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always for the community VOL 23, NO 4 April 2018
www.valleysentinel.com
SPOTLIGHT
SRVUSD Teachers of the Year Recognized On Tuesday, March 13, 2018, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s (SRVUSD) Board of Education recognized Lynn Alamillo and Shanna Gagnon as the 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year.
ECRWSS
Postmaster: Dated Material
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
See TEACHERS page 7
Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 542 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Ste A P.O. Box 1309 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
The Danville Oaks Rugby Club won the Rugby NorCal Middle School Championship on March 24. From left to right Seated: Kenny Carpenter, Cole Kemper, Jordan Akabane, Tyreeq Obichere, Dominik Barreto, Andre Palu-Moeinimaresh, Erik Ellis, Barry Winters First row: Nehemiah Ontiveros, Ryan Teng, Tyler Frietas, Jake Loeffler, Tucker Barth, Dominic Besag, Thomas Villa, Andrew Richardson, Michael Freeman, Parker Glynn, Jonas Ritigstein Second Row: Diego Cervantes, Jeremy Patterson, Nabi Wahab, Assistant Coaches Nick Rainsford, Mike Walker, Sean Gann, Danny Richardson, Head Coach Kevin Barth, Dante Romero, Brock Scanlan, Eric Dunn Third Row: Merciful Grose, Tetum Tuoti, Marco Gwynn, Dylan Tyler, Nico Jimenez, Caleb Parid, Ian Hays Fourth Row: Ajaml Wahab, Nick Pina, Griffin King, Richard Armas, Nathan Mertz, Thomas Rainsford, Trevor Donathan, Joaquin DeAmorrortu, Peter Callaghan, Morgan Lawless, Carson Sebree Fifth Row: Eduardo Molina, Jaxson Jones, Brody Bartusch, Zackary Thompkins, Riley Gann, Thomas Naseath, Valdmar Brunslev, Ethan Younger, Garrett Walker, Evan Peterson, Joseph Marshall, James Carney
Hikers Beware as rattlesnakes are out in warm weather by James Hale
T h e N o r t h e r n Pa c i f i c Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) is the only rattlesnake found in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a venomous pitviper species that is found in the western United States from British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. Like other reptiles, their metabolism and activity patterns are governed by the ambient, surrounding temperature. In the East Bay, they usually emerge from their retreats with the warm weather starting in April, and are most active from May through July. Rattlesnakes remain active, both day and night, until the return of the rainy season and colder weather in October. The color pattern is quite varied, however locally most individuals have a dark gray to olive brown base color, highlighted with black,
white and pale yellow, and overlaid dorsally on the back with a series of large dark blotches. A series of light and
like shingles on a roof are key diagnostic characteristics. The young are born with a button at the tip of the tail. Every time
dark rings precedes the rattles on the tail. The large, triangular head, rattles, loreal heat sensitive pits on the snout and keeled scales that are overlaid
they shed their skin as they mature, they acquire a new rattle. During good years they may shed several times. Adults may reach 64 inches in length.
Rattlesnakes are often confused with gopher snakes, which mimic rattlesnakes by hissing loudly and rattling their tails. Gopher snakes are brownish in color and lack the triangular head and rattles. Rattlesnakes frequent a wide variety of habitats from grasslands to woodlands where they pursue small mammals and other animals as prey. They in turn are preyed upon by king snakes, raptors, and wild boars. Rocky outcrops, stream courses, talus slopes and ledges are favorite haunts. The rattlesnake is a live-bearing species, with one to twenty five young born between August and October. The young are born with fully active venom glands. See RATTLESNAKES page 6
This month’s Special Section:
Spring Home & Garden
pages 8-9