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FEBRUARY 7, 2020 WWW.THEPRESS.NET | 11 2 ND ANNUAL CRAB FEED ALL proceeds to local organizations... Keep it Local Saturday, February 15th 2020 Brentwood Veterans Hall • 757 First Street, Brentwood TICKETS: $55.00 EACH Call Chris at (925)642-8782 • DCN John at (925)698-6362 Great food and music! Raffle prize! And more! NO HOST BAR: 6:00PM • DINNER: 7:00PM ALL you can eat CRAB! Have a Bowling BIRTHDAY PARTY! Harvest Deluxe • 1.5 hours of Bowling, Up to 12 Bowlers • Minimum 2 Lanes • Rental Shoes, Bowling Balls & Bumpers • 2 Large Pizzas (Cheese or Pepperoni) • Unlimited Soft Drinks • Party Host & All Paper products - including invites • Bowling Pin for the Birthday Person • Additional Lanes $69.99 (up to 6 bowlers) Brentwood Rocks Same as above, except 2 hours of Bowling • Additional Lanes $84.99 (up to 6 bowlers) PLUS: Free Bowling Pass for each guest

harvestparkbowl.com (925) 516-1221 5000 Balfour Road Brentwood $139.99 Sat/Sun @ 12pm $169.99 Sat/Sun @ 2pm Entertainment RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS, THEATERS & EVENTS S teve Kinsella and Shelli McDowell, with Brentwood’s Broadway Repertory Theater, celebrate McDowell’s wins at the recent 41st annual Shellie Awards ceremony. Broadway Repertory Theater is a grassroots-style company that has been producing shows for three seasons. McDowell won the Best Choreography Award for 2020 and Outstanding Contribution to the Arts. Auditions for the summer 2020 show, “The Sound of Music,” are Feb. 29. For further information, visit www. broadwayrepertorytheater. com. Repertory theater wins Shellie Awards Photo courtesy of Steve Kinsella Promote your BUSINESS in Food & Entertainment Call today 634-1441

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education is so superior. Something that’s really touched me is that one of our friends on the island who works to enroll children in the public school said that the private school has had to hire more teachers because Hannah has raised so many funds for the enrollment.” With regard to the swim school, the tuition pairing, the library, the women’s group and other projects she’s worked on over the years, for Hannah, it was always important to find support for the people of Corn Island without overstepping her boundaries as an outsider.

“All of the things I do come from the island,” Hannah said, noting the locals lead the direction of each project. “Everything in the library, except for the books, is 100% from the island and island-made; an artist islander is adding a mural to the library building. I always made sure to keep myself out of the project even when I led it … Corn Island has my heart. The people are so special and have welcomed me. I’ve always said, ‘I am coming in as a white person and I never want to overstep my boundary.’ I’ve told that to the island, the community, from the start: ‘If I am doing something that is offending you, please tell me. I will not take it personally.’ But it’s never been a problem, and that’s something

I love about the island too — I know that they would be honest with me and tell me if something I was doing wasn’t okay, because we have that bond.”

As the secretary of the Corn Island Children’s Foundation, Cathy wanted to communicate that for $400 a year, one child can attend private school.

“That’s 33 dollars a month, and that could be life-changing for a child,” she said. “Many people spend more than that in coffee in one week … You can support a child and connect with that individual, and you can really change the life of these kids.”

On making movements that’s changing lives, Hannah said she lives by the philosophy that it never hurts to ask.

“I’ve always been the type of person who is willing to go out and ask, knowing the worst thing people can say is no,” she said. “One frustrating thing I’ve found throughout the years is when people say, ‘You’re so young — how can you do this? I could never do this.’ And yes, I was young, but I do think age in these types of situations doesn’t matter … Just get out there and help somebody; the sky’s the limit.”

To donate, visit https://www.facebook. com/cornislandschildrensfoundation To comment, visit www.thepress.net

IT’S WHAT WE DO

Cancer from page 6

a business plan, produce copy and creative materials for the website and offers consulting on progress Huffmaster and the team are making.

“In my early diagnosis,” Creston said. “I wish someone had said to me, ‘It doesn’t have to be scary. It is scary, we acknowledge it, your feelings are valid. All the anxiety and fears you have are 100% valid, but we’ve been through this, we know many people who have been through it and it doesn’t have to be scary. You’re not alone.’ It really ties back to what Lauren is saying about the fears and anxiety.” My Cancer Card will be developed under the Adventure Therapy Foundation business and funding will go toward both endeavors. At this point, Huffmaster has gathered volunteers, but the application’s buildout will take months of full-time work. She’s currently fundraising to accumulate enough money to get it fully running.

“From the moment someone first gets diagnosed, My Cancer Card will change everything,” she said. “It will help take that trauma away from the person’s experience. This area is amazing — people know people — and all it takes is one person to hear my heart.”

For more information on Adventure Therapy Foundation and My Cancer Card, visit adventuretherapyfoundation.org. To comment, visit www.thepress.net

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The Press Special Edit ion Wint er 2020

Planning for the big day

R AYN A H E S S T o hire a wedding planner or not to hire –– that is the question.

However, most large-scale events would benefit from the expertise of an event planner. If you are trying to decide whether an event planner is right for you, here are a few things to consider ...

see Planning page 17

16 | WWW.THEPRESS.NET Wedding Planner FEBRUARY 7, 2020 Wedding flowers becoming larger than life W hile wedding trends come and go, flowers will always have a place at the wedding table.

The blooms brides and grooms choose and how they decide to display them can say a lot about the couple’s style. Many modern couples are opting for statement pieces with their flowers to rival the big and bold ideas they’re incorporating in cakes and clothing.

Ed Plascencia, owner of Brentwood Florist, said that when it comes to winter and springtime weddings, large flower installations, as well as blooms popping up in unexpected places, are some of the hot trends for couples to keep their eyes on. “Couples are still interested in large statement centerpieces and floral baskets,” said Plascencia. “For right now, it’s roses and hydrangeas and as spring comes, couples are looking at tulips and daffodils.” Floral chandeliers

There’s no need to worry about seeing over table centerpieces or flowers getting in the way of photo moments. Thanks to hanging flowers and floral chandeliers, flowers are quite literally moving up in the world. Hanging floral pieces can add instant drama and make a large visual impact. Florists can hang flowers from beams over tabletops to increase visual impact, whether as individual baskets, single stems or floral swags. Hanging floral chandeliers are dramatic but naturally expensive. Think about a large installation that forces guests to look up into a sea of greenery and flowers. The smell and the sight can be breathtaking. Welcome wreaths

Why should wreaths only be reserved for front doors and holiday decor? A welcome floral wreath can be placed by the entryway to a chapel or reception hall with a heartfelt sentiment that shows guests how much they’re appreciated. Fairy-tale flowers

A floral curtain of hanging flowers can line a chuppah or drape the altar in beautiful blooms. Couples who would like a fairy-tale entrance also can make their debut as a couple by coming through a flower curtain at the reception. Martha Stewart Weddings says a cascade of flowers and greens can be romantic and elegant. Dance floor blooms

Who says flowers have to be overhead or on a table? With a plexiglass dance floor or one made from some other transparent material, flowers can be underfoot, creating a magical floral carpet. Floral necklaces

Brides needn’t all carry their bouquets. They can also wear ethereal and whimsical floral pieces around their necks or on their waists instead.

Couples should speak with their florists about the innovative ways they can make flowers an even more awe-inspiring component of their weddings. – Courtesy Metro Creative Photo courtesy of Metro Creative Couples are still enjoying traditional centerpieces, but are also adding floral chandeliers and curtains made of blooms for that added extra pop at their weddings. Couples should speak with their florists about the innovative ways they can make flowers an even more awe-inspiring component of their weddings.

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Does someone in your family have professional event-planning experience?

This is the single greatest asset a professional event planner can bring to the table –– they simply have a long list of previous experiences that help them see events in different ways and anticipate any issues that might crop up.

Many clients come to us with an idea of what their wedding will look like, but as we talk to them, we realize that there are a lot of holes in their vision. These are things that they would never have caught on their own, and if they did, it would be too late.

However, a professional event planner can see issues in your time lines and budgets that the average person would not catch. Their experience also comes into play if there is an issue (or worse, a disaster) at your event. They can plan for problems and be ‘on’ when those issues arise. If you do not have someone in your family who has the experience that gives them this ability, it’s definitely worth hiring a planner.

… a professional event planner can see issues in your time lines and budgets that the average person would not catch. – Rayna Hess, owner, Eventfully Yours Event Designs

of their time or that each of those categories will be planned in the way that it deserves based on that person’s time limitations.

Event planners dedicate time to executing these logistics and are reliable when it comes to knowing what it takes logistically to pull any event together. The gray area ...

In some cases, hiring an event planner is not a cut-and-dry situation. Perhaps there are aspects of your event where a professional planner would be very useful, but you don’t have the budget to bring someone

in for the entire event. In this case, consider hiring a day-of coordinator. Your wedding day should be magical and perfect in every way. If you are stuck tracking down your DJ, making sure the caterer is on time or directing guests, this perfect day can become an exhausting experience.

Remember that a good planner will not only save you time but can also save you money by keeping you in budget and freeing you up to do more important things, like planning your honeymoon!

Reyna Hess is the owner of Eventfully Yours Event Designs. For more information, call 925- 370-1300.

Additionally, it is a large job to place in the hands of a family member when maybe they would really just prefer to be a guest. Do you have the resources?

Certainly, planning a wedding is a very time-consuming process.

I think it is important to consider whether you really have the time and resources to execute it well. Just because someone can physically fit in the time to pick floral arrangements, create the menus and contact vendors does not mean it is the best use

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choosing a wedding venue

While couples must make myriad decisions during the wedding planning process, perhaps none is more significant than

where to tie the knot. Since the wedding venue comes

with such a potentially high sticker price, couples should

give ample consideration to a host of factors before

choosing where to get married.

Size

Until they can agree on a guest list, couples might want to delay even looking for venues. However, some couples might want to first look at some venues so they can determine just how many guests they can afford to invite. Whether they’re hosting small affairs or large parties, couples should choose venues that can comfortably accommodate all of their guests. If possible, look for venues with multiple reception areas, which might allow for some wiggle room if the guest list grows or dwindles during the planning process. Availability

Some couples might have an ideal time of year or even an exact date they hope to get married. While that can help with the planning, it can also limit venue options. Some venues may be booked for a year or more in advance during peak wedding season. Those who can be more flexible regarding their wedding dates may find it easier to book their dream venues.

Insurance

Ask about the venue’s insurance policies, including the policies the venue has to protect itself. In addition, ask if the venue requires couples to have their own wedding liability insurance for protection in the event of injury, property damage or incidents related to alcohol. Couples may also want to make the investment in cancellation or postponement insurance, and some venues may even require it.

Couples should have fun choosing their wedding venues while recognizing that certain factors must be given ample consideration before signing any contracts.

Financials

It’s easy for couples to focus on the bottom line when choosing wedding venues, but it’s also important to get a complete grasp of the financials before making a selection. Ask about the amount of the initial deposit and if that deposit is refundable. In addition, ask when the deposit is due and when each subsequent payment is due until the balance is paid in full. This can make budgeting easier and planning less stressful. –– Courtesy Metro Creative FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Photo courtesy Metro Creative

When planning your big day, several factors should be considered before committing to a venue.

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FEBRUARY 7, 2020 g o Downtown FOR SHOPS & SERVICES

Is the real estate market changing?

Of course it is, however, the one constant in real estate is change. Historically, the market goes up and down, but we see full cycles every 18 years. The good news is with almost 20 years in real estate, that would mean I have seen it all. The current market still offers very competitive mortgage rates and buyers expectations are higher, so your home should be ‘market ready.’ Market ready includes curb appeal,

DUKELLIS’ SUMMERSET REAL ESTATE staging, professional cleaning and window washing. In turn, the sellers expectations should be equally as high to the realtor they have hired, with professional photos, custom websites, video and drone photography and an extensive marketing campaign. Real estate for most people is their top investment, so do your research on who you want representing your financial future. Conveniently located in downtown Brentwood, ask us why we are an industry leader.

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