The Valley Sentinel_March 2014

Page 1

Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

VALLEY

THE

SENTINEL always for the community VOl 19, nO 2

Inside this month:

Á la carte

Spring 2014

A La Carte Magazine Spring 2014 Inside... Taste of Spring Spring Drinks Top Picks The Changing Seasons

March 2014

www.valleysentinel.com

SPOTLIGHT

Tassahara One Room School nominated for National Register of Historic Places California’s nine member State Historical Review Board voted in February to nominate

ECRWSS

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70

See SCHOOLHOUSE page 7

The 12U San Ramon Slammers Baseball Club went 4-0 in weekend games over President’s Day to win the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association Tournament. Players (front) left to right: Luke Neate, Elijah Leonard, J.T. Noble, Logan Snow, Nate Rutchena, Christian Luciano, Griffin Bloom, Michael Santich, Jake Reno, Brandan Yan, Jake Snow, Chip Menard. Not pictured: Kevin Harioka. Coaches (in back) left to right: Scott Menard, Brian Snow, Greg Noble

Meet the American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Postmaster: Dated Material

By James Hale

Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047

The American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is the largest rodent in North America, weighing up to 75 pounds. Highly modified for an aquatic life, its large size, flat scaly tail, and webbed hind feet easily distinguish the beaver from any other native mammal. Its cousin, the Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) is found in Europe and Asia. The North American beaver population once was more than 60 million, but as of 1988 varied between 6 and 12 million individuals. The largest North American concentration may still be in the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta. Extensive hunting for its water repellent fur and glands used for medicine and perfume was responsible for the dramatic decline in numbers.

Beavers harvest trees for food, dams, and lodges, which may flood waterways and interfere with other land uses. Trapping has helped to control some individuals and populations that are in conflict with human activities. Native Americans called beavers the “sacred center” of the land because this species creates such rich, watery habitat for otters, mammals, fish, frogs, turtles, birds, ducks, and other wildlife. About 10 to 14 million years ago giant beavers evolved in North America, and some survived until the end of the glacial epochs, perhaps as recently as 10,000 years ago. One of these ancient ancestors was as large as a black bear.

American Beavers are well adapted to their aquatic lifestyles. When submerged, clear membranes slide over and protect their eyes and valves close their nostrils and ears. The lips form a seal behind the incisors, allowing beavers to

This month’s Special Sections:

Kids Camps

page 8-9

Home & Garden page 10-11

chew while they are submerged without having water and mud enter the mouth. A layer of fat beneath their waterproof fur protects beavers from cold water, and the oily secretion See BEAVERS page 4


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