For over 25 years, The Framé Group, Inc. has been the firm of choice for leading litigators, corporate counsel, sports franchises, public figures, multinational corporations, the United States Department of Justice, and Fortune 500 companies.
Contact Michael F. Framé at michael@theframegroup.com
San Francisco Bay Area Phone: 1.925.837.8309
Los Angeles Phone: 1.310.337.0025
Spice Mixture for
Blackhawk Bloomers 25th Anniversary
October Craft: Paper Flowers! Crafts Corner
Diablo Ballet Opens its 29th Season with an expanded version of The Nutcracker Suite by Julia Adam
Check Out the Niners Local Sports
Mustang Soccer 2022 News Local Sports
The Aquanuts Fall Show and Updates Local Sports
Blackhawk Women’s Golf Association Updates Local Sports
The HOX Swim Team Updates Local Sports
Danville Baseball Academy Local Sports
Congratulations to Blackhawk author Laurie De Seguirant Fun in the community
Danville Music
Life
One Year Under New Ownership! Supporting Local Businesses
Cabernet: Silver Oak 50th Anniversary Celebration Wine, Food, Golf & Fun
HISTORY OF THE Pumpkin Spice Latte
Obsessed
Euro Union Spring Meet
Valley!
A
Simpler
Expert Contributor
The Quarry at Giant’s Ridge Golf Destinations
Eyebrow Transplant and Restoration Expert Contributor
VIP Experience at Davis Estates Winery
Holiday Jewelry Trends for 2022: Maximalism! Expert Contributor
Jo Peek
Publisher:
Peek, Blackhawk Resident since
Content
Megan Scott Blackhawk Resident since
Designer: Emily Lund
Contributing
Indigo Moments Photography
Contact: Jo Peek Email: JPeek@bestversionmedia.com
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Whether you love football, the new fall TV season, the holiday blockbusters on the horizon, or the oodles of new books to devour, October is a good time to be a fan. I can’t be the only one tempted to spend a day on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.
I love October in Blackhawk when the beautiful fall colors are in full swing, the houses are decorated with ghosts and goblins and we get to see the neighborhood kids in their costumes. The community of Blackhawk always comes together to make the season special.
This month you’ll meet your neighbors, Ananth & Shobana’s Family. They are all about fun, adventure and hard work we are thrilled to share their family story with you.
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.
Warmly,
Megan Scott
Resident since 2010
www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com
To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact Jo Peek at jpeek@bestversionmedia.com.
Kerri Anderson
Pleasanton Automall Kerri.Anderson@hendrickauto.com 925-737-5062
Anatomy Power Wellness
Dr. Tracey James 925-457-0210
HelloWellness@ProtonMail.com AnatomyPower.com
Stephen J. Ronan MD FACS
Blackhawk Plastic Surgery and Migraine Center 925-736-5757 www.blackhawkplasticsurgery.com
The Dancer’s Institute Lacey Price 510-703-7630 https://www.thedancersinstitute.com/
Dr. Larry Porteous DDS Larry Porteous Family Dentistry 925-736-9000
St. Isidore School 925-837-2977 www.stisidore.org info@stisidore.org
Home Inspections Plus
Mark Beck 925-240-0441 m.beck@localinspector.com www.localinspector.com
Ruggieri & Co Chris Ruggieri 925-263-2448 chris@ruggieriandco.com ruggieriandco.com
HVAC & IAQ
Awesome Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. Todd Rilston 925-989-7414
awesomeheatingandair@gmail.com www.awesomeheatingandair.com
Roger Fernando
State Farm Roger Fernando Agency 925-244-1700 roger@rogerfernando.com
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.
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.
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.
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 environ ment 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.
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 think ing. We understand that today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders.
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!
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 experi ence, 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 com municating 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.
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!
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.
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.To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact Jo Peek at jpeek@bestversionmedia.com.
IT Bay Area IT Solutions. Inc.
Anthony Regina 707-361-4454 anthony@bayareaitsolutions.com https://bayareaitsolutions.com
The Frame Group www.TheFrameGroup.com 9000 Crow Canyon Road, Suite 395 | Danville, California 94506 Tel: 1.925.837.8309 | Fax: 1.925.837.8737
Steve Padis Steve Padis Jewelry info@padisjewelry.com www.padisjewelry.com
Mortgage CrossCountry Mortgage LLC
W. Todd Galde 925-854-5238 todd.galde@myccmortgage.com www.toddgalde.com
Music: Soloist & Private Voice Lessons
Elizabeth Hunter Ashley The Performance Studio 925-548-2694 Elizabeth@elizabethhunterashley.com www.elizabethhunterashley.com
Jon Lubrano Atlantis Pools 925-736-0447 info@atlantispoolsdanville.com atlantispoolsdanville.com
Compass DRE# 02085461
Emiliana Flemate Baker emiliana.baker@compass.com 408.718.4381
Trex Donovan Buena Vista Tree Service 415-531-1247 ntdonovan@yahoo.com www.buenavistatree.com
WestPac Wealth Partners
Phil Kang, CExPTM Henry Chau, CPWA® 925-350-6588
info@westpacwealth.com www.westpacwealth.com
After more than 25 years, Anthony Regina has continued to advance his knowledge in security tools and solutions in the IT world. He became a nerd when his family bought the first home computer and that is what he has been doing ever since. Cyber Security is not an option anymore in the modern business world. We focus on providing the best security solutions to our clients to make sure they are protected. In this modern day, nobody is exempt from Cyber Threats, so we study the latest threats and security solutions to make sure you get the best, in a multi-layered solution. Anthony is constantly in classes and conferences to make sure we can provide you the best solutions. Visit: https://bayareaitsolutions.com to learn more of how we protect you.
Michael F. Framé received his formal investigative training from the United States Department of Justice (FBI), the United States Secret Service, IRS, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) while serving as an undercover narcotics investigator assigned to the Vice Crimes Division of the Oakland Police Department. This training included asset identification and discovery, money laundering, fraud, financial crimes, business intelligence, organized and white-collar crime, narcotics processing, sales, possession, and influence.
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.
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.
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.
Atlantis Pools Inc. is a family owned business that has been serving Contra Costa County for over 25 years. From pool re pair, 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.
Emiliana Flemate Baker is a Luxury Real Estate Professional with over 28 years of experience in the Bay Area. Our team fo cuses on providing a high level of service to others during one of the most exciting and stressful times in one’s life; buying or selling a home. We strive to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible. With global outreach and expertise in the indus try, we are like a secret weapon!
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.
From traveling the world to launching a beauty brand, Ananth and Shobana have always had a shared love for adventure and new experiences. The couple were introduced by their families. Shobana was finishing up her residency training in Pittsburgh, PA, while Ananth was working in the Bay Area. The initial courtship was long distance and over the phone, but once they could be together in person, the sparks flew immediately says Ananth. “We first met in person at my apartment in California. On our very first date, we knew we were made for each other, it was love at first sight. We canceled our respective weekend plans and spent the weekend exploring San Francisco together. We discovered our mutual love for travel, food, music and lighthearted humor.”
Both born in Chennai, India. Ananth came to the United States for graduate studies in electrical engineering at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. After graduation, he moved to the Bay Area in 2001 to work for a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer, Stryker, as an R&D Engineer. After more than 20 years in healthcare technology, he is currently the Senior Vice President & GM at Teladoc.
Shobana completed her medical degree and Residency in Family Medicine at West Penn Allegheny Health System, Pittsburgh, PA and moved to California for her career. She currently works for John Muir Health as a Family Physician in San Ramon.
Inspired by her travels and love for nature, Shobana launched her own award-winning beauty brand - Raaka’s World. “The brand was launched in October 2021 and has already won the Beauty Shortlist Editor’s choice awards for all the products that I personally formulated,” shares Shobana. “Raaka’s World offers haircare and skincare sourced from across the globe. The ingredients reflect my belief of living closer to nature. From the Amazonian forests to the vast landscapes of Africa, all the way to India, I’ve selected only the best ingredients. I am thrilled to have landed my first retailer earlier this year, beautyologie.com. Further, my Flourish Scalp Serum has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Cosmetics & Toiletries Alle Awards.”
Two kids complete the family; their daughter, Tejasvi, is 9 years old and in fourth grade and son, Nandan, is 8 years old and in third grade. Both children attend Quarry Lane School. “Tejasvi enjoys all her subjects, but gets tremendous joy from drawing and painting. Nandan loves sciences, especially anything related to animals, and can tell obscure facts about animals including accurate names of dinosaurs just by looking at their pictures,” shares Shobana. Both kids learn Shaolin Kungfu.
A love of travel and adventure has kept the couple bonded through the years. “Both of us love world travel, and our love for adventure and exploration has brought us to various interesting countries and places including Tanzania, Zanzibar, Peru, Nepal, Costa Rica, Bhutan, Alaska, India, England, Hawaii, France, Continental USA, and Mexico. Ananth’s job has also taken him to Romania, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Netherlands. We have dragged our kids on our crazy vacations. One summer we explored the ruins of Machu Picchu when our kids were young. On another vacation, we did a 3000ft altitude hike up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan, partly carrying our young kids on our backs. In that crazy 3-week trip, we had to change 22 flights to the point where our kids memorized the safety instructions from the flight attendants and re-enact them for us,” says Shobana.
In addition to travel, Ananth enjoys learning Shaolin Kungfu and photography. He also recently rekindled a love of volleyball with some good friends. Shobana is a trained Bharatnatyam (Indian Classical Dance) dancer and still practices and performs through the school she attends.
Three goldfish keep the family entertained at home. “We have three goldfish as pets. Oreo is a Blackmoor and is a crowd pleaser, Cream is a Ranchu and is the tank joker doing silly swimming, and Cookie is a Fan Tail, the elegant orange golden,” says Ananth.
Celebrating their one-year Blackhawk anniversary this December, the family moved in near the East Gate and say they love calling Blackhawk home. “We have lived in the South Bay, North Bay and in Dublin. We recently decided to move to Danville and fell in love with the Blackhawk community and our new home. When we took our first
Resident Feature is proudly sponsored by Plaza Chiropractic & Therapystep through the front door, we knew that this was meant to be our home. We told our realtor as much even before fully touring the home. Even though we have been here only a short time, we have been able to make some wonderful friends. The feel we get is that this is a very welcoming community, and we are looking forward to meeting more neighbors in person and hosting neighborhood parties at our place.”
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.
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By Christa Noriega, ARF Adoption Manager
When officers from a municipal animal shelter just outside Redding, California first met Betty, she desperately needed help. The 3-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix had been neglected and was heavily pregnant, yet her soft tail wag indicated she knew she was safe now. Just a few days later, Betty gave birth to four puppies at that shelter’s facility. But while safer than having them on the street as a stray, crowded shelters put vulnerable, underage puppies at high risk for contracting life-threatening illnesses.
To protect the puppies, this shelter called Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation for help. ARF’s rescue team brought the entire family back for evaluation and placed them in a loving, volunteer foster home where the puppies could grow up strong
and healthy. Once old enough to be adopted, all of Betty’s puppies quickly found loving homes.
However, Betty needed extra time to find the right fit. She is very intelligent, loves to cuddle, and tires out quickly with a game of fetch, but when she first arrived, she pulled on her leash and overreacted on walks when she saw another dog. ARF’s expert behavior team immediately started dedicating time to training Betty using positive reinforcement techniques to improve her physical and behavioral health.
Paired with the consistent efforts of our wonderful foster volunteers, Betty has shown significant improvement and now enjoys walking with well-matched canine friends, in addition to the humane ones she’s always adored. She has come a long
way and is an excellent representation of dogs who need support and direction to learn how to enjoy life. Yet despite the great strides she’s made, Betty has been in ARF’s care for more than 365 days – and is still looking for a loving home.
Betty’s adoption includes a training package valued at over $500. The package includes several training items, like treats and food puzzles, plus four private consultations, up to one hour each, with ARF’s Behavior and Training team. Plus, her adoption fee has been prepaid by a generous donor!
If you know someone who may be interested in adopting this sweetheart, please have them reach out to ARF. We know the perfect home for Betty is out there. Can you help us find it?
Source: BridgeMLS 9/10/2022
data
Courtesy of Kelley Krock at Redfin
@Downtown Danville
A treasure hunt to find the Scarecrows throughout Danville. Learn more and download a map at https://www.danville.ca.gov/
Eve Marie Shehoian: A night of music
@Firehouse Performing Arts Center.
The Firehouse Arts Center presents Eve Marie Shahoian~ Take Me To The World & Company http://www.firehousearts.org/events/
Time: 8pm
@2700 Camino Ramon, San Ramon
The Annual Run for Education is a race where you can run, jog, walk or roll for the distance of your choosing. The Run for Education is a tradition in the San Ramon Valley, and you don’t want to miss it! The low registration price of $25 includes an SRVEF mask or cape! You can still order a shirt to keep your collection up to date!
Time10am-2pm
Learn more www.srvef.org/the-run
@Danville Library
Don’t miss the Friends of the Danville Library Book Sale! There will be various genres for sale including non-fiction, general fiction, mysteries, cookbooks, art books, children’s books, gift items, book bags and more! Find some great deals at these special pop-up sales for one day only each month! All proceeds benefit the Danville Library. The Friends also host a small bookshelf in the library (by the library’s print station) where you can browse and purchase book titles and DVDs for all ages. The shelves are regularly refreshed with new materials!
Time: 10am to 2pm
Learn more at https://www.danville.ca.gov/
@Museum of the San Ramon Valle
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is pleased to announce that Relics on Railroad has been rescheduled to Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 9am-3pm in the municipal parking lot behind the Museum of the San Ramon Valley.
If you love the ageless beauty of antiques, you won’t want to miss Relics on Railroad, Danville’s Art and Antique Faire.
Discover timeless treasures from local antique dealers and artists. Grab a bite at downtown eateries. And enjoy live music, entertainment, and fun for the kids while strolling through the streets of downtown. Have a few heirlooms of your own? For a nominal fee, you can find out how much they’re worth at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley’s antique appraisal clinic.
Time: 9am to 3pm
Learn more at https://www.danville.ca.gov/
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s @ Bishop Ranch 2700 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs.
Registration: 7:30 am and Walk Begins: 9:30 Visit www.alz.org/walk for details.
@Railroad Ave. Municipal Parking Lot - Downtown
Get the freshest seasonal fare at the Danville Certified Farmers’ Market. You’ll find fruits and vegetables direct from local farmers, along with fresh-cut flowers, bedding plants, fresh breads, and delicious specialty food items you can eat in the market or take with you to enjoy at home. It’s the perfect place to stock up for the week, or shop al fresco while socializing with friends. This event is located at Railroad & Prospect Avenues and offers free parking in the adjacent lot.
Time: 9am-1pm
More information at www.pcfma.com
around
By Sandra Parker, CASA of Contra Costa County
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Contra Costa County is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates as a powerful voice for the best interest of abused and neglected children living in foster care during the court process, in order to help every child ultimately thrive in a safe, stable, and permanent home.
As we celebrate our 41st year of serving the children and youth in our community, we are excited to share the launch of our new CASA Tutor Program. As you can
imagine, children and youth in foster care face many additional academic hurdles. Finding ongoing, quality academic support at no cost can be a challenge, so we are taking a big step to help fill that need. We’d love for you to join us!
CASA Tutors will provide consistent and accessible educational support to children in grades TK-12 who are already working with one of our CASA Volunteer Advocates. They will assist with homework and learning concepts in a supportive, trauma informed environment and help students reach their educational goals, build their confidence, and feel supported as they navigate through their school years.
We are filling our first CASA Tutor training cohort and are looking for volunteers who want to make a lasting difference in the lives of local children who have been abused or neglected.
If you have a background in teaching or tutoring, have approximately 6-12 hours a month to give, and are interested in learning more about the CASA Tutor Program, we invite you to email volunteer@cccocasa.org and to join us at an upcoming Informational Session.
Kira and Roddy were part of a litter of 4 puppies who we took into foster when they were about 7-8 weeks old. While their two siblings have been adopted, Roddy and Kira are still looking for their forever homes. They are bonded so well that we would like to see them go to a home together. They are both super smart, quick learners who both love to shower kisses - and love affection in return. Kira is the alpha dog but is totally devoted to her brother. Roddy, in turn, adores his sister. Both love to run and play and seek out new adventures - with Kira being the lookout leader. The two love to spend their days together cuddling, playing and bantering. They are fixed, microchipped and current on their vaccinations, flea treatment and deworming.
All of TVAR’s foster dogs and pups like Roddy and Kira live in foster homes till adopted. Foster families get to know each dog’s personality and needs in a home setting - allowing TVAR to find the right match so dogs and adopters thrive!
Uravity and Unity are two tortoiseshell sisters who were brought into a Tri-Valley Animal Rescue Foster home when they were about 7 weeks old.
Unity has always been the outgoing sister, while Uravity has taken patience and love to coax out of her shell. Unity and Uravity are Calicivirus survivors.
Their foster mom doted on them day and night, providing supportive care of subcutaneous fluids, medications, and syringe feeding during the several weeks they took to recover from the virus. They are both very healthy and happy now and looking for their forever home. Unity and Uravity love and compliment each other very well and would love to be adopted together into a home with canine friends for them to play with. They have both been spayed, microchipped, and tested negative for FIV and FELV. They are current on their vaccinations, flea treatment, and deworming.
TVAR’s kitten and bottle baby programs rescue kittens - some only days old - who are unable to be adopted from the shelter and place them in foster homes where they receive medical care, love, and a home setting until they are healthy, able to be spayed or neutered and ready for their forever homes.
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 Tri-Valley and surrounding areas. We are celebrating 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.
We also have an invaluable Shelter Program where our volunteers spend countless hours every day at the local shelter working with the Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens and the Public.
By Megan Scott, Resident Since 2010
Owned by a local mom, Dr. Neetu Nebhwani, La Vie MD is thrilled to celebrate one year in Danville! For those times you need a little refresher, Dr. Nebhwani is my go-to. From Facials to Injectables and more, her results are always natural and beautiful.
Dr. Nebhwani is a local mom who lives and works in Danville. She says she wants to thank the Danville community for all their support, “I am extremely happy that La Vie MD found its home in Danville. Reflecting on this past year and all the collaborations with other businesses in Danville and their support in making us known in the community is unparalleled. I have such admiration for the female entrepreneurs in Danville and have thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with them. This is just the beginning for us, and we hope that we are able to give back to the community in all ways possible and be able to continue building trust in the community and uphold ourselves to the highest standards to provide the best to our clients.”
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Serves 8
Preheat oven to 400-degree F. Generously grease a large rectangular ovenproof rimmed baking pan
Spice Mixture:
• 1 teaspoon culinary sumac
• 1 teaspoon sour grape powder OR Limoemonie powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1½ teaspoon sea salt OR to taste
• 2 teaspoons turmeric, ground
• 1/8 teaspoon red chili powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• ¼ teaspoon saffron (optional)
• 2 teaspoons raw sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Onion, Potatoes, and Olive Oil:
• 3 pounds golden potatoes, peeled, cut into 2-inch thin strips (see note)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 4-6 onions, shredded
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon organic lemon zest (mix with lemon juice)
Garnish: 1 small red onion, sliced into onion rings, divided In a small bowl mix spice mixture (sumac, sour grape, black pepper, salt, turmeric, chili powder, paprika, saffron, sugar, cinnamon).
Place cut potatoes in a large bowl sprinkle with spice mixture and mix.
Drizzle olive oil on potatoes and mix. Add onions to the bowl and mix again. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Next day combine lemon juice and lemon zest, sprinkle on potatoes and mix.
Arrange potatoes-spiced mixture in baking pan and top with half of the red onion rings. Transfer pan uncovered into oven. Oven-fry for 20 minutes or until potatoes are cooked (rotate pan after 10 minutes). Place food on serving platter and garnish with remaining red onion rings.
Note: You may use partially cooked sweet potatoes instead of golden potatoes in this recipe.
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 seven books and over 1000 recipes that weave her beliefs into caring words on how to live life to the fullest. Learn more by visiting her website, enlightenedrecipes.com.
On September 26,1997 a group of 5 residents of Blackhawk got together over coffee and decided to start a women’s group dedicated to the interest and love of gardening. Within the year they had 20 members. Twenty-five years later the group has close to 170 members and has expanded well beyond the gates of Blackhawk. While the size of the group has changed, the purpose has not. The goal remains to bring to life the world of gardening and the beauty of mother nature through workshops, events, volunteerism, education, sharing ideas and social activities.
The Bloomers also support the surrounding community through volunteer programs such as:
Bounty Gardens a nonprofit program that provides fresh vegetables to local food banks. In 2021 over 200 lbs. of produce was donated to food banks.
Penny Pines a national conservation organization that purchases and plants tree seedlings for reforestation. $68 plants an acre of new trees – we have planted thousands.
Daffodil Hill started in 2013 to fill the Blackhawk community with blooms of daffodils each spring. Since then, hundreds of thousands of daffodils have been planted for all to enjoy.
Dig in the Dirt we work with local elementary students to get hands on with gardening.
But more than all the volunteer programs and education, it is the friendships that have developed over time that keeps this group going and growing.
To learn more, contact Rose Gogarty at rosegogarty@gmail.com.
By Michelle Barry, Resident since 2018
Paper flowers for the win! This craft is for all ages. It is easy and quick to make and it has a rewarding outcome.
There are a lot of great uses for these, especially with Halloween around the corner. If you’re going as Frida Kahlo, these can easily be placed in your hair. You could embellish any Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) costume with them. They can be made in bright colors too.
You can also decorate packages or gift bags to enhance your gift giving. I know my friends thought they were pretty.
You can also place them in a vase. Have your children make some and give them to their grandparent(s) or help the kids make some for Mom’s birthday or Mother’s Day.
The supplies needed are simple and you may have them all on hand. These flowers are made using cupcake liners! Color the liners with crayons, markers or colored pencils. I used green washi tape to cover pipe cleaners as the stems. You could also buy green pipe cleaners. Shape them with scissors and voila!
Use this short, one minute, video for instructions on how to make them: https://youtu.be/kppp29j-eWo
The other bonus is they can be made in minutes. I completed three in 15 minutes.
Enjoy! Best, Michelle Instagram: @littlegoslingstudio
Diablo Ballet’s 29th Season opens this November with an expanded full-length production of Julia Adam’s smash holiday hit, The Nutcracker Suite, performing November 11 – 12, 2022 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.
The Nutcracker Suite, which premiered in 2019, takes place in the 1950’s where the Diablo family and their daughter Clara, return to the Nutcracker Suite at the Fairmont Hotel for another Christmas Eve adventure. Clara’s dream expands taking her on a magical journey through the land of sweets, that will include students from Diablo Ballet School. Each year since the premiere, Adam has expanded on her original concept, creating new characters and adding new dances to her original ballet. Diablo Ballet dancer and costumer, Amanda Farris and company costumer, Christopher Dunn will add additional costumes to support the extended production.
The Nutcracker Suite performs November 11 – 12 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Performances are: Friday, November 11 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, November 12 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm. Single tickets are on sale now ($25 - $52) with senior and youth pricing available. Get your tickets now and take advantage of early bird pricing through October 19th. This whimsical ballet is a perfect kick off to the holidays and is sure to delight all audiences.
Diablo Ballet will also present a virtual option, which will be a recording of the live performance, streaming November 18 –27 and available for viewing at any time during this timeframe. Virtual tickets are on sale now through October 19th for the early bird price of $32 per household. On October 20th, the price will increase to $37 per household.
For tickets, call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www. lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.
Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses Photo by Rosselyn Ramirez for Diablo Ballet
Congratulations! Cheryl Hanson is Niners’ 2022 club champion
AND
Top of the leader board! Linda McColgan (2nd flight), Sandy Davis (3rd flight) and Cheryl Hansen (1st flight) won Niners’ Tournament of Champions. They will next play at the inter club TOC in Dis covery Bay. Good Luck Niners!
1st Flight
1st Place Low Gross Young Cohen
2nd Place Low Gross Sung-Jin Ingriselli
1st Place Low Net. Helen Tarantino
2nd Place Low Net. Sue Sunder
Low Putts
Sue Sunder Kendel Goldthwaite
2nd Flight
1st Place Low Gross. Cassandra Boyer
2nd Place Low Gross. Linda McColgan
1st Place Low Net. Carol Gray
2nd Place Low Net. Channing Azzolino
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is by Burgess Team
Congratulations!! Debbie Roof is August Charm Day winner.
Vicki Robinson nailed Ace of Aces with low putts for the month August. Win Place or Show - Kudos to all who came out and played a great round.
Carol Gray Ann Byas
August Low Putts Vicki Robinson August Charm Winner Debbie Roof
By Fred Wilson, Executive Director, Mustang SC
Mustang Soccer recently enjoyed our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Season Kickoff a few weeks ago here at Provident Fields at the Mustang Soccer Complex. Much fun was had by all and included a big screen movie, food trucks, silent auction and drawing items, a team and player recognition/introductions on the stage, a DJ, a little soccer, and great company with friends new and old! Thank you to all who attended, supported our partners/vendors, purchased drawing tickets, participated in the silent auction, and assisted in bringing our community together for this great milestone!
I would also like to thank the following local community businesses and Mustang SC families who donated to our silent auction and drawing. Please remember to support them!
• AuburnJames Winery & the Ospeck Family - Mustang SC family since 2005
• Banana’s Bakery
• Beyond Active & the Cruey Family - Mustang SC family since 2017
• Chef Mike Kelley - Mustang SC Coach since 2006
• Games Unlimited
• Gramma Nancy - Grandparent to Mustang SC players since 2012
• K & D Photography & the Brazil Family- Mustang SC family since 2017
• Locanda Ravello & the Rosano Family - Mustang SC family since 2018
• Pete’s Brass Rail & Car Wash
• Perfect Smiles Family Dentistry & the Baraceros FamilyMustang SC family since 2010
• Rakestraw Books
• Smallcakes - Danville & the Kumar Family - Mustang SC family since 2017
• SoccerPro - Dublin
• Spenga - Danville
• Trek - Danville
• YogaSix - Danville
Thank you to our community partners and vendors who contributed to the event!
• AJ Baraceros - DJ
• Announce-It: Mustang SC Spiritwear Shop
• Creative Sips
• FunFlicks SF Bay Area
• Mister Softee - Norcal
• Napa Valley Artisan & the Giusto Family - Mustang SC family since 2006
• San Jose Earthquakes
• Taqueria Angelica’s
We look forward to our 50th season this fall and to many more to come!
Ihad the pleasure of attending the Walnut Creek Aquanuts Fall Show called “Cinema Magic” last month. It was a spectacular artistic swimming show starring the entire WCA club of 100 athletes along with special guest performers from the Spanish National Team. The fully staged production, complete with lighting and glittering costumes, was incredible and great for all ages! A few of the performing athletes were Blackhawk residents also.
The Walnut Creek Aquanuts have been training athletes since 1968. Their mission statement is to develop athletes from novice to elite, building both bodies and minds and instilling skills that will serve their swimmers throughout their lifetime. Aquanuts strive to develop elite athletes and those with a passion for the sport of artistic swimming. The Aquanuts have a long history of competing in and training Olympic athletes. In addition to having produced 8 Olympic Champions and 16 U.S. Olympic Athletes, the Aquanuts have trained over 30 Olympians from countries all over the world including Japan, Korea, Czech Republic, Brazil and Mexico. Athletes come from all over the world to Walnut Creek to practice among elite athletes and train under a world renowned coaching staff.
If you know of a child who might be interested in learning more about artistic swimming, there are recreational programs for boys and girls. They also host free ‘try it days’ from May through September for people to just come and try artistic swimming for a day. You can learn more and add your name to the mailing list by visiting www. aquanuts.org.
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By Laurie Bruns
BWGA members participated in the Blackhawk Club Championship and represented. Congratulations to all of our winners, especially Lydia Shell winning Low Gross and Lily Weng winning Low Net.
To continue our winners circle, BWGA East Bay Team Play won Gross over all. Also the B and C flights won low gross. For Net, the B flight tied for 1st and our C flight won straight up 1st place net. What a proud month for the BWGA.
And the winners are..... On August 11 the BWGA hosted The Swinging Safari Mini Invitational. Our Chair, Sandra Ingwers and her committee put on a spectacular event.
BWGA Mini “Swinging Safari” August 11, 2022
2 Net Best Ball
1st– Lily Weng, Maggie Chen, Anna Li & Jenny Condon – 144
2nd - Rita Kowaslki, Elizabeth Cornwall, Susan Schmal & Chris D’Orazio - 145
3rd - Andrea Petralia, Pam Thurston, Nicole Barger & Kim Selby - 149
4th - Nancy Corbin, Louise Fong, Palmira, Brandt & Valerie Hayden - 150
1st - Karyn Giannini, Lori Johnson, Mary Eli & Tracy Griggs - 149
2nd - Pamela Jacoby, Sue Takaichi, Barbara Brown & Kozue Ito - 153
3rd - Linda Rasmussen, Wendy Nichols, Ann Pollard & Connie Whitman - 156
4th– Betsy Jenkins, Anne Kubas, Kathy Giroux & Kathleen Nagle - 157
1st - Nancy Levin, Colleen Pastore, Fillo Carathimas & Nancy McGee - 148
2nd - Lynne Egan, Carol Ahrens, Irma Tidwell & Denise Burrell - 150
3rd - Sandra Isbell, Leslie Blake, Natasha Calomese & Michelle Tomalenas - 153 4
th - Nancy Lisiak, Dawn Pombo, Denise Benger & Lisa Piombo - 156
1st - Ruby Caffrey, Sandy Mazza, Pam Hightow & Sharon David - 145
2nd - Gigi Dacosta, Peggy Lee-Mirpuri, Linnell McRee & Teresa Howard - 149
3rd - Cheryl Hanson, Tiffany Sparks, Terri Lawson &Sharon Hill - 153
4th - Sandra Ingwers, Jane Sullwold, Rita Restrepo & Lisa-Joy Avelar - 155
Falls #13 Dawn Schaffer 19’1” Lakes #4 Andrea Petralia 1’4” Falls #4 Leslie Blake 13’0” Lakes #12 Diane Ross 13’2”
Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses Louis Oosthuizen Flight winners Mini Ernie Els Flight winners Mini Charles Schwartzel Flight winners Mini Gary Player Flight winners Mini Club Championship winners Low Gross winner Lydia Shell Low Net winner Lily Weng champions!
By Coach Sean Quakenbush | Photo Credit: Miki Tsubota
The leaves are starting to turn and there is a crispness in the air. Hints of Halloween and fall everywhere you look, and our swimmers are still swimming! Did you know that we run a Fall Swim Program? The pool is heated year-round and just because it isn’t 90* outside, doesn’t mean there isn’t a good reason to keep on swimming. Some kids only swim in the summertime, but some kids have a really hard time getting out of the water. Our fall program has different tiers designed for different swimmers. Please reach out to Coach Sean Quackenbush for more information: seanq@blackhawkcc.org
Blackhawk also runs a High School Prep program for the high schoolers that are looking for conditioning prior to the start of the local high school swim team start dates. The dates of the High School Prep program are TBD, but generally run November-January. Please contact Coach Sean for more information about the high school prep program: seanq@blackhawkcc.org
It’s never too late to join in some of the HOX fun at the pool, stop on by and see what we are up to.
The Danville Baseball Academy kicked off yet another season in September. Danville Baseball Academy is an all in one program for anyone interested in their baseball or softball needs!!! We are excited about the next group of players we get to take to the next level. Through proper training and development, we see each and every player improve their games within weeks. Not only do we take pride in getting them better at the game, but we try our best to make the players better people as well.
This Fall and Winter we will run our 9U-18U teams in September-November. These teams will practice 1-2 times a week and play games on the weekends. Our goal for the younger age groups (9U-14U ) is teaching the proper fundamentals, teaching the “real game”, and getting game reps on the field. For the older age groups (15U-18U) it is all about high school prep and getting ready for high school tryouts and making their high school baseball
teams. For the older age groups, we try our best to group the kids with their peers from high school, which allows for cohesiveness on the field thus producing a better game product come the high school season.
As we move into the Winter months our ever so popular hitting and catching classes take place. For the hitting classes we follow a proven regimen that advances the hitting capability of the player. From focused drills to video analysis, players progress weekly into strong and elite hitters. For catching classes – these are for the actual CATCHER POSITION – we work on receiving, blocking, controlling the game and much more. We have seen drastic improvement from players that come to our classes.
Congratulations to Adam Schuman and Cameron Brochier on their one-year anniversary as the new owners of Danville Music.
In the past year, Adam and Cameron have been working to expand Danville Music while striving to keep its reputation as an exceptional music store.
Both Danville residents active in the community, Adam began playing guitar in 1992, and has been studying music ever since. In 1996, Adam began teaching guitar lessons and in 2004, he began teaching through Danville Music. As a professional musician, he specializes in performing Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country, Folk, and Funk styles. Not only has he participated in countless session recordings for television commercials for companies like Microsoft, Lincoln-Mercury, T-Mobile, and Salesforce, but he has also co-written and
Adam Schuman
Cameron Brochier
performed several songs used for television programs and movies. Adam has performed at Live 105’s BFD at Shorline Ampitheater, Not So Silent Night at the Bill Grahm Civic Center, and Napa’s Bottle Rock Music Festival. He has performed in bands that have supported/opened for acts such as The Killers, Modest Mouse, Filter, The Shins, Silversun Pickups, Alien Ant Farm, Dredg and have toured nationally and internationally.
Cameron started playing guitar when he was in his early 20s and was a founding member of Phoenix Ash. Being the most prolific American Japanese Rock bands, Phoenix Ash was signed to a Japanese label and had the honor of working with Toida, producer for X-Japan. Cameron has worked alongside Moritomo Arahshi (T-Bolan) and members of GLAY and Hide as well as touring with popular Japanese acts such as Daizy Stripper and FEST VAINQUEUR. Phoenix Ash is also well known for their famous You-Tube covers of popular Japanese songs as well as having music showcased in TV and movies.
Cameron has also worked at Danville Music since 2008 and proudly partnered with Adam Schuman to purchase the store in June of 2021. Cameron’s vision for what Danville Music is and can be is limitless, recognizing that what we have in our small part of the world is something truly special, and is inspired to share that with the world.
Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses
Wine,
By Mike L. McColgan, Resident since 1990
Recently, we attended the 50th Anniversary celebration of one of our favorite wineries, Silver Oak. On a sun splashed day at the Napa winery, loyal supporters of this great wine enjoyed photos, food, music, and fun.
The winery was founded in 1972 by Ray Duncan and winemaker Justin Meyer.
In addition to the culinary offerings of Chef Dominic Orsini, cuisine was prepared by Bay Area chefs from Little Saint, Le Saison, Bottega, Cocina Milonga and 4 Seasons Napa Valley.
Patrons also enjoyed Live music and entertainment performed by legendary Lee Field and The Expression.
In addition to the ‘fabulous’ 2018 Alexander Valley Release, various library wines were also poured.
In conclusion, it was a ‘special day’ for everyone in attendance celebrating 50 years of Silver Oak Excellence.
“Life is a Cabernet.”
For more information and to make a tasting appointment, go to: https://silveroak.com/visit/
By Cassidy Schwimmer
Afall-favorite treat with a cult following. For Halloween, people dress up as the Pumpkin Spice Latte (or PSL); there are hundreds of different recipes to create one–and the seasonal drink seems to be available a little earlier every year. But for all the excitement over a simple cup of coffee, no one seems to know much about it. So, here are some fun facts about the most famous fall beverage.
Before chain coffee shops cemented the PSL as the fall drink, pumpkin spice was just that– spices that paired well with pumpkin. It was often used to flavor pumpkin pie and consisted of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and ginger. In the 1930s, those five spices were blended together to create pumpkin spice, so that bakers didn’t have to buy all the ingredients and blend it themselves. Now, in a PSL those same flavors sit atop a pile of whipped cream and are used as a garnish instead of a main flavor.
Well, no one knows exactly! Everybody who has ever had a slice of pumpkin pie and a cup of coffee knows they pair
well together, but the PSL we know today can be traced back to January 2003 and a then-project manager, Peter Dukes. Dukes worked in a chain coffee shop in the espresso division, and after the successful launches of the Eggnog and Peppermint Mocha Lattes, he sought to create another seasonal themed drink. Rumor is that the team tasked with this daring project ate pumpkin pie and drank espresso at the same time, trying to determine what elements of each paired best. Finally, they settled on higher amounts of nutmeg and allspice to get the earthy flavor, and the rest was history.
When the drink was first introduced at Starbucks, one might think pumpkin was always an ingredient. Otherwise, where does the pumpkin in the name come from? Well, it comes from the spices that are paired with pumpkin pie, as the PSL did not contain actual pumpkin until 2015. Starbucks now calls this a “pumpkin sauce,” as it is mostly sugar with milk and pumpkin puree.
The pumpkin spice trend has moved far past coffee. Now, in stores you can find pumpkin spice creamer, ice cream, tea, candy, cookies, protein powder, pretzels, chips, dog treats, deodorant, hair dye, and even seasoning spray. There are also Halloween decorations centered around the drink, as well as costumes and t-shirts.
Love or hate it, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is synonymous with autumn, just like color-changing leaves and apple picking. So enjoy its nutty, warm, and inviting flavors as it isn’t going anywhere.
Sources: tasteofhome.com, foodandwine.com, bustle.com.
Obsessed and Euro Union held their Spring Meet at the Blackhawk Museum on April 3, 2022. It was an amazing show displaying over 300 cars. The Euro Union Car Club’s members come from around the Bay Area with many sporting widebody kits on highly modified European sports cars. The show was presented in conjunction with Obsessed Studios, a lifestyle brand for the automotive community created to bring car enthusiasts together. The Obsessed brand is growing among those passionate about their builds, evidenced by the popularity of their car shows, the racing and build-themed short films they produce and their line of athletic wear. It is a very specific style embraced by those that love cars that go fast and look fantastic. Want to know more? Check them out on IG at euro_union_ and obsessedus.
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.
Following two years of virtual runs, the biggest family event of the year is returning to San Ramon Valley with a weekend of in person events. The 39th edition of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation’s annual Run for Education will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2022 with over 5,000 runners expected to participate. Families are also encouraged to attend the Expo for Education, kicking off Saturday, October 8. A Friendship Run event for students with special needs as well as a Mini Run for children under six will also take place on Saturday.
Once again this year’s event will be featured in the heart of San Ramon, next to City Center Bishop Ranch. Race day on Sunday includes a 5K Run/Walk and a 10K (both certified by the USA Track and Field). The 5K Run/ Walk starts at 8:30 a.m. at 2700 Camino Ramon in San Ramon. The 10K starts at 8 am at Charlotte Wood Middle School (600 El Capitan Drive, Danville).
“The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation has hosted the Run for Education for 39 years. In 2022, we are excited to bring it back as an in person event after two years of virtual races,” said Gary Alpert, SRVEF Board President. “The Run for Education is a fun family event with something for the entire community. We hope to see everyone at the Expo for Education on October 8 and the Run for Education on October 9. We are grateful for our sponsors, especially our presenting sponsor – Chevron. All of our sponsors know the importance of public education.”
The Run for Education is a tradition in the San Ramon Valley spanning 39 years and is the primary fundraising activity for the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF), a non-profit organization that supports and promotes education in partnership with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The only event in the San Ramon Valley that includes participants, volunteers and spectators from all 36 San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) schools, representing the communities of Alamo, Danville and San Ramon, the Run for Education is also the largest run that supports education in Northern California.
More information, including registration, can be found at: www.runsanramonvalley. com.
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9, 2022
Where: 2700 Camino Ramon, San Ramon Time: Saturday 9 am to 3 pm, Sunday 8 am to 12 pm Questions? karen@srvef.org
Where residents find and recommend the best local, trusted businesses Tracey Medcalfe Photography Eric Gee Tory Taylor“Should I buy before I sell?” is one of the most common questions I receive as a mortgage professional. While the answer hasn’t always been easy, new loan options have made buying before selling more beneficial than ever before.
Everyone’s circumstances are different. But buying before selling has its advantages, especially for people in the following situations:
• Moving down: Seasoned homeowners looking to purchase in a retirement community, be closer to the grandkids, or just have a smaller single-story home with less maintenance.
• Moving up: Soon-to-be new parent? Purchase a larger home before selling the current house to deliver a smooth and unrushed experience for mom and baby.
• Moving over: Make the move to another state before having to sell the current home, then embark on the road trip under your terms.
• Moving out: Soon-to-be divorced? Refinance the departing spouse off the loan or buy the new home before the spousal and child support are usable for conventional financing.
Buying before you sell takes four easy steps:
• Buy your new home before listing your current home
• Move into your new home at your leisure
• Renovate, stage, and sell your old home for top dollar
• Tell everyone how easy it is!
If your situation is the right fit, we can originate a short-term bridge loan against your new property, existing property, or both – making sure you get from here to there as smoothly as possible. Benefits to this homebuying approach include:
• Preview homes you want to buy now
• Make non-contingent offers in a competitive market
• Stay in your current home while remodeling the new one
• Avoid interim expenses
• List your home fully staged to increase the resale price
You can do this – and we can help
At CCM, we provide fast and simple solutions for homeowners. If you have substantial equity in your existing home and want to buy a replacement before having to sell or even list it, we’re ready to get it done. Contact us today to get started!
Two hundred miles north of Minneapolis is the Quarry Giants Ridge golf course. It’s the second course at Giants Ridge, etched out of granite and the woods of the Mesabi Iron Range and designed by architect Jeffrey Bauer. As the name suggests, they carved it from a rock and sand quarry. You can see the surface remnants of the quarries on multiple holes. Named best new resort course in 2004 and ranked as the #25 best public course in the nation by Golf Digest, the Quarry exceeded the accolades of the original course, the Legend Giants Ridge. Both courses are in the top ten in Minnesota.
Giants Ridge is a thriving ski hill in the wintertime. Owned since 1984 by the state economic development agency, it expanded to include a hotel and two championship golf courses. Giants Ridge is 45 mins south of Ely, the entrance to the one-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. If you have another day to spare, the canoeing is memorable.
The Quarry Giants Ridge has a well-regarded collection of three beautiful and challenging Par 5 Holes. They use masterfully the landscape to create interesting shots that require careful thinking. Certain tee shots require remarkable precision. The short 323-yard Hole #13 is the coolest Par 4 on the course. Set from an elevated tee to a fairway split in the middle by a pot bunker, great shot selection and execution are essential. There are many options for the player, which is exactly how it should be.
The long Par 4 Hole #18 finishes strong. After all, it’s 468 yards from the tips (448 yards Blue) with a sharp dogleg left guarded by two menacing bunkers. While the final green eases you into the clubhouse, you’ll have no trouble remembering a heart pounding and stimulating round.
To mild surprise, the Quarry Giants Ridge turned out to be an exceptional golf experience. If your travels should take you to Minnesota, the Giants Ridge should be on your short list. Every hole is a unique beauty. If you only have time to play one of the two courses, play the Quarry Giants Ridge.
Course Info - The Quarry Giants Ridge is a municipal owned daily fee golf facility with two eighteen-hole golf courses - the Quarry and the Legend.
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.
Location – Biwabik, Minnesota - two hundred miles north of Minneapolis near the entrance to the one-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Lodging – One-to-four-bedroom suites at The Lodge at Giants Ridge onsite.
Great Par 5
Last Hole & Clubhouse
Bunker in the Middle
Eyebrows are a major facial feature that help define a person’s face. They make a huge difference in your overall appearance. In addition to protecting the eyes, eyebrows frame the face and help you communicate better through facial expressions.
Many individuals suffer from thin or transparent eyebrows from over-plucking, genetic loss through the aging process, or because they were just born with thin, or even non-existent eyebrows. Fortunately, the science of hair restoration has evolved significantly over the last several years and now there are many new and innovative technologies and procedures available, including eyebrow transplant and restoration.
An eyebrow transplant is an excellent option for both men and women who want to fill in, restore or reshape their eyebrows. With our help, patients can choose between a complete
or partial brow transplant depending on their aesthetic goals and severity of their hair loss. And because eyebrow anatomy varies from person to person, there are other factors to consider, including cultural background and norms, gender, and other facial features.
Eyebrow length, arch height, and thickness are additional factors that can affect brow aesthetics. Generally, for women the optimal eyebrow is above the superior orbital rim and thins laterally. The peak of its arch is in line with the lateral limbus of the eye. For men, the optimal brow is typically more horizontal than arched. It is also generally thicker, and placement is usually lower than that of the female brow.
In most cases, an eyebrow transplant procedure takes four to six hours to complete. The procedure is conducted in our private hair restoration center under local anesthetic. Hairs
are transplanted one by one from a donor area, which is usually the back of the head, to the eyebrow to address thinning, scarred, misshaped or missing eyebrows. It is a minimally invasive procedure that is done on an outpatient basis. Each patient’s recovery after an eyebrow transplant varies. Temporary swelling is common and some patients can experience a little redness and puffiness around their eyes for a few days after the procedure.
If you are interested in learning more about eyebrow transplants or any of our other hair restoration procedures, please contact us 925-736-5757 or BlackhawkHair.com to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
We recently had the privilege to visit Davis Estates winery in Calistoga, California. We enjoyed the VIP Experience, which included a private tour of the property.
We were greeted at the door with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc by our host, Jason Stumpf. We enjoyed touring this beautiful state-of-theart wine facility that was designed by Howard Backen.
After the tour, we enjoyed a private tasting paired with amazing food from Executive Chef, Mark Caldwell.
We enjoyed 5 courses
1. 2020 Sauvignon Blanc paired with Vietnamese Watermelon Salad, Nuoc Cham, Crispy Shallots, Toasted Peanuts, Rau Ram, Lime, Cucumber
2. 2018 Cabernet Franc paired with Roasted Japanese Eggplant, Hummus, Muhammara, Feta, Crispy Chickpeas, Pomegranate Molasses
3. 2017 Calistoga Cabernet Savignon paired with Pan Seared Duck Breast, Creamy Polenta with Fennel, Blueberry-Cherry Mostarda
4. 2015 Phase V Cabernet Savignon paired with Seared Wagyu Beef Striploin, Roasted Asparagus, Red Wine Reduction
5. 2015 Zephyr paired with Carmody, Piave, Triple Cream Brie, Almonds, Dried Fruit
The VIP Experience was amazing and we suggest you treat yourself the next time you visit wine country.
2020 Sauvignon Blanc paired with Vietnamese. Watermelon Salad, Nuoc Cham, Crispy Shallots, Toasted Peanuts, Rau Ram, Lime, Cuc
2018 Cabernet Franc paired with Roasted Japa nese Eggplant, Hummus, Muhammara, Feta, Crispy Chickpeas, Pomegranate Molasses
2017 Calistoga Cabernet Savignon paired with Pan Seared Duck Breast, Creamy Polenta with Fennel, Blueberry-Cherry Mostarda
2015 Phase V Cabernet Savignon paired with Seared Wagyu Beef Striploin, Roasted Asparagus, Red Wine Reduction
2015 Zephyr paired with Carmody, Piave, Triple Cream Brie, Almonds, Dried Fruit
VIP Experience Kugel Floating Ball FountainIs it just us, or do jewelry trends keep getting better and better? It makes sense when you think about it. Courtesy of the pandemic, our wardrobes have reached new levels of pared down, and jewelry has stepped up to instantly elevate nearly every look. Though the fall/ winter collections offer a glimmer of hope that fashion will liven up again in due time, jewelry cements its place as the head-turner of our future fall outfits.
While past seasons focused on minimalist pieces (think: dainty layered necklaces), this fall, it’s all about the drama. We’re talking about big bling that’s fit for an extravaganza, oversize and chunky adornments seemingly mined from the closet of Cleopatra herself. When it comes to pretty baubles, the message of the fall/winter 2022 runways is clear: let’s bring back the fun. Ahead, see the five biggest jewelry trends to know (and wear) this fall. Because we could all use something to look forward to.
If there’s a surefire way to incorporate an element of surprise into your outfit with minimal effort, what could be better than (literally) mixing it up? Whether you’re mixing and matching earrings or simply combining contrasting colors, when it comes to this trend, there really are no rules!
This season, designers threw not-so-subtle hints at anyone who’s still in denial that pearls are absolutely back. Throughout the runway shows, pearl earrings embellished with crystal fringe details were paired with layers of matching necklaces. Fringed layers of dangly crystals and pearls may have been absent from your wardrobe for some time now, but expect a triumphant return come fall. Call it boho chic.
This season, it was impossible not to notice the downright in-your-face quality of the jewelry (so we meet again, maximalism!). From oversize studs to larger-than-life pendants, the overall statement on runways this season was to, well, make a statement.
Let’s carry a little spring into the fall, shall we? Floral elements blossomed across the fall/winter 2022 runways, some overtly gardenlike, others slightly more discreet. At Simone Rocha, there were flowers printed on pearls alongside beaded flower earrings (stems and all). Badgley Mischka, on the other hand, presented a decidedly more classic floral stud. Take your pick!
The chain-link trend continues to dominate for fall/winter 2022, but with a slight twist. Whereas previous seasons featured ultrachunky links, this time around, designers are showing range with dainty chains, mix-and-matched sizes, and colorblock iterations.
Now that you’re fully prepped on the season’s best trends, you’re ready to start your holiday wish list or pick out the perfect gift! Head on over to any Padis Jewelry location and our consultants will be happy to help you pick out the perfect gift! 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 – our newly updated Padis boutique- and 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. We’re here to help make gift-giving easy and stress free! Please feel to reach out if we can answer any questions and if we can be of assistance at concierge@padisjewelry.com
