Blackhawk Living CA December 2021 by Blackhawk Living CA

Mailed Directly to Blackhawk Residents and Published Online

DECEMBER 2021

Blackhawk

LIVING CA

Meet the

Vaish-Srivastava Family Photo by Indigo Moments Photography

DECEMBER 2021

Table of Contents

Letter to Residents

Expert Contributors List

Meet the Vaish-Srivastava Family Resident Feature

ARF Adoption Stars Pet Corner

Real Estate Statistics

Calendar of Events

Saint Nicholas’ Day Traditions Around the World

Tri-Valley Animal Rescue Pet Corner

Holiday plants that offer peace, good will and success to all Blackhawk Bloomers

34th annual Blackhawk Food Drive Giving Back

Christmas Crafting Crafts Corner

Car Enthusiast Group Cars and Coffee

The NINE Loan: Common Sense, Non-traditional, even Revolutionary! Expert Contributor

Ken Behring Wine Appreciators Luncheon Wine, Food, Golf & Fun

The HOX Swim Team Updates Local Sports

Drew Dunning Done Mustang Good! Local Sports

Blackhawk Women’s Golf Newsletter Local Sports

Mustang Soccer Annual General Meeting Local Sports

High School Sports Update Local Sports

Puttin’ On The Ritz: Roaring Holiday Concert Fundraising Event, Hosted by Auburn Lounge Arts and Culture

Zillow and what’s to come for 2022 Expert Contributor

A Night to Remember Benefitting Tassajara Hills Elementary School Expert Contributor

Pumpkin Flavored Cookies Recipe

The Norman Course at PGA West Golf Destinations

Blackhawk Kids Update Kid’s Corner

Season to Sparkle: Diyas lightning up Blackhawk, the place I love to call home. Life through a Lens

Saline vs. Silicone Implants Expert Contributor

The Holidays Are Here – And No Need to Fear! Expert Contributor

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 3

Experience the Difference at The Reutlinger Community

Proud member of the

family

Experience The Reutlinger Community, a beautiful senior living community located in the East Bay offering high-quality health care and support services in a life-enhancing and stimulating environment with a commitment to Jewish values. With a wide range of features and amenities available, our dedicated staff will help you create a lifestyle tailored to your needs and preferences.

94%

Overall Resident Satisfaction Score

• Licensed nurse oversight • Diabetes management, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services available onsite • Restaurant-style dining with healthy and delicious cuisine prepared by culinary professionals (Kosher options available) • Regionally-renowned art program and art studio • Observance of Jewish services, holidays and traditions with full-time Rabbi and beautiful Synagogue on campus

Experience our community and meet our care staff today! 925-718-9626 • rcjl.org The Reutlinger Community Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA 94506 License #075600335 COA #341

Equal Housing Opportunity 4

DECEMBER 2021

Publication Team Publisher:

Jo Peek, Blackhawk Resident since 2014 Content Coordinator: Megan Scott Blackhawk Resident since 2010 Designer: Emily Lund Jo Peek

Contributing Photographer: Indigo Moments Photography

Advertising Contact: Jo Peek Email: JPeek@bestversionmedia.com

Feedback/Ideas/Submissions: Have feedback, ideas, or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to www.bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas, and photos to: mscott@bestversionmedia.com. Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2021 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.

Dear Neighbors, The holidays are a time for honoring traditions: tree lighting ceremonies, giving to those less fortunate, and pretending to love your aunt’s famous fruit cake. But it’s also a time for forging new traditions. Signing up for a charity run? Traveling to a new destination? Don’t be afraid to shake things up—the end of the year, and the beginning of a new decade is when legends are made. This month’s community calendar is filled with fun ideas on how to make this year’s holiday celebrations memorable. And this month’s featured Blackhawk cover story features the Vaish-Srivastava Family. They are new to Blackhawk and look forward to making lots of new memories in the community. On behalf of all of us on the Blackhawk Living Magazine team, we want to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season! Warmly,

Megan Scott Resident since 2010 We are devoted to sharing stories, events and news among our neighbors in this wonderful community. If you have a story, event or news to share please email me at mscott@bestversionmedia.com.

Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 5

Expert Contributors

To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact Jo Peek at jpeek@bestversionmedia.com. Auto Sales & Service Kerri Anderson Pleasanton Automall Kerri.Anderson@hendrickauto.com 925-737-5062

The Pleasanton Automall is a luxury automotive dealership housing the Acura and Lexus dealerships located in Pleasanton, CA. In addition to our flagships, we also carry a wide selection of quality pre-owned vehicles. We pride ourselves in offering a World Class experience to all of our guests. Visit us today or contact us online to experience the Pleasanton difference.

Dentist Dr. Larry Porteous DDS Larry Porteous Family Dentistry 925-736-9000

Porteous Family Dentistry- Larry Porteous DDS and Linda Porteous RDH have been serving the dental needs in the communities of Rodeo,Vallejo and Blackhawk/Danville for over 30 years.They are a full service practice, eliminating, in most cases, the need for referrals. Offering extended hours for your convenience. “Our practices are dedicated to treating and preventing dental diseases in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We strive to give each person the same respect, concern and care we would expect as patients.

Catering Draeger’s Markets 650-244-6500 Social@draegers.com www.draegers.com

Draeger’s Market is a grocery store that offers fine foods, high quality meats and seafood, fresh and locally sourced produce, from scratch baked goods, over 3,000 of the world’s finest wines, and catering platters for special events. Knowledgeable staff are ready to serve you, including the Director of Marketing, who has functioned as a journeyman grocery clerk, bakery clerk, beer and wine buyer and now spearheads marketing for the company.

Chiropractor Anatomy Power Wellness Dr. Tracey James 925-457-0210 HelloWellness@ProtonMail.com AnatomyPower.com

Dr. Tracey James joyfully serves as a chiropractor, doula and educator. She provides chiropractic care to individuals of all ages, specializing in pregnancy and pediatrics with over a decade of experience immersed in supporting families during their birth process and fertility journeys. Dr. Tracey graduated with honors from Life Chiropractic College West with further studies through the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) where she gained certification in the Webster Technique.

Cosmetic Surgery Stephen J. Ronan MD FACS Blackhawk Plastic Surgery and Migraine Center 925-736-5757 www.blackhawkplasticsurgery.com

Blackhawk Plastic Surgery has been offering their patients the highest quality cosmetic treatments in the Blackhawk area for more than 15 years. Now they are thrilled to introduce the Blackhawk Migraine Clinic led by migraine specialist, Alicia Choquette. Alicia brings over 5 years of migraine expertise to the Blackhawk Migraine Clinic and looks forward to helping patients live a better quality of life migraine free.

Dance The Dancer’s Institute Lacey Price 510-703-7630 https://www.thedancersinstitute.com/

We are a new dance school serving the San Ramon Valley area. We are striving to bring proper technique to students in a firm but friendly environment. We believe in fostering the passion to move in a dancer and creating an environment where that passion can grow and mature. Technique, creativity, passion and love are all elements of dance in which we want to see our students find success by taking class at our studio.

Education St. Isidore School 925-837-2977 www.stisidore.org info@stisidore.org

St. Isidore School is the East Bay’s largest Catholic School serving TK-8th Grade. We believe each student is a unique and beautiful gift. We foster individuality in a familial environment, inspiring students to explore and grow. Our teachers create a love of learning by nurturing an inquisitive spirit, building connections, and developing critical thinking. We understand that today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders.

Home Maintenance Home Inspections Plus Mark Beck 925-240-0441 m.beck@localinspector.com www.localinspector.com

At Home Inspections Plus, we have two basic rules: client satisfaction and long-term relationships. With our many years of business experience and over 6,000 fee paid inspections, we believe after you try our service, you will gladly refer others to us and use us in the future. Realtor and consumer inquiries welcome!

Home Remodeling Ruggieri & Co Chris Ruggieri 925-263-2448 chris@ruggieriandco.com ruggieriandco.com

Chris Ruggieri is a skilled and premier residential contractor residing in Blackhawk and serving Contra Costa County. Chris has the earned reputation of being both highly creative and original. Ruggieri & Co brings to each client experience, quality and originality. Having served Contra Costa County for over 25 years Chris has partnered with many of the top local designers in the East Bay. Chris approaches construction with a passion that strongly emphasizes communicating and understanding the wants and needs of his clients, in doing so he keeps design channels and creativity open and relevant until the fulfillment of the ultimate goal – a unique and excellent completed project.

HVAC & IAQ Awesome Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. Todd Rilston 925-989-7414 awesomeheatingandair@gmail.com www.awesomeheatingandair.com

Awesome Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. knows how important it is to make sure your business is comfortable for your employees and your customers. We are experienced in commercial sized HVAC. We can provide HVAC service contracts to make sure the air is healthy and comfortable. We do duct work and filtration and insure the best possible environment. We make sure to inspect and correct any issues. If you feel that your work environment is not right, give us a call today!

Find us online BlackhawkLivingCA www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com 6

DECEMBER 2021

Expert Contributors

To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact Jo Peek at jpeek@bestversionmedia.com. Insurance Roger Fernando State Farm Roger Fernando Agency 925-244-1700 roger@rogerfernando.com

Roger Fernando has been a State Farm Agent for 30 years, starting his insurance agency in 1988. Roger and his team are fully licensed. We take pride in giving personal, exceptional service, in talking and listening to our clients about their insurance needs. Our mission has always been to consult with customers as their insurance needs change, protect their insurance for the risks of everyday life and help recover from the unexpected loss.

Jewelry, Diamonds & Timepieces Steve Padis Steve Padis Jewelry info@padisjewelry.com www.padisjewelry.com

Steve and Judy Padis own and operate Padis Jewelry, which has four locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. They founded the company in 1974 and are proud to have earned a reputation as one of the finest jewelers in San Francisco, serving generations of clients for their most precious moments in life, from engagement to anniversary to milestone gifts. Padis Jewelry maintains top-tier relationships with the most sought-after designers including Tacori, Forevermark, Verragio, Breitling, Tag Heuer, and Roberto Coin. As members of the American Gem Society, Padis is among the top 5% of jewelers across the country.

Landscape Construction Design-Build Native Soil Inc Emmanuel Gomez 510-332-9048 egomez@nativesoilinc.com www.nativesoilinc.com

Emmanuel Gomez has a degree in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has been installing landscape since he was 12 years old. He is very passionate about Sustainable Landscape Practices and has worked for many years at perfecting his craft. Native Soil has been in business since 2015 and we have installed many Landscapes for High End Residential Homes, Schools, and Parks around the East Bay.

Luxury Real Estate Expert Keller Williams DRE # 01466776 Tiffany Stock 925-989-2138 TiffanyStock@kw.com www.TiffStock.com

Tiffany is a professional real estate negotiator, and is the #1 Top Producer at Keller Williams Danville. Tiffany is extremely creative; and has a great attitude. She has a lot of experience selling real estate in 4 states and even sold co-ops and condos in New York City. She has been in the Bay Area for the last 17 Years and has lived in Danville for the past 12 years.

Mortgage CrossCountry Mortgage LLC W. Todd Galde 925-854-5238 todd.galde@myccmortgage.com www.toddgalde.com

After more than 20 years, Todd Galde has mastered the process of helping borrowers with different income sources, matching the correct loan to their unique circumstances. We teach and advise, then we customize. A Direct Lender, Team Galde offers solutions with competitive rates and financing programs that give you more qualifying options, including the unique NINE Loan for owner-occupied purchase or refinance. Learn more at www.The9Loan.com.

Music: Soloist & Private Voice Lessons Elizabeth Hunter Ashley The Performance Studio 925-548-2694 Elizabeth@elizabethhunterashley.com www.elizabethhunterashley.com

Professional lyric coloratura soprano, Elizabeth has extensive experience as a soloist in oratorio, concert, musical theatre, sacred music, and new music. She performs nationally and internationally with renown conductors, orchestras, composers, international communities, and holds a myriad of national credits including MM degree. As the proprietor of her vocal music studio, she has taught 300+ private students from youth to mature adults offering them a sustainable vocal technique, biannual voice recitals which include philanthropic fund raisers, music connections in the community, performance preparation for high school top choirs, vocal competitions, college prep. recordings, pageant training. Elizabeth is a member of NATS, CCMTAC, an adjudicator for CMEA, and NATS.

Pool Service Jon Lubrano Atlantis Pools 925-736-0447 info@atlantispoolsdanville.com atlantispoolsdanville.com

Atlantis Pools Inc. is a family owned business that has been serving Contra Costa County for over 25 years. From pool repair, maintenance needs, remodels and updates, no job is too big or small for us. We take pride in the high quality service we give to each customer.

Residential Bridge Loans Rubicon Mortgage Fund, LLC Cesar Peña Senior Vice President / Director of Sales 925-239-6609 Cesar@Rubiconfund.net www.Rubiconfund.net

Cesar has been with Rubicon Mortgage Fund, LLC since 2013. Currently V.P. Director of Sales, Cesar is responsible for overseeing Rubicon’s loan originators and placing non-conventional financing for his clients throughout California. Cesar received his B.A. degree in Business Administration from Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA, focusing in Finance and Real Estate Management. Cesar serves on numerous real estate organizations located in the Bay Area. CA BRE #01984871.

Tree Service Trex Donovan Buena Vista Tree Service 415-531-1247 ntdonovan@yahoo.com www.buenavistatree.com Wealth Advisor WestPac Wealth Partners Phil Kang, CExPTM Henry Chau, CPWA® 925-350-6588 info@westpacwealth.com www.westpacwealth.com

Buena Vista Tree Service is committed to preserving our urban forests and environment. They recycle 100% of our green waste into a reusable landscaping product. Trex safely and efficiently handles all types of tree emergencies 24 hours a day to eliminate tree risks to people and property and significantly reduce your liability exposure.

Uniquely positioned to offer our clients access to one of the most comprehensive financial product platforms available today, Westpac envisions and enhances our clients’ goals by designing a customized strategy and creating a life map to achieve and protect their wealth.

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 7

Resident Feature

Resident e F ature is proudly sponsored by uT cker Associates Real Estate

Meet the

Vaish-Srivastava Family By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010

n 2018, Harshit and Charu visited Blackhawk for the first time and fell in love with the community. However, due to their commute to work, they needed to be based in San Jose, so a move to Blackhawk seemed like a distant dream. “I told Harshit that I would love to move to Blackhawk when we retire, as owning a home in Blackhawk any sooner than that seemed impossible, given our commute to work. However, during the pandemic, with absolutely no commute to the workplace, a family move to Blackhawk seemed like a no-brainer,” says Charu. They found their dream house on Blackhawk Dr. and moved in March of 2021. “After living in San Jose for about 10 years, we are thrilled to now call Blackhawk home. While we had always loved the Tri-valley area in East Bay, we had never ever thought of moving here as we both had our workplaces in the South Bay Area, and we feared the commute would be intolerable. However, the pandemic changed everything!” says Harshit. “We made a bet that workplaces will change forever post-pandemic and folks would stop commuting daily. In addition, we loved the life that the Blackhawk area had to offer. It was very safe and family friendly, with newer houses and great schools. Overall, it had all the elements that we could imagine in our dream neighborhood,” adds Charu. Charu and Harshit met via common friends in 2009 in Palo Alto and were instantly attracted to each other. Harshit had just graduated from his master’s program at Stanford and was visiting some friends. Charu was a student at University of California, Irvine. She was

visiting her sister in the Bay Area and decided to meet up with some friends. On that fateful evening, Charu and Harshit met and instantly connected over common culture and language.The couple had to survive a long-distance romance while they pursued their educations and careers. “I always felt a strong energy in Harshit’s presence, I felt alive! I moved to Portland, OR after graduating from UC Irvine for a job at Intel Corporation. Harshit was working in San Francisco, but would fly to Seattle frequently for work and occasionally spend the weekends in Portland. We had a longdistance relationship for a year and a half and made some fun memories exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest together. The bond only grew sweeter and stronger with time,” says Charu. Harshit says he couldn’t imagine life without Charu in it. “I decided it was time to take our relationship to the next level. Following traditional Indian customs, I met with Charu’s dad and was besotted. We got engaged in 2011 at Pebble Beach, CA, surrounded by close family and friends. I got admitted to Harvard Business School around the same time. After the proposal, I went on to Boston to start my MBA program, with the intent to move back to the West Coast afterwards. We decided that it would be wise for Charu to stay put with Intel on the West Coast, but we both flew cross-country almost every two weeks to be with each other.” Charu and Harshit got married on March 15, 2012, in a royal Indian wedding in Jaipur, India at the Jai Mahal Palace. “It was a grand Indian wedding with events and celebrations lasting for a full week and guests joining from all over the globe! Two palace hotels were booked for the ceremonies. Fun fact - This was my spring break in my first year of my MBA program. While the majority of my classmates were partying on random beaches around the US, I was halfway across the world getting committed for the rest of my life,” says Harshit. Harshit was born in northern India in a small town called Allahabad. His father was a Civil Engineer and his mother was a dedicated homemaker. Harshit has an older brother, Mohit, who also resides in the Bay Area with his family. Like most kids in India at that time, Harshit says he realized very early that excelling in academics was the only way to rise high above in economic stature, “I was successful in clearing the extremely competitive engineering entrance exams for the Indian Institute of Technology, and joined the Mechanical Engineering program at Roorkee campus. Upon graduation from IIT, I earned a coveted admit to Stanford University with a full scholarship. I decided to pursue my great American dream and landed in Palo Alto in 2007.” Charu was born in eastern India, in a small town near Calcutta called Kalyani. Her father was a senior executive working for Multinational companies like Philips and Pfizer. Her mother was a fun-loving, vivacious woman who loved to socialize and host family and friends over. Charu went to do her Computer Science Engineering Degree from National Institute of Technology, Allahabad. Upon graduation, she got a job in Bangalore with travel opportunities to Europe. “I travelled to Spain and Italy and enjoyed my career, my dad however, envisioned bigger dreams for me to study in America and encouraged

DECEMBER 2021

me to pursue my education further. A year later, I reached Irvine in 2008,” says Charu.

Hospital and to organizations sponsoring girl’s education in developing countries.

While at Stanford, Harshit discovered that his real passion lay more on the business side as opposed to Engineering. In 2011, he was lucky to get admitted to the MBA program at Harvard Business School. “It was a dream come true! After graduating from HBS, I moved to San Francisco to work for the strategy consulting firm Bain and Company, followed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Palo Alto. Today, I work as a Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Juniper Networks out of Sunnyvale, CA. The ability to transform the destiny of a company, and occasionally the whole industry, is something that gets me energized for work every day,” says Harshit.

Harshit and Charu are blessed with two amazing kids. Their daughter, Dia, is 4 years old and attends Blackhawk Montessori. She has a knack for composing songs and also enjoys swimming, dancing and reading. Their son, Aditya, was born on Christmas Eve 2019. He is beginning to speak words, and his loud “byes” are quite famous amongst friends and close family.

Charu completed her undergraduate program in Computer Science and Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India. She subsequently got her Master’s degree in the same discipline from University of California, Irvine. She has been working at Intel for more than a decade and is presently a Software Architect designing future Intel platforms and holds five US patents. “I really enjoy my work and the massive impact it creates on a global scale! The role allows me to marry my creative and technical skills into creating next generation technology that billions of people eventually use globally,” says Charu.

The family is looking forward to becoming more involved in the Blackhawk community and as the pandemic restrictions ease, taking full advantage of all the fun Blackhawk offers. “We love the look and feel of the community and how scenic it is. We also appreciate how safe and family friendly the neighborhood is. Having so many amenities inside the community at the country club is a big plus. We want to hit the gym regularly as well as get the children to learn and enjoy swimming and tennis. Everyone is very accomplished yet so cultured, kind and friendly in Blackhawk. We have invited several neighbors to our home as well as visited others. It is always such a pleasure to know the amazing people that live here! We’re very blessed to be in Blackhawk and share this wonderful community with you all. We would love to connect with as many folks as possible and build lifelong connections,” says Harshit.

Both Harshit and Charu are strong believers in education and dream of a world where education is not a privilege but a basic human right. Charu volunteers to coach high school students in Oakland to pursue technical degree programs. Harshit donates to St. Jude Children’s

Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at mscott@bestversionmedia.com.

Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 9

Pet Corner

ARF Adoption Stars

Elizabeth

Fred

By Cole Kuiper, ARF Looking for a furry friend during this trying time? If you see an animal you’re interested in on our website, just fill out an online inquiry form. Once your inquiry has been received, you will be added to our virtual adoption queue. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: Noon to 6 pm Wednesday & Thursday, Noon to 7 pm Friday, and Noon to 6 pm Saturday & Sunday.

Twelve-year-old Elizabeth is a little bundle of love ready for her forever family! This cutie pie loves affection, going on walks and snuggling up at the end of a long day. Full of love and joy, this beauty will be a great fit in any home. Elizabeth has a positive history with other dogs and with dog friendly cats. She currently weighs 17 pounds.

Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arflife.org, or call (925) 256-1ARF.

ARF adoption fees: $250 for an adult dog, $350 for a puppy (&lt;6 months), $125 for a special- needs dog, $175 for a special-needs puppy (&lt;6 months), and $125 for a senior dog (7+ years).

Six-month-old Fred is a handsome and loving fellow! He may be a little shy at first, but once he gains your trust, his playful personality will be in full effect. He really enjoys feather wand toys, chasing after balls and coming up to you for ample pets. Smart and curious, Fred will make a wonderful addition to any home! Fred has a positive history with other cats. ARF Adoption fees: $100 for an adult cat, $150 for a kitten (&lt;6 months), $150 for two adult cats, $250 for two kittens, $50 for a special-needs cat, $75 for a special-needs kitten (&lt;6 months), and $50 for a senior cat (7+ years).

Success is the result of a well-designed future. Our business is to help clients make smart ﬁnancial decisions to navigate the complex ﬁnancial world that we live in.

Estate Planning

As seen on

Asset Protection Community Value/Contribution

$1.8 BILLION1 ASSETS ADMINISTERED

$138M

ANNUAL RECURRING PREMIUM

31 THOUSAND CLIENTS

$59M

INCOME PROTECTION IN FORCE

$16M

$15B

LIFE INS. COVERAGE IN FORCE

ANNUAL LIFE DIVIDENDS

160

ADVISORS

Phil Kang, CExP™ Henry Chau, CPWA® Phone: 925.350.6588 Email: info@westpacwealth.com Phil Kang & Henry Chau are Registered Representatives and Financial Advisors of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 4275 Executive Square #800 La Jolla, CA 92037 619.684.6400. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Kang is a General Agent and Chau a Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Insurance products offered through WestPac Wealth Partners and Insurance Services, LLC, a DBA of WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC. Kang CA Insurance License #0G18874| Chau CA Insurance License #0I21767 | Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents,

1 Assets Administered by agency, represents in-force for life ins., disability income ins. LTC ins and assets held in retirement, brokerage, and advisory accounts as of 12/31/20. The values provided should not be used in making a determination on the quality of services provided by representatives of this agency. WestPac Wealth Partners is not registered in any state or with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor.

and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. | 2021-119487 Exp. 04/23

DECEMBER 2021

Real Estate

Real Estate is proudly sponsored by Michelle Nagle

ACTIVE BLACKHAWK LISTINGS 11/10/2021

CLOSED BLACKHAWK SOLDS SINCE 10/10/2021

Street

List Price

Street

Sold Price

Sq.Ft. BR FBA PBA

Quail Walk Ln Oakridge Court Eagle Ridge Dr East Ridge Ct Willow Creek Ln Blackhawk Meadow Dr

$1,950,000 $3,999,500 $4,500,000 $4,688,800 $5,888,888 $9,999,500

Kingswood Cir Buttonwood Dr Live Oak Dr Buttonwood Dr Pin Oak Pl Deer Crest Dr Deer Trail Dr Buttonwood Dr Silver Maple Dr Magnolia Pl Deer Hollow Dr Deer Meadow Dr Blackhawk Drive Deer Hollow Dr Blackhawk Meadow Dr Blackhawk Drive

$1,250,000 $1,900,000 $1,938,889 $1,940,000 $2,109,000 $2,120,000 $2,150,000 $2,228,888 $2,300,001 $2,550,000 $2,600,000 $2,727,500 $2,950,000 $3,025,000 $3,598,800 $4,200,000

2258 2526 2751 2526 2738 3552 2926 2473 2780 4354 4180 3800 4700 3716 7012 6236

Sq.Ft. BR FBA PBA 2578 4523 7010 7172 7000 10075

3 5 4 5 6 5

2 4 4 5 6 5

1 1 2 1 2 0

PENDING BLACKHAWK LISTINGS 11/10/2021 Street List Price Sq.Ft. BR FBA PBA Live Oak Dr Cottonwood Dr Liquidamber Pl Live Oak Dr Deer Meadow Dr Deer Meadow Ct Buttonwood Dr Mossy Oak Dr Whispering Oaks Ln Canyon Oak Pl Blue Spruce Dr Blackhawk Meadow Dr

$1,685,000 $1,895,000 $1,899,000 $1,965,000 $1,995,000 $1,998,000 $1,999,000 $2,198,000 $2,295,000 $2,398,000 $2,495,000 $3,698,800

2375 3024 2782 2806 2557 2347 2702 2968 3542 3135 3763 6072

4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 5 4 5

2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 6

1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

3 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 4 4 5 5 5 4 6 6

2 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 5 3 6 5

1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 1

Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the real estate community in the area. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in the magazine is separate from the statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.

Source: BridgeMLS 11/10/2021

Michelle Nagle is Proudly Representing your Community! Experience - Service - Integrity - Results! We are the largest, independently owned and operated real estate company serving Northern California communities. 13 Offices and 500 agents producing nearly 5 Billion in annual sales volume. Ranked among the top five in the nation for both per agent productivity and highest average sales price. Agent driven 1% For Good Charitable Foundation has generated over $3.4 million in charitable donations.

Silicon Valley | SF Peninsula | East Bay | Santa Cruz | Tahoe

• 20 + Years of Real Estate Experience • UC Berkeley Graduate, Licensed Real Estate Broker & Proud Mother! • I work, volunteer and live as friends among friends in your community • Experienced Negotiation Skills to serve my client’s best interests • Extensive use of Technology based resources and Marketing • Your Real Estate Transaction will be handled with the utmost diligence and personal care! • Excellence, Service and Results

Michelle Nagle | 925.872.1478 mnagle@sereno.com NagleNagle.com DRE 01261283 Thinking of buying or selling a home in 2021? Call Me Today! BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 11

December

Sun., Dec. 12 Here We Come A-Caroling

@Blackhawk Country Club An evening with the Blackhawk Chorus to get you in the spirit. Time 5:30pm To reserve your tickets, visit blackhawkcc.org

Sat., Dec. 18th Puttin On The Ritz

@AuburnLounge Roaring Holiday Concert Fundraising Event Hosted by Auburn Lounge Time: 6-9:30pm

Fri. Dec., 24 Christmas Eve Dinner

@Blackhawk Country Club Spend Christmas Eve at a festive dinner with the Blackhawk Community. Time: Seating starts at 4pm To reserve your spot, visit blackhawkcc.org

Fri. Dec., 31 Family New Year’s Eve Party

@Blackhawk Country Club Celebrate New Year’s in New York at the Lakeside Ballroom. Sparking Cider and

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Champage toast at midnight New York time. Dinner, dancing, games and more. Time: 6-9:30pm To reserve your spot, visit blackhawkcc.org

Through Dec. 18 (Thurs. - Sun. evenings) Garden of D’Lights @Ruth Bancroft Garden Experience the Ruth Bancroft Garden in a whole new way at this year’s Garden of D’Lights. With more lights and more lasers, this year’s Garden of D’Lights is set to be better than ever. Guests of all ages are in for a holiday treat as they meander through the Garden’s 3.5 acres of mature cacti, succulents and trees that are transformed into magical colorful botanical sculptures by thousands of lights. Don’t miss this special opportunity to enjoy the holiday season safely outdoors in the Garden of d’Lights! Timed tickets by reservation only @5:30, 6:30 or 7:30 pm. Cost: $20 adults, $10 children 6-15, free for children 5 and under Ruthbancroftgarden.org

2nd Thursday of each month WIDOW SUPPORT AND SOCIAL GROUP

@ Lakeside Boardroom, 599 Blackhawk

Club Drive Danville. TOPICS INCLUDE: Dealing with stress. Staying healthy. Making new friends. Enjoying your life and having more fun. Optional no-host lunch at Lakeside Clubhouse Grille. Elevator available. Chair: Ann Taylor. Please contact Ann at 925-838-5556 or anntaylor007@ comcast.net. All widows are welcome. NO CHARGE FOR MEETINGS. Time: 10:15-11:45am

Every Monday During Football Season Football at The Falls FOOD STATIONS 5:00PM THROUGH 3RD QUARTER RAFFLE AT HALF TIME NO HOST BAR OPENS ONE HOUR BEFORE GAME START ADMISSION: ADULTS $25++ KIDS 11 & UNDER $14

Save the date:

Start The New Year Off Right Hall-of-famer MJ McColgan’s 7th Annual Red Cross Gift Of Life Blood Drive When: Friday, January 14. 10:00 am to 4:00pm Where: Blackhawk Lakeside Small Ball Room 1 pint saves 3 lives DECEMBER 2021

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BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 13

By Nicole DeBoer

Traditions Around the World

ecember 6, also known as Saint Nicholas’ Day, recognizes the third-century saint who became an inspiration for the modernday Santa Claus. He is known for selling all his belongings and giving his money to the poor. He was also known to leave coins in people’s shoes and give surprise gifts throughout his lifetime.

Stories that have been passed down from his time later became the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. Interested in how different parts of the world celebrate St. Nicholas’ Day? Here are a few: In the Netherlands, the celebration begins with parades around the country, announcing Saint Nicholas’ arrival from Spain. This is what is known as Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) in Dutch. Almost every town has an annual arrival parade, frequently including someone dressed as Sinterklaas on a carriage, boat, horse, or even helicopter. In the time between Sinterklaas’ arrival and St. Nicholas’ Day, he will travel to hospitals, schools and homes, leaving small presents for well-behaved children. Children will often supply a carrot, hay and a bowl of water for Sinterklaas’ horse. In several other countries, children will often leave a shoe or boot in front of their fireplace or front door, praying to wake up to find it stuffed with gifts from St. Nick. The gifts can range anything from mandarin oranges and hot chocolate to candy and coins…but he knows if you’ve been bad or good because misbehaving children will receive a stick. Not only do children receive attention on St. Nicholas’ Day, but unmarried women as well. In Italy, unmarried women might attend a special mass on St. Nicholas’ Day to participate in Rito delle nubili, a ritual where they turn a column seven times to help guide their luck in finding a life partner. In some countries, the eve of the holiday is more meaningful than the day itself. In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas’ Eve is celebrated with gift exchanges and a large feast. Multiple variations of wine, bread, St. Nicholas-shaped cookies and a special main dish are usually served. In France, the menu might look like pork with mustard and apples, and in Germany, you might find yourself enjoying Pfannkuchen, German pancakes. I challenge you to start a new, fun way to celebrate the great St. Nicholas, that can be passed down in your family from generation to generation. Source: blog.mangolanguages. com/5-awesome-traditions-to-celebrate-st.-nicholas-day

DECEMBER 2021

Pet Corner

Tri-Valley Animal Rescue By Janine Collins, Blackhawk resident since 1999

Opie - Shelter Dog At The East County Animal Shelter

OPIE HAS A NEW HOME!! Meet Opie, a 4 year old Whippet mix that was surrendered to the East County Animal Shelter because his family, who had him since he was a puppy, were moving and couldn’t take Opie with them. At the shelter he was too shut down and timid to be made available for adoption. Recognizing that this sweet and gentle boy just did not understand what was happening to him, TVAR made him one of our “special projects”. He just needed Tender Loving Care to mend his broken heart. While TVAR looked for a foster, Opie blossomed at the shelter and was put up for adoption. Within a week or two Opie was adopted by a loving person who fell for Opie just as we did. Dogs like Opie who need that extra time and attention are given that second chance because of TVAR’s shelter and foster volunteers. And we get the joy of seeing a deserving dog get adopted and find his new forever home.

Tri-Valley Animal R escue (T var) Giving Them Another Chance

TVAR is a locally based and volunteer run 501(c)3 animal rescue organization. We assist in saving over 1,000 animals yearly in the TriValley and surrounding areas. We are celebrating just short of 30 years

of saving lives with over 250 local volunteers. At TVAR, we rely solely on Public Support to fund our life saving programs. All TVAR’s foster animals go directly from the local Animal Shelter into foster homes where they receive much needed love and socialization and where they are kept until adopted. Foster families get to know each animal’s personality and needs in a home setting allowing TVAR to find the right match so kittens, puppies, dogs and cats - and adopters - thrive! We also have an invaluable Shelter Program where our volunteers spend countless hours every day at the local shelter caring for and socializing the Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens, and helping them find new forever homes as we did with Opie. For more information see our website: www.tvar.org

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 15

Blackhawk Bloomers

Holiday plants that offer

peace, good will and success to all By Aly Baker, Blackhawk Bloomers Publicity

lowers don’t always get the credit they deserve, often overlooked by Christmas trees, garland, and candles. There are many colorful blooms and plants that are synonymous with the holiday season and have meanings as beautiful as their appearances. Poinsettias The Poinsettia is the December birth flower and symbolizes good cheer and success. These festive plants are among the most popular to decorate with during the holiday season. Many people think the vibrant red, white or pink blooms are flowers, but they’re actually colored leaves known as bracts. Native to Mexico, Poinsettias thrive in bright sunshine and don’t require a lot of watering. Holly Holly is often thought of as a Christmas plant due to the fact female holly bushes grow bright red berries around the holiday season. The red berries really pop against the bright green leaves,

exemplifying the two most popular colors of the season. Holly symbolizes peace and goodwill as well as domestic happiness. Amaryllis The amaryllis is an elegant flower that typically grows in red or white – perfect for the holiday season! Amaryllis symbolizes pride, strength and determination as seen from the tall bloomers, which make great centerpieces for holiday get-togethers. The Blackhawk Bloomers wish everyone a joyous holiday season. To learn more about the Bloomers, contact Rose Gogarty at rosegogarty@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 2021

34th annual Blackhawk Food Drive By Jayne Tizzano, Chairwoman, Blackhawk Food Drive

Benefitting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

December 7, 8 and 9, 2021 https://give.foodbankccs.org/Blackhawk Virtual Food Drive

he needs of our communities have increased dramatically in terms of both the number of people going to the Food Bank for help and how much food is needed. Both of these metrics are up from last year. The Food Bank is servicing 80,000 more people per month than last year for a total of 260,000 /month. It is also giving “kitchen-free” boxes to those impacted by the devastating fires. These boxes require no cooking and contain food that is ready to consume. So far 12,000 boxes have been provided to those in need. The Food Bank also partners with 260 local non-profits to provide food to those in need. In 2020 Blackhawk had our first ever “Virtual Food Drive” due to COVID. Just over $15,000 was donated by the residents of all Blackhawk communities.

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We will repeat that “Virtual Drive” for 2021. The Food Banks’ buying power is remarkable. It is able to purchase fruits and vegetables for $0.12/lb. and can provide 2 meals for every $1.00 in donations. Shelf stable items like canned chicken, tuna, peanut butter, pasta, applesauce, cereal, canned corn, milk and canned peaches were the most common items purchased in 2021 to date. The Virtual Food Drive page will open on Tuesday, December 7 at 6am and close Thursday, December 9 at 5pm. Thank you in advance for your generosity Blackhawk!

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 17

Crafts Corner

Christmas Crafting By Michelle Barry, Resident since 2018

he best part about the holidays is spending it with family, and crafting together is a great way to make it fun and memorable. I have great memories of past Christmases. Specifically, one when I was seven years old. My father was working in Lake Tahoe. It was my first Christmas spent in the snow. My father cut down our Christmas tree, a ten footer, and my four sisters and I decorated it with homemade ornaments. Our dog, Lulu, had just given birth to nine puppies, and we were able to bring them with us. We had a wonderful time.

A snowflake ornament made from toilet paper rolls.

Remembering that Christmas, I found a great article on creating eco-friendly holiday crafts that I thought I would share with you this month. Here’s the link: https://www.gathered.how/arts-crafts/ eco-friendly-christmas-crafts/

A Tree Made With Twigs collected from Blackhawk Meadow Drive.

There are 41 different ideas; I tried four of them and they were super simple. I think kids, really anyone, would find them fun to make and the results very satisfying.

Garland Gingerbread Houses Made From Cardboard

Have a wonderful holiday season! Again, if you make anything from my articles, please post them on Instagram at #BHLMCrafts, I’d love to see them. Happy Holidays! Stay safe and enjoy your family and friends. With Joy, Michelle Barry Ohio Stars Made From Wrapping Paper & Fabric

DECEMBER 2021

Cars and Coffee

Car Enthusiast Group By David Tom, Resident Since 1990

he sense of community is what makes living in this area wonderful. The “Car Enthusiast” is a Nextdoor group formed to build relationships among neighbors that have a passion for cars. We have grown to 200 members and held our inaugural meetup at Blackhawk Plaza on October 10, 2021. It was a casual opportunity to meet fellow members and talk about their pride and joy. We had 30 beautiful vehicles to admire. Next up, a January 2022, private docent-led tour of the Blackhawk Museum along with other exciting events. Love cars? Please join us.

David Tom: I have lived in Danville for 30 years. I retired from the corporate tax world and now pursue a variety of projects that interest me. I have always loved cars and look forward to sharing them with you.

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 19

Expert Contributor

The NINE Loan: Common Sense, Non-traditional, even Revolutionary! By W. Todd Galde, CrossCountry Mortgage

For the way you live today. Traditional home loans focus on traditional income and employment. These days, that leaves a lot of people out. It’s time for a home loan that recognizes your full financial picture. Meet The NINE Loan: No Income, No Employment. Your strong financial profile is the key. You may have the financial means to get a loan for your primary residence, but standard documents don’t tell the whole story. Rigid income and employment requirements may restrict your chances of getting a conventional home loan. The NINE Loan relies on a strong down payment, good credit history, and robust post-closing reserves. The NINE Loan can help: • Self-employed people with low verifiable income. • Individuals and families who want to buy a new home before they sell the current one. • Retirees with little or no verifiable income who need funds to renovate their home. • Real estate investors buying their primary residence • People who want a vacation home but can’t qualify on their current income. • Professional athletes or entertainers with unique income (signing bonuses, short-term contracts). • Restaurant owners who need capital. The NINE Loan offers financing for your primary residence by recognizing your unique circumstances, without the hassle of demanding traditional paperwork. We look beyond the requirements of a conventional loan. Instead, we consider: •

• •

Down payment and equity. The minimum down payment on a purchase is 25%. For refinances, loan-to-value ratios will vary depending on credit scores, property types, and cashout amounts. Overall financial profile, including post-closing reserves. The minimum reserve requirement will vary between 3-12 months of total monthly payments. Decent credit and on-time payment history. The minimum credit score is 660.

If The NINE Loan sounds like your loan, I’m ready to make it happen. Contact me today. 20

DECEMBER 2021

We feature business promotions, community events, news around town and more!

BLACKHAWK PLASTIC SURGERY & MEDSPA

• Surgical and Non-Surgical Procedures • Accredited Private Surgery Center • Call for your Free Consultation

925.736.5757 3600 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Danville, California 94506 BlackhawkPlasticSurgery.com

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BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 21

Happy Holidays! It’s the best time of the year to spread joy and cheer to all of our wonderful Blackhawk neighbors!

BLACKHAWK YTD ACTIVITY*

Homes Sold

$132M Sales Volume

Joujou Chawla chawlarealestate.com 510.406.4836 joujou.chawla@chawlarealestate.com

DRE 00890002 22

Home Sold Every Week

*Through November 5, 2021

“Joujou and her team exceeded our expectations. They were friendly, professional, extremely responsive, punctual, and truly a pleasure to work with. The process from beginning to end, was seamless and we could tell we were in good hands the whole way through. We can’t recommend her and her team highly enough and look forward to using her services when needed in the future.” — 2021 Seller

DECEMBER 2021

Top 105

$1.3 B+

380+

36+

In Blackhawk

Nationwide per

Lifetime Sales

Lifetime Homes

Years of

2013-2020

2021 WSJ

Value

Sold in Blackhawk

Real Estate

Real Trends

Experience

Blackhawk • $4,688,800

Blackhawk

16 East Ridge Court

4455 Deer Ridge Road

•

$3,071,250

ACTIVE

5 Bed 5.5 Bath 16eridgect.com Blackhawk

•

7,172 Sq Ft

0.52 Acres

$3,598,800

Blackhawk •

3279 Blackhawk Meadow Drive

6 Bed 6.5 Bath 7,012 Sq Ft Represented Seller Blackhawk •

5 Bed 3.5 Bath 3,711 Sq Ft Represented Seller

SOLD $100K+ OVER LP*

0.75 Acres

5005 Blackhawk Drive

Blackhawk •

3384 Deer Hollow Drive

SOLD $280K+ OVER LP*

0.38 Acres

$2,950,000

5 Bed 5.5 Bath 4,700 Sq Ft Represented Buyer & Seller

$2,600,000

Blackhawk

0.48 Acres

$1,570,000

5 Bed 3 Full + 2 Half Bath 4,180 Sq Ft 0.47 Acres Represented Buyer

0.42 Acres

$2,727,500

5 Bed 3.5 Bath 3,800 Sq Ft Represented Seller •

SOLD $80K+ OVER LP*

0.50 Acres

$3,698,800

3170 Blackhawk Meadow Drive SOLD

3 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,815 Sq Ft Represented Buyer & Seller

14 Deer Meadow Court, Blackhawk

•

SOLD $200K+ OVER LP*

3015 Deer Meadow Drive

Blackhawk

887 Redwood Drive SOLD PENDIN

$2,800,000

5 Bed 4 Bath 3,835 Sq Ft Represented Buyer & Seller Blackhawk

SOLD $85K+ OVER LP*

•

5106 Blackhawk Drive

0.13 Acres

PENDING

5 Bed 6 Bath 6,072 Sq Ft Representing Seller

0.41 Acres

• Pending • $1,998,000 • 3 Bed • 2.5 Bath • 2,347 Sq Ft • 0.46 Acres • Representing Buyer

Compass is a licensed real estate broker in California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 23

Local Sports

The HOX Swim Team Updates By Coach Sean Quakenbush | Photos courtesy of Miki Tsubota

he HOX swim team has had a great 2021 Fall swim season with over 125 swimmers ages 5-18 improving their strokes every day in the pool and many swimmers attending six swim meets from San Ramon to Novato! Several of our swimmers are aiming to qualify for the USA Swimming Winter Junior Olympics that will be held in Santa Clara in early December. Congratulations to Graham Hodson, Lucas Tsubota, Harlow Heiden and Nathan Kondapalli, who recently qualified for the Winter Junior Olympics. The HOX swim team has run a strong and successful swim program in the local and county swim community for over 36 years and is riding high after going undefeated in dual meets over the past three seasons and taking home the championship trophy at the Valley Swim Association league championship two years in a row! Our team is committed to running the best program in the community, not only from a swimming perspective but understanding the importance of foster positive developmental growth in young

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Coach Sean Quakenbush

athletes. The team supports and develops swimmers of all ages starting with its Learn-to-Swim program, the pre-competition Mini-HOX group and the HOX swim team. The swimmers and families create lifelong friendships in and out of the pool through the many practices, competitions, and social events our team attends or sponsors every season. If you’d like to learn more about the swim team please contact Sean Quackenbush, Aquatics Director at Blackhawk Country Club and HOX Head Swim Coach at seanq@blackhawcc.org.

About the Head Coach Sean is an accomplished and experienced athlete and coach. During his swimming career he was the Minnesota High School State Champion in the 100-yard butterfly, a three-time Big Ten Champion and record holder at the University of Minnesota. Sean is a 12-time All-American and a University of Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame inductee. He was named to the USA National Swim

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DECEMBER 2021

savoring

THE SEASON

Find the ingredients to elevate any family recipe and the ready-made components to supplement your home-cooked meals.

Team and swam in the US Olympic Trials, World Cup Games, and the US Open, where he was a Gold and Silver medalist. In addition to being a highly decorated swimmer, Sean is also an accomplished coach and leader. Following his competitive career, he was an Assistant Coach for the Division 1 swim program at Michigan State University. He holds a MS in Sport Psychology from MSU and has hosted dozens of swim clinics and taught private lessons for swimmers of all ages. 2022 will be Sean’s 7th season with the HOX. In 2021 Sean lead the HOX to the team’s second VSA league championship and an undefeated dual meet season for a third consecutive year. Sean is passionate about transforming good swimmers to become great swimmers. Sean also believes that swimming teaches important life lessons like working hard, setting and striving for goals, competing, and forming friendships that last a lifetime.

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BLACKHAWK • SAN MATEO • MENLO PARK • LOS ALTOS Blackhawk open 7am - 8pm Menlo Park, San Mateo and Los Altos open 7am - 9pm

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 25

Local Sports

Drew Dunning Done Mustang Good! by Cara Douglas

soccer and baseball athlete throughout his youth, Drew tried out for the freshman football team and made the squad. Attending Monte Vista High School, Drew played defensive end in his first year of the 2021 season. When asked what attracts him to the sport, Drew said, “I want to play football because you can be praised for taking somebody down.” Drew noted that he looked forward to getting out and getting to do something physical and fun following a year at home due to COVID. Like many football players, Drew quickly learned that football is not just about scoring the big TD. “Football is physical, but it also requires a lot of thinking, executing plays, and special techniques,” noted Drew. Even though the season is over, it’s natural that Drew wishes the freshman team had fared better. The freshman team lost four coaches in the early season and as a result, the team had a small roster. Still, Drew stuck with the team and, win or lose, he showed up and was ready to play. That’s the Mustang spirit!

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The NINE Loan:

Common sense, non-traditional, even Revolutionary! NO INCOME, NO EMPLOYMENT. A STRONG DOWN PAYMENT, GOOD CREDIT HISTORY, AND ROBUST POST-CLOSING RESERVES ARE THE KEY.

Talk to me about The NINE Loan if you’re: Î Î Î Î

Self-employed with low verifiable income. Ready to buy a new home before selling the current one. Retired but need renovation funds. Earning non-traditional income.

Let’s connect today.

W. Todd Galde, VP | NMLS256864

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M 925.381.8190 | D 925.854.5238 Todd.Galde@myccmortgage.com ToddGalde.com

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CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC | 3130 Crow Canyon Pl. Ste. 215, San Ramon CA 94583 | CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC does not provide tax advice. Consult a tax advisor for further information. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. The testimonials presented do not match every applicant’s situation. Every applicant’s financing situation is different. Results are not typical. All loans subject to underwriting approval. Certain restrictions apply. Call for details. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS3029 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Branch NMLS2029980 26

DECEMBER 2021

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 27

Local Sports

Blackhawk Women’s

Golf Newsletter By Janice Lind, Resident since 1989

Oct 14th Charm Day Group photo

eady or not, here comes the season of celebration. So far, the best tip I’ve seen on how to balance the holidays is with a xmas cookie in one hand and a festive cocktail in the other. I’ll let you know how my in depth investigation works out. In the meantime, we can celebrate the members who put some early sparkle in their game starting with the October 14th last Charm Day of the year: Overall Low Gross – Laura Carlson and Nicole Tucker – 91 Overall Low Net – Nancy Corbin – 71 Flight A – Low Gross – Lydia Shell - 83 Low Net – Nancy Lisiak – 74 Flight B – Low Gross – Kim Davis – 95

Low Net – Anna Li - 77 Flight C Low Gross – Lisa Cook - 104 Low Net – Ronda Stroka and Judy Ma – 80 Flight D Low Gross – Pam Hightow and Judy Slinger – 106 Low Net – Julia Leng – 80

Captain Paula Hamra orchestrated our annual Captain’s Cup tournament on October 20th and 21st on our Falls course. Teams of four played in drenching rain the first half of day one and perfect weather the next. In other words, typical Captains Cup weather! Almost $3,000.00 was raised to be divided between this year’s two charities, Pug Rescue and Blackhawk Scholarship Fund. Here is the result of the competition:

Overall Low Gross for 2021 – Lily Weng with an 84

Overall Low Net for 2021 – Nicole Barger and Anna LI tied with a 75

It has been an amazing year sharing golf on two beautifully maintained courses. There were so many great events guided by a very hardworking and truly kind Captain Paula Hamra along with our pro Matt Capasso. We have been fortunate to have the enthusiastic participation of our fabulous membership and are so excited to welcome two new members, Lisa Chapman and Karyn Giannini into the BWGA family. Rumor has it that 2022 just might be even better. Make sure you’re on board for all the fun. And remember, it’s the Holidays, count your blessings, not your calories! Jan Lind BWGA Publicity

Capt Cup, Pug Flight Winners

PUGS FLIGHT: 1st Place – Betsy Jenkins, Kathy Giroux, Kim Davis, Lydia Shell – 246

3rd Place – Linda Maduwura, Nicole Tucker, Nancy Corbin, Sallie Cooke - 250

2nd Place – Nancy Lisiak, Denise Benger, Lydia Morasky, Blind Draw - 247

4th Place – Anne Kuelz, Lisa Winsten, Aly Baker, Nicole Barger - 252

Nicole Barger, Lily Weng.

STUDENTS FLIGHT: 1st Place – Linda Rasmussen, Jayne Hegenbart, Jan Lind, Lisa Cook - 239

3rd Place – Mary O’Leary, Denise Mallozzi, Margaret Jones, Judy Slinger - 250

2nd Place – Julia Leng, Anna Li, Myong Jarvis, Young Cohen - 241

4th Place – Nancy Levin, Terry Portillo, Fillo Carathimas, Lisa Chapman – 253

If you were lucky and talented enough to have won overall low gross or overall low net on any monthly Charm Day, you qualified to participate in November 4th’s annual play-off. Lakeside offered up some soggy and challenging holes, but our winners obviously persevered! Drum Roll Please:

Capt Cup, Student Flight Winners Captain Paula Hamra

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DECEMBER 2021

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Local Sports

Mustang Soccer Annual General Meeting By Melissa Durkee, Mustang Soccer Club

n November 15, 2021, Mustang Soccer held our Annual General Meeting. The nominating slate for the new board members was presented and voted on by the membership, and many were presented with special recognition awards. New Board Members, Vice President: Kelvin Downes, Recreational Director, Boys: Roy Nicholson, and Parliamentarian: Melissa Ennen will begin their three year term in 2022. Linda Ziemba Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Marianne Winter-Greene, in recognition for generously volunteering her time and energy on behalf of all the youth of the Mustang Soccer League. Rick Samson Memorial Volunteer Award was presented to Seth Blackman, in recognition for generously volunteering his time and energy on behalf of the competitive youth athletes of the Mustang Soccer League.

Student Athlete Awards were presented to six student athletes, who are seniors in high school, in recognition of their altruistic and valuable contributions to Mustang Soccer, outstanding performance as a soccer athlete, and exemplary academic achievements. This year’s recipients are Jeslyn Baraceros, Charlyse Berry, Morgan Brillheart, Isabella de Melo, Jayna Huang, Ashlee Leung, Kaela Standish, and Luke Swennunsom. Youth Coaches were given special recognition for their willingness to assist with our Recreational program, allowing more youth the ability to play on a team. Thank you to Madison Bauer, Avery Bingham, Katie Curran, Dalia Jiha, Riann Juroff, Riya Khanna, Ashlee Leung, Neal Malik, and Riley Martin.

Bob Oxenburgh “Honor the Game” Award was presented to Mark Bartlett, in recognition for best exemplifying the spirit of “honoring the game” through his actions and sportsmanship, demonstrating to the children of youth that the game and its values are more important than a victory. Kinnear Competitive Coach of the Year Award was presented to Steve Wondolowski, in recognition for always putting the betterment of his players first, in all trainings and games. He displays integrity, perseverance, and a commitment to the philosophy of our competitive program. Referee of the Year Award was presented to Adult Referee, Larry Keil, and Youth Referees, Amanda Kayari & Devin Neville, who all officiated a minimum of 20 games this Fall season as both centers and AR, have positive attitudes, demonstrated professionalism, are good listeners, and live our Mustang Soccer Referee Motto, “Learn and practice something every game!”

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DECEMBER 2021

Local Sports

High School Sports Update

Many

WORLDS W WO ORL R DS One MUSEUM M MUSE USEUM

t tm

Now Open

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays

World of Nature

By Ricky Helton, Resident since 2004

t’s been an exciting local high school football season to say the least. Here are some of my favorite shots from recent games. These boys are leaving everything on the field.

Endries not going down without a fight

Reserved Tickets Required Available at blackhawkmuseum.org

Dyllan Devitt under pressure

Now Open

Automobile Gallery Nathan Price punter

The Spirit of The Old West

Art of Africa

Into China

925-736-2277 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle • Danville, CA We are following all COVID-19 protocols.

I’ve been a resident of Danville since 2004. My wife and I have a daughter at Stone Valley Middle School and a son who is a Senior at Monte Vista. My wife, Grace, is a San Ramon High School alumni. I do sideline photography for Niners Nation and I love to capture sports and action. Most importantly, I love our community and I like to capture its awesome moments. More photos from other sports in our area can also be seen at my Facebook page RickyHeltonPhotography BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 31

Arts and Culture

Puttin' On The Ritz:

Roaring Holiday Concert Fundraising Event, Hosted by Auburn Lounge By Eve Marie Shahoian, The Jazz Room

Vocalist Eve Marie Shahoian with trio and special guests

Jazz • Swing • Holiday Classics Come as a flapper or come as you are Dress as a gangster or silent screen star It’s going to be fun no matter the dress Walk the red carpet under the lighted tents Santa and his elves will be there to lend a hand as we raise money for Winter Nights Family Shelter while enjoying live music!

No Host Bar Signature drinks to order and delicious food menus $10 Suggested Donation to Winter Nights Family Shelter Silent Auction & Red Carpet photo opportunity with Santa begins @ 6pm Music begins @ 7pm Sponsored by Orinda Jazz Festival, Cottage Jewel, The Jazz Room and Danville Chamber of Commerce Hosted by Auburn Lounge

DECEMBER 2021

Expert Contributor

Zillow

and what’s to come for 2022 By Tiffany Stock, Real Estate Broker, Keller Williams

ep, as you can see, prices are still rising and demand is still strong! Competition has been driving up prices. Any real estate investor understands this is not the ideal time to buy, but there are families still wanting to live here and own their own home. Well for buyers there will be a little less competition, as Zillow has thrown in the towel and announced they will not be buying any more homes that are not already in contract through its instant buyer (ibuyer) program. Zillow said “hit its capacity for buying homes for the remainder of the year.” According to an employee’s email. Zillow’s CEO Rich Barton said, “we’ve determined the unpredictability in forecasting home prices far exceeds what we anticipated.” Other ibuyers are still out there, but personally I saw Zillow as the biggest. I wonder if others will follow? Time will tell.

Zillow uses algorithms to determine how much they will buy for, but it’s not as easy as they thought it would be fixing up houses, and they started seeing that when they actually needed local people to DO the work. Inspections, painting, carpet and contractors are also in high demand, and finding good people is harder than it looks. If you’ve tried to get any work done lately you know how difficult it is. In the second quarter of the year, according to Zillow, they bought 3,800 homes. In August, Zillow borrowed $450 million in a bond offering. On Oct. 18, Zillow shares fell 6.8% in premarket trading after the announcement of the halt in homebuying. Zillow stock also fell this year in the double digits. My crystal ball tells me that if selling is on your horizon, do it now, because crashes come fast and hard, and anything that goes up must come down.

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Tassajara Hills Elementary School Updates

A Night to Remember Benefitting Tassajara Hills Elementary School By Janice Kim, President, Tassajara Hills Elementary School Foundation

hat a night! We are so grateful for the support of the Blackhawk community and beyond for making the Tassajara Hills Elementary Foundation Auction a huge success! Our Auction, presented by the Kehrig Real Estate Team, took place on October 16th at the beautiful Blackhawk Country Club. Over 220 guests, including parents, sponsors, teachers and staff, gathered for an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, exciting raffles and games, the live auction, and dancing under the stars. We are very appreciative of the many local businesses and families who donated items, sponsored our Auction, bid on items in our Silent and Live Auctions, and helped in a multitude of ways. So much gratitude to our team of amazing volunteers, led by Auction Chair Sarah Thompson and Procurement Chair Shirine Mitchell, who made this all possible.

A picturesque setting at Blackhawk Country Club

Together as a community, we did something incredibly impactful for the students and families of Tassajara Hills. By generating approximately $130,000 net from this Auction, we will be able to continue funding staff salaries and educational enrichment programs that allow us to deliver a premium public school education for our kids. They will continue to soar, and so will our local community. Thank you, all!

Tassajara Hills Parents- Mark & April Arundine, Mike & Megan Scott, Janice (Foundation President) & David Yosifon

Auction Chair Sarah Thompson and Procurement Chair Shirine Mitchell Tassajara Hills Foundation President Janice Kim Yosifon and David Yosifon Tassajara Hills Elementary Principal Annabel Hurlburt 34

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Recipe

Pumpkin Flavored Cookies By Parisa Z. Ambwani, Resident since 1983 Serves 8 • Preheat oven to 350-degree F. sheet with parchment paper

Line 1 rimmed cookie

Sweet-Pastry Dough Ingredients: • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour • 2 teaspoons baking powder (aluminum-free) • 1 dash sea salt (sift together flour, baking powder and salt-2 times) • ¾ cup sugar, ground • 1½ sticks sweet butter, cut into 12 small pieces and chill • 2 large eggs at room temperature (slightly whisk eggs and lemon zest together) 1 lemon zest (grated peel) about 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Filling: • 1 cup harvest-butternut squash, baked, pureed • 1 dash of each spice: Mace, clove, and all-spice • ¼ teaspoon of each spice: Nutmeg and cinnamon, freshly ground • 1 dash sea salt • 1 teaspoon unsweetened butter • 2 teaspoons sugar, powder

together to form like a sandwich. Transfer pumpkin cookies sandwich onto the parchment paper,1inch apart. Bake in preheated 350-degree F. oven, on the middle rack, about 8-10 minutes or until cookies are firm and have slight color change. Remove cookies to cooling rack. Cooled cookies will be tender. Holistic Journey: Immerse yourself in the fragrances of daily pleasures, but make sure that this enjoyment does not interfere with your spiritual growth. About Parisa Z. Ambwani: Parisa, a native of Persia who moved to Blackhawk in 1983, has a BA in Fine Arts. Deeply influenced by her mother’s cooking, she has spent three decades writing cookbooks and pairing food with her poetry, philosophy, herbs and spices, and herbal teas. Parisa’s unique cookbooks are known for their merging of useful culinary information with a clear understanding of the relationship with other human beings and with the universe. She has followed this recipe to write and photograph six books that weave her beliefs into caring words on how to live life to the fullest. Learn more by visiting her website, enlightenedrecipes.com

How to Make Sweet Pastry-Dough: To food processor, add sifted ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt), and sugar. Pulse a few times to mix well. Add butter pieces one by one through feed tube, as you pulse each time. Then add egg-lemon mixture into feed tube while food processor is running. Pulse a few more times until all the flour is mixed in and the dough cleans the bowl of all flour. Remove dough from food processor and wrap in thin plastic wrap; place in sealed plastic zip bag and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. When you are ready to make cookies, remove dough from refrigerator and leave out for 1-2 hours until it reaches room temperature before rolling. Cover a wooden board with thin plastic wrap, place pastry dough on the plastic wrap and cover with another plastic wrap. With your hands, press gently on top of dough to create a smooth flat surface. Roll dough to ¼ -inch thick. Remove top plastic wrap from pastry dough. Use 2 ½-inch pumpkin cookie cutter (dust the edge with flour) to cut pastry dough; cut all the same size and shape, one for the top (with a small cut for making a creative design in the middle of dough), the other one for the bottom with filling. Mix, all pumpkin filling in food processor until creamy. Spread 2 teaspoons of filling in the center design cut out. Gently press

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 35

Golf Destinations

The Norman Course at PGA West

By Chuck Fox, Owner, Quintessential Golf, Resident since 2012

Santa Rosa Mountains Sizable Bunkers Plenty of Water

ith 124 golf courses, Coachella Valley is a 40 mile desert valley in Southern California bounded on the west by the Santa Rosa Mountains. The village of La Quinta includes PGA West, a semi-private golf club. The newest course, PGA West Norman course is the only Greg Norman-designed course in the Coachella Valley.

Five Public Access courses Five public golf courses are available for guests of the PGA West complex. Three PGA courses - Norman, Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium course. Two courses, the Mountain Course and the Dunes Course, next to the resort complex also provide public guest tee times. Members of PGA West have access to four additional private courses.

PGA West Norman Course Entering from Madison Avenue, which separates the Stadium course, you’ll see a compact modern clubhouse with a lush practice range and an ample short game area. Less notable than the other PGA West courses, hence less busy, it’s a superb addition. A compact design with only sixty acres of fairway, Norman crafted a playable yet challenging course. Imagine punchbowl fairways that deflect balls toward the middle correcting an offline shot. Larger errant shots may bounce the other direction. With limited land, the fairways are narrower and large firm sandy waste areas replace rough. They shape eighteen acres of water into play on nine holes. Repeatedly, you encounter shots over water. You’ll need precision and courage. Sharp colors are everywhere. Contrasts between sandy browns waste areas, multi-colored wildflowers, brown wispy grasses, white

crushed marble bunkers, lush green fairways (and greens), and blue water create a gleaming palette. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced vibrant colors so consistent throughout the layout. We share scenic mountain vistas of the Santa Rosa Mountains with the other La Quinta courses. The color and mountain combination are dazzling. The golf is fair and fun. Try the PGA West Norman course as a respite from the grueling tracks of the other two PGA West public courses.

If You Go: Course Info - PGA West is a semi-private club with three public golf courses, Norman, Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium and three private courses, Nicklaus Private, Weiskopf and Palmer. Its sister property La Quinta Resort & Club has two public courses Mountain and Dunes and one private course - Citrus. Location - One hundred and thirty miles east of Los Angeles and twenty minutes from the Palm Springs airport. Lodging - La Quinta Resort and Club is a Waldorf Astoria property. PGA West has condos and homes for rent throughout the complex. Find High resolution photos at: https://www.quintessentialgolf. com/destinations/pgawest-norman/

Quintessential Golf (https://www.quintessentialgolf.com) A source of golf travel inspiration, Quintessential Golf online magazine spotlights the most spectacular, enduring and scenic courses, resorts and golf adventures. Written from a players point-of-view, articles include magnificent high-resolution course images. Brought to you by Chuck Fox, single-digit golfer, writer and photographer based in Danville, California, he is fulfilling his passion and dream to play, photograph and share the romance and beauty of golf throughout North America.

DECEMBER 2021

Kid’s Corner

Blackhawk Kids Update By Blackhawk Kids Club

Blackhawk Country Club has so many festive activities lined up for the kids this month.

Kid’s Activities:

Children’s Holiday Party

Sun. Dec. 5th

@Lakeside Ballroom Crafts for kids, Santa and much more! Time: 10 am Please reserve on the Blackhawk Website. Gingerbread Night

Fri., Dec. 17th

@Kids Club Come have dinner and build Gingerbread houses. Each child will get their own kit with candy and icing. Time: 6-9pm Cost $30 Reservations for Kids Cub can be made on the Blackhawk App up to 3 days in advance. Please anticipate spending 10-15 minutes on your first visit back to fill out paperwork and to get oriented with some new procedures. We are so excited to be able to offer Kids Club to our members again! Should you have any questions, please email Erin McDermott or call Kids Club for questions or inquiries on space. 925-736-6500 ext. 570.

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Life through a Lens

Season to sparkle-

Diyas lightning up Blackhawk, the place I love to call home. By Sonia Lamba, Resident since 2015

heers to new beginnings! For the very first time, the Blackhawk Indians of all ages came together as a community, to celebrate Diwali at the Blackhawk Country Club. Diwali is a Festival of Lights and is a major festival celebrated by millions of Indians across the world. The festivities at the club started by lightning the Diyas and honoring Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth, abundance and fortune. It was followed by traditional Indian dance, bollywood dance performance, fashion show and lots of good food & sweets. A huge credit goes to all the people who brought the neighbors and friends, both old and new; and the family together, in making this Diwali celebration Shubh (auspicious) and a memorable one; with people enjoying, playing Bingo, laughing, dancing and taking photos together. The energy at this dhamaka (blast) party was definitely exciting and catchy. Isn’t that what Diwali is all about! A reflection of hopes and dreams that bind us together. A time to be grateful and giving. A time to renew and deepen our bonds, strengthen our roots, even though we are thousands of miles away from home. So let’s keep lighting those Diyas, keep vanquishing the darkness within and around with our own special light. I wish my readers a safe, healthy and joyous holiday season! To find out more about Diwali, please check out my last column in November 2021 issue.

DECEMBER 2021

As an aspiring photographer, I have always loved taking beautiful photos of my friends and family, nature and travels. After having a fulfilling career in finance in New York, I moved to California in 2014 where my love for photography turned into an invigorating passion. Moving to gorgeous Blackhawk has further enriched and blossomed my love for the camera. I take my camera everywhere, regardless of how short the distance is. Knowing me, there is always a photo opportunity!

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 39

Expert Contributor

Saline vs. Silicone Implants By Dr. Stephen J Ronan, MD FACS

s a cosmetic surgeon, I’ve done my fair share of breast augmentations over the years. And while fat transfer is a great option for someone who doesn’t want a breast implant, the vast majority of the breast enhancements I have performed have been achieved with silicone implants, and to a much lesser extent, saline implants. Both are good options, and many patients who come in for a consultation want to discuss the pros and cons of each. Saline implants have been around since the 1960s. They have an outer shell made of silicone, and it is inserted empty. It’s then filled with sterile salt water. Because the saline implant is first inserted while deflated, the incision is usually slightly smaller than the one for a silicone implant. Saline implants are FDAapproved for women who are 18 years old and up. Saline implants are generally a bit less expensive than silicone ones. However, saline implants aren’t always favorable in terms of how they feel once they’ve been implanted. Some patients say they can feel the fluid moving around with movement. Others say that saline implants are more noticeable, as they at times can have a rippling effect on the skin.

Silicone implants are made of silicone, through and through. This means these implants are prefilled with silicone gel prior to me inserting them during a breast augmentation procedure. After many years of working with silicone implants I have developed surgical approaches that help make the slightly larger incision

DECEMBER 2021

more inconspicuous and easily concealable. Silicone implants are FDA-approved for women who are 22 years old and up. Due to the gel-like consistency of the silicone implants, most patients (and their spouses or partners) say they feel a lot like the natural fatty tissue of breasts. I also believe that smooth, round, silicone implants placed behind the muscle look and feel the most natural. Putting them behind the muscle puts more tissue between the outside world and the implant and creates a cushion over it. For any type of implant, there is a remote possibility for one to pop. If a saline implant deflates, the breast goes flat and the saline is naturally absorbed into the body. If a silicone implant ruptures, the gel more or less sticks together, but the breast may take an odd shape. Both situations are rare and easily correctable, but I recommend to all of my augmentation patients that they periodically come in for a follow-up exam to identify infrequent issues early on. So which implant do I think is better? In my opinion, silicone implants are better. Silicone implants are softer and show the edge of the implant less than a saline implant. Most of my patients feel the same. In fact, virtually all my patients select silicone implants after they come in for a consult. If you are interested in learning more about our breast augmentation surgery or any of our many other surgical and nonsurgical procedures, please call our office at 925-736-5757. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Expert Contributor

The Holidays Are Here – And No Need to Fear!

By Steve Padis, Padis Jewelry and The Forevermark Boutique at Broadway Plaza

adis Jewelry’s extensive selection ensures you’ll find something special, regardless of when you shop!

Everywhere we turn, we’ve been told “better shop early.” Our extensive inventory of responsibly sourced diamonds and focus on American-made brands such as Tacori and Verragio keep us unaffected by supply chain issues. Whether you’re shopping a month in advance, or a few days before the big holiday – we’ve got tons of options and selection for you to choose from. ‘Tis the season to sparkle—and spread joy, and as the holidays approach, we take a moment to appreciate the people in our lives who make it all happen. This year, more so than ever, it is the time to celebrate those who matter most. Fortunately, our team at Padis Jewelry is here to help you uncover the perfect Christmas gifts to show your loved ones just how much they mean to you. For some great ideas and suggestions, take a look at our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

Christmas Gifts for Men: Luxury Watches

Whether you’re stumped on what to get your husband this year or determined to upstage your siblings at the family gift exchange, Padis Jewelry has the perfect gift for a man in your life. Consider our selection of luxury watches for anyone on your holiday shopping list. We will help you find the perfect timepiece for any wrist, from recipients who need a watch for every day to that extra special piece that will be treasured and passed down for generations. As one of the premier Breitling Authorized retailers in the Bay Area, we’re happy to help newbies navigate the Breitling world—and trust us, you’ll wonder what took you so long. From aviation watches to dapper and tuxedo-worthy styles, Breitling timepieces are a perfect present.

Christmas Gifts for Women: Personalized and Stackable Fine Jewelry

for the ones you love most. We’re here to help by making holiday shopping easy! Our team at Padis is here and ready to help with all of your holiday shopping needs both in our stores and on our website at padisjewelry.com. Be sure to join us at East Bay locations at Broadway Plaza – a Forevermark Boutique - and our Downtown Napa in addition to our San Francisco stores. We treasure the generations of families who allow us to become a part of their most precious moments. From our family to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season!

Ultimately, jewelry is super personal — from the pieces that draw us in, the pieces we select for the people we love, and the pieces we choose to wear each day. At Padis, we heartily believe the value of the jewelry you wear goes beyond the price-tag. Pieces by our designers such as Forevermark, Roberto Coin, or our Padis signature collections make a statement about who you are, commemorate milestones, or help express your love to those in your life. The layered necklace is very popular right now, and for good reason. It’s appealing to the eye and allows you more flexibility in the sort of statements you wish to make. Our tribute pendants available in all shapes and colors—make layering both personal and easy. This is just one of the statement-making necklaces you will find at Padis Jewelry.

Engagement Gift Ideas: Engagement Rings

Let’s face it—it is the most wonderful time of the year, which makes it a popular time to pop a certain question. Dates include Christmas Day (which topped the list as the most popular date, even above Valentine’s!), Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve, December 23, and two Saturdays before Christmas Eve. There’s no better way to express that love than with an engagement ring that not only celebrates the commitment you’re making but also encapsulates all the things about the one you love as nothing else can. Set up a time to visit Padis and learn about our worldclass selection of loose diamonds and our amazing designers, and our custom jewelry design services. We work with you to make the ring of your dreams a reality! So there you have it; the definitive holiday gift guide for the people who matter most! Be sure to stop by Padis Jewelry this holiday season to find the best Christmas gifts 42

DECEMBER 2021

BLACKHAWK LIVING CA 43

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