SPRING 2013
silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection
M A G A Z I N E
Leader
Among Leaders Carl Guardino & The Silicon Valley Leadership Group
MADEI NUSA
TI ANELLO. COM |8002238328
Ti a ne l l owo me na r eb e a u t i f u l a n dt h e yc r e a t emi r a c l e s ! St e v eBa r r a z a GET$ 2 5
J USTF ORJ OI NI NGOUR
VI PREWARDSCLUB!
1 00% SI LK GARMENTDYED WASHABLE
SPVT 712PALMI AFLO
For tickets & show times call 415.421.4222 Matinees all ages–Evenings 21+
beachblanketbabylon.com Follow us on: facebook.com/BBBinSF
@BeachBlanketSF
CONT ENTS Silicon Valley Local and WomensRadio
are Proud to Present
Inside THE LOCAL STATE OF REAL ESTATE
Whether buying, selling or just interested, learn more about the local real estate scene
REGIONAL GOVERNANCE How can Silicon Valley do better?
LEADER AMONG LEADERS Carl Guardino and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
THE YOUNG GUNS OF SILICON VALLEY
WOMEN OF SILICON VALLEY Women who excel in business and community leadership
49ERS NEW STADIUM
New technology may enhance games
SILICON VALLEY NON-PROFITS www.womensradio.com
THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY A crossroads of wealth creation
Meet the youth forming the future of tech
IT’S IN THE WATER
SCHOOLS & TEACHERS OF SILICON VALLEY
KEN YEAGER
49ERS FOUNDATION
JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU
Preparing the next generation
A proud tradition on and off the Field
Women of Silicon Valley
Benefits of fluoridation
BART to San Jose soon a reality
The great ocean adventure
EMOTIONS 101
Don’t be afraid of the outdoors.
Silicon Valley Allergy and Asthma
Dr. Anjuli K. Mehrotra M.D. 2500 Hospital Drive, Bldg 14 Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 701-7DOC
http://www.siliconvalleyallergy.com
Ken Packer
Publisher & Executive Editor ken@svlocalmag.com
Reigning Champions — Raining Bay Area Excitement W hat we are witnessing is a Renaissance of sorts – a time unlike any other in the Bay Area. How much of life is like sports? How much of sports is like life? It’s more than you think. Here and now, in sports, in the Bay Area, we have been winning like we never have before. All across the board – high schools – colleges – pros. Nothing brings a community together more than sports. To quote ABC, there really is the “Thrill of Victory”. The Giants, the 49ers, Stanford, San Jose State, the Warriors and our High Schools … great coaches and players and positive role models everywhere … the AT&T Park, Stanford Stadium and the new 49er Stadium coming in 2014! … and the very best announcers imaginable, all making such a positive difference. We are indeed truly fortunate. This is a great time and a great place for sports and how it touches our community. It’s a model for the rest of the country. I believe it comes down to leadership, great coaching, positive role models and teamwork. Winning Championships: It’s all GOOD, it’s all GREAT. There’s nothing like Teamwork, playing full out for each other and community, and winning together as a Team. All The great ones have their coaches. Championships don’t just happen.
The stars must be in alignment and such a trend certainly is GOOD. Great coaching and leadership … It’s true in sports, as it is in life … in one’s own business and in one’s own family. It is indeed something unique, special and wonderful. There’s nothing like good coaching, leadership and, yes, positive role models. It’s an exciting time for yet another reason to live in the Bay Area. All our local teams (the Giants, the 49ers, Stanford, San Jose State) won championships this past year – unheard of – never before … and the Warriors are having their best start in decades. Can it also translate to other areas in our life? Yes, it certainly does. It adds smiles and a spring in the step of all loyal followers. Congratulations to us all. Go Teams … both on and off the field! Yea Community! May we continue to enjoy this Coaching, Leadership and Winning Renaissance … and the excitement, joy and success it brings for a long time to come. Hopefully next year we can add Cal and the Raiders to our growing list of Champions.
All the best,
Ken
Mark Kelly & Gabrielle Giffords
David Brooks
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Steve Wozniak
Jacques Pépin & Claudine Pépin
Leon Panetta
Lara Logan & Bob Simon
October 2013 – May 2014 CF I (Fri.) CF II (Thurs.) CF III (Wed.)
For Speaker & Season Ticket Information Visit
www.celebrityforum.net/
Rich Borell Founder & CEO
SPRING 2013
silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection
Ken Packer Publisher & Executive Editor
M A G A Z I N E
Board of Advisors
Leader
Joe Parisi President, Therma Corporation Harry Kellogg Vice Chairman, Strategic Relationships Silicon Valley Bank
Among Leaders
Daniel Considine Founder, Boone Energy
Carl Guardino & The Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Editorial Contributors Scott Budman Award-Winning Reporter Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, who appears nightly on NBC Bay Area News, as well as on KNBR radio. He is the co-creator and host of the syndicated NBC program “TechNow,” which airs Saturday nights at 6:30pm. Scott has covered Silicon Valley since 1995, and is still on the lookout for interesting personalities, startups, and gadgets. A Bay Area native, Scott was born in Oakland, and
attended Skyline High School before heading south to UCLA. You can reach him at scott.budman@nbc.com. He’s also on Twitter: @scottbudman
Jessica Fullmer
CEO/ Founder Sustainable Business Institute Founded Mo-DV in 2002, built the team, and created the progressive strategy and branding for the company. Since its founding, Jessica has raised over $5 Million in equity capital. She has established contracts with
Editorial Contributors continued two major motion studios, Sony and Paramount, and developed sales to retail through four major flash media device manufacturers. She has also brought prominence to Mo-DV Inc. as a business. Previously, Ms. Fullmer founded the Sustainable Business Institute, a globally recognized non-profit institution, where over the years she managed hundreds of people and raised upwards of $5 Million. SBI is committed to encouraging business leaders to adopt and communicate sustainable business practices through CEO Forums on Sustainable Business, the Seal of Sustainability, Sustainable Business User Groups, and youth mentoring. She has also consulted for organizations in the private sector, government, and education, including teaching at a number of colleges and universities. She has served as a board member on 14 Boards of Directors. In the early days of her career, Jessica was mentored and trained by Dr. Edward Deming and his protégés.
Jan Hutchins
Former News Anchor & Mayor of Los Gatos Jan Hutchins is a yogi, shaman and sage. He’s been professionally involved with transformational arts like health, sports, consciousness and yoga for more than 40 years. He’s the owner of the Yoga Center of Los Gatos (since 2001) where his authentic spirit, healing energy, wisdom, sense of humor and attention to individual needs make his classes unique. A Yale graduate, Hutch has lived transformation, excelling at several careers prior to opening the Yoga Center. For 20 years he was a television journalist in the Bay Area. He’s run Community PR for the San Francisco Giants, produced Emmy award winning children’s television programs and held numerous public service positions, including serving as Mayor of Los Gatos. He is active in the ManKind Project (mkp.org) doing his own inner work and helping initiate men into their sacred masculinity.
Jennifer Cullenbine:
Founder and Executive Director, Family Giving Tree Jennifer Cullenbine is the Founder and “Queen Elf” / Executive Director of the Family Giving Tree. She received her BS and MBA from San Jose State University and also went through the renowned MIT Sloan Program. Jennifer became the Founder of the Family Giving Tree in 1990, when as a student in her MBA class; she was presented with a project “to create a program that adds value to someone else’s life.” Her goal was to provide holiday gifts for 300 children in East Palo Alto. Jennifer and this “Class Project” of hers, which became the Family Giving Tree, have succeeded in providing holiday gifts for more than 750,000 individuals in need and also more than 100,000 backpacks, filled with much needed supplies, for low income students. The Family Giving Tree has become the largest gift and backpack donation program in California and is one of very few non-profits in the San Francisco Bay Area to receive the Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating. Jennifer is affiliated with many organizations, some of which include the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, the Center for Excellence in Non-Profits, the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Milpitas. When time permits, Jennifer loves to help out and volunteer for the American Red Cross, PTA functions and local charitable causes.
Silicon Valley SCORE SCORE is a volunteer organization founded by Congress in 1964 for the purpose of helping small businesses to grow and to prosper. Today, it is a volunteer organization of 13,000 volunteers in 360 chapters across the country, made up of mostly retired executives, who give their time to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs in solving the basic problems of starting and running a business. SCORE’s Vision is to strengthen small business, local communities and America by supporting our nation’s proud heritage of entrepreneurs seeking opportunities and building success. SCORE’s Mission is to grow successful small businesses across America, one business at a time.
Silicon Valley Local Magazine is a community magazine published by Silicon Valley Local Magazine LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text or photographs without the written permission from the Publisher is strictly prohibited. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or photographs. The opinions expressed in Silicon Valley Local Magazine are of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Advisers, Management or Owners. The magazine assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made by advertisers in the magazine. All rights reserved. Publisher and/or Advertiser shall be held blameless for any and all pricing errors, along with any expired dates typing errors or trademark infringements. If any errors are found, we will correct when brought to our attention within 48 hours. For advertising and editorial inquiries, contact us at info@svlocalmag.com
Editorial Contributors continued Russell Hancock
Muhammed Chaudry
President & CEO, Joint Venture Silicon Valley
President & CEO, Silicon Valley Education Foundation
Russell Hancock is President & CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, a position he has held since 2003. In this role Dr. Hancock is best described variously: as a civic leader, community gatherer, institution builder, social entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for regionalism. Since taking the helm of Joint Venture he has quadrupled the size of the organization; assembled a potent board filled with mayors, CEOs and university presidents; built strategic partnerships; recruited a highly talented staff; and launched initiatives that are delivering measurable results to the region. Russell is also the founder of the annual State of the Valley conference, a “town hall” meeting attracting more than 1,500 leaders for a day spent in dialogue and discussion about the Valley’s opportunities. The conference features the release of Joint Venture’s Silicon Valley Index, a document now receiving national and international attention. Dr. Hancock’s leadership in the Silicon Valley region builds on earlier work he led as Vice President of the Bay Area Council (1994-1999). There, he spearheaded the campaign extending BART to the San Francisco Airport. He also directed a broadlybased effort which ultimately created the Bay Area Water Transit Authority, charged with delivering a high-speed ferry system to the San Francisco Bay. Educated at Harvard in the field of government, Russell received a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University where he currently teaches in the Public Policy Program. Fluent in Japanese, Russell returned to Stanford in 2000 to become the inaugural director of the Shorenstein Forum for Asia-Pacific Studies, Stanford’s gathering place for ranking officials, senior executives, journalists, and scholars who shape outcomes in the Pacific Rim. In addition to the research output of the Forum, he built up corporate programs, established international fellowships, raised money, and generated public events featuring a stream of presidents and ministers.
Muhammed Chaudhry is President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He is one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent voices for education and serving the underserved student. Under his leadership, SVEF has become the leading education foundation in the South Bay supporting students, teachers, parents and the larger academic community. He has supported children and education causes since his days at San Jose High Academy when he led several youth campaigns aimed at improving the lives of students. Later at San Jose State University, he worked summer jobs as a city recreation leader, tutoring “at-risk” youngsters and teens in math and English and encouraging them to achieve in school and go to college. He has forged partnerships with the business, technology, academic and civic communities to advance education causes, such as improving high school graduation rates and overall college and career readiness, and raising student performance in the critical areas of math and science to help narrow the student achievement gap. He is especially focused on developing intervention programs – particularly in the STEM fields of math and science – to help struggling youngsters reach for college and become Silicon Valley’s next leaders and innovators. Prior to leading SVEF, Chaudhry held management positions in brand marketing with The Clorox Company and Dazzle Multimedia. He also worked for IBM. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University and is a graduate fellow of the Stanford Executive Leadership Program. He serves on numerous community boards, including the California Consortium of Education Foundations, the Hispanic Foundation and Partners in School Innovation. He is an active member of San Jose Rotary Club and personal interests include golf, long-distance running and volunteering with various philanthropic causes, including the national Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Youth Association and its “Muslims for Peace” initiative. He resides in San Jose with his wife, Rabia, and their 6-month-old twins. Contact him at muhammed.chaudhry@svefoundation. org or on Twitter: @macrhamuhammed.
Editorial Contributors continued
Doug Fernandez
Fernandez Designs & Builders Inc. Fernandez Designs & Builders Inc. Is an Architectural and Building Company that started back in 1985. Specializing in residential architectural designs, using auto cad computerized system and construction of quality homes and additions. Doug and his parents- sister migrated from Cuba in 1970. He attended St Joseph Catholic elementary school, in Mountain View and went on to Archbishop Mitty High School, in San Jose. Doug has strived to perfect the art of unique and one of kind residence, through a work force of over 120 personnel, over 40 different specialty subcontractors,, hundreds of different manufacturing vendors, and a management staff, located in its company owned 6000 square foot commercial building. Doug has been a long standing member of The National Association of The Remodeling Industry. (NARI) and has been awarded for projects his company has created. Fernandez Designs & Builders Inc. was given a prestigious “COTY award: Contractor of the Year, recognized by the building industries and his colleagues.
Lina Broydo
Public Relations and Marketing Consultant, Star PR Travel, Arts and Style Writer, Travellina Lina Broydo is a Travel, Arts and Style writer for local, national and international publications. In addition her articles are featured on Lina Broydo Travellina site on Facebook. Lina Broydo is also President of STAR PR Public Relations & Marketing consulting company. Lina previously worked for 22 years as the Director of Public Relations at The Fairmont San Jose, gaining national and international recognition as Business and Cultural Ambassador to the San Jose/Silicon Valley Community. Prior to that, she worked with legendary SF 49ers Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, Russ Francis, Bill Ring and Bill Walsh as CEO of Executive Sports, Inc., a Public Relations and Sports Promotions and Marketing company representing numerous corporations and famous athletes, as well as visiting Russian sports teams. In her consulting position, Lina is raising the profile of Fresh Dialogues online and on television, and creating public relations, marketing and sponsorship programs. Contact Lina at lina.star_pr@ sbcglobal.net or lina.travellina@att.net
Ho
me & De Doug Fern sign an
dez Fernandez Designs & Builders Inc www.fernan . dez-design s.com
Things to L Issues in To ook For: Mold day’s Mode rn Home
Y
ou encoun ter mold ev ery day. Fo spoil becaus ods Mol e of mold. dy drywall Leaves deca and pieces y of wood lyi The paper ground rot ng on the facings of gy due to mold. psum wallb (drywall) gro That fuzzy growth on oard black w mold wh wet window en they get or repeated sills is mold. or fabrics sto wet ly wet and Paper red in a da don’t dry qu Cleaning wi mp place ge smell that is ick th water co ly. ta due to the ntaining de only add mo action of mo musty will grow if tergent not isture to the lds. Molds we provide paper but als eventually them with and nutrien damage the moisture o can ts. If we ke fac ep loc ing things dry, not grow. ated only on . If the mold molds do top of the pa is remove it by inted surfa general cle ce, aning. If the underneath mold is the paint, the other moldy moldy patch material be and hind it are out and the best cut surroundin g areas also cleaned. Bleach is NOT reco mmended The most co mpelling rea against ble son for ad ach is that fumes are ha vising in addition rmful but , overuse of bleach will increased rel result in eases of ch lorinated effl which can uents be harmful to the envir You may ne onment. ed professi onal help wh • There is en: a lot of mo ld • The home is very damp • Mold co and moist mes back aft er repeated • A family cleaning member su ffers from as Smell/Odo or respirato thma r ry problem s or other he Sometimes problems tha alth molds are hid t ap pear to be seen. A mu de ins n ag ide an gra d the va ca sty or earth ted nnot be home y smell oft Remember, the presen en indicates ce of molds to be sa fe and alway . But a smell protective clo present for s wear may not be thing, mask all molds. , goggles an d gloves.
Lina Broydo
“Local” Ge taways Travellina
Tahoe welc travelers w omes ith dogs G
oing to the dogs gets a new meaning in the beau tiful North man’s or the Lake Tahoe woman’s be . The st persona no n grata in Tah friend is no longer oe North Lake Tahoe is a do . “Without a doubt, g town,” sai Director An d Tourism dy Chapma n of the No rth Lake Tah oe
Resort Assoc iation. “Eve n Office keep s treats behin the Tahoe City Post d the counter Fido visits he or she is treated speci , so when your pooch al.” So pack and kick off the summe recommend r with a few ations for a doggie and favorite lod their maste gings in the rs No rth • The spect La acular Ritz-C ke Tahoe region: arlton, Lake welcomes pe Tahoe ts at their fiv resort. The e-star luxuri non-refund ous able for cleaning for the entire Pet fee is $125 covers 2 do stay, which gs max. Th e room rate included. is not • In Inclin e Village, the lakeside an well-appoin d equally ted AAA Fo ur-Diamond Regency La Hyatt ke Tahoe Re sort, Spa & will also tak Casino e your pooc h, but they 25 pounds must be or lighter. Pe ts are charg night. ed $50/
Editorial Contributors continued
Pat Lynch Pat Lynchd CEO
Founder and CEO Women’s Online Media and Education Network
ork
on Netw Founder an and Educati line Media Women’s On
, Women! p U e v e R Time to S
ization men’s organ the one wo er 40 years unting join ov da for ng ars ye cial to en worki almost 17 that has be on issues cru d mensRadio m women an tarting Wo ger voice, I ge women to help infor women a lar by now eing, encoura ce and support ago to give ll-b re we mo ir ne the for offi have do n ru s. uld to men’s ue wo n iss I Wo l tiona thought er around train wome l do – the Na less, you can men togeth le of a crucia d them when they to bring wo fact, regard in the midd an In e, are . such lin us we n uc the re tio Ca Now he much on Political an organiza n that all over ar…with so – because entio men from election ye join NWPC focus our int d I hear wo lp an he n n, ca ?!” me for wo ce! as NWPC t can I do give your ying: “wha ke a differen America sa be asked to will help ma waiting to . Instead Instead of to speak up nt k rta as po im you to opinion, it’s e to call on for someon te, stand of waiting cal candida n of a politi It matters. . ard your questio he up and be k them ea nd sp Se d itor. up an s to the ed too. Write letter io stations, on and rad d isi an ev … tel ing runn to the men who are ove, plus run for Support wo ab Or, all the too y. is t ne tha mo with d, if all urself. An an office yo
aiting to Instead of w give your be asked to important opinion, it’s . to speak up
Pat Lynch is a media innovator with a mission to give women a larger voice. Her company produces WomensRadio, The WR Music Review, WomensCalendar and the current state-of-theart personal streaming tool, AudioAcrobat®. At the age of 25, she founded the first woman-owned advertising/ marketing/media agency in the south, has been listed in various “Who’s Who” among women, serves as Treasurer for Boardroom Bound®, Vice President of Communications for the National Women’s Political Caucus and speaks on streaming/interactive technology, the women’s market and leadership.
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Explorer, Environmentalist Founder, Ocean Futures Society
Cousteauciety So Jean-Michel ean Futures President, Oc tures.org www.oceanfu
erwater d n u to in e Div S
treasures
ng a boat peeri the edge of n is tanding on of the ocea st blue deep ting— ida into the va im int es and sometim ed” me get over a thrilling – elp My father “h throwing me experience. y by simply ss ne us th the newl my nervo of seven wi at the age back, but for overboard tank on my to A ve UB ha SC invented tance, you ut such assis and make the folks witho th a deep brea simply take rnia dove plunge. e years Califo ervation fiv st pa In the ean cons cally into oc Commission enthusiasti h and Game ater when the Fis a network of underw on opt tween Oreg g voted to ad the coast be gin ng ura alo co es en reserv ers. It is xican bord cted areas ote pr and the Me e rin n new ma ea se oc d the cte ve to ha of prote hope ide system a sense of as a statew , it gives me r ila me r sim Fo s. ve water s will ha forests generation giant kelp that future of diving the did on my first experiences t as I as co ia rn 97 at ures Society off our Califo ssing in 19 r, Ocean Fut father’s pa rie Vonderhaa nel Islands Photo: © Car dive after my of the Chan rt ry. pa tua d, nc an . Sa sta What Anacapa Isl nal Marine derwater fie rrotrk and Natio g some un ca y as if it National Pa announcin se playful, t dive vividl the tha l low red ua fol us be t What can I un I remem can I do bu y bottom? ere was an to the sand sterday. Th were h eet allure? s ye fis t sw ray ir ed jus s n’s lor the wa over to lp. The su up co lf ke se and ng my hti the e lig in kelp, but giv on the spot l opening do the fal d gh an ou s t tly thr knee -like a . It is almos shining brigh licable patch of sand I drop to my th emotion wi me her, e d xp fat un om ine my ge. All aro this little, I am overc thinking of an empty sta ightly colored is here I have been l. he ca if sti as br spotlight on my ls i, or. now it fee tiny garibald area. In normal course, and ed ocean flo there were the sun-splash ar. nge, of h native to me, on this mering ora ath, he is ne damsel- fis tastic, shim since his de like with e fan re a tim we e y st y’r fir the light, the For the nlight, su t s igh br ion this corat but here in of party de les, a string festive cand
Since first being “thrown overboard” by his father at the age of seven with newly invented SCUBA gear on his back, JeanMichel has been exploring the ocean realm. The son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel has investigated the world’s oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone for much of his life. Honoring his heritage, JeanMichel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work. Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a “Voice for the Ocean” by communicating in all media the critical bond between people and the sea and the importance of wise environmental policy. As Ocean Future’s spokesman, Jean-Michel serves as an impassioned diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media.
Uj E NA Ma k i ngWome nFe e l Se x ySi nc e1 9 8 4
I t ’ sne v e rt ooe a r l y t og e tr e a dyf or t hebe a c h. . . ory ourne x tv a c a t i on! Now youcan
S AVE$1 0
onal lonl i neor der sat
www. uj ena. com Usepr omocode
1967
whenyoucheckout f ort hi ssavi ngsonyour ent i r eonl i neor der . Thi sof f eri sal soavai l abl e whenyouvi si tour Uj ENA Fact oryShowr oom. Al l Uj ENA s wi mwe a r a ndf a s hi oni s ha ndc uta nd ha nds e wn i nourNor t he r n Ca l i f or ni af a c t or y . Ma dei nt heUSA
Uj ENASwi mwe a rShowr oom 1 9 3 1Ol dMi ddl e f i e l dWa y Mount a i nVi e w, CA9 4 0 4 3 Phone :6 5 0 9 3 8 1 0 1 0 Bus i ne s sHour s :Monda y-Fr i da y1 0 a m-5 pm
Scott Budman @scottbudman
My Date With a Tesla By Scott Budman
W
hen the email came, reading, “Do you want to take a Tesla for the day?” my first thought was, “does anyone ever
say no?” But there it was: A soon-to-be on-sale Model S sedan. All black, all electric, all the hopes of the electric vehicle market riding on (and in) its smooth leather interior. You probably already know what the Model S looks like, but here’s how it rides: Terrific. It’s a sports sedan, after all, that (in the top of the line model I got to try) will cost you about $110,000. It’s as comfortable, fast, tight, and exotic as anything else on the road today. But before you decide between the Tesla and that BMW, Audi, Jaguar, or Porsche, remember this: The Model S never has to get gas. Think about that. As fast as anything you could want. You’ll get stares everywhere you go. The giant iPad-like screen on the dashboard is awesome. And you’ll never get gas again. In fact, the top of the line mode will let you go more than 300 miles between charges. The electric engine is as smooth as anything out there. In fact, because electric energy is always ready to go, your acceleration is instant in the Tesla. Not a gradual ramping up; you hit the pedal, and you’re off. It’s a cool feeling. Now, admittedly, the Model S is not for most of us. It’s too expensive. I loved the day I spent with it, and getting back into my little hybrid hatchback
afterwards was a little heartbreaking. But that goes for all performance cars in that price range. They’ll always be great, but far too expensive. What the Model S promises is a future for electric cars. Not just rare sports cars for well-heeled drivers, but for families everywhere. If you’re like me, you love cars, you love technology, but you also love the idea of a future without gas stations. It’s coming. Fast. Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman
Like Us on Facebook Want to stay up to date on what’s going on in Silicon Valley? What are you waiting for? Head over to our Facebook Page and become a part of our growing community! http://www.facebook.com/siliconvalleylocalmag
Russell Hancock
President & Chief Executive Officer, Joint Venture Silicon Valley
Regional Governance: How can Silicon Valley do better? Silicon Valley residents have long been aware of issues that cut across the entire region – economic competitiveness and job growth, competition between cities for tax revenues, loss of open space, congestion and pollution. Looking forward we face such equally complex regional challenges as sea level rise, the impact of climate change on drinking water supply, funding Caltrain, maintaining three international airports, building sufficient housing for our region’s workforce and constructing a high-speed rail line that connects the Bay Area with Southern California. While many of the Bay Area’s 100-plus local cities and nine counties are responding to these important issues, they are not capable of solving them alone. That’s where Joint Venture Silicon Valley comes in. We convene our region’s leaders across business, government, academia, workforce and community organizations to tackle our biggest challenges and seize our opportunities. On February 8, 2013, Joint Venture will hold its annual “town hall” meeting – the State of the Valley. The conference and the accompanying Silicon Valley Index, a comprehensive yearly study that measures the overall economic health of our region, will focus on the question: “What opportunities are we losing by not
having a stronger governance framework for responding to issues regionally?” The day-long summit at Parkside Hall in downtown San Jose will zero in on three major regional issues: transportation, development patterns and climate change.
Keynote speakers include James Fallows, the longtime national correspondent for The Atlantic and renowned commentator on global competitiveness, and tech futurist Paul Saffo, renowned for his views on the dynamics of large-scale, long-term change. Everyone is welcome to attend State of the Valley. There is more information and registration is available in the Events section of our website at www.jointventure.org.
Hermary’s puts home comfort and entertainment at your fingertips
C
larence Hermary started Hermary’s Service in 1963 as a HiFi repair shop, soon his clients began requesting sound in other rooms and on their patios. A veteran techie with an eye toward the future, he began designing and manufacturing products and controls for multi-room audio that were unheard of at that time. Mr. Hermary is directly responsible for some of the cutting edge home automation technologies that are around today. His hands-on approach assures clients that no matter how much his company grows, he personally contributes to each project, regardless of its size. Today, Hermary’s offers solutions for home automation, home cinema, multi-room audio and vido, networking, custom cabinetry, lighting and shades, design and engineering and video surveillance.
Multi-room Audio and Video Multi-room, multi-source systems allow simultaneous use of different components across your home and BBQ/pool areas. You can have the game on in the BBQ area, movie in the play room, music in the kitchen and the iPod in the bedrooms, all with impeccable sound and picture quality. The system works with little more than a wall-mounted keypad and a pair of in-ceiling speakers in each room.
One-Touch Control One of the best parts about a home automation system from Hermary’s is the control of multiple electrical components in your home, all from one central touch-screen key pad. Gone are the days of endless switches, dimmers and remotes – your entire home is integrated into one system that controls multiple devices and has the ability to create pre-set ‘scenes’. You can have as many or as few controls as you like, with as many or as few options at each station as is suitable to your needs. Home Cinema Say goodbye to long lines, expensive popcorn and candy, and enjoy movies from the comfort of your own home without compromising on presentation quality. A home theater from Hermary’s far surpasses a plasma-and-speakers set from the electronics store. We create luxury screening venues with cinema quality picture and sound, custom designed to your unique specifications.
Networking Hermary’s has the ability to bring reliable wifi signal to all areas of your home not just your office.
Control of my home is now so simple‌
Browse cover art and start the movie from your phone.
Orche chesttratte whole-house audio with a slide of your fingers.
Pre-set mood lighting or turn off every light in the house in one touch.
Kickk-sttartt your Ki home thermostat before you leave the office.
Arm the security system or check if the children are safe.
‌and affordable! Come by our showroom for a demonstration. www.hermarys.com 650-592-9480 386 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 94070
BACK IN TIME
2000
• The Seattle Kingdome is demolished by implosion • The NASDAQ reached an all-time high of 5,048 • Bill Clinton is the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam • The U.S. Supreme Court stops the Florida Presidential recount giving the state to George W. Bush • Average cost for a gallon of gasoline $1.70 • U.S. Postage stamp 33 cents • Microsoft chairman Bill Gates steps aside as Chief Executive Officer • Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams beat Tennessee Titans, 23-16 at the Georgia Dome Atlanta MVP is Kurt Warner, St. Louis QB • In a pre-dawn raid, federal agents
seize six-year-old Elián González from his relatives’ home in Miami, Florida.
• 100th US Golf Open at Pebble Beach • Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana Pacers 4-2 in NBA finals MVP is Shaquille O’Neal, L.A. • Sammy Sosa’s becomes the second player to hit 50 or more home runs in three consecutive years, joining Mark McGwire • The 100th Space Shuttle mission (STS-92) is flown. • NY Yankees defeat NY Mets 4-1 to win their 3rd straight World Series Championship; MVP is Derek Jeter, NY Yankees • U.S. retailer Montgomery Ward announces it is going out of business after 128 years.
BAYAREABRIDALGUIDE.COM
Home & Design
Doug Fernandez
Fernandez Designs & Builders Inc. www.fernandez-designs.com
Things to Look For: Mold Issues in Today’s Modern Home
Y
ou encounter mold every day. Foods spoil because of mold. Leaves decay and pieces of wood lying on the ground rot due to mold. That fuzzy black growth on wet window sills is mold. Paper or fabrics stored in a damp place get a musty smell that is due to the action of molds. Molds will grow if we provide them with moisture and nutrients. If we keep things dry, molds do not grow.
Moldy drywall The paper facings of gypsum wallboard (drywall) grow mold when they get wet or repeatedly wet and don’t dry quickly. Cleaning with water containing detergent not only add moisture to the paper but also can eventually damage the facing. If the mold is located only on top of the painted surface, remove it by general cleaning. If the mold is underneath the paint, the moldy patch and other moldy material behind it are best cut out and the surrounding areas also cleaned.
Bleach is NOT recommended The most compelling reason for advising against bleach is that fumes are harmful but in addition, overuse of bleach will result in increased releases of chlorinated effluents which can be harmful to the environment. You may need professional help when: • There is a lot of mold • The home is very damp and moist • Mold comes back after repeated cleaning • A family member suffers from asthma or respiratory problems or other health problems that appear to be aggravated Smell/Odor inside the home Sometimes molds are hidden and cannot be Remember, to be safe and always wear seen. A musty or earthy smell often indicates protective clothing, mask, goggles and gloves. the presence of molds. But a smell may not be present for all molds.
Wherever your day takes you‌
Hot off the virtual press and direct to your Inbox. Subscribe to Silicon Valley Local (for special features and promotions) at info@svlocalmag.com PS: We never share email addresses!
State of the county a need to focus on gun violence. I will work with Sheriff Laurie Smith and District Attorney Jeff Rosen to create a s incoming president of the gun buyback program where residents Board of Supervisors, I recently can voluntarily turn in firearms, no delivered the annual State of the County questions asked, in exchange for cash. address. My top priorities include In addition, there are people in this implementing health care reform, community who are ineligible to possess curbing gun violence, and improving the firearms because of felony convictions, public’s health. restraining orders placed against them, The national Affordable Care Act or having been determined by a court will take effect one to be a danger to themselves or others. year from now. As I will work with Sheriff Smith to have Board president, those residents surrender their guns. I will be devoting Adult and childhood obesity remains a much time to this serious health concern. Obese children issue to make have a higher risk of developing high sure our hospital blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 and clinics are diabetes, and other serious illnesses that prepared to meet will affect them into adulthood. the challenges of A major contributor to both child and providing services adult obesity is over-consumption of to the tens of sugar-loaded beverages. That is why I Ken Yeager thousands of will ask our Public Health Department residents who will to develop strategies aimed at reducing finally have medical coverage. high-sugar, high-calorie beverage Ensuring that every child in Santa consumption. Clara County has health care is a HIV/AIDS remains a major public concept that the county has long health concern. To drastically reduce embraced but never achieved. I propose transmission rates, testing is crucial. that we recommit to providing medical Knowing one’s HIV status lessens the and dental coverage to all kids in need likelihood of infecting others and helps by using some of the Measure A funds residents connect to treatment. This is approved by the voters last November. why I will work to expand HIV testing Recent horrific shootings highlight programs. By Ken Yeager Santa Clara County Supervisor, District Four
A
I strongly support the Public Health Department’s efforts to perform a communitywide health assessment and action plan. As we launch our health system’s mission of “Better Health for All,” I am calling on them to include a special study of both the African American and LGBT communities. Another critical need is for more universal and more frequent developmental screenings for young children. In Santa Clara County, more than 18,000 children under the age of six are thought to have one or more developmental delays that go unidentified until they enter kindergarten. Because mental health and substance use disorders are often linked, I support a consolidation of mental health and alcohol and drug services into a combined Behavioral Health Department. This change will facilitate the use of best practices in the field of behavioral health across our health system. The county must continue to focus on conserving natural resources and combating climate change. Going forward, I propose updating the county’s building codes to include the capability for electric vehicle charging stations in all new residential and commercial construction. In addition, we need to make sure that more of the waste we produce is composted and does not go into our landfills. I will work to include residential and commercial food waste collection in any new contracts. Santa Clara County has always taken the lead on health, social, and environmental issues. I look forward to working with my Board colleagues, county staff, and community partners as we continue that progress in 2013.
At Peak Travel, customer service is a family tradition By Tyler Peak
W
hen my father, Jack Peak, founded Peak Travel in 1962, San Jose was a very different place. As a young man I was proud when folks described his service as “special” and “unique.” Today, I am proud that we at The Peak Travel Group continue my dad’s tradition of going the “extra mile.” Our goal remains to make your travel experience, be it a business trip or a family vacation, the very best ever. To that end, we have nearly 200 associates trained in everything from finding
the best airfare and hotel rates to researching transfers designed to best fit with your schedule and your needs. Whether we assist you online or in person, know that you will be receiving the highest level of service from a dedicated staff with the very best training and expertise in the travel industry. There are few industries where having “been there, done that” is more important than in the world of travel. We know where to go…because we’ve been there. We know where to stay…because we’ve stayed there, and, yes, we know where to eat…because we’ve eaten there. At Peak Travel, we know, because we’ve been preparing to book your trip for over 50 years. Day in and day out we make it our business to know more and do more for each of our clients. I’m pretty sure Jack would approve. The Peak Travel Group…Now You’re Getting Somewhere.
Meet Jan Morris-Phillips Elite Travel Consultant
J
an Morris’ enthusiasm adds a certain sparkling quality to your travels. She specializes in family and reunion travel which brings people together in the perfect destination and she will help you make memories for a lifetime. Exotic and less usual destinations such as Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, or Africa are some of her favorite places. She can put you on a 54 passenger private jet where you can travel to all seven continents and be treated like royalty, or she’ll secure the best cruise values or most intimate getaway just for you. If she’s not been to the destination recently Jan has contacts on the ground or a colleague who has current knowledge. Jan works tirelessly to be sure your trip is the best possible match for your requirements. Beginning her career in 1987, Jan has worked full time fulfilling her clients’ travel dreams, and she loves to escort groups both on land and sea. A strong believer in giving back , Jan has been a Los Gatos Lions member for 21 years. She was honored to be their first woman president in 2000 and is past president of the Los Gatos Community Foundation and still serves on their Board. Making a difference in life, whether it is at Peak Travel or in her community is one of Jan’s passions. “I love what I do and am truly grateful to be part of the Peak Travel Family for
Jan Morris-Phillips on the balcony of “Serenade of the Seas” taking a group through the Panama Canal.
PEAK TRAVEL GROUP
jmorris@peaktravel.com 800.737.9776 http://www.peaktravel.com
almost 16 years. I am often asked, ‘What value does a Travel Agent provide over booking travel online?’ My answer is always: ‘SERVICE!’ From the minute we say ‘hello’ on the phone by email, or in person, until you have returned from your vacation, I will always be available to you and treat you as an individual and valued client. Plus it helps that I can usually include added savings or benefits for you!” Jan invites you to contact her when you’re ready to plan your next trip, and she’ll use her experience and contacts as she works with you to create one of your best trips ever.
5
Reasons Smart Travelers use a Travel Consultant WHY USING A TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL SAVES YOU TIME, STRESS AND MONEY
1. Save time. Don’t spend hours searching for the price, hotel or adventure you want. A travel consultant can review multiple airline, hotel and car availability simultaneously and quickly help you zero in on what you really want from your travel experience.
with 5 offices on the west coast and more than 150 employees, gather current and diverse travel feedback on a daily basis. Their consultants tap into this consistent flow of first-hand knowledge to give you reliable advice and appropriate recommendations for each aspect of your trip. Each consultant’s personal contacts 2. Avoid information overload. With so much both domestically and internationally provide real benefits for you - access to places not usuinformation available it’s difficult not to beally available to the general public, no waiting come confused and overwhelmed. A good consultant will pinpoint the best products and in entrance lines, private car & driver, or the determine true bargains, and what really quali- outstanding experience of afternoon tea at the real Downton Abbey with the wife of the curfies as extra value for you. rent Earl! 3. More for your Money. You can’t VIP your5. Avoid problems. The services of a Travel self. Travel companies book airline seats, Consultant include monitoring your travel arcruises, hotels, tours, sightseeing, private guides and more all year long. They work with rangements and resolving any issues. so you wholesalers and are members of travel consor- can relax. They will be your advocate before, tiums. This means they can access an upgrade, during and after your trip .Your Travel consulincluded breakfast or other benefit and include tant can help you understand if there is a difference between a Beach View or Beach Front it at reduced or no cost to you. They will inroom. They’ll check that the museum is open variably be able to get more for you than you the day of your visit, and they’ll book you to can get for yourself. the Portland Maine, you wanted and not the 4. Get First-hand knowledge & Personal con- Portland Oregon you almost booked yourself. They’ll know when you need a visa and can nections. Good travel consultants have expehelp you get one. A real Travel Consultant is rienced a variety of destination and products plus they get reviews each time a client returns priceless. They’re passionate about travel. Just contact Peak Travel and see for yourself! from a trip. Travel agencies like Peak Travel
Take advantage of the
BEST TRAVEL VALUES Extra savings and more benefits
REAL PEOPLE. REAL SERVICE.
CRUISES, VACATIONS, GROUPS, AND BUSINESS TRAVEL MENTION THIS AD FOR ADDED SAVINGS. CONTACT US TODAY.
408.286.2633
WWW.PEAKTRAVEL.COM
1723 Hamilton Avenue • San Jose, CA 95125 CST# 2029626-40
We’ve got great news—we’re continuing our 123go! event for summer vacations in Europe, Alaska & Bermuda. Book an ocean view or higher stateroom and choose from three exciting offers on summer sailings in Europe, Bermuda and Alaska departing June through September 2013. Plus, when you book a 2013 Europe sailing, you’ll be able to choose TWO of the three offers for an even more amazing vacation value. Plus, Captain’s Club members earn an additional $500* onboard credit when they book a suite on any sailing departing June – September 2013.
Offer Choices
Offer Details
Free Beverage Package
Receive Classic Beverage Packages for two, including spirits, valued at $88* per day, with beverage gratuities covered by us—a 12-night sailing has a total value of more than $1,056
Free Gratuities
Receive pre-paid gratuities for two, value of up to $30* per day
Onboard Credit
Receive $100* for 3- to 5-night sailings Receive $200* for 6- to 9-night sailings Receive $300* for 10-night or more sailings Plus, enjoy reduced air rates on select departures.
But hurry, this is a limited time offer. So, book your Celebrity Cruises vacation now until April 30, 2013. *Restrictions apply. Š2013 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships registered in Malta and Ecuador.
1723 Hamilton Ave. San Jose, CA 95125
408-286-2633 | www.peaktravelgroup.com
s e i r r e b n a Cr
TANGY RED BEAUTIES!
C
CRANBERRY GLAZED HAMBALLS
ranberries have become more than just a sauce HAMBALLS: for the Thanksgiving table. You can find them as 1-1/2 pounds of ground ham a complimenting ingredient in cookies, yogurt, salads, 1-1/2 cups bread crumbs energy bars, cereals, cakes, breads, and main dishes 2 eggs with chicken, pork, turkey, or ham. Here are some 1/2 cup milk basic facts for including these tangy, red beauties in Mix and form into balls. your food. Cranberries can be included in recipes without SAUCE: adding a lot of extra calories. They do, though, add 3/4 cup brown sugar dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium. 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar The distinctive tartness of cranberries can be 1/4 cup water remedied with sugar, although not so much that it takes 1 can sliced pineapples 1/4 cup juice from pineapples away from their natural flavor. Their tanginess can also 1 cup whole cranberry sauce be appreciated without sugar when cooked with other fruits such as oranges, bananas, or apples that add Place pineapple slices on bottom of natural sweetness. pan. Add ham balls. Mix the remaining When cranberries are cooked, their ingredients together and pour on top of hamballs. Bake approximately one hour skins burst and release the fruit. at 325 degrees. Usually cranberries do not need to be thickened because their Whether frozen, canned, whole berries, high pectin content causes or sauce, cranberries can be the star of them to thicken and gel when a recipe. These red beauties can make they have cooled. even a mundane day feel like a holiday any time of the year. Don’t make the mistake of By S. Snider saving cranberries only for the holidays. Use them liberally all year long. Begin by trying this delicious recipe for hamballs glazed with cranberry sauce.
Imagine. Explore. Inspire.
Imagine. Explore. Inspire.
Experience a unique environment where you can get hands-on with the full breadth of The Living Kitchen presents Sub-Zero and Wolf products in full-scale kitchen settings w toExperience create a dream kitchen of your own. a unique environment where you can get hands-
on with the full breadth of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. The Living Kitchen presents Sub-Zero and Wolf products in full1234 Address Here, City, State Imagine. Explore. Inspire. scale kitchen settings with all the resources you need to create Hours Here Experience a unique environment where you can get handsdream kitchen of your on with the fulla breadth of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. The own. Living Kitchen presents Sub-Zero and Wolf products in fullscale kitchen settings with all the resources you need to create aSUB00108_Living dream kitchen of your own.Half Page Ad-H1.indd 1 Kitchen
Davies Appliance Family Owned Since 1934
1580 El Camino Real • Redwood City, CA 94063 daviesappliancestores.com • (650) 366-5728
Meet Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers
Born to Make Good Things Happen
Jed York, center, with his mother, Denise DeBartolo York, and his father, John York, at his side during the New Santa Clara Groundbreaking Ceremony in April 2012.
stories@svlocalmag.com
Y
ou do not need to be a sports fan, a football fan or specifically a 49er fan to appreciate this story. You are living it now and Jed York is the man of the hour. Imagine being you didn’t already surrounded by a very know, this is not your successful family, ordinary Jed! This is with very successful not your typical, now family members, 31-year old, NFL team since birth. There owner. In just a few is Jed’s grandfather, years, what Jed York Edward DeBartolo, has accomplished Sr., Chairman of his as CEO of the San No. 1 Retail Shopping Francisco 49ers is Center Corporation astonishing. in the US, who for I recently met years would be his role with Jed. It was very model and mentor. special. What he There is his uncle, said was focused, Eddie DeBartolo, enlightening and former Owner of the empowering. Listening 49ers, who was in the to him seemed worthy midst of a five Super of a two-year MBA Bowl Trophy run. course. We talked There is his mother, about last season. It Denise DeBartolo was a great season. York, who as President To make the playoffs of the Pittsburgh was great. Of course, Penguins, was the we were disappointed A young Jed York, left, with legendary 49ers first woman to have to be so close to the coach Bill Walsh and his uncle, Edward J. her name engraved Super Bowl and not be DeBartolo, Jr. on the Stanley Cup. able to finish the job. Her husband and Jed’s Important, though, father, John York, is one of the pre-eminent is not to dwell on that, but to reset, look ahead Cancer Research Doctors in the US. The Yorks and prepare … and prepare they have. Jed said would become co-owners of the 49ers, and in he doesn’t look at wins and losses, but on the December, 2008, they would proudly announce progress made. Teams get into the playoffs with that Jed York, at 27 years of age, would lead the different records … it’s the playoffs, though, franchise’s daily operations moving forward. where they have that second season, that really Indeed, Jed was ready for that day. matters, where they need to be ready and wellWho is Jed York? To all of you out there, if prepared.
The York family established the San Francisco 49ers Foundation in 1991 to serve the Bay Area community. The Foundation Jed York addresses the 49ers supports develoment programs for underserved youth that Faithful at the team’s State of keep them, “Safe, On track and In School.” the Franchise.
Jed talked about the importance of having goals, progressing in the right direction, looking at things in steps, reaching certain milestones. It’s like building a stadium; it’s a process and he would see the entire picture (the macro) and make sure each step up the ladder was accomplished (the micro). Jed’s working slogan seems to be: What will it take to make it happen and let’s make it happen. It was a great year. The first step was naming Trent Baalke General Manager, to oversee the team’s football operations. From that point, Jed and Trent set out to find the perfect man to lead the 49ers onto the field. Jim Harbaugh was the clear-cut choice. Last preseason, there was a labor stoppage where the coaches and players were not allowed to meet or practice together - a huge disadvantage for a new coach and system. Harbaugh took the challenge and became just the 4th head coach in NFL history to win 13 games in his rookie regular season, and the first to do so with a team who had a losing record the year before. To quote Coach Harbaugh: “Who’s got it better than us? ... Nobody!” No time to look back, or dwell, but to reset and look forward ... time moved quickly.
The 49ers swiftly made helpful off-season acquisitions through the NFL draft and a free agency period on the eve of training camp. Jed, Trent and Jim thrive on competition. No successful team, coach or player rests on their laurels. There is competition at every position. This breeds improvement. And by the end of the 2011 season, the 49ers had reached the NFC title game and staked their claim to a spot among the NFL’s elite teams once again. In Santa Clara, there is lots to look forward to, both on the football field, and right next to the team’s practice facility. In 2010, the team attained city approval to move forward on plans to build the world’s premium outdoor sports and entertainment venue in Santa Clara. Over the last year, the team took massive steps towards making a new Santa Clara Stadium a reality. The team secured an $850 million construction loan, $200 million in NFL funding and later broke ground in April, 2012. It is with wonderment and excitement to see this beautiful, state-of-the-art, first ever LEED Seal, fully Wi-Fi and Electric Grid Neutral Stadium under construction. This is a sign of
how appreciative we can be of everyone’s hard provides a distinguished forum to hear from work coming together. This means many more first-hand experts and leaders from throughout jobs (all local contractors), office buildings going the United States and the World. Jed believes from vacancies to occupancies, a new hotel in the importance of such a forum, to be able to rightly called The Montana, all-creating a boom hear, learn and discuss important issues without to the regional economy. Remarkably, this is political bias. also the first pro football stadium to be built What was also grand about this last season, in California in 47 Jed and his wife, years. Danielle, were It was instilled married and in Jed from an then recently early age by his celebrated grandfather, to their one year “Win With Class,” anniversary. They both on and off the were married field. It is clear that during the labor Family, Team and stoppage, when Community seem Jed and no one to blend together else knew if there as one. Jed is a would even be man of passion, a season. Jed compassion and a needed to stay competitive desire close to the 49er to win. He also Headquarters, takes great pride, so there was no as do all the 49ers, real Honeymoon. that there is 100% Their honeymoon participation from happily came the organization with their first in volunteering to anniversary … help support our and a wonderful community, as well. trip where both Jed also makes families came time in his very to enjoy it with busy schedule to them. A great serve on the Board year, indeed. of Directors of As 49er fans, two Non-Profits. we have a lot to One is Tipping be thankful for. Jed York congratulating QB Alex Smith in the locker room following the 49ers playoff victory over the New A winning team Point, based in Orleans Saints on January 14, 2012. San Francisco. inspired by a firstThe Board covers class coaching all the operating staff. Soon, expenses, while last year alone, $14 million was a state-of-the-art stadium, that will proudly raised, which benefitted fight-against-poverty showcase our 49ers team and organization, non-profit organizations. The other non-profit will be realized under special leadership that is the Commonwealth Club, based in both is being provided and driven by Jed York . San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, which Nothing can be finer than being a 49er!
Comprehensive cancer care from prevention to detection to treatment.
fighting force. Team up with the best to bATTLE cancer. To prevent or battle cancer, you need a fighting force on your side. Fortunately, some of the world’s fiercest warriors are right here at El Camino Hospital. Our innovative Cancer Center is a world-class, one-stop resource from diagnosis to recovery. Here, the area’s best and brightest specialists fight cancer tirelessly with an innovative approach. Our oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons are all highly trained experts who work collaboratively with your best interests in mind. We tackle cancer head on, aggressively targeting tumors with a strong, multidisciplinary care plan. We offer advanced targeted therapies as well as genetic counseling and access to innovative clinical trials. And we add a personal touch with caring, convenient services that help patients and their families cope with the disease, and the treatment. So if you’re battling cancer, we are standing by to fight for you, and with you, every step of the way. From left: Shane Dormady, MD, PhD, medical oncologist; Shyamali Singhal, MD, medical director of the Cancer Center; Jenn Landes, RN, infusion specialist; Frank Lai, MD, urologic surgeon and robotic surgery specialist.
For more information on our programs and services, or for physician referral, call today or visit our website.
800-216-5556 www.elcaminohospital.org Two campuses • 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View • 815 Pollard Road, Los Gatos
ouR oRTho PRos haVe you CoVeRed fRoM PReVenTion To diaGnosis To TReaTMenT and RehabiLiTaTion.
oRTho PRos. CoMPRehensiVe CaRe To keeP you MoVinG TowaRd a MoRe aCTiVe Life. If joint and spine pain are keeping you from enjoying a more active lifestyle, turn to El Camino Hospital’s Orthopedic Institutes. Patients come from all over for our exceptional experience and expertise. Our program includes boardcertified and fellowship-trained specialists, along with subspecialists for every major joint (shoulder, hip, and knee) and extremity (hand and ankle). We offer a wide range of advanced orthopedic treatments, such as personalized knee replacements with implants customized to a patient’s specific anatomy, muscle-sparing shoulder surgery, and spinal reconstruction for scoliosis. What’s more, our Mountain View campus was the first hospital in the state to earn a trio of hip and knee certifications from the Joint Commission, recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality. You can count on our ortho pros for the finest care, head to toe. Just a few of our orthopedic experts, from left: Jeffrey Coe, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon; Julia Kahan, MD, orthopedic surgeon; Rodney Wong, MD, chief of orthopedic surgery and orthopedic surgeon; Nancy Zyrkowski, MS, MSA, program director, rehabilitation center; and Jeffrey Kliman, MD, orthopedic surgeon.
for a list of valuable tips on maintaining joint and bone health, visit http://orthotips.elcaminohospital.org.
800-216-5556 www.elcaminohospital.org/ortho Two campuses • 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View • 815 Pollard Road, Los Gatos
TECH’S YOUNG GUNS
Is the next Steve Jobs out there? By Scott Budman
T
hey’re the Young Guns. Seen by some as too young and too cocky; seen by others as the future of the world’s greatest wealth creation engine. Here in Silicon Valley, we hold a special place for young executives. Men and women who wouldn’t get the time of day in most traditional smokestack industries, but who are treated like royalty in tech. They start Budman companies, convince people twice their age to part with hundreds of millions of dollars in Venture funding, and
then become billionaires. Recently, we’ve referred too many of them as “The next Steve Jobs.” But they’ve been here as long as there has been a Silicon Valley. And thanks to people like Jack Dorsey, I’m confident that there will always be a Silicon Valley. We catch up to Dorsey at the headquarters of Square, a growing company changing the way we buy things. The “Square” in question is a small attachment to your iPhone or iPad that lets you accept credit cards payments anytime, anywhere. It’s simple, and extremely lucrative. And it’s not all Dorsey does for a living. He also started Twitter, the much larger company currently informing just about everyone about just about everything. Nowhere near 40, Dorsey is what the tech industry is all about: Youth cool, and success. He is, however, a lot older than Mark Zuckerberg. Another executive clearly ahead of his time, pushing through decisions that, after
initial skepticism, prove to be spot-on. Speaking of Facebook, let’s not forget Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. Not as young as Mark, but ahead of her time in the tech world, with a strong feeling that education is what’s needed for a better tech industry (remember, Apple used to push that pretty hard, too). All corporate neighbors, by the way, of Aaron Levie, the young CEO and co-founder of Box. His is a company focusing on cloud storage - not as consumer sexy as Facebook or twitter, but crucial to the future of tech. He has written several posts recently pretty much saying that he does what he does because he watched Steve Jobs do it. Touching and thoughtful, from someone who will surely be part of the next big tech wave. Box’s chief competitor is called DropBox, and there’s more in common there than storage, and the word “Box” in the name. DropBox also has a young hotshot founder. Arash Ferdowsi, along with his co-founder (they were classmates at MIT) just pulled in enough money to rate a staggering $4 billion valuation. Which, while impressive, is likely dwarfed by even the personal wealth of Google’s Marissa Mayer. While young in age, Mayer is already treated (deservedly) like a Valley veteran, taking a big role in guiding Google to its huge success. One of the company’s first hires, Mayer is given credit for the company’s easy to use design, and much-imitated culture. Search “success,” and you’ll find her. Also in the neighborhood (what is it about Palo Alto, anyway? Is there something in the water that makes young people more ambitious than you or me?), a company called Pulse, with two co-founders still in their twenties, Akshay Kothari and Ankit Gupta. Both out of Stanford (again, where else?), they’re quiet young men, but determined to change the way we find and read news. Their app makes the iPad an intelligent device. On top of that, the Amazon Kindle Fire chose Pulse as the first built-in app for its new, popular tablet. And, how about Ernestine Fu? We first met her as a High School student, already starting companies. She went on to Stanford, and
while still there, became an associate at Alsop Louie Partners, a Venture Capital firm. Wait a minute, you ask, a 20-year old VC? Well, why not. This is, after all, the land of the 20-something founder of companies used by twenty somethings; why not tap into a young mind when it comes to deciding who to fund? Admittedly, some of the youth movement is here because good times are here; When the dot-com boom went bust, it also took also took a lot of the young founders down with it. This makes some sense: When people get nervous, they’re less likely to take risks, and
We here in Silicon Valley love our risk takers, and we love our rock stars.
few things say “risk” like trusting ten million dollars of your money to someone who could be your kid. That said, we here in Silicon Valley love our risk takers, and we love our rock stars. We have a special place for young people – after all, Jobs and Wozniak were young founders, so were Marc Andreessen of Netscape, Jen-Hsun Huang of Nvidia, and many others. They’re not worried about being the “next” Steve Jobs, as much as they’re worried about their next round of funding, next line of products, or when the IPO hits. And as long as they’re still here, Silicon Valley will rightly be known as the Wild West, where the Young Guns rule. Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman
The
San Francisco 49ers
Community Relations and
49ers Foundation
A PROUD TRADITION BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD
49ers Linebacke rs visit Good Samaritan Hos pital e ner John York at th 49ers Co-Chair/Ow int YMCA Bayview Hunters Po
H
ow do you define a Class Organization? From the very top on down. An organization that, internally, has everyone’s attention and 100% participation. Pride that’s felt everywhere and amongst everyone. Like one big family that cares. That’s the 49ers. The Season is actually 12 months long for the 49ers – as they like to say, “There is no off-season” – both on and off the field. As the on-field football season ends, the Foundation gets to work, hosting charitable events that raise millions of dollars to benefit non-profit organizations in alignment with the 49ers Foundation’s mission to keep kids “Safe, On Track, and In School.” During the season,
ies serving 2012 49ers Rook l to homeless Thanksgiving mea families
each week on the players’ day off, the 49ers orchestrate community events that transform people’s lives. The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the 49ers, now in its 21st year.
TE Vernon Davis host ing kids a a Player t VISA Sho p With
49ers honor breast cancer survivors at an October home game
The Foundation supports programs for underserved youth that keep them “Safe, On Track and In School.” Over the past 20 years, the Foundation has donated nearly $20 million - $2.9 million in 2012. The philanthropic efforts of the 49ers Foundation are highly focused and strategic; remaining true to the well-developed mission statement and purpose and committed to creating measurable results through transformational grants and impact programs. In 2012, 49ers players participated in more than 150 events, donating over 2,800 hours of volunteer time, impacting over 80,000 people in need annually. In 2012, 100% of the players participated in one-or-more community events. Meet Joanne Pasternack, the Director of Community Relations and the 49ers Foundation Joanne Pasternack for the San Director of Community Francisco 49ers. Relations and the Joanne attended 49ers Foundation high school in the Bay Area. Her father was a dedicated fan of the 49ers and Joanne grew up cheering for the 49ers as well. She went to college at the University of Pennsylvania, then to law school at Santa Clara University. Following law school, she went to Washington, DC, where she worked with the Kennedy and Shriver families for the extraordinary non-profit, Special Olympics. At Special Olympics, she found a perfect marriage of her two passions – sports and philanthropy. It was the beginning of Joanne’s path towards a position that seems tailor-made for her interests and skills. After working a World Winter Games for Special Olympics in Alaska, Joanne returned to the Bay Area where she secured a job with the City of Mountain View in the City Manager’s
Office and the Police Department. While there, she co-founded the Mountain View Police Activities League (MVPAL), where she once again found a natural proclivity for event management, charitable outreach and using sports as a vehicle to transform perceptions and, in turn, a community. She was at the City of Mountain View in a variety of roles for over six years when, one day, she saw a job posting. She remembers how her heart began beating with excitement as she read the position description. “Looking for the right person … The San Francisco 49ers … Community Relations.” She couldn’t believe what she was reading. This would be her dream job and she wanted to go for it and boy, did she! Joanne was interviewed extensively. It was a very thorough process - it was that important to them. They certainly knew that they found the right person and she certainly knew that she found the right organization! They complete each other, on and off the field. Her words: “I live this … I breathe this … and I love this job.” Joanne told me about the 49ers and their overall commitment to charitable work. Their concept of Sports and Philanthropy was no afterthought. Leading by example, are John and Denise and Jed York and their entire family. John, Denise and Jed live and breathe philanthropy, vigorously engaging in activities and throwing considerable energy, effort and support towards the team’s charitable endeavors. John and Denise’s daughters, Jenna and Mara, are active participants in nearly every community event, sharing their zeal for transforming the lives of at-risk youth through hands on service. Their brother, Tony, is also involved and spent time with his father in New Orleans, visiting a school that had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and taking time to get to know the students, among other activities. Daughter-in-law, Danielle (Jed’s wife), is a school teacher and worked for years in an underserved middle school deep in the heart of one of the most challenged parts of San Francisco. From the top down, it’s the culture, the fabric, the very spirit. Their desire has always been, and will always be, to see “Philanthropic change through sports.” Indeed, they want to be not just the
RB Frank Gore advocating literacy
best in the NFL, but in all sports. The San Francisco 49ers Foundation was honored by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal for being No. 15 in corporate philanthropic giving in 2012. Not bad for a company that has only 150 employees. The No. 2 Company, by comparison, was Cisco, with 72,000 employees. Nationally, the 49ers were selected runner-up as the best in Sports Philanthropy by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and they were the only representative from the NFL to have this distinction in 2011. There are many examples of their contributions. The San Francisco 49ers Academy – a school for low income middle school youth in East Palo Alto – not only bears the name of the 49ers football team, but it is also indelibly stamped with the spirit of their storied franchise. The school focuses on the underlying socioeconomic situations that were barriers to the students’ success by collaborating with teachers, police officers and strong mentors. Recognizing the challenges faced by youth in the economically disadvantaged community of East Palo Alto and seeing an opportunity to make a measurable difference for these youth, the 49ers Foundation has been a part of the Academy since 1996, giving grants while also providing hands on support through collaboration, 1000s of game tickets, mentorship, facility enhancement, and donations. With an increase in obesity rates among our nation’s youth, the 49ers have incorporated
49ers Co-owners Denise DeBartolo York and daughters Jenna and Mara at the 49ers Academy Gala
Second Harvest Food Drive kick-off with co-chairs including 49ers CEO Jed York and supporters
the PLAY 60 youth fitness program into the Academy to increase the students’ overall health, building a $75,000 outdoor fitness zone and bringing national visibility to the school and its commitment to fitness through a partnership with Matthew McConaughey. With the 49ers involvement, test scores have skyrocketed to the highest level in the school district – on par with far wealthier ZIP codes. In 2012, the 49ers Foundation facilitated $752K in contributions to the Academy, hosted eight events and dedicated countless volunteer hours to assist the youth. And there is so much more! Breast Cancer Awareness, helping feed the homeless, where Jed has been the Food and Fund Drive Co-Chairman for Second Harvest Food Bank for the past two years. The Bayview Hunters Point YMCA near
LB Patrick Willis with Make-A-Wish recipient
49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrating Pasta Bowl with a young fan
Candlestick Park is another place they love supporting. They are also strong supporters of City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, Hedge Funds Care (eradication of child abuse), the Center for Youth Wellness, Fresh Lifeline for Youth (FLY), and the Football Camp for the Stars (a camp for athletes with Down syndrome), and many others. The 49ers Taube/Koret Touchdowns for Kids program is another wonderful example of the giving spirit of the 49ers. For every Touchdown, Field Goal, Interception and Sack, in partnership with the Taube Family Foundation and the Koret
Foundation, the 49ers, philanthropist Tad Taube and Koret have raised $700,000 to help support Bay Area charitable organizations. Again, here is a collaborative commitment that helps improve the life, safety and educational opportunities for the children of the communities they serve. The 49ers host two very popular — and philanthropically productive — fundraising events. One is the Pasta Bowl. This has become their popular annual kick-off to the new season, the night before pre-season training begins. All the players come together and literally serve their designated table of admiring fans with food and pictures and fun. All proceeds go to benefit the community. There is also the 49ers Foundation Winter Fest, held in March in Lake Tahoe. This event always sells out. It’s a fun time for all and in 2013, the 49ers Foundation brought in $2 million during the weekend to support local Bay Area charities. That primarily is the Foundation side. There is also the Community Relations side. Each week, the players have one day off. Typically it is on Monday. On their day off, the Community Relations team organizes community events where players have an opportunity to participate in hands-on service events where they can directly impact those in need in the Bay Area. From hosting a board game tournament for youth with serious illness at the Ronald McDonald House to building a playground in East Palo Alto, inspiring incarcerated youth to choose a different and more productive path and so very much more, for the 49ers philanthropic outreach efforts, it is always about the people and for those in need in our community. There are a good number of players who can relate to coming from hard upbringings and they pour their hearts into the events. FLY is a perfect example, where the players and students talk about issues and goals. The players inspire and make a difference for the kids they personally reach through such community visits. Even on the road, like when they have traveled to Youngstown to train in between East Coast games, they made a huge difference visiting a local hospital, school, and community center. In October 2010, when they traveled to London to play in the NFL International Series game, they had one day off. Instead of site-
seeing, they arranged a special day with a hugely dedication and passion. “The key here is that the members of the popular Premier League team – Tottenham 49ers family recognize that they have been Hotspur – and together, in one of the poorer blessed with a special opportunity - one that districts of London, they held a collaborative is not to be taken for granted,” Joanne said. event for 100 low-income youth showcasing “The 49ers take this responsibility seriously. the PLAY 60 movement and the importance of That is why we do what we do. Whether it getting out to play, 60 minutes a day, through is a rookie or a seasoned veteran, ownership both football and soccer. It was an amazing or a 49ers alumnus, we are so very proud of day. The 49ers were the first to host such a large scale event while playing the International Series game. The following year, another team repeated this warm, monumental gesture. The 49ers plan to do something similar when they return to London in October 2013. The 49ers are also very active in spreading the messaging of the NFL “Play 60” Campaign to inspire children to be active and keep healthy. Vernon Davis is the 49ers spokesperson. G Alex Boone sharing Play 60 Messaging One year, inspired by the youth’s our 49ers and their authentic commitment to commitment to the campaign, he hosted a transforming the lives of those in need.” team of 15 students from the 49ers Academy Indeed, when I visited with Joanne, there who participated in a competition to write a was definitely an energy, a spirit that touched commercial for “Play 60.” Vernon arranged for a Limo ride to a special evening held at his home everything and everyone there. It was obvious – all about helping benefit community – and with an Academy Awards Red Carpet look, plus infectiously and fantastically impactful. The Paparazzi and Oscar-like statues for the kids. A fun, memorable event for everyone for a life time! 49ers feel that community has done so much Another example of the tremendous player to benefit them as an organization and, as participation is Joe Staley who, with a librarian a result, the organization in turn is happy and proud to be able to give back to the for a mother, loves reading to elementary community - as it has and will continue to in students and was recently honored with a perpetuity. If there were a Super Bowl Trophy national accolade for helping build literacy among youth. It does make a difference. And given to the organization based on what they do off the field, as well, no doubt the San the list of what all the 49ers do, individually, Francisco 49ers would be winners of that one as a Team and as an organization is a very each and every year. long one. All without fanfare, but with total
y r a n o i s i V ordinair5 e a r t x E
LARRY BAER
PRESIDENT & CEO SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
I
t’s A Wonderful Life, circa 2013. Imagine San Francisco without our beloved Giants and where everything south of Market would be nothing but old warehouses. Far fetched? Not at all. The Tampa/St. Pete Giants? It may not sound right, but it was so close to happening.
As I drove to meet with Larry Baer, the President & CEO of the San Francisco Giants, in what has become beautiful SOMA, it felt like a dream come true. Had it not been for Larry Baer, who back in 1992 partnered with Peter Magowan and a group of civic-minded investors, none of the San Francisco Giants, AT&T Park and two World Series Championships would be here today. Instead, we would have struck out and Larry Baer enjoying the San Francisco Giants 2012 World our City by the Bay would Series Championship Parade together with his family and have been the baseball another million very happy fans. equivalent of Mudville! diligently at creating a local ownership group Larry could not have to save the Giants. That was 1992 and, been more gracious. For all the Giants’ fortunately for San Francisco, they succeeded success, it’s always about everyone else. He – and the future since has been so very bright. genuinely prefers it that way, truly a Team With the sale behind them, the question effort. became “what were they were going to do?” Larry is a native San Franciscan. He They poured money into Candlestick Park to attended Lowell High School and graduated improve the stadium for the fans. They lost Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley with a money doing that, but felt it was the right degree in Business. He then in 1980 went thing to do. to work for the Giants as the Director of The Giants desperately needed a new Marketing before leaving to attend Harvard ballpark. There was fear that a ballpark where he got his MBA. in SOMA would create a traffic nightmare. Following graduation, he worked as a Larry again worked diligently to ease the special assistant to Lawrence Tisch, the neighborhood concerns in defense of this Chairman of Westinghouse Broadcasting valiant cause. He felt it was essential to have (CBS). In the early 1990’s, Larry was in New York, when he learned about the Giants being open communications and good relationships with all the potential neighbors. close to being sold and moving to Tampa/St. Under the previous ownership, public Pete. Larry promptly called Peter Magowan, financing for a ballpark was voted down his CEO friend at Safeway, and they worked
four times. What to do? In 1995, the Giants unveiled plans for the first privately-financed Major League ballpark. From 1992-on, this was the beginning of what Larry refers to as: “A Dream Sequence”. Larry and the ownership group had a vision of a special ballpark. With this in mind, Larry went to visit some of the newer ballparks. When in Denver, visiting Coors Field, he read an ad in the paper: “Beautiful condominiums just a block and a half from the ballpark.” What? A beautiful and vibrant residential area surrounding the ballpark? Could that be? - Hello SOMA. From his conversations, he envisioned a combination of Camden Yards in Baltimore, Jacobs Field in Cleveland and Coors Field in Denver. All beautiful ballparks. For San Francisco, the team also wanted to utilize what we had here – the Bay and such beautiful scenic views. Thus became what Larry likes to call: “Where Wrigley Field Meets Camden Yards”. Representing the past and present, a beautiful place we all can go, to escape the real world … and appreciate such a ballpark, community oasis … where every day and night, truly a special, fun and exciting experience and place to be. The vision of AT&T Park (then Pacific Bell Park) became a reality and opened in April, 2000. It has drawn each year more than three million people in baseball attendance, nearly double the average yearly attendance at Candlestick Park. Currently, season tickets are at a maximum, all-time high. Larry also talked about the joy that’s behind the Giants’ FOUR businesses. First, they are in the Baseball Business. They are the defending World Series Champions. Two times in the last three years. Currently, they are a young team, sprinkled with seasoned veterans. There’s much to be grateful for and to look forward to. The Giants are also in the Entertainment Business. In addition to baseball, they host another 120 non-baseball events a year. This includes concerts, football games, corporate events, etc. A third business is that they own
one-third of Comcast Sportsnet. The Giants are extremely happy with this very popular network. They’re also tremendously pleased with the Giants announcers — “they’re the best!” The fourth business is another vision they are also very excited about. It’s called:
Larry Baer living a life-long dream. It’s about team, community and joy - coming together. We are in the Happy business, Larry would say. Indeed, we are truly very happy, proud and grateful.
Mission Rock. This soon will be a beautiful development – a 27 acre, $1.6 billion and sixyear project in the making. Just south of AT&T Park, this creation will be: (1) A spectacular Waterfront Park that can accommodate 5,000 people for outdoor movie nights or community festivals. (2) An energetic and inviting environment with wonderful shops,
cafes and galleries. meaning, literally (3) Anchor Brewing and figuratively. will expand its None of this would operations in a have been, had it restored historic not been for Larry Pier 48. (4) An Baer’s vision and exciting place to leadership. As work with some Larry, however, 1.7 million square would be the feet of office first to say, it’s all space for nearly about everyone 7,200 employees. … the players, (5) A dramatic organization and waterfront living fans alike …it’s a experience with total Team effort. new homes for up Lastly, we to 2,000 people. talked further Larry Baer, with Peter Magowan, Barry Zito and This will about the 2012 Lou Seal, enjoying the moment and creating generate 7,000 Playoffs and something special, including many special jobs, hundreds of World Series. The moments, that we’d be celebrating together for millions of dollars Giants had SIX many years to come. each year in tax elimination games revenue for the in the playoffs City and for the businesses located at Mission vs. Cincinnati and St. Louis. Lose any one of Rock. As Larry said: “We want this to become those six games and, it would be over, we’d be another beautiful hub for the City.” out. Larry said: “It’s a good metaphor for what Larry then talked about the meaning of we are as an organization. We never gave baseball and what in particular the Giants up. We purchased the team … then we built mean to the community. He loves how he AT&T Park…… now we are two-time World sees people everywhere wearing their Giants Series Champions! We have worked hard, yes, jersey or shirt or cap with pride. Larry, in fact, and will continue to do so. We look forward has his own Giants jersey. I saw it hanging on to more successes for our faithful and adoring the inside of his office door. fans.” Special moments? There are many. In Like in the Field of Dreams: “Build it and particular, he expressed how heartfelt it was to they will come” - they have. Millions each experience the two World Series Parades. He year. For Larry, it certainly has been, and is, thought of how special it must have been back a dream come true. He lives it and loves it … in 1958 when The City welcomed the Giants every day. He has always loved his City and to San Francisco. And, now, how great it was his Giants and you can certainly sense that to experience the nearly one million fans special spirit that’s centered around 24 Willie who came out to cheer them on – twice. He Mays Plaza. It’s such a wonderful vision that rode in both parades with his family and how has become an ongoing tradition … it’s a lot happy and proud he was, and is, for everyone. more than just a game … “we’re in the Happy “We are indeed so very grateful.” business” … so glad the Giants are here to stay Together We Are Giant … Together We … for all of us to enjoy … and for generations Are Champions… has taken on a special to come.
t r A f o k r o W A Mervyn Salt Landscapes
S
ince 1980, Mervyn Salt Landscapes has created many of the nicest, most beautiful landscape masterpieces - small, medium and large - throughout Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area. Mervyn Salt Landscapes has specialized in creating low-maintenance, Mediterranean gardens that do well in the Bay Area climate. Mervyn Salt is the owner of Mervyn Salt Landscapes and has more than four decades of valued expertise in landscaping and construction. Mervyn and the Senior Landscape Technician, Rafael Garcia, lead a professional, well-trained team of craftsmen that offers a complete array of landscaping solutions. Together, they excel in providing the best in developing a top notch, professional project, most efficiently and with the highest of standards. The art of landscaping is such that it enhances the beauty and value of everyone’s residential home or commercial property. The garden should align with the home architecture, as well as the home owner’s personalities, lifestyles and needs. Mervyn
Salt Landscapes enjoys integrating the art and natural beauty, where everything seems to complement everything else. Specialties include new lawns, irrigation and color. They invite you to visit their website, where you can view a number of examples of their award-winning landscape projects. Mervyn takes great pride in all their landscape projects they have done. It is important to him that each project is visited daily and that all the work is being done to the specifications, as designed and planned. All staff are professional and well-trained, with a strong work ethic, and with the highest honesty and integrity. They believe in doing the best job possible and following up to make sure the customer believes it’s as good as they do.
Creating Distinctive Gardens for Homes Like Yours since 1979 MERVYN
SA
LT L A N D S C A P E S
A Design Build Company LICENSE # C27-494793
• Planning & Design • Landscape Construction • Custom Plantings • Irrigation and Lawns • Lighting
www.mervynsaltlandscapes.com (408) 865-0521
BART to San Jose Will Soon Be a Reality By Ken Yeager Santa Clara County Supervisor, District Four
A
s the incoming chair of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors, I am happy to announce that BART to San JosĂŠ will soon be a reality, perhaps even sooner than we had hoped. At its December meeting, VTA awarded a $772 million contract to the joint venture firm of Skanska-ShimmickHerzog to build a 10-mile stretch of railway from Ken Yeager the Santa Clara/Alameda border to Berryessa. Under the current timeline, the Berryessa line is slated to go into service in 2018. However, the winning bid for the project came in $77 million under cost estimates and two years ahead of schedule. Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog brings over 150 years experience to the project. Their recent projects include building the AirTrain JFK Light Rail System, the Los Angeles MTA Eastside Light Rail extension, and the World Trade Center PATH Transportation Hub reconstruction. They have also constructed many subway and train stations, including a number of area BART stations. This project will also infuse jobs
into the local economy. Nearly 5,500 jobs will be created during the construction of the line, track, systems and station elements of the Berryessa Extension. An additional 4,000 indirect jobs will be created due to activities related to this contract. Furthermore, 3,800 jobs will be created to support construction of the station campus areas, access roadways, parking structures and transit centers. VTA is now seeking a $900 million federal grant for the Berryessa Extension Project from the Federal New Starts funding program and anticipates receipt of it early next year. Construction on the Berryessa line is scheduled to begin in March. The Berryessa project is one of three phases that brings BART into Santa Clara County. Construction is already underway that will extend BART 5.4 miles from its current endpoint in Fremont to the Warm Springs area at the Santa Clara County/Alameda County border. The Warm Springs project is slated to finish in 2015. When future funding is secured, a final project will add another 6 miles of track. A 5.1 milelong subway tunnel will be built through downtown San JosĂŠ, and the line will end in the City of Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station.
Fine dining * catering * take out * banquets * gift cards
deliciously cuban!
FUNDADA
EN 1994
Habana Cuba RESTAURANT
238 race st , SJ Ca * 408.998.2822 * www.998cuba.com
Jean-Michel Cousteau
President, Ocean Futures Society www.oceanfutures.org
The Great Ocean Adventure S
ince first being thrown overboard by my father, Jacques Yves Cousteau at the age of seven in 1945, I have been compelled to explore, to discover, to understand the secrets of the sea. An oftquoted fact is that we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about our own ocean. How can we protect what
We protect over 14 percent of our land and less than one percent of the ocean. It is time to demonstrate the same stewardship for the ocean.
we don’t yet understand? This is what has made me want to continue to support the philosophy of my father through our efforts at the Ocean Futures Society, my non-profit marine conservation organization based in
Santa Barbara, CA. Today we have the knowledge and technology to admit that we, humans, are the biggest threat to our oceans; but we are also 100% responsible for its long-term preservation and protection. Overfishing, pollution, climate change, ocean acidification are all impacting the oceans because of the misuse and abuse caused by humans. The ocean is our life support system. We need to stop harming it because what we do to the ocean we ultimately do to ourselves. It is ironic that the depletion of our ocean resources has accelerated at the same time we were personally donning dive masks and witnessing the richness of the ocean first hand over 50 years ago. Just as we started to dignify and appreciate the ecological role of individual marine species and how they contribute to the sustainability of the marine ecosystem they call home, we were improving our fishing technology to remove them faster than they were replenishing their populations. From an ecological standpoint, we now understand how everything is connected. We now appreciate the need to set aside protected areas in the ocean just as we have done on land. But we are over a hundred years behind terrestrial conservation measures when it comes to protecting our marine assets. We protect over 14% of our land and less than 1% of the ocean. It is time to demonstrate the same stewardship for the ocean and recognize the importance of marine protected areas as a way to increase
Photo: © Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society
abundance, improve biodiversity and provide a nursery for species that will spill over into areas open to fishing. It is a win-win situation for us all. Ninety percent of all large fish populations are at risk from overfishing and most commercial fisheries are in decline. The problem is enormous but the solution is clear, quickly effective, and costs little. But this is where the heart comes and where we must remain hopeful for the future; otherwise I would not keep traversing the planet, sharing the mission of Ocean Futures Society, empowering people to take personal responsibility for the long-term sustainability of our oceans. It starts with the individual; it starts with the heart and a desire to care.
The more I learn about the ocean, the more I realize how little I truly understand it. Even after all these years, a sense of exploration and wonder still fills me each time I dive into the ocean’s depths. We owe it to ourselves--we owe it to our water planet—to do all that we can to protect our life support system. We must connect the ocean to the existence of every human being. This is the only way for people to understand that the quality of each and every one of our lives depends on water, depends on the ocean. My father said, “People protect what they love,” and so we want more people to fall in love with water. And I say, “Protect the ocean and you protect yourself.”
| | LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme: Celebrations & Senses For All Seasons
Y
ou know when you hear the words fantasies, elegance and perfection in reference to a catering company, you are talking about a unique and special place. You are talking about Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme. PSRT has been the number one catering company in Silicon Valley for many years, thanks in part to their ability to customize events so well. At PSRT, they feel that the essential belief, at the core of their organization, is their desire to have fun while they provide the best food and service they possibly can. Vince Guasch and Debbie Blackwell, the co-founders and co-owners, are the heart and soul of the company, and their exuberance and positive energy infuse everything they do. Vince’s playful and tantalizing recipes bespeak the joy they all feel when their food and planning come together to create a special day for their customers. For Debbie and Vince, the company is a reflection of their passions. Good food comes from the essence of its flavor and the care that it is prepared with. PSRT is a business built on dedication. This dedication allows Debbie and Vince to lend their passions to the art of their catering ... THEIR art of catering. While they cover all aspects of event planning, the essence of PSRT is and always shall remain the food. They are always working in the kitchen, creating new flavors, old tastes with new twists and innovative combinations. The food is always the most memorable aspect of
their events, and they intend to keep it that way. Don’t look to them for “run-ofthe-mill caterers fare”; you won’t find that on their menus. Some people might think the most important element at PSRT is the food, and yet, at PRST, they also consider it to be the staff. The best food in the world is useless, they feel, if it is not prepared well and served with efficiency. Again, Vince and Debbie are the ones who make it all happen; all the business, the recipes, the fun and the flair. Whether it’s Corporate, Weddings, Social, Destination or Your Dream Special Events, at PSRT they understand that your dreams belong to you, and they strive to make your vision happen in its entirety.
s a h t n e r ev
p e b to
. t c erfe
u o y n e h W
T R S P
me y h t ary m e ros e g a ys e eet l r s t r S pa 2nd h t u So 795 ose, CA 8 8 J San 798-83 ) m (800 .psrt.co www
Our events are renowned for their elegance, creativity and attention to detail. PSRT provides planning and execution at every stage of the event.
Leader
Among Leaders
Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, who has worked tirelessly to bring BART to Silicon Valley, tosses a shovel of dirt at the official groundbreaking for the extension in 2012.
Carl Guardino & The Silicon Valley Leadership Group
SVL: What is the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and what are you working so diligently on? Carl Guardino: The Silicon Valley Leadership Group is an association of 375 member company CEOs that was created 36 years ago by tech legend David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. It is the Leadership Group’s vision to ensure the economic health and high quality of life in Silicon Valley for our entire community by advocating for adequate affordable housing, comprehensive regional transportation, reliable energy, a quality K-12 and higher education system and prepared workforce, a sustainable environment, and business and tax policies that keep California and Silicon Valley competitive in a global economy. Membership is open to Silicon Valley firms and supporting industries including software, systems, manufacturing, financial services, accounting, transportation, health care, defense,
communications, education and utilities. For 2013, out top three priorities are US Comprehensive Tax Reform, High Skilled (Worker) Immigration Reform and California Environmental Quality Act Reform. All three of these policy areas need modernization to help grow jobs and the innovation economy. SVL: What are some of the Silicon Valley Leader Group’s prodest moments? CG: There have been numerous achievements of the Leadership Group in its first 36 years. In just the past year alone, those achievements have included: • BART: Successfully championing the BART extension to Silicon Valley. In 2012 construction began and the extension will open on-time and ahead-of-schedule in 2017. • Regional Patent Office: Successfully secured
one of our nation’s first regional patent offices, to be located in Silicon Valley with an opening date this year. • CalTrain: Successfully advocated through the Legislature and CA Transportation Commission for more than $1 billion to improve and electrify the CalTrain Commuter Rail System. • Air Travel: With San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, secured a direct flight by All Nippon Airlines between San Jose and Tokyo, launched on January 11. • Community: Founded and still direct the popular Applied Materials “Silicon Valley Turkey Trot” each Thanksgiving morning. In 2012, in only its 8th year, the Turkey Trot attracted 24,200 paid participants, raising more than $1.2 million for three local charities who help needy families.
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a great law that has been greatly abused for nonenvironmental purposes. SVL: You work closely with many of our exemplary CEO’s, who help lead our Silicon Valley to being the special place it is. How would you define a hero and who are some we should know about? CG: The Leadership Group is proud to be owned and driven by nearly 375 Silicon Valley CEOs, primarily in the innovation economy spaces of high-tech, bio-and med-tech, clean-and-green
SVL: You work closely with many of our devoted elected officials in Sacramento and Washington DC. Are there some we should know about? CG: We have the pleasure of working closely with State and Federal officials to improve the Carl Guardino emcee’s at the opening ceremony of All Nippon business climate to create jobs. Recent Airways first Dreamliner 787 flight from Mineta San Jose partnerships include the following International Airport to Tokyo. The event included dignitaries and more than 50 media. Carl and the Leadership Group leaders: worked directly with Mayor Chuck Reed, the city and airport • Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, staff to secure the important non-stop flight. with strong support from Congressmembers Anna Eshoo and Mike Honda, played a leading role tech, venture capital and financial services. I in our mutual efforts to secure a regional have many mentors and role models amongst patent office in Silicon Valley. those leaders. Among them is Aart de Geus, CoFounder and CEO of Synopsys; Tom Werner, • San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed was a key CEO of SunPower; Mike Klayko, CEO of Brocade; partner in helping finalize federal funding for our BART extension, secure the regional Mike Splinter, CEO of Applied Materials; Godfrey Sullivan, CEO of Splunk; and Bill Watkins, CEO patent office, secure the direct flight of Bridgelux. They all share key common traits between San Jose and Tokyo on ANA and to enhance the regional business climate in they care deeply about their employees and the communities in which they do business, investing Silicon Valley. the time to personally participate in solutions, • State Senator Michael Rubio, who has been while still balancing family and running globally a courageous and thoughtful leader for competitive companies. meaningful modernization of the California
SVL: You have always been and always are the ultimate optimist. Are you optimistic about our future economy, education, transportation, housing and health departments, say for the next 5, 10 or 20 years? CG: I continue to be an optimist, as I have never met a successful CEO in Silicon Valley who was not optimistic. You just cannot change the world as a pessimist. Unfortunately, I cannot look out 5, 10 or 20 years from now, as the rapid nature of change does not make that possible. Think of the innovation in just the past five or ten years. Who could have predicted many or any of those disruptive technologies that are now just standard in our lives? Six to seven years ago Silicon Valley companies were not a driving force in the mobile phone business, but Apple and Google now practically own the space. This type of innovation has occurred repeatedly here, ever since orchard farmers innovated around spraying machines and other farm equipment. SVL: What are our greatest challenges and if you could wave a magic wand, what needs to be done to meet these challenges? CG: Our biggest challenges are not technological, but political. It is incumbent on
the Leadership Group and others to continue to reach out to well-meaning elected officials - especially at the state and federal levels - to help them better understand the impact of policy to create and keep jobs in California and America. Most elected officials, while incredibly smart and well-meaning, have little to no private sector experience, especially when it comes to executive roles. We need to help them understand the realities of competing globally, and the impacts that policies can have - positive or negative - to create jobs. SVL: In the various areas of philanthropy and volunteerism, what can we do to help make this a better community? CG: There is so much more that each of us can do to make our communities a better place to live, work and contribute. I try to live by example, with a “Time, Treasure, Talent� approach. In that way, I try to invest the time that I can to help others, with appropriate amounts of treasure as best as I can afford, bringing to bear whatever limited talents I might have to contribute. Each of us have gifts - be they time, treasure or talent - and we simply need to match those gifts with our passions in the community.
Carl interviews Rep. Anna Eshoo on stage at the first-ever California Economic Summit, held May 11, 2012 in Santa Clara. It was an unprecedented gathering of leaders focused on working together to put California’s economy on a sustainable path for growth.
SVL: Please share with us - what is it that gives you so much satisfaction, joy and happiness in all that you do and how, at the end of each day, it all helps make such a big difference for so many? CG: I am reminded of standing on the stage at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, with my friend and mentor Mike Splinter, CEO of Applied Materials and our Title Sponsor. As we prepared to the race start, we looked out at a sea of participants totaling
Repeatedly, people realize that CEOs are just like the rest of us, normal people working as hard as they can to make a difference with their lives and taking care of their families. more than 20,000 people. As far as the eye could see, people were smiling and waiting our race to start. The sense of community, of caring for others, of starting the holidays in a fun and healthy way, brought tears to my eyes. Scenes like that, the culmination of literally thousands of hours of hard work in preparation, make our volunteer efforts worthwhile. SVL: You host your outstanding weekly radio program: “The CEO Show” on KLIV 1590. For anyone who may not be familiar, what is it about and what have been some of the most memorable moments? CG: Years ago, I grew frustrated that the only time most people read or heard about CEOs was the occasional “Enron” or “Worldcom,” when a small fraction of executives do things that are both illegal and unethical. Almost every CEO with whom I have had the pleasure to work is incredibly smart, but also wise, thoughtful and caring. They all work 80-hour plus weeks, usually traveling globally on a constant basis with huge sacrifices to themselves and their families. Yet on top of that, the CEOs in our network also give back to their employees, the communities in which they do business
and to numerous non-profits. Through that frustration, “The CEO Show” was born. Thanks to the generous support of Empire Broadcasting CEO Bob Kieve, who owns KLIV and KRTY, “The CEO Show” is in its sixth year on the air every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The goal is simple - bring on a CEO for a live broadcast in which both I - and anyone who would like to call in - can ask questions of the CEO. Repeatedly, people realize that CEOs are just like the rest of us, normal people working as hard as they can to make a difference with their lives and taking care of their families. SVL: Under the: What people don’t know about you category … or what most people probably do know by now … is that you commute 32 miles every day by bike. What does this unique daily routine mean to you? CG: I try to practice what I preach, or when it comes to cycling to work, to peddle what I preach. America has an epidemic with 35 percent of our friends, family and neighbors including our colleagues at work - overweight or obese. We are literally eating ourselves to death, with improper diets and nutrition and a woeful lack of exercise. Part of my way to stay in shape, ease stress, and take one more car off of the road is to commute to work by bike It is also a time-efficient way to exercise without taking more time away from my wife Leslee and our two little girls, Jessica and Siena. SVL: Life is great – you have your wonderful family. I believe this illustrates what it’s all about … the “what” and “why” you do what you do … for today, for tomorrow. Your thoughts? CG: I am incredibly blessed to have Leslee as my wife and partner. She is the most selfless person I know and one of the most entrepreneurial. She is a successful businessleader, the Co-Founder of CanyonSnow, while balancing life as a wife and mother. Her ability to balance it all while still remaining calm under pressure is inspiring. Our two little girls, Jessica (8) and Siena (3.5) are forces of nature. As an Ironman Triathlete, I always thought I had boundless energy . . . then I became a father. Wow! My appreciation for and respect of single parents has only grown, as it takes the two of us to chase our girls around and still make it through each day with any energy left at all.
Local Business Spotlight
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme Catering Presents: Paëlla
I
n the art of entertaining, little can rival the aromatic, colorful presentation of paella. Native to Spain - where affection is exchanged as much in spoonful s as it is in kind words - this dish can be the feast of
your fiesta. At Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme, their team of professionals masterfully plate the tapas and pour the sangria, taking care of every detail so you’ll have each moment to appreciate what matters: friends, family and food! The origin of paella is as enigmatic as any prized family recipe. The word ‘paella’ derives from the Catalan word ‘patella’, meaning ‘pan’ - because a defining feature of this entree is the enormous pan in which the paella is cooked. You can take the paella out of the pan, but you can’t take the pan out of the paella. The presentation is truly eye-catching, mouthwatering and heart-warming. Paella is more than just food. In Spain, paella represents a way of life. The traditional Spanish paella pan is akin to the modern American water cooler. Stories are shared, secrets are divulged and jokes are made over simmering rice as flavors mingle to absolute gastronomic perfection. PSRT cooks the paella in front of you with fresh vegetables, meats and seafood of your choosing and exotic spices. Your guests will delight in gathering around a three or six-foot pan (to your choosing) as they enjoy a glass of sangria. Check out our website for our mouth-watering selection of paella recipes. Watch, taste and experience the magnetism of the pan for yourself, as many have. If you haven’t, try it once and you’ll love it.
In the art of entertaining, little can rival the aromatic, colorful presentation of
PaĂŤlla.
Let Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme Catering bring a Taste of Spain to your next event with paĂŤlla cooked right in front of you and your guests.
Need an easy party? Call us at (800) 369-0590 Presented by Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme
www.psrt.com paella@psrt.com
John A. Sobrato and the Art of Making a Difference
stories@svlocalmag.com
A
recent sampling: The Sobratos Donate $20 Million To The New Packard Children’s Hospital Addition To Be Called The Sobrato Pavillion … The Sobratos Donate $5 Million To Build The Sobrato Pavillion at the Valley Medical Center (which is the largest donation ever to a general hospital west of the Mississippi) … The Sobrato Cancer Center at VMC (a most important addition, opened 2009, on a floor in the new Specialty Center Building) , … The Sobratos Donate Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to the Community Foundation Silicon Valley … The Sobratos Build and Maintain Three Centers for Non-Profits That House 65 Non-Profit Organizations … The Sobratos Help Build Schools and Training Centers…
I believe in Positive Role Models and here is clearly a shining example unlike any other. From a tiny seed comes a Giant sequoia tree, something that is far bigger, beyond imagination or belief. One’s life can be like that, too, how we can help shape infrastructures and benefit others along the way, that makes such a difference in other people’s lives. In this regard, leading by example and helping make this a better world, John A. Sobrato is truly a giant among giants, a champion among champions. This is not your typical story, but again, this is not your typical person. It’s about making a difference in this world we live in. How fortunate are we? You couldn’t begin to imagine. Our Silicon Valley would not be a fraction of what it is today had it not been, and continues to be, because of John A. Sobrato, the Sobrato Organization, the Sobrato Family Foundation, the Sobrato Foundation … and especially the Family Sobrato, John A. and his wife Sue, their son, John Michael, their daughters, Sheri and Lisa, and Lisa’s husband Matt Sonsini. They all work diligently together, committed to serving and contributing back to
The Sobrato Family Learning Commons at Saint Francis High School.
our community. To answer the question, “I am but one person, what difference can I make?” - If you were to listen to John, an only child of immigrant parents, who became a selfmade multi-billionaire, and does so much for community, you will be amazed. What do you attribute your success to? He said he was lucky, that one thing after another just fell into place.
I believe he was referring to the love of his family and the work ethic that was instilled in him from an early age. He is persistent and committed to what he believes in: excellence, quality and service. He grew up going to school at the Palo Alto Military Academy (now Harker School), Bellarmine College Prep and then
The Sobrato Center for Humanities & The Arts at Bellarmine College Prep.
Santa Clara University (graduating with Honors with a degree in Business), where he was also a classmate and lifelong friend of, yet, another great Positive Role Model, Father Paul Locatelli, who for half a century was that for Santa Clara University, Silicon Valley and The Vatican. John worked his entire life, as a youngster and all through school. His real estate career began also at an early age; in fact, it was when he was a student at Santa Clara University and he began working with Nick Carter & Co. Part-time, he devoted three days to his class schedule and three days to his work schedule, working in real estate. It was at age 21, while still a student at Santa Clara University, John became the youngest to enter the Millionaires Club in Palo Alto Real Estate. He did this by
selling Eichler Homes (“and that was a lot of homes, at $20,000 a home”). I believe John made his own luck - and throughout our entire conversation, he was focused not at all on himself, but on serving, and helping benefit our families, causes and community – which he has been doing for many years (more than half a century himself), and is still very actively doing today, as much as is humanly possible. I was excited and looking forward to having this one hour talk with John. I arrived early, for which I am grateful – this allowed me time to admire all the framed portraits of their buildings that adorned all their walls, from top to bottom. Each and every one is absolutely beautiful. The framed pictures were hanging there as if displaying one’s own family, indeed so proud of each and every child. I want to add, too, that John is an extremely humble man. He is all about what’s good for community – and helping to make a difference. He was concerned at the time when I called him about too much publicity – he was about to be honored by 1,200 of our greatest community leaders with the distinguished David Packard Award at Joint Venture Silicon Valley and was about to be written up in the Business Journal. He asked if I could please possibly wait, for he felt it was a bit much at this one time. It was I who asked for this article, not he. He came to meet with me punctually at 2pm, flanked by important meetings before ours and then again right after. As busy as he was, he was as gracious as could be. He looks like a movie star, he may be 72 years old, but his looks defy his age and he has so much energy. He had a smile on his face throughout our talk. What really lit up his face, though, was when we started talking about his family and the Non-Profit projects they have done and
are doing. There are indeed many, and he is grateful for and proud of them all. It is so apparent, everything is very close to his heart. To say he cares, is an understatement – it is a passion. And to him it is not about just giving, it’s about a gift being used in a way that will serve them, perpetually, over time. Our needs today are greater than ever. I often say to the many wonderful Non-Profits, who all do so much: “Where would we be without you?” Shudder that thought. So many of the Non-Profits have been, and are, supported in a very large way by the Sobrato Family Foundation, and so I say again: “Where would we be without this generosity and devoted hard work?” Again, shudder that thought. Indeed, without this support, it would be a very different community world that we live in. John was selling residential real estate when he joined his mother in the development of some of the first tilt-up high technology buildings in the early 1960’s, after founding and running Midtown Realty in Palo Alto until 1973. It was then, in 1973, when he sold Midtown Realty and moved to Cupertino to concentrate on development, where he has been busy ever since. Silicon Valley was just being born and this became the beginning of what was to become an illustrious builder / developer career, par excellence. Imagine what it was like back then. I will not forget how John said, when he first started in the early 1960’s, how there was no Silicon Valley yet at that time, just orchards everywhere. He added, too, that it was Southern California, at the time, that was considerably ahead in the look of commercial buildings. A decade later, John visited Southern California to talk with and learn from the people in the industry, and he also took with him his 10 year-old son, John Michael, to absorb everything. Silicon Valley was about to be launched … and John M, would later become, and currently is, the CEO of The Sobrato Organization. Never too early … How
purposeful and dedicated are they? Indeed, very … An interesting note: the three children, and all their children (the grandchildren), all become Board Members of the Sobrato Family Foundation and start attending all Board Meetings once they reach age 18. John went on to build many of Silicon Valley’s most beautiful buildings. He said that from all what he had learned, that he would pay more to have better materials that would provide for a better, more beautiful building … it was always about the quality … and that reputation has consistently followed him wherever he goes, in everything he does. In our conversation, John also made a point about contributing, that people think
John went on to build many of Silicon Valley’s most beautiful buildings. contributing means simply donating money. People don’t have to, it may not be in everyone’s means to do so, and that it is just as important to volunteer - that, indeed, it may be even more important. Can you imagine if more and more people were to get involved by volunteering, what a big positive difference it would make? What John A. Sobrato has done for our Silicon Valley these past 50 years goes well beyond words. The Sobrato Family Foundation, established in 1996, thankfully is in place to continue to help support our Non-Profit community for many years to come. This may be called the Sobrato Way … caring for community … and helping make our Silicon Valley a better place in which we live. What we can learn from all this is truly a masterpiece … and is namely John A. Sobrato and The Art of Making A Difference.
USING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER MANKIND
Technology That Counts Lighthouse has the most complete line of particle counting and contamination monitoring solutions available: airborne particle counters, liquid particle counters, microbial samplers and facility monitoring systems. These solutions are found in semiconductor, pharmaceutical, data storage, biotechnology, aerospace, and defense facilities worldwide.
Handheld, and Remot Particle Co
Lighthouse designs, insta
of the largest, most comp
monitoring systems in th are proudly made in the
supported by a global ne
WWW.GOLIGHTHOUSE.COM 47300 Kato Road Fremont CA 94538 USA Tel: (510) 438-0500
Portable, te ounters
alls, and maintains some
prehensive contamination
he world. Our products USA, and are sold and
etwork of distributors.
He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not Me! CEO Dr. Tae Yun Kim
Water Fluoridation: A Public Health Priority for Our Children By Liz Kniss Palo Alto Council Member
X
avier tentatively approached the first day of kindergarten, excited to enter school but distracted by the pain he was experiencing and embarrassed by his own smile. Xavier wasn’t scared to let go of his mother’s hand and he was ready to take on his ABC’s. Sadly however, he was in tremendous pain from the untreated cavities in his mouth. He had never seen a dentist and, like thirty percent of children his age in Santa Clara County, his teeth were in sad shape. This little boy didn’t even make it through the first day of school; he was sent to the office because of the pain and a relative had to come pick him up. Xavier missed school for the rest of the week as his mother looked for dental care, causing her to miss work and the family to suffer financially. We can do better. In 2009, after discovering that over 75 percent of our water was not fluoridated, I set a goal to fluoridate the entire water supply of Santa Clara County. San Jose is the largest city in the United States without fluoridated water. From my background as a public health nurse, I know the importance of fluoridation in promoting and protecting oral health. It is incredibly disturbing that so many children in this County enter kindergarten with tooth decay. With the support of my colleagues and the City of San Jose, the active participation of The Health Trust, and a recent unanimous vote to support fluoridation by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, we are making progress towards improving the oral health of our valley. Santa Clara County has made prevention a top priority. Menu labeling to educate consumers about the nutritional value of the food they purchase, nutritional standards for meals marketed
to children, a tobacco retail license program, and our focus on employee wellness are all ways Santa Clara County has joined the Obama Administration in addressing the rising costs of healthcare. Fluoridation and other initiatives will fundamentally change healthcare from a system that only reacts to
Liz Kniss
illness to one that prevents chronic disease and fosters health. Fluoridation is the most effective way to improve oral health in our children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one of the top 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century is fluoridation of public drinking water. The Public Health Department reports more than 450,000 children below age 18 living in our county could benefit from fluoride. The little boy in our story is just one of these many children. Imagine the impact of fluoridation on our community - kids with healthy teeth, in school, learning and smiling. The State of California has weighed in on fluoridation. AB 733 requires water systems in large areas to fluoridate, but only when funding is identified. Thanks to a study funded by the County of Santa Clara, the City of San Jose and
the Health Trust, we have determined the costs to fluoridate and engaged the San Jose Water Company and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. These two entities will be instrumental partners as we move forward. Fluoridation simply makes sense for Xavier and for our entire community. Children with cavities cannot be expected to learn while they suffer oral pain. Ultimately, when the cavities and decay worsen, children miss school, schools lose revenue and parents are forced to stay home from work. The Mercury News put it best in February of 2009 comparing the estimated price tag of 50 cents per resident to fluoridate to the $150 average cost of filling a cavity. I have a vision of every child in our county showing up for that first day of kindergarten with strong and healthy teeth, ready to learn and to thrive in school and in our community. We can do better.
Quality Fitness Equipment For Your Home and Workplace
A
ll American Fitness has served the specialty fitness needs of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas for over 25 years, since 1984. All American Fitness is owner-operated, and the owners are serious about fitness, training 5 days a week. At All American Fitness, it is our goal to offer quality fitness equipment and accessories to meet our customers’ needs. We continually review the industry for new and innovative products.
and dedicated to their satisfaction. We currently offer accessories to aid you in your toning, strength training, or cardiovascular workout. We are presenting the items we feel our customers are most interested in. If you are looking for a particular item and don’t see it, feel free to contact us via phone or our online form and we will let you know if we carry it.
All American Fitness offers high-quality fitness equipment from the leading manufacturers in the All American Fitness is committed to bringing the industry. The experienced staff at All American highest quality products to the consumer at a fair Fitness will provide product education, facility design price. We want your shopping experience to meet services and planning expertise regardless of the your highest expectations. size or scope of the project. We are committed to understanding each client’s unique goals to ensure All American Fitness is sensitive to our clients’ needs their complete satisfaction.
www.allamericanfitness.com • (408) 293-9966 1223 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Program Helps Patients Navigate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
K
atie Morganroth, a lifelong area resident and co-chair of the El Camino Hospital Foundation Sapphire Soirée, has been touched by cancer in profound ways. Her brother and sister are both survivors of advancedstage cancers, her mother lost her battle to pancreatic cancer, and her husband, Greg, a dermatologist, frequently treats skin cancer patients. Katie became involved in the Sapphire Soirée to ensure that cancer patients cared for at El Camino Hospital’s Cancer Center get support, assistance in finding resources, and a team that’s focused on all aspects of their care. One of the programs funded by Sapphire Soirée is the Patient Navigation program. Created in 2012, the program provides assistance to patients, survivors, families and caregivers to help them chart a course through the health care system after a cancer diagnosis. Two nurse navigators help patients with practical matters, like arranging transportation to and from treatment, insurance issues,
and evaluating treatment options. They also work directly with physicians to appropriately refer patients to available support services, including a social worker who can provide critical counseling. Donna Hughs, a special ed teacher’s aide from Mountain View, worked with the patient navigators following her diagnosis of colorectal cancer last year. The nurse navigators helped her to understand her complicated treatment regimen, which included both surgery and chemotherapy. Donna was especially concerned about the surgery recovery process. They identified support groups that could offer assistance during her treatment and also worked with her physician to help her obtain a muchneeded prescription for a reduced cost. Katie, co-chair Sandra Bergeron, and Honorary Chair, Pamela Taft hope to raise more than $1M this year, so the Cancer Center can offer a fuller range of holistic services such as nutritional consultations, financial counseling, educational programs, and stress reduction programs.
Wherever your day takes you‌
Hot off the virtual press and direct to your Inbox. Subscribe to Silicon Valley Local (for special features and promotions) at info@svlocalmag.com PS: We never share email addresses!
Russell Hancock
President & Chief Executive Officer, Joint Venture Silicon Valley
The impact of the California economy at large At Joint Venture Silicon Valley we take a keen interest in how our regional economy impacts, and is impacted by, the California economy at large. Our region contributes significantly to the state in taxes, new businesses, patents and other indicators of economic growth that show how we’re leading the recovery out of the recession. This month we’ll be participating in a statewide economic summit and talking about the state’s economy on our weekly radio program. For more information on our initiatives, visit http://www.jointventure.org. California Economic Summit in Santa Clara May 11 The California Stewardship Network,
an alliance promoting economic vitality, and California Forward, a bipartisan good government reform effort to improve performance and democracy, will host the first statewide California Economic Summit, Can-Do California: Thriving Regions Lead to a Thriving State, on May 11 in Santa Clara. The summit will connect regional and state leaders to develop a shared agenda to generate jobs and improve regional competitiveness. A series of fourteen regional forums were held around the state in March and April to identify economic opportunities and set priorities for state and regional action. For more information, visit www. caeconomy.org. “Inside Silicon Valley” on 1590 KLIV The California economy and our region’s legislative future are the topics for May on “Inside Silicon Valley,” Joint Venture’s weekly public affairs radio program. Guests this month include “California Crackup” author Mark Paul (May 4 & 6), California Forward director Jim Mayer (May 11 & 13), economist Tapan Munroe (May 18 & 20) and State Assemblyman Rich Gordon (May 25 & 27). The hour-long program airs every Friday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday at noon on 1590 KLIV.
Scott Budman Columnist
New stadium, new tech W
hen you think “New football stadium,” you probably think “big money.” And, you’d be right. Here in the Bay Area, and all over the country, stadiums cost money. Lots of it. Money that, if you’re building for San Jose Shark or recent San Francisco Giant games, comes back to you as a good investment. But these days, especially here in the Bay Area, stadium investments mean more than money going towards quarterback salaries, luxury boxes and delicious concessions: It means money going towards top-flight technology. The kinds of technology we’ve gotten used to in our homes and businesses. The kind we now want to see when we attend sporting events, even concerts. The kind of money that flows to companies like Ruckus Wireless. They wifi stadiums. Really. Think about it. How often have you been at a convention, even in an office, where the wifi runs out? Now, multiply that to get to 60,000 people at the same time, and you have an idea of what Ruckus faces when it transforms a huge stadium so we can all check our smartphones and tablets. “We’re excited, and frightened,” says David Callisch of Ruckus, which cannot comment on whether it will actually handle the 49ers new stadium. “But, when you try to extend that to
a big massive stadium of 60,000 people, half of whom have smartphones and iPads, all trying to get onto the network at the same time, it becomes a big mess.” A mess that will be solved by gametime, according to the 49ers. As they broke ground on the stadium of the future, we could all envision a day when we catch the action live, then glance down towards our laps for the instant replay. Stay tuned. Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman
SJSU inaugurates new president By Ken Yeager Santa Clara County Supervisor, District Four
I am a proud alumnus of San Jose State University, having come to SJSU in 1971 from a small Southern California town. Like thousands of other graduates, SJSU provided me an excellent education. SJSU not only gave me the academic foundation I needed to continue my education at Stanford University, where I received my master’s and Ph.D., but it also gave me the professional skills needed for jobs in local and federal government. Later, I would become a member of the faculty at SJSU before being elected to the San Jose City Council and then Ken Yeager the Board of Supervisors. It was for all these reasons that I was honored to be a part of the processional to inaugurate SJSU’s newest president, Dr. Mohammed Qayoumi. As I stood in the hallway waiting to enter the auditorium, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that, when a student, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that, one day, I’d be part of the ceremonies to install a new university president. My role in the festivities was to present President Qayoumi with a resolution from the Board of Supervisors. In my brief remarks, I mentioned how many of my dreams came true because of my educa-
Dr. Mohammed Qayoumi
tion at SJSU. I added that part of the new president’s responsibilities was to make sure future students could achieve their dreams by guaranteeing that academic achievement remains high. Dr. Qayoumi will be an excellent president for SJSU; in fact I think he will be one of the university’s finest. His personal background and academic training make him well suited to meet the challenges facing the campus.
YOUNG GUNS
OF SILICON VALLEY
Youth running Silicon Valley By Scott Budman When times are good, technology companies thrive. Venture money flows in, new headquarters are built, and stock prices rise. Sometimes, things get ahead of themselves, and those headquarters get filled with foosball tables and big slides, instead of good ideas. Then, busts happen. When times are good and companies grow in moderation, technology growth lasts for years at a time. Things are healthy, and that’s when we see a lot of young people running companies. We call them “Young Guns.” And they’re back in vogue. From Facebook to Foursquare, AirBnB to Zynga, young people are running some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent and interesting companies. The technology is interesting, and so are the founders themselves. Young people who come up
with great ideas, hire a ton of people, make a lot of money, and then do it all over again. They’re creating an ecosystem of success. People like Prerna Gupta, who started (and then sold) Khu. sh, an ultra-cool music app, in her twenties. People like Aaron Levie, who started (and is still growing) Budman Box, with hundreds of employees, a new headquarters (OK, I’ll admit, this one comes with a slide – but trust me, it’s a fun one), and an eye on an IPO in the not-too distant future. Oh, and he’s in his twenties, too. He started Box while in college. The Zuckerberg model is catching on, because it’s working. Silicon Valley does not look at young people and ask, “shouldn’t you be bagging groceries?” We look at them and ask, “are you hiring?” Stay tuned for more success stories, and more success. Scott Budman is an Emmy awardwinning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman
THE
YOUNG GUNS OF SILICON VALLEY
YOUNG GUNS OF SILICON VALLEY
SAHIL LAVINGIA Founder, Gumroad
SVL: At what age did you first see a vision of your [product or service]? SL: Gumroad 16 or 17 at first. The direct impetus happened at 18 while I was at Pinterest. SVL: What do you feel is the mission of your work? SL: Improve my life and other peoples’ lives in a scalable way. SVL: When was your first failure and what did you learn from it? SL: I don’t consider anything that doesn’t lead to death a failure. SVL: Was or is higher education essential to your success? SL: I only did a semester at USC. I also don’t think I am successful yet. SVL: Silicon Valley has produced an abundance of innovative companies and inspirational leaders, e.g. Google, Apple, Intel, Eggo, etc. Other than the obvious examples, who offered special inspiration to you? SL: Facebook.
SVL: What does your career time line look like? What do you want to achieve and when? SL: Don’t know. SVL: How will you balance your goals with your personal life? SL I don’t think you have to compromise like you suggest. SVL: What do you consider to be the challenges of establishing and maintaining your business in Silicon Valley? SL: Same as everywhere else.
SVL: How do you address your weaknesses, e.g. strong on creativity, less so on finance, etc.? SL: By getting rid of them.
SVL: What do you consider to be the benefits of establishing and maintaining your business in Silicon Valley? SL: Talent.
SVL: Do you have team members that have been with you throughout the development of your [product or service]? SL: No.
SVL: What is the appeal of your [product or service] across generations, cultures, geography, etc.? SL: It isn’t biased.
SVL: How do you share control of your company’s destiny? SL: It is more about the product than the company.
SVL: What do you expect your [product or service] to look like 10 years from now? 20 years from now? SL: Similar.
YOUNG GUNS
OF SILICON VALLEY
STEVE FELTER CEO, GameSalad
SVL: At what age did you first see a vision of your [product or service]? SF: I have always been passionate about making media creation more accessible through technology. We’ve seen products such as YouTube make video publishing more accessible and others like WordPress make blogging more accessible. With the rise of smartphones and casual gaming over the past five years or so, it became obvious that there was a huge opportunity to make game creation accessible to creative individuals by providing an accessible tool set. SVL: What do you feel is the mission of your work? SF: Our mission is to make game creation accessible to everyone. We believe that everyone should have access to tools to make popular games, limited only by the boundaries of their imaginations. We’ve seen over 350,000 developers adopt our platform and build over 80,000 games, including more 60 top 100 games in the US app store. Many of these developers never dreamed of making a game until discovering GameSalad. SVL: At what age did you build your first prototype? SF: I started coding in high school and at the time I was really excited about the intersection of computer science and music technology, developing simple MIDI applications that I could experiment with in my garage band. I realized that my imagination quickly outstripped my technical abilities and have always tried to surround myself with smart engineers to bring products to life better than I ever could myself.
SVL: When was your first failure and what did you learn from it? SF: I tried to start a company during the second year of my MBA -- it was essentially a way to find relevant media clips online by creating searchable metadata around the audio and closed captioning text. This was pre-YouTube days and I had a law professor look at my site and tell me that putting copyrighted clips online was not a good business idea, so I shut it down for fear of getting sued. In retrospect, it’s important to be an early player in disruptive technologies, but you need to be careful when betting on new technologies that have unclear legal implications. SVL: Was or is higher education essential to your success? SF: I attended Berkeley for both undergrad and MBA and learned a lot of useful lessons during my time there. Berkeley is a big school that kicks you off the deep end and forces you to learn how to create your own opportunities, which is a valuable skill set in entrepreneurship and in life.
YOUNG GUNS OF SILICON VALLEY
BASTIAN LEHMANN Co-founder and CEO, Postmates SVL: At what age did you first see a vision of your [roduct or service]? BL: I was inspired to build Postmates while moving from Munich to London. While it seemed straight forward to ship most of my household via the equivalent to U-Haul, I struggled to ship my snowboard for a reasonable price via UPS for FEDEX. SVL: What do you feel is the mission of your work? BL: We’re working to revolutionize urban logistics. The fact that you and I order an item from Amazon when it’s sitting in a store just around the corner, is challenging at the least.. Postmates is unlocking the inventory of local businesses in your city. SVL: At what age did you build your first prototype? BL: We began building Postmates in late 2011. Get It Now launched in April 2012. But if we’re talking about my first business idea in general, that didn’t happen until very late. While growing up, I was always closer to the arts than to the business side of things. SVL: When was your first failure and what did you learn from it? BL: When I was 19 I founded my first company which was a huge failure. From that, I learned that you have to try it over and over again.
SVL: Was or is higher education essential to your success? BL: I dropped out of college so I would say no. However, I see a limiting factor in the influence of higher education in the fact that we have to decide on it in a relatively early age. SVL: How do you address your weaknesses, e.g. strong on creativity, less so on finance, etc.? BL: The best decision I made early on was to look for a co-founder who is very strong on the operational side of things. SVL: Do you have team members that have been with you throughout the development of your [product or service]? BL: Sam and I have been working together for several years. We founded curated.by (the original company behind Postmates) in London before entering AngelPad in San Francisco. During our time in AngelPad, we met Sean and badgered him every day for months until he agreed to build Postmates with us. SVL: How do you share control of your company’s destiny? Our team is essential to the success of this company. We’re a small and incredibly agile team so each person contributes a great deal. It’s impossible to have an ego at this stage; we’re all here for the same reason. I respect each member of my team beyond question and feel privileged to be working with such talented individuals.
YOUNG GUNS
OF SILICON VALLEY
SANDRA OH LIN Founder and CEO, Kiwi Crate Sandra Oh Lin is the founder and CEO of Kiwi Crate. Kiwi Crate is an innovative e-commerce startup focused on delivering hands-on activities that encourage creativity and learning for kids. Lin, a mother of two, had a deep appreciation for these types of projects, but often found that it was difficult to find the time to create engaging hands-on activities for her kids, let alone secure the materials. As she started to develop creative projects with her own kids, she thought, “why not share them with friends, who are also busy?” At play dates, the kids had a bunch of fun, and
the parents appreciated having all of the materials and inspiration for the projects provided. Several parents mentioned, “I wish I could do this at home with my kids! Kiwi Crate was created to fulfill that wish and to celebrate kids’ natural creativity and curiosity. Before founding Kiwi Crate, Lin was the GM for eBay Fashion, an industry leader that generates $5.5 billion dollars in worldwide annual fashion sales. Lin led
the rollout of eBay’s new fashion marketplace which included product innovations in the online and mobile experience, an integrated marketing program to relaunch the category, as well as enhanced value and selection for eBay’s 20 million active fashion consumers. Brands and retailers, such as Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, and DKNY, joined the eBay marketplace through eBay’s new Fashion Vault flash sales and Fashion Outlet branded storefronts. Lin also launched eBay’s popular Daily Deals platform. Before joining eBay, Lin started the New Ventures team at PayPal and is a founding member of PayPal Mobile. During her tenure leading strategy and operations for PayPal Mobile, Lin launched new products, including personal payments and checkout flows for mobile commerce, leveraging both text and mobile web technologies. Lin established partnerships with MTV, Fox, NBA, NBC, Sony BMG and enabled these brands to reach consumers and gain transactions through the mobile medium. Lin was an early member of PayPal’s Merchant Services business. There, she established the product marketing function and built payment flow products as part of the product management team. Prior to PayPal, Lin led product management, marketing, and technology organizations at start-ups in Silicon Valley, including Transium Corporation, an online content management company that is now a part of Yahoo!, and Remit Net. Lin’s early career began at Procter & Gamble where she managed the upstream development of global products in the Paper division. Lin graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
YOUNG GUNS OF SILICON VALLEY
SAM ZAID
Founder and CEO, Getaround Sam Zaid is an engineer and entrepreneur. He is Founder & CEO at Getaround, the leading marketplace for peer-to-peer car rentals and winner of TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2011. Before Getaround, Sam founded Apption, an enterprise software consultancy, and Gazaro, a retail price intelligence platform. Sam is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, a Microsoft Code Award winner, and a Google Scholarship recipient. He studied Engineering Physics at Queen’s University and is a graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies Program.
JESSICA SCORPIO Founder and Director of Marketing, Getaround
Jessica Scorpio is Founder & Director of Marketing at Getaround, the leading marketplace for peer-to-peer car rentals that recently won TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2011. Before Getaround, Jessica worked for the Government of Canada and founded IDEAL, a not-for-profit network for entrepreneurs and young leaders. Jessica is a Lieutenant Governor Award winner and a ePlanet Ventures Scholarship recipient. She studied Political Science and Business at Carleton University and is a graduate of the Singularity University Graduate Studies Program.
ELLIOT KROO Co-founder, Getaround
Elliot Kroo co-founded Getaround, a community marketplace for sharing underutilized personal vehicles. Elliot is an ex-Googler and was one of the original engineers on Google StreetView. After Google, he worked with Etherpad which was acquired by Google Wave in 2009. Elliot was also part of the iPhone Dev-Team where he wrote the original jailbreak software for the iPhone. In his spare time, Elliot develops mobile games including the popular Archers title that has been downloaded from the iPhone App Store over 4 million times.
YOUNG GUNS
OF SILICON VALLEY
JOE FERNANDEZ Founder and CEO, Klout
Joe Fernandez is the Founder and CEO of Klout. While his jaw was wired shut for nearly three months after surgery, Joe began to develop a deep fascination with the evolution of influence within the social web. The way individuals could instantly broadcast questions, opinions, and ideas to their trusted network sparked his curiosity. In 2008, Joe started Klout in an effort to help all users understand, shape and be recognized for their influence. Klout is currently the standard for influence on the social web. Joe grew up in Las Vegas and attended University of Miami and Oxford University.
YOUNG GUNS OF SILICON VALLEY
J SIDER
Founder and CEO, BandPage J is the Founder & CEO of BandPage which is the #1 Music app on Facebook. He was recently named to both Forbes and Billboard’s 30 Under 30 in 2011. He is a musician and music lover at heart. Most of
his knowledge about the music industry was gained after getting into the business of music managing bands and venues around the country. This experience opened his eyes to the practical needs of the music community in the digital era, and the lack of a solution. Out of this realization J founded BandPage to provide an honest, social tool to help musicians take the next step, whether that is their first open mic, or on the big stage. J believes that technology is an art not just a product. Striving to build technology that effects people as deeply as music can. Follow on Twitter @BandPage/@JSider Unique Perspective Since J is a musician himself and previously worked at venues in various capacities, he is able to understand the musician lifestyle all along the spectrum- from those with day jobs that are rockin’ it in garage bands, to Grammy winning artists on the main stage. BandPage seeks to equip artists of all stature with the same tools in order to provide them the best opportunity to make a living. Prior Speaking Experience: Examples • MIAMI, FL - JUNE 10: Key note speaker: GRAMMY GPS: A Roadmap for Today’s Music Biz • CNET: Future of Social Music • Billboard Touring Conference NYC • SF Music Tech Summit BandPage most recently won Flash FWD Award - Best in Artist Support (2012) at the SoundCtrl Flash FWD Awards.
Wherever your day takes you‌
Hot off the virtual press and direct to your Inbox. Subscribe to Silicon Valley Local (for special features and promotions) at info@svlocalmag.com PS: We never share email addresses!
Dining
Scott’s offers extensive, balanced menu
S
cott’s Seafood, located in downtown San Jose on Park Ave. is situated perfectly and just steps away from the Tech Museum, the San Jose Museum of Art and the historic St. Joseph’s Basilica. Get out your tourist map and you’ll find that it’s just across from Cesar Chavez Plaza, where you’ll surely enjoy Music in the Park during the summer and within eyesight of the Center for the Performing Arts. Its prime seating offers a terrific view of the City’s downtown and, not to mention, it’s in perfect alignment to catch a plane or two making a descent to the San Jose Mineta International Airport. Your parking is validated in the ground floor garage. Step inside the sixth floor dining room and you’ll be treated to a bright, but warm atmosphere with lots of wood accents. Take some time to lounge in the centralized, full service bar that features many of your martini favorites and a large screen TV. The ample, main dining space seats 270; the banquet room can comfortably handle up to 100. At Scott’s, your dining experience will be led by first class service that will be delivered consistently throughout your visit. Executive Chef and General Manager Alex Nava began his career with Scott’s back in 1992. In 2003, he took over as Executive Chef and General Manager. When asked of what he’s most proud about Scott’s, he takes only a second to point to his loyal staff and the family like atmosphere they all work hard to create. Chef Alex offers an extensive, well-balanced menu with a selection that ranges from the freshest local seafood, an assortment of pasta and chicken dishes, to prime, dry-aged steaks. As you peruse the menu, you’ll enjoy warm French bread and ice water punctuated with a slice of lemon. Drawing from the seasons, you may enjoy appetizers such as Jumbo Wrapped Prawns, filled with fresh Dungeness crab and mushrooms served with a mildly spicy peanut sauce. Another tasty appetizer choice might be the Seared Blackened Ahi with Seaweed Salad and Sesame Soy dressing. Look for other reliable salads such as a traditional Caesar and a yummy Oven Roasted Beet option. For your main entrée, there’s certainly something for everybody. Pasta? Yep. Fresh local seafood like Salmon, Halibut, Sole, Trout and Lobster? Mouth watering! How about Filet Mignon, New York Steak, a
Scott’s Seafood 185 Park Avenue San Jose (408) 971-1700 www.scottsseafoodsj.com Beautifully remodeled on the inside ... and also on the outside with this splendid rooftop patio. Enjoy the private dining or intimate dining ambiance for your special occasion ... and also the delightful view overlooking downtown San Jose. dry-aged Rib Eye, or a Roasted Chicken? Got it! If you still have a little room left to take care of your sweet tooth, then you might want to consider some of Scott’s heavenly desserts like; Key Lime Pie, Warm Molten Chocolate Cake, or maybe Scott’s Classic Raspberry Jack, (that’s French vanilla, ice cream with raspberries, Triple sec and whipped cream). At Scott’s you’ll also have a fabulous choice of fine local wines from Northern California, along with an extensive selection of world class beers. Lunch hours are from 11:30 to 5PM Monday-Friday; dinner is served up starting at 5PM Monday-Saturday and starting 4:30PM on Sunday. Scott’s accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners, and American Express. Reservations are recommended!
A Bay Area Tradition
SCOTT’S SEAFOOD 185 Park Avenue San Jose (408) 971-1700 www.scottsseafoodsj.com
420 Castro Street Mountain View (650) 966-8124 www.scottsseafoodmv.com
#1 Town & Country Village Palo Alto (650) 323-1555 www.scottsseafoodpa.com
| | greenology
The Game of Life By Paul Wingate Consultant and technologist for emerging project development
S
ilicon Valley (SV) is different. SV seems to be generally and specifically smarter, younger, more caffeinated, more educated and richer than most clusters of a million of us. SV stays ahead, in no small part, by correctly leading trends, even more so by creating trends, effectively predicting the future by inventing and making it. This has worked very well for notable companies and people. For those of us noting trends (i.e. the cheerful pessimist, Richard Heinberg and “Peak Everything” http://richardheinberg.com/bookshelf/peak-everything ) there are several endgame trends of importance for those of us choosing life over Rapture. The world is heating up. Carefully calculated results are not in alignment with the good life of ease and plenty – surely not for everyone and maybe not for anyone. This presents a global problem. Can SV be a solution to our worrisome global condition?
Paul Wingate
Can SV with its ample brain pool, youthful drive, digital skills, money and clarity both recognize the threat of human kind’s last 2 centuries of over extracting much of everything on and under the surface, combusting much of that, parking the results in our atmosphere and throwing/dumping what doesn’t amuse us “away” which is nearby, under, above and in you? Can SV pursue solutions, for fun and profit, to the complex problems of so many of us in a finite world? Is there a
collective thought to do so? Is there a will to shape focus and pursue that aim? It is a collective world problem. Can or will SV amplify the good and reduce the bad outcomes of humanity’s oblivious rush to convenience and comfort? Lunch always cost. Your pleasure and perhaps your life may be the fee. SV has collective software, Internet designs, and social system enhancements. If more tools are needed, can and will SV invent them, perfect them and produce them? Can SV amplify and accelerate the solutions to the core problem of global energy demands proposed by Amory Lovins and Rocky Mountain Institute – that of “Reinventing Fire”? http:// rmi.org/ReinventingFire Can SV optimize Moore’s Law for fastersmarter computers operated with fastersmarter-non-political software to give us widely believable, clearly actionable plans to provide a just and peaceful world for our grandkids? Is it asking too much for SV to lead the way? Had he taken on the challenge, might Steve Jobs have asked for results by early next week? And gotten them? The companies that find solutions to impending collapse, pain, disease, ill ease and death will make Trillion$. They will also get our applause. Is it time for youth to take the wheel/stick? Jane McGonigal is tapping into the collective power and capacity of gamers by designing games to create new solutions to complex problems. “The best way to change the future is to play with it first” Stefanie Olsen “Play it before you live it.” http://janemcgonigal.com/ Other young, rich SV company visionaries have the wits and means to pursue solu-
tions to crashing life support systems. They understand crashing systems and how to fix ineffectual code. Might they take on the role of leading the old and proudly-stubbornly apathetic across the next 10 years of world game-board filled with dangers to life as we know it? An infinitely expandable economy of stuff in an already over-taxed world does not compute. The disruption to life support systems are the consequence of the comforts and conveniences a couple billion of us enjoy regularly. Our world accounts are far over limit. The bills are coming in. There are no easy ways to restore accounts. We, humans, are the problem and we are other species’ only hope for survival. We need powerful and accessible tools, motivation and hope to solve the large, raging and growing problems. There are existing, ongoing efforts to restore balance. SBI teaches and guides industries and business how to achieve durable success in tough markets while reducing the impact on resources. It is possible to use less energy and matter to produce more items and effects at a greater profit. Conservation and efficiency provide big gains quickly. Doing good intelligently pays. If not SV, who else has the goods to save us all from 2 centuries of spending the worlds savings? Sustainable Business Institute Jessica Fullmer CEO/Founder (408) 370-5783 phone (408) 370-4783 fax email: jhfullmer@sustainablebusiness.org web: www.sustainablebusiness.org
Silicon Valley’s Newest Trails By Liz Kniss Palo Alto Council Member
T
he County is funding two of the most exciting new recreational trails in Silicon Valley. After being the first to propose County funding for them, I’m pleased that we are able to provide the pivotal funding for both the Adobe Creek Bridge and the Ravenswood Bay Trail Connection. The Adobe Creek Bridge over Highway 101 will be a safe, yearround connection for Liz Kniss pedestrians and bicycles between Stanford and Palo Alto to the 1,940-acre Palo Alto Baylands Preserve and its trail system. $4 million will go to the City of Palo Alto for the project.
Another $400,000 will go to the Ravenswood Bay Trail Connection - the final link in the (San Francisco) Bay Trail between Redwood City and Alviso. This link will complete approximately 16 miles of uninterrupted shoreline trail. The Bay Trail is a 500-mile shoreline trail ringing San Francisco Bay, of which 310 miles have been completed. This link will also connect the Peninsula and South Bay segments of the Bay Trail to the East Bay segments. The funds come from a Santa Clara County fund that can only be spent on recreational facilities near Stanford. $10.37 million was paid by Stanford to mitigate the loss of recreational opportunities caused by new development on the University’s core campus. Urban trails are vital to keeping us healthier and connecting us to nature. Taken together, these projects offer new recreational opportunities for strollers, hikers, runners, bikers, birders, nature lovers and families with children. I’m glad that we can jump start two projects of such regional significance.
Urban trails are vital to keeping us healthier and connecting us to nature. Taken together, these projects offer new recreational opportunities for strollers, hikers, runners, bikers, birders, nature lovers and families with children.
BAY AREA HOME
PROFESSIONALS
The experts you’ve been searching for.
SPRING/SUMMER 201 3
BAY AREA HOME BAYAREAHOMEPROFESS
IONALS.COM
PROFESSIONALS
WWW.BAYAREAHOMEPROFESSIONALS.COM
Comprehensive Legal Services Since 1955
PERSONAL INJURY • WORKERS’ COMPENSATION • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLAIMS • DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW • DUI & CRIMINAL DEFENSE • BANKRUPTCY LAW
If your legal concerns seem complex and over your head, you are not alone. Understanding your legal situation requires an attorney who knows the law and can explain it to you in plain English. At the Sunnyvale law offices of Scher & Bassett, we know how to talk to our South Bay clients and we know how to get real results. Handling everything from personal injury and workers’ comp to criminal defense and family law since 1955, Scher & Bassett has established a strong reputation based on experience and results. Offering continuity of representation across a broad range of legal areas, we are always there for our clients, providing effective counsel during their most difficult times. When you come to our Sunnyvale law office, you will speak directly to an attorney. Handling your intake and evaluation up front, our lawyers will be there to protect your rights until you have reached a successful conclusion. Staying in touch throughout your case, we make a point to always be accessible, and your case will not be passed off to an inexperienced associate or non-lawyer staff member. Our goal is to help people when they are in trouble. Whether you are going through a divorce or you have suffered a serious personal injury at work, we can answer your questions, help you understand your options and take action. Whatever legal concerns you may have, we want you to feel confident that your legal matters are in competent hands, so you can carry on with your life.
SCHER & BASSETT 465 S. Mathilda Avenue Suite 210 Sunnyvale, California (866) 724-3045 http://www.scherandbassett.com
http://www.scherandbassett.com
Dave Cortese
County Supervisor, Third District
Children and Seniors: Time to leap ahead
I
am pleased to tell you that after years of belt tightening and negotiated labor concessions the county finds itself in better financial shape than it has been in decades. At our mid-year, we will be reporting a positive budget variance for the first time in years. Do we still have challenges? Yes we do. But the reality is that with voter support of a new 1/8 cent county sales tax and with the state on the brink of balancing its budget for the first time in recent memory, we can now look at restoring essential services and reigniting key programs for children and seniors. It really is time to start catching up—to take a leap ahead. In 2011 as President of the Board of Supervisors, I declared it “The Year of the Child” citing the United Nations quote, “Humankind owes to the child the best it has to give.” As a nation, we have slipped severely in education; as a consequence juvenile justice issues have become more challenging and our workforce has become deficient. But in 2011 we rolled out a new initiative called School Linked Services that puts county services to assist our children and their families right on our school campuses. With our financial prognosis improving, this is an area you should expect to pay big dividends on your taxpayer dollars.
Children were not the only priority in 2011. That year we also launched another initiative called the “Senior Agenda”. It has
already started paying off. Thousands of seniors receive hot meals every day and not one senior nutrition meal was cut during the back-to-back recession. Moreover, senior programs like transportation are being expanded to account for the fastest growing sector of our population. So, the county is on the move! Look forward to more from us in 2013. Please contact my office at 408-299-5030 or dave.cortese@bos. sccgov.org if you have questions, concerns, or anything we can assist you with.
Fostering a love of Science
spent two summers taking STEM classes to improve my teaching skills in these areas. However, the reality at my school means at least 85% of my students begin This spring I had the privilege to witness a 5th the year with no supplies. How do you teach geomegrade science fair for the first time; at least I don’t retry or algebra readiness to students without a calculamember ever participating tor, protractor, compass, graph paper, ruler or mein one. What I noticed was chanical pencil? They cannot fully participate in the that 5th graders are pretty classroom, and they have no way to do homework. smart; however, children This is discouraging to the students, and creates an from low-income families atmosphere of frustration in the classroom.” have many barriers to sucThis science fair experience really helped me cess in the classroom. It visualize how critical it is that ALL our children go to was all too obvious which school prepared to learn, and it is a lesson not lost on of the budding young others in our community. One energetic kindergarscientists and engineers’ tener showed that this summer when she thought up projects came from homes the idea to hold a party in her backyard to help chilWITH resources and Jennifer Cullenbine dren who are less fortunate than herself. She asked which did NOT. Science, each guest to bring a backpack or school supplies, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) which could be given to a student in need. Then on are critical areas of study for children to be prepared a sunny Sunday afternoon all of her guests - includfor jobs in the “knowledge economy”, but thousands ing some generous fireman - showed up and stuffed of low-income children in the Bay Area face a barrier backpacks. This clever child’s name is Safra, and with to even start school with the basic supplies to learn. the help of her mother, Holly, they threw a really big How can we engage our kids in STEM education or bash and collected over 300 backpacks! You can see related careers if they don’t have pencils, paper or a more about this “Party with a Purpose” here (http:// calculator? The experience of a math teacher in one of www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hi2Owcls8Q), and gain our local schools highlights the issue: inspiration for other creative ways to contribute to “I teach math to middle-school students. I have furthering STEM education. By Jennifer Cullenbine Founder and Executive Director, Family Giving Tree
Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company Proudly Presents
Shakespeare San JosĂŠ Featuring
Enjoy Shakespeare Under the Stars!
For show times and dates, and other information, please visit us at:
www.shadyshakes.org
| | your wellness world
Valley Medical Center: World-class care. Regional specialty services. A growing need for YOUR help.
T
he day started like any other in the Emergency Department of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (VMC) – fast-paced and action-packed. But as morning turned to afternoon, the staff knew something was different. New patients just kept coming; via ambulance, helicopter and walking themselves through the door. It was a rush like no other. By day’s end, over 500 patients had come through the door for treatment, more than double the daily average from six years ago. It was a new record. And this was just a regular day, seemingly like any other. There were no major storms or disasters to speak of – just a lot of sick and injured people who needed to see a doctor. The day was emblematic of the challenges facing the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System (SCVHHS). As the economy has worsened, more and more residents of Santa Clara County have nowhere else to turn when they need medical attention. In fact, fully one-quarter of all Santa Clara County residents get their care at Valley Medical Center and VMC community clinics. From primary care for children, to emergency care for adults, VMC forms the backbone of this community’s health system. As a teaching hospital, VMC trains an overwhelming number of local physicians and nurses, including all Stanford University School of Medicine students. VMC operates the busiest emergency department in the region, and one of two burn trauma units in northern California. But as costs rise and public dollars decline, the staff of VMC has to do more with less. In fact, over the past 10 years, the patient demand for SCVHHS services has doubled, all the while undergoing nearly a decade of year-afteryear budget cuts. In that time, SCVHHS staff has gone to enormous lengths to realize efficiencies, reduce waste, innovate, and find ways to serve more people with less money. But if current trends continue, VMC will face dire financial and operational challenges.
The doors of Valley Medical Center are open to all. It’s up to all of us to keep it that way. Your help is needed now, more than ever. To learn more about how you can support VMC, contact the VMC Foundation at 408-8855299, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or visit www. vmcfoundation.org.
For these reasons and more, all of us, regardless of where we get our healthcare, have a stake in the future of VMC. No other public institution – save the folks who bring us clean drinking water – do more to protect the health and wellbeing of this community than VMC. Without it, emergency departments at private hospitals would be overwhelmed, contagious diseases would go unchecked, and hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, co-workers and friends would be without care. If you are among those who have helped, thank you. In 2008, you may have voted for a bond measure to re-build Valley Medical Center, and construction is going strong. You may have recently donated to support the Sobrato Cancer Center, or our Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab program, or VMC’s Burn Center – all state-of-the-art services, made stronger by our generous supporters. You may have even received care at VMC, Silicon Valley’s biggest and busiest hospital, and told others that the quality of care is top-tier.
The Sobrato Cancer Center
at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
World-class cancer care. Available to all.
The Sobrato Cancer is located in the new, state-of-the-art Valley Specialty Center building (left) on the campus of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Dr. Aemonn Dunphey explains to John A. Sobrato and Jeffrey Sobrato (top right) how the Varian Trilogy® Linear Accelerator delivers ultra-accurate radiation treatment, eradicating cancer cells while preserving healthy ones.
Everyone, no matter rich or poor, should have access to the finest oncology services. At Valley Medical Center’s new Sobrato Cancer Center, that mission is met daily. But with budget challenges and growing need, VMC’s talented team can’t do it alone. They need your help. Please support the VMC Foundation. Your public hospital is here for all, regardless of ability to pay. Let’s make sure it stays that way.
www.vmcfoundation.org
Meet Gregg Adams VMC’s top trauma surgeon
G
regg Adams, M.D., Chief of Surgery at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is on a mission to keep you alive. For the faint of heart, his job responsibilities would seem daunting; manage over 130 surgeons, maintain VMCs high standards for trauma services and disaster response and – oh yeah – scrub in for between 200 to 400 surgical procedures each year. VMC Foundation Executive Director Chris Wilder sat down to talk with Gregg about his career, his day-today-day responsibilities, how he manages the stress of life-and-death situations, and what makes VMC such an inspiring place to work. Chris Wilder: True or false - the trauma team springs into action only when an ambulance drives into the ambulance bay or a helicopter lands on the roof.
Gregg Adams: False. Trauma begins with prevention. We go out and talk about wearing set-belts, and talk about wearing helmets on motorcycles and bicycles, and talk about the problems with drinking and driving and talk about gang violence. CW: There have been times where you have actually been called to the scene of accident. Can you tell me one of those stories?
GA: I’ll use the example of a young man who was at a worksite. He was digging a hole for a foundation that collapsed around him and was buried up to his neck in dirt. He could obviously not hop into an ambulance because we was completely surrounded by dirt, and they couldn’t just dig him out, because they feared it might destabilized more of the structures around him, endangering everyone around him. So we figured out a way to slowly remove
the dirt, to reinforce the hole, monitoring his vital signs - because when you are crushed by dirt, actually releasing the pressure can be as dangerous as the crush himself.
CW: That makes me think of every medical drama and movie. Hollywood does a pretty good idea of showing people what an emergency department looks like. But what do they get wrong?
GA: One is that they have an enormous number of exciting things that happen in 60 minutes with time for commercials. The second thing is that we are not all beautiful. CW: One thing the TV shows do is make the emergency departments feel like controlled chaos. Does it feel like that in real life?
GA: You are never confronted with one problem. You are confronted with 5, 10 or 50 problems. Someone that was hit by a car may be drunk, may have cracked their spleen, have a head injury, etc. The only information you have may be what their vital signs are, or what laboratory tests tell you. So, to a certain degree, it’s a little bit of sensory deprivation and learning to make decisions in a data poor environment.
CW: So it would seem to me that would take a bit of the pressure off if the patient doesn’t survive, but it doesn’t.
GA: No. I think that we are all set up as a system, as human beings, as professionals, as people who have pride in their work - I would love for everyone to survive. Trauma in particular is a killer of young people. That takes a toll and you have to learn to manage that as a human being. CW: How do you do that?
GA: Everyone does it differently. You get a hobby, you get a pet, you hug your kids, you get involved in public service in a different way, you begin to give lectures on wearing your helmet, safe practices, gang avoidance. They become passions for you because you are tied up in the last patient you treated that didn’t survive. CW: And you find that passion in so many people who work at VMC.
GA: Oh absolutely. And it’s one of the reasons why people not only come here to work but stay here to work. You come here because you want to take care of the most complex, most interesting, and challenging patients you can imagine. And ultimately you stay here because you are working with some of the best colleagues you find anywhere in the world. Dedicated. Smart. Funny. Compassionate. Absolutely beautiful human beings.
www.vmcfoundation.org
PHELPS & COHEN Eric Phelps, DDS, MS • Jason Cohen, DDS, MS
ORTHODONTICS
At our office, consultations are complimentary. This article includes some frequently asked questions and answers from orthodontics consultations.
I see a lot of kids with braces at eight or nine years old. Isn’t that too young?
Although eight and nine year olds typically still have 12 primary teeth, many children this age can greatly benefit from early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase I Orthodontics. Reasons for early treatment include: severe crowding, impacted teeth, jaw size discrepancies, crossbites, and many more. While the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children have an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7, a simple ‘Rule of Thumb’ is: “Eight is great, nine is fine!”
Am I too old for orthodontic treatment? Over the past three years, about a third of the consultations at our office have been for adults. No matter what your age, if you have healthy teeth and healthy gum tissue and bone around your teeth then you are a candidate for orthodontics. PRIMARY MOLARS
I have been told that I need four bicuspids extracted because my teeth are crowded. What is your opinion?
With the development of self-ligating braces (we use Damon braces: www.damonbraces.com), I believe it is easier to create enough space to avoid extractions in most cases. The extra space typically is created by widening the arch form which results in a nice, broad, esthetic smile. Avoiding extractions is another great reason for Phase I Orthodontics (as shown in the images below). Creating more arch width in an eight or nine year old patient often provides enough space to avoid the need for bicuspid extraction. On the other hand, a primary goal of treatment is to get the incisors (front teeth) in an esthetic and functional position. Sometimes bicuspid extraction is needed to achieve orthodontic treatment goals.
Can you tell me about Invisalign?
Invisalign is a treatment option for patients that would like to have their teeth moved but are not
PHASE 1 ORTHODONTICS CREATING SPACE FOR PERMANENT CANINES
MADE SPACE FOR BICUSPIDS AND CANINES
(AVOIDED NEED FOR BICUSPID EXTRACTION)
NO ROOM FOR ADULT CANINES
PHELPS
Eric Phelps, DDS, MS • Jason Cohen, DDS, MS 2075 Forest Avenue, Suite 2 San Jose, CA 95128
ORTHODONTICS
(408) 298-3433 Fax (408) 298-6304 http://www.phelpscohenortho.com
& COHEN
interested in wearing braces. We now have an iTero digital scanner at the office that produces a digital 3D model of the patients upper and lower set of teeth in just over 10 minutes. No more impressions!!! Digital models are more accurate than models created from impressions and can be uploaded instantly to Align Technology for treatment planning. The orthodontist uses advanced Invisalign software to create ideal final positions of all teeth. A series of high-tech clear plastic aligners are then produced that move teeth in small increments.
great time to be a Bay Area sports fan because of the success of our local teams. In my opinion, it is even a greater time to be a parent of a sports fan because of great role models like Buster Posey and Patrick Willis!
For more information visit: www.invisalign.com
I would like to thank the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers for supporting our inaugural charity concert in Campbell, CA on September 1st, 2012 in support of the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST). Please read about ichthyosis on the following page and join us for next year’s concert at the Flint Center in Cupertino on September 7th, 2013.
Why is everyone wearing jerseys?
Eric Phelps, DDS, MS
Everyone Wednesday and Saturday are jersey days at our office. We started the tradition a few years back and it has become a highlight for our staff and patients. Jerseys create some interesting conversations, especially when one of our assistants wears her Dodgers jersey. It is a
For more information about our practice (offices in San Jose and Pleasanton), please visit our website at www.phelpscohenortho.com.
What is ichthyosis? Ichthyosis is a family of genetic skin disorders characterized by dry, scaling skin that may be thickened or very thin. The prefix “ichthy” is taken from the Greek root for the word fish. Each year, more than 16,000 babies are born with some form of ichthyosis. Ichthyosis affects people of all ages, races and gender. The disease usually presents at birth, or within the first year, and continues to affect the patient throughout their lifetime. What is FIRST? FIRST is a vibrant, growing foundation connected to its members and families by the special skin and unique management needs of individuals and families with ichthyosis and related skin types. FIRST supports families across the country and around the world. An example of how FIRST can have an immediate impact in your community is the online ‘Tele-Ichthyosis’ tool: http://www. firstskinfoundation.org/content.cfm/Ichthyosis/ Tele-Ichthyosis/page_id/762 If a baby is born with a rare skin disorder, doctors can upload images, documents or questions to the Tele-Ichthyosis web portal and receive guidance from an expert panel. What causes ichthyosis? Most forms of ichthyosis are very rare. The genetic mutation that causes the disorder is passed from parent to child. In some cases however, neither parent exhibits the disorder themselves, but they are carriers of the defective gene. When two carriers pass their mutated gene on to a new life, the child will inherit the disorder. In some very rare cases, the genetic mutation occurs spontaneously in the affected generation.
Who is Tommy? Tommy is a friend of FIRST and the NFL’s Biggest ‘Little Fan’ (pictured in his favorite FIRST overalls). Tommy is currently touring the NFL. So far, Tommy has visited the Colts, 49ers, Broncos, Eagles, Bengals, Chargers, Raiders, Browns and Giants. He has met great people in the front offices of the different teams as well as some amazing players. All of us at FIRST greatly appreciate the NFL’s support! Please visit the following link to follow his journey and see photographs from his travels: http://www.firstskinfoundation.org/news-details. cfm/Ichthyosis-News/NFL-s-Biggest-Little-Fan-is-onthe-move/id/164 Dane’s Friends for First Concert Our son, Dane Christian Phelps, showed signs of ichthyosis at 6 weeks old. His rare form of ichthyosis, which was likely caused by a spontaneous gene mutation, also affected his heart. Although Dane only lived to be 3 ½ years old, he touched many lives and will continue to reach thousands more with Dane’s Friends for First Concert. Please join us on September 7th, 2013, for an inspirational night of music and dance at the Flint Center (De Anza College, Cupertino, CA). There will also be a silent auction that will include special items Tommy collects on his journey around the NFL. We would love for you to join us! For more information please visit: https://www. facebook.com/DanesFriendsForFIRST Article submitted by Suzanne and Eric Phelps of San Jose, CA.
Silicon Valley Non-Profits
I
Introducing Silicon Valley Non-Profits!
n this day and age, many of us are looking for purpose and asking ourselves how we can help make a difference in our community and our world. If we were to ask ourselves, where would we be without our Non-Profits, that’s a good question - they do a lot! With them, it’s hard enough in our world. Without them, it would be unthinkable. Indeed, we have many Non-Profits doing great works and they are always looking for people, like you, who can and would like to help.
At the same time, there are many people, like you and me, who wonder what specifically more we can do with our money or, especially, just by volunteering – indeed, what a difference that does and will make. The greatest gift of all is in the giving and what a big positive difference it makes in the lives of others. In Silicon Valley Non-Profits, learn about various great people and great organizations doing great things. May it become a growing Resource for you and many others, there’s nothing like teamwork, that can help us all in making a big positive difference for a better community here at Home.
Enroll in Cancer Prevention Study-3. By enrolling in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study (CPS-3), you can help us understand how to prevent cancer, which will save lives and create a world with more birthdays for everyone. This New Year, resolve to help fight cancer by participating in CPS-3. During 2013, CPS-3 enrollment will be held at locations throughout the Bay Area.
For more information about enrolling or volunteering, please visit cancer.org/cps3 or call 1-888-604-5888.
Š2009, American Cancer Society, Inc. No.080131-Rev.10/10
Who has the game plan in your family? In an emergency, every second counts – that’s why it’s crucial to identify a meeting place in case your family is separated during a disaster. Designate a meeting place in your neighborhood and one outside of the neighborhood in case you have to evacuate. Establish the right emergency plan for your family – we’ll show you how.
Download the Earthquake mobile app to make your plan or visit redcross.org/ prepare today
Silicon Valley Chapter
I AM FOR THE CHILD
™
Learn More. Attend an orientation for information. Help. Volunteer at the office or special events. Donate. With your support, we can provide an Advocate for every child on our waiting list.
Become a friend, mentor and advocate for an abused child.
w w w. B e M y A d v o c a t e . o r g For more information Call: (408) 573-5665 Email: info@cadvocates.org
For people like Michael, a high school teacher, and for healthcare workers and others we rely on every day, the cost of homeownership in Silicon Valley is just beyond reach. Together with us, they invest in a sustainable community. Housing Trust made it possible for Michael and his family to buy a condo on a tight budget. “Being close to work is a value we had for our family…we can walk to work and take public transportation. I like to be here, I like to think I make a difference.” 2,300 First Time Homebuyers repay their loans into a revolving fund.
Silicon Valley, one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. Are you a first time buyer with a household income under $126,000 for a famly of four? You may qualify for one of our four low-interest, second mortgages. Loans vary by income eligibility based on one’s household income and size, maximum loan amount and repayment terms. These loans are frequently combined with first-time loan programs sponsored by Santa Clara County or local city housing departments. Visit our website for more information about our programs.
housingtrustscc.org
A non-profit community loan fund
| 408.436.3450 x 221
Your child has just been diagnosed with a developmental, medical, psychological, learning or other issue — what now?
You are not alone.
Parents Helping Parents strives to improve the quality of life for any child with any special need of any age, through educating, supporting and training their primary caregivers.
Parents Helping Parents Sobrato Center for Nonprofits–San Jose 1400 Parkmoor Avenue Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95126 www.php.com | (408) 727-5775
Coverage for every child Santa Clara Family Health Foundation (SCFHF) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization whose focus is on raising funds to support the Healthy Kids insurance program and the Children’s Health Initiative in Santa Clara County. Through the Foundation, community leaders, community members, foundations, corporations, local businesses, friends, and other supporters can contribute funds to help achieve the goal of providing every child in Santa Clara County with access to quality health care through insurance. We believe that one uninsured child is one too many. If you have a child or know a family with children who do not have health coverage, live in Santa Clara County and the family maximum monthly income is below $5,700 for a family of four, please call us at 1-877680-4555 or visit our website.
Santa Clara
Family Health Foundation www.healthyfamilyfund.org (408) 874-1999
Nothing Else Matters When You’re Hungry.
Give What Matters Today!
When Bella’s parents lost their jobs and home, they turned to Second Harvest Food Bank to feed their family. Bella is not alone. Nearly 250,000 people in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties rely on Second Harvest each month to receive the healthy food they need to survive. Every $1 you donate will provide 2 nutritious meals for a family like Bella’s.
Thank you to Silicon Valley Local Magazine for donating this advertising space.
SHFB.org
866-234-3663
Join the STEM movement at STEMpower[ed]!
At Silicon Valley Education Foundation, we support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education as the gateway to 21st century jobs. Our STEMpower[ed] website is an easy-to-use site to help parents and educators find the best STEM programs to create that critical spark in their students.
Visit stempowered.svefoundation.org for the one-stop-shop for STEM education in the Silicon Valley. About SVEF: Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) is a not-for-profit resource and advocate for students and educators. We are dedicated to raising student performance in the critical areas of STEM.
Thanks to you and thousands of people like you, United Way Silicon Valley is working to improve community conditions by helping local people become financially stable and independent. We have been privileged during this tough economy to expand our work. We’ve grown programs and partnerships that help more young children learn to read. We’ve provided one-on-one credit coaching for low-income adults and we’ve funded some of the most innovative and effective programs in the county. Everything we do, we do with your help. Please consider donating to United Way Silicon Valley today and help us continue to improve community conditions and change lives.
“Only 16% of the charities we rate have received at least 2 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that United Way Silicon Valley outperforms most other charities in America.” Ken Berger, CEO Charity Navigator
www.uwsv.org
HEALTHY FUN SUMMER LEARNING Summer Camps YMCA OF SILICON VALLEY
What makes Y camps different? Our campers… • Learn values and positive behaviors • Practice healthy habits • Participate in fun activities • Develop leadership skills • Discover talents and potential • Develop a sense of responsibility • Gain independence and confidence • Build character • Explore nature • Make new friends and learn social skills • Go home with memories to last a lifetime
et rest you and g Find the Y nea mp guide at your summer ca
mmercamp ymcasv.org/su
Our day and overnight camps… • Are accredited by the American Camp Association • Meet the highest standards in nearly 300 areas, including health, safety, personnel, transportation and facilities • Are staffed by caring people trained in safety, CPR, First Aid and child development We offer financial assistance if you need it. We inspire kids in camps spanning from Morgan Hill to Redwood City and in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains at Camp Campbell. YMCA OF SILICON VALLEY 1922 The Alameda 3rd Floor, San Jose, CA 95126 | 408 351 6400 | ymcasv.org/summercamp
Fighting for clean air & healthy lungs in our local communities since 1911
- Youth Tobacco Education & Prevention - Support Groups for Lung Disease Patients - Clean Air Campaigns - Smoke-Free Communities - Lung Disease Research - TB Prevention Program - Lung Health Speakers Bureau
- Asthma Management Classes at Schools - Quit-Smoking Clinics - Breathing Improvement Courses - Home & School Environmental Assessments - Summer Asthma Camp - Community Forums & Events - Information & Referral
JOIN OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL BAY AREA RESIDENTS CAN BREATHE EASIER! (408) 998-5865 1469 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 www.lungsrus.org
Pacific Autism Center for Education Connect • Support • Educate
With our School, Early Intervention, and Residential programs, PACE is proud to provide high quality programs for individuals with autism and its related developmental disabilities, so that they may experience the satisfaction and fulfillment that accompany learning, self-expression, self-care, productive work and interpersonal and community experiences.
www.pacificautism.org Santa Clara, CA
Celebrating 65 years of service in 2013. Thanks to the generosity of caring donors, we are here to help individuals and families cope effectively with emotional and mental health issues, overcome addiction, end the cycle of family violence, heal from trauma, and achieve improved well-being. We are honored to be trusted by more than 6,000 children, teens, and adults each year who rely on us for professional care and support.
Join us for the 10th Annual Circle of Support Breakfast! Featuring ANDREW BRIDGE New York Times bestselling author of Hope’s Boy: A Memoir Child Advocate, Attorney, & Former Foster Youth Honoring THE SOBRATO FAMILY FOUNDATION
Thursday, May 2, 2013 Crowne Plaza CabaĂąa Hotel, Palo Alto 7:30 am registration; 8am to 10am breakfast & program Tickets: $75; Tables of 10: $750. Info & Tickets: www.fcservices.org
Learn * Connect * Give
Family & Children Services - www.fcservices.org 650.326.6576 - 375 Cambridge Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306 408.292.9353 - 950 W. Julian Street, San Jose, CA 95126
@fcservices
ONE YEAR TO A CAREER
“Thanks Year not trappe Thanks to YeartoUp, I’mUp, notI’m trapped restricted to a certain type of job a or restricted to a certain type of jobfor m Before Year Up, I saw a limit anymore. Before Year Up,now I saw professional goals, it a is limitle working retail at Best Buy for years, I knew I limit “After for my professional goals, make a big change in my life. Through Year Up, I in now it is limitless.” LinkedIn and after my internship, LinkedIn hired me
Associate Telecom wasUp a dream — Christian Ramos,Technician. July 2012 ItYear Bay com If it wasn’t for Year Up, I might still be in the same Area Graduate and LinkedIn Associate position, in and out of school and on track to gradu years. Now, along with my full-time job, I am goin Telecom Technician
to school for IT and obtain my Associate’s Degree, t Recreate LOGO Bachelor’s.” - Christian Ramos, July 2012 Year Up B Graduate and LinkedIn Associate Telecom Technicia
Download 200,000+ brand logos in vector format for free
ONE YEAR TO A CARE http://www.logoeps.com/
NetApp
Year Up is a FREE, one-year, full-time professional training, education, and internship program for 18-24 year olds with a high school diploma or GED. 88% of our graduates are employed (earning on average $17/hour) or are attending college Year Up is a FREE, one-year, full-time professional training, education, and internship p within four months of completing the program.
18-24 year olds with a high school diploma or GED. 88% of our graduates are employe competitive wages) or are attending college within four months of completing the pr
Year Up is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 with 12 sties nationwide. Year Up has served over 5,000 students reach their professional and educational potential.
Apply now for Year Up Bay Area’s 10th class in SF and San Jose at www.yearup.org/apply VISIT US at 100 West San Fernando Street, Suite 103, San Jose, CA 95113 and at 210 Spear Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 or CALL US at (415) 512-7588, EXT. 3504, or EMAIL US at svadmissions@yearup.org. For more information, visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/yearupbayarea
You a r e
CoRdIAllY INVITed to a
SpeCIAl ToUR of
VAlleY MedICAl CeNTeR in San JoSe
Join us for a special insider’s tour which will include a look at our state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rehabilitation Center and highlight the new construction on the VMC campus.
Schedule Your Tour
About VMC Foundation
Tours are scheduled on an ongoing basis. If you are interested, please call 408.885.5206 or email vmcfoundation@hhs.sccgov.org. Individuals and groups—large and small—are welcome.
VMC Foundation raises donations from the community on behalf of our hospital and the entire Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System. The Foundation seeks these funds for programs that support community well-being, improve the quality of care, and promote access to medical treatment for all residents of Santa Clara County regardless of their ability to pay.
Valley Medical Center 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
Josh Russell and Steve Wozniak on the set of Signature Silicon Valley with Janice Edwards, executive producer and host. Signature Silicon Valley shows every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. on Comcast Silicon Valley Channel 30 in San Jose and Campbell.
PARTNER WITH CREATV SAN JOSE It’s good for the community. CreaTV San Jose, a non–profit community media center, gives diverse communities powerful tools to tell their stories and express their views through video.
VIDEO PRODUCTION Low–cost, professional video production. DISTRIBUTION Free airtime for your TV show — cablecast to 150,000 Comcast households. Free live streaming and video–on–demand of your show at CreaTVsj.org. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & EDUCATION Low–cost media training, facilities and equipment.
www.CreaTVsj.org
For nearly 60 years, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County has worked to strengthen families and build economic self-sufficiency for the poor and vulnerable in Silicon Valley. Each year, more than 500 employees and nearly a 1,000 volunteers serve more than 36,000 individuals of all cultures and beliefs through a broad base of programs. Operates more than 50 programs including: Housing Services Job Skills Training and Placement Financial Education Youth and Family Services Educational Services Immigration Legal Services Refugee Resettlement Older Adult Services Mental Health Counseling
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
2625 Zanker Road San Jose, CA 95134 / (408) 468-0100 www.CatholicCharitiesSCC.org Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
@GregKepferle
CatholicCharitiesTV
Professional counseling you can afford
Sofia University’s Community Center for Health & Wellness (CCHW) in Palo Alto is a nonprofit counseling center and advanced training institute offering professional services at an affordable sliding scale fee for individuals, couples, families, children and groups. The CCHW offers a wide variety of services by combining contemporary psychotherapy with values that honor the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, social, and creative aspects of life. Our core philosophy is that the persons we serve are whole and complete, to be accepted, respected and encouraged to grow in directions that expand their inherent health and wholeness. CCHW is proud to support our community by bringing quality mental health services and spiritual guidance to those who may be struggling in our tough economy.
650.493.5006 • COUNSELING@SOFIA.EDU • WWW.SOFIA.EDU/COUNSELING
Each year, somewhere in the world, President and Mrs. Carter build Habitat for Humanity homes during the annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. This year, the Carters are coming to Oakland and San Jose! Be part of this historic event! Construction activities will take place all week. The Carters will build in Oakland on Monday and in San Jose on Tuesday. Join us for a Presidential Build Day or the full week. Build or assist with event support. Volunteers must fundraise to participate. No construction experience is necessary. Minimum age is 16. We will provide supervision, tools, safety equipment, and fundraising support — everything you need to succeed!
Wherever your day takes you‌
Hot off the virtual press and direct to your Inbox. Subscribe to Silicon Valley Local (for special features and promotions) at info@svlocalmag.com PS: We never share email addresses!
SCORE: Often The Answer To A Small Business Owner’s Prayer
F
or those of you small business owners who face not only numerous challenges from the economy, but also from changing technology, changing market needs and changing government regulations, SCORE often can and does provide important valued assistance. Would you like to find a place where you could talk to seasoned small business owners, experienced senior managers who you can level with in confidential meetings to find new solutions and bounce off ideas you have? Here is where 1000 s of small business owners turn to each year in Silicon Valley for assistance - The Silicon Valley Chapter of SCORE. Indeed, there are over 50 volunteer experts waiting for you to call the San Jose offices. SCORE understands your challenges, as well as your lack of time and resources. Many small business owners and entrepreneurs have benefited over the years from these valuable services and consultations - why not you? Silicon Valley SCORE is part of a national network of chapters helping small businesses grow and prosper. Here you will find to assist you: • Unlimited no charge one hour counseling appointments with two experts when you are available.
• On site or at a mutually convenient location with an appointed mentor where needed. • Meeting seminars and workshops on key topics at minimal charge. • On line counseling where you ask the critical question and get an answer in a day or so. If you are starting a new business, SCORE has both workshops and seminars geared to rapidly bring you up to speed as to the key things you need to know to maximize your chances of success. SCORE can help you with that critical plan you will need. Counselors are available by appointment for free to guide you and you can continue to make counseling appointments for as long as you need their help. SCORE also offers two counselors per appointment with a long history and plenty of experience in owning, managing and starting a business. Please call (408) 453-6237 or visit the SCORE website at www.svscore.org where you can request an appointment or register for one of their workshops or seminars. SCORE is located near the San Jose International Airport at 234 E. Gish Road, Suite 100, San Jose. SCORE always looks forward to your call and wants to help.
Thank You, SCORE Testimonial of a Sample Success Story
H
ongtao Zhan, is the CEO of Cellphone-Mate, a manufacturer of cellphone amplifiers. They design, manufacture and sell cell phone signal amplifiers and accessories that dramatically improve cell phone communications range for mobile, home and enterprise office settings. Their SureCall™ flagship product line of FCC-approved signal amplifiers boost the range and reception of almost any cell phone device. They sell their products through distributor networks in the USA and Canada.
me the light. Hongtao showed his appreciation to SCORE when he was recalling these early problems. I learned about SCORE from the SBA and then, for the last five years, we have been getting continuous support from SCORE counselors. Hongtao mentioned that despite all their hard work in the beginning, the company was not doing well until they met with SCORE. Hongtao started his EE studies at Tsinghua SCORE taught us how to proceed step by University in Beijing, where he received a step and guided us with their constructive and BSEE degree, then received a M.S degree from helpful suggestions. We followed all their adthe Graduate School of the Chinese Academia vice and have been closely working with them of Science in Beijing and then another BSEE these past five years. Now, we have solved from UCLA. After working as a chip designer our problems, one by one, and have become here in Silicon Valley, he developed some ina successful multimillion-dollar company. Cell teresting ideas for improving cell phone recep- Phone-Mate Inc. s customers are now all over tion and removing radiation exposure from the USA and Canada. the user using an intelligent repeater. He regisHongtao also said that continuous support tered a company in 2001 and went to work on from SCORE made their revenue increase by it. By 2003, Hongtao renamed the company more than ten-fold since 2006. The Company Cell Phone-Mate Inc. He also filed for patents has been profitable every year and it became and made a simplified working prototype. debt free since 2008. They also increased their At one point, however, in 2006, the comemployee count from two to nineteen since pany almost went into bankruptcy. As Hongtao 2006. They are working in the USA, as well as explained his situation: I experienced lots of in China. credit card debt and difficulties in paying comHongtao added, in the future with similar pany bills and felt there was nowhere to go for support from SCORE, his dream is to double help. At that point, I felt there was nothing left their revenue and become the market leader. to lose, and it was out of desperation, when The company is running in its 11th year, and I heard about and contacted SCORE. That is with the help of SCORE he wants to run the when SCORE came with its helping hand and company for 30 more years. He is confident pulled me out from the darkness and showed he can achieve the target.
Psychedelic Science
at Sofia University
S
ofia University is gaining a worldwide reputation in the area of psychedelics research, thanks in large part to Sofia University cofounder, James Fadiman. Like his colleague, Stanislav Grof, Fadiman was originally involved in psychedelics research in the early 1960s before they were effectively banned by the U.S. Government. A resurgence of interest over the past 10 to 15 years has led to more research and greater acceptance of these substances by governments and the public.
Recently, Sofia U co-sponsored the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Psychedelic Science Conference 2013 in Oakland, California. James Fadiman, Ph.D.,featured as one of the international experts in the field, held a workshop titled, “Psychedelic Horizons Beyond Psychotherapy.” The MAPS conference also included a presentation going into more detail about the challenges and benefits of teaching future therapists to be more sensitive and competent in working with clients who have used or are using psychedelic substances. At Sofia U, Fadiman coteaches courses on psychedelic research and clinical issues with faculty member David Lukoff, Ph.D. The two-unit residential course was first offered in the fall quarter of 2010 and has been well received. The class covers clinical research on psychedelic drugs as adjuncts to psychotherapy for the treatment of addiction, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and existential distress at the end of life, as well as how to address psychedelic experiences that clients bring into psychotherapy. While not all students who enroll in the class intend to be clinicians, clinical aspects are discussed throughout the course. Lukoff commented, “Our fondest hope for this course is that it paves the way for other universities, particularly those offering graduate training for mental health professionals, to use this precedent at an accredited graduate program to advocate for including similar courses in their curriculum.” Understanding psychedelic experiences requires knowledge about the interdisciplinary context, traditional uses, and applications behind modern research on psychedelic drugs for treating trauma and addiction. Lukoff commented on the specific need for this type of course: “With all of these clinical and research advances, how could a doctoral psychology
program not provide training in this area? The recent research is beyond compelling that therapy, experientially supported with psychedelics, helps resolve combat trauma in veterans as well as other forms of trauma and reduces anxiety in cancer patients.” Sofia University is currently developing an online course for its global students and has plans to offer the class through other institutions. In addition to the psychedelics course at Sofia U, increasing interest in psychedelics in higher education is reflected in Sofa students’ dissertations and research. Fadiman commented, “Our students whose dissertations have dealt with psychedelic issues are doing psychedelic clinical studies at Yale and Johns Hopkins University. Sofia University is one of the few academic institutions in the world that supports graduate study in this area, thus fulfilling part of its mission to remain at the forefront of clinical training and emerging research areas.” In addition to sponsoring the Psychedelic Science Conference this year, Sofia University also held an event on May 2, 2013, called, “Psychedelic Experience: Healing, Growth and Discovery” hosted by James Fadiman and Brad Burge, the Communications Director for MAPS. The event can be viewed on Livestream at www.livestream.com/ sofiauniversity. The event included engaging dialogue on new research opportunities including discoveries in neuro-science, longterm effects of ongoing use, and work done in indigenous settings. The evening’s dialogue also considered the application of psychedelic substances for chronic sleep disturbances, severe life-long allergies, academic test-taking, neuromuscular improvements, successful withdrawal from anti-depressants, as well as the almost totally unstudied effects of micro-dosing as well as experiments in accelerated scientific problem-solving.
Bring on the Bachelors…
…DEGREES, THAT IS
F
or many people, life gets in the way of earning their bachelor’s degree. In the U.S., 37 million adults have some college credits but no degree, and in today’s economy, many college dropouts are being left behind. Workers with a B.A. earn approximately $20,000 more per year, and are almost twice as likely to be employed, than those without a degree. By 2018, projections are that nearly two-thirds of all job openings will require a B.A. versus one third in 2008. Sofia University has a solution with two new bachelor’s completion degrees that are mostly online, and designed for busy adult learners. Offered in a flexible online format, Sofia U’s bachelor’s completion programs give students the unique ability to transfer credits for life experience, as opposed to relying on academic credits alone. Students will be able to complete their bachelor’s degree in as little as one year and a maximum of two years. Kris Brandenburger Starting in fall of 2013, and currently accepting applications, Sofia will offer its first bachelor’s completion programs in Psychology and Liberal Arts. Both programs were accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in January 2013. Within the Psychology program, students can choose to specialize in Coaching, Business and Leadership, or LGBTQ Studies, while the Liberal Arts B.A. offers concentrations in Transpersonal Studies, Business and Leadership, and LGBTQ Studies. Program Director, Kris Brandenburger, PhD, designed the B.A. completion programs in alignment with the whole-person experience Sofia is known for: “An undergraduate education at Sofia University offers students an engaged and rigorous academic experience while keeping the whole person – mind, body, heart and spirit – at its core. It encourages students to become better thinkers, writers and citizens, fully acknowledging the complexities and varied relationships students face in their lives as individuals.” Born out of the human potential movement of the late 1960s and 70s, Sofia University (formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology) is known for teaching across six areas that are at the core of human existence: the intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual, creative, and relational. Specifically what sets Sofia apart from other universities, is the fine-tuned emphasis on the whole-person, transformative experience that allows students to flourish as professionals and individuals.
Finish what you started... Complete your B.A. in as little as one year!
T H E S P I R I T I N S I L I CO N VA L L E Y
Bachelor’s completion and graduate programs educating mind, body, heart and spirit. Programs online and on campus to fit your lifestyle. (888) 98-SOFIA • ADMISSIONS@SOFIA.EDU • WWW.SOFIA.EDU/LOCAL
Local Business Spotlight
Before
After
Not Your Father’s Astroturf
Y
ou may not be able to see it, but it’s everywhere. First at high school and college football fields or the occasional shopping center – however, since these products look and feel so real, it might even be installed in your neighbor’s front yard and you don’t even know it – yes, we’re talking about artificial turf. The latest generation of artificial turf products are nothing like your father’s Astroturf. The combination of new product development and lower than expected water levels (a real problem facing Northern California residents) are only part of what is driving the adoption of these products. In fact, some towns like Foster City are offering artificial turf rebates (some of the highest in the state) as an alternative to real grass. Who wouldn’t want green grass year round? These incredible products have been customized to have the look and feel of real grass and the durability to withstand even the harshest elements, making them ideal candidates to replace the real thing. It’s even pet proof, no more muddy paws, yellowed patches or holes and has become so popular that many kennels and Humane Societies have installed this wonder grass. Heavenly Greens, the leader in Bay Area artificial turf, has been installing these prod-
ucts for over a decade. The company’s focus is offering products that are “Best of Class” from the world’s top turf manufacturers, including FieldTurf. Since he started the business in 2001, owner Dan Theis says rapid changes in the artificial turf market have led to the proliferation of exceedingly lower quality products, or worse, the emergence of other companies using shortcuts on proper installation methods in the name of profit. “Our products, some of which are 100 percent recyclable, are used to address specific drainage requirements and help homeowners enhance their properties.” All Heavenly Greens’ turf systems are installed with proper drainage systems and backed with eight-to 15-year warranties. “We’ve performed more than 7,500 installations at homes, businesses, golf courses, dog facilities, child day care centers and more, so we know how to do the job right the first time,” says Mr. Theis. Customers can visit Heavenly Greens’ San Jose showroom, www.heavenlygreens.com located at 370 Umbarger Road, San Jose CA 95111 Choose from a variety of artificial turf products on display. Or call 866.724.8873 for a free site survey.
866-724-8833
Consumer News
SILVAR Issues Consumer Alert on Fraudulent Rental Advertisements
T
he Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), the local trade association repre-senting over 4,000 REALTORS® and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, has received reports from members doing business in Santa Clara County of a scam by individuals fraudulently posing as landlords and misrepresenting va-cant properties for lease. Using various websites, the scam artists advertise a home for rent, when the property is actually for sale. Prospective tenants who call the phone number provided in the false rental advertise-ment are then directed to provide an application fee and rental deposit immediately if they wanted to lease the unit. The scam is discovered once prospective tenants contacted the actual listing agent to gain access to view the property. Law enforcement authorities have been notified of these attempted scams. “It is tragic that people continue to prey on consumers who are in need of a place to rent. Poten-tial renters are convinced to pay deposits and rent to unscrupulous people who take the money and run with the tenant left wondering what happened and with no funds to rent another prop-erty,” said SILVAR President Suzanne Yost. “We are asking consumers to always verify the owner of the property you intend to rent and heed guidance issued by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE).”
The DRE last year issued a warning about by “impostor landlords” and provides the following guidance to protect consumers from this type of scam: • Ask anyone offering a house for rent to provide you with proof that they own the house, and to show you their government issued picture identification. Then scrutinize the proof of ownership, as well as the identifications since there is also the risk that their identifica-tions can be false. • If you think that you are dealing with an owner’s/landlord’s representative, you should check with the DRE to see if that representative or agent is licensed. This is because a re-al estate license is required, with some narrow exceptions, for a person to offer a house for rent as an agent of the owner. Check the license records on the DRE website (www.dre.ca.gov) and make sure you are working with legitimate licensees. • If you are an existing tenant, you should check with the County Recorder’s office to ver-ify the property’s owner of record. If the house has been foreclosed upon, you should contact the new owner and verify with the current owner the person to whom you should be forwarding your rental payments. If you feel you have dealt with a scammer in the area of a housing rental or have been defrauded in connection with rental of a house, please contact the DRE at the following numbers: For Spanish-speaking consumers, call 1-877DRE-4321; for consumers in the Bay Area, call (510) 622-2552.
Local Community Spotlight
Sponsored by Al Ward, Agent/State Farm
Welcome to Los Altos Los Altos is one of the very few places that has been able to keep its quaint charm while being located in the heart of the innovation of Silicon Valley. A bustling community, characterized by beautiful tree-lined streets and a friendly village atmosphere, the City of Los Altos is home to 29,000 people. Incorporated as a city in 1952, Los Altos celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Throughout this time, Los Altos has successfully preserved its rural roots, maintained spacious lot sizes for single family homes and stayed true to its mission of being a great place to live and raise a family. With its beautiful neighborhoods, awardwinning schools, welcoming businesses and many acres of lovely parks and open space, Los Altos is a special place to call home or visit.
Los Altos is a friendly and inviting town, where people enjoy gathering in the downtown village or outlying commercial areas for delightful shopping and dining, or just strolling and simply enjoying the pleasant surroundings. Los Altos is always a festive and wonderful place to be. Speaking of festive, there are also a number of very popular events throughout the year. The unique Pet Parade is held the Saturday after Mother’s Day and the beautiful Festival of Lights Parade is the Sunday evening after Thanksgiving. There are also three distinctive art festivals sponsored by local organizations. Such fun events perennially bring thousands of residents and neighbors from surrounding communities together to enjoy each other and celebrate the pleasures of Los Altos.
Featured Los Altos Business
Life’s even better when you get your premium back. Find out how you can help protect your family for less, build cash value, or even get your premiums back if the life insurance benefit has not been paid out at the end of the level premium period. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.Ž CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.
Al Ward, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0631485 al.ward.b3lt@statefarm.com
Jim Flynn, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0B45760 james.flynn.gs7m@statefarm.com
Michael Tirabassi, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0F45676 michael.tirabassi.rfta@statefarm.com
4546 El Camino Real Ste B4, Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 941-5000
statefarm.com
1101002.1
Adjustable Premium Level Term Life Insurance policy series 08025 in all states except MT, NY, WI; 08075 in MT; A08025 in NY & WI. State Farm Life Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL (Not licensed in MA, NY and WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI), Bloomington, IL
Local Community Spotlight
Sponsored by Tarragon Restaurant & Banquet Facility
Welcome to Sunnyvale Sunnyvale, California has long been known as the heart of the world famous Silicon Valley. Sunnyvale has always excelled in quality of life and in business recruitment, retention, and expansion. Recently, the Dr. Oz Show announced, with the statistics from GallupHealthways Well Being index, that Sunnyvale is the happiest city in America. We are known for our top ranking schools and our expansive pool of quality employees in the fields of technology and innovation. To top that off, Sunnyvale is the number one leader in patents per capita over any other city in the nation. That can be attributed to our legendary corporations such as Rambus,
Motorola, Yahoo, Advanced Micro Devices, Microsoft, Apple, NetApp, Juniper Networks, Intuitive Surgical, Google, Lockheed Martin, Synopsys, Spansion, Broadcom, Applied Signal Technology, Blue Coat Systems, Northrop Grumman, Fujitsu, Maxim, Infinera, Dionex, Serious Energy, Silicon Imaging, Cepheid and many others. Our economy is resilient as a result of our business diversity and we are always the leader in the nation’s economic recovery. Sunnyvale’s city government has a reputation for facilitating smart development and for encouraging sustainable business and environmental practices. Our police and firefighting personnel are cross trained and are combined into a single department of Public Service. The Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce is known providing opportunities and benefits for all ranges of business from individual shop owners to world renowned corporations. http://www.svcoc.org
Featured Sunnyvale Business
R Restaurant &Banquet Facility 140 South Murphy Ave Sunnyvale Ca 94086
408 737- 8003
www.dinetarragon.com
Open for Lunch Monday thru Friday 11:30 to 2:00 Happy Hour Monday - Saturday from 4 to 6
Early Bird Everyday 5:00 to 5:45 Three course meal $20.00 Beautiful Banquet Facilities for Private Parties
Local Community Spotlight
Sponsored by Crowne Plaza
Welcome to Milpitas Nestled between two of the largest cities here in Silicon Valley, San Jose and Fremont, Milpitas has grown, or blossomed, to become one of the most vibrant, friendly and fun cities anywhere. It is hard to imagine that Milpitas was incorporated in just 1954, boasting at the time only 825 residents. The population now is 68,500 and the median age is but 36.1 years old. What was once a small agricultural town, Milpitas soon became a central location, or hub, conveniently situated between the East Bay, particularly Oakland, and the South Bay, particularly San Jose. It is a city that is nearly 15 square miles and that has beautiful views all around it, of grassy foothills and Mount Hamilton facing to the east ... and Santa Clara County below it facing to the west. Milpitas has since become home to a good number of wonderful computer and semiconductor companies - where it is a very friendly business town. For years now, Milpitas has benefited greatly from, and truly enjoys, the ongoing tandem support of its City Government and outstanding Chamber of Commerce. Milpitas has been and continues to be a real
success story in how its multiple cultures and diversity thrive together among one another. Milpitas is also well-recognized, and renowned, for its symbolic state-of-the-art Milpitas City Hall & Civic Center, as well as its amazing new Library and new Barbara Lee Senior Center. What the people also love about Milpitas is what it has to offer - excellent schools, great shopping (especially being home of The Great Mall), beautiful parks, welcoming and accommodating hotels and a multitude of very popular, ethnic restaurants to choose from. Enjoy the convenience and warmth of all that Milpitas has to offer. http://www.milpitaschamber.com
Featured Milpitas Business
Visit us and experience our newly renovated hotel! We underwent an extensive remodel of all 304 guest rooms, including 18 junior and 2 presidential suites, banquet space, lobby, bar & restaurant, pool deck as well as fitness center. We look forward to having you as our guest!
Amenities include: WiFi | Sevens Bar & Grill | In-Room Dining | Club Floor Lounge | Complimentary Shuttle Service to/from San Jose International Airport | Hertz Rental Car Onsite | 24/7 Pantry | 24/7 Business Center and more...
Traveling for Success. 777 Bellew Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035 | Phone: (408) 321-9500 | Visit us online at www.crowneplaza.com/sanjose/sv
Jessica Fullmer
Sustainable Business Institute
SBI’s Business ‘Seal of Sustainability’ The Seal of Good Earth-Keeping and Business Efficiencies with Profitability The Old paradigm: Winner-Loser, chasing only profits only looks good in near-sighted, short duration, small arena, views. In our recklessly plundered, over-extracted, interconnected world entering severe climate crisis, biz-as-usual capitalism, has failed. Billions are starving. Life support systems are collapsing. Not wise. Not sustainable. The Sustainable Business Institute (SBI)- Creates New science: All systems are connected and complex. Understanding nature, whole systems, efficiency and flow can lead to bigger, more secure and more durable profits. The Seal of Sustainability (SOS) acknowledges and rewards corporate citizenship, environmental stewardship with more visibility so caring consumers will vote with their dollars to buy from them. The SOS will encourage businesses to continue to improve their sustainable business practices. Profits and prosperity for all follow... It is a win win for business and the quality of life we will all enjoy in the future. Caring for the environment is a profit decision, not a luxury. It is a survival necessity that pays well. Many Fortune 500 companies have made extra billion$ in profits while doing the right thing. Being in the flow creates natural efficiencies and benefits. The nonprofit, nonpartisan Sustainable Business Institute (SBI, sustainablebusiness.org) was created to promote this emerging story: disconnected, old business thinking can no longer succeed in a shrinking, connected world with stressed support systems. Caring for the planet is a key to profitability and competitiveness. SBI teaches and helps businesses to find ways to use inclusive, connected, systems intelligence and efficient practices, policies and procedures. The SOS is designed to be a catalyst and map for change. SBI honors companies that demonstrate this awareness in practice. SBI will encourage companies to reach that goal, while adding to consumers awareness about which companies care about safety, health, and happy grandchildren; only possible with a healthy planet.
Green is Good!
What Makes a Vehicle “Green?” When you think about buying a new vehicle, there’s more to consider than just how many people it will seat, or whether it comes with a navigation system. You also may be concerned about the effect your vehicle has on the environment. Going green is a serious choice to make with your vehicle. It may not be easy being green, but Toyota is working hard to bring green — or environmentally friendly — technologies to the vehicles we drive. Green vehicles produce fewer harmful impacts to the environment than standard internal combustion engine vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel. Green vehicles use alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies for power and locomotion. As part of their contribution to sustainable transport, environmentally friendly vehicles reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to energy independence by reducing oil imports. Battery-powered Toyotas and plug-in hybrid Toyotas are getting more and more popular. They have better fuel economy than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, and increase the range or maximum distance attainable, before discharging the battery.
Currently, Toyota offers several green-technology vehicles:
These special vehicles show the world that Toyota Green is Beautiful — in more ways than one!
WE QUOTE PRICES ON THE PHONE!
Phone: 408-245-6640
Shop online at: ToyotaSunnyvale.com • 898 W. El Camino Real • Sunnyvale
Education in Silicon Valley
Preparing students for higher learning By Muhammed Chaudhry
G
etting our kids ready for college and eventually for the demanding jobs of the 21st century is one of the most important things our teachers, schools and parents can do. Four school districts in Santa Clara County are already charting an effective path for students that will give them the opportunity to enroll in one of California’s top fouryear public universities – a UC or CSU school. The districts do this by imposing the so-called “A to G” requirements – 15 specific courses students need to pass to be eligible for the UC and CSU systems. Many students and parents are unaware of the gap between courses required for high school graduation and those required for college entrance, which is a critical distinction that can derail many students’ college aspirations. In many school districts across Santa Clara County and California, students can fulfill their graduation requirements without meeting the minimum course requirements to apply to a UC or CSU. The Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) believes that, while a four-year
Muhammed Chaudhry is President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He previously worked in the corporate world for IBM, Dazzle Multimedia and the Clorox Company. He serves on numerous community boards, including the California Consortium of Education Foundations, the Hispanic Foundation and is on the advisory board of Fundly. Contact him at muhammed.chaudhry@ svefoundation.org or on Twitter: @macrhamuhammed.
university may not be the path for all, students should have the option to make that decision at the end of high school. A student not on track to finishing his or her “A to G” requirements is robbed of that option. For the 2010-2011 school year, only 45.9% of Santa Clara County high school graduates completed the “A to G” requirements. San Jose Unified and Palo Alto Unified school districts have implemented “A to G” for some time. More recently, with the strong backing of SVEF, San Jose’s East Side Union High School District and the Morgan Hill Unified School District approved adopting the standards. More districts need to get on board. Not only are numbers of students failing to qualify for this critical college experience, they are disqualifying themselves from
the skilled jobs of the future and a life of better options.
silicon valleylocal proudly presents
Schools & Teachers of Silicon Valley
| | local schools
Valley Christian focuses on excellence
V
alley Christian Schools, in San Jose, California, was founded in 1960 and has grown into one of the largest independent K-12 Christian school systems in the United States. Their “Quest for Excellence” has been evident both inside the classroom and out in the community. With its strong foundation of Christian values, the school challenges its 2300 students from kindergarten through high school to discover their God-given talents as expressed in A3: Academic Excellence, Artistic Beauty, and Athletic Excellence. Accredited by both ACSI and WASC, Valley Christian takes pride in its top-notch facilities that are among the finest in California—two campuses, an extensive sports complex, and the new 46,000 square foot Conservatory of the Arts (music, theatre, dance and visual arts) & Student Life Center. Along with its unique Conservatory of the Arts opportunities for students passionate about the arts, the Applied Math, Science and Engineering Institute [AMSE] allows students of high ability to enjoy unique challenges. An example of such an opportunity is the International Space Station project, in which Valley Christian students pioneered the first-ever high school Cube Lab™ experiment place aboard the Space Station in January, 2011. Valley Christian High School is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon “No Child Left Behind” school and was just voted “Best High School” in the 2011 annual survey of parents by Bay Area Parents magazine. In addition, 54 sports teams allow students to compete and develop character at the highest levels of high school athletics. Valley Christian Junior High School recently achieved national recognition, taking top honors, including Intel School of Distinction—Middle School Mathematics Excellence 2011 and Intel School of Distinction—2011 Star Innovator”.
Schools recognized for this award have demonstrated excellence in math and science education and their ability to promote students’ problem solving. Valley Christian Elementary School additionally benefits from all the award-winning programs throughout the upper and middle school campuses being integrated into special hands-on science learning, AMSE enrichment curriculum, and conservatory training, and Little Warrior sports opportunities for students in grades K-5. Daily Bible classes, weekly chapel services and many community service events give students a loving environment in which to learn more about the Christian faith, and to become excited about the eternal perspective Jesus Christ brings to their lives. A special Student Support program at all campuses is available for students with diagnosed learning challenges. There is also an International Student program at Valley Christian Schools that integrates 90 students from around the world to give a broadened perspective to the campus. Families are encouraged to learn more about Valley Christian Schools’ remarkable programs and dynamic, loving faculty through www.vcs. net. To arrange a personal tour by campus— call 408.513.2500.
Innovate. Challenge. Excel. Valley Christian Schools San Jose Elementary Campus 1450 Leigh Avenue 408.559.4400 Take a look! • • • • • • • •
Junior High Campus 100 Skyway Drive 408.513.2460 Take a look!
High School Campus 100 Skyway Drive 408.513.2400 Take a look!
VC Elementary Math Olympiad team places in top 20% of all teams worldwide for second year in a row VC Junior High won the Intel Schools of Distinction and Star Innovator awards VC Junior High WarriorBots robotics team represented the USA at the First Lego League Brazil Championship VC Junior High replaces the backpack with a new iPad for every student 2012-2013 VC High School replaces the backpack with a new iPad for every student 2013-2014 VC High School International Space Station and Satellite program returns to space for the 3rd straight year, now working to be the first high school in the world to design, build and release its own satellite into space in 2013 Varsity Baseball wins Central Coast Section Division 1 Championship VC High School Conservatory’s Band and Color Guard is marching in the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade
Needs-based grants now available for the 2013-14 school year!
Find out more at
www.vcs.net/opportunity
VCHS reaches for the stars V
alley Christian High School continues its journey back to space for 2013. The International Space Station (ISS) project and the Satellite Development program, both features of the Applied Math, Science, and Engineering (AMSE) Institute at VCHS, are continuing a path unique among all high schools in the world. Returning to the ISS for the third consecutive year, VCHS students constructed four new experiments. The launch to NASA’s U.S. National Lab on March 1, 2013, was aboard the SpaceX Dragon launch vehicle. These microlab experiments include studies in plant growth, ferro fluids, electro-plating, and bacteria growth. AMSE Institute leaders and students have also been mentoring other schools and organizations to develop their own experiments to launch to the ISS. Current partners include Los Gatos High School, the Girl Scouts of Hawaii, as well as other high schools ranging from Southern California to Minneapolis. Dr. S. Pete Worden, Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, said, “I am very proud of our collaboration with Valley Christian Schools and the Quest Institute for Quality Education. This year, they have expanded this scientific endeavor to include seven additional organizations, making this STEM activity one of the most exciting space programs available to high school students.” With these experiments now operating on the ISS, another group of students will continue their efforts towards an astonishing goal: the first-ever high school-designed and constructed satellite launched into space.
This satellite contains a camera to view the launch out of the Space Station, as well as a GPS, accelerometer, tilt sensor, thermometer, hygrometer, gyroscope, anemometer, and compass. Data from the satellite will be directly communicated to the ground tracking station recently constructed at VCHS. Preliminary testing, including a pre-launch of a model of the satellite attached to a six-foot helium balloon, has been successful. Encasing the enclosed experiment, senior Gabe Davis makes final preparations on the cube lab to be launched to the International Space Station.
Mason Ivy, the head of the ISS Development team commented, “It’s an honor to be a part of such a historic program and I am proud to see the team’s hard work pay off.” The satellite will be transferred by rocket to the ISS for deployment in August, 2013. More information on these or other programs within the AMSE Institute at Valley Christian may be found at www.vcs.net/mathscience
245 students strong, the band marches down historic Colorado Boulevard for the Tournament of Roses® parade
VCS Students in
T
Rose Parade
he long-held dream of being invited to play international language of music. These young in the Tournament of Roses Parade® came ambassadors had the time of their lives sharing true for the students, parents, and faculty of Valley cultures and having fun in this once-in-a-lifetime Christian High School’s opportunity” said Sally Marching Band and Color Bixby, President of the Guard. For the first time Tournament of Roses in the Rose Parades’ 124Parade. year history, a combined The combined group marched as a bands performed Crown unit, comprised of Valley Imperial March, by Christian and Chinese William Walton, and high school students from Aztec Fire, by Jay Bocook. No. 57 School in Beijing. In addition, Valley This “East-West Fusion Christian commissioned All-Star Band” was among Valley Christian High School student, Brooke an original work by Read, leads the East-West fusion band in the final 22 marching Mr. Bocook for the Pasadena. bands selected from 2013 parade. The work over 450 applications to combines western and participate in the annual Tournament of Roses eastern styles of music that reflected the fusion Parade, which has run consecutively since 1890 of the two bands. in Pasadena, California. The 2013 parade was “The participation in the Rose Parade is just viewed by 39 million TV viewers in the US and one of the examples of how Valley Christian 28 million around internationally. Schools’ Conservatory offers unique international “I’m very proud of the Valley Christian experiences for high school students to broaden Schools’ role in creating the first East-West Fusion their knowledge in music, varied cultures, and All-Star Band for our 2013 parade. This was a world affairs,” says Dr. Clifford Daugherty, spectacular combined band to showcase the President of Valley Christian Schools.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Scott & Lily Homer
T
o have one virtuoso string musician at a school is rare, but to have a married couple, each with elite training, experience, and a passion for imparting excellence to students, is like catching lightning in a bottle! Scott Homer, the Dean of the Conservatory of the Arts program at Valley Christian Schools, became the youngest concertmaster of a major symphony (the Sacramento Symphony) in modern U.S. history— he was just 22—and later served as concertmaster for other symphonies and chamber orchestras in New York. He founded the Symphonic Orchestra at Valley Christian High School and has pioneered their unique Early Music Ensemble where, for the last five years, accomplished string students learn to play baroque-period instruments. He also teaches the Conservatory strings class for the VCS fifth graders, as well as
Valley Christian Schools, San Jose even younger musicians. Mr. Homer loves “the infectious enthusiasm” of his students and his role in enabling them to “skip all the bad habits” of learning their instrument. Graduating from The Julliard School and the Hong Kong Conservatory of Music, Lily Homer served as the Concertmaster of the Australia Broadcasting Sinfonia in Sydney, and has appeared with Yo-Yo Ma and other recording artists. At Valley Christian Schools, Mrs. Homer is
the Director of String Development and teaches ensembles from third grade through high school. While she dearly loves her new learners in the younger grades, she is especially energized by the advanced students. “They experience music at a deeper level of enjoyment, as you can bring out much more of the history and background of the music, and develop advanced techniques; you can also joke around and talk about issues of life with them,” says Mrs. Homer.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Jennifer Gerlach latest project on campus: a Biosafety Level Two lab, enabling students to replicate current cancer cell research developments and expand upon those research techniques. She loves the focus and drive of the VCHS students she mentors (many of whom are also working at Stanford in their spare time) as well as their high innate intelligence. The result: “we can collaborate Valley Christian High School, San Jose together and come up with creative approaches opportunity to pioneer as to the projects in which hat brings they are engaged.” Mrs. a biologist the Director of Scientific Gerlach is very excited specializing Research, part of VCS’ about her contribution in parasitology (well, unique Applied Math, Science, and Engineering to their futures. “This someone has to love program provides high (ASME) Institute. Aside them!), who was also school students with a biological defense from her Honors Biology researcher for four years classes, Gerlach heads up critical lab and research a special class created as skills that will allow at Lawrence Livermore a venue for the school’s them entry into research Lab, as well as current adjunct professor at atomic force microscopes. universities and careers. Valley Christian is giving She mentors select Ohlone College teaching them opportunities which Infectious Disease to students using critical so very few students become an educator at lab and research skills, ever get to have, and I’m and is also overseeing Valley Christian High playing a part in this!” the completion of her School? Perhaps it is the
W
LocalSchools
Preschool a ‘natural place to play’ Your child will love the many programs available at Neighborhood Christian Preschool. Our San Jose campus offers a home away from home for our infants. Each baby receives lots of love and attention while staying on their own schedules. As our infants grow into busy toddlers they move into a larger environment where they have room to explore and socialize while having fun with art, music and learning how to share. They also enjoy being outside and getting fresh air on our brand new toddler playground. Our preschoolers and pre-kindergartners enjoy many multi-sensory experiences such as cooking, art, music, dance, Spanish, phonics, math, science, large motor development, time in our garden and social development in free play. We strive to raise each child’s self-esteem by teaching them that they are uniquely created by God through Bible lessons in the classroom as well as in Cha-
pel once a week. Neighborhood Christian Center is a “Natural place to Play” What does this have to do with learning and early childhood years? At a very young age children are given a place where they are free to “Explore,” “Create,” “Wonder” and “Discover.” This is the core of all learning. This is what we need as human beings. To use all our senses to experience making choices and take real risks. I am free to unhurriedly explore God’s amazing gift: my life, this amazing world and the universe. Mrs. Graciela Marques-Hahn is the Executive Director of Neighborhood Christian Center in Santa Clara. As a founding member, she helped to open our childcare facility in 1981. Her vision has been the driving force behind the center for years, and her creativity and knowledge has helped us remain a leader in Santa Clara. The Green philosophy is the brainchild of Graciela who has been a relentless visionary.
, e t a e r c , e Explor
! w o r g d n learn a Infant Care, Preschool and Kindergarten Care
• Outstanding academics with hands-on learning • Spiritual development teaching love and respect for God, His Word, and each other • Learning self-confidence, selfregulation and making good choices
Experience learning and enrichment activities in the classroom and outdoors: • Music • Cultural awareness and appreciation • Dance • Languages/Sign Language • Art • Gardening • Science • Outdoor Exploration
Neighborhood Christian Schools
Hugs, Hurdles & Happy Hearts for the Mind, Body & Soul
Since 1981 • Call for Tour and Visits
Infant Care • Kindergarten • Part-Time & Full Time • Potty Training Loving, Experienced Teachers
(408) 984-3418 SANTA CLARA
887 Pomeroy Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051 www.myncc.net • info@myncc.net (Near Kaiser Hospital and off of Homestead Rd.) #434407991 (Preschool) #434407992 (Daycare)
(408) 286-0901 SAN JOSE
1670 Moorpark Ave., San Jose CA 95128 www.myncp.com Director@myncp.com (Near San Jose City College & 280/880 Interchange) #434408852 (Preschool) #434408853 (Infant center) NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Neighborhood Christian Center-Preschool/Agape Schools admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Graciela Marques-Hahn
M
rs. Graciela MarquesHahn is the Executive Director of Neighborhood Christian Center. As a founding member, Mrs.
Marques-Hahn helped to open our childcare facility in 1981. Her vision has been the driving force behind the center for years, and her creativity
Neighborhood Christian Center
and knowledge has helped us remain a leader in Santa Clara. The Green philosophy is the brainchild of Graciela who has been a relentless visionary. I can truly say: “All I learned in life I learned from my parents or the freedom they granted me to be one of the “local kids”. What does this have to do with learning and NCC preschool? At a very early young age we give children an opportunity to: “Explore”, “Create”, “Wonder” and “Discover”. This is the basic foundation of all learning. This is what we need as human beings. To use all our senses to experience making choices and taking real risks. I am free to unhurriedly explore my life and this amazing world and universe.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Kristin Annab
Neighborhood Christian Preschool
K
ristin has worked in Christian education for the past 22 years. Her education began in 1988 as a preschool aide while attending San Jose State University. Once she completed her first semester of college in 1989, she had enough units to become a preschool teacher. Kristin then rose to become Assistant Director in 1991, after the opening of the 2nd NCP location in San Jose, all the while earning her B.A. in child development with a minor in special education. Kristin received her degree in 1994. After earning a California state teaching credential, she began teaching special education at Valley Christian Elementary School. She then taught first grade for VCES, all the while keeping the books for NCP. Kristin became director
in 2007 upon the opening of the new facility located at Crossroads Bible Church. Kristin is married to her wonderful
and supportive husband Mike, and together they have 3 children, Emily-10, and twins Jacob and Kaitlyn-6.
Local Schools
Bellarmine College Preparatory S
ince 1851, Bellarmine College Preparatory has educated young men in the Jesuit tradition of the development of “the whole person.” Simply stated, Bellarmine graduates are well prepared academically, and have also become men who pursue truth and justice and who have matured with a great sense of the importance of providing service to others. While the “Bellarmine experience” is unique to each student, there are commonalities shared by all. Among them is the depth of unparalleled academic programs, a wide variety of award-winning co-curricular opportunities, transformative immersion and Campus Ministry experiences, and faculty and staff who model the Saint Ignatius of Loyola philosophy of cura personalis: care for the person. From its beginning 161 years ago as Santa Clara Prep on the campus of what is now Santa Clara University, to its newly renovated campus in the College Park neighborhood of San Jose, Bellarmine College Prep has always been a Catholic secondary education institution respected for its caliber of students, quality of education, and tradition of developing “men for others.” Bellarmine’s commitment to educate qualified students regardless of the financial circumstances of their families is the
reason behind its need-based financial aid program, with 24 percent of its students receiving tuition assistance. In academic year 2012-13, Bellarmine’s Financial Aid budget is an unprecedented $3.7 million, an amount generated partially from the
school’s endowment, with the remainder the result of direct fundraising with generous support from parents, alumni, parents of alumni, corporations, and foundations, and through events such as the annual Golden Bell Auction and the Mothers’ Guild Fashion Show for Financial Aid. Although nearly one in every four students is a recipient of tuition assistance, all students benefit from this, as its socio-economic and cultural diversity makes Bellarmine the exemplary school it is today. To learn more about Bellarmine College Preparatory, visit online: www.bcp.org
www. yc i s s v. c om
AtYCI S, s t udent sexper i enc et hej oyofl ear ni ngi nanur t ur i ng, engagi ngandc ul t ur al l yr i c h ac ademi cenvi r onment . Bl endi ngt hebes tofEas tandWes t , ourwel l bal anc edbi l i ngual c ur r i c ul um equi pss t udent st obec omec on dent , s ki l l ed, c ar i ngandr es pons i bl egl obal c i t i z ens . Di s c overYCI S! Cal l t os c hedul ea t ourf or t hepr es c hool orel ement ar ypr ogr am. 6509030986
Commi t t edt oGl obal Educ at i on
Mortgage rates are still historically low
Act now
Look into refinancing with a responsible lending leader. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage continues to provide quality refinance choices, including options that address many of the unique challenges facing homeowners today. You may be able to: • • • • • •
Lower your monthly mortgage payment Switch from an ARM to a predictable fixed-rate loan Access funds for large expenses or debt management Get a shorter term to pay off your mortgage faster Finance your closing costs as part of your new loan Make improvements to your home with renovation financing
Don’t miss your chance
Just a few minutes with a home mortgage consultant will help you understand your refinancing options.
Contact Wells Fargo Home Mortgage today
Jimmy Kang
Home Mortgage Consultant Cell: 408-888-7742 581 University Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 www.wfhm.com/wfhm/jimmy-kang jimmy.kang@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 508545
Credit is subject to approval. Some restrictions apply. This information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. If you are a servicemember on active duty, prior to seeking a refinance of your existing mortgage loan, please consult with your legal advisor regarding the loss of any benefits you are entitled to under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act or applicable state law. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. 104226 - 07/12
LocalSchools
Walk through the halls of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School and you’ll see something magical: children of all ages and backgrounds engaged in learning. You’ll see artists at work, musicians practicing a song, writers creating a play, scientists verifying principles and mathematicians solving problems. You’ll see students who respect themselves, their classmates and their teachers. You’ll see active, inquisitive, empowered learners who are thriving in a safe, communityoriented place. You’ll see teachers encouraging curiosity, nurturing talents and promoting creativity. In short, you’ll see a vibrant school; alive with the possibilities a great education can offer. Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School is a small environment where big things happen: questions are posed, solutions are explored and answers are discovered by our littlest learners to our 8th graders. Everyone—each teacher, administrator, parent and student—is here because they believe in the unique experience our school offers: an education beyond the three Rs, rich with the arts, physical activity and core values like caring, honesty, fairness and responsibility. Together, we help children develop the foundation that will support them for a lifetime, allowing them to grow into confident, compassionate and successful adults.
We chose Saint Andrew’s because of the well-rounded curriculum and the school’s focus on preparing our children to be good human beings with strong values. We are very impressed with the dedication of the teachers. They take the time and effort to get to know each of our sons and make sure they stay engaged and challenged. Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School is so different from other area schools.
—Peri K.
With the Right Foundation
Everything is Possible
» 372 students Pre-K to Grade Eight » Accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The school is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the National Association of Episcopal Schools. » Accessible and secure campus with 7 acres of buildings, playing fields, and a small stream » Average class size is 14 » Student body is diverse with 45% students of color » Emphasis on community service and values education » Extensive before and after school program offerings
13601 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 408-867-3785 • www.st-andrews.org
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Anne Marie Bevolden
M
y sister and I are first generation American. Both of my parents were born in Norway and had not been through the U.S. school system. I also grew up in Alaska and lived in some remote places. Given this background, it seemed unlikely that I would end up at Stanford University. My success in school was in a large part due to the supportive teachers I had in high school in Anchorage. My teachers helped me in many ways. Mr. Gruhn helped me understand chemistry even when it ran into his lunch hour. He challenged me to write an essay about the oil industry and win a trip on a helicopter to an oil rig. In ninth grade Mr. Martin copied an essay I wrote and passed it out to the entire class, which boosted my confidence. Mr. Knight volunteered with our Honor Society and wrote many letters of recommendation. Through the support of these stellar teachers, four
classmates and I were accepted to Stanford University. Now that I’m a teacher, I try to give my students the same love and commitment that I experienced. I had no idea I would pursue teaching. Upon graduating with a B.A. in Human Biology my plan was to become a health care administrator. After a couple of years I realized that I longed for something else. Through many avenues, I discovered that working with children was one of my passions. One weekend I volunteered for a camp for children from East Palo Alto through my church. Although I didn’t sleep much that weekend, I realized that helping those “energetic” kids who shined the flashlight in my eyes at midnight was a satisfying experience. I have taught for twenty one years. My most unusual job was teaching for
Los Altos Christian School, Los Altos Wycliffe Bible Translators at Ukarumpa International School in Papua New Guinea. My students were children of nationals and missionaries from many different countries. I enjoyed the opportunity to travel to remote villages. When I’m not teaching I enjoy hiking on some of the many beautiful trails in the Bay Area and I host a monthly meeting to pray for missionary friends.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Audra Robinson
I
was born and raised in Silicon Valley California by loving parents who both encouraged me that no matter how challenging school was, I could overcome any obstacle. School from a very early age was extremely difficult, but in spite of how challenging school was, my parents believed in me and would not let me fail. This is Los Altos Christian what helped me School, Los Altos become the teacher I am today. I first attended Associates of Arts degree Los Altos Christian School in General Studies-Social in preschool and by first Science. I also hold a grade transitioned to Bachelor of Science in the Learning Assistance Christian Leadership from Department (LAD). I William Jessup University continued in the LAD and a Master of Arts program until sixth grade degree in Education from then attended Valley Bethany University. At Christian junior high and Foothill College I also high school. From there I received the Academic went on to graduate from Achievement Award, and Foothill College with an at both William Jessup
University and Bethany University graduated Summa Cum Laude. What led me to become a teacher? The summer before my junior year in college I attended a summer internship at my church, Hillview Bible Chapel. It was this program that caused me to ask myself a question: If I had all the money and time I wanted, what is it that I would do with my life to make it mean something? The most rewarding and meaningful thing I could think of was to teach children about the Bible. From there I decided to pursue teaching. I later discovered a love, passion, and gift for teaching. I cannot envision myself doing any other job. Currently I am the First grade LAD teacher at Los Altos Christian School.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Janelle Marsalli-Smith
J
anelle Marsalli-Smith teaches a 2nd and 3rd grade combination class at Briarwood Elementary in Santa Clara Unified District. She started her teaching career at Briarwood and over the past 9 years has taught both 2nd and 3rd grades. Janelle was born and raised in the city of Santa Clara. She got her BS in Human Development at UC Davis and a Masters Degree in Reading and her teaching credential from Santa Clara University. Now that she is a mother of a busy one year old little girl, Janelle works 50% and shares a contract with another teacher. Janelle is proud to say that her daughter is a 4th generation City of Santa Clara resident. Besides teaching in her own classroom, Janelle is the Briarwood Coordinator/ Liaison for the district’s annual Young Writers” Exposition. Janelle has also served the district as a “pilot” teacher; using state adopted English Language Arts curriculum as well as
Briarwood Elementary, Santa Clara
curriculum designed for English Language Learners in her classroom and giving valuable feedback to the district regarding which publisher’s program works the best in the classroom. Janelle chose a profession in education because she always loved working with children. She was also influenced by her 3rd grade reading teacher who made Janelle realize how much a teacher can inspire a student to learn. Janelle believes that, “If you connect with the kids and show that you respect them, and add humor to
your teaching, they will respond. It brightens and warms my day when I get smiles and hugs. She finds teaching the most reward when “a student finally gets something that both they and I have working on. It’s just so rewarding to know that you can make a positive difference in a child’s life!” When not at school, Janelle likes spending time with her husband and toddler, going to the beach, shopping, and going to parks. She also took a cupcake making class and now enjoys making all kinds of cupcakes!
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Robin Chirico This busy fifth grade teacher is also the founding director of the Briarwood Drama Club. Students in 4th and 5th grade work with her, after school for months, preparing performances of a musical comedy for the school and community. She enjoys supervising these extra curricular activities, because they give all students a chance to shine, “Sometimes students who aren’t at the top of the class academically daughters and eventually or outgoing socially, can be started volunteering at successful and shine in these their school. A principal spotted her natural teaching activities.” Robin’s believes that skill and suggested that teaching is the most Robin start substituting in rewarding when “I can see the school district. She the light bulbs go on or enjoyed it so much that when a student says, ‘Oh! she earned her credential through the Cal State Teach I get it.’ That’s what I love about teaching.” When program and eventually a not teaching, Robin likes to Masters in Leadership and play cards, computer and Administration from SJSU. Besides teaching full time, board games, spend time with her family and friends, Robin is the Briarwood’s travel, and collect earrings! School Safety Patrol Currently, Robin and her Coordinator. She comes to husband are empty nesters school early every morning while their two daughters to oversee the fifth grade attend UC Berkeley and UC safety patrollers and parent Irvine. volunteers- rain or shine.
Briarwood Elementary, Santa Clara
R
obin Chirico is a 5th grade teacher at Briarwood Elementary in Santa Clara Unified District. During her tenure, she has taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th over 11 years, but she was not always a teacher. After being born in New York and growing up in southern California, she came to Nor Cal and got her BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies from San Jose State University. She then worked in marketing communications for the High Tech industry for 16 years. While working in Tech, she had two
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Nicole Joyal that much harder. School became something I viewed that I had to “get through” rather than enjoy. When I was little, I remember thinking I would love to become a teacher so students’ wouldn’t have to struggle in school Baldwin Elementary, and view school Oak Grove as something that “has to be done.,” have always known rather a place that I wanted to be a offers any child from any teacher. Ever since I background a chance to was a little girl, I used to play succeed and feel successful school in the hallway of my in his/her academics. I made house. Growing up, school it my mission to become a never came easy to me. I teacher that is compassionate always struggled in school toward “every” student, who and forming relationships differentiates instruction, with my teachers. I always and most importantly has a felt like my teachers didn’t passion for what she believes understand me. I suffered in. from a learning processing I was born and raised in disability, which made Los Angeles, CA but I made school extra hard for me. the hard decision to move my Most of my teachers never life to San Jose. I graduated differentiated instruction, San Jose State University with assignments, and lessons a B.A in Child and Adolescent for me which I thought was development and also earned unfair and just made school a multiple subject teaching
I
credential. Since then, I have taught kindergarten and currently teach first grade (which I absolutely love) for the Oak Grove School district. Each day, I am thankful I get to do something I love. At times, I feel the stress of the education field detours me from my goal of teaching, but I just remind myself everyday on why I became a teacher and that is to “inspire” every child that enters and leaves my classroom. When I see student’s accomplish a goal, I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world. I have created an environment that let’s each child knows he/she is special and can achieve anything they desire. Watching each student succeed and progress is an amazing gift. Each day, I feel blessed that I made the decision to become a teacher. When I am not teaching, I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my loved ones. I try and use my free time to relax and enjoy the company I am with. I also enjoy learning new things every day!
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Laura Francia Butera
W
hen I was a child, I struggled in school. I had a difficult time learning to read. I was always a hard worker and tried, but the reading process never connected for me. I found myself frustrated because I never had a teacher who, in my eyes, cared about me and my personal struggle with reading. However, I knew, as a child, that I wanted to become a teacher. I suppose I knew within that it would eventually be my passion to make a difference in children’s lives. However, as I grew I developed other interests and wasn’t sure I’d be any good at the profession. It made me nervous to think that I had a child’s education in my hands. When I attended college, I decided to venture into Adapted Physical Education because I had developed a love for fitness, health, and students with physical disabilities. It soon became my new passion. However,
Baldwin Elementary School, San Jose it proved to be an area that did not provide many job opportunities. Therefore, those job obstacles lead me into the classroom where there were many opportunities. I decided, at the first moment, I set foot into my classroom that I’d do my best to help every student succeed. In a way, I was able to face a fear and create a passion from it. I wouldn’t change my path for anything. My biggest fulfillment from teaching is guiding my students to personal academic success. I strive to create a community of learners who respect each
other’s learning differences and personal successes. The encouragement I witness my students give each other and the first smiles of happiness after an accomplishment is what drives me. When I’m not working, I value my alone time, which includes walking on my treadmill, strength training in our home gym, practicing Kundalini Yoga, and reading. I, also, enjoy going for walks and bike rides with my 13 year old son, Luke and my husband, Emanuele. My husband, son, and I love to watch MMA.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Susan Pivk
S
usan Pivk has spent the last fifteen years educating hundreds of students in the Cambrian School District. After graduating from Loyola College in Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1997, she returned to her hometown of San Jose, California, to pursue her teaching career. In 2000, she received her master’s degree in Education from National University while teaching first grade at Bagby Elementary School. Taking many courses in administration led Susan to many leadership roles within the school and at the district level. Within her teaching career, Miss Pivk has been an active member of Bagby School’s Leadership Team, ExCel team, grade level lead, Student Council advisor, Gifted and Talented Site Administrator, Gifted and Talented District Committee, Cambrian Arts Council founding member, and 21st
Century Learning Academy recipient amongst others. She keeps active within the school and enjoys the district-level opportunities to make a bigger impact across all the schools within the district. Susan has also taught third grade and is currently teaching fourth. However, her biggest learning experience within the classroom was last year’s third and fourth grade combination class. Susan reports, “Since this was a new experience for me, I learned along with the students by my side. Their ideas and enthusiasm was inspiration for me to provide the most rigorous and engaging learning environment.” Miss Pivk’s used project-based learning as the focus of delivery of instruction. She and the students made many discoveries last year and her teaching has been changed
Bagby Elementary School, San Jose forever because of that experience. Currently, Miss Pivk continues to employ many of the strategies learned over her teaching career, and is most excited about technology in the classroom. “The 21st Century Learning Academy has provided me with the opportunity to creatively turn concepts into fun, informational, and appealing creations of videos, podcasts, and slideshows with voiceovers. The students are so interested in learning!” While not teaching, Susan enjoys traveling the world, spending time with her friends and family, and playing with her dog.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Lisa Landsberg Lisa Landsberg is an educator making a difference in the lives of children. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Ms. Landsberg worked for several years at an academic library before realizing her passion lay in the classroom with students. She received her teaching credential from San Jose State University in 2004 and has been loving life in the classroom ever since. Becoming an educator was a political act for Ms. Landsberg. “Teaching allows me the opportunity and responsibility to affect change in the world one child at a time, “Ms. Landsberg explains. “ Education is the great leveling agent in our society. I feel a sense of duty to help students realize their dreams and potential through educating themselves and taking advantage of every opportunity school brings their way.” Ms. Landsberg currently teaches fifth grade at Bagby Elementary in
San Jose. She has a talent for integrating science content into other curricular areas, such as language arts and math. Her class recently presented digital projects about Mars to NASA. Ms. Landsberg values providing such Bagby Elementary opportunities for School, San Jose students to solve realworld problems and connect their learning her classroom. Her students to communities outside the are happily engaged in school walls. project based learning while Ms. Landsberg serves communicating their learning her school community through such vehicles as pod in other ways too. She is casts, movies, and digital the faculty advisor for the presentations. “The 21st student council. She also Century Academy is teaching is a member of the district me as much as it is teaching science team and has the students!” reports Ms. participated for the past three Landsberg. Yet another years in the FOSS Leadership reason Ms. Landsberg is a Academy which provides natural teacher: she enjoys teachers the skills to be learning new things each leaders and foster science and day alongside her students. language arts integration at “We construct knowledge their schools. A member of together. My students teach the Cambrian School District’s me something new each 21st Century Learning day.” After stretching her Academy, Ms. Landsberg is mind all day in the classroom, also implementing technology Ms. Landsberg likes to unwind and collaborative learning in at the yoga studio.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Jeslie Junio El Toro Elementary School, Morgan Hill
J
eslie Junio, a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, has been awarded the “Certificate of Clinical Competency” from the national American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Jeslie is fully credentialed to service children of all ages in the California state school system. Jeslie has over 14+ years experience working with young children through geriatrics developing specialized speech and language skills and abilities in both the school and medical settings. She has extensive training in the areas of autism, articulation and oral motor therapy, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), accent modification, TEACCH, PECS, dysphagia, apraxia of speech, etc... Jeslie’s versatility and
Intervention children and other varying Speech and Language cases. Jeslie has always been active in physical fitness and sports. Some of her dedication allows her hobbies include traveling, to structure the clients/ food and wine, enjoying students’ needs to fit each bay area sports, spending individual’s personal and time with family & functional goals. friends, and exploring new Jeslie currently services activities. Jeslie actively the students of El Toro participates and contributes Elementary School within to annual benefits and the Morgan Hill School fundraisers for the Make-aDistrict. She loves the Wish Foundation, Ronald students and staff that she McDonald House, and the works with. The community Lucille-Packard Children’s is very warm and friendly, Hospital. which makes Jeslie feel right Jeslie is passionate in at home. Prior to working helping children and adults at El Toro Elementary, Jeslie of all ages gain confidence spent most of her career in achieving their individual working for the Santa Clara speech and language goals, Office of Education, where as well as improving their she provided services to quality of life, through the Autism population, interpersonal relationships. Emotionally Disturbed, Being a mother of two small Orthopedically impaired, children, she is able to Developmental Delayed, understand the importance and the multi-handicapped of family, relationships, and population. Jeslie continues communication. Jeslie loves to also work as a private to embrace new challenges practioner in Silicon and strives for continued Valley, working with Early learning and success.
Teachers of Silicon Valley
Kimberly Porter
K
imberly Porter holds an Educational Specialist Credential and Master’s Degree in the area of Special Education. She currently works as a Resource Specialist at El Toro Elementary School in Morgan Hill where she serves children ranging from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Much of her responsibility includes the delivery of specialized student instruction and administration of student assessments, staff and parent support, and administrative duties including, coordinating IEP meetings and SST meetings. Kimberly is fully credentialed to provide specialized services to children at the elementary and middle
El Toro Elementary School, Morgan Hill school levels. She has 7+ years of experience working with children with special needs across a variety of different settings including, varying degrees of Specialized Day Classes, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy settings, and General Education classrooms. Kimberly is committed to continuous learning and researching best practices and strategies to support teachers, students and their families. She is currently pursuing her administrative credential and master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Santa Clara University. Additionally, she
regularly attends trainings, staff developments, and meetings to cultivate her understanding of special education and educational leadership to further support students and their families and teachers. Kimberly enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, cooking, reading, and spending time with her friends, family, and beloved canine. Her main focus as an educator and leader is ensuring that all students are given access to equal learning opportunities and positive experiences throughout their academic careers.
Local Community Spotlight
Sponsored by La Fiesta Restaurant
Welcome to Mountain View
Downtown Mountain View has become one of the most popular destinations, day or night, and so, too the surrounding city of Mountain View. Here you will find many wonderful restaurants to choose from, as well as shops and one of the nicest Performing Arts Centers anywhere. Every year, Mountain View offers many wonderful community activities and festivals throughout the year. Always fun, for example, is the Summer Outdoor Movie Night Series, and you also would not want to miss the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, one of the oldest and largest of great annual traditions in the Bay Area. Named for its views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the lovely city of Mountain View is also home to many of our large hi-tech companies that share such a storied presence, the likes of Google, Microsoft, Verisign, Mozilla, Symantec, Linkedin, Intuit and many others. The Farmers Market is also a very popular weekly tradition. It features over 70 growers and food vendors with peak season produce, including organic produce, and many other offerings. Open Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you enjoy the outdoors, Mountain View boasts one of the most popular parks in the South Bay - Shoreline Park, which includes the
nationally-renowned Shoreline Amphitheater for concerts and special events, and also the beautiful, very popular Shoreline Golf Course. If you’re into history, be sure to check out and enjoy the delightful Rengstorff House or one of the world’s largest computer collections at the Computer History Museum. Mountain View is one city you would like to come to and enjoy a day or evening, when the city comes alive. Enjoy the restaurants and pubs, shops and bookstores and the Performing Arts Center. In Mountain View, you can stroll and experience and enjoy the many cuisines of the world. Here many people have come to know just how pleasant it can be.
Featured Mountain View Business
La Fiesta Restaurant Unsurpassed Mexican Cuisine Since 1977 — A Tradition in Downtown Mountain View The Garcia-Lopez family invites you to enjoy our family recipes that have been handed down to us for generations. From our “Mole Poblano” to our “Grandma’s Special”, enjoy the taste and ambiance of Mexico. We feature the greatest Margaritas, more than 200 Blue Agave Tequilas & a wide selection of beers. Thank you all - We appreciate again being voted: The Best Mexican Restaurant in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice, The Best Margarita in Mountain View by the Mountain View Voice and also The Best Mexican Restaurant in Silicon Valley by the Metro. Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch and Dinner, plus a Champagne/Sangria Brunch Saturday and Sunday. Banquet facilities available with seating up to 40. Wonderful for Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements, Quincineras - any and all Special Events and Get Togethers - for Families and Friends.
La Fiesta Restaurant
www.lafiestarestaurant.net
240 Villa Street (between Castro & Calderon Streets), Mountain View. CA 94041
Telephone: (650) 968-1364
| | BODY & SOUL
Savor v. Crave By Jan Hutchins Former News Anchor and Mayor of Los Gatos Zensun30@gmail.com
I don’t know about you, but I’m bombarded with information, battered by bright shiny objects, befuddled buy a multitude of options. Sometimes it’s only dogged persistence that keeps me slogging onward. If you took the stick out of my back I’d collapse in a heap. Soul-less geniuses are being hired to figure out ways to get my money. They’re in no hurry. They know time’s on their side and it’ only greed since they’re siphoning off yours too. I’m recovering from a lifetime of giving over my power rather than wrestling with life’s auto, insurance, landlord, investment, (name your) salespersons. Darwin’s survival based on competition has those in the 99% at each other’s economic
throat scuffling for scraps. The fittest are also the meanest, most dishonest, ruthless. Mao rules. Stalin rules. Today’s saints are dead, in jail or discredited by a media robbed of its dignity by duress. Little known fact: About the same time Darwin was selling survival of the fittest a Prince Kropotkin in Russia was advocating a theory of evolution based on cooperation. Wish he’d won the PR battle. So what to do? Savor rather than crave. Savor. If I crave anything I’ve already created a duality, a distance between myself and the person, being-ness or thing. I get excited for example when I think about food, gambling, etc. Brain research shows the pleasurable thought gets me a
shot of endorphine but the fact I don’t get satisfaction “in the body” produces a release of dopamine to dampen the pleasure sensors. The sensors are less likely then to be stimulated by the craving thought and to get the same thrill I’ll have to go to get food, actually gamble, etc. The thrill of getting that new dress ends soon after the purchase and the old feelings that drove the “addiction” come right back and the dopamine down regulation makes it more and more likely I’ll end up on a binge trying to get that original rush. On the other hand, if I savor, i.e., like, love, come to know, relate intimately, with anything, the brain’s reaction is entirely different. The body feels the satisfaction just from feelings and little or no dopamine is released. This is why, from a brain chemistry point of view, yogis meditate. That which I like, love, truly connect with, savor feeds my soul, leaving me satisfied and ready for more pleasure. So, learn to savor whatever is happening in your life right now. Like it or love it if possible. Just be with it if that’s the best we can do and our chances of happiness rise exponentially. It also helps me stay in and be less likely to give up my power.
Jan Hutchins is a yogi, shaman and sage. He’s been professionally involved with transformational arts like health, sports, consciousness and yoga for more than 40 years. He’s the owner of the Yoga Center of Los Gatos (since 2001) where his authentic spirit, healing energy, wisdom, sense of humour and attention to individual needs make his classes unique. A Yale graduate, Hutch has lived transformation, excelling at several careers prior to opening the Yoga Center. For 20 years he was a television journalist in the Bay Area. He’s run Community PR for the San Francisco Giants, produced Emmy award winning children’s television programs and held numerous public service positions including serving as Mayor of Los Gatos. He is active in the ManKind Project (mkp.org) doing his own inner work and helping initiate men into their sacred masculinity.
| | your wellness world
Cold and flu season—promoting natural defenses By Anna Manayan Owner, Immune Matrix LLC
www.chronicfatigueandnutrition.com
A
t the first sign of a stuffy nose and sore throat you can ward of totally succumbing by taking immediate anti-microbial measures. A colloidal silver such as Health Max should be sprayed in each nostril two or more times a day and in the back of the throat often. It will immediately kill bacteria and virus and some fungal strains and lower the pathogen count your body has to try to kill from the outset. Remember our brief discussion about being acidic? Sugars, refined carbohydrates such as breads, pasta, bagels, chips and sodas all put our body in an acidic state. Pathogens love an acid environment. They thrive in an acid environment. Many a patient has commented noticing that they began to get cold and flu symptoms after having their favorite dessert. The sweets made them acidic and tipped the scales in favor for growing pathogens in their body. Counter this with avoid acid promoting foods and begin taking in green drinks, eating more vegetables and taking mineral supplements, especially magnesium and zinc and a buffered vitamin C or one that is rapidly absorbed into the body such as a powdered Ester C or Lypo-Spheric C by LivOn. Reducing one’s stress by getting enough rest immediately is essential. Stress weakens the immune system and keeps the body in an acid state. Postpone those stressful deadlines or events for 24 hrs and get more rest. Just relax even if you don’t sleep.
Essential oils, especially that of the blend sold as “Thieves” is very helpful as a general anti-microbial. Patients at Immune Matrix have found the best results at the first sign of cold symptoms is to put 5-10 drops on the bottom of one foot and to rub the bottoms of the feet together (this avoids contact with the hands which could accidentally touch the eyes and cause burning and pain). Do this at the first sign of symptoms, put socks on and go about your day and also apply to the feet before going to sleep at night. Continue to practice good hygiene, washing hands when you blow your nose. Sneeze into your arm and not your hand, as this has been documented to greatly limit the range that a sneeze will propel virus into the air substantially, protecting others and it keeps your hands free of germs that can contaminate surfaces you touch. If you begin to develop a low-grade fever, do not suppress it by immediately taking an ibuprofen. Fevers are a sign that your immune system is working and suppressing a fever suppresses the effectiveness of your immune system running the risk of prolonging the condition and developing a secondary chronic infection. Use cool compresses to the head, cool showers and baths, and get plenty water and bed rest. If the fever begins to approach 103F then consult your health care provider and take a low dose ibuprofen to prevent it from climbing higher as one runs the risk of seizure at elevated and sustained high temperatures. Diet, hygiene, detoxification, and natural anti-microbials can and do allow your body to ward off seasonal colds and flu. Start making some lifestyle changes today and live confidently through fall and winter in optimum health! For more information www.chronicfatigueandnutrition.com.
Discover the special gift of wellness and peace in your life. Welcome to Immune Matrix, an alternative medical clinic, where we are passionate about optimizing one’s health!
Call us now for a toxicity check-up! Symptoms and conditions caused by toxicity include: • • • • • • • • • •
Fatigue Insomnia Headaches and Migraines Arthritis Skin Eruptions Immune Disorders Depression Muscle and Joint Aches Allergies Frequent Colds
• • • • • •
Sinusitis and other infections Slow wound healing Constipation Nerve Disorders Circulatory Disturbances Memory and Attention Difficulties • Menstrual Disorders and Infertility • Tumors
Immune Matrix LLC
920 Hillview Ct. Ste. 140 Milpitas, CA (408) 262-6900 http://www.chronicfatigueandnutrition.com
http://www.chronicfatigueandnutrition.com
Local Community Spotlight
Sponsored by Outback Steakhouse
Welcome to The Great Mall
The Great Mall is located in Milpitas, just off the Great Mall Exit, between 880 and 680. It was built by the Ford Motor Land Development and Petrie Dierman Kughn in 1994. The Great Mall was later acquired in 2003 by the Mills Corporation and then in 2007 by the Simon Property Group, today’s proud owners. Early on, since the 1950’s, the Great Mall had been a Ford Automobile assembly plant. Believe it or not, Ford Mustangs were produced at this plant; bearing the name “San Jose” as the assembly location, which, in fact, was actually Milpitas. It was a busy plant back then – where Ford Fairlanes, Torinos, Pintos, F-Series pickup trucks and Escorts; Edsel Rangers and Pacers; and Mercury Cougars, Montegos, Comets, Bobcats, Lynxes, & Capris (the US version) were all being assembled – that is, up until 1983. Then, in the early 1990s, developers converted what had been that old automobile assembly plant into this beautiful new shopping center - soon to become known as the Great Mall. Commemorating the Great Mall’s history, there is a plaque located in the southwest section of its parking lot, for everyone to enjoy reading. The Great Mall of the Bay Area officially
opened its doors on September 22, 1994. Unlike many other malls, yet common for Mills malls, the Great Mall “became a flat”, or a spread out mall, and became the second largest mall in Northern California. Here, now, you will find everything in this one destination - from Century 20 Theaters, to nearly 200 stores, plus a wide-variety of some 31 Restaurants. There are so many things for you to experience at the Great Mall. In the heart of it all, you will find the always delightful Outback Steakhouse. It’s as if you’ve found your way down under, Mate - where the menu, the accent and the flavor are a joy - and a combined fun day, or evening, for everyone.
Featured Great Mall Business
Where everything is
FRESH
( 4 0 8 ) 2 6 3 - 5 4 0 0 | W W W. O U T B A C K . C O M 1246 Great Mall Drive (Located in the Great Mall) Milpitas, CA 95035
W E N / ’ L O THE
! Y R T E G E L L O C
By Joe Hill Human Resources Rotational Intern SanDisk Corporation
I
n this post-recession era economy, job options for new college grads are not in abundance like they used to be. With a surplus of new college grads, the competition for jobs comes down to internship experience, intense networking, or oldschool nepotism. Thankfully, I am currently working on a unique internship experience at SanDisk Joe Hill Corporation in the Human Resources department that will help differentiate myself upon graduation this coming May. As a senior at Cornell University’s school of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), I am participating in a credit-internship program that provides a semester’s worth experience at a sponsored organization, 12 credits towards graduation, and an optional hourly wage to pay off those ever-looming college loans. Approved students are eligible to undertake
internships in a wide-range of organizations from corporations, trade unions, labor and employment law firms, appropriate legislative bodies and other public agencies at every level of government, think tanks, public policy institutes and a wide array of advocacy organizations. Students can intern across the U.S. and around the world. When I tell people about this unique program, they are always surprised by the program’s incredible opportunities. With growing popularity of the cooperatives and internship experience in higher education, the credit internship model is a blend of the co-op and internship experience to relieve financial and credit-related stressors on college students as they look to get hired. The benefits run two-ways as companies like GE and IBM enjoy an interview-by-internship experience and hire directly out of this creditinternship program. This semester my corporate classroom at SanDisk challenges me and provides diverse experiences to develop my professional and personal understanding of the workplace. The US educational system is developing different educational approaches and the credit internship is bringing an innovative way to educate students and supply top-tier talent to organizations.
reduce • reuse
reupholster Hearing the term “green” means something different to just about everyone. Some of us think about recycling cans, while others believe it is a comprehensive approach to being environmentally responsible; including energy efficiency and conservation, effecient use of resources, repurposing and reusing existing products. Since 1966, Sterling Custom Upholstery has been reupholstering, restoring and repurposing your pieces, from beloved home furniture to commercial projects. Call us today for an in-store consultation.
STERLING
Custom Upholstery
1243 W. El Camino Real • Mountain View
www.sterlingcustomupholstery.com (650) 961-8700
Upholstery qualifies for LEEDS points - LEEDership in energy and environmental design - maintaining the same footprint
| | dining out
Every neighborhood needs an Antonella’s
W
elcome to the delightful Antonella’s Ristorante. “Every neighborhood would do well with such a restaurant”. It is wonderful that you can experience the European ambiance and delicious Italian cuisine, and enjoy such a sidewalk café in Tuscany, as you do right here in San Jose. Antonella’s Ristorante features a romantic patio that is covered and heated. It is spacious where various large special parties are loads of fun. Beautiful, hand-painted murals allow you to enjoy the scenery of the Italian countryside, the bustle of the market
Antonella’s Ristorante 1701 Park Avenue San Jose (408) 279-4922 www.antonellasristorante.com square while listening to the calming sounds of the fountain in the center of the square and soft Italian music in the background. Antonella’s is located in the lovely Rose Garden sector of San Jose, is the manifestation of the very talented Lyle Koch, the Proprietor and Executive Chef. Lyle had picked up the art of cooking at an early age first learning from his Mother, who was a great cook. Lyle went to Europe in the mid-1980,
where he had been invited to work with the executive chef at the renowned Grand Hotel in Berlin. While there, he was privileged to have been introduced to extraordinary chefs from Brindisi, Italy, who wanted to learn from him about American cooking. This, the teaching and the learning, became a great opportunity. The chefs taught Lyle the classic Italian cooking traditions– including his excellent fried calamari – which is very popular and featured among the appetizers menu, along with others such delights as Crab Cakes, Stuffed Avocado with Bay Shrimp or Crab Meat, and also Steamed Clams. What Lyle had learned early on, and has been successful with since, has been: “Keep it simple and keep it fresh. Make everything from scratch. Have honest prices and decent portions. Don’t use bases and make your own sauces.” Lyle returned to the U.S. and received his college degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant and Business Management from Cal Poly in Pomona. He went on to have a wonderful career with Scott’s Seafood as Regional Manager here in the Bay Area and then Hawaii. Lyle then returned back to the U.S. mainland to work with Pasta Pomodoro – which he left to open his own Antonella’s Ristorante in September, 2001. There are many outstanding choices under Main Courses to choose from, such as the Marinated Pork Chop, Herb Crusted Rib-Eye Steak, Herb Grilled Fresh Salmon Filet, Veal Parmesan or Picatta, Lemon Pepper Chicken over Fettuccini Pasta, also Entree Salads like the Waldorf Chicken Salad, Herb Crusted Salmon Salad, Seafood Louie with Bay Shrimp or Crab Meat, plus Pastas, Pizzas and Sandwiches. Anotonella’s Ristorante also will cater to your needs by delivery to your party place or hosting your event at the Ristorante. Great Party platters are also popular for business meetings, office parties, every day lunches or dinners or simply working late – which are designed to be delivered to your door. Whether at the Ristorante or at your place, enjoy Antonella’s Ristorante! Lunch hours are Monday-Friday from 11AM – 4PM – dinner is served nightly from 4PM.
Antonella’s ITALIAN CUISINE
Antonella’s Ristorante is proud to serve fabulous food at great prices. We do not compromise quality, and are committed to providing our guests with foods that are prepared in-house. 1701 Park Avenue San Jose (408) 279-4922 antonellasristorante.com
BANQUET & CATERING SERVICES Hold your special events on a sidewalk cafe in Tuscany. Antonella’s Ristorante features a romantic patio that is covered and heated. Antonella’s will cater to your needs by delivery to your party place, or hosting your event at our facility. Antonella’s is available for semi-private and private parties. Private parties on the patio are available for groups of 25 or more. Semi-private parties can also be held on the patio. http://www.antonellasristorante.com
Education in Silicon Valley
SVEF helping students, teachers By Muhammed Chaudhry
L
et me introduce myself…I am Muhammed Chaudhry, President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education and academic opportunity for students across this valley. I am so pleased to be given this space to write about a topic that has been a passion of mine for many years – education. This month, as SVEF marks our fourth year incorporated under that name, we celebrate many successes in our mission to support public schools, to advocate for educators to deliver a quality education for all and to successfully prepare students for college and 21st century careers. Over the last four years, we have helped more than 3,000 middle school students boost their math skills and set their sights on college with our “Stepping Up to Algebra” summer program. Last summer, we added a “Stepping Up to Science” course to prepare 9th graders for Biology I
created an open-source website for teacher lesson sharing called Lessonopoly. org, and in 2010, we launched our blog – “Top Ed” – which gets 1,300 daily hits. To accomplish all this, we are blessed by generous support from many corporate sponsors, among them Wells Fargo, Google, Muhammed Chaudhry is SAP, Texas Instruments President & CEO of the Silicon and Flextronics. These Valley Education Foundation. companies want to help He previously worked in the nurture our next generation corporate world for IBM, Dazzle Multimedia and the of Silicon Valley innovators Clorox Company. He serves from our own local talent on numerous community pool. boards, including the California Consortium of We have come a long Education Foundations, the way from our early days as Hispanic Foundation and is on a grassroots organization the advisory board of Fundly. Contact him at muhammed. with an office in a trailer. chaudhry@svefoundation. Our one-time staff of three org or on Twitter: @ and budget of $150,000 has macrhamuhammed. grown to 30 employees and $5 million. And we continue and eventually to reach for to grow. We now reside in college and careers in the a large office in the Sobrato science and technology Center for Non-Profits near fields that drive Silicon downtown San Jose, and Valley. Many of these students would be the first in have become a leading voice their families to achieve the for education across the South Bay. dream of attending college. We invite you to visit us, We’ve helped more than or our website (www.svef. 500 teachers with grants of $500 - $1,000; we’ve hosted com), to share your stories about your students and education forums on topics teachers and to give us your from the achievement gap thoughts about education. to teacher evaluations; we
Not all doors are created equal From inception to installation, we take great pride in our ability to provide you and your home with the finest products and service possible.
Premier Door Services, Inc. 394 State St., Los Altos 650.559.8281 5853 Winfield Blvd., San Jose 408.281.3219 742 El Camino Real, San Carlos 650.394.4719 www.premierdoorservices.biz
Chip Conley
Author and Joie de Vivre Hospitality Founder www.chipconley.com
Emotions 101 M
ost of us learned how to drive a car or use a computer at school, but how many of us took Emotions 101 during our childhood? Yet, we often say “our emotions got the best of us,” as if there’s some evil twin lurking inside, ready to unleash an emotional thunderstorm when we least expect it. I was CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the company I founded, for nearly two-dozen years. In 2008, we faced our second “oncein-a-lifetime” downturn in a decade, one of my best friends committed suicide, my long-term relationship was ending, my heart stopped in the middle of a speaking engagement, I was running out of cash, and I didn’t feel capable of running a company with more than 3,000 employees. It was then that I revisited Viktor Frankl’s landmark Man’s Search for Meaning and sought to turn his book into a daily practice. I created an equation that became my mantra: Despair = Suffering – Meaning. This was lifesaving, as it helped me realize that Suffering is the constant in life when you’re going through bad times and Meaning is the variable. On a bad day, I would ask myself, “What’s the lesson I’m supposed to learn?” or “What emotional muscles am I developing in this difficult time that will serve me later?” Whether it was humility or resilience or courage, I could see
I created an equation that became my mantra: Despair = Suffering — Meaning.
that this treacherous time was developing emotions that I had historically neglected or not “worked out.” Chip will be sharing more from his New York Times bestselling book EMOTIONAL EQUATIONS in upcoming issues of SV Local and invites you to visit www. emotionalequations.com to learn more.
OCTOBER 9 - 13, 2013 www.carmelartandfilm.com
Founded in 2008, the Carmel Art and Film Festival is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to supporting the arts in all its forms, with a special emphasis on nurturing the creative spirit in young people. Through year round community outreach, scholarships and grants, special festival programs, and the festival itself, Carmel Art and Film gives artists a platform and a voice to pursue their creative visions and share them with the world.
IMAGE: 2013 Carmel Art & Film Festival artist, George Rodrigue
Women of Silicon Valley
Leader as Designer by Susan Bethanis CEO, Mariposa Leadership, Inc.
time your team did a “brainstorming session”: You sat around a flip chart, blurted out a few things while trying not to judge someone else’s “We are on the cusp of a design revolution ideas. Try this method instead, a variation of in business. As a result, today’s business people which you can find at Stanford Design School: don’t need to understand designers better, they 1) As the leader, come to your team with need to become designers.” a specific question you want solved. Spend as —Roger Martin, Dean of University of much time on the question as you will gathering Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. answers. Encourage your team to be fearless, have fun, and think differently. artin 2) Create four small groups and give each equates team member a pack of sticky notes; ask each the role team member to write one idea on one sticky of “designer” with note, and say the idea out loud as he/she puts “leader.” So do I. This each sticky up on the wall. isn’t referring to graphic 3) After 10 minutes ask each team to count design or interior their stickies; then ask each group to double the design. It’s about amount of their stickies in the next 10 minutes. finding that imaginative, Remind them to merely put their ideas up on the do-it-yourself mindset wall and not comment on others’ ideas. that flourished in 4) Another 10 minutes passes, see how kindergarten. We need to re-locate this place many more ideas were generated. in ourselves–-a reservoir of bright ideas and 5) Give each group 15 minutes to look at the fearlessness to share those ideas. the ideas as a whole. What are the patterns? Let’s take the armor off at work: Ask lots of What are the outlying ideas? What idea is your questions, brainstorm frenetically, prototype favorite? What idea do you want to go make cool things, test these ideas, fail fast, and (prototype)? What idea does the group want to start all over again. This is what leaders who prototype? are design thinkers do to help solve some of the seemingly intractable issues that we face. Sue Bethanis is the CEO of Mariposa Whether we are trying to visualize a new Leadership, Inc., a 15-person leadership product or service, figure out a new operation coaching firm which serves high-tech, bioor process, or think about a new sales strategy, tech and clean-tech companies in Silicon this model can be applied. Valley. She is the author of Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage (Kaplan Design Thinking = Empathy –> Brainstorm 2004), and hosts the popular talk show, –> Prototype –> Test –> Implement Wise Talk. Connect with her at sueb@ mariposaleadership.com and on Twitter @ Let’s focus on Brainstorm. Remember the last suebethanis
M
© 2012 Mariposa Leadership, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Silicon Valley Local Magazine and
WomensRadio
are Proud to Present
www.WomensRadio.com
Women of Silicon Valley
Dr. Anjuli Mehrotra Silicon Valley Allergy and Asthma SVL: What is an Allergy?
Dr. M: An allergy is a reaction your immune system produces against a substance called an allergen that is usually harmless to most people. Allergies can be directed against environmental substances, foods, or drugs, or insect venoms. SVL: What happens during an allergic reaction?
Dr. M: Allergens enter the body through our nose, eyes, or mouth and bind to an allergy antibody called IgE which is searching for specific foreign proteins to bind to. For example, if you are allergic to dust mites, you have dust mite specific IgE which is waiting for dust mite allergen to bind to. If you are not allergic to dust mites, the allergen will enter your system, but not bind to anything and subsequently get ignored in your system, not causing any symptoms. The binding of allergen with its specific IgE allows certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils to get activated. These cells then go on to produce a variety of substances to combat the allergen which cause many of the symptoms we associate with allergy including increased mucus and itching. SVL: How are allergies diagnosed?
Dr. M: People who have symptoms consistent with allergies (sneezing, stuffy/runny nose, itchy eyes, post-nasal drip, and cough) should be skin
tested (see below). If you have a history of a reaction to food, we can do skin testing as well to particular food allergens. SVL: How did you become interested in this field?
Dr. M: I have suffered from eczema, food allergy, nasal allergies, and asthma starting early in life, so I had a lot of exposure to the field at a young age. I wanted to be in a field where I could relate to the problems my patients were experiencing. SVL: Do you see any break through in the treatment of allergies?
Dr. M: Progress is being made in understanding the mechanisms of food allergy. Specifically, newer studies are working on understanding how to induce tolerance to higher levels of food allergens in patients with food allergy (so that they have less chance of anaphylaxis). Unfortunately, I think there is a lot more work to be done before these protocols are ready for prime time. SVL: When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Dr. M: I actually wanted to be a heart surgeon. I knew I wanted to be a doctor at age 5. I thought the heart was a really fascinating organ, and thought it would be really exciting to fix people’s hearts. SVL: Do you have a favorite quotation?
Dr. M: “Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching.” I’m not really sure who said this, but it’s a good quote.
Women of Silicon Valley
Susan Goff Principal of Los Altos Christian Schools SVL: What excites you about your position?
SG: Watching the students get excited about what they are learning. SVL: Do you have a favorite success story or accomplishment you’re proud of you can share with us?
SG: When I was teaching first grade, I had a little boy who struggled and struggled to learn to read. One day in reading group, his eyes lit up and he said, “Oh! I get it!” From that time on, he became a good reader. I will never forget the light in his eyes. SVL: What do you look forward to in your day at school?
SG: I love carpool in the morning. I see all the children and it’s the happiest time of the day. SVL: What schools did you attend?
SG: I attended elementary, Jr. High and high school in South Bend, IN. I got my undergraduate at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and my master degree at Santa Clara University What were your favorite subjects? History!! SVL: Were there certain people who inspired you along the way?
SG: My parents. They were consistent, loving, honest, “they walked the walk and talked the talk” SVL: Did you always want to be a school teacher and/or Principal?
SG: No, I did not want to be a principal until another teacher told me that I would be good in administration. Then I started to think about it
and now I love it. SVL: What kind of history or road did you take for you to get to where you are today?
SG: I taught in many different schools around the country and for department of defense schools in Spain. I also taught different grade levels. This gave me a broader, rich experience that has aided my transition into administration. SVL: If you could have lunch with one famous person, who would it be? SG: Abraham Lincoln SVL: What’s your favorite Ice Cream? SG: Butter pecan SVL: Do you have a favorite quotation? SG: Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Henry Ward Beecher SVL: Who inspired you growing up and in school? SG: My junior high school music teacher inspired me to not be frightened to try new things and mad me more confident.
http://www.lacs.com
Women of Silicon Valley
Dr. Tae Yun Kim TYK Group SVL: What is your favorite movie?
Dr.Kim: I like movies that have a message. Right now, my favorite movie is “Avatar.” “Avatar” is all about Universal Life Energy. It is all about Ki (internal) Energy which was demonstrated through the energy connections in nature, with the animals, with each other.
SVL: You love karaoke, what song(s) do you really like?
DR. Kim: I love to sing, because it is very healthy to do, and it makes people happy to hear me sing, SVL: Have you always had such and encourages them to sing as well. I confidence and, if not, what and when love old Korean songs because they remind inspired you? me where I came from, they remind me of Dr. Kim: My main inspiration always my life journey, and they remind me to be comes from God, and from the Bible grateful for what I have. From early on, I knew I was meant to Plus, singing is GREAT for helping to accomplish something worthwhile in my life, digest food after eating a big meal! It gets but it wasn’t until I met my Master at age your blood flowing and lifts your spirit at the 7 that this began to solidify and I started to same time. see how I could do it. My Master trained me in very ancient ways, in the traditional Martial arts that included Ki Energy training. SVL: You have one of the busiest schedules imaginable - how do you My students continue to inspire me to balance your day - and businesses - so keep going and always improve myself, so I well the way you do? can better and better pass on to them what I Dr. Kim: You said the key word – balance. know. It is not easy to balance everything, but it is possible. Here is where my Ki energy SVL: What advice have you been given and learned that you would like to share training comes in. It’s not the quantity of sleep, for example, but the quality that with others? matters. The same goes for food, and Dr. Kim: The best advice ever given to everything we do. When we have meetings, me, by my Master, was to NEVER give up. we meet about the topic at hand and set That concept just didn’t exist! Giving up another meeting for other issues that might was never an option, and it shouldn’t be to come up. To balance, we have to stay anyone else either. I translated this attitude flexible, yet at the same time, not allow of never giving up into my motto, “HE CAN ourselves to get side tracked. There is a big DO, SHE CAN DO, WHY NOT ME!” difference!
Women of Silicon Valley
Diane Templin Taffeco Real Estate
SVL: What made you decide to become a Realtor? DT: After 30 years in management, mostly high tech, I thought it time for a change. Up until this decision, my timing has always been great. Starting real estate in 2005 was my first experience with bad timing. That being said, I love real estate, and have no regrets. We’ve seen the worst of times.
SVL: What do you attribute your success to? DT: I truly love the challenge of real estate. People seem to like and respect me and I project that back in return. I’m honest; some say too honest. Oxy moron.
SVL: What are the top three things that separate you from other Realtors? DT: First, I love what I do for all the right reasons. 2. My problem solving and communication skills have never failed me. I listen; really listen, before I speak. 3. I preview all properties before showing my clients a home. So many realtors hand their client a list to check out on their own. Not good. My clients’ time is as valuable as my own.
SVL: When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up? DT: Veterinarian
SVL: What’s your business philosophy? DT: Do the right thing. Somewhat overused today. If you really focus on doing the right thing for your clients, you will succeed. Real Estate has too many loopholes that works for the agent, and not the client.
SVL: What book are you currently reading? DT: East of Eden
SVL: If they made a movie of your life, who’d play you? DT: Bette Midler SVL: What place you always dreamed about visiting? DT: Africa SVL: Do you have a hidden talent? DT: Not really. I think I see the big picture in life better than most, but no specific talent. SVL: Are you good at keeping a secret? DT: Absolutely! Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. I’m unforgiving when someone breaks that trust.
http://www.taffeco.com
Women of Silicon Valley
Dr. Jay Apte Owner, Dr. Jay’s Health & Nature Wellness Center
SVL: Who primarily would you say is your client? Dr. J: Around 70-80% of my clients are women. Women are the anchors of the families, taking care of children, spouses, parents and others. Once they get initiated in Ayurvedic life style, they bring their whole family. I have helped thousands of people Ayurvedically, who have had a myriad of health problems, and were on multiple pills. Now, they are leading healthy lives.
SVL: How would you describe what it is you do? Dr. J: I am an Ayurvedic Doctor, trained in India in both Conventional and Ayurvedic Medicine. There is a need for this healthy healing and there are very few India-trained Ayurvedic Doctors in the US. This is the main reason why I am here in California practicing Ayurveda. I also have a MS degree in Pharmacology from the University of North Texas. My mission is to spread Ayurveda and guide people to walk on this Ayurvedic natural and holistic path of Health and Wellness. SVL: Health and Ayurveda – What does that mean? Dr. J: Health is the most precious thing in life. There are many things we can do to preserve our health and enjoy life. Ayurveda is a 5000 year-old “Wisdom of Healthy Living” way and it is resurging as a New Age Medicine around the world.
SVL: What attracted you to study Ayurvedic Medicine? Dr. J: What attracted me to Ayurveda is its way of looking at health. Instead of looking at the body as a structure, it looks at it as the flow of natural energies. Creating harmony is health. Health is not absence of disease; health is balance at the physical, emotional and spiritual level. Ayurveda emphasizes prevention by offering a “personalized wellness regimen” and this concept stands Ayurveda apart from many other healing sciences. SVL: How is it people find you? Dr. J: I have clients around the country. The majority of the time they have some kind of chronic illness. When Doctors tell patients “You have to live with the disease”, or when they get tired and frustrated by taking so many medicines, experience side effects and don’t feel better, they come to me. Millions of people are riding on the new wave of Ayurveda. Come, dive in and enjoy the life journey!
http://www.hnwellness.com
Women of Silicon Valley
Debbie Blackwell Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme Catering SVL: What is involved in the prep for a large event, i.e. 100, 500 or 1,000 people? Planning! PSRT is staffed with experts who each have their own sets of skills, resources and experiences––whether that is product ordering, staffing, menu planning or booking. We come together in what we call “production meetings” to create a cohesive vision of the event, to attend to the details. A large event might require three to four production meetings prior to the event. We also discuss what could we add or do better––we call that lagniappe, a Cajun word that means, ‘a little something extra’. The term comes from our days as owners of the Louisiana Territory. SVL: What types of events do you cater to? Social, corporate, weddings, anniversaries, funerals, birthday parties, Yom Kippur, you name it! SVL: How do you work with a nervous couple about to get married planning a large wedding? I don’t find couples nervous at all these days. I find them to be particular in their tastes and detailed in their planning. I would say the most difficult part in working with engaged couples is the compromising of ideas within a given budget. Because I own this company with my husband, I’m not unfamiliar with the virtue of compromise. It’s a big part of every collaboration, business or personal. SVL: All events are special, yet, are there any particular events that really stand out? When the budget is there, it is incredibly fun to create a stunning, beautiful event. We have several industry partners that we work with in doing this. One of my favorite partners is Blue Print Studios. They have incredible branding abilities in their furnishings because they do all their printing in-house. So a gorgeous lit up circular bar can showcase company logos or event sponsors’ logos. Then there is the totally whimsical side to their stuff, big fluffy white-feathered lamps, oversized, sensual vases, very fun stuff to work with. There is
an unbelievable amount of artistic collaboration when working with partners like this. SVL: What are some of your most memorable moments? Sometimes something can go wrong in an unforeseeable and humbling way. I will always remember catering a 3-day event for a rocket launch in the center of the Mojave Desert. It was an incredibly windy evening and later in the night our equipment blew down the runway! We were awakened by the wind and my husband/partner Vince left the hotel in the middle of the night to check on the field kitchen he’d built that day to find it scattered. He and others literally chased racks down the runway. Also, working with Cirque du Soleil for the Dralion shows was incredible. If you’ve ever seen a cirque show, you know the intensity of what they bring to every show. We worked side by side with these artists, and what we took away from them was that even the best performers practiced their art before every show every day. It made us want to do better, to be our best. What’s your favorite food(s)? I love foie gras de canard. One of my most memorable meals was in a medieval town in the Languedoc called Minerve. The entire meal was divine, but the foie appetizer was one I’ll never forget, the was beautifully decorated with accoutrements to try with the foie––fig jams and rustic breads, strawberries from the local market––and then, on the edge of the plate, sea salt, pepper, and some other spices that were not familiar, cheese made by nuns––a beautiful thing. I also love to prepare an authentic Italian Easter Dinner, braised radicchio with ricotta, basil and balsamic, white bean and tomato ragout, lamb chops with porcini mushroom, mustard sauce and a homemade pasta… are you getting hungry? should I stop?
http://www.psrt.com
Women of Silicon Valley
Anna Manayan Owner, Immune Matrix
SVL: How is it people come from around the world on their own and also via referral from their physicians to see you?
SVL: What is Immune Matrix - what does it mean, what do you do?
AM: Immune Matrix LLC is an alternative medical clinic specializing in “reprogramming” the immune system. We have state of the art computerized technology and metabolic antigens to test and treat a host of inflammatory and immune based disorders that range from seasonal allergies to Autism. For more information go to www. chronicfatigueandnutrition.com SVL: Your education is extensive in the field of Health and Well-Being, from Biology to Medicine to Pathology to Law to Acupuncture, Holistic Health and AntiAging, how does all this explain who you are and what you do?
AM: My education was directed on the path to lead me to find answers for metabolic and immune disorders which are not effectively treated by Western medicine. The technology I employ is state of the art in energy medicine as discussed in Dr. Scott Mumby’s groundbreaking book, Virtual Medicine!
AM: We do not advertise our services and therefore patients come to see us referred by their doctors (M.D.’s!) who are familiar and open minded to alternative medicine. We work closely with a patient’s medical team and doctors are delighted that we are able to “reprogram” the body such that a patient can take medications and supplements that they were unable to take before, and we are able to find hidden viral and other infections through our computerized testing that doctors have no idea to test for until we find the culprit! SVL: What are your specialties?
AM: We specialize in immune disorders, metabolic disorders, allergies, auto-immune conditions, Autism, Neurofeedback to heal the brain from seizures, and other brain imbalances, optimize hormone function (adrenal/thyroid/ sex hormones/brain hormones), food allergies, environmental sensitivities, and specialized detoxification of heavy metals, microbial pathogens and environmental chemicals. SVL: How is it many disorders become resolved and dependency on prescription medications can be greatly reduced or eliminated?
AM: Many drugs are prescribed to deal only with symptoms and are not directed at determining the cause or reversing the biochemical, metabolic and hormonal imbalances that perpetuate the symptoms and condition. Immune Matrix is dedicated to rooting out the cause and reversing the condition, layer by layer, which helps the body to reset and heal.
http://www.immunematrix.com
Women of Silicon Valley
Sue Wilhite
Events Coordinator, East West Bookstore SVL: Tell us about East West Bookstore.
East West was started in the 1960’s in Menlo Park, and became a haven for New Age/New Thought followers for many years. In 1980, the Ananda Church of Self-Realization acquired the store. East West The bookstore made Bookstore hosts a great leap of faith in 1995, moving over 320 events to a much bigger a year, ranging space in the thenfrom lectures and newly redeveloped downtown Mountain book signings View, and has been to workshops to an anchor for the area ever since. We concerts. are proud to be one of three different bookstores in downtown Mountain View, all right across the street from each other! East West is not your typical bookstore! People come here for all kinds of things besides the books; we also carry beautiful music, crystals, jewelry for all tastes and budgets, and other gift items. We’ve been voted “Best Place for Unusual Gifts” in Mountain View since 1996. Our selection of books is also very special, as we have books about nearly every spiritual tradition and philosophy on the planet. Another popular part of the store is our fountain - customers often come in just to sit and be quiet for awhile. What sort of products does East West carry?
East West is not your typical bookstore! People come here for all kinds of things besides the books; we also carry beautiful music, crystals, jewelry for all tastes and budgets, and other gift items. We’ve been voted “Best Place for Unusual Gifts”
in Mountain View since 1996. Our selection of books is also very special, as we have books about nearly every spiritual tradition and philosophy on the planet. Another popular part of the store is our fountain - customers often come in just to sit and be quiet for awhile. SVL: What does your job entail?
As the Events Manager, I get to make contact with brilliant people who have important messages, and let them come share their thoughts and life-changing techniques with our customers. East West Bookstore hosts over 320 events a year, ranging from lectures and book signings to workshops to concerts. Plus we have a regular meditation group on Wednesdays, and two monthly groups: a Prosperity Book Club, and a Women’s Spirituality Circle. SVL: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I love making connections! My passion is to bring people and the resources they need together, so everyone can live their lives to the fullest potential. I’m so grateful when a customer comes up to me and says that a speaker has said something that impacted them profoundly. SVL: Who were some of the most impactful people?
Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Cheri Huber, Dr. Fred Luskin, Master Stephen Co, Jean Shinoda Bolen, SARK, Master Zhi Gang Sha. There’s so many more!
http://www.eastwest.com
| | PARENTING
The Facebook Generation By Sooze Protter M.A. and Jordana Siegel (age 13)
I
am a private Life Coach for teens and their parents. What I do is not psychotherapy. Life Coaching starts with discovering where a teen is socially, developmentally, sexually and spiritually. In the first month, I establish mutual trust. I help my clients gain perspective about how no one can make you feel bad about yourself without your consent, a life lesson everyone should know. Professionally, I have found that teens want their parents to know about their lives, but the family lacks a relationship where the teen feels comfortable sharing their lives without retribution, i.e. grounding. Grounding a teen rarely works; it negatively impacts their social life and creates more anger between them and their parents, thus creating a negative environment to share.
In today’s society, parents and professionals are getting increasingly frustrated with teens addiction toward social media, such as Facebook, Tumblr, texting, phone calls, sexting, apps, music and Formspring (a social bullying site). However, I have grown to accept this technology, after years of aggravation. In the last five years, I have learned to embrace social media and use it as a tool to enhance the Life Coaching relationship. Many of my clients communicate with me by walking me through their Facebook page. I “meet” their friends, love interests, and throughout it all, I am Life coaching them. Teens also tend to express themselves to the world via music. Working with teens, I have had to become an expert of this generations’ musical choices. Rather than exasperate over the situation, I have educated myself with teens’ help, to appreciate the lyrics of Eminem, My Chemical Romance and remakes of classics using Dubstep. Coming into their musical world helps me to understand their emotions and enables me to teach them about themselves. There is so much more to learn about today’s teens and I am committed to joining their virtual worlds and creating positive change within them.
Hey you, Reader! What’s news (or inspiring) to you? We welcome your ideas for topics and we welcome you to demonstrate your own journalism chops. Email us your ideas and stories (500-600 words) for consideration at stories@svlocalmag.com
silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection
TYK Group is a group of companies that were founded by Dr. Tae Yun Kim. Each company was created with the purpose of helping people through different industries and different methods. Dr. Kim’s life mission is to help people discover their full potential so that they can utilize it in their lives.
Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions is the world’s leading supplier of real time contamination monitoring systems and airborne particle counters that work to monitor any clean environment. With its superior software design, data integration ability and worldwide support offices, Lighthouse provides its customers with leading edge contamination monitoring solutions. www.golighthouse.com
Jung SuWon is essentially the art of living life itself. This is the true “way” of the martial arts warrior– not just overcoming in combat, but a complete overcoming in every aspect of our daily living. When you learn this art, there will be no obstacle you cannot overcome. At Jung SuWon, students from ages 3 to 73 learn how to face & conquer their own fears & weaknesses to become the best they can be! www.jungsuwon.com
With the motto of “He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not Me!”, the non-profit TYK Foundation helps individuals, families, and communities to improve quality of life by offering support to those facing hardship, helping people succeed in their lives and personal goals, and teaching people to take charge and become leaders to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. www.tykfoundation.org
The Tae Yun Kim International University is dedicated to the complete development of Body, Mind and Spirit of each student. Here, we combine meditation, physical training and discussion classes with practical real life experiences to uncover the truth about our strengths and weaknesses so that each student may become the Master of his/her Life. www.tykuniversity.com
Executive Leadership & Coaching is more than just Life coaching. It provides a specific process of interaction over a period of time that encourages a shift in who you are, how you feel about yourself, what you do, and how you do it. As your confidence grows, you can learn to take control of your life, and expand your ability to make significant changes, move forward in new areas and have more of what you want in your life. www.executiveleadershipandcoaching.com
Wherever Dr. Tae Yun Kim goes, the unique and eye-catching designs of her custom created clothes and shoes always create an exciting buzz. Now she is sharing her wisdom and experience of Ki Energy with you through the colors and designs of clothes, shoes and jewelry at TYK Fashions. TYK Fashions is Dr. Kim’s creative expression of Ki Energy. www.tykfashions.com
He can do, she can do,
Overcome and succeed
me?
why not
The story of Dr. Tae Yun Kim is a timeless, epic journey. It has been a monumental struggle with the hearts and minds of a world that tried to tie her down at every turn of her life. Through it all, Great Grandmaster Dr. Tae Yun Kim has demonstrated the power of her motto “He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not Me�. Tae Yun Kim offers her life story as a message of hope to all who want more from their lives. For those who find themselves wrapped in their own struggles, bound by weakness, taken over by the negative influences, or just simply those who feel there must be more to their lives, the life story of Dr. Tae Yun Kim is a point of inspiration and a road map for others to use so they can find completeness and fulfillment in their own lives.
Overcom succeed
Dr. Tae Yun Kim
To find out the latest events going on in Silicon Valley and throughout the Bay Area, log on to finallyfriday.com
Wherever your day takes you‌
Hot off the virtual press and direct to your Inbox. Subscribe to Silicon Valley Local (for special features and promotions) at info@svlocalmag.com PS: We never share email addresses!
Innovative New County Program Helps to House the Homeless By Mike Wasserman Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 1
S
anta Clara County is home to 2,500 chronically homeless people— individuals who have been living on the streets for a year or more. Loss of employment, underemployment, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, Mike Wasserman medical conditions, and substance abuse issues are some of the many circumstances that contribute to homelessness. With an average life expectancy of just 47 years, chronically homeless individuals are far more vulnerable than the general population. The County recently launched a new housing pilot program in partnership with the organization Destination: Home and the Housing 1000 Campaign. Since then, the number of homeless individuals who passed away on the streets decreased from 61 in 2011 to 39 in 2012. The County’s $1.2 million homeless housing pilot program is modeled after similar programs that other jurisdictions have successfully implemented. While it may sound costly, the program actually significantly reduces the County’s cost of providing homeless services because many chronically homeless people rely upon expensive
emergency services. According to the Institute for Metropolitan studies, the annual cost of a chronically homeless person on the streets can be three to four times more expensive than the cost of permanent housing ($60,000, un-housed vs. $16,000, housed.) The County’s pilot program saves taxpayer dollars while doing the right thing for our most vulnerable population by getting them off the streets for good. Housing the chronically homeless represents an efficient use of public resources. It frees up police officers from ticketing homeless people for sleeping outside and allows them to fight serious crime. It lets emergency rooms be used for medical emergencies instead of treating chronic health conditions that could be handled through preventive care. Homelessness is a complex issue to tackle.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. But by doing the right thing–fiscally and socially–we are making real, measurable progress.
A great meal starts with a great restaurant.
DININGOUT BAY AREA
BAYAREADINING
OUT.COM
EAT OUT & ENJO
Y…BON APPETIT
!
Your guide to the best bites in the Bay Area.
BAYAREADININGOUT.COM
Pat Lynch
Founder and CEO Women’s Online Media and Education Network
Time to Reve Up, Women! S
tarting WomensRadio almost 17 years ago to give women a larger voice, I thought I would have done more by now to bring women together around issues. Now here we are in the middle of a crucial election year…with so much on the line, and for women, and I hear women from all over America saying: “what can I do?!” Instead of waiting to be asked to give your opinion, it’s important to speak up. Instead of waiting for someone to call on you to ask your question of a political candidate, stand up and speak up and be heard. It matters. Write letters to the editor. Send them to the television and radio stations, too. Support women who are running…and with money. Or, all the above, plus run for an office yourself. And, if all that is too
daunting join the one women’s organization that has been working for over 40 years to help inform women on issues crucial to their well-being, encourage women and train women to run for office and support them when they do – the National Women’s Political Caucus. In fact, regardless, you can join NWPC – because an organization such as NWPC can help focus our intention that will help make a difference!
Instead of waiting to be asked to give your opinion, it’s important to speak up.
A trip to Cranberry Scoop in downtown Los Altos is all it takes to find the perfect gift or to decorate your home for the season or for your favorite holiday! We proudly feature Vera Bradley, Crabtree & Evelyn and Baggallini lines.
295 State Street Los Altos, CA 650-948-2554 | www.thecranberryscoop.com
The first time I met
By Scott Budman remember, as if it was yesterday, the first time I interviewed Steve Jobs, one-on-one, with no other crews in the room. Of course, I also remember when Steve Jobs got fired. I wasn’t reporting back then, but knew of Apple, because it was cool, I was from the Bay Area, and some of my friends had Apple computers. But back to the interview. I wondered if I’d get to experience the “Full Steve.” You know: cocky, impatient, brilliant. The whole “reality distortion field” thing. I wasn’t disappointed. We set a chair a few feet in front of the new eMac for Budman classrooms. Then we hit the top of the machine with a bright light with a red gel on it. The photographer shooting the story was pleased with the look. Then Jobs walked in. Not pleased. “Why do I have to sit AWAY from the eMac? I want to touch it.” And, after another glance, “Why is it RED?? The computer is WHITE! What’s going on here?” We quickly did away with the setup, lights, and chair. Practically trembling, 99 percent sure I’d already blown the interview (not to mention all the good will built up with the Apple PR team to actually get the interview), I attached a wireless mic to Jobs’ black turtleneck. We were silent for a bit, him checking the time, me thinking law school might have
actually made more sense, when I had a lastditch idea: “Steve, how about you just show me around the new computer?” That did it. Jobs spent the next 30 minutes (we were given five) walking around the eMac, touching it, showing off every nook and cranny of it. He was wonderful. He even sat down to talk strategy, and how the new machine would usher in all sorts of easy computing for its fans. I came away with a new appreciation of Jobs that day. I though back to the day when Jobs left Apple. And, years later, when I was living outside Apple’s Cupertino headquarters on a day when times seemed so bad, a competitor flew a plane overhead with a phone number so laid-off Apple employees could call for work. It was during that time that Dell CEO Michael Dell famously suggested Apple sell the company and move on. Several hundreds of billions of dollars later, Michael Dell is still in business, but his products are dwarfed by Apple’s -- and Steve Jobs. Jobs himself has often told reporters that leaving Apple the first time was the best thing that ever happened to him. Did he become humble and meek? No, thank goodness. But on the day he came back, I remember him sketching out what Apple was selling at the time, crossing it all out, and replacing it with just four boxes, to represent the categories Apple was going to focus on -- and eventually dominate. Now, years later, Jobs is gone, and I’m faceto-face for the first time with (of all people) Michael Dell. The man of the notorious “sell the company” comment. As it turns out, Dell was among those who said very nice things about Jobs on the day
he died. He told me he respected Steve Jobs, tried to lead by his example, and “probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Steve.” Pretty impressive stuff to hear from a billionaire. We got to talking, for a bit, about Jobs’ legacy, and could there be another like him? After all, even with all the deserved respect and thoughtful tributes to what Jobs accomplished for Apple and the tech industry as a whole, we here in Silicon Valley are known for looking ahead. What’s next, and who will lead us to it? As for candidates for the next Steve Jobs, let’s start young. Mark Zuckerberg? An obvious choice, because he’s clearly ahead of his time, pushing through decisions that, after initial skepticism, prove to be spot-on. Speaking of Facebook, how about COO Sheryl Sandberg? Not as young as Mark, but ahead of her time in the tech world, with a strong feeling that education is what’s needed for a better tech industry (remember, Apple used to push that pretty hard, too). I’ve also been impressed by Aaron Levie, the young CEO and co-founder of Box.net. His is a company focusing on cloud storage - not as consumer sexy as Apple, but crucial to the future of tech. He has written several posts recently pretty much saying that he does what he does because he watched Steve Jobs do it. Touching and thoughtful, from someone who will surely be part of the next big tech wave. But, In the interest of keeping this somewhat concise (and feel free to let me know if you have ideas of your own), I’ll just add one more: I was reminded of someone else I’ve spoken to a lot lately, when I read a tweet that said, “Apple needs to buy Square and make Jack Dorsey the new CEO.” Ha, ha, that’s a good one. But wait a minute. Two companies at once, both changing the game. Add in a focus on the future and -- remember Apple’s early days? - a keen fashion sense and the similarities are almost eerie. If we have to crown a “next” Steve Jobs, why not end the game with a Square, and a tweet? Jack Dorsey, the pressure’s on.
It’s no fun being the “next” anything, but the tech world is looking for a new icon. Scott Budman is an Emmy award-winning reporter, covering business and technology for NBC Bay Area News. He is also the host of the weekly NBC show, “TechNow,” and can be heard doing business updates every afternoon on KNBR radio. You can find Scott on Twitter: @scottbudman
Gunther’s — Where the East Coast Meets the West Coast A LOCAL FAVORITE SINCE 1971! A Local Tradition Since 1971! That’s Gunther’s Restaurant and Catering, which opened its door on January 15, 1971. Located on the corner of Meridian and Hamilton Avenues in San Jose, a few blocks east of the Campbell border, aka the Cornerstone of Willow Glen. Founder, President, and Executive Chef, Gunther Meyberg, has had one goal since day one: feed the people well! That goal has been met over and over by proudly serving their regular customers, and new ones, too, that have been coming for over four decades.
The family-owned and operated restaurant is open Monday – Saturday for breakfast and lunch, and dinner on weeknights. The restaurant is the perfect place to grab a freshly made meal, snack, or dessert to dine-in or take-out. For Breakfast, you’ll find huge omelets, homemade corned beef hash, French toast, bagels and lox, locally made sausage, waffles, Benedicts, matza brie, and many other morning favorites. No matter what you choose, it’s made fresh to order. For Lunch and Dinner, enjoy the famous east coast sandwiches: corned beef and brisket made fresh in-house, and so, too, the chopped chicken liver, NY style tuna and chicken salad. Gunther’s also makes their own sauerkraut to make the best Reubens on the west coast! The roast beef and fresh roasted turkey breast are also made in-house. Then there’s the delicious char-broiler menu tri-tip Philly, chicken breast Philly, the new corned beef or pastrami Philly, half-pound USDA choice angus burgers, bratwurst, knockwurst, Louisiana hot links, and so much more to look forward to. Classics like the BLT and grilled cheese are favorites, too. For vegetarians, there’s the veggie Philly and cold vegetarian sandwiches, which are great, hearty alternatives to the meats.
Entrées? Indeed, with a name like Gunther’s, let’s start with the German food. There’s the ever-popular knockwurst on a bed of sauerkraut, bratwurst over German potato salad, red cabbage and potatoes, wienerschnitzel / jaegarschnitzel, stuffed cabbage rolls, sauerbraten, potato pancakes and more. There’s also the delicious house-made lasagna, beef or cheese raviolis, roasted brisket of beef, grilled fresh salmon, roasted chicken, meatloaf, New York steak, calves liver and onions … and don’t forget the BBQ lamb shanks. There are also at least two daily specials, such as chicken marsala, chuck roast, eggplant parmigiana, roasted pork loin, Irish lamb stew, baked macaroni and cheese, and more. ”Gunther’s is great for the whole family as everything is fresh and smaller portions of most items are available for the kids.” There are wonderful side dishes, too: Mashed potatoes, FROM REAL POTATOES!, daily fresh vegetables, rice, salads, homemade soup du jour, potato knishes, and so much more. And save room for the wonderful selection of great desserts. Come taste Gunther’s fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that everyone is talking about. Plus, there’s fresh apple strudel that can be topped with homemade
whipped cream, pound cakes, and crumb cakes. There’s also bread pudding and rice custard pudding, delicious cheesecake, German chocolate cake, red velvet cupcakes, black and white cookies, brownies, pineapple upside-down cake, and so many more goodies! Gunther’s also caters and is a full-service event planner. Whether it’s a sandwich platter drop off at a Silicon Valley business, or a retirement party, executive dinner, quinceañera, or whatever may be the occasion, Gunther’s offers a vast selection of menus and services. Getting married? Gunther’s can help you plan the wedding of your dreams, as well. In addition to just providing the food and staffing, Gunther’s can provide full or partial bar service, party rentals, tenting, lighting, music, entertainment, decorations, coordination, and more. Service styles include: sit-down dinners, buffets, hors d’ oeuvre receptions, formal banquets, simple elegance, and casual events. No event is too big or too small. Welcome to Gunther’s, where every occasion is special! … Enjoy!
Gunther’s Restaurant and Catering 1601 Meridian Ave., San Jose (408) 266-9022 www.guntherscatering.com
An
EGYPT
Experience
By Brett Wiese www.brettwiese.com
I wanted to see if these could be taken seriously as a career (yes, just like every other American with an iphone). Trumping an oversatuComing from a town of fewer than 2,000 rated market, however, I found the thought of residents doesn’t creatively informing people (of anything) to be necessarily breed too exciting a career opportunity. worldliness. In fact, For most of my life, and still to this day, I’ve the majority of my pobeen both a snowboarder and skateboarder. litical exposure would And since Cairo hadn’t seen any steady snowstem from accidenfall this season, I figured I’d see what Egypt tally wondering into had to offer in the way of skateboarding. Sure a town hall meeting enough, I found SkateImpact, Egypt’s first and after mixing up the still only source of skateboards and the subject dates for Bingo night. of my first feature-length documentary – what This past fall, turned out to be a wonderful example of EgypBrett Wiese downtown Cairo was tians pursing independent lifestyles. my home, on the corFilming for this project included sprinting ner of Nubar and Mohammad Mahmoud – a through clouds of teargas to get my camera hail Mary from Tahrir Square. Here, political equipment; taping off windows with garbage activism included more than a lively debate on bags to prevent that malevolent gas from seepwhat to do with Cletus’ rotting fence. ing in; sleepless nights listening to the lullaby Having just completed an overdue unof people screaming, constant gunfire and the dergrad in Business Administration, I knew I explosive loft of teargas canisters aimed up into wanted to do anything but. Photography and the night sky. Yet, somehow, it turned out to be cinematography had always been a passion so the most rewarding experience of my life.
Relax, Unwind and Linger Longer at Silicon Valley’s Premier Boutique Hotel
Taste the flavors of Northern California at our signature 408.884.1054
www.tollhousehotel.com
restaurant, serving the finest local cuisine and wine.
| 480.395.7070
Between the 21 percent solar, 50 percent fuel cell and 29 percent energy conservation, the County Goverment Center is on pace to become one of the largest Zero Net Energy buildings in the world.
New Renewable Energy Sources for Santa Clara County By Liz Kniss Palo Alto Council Member
S
anta Clara County will be generating our own energy through revolutionary fuel cells. The production of clean, renewable energy at County-owned buildings and parking lots will save the County millions of dollars. By the end of this year, fuel cells will be generating half of the electricity at the County’s headquarters. We have reached an agreement with Sunnyvale’s Bloom Energy to install fuel cells at four Liz Kniss County-owned sites including the County Government Center in San Jose. As a result,
fuel cells will be producing 20% of the County’s electricity and 50% of the County Government Center’s electricity. The fuel cells are expected to be installed in October 2012. The County has already installed solar canopies on parking lots and solar panels on rooftops at four County facilities, including the County Government Center. As a result, solar will be producing 9% of the County’s (including VMC’s) electricity and 21% of the County Government Center’s. The project uses funds from recently issued Qualified Energy Bonds. Between the 21% solar, 50% fuel cell and 29% energy conservation, the County Government Center is on pace to become one of the largest Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings in the world and perhaps the first building of its size to be retrofitted to ZNE. The solar canopies alone will save the County $16 million over 25 years in reduced energy purchases. Going Green is saving us big money.
| | greenology
Choosing Our Future Bioneers concludes its 22nd annual gathering from October 14 to 17. It was a wild, wonderful and wisdom-filled journey. By Paul Wingate Consultant and technologist for emerging project development
A
t Bioneers the perplexities of our world are examined from a holistic, systems approach. Bioneers have learned that when seeking answers to complex problems billions of years of R&D in nature have provided high caliber solutions and many of them. Bioneers have learned to humbly ask: What would nature do? Nature would create conditions conductive to sustainable life. We, rampaging humankind (often not kind humans) must reawaken curiosity, embrace nature’s wisdom and reconnect with our humanity. Co-operation, not domination; multiple wins, not sum zero; durable sustainability not quick material extraction and abandonment, are themes. The global economy is seeking to expand GDP in a finite, strained world. It is killing us all. Humanity needs a new story. Bioneers are the un-anointed visionaries/ map-makers/ route finders for a badly damaged earth. They can guide us through
Paul Wingate
these troubled times back to restored, sustainable and beautiful conditions with balanced heart, mind and deep understanding of whole systems thinking. They have the genius and drive of Silicon Valley with the inclusive view that understands that a torn web of life matters to everything living. If SV’s stellar abilities to invent, excite and accelerate commerce were aligned with the bioneers’ understanding of the available developments resulting from billions of years of Nature’s R&D, the path back to sustainable life on our troubled earth would be clear and attractive. Yet everything must still be sold; even life and happiness. Just why real salvation, extended life, avoiding suffering, thriving children, peace, and ample joy must be sold to many who have organized to maintain what doesn’t work, is a mystery to me. Will someone please explain? Strange, but it is what it is. At Bioneers answers were presented to
a hot world with collapsing fisheries, withering lands, vanishing forests, raging storms, dying estuaries, and radioactive air, water and food. Answers were from different views, but all had common threads during the confluence of young and old enthusiasm coupled to wisdom from nature. “Reinventing Fire” by Amory Lovins and www.RMI.org Amory Lovins presented answers to humanity’s huge appetite for energy; a well researched vision and detailed solution to provide ample clean, renewable energy by the year 2050 with a 150% bigger economy that burns no coal, no oil, less natural gas and has retired all nuclear plants. This future path will SAVE over $4 trillion dollars – a rather good deal. This future is possible with extraordinary, but available efficiency sciences and requires no new technologies. Technical advances will bring desired results even sooner, cheaper, or more easily. If we choose a business-as-usual and fossil fuel reliance we will not avoid an ugly and dangerous future. That infliction will be guaranteed. Most of us want clean energy sustainability, but it will be difficult to manage the will, policies, and adoption of new thinking and a power shift that will make this transition possible. There is the rub. It is late in the game, but much war and suffering can still be prevented if there is global participation in this global problem. We must act quickly and purposefully to reverse the symptoms of our feverish earth. We are still waiting to put a price on carbon. It is cheaper to fix the problem now than later and more effective. There is money to be made by doing so. Jigar Shah, who heads Sir Branson’s Carbon War Room, says that anyone who removes a gigaton of CO2 from the atmosphere “will make a crap load of money”. Well said. The evidence mounts. We stall. To complicate solutions, growing numbers are dedicated to doing nothing….with uncommon zeal. It is not
enough that they shoot both of their feet. They seem compelled to shot ours too. Global collateral damage. Ouch. We buy insurance policies for events that MAY happen, not because they will. Similar precautions against rendering the earth uninhabitable should be worth some insurance policies and measures. Can business-as-usual be trusted to bring us life, security and happiness? Isn’t there a chance for error? To assure a more positive outcome, more energy for services and cleaner skies while putting savings into just causes we should give support to Reinvented Fire, or at least take lessons from this whole systems analysis and suggested, humane solution. If it is not the final version it has the merits to start us thinking and acting in holistic and sustainable ways. Preparing various global safety measures that will also produce jobs and security should be worthy of our concern. It is not enough to do our very best. We must do what is necessary. ( From Winston Churchill) Let us start by abandoning the toxic metric: GDP, a measurement of the production and consumption of stuff. GDP is enhanced by war, mindless waste of energy, cigarette sales, gross obesity, and expensive and protracted dying. Peace and sensible shopping are not good for GDP. Let us adopt a metric that measures the quality of sustained life and encourages the pursuit of happiness for all creatures. There are several under study. Let’s wake up our hearts and brains and work wisely to ensure a future we want and will enjoy. Sustainable Business Institute Jessica Fullmer CEO/Founder (408) 370-5783 phone (408) 370-4783 fax email: jhfullmer@sustainablebusiness.org web: www.sustainablebusiness.org
Bill could help improve breast cancer knowledge By Sen. Joe Simitian Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5
When Amy Colton was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer she was stunned. The Santa Cruz nurse had done everything by the book -- regular mammograms, self-examinations. What she was never told, until after her intensive treatment, was that the dense tissue in her breasts made detecting cancer via a mammogram particuSen. Joe Simitian larly difficult. Amy Colton thinks this is knowledge women ought to have. So do I. That’s why I am continuing to pursue legislation, suggested by her, that would require doctors to share with their patients the information about breast density that is already on the mammogram report the doctor receives. The legislation would require that women be informed if they have dense breast tissue; that they be told it can obscure abnormalities on a mammogram; and that they may wish to discuss with their doctor the potential value of additional screening. Despite broad bipartisan support last year, this bill was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. I’m not giving up and neither is Amy Colton. This legislation, Senate Bill 1538, will save lives. The National Cancer Institute estimates that one in eight women will develop breast cancer. The risk for women with extremely
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Simitian would require doctors to share with their patients information about breast tissue density that could make detecting cancer difficult.
dense breast tissue is five times the risk for women with low breast density. Two separate studies from the first year of a similar law’s implementation in Connecticut have shown a 100 percent increase in breast cancer detection rates in women with dense breast tissue. This legislation is about a patient’s right to know. It will enable women to be effective advocates for their own health. When it comes to your health, ignorance is not bliss. What you don’t know can hurt you. Joe Simitian represents the 11th state Senate District, which includes portions of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.
Auto Loans for a limited time new & used starting at (408) 543-5202 | (866) 543-5202 toll free J O I N U S ! M E M B E R S H I P I S O P E N T O I N D I V I D U A L S W H O L I V E , W O R K O R AT T E N D S C H O O L I N S A N TA C L A R A C O U N T Y. * RATES EFFECTIVE 05/09/13. YOUR ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR) MAY BE HIGHER BASED ON CREDIT QUALIFICATIONS. THE RATES SHOWN INCLUDE A 0.25% DISCOUNT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSFER, AND A 0.50% DISCOUNT WITH DIRECT DEPOSIT. ADDITIONAL 0.20% RATE DISCOUNT FOR AUTO LOAN AMOUNTS $30,000 OR OVER (DOES NOT APPLY TO EXISTING STAR ONE AUTO LOANS). THE RANGE OF APRS IS 1.95% TO 8.45% WITH DISCOUNTS FOR LOANS $30,000 AND UNDER; AND 1.75% TO 8.25% WITH DISCOUNTS FOR LOANS OVER $30,000. A SAMPLE PAYMENT ON AN 84-MONTH LOAN AT 1.95% APR IS $12.75 PER $1,000. A SAMPLE PAYMENT ON AN 84-MONTH LOAN AT 1.75% APR IS $12.66 PER $1,000. RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Bold Action Needed to Combat the Childhood Obesity Crisis By Ken Yeager Santa Clara County Supervisor, District Four
C
hildhood obesity is a topic that is very important to me as a person and as an elected official. It is not just an issue of concern. It is a crisis, and there is no magic bullet that will serve as a solution. It is a multifaceted, complex issue that will require government, businesses, schools, and parents together. One in four middle Ken Yeager school and high school students in Santa Clara County, ages 13-17, are
overweight or obese. For some populations, such as Latinos and African Americans, those numbers are one in three. More than half of adults in Santa Clara County are overweight or obese. Children who are obese after age six have a greater than 50 percent chance of being obese as an adult. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. If this trend continues, this will be the first generation of children to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Childhood obesity is not just a health issue. It is an economic issue as well. Obesity costs the taxpayer millions of dollars in related healthcare costs. Employers are effected through lost productivity and increased insurance costs. The cost of obesity in Santa Clara County are estimated at $420 million in healthcare and $496 million in lost productivity.
Even though there is a lot of new work happening through governments and regional partnerships, we are a long way from solving the childhood obesity crisis. While we must continue to educate, increase access to healthy food, and make physical activity a bigger part of city living, bold actions are also needed to draw attention to this problem. Because the effects of childhood obesity often seen later in life, too few people are motivated to act now. Sometimes new and even controversial ideas can help move the discussion along. An exciting idea that we passed in Santa
Most of us instinctively know that fast food is bad for you. When you look at the data, it is even worse. Clara County was a first-of-its-kind ordinance I authored to require restaurants to meet minimum health requirements for its kids meals that are linked to toys or other incentives. It has often been referred to in the media as the “Happy Meal Ban,” but it is not a ban at all. Rather, it gives parents a tool to resist the millions of dollars spent on marketing unhealthy meals to their children.
Most of us instinctively know that fast food is bad for you. When you look at the data, it is even worse. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for children 6-8 years old is 1500 calories, 58 grams of fat, and 1800 mg of sodium. If you look at a basic kids’ meal of a cheese burger, small fries, and 12-oz soda, it has 750 calories, 30 grams of fat and 895 mg of sodium. One meal would provide 50% of total daily calories, 52% of fat and 50% sodium. Fast food restaurants sold more than 1.2 billion meals with toys to children in 2006. In 2006, restaurants spent at least $360 million on toys. Toy giveaways are estimated to be the second highest child-directed expenditure by the industry, after TV advertising. In a study of children’s meals at restaurants, 10 of 12 of the highest calorie meals came with toys. All this money is being spent to influence children when they are young and their taste buds are developing. In essence, these toy offers get kids hooked on the taste of fast food at an early age. Santa Clara County’s ordinance ensures that food provided along with toys meet minimum health standards. A few months after Santa Clara County passed its ordinance, San Francisco passed an ordinance of its own, and New York City is considering one as well. Now the restaurant industry is taking notice. Recently, Jack in the Box announced that they will no longer offer toys as part of their kids’ meals. McDonald’s— the fast food chain that started the kids’ meal toy craze—is making changes of their own. They announced that they will be reducing the serving size of french fries and including fruit in all of their Happy Meals. The awareness being raised by Santa Clara County’s ordinance is helping the restaurant industry and parents to confront the need for change. We have made some good first steps, but much more still needs to be done.
Jean-Michel Cousteau
President, Ocean Futures Society www.oceanfutures.org
Dive into underwater treasures S
tanding on the edge of a boat peering into the vast blue deep of the ocean is a thrilling – and sometimes intimidating— experience. My father “helped” me get over my nervousness by simply throwing me overboard at the age of seven with the newly invented SCUBA tank on my back, but for folks without such assistance, you have to simply take a deep breath and make the plunge. In the past five years California dove enthusiastically into ocean conservation when the Fish and Game Commission voted to adopt a network of underwater reserves along the coast between Oregon and the Mexican borders. It is encouraging to have these new marine protected areas as a statewide system of protected ocean waters. For me, it gives me a sense of hope that future generations will have similar experiences of diving the giant kelp forests off our California coast as I did on my first dive after my father’s passing in 1997 at Anacapa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary. I remembered that dive vividly as if it was just yesterday. There was an unusual opening in the kelp. The sun’s rays were shining brightly through the kelp, lighting up this little, inexplicable patch of sand-like a spotlight on an empty stage. All around me there were tiny garibaldi, brightly colored damsel- fish native to the area. In normal light, they’re a fantastic, shimmering orange, but here in this bright sunlight, they were like festive candles, a string of party decorations
Photo: © Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society
announcing some underwater fiesta. What can I do but follow these playful, carrotcolored fish to the sandy bottom? What can I do but give myself over to their sweet allure? I drop to my knees and fall on the spot and I am overcome with emotion. It is almost mystical. I have been thinking of my father, of course, and now it feels as if he is here with me, on this sun-splashed ocean floor. For the first time since his death, he is near.
Farm Fresh and Always the Best We maintain long-time relationships with the finest local growers, and continue to search for absolutely the best product available. DeMartini Orchard provides its customers a warm and enchanting shopping experience with old-fashioned charm. We strive to offer friendly, prompt and kind service to all.
66 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos demartiniorchard.com | 650-948-0881
| | looking good
Light shines on anti-aging progress
I
n any cosmetic procedure we might undertake, in any physical change or enhancement procedures we might choose from for our bodies, a certain set of expectations comes with those questions we will pose; how will it be done? How many procedures will it take to get the results I want? Will it be painful? How long will it take, each time and overall? How long will the recovery take? What if it doesn’t work,
or I am left with scars, or it’s not as significant a change as I wanted, or was promised? What has happened, as a result of these questions and the results of past procedures, is now an ultra-state-of-art wrinkle diminisher that provides extraordinary results that are non-surgical. Anti-aging has never been as professionally easy and client-com62
Silicon Valley Local
fortable as Fotofacial RF (Radio Frequency) treatment; there is a savings of time, discomfort, and best of all, costs. These are three draws that have never before been part of any one cosmetically enhanced process. From California to Western Australia, there is an increasing desire and need for an authentic procedure that results in actual skin wrinkles diminished. Sun damage is part of an outdoor under-the-sun life; California, Arizona, and Australia are where the major requests come from, for obvious reasons, as people are not willing to forgo the sun and sports involved with playing and working outside to be cautious, even after repeated news reports and medical warnings about the dangers of UV rays and overexposure to the all-desirable sunshine. Therefore, this response to the needs of many have resulted in the Fotofacial concept; a non-surgical permanent anti-aging procedure that is affordable, comfortable and safe. FotoFacialÂŽ procedure was co-developed by Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr. a Dermatologist located in Los Gatos, California and Canadian Plastic Surgeon Dr. R. Stephen Mulholland. This procedure using a series of five or more full-face treatments has advanced because of technological improvements into an outstanding medical procedure necessitating no surgical invaFall/Winter 2011/2012
sion. Working with light and radio frequency waves, pulses are intensified over exposed skin in a controlled environment, over at least four treatments, and over the course of several weeks; the facial results that effectively make wrinkles diminished have produced innumerable cases of satisfaction for people interested in skin enhancement nationwide. There actually may be no need for promoting this process; word of mouth seems to be the out-in-front method of advertising. Safety is the highest priority in any procedure, but has especially been proven in these procedures. There is a lower incidence of complications, rapid recovery, and best of all, as a result of technological advances and high ease of treatment, the cost of these treatments has already been reduced from only seven years ago. Time and gender differences should be noted, in that with our full schedules, most working people don’t have weeks of time off at one time for older procedures; more men are choosing to take advantage of this process in that the stigma of “cosmetic surgery” is not attached; a simple, non-evasive procedure done quickly and painlessly provides enhancement to be “okay” for us all. Studies have been completed, clients have been reviewed, and the outcome should be highly motivating for future recipients. 5,000 procedures are being performed in the US daily; over 2,000 physicians have been trained in the Fotofacial procedure. Diminished wrinkles are not the only benefit from this procedure; relief from rosacea, freckling, melasma, textural irregularities, and other atypical skin problems respond well to treatments; work can be done anywhere on the body where there is a need. www.svlocalmag.com
To conceive of the idea of bringing light and electricity together in a refined and greatly improved laser-type of procedure seemed impossible only a decade ago. Now, it is here. Young clients as well as middle aged and up clients are taking advantage of this medical progress; it’s not the reason for any kind of antiaging procedure that promotes such positive outcomes; it’s the technology and innovation that have come together, along with hard work, that has produced such an attractive alternative to cosmetic surgery. The offerings are straightforward and simple: it’s safe, it’s new, it’s readily available, and it’s affordable. Are all of your questions answered? stories@svlocalmg.com Your Silicon Valley Connection
63
| | DINING OUT
A Delicious Taste of Italy
T
he dream came to Joe Antuzzi II, the proprietor of Il Postale: to create a fun, festive and popular restaurant similar to what you would find in the Old World Italian fare — located in a historic downtown, close to the train station, where people would come from near and far, and feel right at home — enjoying such delicious Italian food and wine and in such a warm, friendly and comfortable setting. So it came to be that in 1995, Il Postale, the ItalianAmerican Bistro, was born. Il Postale, is Italian, meaning the Post Office. It is conveniently located in historic downtown Sunnyvale (yes, down the street from the train station), located in what was the original post office building. Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Il Postale’s setting seems perfect, in an old world charm of its own. There, you will experience award-winning ItalianAmerican food and at reasonable prices. The intent was not to reinvent the Italian culinary world, but to include already very popular old Italian family recipes and in an open-kitchen, very friendly ambiance, inside and also outdoors. Thus, it is a bistro, meaning it is meant to feel casual,
Il Postale, The Italian-American Bistro A Delicious Taste of Italy 127 West Washington Avenue Sunnyvale (408) 733-9600 www.ilpostale.com
where people would feel comfortable whether wearing shorts or a suit and tie. Laura Reiley of CitySearch wrote: “Il Postale is an Italian gem of a restaurant in Sunnyvale, with generous portions and
attentive service.” Good Life Publications wrote: “Big-hearted and two-fisted, this robust restaurant likes to lavish its customers with generous portions and attentive service. Here is a place that turns out food Dean Martin would have loved. The marinara is perfection, and there’s invariably some seafood pasta dish that will hit the exact al dente mark with plenty of pizzazz. The decor is classic ItalianAmerican and so is the menu. A place to be casual and get involved with the food.” As another reviewer wrote: “The menu is plentiful and not to mention excellent.” There is also an array of popular vegetarian and vegan options, plus an outstanding wine selection and a full bar, as well, to choose from. Come and enjoy Il Postale, the ItalianAmerican Bistro. When not able to attend, you may also wish to consider their very popular “Cater your next event” menu. This way you can bring Il Postale’s delicious, fun and friendly festivities to you. Buon appetito!
Lina Broydo
“Local” Getaways Travellina
Tahoe welcomes travelers with dogs G
oing to the dogs gets a new meaning in the beautiful North Lake Tahoe. The man’s or the woman’s best friend is no longer persona non grata in Tahoe. “Without a doubt, North Lake Tahoe is a dog town,” said Tourism Director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe
Resort Association. “Even the Tahoe City Post Office keeps treats behind the counter, so when Fido visits he or she is treated special.” So pack your pooch and kick off the summer with a few recommendations for a doggie and their masters favorite lodgings in the North Lake Tahoe region: • The spectacular Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe welcomes pets at their five-star luxurious resort. The non-refundable Pet fee is $125 for cleaning for the entire stay, which covers 2 dogs max. The room rate is not included. • In Incline Village, the lakeside and equally well-appointed AAA Four-Diamond Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino will also take your pooch, but they must be 25 pounds or lighter. Pets are charged $50/ night. • Located on the West Shore, Tahoma Meadows B&B Cottages is a winner of the Golden Bone Award from DogFriendly.com. Guests stay in charming red cottages. Fees are $20/night per dog. • Lake Tahoe’s Tahoma Lodge is a historic, family-owned property with one and two-bedroom cabins that are geared for families. Dogs are $10/night. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus makes searching easy with its website, www. GoTahoeNorth.com, that allows potential visitors to search lodging by “pet” and offers more than a dozen properties and rental companies that fit the bill.
Inventing the
Ultimate Customer Experience
Piercey Toyota is one the most progressive automobile dealers in the Silicon Valley. We strive to continually develop new, fresh, and inventive ways to provide exceptional service to all of our customers. Easy to find and easy to get to, we are located right off 880 in Milpitas, just minutes from anywhere in the South Bay and just blocks from the Great Mall. Serving the San Jose Bay Area since 1987, we carry a large selection of new Toyota models including the Camry, Corolla, 950 Thompson St. Sienna along with the entire Prius Family. We also carry a large Milpitas, CA selection Toyota Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles to choose from. Sales: 408-240-1400 Service: 408-240-1500 Parts: 408-240-1550
Our Sales, Service & Parts Departments are open 7 Days a week for your convenience and we offer easy online appointment www.pierceytoyota.com scheduling for service visits. All of our service technicians receive regular training from Toyota, so you know your vehicle is in good hands with our experienced Toyota Master Technicians. Be sure to visit our large and comfortable customer lounge with complementary beverages, multiple televisions and free Wi-Fi. Piercey Toyota is committed to the environment and we recycle everything from old tires and batteries to used engine oil and filters. Piercey Toyota’s professionalism, technical knowledge, advanced products and respect for the environment, are truly five-star. Whether you are in the market for a new Toyota, or need parts or service for your current vehicle, Piercey Toyota Is The Place! Browse our specials and shop online at www.pierceytoyota.com
Involving your toddler in recycling he routines you create for your child while he is young will grow into habits over the years. Although your toddler may be too young to understand the need to be eco-friendly, it is possible to get him into the routine of recycling by presenting it in an entertaining way. Here are some tips to get your toddler involved in recycling some common household items. Sorting the Household Waste Sorting the household waste is a fun activity to carry out with toddlers as it appeals to their natural inclination to categorise and sort items. It also gives them a sense of achievement when they get it right. Set up three plastic boxes and label each of them with pictures of what they should contain: one for paper, one for plastic and one for glass. Your toddler can help you search through old magazines or catalogues for suitable pictures for each box, which you can then cut out and stick on. This gives you an opportunity to talk through what types of waste should go in each box. The pictures will serve
as a useful reminder to your toddler when he is deciding what to place in each box. When sorting the household waste, give your toddler the responsibility of spotting which items can be recycled and into which box they should be placed. He will need a lot of direction at first, so be sure to offer praise and encouragement when he gets it right. Where items have a recycling symbol stamped on them, point it out to your toddler. He will soon start to recognise it on a range of everyday items. Composting If you have enough space in your garden, a compost heap can be used to recycle your biodegradable household waste. The setting up of the compost heap is a job for an adult, but your toddler will enjoy finding things to throw on to it.
Choose a suitable area of the garden and start the compost heap by placing green garden waste, brown garden waste, fruit and vegetable peelings and shredded newspaper in a pile. The pile should rest directly on the earth, not on concrete or plastic. You can enclose the compost heap with wood or wire to keep it neat, but this is not essential. The compost will take a few months to rot down and will need to be dug over once a month. When the bottom of the heap starts to turn brown and crumbly, the compost is ready to be used. Set your toddler the task of finding things to add to the pile. Along with garden waste and peelings from the kitchen, the compost heap will benefit from old teabags and eggshells. Avoid anything synthetic, oil and cooked food scraps which could attract vermin. Again, it may be helpful to sit down with your toddler and go through some old magazines and catalogues to choose pictures of items which can be added to the compost heap. These can be cut out and stuck on to a piece of card to be used as a reminder for your toddler when he is choosing what to throw on to the heap. Clothing Toddlers can also get involved in recycling old clothing. Although you may be passing wearable items on to a younger sibling or another child, you may have clothing that is unfit to be worn again. There are recycling outlets for used clothing which pay an amount of cash per kilo. If your toddler attends a nursery or daycare facility, they can use such a scheme to raise cash and to teach the children about the benefits of recycling. Nursery managers are usually happy to receive fundraising suggestions. Alternatively, you could
By involving your toddler in recycling and making it an entertaining activity, you are building a positive habit for the future.
use the money raised as an incentive for your child by saving it towards a treat, such as a day out or a coveted toy. Old Toys Another key area for recycling is your toddler’s toys. You may face some resistance to passing on items he has enjoyed playing with. A long forgotten toy can suddenly become the current favourite if your toddler thinks he may have to part with it. One approach is to explain that these can be passed on to children who have fewer toys than he does, although he may be a little young to empathise with their situation. Another tactic is to schedule such a clear out shortly before Christmas or his birthday. They attraction of new toys arriving may persuade him to part with some of his existing collection. By involving your toddler in recycling and making it an entertaining activity, you are building a positive habit for the future. Before you know it your child will be recycling items without prompting and may even be the one reminding you to be eco-friendly. stories@svlocalmag.com
Handmade Cards for Birthdays, Anniversary, Thank You and other special occasions delivered personally to you in the San Jose area! Cards By Shirley
(408) 483.1411
t h g u a c ! t t e G he ac NORTHSIDE t in THEATRE COMPANY Dynamic performances for over 30 years!
northsidetheatre.com (408) 288-7820 848 East William Street San Jose, CA 95116
http://www.northsidetheatre.com
Former ‘49ers star Steve Bono is now helping other Bay Area athletes make the right decisions with their investments.
The San Francisco Bay:
A Crossroads of Wealth Creation
F
ew places in America are surrounded by as much wealth as the San Francisco Bay. While entrepreneurial technology companies and the venture capitalists backing them have been getting all the headlines, a half dozen major sports franchises have been consistently generating wealth in the Bay Area for years. And regardless of the various sources of wealth, the inevitable complexities remain the same. One California sports icon, Steve Bono, who played collegiate football at UCLA and professional football as quarterback from 1985 to 1999, including five years with the San Francisco 49ers, is now dedicated to helping these Bay Area athletes make the right decisions with their money. “I was lucky enough to be surrounded by trustworthy advisors during my career and
was able to avoid the unfortunate financial situations we often hear about,” said Bono, now a principal at Constellation Wealth Advisors in Menlo Park. Bono helped establish Constellation’s newest Steve Bono division, Constellation Sports Wealth Advisors, to focus on the unique financial challenges faced by professional athletes and coaches. “The assets earned during an athlete’s relatively brief playing career need to be properly managed to support a financially secure and comfortable post-retirement lifestyle,” said Bono. “Money doesn’t come with a game plan or a coach.”
Organization & Photo Credits: The Tech Museum | Mr. Koz: Jerome Brunet, San Jose Jazz | Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec Dance Group | RJ Muna Pictures: Ballet San Jose
WHAT COULD YOU DISCOVER?
Discover Silicon Valley arts and entertainment at LiveSV.com
Fast. Inspiring. Moving. Groundbreaking. Whether an art exhibit, cultural celebration, dance troupe, animal park or rockin’ riff, the Silicon Valley arts and entertainment scene delivers unexpected experiences as unique as our Silicon Valley lifestyles. So look around you...what could you discover?
DISCOVER THE UNEXPECTED.
HOW TO PERFECT YOUR GOLF SWING
T
he search for the perfect swing is the Holy Grail for golfers all over the world as they strive to ďŹ nd an action that will permit them to play the game to a high standard. Grooving a golf swing that is repeatable and dependable can only be achieved through practice, and this will require time and patience. Trying to perfect a swing while playing in competition is never advisable as you cannot possibly give your full concentration to the areas that need attention. Professional golfers will work tirelessly on their swings, some even hiring teachers who will give advice on elements of the swing. For recreational golfers, perhaps securing the services of a club professional will help, but for most golfers, it is a case of trial and error on the practice range. What can you do to improve
you swing? The starting point for anyone who hopes to improve their game is to ensure that the fundamentals are in place. These include a good grip, proper stance, correct alignment and tempo of the swing. When the basics are in place, you will be in position to hit golf shots that are reasonably good. Your next step is to experiment with things that may improve your swing allowing you to hit the ball longer, straighter and with more spin. For example, ball position is something that can have a real impact on your swing as it often determines the angle at which you approach the ball and how this affects your arms and shoulders on the downswing. If you position the ball too far toward your front foot, this can encourage an over-the-top pass at the
ball, probably resulting in a pull or a slice. On the other hand, if you position the ball too far back in your stance, you may find you are blocking the ball to the right or hooking it wildly. Experiment with ball position and you will most likely find that placing the ball in the middle of your stance or just fractionally toward your front foot will reap dividends. On longer clubs like the driver, the ball will be further toward your front foot. A tip you will find helpful when working on grooving your golf swing, is to experiment on the practice range with different tempo swings. Some recreational golfers swing very hard and fast in order to attempt to hit the ball further. You may be surprised to find that with a more leisurely, smooth swing, you will actually achieve greater distance. In reality, you want to hit the ball better, not harder. Fast swings tend to pull the arms into play too quickly and this often results in cutting across the ball, leading to a slice. The tempo of your swing is possibly the most crucial element you can work on as it will promote a repeatable swing you can rely on under pressure. In fact, you can groove such a swing in the garden at home without the need to hit golf balls. Find the tempo that works best for you, and make this part of your golf game. Another element that impacts on your swing
is how you stand to address the ball. This can make a real difference to the quality of your shots and determine how high or low your ball trajectory will be. It can also influence how you bring the club head to the ball. Are you possibly stretching for the ball at address? Or is your stance too upright causing you to slice? Again, take time on the practice range to experiment by hitting shots while taking a variety of address positions. A tall person will naturally stand more upright to the ball while a shorter person will reach more for the ball and have a flatter swing. On that subject, if you are serious about grooving a solid, repeatable golf swing, you would do well to make sure you are using golf clubs suited to your height. Badly fitted clubs will have you swinging on an arc that is unnatural and will inevitably result in hooking or slicing. As is true for even the best of players, grooving a good golf swing is a matter of practice. You may find that there is a great deal of trial and error involved until you find a swing that suits you individually. Do not treat this as a chore, but enjoy those times you spend on the practice ground, realizing that it will result in a better golf swing that will in turn, allow you to derive greater enjoyment from the game and improve you score. stories@svlocalmag.com
As is true for even the best of players, grooving a good golf swing is a matter of practice.
| | DINING OUT
Lion & Compass: A Silicon Valley Tradition
T
he Lion & Compass has been a favorite restaurant for the high tech cognescenti of Silicon Valley for more than a quarter of a century. Combining sophisticated urban cuisine with a tropical English colonial environment, a New York Times article from the 1980’s noted, “the Lion & Compass is to the Silicon Valley what Sardi’s was to the theater district”. The number of power deals brokered over lunch or dinner at the Lion & Compass, many of which helped shape Silicon Valley, has become part of the storied lore of the Valley. Incorporating authentic nineteenth century artifacts from the original Lion & Compass pub in Halifax, England, the name itself draws from the lion in the royal British crest and a nautical compass symbolizing England’s historic naval dominance. A comfortable mix of contemporary and traditional, business and pleasure, formal and casual, all blend easily together at the Lion & Compass while enjoying a delicious meal in unique surroundings. Whether it is the very popular lunch menu entrees of fresh seafood and grilled meats to entree salads and artisan sandwiches or the very popular evening menu entrees, beautifully crafted dishes using the best and freshest ingredients, it is always a delightful experience. It is the very reason why the Lion & Compass
Lion & Compass 1023 North Fair Oaks Ave. Sunnyvale (408) 745-1260 lionandcompass.com boasts of so many long time, devoted customers. The Lion & Compass has private banquet rooms that help create a warm, comfortable setting for business and special personal events. The Library is a beautiful wood-paneled room imported from a London townhouse that holds a maximum of 30 people. The Executive Room is a small, intimate private dining room located off the bar and holds a maximum of eight people. There are also several semiprivate areas in the restaurant that can accommodate parties of 10-40 people. The entire restaurant can be reserved for Private Parties, Wedding Receptions or Corporate Events up to 200 people. Whatever the occasion, the next billion dollar deal or simply enjoying a delicious dinner with friends, you need look no further. You will find it at the Lion & Compass.
A culinary oasis in Silicon Valley “The Lion & Compass is to the Silicon Valley what Sardi’s was to the theater district.” —The New York Times
For more than a quarter of a century, the Lion & Compass has maintained a special status in the Silicon Valley. Opening in 1982, the Lion & Compass quickly established its reputation as the premiere dining spot for the hightech cognescenti. From business dining and banquets, private corporate events, wedding receptions, to a fine dining experience for two, the Lion & Compass is a culinary oasis in the Silicon Valley.
1023 North Fair Oaks Avenue Sunnyvale, California 94089 (408) 745-1260 http://www.lionandcompass.com
Have a BLAST on the water WITH INFLATABLE TOW FLOATS By C. Holder
buying inflatable tow floats. A one-person towable is available or a larger one can be bought that will tow 5-6 people. This one would be If you have never been towed behind a appropriate for families with children who boat on an inflatable tow float, you do not need supervision. Some tow floats are even know what you are missing. Inflatable tow floats are fast, fun, and safe if precautions are equipped to allow riding on the knees and taken to ensure safety. They do not require as while standing. Because it requires huge amounts of air, an much skill as water skiing and will give your inflatable tow float will need to be filled with family many summer days of fun. Inflatable tow floats are typically made with an air compressor. Some people choose to use an inner tube of PVC material which is covered the reverse end of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner by a sturdy nylon cover. They come with han- because it is faster and easier than using a dles and a place on either side to attach a tow compressor with low air flow. Be sure not to rope. The tow rope should be made of a nylon over-inflate your float. Inflatable tow floats are a great way to have material approved by the American Water Ski fun with your family and friends. If you folAssociation (AWSA) so that it floats and, more importantly, so that it does not snap while be- low safety guidelines, you will have the time of your life and have unforgettable memories of ing towed. your days on the water. Many sizes and shapes are available when
Remington P O D I AT RY
GROUP
Foot & ankle physicians & surgeons Help for all foot & ankle problems starts here!
697 E. Remington Dr. Suite A, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 www.remingtonpodiatry.com Richard T. Koenigsberg, D.P.M. Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery
(408) 735-8592 Michael M. Amirkial, D.P.M. Victor W. Lee, D.P.M.
Diplomate, American Board of Medical Specialties in Podiatry, Board Certified in Podiatric Primary Care
(408) 245-3230
Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics
(408) 730-0810
Wedding Shoes
The Right Fit:
By Russell Williams
E
very bride has a vision of her perfect wedding. It may be a simple ceremony with a few close friends and family members. It may be an elaborate affair with a soaring cake and hundreds of guests. Whatever the dream, however, it is important that the bride be able to get through the entire celebration. For some brides, the way to do this is choosing the right shoes. Whether walking down the aisle or dancing the night away, a bride’s feet will have a lot to do on her wedding day. For brides with hemlines that brush the ground, there is a footwear option not of-
ten considered: sneakers. A pair of simple, white sneakers is a comfortable, affordable option for the bride with a trailing gown. The shoes remain hidden beneath the gown, doing nothing to spoil the picture of bridal perfection. With the support of a good pair of sneakers, the bride is free to walk and dance the night away, without falling prey to aching feet or the need to stop and sit to rest them. Brides, consider your feet. If your gown allows, consider sneakers. Your feet will be more comfortable, leaving the rest of your body free to look and feel radiant and energized, not pinched or sapped by a too tight pair of shoes. Simple is beautiful.
MACLA is an inclusive contemporary arts space grounded in the Chicano/Latino experience that incubates new visual, literary and performance art in order to engage people in civic dialogue and community transformation.
• Latino Art Now Annual Art Auction • Artist Workshops • Live South First Fridays Performance • Visual, Literary, and Performing Arts • Family Art Sundays
Come to MACLA and see our youth creating videos, enjoy great Latino art, participate as a family making art together, attend vibrant live performances and learn to dance! Gallery Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 12-7pm, Friday and Saturday 12-5pm. Free Admission 510 S. First St., San Jose CA 95113 408-998-ARTE
Lina Broydo
“Local” Getaways Travellina
Californian Russian Settlement Marks 200 Years C
elebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Fort Ross, the town where the first Russian settlers came to California’s Sonoma County is offering an exciting array of programs in honor of this very historic occasion. They established it as a thriving community from 1812 to 1841 and as a hub of entrepreneurial activity. The anniversary of Fort Ross tells the “fascinating story of Russians in California, some of the first European influences north of San Francisco,” said Robin Joy, an interpreter at Fort Ross Historic Park and Fort Ross 2012 Bicentennial Co- Chair. In 2009, the historic Fort Ross state park was in danger of closing due to the budget cuts. Vladimir Vinokurov, the Consul General of the Russian federation in San Francisco, was instrumental in approaching the Renova Group, one of Russia’s leading business concerns, which set up the Renova Fort Ross Foundation. “The foundation helped with the repair and preservation of some of the historic buildings in the Fort Ross state park as well as with allocating of funds to the on-going celebration of the bicentennial history of Fort Ross,” said Vinokurov at his recent meeting with the travel writer.
“Russian General Consul Vinokurov shares a passion for Fort Ross,” said Joy. “He brought the Russian Ambassador, Honorable Kislyak, to Fort Ross on two occasions. The Ambassador then went to Russia and encouraged successful business leaders to support Fort Ross. We are grateful to him.” The park has since been removed from the for-closure list. For the list of Fort Ross 2012 Bicentennial celebration events please visit: www.fortrossstatepark.org and http:///www. fortross2012.org Lina Broydo is a travel and arts writer and resides in Los Altos Hills, Calif.
Craftsmen’s Guild, Inc. UNIQUE HOMES, ADDITIONS & REMODELS
30 Years in Business Design • Build
BEFORE
All Under One Roof from A to Z Planning • Building Design Engineering • Permitting Interior • Construction Management • General Contracting • Consulting
The Amini Brothers
(408) 366-1000
moe@craftsmensguild.com www.craftsmensguild.com
AFTER
TOP
10
Reasons to Shop at Local Stores
Y
ou may already shop locally because it is convenient, or perhaps you don’t shop locally at all. There are however, many excellent reasons why shopping at local stores is very beneďŹ cial to you and the community in which you live. Here are the top ten reasons why you should do more local shopping: Better Customer Experience
Are you tired of being served by a grumpy, miserable, or even downright rude checkout operator? If you shop locally you are more likely to be received with a smile and have a very pleasant customer experience. At your local shop you are not just a faceless money-carrier, you are a person. Building a friendly relationship with the local shop owner makes for a much more relaxed atmosphere and a nicer shopping experience allround. Rather than making your day worse, shopping at a local store might just brighten your day. Helping to Local stores are owned and Maintain the operated by local people. The Community very same people as yourselves who care about the neighbourhood they live in. Local businesses donate to local charities and causes and improve the surrounding area. Why? They care about the area in which they live, just like you. Support local stores and you are supporting your local community.
Local Economic Properity
Money you spend at local shops and businesses is money that is kept in your community, enriching it for all. When you spend at a superstore the profits are taken by the corporation, whereas when you spend locally your whole community indirectly benefits, since that money will be re-invested in your region.
Unique Nothing destroys a region’s Community character like the imposition of Charactor an all-purpose megastore store. Local communities are unique places that have their very own culture, history and individual quality. Local stores are a part of this rich history and culture, having usually been around for several decades serving as pillars of the community. By supporting these local businesses you are ensuring the maintenance of the tradition and character of your area. A traditional diner or grocer is part of a town’s identity, and you would do well to support them with your custom. Unique When you shop at a local store, Products and you get to buy unique, local prodQuality ucts of a diverse range that you Produce would not find at a superstore. The stock has been carefully picked by the owner, rather than the dictates of market research and profitability. Especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables, shopping locally is superior to supermarket shopping in every way. The produce is fresher and tastier than supermarket goods, often picked only a day or two beforehand. Fresh, organic, locallygrown food is also not only healthier for you, but it is also healthier for your community, as you are sustaining local agriculture.
Using local businesses encourLocal ages healthy competition. This Competition ultimately brings you, the consumer, and a cheaper, wider range of goods. Multiple companies competing in individual markets is much better for everyone than one huge conglomerate selling a narrow range of every type of product. More Local Jobs
Small local companies create a wide variety of local jobs which help sustain community economies. By shopping at local stores and using local businesses you are ultimately creating a supply of jobs in your local area, through increasing demand for goods and services. Supporting Regional Agriculture
Through buying your fruit and vegetables from local outlets there are multiple positive effects. Aside from cheaper food bills and fresh produce, by supporting local farmers you are reinvesting money into your community and also helping the environment by reducing transport pollution. Helping In the world today everyone wants the to do what they can to help conserve Environment the environment and the planet’s natural resources. Shopping locally serves this cause in several ways. Major road congestion is reduced, as is general transport pollution. Buying goods from local stores also reduces fuel and energy consumption by bypassing the need to import from around the world. Local shops require little infrastructure, further decreasing our impact on the environment. Local Decision Making
Important decisions made by local stores and businesses ought not be harmful to the community since the owners are part of the community too – they have a vested interest and are committed to the area’s future themselves. Decisions affecting the community are not made in corporate board rooms hundreds of miles away, they are made by fellow members of the community who appreciate their impact. Happy Shopping! stories@svlocalmag.com
Town & Country Village 855 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94301 650.326.8583 www.downandlinens.com
Mother had a passion for fine fabrics. My memories are filled with her artistry in sewing beautiful dresses from Vogue patterns and exquisite materials she couldn’t resist when running her hand over them in the fabric department of local stores. In fact, she enjoyed creating things from fabrics so much; she took a part-time job when I was in high school in the fabric and pattern department of the local Gimbel’s department store. Here she had first choice to purchase the most beautiful materials from which she sewed Lynn Ellison, her wardrobe, and many owner times dresses for me and Scandia Home my sisters. Because of the wonderful customer service she provided her clients, she always won free Vogue patterns for being the lead salesperson in her department. I like to think her love for these things was passed on to me. After acquiring the Scandia Down store in Palo Alto over 25 years ago, I found the same joy in working with wonderful fabrics, not for clothing but to dress beds. For over three decades Scandia has been recognized as the first specialty store to offer a sleep style similar to many countries across the Atlantic. Recognized as the purveyor of the finest down products available, Scandia has maintained their high quality standards by using the choicest down
in the world, cleaning it to the highest specifications and putting that down into the finest fabrics to cover our comforters, pillows and downbeds, keeping you comfortable any time of the year. So, when it comes to dressing the bed, it wouldn’t be complete without putting our lush comforters and pillows into coverings just as soft and luxurious. To satisfy the diverse palette of our clients, we offer a variety of pattern styles – from exquisite damasks, elegant patterns, and casual prints to basic solids. Choose from one of our collections with fabrics from the finest mills in the world – Scandia Home Bed Linens (Italy), Schlossberg/Bonjour of Switzerland, Anne de Soléne (France), Dania Down (Israel), Peacock Alley (Italy/England), Bellino (Italy), Nancy Koltes (Italy), and Home Treasures (Italy). Now in our 25th year in Palo Alto, serving customers from Marin County to Carmel, across the State and around Country, I believe that customer service in tandem with our quality product lines is what discerning customers of high end products are looking for today. Educating you about your investment is an important part of what we do. Whether you are looking for the right comforter or pillow to meet your specific needs or putting together a custom bed linen ensemble, we are here to work with you through every detail. To compliment the creation of your own private “bed and breakfast”, we offer amenities such as rugs and towels from Habidecor/Abyss, as well as down throws, spa robes and wraps, travel comforters and travel pillows, nightlights and more. I, along with Susan and Linda, invite you to visit us and create your own “sanctuary of comfort”.
| | BODY & SOUL
Gaining ‘satisficience’ By Jan Hutchins Former News Anchor and Mayor of Los Gatos Zensun30@gmail.com
S
atisficient, a created word meaning a combination of satisfying and efficient. An antidote to perfectionism… I intend you have an experience of satisficience and need your cooperation. Please read only these first few words using your mind. Instead, shift your attention into your body. Make it your intention to experience these words as something happening in your heart and belly rather than your head. None of what is to come is for your mind. I invite you to breathe and enact this word, RELAX, until you do actually relax some. I imagine living in a culture where almost everyone is anxious, at least slightly dissatisfied and repressing something, so before we do anything else, let’s relax. I also imagine you are busy trying to get, do and/or be something and reading this article is a diversion from that “need”. Thank you for your time and attention! I hallucinate that the distance, or difference between here and now, with all it’s so-called “problems”, and being or having the things you want or reaching the goals you’ve set is the very definition of stress. These words are meant to be a means of easing the anxiety, stress, urge to control that come with the territory here in our Silicon Valley rush toward imagined (or actual) success and riches. I’m checking into our connection after doing what I’m inviting you to try. I’m feel-
ing relaxed as I write. I feel lots of joy imagining you experiencing this. I feel frustrated we’re not in the same space so I could see you and guide you. I am comfortable if this is not your medicine and you move forward “as stressed as I damn well am, thank you”. If you’re still with me, try relaxing again but this time allow an even deeper release with each exhale. You might feel like you’re deflating yourself, like you’re letting the air out of a balloon, releasing the pressure that keeps it stretched out of it’s natural shape. Like the balloon, we’re festive when we’re all puffed up with effort and ego playing our roles in this modern day gold rush. In my desire to survive and thrive, fear of failure arises and I become artificially happy, even festive, in an attempt to hide my fear and vulnerability from you and even from myself. Puffing myself up to hide being so stretched by the strain I’m about to burst is a way of life in our worlds. With each exhale continue relaxing layers of tension out of, or perhaps it will feel like off of, your body. When the next thing; the call, meeting, encounter, emotion, thought comes, see if you can meet it with a little relaxation, first. Some awareness you are actually breathing, next. Try that “relax and breathe” thing again and this time add a pause between the exhale and inhale. Repeat a few times until you get your face to relax a little, releasing tension from the forehead, jaw, tongue, eyes as you exhale, continuing to let it tension drop from your body and mind during the pause.
Start to allow the pause between the breaths to be at the top of the inhale and at the bottom of the exhale so you rest and relax, inhaling, pausing, exhaling, pausing as you gently slow down and find your way energetically to the ground. If you’re actually trying this, “You’re welcome!” I imagine I have your attention and you’re experiencing or being reminded of an alternate reality. Silence, stillness, enlightenment without words are available in these spaces. Enjoy and play for a while then come back when you imagine you’re ready for more. I imagine energy being birthed in my belly and rising up in me as I inhale. Try it a few times. I source it from the sensitive areas at the bottom of my torso, my genitals, anus and the area between. More on this delicate subject in my next article. I cannot overestimate the power waiting for you in this part of the body. So relax and breathe, lifting energy up from the bottom of your torso and pausing at both ends of the process until how you think and feel, your thoughts about what is happening,
your “story” in your head, becomes less interesting than playing with the vertical power residing in the energies this squeeze releases. Women might recognize this squeeze as the exercise recommended to help them be better lovers, men are taught to do this to keep their Prostate healthy. Either way, this as a vitality pump that not only produces energy but a sense of self-confidence and lightness in the body. This combination of pause breathing and conscious lifting of energy up from the bottom of the body are key elements in the practice of yoga and provide those of us striving to be, get and become with a convenient, free, technique to bring ease and acceptance, body wisdom and freedom from being controlled by anxiety. Practice this in moderation. Stop if it’s at all uncomfortable. It should be pleasurable almost beyond imagination. Discuss with your yoga teacher the nuances of this technique and/or contact me or this publication with feedback about your experience.
Blueberries:
THREE HEALTH BENEFITS OF A SUPERFOOD By C. Carr
B
lueberries are native to North America and widely cultivated in Europe. They thrive in temperate climates and require a position of full sun and acidic soil to produce a substantial crop. For the gardener, a young bush can be bought quite cheaply from a local garden centre and planted in a pot, if soil conditions are not ideal. Typically a bush will grow to be about 1.5 metres high, with the berries themselves growing on new branches that develop each growing season. To ensure the best yield possible, it is advisable to grow two or more bushes close together to provide cross-pollination. Once established, a blueberry bush can provide an excellent source of nourishment for many years at no cost. Blueberries are regarded as a ‘superfood’ by many nutritionalists on account of the unique health benefits they provide. These benefits include: 1. REDUCED BODY FAT. Studies in animal models have suggested that blueberries can subtly alter metabolism, resulting in increased rates of fat oxidation with a consequential decrease in body fat. A moderate intake of blueberries also appears to be linked to improved levels of fasting glucose in the bloodstream (delaying the onset of hunger) and sensitivity to insulin, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes and obesity. 2. REDUCED RISK OF CANCER. Blueberries are particularly rich in antioxidants. These are chemicals such as pterostilbene and anthocyanins (pigments responsible for the blue hue of blueberries) that have a protective effect against cancer and ageing. Antioxidants react with harmful chemicals called free radicals that are liberated from cellular processes, thus preventing the damage to cells and DNA that is associated with the progression of old age.
3. PREVENTION OF NEURODEGENERATIVE ILLNESS. Preliminary studies in animals have indicated that diets rich in blueberries may provide some degree of protection against neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. Blueberries provide high quantities of vitamins A, B-complex, C and E, along with a multitude of minerals required for the intense metabolic demands of neurone cells. Although neurodegenerative illnesses may not be curable, their progression may at least be slowed by attention to diet.
Save Over $5,000
one, two, free
Thermador One, Two, Free Event - Save over $5,000
1580 El Camino Real • Redwood City, CA 94063 daviesappliancestores.com • (650) 366-5728 BUY ONE OF THE COOKING PACKAGES BELOW GET A FREE DISHWASHER!
+
OR
36" or 48" Pro Range
=
=
OR
1580 El Camino Real •FREE Redwood City, CA 94063 daviesappliancestores.com • (650) 366-5728 Step up to a Topaz Dishwasher for $200 OR Sapphire Dishwasher for $400 OR Star Sapphire Dishwasher for $600
Double or Combination Wall Oven and any Cooktop
Buy a Refrigerator get a FREE Hood
STEAM BONUS Purchase a built in cooking package** PLUS Steam Oven (MES301H) or 48" Pro Grand Steam Range (PRD48JDSGU) and receive a FREE Sapphire Dishwasher. Step up to a Star Sapphire Dishwasher for $200.
+
**Steam Oven must be purchased in addition to a qualifying built in cooking package (Double or Combination Oven + Cooktop) to qualify for Sapphire Dishwasher upgrade. Products must be purchased during the promotion period of June 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. Promotion valid only on select Thermador models. To be eligible for the free appliances offered in this promotion, all other appliances must be purchased at their regular price, in one order, and at the same time. No substitutions will be allowed. Please see sales associate for complete details. Only valid at participating Purcell Murray dealers.
+
OR
=
Senior service agencies
getting creative
In Silicon Valley, approximately one-fifth of the population is 65 and older. This figure will jump to one-infour by the year 2030. While we have all heard about the demographic “age wave,” what is less known is that half of adults 60 and older in Santa Clara County (50%) live below the Elder Economic Standard Index (EESI), an area-specific measure of poverty, according to the latest report from Council on Aging. Right now, many benefit programs only serve individuals that meet the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) - a cost of living at about $1000 per month. While 25% of seniors fall under the FPL, an additional 25% live below the EESI, a more accurate measure of poverty, leaving them in ‘the eligibility gap.’ Local senior service agencies are coming up with creative solutions to engage the community in helping their neighbors. For the past two years, The Health Trust partnered with Council on Aging to engage 90 volunteers and 270 agencies to inform 28,000 adults 50+ of local resources and keys to healthy aging. Resources highlighted included free and income-based local programs for health, fall prevention, housing, transportation, in-home support, caregiver support and food and meal programs. Volunteer ‘Health Champions’ connected with faith communities, libraries, health clinics, senior lunch programs, ethnic sites, after-school programs, hospitals, the Veterans Administration, and more. Silicon Valley is one of the wealthiest areas
in the nation, but at least one-half of our seniors have a myriad of unmet needs. ‘Healthy Steps’ is one of many volunteer opportunities to help ensure that older adults spend more years in good health and engaged as vital members of our community. How can you help to make this a place where we can all age with dignity and health? For more information about how to get involved, please contact: Pauline de Lange, MA Health Promotion Coordinator The Health Trust in partnership with Council on Aging paulined@healthtrust.org (o) 408-879-4105
Unique Outdoor Living Unique Outdoor Living Unique Outdoor Living is a full service outdoor specialty dealer. We carry everything from BBQ Grills, Refrigeration, Sideburners, Ronda Watertight Doors and Drawers, Ice Makers, Custom Island Frames, and we carry a full-line of barbecue accessories. What makes us different than a lot of other stores: 1. We hand pick everything in the store. We are not in business to simply add products to our showroom just to sell. This is why you will find Memphis, TEC, Twin Eagles, Firemagic, AOG, Viking, Primo, Green Mountain Grills, Big Green Egg, and other handpicked grills on our showroom floor. These are grills that offer a fantastic cooking experience, and are manufactured by companies that stand behind their products, their dealers, and ultimately with you their customer. 2. We are a local store committed to our local community. 3. We offer you an opportunity to cook in our outdoor cooking center where you can
experience first-hand what the differences are between the grills we carry. 4. We also carry a full-line of outdoor furniture that is also handpicked from companies like Ratana, OW LEE, Hanamint, Summer Classics, Summerset. Additionally, we carry Treasure Garden umbrellas 5. We carry a full-line of OW Lee Firepits, including Unique Outdoor Living’s house brand. 6. We carry a full-line of heaters, including Infratech, Sunpack, and Sunglo. 7. We match written quotes, so you know you will always be given the best price, which also includes our unbeatable service and knowledge.
2096 Stone Avenue, San Jose (408) 287-5511 http://www.uniqueoutdoorliving.com
SJSU Nursing Reaches Out
to the Community
The San José State University (SJSU) Valley Foundation School of Nursing Nurse Managed Centers Program addresses the primary health care needs of the greater San José area with a
mission, “to provide quality community based health care services in an innovative educational environment.” The focus of the Nurse Managed Centers is health promotion and illness prevention for populations across the lifespan. Nurse Managed Centers provide services to well and frail elders, lowincome families, and provide services to persons with chronic mental illness. A unique feature of the SJSU Nurse Managed Centers is the academic focus as they serve as the clinical setting for undergraduate nursing students in both community and mental health practicum experience. Services provided include
blood pressure monitoring and screening, diabetic management (glucose monitoring and screening), health education classes, health promotion programs, Toby Adelman, RN, Ph.D. medication Associate Professor education and Community Health San Jose State University monitoring, nutrition education, and home visits. By collaborating with a variety of organizations such as the Health Trust and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, the SJSU Valley Foundation School of Nursing is standing in its commitment to creating a healthier Silicon Valley. By utilizing the services of health practitioners in our community to provide quality health education and promotion, for example Rosen Method exercise classes for seniors at an independent living facility, or Better Bones and Balance classes at the Timpany Center, we fulfill our mission of providing innovative education in the science and art of professional nursing.
HEALING HEARTS BODYWORK
Patricia Angelina, C.M.T.
Call for Appointment
Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner & Movement Teacher
408-624-6167
www.HealingHeartsBodywork.com Patricia Angelina at Healing Hearts Bodywork
Rediscover Your Authentic Self through Touch and Movement Patricia Angelina is a holistic bodywork practitioner and movement teacher with over 20 years experience. She practices bodywork with a focus on the integration of body/mind/spirit/emotions: the whole person. Through deep relaxation awareness is enhanced. Free up your own natural breath and aliveness.
Rosen Bodywork
Rosen Method is a bodywork modality that focuses on the connection between breathing, emotional responses and body functioning to help release unconscious chronic muscle tension.
Rosen Movement
Enjoyment and ease of movement are the emphasis of Rosen Movement classes. This gentle exercise method can be taught to people of all ages, sizes and abilities. The classes are made up of stretches, joint mobilizations and dance-like movements that are done to music. Classes are fun, stress-releasing, and energizing. Experience feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and more in touch with yourself! By moving together as a group we offer each other support and community. “The Rosen Method movement class has been great for improving my balance and helping me get more limber. It’s fun doing the movements to music with a group. I feel more connected to my body. Patty is very friendly, helpful, and professional.” -- Kristine F.
Using a “listening touch,” I focus on the places in the client’s body where chronic tension is held and where free movement of breath is inhibited. The objective is to slowly expand the client’s awareness of himself and to invite relaxation and release of the holding. As this process unfolds, habitual tension and old patterns may be released, freeing the client to experience more aliveness, new choices in life and a greater sense of well-being. “This work is about transformation – from the person we think we are to the person we really are.” — Marion Rosen
Experience: Deep Relaxation Being - Not Doing Letting Go Accepting Allowing
Rosen Movement — Moving & Living With Ease!
First Class FREE! CMT CERT. #1295
Preventive — Restorative Lose your aches and pains, gain freedom of movement, vitality and joy!
LOVING WHO YOU REALLY ARE!
The Local State Rainy Hake
Executive Vice President, Alain Pinel Realtors (408) 741-1111 apr.com
ers Q: Do you think 2013 will be a buy or sellers market? The 2013 housing market in the San for Francisco Bay Area will be advantageous both buyers and sellers. est Buyers are experiencing some of the low e interest rates in history making hom rates ownership affordable for many. Rental ve acti attr continue to climb making it very to for those who can qualify for financing of 30% purchase rather than rent. Nearly cash all Bay Area homes sales in 2012 were s stor buyers illustrating the fact that inve t recognize the buying opportunity tha currently exists. Subsequently, Bay Area sellers are benefiting from one of the strongest ing housing markets in the nation. Accord s, to the California Association of Realtor r ove r yea prices are up as much as 25% . year in some Bay Area neighborhoods ity equ the d aine While not everyone has reg ers lost in their homes, well positioned sell er are taking advantage of their selling pow less now. Many of our local markets have ply sup h Wit than 1 month of inventory. iving restricted, well priced homes are rece multiple offers, the most in the last 12 sell! years, making 2013 a GREAT time to of And with patience, there are still a lot ers. great deals to be had out there for buy
Rick Turley
President, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (925) 275-3085 CaliforniaMoves.com
Q: Do you see Northern Californi a luxury home sales moving ahead of the Southern California market? There is no doubt in my mind that the epicenter of the luxury housing univer se is moving from Southern California to the Bay Area, especially Silicon Valley, due in large part to the success and influence of our tech industry. Coldw ell Banker’s annual Home Listing Report , a national study, found Los Altos was the most expensive market in the U.S. with an average listing price for a four-bedroom home at more than $1.7 million. In fact, seven of the top 10 most expensive markets, and 10 of the top 15, were in the Bay Area and Carmel. This is a big shift from the day s when posh Southern California locals like Newport Beach dominated the top end of the survey. Other cities in the top 20 were Saratoga, Menlo Park, Pal o Alto, Los Gatos, Carmel, San Carlos, Cupertino, San Francisco, Belmont, and Redwood City.
of Real Estate Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder Intero (408) 863-3000 InteroRealEstate.com
ill Q: Do you think Tech w the be the driving force in tate in near future for Real Es Silicon Valley? y Absolutely! Here in the Ba estion Area, the answer to the qu ems “who’s buying homes?” se yees to be a resounding “emplo s” – of all the hot tech companie Oracle, Facebook, Zynga, Google, Yes, Apple – the usual suspects. a we are indeed blessed with s to be deep economy that seem than you creating many more jobs parts of see being created in other the country. that This is why it’s no surprise is even our housing market a bucking trends and seeking many category all its own. While are just markets across the country arket starting to pull up from m me to bottom, Silicon Valley is ho ing some of the strongest hous now markets in the nation right and in the near future.
Chris Trapani
Founder & CEO, Sereno Group (650) 947-2901 serenogroup.com
Q: What are some of the risks tha remain in 2013 for the local ho t will using industry? The level of risk in our local housing market has been significantly minimized as we head into 2013. One of the main risks has become a lack of available housing for increasing dem and. 2012 will be remembered as the year real estate returned to favor in the Bay Area in a big way. 2011 was a year with a reasonabl e supply of inventory and modest competitio n for housing in Santa Clara County. This tide abr uptly turned in January of 2012, surprising most buyers, as market conditions began to tilt in favor of sellers and this trend intensified through the final months of 2012. Based upon how tight and compet itive the early/ spring 2012 market was and taking the current data into consideration, the first hal f of 2013 will see even more competition for a low er supply of properties. All of this adds up to further appreciation, which is already occ urring in virtually every market area in our region. If there are risks to our local real est ate market in 2013, it has to do more with lim ited supply of available housing. Some challen ges remain with constrained credit due to loa n qualifying guidelines; however, there seems to be plenty of cash and buyers that are able to qua under the new lending climate. Wh lify even ile there are other potential global and nation al headwinds, these concerns are not enough to outweigh the momentum of several years of pen t-up demand which is facing the lowest inventory levels in over a decade.
Mortgage rates are still historically low
Act now
Look into refinancing with a responsible lending leader. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage continues to provide quality refinance choices, including options that address many of the unique challenges facing homeowners today. You may be able to: • • • • • •
Lower your monthly mortgage payment Switch from an ARM to a predictable fixed-rate loan Access funds for large expenses or debt management Get a shorter term to pay off your mortgage faster Finance your closing costs as part of your new loan Make improvements to your home with renovation financing
Don’t miss your chance
Just a few minutes with a home mortgage consultant will help you understand your refinancing options.
Contact Wells Fargo Home Mortgage today
Jimmy Kang
Home Mortgage Consultant Cell: 408-888-7742 581 University Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 www.wfhm.com/wfhm/jimmy-kang jimmy.kang@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 508545
Credit is subject to approval. Some restrictions apply. This information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. If you are a servicemember on active duty, prior to seeking a refinance of your existing mortgage loan, please consult with your legal advisor regarding the loss of any benefits you are entitled to under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act or applicable state law. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. 104226 - 07/12
F O S R O T L A RE
y e l l a V n o c Sili
t s i l a i c e p S
ATOS LOS G
Ducky Grabill
What’s It Like Working With The Sereno Group? It’s special and truly wonderful. Chris Trapani, the co-Founder of the Sereno Group, someone who I have always greatly respected, called and shared with me his Vision of the Sereno Group. It was from that call, and the conversation we had, that I accepted his offer. I was one of his first calls. That call meant a lot to me and always will. I am truly grateful for being associated with Chris and his great Vision. What Thoughts Do You Have About Your Career and Relationships? I love what I do. It is with great pleasure and pride, every time, to see the joy and reassurance that come as a result of the professional work we do. The buying and selling of a home in one’s life is extremely important, and how it goes, makes such a difference. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve and make a positive difference in people’s lives. How Does Your Marketing Strategy Set You Apart? I am fortunate where I have a great network of subcontractors and reliable resources for home alterations and improvements. I work closely with the homeowners in getting their home ready to sell for weeks, even months. I stage the homes I list. I have bought inventory and rent warehouse space. I pay a stager to stage the house with my inventory. The nicer the house looks, the more money
the seller makes. It’s a very satisfying win-win. What Would You Say About Your Invaluable Team? I have an amazing support team. I couldn’t do what I am doing without them and we work so very well together. Adene Anderson is so energetic and thorough and detail-oriented. Amy Hoefer handles my marketing, creates my website, as well as the design for my brochures and marketing pieces. She is also my talented daughter, and has worked for me for eight years, since graduating from Santa Clara University. For all this, I am so fortunate and most grateful.
DUCKY GRABILL 4 0 8 . 7 6 1 . 4 0 7 3 | W W W. D U C K Y G R A B I L L . C O M
Finding home
Top producing Realtor in Los Gatos for 20 of the last 23 years
Tim Blake T
im is located in the Woodside office of Coldwell Banker, near where he grew up in Portola Valley. What was your first job in Real Estate and who inspired you?
I began my Real Estate career, first in commercial real estate at Coldwell Banker Commercial in San Jose.
This area is more than a place to live. Silicon Valley is an experience. My father had been in the mortgage business with a strong background in law from Stanford, and I had my original inspiration from him for his character and reputation in the industry. He did much of the financing for Joe Eichler. Joe’s home designs gave me the idea of architecture.
How has your education helped contribute to your career, as it has?
Quite well for what was to come. I attended UC Berkeley’s School of Architecture with a number of business and finance courses, including courses in real estate from Marv Starr, considered the father of real estate exchanging. I graduated from Cal focused to enter into the real estate industry, with a background in architecture, and a good sense of business and finance.
T I M
B L A K E
Broker Ass o ciate , CO L DW E L L BANKE R 4 0 8 888 44 90 | WWW.O U RS I L I CO NVAL L E YH O M E .CO M
What can you say sets you apart when it comes to Real Estate?
I would say the diversity of my background. I’ve seen a lot in my career, from residential to commercial real estate, underwriting and acquisition of commercial, office and industrial investment properties acquired for the city of San Jose, where I headed up acquisitions for their real estate advisor. My contact base continues to help my clients with virtually any real estate needs, anywhere. And the quality of listening to client needs is a cornerstone of mine. This is a relationship business, and the extent of relationships from all aspects of a transaction and in the community is a big part of success for my clients. I do like to surround myself with excellence, and there are great people in this profession. What do you love most about what you do?
Beyond the satisfaction of helping a family get into their new home or just make a successful transition to their next chapter, I very much enjoy connecting people with others who can add to the quality of their lives. I thank all my clients, quality people across all types of professions, who have all made this career so rewarding. This area is more than a place to live. Silicon Valley is an experience. There is so much to do here in
the Bay Area, and to share what I know with others is gratifying. How about a few thoughts on the personal side?
Sure. I’m a big believer in staying in the best possible condition - athletically, nutritionally, and having a clear head. I’ve done triathlons in Catalina, and it’s great to have a goal to aim for. Among other goals, I want to give back, and I’ve been involved in kids charities. Pretty simply, I like to make a difference. One other side of me I enjoy sharing is my photography website, www.timblakeimagery.com, where you can see slideshows with soundtracks. Many photographs are local, giving people an idea of the incredible places we have here to visit. People may move here for the opportunity, they stay for the lifestyle.
“Through our whole house searching and buying experience, Joey was always very optimistic. Those times when I just wanted to give up, he would find us a house that exceeded our expectations at a price range that was always within reach. He is very knowledgeable, and very attentive to your needs. He was even able to save us money on our house. He works for you, and I never had any unanswered questions, or doubts in my mind about what was going on through the whole process. He made the experience fun, and that is hard to do! I would recommend Joey Portale 100%.” —Kevin and Jennifer Simpson
cell: 408.483.0552 | fax: 408.723.1950 joey.portale@cbnorcal.com | www.joeyportale.com San Jose Willow Glen | 1712 Meridian Ave | San Jose, CA 95125 dre license#: 01800376
J
oey Portale has distinguished himself among the top real estate professionals in Silicon Valley. He joined Coldwell Banker to utilize, among other things, the company’s superior tools in marketing and technology to offer his clients the best resources available. A native of Willow Glen, Joey was trained from an early age to have a strong and dedicated work ethic. He grew up immersed in the entrepreneurial spirit shown both by his grandfather, former owner of La Villa, an Italian deli in Willow Glen, as well as his father, a well known Willow Glen contractor and business owner. The knowledge he gained from these two dedicated and successful businessmen helped to shape Joey’s impressive career in real estate. Today, Joey works with both buyers and sellers in Silicon Valley, representing first-time home buyers, investors and scores of move-up buyers as well as those looking to downsize. With his real estate investments and career as a Realtor, Joey has nearly a decade of experience. He has become one of the most successful Realtors in Silicon Valley, thanks to a unique combination of dedication, commitment and personal drive. In December 2007, Joey was recruited to Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage San Jose Willow Glen. Even in the challenging year of 2008, Joey earned the company’s coveted International Sterling Society honor. Since that time, Joey has written, negotiated and managed million dollar contracts. This background is unique in the industry and is a benefit to his clients in every transaction. If you are looking for someone who will negotiate hard on your behalf or market your property to achieve the highest sales price, Joey has certainly proven he is the right person to accomplish that with scores of satisfied clients.
Ruth and Perry Mistry SVL: How does your marketing strategy set you apart? Ruth and Perry: We define, implement and execute on traditional marketing, as well as social media, digital media and mobile marketing. We promote and advertise our homes, as well as impart market trends through sites, such as Trulia, Realtor.com, Coldwell Banker.com, Google, Facebook and Twitter, to name a few. We have a very prolific blog and spend a few hours a day working on Digital/Social Marketing. Our website www.ruthandperry. com has been found to be very useful. Being excellent and patient listeners to our client’s wants and needs, we enable our sellers to show their home better by working with stagers, contractors and inspectors at the onset of the listing process. We work well with our Buyers and Sellers, in a team approach, while advising them of marketing trends and inventory levels, as well as interest rates and contract issues, while securing their financial and legal interests. As a team, we have two graduate degrees, including an MBA; we keep abreast with the newest technologies, concepts and media trends, all to enable a crisp marketing message. While working for a top-notch company like Coldwell Banker, we find it easy to implement and execute our Marketing and Sales plans. SVL: What percentage of your business comes from Referrals or Repeat Customers? Ruth and Perry: A third of our business is from Repeat Customers and Referrals. We have been in business for nearly 30 combined years and have sold hundreds of homes. We rank in the top 10% for sales at our office year after year. We understand that Selling or Buying a house is one of the largest
investments a family makes. Since we manage the process from start to finish with patience, trust, execution and excellence, we generate faith and repeat customers. Quite a few of our clients are investors. Since we are also well-versed with multiunits, additions and renovations, and are experienced investors in Real Estate, too, we are able to effectively guide our clients and friends. SVL: What do you attribute your success to? Ruth and Perry: We attribute our success to our clients, with whom we work in a team environment. Having a thorough understanding of the Bay Area Market and Counties and their trends enables us to operate in an environment of Trust, Generating Results and Excellence. Furthermore, working at Coldwell Banker and having access to the cutting edge marketing, web tools and wonderful fellow team members, and support staff, helps us thrive. We have lived in Silicon Valley for over 26 years and have enjoyed living in Los Gatos, CA since 1998 after living in Santa Clara and Blossom Valley. We have two children. Our daughter is in her second year at Col Poly and our son is a Junior at Los Gatos High School. (Go Wildcats!) When we are not working we both enjoy traveling so Perry can increase his stamp and coin collections, we are movie buffs and Ruth enjoys doing crafts along with outdoor hiking and spending time with the family. After living in different locations with in and outside the United States we both agree that Los Gatos and Bay Area is a Great place to call home.
More Than 30 Combined Years of
Sales Excellence, Results & Trust! Luxury properties and houses for sale
Ruth and Perry Realtors速 R) 408-859-4111 P) 408-656-5343 ruthmistry@yahoo.com http://www.ruthandperry.com
t s i l a i c e p S
PARK N A I MBR
CA
Chris Zanger
SVL: How did you specialize in this neighborhood? CZ: I always took a liking to this neighborhood. Years ago, my best friend’s father bought a home here. I remember liking the size of the backyard, so when it was time for my wife and me to grow, Cambrian Park was the first place we looked. Luckily, we found our dream home. Once we moved in, I quickly got to know ALL the neighbors. We walk daily, go to neighborhood gatherings, and are always outside talking with people and slowly neighbors starting asking me for real estate help. As that help grew, the idea of marketing my neighborhood became much more appealing. It’s seemed easy, I lived there, walked the neighborhood daily, it just made sense. So, now I am truly the “neighborhood specialist.” SVL: What distinct qualities do you see in this neighborhood that others might not? CZ: Opportunity… the unincorporated part of Cambrian Park has very large lots which provide flexibility to build, add-on, or just enjoy a huge lot. Let’s face it; dirt around here is very expensive, the more you have the better the investment. Additionally, Cambrian Park has quality schools. SVL: Do you offer assistance to help your buyer integrate with the neighborhood? CZ: Absolutely… I introduce them to all the specifics to the neighborhood. Living there, I know most everything the area (schools, streets, local service people, shops, etc) has to offer. I introduce
them to those that I feel will make their move to the neighborhood easier. SVL: What was your first job in Real Estate? CZ: I was a “realtor” when I first started. At that time, I showed prospective buyers homes and secured listings for sale. SVL: What made you decide to enter the Real Estate market? CZ: When I graduated Chico State, I moved to Los Angeles and sold outdoor advertising campaigns to large action sport companies. A typical day had me calling on average of about 70 people per day. When I would explain my role as an ad salesman to my father, he would laugh and continuously tell me that those kinds of efforts in Real Estate would lead me to financial freedom. It seemed easy and I am happy with the decision I made to help my clients purchase and sell their homes. I get more satisfied with a successful closing (seller and buyer) extremely happy, there isn’t anything more gratifying to me than having a happy client. SVL: What about your marketing strategy sets you apart from your peers? CZ: Each home is unique, and not every purchaser out there will want to purchase the listings I have currently for sale. So, it’s up to me to figure out who will be the likely buyer for my particular listings. Once you find your market, your marketing material should be geared towards those types of individuals. For instance, marketing a 1 bedroom condo to a 5 person family will likely give you very poor results, right? Identify your market, over expose your product, and make it available to all to come and see the home on their terms and you should find success in selling the home so long as the home is priced appropriately.
SILI WE S CON ELL VAL LEY
Chris Zanger Realtor®
(408) 914-5046 Referral Realty Cupertino Office 1601 S. De Anza Blvd Suite 150 Cupertino, CA 95014
Carl, Betty and Chris strive to uphold Referral Realty’s motto
EXPECT EXCELLENCE
THE
chriszanger@referralrealty.com
http://www.thezangerteam.com
TEAM
Diane Templin SVL: What made you decide to become a Realtor? DT: After 30 years in management, mostly high tech, I thought it time for a change. Up until this decision, my timing has always been great. Starting real estate in 2005 was my first experience with bad timing. That being said, I love real estate, and have no regrets. We’ve seen the worst of times. SVL: What are the top three things that separate you from other Realtors? DT: First, I love what I do for all the right reasons. 2. My problem solving and communication skills have never failed me. I listen; really listen, before I speak. 3. I preview all properties before showing my clients a home. So many realtors hand their client a list to check out on their own. Not good. My clients’ time is as valuable as my own. SVL: What’s your business philosophy? DT: Do the right thing. Somewhat overused today. If you really focus on doing the right thing for your clients, you will succeed. Real Estate has too many loopholes that works for the agent, and not the client.
SVL: What do you attribute your success to? DT: I truly love the challenge of real estate. People seem to like and respect me and I project that back in return. I’m honest; some say too honest. Oxy moron. SVL: What book are you currently reading? DT: East of Eden SVL: When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up? DT: Veterinarian SVL: If they made a movie of your life, who’d play you? DT: Bette Midler SVL: What place you always dreamed about visiting? DT: Africa SVL: Do you have a hidden talent? DT: Not really. I think I see the big picture in life better than most, but no specific talent. SVL: Are you good at keeping a secret? DT: Absolutely! Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. I’m unforgiving when someone breaks that trust.
“Each client treated as if he/she is my only client.”
Diane Templin
Realtor
DRE# 01741912 (650) 224-1335 (Cell) dtemplin@taffecoagent.com
http://www.taffeco.com
http://www.taffeco.com
t s i l a i c e p S RTH SA/NO
ES BERRY
Y VALLE
Steve Gray
SVL: How long have you been in the real estate business? SG: About 26 years — first in mortgage loans. SVL: How long have you been in residential real estate sales? SG: About 25 years SVL: What separates you from other agents? SG: The determination to really listen to clients wants, needs, and preferences. I work mostly with buyers and I sift through listings to find what is closest to their list of preferences. While most buyers settle on a home within one and a half months, I have had clients with special needs (especially those seeking buildable lots) who have needed up to two years to find what they really want. SVL: What should a buyer or seller know in working with you? SG: That a real estate purchase or marketing a home is a team effort. It takes focused attention for a period of time. It is very similar to the “mastermind” concept advanced by Napoleon Hill, where we, along with the affiliates we are working with, work together in a concentrated effort to complete a goal. There is more to it than just finding a property and getting it under contract or finding a ready willing and able buyer for a property. It takes some experience to avoid pitfalls and make sure that all the inspections and legalities are properly taken care of so problems don’t develop years after a sale is closed.
SVL: Can you recommend service providers who can help me with repairs or home improvements? SG: I personally have developed relationships with many reliable contractors over the years. Also, Village Square Realty has an extensive property management arm that has a roster of reliable service providers. SVL: How has the recession affected the residential real estate market in the Santa Clara Valley? SG: Prices in most areas have been reduced by about 30% -- roughly where they were 10 years ago. The East Valley and Evergreen areas have been hit more severely, partly due to more common use of low-down-payment financing in those areas in the last 15 years. On the other hand, values in Palo Alto and Los Altos have been much less affected; perhaps as low as 5%. We are beginning to see multiple offers on beautiful properties with good locations and coveted schools. SVL: What would surprise most people about bank-owned and short-sale properties? SG: Major banks are having appraisals done on these properties and are rigid on holding the line once a value has been determined. Unless the appraisals are flawed, these properties are NOT being sold at drastically discounted prices, as compared to current sales prices for the neighborhood. SVL: What other profession would you choose if you weren’t working in Real Estate? SG: Composing film scores.
Whether buying or selling, trust the experts at Village Square Realty to help you put the pieces together.
Providing a superior level of informed, professional Real Estate services to buyers and sellers in the greater Los Gatos area.
Village Square Realty
15575 Los Gatos Boulevard Building # A Los Gatos, California 95032 Main:(408) 399-3418 Fax: (408) 399-3422 http://www.villagesquarerealty.com
Steve Gray
Agent (408) 317-1919 stevegray@yahoo.com
silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection
Insights Online.