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October 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& OCTOBER 2020
EUGENE O'NEILL FOUNDATION REMAINS UNSTOPPABLE: THE SHOW GOES ON
By Jody Morgan
The Eugene O’Neill Foundation (EONF), Tao House is keeping many 2020 programs going despite disruptions generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Premiered October 3rd, The Lost Plays in a blocking of The Web respects 2020 social distancing Lost Year of Theater Innovative while retaining the magic of live theater. Photo courtesy of EONF. brought innovative online presentations of three of O’Neill’s earliest one-act plays. Travis Bogard Artist in Residence (AIR) and Day-Use Fellows are working on-site even though the National Park Service (NPS) has kept Tao House closed to the public. Progress on digitizing archival materials continues, extending availability of the Tao House collection to serious scholars who are unable to visit in person. Florence McCauley, currently Co-President Elect, has played many roles on the EONF Board. She writes: “I have had such wonderful and rewarding experiences during my long tenure with the Foundation from meeting such luminaries as Jason Robards, Helen Hayes, and Carey Perloff to helping make the Travis Bogard AIR program a reality. My interest was piqued by local residents that saved Tao House from the wrecking ball.” Home to Eugene O’Neill and his third wife Carlotta from 1937-1944, Tao House was rescued from demolition by EONF founders who raised $70,000 as
See EONF continued on page 18
TRASH BUSTERS
By Linda Summers-Pirkle
Suzanne and Conrad Figueroa
Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. ~ Arthur Ashe Longtime Danville residents, Suzanne and Conrad Figueroa can frequently be spotted on the Iron Horse Trail or walking through downtown, animatedly talking to each other, or greeting passersby and shopkeepers. With her pixie haircut, huge eyes, and ready smile (even when behind a mask), Suzanne is hard to miss. I met her about fifteen years ago when she volunteered with the Town of Danville “Drive a Senior” program which provided transportation for people to and from their appointments. Even with her busy schedule
See Trash continued on page 18
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
MANY VOTING OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR DANVILLE & ALAMO RESIDENTS By Sharon Burke
Election Day is November 3, and election experts predict record turnout despite the lingering pandemic. Contra Costa Elections Department provides numerous options, making it convenient for Alamo and Danville citizens to vote. A big change for 2020 is that all registered voters will automatically be mailed a ballot by October 5th. There is no need to fill out a mail-in ballot request. Most Contra Costa County voters already vote by mail. In fact, 72% of Contra Costa residents voted by mail in the March 2020 primary, and the vote by mail percentage in Danville and Alamo is even higher. Check your registration status on the county website cocovote.us, which uses tracking software to reassure voters that their ballot has been received and counted. Once at the site, find the “My Voting Information” box in the upper right corner of the home page. This is where you can confirm your registration status, review a copy of the ballot that will be mailed to you, and verify your ballot was received. If you have changed your name or party affiliation, have moved since the last election, or if you turn 18 years old on or before Election Day, you need to register or re-register to vote. You can register or re-register at registertovote.ca.gov before the October 19th deadline.
See VOTE continued on page 14
LOVE, MILLY
SRVHS STUDENT COLLABORATES TO CREATE CONNECTIONS By Alisa Corstorphine
In a world stuck in COVID-19 limbo, the easiest thing to do is to cut off most interactions with other people, but Milly John, a senior at San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS), saw an opportunity to use her love of art to inspire kids in Youth Homes’ Transition Age Youth (TAY) and Residential Group Home foster programs. Back in March, Milly began to put together individualized art kits and started a website Milly connects with participants via Zoom. to share the different projects every week. Two Youth Homes social workers became the main point of contact and communication, and acted as the go-between to deliver weekly packages. Milly creatively wraps and labels each package with the recipient’s name. The art project is a personalized gift meant for the foster children and not a random donation left in a collection bin. So far through
See Milly continued on page 8
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XX Number 10
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
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Volume XI Number 10
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