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July 2017
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SPOTLIGHT
Devil Mountain Run benefits Discovery Counseling Center Last month, Chris McCrary of Katalyst Events and Marty Breen of Forward Motion presented a check to Discovery Counseling Center for $10,000, the proceeds from this year’s Devil Mt. Run, Danville’s premiere running event. Over 1500 people participated on May 7th in several events, including a Kids’ Fun Run, a 5K Run, a 10K Run, the Buddi Love Dog Mile and the Mile of Truth. In awarding the check, Mr. McCrary noted that this year’s race brought out more participants than in the past five years. The race
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PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
See RUN page 4
On July 4th,, The Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Valley once again entertained thousands with their Danville Independence Day Parade. This major fundraiser enables the club to donate tens of thousands of dollars in grants to area nonprofits. Seen here from left to right (starting with green neckerchief in back - Benjamin Lin, (Front) - Daniel Armstrong, (Back) - Shane Badcock and (Front) Nathan Lee. All from Troop 805 in Danville. A local tradition not to miss, offering up the best Danville has to offer.
Observing the Western Toad, its eggs, tadpoles and young is a great learning experience for kids roads and trails as it travels to
Postmaster: Dated Material
by James Hale
Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 542 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Ste A P.O. Box 1309 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
The Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) is a large toad, native to western North America, from southern Alaska down through the Pacific states to northern Baja Mexico, and east to Montana, Wyoming, and western Colorado. They may reach six inches in length. The subspecies found in Contra Costa County is the California Toad (Anaxyrus boreas halophilus). The white or cream colored dorsal stripe down the middle of the back is diagnostic in adults. Juveniles lack the dorsal stripe and have yellow feet.The body is gray or greenish and covered with dark blotched skin glands that are often tinged with rust. The large, oval parotoid glands are widely separated and slightly larger than the eyelids. They secrete a milky, neurotoxic alkaloid,
bufotoxin, to deter predators. The underside and belly are mottled. Male Western Toads are less blotched and with smoother skin than females. T h e W e s t e r n To a d f re q u e n t s a w i d e va r i e t y of habitats from sea level to 11,800 feet in elevation, including desert streams and springs, grasslands, woodlands, montane forests, and mountain meadows.They are found near ponds, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams throughout Contra Costa County and their range. They are active at night in warm, low-lying areas. In the north and at high elevations, the Western Toad is diurnal, active during the day. During the rainy season, the Western Toad is often encountered on
spawn. Breeding begins as early as December and January in lower-elevation regions, a n d f ro m M a rc h t h ro u g h July in mountainous areas. The Western Toad is sexually mature at two years of age with males breeding every year. Females tend to breed less frequently. The males develop nuptial pads (thickened skin) on their forefeet during the breeding season for grasping the female during their courtship embrace, known as amplexus. Up to 17,000 eggs are laid by the female, stuck together in strands that adhere to vegetation and other objects along the water edges. After hatching, the young undergo rapid metamorphosis in 28
to 45 days. When recently transformed, the young are about one quarter of an inch, and may be encountered in large numbers as they disperse seeking shelter. Western Toads have been recorded reaching twelve years of age. The Western Toad buries itself in loose soil or seeks escape shelter in burrows of
This month’s Special Section:
Senior Services
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See TOAD page 4