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September 2016
Serving Alamo and Diablo A Community Minded Man By Alisa Corstorphine
In May 1993, community minded resident Bruce Marhenke started a hyperlocal newspaper called Alamo Magazine. He led off the inaugural issue with an article titled “Hello…Alamo!” and mailed the 28 page “rag” to the residents of Alamo. Bruce wanted to celebrate his town and share local happenings. He kept the paper “homey,” and in the masthead banner instead of listing a price for a copy of the paper, he wrote “PRICELESS!” His goal was to “…bring the best of the news – some new, some about days gone by – about our neat little hamlet of Alamo!” Bruce Marhenke The paper began when email, digital photography, and computers were young. Bruce would use a typewriter, his trusty camera, Safeway photo processing, and sheets of cardboard to layout the pages and get the paper ready for press. He wanted contributions from “residents, business people, old timers, young kids, clubs, schools, government, associations, sports
Charity Bike Institute
See Bruce continued on page 11 By Fran Miller
Throughout an entrepreneurial career that has taken him from sales with IBM to his current position with Reflow Water Works, Alamo resident Stephen “Steamer” Stanley has always found time for charitable endeavors. After having been a youth sports coach, and having served on the boards of Shelter, Inc., CEID, and the Orinda Chamber of Commerce. In addition to being active in Rotary, Stanley decided it was time to establish his own charitable organization, and thus, Charity Bike Institute (CBI) was created. CBI’s premise is simple: they collect unwanted bicycles, refurbish and restore them if necessary, and donate them to individuals in need. Stanley operates the organization year-round, relying on word of mouth for his collection of unwanted bikes. He personally contacts homeless and transitional shelters, schools, veteran groups, and other organizations to find those in need of a bike. His staff of high school vol- Stephen Stanley, founder of the Charity Bike Institute, presents Angie unteers provide the Carmignani of the Taylor Family Foundation with a donated bike trike. tune-up labor, and he was recently provided free use of a large business office on
See Bike continued on page 25
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Children walked coast to coast beside the family wagon, which carried supplies for the long journey. Photo by Jody Morgan
The Spirit of the Old West: Honoring Our Past, Educating Our Future By Jody Morgan
The Spirit of the Old West at the Blackhawk Museums is a powerful tribute to two vastly different civilizations that collided across the American West – one losing an ancestral homeland, the other claiming an intractable wilderness. Each side of the exhibition immerses visitors in the culture presented. A 140-foot long topographic table recreates events that marked the westward expansion of the United States. Artifacts used by Plains Indians and American settlers are displayed against a backdrop of colorful murals. Animals indigenous to the mountains, plains, and valleys enhance the sense of entering an earlier time and wilder place. Intrigued by a friend’s suggestion that a remarkable collection of antiques from the American West was available to a single individual purchasing it in its entirety, Ken Behring traveled to Cody, Wyoming to see it. He immediately recognized the educational value of the collection Jerry Fick had spent his life discovering and preserving. Fick, whose grandmother was a full-blooded Delaware Indian, grew up
See West continued on page 20
Motorists enjoyed hill climbing competitions on Mount Diablo until the State Park opened in 1931. Drivers celebrate reaching the summit c.1920. (photo courtesy of Beverly Lane and Ralph Cozine) th
Mount Diablo – Magnet for Early 20 Century Motorists By Jody Morgan
As soon as roads to the summit of Mount Diablo were completed in 1915, intrepid motorists began using the steep grades to test their driving prowess. Eager for proof of superior performance to Volume XVI - Number 9 advertise, automobile manufacturers used 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 the Mount Diablo climb to establish reliability of their products. Challenge trophies Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 brought professional competitors. AmaAlisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher teurs vied to clock the fastest time from Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Oakland to the top. The era ended and was Sharon Burke ~ Writer almost forgotten after 1931 when Mount The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today Diablo State Park acquired the roads. is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising
See Motorists cont. on page 30
herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
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After nearly 45 years in business, the well recognized landmark of uncompromising quality and personalized service in Alamo—Mark Kahn Jewelers—is excited to announce its transition to the next generation, as Diablo Fine Jewelers. Built upon the rock-solid foundation of professional expertise and integrity so well established by Mark Kahn, Mark’s daughter, Julie Kahn-Crowder, along with co-owners Ron Shelly and David Fitts, bring their vast collective experience to Diablo Fine Jewelers, proudly continuing and expanding what was started by Mark Kahn in 1972. Julie was brought up in her father's jewelry business and now has over thirty years of experience in the industry. A long time Alamo resident, she loves to develop personal, long term relationships with her clients—something evident by her loyal following. Julie is an expert in re-imagining an outdated piece into something beautiful and current. She is also experienced in restringing and engraving. Co-owner Ron Shelly has a wealth of experience in the jewelry industry. He has lived in the East Bay for over thirty years and, like Julie, has earned an extremely loyal following. Ron believes that jewelry is meant to be worn and enjoyed. He is very “fashion forward” and enjoys helping his clients build their jewelry wardrobes. Lastly, David Fitts is the third member of this trio. David comes to Diablo Fine Jewelers with twenty-five years of experience in all aspects of the ever-changing jewelry industry. As a salesperson, manager, and buyer, he is uniquely qualified to serve all of your jewelry needs. He has traveled throughout the United States and Europe and has developed a keen eye for style and trends. Julie, Ron, and David, along with customer service professional Kristine Walker, and goldsmith Sean Wilson, invite you visit Diablo Fine Jewelers—where you’ll discover how a legacy of exceptional service and quality continues and why experience is the difference! We are proud to feature many new designer collections including Roberto Coin! In addition, we offer full service repairs of your jewelry and watches, appraisal services, as well as help with all of your custom design Mark Kahn continues to be in store 2-3 days a week. Stop needs. Please visit us at 3202 Danville Blvd. in Alamo. the by and say, “Hi”!
3202 Danville Blvd. (Formerly Mark Kahn Jewelers - across from Ace Hardware), Alamo, CA | 925.837.3262 | diablofinejewelers.com Mon-Fri 10a-6p • Sat 10a-4p
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CAROLYN GWYNN PROUDLY PRESENTS
CAROLYN GWYNN Realtor®
| 925.336.7525
carolyn@thegwynngroup.com www.carolyngwynn.com
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 3
1255 SILVERWOOD COURT, DANVILLE
4 beds | 3 baths | 2298 sf | .12 acres +/- of beautifully landscaped yard! Located in a quiet neighborhood close to dining and shopping, this spacious corner-lot home has it all! Privacy, a sublime yard with spa, bocce ball court and patio. Private gate to rarely used community pool. Vaulted ceilings, updated kitchen and bathrooms, large master with pleasant views. Take the Iron Horse Trail to Greenbrook Elementary!
PRICE UPON REQUEST
Boulevard View
If not now...then when? By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
The other day my daughter caught me deep cleaning the kitchen counters. While I appreciate cleanliness, I can’t say scrubbing and scouring take up a prominent space at the top of my “To Do” list. It was the middle of the day, and I had walked by the counter, noticed some grime, and all of the sudden decided NOW was the time to tackle the chore. I had a bowl of water, a scrub brush, a toothbrush for the crevasses, and the ultimate sponge also known as a “Magic Eraser.” I was vigorously scrubbing when my daughter looked at me and said, “Mom, you’re procrasti-cleaning!” Boy, was she right. I was in the middle of a project that needed to get finished, but my heart wasn’t in it, so I took a little detour and found cleaning the counter at that moment was a higher priority and more “fun.” My daughter noted that she and her college roommates excelled at procrasti-cleaning and procrasti-baking, especially during finals week, and their home was never as clean or smelled as wonderful from good cooking as once a quarter when upcoming tests loomed. While my motto generally is “Do it Now,” at times it is easy to get derailed. However, procrastination can cause its own set of problems. Procrastination, which is defined as “to put off till another day or time; defer; delay,” can turn a little problem into a big one, such as waiting to fix a broken sprinkler in the yard or a leak in the roof where a small drip becomes a flood, or ignoring the “Check Oil” light on the car dashboard until the engine seizes and needs to be replaced. Author Matthew Quirk writes, “I used to be a reporter, and there is no better way to procrastinate while writing than research.” Today’s “research” involves a whole lot more than pulling a dusty encyclopedia off the shelf of the family library. It involves interviews, reviewing printed and electronic material, and following a rabbit hole maze of links to explore and dive deeper into a story or issue and then filtering out facts from tall tales.
Putting something off doesn’t make the project or issue go away. Whether it is a call or an email we are dreading responding to, or a project we aren’t excited for, it doesn’t evaporate; it lingers and festers until we address it. Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even if we don’t want to. Procrastination can lead to stress and anxiety, it can cause lost opportunities such as missing a flight or an event if tickets sell out, it reduces productivity as you find the need to ramp back up to the activity after walking away, it can cause medical problems that may have been more easily treated if they were addressed earlier to become worse, or it can lead to incomplete or hurried work when the task butts up against a deadline and we run out of time. The flip side of completing a task early is it allows for more free time without pressure, it allows time to review, or it gives the opportunity to buy a ticket for an event and get great seating, it gets past the angst of confronting a situation and addresses it head on in order for us to move ahead. Michael Landon Jr., son of television legend Michael Landon, is an awardwinning storyteller in television, film, and books. He noted, “Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” My personal “To Do” list is not just a bunch of chores that never end. One of my To Do lists is probably better classified as a bucket list of places to travel, restaurants to try, classes to take, and adventures to be had. It is a kick in the pants to not procrastinate but to dream, execute, and enjoy the things I deem important. Some dreams, such as a good education, can be comprised of steps we find unenjoyable - such as homework and research. However, those tasks are required to reach goals we define and to achieve an end result we desire. Author Elizabeth Bourgeret writes, “Every hour you are not going after your passion, making your dreams a reality, or defining your purpose is an hour you can’t get back. Is what you’re doing right now, this day, this moment getting you closer to where you want to be? If not, readjust your focus. It’s your future. Go get it!” The counters can get a light dusting to ward off bugs and germs, and the laundry can wait to get folded. I am going to focus on projects I deem important and not get derailed by the procrasti-bug.
Page 4 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
ELEGANT HORSE RANCH
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ALAMO
Danville ~ Recently rebuilt & expanded, 4 bedroom, w/ Epicurean Kitchen, Marble, Granite Baths. Tall Open beam ceilings. NEW MASTER SUITE. Enormous great room, professionally landscaped ACRE. Large sanded professional HORSE ARENA, Trail to Mt. Diablo. Stone patios and outside walks. WELL FOR IRRIGATION. Bonus Au Pair In-Law quarters. $1,745,000
Alamo ~ Magnificent Cape Cod inspired Designed home in Round Hill Country Club. First time on market since its original construction. 4 bedrm, 2.5 baths, split level design and southwest views of the Las Trampas Foothills and oversized pool. A Must See! $1,520,000
Jay Weymouth ~ 925.915.1100 jayweymouth@yahoo.com
Scott Anderson ~ 925.963.6288 Scott@remaxaccord.com
SOLD Danville ~ Beautiful single level home with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Enjoy living in this impeccably maintained charming home. Beautifully landscaped lot, private setting, room for a pool. Hardwood floors, spacious rooms, lots of light. Prefect for entertaining inside and out. Listed at $1,200,000 Kellee Larsen ~ 925.683.6509 klarsenhomes@gmail.com
New!! Dublin, 11562 Estrella Ct. Dublin ~ Single Level—New on Market! On Cul-de-sac in West Side Dublin. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Gorgeous hardwood floors and a fenced back yard. Close to everything. Call for more details! Offered at $789,000 Michael Hatfield ~ 800.800.5763 Michael@MichaelHatfieldHomes.com
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 5
COMING SOON El Cerrito ~ Convenient location to BART and the Freeway. This 4 bedroom 1.5 bath 2 story classic 1922 home on large lot is waiting to be renovated. Separate 2 car garage plus additional workshop. Views to the Golden Gate Bridge. Call today for your private showing. $850,000 Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com
JUST LISTED Lafayette ~ 3 bed, 2 bath, 1655 sq ft w/open floor plan on 10,000 + sq ft lot. Gourmet kitchen w/new counter, cabinets, stainless steel appliances. Great room feel w/ large Island and eating area, perfect for entertaining! Beautiful master suite w/soaking tub, stall shower, walk in closet. Large newly landscaped lot with new driveway & patio, lg side yard. Great Location! $1,159,000 Russ Darby Tim Palumbo
~ ~
925.362.0460 925.314.7915
NEW!! San Ramon, 62 Arenas Ct. San Ramon ~ Quiet court, highly-desirable neighborhood, state of the art kitchen, formal dining room. Spacious family and living rooms, hardwoods, bedroom on first level — a 4 bedroom charmer. Remodeled, expanded with solar, this home with large rear yard awaits the family who wants the very best in California lifestyle. Offered at $1,288,000 Michael Hatfield RE/Max Accord Team 800-800-5763 Michael@MichaelHatfieldHomes.com
Page 6 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Night at the Museum
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The Friends of the Blackhawk Museums is sponsoring a fundraising event, Night At The Museum, to benefit the Children’s Education and Transportation Fund that provides buses to enable Bay Area school children to visit the Blackhawk Museums’ International Automotive Treasures and “Spirit of the Old West” exhibitions. Night At The Museum will feature dinner, dancing, an auction, and live re-enactments showcasing numerous historic characters from the Old West including Plains Indians, cowboys, pioneers, a Civil War soldier, General Custer, Jesse James, and Annie Oakley. The event will be held on October 2 at 5PM, and the cost is $60 per person. For additional information or to purchase tickets, e-mail NATM@blackhawkmuseums.org or call (925) 736-227 x234.
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Welcome Coffee
Are you new to the area or a long time resident, newly retired, or an empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club is a women’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the Club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. The next new member coffee will be held on September 27th from 10AM to noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
Need A Tutor?
Club Z! 1-On-1 Tutoring In Your Home!
Role Players Ensemble 2016-2017 Season
San Ramon, Danville, Alamo • All Subjects • PreK-Adult • Reading • Writing • Math • LD/ADD/ADHD • SAT/ACT Prep • Study Skills Program • Affordable Rates • Degreed Professionals • Flexible Schedules
Join the Role Players Ensemble for a season of Theatre for Grown Ups as they present entertaining, challenging plays and offer expanded outreach to theatre lovers with master classes on the Art of Acting and staged readings of plays under consideration for next season. • September 2 –18: Seascape by Edward Albee presents two unusual couples on an exwww.clubztutoring.com istential journey pondering the big questions of life in this Pulitzer Prize winning play. (Directed by George Maguire) • October 28 – November 12: Don’t Drink the Water by Woody Allen brings his signature brand of humor to a motley assortment of characters in this oddball comedy set in cold war Eastern Europe. (Directed by Aaron Murphy) • February 3 – 19, 2017: The Piano Lesson by August Wilson sheds light on an African-American family struggling with identity, values, and choices made throughout their lives. This stirring, soul-searching drama won the 1990 Pulitzer Prize. (Directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes) • April 14 – 30, 2017: Laughing Stock by Charles Thurs, Sept. 15: 4–9pm Morey celebrates all that is loved and all that can go wrong in the making of theatre. Trying to produce Sponsors: •Cole European Dracula, Hamlet, and Charlie’s Aunt in summer stock “Autos of Alamo” presented by: • Round Table Pizza •Stead Cadillac repertory becomes a wild mix of sweetness and slapAlamo Improvement stick. (Directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes) • Five Guys Burger •Tesla Tickets and information can be found by visiting Association • Panera Bread •Donahue Schriber www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com. All shows will be To show a car ($10) contact: • Union Bank (Plaza owners) jwads@sbcglobal.net held at The Village Theatre, 233 Front Street in Danville.
925-786-7149
Alamo Plaza Shopping Center
Free Admission
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9/11 Ceremony
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley along with local veterans’ organizations is hosting the Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony for the residents of the San Ramon Valley, featuring the family of the pilot of Flight 175. The event will take place on Sunday, September 11 from 5PM to 5:55PM at the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park which is located at 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville. Keynote speaker Justin Clark will share his Uncle Victor Saracini’s last moments as Captain and pilot of Flight 175 when terrorists crashed the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Justin was an 8th grader on September 11, 2001. Also featured at the event will be prominent guest speakers, hundreds of Scouts with an array of American Flags, joint Police and Fire Department Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums, the Monte Vista High Chamber Choir, White Wings Dove Release, and many other patriotic participants. Emcee for the event will be Karen Stepper, Mayor of Danville and past president of the Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley. Immediately following the ceremony there will be a free community picnic. Students are invited to pick up forms to enter the 9/11 Essay Awards. For information on the ceremony, the essay applications, and the Exchange Club of SRV, please visit srvexchangeclub.org.
Pillars of Hope Black Tie Event
Pillars of Hope, Inc., a local non-profit dedicated to rescuing and restoring victims of human trafficking, invites you to attend their Black Tie Event. In order to meet the desperate housing need for victims, the group is raising funds to facilitate the opening of a safe house/restoration center. Please join in fighting against modern-day slavery. Together we can make a difference! The event will be held on Saturday, September 24, 5-10PM, at the Oakhurst Country Club, 1001 Peacock Creek Dr. in Clayton. Cost of $100 includes music, dinner, and auction. To purchase tickets, visit www.pillarsofhope.us.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
You are invited to attend free of charge the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meeting on September 20 from 10AM to noon at the LDS Church at 2949 Stone Valley Road in Alamo. The program theme will be “Immigrating to America,” presented by Dr. Christine M. Bell-Green. For more information, please visit http://srvgen.soc.org/ or e-mail SRVGS@GenSoc.org.
Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley
Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. September’s guest, local attorney Martin Silverman, will speak on “the Constitution and how it keeps our democracy working by balancing majority rule and individual rights.” Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, bowling, bocce ball, movies, bridge, reading, computers, and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. The next monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday, September 21st at 11AM. A fee of $23 includes luncheon, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 150 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve Gopher/Mole Removal a space, please e-mail info@SIR128. No Poison com. The meeting will take place at The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Rd in San Ramon. For more informa925-765-4209 tion, visit www.SIR128.com.
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 7
East Bay Stand Down
Serving those who have served our Nation is the primary goal of the East Bay Stand Down (EBSD). Veteran participants are treated with respect and dignity. Their former service to our nation is evidence of their ability to succeed and is also reason for the community to support them in regaining success. You have an opportunity to serve homeless Veterans September 15-18 at Pleasanton Fairgrounds. The EBSD is a consortium of community organizations coming together to provide a four-day event every other year that serves the nine-county Bay Area’s homeless and at-risk military Veterans. They are connected with services ranging from VA, healthcare, dental, mental health services, clothing, meals, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, ID/drivers licenses, veteran homeless court and legal assistance, showers, and haircuts. Many other creature comforts are also provided. Volunteer registration closes September 10. You can choose how you want to volunteer at www. eastbaystanddown.org. If you would like to help financially support this four-day event, please make your donation to Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation - EBSD and mail it to PO Box 2133, Danville, CA 94526. The DVVF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, IRS identification number 26-3198472. Your donation may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.
Join Diablo Choral Artists
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Diablo Choral Artists is looking for you! If you love to sing good music and have a great time, come join Diablo Valley’s own community chorus for a wonderful experience (especially tenors!). Rehearsals are held Monday evenings, and fall season rehearsals begin Monday, September 12 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1924 Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek, 7-9:30PM. Come to a rehearsal to check the group out, and if you would like to join, you can have an informal audition with the director, Mark Tuning, at break or after the rehearsal. The group is made up of about 40 singers of various ages and experiences who perform significant works of sacred and secular choral music of artistic excellence in three yearly concerts, and participate in other events and social activities throughout the year. Find joy and camaraderie in singing with this friendly and welcoming choir. Members include a wide variety of people: homemakers, physicians, teachers, lawyers, therapists, researchers, and salespeople, among others. To find out more, call (925) 680-7089, email info@dcachorus.org, or visit the DCA website www.dcachorus.org. Say what voice part you sing and give a brief history of your vocal experience. Come and “share the harmony.”
Page 8 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
‘(R)evolution’ Marks Plan for 17th Eugene O’Neill Festival in Danville
A wide range of events has been planned by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation for the 17th Eugene O’Neill Festival during September. The focus is on the Revolution that playwright O’Neill initiated for the American theater and the Evolution that followed. The center-pieces of the annual Festival are production of Edward Albee’s Seascape, opening on September 2 for nine performances at the Village Theatre in downtown Danville, and the production of Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones, premiering on September 23 for six performances at the Old Barn at Tao House, part of the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in the Danville hills. “When O’Neill wrote The Emperor Jones in 1920, he set a new direction for American drama that would be felt for years to come,” says Eric Fraisher Hayes, artistic program director for the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. “Seascape and The Emperor Jones represent both an evolution in American drama as well as a revolution. In both plays the central characters find themselves in unexpected situations that challenge their senses and the view of the world about them,” says Hayes. Seascape opened in New York in 1975 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama that year. The Emperor Jones made history with an AfricanAmerican portraying the leading role in a Broadway play. Tickets for both Seascape and The Emperor Jones are available online at villagetheatreshows.com or by contacting the Foundation at (925) 820-1818. The two plays are part of a month-long schedule of events sponsored by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, in cooperation with the National Park Service, Role Players Ensemble, and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. The Festival program includes a park hike to celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary on September 11, several special centennial exhibits, preview talks at local libraries, and the screening on September 8 of Ric Burns PBS American Experience documentary about Eugene O’Neill. The Festival will also feature a staged reading of Adrienne Pender’s new play, N, which tells the story of O’Neill and his relationship with actor Charles Gilpin who originated the title role in The Emperor Jones. Tao House in the Danville Hills is part of the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. It is here that playwright O’Neill and his wife Carlotta lived from 1937-1944, and where O’Neill penned his final and most important works, including A Long Days Journey into Night, The Iceman Cometh, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. For tours of Tao House, contact the National Park Service at (925) 838-0249. The Eugene O’Neill Festival is produced by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, the not-for-profit organization that provides educational, community and performance programs at Tao House and the O’Neill National Historic Site. Information on the Foundation and its programs is available at www. eugeneoneill.org or by calling (925) 820-1818.
Volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide for 2017 Tax Season
Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. TaxAide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by IRS, and Client Facilitators, who schedule appointments and assist clients at tax sites. Orientation is in November 2016, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2017. Service is from February through April 15, 2017. If you are interested, apply online at www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer or call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for additional information.
Treats for the Troops
Service group Delta Nu Psi is excited to be collecting “gourmet junk food” to send to our servicemen and women in Afghanistan. The cumulative donations which have been sent total 1,423 boxes and 34,959 pounds of treats for the troops. Delta Nu Psi will continue sending packages as long as American military members are in the War Zone. Much of the food sent is not normally available to the troops. There will be no collection dates in September. For donations visit www. deltanupsi.org. Money for postage is also always appreciated. Please help Delta Nu Psi provide our men and women in the War Zone a touch of home.
ToreachAlamoTodaycallusat925-405-6397
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7 Top Reasons to Love Lafayette’s Art & Wine Festival 2016 on September 17 & 18
Stop by the East Bay’s favorite end of summer party the weekend of September 17 and 18 for award-winning art, wine and music, four live stages, 20 cover bands, 260+ artist booths, a KidZone, great food - and arguably the largest selection of wine, beer and ale of any San Francisco Bay Area Festival. The Festival will be held on Saturday, September 17 (10am-7pm) and Sunday, September 18 (10am-6pm) in downtown Lafayette. Below are seven top reasons why Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, now in its 21st year, is so popular: Location: The Festival is held in the heart of beautiful downtown Lafayette, just steps from the Lafayette BART station, near bike trails (complimentary valet bike parking provided), two blocks off Highway 24, and an easy walk/shuttle from complimentary Festival parking. Continuous Music & Dancing – with no cover charge: Two days, four stages. There will be room to dance to familiar tunes played by 20 of the Bay Area’s best headliner cover bands. The 2016 line-up includes The Spazmatics, Evolution, SuperHuey, Life in the Fast Lane, Other People’s Money, Queens & Thieves, Zebop!, Extra Large, East Bay Mudd, Lumberyard, Savannah Blu, Long Train Runnin’, Bay Bridge Beat, Bob Athayde, Juke Joint, The Ripplers, Dominant 7, and Red House Jam.
See Festival continued on page 28
Museum of the San Ramon Valley Two Centennials Exhibit and Speakers
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV) has joined with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House, to provide a special exhibit at the museum called Two Centennials. It is open until November 15th in the museum’s waiting room. It features the Centennial of the NPS and O’Neill’s first play acted by the Provincetown Players in Massachusetts in 1916. The exhibit includes the O’Neill Centennial Quilt, videos, and stage models as well as information about the National Park Service and O’Neill when he and his wife lived in Danville from 1937-1944. In September, two public talks are scheduled. NPS Superintendent Tom Leatherman will speak on “The National Parks of Contra Costa County as Part of a 100-Year Legacy,” The talk will be held September 15 at 7pm at the Danville Library at 400 Front St., Danville On Saturday September 24 at 10:30am, Eric Fraisher Hayes (Artistic Director for the Eugene O’Neill Foundation) and playwright Adrienne Pender will talk about The Other Emperor Jones. The 17th O’Neill Festival will take place in September and includes plays, movies, and lectures. Go to eugeneoneill.org for complete information. To visit the national historic site, board a van which departs from MSRV. Vans serve walk-up visitors on Saturdays at 10:15AM, 12:15PM and 2:15PM. For reserved tours on Wednesday through Friday and Sunday at 10AM or 2PM, call 925-838-0249. See the NPS website at nps.gov.euon for more information. The Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday – 10AM to 1PM and Sunday – 12PM to 3PM. The Museum is closed Mondays. MSRV is located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. For more information, call 925-837-3750, email srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net or visit www.musemsrv.org. 8
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find her and your name is drawn!
Alamo Zoe is Missing
Alamo Zoe has become lost in this paper... Search through Alamo Today and see if you can find her! She is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find her.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found her, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507
Jonathan Gullett is our winner!
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 9
The Cox Team
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Remodeled 5BR/bonus/Office/4.5BA on ~.53 acre. Hardwood floors, gourmet granite island kitchen & extensive upgrades throughout! Serene private setting with lush landscaping & breathtaking views! Close to great schools, Livorna Park, Mt. Diablo hiking trails, & Roundhill Country Club! Offered at $2,095,000
Page 10 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Alamo Elementary School By Strength in Numbers, Part – 2 By Stan Hitomi, Principal
Last June the title of my column in Alamo Today was “Strength in Numbers,” where I reflected upon the connection between the Golden State Warriors slogan and our own “Strength in Numbers” at Alamo School. In that article I spoke about our parent volunteers and the vast numbers of them which support our school programs. This month I want to follow up on the same theme, with a focus on the talented cohort of paraeducators at our school – “Strength in Numbers – Part 2.” ‘Para’ is a prefix derived from the ancient Greek meaning alongside of or akin to. It has been used for many years to designate those who work with, and assist, licensed professionals in fields such as medicine and law. Like paralegals and paramedics, paraeducators are respected members of the professional team. Nowhere is this more true, than the respect and admiration we have for our amazing paraeducators at Alamo School. Through the generosity of parent donations, we are able to have a paraeducator in every classroom. These incredible professionals work behind the scenes to make ensure that our students are safe and supported in their learning. Our paraeducators help teachers deliver the quality education the community expects. Paraeducators reduce the ratio of students to adults in the classroom. This allows the teacher to offer more differentiated instruction, and students benefit from the individualized attention that paraeducators provide. In many cases, our paraeducators are qualified to serve as substitute teachers when the classroom teacher is absent. This ensures continuity of the instructional program, even during extended absences of the teacher. We currently have 10 classroom paraeducators (Karyn Bergen, Nancy Boomer, Jen Haglund, Martha Hansen, Tissa Hascall, Linda Henderson, Lynn Hoaglin, Joni Potter, Karen Presnell, and Debbi Wolf) supporting our instructional program. An additional paraeducator, M’Lu Knaus, supports our science lab program. Many of our paraeducators have a special connection with Alamo School. Seven of the eleven paraeducators (Bergen, Boomer, Hascall, Henderson,
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Knaus, Potter, and Presnell) have had their children attend Alamo School as students. Five have been paraeducators at Alamo School for 10 or more years (Hascall, Presnell, Hansen, Knaus, and Henderson). Tissa Hascall is our senior paraeducator, having started in 2000 and currently in her 16th year. As the complexity of classrooms has changed, so has the role and responsibilities of our paraeducators. Two significant changes in recent years has been an increase in assessments and a greater reliance upon data. Our paraeducators have been up to the task, helping to administer one-to-one and small group assessments, and providing individual and small group instruction and intervention in reading, writing and math. At Alamo School we are very fortunate to have these amazing professionals in our classrooms. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate the work they do, the time they spend, and the care they give to our children and their families.
Blackhawk Republican Women Present Carson Bruno
The Blackhawk Republican Women invite you to an informative evening with Carson Bruno, Research Fellow, for Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Carson will be presenting “Good Luck Movin’ Up Cuz I’m Movin’ Out!,” a talk on California’s domestic migration problem and why it matters. The event will take place on Thursday, September 8th at Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. Check-in and serving of hors d’oeuvres will begin at 5:30PM, and the meeting and speaker presentation will begin at 6PM. The fee is $25. Carson primarily studies California public policy, electoral politics, and public opinion. He has recently written and spoken extensively on these issues, as well as examining the effect of national policy on state policy-making decisions. His background as a public finance investment banker gave Carson an in-depth look at state and local fiscal policy decisions. Come hear from this expert in political and economic matters on one of the toughest issues facing the Golden State. Please make reservations by e-mailing or calling Jane Parish at janeparish@ sbcglobal.net or (925) 216-6663 no later than September 5th.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 11
Rancho Romero Elementary School By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal
Rancho Romero wishes to give a big shout out to our community partners for committing to work together for the common good of our schools, our children, and our residents. Over the last several months various members within the community have provided direction and support for improved traffic safety protocols. Rancho Romero was originally built in 1959. At that time it consisted of 12 classrooms and a small teachers’ room/office combination. Students walked or road the bus to school. Danville Blvd. was the main thoroughfare until 1964 when I-680 opened through the San Ramon Valley, encouraging unprecedented growth. Over the years the community of Alamo has built up from approximately 3,000 residents to 15,000. Rancho Romero now has 20 classrooms, 325 families, and 510 students. One of the biggest impacts on the small neighborhood school has been the increase in traffic, an impact unanticipated 50 years ago when the school was built. More and more families now rely on personal vehicles to drop-off and pick-up children, creating long lines of cars down Hemme Ave. Unfortunately, there is no place to expand lanes, parking, or turn arounds. Hemme does not have an exit, so cars come through the school drive and turn back down the street toward Danville Blvd. Traffic problem-solving conversations have been continuous, and this past summer a group of community members made some movement that should have positive implications for our students. Cheryl Iacone and Kristen Threlkeld (parents), Steve Rohwer (CCC Traffic), Jennifer Quallick (Field Rep - Candace Andersen’s Office), Elizabeth Graswich (SRVUSD PR), Jason Haynes (Lieutenant, Alamo Sheriff’s Dept.), Susan Rock (Alamo MAC), Street Smarts, and Rancho Romero administration met to lay out an improved plan of action. Working in the spirit of a community team, the following was/ is being accomplished: • Arrival and dismissal procedures have been revised and published in hardcopy, webpage, and weekly school newsletter; • Teachers and staff are educating all students on traffic safety, which have been included in the school wide behavior expectations and Safe School Plan; • An additional sign was placed on the existing signal pole at the Iron Horse Trail crossing. The sign directs pedestrians to manually activate the crosswalk warning lights before crossing the street; • The County paved and repainted the crosswalk and added a Keep Clear zone on the east approach to the Iron Horse crosswalk to further enhance sight-lines, allowing drivers to have a better view of pedestrians entering the crosswalk; • The County is in the process of conducting a traffic/student count in cooperation with the School District to determine if the section of roadway on Hemme meets criteria to have a crossing guard. In the meantime, school personnel are walking with students to the Iron Horse Trail to educate, practice, and monitor safe methods; • Street Smarts provided an informative and interactive assembly on pedestrian and bicycle safety on August 24. Local law enforcement, local dignitaries, and the District Superintendent attended; and, • An annual Bike “safety” Rodeo was held at the school August 31. The traffic dilemma for Rancho Romero is not new. Residents along with parents and families have demonstrated incredible patience over the last few years, most adjusting to or accepting the fact that dropping off and picking up students in cars creates more traffic. However, by continuing to engage in healthy conversation, listening to diverse perspectives, and considering alternatives, incremental progress can be made.
Upcoming September Events:
9/5 ~ School Holiday (Labor Day) 9/13 ~ Minimum Day (Teacher Professional Development) 9/21 ~ Rancho Romero Morning Run Club Begins 9/23 ~ Camp Rancho School wide Event 9/30 ~ No School (Staff Development Day)
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Stone Valley Middle School By Jon Campopiano, Principal
Welcome back to school! We are off to a great start at Stone Valley after a very successful WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) orientation, school registration, and our first day on campus. Stone Valley continues to focus on the four district initiatives: implementation of California & Next Generation State Standards, Response to Intervention programs that guarantee each student will learn to their potential, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching, and fostering inclusion so that all our students have access to a rigorous and relevant curriculum. Additionally, as a school site, we are focused on three school wide goals: increasing collaboration and creativity by restricting the use of cell phones, rewarding positive punctuality (school goal to reduce tardies by 20%), and requiring the use of our Time Tracker (student agenda) each and every period to build successful organizational habits. Construction continues, and we should soon see the foundation and framing of our new building. The transition into portable classrooms continues to be a success. We recently received our state CAASPP scores, and we improved in every subject and claim and rank amongst the highest middle schools in the country! This is tremendous validation for our students, staff, and parent groups. Thank you for your commitment and passion to the success of our students. Please continue to follow us on Twitter @stonevalleyms and our school website at stonevalley.schoolloop.com. Go Pride!
Bruce continued from front page
teams, scouts, and all people who just enjoy Alamo.” He provided a space for historian Virgie Jones to share her wealth of local knowledge and a platform for local businesses to target their advertising to our community. Richard Delfosse, of the recently closed Richard’s Arts and Crafts in Alamo Plaza, wrote, “When Bruce started the paper, I quickly began advertising with him and never missed a month... He was so great to work with and very creative. Bruce was one of the nicest people my wife and I have known...” In 1995 Bruce sold Alamo Magazine which ended up shutting down after a while. However, in May of 2000 Bruce restarted the paper renaming it Alamo Today and brought hyperlocal news back to the community. He sold the paper several years later to Joe Combs who noted, “Bruce was a newspaper man. Alamo grew in prominence because of his creation.” I took over publication in late 2004. Before the papers, Bruce was a teacher and also a principal of several local schools. Combs noted, “He had a magical way with young people; they opened to him instinctively, and every kid walked away from a Bruce Marhenke encounter feeling better about themselves.” Bruce loved motorcycles, fast cars, and racing at the track. He was named Alamo Citizen of the Year by the Alamo Rotary in 1996, and in 2006 he was recognized by the Alamo Merchant and Professional Association (AMPA) as their Business Person of the Year. Bruce spent many hours participating in AMPA and was a part of the annual Tree Lighting committee. Bruce passed away August 24, preceded in death by his loving wife Nancy. A memorial will be held at Alamo Women’s Club in the upcoming weeks. Drop me a line if you’d like notification of when the date and time of the Celebration of Life is set – editor@yourmonthlypaper.com.
Page 12 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Monte Vista High School By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
Summer vacation has come to a close, and Monte Vista High School was back in session on August 15th. The earlier start for the 2016-17 school year may have pushed things back two weeks from past years, but the Monte Vista student body has returned in force on our campus. Our student population is up from last year – totaling just over 2,400 students – and our faculty is excited to see all of the new and returning faces. Things were happening on the MV Campus well before the first day of school. In late July, our leadership class students and their advisor Andrea Greco went on a retreat to Calaveras County where they spent time developing as a team and mapping out all of our activities for the upcoming year. The next week, our juniors and seniors (and a few sophomores) took part in Link Crew training with Keith Hawkins in preparation for our Freshman Orientation. As always, our students learned valuable skills in regard to how they can support their incoming classmates. On August 12th, Monte Vista officially welcomed the class of 2020 (as well as several new transfer students) to our campus. As usual, our Link Crew Leaders put on a fantastic event for our new students. I would like to thank this amazing group of students and their advisors; Nikki Chaplan, Alicia Frumenti, and Jordan Kither; for their hard work in preparing and executing an excellent event. All of this preparation for the school year has made significant strides to creating a positive, welcoming campus culture. Monte Vista recently held its first Stampede Day. This one-day event is a change from our former two-day registration program. The event was well supported by our community groups including our PTSA, Academic Boosters, Athletic Boosters, Keynoters, Friends of Choir, 12th Man, The Class of 2017, and ASB Leadership; and it was well attended as we served nearly 1,900 students. There were a few hitches, however, that led to longer lines and wait times. We have received quite a bit of feedback about the event – both positive and negative – and will use this information to further improve Stampede Day for next school year. I would like to thank Monte Vista’s PTSA, MV Office Manager, Jodi McFarland, and MV Assistant Principal, Megan Keefer for organizing the event, the many community groups who attended in support of Monte Vista’s programs, and the Monte Vista families who showed their generosity in supporting our kids through these programs. Friday, August 12th also provided Monte Vista’s faculty with an opportunity for learning. In response to our goal of improving our school climate, the MV staff welcomed speaker Phil Boyte to our opening faculty meeting. It was a huge change from the conventional first faculty meeting that includes tons of information and not a lot of time for staff to connect and learn from each other. Over the four hour session, MV faculty was able to welcome our new teachers, learn more about teachers from different departments, and plan out ways to improve the way we interact with each other. The synergy generated in this workshop was amazing with many faculty members sharing that this was the best professional development they had in years. Our MV faculty is excited about the new connections we made to start the year, and we look forward to our continuing relationship with Phil and his organization. Things are just getting started in 2016-17. Monte Vista’s students and our athletics and arts programs are poised for another successful year. Please check our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the up-to-date information about our programs. We look forward to a great year – Join the Stampede!
Upcoming Community Meetings and Events
AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - Please visit www.alamoca.org for upcoming meetings - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd. Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo Women’s Club P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm - Meets at Sheriff Substation, 150 Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www. firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp
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San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal
Welcome Back! The school year has begun (August 15th) and everything looks a little different this year. As you have probably noticed, the wings in the middle of the campus have all been demolished. A, B, C, E, F, G, J, and K wings are gone, and the construction of the new building will gradually take shape over the next couple of years. We have 45 portable classrooms out in “Portable City,” and it’s become quite a community out there! Our new bell schedule, new district calendar, and campus wide 1:1 technology program are falling into place, and now that we are a few weeks into the school year, things are going smoothly. As with all new initiatives, it takes a little time to get everything up and running. We have the new bell schedule and new campus map posted on our website, www.srvhs.net. So far, the students have really been enjoying the extra time that they have during the day due to the Access period. This time allows them to work on homework or projects or to go and see teachers for help. There are 40 minutes on both Wednesday and Thursday that are dedicated purely for academic support. Students are able to choose how they want to spend this time. We also have a 25 minute Home Room period on Tuesdays. This is being used for student education presentations on a variety of topics, additional Access time, class surveys, or checking in with kids to see how they are doing. As we get closer to progress report time and the end of the quarter, we anticipate that students will be using this time more and more to get help from their teachers if they are struggling. We are also proud of our school-wide 1:1 program. We have students bringing their devices to school every day so that they can get online for any sort of class activity or work on things during their own time. Students either bring a device from home or borrow one from the school for the year. This program has been possible because of the support of our families and the 21st Century Learning Foundation at SRVHS. We are working on helping students to be become productive and responsible digital citizens, and one of the areas that we will be focusing on, along with our technology use, is how to be smart and safe online. We have resources from Common Sense Media on our website as well as many other sources of information that we will be using throughout the school year. Please join us September 14th for the Homecoming Rally and Parade. May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. ~ Nelson Mandela
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 13
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Into the Wilds of Scotland
By Lisa Kallen, Alamo World Travel
From books and movies, I had always imagined what Scotland would look like, and our “Country Roads of Scotland” escorted tour with Insight Vacations was the perfect way to experience the lush green heart of this magical land. Ten blissful days… and now Scotland feels like home. After touring lively Edinburgh for two sunny days, we headed north, away from the crowds and up into the Highlands. Going off the beaten track delivered us right into the Scotland of my dreams. There was rugged landscape, the “dragon’s breath” that draped the mountaintops just before a rain, the wilderness of green tufted vales, the glens and straths dotted with woolly sheep, the lochs and rivers on the way to the Isle of Skye…and all those waterfalls seeping out of every cranny in the hillsides and mountains! Here in California we are so parched by drought that I had forgotten how lush a land can be. The Scottish people are so dear, friendly, jovial, and welcoming…and those accents, lilting and rugged like their country. Our Tour Director, Michael, was the perfect combination of doting shepherd and darling host. Meticulously detail oriented in his care for us, he was a font of encyclopedic knowledge of the Scots and their history and a very funny storyteller to boot. As he shared with us ancient Scottish history and stories of clan battles and royal intrigue, he would now and again slip seamlessly into a tall tale of his own escapades, catching us up in breathless attention until the punch line. Michael’s clear love of this country and its people shone through as he encouraged us to experience the enchantment and mythology of the Highlands at some very moving locations. Charming us with the lore of Loch Ness and its famed water horse, hearkening back to the heartbreak at Culloden Moor, and sharing the mystical power of the Druid Temples, Michael often brought us to tears, especially those of us who have had a “bit of the sadness” come into our lives. And for anyone who is a fan of the Outlander time-travel books, this particular tour is a must as we visited all things Clan Fraser. Many of us clung to the standing stones in hopes of being transported ourselves!
So much was included in our Insight Vacation: our accommodations, daily breakfasts and most dinners, tours each day, plus a few surprise “flourishes”-- complimentary stops along the way for homemade shortbread, Orkney ice cream, tea and cakes, and clotted cream. One favorite afternoon included a slice-of-life moment when we visited a sheepdog trainer on his Highland farm. The proud sheep farmer whistled and whooped to his dogs who were eager to show off how they keep those woolly beasts in line. After trying our hands at sheep shearing and feeding the lambs, we couldn’t resist cuddling a few puppies from a recent litter. Our visit felt like such a privilege as, sadly, this ancient way of life is disappearing in the Highlands. In addition to the wild Scottish countryside and our very talented Tour Director, another highlight of this Insight Vacation was our fellow adventurers. We got to know everyone--their stories, their passions--over meals, while touring, and while exploring together in the evenings. Insight Vacations sets up so many meals together as well as the seating rotation on our coach so that we were always cozying up to someone new in those first early days. By the end of this adventure we had truly all become good friends, and I look forward to traveling with many of them in the future. For those travelers considering an escorted tour, an Insight Vacation offers the perfect balance of activities and free time…free time to explore tiny towns late into the long summer hours of daylight, to hike the castle-topped hills, to hunt down local pubs for whiskey and rousing music, and to get up early (sometimes) for a quick walkaround in the bright, emerald dawn. From that dawn to late dusk, we were steeped every day in the Scotland I had hoped to see—dramatic, soulful, mystical. Slainte va! Lisa Kallen is a Travel Consultant with Alamo World Travel, specializing in tours, cruises and customized vacations worldwide. Visiting family in La Bella Italia is a favorite vacation along with “soft adventures” just about anywhere in the world. You can reach Lisa at (925)837-8742 ext. 18 or lkallen@alamoworld.com. Advertorial
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Page 14 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Can I? Yes, I Can
By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area
5
Can it be that season? Yes it can! With pepperoncini’s and tomatoes bursting out of my garden and trying to beat the squirrels to my apples, it is time to drag out my one year old Ball Fresh TECH Electric Water Bath Canner with Multi-Cooker. With urgency, I peeled apples, scored peppers, and blanched tomatoes for hours, all for the pleasure of digging into our bounty long past the days of summer. Home canning is one of those passions that folks rarely talk about, but ardent ‘canners’ spend hours lovingly processing and ‘putting up food.’ There are many reasons to consider canning food at home. Love in a jar: For some, canning is a connection to their past—a reminder of time spent with family or a link to their heritage. Maybe it’s a jar of preserves based on a family recipe that brings you back to after-school snacks or a crisp dill pickle in the middle of winter that smacks of a summer’s picnic, but it’s right there in the jar no matter when you need a flood of memories. A joyous gift: It’s hard to go wrong sharing the gift of food. There’s something special that comes from presenting or receiving home canned foods. I don’t feel the pressure to consume it immediately, but I also appreciate the love and caring that has gone into the preparation of the gift. I pack my pantry with jams, pickles, pasta sauces, and apple piein-a-can, and when the holidays roll around...well, I have a back-up plan to cover everyone on the list. It’s a matter of taste: Let’s face it, locally grown, harvested in-season produce or fruits, canned when just ripe, beats a commercial product any day. I know the quality of the organic, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables I preserve, and it beats a supermarket’s effort any day. Best said by Eugenia Bone, avid food writer and author of Well-Preserved: Recipes and Techniques for Putting Up Small Batches of Seasonal Foods, “Preserving is an extension of the values that made you shop in the farmers’ market in the first place.” If asked, I’d agree and add…the values that bring me back to the garden again and again. The terroir sweetens more than the wine. Health is wealth: My first choice is organic fruits and vegetables, whether I’m growing or buying them. This way I can help my family avoid harmful additives and pesticides. Home canning also helps avoid BPA, a harmful chemical often in the plastic lining of metal cans, such as those used for tomatoes. Eating for the planet: Canning your own food lowers your environmental impact. Mason jars are reusable and thus reduce the packaging associated with buying conventionally packed foods. Additionally, consuming foods that are trucked thousands of miles burns fossil fuels contributing to pollution and often delivers foods that are rendered tasteless from being picked and packed before Saturday, Sept. 17th 10-7 PM Sunday, Sept. 18th 10-6 PM Downtown Lafayette peak ripeness. Simple home canning allows you to enjoy delicious ‘pantry to ual table’ food year-round from your own backyard. 21st ann Save a penny: Eating seasonally is not only good for the planet; it’s also good for your pocketbook. When you grow or buy produce in season, it’s bountiful and therefore cheaper—making canning an economical way to stock the pantry. There are countless resources online, including Getting Started videos from Ball, FREE •Admission the preserving authority, at www.freshpreserving.com/tools/waterbath-canning. •Parking at BART You’ll also find recipes for everything from jams to pickles, along with one of my •Shuttle to event favorites I use as gifts: •Bike Valet Parking Apple Pie-in-a-Jar (Seven 16oz pints) • Submerge 12 cups organic sliced, peeled medium apples in 4 cups of water and ¼ cup lemon juice to prevent browning • 2 ¾ organic sugar • ¾ cup cooking starch • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon e • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg • 2 ½ cups unsweetened apple juice • 1 ¼ cups cold Tak BENEFITING T water • ½ cup lemon juice • 7 16oz pint size glass preserving jars, lids and bands BAbloRck away
Directions
1. Prepare water canner. Heat jars in water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set aside. 2. Blanch apple slices (two batches of 6 cups) in large pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon & keep warm in covered bowl. 3. Combine sugar, cooking starch, cinnamon and nutmeg in large stainless steel saucepan. Stir in apple juice and cold water. Bring to boil, stir constantly and cook until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add lemon juice and return to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. 4. Fold apples into hot mixture. Before processing, re-heat, stirring until apples are heated through. 5. Ladle hot apple pie filling into hot jars leaving 1” headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, center lid on each jar and apply bands until fit is fingertip tight. 6. Process jars in water canner for 25 minutes. Remove jars and set on kitchen towel on counter to cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex when center is pressed. 7. Tag with date. Add your favorite pie crust recipe if preparing as gift. Have a favorite canning recipe? Share it with us at www.facebook.com/ sustainabledanvillearea and happy canning.
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Quick Trips
California Independent Film Festival By Linda Summers Pirkle
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 15
You know the type...six hours into a long flight they appear fresh, calm, and serene and are happily reading, working on a project, or watching movies. Then, there are those people who are fidgeting, anxious, and itching to get up and walk around the cabin after a mere 30 minutes into a flight. I happen to be the latter and am married to the former. One of the reasons my husband is content on long hauls is because he can watch two or three films uninterrupted. He’s a movie guy. In his Sponsored By: DESIGNER PANEL DISCUSSION spare time, he is the executive director (since 2002) of the CaliExpert Advice for All Aspects of Your Home fornia Independent Film Festival (CAIFF). The yearly festival will be held September 8-14 at three historic theatres: Rheem in Thursday Moraga, Orinda theatre, and the Castro in San Francisco. September 29 4pm - 6pm Seventeen years ago the CAIFF was founded by local Alamo Women’s Club 1401 Danville Blvd. Alamo, CA 94507 accountant, film maker, comedian, and all around visionary Treat yourself to an evening with food and wine while having all of your design Derek Zemrak. His connections in the entertainment industry questions answered by expert designers from J. Hettinger Interiors. are legendary. Derek, who is also the president of the non-profit organization is responsible for bringing an impressive number RSVP by 9/23/16 :: 925.820.9336 of film stars to the CAIFF over the years that includes Ms. Rita Type this link in your internet browser for the Facebook Event! Moreno, Cloris Leachman, Tony Curtis, Julie Newmar, Tab http://bit.ly/2bd9OS5 Hunter, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mary Stuart Masterson, Martin Landau, and Mickey Rooney. New Eagle Scouts One of my favorite speakers was Richard Dreyfuss who appeared at a sold out CAIFF event held Jack Kennedy and Chris at the 750 seat Orinda Theater in 2010. He spoke about growing up in Los Angeles and how he was star struck when he met some of the Hollywood greats. Another sold out event was when actress and Stauber of Boy Scout Troop 803 recently received their animal rights spokesperson Tippi Hedren entertained the CAIFF audience in 2009. She recounted with vivid detail the terror she felt when menacing birds were let loose in a small room she was Eagle Scout Commendation at locked in during the filming of a pivotal scene in the movie The Birds directed by Alfred Hitchcock. St Isidore Church in Danville. Besides welcoming stars of yesterday, the CAIFF is a showcase for current film makers from For his Eagle Project, Jack around the world. Kennedy restored the Grape Edy Schwarz, diVine Picnic Area in Mt. Diarector of marketblo State Park. His main goal ing says, “This was to rebuild a fence that year’s event has was burned down in a fire that something for destroyed a large area of the everyone. Film park in 2013. In addition to the Festivals bring good films to the 16’ fence, he also led the clean Jack Kennedy up the picnic area to make it more enjoyable. Jack directed a community that may not be seen anywhere else. There are excellent feature films, nail biting suspense films, fun and group of scouts, friends, and family to remove debris such as logs and overgrown vegetation that scattered the site. light animation movies, and education inspiring documentaries.” For his Eagle Project, Chris Stauber made two planter An inspirational film according to Edy Schwartz is Generation Hope, from the United Kingdom boxes for the kindergarten directed by Charles Kinnane. The film is about a man who fulfilled his dream of educating and PM feeding one million children. It will be screened at the Rheem on Monday, September 12, 7:15 . class of St. Isidore’s school in The CAIFF will screen the world premiere of The Red Maple Leaf, a Canadian drama starring James Danville. They were made of Caan, Robert Loggia, Martin Landau, Paul Sorvino, Kris Kristofferson, Michal Pare, Eric Roberts redwood and placed behind and Mira Sorvino about a daughter of a U.S. Ambassador who is snatched from under the nose of the kindergarten. These planter the Secret Service detail. The Red Maple Leaf airs at the Rheem on Saturday, September 10 at 8PM. boxes were about three feet Derek Zemrak recalled how he came up with the idea of CAIFF, “I attended a film festival high so that they are easily acin upstate New York in the 90’s which I really enjoyed and thought the San Francisco East Bay cessible for small children. The Area needed a film festival. In 1999 the CAIFF was held at the Pleasanton Hilton with two viewpurpose of this service project ing screens and now the film festival is screened in three majestic theatres.” He added, “There are was to teach the kindergarten always issues such as a scheduled celebrity or a filmmakers copy of a movie showing up late, but class about photosynthesis and it’s like an obstacle course and that’s the fun of running a film festival. Community involvement is plant life in our society today. key to our success. Without the participation of movie goers and exceptional volunteers, we would Both Chris and Jack are not be where we are today.” entering their Senior Year at De To purchase tickets to the upcoming California Independent Film Festival and see the schedule La Salle High School. of films, visit CAIFF.org or call 925-388-0752. Chris Stauber Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led To place an ad, share a story, or for more tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the information about our papers, call Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@ 925.405.6397 or visit our website gmail.com. www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 16 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 17
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Wine Bloggers Unite
Cinema Classics and Musical Notes By Peggy Horn
By Monica Chappell
As a relative newcomer to the vast community of online wine bloggers, I thought what better way to get acquainted than to seek out and recommend to my readers some of the best wine blogs out there. To start, the word blog is a compilation of two words; web and log. It is a log of thoughts posted publicly on the World Wide Web. At any time of the day or night, someone somewhere is pouring out his or her thoughts about wine on a blog. Bitten by the blog bug myself, I’ve started my own blog and use it as an educational tool. In fact, I recently attended the 9th Annual Wine Bloggers Conference which took place in Lodi. It was a gathering of citizen wine bloggers, industry bloggers, and wine writing professionals who came together for educational sessions, networking, and social gathering. From last count there were over 750 wine blogs. The ones mentioned here are some of my favorites and offer a variety of perspectives. winefolly.com ~ Wine folly’s goal, as stated on their webpage, is to “simplify wine,” and they do just that with articles, graphics, and videos to help out the wine novice. drvino.com ~ Dr. Vino, a.k.a. Tyler Colman, really is a doctor. After teaching political science for two years, he settled into full-time wine writing and education. princeofpinot.com ~ William Gaffney, the “Prince of Pinot,” gears his site exclusively towards lovers of pinot noir. William professes to have changed the preference of many over the years, leading to his moniker “Prince of Pinot.” wine-pages.com ~ One of the most popular (and perhaps longest-running) wine websites is wine-pages.com, which was started in 1995 by Tom Cannavan. The page is fun to navigate, with frequently asked wine questions, notes from tastings, and quizzes. dallaswinechick.com ~ Melanie Ofenloch, author of Dallas Wine Chick, encourages everyone to become educated about what they love, even if they are not experts. Her blog is down to earth, easy to understand, and non-threatening for any newbie. Fast forward to next year, the 10th annual Wine Bloggers Conference will return to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County from November 9 – 12th, and I’ll be there. Until then, stop by my blog, wineappreciation101.blogspot.com, and tell me your favorite wine blog. Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator based in Lafayette.
The Third Man
This month’s recommended film is, The Third Man, (1949) directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. It was nominated for Academy Awards in 1950 for Best Editing and Best Director, and it won the Award for Best Black and White Cinematography. It also won the 1949 Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and the British Academy Award for Best Film. The screenplay, written by Graham Greene, was developed into a novel subsequent to the release of the movie. The Third Man is British film noire. Film noire generally refers to mystery and crime dramas from the early 1940’s to the late 1950’s. Filmed typically in black and white, they feature so-called femmes fatales and cynical detectives. The plot involves Hollie Martins (Joseph Cotton), a writer, who arrives in Vienna, Austria after the end of World War II to accept a job offered to him by his good friend, Harry Lime (Orson Welles). When Hollie arrives, he is told of the death of Harry Lime in an automobile accident, but is he really dead? The movie twists and turns through Vienna’s underworld as Hollie searches for the truth and ends in a famous chase scene through Vienna’s sewer system. The Third Man is beautifully filmed in black and white, resulting in gorgeous portraits of its characters, and the striking contrasts of light and dark add to the mood of the scenes. In some cases the black and white effects startle the viewer, and in other cases they serve as moving tributes to life itself. The film is considered a great movie and is definitely worth seeing. In addition to being extremely well made, the plot is intriguing in part because of the time period in which it takes place.
Musical Notes
Part of the movie’s charm is the brilliant musical score composed by Anton Karas, played on the zither by the composer himself. Mr. Karas was discovered by the director, Mr. Carol Reed, and together they developed the soundtrack for the movie. “The Third Man Theme” was released as a single and went to the top of the international music charts in 1950.
Page 18 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Clip Notes
By Jody Morgan
What’s in a name? In Shakespeare’s day any rose in an English garden was just as fragrant as the next. Not burdened by the need to know proper botanical nomenclature, Shakespeare’s contemporary John Gerard describes the qualities of six categories of domesticated roses in his Herball, noting that the rose should be prized “being not onely esteemed for his beauty, vertues, and his fragrant and odiferous smell; but also because it is the honor and ornament of our English Scepter …” Spelling was no more standardized in Gerard’s day than scientific names. By the time the first hybrid tea rose was introduced in 1867, ushering in the era when breeders sacrificed scent for size of blossom, taxonomists were taxing the tongues of gardeners with official botanical appellations formed by combining loosely Latinized references with cleverly corrupted Greek. Just to keep things interesting, they occasionally sprinkled in names based on other languages. Not wanting to make it all Greek to anyone, taxonomists chose to label flowering quince Chaenomeles from two Greek words meaning gaping apple because the fruit looks about to split and speciosa, an actual Latin adjective meaning showy. Seventeenth century botanist and cleric Adam Buddle never met nineteenth century missionary and plant collector Armand David, but their surnames are forever linked in Buddleia davidii, the botanical title for butterfly bush. Confronted with the plant whose root Native Americans fed in bread to Lewis and Clark in 1805, taxonomists put two transliterations of the Nez Perce name for it together giving camas or quamash the scientific designation Camassia quamash. The system originally proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1735 is elegant and simple. Scientists around the world can all recognize universally agreed upon proper botanical names in print no matter what language they speak at the dinner table. But don’t expect them to agree on pronunciation. They are often just as confused as the average home gardener. In “How to Pronounce Botanical Names” posted online by J.L. Hudson, Seedsman, the writer claims to have heard at least eight different pronunciations of Thymus, the scientific name for the herb thyme: “TEE-mus, TYE-mus, TEEmoose, TYE- moose, THEE-mus, THYE-mus, THEE-moose, THYE-moose.” The author advises gardeners not to be afraid to mispronounce a botanical name because there is no correct pronunciation. Instructors at Longwood Gardens insist you cannot be faulted as long as you enunciate every syllable. Nevertheless, there are some regional conventions as arbitrary as whether you say poe-TAY-toe or poe-TAH-toe. No one calls a pine tree a PEEN, but in England botanists pronounce the generic name for Pinus as PEE-nus. Since you wouldn’t
Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
The fall workshop schedule is now up on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour’s website (www.bringingbackthenatives.net/fall-2016-workshops-2), and registration is open. Come this fall, and learn how to: • Remove your lawn • Install a drip irrigation system • Select native plants for your garden • Propagate natives from seeds, cuttings, and divisions • Garden sustainably These workshops will fill up; register now to avoid being disappointed.
Native Plant Sale Extravaganza
Come to this year’s fall Native Plant Sale Extravaganza on October 23 when seven nurseries will be open from 10AM-4PM, with knowledgeable staff on hand to help you select native plants for your garden. Fall is the time to plant natives; take advantage of this great opportunity to purchase hard-tofind plants! Shop to your heart’s content as a portion of the proceeds from this event go to support the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour. If you are interested in running an ad in the garden guide, please reserve a space by calling (510) 236-9558 or e-mailing kathy@kathykramerconsulting.net. Company sponsors are also being sought to support the 2017 Tour. Follow and “like” the Tour on Facebook to see a changing gallery of native plant garden photos, read about what to do in your native plant garden each month, and stay informed about Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour events.
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have encountered Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz strolling through the Roman Forum, it’s better form when saying Eschscholzia californica to pronounce the California poppy’s botanical name as the Baltic German naturalist’s compatriots would have pronounced his last name. Although his Nonsense Books have kept his name alive, Edward Lear used a pseudonym when he began publishing witty verses and comical drawings in 1846. A respected zoological illustrator, Lear meticulously researched every aspect of his compositions. Correspondence in the archives at Kew Gardens between Lear and Sir Joseph Hooker concerns Lear’s insistence on having the correct botanical identification for ten Indian trees he had been commissioned to paint. Nevertheless, Lear heard absurdity in the strained cacophony of spoken botanical nomenclature, and he saw humor in his fellow Victorians’ passion for possessing every exotic flower, no matter how bizarrely fashioned, as soon as it was introduced in England. A few years after the first hybrid tea rose made its debut, Lear released Nonsense Botany. Arthbroomia Rigida looks remarkably like a blooming agave. A towering rigid stalk rises from the rosette of sharply pointed leaves. But the crown is a flat-topped broom. Reminiscent of the strange tropical hanging heliconia flowers commonly called lobster claw, Crabbia Horrida has a dangling anatomically accurate crab as its inflorescence. Thanks to Sarah Gage for including a bit of Berton Braley’s “Botany” in “The Poetry of Botanical Foolishness” (Botanical Rambles, March 2016). “There should be no monotony, In studying your botany, It helps to train, And spur the brain – Unless you haven’t got any.” What’s in a botanical name? Despite how silly some may sound, many contain interesting bits of information about the origin of the genus or species or the explorer who first identified the plant. Others honor botanists who had nothing to do with the particular plant, and some simply memorialize a friend. Occasionally, like Lear’s nonsense names, botanical monikers are cleverly descriptive.
Leading a “Garden Revolution” from Your Own Backyard
This fall, The Gardens at Heather Farm is partnering with The Garden Conservancy (www.gardenconservancy.org) to bring celebrated landscape designer, author, and horticultural icon, Larry Weaner, to Walnut Creek to share his insights on how to change your garden -- and the environment -- for the better. On Thursday, September 29th at 7pm, the program taking place at The Gardens at Heather Farms, located at 1540 Marchbanks Dr in Walnut Creek, will feature a lecture by Mr. Weaner followed by a special reception and signing of his new book Garden Revolution. A successful garden is rewarding, stimulating, and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, traditional gardening practices don’t often deliver on that promise. Not only are these outdated methods resource and timeconsuming, but they result in gardens that are weedy, labor-intensive, and at odds with wildlife and local ecosystems. For decades, Larry Weaner has been at the forefront of ecological landscape design. By understanding the ecological processes of change in our native landscapes and incorporating them into our designs, we can create beautiful, dynamic landscapes that require less labor and are more aesthetically rewarding and environmentally sound. Larry Weaner’s ideas apply in any climate and will change the way you think about what a garden should do and be. Forget about nonstop weeding, fertilizing, and watering. It’s time for a garden revolution. Learn more at http://lweanerassociates.com. The lecture will begin at 7pm, and book-signing and a reception will be held at 8pm. The cost is $25 for the general public and $20 for Members of The Garden Conservancy and The Gardens at Heather Farm. For more information and to register, visit www.gardenshf.org or call (925) 947-1678. The Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF) is an independent nonprofit organization which operates a six-acre public garden, education center and special event venue. A Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Green Business, GHF is self-supporting through memberships, fundraisers, grants, private donations, facility rentals and program fees. The mission is to enrich the community through the beauty and environmental stewardship of our gardens while providing educational programs and a variety of venues for social and cultural events.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 19
Alamo’s 1st & Only Pediatric Dentist! Alamo Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Welcomes Dr. Allan Pang Dr. Pang completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. After Tufts he completed a General Practice Residency at University of California, Los Angeles. Thereafter, Dr. Pang practiced general dentistry in the community of Los Gatos, California for two years. It was during this time that he realized how much he enjoyed working with his pediatric patients and returned to school to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. His residency in Pediatric Dentistry at New York University-Bellevue Hospital in New York City allowed for him to have extensive training in treating the well child and those with special healthcare needs such as children with craniofacial disorders and developmental disabilities. Dr. Pang has been in private practice since 2008. He is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, a Diplomate with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
(925) 831-8310
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Page 20 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Tree of the Season: The Monterey Pine
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
The imposing Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata, perhaps the most common large landscape tree in the Bay Area, is one of the most widely-planted trees on the planet. It covers millions of acres in places as far-flung as England, Chile, and Australia. However, its native range covers just a few square miles of the California coastline, which explains why it prefers a cool, moist coastal climate with well-draining soils. With their dense, towering canopies, dark, glossy green needles, refreshing scent, and magnificent sweep of boughs, Monterey Pines give the feeling of being in a forest. They provide habitat for many species of birds and butterflies. The beauty of these trees, combined with their immense vigor and rapid growth, appeals to landscapers who want a quick, tall screen between houses, a cool shady hillside behind their home, or an instantly woodsy subdivision. Unfortunately, the quick hedge or woodland effect you enjoy in the first year of the tree’s life can become a major safety hazard and a source of conflict with uphill neighbors when, two decades later, the tree reaches 50-70 feet in height. The Monterey Pine’s soft, brittle wood and its shallow root system combine to make it a serious hazard during winter storms on the hilly slopes. Away from its native habitat, it is vulnerable to root-rot diseases and, stressed by lack of water during our dry summers, it becomes prey to often fatal beetle infestations. The species is relatively short-lived, around 75 years, and its proclivity for toppling, or for shedding large branches, increases with age.
Coping with Pines
So what are we to do with these beautiful but bothersome pines that define so much of the Bay Area landscape? First of all, don’t plant any more of them unless you are willing and able to offer them ideal conditions. These include a large, level, adequately moist planting site, with porous soil, far from both houses and power lines, and with no uphill neighbors whose views your growing tree will obstruct. Monterey Pines also require regular care, including safety
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hearing stories of his ancestors. One day while he was pumping water on the family farm, he spotted a pristine jasper arrowhead on the ground. His mother fostered his interest in collecting. When she sold produce at local farmers’ markets, she gave Jerry 50 cents or a dollar to buy artifacts. She saved money from selling homemade baked goods so Jerry could bid on pieces at auctions. Westerns playing regularly at the local cinema inspired him to study the lives of cowboys and cavalrymen as well as Native Americans.
The 140' long topographic table with over 9,000 historically accurate miniature figures recreates events that shaped the Old West. Photo by Jody Morgan
Thousands of people traveling to nearby Yellowstone National Park were stopping to admire Fick’s collection. But maintaining the museum was costly. Although saddened by parting with objects whose stories are close to his heart, Jerry is delighted by the Blackhawk Museum’s exhibition. “What they did,” he exclaims, “is what I always dreamed of doing. They fulfilled my dreams.” David Behring, Jeff Behring, and Joel Hodge made several trips to Cody
thinning every few years, as well as periodic watering, aerating, and fertilizing. If you are already living with Monterey Pines, reduce the safety risks through preventative maintenance before it’s too late. To improve drainage, invigorate your pine’s root system, and strengthen its resistance, we suggest aerating, then filling the holes with rich, porous organic matter (we use American Soil’s “Clodbuster” mix). Check your pine for infestations by looking for areas where whole branches are turning brown, as well as for small holes, tubes or splotches of pitch, or red “sawdust” droppings around the trunk and major branches.
Pruning Pines
The best time to prune any type of pine trees, and the only recommended time to prune Monterey pines, is between October 1st and February 15th. Sap from pruning cuts attracts beetles destructive to pines. These beetles are dormant during the fall and winter months. Given that the beetles can smell sap from long distances, it is important to prune your pine when they are inactive. Not only are the beetles themselves harmful, but some species can carry pine pitch canker, a fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably has pine pitch canker. If you want to prolong the life of the tree, as well as its appearance, now is the best time to prune out the diseased tips. Even healthy pines require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. To reduce the fire hazard associated with pines, fire departments recommend removing deadwood and taking branches back from buildings. Pines are sometimes subject to branch and column failure. Judicious thinning of the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree falling in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break. The safety pruning of trees is an art as well as a science. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, but it should look beautiful. At Brende and Lamb, we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Now is the best time to make your pines as safe, healthy, and beautiful as possible. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial to inventory and catalogue. Jerry Fick and his family provided background information on each the 2,000 or more artifacts. Curators from the Buffalo Bill Cody Center supplied additional historical insight and aided in cleaning and packing the collection. The 80’x40’ topographic table occupying the center of Fick’s museum was photographed several times from above before the Ficks packed each of the 9,000 plus miniature figures. The original layout’s storyline ran chronologically counter-clockwise, beginning in the 1700s and ending with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. Fick, son Michael, and daughter-in-law Sue traveled to Danville to oversee the installation of the new layout. David organized the American settlers’ section adding loaned and donated artifacts and a California history exhibit. “What was originally planned to be a 10,000 square foot exhibit on the Old West grew to 27,000 square feet,” he recalls. “The concept was always to give equal space and balance to the history of both the Native Americans and the American settlers. It is unusual for a museum to have such an extensive representation of the Native American way of life.” Joel planned the Native American area.“The Plains Indian side of the exhibit needed to tell stories about each member of a family unit, and about the roles of nature and spirituality in tribal life,” he explains. “I grew in this process as I learned to allow the collection’s artifacts to drive the narrative rather than adopt the topical idea of moment.” Jeff supervised construction of exhibit space. “We as a team had a lot of leeway to design and place objects where we wanted them and to design and place materials such as railings, murals, cabinetry, platforms, lighting sound, etc.” The teepee central to the Native American presentation and the prairie schooner anchoring the pioneer display are accurate reproductions. Available antiques were fragile, expensive, and in poor condition. Buffalo and eagle command center stage. Indians wasted no part of the bison, while settlers used only meat, hide, and fertilizer. To the new American nation the majestic eagle symbolized freedom. To the indigenous people the
See West continued on page 24
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Life in the Alamo Garden
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 21
Water as a Garden Element By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059
We long to dip our hands under it, stick our big toe in it, and submerse our bodies under it. Every successful garden has some form of a water element as a main attraction. It may be a huge rushing waterfall cascade, an Italianate fountain, koi pond or a simple wall fountain. Whatever the size and magnitude of the feature itself water brings a sense of peace, connection, serenity, and reflection to a garden. There are several different approaches that I take in determining the design of a water feature. What are the size, scale and terrain of the land? Is the water feature intended to be a focal point? What is the level of sound that is needed from the water feature? Does the water feature have a function? Size, scale and terrain play a significant role in the design of a water feature. If you have a large Alamo lot tucked up against a hillside you probably have a perfect opportunity to have a natural water feature like a waterfall, stream, brook, or thundering Sierra cascade ending into a pond or even a swimming pool. Hillside backgrounds often times are the best terrain for a waterfall cascade. It lends itself to be a more natural setting. Typically, I don’t like creating a “fake” backdrop for a waterfall because they never look very natural. If you’re going to build a natural water feature do your best to recreate nature’s artful hands. Build it into the natural terrain, not onto the terrain. The scale of a water feature is relevant to the purpose of it. Nine times out of ten a water feature is a main focal point in a garden. If it is a main attraction, design it so people can hear it, see it clearly, and access it easily and safely. A decorative fountain can often be a stunning focal point. Make sure to scale it to its surroundings. There’s nothing more disappointing than a wimpy little fountain surrounded by a massive piece of architecture. Be bold not gauche! The sound that a water feature makes is very important. We love the look and feel of water, but often times the sound of water can be unnerving or irritating. Most of us can remember the uneasy feeling of the water feature that sounds like the male of the species doing his business in the toilet. (Hopefully said with some political correctness!) Or the Sierra cascade next to your main patio that is so overwhelmingly loud that you have to scream at the top of your lungs to have a conversation. The sound that resonates from your water feature needs to be appropriate for your surroundings. For instance, the Sierra cascade is great for a golf course club house terrace view across the lake to the other side or at a distance from your main patio in the background. Water sounds can be very soothing and relaxing. The right sound tends to be different to each and every client. I once had a client who wanted a “lake-shore water-lapping-on-the-beachsound” and one who wanted a “babbling-brook-sound.” So before you undertake selecting a water feature listen for the sounds of water that please your senses. The function of a water feature as a garden element is very important. The function can take many forms depending on the intention for its use. It can also have several different functions separately and at the same time. Swimming pools, waterfalls, ponds, fountains, rills, vanishing edge, shear descent, wall fountain, fleur-de-lis, cascade, etc. all have many different functions. Basically, all of the five senses are available to please with your water feature at any given time. Maybe all of them! Sight, sound, touch, smell and taste! All of the aforementioned water features can fulfill the function. Water as garden element
is essential for the successful design of your garden. It will bring you peaceful joy and connection to your garden. It will attract and bring wonder to all who enter your garden. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: A well-done water feature begins with good design and is implemented by an experienced craftsman. Ask to see some finished referrals from your contractor. Gardening Quote of the Month: “How often it is that a garden, beautiful though it be, will seem sad and dreary and lacking in one of its most gracious features, if it has no water.” - Pierre Husson If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com or www. houzz.com/pro/jmla/john-montgomery-landscape-architects. Advertorial
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Page 22 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Technology Matters
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Last week I had the opportunity to speak with a group of 50 gentlemen in Walnut Creek about computer security. The two-hour lecture seemed to pass quickly and it reminded me how much I enjoy people and love being of service. Our aim at PCIO is to change people’s lives for the better, and events like this make me feel successful in that mission. What did we accomplish together? We dispelled myths, reinforced good practices, and conveyed a reasonable sense of urgency to take basic, proactive steps as quickly as possible. Have you ever experienced the situation of recalling something very important that had slipped your mind only to have it slip your mind again? Then when you finally remember the item, it was only because the negative outcome you were hoping to avoid came to fruition? If you had taken the initiative to deal with the item back when you first thought about it, you could have escaped without any problems. I often find this is often the case with computer security and maintenance. And I have a rule of thumb that says once I’ve thought about something that could happen, the chance of it coming to fruition seems to become exponentially higher. I’ve tempted fate, so I must act! In support of this notion, I’m going to give you the list of security precautions I used for my lecture so you can start taking proactive steps today. There are 18 points, and these will help you whether you run a large company and want a checklist for your IT staff, or you’re looking for direction at home. 1. Keep your computer up to date: Patch, Patch, Patch! 2. Web Browser: use Google Chrome. It does a better job of preventing access to sites with bad code. There are pros and cons to all of them, but Chrome has an edge in our opinion. 3. Install protective software, whether you own a MAC or PC. All systems get infected, and Macs are not special. 4. Use Ad Blocker extensions in your browser. Online advertisements are a new favorite way for bad guys to spread their drive-by malware and ransomware.
5. Use AntiMalware. Malwarebytes is a recognized leader for both Macs and PCs. 6. Switch to email services with top notch SPAM and virus filtering. For personal email, you simply cannot beat Gmail. Or buy your own domain and host it through Office 365. Both are fantastic. 7. Use strong passwords and different ones for each online service you use. Minimum 12 characters; long phrases are more important than complexity. 8. Nobody is watching you. Do not fall for the unsolicited telephone call saying: “We’re from ‘Windows’ and we’re monitoring your computer, and your system has an infection.” Microsoft will never call you, nor will anyone legitimate unless you request it. 9. If something you receive seems too good to be true, it probably is. 10. Pay for your software. Most free software introduces risk. 11. Stick to professional recommendations, avoiding fads and folklore. I.E., just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. If in doubt, call PCIO before acting. 12. Backup, Backup, Backup! Your primary backup should be internet-based. We prefer Crashplan. Your secondary backup can be a local USB Hardisk. It’s unwise to use USB thumb drives for backups. The backup that depends on you remembering is the backup that won’t reliably get done. 13. Control access to your machine. Lock it when you’re away. Use a password. 14. Never conduct banking or login to any sensitive sites when on public WiFi networks. It’s a great way to have your bank account drained. 15. Use email and the internet safely. Be aware. Don’t visit sketchy sites, don’t open things people send you, and stay aware that unfortunately there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there trying to con or steal from you. 16. Use OpenDNS for network protection. It’s the priceless third leg of the protection stool - www.opendns.com. 17. Use encryption on your laptop, tablet, and phone. And make paper copies of important lists (addresses, credit cards, etc.), and put them in your safe. 18. Use that firewall that comes with your operating system. It helps. Do you have other protection ideas to share? I’d love to include them in the next version of this ‘Safe Computing’ checklist. Let us know how we can help. Reach us at info@pcioit.com, or 925-552-7953. Advertorial
COMPUTER SERVICES: PCs/Macs/Tablets/Smartphones • Upgrades • Maintenance • Networking • Data Recovery • Virus/Malware Removal • Back-up Solutions • Email/ Hosted Exchange IT DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION: IT Strategy Development • IT Infrastructure Assessment • Cloud Services IT INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT: Desktop, Server, & Network Monitoring and Management • Office Move Management • Disaster Preparedness
Technology. Simplified. Serving Bay Area businesses and residents since 2001
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Blackhawk Museums Seek Gallery Guides and Docents
Training for Spirit of the Old West gallery guides and automotive docents begins at the Blackhawk Museums in October. Sessions run alternate Thursday mornings from 10am to noon with a break for the holidays. Make-up classes are available for missed sessions. Graduation occurs in May. On-going training continues after graduation, and graduates are welcome to attend current classes. Classes are taught by guest instructors as well as museum staff. A treat for automotive docents this year will be the return of Raffi Minasian, designer, innovator, car collector, and enthusiast. Following classroom discussion, Minasian will lead participants through the car exhibition to illustrate his presentation. David Behring, designer of the American Westward Expansion portion of the Spirit of the Old West exhibition and Joel Hodge, coordinator of the Plains Indians displays, will share their vast knowledge and interesting anecdotes with gallery guide classes. Trainees shadow current guides and docents to learn about different presentation styles and ways of providing information that meets the interests of each tour group. Mary Mackey, an experienced Spirit of the Old West Guide, says, “I enjoy presenting the fun part of history. I hold up three pennies and explain that an acre of land cost only three pennies in 1803. I hold up a dollar bill. That was the value of a buckskin, so it became a buck.” For more information, contact docent@blackhawkmuseum.org or Nora Wagner nwagner@blackhawkmuseum.org or 925-736-2280 ext 238.
Centennial Hike Planned for 9/11
“If you’re told to ‘take a hike’ this fall, this is a great time and place to do it, while combining town, regional, state, and national parks in one hike,” says Trudy McMahon from the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House. On Sunday, September 11, hikers are invited to join in for a Centennial Hike from downtown Danville up the hill to Tao House. The event highlights the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service which operates Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville. The hike begins at 9AM at the Eugene O’Neill Commemorative Park on Front Street, across from the Danville Library. Advance registration is required for those planning to participate in the Centennial Hike. Register by e-mailing taohouse.eonf@gmail.com. Include your name and number in your party, and use “Find Your Park” in the subject line. Please register by September 6. Hikers will proceed north on Front Street, west on Prospect Avenue to Museum of the San Ramon Valley Depot, and then continue along the Iron Horse Trail. The route will proceed to Camille Avenue to the East Bay Regional Park’s Madrone Trailhead up to the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site where there is a spectacular view of Mount Diablo State Park. It is estimated the full hike will take three hours from start to end and cover approximately three miles. Along the hiking route, representatives from town, regional, state, and national parks and historic sites will be available to provide information about their particular parks and programs. Additional information will be provided for those arriving at Tao House from the participating groups including East Bay Regional Parks mobile Visitor’s Center, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, Save Mount Diablo, Rosie the Riveter Trust, John Muir Association, Friends of Port Chicago Memorial, Town of Danville, Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House, and California State Parks. Hikers are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the shaded picnic area. Tao House at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site will be open for informal tours for participants. It is here that O’Neill and his family lived from 1937-1944 and where the playwright wrote his final and most notable plays. Hikers can return back to downtown Danville via NPS shuttle from Tao House. Participants can also hike on a return route back along the Madrone Trail to Camille Avenue or on the Virgil Williams Trail to Starview Drive. Guides from the National Park Service will be available to assist hikers and to control traffic flow.
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 23
Stop by our new office in the Alamo Courtyard 3195 Danville Blvd #4, Alamo
Alamo – Our New Home Presented by Peter T. Waldron
In conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor
I am proud to announce our new location in the Alamo Commons at 3201 Danville Blvd Suite 190, Alamo. We moved our offices from San Ramon, and our first day of business was August 1, 2016. We now have the boutique feel that we have envisioned for our firm which is in line with our mission statement. Another goal of creating a more consistent culture for our team was achieved with the move. This includes having work life balance for our team; specifically access to local businesses and services. We are excited to have our business located in the town that our family has called home for the last 32 years and where our company philosophy will be met. My father and I have been building our company over the past twelve years; one of our original goals was to move the office to Alamo. It has been great to build something of our own; it has been even more magnificent to do it with my mentor and father. In 2012, we created Spectrum Wealth Partners with James Westermeyer to further expand our firm. In 2014, William C. Roland and his team joined us to bring their expertise in the area of employee benefits. Our firm now consists of four partners, Robert J. Waldron Jr., Peter T. Waldron, William C. Roland, and James R. Westermeyer. We have a team of four financial planners, William P. Harvey, Brad Byrns, James Hayes and Michael Lemas. We also have an administrative team consisting of four amazing individuals. We are ready to make our clients’ lives easier by bringing process driven professionalism. Our priority is to help all generations of the family with their wealth. Spectrum Wealth Partners is a boutique financial planning firm where we pride ourselves on our client philosophy which is “serve first, last, and always.” We believe it is imperative to provide unbiased advice and high-quality service through open communication and innovative strategies. Our goal is to help you gain a firm understanding of your financial situation and move toward achieving your most important business and personal goals. We work side by side with our clients, focused on these guiding tenets: helping our clients manage, grow, and preserve their wealth, while taking the stress out of running the financial side of their lives. Our clients are business owners, entrepreneurs, and executives. By taking care of their financial management needs, we allow them to focus on what they do best – running and managing successful businesses. We are excited for our new home and look forward to seeing you around town. Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker-dealer (member SIPC) and registered investment advisor, offering insurance through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances. The content of this material was created by Lincoln Financial Advisors for its representatives and their clients. Advertorial
Page 24 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
West continued from page 20
sacred eagle was a messenger from the gods. Local artist Roxanna Santos De Hayden studied photographs and paintings of the Old West before preparing scale drawings for her striking murals found throughout the gallery. She particularly enjoyed the challenge of rendering Spanish mission architecture on a curved wall. The viewer feels drawn into her painting as if entering a three-dimensional space. Blackhawk Museums Executive Director Timothy McGrane comments, “Although we are widely known as a world class automotive museum, since the opening of the West Wing building in 1991, Blackhawk has been a multi-discipline museum with changing gallery themes over the past 25 years. The introduction of the Spirit of the Old West was a dramatic change as it did require the number of cars on display to be reduced. We do have some returning visitors that are disappointed, but most enjoy the new gallery exhibition, and the diversity and the increase of visitors that it now brings to the Museum has been significant.”
The teepee central to the Native American section is a gathering place for school groups. Photo by Jody Morgan
Nora Wagner, Blackhawk Museums Programs Director, notes, “Ken Behring has always been interested in education. He really wanted an exhibition that addresses the needs of school children.” Wagner started training gallery guides when the Spirit of the Old West opened in February 2015. Requests for school tours began in March. Guides still in mid-training agreed to lead groups. Susan Schaefer admits, “I was nervous at first, but it was a great way to learn.” Guides are not expected to know everything about the exhibition. “As guides we don’t want to over talk. We want to introduce what is important and respond to each group’s interests,” Mary Mackey explains. Visiting the exhibition convinced Dall Barley and Linda Larson to become guides. “I was impressed by the caliber of the exhibit and the even-handed manner of displaying the story of the clash of two very different ways of life,” Barley says. Larson writes, “My favorite part of the museum is not an exhibit itself; it is the spirit of the people reflected by the exhibits. The Plains Indians, pioneers, settlers, emigrants and miners showed courage, perseverance, and resilience during the rapid and challenging changes that happened during the Westward expansion.” Adult visitors frequently share family stories, as do guides. Stuart Candland relates, “My great grandparents came across the plains in the 1850s – one great-grandfather with a Mormon handcart company and a great-grandmother with a wagon train. My great-grandmother was responsible for the milk cow. She milked the cow in the morning and put a portion of the milk in a bag attached to the wagon. By evening the motion of the wagon had turned that milk to butter.” Children often ask insightful questions. Evelyn Candland recounts, “I tell students that the Indians used every part of the buffalo from one end to the other. I was stumped when one child asked what they used the eyes for until learning while visiting Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Canada that they rubbed the eyes on their arms as an insect repellent.” Caroline Sanchez remarks, “I asked a group of children gathered at the
See West continued on page 34
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The Ethical Will
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
As summer winds down and schools start up, families tend to shift into a learning mode. Our children study language, math, science, and history – specifically, the history of our state, our country, and our world. Over time, I have come to appreciate how interesting history is and how many transformative lessons it can teach. Ironically, family history is given little attention. While one’s recent family history is often readily accessible, many people know shockingly little about their line of descent. It is a real shame if stories of a parent or grandparent remain untold when they were only a few simple questions away. At our core, we all want to be productive and useful. Not only do we want to leave a meaningful and lasting legacy, but we want that legacy to be appreciated. How, you might ask, can this be accomplished? One great way is to give yourself and your family the opportunity to live a healthy, balanced and comfortable life. Doing so in today’s world involves achieving basic levels of financial success. Classic estate planning strategies can be employed to ensure the effective succession of one’s financial legacy. This involves the establishment of appropriate estate, tax, insurance, and asset protection measures. Most folks, however, miss the opportunity to ensure that their personal legacy is passed on to loved ones as effectively as they pass along their material belongings. So, I try to weave into my clients’ estate planning documents content that covers not only their “valuables,” but also reinforces the values they wish to pass on. In my short time on this earth – okay, not that short – I have come to believe that everyone has a unique story to tell: one that incorporates powerful lessons learned. Working with thousands of estate planning clients has confirmed this belief. The problem is that little of this, if any, ends up documented for the benefit of descendants. It is often said that understanding and remembering the mistakes of the past is the key to preventing their recurrence. Familial and ancestral history is a similarly valuable tool, capable of helping future generations understand and appreciate the world they live in. So, what might you do to leave a more meaningful and lasting legacy than planning solely with respect to your monetary assets? In today’s technological world, there are many options. For starters, consider an “Ethical Will.” Ethical Wills, dating back to both the Old and New Testament, are not legal documents and are relatively uncommon today. They are intended to pass on philosophies, stories, ethical values, and beliefs from one generation to the next. An Ethical Will can take on a number of forms such as a list of core values, a statement of hopes for loved ones, an expression of gratitude, a brief life story, foundational lessons to share, etc. Consider an Ethical Will, as Andrew Weil, MD, would say, a gift of “spiritual health.” Children are shown to be far happier when they have a better understanding of where they come from. The 21st Century embodiment of the ancient ethical will is a legacy video. Under the guidance of an expert videographer and family historian, the use of a visual medium can facilitate deep emotional connections to loved ones long after they’ve passed. For some, a video is easier than putting pen to paper, and for many, it’s a more meaningful form of expression. Regardless of the medium, I urge you to consider the benefits associated with capturing your intangible legacy for loved ones. Whether a gift to children, request from parents, or an enhancement to your estate plan, codifying this special and valuable information will be appreciated by all parties involved. If you may be interested in an ethical will or legacy video, please do not hesitate to contact me for resources. Also, stay tuned for the upcoming release of my new “21st Century Estate Planning” services; they might just help you supercharge your estate plan. * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business Please contact the author to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group which is located at 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
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Help for Families Facing a Mental Health Crisis
By Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County, District 2 Supervisor
Many people feel paralyzed when a loved one is in a state of mental health crisis. While we may want to diminish their pain, nothing seems to penetrate the barrier that surrounds them. In a time of crisis, trying to identify options for help is challenging. One great resource to aid families dealing with mental illness is the Mental Health Crash Course, a program designed by collaborating organizations to provide an orientation to help navigate through the mental health system. Every Wednesday, a 90-minute “crash course” is held at the Family Justice Center, located at 2151 Salvio St. in Concord. More information about the program can be found at www.mhcrashcourse.org. Since mental health disorders are often invisible on the surface, they may not be as easy to immediately recognize. Mental illness is a chronic, persistent, and frequently hereditary disorder that 5% of the American population suffers from. Just as we don’t hesitate to seek treatment for medical ailments, help for mental illness also needs to be sought. Sometimes it is not until a crisis exists that family members seek assistance. If someone becomes a danger to self, a danger to others, or gravely disabled, showing extreme symptoms of a mental disorder, police can be summoned and the person may be placed on a 5150 or involuntary psychiatric hold. A person can be held up to 72 hours to be evaluated. At the end of that period, a 5250 hold for up to 14 days may be further issued, followed by a 5260 hold up to 30 days. If a law has been broken, subjects may opt into the Behavioral Health Court, which provides an intensive two-year treatment program for the mentally ill. Unfortunately, many of those who are seriously mentally ill remain in denial of their disorders, a state officially known as anosognosia. Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), also known as Laura’s Law, was instituted in Contra Costa County in February of 2016 to help some of these individuals. The AOT program provides a 24-hour team response that includes mental health treatment, medication, access to primary healthcare, substance abuse counseling, benefit and resource counseling, supportive housing, vocational rehabilitation, and peer and family member education, and support. If someone is unwilling to agree to a treatment plan, a court order may be obtained to require compliance. More information about Contra Costa’s AOT program can be found at http://cchealth. org/mentalhealth/lauras-law.php, or by calling 1-888-678-7277. Help is also available for those who are suicidal. If in fear for a loved one, watch for the following symptoms: aggressive behavior, dramatic mood swings, social withdrawal, increased substance abuse, and expressions such as “I wish I wasn’t here.” In an emergency suicidal situation, call 911, or help can also be found at the Contra Costa Crisis Center Suicide Hotline, (800) 833-2900 or just by dialing 211. There are many public and private resources in Contra Costa County to help both the mentally ill and the friends and family members who are trying to help. Talking with your own family physician to determine what resources your health plan might have available is another essential first step. As a community, we will continue to work together to combat the stigma often accompanying mental illness and treat it just as we do any other disease, helping patients and looking for a cure. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860. Thank you to summer intern Clara Cabot for her contributions to this article.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 25
Fine Mexican Dining
743-8997 In Stone Valley Shopping Center
Enjoy Our Patio Dining Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner Sunday: Dinner only We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty
Bike continued from front page
the Pleasanton/Livermore border that serves as his storage facility and tool shop. Organizations such as The Taylor Family Foundation (TFF) are frequent recipients of CBI bikes. A recent CBI donation included a ‘bike trike’ that is utilized by a different child at each TFF camp session and is a reward for good deeds.“Working with Stephen and Charity Bike Institute was an absolute pleasure,” says Angie Carmignani, executive director of TFF. “From our first meeting to the presentation of the ‘big wheel’ bike trike, Stephen was intent on creating something that our campers will enjoy for some time to come!” Generous donations from California Pedaler in Danville, Danville Bikes, California Snowboard and Bikes, Livermore Cyclery, and Sports Basement Walnut Creek, and funds provided by Livermore Rotary keep the organization stocked with tires, tubes, and tune-up tools. These retail outlets also serve as bike drop-off points, and most provide an in-store 10% discount to donors. But CBI is so much more than its own collection and giveaway program. “Churches, scouting organizations, and fire/police departments are all welcome to use our state-of-the-art facilities to fulfill their own bicycle donation projects,” says Stanley. “We can also facilitate the donation portion of a program for other organization that have the desire to help others, but not the time or resources.” CBI invites other nonprofits to utilize their facility and resources; they can help to promote other organizations’ bike donation programs and will provide their facility, tools, and labor as needed. At giveaway time, CBI will even include a gift card identifying the guest organization as the donor. CBI also has the appropriate infrastructure to assist Boy Scout Eagle candidates with their Eagle projects. And finally, CBI offers one-hour bike repair clinics with instruction on repairing flat tires, adjusting brakes and front/ rear derailleurs, correcting seat height, and lubricating the chain properly. Stanley’s goal is to take CBI to official 501(c)3 status and to expand the reach within Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. “I’d ultimately like everyone in the area who wants or needs a bike to be able to have one,” says Stanley. “The more bicycles we give away, the more smiles we create.” To find out more about Charity Bike Institute, or to donate or make a bike request, contact Stephen Stanley at Stephen@charitybikeinstitute.org or (925) 255-6181.
Page 26 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
By Roger Smith, Alamo Improvement Association Autos of Alamo
Join your friends and neighbors at AIA’s Annual “Autos of Alamo” event in downtown Alamo on Thursday, September 15th, located at Alamo Plaza, starting at 4PM and ending at 9PM, There will be free admission, live music, prize raffle, food and beverages available while you and your family stroll through the parking lot viewing autos with muscle, class, and exotic appearances. Better yet, for $10 you can display your pride and joy from yesteryear and join other enthusiasts from our area. Just contact Jim Wadsworth - jwads@sbcglobal.net. This is our 4th Annual Car Show. Put it on your schedule and share the fun!
Alamo Farmer’s Market
The “Alamo Farmers’ Market” always has the best selection of fresh vegetables and fruits for your good health! The Market is a community effort, and our vendors are able to appear with your regular support every Sunday. The vendors are great people. Please get to know them. Our two featured vendors this month are Roadside Rotisserie and Valley Oak Dairy. Roadside Rotisserie is a rotisserie chicken vendor offering a delicious readyto-eat meal. They also offer other great meats including rack of ribs and pork loin and sides like grilled potatoes, grilled Brussels sprouts, and kale salad to make your Sunday meal complete! Valley Oak Dairy is our cheese vendor. They offer five varieties of wonderful cheeses including Asiago, Sharp Cheddar, Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack. They also have milk choices and a yogurt line due in the fall! The Alamo Certified Farmers’ Market operates every Sunday from 9am- 2pm rain or shine and is located in the Bank of America parking lot at 110 Alamo Plaza.
La Niña
La Niña is on its way. La Niña received its name from South American fisher-
Volunteers Needed at Mt. Diablo State Park
There are several exciting volunteer opportunities at Mt. Diablo State Park over the upcoming months. Projects needing assistance are: • Maintaining and improving hiking trails throughout the park • Control of invasive plants, such as yellow star thistle • Repairing and repainting park facilities, such as fences, picnic tables, and outhouses Service projects out in nature tend be excellent team-building activities, and they can support feelings of cooperation and respect among school groups, community organizations, and co-workers. Projects can accommodate a range of participant ages and group sizes, and a work day for weekends or week days can be planned. Volunteer Field Projects Coordinator can work with you and your organization to design a project that will make a significant contribution to our beautiful park, and that will be a fun and memorable experience for you and your organization. For answers to questions and for more information, contact Silas Ellison at 925-837-6122, 925-837-6819, by cell phone at 617-335-6833, or by email at silas.ellison@parks.ca.gov.
Exchange Club of SRV
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. For more information, call Karen Stepper at (925) 275-2412, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley
The Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley meets for dinner every Wednesday night at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Drive in Danville. Networking and social time starts at 6pm, and the meeting runs from 7pm until 8:30pm. Dinner and cocktails are served and the weekly program features interesting guest speakers. Guests attend free of charge and are always welcome! For more information, call Laura Montalvo at (925) 437-2445 or e-mail winechickathome@ gmail.com. You can also visit our website at www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.
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man, El Niño or “Little Child” and is the brother to La Niña, “Little Girl.” La Niña is the “cool” counterpart to El Niño and is characterized by unusually low ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean. La Niña puts an emphasis on the Northern Jet Stream during the winter, driving colder weather and moisture into the northern states while the southern states stay warmer and drier than normal. A typical La Niña winter prevents storms from delivering drought-aiding snow pack and rain to our region, which can be devastating for California, according to “AccuWeather” leading long range meteorologist, Paul Pastelok. The East Bay Municipal Utility District’s (EBMUD) website www.ebmud. com continues to categorize our region’s drought status as Stage 4 “severe” with a current ranking of 71% of full water storage in April and continues to remind us all that “Mandatory Water Restrictions” remain in effect. We are currently in California’s worst drought in recorded history, worse than the previous drought of 1976-77. Because a residence’s water leakage averages 10% of a residence’s total water usage, the EBMUD website www.ebmud.com/watersmart offers a number of tips for homeowners and HOA’s for locating and fixing leaks from faucets, showers, toilets, and water heaters, as well as adjustment and repair of sprinklers and drip irrigation. There is also an on-line water use calculator. Did you know that there are more than 650 low water-use native Californian and Mediterranean plant species? Order EBMUD’s book Plans and Landscapes for Summer – Dry Climates WC Emphasis at www.ebmud.com/store/books/plants-andlandscapes/ http://www.californiagardens.com/Lists/Drought_Tolerant_List.htm. Note: Up to $2,500 in EBMUD rebates are now offered to change to qualifying drip irrigation/drought tolerant landscaping/lawn conversion and lesser amounts for changing to qualifying high efficiency washers and toilets. Visit www.ebmud. com/water-and-drought/conservation-and-rebates/residential/rebates to learn more. Alamo is a special community that all of our residents can be justifiably proud to call “Home.” Please watch for the AIA membership letter and form, complete it, and return it to AIA to our P.O.Box 156, Alamo, CA. 94507. Established in 1955 and now celebrating its 61st year, AIA’s mission is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo,” the place we love to live. Consider becoming a member of our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to preserve Alamo’s unique beauty and status. Please visit www.AlamoCA.org.
Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee July 2016 Reports
Alamo police responded to 44 crimes which included battery, burglary, court order violation, stolen vehicle, non-criminal death, disturbance, possession of narcotics, felony theft, forgery, grand theft, mentally ill hospitalization, petty theft, property found, shoplifting, terrorist threat, identity theft, and vandalism. If I Were a Thief Program - 168 Streets covered during the month, 51 flyers distributed, 54 notices distributed in Alamo Plaza parking lot
Reported Incidents
• South Ave. – Residential Burglary – A home was burglarized in the early evening. Fortunately, a neighbor noticed the suspicious suspect and called the Sheriff’s Office immediately. Deputy Sheriff’s arrived on scene and encountered the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody for burglary and an additional charge. • Laverock Ln. – Residential Burglary – An unknown suspect gained access to the victim’s garage through an unlocked side garage door. The suspect stole the victim’s wallet from her vehicle and attempted several transactions with the victim’s credit cards. The scene was processed for evidence, and the case is currently ongoing. • Elaine Ct. – Residential Burglary – A home had been burglarized while the owner had been gone for the majority of the day. An unknown suspect gained access through an unlocked door. The home had been ransacked, but at this point, nothing appears to have been stolen. The scene was processed for evidence, and the case is currently ongoing.
Items of Interest
1) The Livorna Park summer concerts have come to a close with no issues related to crime. 2) Shoplifting at the Alamo Safeway declined in the second half of July, but Deputy Topete continues to be proactive to prevent further shoplifting. 3) Livermore Cyclery is currently working to provide a quote for a road bike that can be used for bicycle patrol.
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Get an O.C.R. Under your BELT!
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 27
By Michelle Brown
Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, Muddy Buddy, Bullfrog, Warrior Dash, Dirty Girl... Obstacle Course Races (O.C.R.) are becoming mainstream and for good reason. They are a great way to get people off the couch and working toward a healthy goal, and they’re a ton of FUN to boot! The popularity of obstacle course racing has skyrocketed over the past few years with shows like American Ninja Warrior bringing the idea to the masses. Now there are obstacle course races for just about everyone. Proper training is important if you want to enjoy your O.C.R. Without it, new injuries can crop up, and old ones will flare. An experienced coach can help you find the fitness level and confidence you need to pursue your goal efficiently. Programs like Gumsaba O.C.R. training provide 12 week programs to take you through the three main phases of O.C.R. Training: Function, Fitness, and Performance. An OCR training program should also encompass proper nutrition and hydration plans, as well as the cultivation of a positive attitude. The initial goals of O.C.R. training should be the development of mobility and stability in the body. Without these two elements, the body has difficulty moving forward into fitness. Fitness training for an O.C.R. involves the development of stamina and athleticism. The final physical goal of the training is performance which involves obstacle specific exercise and possibly heat or cold acclimation training. Depending on your chosen race, these three stages could vary drastically from program to program. Someone entering O.C.R. for the first time with a Dirty Girl is not going to train like someone who is competing in their 10th Spartan Beast. This is why it’s important to sign up for a race that is right for you, and train for that race. Spartan Supers, Spartan Beast, Ultra Beast, and Tough Mudder are more intense races with 8-24 miles involved and obstacles that challenge even the most experienced athlete. Races like the Spartan Sprint, Warrior Dash, Muddy Buddy, and Dirty Girl require a less rigorous training schedule and are more manageable for a first time O.C.R. racer. If you are interested in O.C.R., the first step is to look into all the races I have mentioned (and more). Read the reviews on the races. Watch the promotional videos, and decide what is the best fit for you. Choose a race that is at least a few months out so you have time to train. Consider the time of year. For example, if you prefer warm weather, don’t sign up for a fall or winter event for your first race. Also, consider the obstacles in the races as they vary drastically. Make your decision based on the kind of training you are interested in doing as that will be where the bulk of your time and effort will be spent! The second step is to get your friends and family in on the fun! Make a team. It’s a great way to bond and get to know each other on an entirely different level. Send out a Facebook shout out and an email, and ask if anyone is interested in the race that you want to try. Many races offer deals for large groups. Gumsaba offers a discounts for some races on our website at Gumsaba.com/fitness/raceready. We also offer two 12 week Spartan SGX Certified trainings per year. No matter your age, fitness level or experience, there is a race that you can complete successfully. All you need are the training and tools to get you race ready. Contact Gumsaba today to find out more about our O.C.R. programs, and start planning your adventure! Michelle Brown is an ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Martial Arts Expert, TRX Level 2 Certified Trainer, Certified Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, SCW Yoga Level 2 Instructor, and owner of Gumsaba Fitness Programs. Michelle has been helping clients surpass their goals since 1998. Gumsaba offers outdoor fitness programs, personal, small group and sport specific training. Join Gumsaba for a FREE CLASS. Visit gumsaba.com and click get started to redeem your free class with promo code MYOCR. www.gumsaba.com. Advertorial
Meals on Wheels
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. We need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
Page 28 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Your Personal Nutritionist
Good Nutrition Means Avoiding Constant Hunger and Craving for Sweets By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
Dr. Jeff, a local physician from Walnut Creek, decided to take advantage of my eight week Royal Treatment weight loss program. This special program is based upon several studies that confirm if a person changes their eating habits over a two month period they have the optimal chance of reducing weight and keeping it off – less time is not as effective and more time has diminishing returns. My eight week program includes visiting the client’s home and making an assessment of their refrigerator and pantry, taking them on a supermarket tour, detailed menu planning, and frequent follow up communications through phone, e-mail, and face-to-face sessions When Jeff called me he was complaining that in his quest to lose weight he felt he was always hungry and craved sweets, and as a result he could not drop the weight he wanted. He came to my office in Alamo for an initial session with his lovely wife Ellyn and brought a food diary of a few days. I could see immediately why he is always hungry – his diet was very low in protein and fiber, especially during his busy day. For the next session I went to his home and made an inventory of the refrigerator and pantry, where my low protein and fiber diagnosis was confirmed. There were several types of cheese, leftover spaghetti with marinara sauce, fresh eggs, veggies in the bin, and a fruit bowl on the counter. Jeff loves crackers and there were many boxes of unhealthy crackers in the pantry. There were no ready-to-take meals or snacks for the office, such as hard boiled eggs.
Hospice Volunteers Needed
Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Administrative Support Volunteers to assist in the Pleasant Hill office • Thrift Shoppe Volunteers to work in one of the organization’s five stores which are located in Alamo, Concord, Martinez, Danville, and Walnut Creek. • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
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Jeff and Ellyn agreed to go with me to Trader Joe’s to help set them up with fresh, tasty meals that would be available for their high paced lifestyle. Jeff loves Trader Joe’s but was shocked to see all the great food items that he simply overlooked or was not aware of how to prepare. We went aisle by aisle and went thru each item where we discussed meal and snack ideas based on what we saw. In the lettuce section I introduced him to the organic bags of arugula that are delicious with diced fennel, fresh beets, and fresh quartered artichokes to be thrown in salads. We bought shredded cabbage and shoestring carrots that would make delicious Asian coleslaw along with Persian cucumbers, cilantro, sundried tomatoes, and sesame oil to be used to make low-fat hummus. I introduced them to Just Chicken, Fresh Grilled Chicken Strips, and Balsamic Grilled Chicken Breasts which are better than greasy rotisserie chickens. We bought the 97% fat free Hebrew National hot dogs to be enjoyed with fat-free baked beans and pickles. We also purchased individual serving packages of almonds that Jeff liked for taking to the office, and I suggested he create a trail mix with dried cranberries and Kashi Go Lean cereal which would help slow down his consumption of too many nuts. In addition, I showed Jeff the best cracker on the market called Akmak which has lots of protein and fiber. He liked the nutty, grainy taste of it. In the grains section I introduced them to quinoa, whole wheat couscous, faro, barley, and bulgur. I told them that we would have a cooking lesson where I would show them how to simply prepare these grains. I showed them the popular Roasted Red Pepper and Butternut Squash Soups which I recommend as a side to lunch. They also carry heartier soups that provide protein and fiber such as the lentil vegetable, black bean, and minestrone soups which are also a great complement to a sandwich or a chicken caesar salad. Elynn and Jeff were excited to see how I was putting meals together for them while shopping. At their home I helped them prepare hot dogs with fat free baked beans, pickles, and sauerkraut that they had in the pantry. We then made tabouli with whole wheat couscous and veggies, coleslaw, and low fat hummus in the blender. I set up a meal plan for Jeff and then followed this up with evening phone calls to see how he liked the menu I planned. I was thrilled to hear that Jeff was experiencing a happy fullness after each meal without wanting to snack. He felt that his energy level during the day was high and remained constant while seeing patients. I am also glad to inform you that Jeff has lost 10 pounds which he said was painless. Now Jeff shops weekly at Trader Joe’s and makes sure that at home there are many choices for meals that are properly balanced with protein and fiber. I am glad to inform you that your health insurance may pay for nutritional counseling. Please call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at lifeweight1@ yahoo.com and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Advertorial
Festival continued from page 8
View the 2016 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival entertainment schedule at www.lafayettefestival.com/music. Unique Wine & Beer Offerings at the Party Within the Party: Popular wines, beers, and ales are served throughout the Festival footprint, but the real action for connoisseurs happens at the Premium Wine & Craft Beer Pavilion, where there are selections of high-end wines and craft beer that most people never get a chance to taste. Food: Choice is everywhere, including Lafayette’s restaurant row fare. More than 20 of Lafayette’s top restaurants are in the Festival’s footprint, plus there are many other festival food vendors and food trucks. Original Fine Arts & Crafts: People from all over the Bay Area come to shop at the Festival's 260+ local and regional artists’ booths, including the “Local Artists Alley,” which showcases Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda fine artists. Family and Dog Friendly: People move to Lafayette for the family friendly lifestyle, so it’s no surprise that this is a family friendly festival, starting with a large KidZone and Kids’ Stage. There is also plenty for family dogs to see and smell, as well as easy access to Festival water bowls. Budget Friendly: This event raises funds that support the Lafayette Chamber’s many programs, Lafayette Partners in Education (“LPIE”), and other local non-profits, but attendees don't have to spend any money. The Festival Experience offers many things that are free -- admission (including access to music stages), free parking, easy shuttle service from Festival parking, and free secure bike valet. For complete Lafayette Art & Wine Festival details, visit www.lafayettefestival.com.
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The Real Source of Your Low Back Pain and What Can Be Done to Fix It By Dr. Kristin Moore, DC
Have you ever heard a story like this? A woman quickly grabs her vacuum and begins to clean her carpets. Because she is in a rush, she stoops forward and twists her spine and rolls the vacuum across the floor from sided to side. All of a sudden she doubles over in pain and can’t move, or even worse, she feels fine but the next morning she wakes up with excruciating pain. I hear stories like this EVERY day! So what caused this woman’s pain? All she did was vacuum, right? Well, that’s actually not quite right. You see, the biomechanics of the lumbar spine cannot effectively hold up to the compressive forces of bending while adding the addition of a rotational force. And that’s exactly what she did wrong! We have all been told time and time again that the absolute worst thing you can do to your back is to bend and twist at the same time. She stooped forward or bent her spine and then twisted to rotate the vacuum from side to side quickly. We do this motion more often than we realize: each time we swing a golf club, whenever we sit in a recliner and turn to reach the remote control, when we brush our teeth in front of the bathroom sink and then we turn to reach for something on the counter, or even when we load the dishwasher. The repetitive motion takes a toll on our low back, and after a while our back may just finally “give out.” This may occur all at once, or it could be a slow and gradual process. The longitudinal ligaments that support the spine can weaken over time. Once these begin to wear down, the likelihood that a bulging or herniated disc can develop increases. If the ligaments are lax and
Menopause Matters
By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP
Summer is just about over, and I hope you found time to be away, to be outside, to be exposed to sun, and to spend time with those who help your being. The last Menopause Matters addressed sunlight’s role in synthesizing vitamin D and its’ important role in bone health. Since that article I have attended a two-day UC San Francisco conference, (out of the sun) on bone remodeling, and I will spend the next few columns
sharing new insights. Why should one care about bone health and, in particular, osteoporosis? Well, it depends on the age of the person you ask. Young women should care and know that peak bone strength (the strongest your bones will ever be) is typically reached by their late 30’s. By age 80, many women have lost, on average, 30% of their peak bone mass. This is why age matters. Variables including menstrual regularity, relative amount of exercise, intake of calcium, and exposure to sunlight (Vitamin D), and the age of menopause play a role in bone strength over a women’s lifetime. The bone built earlier in a women’s life will pay dividends over her entire life. Osteoporosis, typically diagnosed after a woman’s menstrual period has stopped for 12 months (menopause), is a silent skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength and bone quality, both predisposing a woman to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength is typically assessed with low dose x-ray called a DEXA scan. DEXA scan is a measure of bone quantity (bone mineral density = BMD) and is currently the best measure of risk for osteoporotic fracture. Investigational studies are underway to look at how to assess bone quality, but none are currently used to assess risk. Why should you care about osteoporosis? It’s more common than one would think. UCSF faculty reviewed the prevalence (just how common) of osteoporosis, and those numbers shocked me. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) estimates that 9.9 million United States citizens have osteoporosis, and 43 million have low bone density. Both are risk factors for fracture. Most cases of osteoporosis occur in postmenopausal women and the prevalence rises from 19% in women aged 65-74 to more than 50%
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 29 loose, what is there to stop the disc from bulging and pressing on the spinal nerves or spinal cord? TREATMENT.
What is the best treatment for a bulging disc?
Spinal Decompression Therapy is a fantastic, natural and pain free option that works wonders for my patients. This treatment consists of using a mechanical device that gently tractions the specific spinal joints to relieve pressure on the affected disc. Over a series of treatments, negative pressure will be created within the spinal disc, and it will slowly begin to ease the symptoms of the bulge. When coupled with class IV laser therapy along with gentle chiropractic care, the results can be tremendous.
Is Spinal Decompression Therapy a comfortable procedure?
All of my patients have found spinal decompression to be incredibly comfortable and relaxing. Some patients find it so relaxing that they doze off during treatment!
How long will it take for me to feel better?
Typically, patients begin to feel some symptomatic relief in approximately five visits. On average, however, it can take a few months for the structure of the bulge to be stabilized in order to create longer lasting results. That being said, every injury is different, and some will take a little longer to heal whereas others may heal a little faster.
How do I know if I’m a candidate for spinal decompression?
The best way to find out if spinal decompression therapy can help ease the pain and discomfort caused by your bulging disc or back pain is to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with me. That will give me a chance to discuss your condition with you, and it will also give me a chance to determine if this is the best route for you. For more information, please visit www.alignhealingcenter.com, call (925) 362-8283, e-mail drkristinmooredc@gmail.com, or visit our office located at 125-G Railroad Avenue in Danville to schedule your complimentary consultation today! Advertorial in women 85 years and older. In the US, rates of osteoporosis and fracture vary with ethnicity. After adjusting for weight, BMD, and other covariates, whites and Hispanics had the largest risk for osteoporotic fracture, followed by Native Americans and African Americans. Osteoporotic fractures often do not make the headlines, and are consequently under appreciated as to just how commonly they occur relative to other diagnoses. The annual incidence of 1,000 US women with osteoporotic fractures is 1.5 million, compared to 513,000 heart attacks, 220,000 strokes, and 184,300 cases of breast cancer. In women 50 years and older, the lifetime risk of clinical fracture is 20% compared to the risk of breast cancer of 15%. Age is an independent risk for hip fracture in that there is greater than a five-fold increase in fracture probability from age 50 to 80, and this is independent of bone mineral density. What happens when osteoporosis leads to a fracture? Consequences of fractures are also under appreciated as they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. One year after hip fracture 20% of patients will die, 30% will have permanent disability, 40% will be unable to walk independently, and 50% will no longer be able to live independently. Most importantly is that when you have had one fracture you are four times more likely to have another vertebral fractures (associated with spine deformity and height loss, acute and chronic pain, and diminished quality of life) and two times more likely to have another hip fracture. Not living independently ranks as one of the highest concerns shared by persons over age 65, and compromised bone health can play a major role in a person’s independence. That is why bone health matters! Future columns will briefly touch on the broad categories of both preventative (fall prevention) and pharmacologic treatment options. I will put some of the fears of treatment into perspective with their very known significant benefits. For now, know that bone health matters, and regular moderate weight-bearing and strength-training exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, daily calcium of 1,200 mg and Vitamin D of 800-1000 units, fall risk assessment, and not smoking are lifestyle factors that can help you live long and independent. Visit my website at www.leachobgyn.com for links to resources and our Facebook page, Timothy Leach MD, for more information. My office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at 925935-6952. Advertorial
Page 30 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
The Living Paradox of Self Image
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
I recall my visit to the doctor after my near-fatal car accident that left me with a face that no longer resembled the one with which I had been born. Accompanying me to the doctor was my twin sister. Although she is my fraternal twin, she was always a mirror of sorts for me. We had always attracted a great deal of attention as a set of bubbly, bright red haired firecrackers. After the accident, I had no choice but to acknowledge that my sister looked less like a twin to me than a reminder of how I used to look. Proof that my appearance had changed, and that appearance mattered greatly, was in how differently people reacted to my sister than they did to me. It may have been subtle, but it was clear to me: people respond better to those with a better appearance. Though I initially perceived this act as unfair treatment, I later realized (and accepted) that there are sound societal and biological reasons why appearance matters. Whether we like it or not, we live in a society where looks matter. Research has demonstrated that during infancy, mothers care more for the good-looking baby. A meta-analytic review has indicated that physically attractive students are usually judged more favorably by teachers in a number of dimensions including intelligence, academic potential, grades, and various other social skills. What does all of this mean? The prettier girl wins. She gets more job offers, makes more money, and at the end of the day lives a more successful life. A recent
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article published by Business Insider referenced a research study that indicated more attractive women had a 54% callback rate while those judged unattractive experienced a 7% callback rate. Similar results were found in mirror studies. What has the prevailing evidence repeatedly demonstrated? Looks matter! Whether professionally or personally, the way we present ourselves to society has a huge impact on the way we are treated and the services that we receive. Sadly, no matter how sophisticated or professional a male or female is, his or her attributes will be masked by his or her image. Our bodies and faces are the vessels in which we live. In this society the person that we are is heavily the result of our image, and ironically our image influences the person we become by shaping our behaviors and actions towards ourselves and others. There is a silver lining to this sobering reality that looks matter. Information is power, and there are many ways to improve on natural appearance. And it doesn’t require us to look like we have been overdone or created from the same mold. There’s little purpose in lamenting the fact that our appearance may influence how others interact with us. It’s more constructive to decide which aspects of our appearance matter to us, and accentuate them. After all, there’s nothing more empowering than taking control of the changes we want to make…for ourselves, and maybe, just a little, for others, too. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
Motorists continued from front page
Raised in Danville, Robert Noble Burgess enjoyed a view of what was then the Railroad Ranch from his boyhood home. Owners, Seth and Dan Cook willed the ranch to their niece, Mrs. John F. Boyd, who turned it into Oakwood Park Stock Farm. In 1913 the entrepreneurial Burgess bought the property. He continued purchasing parcels, eventually negotiating for land at Mount Diablo’s summit. Burgess founded Mount Diablo Park Club (now Diablo Country Club) with plans for a 13,000-acre development of summer homes on the mountain’s western face. To lure affluent investors visiting the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition to fall in love with the panoramic view from Mount Diablo, he convinced the Oakland, Antioch, & Eastern electric railway to extend service from Oakland to his Diablo community. Building macadamized roads up the mountain from both the Northgate and Southgate sides was a major undertaking. Pathways had to be blasted through the primarily stone and shale surface. In memoirs Burgess writes: “The blasting holes had to be drilled as deep as 30 feet, and that was in the day of hand drills.” “Robert Noble Burgess founded Diablo Country Club in 1914, a time when country clubs were the natural next step from city clubs. For those with the means and the leisure time, there were two fast emerging activities in America, golf and a sport called motoring. The mountain became the perfect backdrop for both,” explains David Mackesey, Diablo Country Club Historian and three-time President. Headlines in the June 2, 1915 Daily Gazette announced: “First Auto Ascends to the Summit of Mt. Diablo – Scenic Boulevard Will Be Open To Tourists in Week – Supervisors Adopt Toll Rates.” The posted rates: “Automobiles with two passengers $1.00; all others $1.50. Vehicles – two horse $1.50; 4-horse $2.00; 6-horse $2.50. Miscellaneous – individual persons, $.50; each cow, horse, etc. $.10; each sheep, $.05.” Soon automobile companies were doing test runs. A Dodge Brothers car went from the Inn at Mount Diablo Park Club to the summit in one hour and five minutes. Arnold Blackmur, In Old Diablo, cites the engineers’ comments: “The elevation at the Inn is 500 feet, elevation at the summit is 3,849 feet, making the average grade 10%, many sharp turns and pitches measuring as high as 23%. Condition of road, very rough and dusty.” The sport of hill climbing began almost as soon as the first automobile was made. The earliest Automobile manufacturers proved the reliability of their products on recorded event near Nice, France occurred January 31, 1897. By 1916, amateur drivers were racing Mount Diablo’s steep roads. (Oakland Tribune, Oct. 22, 1916) up Mount Diablo. Lenore Barnett of Marin County set a record of 1 hour 45 minutes and five seconds from Oakland to the summit in her Maxwell roadster. An advertisement for the Briscoe 4-cylinder car (Oakland Tribune, October 22, 1916) boasts: “Briscoe Car again smashes Mount Diablo record.” The driver made the run from Oakland to the summit carrying four passengers in 55 minutes, capturing the Mt. Diablo-Savage Trophy. The Tribune High Gear Trophy was also hotly contested. In 1917 reporter Edmund Crinnion rode in the front seat of the winning King “8” driven by George Seely. His February 18 report states; “The car made every foot of the way from the Danville toll gate to a point well above the parking space at the summit in the high-gear carrying a combined passenger load of 698 pounds.” Despite extensive contemporary coverage, when the Alexander Trophy resurfaced in 1995, these motoring exploits were almost forgotten. John Zolomij, Director of the Raymond E. Holland Collection of Automotive Art, was working in Danville in an advisory capacity while the collection was installed at the Behring Museum (now the Blackhawk Museums). He recalls, “I was at an automotive art memorabilia show in Pennsylvania. It was the first year of the show. A gentleman came up to me and asked, ‘Aren’t you doing something in California? There’s a guy in the corner who has a trophy from there.’ Another hour and it would have been back in someone’s study. When I called Ken Behring to tell him about getting the Alexander Trophy, he couldn’t believe it. ‘What a find!’ he said.” The Museum still holds the trophy. Engraving reads: “The ALEXANDER TROPHY OFFERED AS A PERPETUAL CHALLANGE ___(word illegible) Mt DIABLO HIGH GEAR CHALLENGE CONTEST.” Winners listed are: Chandler Driven by C.W. Hobson Jan. 23, 1918; Harry L. Kiel with Westcott
See Motorists continued on page 32
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Stimulating Hope
Break Through the Bleak Cycle of Depression By William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW - Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare and Blackhawk TMS
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 31
BACK TO SCHOOL
Depression is a subject that is rarely if at all talked about. We have associated shame and powerlessness with this subject and often have difficulty knowing how and what to do if we, or someone close to us, becomes depressed. Bring in this coupon to get a FREE upgrade to safety lenses Some of the symptoms of biochemical depression are feeling long-lasting sadness, sleeplessness, a change in appetite on your child’s first pair of glasses or weight, or even difficulty in following a daily routine. AND These feelings are sometimes accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy. These are symptoms of bio25% off on their second pair of glasses* chemical depression that is treatable. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most (925) 202-2846 acute, widespread pathologies of the 21st century, affecting nearly 15 million American adults annually. Patients suffering Poplar Spectacles Optometry |215 Alamo Plaza, Suite D |Alamo, CA 94507 from MDD are traditionally treated with antidepressants and/ www.poplarspecs.com or psychotherapy. However, too often, antidepressants and Expires 9-30-16 other treatments fail to bring the hoped-for relief to patients. (*some restrictions apply. Cannot combine with insurance or other discounts) The marriage of Silicon Valley technology and forward thinking medicine has resulted in the technology known as Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This novel and successful treatment When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The for depression has been used for years in Europe but sadly, only recently here death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses in the U.S. Brainsway is one of the most advanced companies providing this you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s technology based out of Israel, and Blackhawk TMS located in Danville, is seeming lack of support for pet grief. the first to bring this exciting technology to the Tri-Valley. Hospice of the East Bay (HoEB) and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Brainsway can help you break through the sadness and start anew with a safe, Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories non-invasive, and effective treatment for depression. The treatment has been shown and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be to bring significant improvement to patients suffering from depression and anxiety held the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7PM at the Tony La Russa including those who have tried several types of antidepressants to no avail. Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Brainsway's treatment for depression has been cleared by the U.S. Food For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Serand Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013. The treatment has no systemic side vices at HoEB (925) 887-5681. HoEB Bereavement Services are provided effects and is highly convenient, requiring only 20-minute daily sessions over free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are a period of 4-6 weeks. Moreover, the treatment is prescribed and supervised greatly appreciated. by a licensed psychiatrist in an outpatient facility.
Have Antidepressants Failed to Work for You or Someone You Care About?
Brainsway’s treatment launches a new era in the treatment of MDD. It has many unique advantages over other treatments for depression. Antidepressants, for instance, fail to provide an adequate solution for many patients, and they often entail harsh side effects, ranging from nausea, insomnia, and anxiety to weight gain and sexual dysfunction. This can lead many patients to neglect their medication regime, believing that living with depression is better than living with the side effects. Other alternatives, such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT), require anesthesia and is associated with memory loss. To be clear, TMS is not ECT, and it does not induce electric current into the brain.
Brainsway’s Deep TMS – Brief, Effective Treatment
The Brainsway Deep TMS is a non-invasive treatment which stimulates the brain region responsible for depression to bring significant improvement to patients. It is an outpatient procedure which does not require hospitalization or anesthesia, and it entails no memory loss or systemic side effects. The treatment generates brief magnetic fields, at similar amplitude to that used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. These magnetic fields briefly stimulate the targeted brain area and improve depressive symptoms. After each session, patients can return home independently and follow through their normal daily routine, including going to work. If you or someone you know would like more information on this amazing treatment technology, just call Blackhawk TMS and we will take the time to explain this in greater detail. We are located at 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Suite 210 in Danville. Please call us at 925-648-2650. Advertorial
TeleCare Connects with the Homebound
Since 1971, member volunteers of TeleCare, a philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making daily reassurance calls, Monday through Friday, to those in our community who are homebound. As the chapter’s longest standing philanthropic program, TeleCare empowers the clients, no matter what their ages, to remain in their homes. What ensures this is a daily confidential journal kept for each client that member volunteers consult prior to the phone calls then update accordingly. Last year alone, member volunteers devoted 765 hours to connecting with homebound clients. Unfortunately, many clients are socially isolated and don’t have anyone to check on them daily. Statistics indicate that loneliness can cause a 20% decline in health, a number that increases for seniors, the elderly and the homebound. TeleCare not only offsets that statistic, it ultimately serves as a safety net for clients and their families especially if volunteer callers are unable to reach the client. If you live alone or know someone who does, a daily phone call would be a great way to stay connected with life and make new friends. Other TeleCare activities include attending an annual holiday party to meet fellow clients and member volunteers face to face, as well as receiving greeting cards from the Assisteens®, an auxiliary where kids learn to participate in a community service at a young age. So make that call to get you or someone you know connected. For more information about TeleCare, please phone 925-934-0901. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, funded by its thrift shop in Lafayette, and its recently awarded GuideStar Exchange gold participation level status, please visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.
Page 32 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
The Eye Opener
Macular Degeneration Diagnosis and Treatment By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Of all the possible eye issues and conditions that affect vision, Macular Degeneration seems to be the one that generates the most questions and concerns on the part of my patients. As the population ages and people are living longer, there is a very good chance that macular degeneration has affected a family member or close friend. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of functional vision loss in Americans over the age of 60. In addition, your likelihood does increase as you age as 1 in 5 over age 70 and one in three over age 85 are affected. At this time the exact cause is not well understood, and therefore there is no cure. However, our detection methods and treatment options are improving to help maintain vision. To understand macular degeneration, we must first understand the macula. The macula is the center part of the retina in which light that enters the eye is focused. This area only measures about five millimeters in diameter; however, the central macula is only about one millimeter in diameter. This tiny central area contains only cones (no rods) and is therefore the only place on the retina where color vision and your 20/20 vision is processed. Light focused outside of this central area will see a sharp drop-off in acuity, and images will be best viewed in dim light. First, let’s discuss the positive: you will never go blind from AMD alone; your peripheral vision and some central vision will remain intact. However, your peripheral vision is not good; visual details and colors are decreased. There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. Depending on the severity and type of the disease, vision loss will vary. Dry macular degeneration causes less vision loss, but there are fewer treatment options. At this stage vitamin supplements, home
Motorists continued from page 30
Jan. 31, 1918; Westcott Feb 4th 1918; Chandler Six Driven by C.W. Hobson April 27, 1923; Devaux 6-75 Sedan Driven by C.W. Hobson Sept 1, 1931. Zolomij asked Mount Diablo Interpretive Association for information. Edith Valle-Riestra tackled the project. Most contacts on her extensive list had little or no knowledge of the races, but eventually her diligence netted several newspaper articles. Oakland resident H.O. Alexander, sales manager of B.F. Goodrich’s Pacific
High-gear motoring contests on Mount Diablo were headline news in the early 20th century. (Clipping courtesy of the Blackhawk Museums)
Coast branch, was a member of the Mount Diablo Park Club. His trophy was awarded to the six-cylinder strictly stock car using only ordinary grade gasoline and oil driven the farthest on the Mount Diablo grade in high gear carrying four passengers with a combined weight of not less than 650 pounds. United States entrance into World War I dealt Burgess financial defeat. With his 1917 bankruptcy, properties he held reverted to original owners or defaulted to investors. Fortuitously, Walter P. Frick joined Mount Diablo Park Country in 1917. By 1919 Frick was reassembling many of the parcels Burgess had controlled into the 10.000-acre Diablo Ranch. In his two-part article on Frick (Diablo Watch, 2004) Seth Adams writes: “It was about the same time that
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monitoring, and regular eye exams is the standard of care. However, there are some new drugs that are in FDA clinical trials to aid in halting the progression in the early stages. Wet AMD develops when blood vessels around the macula start to leak. This blood and fluid leakage deposits in and around the macular tissue and causes a drop in vision. Most treatment options are aimed at this stage of the disease. Recent advancements in wet AMD treatment include direct injections into the eye of drugs that attempt to halt the process that leads to leaky blood vessels. The most common drugs are Avastin, Lucentis, and Eyelea. Thankfully, there is a lot of research into AMD, so there are new drugs that are in FDA studies that will hopefully lead to even better treatments in the future. Depending on the severity of the condition, vision loss can range from mild to severe. These new drugs have shown great results with minor side effects compared to past treatments. Even though a large percentage of patients have regained some lost vision, the goal of treatment remains to keep the status quo and prevent further vision loss. Since there is no cure for AMD, the question arises as to what can be done to decrease our chances of getting AMD. As of right now, there is a large genetic component to the disease, so there is little we can do there. The number one thing that can be done is to not smoke. There is a four to six fold increase risk for smokers than non-smokers. Vitamin supplements (including Preservision, Ocuvite, and omega-3 supplements) specifically for the eyes have been conclusively shown to slow down the process in early stages of this disease. The last thing I would recommend is to maintain your personal health. If you are diabetic or have high blood pressure, it is paramount to keep those diseases under good medical control. As always, regular eye examinations will help diagnose any early changes, and appropriate treatments and referrals can be made. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial public discussion began about preserving the mountain as a state park.” The 1921 dedication of Mount Diablo State Park created an entity in name only. Motoring competitions continued. Frick personally presented a trophy to the Ford dealers of Alameda and Contra Costa counties as the Berkeley Daily Gazette, January 5, 1924, reports. A 1918 Ford with 75,000 miles on the odometer and a new 1924 Ford made the high gear run. “Owing to recent rains, the cars had to contend with deep mud and slush and even with snow on the final grades.” Where would Save Mount Diablo be today if co-founder Mary Bowerman hadn’t owned her Nash? Bowerman was assigned to investigate Mount Diablo flora because no one else in her UC Berkeley botany class had a car. In a 1997 interview with Galen Rowell, she recalls; “I started going up there every week about a year before the top became a state park in 1931. There was a private toll road with a steep entrance fee, but when I went to the owner in Oakland and told him I was studying all the flowering plants and ferns and didn’t want to pay each time, he graciously agreed.” 1929’s Stock Market crash undermined Frick’s finances. He needed to sell some land. Mackesey explains, “In 1931, a public/private matching fund California State Park Bond issue cleared the way for the first purchase of land, and the $20,000 private match was gifted by Diablo Country Club member John Irvine, to acquire the 328 acres that included Rock City. With this purchase, the toll road became a public road, and the future of the park was assured.” Celebrating the transition from magnet for motoring enthusiasts to public park, a cavalcade of 500-1,000 cars headed to the second dedication of Mount Diablo State Park on April 26, 1931. Torrential rains disrupted the parade. Thunder punctuated the governor’s reception, hastily moved from Rock City to Diablo Country Club. (Special thanks to Timothy McGrane and the Blackhawk Museums, David The Alexander Trophy was awarded in Mount Diablo high-gear Mackesey and Edith challenge contests three times in 1918 and again in 1923 and Valle-Riestra for shar1931. (photo courtesy of the Blackhawk Museums) ing archival materials.)
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What is a Dermatologist? By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
“What is a dermatologist?” sounds like a simple question. However, recently when I was at a dinner party, someone asked me this question in an earnest fashion. No one had ever asked me that question before, but I’m sure several may wonder about the answer. In essence, a dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Dermatologists treat more than 3,000 different skin diseases including skin cancer, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and nail disorders. Dermatologists may specialize in one or more areas of sub-specialization. In addition to treating skin disease, dermatologists also work to improve the appearance of their patients skin such as by treating wrinkles, ages spots, signs of aging, and acne scars. The road to becoming a dermatologist is a long one. To become a dermatologist one must graduate from a four-year college and then attend a four-year medical school. During medical school one must apply for a residency in dermatology. Because of the competitive nature of obtaining a residency, only one in three people who apply for a residency in dermatology are able to secure a position. For those that don’t obtain a residency, they can reapply the following year or choose a different specialty. Following medical school one must then do a oneyear internship followed by a three-year residency in dermatology. After graduation from residency some dermatologists will obtain additional training in an area of sub-specialization. This is known as a fellowship. I was fortunate to perform my advanced fellowship training at UCSF where I received intense training in Mohs micrographic surgery, laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology. Other fellowships include dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology, and research. Upon graduation from one’s residency in dermatology, a doctor is considered “board eligible” but not “board certified.” Following residency most people seek board certification. This requires having completed a residency in
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 33
dermatology. One must then sit for a proctored lengthy examination administered by the American Board of Dermatology, which is one of the boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Prior to the early 1990’s, when one took their boards they issued a lifetime certificate. Since the early 1990’s (when I trained), an individual receives a time-limited board certification, requiring retesting and continuing education to maintain one’s board certification. I am fortunate to be a board-certified dermatologist with advance fellowship serving this wonderful community. Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin. com for more information. Advertorial
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Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
Hearing Loss Association
Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. An assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or (925) 264-1199 or www. hearinglossdv.org for more information.
Page 34 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
Thyroid Cancer
By Arash Mohebati, MD
September is Thyroid Cancer awareness month. Thyroid nodules are very common, and up to 60% of the population have thyroid nodules based on imaging studies such as ultrasound; however, more than 90% of those nodules are benign. Sixty-two thousand new patients will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2016 according to the American Cancer Society. Two out of three thyroid cancers are found in women, and it is the 5th most common type of cancer in women. During the past two decades there has been a steep rise in the incidence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer that is in part due to earlier detection and increased imaging utilization, but the survival rate has remained unchanged. The majority of thyroid cancers that account for this increased incidence are smaller tumors that are less than two centimeters with indolent behavior -- they rarely cause problems. There are four major cell types of thyroid cancer: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Well-differentiated thyroid cancer accounts for more than 90% of the neoplasms of the thyroid gland. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer is more common in women, and its incidence increases with age. Evidence suggests that family history of thyroid cancer, history of exposure to radiation, iodine deficiency, and auto immune thyroiditis are associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer. Evaluation of the thyroid gland usually includes clinical examination, laboratory values, and ultrasound imaging. Some patients may feel a mass in the neck or a nodule in the thyroid gland; sometimes they are found during a physical exam. Palpable nodules in the thyroid warrant evaluation by a thyroid specialist. Generally, nodules less than one centimeter should be
West continued from page 24
Conestoga wagon how many of them walked to school. None raised their hands. They were astonished when I explained that pioneer children walked 2,000 miles beside the family wagons to reach their destination.” Schaefer adds, “Children are interested in what it was like living with a Native American family or being part of a pioneer family and walking coast to coast. They are amazed that children needed 8, 10, or even 12 pairs of shoes to walk those 2,000 miles.” Installation of several Jerry Fisk, whose collection forms the core of the Spirit of the Old West, addresses visitors. (photo courtesy of more exhibits, ranging from Blackhawk Museums) Chinese art to natural history, begins this fall. David Behring explains, “At this point in his life my father wanted the museum to be more educational. He also wanted to insure that all kids who want to come to the museum can do so. The key to achieving that goal is public support for the Children’s Education and Transportation Fund. This fund has enabled the Museum to triple the number of school visits from across the Bay Area. When the new exhibits open, visitors will be able to spend an entire day seeing 5-6 totally different displays.” Since 1991 the Fund has brought approximately 186,000 students to the Museum at no charge. A gala evening supporting the Fund is planned at the Blackhawk Museums on October 2nd. For details, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org. For website information on the Education and Transportation Fund, click on Education. Guide training begins in October. Contact Nora Wagner at 925-736-2280 ext 238. To schedule guided tours for 10 or more, call Maria Chafin at 925-7362280 ext 239. Allow three weeks notice for guided tours for large groups.
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observed without a need for biopsy. The majority of patients with thyroid cancer are asymptomatic and will have a normal thyroid blood test. If any suspicious nodule that meets the biopsy criteria is identified, an ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy may be considered. This is often done during an office visit if feasible. The biopsy findings will be categorized based on Bethesda classification and may be reported as benign, malignant or suspicious, indeterminate, and non-diagnostic. Molecular genetic testing may offer additional information in indeterminate nodules. The primary management of thyroid cancer is surgery when treatment is necessary. We now know that many smaller thyroid cancers of certain cell types can be treated with very limited surgery. If cancer is diagnosed, evaluation of the neck lymph nodes is usually done prior to surgical consideration. Extent of surgery will depend on multiple variables such as the presence of thyroid cancer in the lymph nodes. Additional treatment such as radioactive iodine may be indicated for a select group of patients with thyroid cancer. Surgical management of thyroid cancer is best done by surgeons with special interest in thyroid disease as high-volume surgeons are shown to have fewer complications. Your endocrinologist and thyroid surgeon will tailor specific treatment based on the extent of disease and your general health. Patients with thyroid cancer will need periodic follow-up examination by their physicians as the cancer can return many years after initial treatment in the neck. Patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy will need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement. Five-year overall survival for patients is excellent -with well-differentiated thyroid cancer is above 95% for all stages combined and is near 100% in patients with early stage thyroid cancer. Dr. Arash Mohebati is a board certified general surgeon who completed additional fellowship training in head and neck oncologic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He practices with West Coast Surgical Associates -- offices in Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Concord. Call (925) 933-0984 to schedule an appointment and view educational information at http://thyroidparathyroid.net/. Advertorial
The East Bay Regional Park District Wants You!
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) includes 65 regional parks in its two-county jurisdiction, covering more than 113,000 miles and 1,200 miles of trail. Helping to oversee and manage this vast recreational territory are nearly 200 volunteers from all over the Bay Area. EBRPD offers a volunteer position for nearly every interest. Consider work in the Botanic Garden, or help with a Coastal Clean-up Day. Become a Regional Parks ambassador, or participate in the companion dog patrol. Help with trail maintenance, or walk the trails as part of the safety patrol. Whether you may seek a special one-time volunteer job or ongoing yearround programs, EBRPD would love to hear from you. Positions are offered for all ages and can be tailored for school groups, students, corporate groups, and Scouting and service clubs. They also offer company team-building service projects. Those seeking to help restore parklands to their original state can help replace non-native plants with natives, or work with staff to restore vital habitats. EBRPD volunteers help lead tours, take photos, distribute flyers, serve as hosts and greeters, and help with recycling activities. Volunteering with EBRPD can provide new skills, new friends, a greater knowledge of natural and cultural resources, and the personal satisfaction of making a difference in the community. For information, email Volunteers@EBParks.org, or visit www.ebparks. org/about/getinvolved/volunteer. (Some events require registration and some programs require training, fingerprinting, background checks, or TB testing.)
Museum Volunteers Needed
Looking to get involved in the community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas: • Walking Tour Docents • Docents • Events Committee • Greeters • Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693, or email srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net for additional information.
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The Key to Prostate Cancer Survival By Dr. Stephen Taylor, Urologist
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States for men. One of the most effective methods for getting the upper hand on prostate cancer is early detection. When and how often you should get a screening test depends on various risks. I encourage patients to begin having discussions with their physician about a prostate cancer screening test when they reach 40 years of age. If you are African-American or have a relative who’s had prostate cancer, you are at a higher risk and should consult with your doctor to determine your personal screening frequency. With most types of urologic cancer, there are oftentimes no obvious symptoms, making early detection even more critical. However, those experiencing urinary pain, discomfort, or change in frequency should see a doctor immediately. There are two primary diagnostic tests for prostate cancer. Doctors often perform a digital rectal examination to feel for any abnormalities in the prostate gland that could be an indicator of cancer. If the prostate is normal, it will be soft like a sponge. An abnormal prostate, on the other hand, will be hard like a marble and require further testing. The second test is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test which tests the levels of PSA in your blood. Having an elevated PSA level does not necessarily indicate you will develop prostate cancer. However, it may lead to further diagnostic tests or a more regular screening schedule. Just a few short years ago, if a PSA test was elevated and/or a nodule was present on the prostate, doctors would immediately proceed to a biopsy. Such is not the case in this era of advanced innovation in medicine. Today, elevated PSA levels or the presence of nodules may result in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate which is highly reliable (90% accurate) and eliminates roughly 60% of unnecessary biopsies. When caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable. Because prostate cancer is often a slow-growing cancer, doctors may discuss the possibility of putting you on “active surveillance” in which they clinically follow the cancer with routine PSA tests and, if necessary, biopsies before committing to any treatment options. If treatment is necessary, such highly innovative procedures as the Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy using the Da Vinci robot—with robotic arms—are available, entering through the patient’s belly button and removing the prostate from the abdomen. This remarkable procedure carries a host of benefits including minimal pain, early hospital dismissal, and little bleeding/ scarring. Radiation therapy has also made great strides in the fight against prostate cancer by delivering specifically targeted, high dose therapy with exceptional outcomes. Prostate cancer is by no means a death sentence, especially in this age of advanced medicine. Thanks to effective, minimally invasive treatment options, men with prostate cancer are living longer, healthier lives with fewer treatment-related side effects to either their urinary or sexual functionality. What’s imperative, however, is to diagnose prostate cancer in its earliest stages. This can be done with screening and early detection, especially for those that have a history or predisposition to the same. Consult with your doctor, get the facts, and make the most informed decision about your personal course of action. Dr.Taylor is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology. He is involved with the Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence at Diablo Valley Oncology in Pleasant Hill. For more information, call (925) 937-7740 or visit www.pacificurology.com. Join Dr.Taylor and other prostate cancer specialists for an education seminar, The Many Faces of Prostate Cancer, on September 29, 6:308:30PM, at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. To reserve your place at the event, please call (925) 677-5041x272. Advertorial
Alamo Today ~ September 2016 - Page 35
Bariatrics Fashion Show Tuesday, September 20th, 6-8pm
Join J.Crew, 680 Bariatrics and West Coast Surgical Associates at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek to celebrate the successful transformation of courageous individuals at the Bariatric Fashion Show. The event will spotlight the accomplishments of men and women who have lost significant weight through surgical weight-loss procedures and give them the chance to display their healthy, new physiques as they model the latest fall fashions from J.Crew. Admission to the event is free and features door prizes and refreshments. For more information, call 925-933-0984 or visit www.680bariatrics.com.
Search and Rescue
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call (925) 646-4461.
Books for the Homebound
If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.
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Cars • Trucks • Vans • Boats • Real Estate Live Operators on hand 7 days a week Tax deduction • All transfer documents handled Free pick-up • Running or not in most cases
888-694-5250
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C L A S S I F I E D COMPUTER HELP
ITkid Computer Help Assistance with any tech related issue for a low price. Help with Email•Wifi•Computer•Smartphone•Tablet•Etc. $30/hr. Contact Max Nunan, local ITkid consultant. (925) 482-5488, maxnunan@gmail.com
FOR RENT
CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, Alamomgt@usa.net
Alamo Today Classifieds
Reach over 6,500 homes and businesses in Alamo & Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies...$35 for up to 45 words.$5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117,Alamo,CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.
Page 36 - September 2016 ~ Alamo Today
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Homes Sales and Values Increase Again this Year
Last year we looked at the difference between one story and two story homes and concluded that both were doing just fine. This year I wondered whether there might be something different occurring, so I repeated the exercise and found that single story homes remain winners over their two story counterparts. In Alamo, 2% more single stories sold than two stories during this time period. That’s down from 24% last year. Sixty-seven single story homes sold versus 66 two story homes. The least expensive Alamo single story sold for $650,000, at $49,000 less than asking price. The least expensive Alamo two story home sold for $850,000 at $19,000 less than asking price. The most expensive single story sold for $3,300,000 at $395,000 less than asking price. The most expensive two story home sold for $5,750,000 or $205,000 less than the asking price. So, at the bottom of their respective price ranges, the two stories still sell for more dollars and at the top the two story homes continue to sell for more dollars. However, on average, single stories sell for more than list price and two stories sell for a little less than list price. On average, single story homes in Alamo are selling for $1,539,478 while their two story counterparts are commanding an average sales price of $2,153,940, making the single story approximately 39% less expensive than Alamo’s average two story home. In real estate size is very important, so if we look at the difference in size between the homes in the two groups, we find Alamo single story homes to be quite a bit smaller. Single story homes average 2,812 square feet compared to the two story’s massive 4,486 square feet, making the Alamo two story home 59% larger than the single story. That’s up from 51% last year. We are beginning to see a divergence between the two types of homes. Last year both groups sold in under a month. Days on market for two story homes have increased to 52 days, almost two months. Still we remain in a hot market. Last year at this time 120 homes sold across both groups. This year a total of 133 have sold. Eleven percent more homes have sold this year compared to last year. This increasing sales pace
Alamo Single Story Two Story % Difference
Alamo Home Sales Jan. 1-Aug 18, 2016 Sold DOM List Price Sold Price 67 25 $ 1,524,478 $ 1,539,478 66 52 $ 2,189,649 $ 2,153,940 -2.0% 108.0% 44.0% 39.0%
Sq. Foot $ Sq. Foot 2812 $ 570 4486 $ 475 59.0% -17.0%
proves that Alamo is still a growing market. Twenty-nine two story homes sold for $2 million or more. In comparison six single stories hit the $2 million mark. A full 26% of Alamo Homes sold for $2 million or more, proving Alamo is also a strong market. On the basis of price, it may appear that the Alamo two story home is dominating the single story home. However, when we adjust dollars for size we see a different picture. Alamo single stories are selling at $570 per square foot compared to $475 per square foot for their counterparts. This is a significant difference of $95 per square foot, or 17% in favor of the single story. So, foot-for-foot, the single story homes in Alamo are way ahead. One 1,148 sq. ft. beauty sold for $1,250,000 per sq. ft. That’s $559 per sq. ft. more than the best two story sale. Noteworthy is that two story homes have slipped about $13 per square foot from last year, while single story homes have advanced a mere $3 per square foot. From the beginning of the Real Estate Market recovery both types of homes have been appreciating briskly. Now we are seeing a leveling in value and price growth. From 2011 until today, it’s been hard to beat having money invested in Alamo Real Estate. Perhaps now with price appreciation slowing a bit we will see more inventory as those with retirement plans that take them out of area can feel confident that they aren’t leaving significant dollars on the table. As always, time will tell. Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to your fix up questions to make your decision? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. No charge and no pressure just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com. To receive this newsletter earlier in email format signup at our website www. thecombsteam.com.
West Side Alamo, Mt. Diablo Views
Downsize to Downtown
Award Winning Realtors
Completely renovated, 2 master bed suites, 2 beds ensuite, office, library and au pair unit. Soaring ceilings, great flow. Priced to Sell $1,799,000.
Beautiful penthouse condo with two master suites. Walk to downtown Pleasant Hill. Priced to sell $437,000.
Top 5% in Sales Production
Diablo Building Lot
Views! West Side Alamo
Alamo Oaks Custom Home
D SOL Build your dream home on a 1.64 acre lot in Diablo. Priced to sell $930,000.
West Side Alamo 4 bedroom spectacular views, great location. Worth waiting for. Priced to sell $1,279,000.
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
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The epitome of 21st century architecture. 4 bedroom and office First level master & 2 family rooms. Priced to Sell $2,095,000. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526