3 minute read
Meet the Knese Family
Meet the Knese Family:
Loving Their Schools and Community
By Eve Marie Shahoian, Danville Resident since 2013
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com
Aimee Knese was born in the seaside city of Huntington Beach in Southern California and moved to Danville, near Diablo Country Club, when she was two years old. Returning to Danville as an adult, and then raising children in West Danville was never on her radar, but she loves the close, safe community she and her two children Cora and Bryce now call home.
Aimee and her children have enjoyed living in the Creekside apartments now for two years. After divorcing, Aimee wanted to stay close to her kids, work and friends. The price was reasonable, the location safe, and the neighbors are friendly. Additionally, she loves the location, as she can easily walk, ride bikes, and scooter downtown with the kids.
Both children are Sycamore Stingrays, attending Vista Grande, and playing Mustang Soccer. Cora enjoys participating in the Danville Children’s Theatre, plays flute in the school band, helps with babysitting and Anna’s Cheer Camp. Cora recently got a beta fish named Bubbly. ‘’It’s an easy pet when you are not home much due to extra curricular activities, working full time, and taking family adventures.” Bryce plays flag football with both Next Level and SRV Little League, played on the U9 all star team this summer, and had the opportunity to ride the float for the first time this summer at the July Fourth Parade in Downtown Danville.
Aimee attended CSU Chico, and received Degrees in both Music Education and Liberal Studies, in addition to completing her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Early on in her education Aimee wanted to be an elementary school music teacher, but then realized she wanted to teach a single class, not the entire school. This will be Aimee’s tenth year teaching Kindergarten, which she loves. She has been at Vista Grande in Danville for the last four years where her children attend. Aimee feels very blessed to work where her kids attend school. Before going back to teaching full-time, Aimee taught preschool music, and was the Children’s Choral Director at SRV United Methodist Church in Alamo.
When Aimee is not teaching or engaged with her children’s activities you will find her singing with The San Ramon Valley Choral (SRVC) under the direction of Bruce Koliha, former MVHS Choral Director. SRVC is an adult community choir that strives to create memorable experiences for its members and audience through quality, determination, and most importantly, passion. The Choral meets September through May with concerts in the Winter and Spring.”It’s a fun way to be able to make music on a weekly basis and then give back to the community,” says Aimee. In addition to sharing music with the community, Aimee is very involved with Bryce’s flag football team and enjoying the kids’ friends and families. Aimee also enjoys volunteering with events at school, mom’s nights out, birthday parties, play dates and end of season celebrations.
Aimee is in the process of building a Tiny House! It will be a 368 Square Foot house, 8.5 x 28’ to be exact, and as Aimee says, “much smaller then what we see in Danville.” It has been a dream of Aimee’s now for almost a decade. She believes in living minimally in terms of possessions, as she would like to have money to spend on adventures with her children instead of stuff. “I think the tiny house will be a way to live rationally, creating more opportunity to see the world.” Aimee, who lives on a single income, explains, “It can be very expensive to live here as a teacher.” Aimee and her children hope to find space in Danville to place their tiny house and pay a smaller amount for rental space.
Aimee's tiny house
“Trips now consist of visiting family in Chico, camping with friends, day trips to the beach, visiting parks like Great America, Water World, and Gilroy Gardens.”
Aimee feels very lucky to live in this community. “The kids are being taught by wonderful teachers, and there are so many wonderful extra curricular activities.
