference. Following are some ideas to consider for 2014: Order a smaller size garbage bin. Now that Recycle Lafayette (recyclelafayette.org) has been launched, you can easily find ways to put less in your blue garbage bin and more in your brown and green recycle bins. The number one tip is to put all of your food scraps, soft/compostable papers, and food-soiled papers and cardboards in your yard waste bin. This and other practices will enable you to switch to a 32 or 20-gallon bin and save 50% on your garbage bill!

Wash your clothes in cold water. Did you know that only 10% of the energy used by a typical washing machine powers the motor? About 90% of the energy is used to heat the water, and most clothes will come clean in cold water. So switch your washing machine’s temperature setting to cold.

For heavily soiled clothing, use warm water instead of hot.

Go meatless one day a week. According to the United Nations, raising livestock for food uses about 25% of the earth’s land surface and generates almost 20% of the world’s greenhouse gases -- more than all modes of transportation combined. Try to go meatless one day a week. Check out meatlessmonday.com.

Try coffee in a real mug. It is estimated that 14 billion disposable paper coffee cups are thrown away every year in the U.S. – enough to circle the earth 55 times and weigh 900 million pounds. Why drink coffee out of a plastic coated disposable cup that can’t be recycled, when most coffee shops will serve coffee in a real mug. Just ask! Or bring a reusable coffee mug if you’re on the go.

Make an energy efficiency upgrade to your home. Many upgrades have discounts and rebates available, and they lower your PG&E bill permanently.

Use PG&E’s SmartEnergy Analyzer (online tool) to figure out where your energy is going, and then check out Energy Upgrade California (energyupgradeca.org) to find discounts and rebates that are currently available in our local area.

Replace your single speed pool pump. For pool owners, a single-speed pump often uses more energy than any other appliance in a home. Because a variable speed pump’s speed, power, and energy usage can be set to just what is needed, replacing a residential pool’s filtration pump with a variable-speed model

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can cut pool pump energy use by up to 75% and save up to Independent service and repair for Jaguar $1000 per year!

Save water with CARLOS “KIKO” CAICEDO a new native plant Shop (925) 284-4852 zone. Native plants Cell (925) 285-0783 have evolved over lafayettemotors@gmail.com thousands of years to 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 survive and thrive in our unique climate without our help, and without any extra Independent service and repair for Mercedes Benz water. That makes a lot of sense. Update JERRY FIGUEROA a distressed yard or lawn area with a native Shop (925) 284-4852 garden and use drip Cell (510) 754-1942 lafayettemotors@gmail.com irrigation as needed.

Eliminate toxics 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 from your home and yard. Sixty-two toxic chemicals are found in the average home and the EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be as much as 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. This is a bad recipe for your family’s health and the environment.

Switch to green cleaning supplies -- try to avoid paints, furniture, and carpet that release gases. Watch out for air fresheners and glues. Choose natural cosmetics and use non-toxic, natural approaches in your yard for weed and pest control.

Walk or ride your bike instead of driving once per week. Bikes aren’t just for fitness and kids! Bikes are an ideal mode of transportation for destinations under two miles -- great exercise with no traffic or parking headaches. Take a bike to your kid’s school, a friend’s house, to get to BART, or downtown for coffee, lunch, or errands.

Try dimmable LED floodlights. We’ve all heard about the energy that can be saved by using CFL bulbs, but LED bulbs are even better – using a third as much energy and lasting 20+ years. Prices have come down and they pay for themselves quickly. Use them where lights are on the most – like a kitchen or family room.

For more ideas on how to reduce your environmental impact and to read success stories written by your neighbors, please visit sustainablelafayette.org.

Lafayette Motors

Lafayette Motors

Boy Scout Troop 219 Eagle Court of Honor

Boy Scout Troop 219 of Lafayette recently held an Eagle Court of Honor. Troop 219, led by Scoutmaster Tyler Higgins, awarded the Rank of Eagle to eight Scouts. Below are the new Eagle Scouts and information about their Eagle projects.

Vincent Gladden is at student at Acalanes High School. Vinny completely refurbished the sign at Happy Valley Elementary School as well as the landscape around the area of the sign.

Justin Higgins attends Bentley High School. Justin installed 10 wood duck nesting boxes around the Lafayette Reservoir perimeter, including routine inspection for monitoring usage and hatch, and 10 additional wood duck nesting boxes at the San Leandro Reservoir. He earned the Hornaday Award for this project.

Ethan Lindgren is a student at Acalanes High School.

Back row (left to right): Elias Morley, Austin Wentzel, David MacDannald, Ethan Lindgren. Front row (left Ethan designed and constructed raised garden beds at The to right): Anton Reifsteck, Layton Wieczynski, Vincent Gladden, Justin Higgins. Photo by Jamie Westdal. Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek.

David MacDannald attends Holden High School and Fusion Academy. David designed and built a new retaining wall to replace a 72 foot long wooden retaining wall in the parking lot of Lafayette United Methodist Church.

Elias Morley attends Bentley High School. Elias led a group of Scouts removing an invasive species of plants from Leona Regional Open Space.

Anton Reifsteck is a student at Acalanes High School. Anton led a group of Scouts at the Lafayette Reservoir to build a retaining wall in the upper parking lot.

Austin Wentzel attends Acalanes High School. Austin led a group of Scouts in building two picnic benches for Acalanes High School.

Layton Wieczynski is a student at Campolindo High School. Layton led a group of Scouts building wood duck boxes that were put into the ground at the San Leandro Reservoir.

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My New Year’s Resolution – Please Make it Yours Too!

By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County, District 2

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 9

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale Lafayette - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the 11 most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home

sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home.

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the CHP’s “Start Smart” program with my almost 16 year-old-son. Not only did it have an impact on Sam, who will be eligible to get his driver’s license later this month, but it caused me to think more carefully about my own driving.

This month, as you contemplate your New Year’s resolutions, consider what you can do to help keep our roads safer.

Did you know that according to the California Office of Traffic Safety, in 2011, California’s traffic fatalities increased 2.6%? I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that alcohol, drugs, and distracted driving contributed greatly to these statistics. An additional compounding factor included people not properly wearing seatbelts. Sadly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that about half of the 521 known unrestrained drivers/passengers killed would be alive today, had they chosen to buckle up.

This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 A snapshot of some of our most current local traffic statistics for 2013 show: Genealogical Meetings Unincorporated Alamo: The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10am the third Total Traffic Collisions: 58 Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Total Injury Collisions: 19 Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. A speaker is Total Fatal Collisions: 1 (No bicyclist or Pedestrian Involved) at every meeting. Everyone is welcome.

Injury Collisions Involving Pedestrians: 3 For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, or visit http://srvgensoc.org.

Injury Collisions Involving Bicyclists: 8 City of Lafayette: Total traffic collisions reported to police: 235 Total injury related collisions: 22 Fatal collisions: 1 (Non-pedestrian) Injury collisions involving pedestrians: 2 Injury collisions involving bicyclists: 2 Injury collisions involving trees: 3 I-680 (District II Section: from Diablo Road, Danville to Olympic 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 Blvd. in Walnut Creek): Total Traffic Collisions: 225 www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com Total Injury Collisions: 66 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek Total Fatal Collisions: 1 (Motorcyclist) Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed As you can see, our local statistics are alarming and changes need to be made. According to Lafayette Chief of Police Eric Christensen, “Here in Lafayette our biggest problem is driver inattention. Drivers are preoccupied with the telephone, the GPS, the make-up, the cheeseburger, the dog and the kids.

When driving a car, that has to be the primary task at hand, controlling this thing Contact us at 925.405.6397 that has the potential to seriously injure or kill someone. Accidents change the lives of everyone who are involved. Pay attention to the task at hand.” or editor@yourmonthlypapercom You can attend a Start Smart class in Martinez at the CHP headquarters.

Call (925) 646-4980 or go to www.chp.ca.gov/community/startsmart.html for more information.

So while you are compiling this year’s list of resolutions, please add “help keep our roads safer,” to your list. As with any resolution, If you find him and your name is drawn! tips are helpful, so please consider the following: He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.

• Allow extra time to get to your destination • Avoid school traffic by planning your errands accordingly • Slow down He has become lost in this paper.

• Be patient with other drivers Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to: • Avoid texting and/or talking on the phone even if it’s “hands free” Additional traffic safety ideas can be found at street-smarts.com.

Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 Think of how much easier this resolution is in comparison to our Top Ten Most Common Resolutions, which usually include diet, exercise, balancing J.DeBoer & D. Massoudi are our winners! home and work, and finishing that never ending “To Do” list!

Luther was hiding on page 26 last month.

Wishing you and your family a Safe and Very Happy 2014!

Share Your News and Events With Us! Lost Dog!

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Page 10 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

2014 and What it will Look Like!

By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors

Leslie Appleton-Young, Chief Economist for the California Association of Realtors (CAR), has stated that her 2014 forecast comes with many wildcards... to name a few: 1) The Fed will likely begin “tapering off,” 2)The future of Fannie and Freddie 3) Viability/ relevance of FHA, and 4) Tax Reform: Mortgage Interest Deduction.

It is clear California’s housing market will continue to bounce back next year, with distressed homes playing a diminishing role in a real estate landscape that is slowly moving toward normalcy.

The 2014 California Housing Market Forecast from the California Association of Realtors expects sales of existing, single-family homes to rise 3.2% next year, reaching 444,000 units. However, 2013 sales will be down 2.1% from the existing family homes sold in 2012.

“The housing market has improved over the past year, and we expect this trend to continue into 2014,” CAR President Don Faught said in a statement.

“As the economy enters the fourth year of a modest recovery, we expect to see a strong demand for homeownership, as buyers who may have been competing with investors and facing an extreme shortage of available housing return from the sidelines.”

Most experts see the supply of homes increasing, which will provide a greater opportunity for buyers that were priced out by all cash buyers and investors to step into the game.

CAR’s report also forecasts that the 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate will rise to 5.3%, still historically low.

As for the Lafayette market, we are probably getting pretty close to normalcy. So what’s wrong with normal?

For those residents who are considering selling their home or would simply

Cinema Classics and Musical Notes The Rainmaker

By Peggy Horn

This month’s film is The Rainmaker, (1997) starring a very youthful Matt Damon. The movie also stars Danny DeVito, Jon Voight, Danny Glover, Claire Danes, Mickey Roarke, Virginia Madsen, and an appearance by the Academy Award winning actress, Teresa Wright. The great Francis Ford Coppola directed the movie and wrote the script based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. John Grisham has stated that of all the movie adaptations of his books, he liked this one best.

In the movie, Matt Damon plays “Rudy Baylor,” a fledgling attorney who has just passed the bar. For one of his first cases he goes up against a major health insurance company that has unfairly denied an insurance claim

by Rudy’s client based on a pre-existing condition of leukemia. The health insurance company’s hefty team of attorneys puts Rudy in a David versus Goliath situation because Rudy has only his own recently acquired legal skills and the services of Deck Shifflet (played by Danny DeVito), an attorney who, after several attempts has not even passed the bar. In spite of all his handicaps, Rudy makes a heroic effort to achieve justice for his client.

This thought provoking movie is interesting and well acted and presents issues that are pertinent to today’s news. Rudy’s position on ethics and right thinking give him a moral victory, which is as desirable as it is fragile.

Depending on your point of view, the film’s portrayal of the health insurance company is exaggerated and unfair or accurate and insufficiently monstrous.

The Rainmaker is available for purchase or rental online.

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like more in-depth information, I can provide a customized home value report and a strategy for how to make a home worth more. The detailed information I provide helps homeowners better understand the value of the investment they have made in their home by detailing key factors such as a home’s value based on current market conditions and amenities, recent home sales in Lafayette and listing prices of other homes that home buyers may be considering in the neighborhood. You can call me at 925-200-2591 or email me at art@artlehman.com.

Advertorial

Stormy Outside, Warm Inside

By Monica Chappell

Let it snow, people. I’ve got a list of favorite reds to weather any storm. I did some legwork, err… umm…some glasswork and have three great reds to wash away the winter blues.

Italian Reds

If it’s a big storm, and you’ve got a big budget, go big with a big Italian red like a Barolo which is made 100% from nebbiolo grapes. Another option would be to try a Barbaresco, which is also 100% nebbiolo as Barolo but much less expensive. Snuggle up to the fire, pour a glass of one of these intensely flavored reds and cook up some risotto.The intensity of the wine will complement the richness of this classic northern Italian dish.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Nothing says weather chaser better than a rich cabernet. The cabernet grape is a small berry with a thick skin, giving it a high solid to juice ratio and creating a wine high in color, tannin, and extract. Some typical cabernet descriptors include cassis, cedar, and currant. Big and balanced, cabernet is the perfect stormy match for a fatty steak or something gamey.

Zinfandel

If the rations are low, Zinfandel is bold enough to keep you warm all on its own. It is known as the quintessential California grape. Find some California cheese and enjoy. Many Zinfandels are usually priced for longer storms in case multiple bottles are needed.

Don’t shovel the driveway. Pop a cork instead. And, since we don’t usually get snow in Lafayette, pop a cork anyway - it’s still winter right?

Which reds will you be sipping on throughout the winter?

Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator. To view a list of wine appreciation classes visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

Musical Notes

On December 3, 2013, NBC released “The Sound of Music,” featuring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer, 50 years after the release of the movie version starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. This updated version of the Sound of Music is beautiful and definitely worth a listen. Many of the songs can be downloaded separately, although this option is more expensive than downloading the entire album.

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

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Walking the Reservoir By Jim Scala

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 11

Jeannine and Pat Kikkert, volunteers at the Lafayette Historical Society, invited me to explore reservoir history.

They soon had me pouring over 19th and 20th century area maps. I learned that most of the area known as The Serving Bay Area businesses and residents since 2002 Lafayette Canyon became the Lafayette Reservoir area in the 1920s. Old photos show the canyon consisted of How Can We Help You? extensive pear orchards and farms. Some of its character is still visible on a Rez-walk.

Stop at the west end of the paved trail, and look up at the dirt road going west towards the Orinda-Moraga hills. Today it connects the paved and rim trails, but in the 19th century it ran the entire length of Lafayette Canyon, connecting what are now Glorietta and Mt. Diablo Boulevards. Turn your back to the dirt road, and look toward the water.

What’s left of the road is the shallow area where white egrets search for food in the warm months, and the remainder is underwater.

Later, when you’re driving out, stop at the bottom where the road parallels the dam, and look to your right. Those gnarled old pear trees trace back to the 19th century. Wild turkeys weren’t there in 1896 and testify to how the reservoir brought new wildlife to the area.

At the dam you can always see many types of water birds and even occasional pelicans. But that pales in comparison to late afternoon on October 19, 1975 when two policeman on sundown patrol spotted a five-foot alligator lazily swimming PC / Mac/ Laptops/ Desktops/ Tablets/ Smartphones/ iPads|Repairs near the dam. Others confirmed the sighting and the November 7th Sun carried an Upgrades| Maintenance|Office Moves and Networking | Data Recovery interesting article entitled “The Alligator Caper.”

Virus/Spyware/Adware Removal|Back-up Solutions|Internet/ Cloud Computing People said Rez-gator should be saved and given a good home. They didn’t want it Email Solutions|Remote Phone Support |Free Recycling eating the fauna, but they didn’t want it killed either. A few people volunteered to adopt the Rez-gator. My family has adopted and nursed squirrels and raccoons until returning them to the wild. I ask, “How do you give a good home to a five-foot alligator?”

How did it get there in the first place? We figured a young boy got it as a small, foot long hatchling on a Florida vacation and nurtured it for a number of www.ThePortableCIO.com years. Finally, in desperation the housewife probably announced, “It’s either me or the alligator!” Facing that ultimatum, he figured, he’d give gator a nice home Join Portable CIO, Inc. on Facebook! in the reservoir and visit him at his leisure.

More searching showed that the Rez-gator simply faded away. Biologists explained that since the 1975 winter was cold, it probably didn’t survive. Others suggest an anonymous good Samaritan gave it a home. One lady said it became a pocket-book or pair of shoes.

Meetups: The Meetups group have been very active walking both trails. Mike, an active organizer, leads a reservoir paved-trail walk about every six weeks. His December walk drew 24 people from various East Bay communities on a bright, warm Saturday. After the walk most participants went to Pete’s coffee shop in the Whole Foods area where the outdoor tables allowed walkers to enjoy refreshments and fellowship. It was especially remarkable for me.

Imagine my surprise when we were assembling and a handsome man said, “Are you Jim Scala? Remember me? I’m Larry!” We shook hands for the first time in 25 years. We worked together on a video entitled The Nature of Nutrition in which I was the spokesperson. We walked the paved trail and reminisced about the people we knew and things we did. To enjoy Meetups, logon to http://www.meetup.com/Lafayette-Reservoir.

Walking Backwards. I saw Russ walking backwards along the dam, followed him until he stopped, and I asked, “Why are you doing that?” I soon learned he does 10 to 15 minutes of retrowalking four times weekly after a Rezwalk. He claims the practice improved leg muscles and increased tendon flexibility.

I discussed it with a trainer and learned that retro-walking’s reversal of the normal WORD heel-to-toe stride relieves pressure on spinal SEARCH joints and alleviates low back pain. With Find these its lower range of motion and less strain, “green” words! walking backwards avoids knee problems while still exercising. It also induces a slightly higher heart rate which burns off a few extra calories. Russ and other followers said it’s widely used in Asia. I think retrowalking will stay in Asia, but I’ll keep watching its local followers.

I enjoy the notes and pictures posted on the holiday tree about some of our not forgotten Rez-walkers. It’s a nice tribute.

Walk the reservoir and make it a great 2014! And please, let me hear from you at jscala2@comcast.net.

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Page 12 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Solar Currents

“Be the Ball, Danny”

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

In the United States, the future of the solar industry appears rosier than ever. In the 1980’s, perhaps many people were saying the same thing, but at that time the industry fizzled after initial market penetration. There are many factors why this time there will be continued and rapid growth.

High product efficiency, low product cost, high electric rates, favorable utility connection regulations, legislative mandates, and governmental incentives all play a part in the rapid growth of the solar industry. None of the above factors would have any effect on solar industry growth without the breadth and depth of consumer adoption solar electricity. As of press time, over 195,000 solar projects are operating in California alone. Each and every one of these customers is taking advantage of monetary credits, rebates, and the resulting lower (or no) electric bills. Businesses and homeowners are saving lots of money.

Legislative Front - Assembly Bill 327: This bill, signed into law recently, will have a huge impact on California’s solar industry and consumers. The law has created a floor, not a ceiling, for our state’s 33% renewable energy goal. The law also mandates that utilities study, and better understand, the benefits, and infrastructure changes that the distributed energy model (rooftop solar) demands.

The Governor has provided guidance to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and said that if customers make an investment in a solar electric system before July 1, 2017, the net metering law which validates that investment should be considered protected for the expected life of the solar system*. Typical solar system life expectancy and warranty is 25 years**.

A potential re-write of electric rates is in the works. Rate hikes of lower tier electric rates will be met with resistance; these rates have been legislatively protected for low-income households. All customers can currently take advantage of these legislatively protected low first and second tier rates. Solar customers actually benefit more with expensive afternoon rates when their solar system generates the most credits via the net metering program.

The law leaves room for a surcharge on ALL residential electric customers. The utilities are regulated, and therefore rate hikes and surcharges have to be approved by the CPUC. The utilities will get away with what they can get away with; the CPUC will hopefully keep surcharges reasonable assuming said charges are necessary for the utilities’ financial health.

What perplexes me: PG&E will provide solar customers excellent credits for the solar power that we generate and supply to the grid. (This results in

St. Perpetua’s 4th grade boys basketball team capped a successful MVP Holiday tournament by winning the American Division. Back row, from left: Kyle White, Mike Kostolansky, Will Stryker, Tate Nelson, Jack Wood. Front row: James Frye, Luke Souza, Marco Chao, Aidan Mahaney.

hundreds of thousands of electric bill savings for an average solar customer.

Supposedly, PG&E doesn’t generate profit on the sale of electricity.) On the other hand, to protect their interests, they’ll argue that solar power is not providing any grid infrastructure or power plant savings.

Partnership: At this moment, PG&E is providing my home’s electricity, mostly for my family’s Christmas lights. Twelve hours from now, my solar system will be back-feeding power to the grid, and PG&E will be crediting me the cost of that power, then distributing that power to the grid. PG&E is not financially responsible for generating or transporting that power. In the summer especially, this means fewer peak power plants will be in operation for the increased electric demand created by air conditioning which equates to lesser loss of electric power transmitted over miles of electric lines, and re-selling of the power that solar systems generate. Considering these factors, clearly there are savings for PG&E. For those of you with disdain for PG&E, I’ll ask you to temper that by recognizing the services PG&E provides. These services are critical to our economy, our state, and the continued success of distributed rooftop solar power. There’s a time for cooperation, and there’s a time for competition. Disregarding solar power’s contributions Dumploads OnUs to the grid make PG&E’s position disingenuous. specializes in PG&E: Some advice from Caddyshack: “Be the providing the ultimate Ball” and reach “total consciousness” like Carl. Otherjunk removal solution. wise, end up in the “lumberyard” like Danny.

We’ll haul away just Y O U R J U N K R E M O V A L S P E C I A L I S T S *Net Metering is the law that provides solar customabout anything - from old household junk to construction and ers credits for the kilowatts that a solar electric system yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are produces, reducing or eliminating a solar customer’s electric bill. **SolarWorld USA has just released a 30-year hazardous product warranty for their “Protect” line of solar modules.

• Computers materials. We Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, make getting • Cables by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based rid of your • TVs Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). Mark can be unwanted • Monitors reached at 925.915.9252. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s NEW junk as easy 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 and larger showroom at 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite B, • Servers as 1-2-3; www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com Danville (behind Pete’s Brass Rail) or www.GoSimpleSo• Phones we load, we 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek lar.com, or email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial • Printers sweep, and Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed

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Lafayette Garden Club

The Lafayette Garden Club will hold their next meeting on Thursday, January 9th at 10am.

The program titled,“Garden Myths,” will be lead

by Kathy Echols, retired professor of horticulture at Diablo Valley College. There will also be a White Elephant Sale and Book Sale.

The club meets at the Lafayette Christian Church located at 584 Glenside Dr. in Lafayette. For more information, contact cpoetzsch@gmail.com.

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Seek and Ye May Find Trouble

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Every week someone brings in their computer which is infected with nasty malware. These are just ordinary folks, and they’re not doing anything highrisk with their computers, and they can’t figure out how they’re getting targeted. Why do they get infected when we at Portable CIO don’t? We use the same products we recommend for you. How is it, that when I am on my system for most business hours of every day, I don’t get all these viruses, but you do? It’s probably because I know what to look for, usually, and that keeps me safe. I will continue to share what I know with you and hope that you can be as safe as I am. Today I will explain a very common exploit that I’m sure you’ve unwittingly run across. It’s called “Search-bombing,” and it is an increasingly popular way for bad guys to infect your computer. I’ll explain how it works.

There are two basic ploys used in Search-bombing, but the mechanics are the same. Let’s say that there is a current event you want to follow, such as the birth of a royal baby or a plane crash. Or let’s say you want a technical support phone number for a popular tech company. The bad-guys create fake web domains, and stuff them with fake content designed to push their site popularity in the search engine ratings. As an aside I’ll mention that these criminals are experts in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), so this is child’s-play to them. Right now if you search for a current topic on your computer, I can guarantee that some of the top results will point directly to infected websites, or to companys who are leading you to believe they are someone they’re not.

When you see a highly-ranked website, you intuitively believe that it must be legitimately established and must have been doing all the right things to be so highly regarded by the search engines. This is not necessarily true. It just means the people who own that website know how to play the game. The site you visit might be just a week old. And when you click onto that website, one of two things may happen.

The first option is that by using sophisticated virus code, a “drive-by” virus or malware can be instantly installed on your computer as soon as you visit this infected website. The virus may be something like the fake FBI warning malware or the new

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 13 darling of the underworld called “Encrypted Ransomware,” which encrypts your hardisk until you pay an expensive ransom (and even then they may still hold the data hostage). The FBI cyber-terrorism squad calls it nearly the ‘perfect crime,’ for its perpetrators are basically untraceable. If there was ever a good reason to have excellent up-to-date backups of your whole computer, that is it.

The second option the bad guys use is to publish technical support telephone numbers on look-alike websites they’ve made look like major corporations (Yahoo, Microsoft, etc.,) but are really used to redirect people to official-sounding services which are actually there to rip you off. You may think you’re calling Yahoo, or Microsoft, or Google, but you’re actually calling a bunch of crooks.

For example, a customer needed help, and they searched for help on Google.

The search engine entry was made to look like it was Microsoft they were calling, but it was a company out of a foreign country which masquerades as Microsoft. This company is incredibly dishonest, and they’ll say anything to gain your trust. Our client unfortunately allowed these people to install software on their computer remotely, and a big mess ensued.

How do you prevent this? The best way is to pay attention. First off, when you search for things, be extremely careful about the results you choose to follow. If it’s a news story, try to only click on those organizations you know are legitimate, such as CNN, Fox, Reuters, USA Today, Drudge Report, or MSNBC. If you’re looking for phone numbers, only click on links that go directly to the company you are looking for. Be aware of the web address you’re clicking on, and make sure it actually contains “….microsoft.com“ if you’re looking for Microsoft, or “…cnn.com” if you’re looking for CNN. If you actually pay attention to the web addresses, you will see very clearly that most legitimate ones clearly refer to the organization you want. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but if you proceed with some caution, knowing that infection through search-engine-results is a clear and present danger, hopefully you’ll begin making more cautious choices and avoid this costly and inconvenient problem from happening to you.

When in doubt, make the one phone call you know won’t steer you wrong, and have us take a look before you make a costly mistake. Our friendly techs are waiting for your call at 925-552-7953, or by emailing helpdesk@ theportablecio.com. Happy New Year!

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Page 14 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Winter Pruning

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

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Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them against winter storms. A judicious pruning can reduce the likelihood of branches falling and causing damage to person or property. Evergreens, such as cedars, and many species of deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in the late fall and early winter, and now is by far the best time to prune pines. Monterey pines can only be pruned between October 1 and February 15 without attracting pine beetles. These potentially lethal beetles, which can smell sap from long distances, go dormant in the winter. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly common fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy, it probably suffers from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of the diseased tree, prune out the infected tips when the beetles are dormant.

Even healthy trees require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. Many trees are subject to branch and column failure. Thinning the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree failing in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break.

Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant has a natural growth pattern. Our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape given the plant by nature. Within the bounds of what is healthy for each species, Brende & Lamb works to make trees as beautiful as possible. Our trimmers are well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic flow inherent in tree forms. The form may be weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. In some species, such as Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the coast live oak bend and twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and flow.

When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye; a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub has been reduced in this way, it’s difficult to detect the cuts or tell that the branches have been shortened.

Sometimes the form of trees needs to be modified to capture or accentuate views. View pruning requires restraint and a willingness to compromise. In view work, the beauty of the view and the beauty of the tree often seem to be in conflict. Many pruners focus solely on the view and simply hack back the tree.

However, more than the tree’s beauty is at stake. Topping stimulates production of water sprouts, and it also causes disease and rot - all of which make the tree more, not less, dangerous. However, view problems can often be solved by looking at tree-and-view as an aesthetic unity, as two elements that complement and frame each other. Sometimes, lightly bringing the tree back without cutting into major branches can prevent further encroachment on the view.

To recover even more of the view, we create “windows” by selectively removing branches not essential for the tree’s natural form. We can enlarge these by removing small branches that rise or drop into the view. Thinning above and below the window creates an overall feeling of openness, rather than an abrupt gaping hole. The image of Mount Diablo framed by the trembling needles of a well-windowed Redwood proves that nature and civilization can complement each other - as can aesthetics and practicality.

If your trees need a little TLC to protect them against winter winds, or if your property could use a little fire protection, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood.

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USS Potomac By Linda Summers Pirkle

I love history about the WWII era, and my husband loves being near the water, so the USS Potomac docked in Oakland is a winning combination for both of us. We arrived at the “Floating Whitehouse” at 11AM on a clear and crisp Sunday morning. The historical yacht is docked at Jack London Square year round, and during the winter months tours on board the stationary craft are available.

Our guide, Ron, a retired school teacher, gave us a brief history of the boat. Originally built in 1934 as a Coast Guard cutter Electra, the 165 foot vessel was renamed and converted to the Presidential Yacht USS Potomac by Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) as a US Navy vessel in 1936. The typical use of the yacht was for short weekend fishing cruises that got him away from the hot summers in Washington D.C. The craft is not fancy, but she is a boat with history and charm. We learned that Roosevelt, who had a deep love of the sea, wanted a place to go to get away from everything, a place where he could get around independently without constant help from aides. His bed, for instance, a single bunk with attached wooden sides, was perfect for the disabled President to get in and out of without assistance. A little wicker bed is set up next to the bunk. This was for Fala, his beloved dog, a Scottie that went everywhere with the President.

After she was de-commissioned, the Potomac was for a time owned by Elvis Presley, was a floating disco, and was even impounded at Treasure Island when her hull was pierced by some pilings.

The most moving part of the tour for me was hearing excerpts from FDR’s “Fireside Chat” that was broadcast from this very boat. The president spoke of his chance to relax and even go fishing during a very difficult time in his presidency.

January is a fitting time to visit the Potomac - FDR’s birthday is January 30.

An easy walk from the Potomac is the Jack London Square (JLS) Farmers Market. Carrie King, Market Manager for Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, says, “My favorite new vendor is Muffin Revolution. I really enjoy the Cavewoman Muffin made with oranges, ground almonds, raspber-

ries, sunflower seeds, honey, and chia seeds. They’re awesome!” The JLS Farmers Market has plenty of traditional baked goods as well.

Tables and chairs located behind the farmers market are perfect for relaxing. My husband and I sat with our crepes and coffee, enjoyed a bit of sun, listened to the seagulls squawking, and watched the boats go by.

The USS Potomac is located at 540 Water Street Jack London Square in Oakland. Their website is www.usspotomac.org, and their phone number is 510-627-1215. Their 2104 cruise schedule runs April until October. On April 27, opening day, the Potomac is the “Blessing Boat” for all the yachts during the annual Blessing of the Boats. The “God Squad,” according to Marti Burchell, Executive Director of the Potomac Association, comes aboard and as the boats pass by the Potomac, a priest, minister, and rabbi offer blessings for a safe season.

Winter Dockside cruises are held Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday between AM 11 and 3PM from November to April. The USS Potomac is scheduled for a Coast Guard mandated dry docking in 2014. Help is appreciated to assure a continued cruise schedule. For more information call 510-627-1667.

For more information, and updates on the Farmers Market, check out www.facebook.com/jlsfarmersmarket.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family.

To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

Advertise in Your Community!

Lafayette Today is delivered exclusively to the Lafayette, 94549 zip code.

Reach out to over 12,000 LOCAL homes and businesses.

925.405.6397

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Life in the Lafayette Garden

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 15

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Décor in the Garden

Beyond the function of the garden and beauty of the plants are the added touches that personalize your garden.

“Design is in the details,” I often tell my clients. Decorating your Lafayette garden can take an ordinary or even a special garden to the next level of detail--to extraordinary!

Artful touches that can be added are unique art objects such as sculpture, bronzes, antiques, one-of-a-kind water features, or objects de arte, etc. These artful touches may be found at such places as art galleries like New Leaf gallery in Sonoma, which has one-of-a-kind pieces for garden focal points. Some are very expensive while some are priced quite reasonably.

However, beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces can add that extraordinary detail that will be well worth it or you can find art in “found” objects.

A touch of whimsy is simply added to the garden with antique garden ornaments and furniture. The whimsy that can be added by unique pieces that were made by your children and pieces found at a garage sale, at the salvage yard, or on eBay and Craigslist bring that extraordinary flare that will take your garden to next level. I love going to salvage yards to locate these unique objects. Years ago junk was cheap!

Places like Urban Ore and Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley made junk popular and expensive. You used to be able to go to Urban Ore and walk out of there with antique architectural junk like pediments, columns, doors, windows, pedestals, wrought iron grills, gates, fencing, etc. for cheap, but the price of architectural junk has now gone through the roof. So if you looking for “junk” as garden décor, expect to pay dearly for it. Some great places to shop for salvage are Ohmega Salvage and Urban Ore in Berkeley, and Artifact Design and Salvage in Sonoma. If you want some beautiful antique pieces, visit Alamo’s Friendship Farm Antiques in the Cherubini complex.

Judy and Downing at Friendship Farm have a wonderful selection of European pieces like antique window grilles, shutters, garden gates, and ornamentation.

Garage sales and stops taken while traveling the small foothill towns along Highway 49 are also places to find garden décor. If you can think it, it can be décor in your garden. Rusty metal objects are fun. Years ago I found two circa 1900’s wheelbarrows being thrown out on “Big Trash Day.” Ring the bell of the homeowners throwing out the items to ask if you can recycle their trash items for them!

Garden décor can be antique as well as contemporary. Modern pieces can finish a contemporary garden design. You can use large slabs of styrofoam painted bright colors to create a colorful backdrop to a stainless steel sculpture or water feature.

Colorful crushed and tumbled glass, glass balls, mirrors and old bowling balls add a contemporary sparkle to a dull garden.

In the era of landscape designers like Gertrude Jekyll, classical ornamentation such as sundials, gazing balls, bird baths, armillary spheres, and statues of Venus or St. Francis of Assisi added a touch of timeless beauty. Classical ornamentation can easily be found through catalog suppliers such as Haddonstone, Ltd., A. Silvestri Co. in South San Francisco.

Décor in the garden is personal. It should be objects and pieces that you love. They should express the spirit and style of the garden owner. Remember “design is in the details” and so is the individuality and character of your garden. If you’re not a plant aficionado or you don’t have an artistic bone in your body, decorating your garden is is a way you can express yourself and have lots of fun doing it.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Step out of the mainstream in your search for garden decor and use your imagination. You’ll be surprised at what great décor you can find when you rely on your own ability to make something from nothing.

Gardening Quote of the Month: “The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies.” ~Gertrude Jekyll If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

How Your Food is Grown: Challenges and Sustainability Forum

The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley (LWV), with Sustainable Lafayette and the Lafayette Community Garden, is hosting a forum titled “How Your Food is Grown: Challenges and Sustainability” addressing agriculture policy issues.

The forum will be held January 9 from 7:30 – 9PM in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center on Mt. Diablo Boulevard. The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

The forum is part of the LWV national study on agriculture and is meant to inform the public, as well as League members. Panelists will share their work and then answer questions from the audience. The panelists are Margaret Reeves, PhD, Soil Ecologist, Darryl Wong, UCSC Agroecology Farm Site Research Land Manager, and Barbara Cecchini, Brentwood Farmer.

Walnut Creek Garden Club

The Walnut Creek Garden Club is holding a meeting on Monday, January 13 at The Gardens at Heather Farm, located at 1540 Marchbanks Road in Walnut Creek.

A general meeting will start at 9:30, followed by Social Time from 10:30-11:00 and a program from 11:00 - Noon. The program will be led by Diane Bloomberg, Landscape Design Consultant and Certified Aesthetic Pruner.

Guests and prospective members are welcome. For more information, contact Maureen Little at mslittle44@gmail.com.

Page 16 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Gardening with Kate

By Kathleen Guillaume

We have suffered our first real freeze and several frosts and closed out the year with the lowest record rainfall on record in the Bay Area. The New Year brings hopes that our blessed wet autumns and winters will return, but some forecasters think that we are falling into weather patterns that are creating a new normal. We can be optimists and keep doing more of our usual, or we can consider changing some of our patterns of planting in the garden.

Winter months are perfect planning months, as we have little to do besides rake leaves, clean beds, and do our winter pruning. So it is a good time to do a little research, online and at your local nurseries, and consider a new approach to your garden areas. Lawns are the most water intensive endeavors. They also require more fertilization and pesticides than other plant material. Most people do not want to give up their lawns, but we can, with good design, reduce our lawn areas. Make wider garden beds out from the house and along the edges of the lawn areas. This allows you to remove plants that are up against your foundation (the last place you want to irrigate), and get them placed several feet away from the structure of your home, which allows for much better air circulation in the crawl space area and along the exterior finishes of your walls.

A pleasant bed size is 6 to 8 feet which gives you 4 to 5 feet of planting area along the structure and a full 6 to 8 feet of planting area along your street side. This very small adjustment can leave you with a much reduced lawn space and yet a feeling of still having that lush swath to gaze upon.

Also, check your lawn in those areas where trees and shrubs have matured, producing too much shade for a lawn to be successful. These areas make great beds or small patio sites to sit in the shade areas while eliminating the most unattractive sections of lawn.

This is a good time to curl up with EBMUD’s Plants and Landscapes for Summer Dry Gardens. It is a book you should really have in your gardening library. I know a lot of people think, “Oh no....not natives.” It is a normal response after we have witnessed people letting their entire landscape go native. You need an unbelievable designer to pull off a “California Native” garden. What EBMUD’s book does is introduce you to plants that are pretty spectacular from similar climate regions: Mediterranean, African,

Protect Your Plants

By Brian Kemble, Ruth Bancroft Garden curator

After a week of sub-freezing temperatures across the Bay Area, many home gardeners are now trying to understand what to do about their frost-damaged succulents. Below are tips to help frozen plants survive and to help protect them against future cold weather.

1. Refrain from pruning dead material until all danger of frost has passed.

The mushy leaves and stems act as insulation, and pruning them in the winter weakens plants’ defenses against subsequent cold spells.

2. Avoid pruning or fertilizing in the fall--plants need time to harden and prepare for winter.

3. Protect plants from cold by draping or pinning frost cloth or greenhouse film over them. Stock up in advance because these items are often sold out just before a freeze.

4. Plant succulents in a raised mound of dirt for increased drainage, allowing water to drain away from roots. Cold water pooling at a plant’s roots is a surefire way to weaken or kill it.

5. For plants that don't require full sun, planting under a tree can help provide protection.

6. The eaves of a house also provide protection. If your plants are in pots, move them close to the house in winter.

The following are succulents that are famously hardy: • Yucca glauca can withstand well below zero-degrees Fahrenheit • Agave montana is hardy down to the teens.

• Aloe capitata quartziticola is hardy down to 20 degrees Information about The Ruth Bancroft Garden is available at www. ruthbancroftgarden.org.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com Australian, and New Zealand areas which usually have dry summer patterns like ours. Your local nurseries are a great source of water-wise plant material that blooms profusely and has interesting contrast foliage.

Winter is also a time to get your beds ready for planting. The best thing you can do is trench. Dig a trench 12” deep and set the soil to one side.

Then mix the removed soil with compost and manure, refill the trench, and repeat. Sounds like a big job, but if you do one trench a week, by spring you will have the most glorious soil. If you have established plants in the way of your digging, trench around them. If you have perennials in the way, dig them up, divide them and replant, taking the new divisions to another bed.

If you have a plant in the way that you don’t like much or has gotten real leggy and ugly, stop playing doctor and throw it out...and plant something you love in its place. Everything is based on the health of your soil. No matter how much you spend on a plant, if it goes into poor or incompatible soil, you might as well be flushing dollars down the toilet.

My favorite place to find deals on plants is that spot in the nursery where you can find perennials in 4” pots, making a garden facelift so much more economical. You have to write a list of wants and needs down, because a perennial in a 4” pot has no blooms and sometimes does not even have a leaf pattern that will resemble the adult plant. Your nursery person can help you select, give you care information, and special order things for you. They are a great resource, so use them unabashedly.

Happy Gardening!

Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy,

My husband, Jack, and I are both in our early 40’s and married ten years. We are childless by choice.

I’ve always been a politically conservative Republican while Jack is a liberal Democrat. We’ve managed our political differences well with mutual tolerance, respect, and even humor; well, that is, until this year when Jack became annoyed and even insulting to me whenever I have the temerity to disagree with him.

When I tried to ask him about it, he said he was tired of having to listen to my stupid ideas. I’ve tried toning down my political comments, but it hasn’t helped.

Where do I go with this now? ~ Wit’s End

Dear Wit’s End,

About a decade or so ago, there was a prominent, politically disparate married couple who were on TV all the time. Their names were Mary Matelin (conservative) and James Carville (liberal). They always showed mutual respect and acceptance despite their dramatically differing politics. Of course, today, politics has become increasingly nasty--the worst I’ve ever seen, and I go all the way back to World War II. Certainly, the increase in political intolerance throughout the country may be playing a part here. In addition, I believe that Jack should be evaluated medically and psychologically. Jack’s change in tolerance and his personality changes may be caused by depression, perhaps brought on by a midlife crisis. Treatment for depression could very well return him to the accepting and tolerant husband he’s been for the past decade.

Happiness Tip

The old saying: “Opposites attract,” is often true. Those who seemingly function well thinking and doing things so differently from us draw and attract us. However, over time, those very differences we first found attractive may become annoying. We think: “How can you live that way?”

So, the most successful, long-term, marriages tend to involve those who are similar in their beliefs and standards. For opposites, lasting success requires both partners to work to maintain the mutual respect and nonjudgmental attitudes they had nurtured during their early years together.

Some can do it and make it all work; some cannot. In this case, I suspect couples’ counseling will be needed if they are to succeed.

Send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.

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Asset and Family Protection

By Robert J. Silverman

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 17

Great service. even better value.

The term “asset protection” is defined and used in many different ways. Here, I use it to describe various methods by which people try to protect their assets, and thus themselves and their loved ones, from prospective convenient shuttle service to “judgment creditors” – those in our litigious society who home, the office, bart and bacK. might successfully sue and obtain a judgment against you.

A retired former business owner (who, along with his wife, are among my favorite long-term clients) has ` FactoRy lubE, oil diaGnoSiS/ scheduled an estate planning review meeting for January. In anticipation of the SchEdulEd & FiltER chEck EnGinE meeting, he sent me a N.Y. Times article titled the “Paradise of Untouchable AsMaintEnancE liGht inSPEction Multi-Point Performance Let our trained experts perform an Improve mileage and extend Inspection sets” – the Cook Islands. The author describes, and quotes the opinions of a number initial inspection and diagnosis. We’ll the life of your vehicle - follow Drain and Replace All Engine Oil also provide you with the exact cost recommended service schedules of experts about, this international asset protection haven. A growing number of Install Genuine Factory Oil Filter to perform the repair. No obligation, nothing to buy. wealthy foreigners, including hundreds of Americans, proactively park the bulk of % 95 $ off their assets there. Cook Islands has strict bank secrecy laws, and the courts there +TaX RegulaR PRices Synthetic oil extra. generally disregard foreign (e.g. U.S.) court orders. Hence, creditors here have a very difficult time enforcing judgments against an American’s assets there.

For Acura, Honda, Lexus, and Toyota vehicles only. Valid only at THE SERVICE OUTLET on the day of service. Please present In his note to me, this client postulated that in these days of tremendous coupon when service order is written. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, offers or discounts. Synthetic oil extra. deficits and unfunded government liabilities, the government appears to have two choices – one, to confiscate private property and two, to make the dollar worthless. In light of this, he wondered whether transferring assets to the Cook Islands or some other such vehicle might make sense.

I have great respect for my client, who is very smart and curious, and is not as radical as he may sound. Offshore accounts have surface appeal – particularly to those with millions of dollars in assets and in high risk occupations or who have other reasons to fear being sued. I’m not an expert on these strategies, but based on what I’ve heard and read, they come with substantial risks, including lafayette san ramon Since the uncertainty of foreign governments and international politics. Accordingly, 3360 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

2151 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

1993 these strategies may or may not ultimately work; and meanwhile, the poison of 925.283.3133 925.837.3000 worrying about that is likely not worth the supposed cure. theserviceoutlet.com I am often asked, “What are the best ways to protect my assets?” Aside from these intriguing offshore asset protection strategies (and some develop1211138-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1 11/16/12 9:28 AM ing domestic strategies in certain states), the starting point is to purchase appropriate insurance policies. These policies should have a broad scope of coverage and adequate limits. In most cases, they should be accompanied by personal and business umbrella policies to cost-effectively increase your liability limits.

Unfortunately, insurance will never cover all risks, but it can reduce or eliminate a huge number of them.

Revocable Living Trusts are a wonderful tool in many respects. However, despite widespread misconception, they do not offer creditor protection to the settlors – people who establish the trust. An important silver lining is that Revocable Living Trusts can, if drafted properly, offer robust creditor protection for the settlor’s beneficiaries (loved ones, such as children or grandchildren) via a “spendthrift” provision. An appropriate spendthrift provision prevents or makes it extremely difficult for a judgment creditor of your loved one from being able to take any assets from your trust to satisfy a judgment against such loved one.

If you are particularly interested in controlling risks for your loved ones, you can provide extra creditor protection by retaining assets in trust for many years following your death, or even for the entire lifetime of your loved ones. Such an extended or lifetime trust has some disadvantages, but it’s definitely worth discussing the benefit of keeping trust assets largely out of reach of your loved ones’ creditors (including their spouses and/or future spouses) while allowing them to take and use distributions as needed.

For those who own investment real estate or a small business, it is generally best to form, own and operate these assets in a business entity, such as an LLC or Corporation. Properly formed, capitalized and operated business entities shield the owner’s personal assets from the potential judgments of creditors that arise out of or are related to one’s business or investment activity.

Irrevocable Trusts (as opposed to Revocable Living Trusts) are also compelling asset protection vehicles. They can offer dramatic benefits, such as potential federal estate tax savings. They involve some loss of control, are somewhat expensive to set up, and can be complex. Nevertheless, for people with substantial wealth, the advantages often outweigh the disadvantages.

I offer a complimentary Estate Planning primer and/or a free, introductory meeting.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474, rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com, www.silvermanlaw.com. * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business

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Page 18 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Why is the Market...?

By Deborah Mitchell, CFA, MSW

To the surprise of many investors, the Federal Reserve (FED) announced plans to reduce bond buying activity. Prior to the December meeting, consensus was that the change in monetary policy would be limited to more aggressive language about an upcoming taper.

Officials decided to pare back the asset buying from $85 million to $75 million for the month of January 2014.

FED Chairmen Ben Bernanke stated that the next steps for quantitative easing would be based on incoming economic data. He went on to say that if economic improvement progresses the FED may make “a measured reduction” at future meetings. On the flip side, if the health of the economy declines, they may “skip a meeting or two.” It was added that Vice Chairwomen Janet Yellen, who is slated to take the reins as FED Chair next February, “fully supports what we did today.”

In the bigger scheme of things, the question becomes what does the change in monetary policy mean for the market? Interestingly enough, upon digesting the bond buying reduction news, the market took a slight dive and then rebounded strongly. What the change in policy does bring about is another element of uncertainty, which may elicit a cheer or jeer. There has certainly been ample evidence supporting the case for decreased FED support.

The political backdrop has improved slightly with the passage of the new budget bill. The two year budget deal cleared the Senate and is now expected to advance to law. The legislation was designed to reduce the automatic spending cuts (known as the sequester) and fund the government. Another federal shutdown would have transpired had a bill not been passed by January 15th 2014. In reality, no concrete long term solutions were presented. But, in the short term, a significant worry has been taking off the table. Although Chairman Bernanke did not comment directly on the details of the recent agreement, he acknowledged that it’s “certainly a better situation” than in October.

There has been a plethora of more positive economic data abound from the month of November. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was flat, which is below the FED annual inflation target of 2%. Also retail sales were better than expected,

Museum continued from page 7

George Beck likes leading tours for special needs groups and elementary school children. “I try to bring them a bit of history and stories of the cars, while encouraging them to look at how cars are different from each other. Kids enjoy the ‘faces’ on cars, some smile, some look like animals.” A docent since 2004, Beck remarks, “You can always learn from your audience. If you ask someone what they like about a car, you will get some interesting answers.”

Joyce Tucker notes, “One of my favorite questions, typically asked by Junior High students, is: ‘How much is that car worth?’ That gives me the opportunity to teach them what an auction is and how it determines the cost of an essentially priceless automobile.”

In addition to being a docent, Tucker is the Guild Event Chair. The entire community is invited to the next fundraiser: the Hearts and Flowers luncheon on February 12th. Gifts baskets are being packed with enticing donations for the Silent Auction. A lively bidding game will determine winners of gift cards for local businesses and restaurants. All proceeds support the Children’s Education Transportation Fund.

Over the years, the Guild has varied fundraisers to keep events entertaining for all involved. Some years, costumed re-enactors have been on hand throughout the Museum. Picture Karl Benz popping out from beneath his Motorwagen to explain the invention. Fashion shows, gala parties and even an “eventless” fundraiser have been successful.

Monthly meetings of the Guild offer speakers on a wide range of topics and are open to interested members of the community. Meetings are held at the Museum the second Wednesday of every month except December and August. The Guild is always happy to welcome new members. Join the fundraising crew, help with any of the more than 150 special events held annually at the Museum, or learn to be a docent or work as a Museum volunteer.

Program Chair Dee Thompson schedules presenters with the full range of Guild members in mind. In October, Ross Chittendon’s program about the Caldecott Tunnel 4th Bore packed the house. The November meeting featured Dona Spaugh and Cindi Grauer of Alamo’s Change of Seasons demonstrating home decorating designs for the holidays.

See Museum continued on page 22

www.yourmonthlypaper.com which bodes well for the holiday season. In addition, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimate for the 3rd quarter of 2013 came in at 4.1%, which was the fastest pace since the 4th quarter of 2011. Of great importance was the employment data.

The unemployment rate ratcheted down to 7%, which was the lowest in five years. Nonfarm payrolls were higher than expected with the addition of 203,000 jobs. The FED has repeatedly said that the strength of the labor market would be a key factor considered when assessing the bond buying program.

Along with the assurance over the FED taper comes apprehension. A reasonable concern has been that if the FED pulls the plug, interest rates will then start to rise and the market will fall out of bed. If the FED raises rates, the end result will be a negative impact on borrowing and small business functionality. However, the FED has emphasized its commitment to keeping short term rates low. Officials have pledged that rates will not be raised until the unemployment rate drops to at least 6.5%, as long as inflation remains tame.

The month of December has been rocky at times, as the focus has remained on the FED’s every move. Yet the markets continue to soar to highs as we slide into the home stretch of the year. While on the surface the movement screams bull, there are other underlying factors that need to be considered. Trading volume this time of year is below average due to investor’s preoccupation with holiday cheer.

Thus large movements to the up or downside must be taken with a grain of salt, as the participation level is light. Also the number of stocks flashing sell signals continues to surpass the buy signals. The translation being that the quality of the rally is low. Since the market is a forward looking vehicle, it’s quite possible it may be telling us that good things lay ahead in 2014. This is expected to be true in the long term. Given the duration of the extension however, some magnitude of corrective action is anticipated near term.

Noroian Capital Management wishes you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact Deborah at 925-2992000 or dmitchell@noroian.com.

Deborah Mitchell holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work degree. She is a Vice President for Noroian Capital Management, an independent investment advisory firm located in Lafayette, California for individuals and businesses.

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Begin With the End Inside!

By Michael Anne Conley, LMFT

It’s the month of fresh starts — when your experience overdoing things in the last two months brings on exclamations of, “That’s the last time I’ll …[fill-in-your-blank].”

After the annual revelry that kicks off at the close of October with too much candy and winds down after December’s last toast, aren’t you ready for something new?

This ritual we share mirrors those of the ancients. They burrowed in their huts and caves as the balance between night and day shifted, living off food stored from the harvest, gathering around the fire, making trinkets, and sharing their warmth while waiting for the end of darkness and the birth of light.

So we too, affirm our hope for a future, right?

Haven’t you said, “Next time I will…?”

Have you promised to hold your temper with a loved one or take it easy with the credit card? Do you plan to make adjustments with food, drink, or exercise? Now’s the time we make promises for a fresh start.

What will it be for you this year? What future do you want to create for yourself in 2014?

Here’s a reframe of one of Stephen Covey’s well-known maxims, “Begin with the end in mind.” While focusing on where you want to get in life is laudatory, too often this goal is driven by external rules, pressure from the outside.

What if you gave birth to your dreams for this coming year from the inside, instead? I call this “Begin with the end inside.”

Beginning with the end inside works from what is really in you to do, not a “should” that prods you to perform.

Here’re two examples of what it might look like: • “I’m going to stop spending so much,” becomes, “When I overspend, I’ll do my best to listen more deeply to what I feel in the moment. I’ll notice what happens when I override my own cues by overspending and when I honor my discomfort by not overspending.”

The Importance of Winter Renewal

By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

January is a month of change, improvement, and renewal. It is a time when, after the chaos of the holidays, we have a chance to look back on the past year - our actions, our lives, and ourselves - and consider what changes we want to make. New Year’s resolutions are made, but they are often forgotten.

According to one poll, 75% will keep their resolution a week, 64% will keep them for a month, and only 46% will make it to the six month mark. This year set your sights on something that will be sure to last, something we like to call “winter renewal.”

Winter is associated with shorter days, cold weather, holidays, overall cheerfulness, and a bit of chaos. This year, after the commotion settles and before the longer days of spring and summer return, treat yourself to one of the many renewing treatments offered at Persons Plastic Surgery.

Of particular interest this season is our newest renewing technology, the Fraxel Dual Laser. We are fortunate to be one of the few clinical locations in this area to have this latest version of Fraxel. It is a proven laser technology that can help reverse the visible effects of aging, helping you to look as young as you feel. When we are younger, our skin’s natural rejuvenation process of stimulating collagen helps to reverse damage caused by the sun, dehydration, scarring, wrinkling, etc. As we age, our bodies’ ability to naturally generate collagen diminishes. The laser energy delivered by the Fraxel stimulates collagen (bringing back volume) and resurfaces the skin’s top layer at the same time. The Fraxel Dual treatment is customized by skin type to penetrate varying depths of just the top layer of skin, and because this latest model utilizes two different wavelengths, it is highly effective on a variety of skin types and conditions. The laser is effective on fine lines and wrinkles, surface scarring, pigmentation, and sun damage. This is a non-ablative treatment which requires minimal social down time, allowing patients to return

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 19 • “I’m going to lose 20 pounds,” 1-hour class becomes a commitment to a different adjustment, like, “I’ll invest in at least Habits Into Health ~ New Skills for the New You one activity that engages my energy and affirms my health.”

Tuesday • January 15, 2014 Most goals like these are tied to 7-8pm Lafayette something we want to complete in ourselves. You’ll chase windmills until  Do you promise yourself that you attend to what’s really going on you’ll stop doing this, or start inside. In the first case, responding to doing that — but the devil is in keeping your promise? your own signals is a more effective way to shift your spending habits. By Are you stuck because someone the same token, it’s more likely you’ll  you care about engages in an keep doing an activity that engages you unhealthy behavior and you don’t energetically, and this is an effective way know what to do? to lose weight.

Learn and practice Beginning with the end that you time-tested, practical ways want, from what’s inside you now, will to get unstuck! feed that hope you have for your future.

1st visit is free Get the support you need to reserve your place at least 2 days in advance make 2014 your best year ever with (space limited) http://recoveryplusclass.eventbrite.com Women’s Empowerment tools, tips, and techniques from me and 19 other Want to know more? amazing women. They’re coming in Apply now for a complementary consultation to clarify if this class could benefit you: mid-January. . . Reach out to me now if you want to be added to my list to be http://www.habitsintohealth.com/get-support. among the first to receive these amazing tips, tools and gifts to support you in 2014! Included will be my new free Begin With the End Inside! ebook, Do YOU HAVE a habit ~ or does your habit HAVE YOU: Five warning signs that you’re stuck and what to do about it.

By Michael Anne Conley, LMFT Michael Anne Conley is a habit change expert and holistic therapist who practices in Lafayette, where she foundedIt’s andthedirects Stillpoint Center for month of fresh starts — when your exp exclamations of, “That’s the last time I’ll …[fi Health, Well-Being & Renewal. Reach her at info@habitsintohealth.com or 925-262-4848.

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After the annual revelry that kicks off at the clo December’s last toast, aren’t you ready for som

to their normal schedule very quickly.

This ritual we share thosefeels. of the ancien It has been said that appearance can directly affect howmirrors a person between night and day shifted, living off food s When you feel attractive, you are more likely to have a positive outlook. This trinkets and sharing their warmth, while waitin phenomenon is something we have all undoubtedly experienced. As a woman, I know the days I skip the makeup and go So forwe thetoo, sweatpants I tend have right? affirm our hope for to a future, less energy and feel more sluggish. But if I simply swipe on some lipstick, I feel like I can conquer the world. When you can look in the mirror and feel that you are an attractive and confident person, you will have the ability to go out into life prepared for the difficult challenges the coming year may bring.

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions may be difficult, but making a positive change in your life does not have to be. The Fraxel Dual laser treatment is a great way to feel restored, rejuvenated, and ultimately more youthful. When you exude confidence, doors begin to open. Whether it’s getting the job of your dreams, smiling more, or simply living a happier life, a winter renewal should be a priority for everyone this New Year.

As always, I look forward to the opportunity of meeting you soon for an in-depth consultation for Fraxel Dual or any of the options available at Persons Plastic Surgery that will help you leave winter behind feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Dr. Barbara Persons is a Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@ personsplasticsurgery.com.

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Is Food a Problem for You?

Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

Page 20 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Your Personal Nutritionist

Lose Your Excess Weight Forever This New Year the Healthy Way

By Linda Michaelis RD,MS

Happy New Year! Have you been using this time as a motivator to drop the weight you have been struggling to lose all year round? You may have the best of intentions to lose weight or exercise more as the New Year begins, but somehow, life happens and you often find yourself going back to your old ways.

Try a different approach for this New Year. Instead of going on a diet again, where you usually go off it a few weeks later, try beginning to make lifestyle changes that I know will guarantee success and finally keep the weight off. My clients enjoy using trackers such as My Fitness Pal or Lose It to get a sense of how many calories they have been eating. After inputting their height and weight, the program calculates how many calories they should consume in order to lose a pound a week. I think this is a great way to begin to get a sense of the amount of calories that you are eating. Where I come in is with helping my clients to set up a meal plan that fits their schedule which includes their favorite foods and certainly does not make them feel like they are on a diet. We view websites together of the various restaurants they go to, and I teach them how to arrange their meals and snacks around the meal out.

The trackers do not teach you what are the best meals and snacks to keep you full and prevent cravings for sugar. When I work with my clients, I hold their hand and educate them about nutrition, which is something they usually lack, and I help keep them motivated with frequent (even daily) phone calls or e-mails.

Don’t look at this year’s resolution as a temporary change; look at it as a lifestyle change. Making too many changes at once can cause you to burn out before the end of January, causing you to break your commitment. Therefore, instead of changing your entire way of living all at once, try making these small nutrition and exercise changes everyday. Work your way SLOWLY to a healthier you.

1. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Everyday have two servings of veggies such as by adding veggies to your egg white omelet, having a soup with veggies at lunch, or having a salad. Have a fruit at both lunch and dinner.

2. Switch to 100% whole grain. If you’re still eating white bread and pasta switch to whole grains. Whole grains contain more fiber and nutrients and will keep you fuller for a longer period of time. Clients enjoy Trader Joe’s 100% whole wheat pasta, quinoa, couscous, barley, and brown rice.

3. Portion control. Work your way to smaller portions, and this will help control your calories. If you typically use a big dinner plate and fill the whole plate,

Correction

The photo at left should have accompanied the article titled “Issues with the Newer Oral Anticoagulants” by Robert Robles, MD at Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group last month.

A picture of a different physician was used. Our apologies for the error. ~ Editor

Hospice Volunteers Needed

Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678, and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

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try using a smaller size plate. You will always eat more when you have a pile of food on your plate.

4. Limit the A ,S 300, L 925•299•1985 sweets. You do not 970 D 2999 R S ,S 401, B 510•704•2170 have to avoid sweets.

The key is moderation. If you enjoy des.A S . sert and sweets several times a day, make a goal for yourself to limit sweets to either once per day or a few times a week. I teach my clients to have their sweets after a meal instead of randomly during the day, which will prevent cravings for them.

5. Swap out the soda and juice. These beverages are loaded with sugar and greatly contribute to your daily calories. And, let’s be honest, most people don’t drink just one can a day. I show my clients many beverages that are popular and have no calories.

6. Begin a walking program. Commit to a daily walk, either first thing in the morning or after dinner. I teach my clients about interval training, which shocks the metabolism and causes us to burn calories much faster.

7. Schedule your workouts. Just like you schedule a doctor’s appointment or a lunch date with a friend, schedule your workout on the calendar, and make it a part of your routine five times a week. I teach my clients how to set up their meal plan based on their exercise schedule for the day.

8. Practice mindful eating. Since you have vowed not to diet this year, practice being mindful when you are eating. Listen for your hunger and fullness signals, and respond appropriately. Don’t eat when you are not hungry, yet don’t let yourself get to the ravenous point either. When eating, stop midway and ask yourself if you are still hungry. If not, stop and save the rest for another time. I spend a lot of time practicing this technique with my clients.

I am glad to inform you that insurance companies will cover nutritional counseling. Please visit LindaRD.com for the list of companies that cover counseling, past articles, and more information about nutritional concerns. Call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com.

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Circumcision...What?!

By Jeremy Lieb, MD

No, I'm not going to provide an opinion regarding the decision to do a circumcision. That is a personal choice that should be made after consideration of the risks and benefits of the procedure with assistance from your pediatrician. This article is intended to provide feedback regarding some of the more common complaints and complications that I see after a circumcision has been completed in a baby.

The most common technique to perform a circumcision is by using a Plastibell. This involves a plastic ring that will usually fall off in about a week. Don’t worry, if it falls off early, it will look inflamed for 1-2 weeks ad might look scary to the parents, but will most often heal just fine. Rarely, the ring will get stuck and will require a quick office procedure to remove.

The most common complaint that I hear is parents feel the doctor left too much skin, and at times the penis can look buried in the fat. Let’s use a simple description...it is better to grow into your skin then grow out of it. Once the baby fat is gone this situation will look much better cosmetically. The worst thing is to remove too much skin and then realize as an adult that you wish you could have it back. You can always remove more in the future if needed.

Another common complaint is that the skin is ‘stuck’ to the helmet. Usually, this is simply mild adhesions - kind of like it was glued or stuck like tape. This will always improve over time. The best advice is to gently pull the skin back in a warm bath. It may bleed a tiny bit. At times the skin can actually form a scar to the helmet. This requires a quick office procedure to cut it free.

Best advice is to keep it clean! Warm water and soap is your best friend.

Dr. Lieb is a Board Certified Urologist with Pacific Urology and focuses on treating pediatric patients. Pacific Urology has offices in Walnut Creek, Concord, San Ramon Brentwood, Livermore and Antioch. 925-609-7220 or visit www.PacificUrology.com.

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Fight Cancer with Foods in the New Year!

By Tinrin Chew, RD

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, the “New American Plate” is an important cancer fighting tool. At mealtime, try to strike a balance of at least two-thirds plant-based foods and no more than one-third animal protein.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in cancer-fighting nutrients -and the more color, the more nutrients they contain. By eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, you can also shed all the extra weight which may decrease your risk for developing colon, esophageal, and kidney cancers.

Colorful fruits and vegetables are not only good for you, but they can also help protect you from free radical damage as well as from UV rays (which have been known to cause skin cancers). Red, pink, and orange fruits, like cantaloupe and pink grapefruit, contain lycopene, a naturally occurring carotenoid which helps ward off the harmful effects of the sun. Tomatoes, particularly tomato paste, blueberries, strawberries, and red, yellow and orange peppers are also great sources of lycopene. There is evidence suggesting that lycopene has a protective effect against lung, stomach, and prostate cancers. Lycopene may also protect against cervical, breast, mouth, pancreatic, esophageal, and colorectal cancers.

Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries contain powerful antioxidants that may fight cancer by deactivating certain cancer causing substances and slowing the growth of cancer cells. Antioxidants fight cancer by ridding the body of free radicals before they can do their damage to cells.

Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale, and dark leafy green vegetables, such as mustard greens, lettuce, chicory, and spinach, have components that may help your body defend against cancers such as colon, breast, lung, and cervix as well as mouth, larynx, pancreas, lung, skin, and stomach.

No single food can reduce your risk of cancer, but the right combination of foods may help make a difference. The most important thing to remember is that a person who eats a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables lowers their chances of developing cancer simply because of the food they eat. A healthy New Year’s resolution would be to include more of these healthy foods in your diet daily.

Tinrin Chew is a registered dietitian, who is a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition. She provides nutritional counseling for patients at Diablo Valley Oncology, John Muir Health, and the Cancer Support Community.

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Ask the Doctor

By Dr. Jeffrey G. Riopelle, MD Do you have the winter knee?

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 21

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Patient: The weather turned cold a couple of weeks ago, and suddenly my knee started aching and swelling. It happens every year. What’s going on?

Doctor Riopelle: Your symptoms are classic for what I have named “the winter knee.” We see it in hundreds of thousands of people throughout the US every winter. The weather temperature drops and suddenly joints start aching, especially the knees. The basic problem starts with wear and tear on your knees, either from an old injury, degenerative arthritis, or from an autoimmune problem such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the body as three bones meet and must articulate with one another, held together by ligaments such as the ACL, PCL, medial and lateral collaterals, and patellar and quadriceps tendons. To create smooth movement each bone, the femur, tibia, and patella, has cartilage surfaces that touch the other bones. This cartilage surface is called articular cartilage. To top it off, there are two C shaped bands of cartilage in each knee, the medial and lateral meniscus, that help knee tracking and stability.

Disruption of any of the above structures can lead to damage that can later lead to knee inflammation and can eventually cause the winter knee. For example, suppose you unknowingly mildly damaged a meniscus at age 20, causing a ripple in the cartilage. Maybe your knee swelled and hurt slightly for a few weeks, but you took it easy and seemed to get better without treatment. Now, 20 years later at age 40, you begin to have pain and swelling every winter even though you have had no further injury.

What’s going on? The few ripples in your meniscus create wear and tear on your femur articular cartilage that over the years eventually leads to small divots or damage to the cartilage, called chondral damage. This damage creates inflammation as winter hits that causes your knee to swell and ache. The damage can also be due to other causes such as blunt trauma to the patella from a fall, general wear and tear from pounding exercises such as running, or from anything that damages the chondral cartilage.

Patient: It doesn’t hurt that badly. Should I just live with it, or should I see my doctor? Dr. Riopelle: You should definitely see your doctor. There are other abnormalities that can cause the same symptoms, but you are definitely going to need to find out why you have the symptoms. If you do have mild chondral damage and do not address it, it will invariably lead to arthritis as the wear and tear becomes worse and eventually wears right through the cartilage. Once arthritis occurs, it is irreversible using standard technology.

Patient: How do you figure out the cause? Dr. Riopelle: An astute clinician can get a good idea of the cause through your history and exam, especially by checking your knee for ligament stability and signs of meniscus tear, and by feeling for crepitation or grinding as the knee is moved through range of motion. The definitive diagnosis is made by MRI which will very clearly show the damage. The treatment depends on the root cause. Meniscus tears and ligament instability can be fixed arthroscopically. Pure chondral damage without other causes can be improved with exercises that strengthen the quadriceps muscles (without stressing the knee joint). If the damage has progressed to the point of arthritis, there is no cure but symptoms still improve with quad strengthening. Temporary improvement occurs with use of anti-inflammatory medications, Tylenol, ice and heat, cortisone injections, and hyaluronic acid injections. Definitive treatment requires total knee replacement, but ideally we want to get to the root of the problem and stop it before it becomes arthritis.

In our office we have an ongoing patient sponsored study for joint treatment using autologous stem cells. We did our original training with Dr. Joseph Purita, the physician who performed the stem cell joint procedure on A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon. We want to stress that this protocol uses your own stem cells removed and purified out from your own fat and re-placed in the joint the same day, NOT one of the highly controversial fetal stem cell procedures performed in other countries. The study protocols involve the treatment of the following conditions: joint problems, especially the shoulder and knee, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, and emphysema.

For information on any of our programs, please call our office, San Ramon Valley Medical Group, Inc., at (925) 275-9333 or visit our website at www. riopellecosmetic.com. We are located at 5401 Norris Canyon Rd, Ste. 312 in San Ramon.

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Page 22 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Events for Lafayette Seniors

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Our mission is to provide personalized care, help All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior maintain independence and enhance our Center (LSC) located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd client’s quality of life on a daily basis. in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. Space is • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person. for you • Live-in care Supportive • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt.

General Event fee: Members $1; Non-Member • Elder referral and placement $3. Special Concerts fee: Members $3; NonAt All Times...

3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Members $5. Ongoing Caregiver Support Lafayette, CA 94549 Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1. (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 Lafayette Oral History Project - Do you wide range of topics that encourage and guide participants towards a more have stories about Lafayette in the days of yore? Allow Ryan to document that history which will then be included in the Lafayette Historical Societies’ ideal and positive life experience.

Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays 1/13, 1/27 • archives, preserved for generations to come. All you have to do is tell those 1:30–2:30PM • Elderberry Room LSC - If you are a family member helping stories to Ryan; he’ll do the writing. You’ll receive a copy of the final to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as document at the time of completion. Call Lafayette Senior Services for details you manage your responsibilities. Drop-ins are welcome. and to be a part of this project: (925) 284-5050. No charge.

Hearing Screening 1st Wednesday monthly 12/4 • 1 – 2:20pm • Alder Document Your Life Story 2/13, 2/27, 3/13, 3/27 • 10:30 – noon • Room, LSC - By Audiologists from Hearing Science/Diablo Valley Ear, Elderberry Room, LCC - If you have wanted to write the stories, memories, Nose, and Throat. Appointment required. Minimum of two sign-ups reand experiences of your life but haven’t known where to start, wait no longer. quired in order for screenings to take place. Please call Lafayette Senior Yuska Lutfi, MFA Candidate in Creative Writing at St. Mary’s College, will Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the 20-minute appointments. guide you through the process of leaving a living history for future generations Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted –what a gift! Included will be optional outings to St. Mary’s for their creative 1/21 • 10:30 –Noon • Elderberry Room, LSC - Join discussion group leader writing reading series, “Afternoon Craft Conversations.”

Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentation: Parkinson’s Craig Janke, and take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts - will be explored, 1/24 • 11:30AM – 12:30PM • Elderberry Room, LCC - Living with Parkinson’s examined, and discussed by participants. Stories and photographs will disease (PD) can be challenging, but there are things you can do to maintain stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the your quality of life and live well. Learn about the stages of PD and how to ‘elders of our tribe.’ optimize your physical ability as long as possible. Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 35 years. She provides outpatient therapy Free Peer Counseling 3rd Tuesday monthly • 1/14, 2/11 • 10AM - noon • Alder Room, LCC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over.

St. Mary’s College Afternoon Craft Conversations Wednesdays, counseling with senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges.

2/19, 3/12, 4/9 • 2:00PM – 3:35PM • Hagerty Lounge, St. Mary’s College, Confidentiality is strictly observed. Appointment required. Please call Lafayette 1928 St. Mary’s Rd, Moraga Lamorinda Dance Social Wednesdays, 1/8 • 12:30 – 3:00PM • Live Senior Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments.

Oak Room, LCC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn Museum cont. from pg. 18 some great new dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional Laughter will lighten everyone’s dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, burden at the Guild’s January meetplaying your favorites and taking requests. $2 Members/ $4 non-members. ing, as Sally Allen, founder of A Place Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4th Thursday of the month for Everything, provides advice on from 3:30 – 5:30PM at the LSC - View agendas at the City of Lafayette oforganizing, rearranging, repurposing fice or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. and reselling household goods. AlLamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday, len’s expertise comes from working 1/15 • 9AM - noon • Call LSC to find out weekly meeting locations - for Marriott International Hotels and Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty Resorts, the 1984 Los Angeles Olymthat unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of pic Committee and the 1996 Atlanta birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join Olympic Committee. In 1997, having moved her family 19 times both us every Wednesday or whenever you are able.

PM PM nationally and internationally, Sally Come Play Mahjong! Every Tuesday starting 1/7 • 12:30 –3:00 • Cedar Room, LSC - Come join us on Tuesdays for a drop-in game of decided it was time to turn her experimahjong. Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and certain degree of chance. ence into a business.

On January 15th, social time beAll levels welcome. Bring your card, a mahjong set, and a snack to share gins at the Museum at 10am. Greeters (optional). RSVP not required.

Creative Writing Workshop 2nd and 4th Thursday monthly • 10:30AM will be on hand in the foyer to welcome guests and usher them into the - noon • Cedar Room, LSC - Join creative writing and English instructor meeting. Following a brief business Judith Rathbone, and examine the possibilities of self-expression through meeting at 10:30, the program will Gathering in the Museum foyer: Guild Members Dee Thompson, Jill Brennan, Pat Behring, Joyce Tucker writing. This friendly group, with an ever-changing membership but lots run about an hour, including time for and Museum Programs Director Nora Wagner. of returning participants, will welcome you and any of your writing efforts. questions and answers. For information about this FREE program, contact Dee Find encouragement and feedback and bring out the writer in you. If you can Thompson at Dee4life@earthlink.net. speak, you can write, and we will show you how! Beginners to established Members of the Guild Steering Committee refer to Programs Director Nora writers welcome.

Wagner as “the heart of the docent program.” Wagner has been with the Museum Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) Thursday 1/9 • since 1991. The pamphlet she sends to schools throughout the area details the Cali10:30AM – noon • Sequoia Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob fornia State Standards for each grade level supported by the Museum’s Free School Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How Programs. To schedule a tour or learn about volunteering or becoming a docent call to Do It. Take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a her department: 925-736-2277 x239, email programs@blackhawkmuseum.org.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

What’s Next: Taking on the Big Five

By Mary Bruns Lamorinda Senior Transportation

For many people, January is a time of setting goals – getting back on track.

As I work with older adults, the “The Big Five” goals cover: exercise, diet, getting our financial papers/wills/advanced directives/powers of attorney in order, cleaning out some of the clutter that we have accumulated over the years, and working to consciously release any baggage we are still carrying around from painful past experiences.

Mobility in older adults is of particular concern since without it, life becomes more challenging. It’s important to strengthen your thigh muscles so they will support you in sitting down, getting up, and walking. If you find you are falling into the car when trying to get in, your thigh muscles have weakened to the point that that they are not supporting you. To improve this try the following.

While sitting watching TV, lift each leg one at a time, and you will notice that you are working those thigh muscles. Even a little bit will help you.

Another new exercise was shown to me. Sit on the floor with your legs spread a bit. Slowly lean back a little and then come forward. Only lean back as far as you can without losing your balance. You will notice that not only are you working your stomach and abdominal muscles, but your thigh muscles are getting exercised as well. Aim for a set of 15 repetitions.

Then, while still on the floor, take two tennis balls, and put them under your thighs, as close to your bottom as possible. Gradually roll those tennis balls down your legs, gently leaning forward a little to stretch out the back of your legs. This will increase your flexibility. Doing these exercises while you can still get down on the floor will help you maintain and improve the shape you are in. Waiting until you find it difficult to get down on the floor means you have been neglecting your physical well-being.

Gennifer Mountain, Fall Prevention Program Manager at Senior Outreach Services, donated 100 Sit and Be Fit videos. Please call 283-3534 to make arrangements to pick up a free copy. Please also call let Lafayette Senior Services (925-284-5050) know if you would be interested in a Sit and Be Fit demonstration class or series of classes.

A healthy diet goes hand in hand with exercise. Drinking more water so you do not become dehydrated (aim for the famous eight glasses/64 ounces of water), eating more fish, poultry, vegetables, and fruits; limiting alcohol intake, and taking your vitamin and calcium supplements can all help you stay healthier. When eating an unhealthy diet, Deepak Chopra asks us,“What are you trying to fill up?” Think about it.

The “Lamorinda Laughter Yoga Club” will meet the third Monday of each

Coping with the Death of a Pet

When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.

Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

Hearing Loss Association

Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at the back of the church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. Assistive listening system are available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or (925) 264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 23

month at 11 at Lamorinda Music which is located at 81 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette.

Laughter is the best medicine. It’s a natural stressbuster, and it lifts our spirits with a happy high that makes us feel good. It is a gentle Spirit Van passenger June (second from left) demonstrates a blanket massage to the making project to the children of a Spirit Van driver. internal organs – improving blood circulation, digestion, and elimination.

It offers relief from stress, anxiety, and depression, supports a stronger immune system, improves sleep patterns and is just plain FUN! Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for volunteer drivers and donations for the various Lamorinda Senior Transportation Programs. Those needs continue throughout the year. It’s never too late to support programs that are important to you.

We wish you a very Happy New Year - Health, Prosperity, Peace, Love, and Joy! Author Katherine Paterson reminds us, “Peace is not won by those who fiercely guard their differences, but by those who with open minds and hearts seek out connections.” am

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers

Lamorinda Spirit Van

283-3534

Takes Lamorinda Seniors to errands and appointments, grocery shopping, and to lunch at C.C. Café. $10 round trip; rides to the C.C. Café are free.

Reserve your ride two days in advance by 1:00 p.m. or when you make your appointment. We love to say: “Yes!” Rides are now available to Sunday church services.

Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234 20% discount for Lamorinda seniors.

Orinda Seniors Around Town

402-4506

Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors

284-6161

Volunteer drivers serving Orinda seniors with free rides to appointments and errands.

Volunteer drivers serving Contra Costa seniors with free rides to doctors’ appointments during the week. Grocery shopping on Saturdays.

C L A S S I F I E D S ARCHITECT JOHN ROLF HATTAM - ARCHITECT Specializes in modest budget, new and renovated residences. Over 200 completed projects. Brochures available for all of our professional services •RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION •NEW RESIDENCES •CHURCHES •COMMERCIAL •MULTI-FAMILY. For the brochure meeting your need call 510-841-5933. 737 Dwight Way, Berkeley.

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Page 24 - January 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Futures continued from front page

services and support that non-disabled residents enjoyed. Under Young’s guidance, clients made handcrafted items for sale, and volunteers staffed the program. Subsequent sales from craft items, a used bookshop, and a Futures-run thrift shop (Nifty Thrift, still in operation today at 3467 Golden Gate Way) allowed the group to purchase two residential homes for the purpose of training participants to live independently.

In 1985, the organization’s focus shifted to vocational training and employment services – the cornerstone elements of the organization today.

The organization offers vocational groups at a number of Bay Area venues such as Round Table Pizza, Moraga Parks Crew and AT&T Corporate Food Court. Dan Bernie, Moraga Parks and Public Works Superintendent, oversees a Futures Explored work crew of five who maintain Rancho Laguna and Moraga Commons parks. “We couldn’t do it without them,” says Bernie. “We would need two fulltime employees to fill the shoes of this crew. Our collaboration is very successful; the work they do is unbelievable. They work really hard picking up the extra load. It is rewarding for them and for us. We in the Parks department always get credit for having such clean parks – a lot of the credit goes to my Futures Explored crew.”

Volunteer opportunities offered to participants by Futures Explored include endeavors with the Lafayette Library, Meals on Wheels, ARF, and the Monument Crisis Center. Their innovative day program provides both work and life skills training; participants can select up to two daily pursuits from a list of 36 activities including everything from athletics, to art, to music.

Participants number about 200 in Lafayette and 550 across similar programs in four counties. Minimum age is about 22 (participants must be out of high school) and 40% of them arrive to the Futures Explored location (two small cottages on Wilkinson Lane behind Chow and Papillion Coffee) on their own. Activity hours are 9am to 3pm. Most participants are referred by case managers from the Regional Center of the East Bay, a private, non-profit providing services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities under contract with the California Department of Developmental Services.

Will Sanford, Futures Explored’s Executive Director since 2001 and a noted expert on California disability services, says the goal of Futures Explored is to expand the world and provide access for their participants. “Our participants are not looking for sympathy, and they certainly don’t wish to be pitied,” says Sanford. “They seek opportunities to be contributors to the community, and Lafayette is a great community. Our folks are known here; they are making an impact.”

Like all other public agencies, California budget cuts are impacting Futures Explored’s ability to expand services. As Stanford prepares for an impending increase in the number of those requiring services, the organization manages to continue serving its 0 participants on a meager budget. Revenue from donations, from sales at Nifty Thrift, and from the Huckleberry Café-To-Go certainly helps.

For more information about Futures

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Explored, visit w w w. f u t u r e s explored.org.

In addition to its expansive catering menu, the Huckleberry C a f e - To - G o specializes in boxed lunches, which can be pre-ordered and picked-up, Monday through Friday: 925- The fruit and cheese plate from Huckleberry-Cafe-To-Go. 324-9620, www. huckleberrycatering.com. Nifty Thrift is open for sales Monday noon to 5pm, and Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm. Donations are accepted Monday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm: 284-5237.