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June 2011 Do You Know How?
Serving Alamo and Diablo The Gift Grows On By Jody Morgan
By Fran Miller
Are you a current or former professional with a wealth of knowledge or expertise in a particular subject? Are you willing to share that knowledge in order to make a difference in your community? If your answers are yes, and you are 55 or older, the Know How Network would like to recruit you. The Know How Network (KHN), formerly the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), connects volunteers, age 55 and older, with local nonprofits in Contra Costa County that have projects matching volunteer interests, skills, and schedules. By utilizing personal experiences, energy, and enthusiasm to help complete shortterm, high impact projects, skilled volunteers help KHN registered nonprofits advance their missions and client services by providing marketing or technology services, developing programs, training staff, fundraising, and more.
Share your professional experience by volunteering with The Know How Network. Pictured left to right, Carol Ann Barber, program manager, Alissa Fencsik, program manager, and Ann Wullschleger, KHN program director.
Established a year ago in response to baby boomers’ desire to volunteer their professional skills and experience within their communities, KHN and its volunteers are changing the volunteer landscape with the mutually beneficial partnerships between skilled volunteer labor and worthy non-profits. The staff of KHN recruit, interview, and match volunteers age 55+ with “know how” to assist nonprofits with short-term projects, typically one to three months. These volunteers come from many backgrounds, including IT, finance, legal, man-
See Know continued on page 26
Congratulations Alamo Girl scout troop 31549, 5th graders at Rancho Romero, who held a garage sale on May 22 to raise $533 for Childrens Hospital. PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
Imagine a gift that’s growing across 2 ½ acres with living branches brushing the sky. Would you deed it to a stranger? Fortunately for the generations of visitors benefiting from her generosity, Ruth Bancroft’s aptitude for assessing an appropriate preservation opportunity matched her ability to envision harmonious horticultural compositions. Many visitors to the Ruth Bancroft Garden still ask: “Will this all be housing?” In 1988, Frank Cabot expressed a similar concern. Friends Ruth Bancroft celebrating her 100th birthday. Photo by Jane Rotermund. claiming Ruth’s dry garden was a sight he shouldn’t miss dragged Frank to Walnut Creek. Arriving with no expectation that a collection of drought tolerant plants would interest him, Cabot was overwhelmed by Ruth’s ingenious
See Bancroft continued on page 28
Alamo MAC Supports Highway 680/ Stone Valley Rd. Beautification Project By Dick Olsen, Alamo Rotary
At the May 3 meeting at the Swain House at Hap McGee Park the Alamo MAC Chaired by David Bowlby voted to provide substantial funding for the project to landscape and beautify the area around the on/off ramps at Highway 680 and Stone Valley Rd. in Alamo. After lengthy discussion, MAC member Nancy Dommes made a motion to provide $35,000 in funding for the project. The motion was passed unanimously be MAC members David Bowlby, Janet Miller Evans, Nancy Dommes, Steve Mick, David Barclay, Ed Best, and Mike McDonald. This project is being organized by the Rotary Club of Alamo. A spokesman for the club pointed out that the goal is to have broad community support and participation in this project. Community organizations, businesses, and individuals are all invited to join in this effort. The Club’s plan is that upon completion of the project, signs will be erected at the site, on Stone Valley Rd. reading, “A community project of concerned citizens of Alamo” This project is part of Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway program. Since there is construction being done on Highway 680, all Adopt-A-Highway programs Volume XI - Number 6 are on hold until completion 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 of the construction so no Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 landscaping will be done Fax (925) 406-0547 until early 2012. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher If anyone has any quesEditor@yourmonthlypaper.com tions, would like more in Sharon Burke ~ Writer formation, or would like to sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com join in the project, please call The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not Diane Barley at 984-2072 or responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. Dick Olsen at 855-1598.
Page 2 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
As my youngest child finishes up her senior year of high school, I know diplomas will soon be presented and the ceremonies and parties soon over. My daughter is preparing to continue her education at UC Davis. Done are the days of SATs, ACTs, and college applications... So as she and her friends and the rest of the class of 2011 are proceeding into the next chapter of their lives, I will share some thoughts I wish to impart. As noted in the number one graduation book Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Suess: “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!” Wherever the road takes you it is your opportunity to meet new people, perhaps learn about a new town, undertake a new activity, or join a new group. Use this time to explore anything and everything that interests you. As a graduate, if college isn’t in your sights for the upcoming year, hopefully there will be opportunities for a job, travel, reading, or time with friends. Recharge your batteries, save some money, volunteer. Be open to new things. Although you may have been sure you have wanted to be a fashion designer, or a firefighter, or a professional singer since your were six, college and experiences may open your eyes to new opportunities. Explore the offerings that are open to you. Hopefully you’ll find something you love to do, something that becomes your passion. That way even though it may become a job or career, it will never seem like work. Although my daughter is thinking of following a pre-med track with the possibility of becoming an emergency room doctor, she is looking forward to taking the “Field Equipment Operation” (aka Tractor Driving) class that Davis offers. The course offers experience in driving machines from rustic John Deere’s to modern marvels with air conditioning. It is not necessarily the actual tractor operation skills that she will most likely rely on in the future, but it is a chance to do something completely different and also an opportunity to learn more about agriculture and what it takes to produce the food we consume. Who knows? She may discover a new passion, interest, or career option. Find balance. Eat your veggies and your cake. Plan for the future, but keep in
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touch with old friends. Don’t spend endless hours playing video games or watching TV. Write down the things that are most important to YOU. Put them in a place where they can be seen and reflected upon. Prioritize your goals. Follow your dreams. No one was born a movie star or a famous scientist. They had to create that reality for themselves, and ,in most cases, that involved a lot of hard work. Anything is possible if you want it badly enough. Go out and make it happen. Work towards your goals. When you prioritize, the difficult decisions become very simple. A story told by an unknown author tells of a professor giving a lecture to his class. The professor began class with a large jar that he proceeded to fill with big rocks. When he asked the students if the jar was full, and they agreed it was, the professor picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in the jar. He lightly shook the jar so the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the big rocks. The students once again thought the jar was full. Then the professor proceeded to pour sand into the jar, and of course the sand filled the remaining space. When asking the students they unanimously agreed the jar was now completely full. The professor then produced two cups of coffee and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand and the students laughed. The professor proceeded saying, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The large rocks are the important things - your family, your education, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - things that if everything else were lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,” the professor continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the large rocks. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.” Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Try your best at school. Take time for yourself. Exercise. Read. There will always be time to worry about life’s little intricacies. Take care of the large rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just sand. At then end of the demonstration a student asked what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and responded, “It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.” Don’t underestimate what you are capable of. Jobs may not be plentiful upon graduation, and you may need to create your own opportunities. Believe in yourself. Don’t fear failure, and don’t forget to call home!
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3191-M Crow Canyon Pl San Ramon Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone (925) 866-2200 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com
In Loehmann’s Shopping Center (next to Lucky’s)
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Danville Community Band Concert Presents Ten Years of Music
On Sunday, June 12 th the Danville Community Band completes its tenth performing season with a variety of tunes including a selection of marches, the Overture from Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra, music from Kalinnikov, Holst, and Gershwin, and featuring piano soloist Nancy Groeneveld on Charles Williams’ The Dream of Olwen. The performance, which will begin at 3PM, will be held at Community Presbyterian Church located at 222 West El Pintado Road in Danville. The concert is free, but general seating is limited. For more information about the band or future performances, see our website at www.danvilleband.org.
ADAS Summer Visions Exhibit at New Gallery
Celebrating the opening of their new elegant art gallery in Blackhawk Plaza, Alamo Danville Artists Society (ADAS) will host the opening of Summer Visions by featuring 45 gallery member artists. They will be exhibiting oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, sculpture, wearable art, jewelry, and note cards. Guest artist, Jeff Owen, will display one of his contemporary heroic-sized metal sculptures, and guest artist, Mary Leigh Miller, will exhibit ceramic Raku, salt-fired and pit-fired work. The exhibit is being shown through August 7th. A free reception at the gallery is being offered to the public on June 11th from 5 - 7PM. The exhibit, which is free to the public, will be on view seven days a week, Monday through Saturday from 10 - 8PM and on Sundays from 11 - 6PM. Blackhawk Gallery’s new location is at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Blackhawk Plaza. Blackhawk Plaza is located at the corner of Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road in Danville.
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 3
Page 4 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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Military History Library Coming to Danville By John Estes, USMC Retired
The project is underway on the restoration and expansion “saving the historical front” of the Veterans Memorial Building in Danville. This will be a model for restoring America’s aging Veterans buildings across our nation. The building will be, first and foremost, a Veterans Hall dedicated to all who served. The front two stories of the renovated building will be exclusively a Veterans’ sanctuary with meeting rooms, a Veteran Services Office, and areas that will be available to all Veteran organizations. The structure’s interior was designed to hold a reservoir of knowledge, housing books, literature, photos, and other important historical military items from all our nation’s military conflicts. The library will be open “on a reserve basis” to schools, Boy and Girl Scouts, and organizations which want to study in an atmosphere where the sole purpose is to teach people what it means to be a member of the armed forces of the United States of America. All this takes organization, time, and, yes, that dreaded word “money.” We will be grateful for any funds that you may want to contribute. You will be supporting the only library of its kind locally, if not in Northern California. As we pledged when we signed our enlistment papers, we served without question, and we pledge to serve this community. For more information or to make a financial or literary donation, visit www.SRVVeteransHall.org or call our Veterans office at (925) 362-9806. ALAMO PLAZA
Treats for the Troops
ALAMO PLAZA
Backyard Bounty
Delta Nu Psi will be collecting “gourmet junk food” for the Troops on Friday, June 3rd at CVS in Alamo and Friday, June 10th at Lunardi's in Danville. We will be at the stores from 11AM to 2PM. We have now sent 802 boxes containing 20,558 pounds of goodies to our squads. Check out our website, www.deltanupsi.org for the lists of items we send. Some items can be purchased at the big box stores and brought to either location for donation.
Is your garden about to “take off”? Are your fruit trees about to bear a bonanza of excess fruit? Have you planted so many zucchini, tomatoes, and other vegetables that you may find yourself with more than you can eat? For the fourth year, Alamo Today invites you to participate in our Backyard Bounty program. Last year over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce was collected by our readers and passed on to those in need. The need for food, especially fresh produce, is great. Our goal is to gather over 4,000 pounds of produce this year. We wish to provide produce at its’ optimum ripeness so nothing goes to waste. A call a week before your produce will be ripe will help us provide the fruits and vegetables at their prime. To coordinate picking or pick-up of food for donation to local food banks, contact Greg or Lise Danner at 925-552-7103 or email thedanners@aol.com. Please share your bounty with those who are less fortunate.
Backyard Bounty
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
VFW Post 75, San Ramon Valley, meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. The next meeting will be held Thursday, June 9th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Find out more about the VFW at www.vfw.org.
Audition for the Danville Girls Chorus
The Danville Girls Chorus (DCC) will be holding auditions for the upcoming 2011-2012 season which begins in September. Girls in grades 3-8 are invited to join the fun group for singing, performing, and learning how to read and appreciate music of all types. No musical experience is required. Auditions will be held on June 7th in the San Ramon Valley High School chorus room in Danville from 4-6PM. To arrange for an audition appointment, call (925) 837-2624 or e-mail Danville_girls_chorus@ hotmail.com . There will be a $25 fee due the day of the audition. The DCC is made up of 150 girls from 3rd – 8th grades from over 30 local TriValley schools. The primary goal is music education. Under the direction of Ken Abrams, girls are taught the basics of vocal production and learn the fundamentals of musicianship and note reading. They are also introduced to a variety of musical styles, ranging from classical to contemporary, folk tunes and pop music. Studies have shown how music can affect learning in math and the sciences, and we know that performing in public promotes self-esteem, which can only be a positive influence on children. The DCC is a great representation of what the studies now prove. For more information about the DCC, please call (925) 837-2624 or visit our website at www.danvillegirlschorus.com.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.
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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 5
Diablo masͲ t e r p i e c e . S p e c t a c u l a r setting w/ panoramic Mt. Diablo views. Built in 2002. No expense spared. 4 bd, 4 bths, 4600 +/Ͳ sqft. Incredible value. $2,395,000
Westside Alamo. GorͲ geous floor plan, formal living/dining/family rm, large bonus rm, 5 bdrms, master suite. .35 acre lot w/pool. Room off pool w/kitchen &1/2 bath. $1,489,000
John Lopes Gina Cefalu 925.998.8262 925.787.8205 www.JohnLopes.com
Rick Fiset 925.362.0415 www.101LaSerenaAve.com
Walnut Creek desirable Lakewood area. 3700 s.f. w/2 master suites, 4bd/4bth/two half baths. 400 vine Zinfandel vineͲ yard on private 1/2 acre lot. Gourmet kitchen. Backs to open space. $1,325,000
Coming Soon! Roundhill Estate. Large 3500 sf single level. 3 bd/3 bth. Custom built. Backs to golf course. Looks like Tahoe setting. Will sell immediately!
Alamo Oaks Estate. Custom home on parkͲ like acre. Close to schools, park, riding trails. Open plan w/ soaring cathedra ceilͲ ings, views, hot tub. Complete outside kitchen. $1,350,000
Lafayette. Updated w/ custom tile, granite, SS appliances. 5bd/4.5 bth on 1.33 acre tree studͲ ded lot. Extensive multi Ͳlevel decks w/romantic spa & separate seating areas. RV parking. $1,349,000
Jay Weymouth 925.915.1100 www.TeamWeymouth.com
Jay Weymouth 925.915.1100 www.TeamWeymouth.com
Sheila Eggers 925.933.3170 www.SheilaEggers.com
Westside Alamo built by owner/ builder. 4500+/Ͳ sf. Loaded w/ extras; au pair w/views, downstairs office, workͲ shop, monthly income, R.V. Parking, secluded backyard. $1,275,000
Davidson built home on quiet tree lined street in Danville. 5 bd/3.5 bath, 3903sf., hardwood floors, granite counters, guest suite downstairs, professionally landscaped backyard. www.821waingarth.com. $1,180,000
Beautifully located charming 4 bd/3.5bth Alamo home w/ landscaped yard, open floor plan, formal living, dining and family rms. 2 master bdrms on sepaͲ rate floors. $1,150,000
Hard to find single story in Danville. Walk to top rated schools. Easy comͲ mute. 4 bd/3bth, formal living, dining, family rms. Updated kitchen w/ granite, SS appl. Flat 1/2 ac lot. Pebble tech pool. $998,000
Mick McLaughlin 925.299.4606 www.McLaughlinTeam.com
Jennifer Chen 925.216.1772 www.JChenHome.com
Nazee Ranker 925.788.5685 www.NazeeRanker.com
John Lopes 925.998.8262 www.JohnLopes.com
Westside Alamo. StunͲ ning $300k Remodel on pvt. Lane. Open S/S floor plan. 4 bdrms + bonus rm. Gorgeous 1/2 acre lot w/spa, speakers & patio. Gourmet kitchen. $968,000
Bixby model by Shapell in the Bridges. Lrg. master suite downͲ stairs, 2740 sf, 4bd/2.5bth. Lrg. flat lot. Hardwood cherry flrs, kitchen open to family rm. Excellent schools. $949,000
To die for gardens w/ freeͲform pool & koi lagoon w/lush mountain waterfall. 3bd/2bth, 1800sf, plus full size detached workshop & sep. artists studio. Close to town, schools & trails . $845,000
Tons of potential on this vintage rancher in quiet Westside corner. Large flat lot with .65 acres, tree lined court. Oozing charm and opportunity. $750,000
Peter Bareiss 925.998.5334 www.JustCallPeter.com
Mira Goetsch 925.216.1145 www.MiraHomes.com
Jackie C. Hoyt 925.989.6964 www.JackieCHoyt.com
Jackie C. Hoyt 925.989.6964 www.JackieCHoyt.com
Stephanie Stadtler 925.362.0429
Page 6 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Round Hill Junior Tennis Summer 2011 All Levels ages 5 – 16
Round Hill Junior Summer Tennis program starts June 13th. Members and non-members are welcome to join the fun and great teaching the camp has to offer. The program caters to all levels! Please email Aarora@roundhillcc.org or call 925-837-0558 for any questions or to register!
Morning Tennis Camp • June 13 – August 19 Monday – Friday 10:30-12:30
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Alamo Girl Scouts Donate $1,000 to Japanese Victims
Girl Scout Troop 31051 from Alamo is making a generous donation of $1,000 to aid victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, through the Red Cross. “These 11 sixth-grade girls have been a troop since kindergarten and unanimously wanted to help in any way the could,” said Catherine Reichhold, Troop 31051 leader. “This donation represents all of the available funds the girls raised from cookie sales and other troop activities over the past seven years.” Though Girl Scouts of Northern California does not allow troops to hold direct fundraising activities for other charities, they have encouraged Girl Scouts and local troops to get involved through local charity efforts. Girl Scout troops may donate a portion of their troop funds to help those in need.
$200 per week • Drop in Rate $45 per day
Full Day Camp 10:30- 3:00
$300 per week (includes lunch) • Drop in Rate $70 per day
Afternoon Clinic 1:30 – 3:00 Drop in $30 per day
Hot Shots Class Ages 4-5 Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 – 10:30 $20 per class
Pictured from left to right are Courtney Pulver, Isabella Brown, Jennifer Sweeney, Riley Purcell, Erin Lynch, Amy Reichhold, and Erika Wheeler. Not pictured are Sage Ford, Kamaille Kenny, Ellery Lewis, and Emma Freel.
Expanded 1099 Reporting is Repealed
Forget some of those newfangled 1099 rules that were supposed to take effect starting this year. For certain business and rental expenses, old school is back. What's changed. Expanded reporting rules for 2011 and 2012 have been retroactively repealed, as if they were never enacted. • You'll no longer need to plan to report payments you make in the course of your business for purchases of goods and merchandise of more than $600 from a single provider. • Certain exceptions to the filing requirements have been reinstated. That means you will not be required to report payments to corporations (except for attorneys and some health care services). • If you own rental property that's not considered a trade or business, you won't have to issue Forms 1099 for amounts you pay for your expenses. What stays the same. The general rule remains — as a business owner, you need to file Forms 1099-MISC when you pay for non-employee services in excess of $600 during a calendar year. In addition, increased penalties that took effect as of January 1, 2011, are still in place. Call us for answers to your questions about these changes and others, including the updated optional W-2 reporting rules for employer-sponsored health insurance coverage.
BonnFeeney, LLP
Certified Public Accountants
3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 150 • Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 314-1891 • Fax (925) 314-3097 www.BonnFeeney.com • Email: info@bonnfeeney.com
The 680 Drivers, under 12 girls water polo team recently faced the top teams from the state and took home the silver medal. After seven qualifying tournaments throughout Northern and Southern California, the top five qualifying teams faced off for the finals of The Cal Cup at Las Lomas High School, and the 680 Drivers were nothing short of spectacular. The 11 girls from the San Ramon Valley have come on strong this year placing first and fourth in their two previous state-wide tournaments. Coming into the tournament, 680 knew that they would face the number one seed, Santa Barbara, but no one could have predicted the outcome. Launching a shock-and-awe campaign, 680 quickly scored four unanswered goals against Santa Barbara. The dismayed Santa Barbara girls came back strong and battled to the end, but it wasn’t enough as 680 was the victor. The 680 girls were undefeated and faced Santa Barbara again, for Cal Cup Gold. 680 was hit hard in the first quarter and spent the rest of the game whittling away at the Santa Barbara lead, but there wasn’t enough time on the clock to stem the tide. Although both teams shared the same won-loss record this time Santa Barbara was lucky in that they picked the right game to win. “Great job” to coach Todd Halvorson and the 680 girls: Drew Halvorson, Marissa Webb, Lea Miller, Lexi Liebowitz, Sarah Klass, Sophie Kuester, Cayman Silliman, Makenna Turner, Jolie Trujillo, Taylor Hammill, Erin McCreary
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Alamo Women’s Club
On June 8th we will be having our installation luncheon for next year’s Board. The club will be closed for meetings and activities until September. Please have a safe and happy summer. For more information on the club and its many rental uses, please visit www.alamowomensclub.org.
Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop
Assistance League® of Diablo Valley member volunteers find themselves singing, “We Need a Little Christmas” at the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette. When you visit the thrift shop any time from July 19th through 30th, you will find more than a little Christmas, with each of the festive Yule tide items looking for a home. You’re likely to find anything from toys to tableware, linens, candles, and hostess gifts. Then there are all those Santas, wreaths, and assorted ornaments that gather little dust while on the shelves; the blue aproned volunteers cannot guarantee how long the inventory will last. Take advantage of Christmas in July’s great savings, and avoid the holiday crowds. When you do your Christmas shopping in July at Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, you secure vision testing for preschoolers, share the love of reading with elementary school children, help outfit children for a more successful school experience, and provide them with educational puppet shows that address such issues as learning differences, bullying, fire safety...the list is almost as long as Santa’s. Don’t forget that gift that keeps on giving, the tax donation receipt. To learn more about Assistance League of Diablo Valley and its primary fundraiser, the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, visit the diablovalley.assistanceleague.org website. Assistance League of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit, member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in our community through hands-on programs.
Concert on the Green
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 7
Monte Vista High School’s great instrumental music groups will all be performing at Concert on the Green on June 4th from 4-7PM. The free community event will be held in the horseshoe in front of the high school and includes great music, snacks and food for purchase, and wonderful community fun. See you there!
Danville 4th of July Parade
The Kiwanis sponsored Danville 4th of July Parade kicks off this year’s event with a parade celebration with the theme, “Recognizing Our Future Leaders.” Our community is very privileged to have a great number of enthusiastic, creative, and dedicated young people who may be easily identified as this community’s future leaders. This year’s parade will attempt to both recognize and honor these young leaders and support their diverse goals and dreams. This hometown parade will begin Monday, July 4th at 9AM. Please note no spectator chairs are allowed next to the parade route until 6PM, July 3rd. For more information, please visit www.kiwanis-srv.org/parade.asp.
6th Annual Valley Teen Idol
The San Ramon Valley Rotary Club is hosting their 6th annual Valley Teen Idol singing competition and fundraiser. We’ve made many changes to the program that you don’t want to miss. We will have a dozen or so well known East Bay Area restaurants providing food, we’ve added live music, you will be wowed by the young talent competing for top prizes, there will be silent and live auction, and much more. Rotary is a non-profit organization, and proceeds from this event will benefit the local community of San Ramon Valley and Rotary International humanitarian projects. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $20 for students. The event will be held at Crosswinds Church, located at 6444 Sierra Court in Dublin, on Saturday, June 11th from 1-6PM. Prizes are 1st Place winner $1,000 and a Recording Session, 2nd Place winner $500, 3rd Place winner $250, and 4th - 10th winners $50. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.
Page 8 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Alamo Elementary School By Stan Hitomi, Principal Farewell to a Very Good Year
As our school year comes to a busy end, I would like to extend many thanks to all of you—the members of our Alamo School community—for another remarkable school year. A major highlight for 2010-2011 at Alamo School has been an upgrade in our technology. A new COW (computers on wheels), a set of clickers (student response systems) for each grade level, document cameras, and interactive whiteboards were provided through the hard work of our EdFund, led by President Margie Hart. Thank you to Margie and all of the members of the EdFund Board! Many thanks go to the members of the outgoing PTA board whose efforts also resulted in a truly memorable year. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding leadership of Cynthia Nakahara who for the last two years served as Alamo’s PTA president. She spent untold hours taking care of the business of the PTA and worked extremely hard to make sure that the PTA’s focus always remained on what is best for all of our children. Two people who always focus on doing what’s best for our children are retiring. Let’s wish HAPPY RETIREMENT to our second grade teachers, Melinda Burgess and Cindy Andre! Both Melinda and Cindy have had long and distinguished careers in education and will be greatly missed by students, parents, and their colleagues. Joining them in retirement will be Kathy Profumo, our speech therapist. Last month Kathy was honored as Alamo’s Rotary Educator of the Year. Also retiring at the end of the year will be Barbara Carlson, who has served as a para-educator at Alamo School for 20 years. We will miss you all! As 2010-2011 comes to an end, groundwork is being laid for 20112012. Sharon Dodson (school nurse/health educator) and Melanie Volk (parent) have been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Alliance Healthy Schools Program. They will be focusing their work next year on developing healthy minds and bodies for students, parents, and staff at Alamo. David Telles and Mary Dietler, our 5th grade teaching team, have been awarded a San Ramon Valley Education Foundation Educator Grant for their project “Student Collaboration with the Promethean ActivSlate.” The project will allow students to work collaboratively in conjunction with an interactive whiteboard. Parent Janice Alamillo has been single-handedly conducting a campaign to improve traffic and pedestrian safety at Alamo School. We expect to see some exciting changes in 2011-2012. As is our custom at Alamo School, we will be finishing the year with a number of traditional activities including Instrumental Music Concert – May 31st, Vocal Music Concert (grades 3-5) – June 3rd, Field Day - June 8th. and Stepping Up Ceremony - June 9th where we will say goodbye to our graduating 5th graders and farewell to families who will be moving on. I hope that summer brings all of you joy, adventure, relaxation, and togetherness. 8
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find her and your name is drawn!
Alamo Zoe is Missing
We have a new dog, but now she has become lost in this paper... keep your eyes out for Alamo Zoe! 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
June’s Winner Is Michelle Moros
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Rancho Romero Elementary School By Skye Larsh, Principal
In a recent educational journal, a brief article caught my eye entitled Love – the essential ingredient for good schools. My intrigue was generated by how infrequently I have encountered the word love in professional literature. Further, the query under the title asked, “What if school leaders were held accountable for the quality of relationships between students and teachers? What might that do for student learning?” As we narrow our focus on the foundational skills students must have in place for success in school and beyond, I am reminded of the importance quality relationships have on a student’s motivational level, sense of belonging, and value or worth. These attributes are fundamental human longings – it’s what makes us happy, benevolent, and thoughtful. It is what touches the heart. I have had a chance to closely observe the power of relationships at Rancho Romero. The unique partnerships that exist between teachers, specialists, paraeducators, and parents support an environment that continuously fosters relationships in the context of schooling. Through meaningful, active learning, students are required to apply skills related to empathy, fairness, respect, responsibility, trust, initiative, and leadership. Over the past couple of weeks kindergartners have been busy preparing for the Three Piggy Opera, first graders completed research reports on animals of the rainforest, using written and spoken language, art and technology, second graders put on a school-wide production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, complete with music and props and wrapped up a unit on habitats, third graders researched, planned and presented biographies, fourth graders studied the Gold Rush and then headed out of town to Columbia for a closer view of life in the 1800’s, and fifth graders prepared their grand production of America Rock, connecting the study of The Thirteen Colonies with music, song and dance. Desiring a student perspective on the value of relationships at Rancho Romero, fifth grade student and Student Council President, Roxy Wilcox, doesn’t talk much about the memorization of math facts in third grade, the social studies chapter on Native Americans, or the persuasive essay she completed in fifth grade, she shares her fondest recollections as the friendships and the amazing teachers that took the time to know her on a deeply personal level. She talks about the gingerbread man hunt she experienced in kindergarten, first grade egg drop, kissing crabs at Crab Cove, Oregon Trail ambush and Outdoor Education; Roxy relates the experiences that created a profound belief she was connected and belonged to a wonderful school community. Love is the brand that makes Rancho Romero stand out. After my first year, I would be remiss if I did not say the moment I stepped onto the campus back in November I knew immediately that I was in a special place. A day has not passed in which I was not filled with pure excitement to come to school to greet five hundred and forty-five smiling, enthusiastic, and trusting students. It is relationship at its finest. What might quality relationships do for student learning? Everything! To each and every member of the Rancho Romero community, I wish you a well deserved summer break. Enjoy and love the time with family and friends.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Movie Night Under the Stars - Despicable Me - June 10th , 6pm - Livorna Park. Presented by Alamo MAC AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - June 8th , 7pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd. Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First and third Tuesdays 6pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park Hap Magee Ranch Joint Planning and Operations Committee - June 23rd - 5pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - June 6th , 4:30pm - Meets at Valley Station located at 150 Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - June 8th, 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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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 9
Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun McElroy, Principal Awards Season is Upon Us!
Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it. ~ Marion Wright Edleman As the school year comes to a close it is important to recognize those people who make our school community work. The people chosen in each of the categories listed below are in the highest echelon of volunteers, teachers and students. Their contributions strengthen our society, set examples for others who follow, and enrich the lives of everyone who comes in contact with them. Next to each recipients name is a “thumbnail” of their individual contributions, the list is by no means complete. Please join me in saying thanks to these outstanding individuals. I’ve include the emails of each of the adults so you can thank them personally if they have touched your life our the life of someone you know.
HW Construction
Alamo Rotary Student and Teacher of the Year
Austin Tobian, 8 th grade student, Principals Honor Roll (3.75-4.0) Advanced math, high school Spanish, Leadership class member. Greg Phillips - Spanish teacher, Technology coordinator, webmaster, first aid, CPR, AED safety instructor, administrative intern. (gphillips@srvusd.net)
PTA Honorary Service Awards Winners
Each year PTA’s across the nation recognize key contributors of their respective educational communities. The 2010-11 recipients are listed below. • Golden Oak Award Sandy Markus Coleman - Ed Fund President, class size reduction chair, corporate matching chair, Measure A Chairperson, former PTA President of Alamo Elementary. (s_marku@yahoo.com) • Continuing Service Award Mona Tom - Current PTA President, former PTA President Rancho Romero, marshaled over 9,000 volunteer hours in 2010-11. Three year association with SV PTA, Odyssey of the Mind coach. (mtomsf@aol.com) Linda Henderson - Ed Fund Parliamentarian, award winning eScript coordinator, 3-year campaign as the Nominating Chair. (andrew.henderson@sbcglobal.net) Ron Hirschman - Physical Education Teacher, developer of SPARK PE program, Monte Vista H.S. Varsity Women’s basketball coach. (rhirsch@aol.com) • Honorary Service Award Barbary McEldowney - PTA 2 nd VP Community (cbmc4@ sbcglobal.net) Joanna Book - Math teacher, developer of math help podcasts/ pen casts and Skype math help. (jbook@srvusd.net) • Very Special Person Award Khang Ho - Head Custodian - 20+ years as head custodian, master trainer of all new custodians in the district. Liaison between the school and all the community user groups. (kho@srvusd.net) Morgan McGarry - 8 th grade student, Principals Honor Roll, Leadership, advanced math and high school Spanish, administrative assistant, member SPARK PE inaugural class. Thanks to Honorary Service Awards Coordinator Sandi Jacobsen for her assistance in putting this awards program together.
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Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath. Think of this book as emotional intelligence for the workplace. DVD - The Finland Phenomena - Inside the World’s Most Surprising School System. The Finnish school system has led the world on international education exams for ten straight years. Find out why at www.2mminutes.com. Next Issue - Summer study programs - how to keep those young minds engaged.
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Page 10 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
San Ramon Valley High School By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal
It is hard to believe but it is true - the school year is almost over! We have finals, graduation, and then we are out for the summer! I would like to share a few thoughts and reflections as we near the end of the school year.
Construction
Our New Main Gym was completed this year bringing a close to seven years of Measure A construction projects. However, we have started on a whole new set of construction plans that will take place during the summer and the next school year. These projects include – a restroom and snack shack facility on our stadium field, the removal of eight of the 17 portables at the back of campus, and solar panels in the senior
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parking lot. What could be the most exciting project is the possibility of new pool construction at our site. Talk has begun regarding the replacement of our current pool – I will keep you updated as to the status of this endeavor.
100 year Celebration
Our celebrations to mark the success of SRVHS’s 100 years was fantastic! Each of the three events (Homecoming, Gym opening, and Gala event) was well attended. The Homecoming and Gala events will be annual occasions, so if you missed them this year, be sure to attend next year’s. The Gala event raised over $100, 000, all of which will benefit our students. We also published our first ever SRVHS magazine, filled with interesting articles about Alumni and current events at the school. If you would like to receive this magazine, please sign up under Alumni on our web page www.srvhs.net.
Sports
Once again, this year all of our athletic teams were extremely successful during their 2010-2011 seasons. Noteworthy achievements include League Titles (EBAL) for Baseball, Men’s Water Polo, and Women’s Swimming and Diving. The following student-athletes qualified for the NCS Meet of Champions: • Ben Teichman—Shot put and discus • Andrew Mo—Shot put • Sarah Griffith—Women’s 400—NCS Tri Valley Champion • Zak Garcia—Men’s 100 • Sammi Kruger—Women’s 300 hurdles • Jen Horton, Amanda Saunders, Alina Sinclair, Sarah Griffith—Women’s 4x400 relay • Austin Holliday, Kaulin Blair, Wade Wilson, Zak Garcia—Men’s 4x400 relay • Colin Barber—Pole vault • Kevin Tuckness—Pole vault • Ian Gardner—Men’s high jump NCS Titles include Men’s Cross Country and Women’s Swimming and Diving.
Academic Boosters
A big thank you goes to Academic Boosters who support our academic programs each year through their financial contributions. They provide funding to support 18 classes! In addition to class size reduction, they also fund a student Support Counselor, the Career Center, an after school tutoring, the student directory, and much more. We appreciate the generous donations from our school community that continue to make SRVHS an exceptional place to be.
Retirement
As the year ends, we have staff members who are concluding their careers at SRVHS and going on to enjoy the benefits of retirement. Our retirees this year include: • Betsy Hoffmann – Spanish • Tim Brown – Math • Vivian Srouji – Counselor • Roberta Tong - English • Jo Reid - Bookkeeper They all have made a lasting impression on our students and parents. We will definitely miss them and their dedication to San Ramon Valley High School.
CTA Awards Scholarships
The California Teachers Association announced the recipients of their 2011 CTA Scholarships for Dependent Children Awards. Three children of San Ramon Valley Education Association members have been awarded one of these highly sought after awards which provides $5,000 to each of the award winners. Two of the award winners happen to be siblings. They are Allan Isbell and Nicole Isbell, and their mother Sandra works at Monte Vista High School. Melissa Keller is the other award winner and her mother Cheryl works at Iron Horse Middle School. Congratulations to the three students who each produced a fantastic scholarship application, and also congratulations to their parents.
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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 11
Gymnast Earns Top Spot at Regional Championships Hayley Timmons of Alamo, sophomore at Monte Vista High School, took the All Around title for the Child 8A division at the 2011 Region 1 Gymnastics Championships in Anaheim, CA. Hayley earned a top All Around score of 37.775 to win her Level 8 division and also earned two additional first place honors on individual events, Vault (9.55) and Bars (9.425). The Region 1 Championships included all qualifiers from California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
2011 Movies Under the Stars Parks & Recreation
Gates open at 8:00 p.m. Alamo Elementary School Field (100 Wilson Avenue in Alamo)
Admission is Free June 10: DESPICABLE ME
In a happy suburban neighborhood Gru is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon, until the day he encounters the immense will of three orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. Rated PG; 95 minutes
July 22: IRON MAN 2
After confessing his identity as Iron Man to the world, Tony Stark comes under fire from the U.S. Government which demands he hand over the powerful weapon that is the Iron Man suit. Meanwhile, a dangerous foe emerges to seek revenge on the Stark family and destroy Iron Man. Rated PG-13; 124 minutes
Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal
It is with a great deal of pride and a tinge of August 19: THE SOCIAL NETWORK sadness that we say goodbye to the Senior Class This film tells the story of the founders of the social-networking website, of 2011. The seniors are an incredible group of Facebook. Adapted from Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires: young people who have excelled both academiThe Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal. Rated PG-13; 120 minutes cally and with service to their community and school. Their next adventure will take some of them far away as they continue their education all over the country and to the far regions of China. Most will stay close to home with the majority of Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family and friends. our students attending UC, CSU, or a number of community colleges on For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272. the west coast. A few of our students will do a “bridge” year. They have been accepted at a university, but they have decided to take a year to travel or do community service both in the United States and overseas. We will miss their energy and dedication to our school. Welcome to the class of 2015! What an exciting journey they have waiting at Monte Vista. As I have been visiting feeder middle schools, I have encouraged parents to discuss what success at high school looks like for their individual student. Some parents and students view success as a high GPA. But success is 12 Months not based solely on a student’s GPA. A successful student is one Same as Cash who takes a rigorous academic load that is balanced with extra- www.GoSimpleSolar.com curricular activities both at school and in the community. License 948715 0% Down Whooping cough (pertussis) has been widespread in California. Please remember that all students entering 7th through 12th grade must have proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster Why not get your electricity from the sun? shot (Tdap) before starting school. To help protect your children and others from whooping cough, a new California law (AB Make the switch… Break free from PG&E 354) now requires students to be vaccinated against whooping GoSimpleSolar will design, build, and install your solar energy system cough. By law, students who do not have proof of receiving that will generate electricity throughout the day. a Tdap booster shot will not be able to start school until proof is provided to the school. At Monte Vista, students unable to Approx. System Net Monthly Yearly Sunkits® American Made provide this proof will not receive a schedule at registration. Monthly Size System Savings Savings Please keep the following dates handy: Bill Cost • Graduation: Friday, June 10 ~ 6PM ~ Samuel Zackheim Stadium $120 1.47kW $8,399 $74 $888 • Registration Packet Pick-up: August 11and 15 ~ Drama Room $140 1.96kW $10,493 $95 $1,140 • Registration: August 16 and 17 ~ Gym • Freshmen Orientation and Freshmen Dance: August 19 $180 2.88kW $14,972 $135 $1,620 • First Day of School: August 24 Contact us at info@GoSimpleSolar.com $250 For more information about Monte Vista and our activiGet the BEST return on your investment with our GoSimpleSolar System, featuring SolarWorld SunmoduleTM panels. ties, please visit our website at mvhigh.org.
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Page 12 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
California Voters Rejected Woman Suffrage in 1896 By Beverly Lane
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Woman suffrage first appeared on the California ballot in 1896. After black men were enfranchised in 1871, women worked for twenty-five years to get this issue before the voters in many state-by-state efforts. On November 3, the issue appeared as Ballot No. 6, amending the California Constitution. In the first California constitution of 1849, women did win some property rights which reflected the state’s Spanish legal This mocking cartoon, entitled “The Woman Who traditions. Many transplanted Dared,” appeared after Anthony’s 1873 conviction for Easterners objected to such “Voting without at lawful right to vote.” rights, feeling it threatened the superiority of husbands. Others thought such rights might bring women of property to the state. Women faced many other challenges. For one, women teachers in the 1870s were paid less than half of what male teachers received. Irish immigrant and teacher Kate Kennedy began an effort to change that, and, in 1874, the California legislature passed a law that mandated, “Females employed as teachers in the public schools of this state shall in all cases receive the same compensation as is allowed male teachers for like services.” Other lobbying by women changed state law to allow women admission to the bar as attorneys (1878) and to pursue “any lawful business, vocation or profession” including medicine (1879). In 1874 the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was organized to combat liquor interests. Often women and children suffered from abuse by drunken husbands or fathers and had no recourse in law. The organization grew rapidly and many of their numbers proudly supported woman suffrage. The Liquor Dealers League in San Francisco was alarmed about the connections between the WCTU and suffrage advocates. According to Mae Silver, the League included “the producers, proprietors and patrons of drink” and was especially powerful in San Francisco. In 1896 the City included 25% of the state’s voters. Eastern suffragists helped with the 1896 campaign. The indomitable organizer Susan B. Anthony spoke in favor of Ballot No. 6 throughout the state including a Martinez meeting in October. Miss. Anthony spoke about the many advances which women had made in the past fifty years. The October 10 Contra Costa Gazette stated, “Her speech throughout was well received and most heartily applauded at the close.” A correspondent from Danville wrote this on October 10, 1896: “Women suffragists seem to have met with rather a cold reception in this vicinity...which leads us to believe that our women are satisfied that their condition cannot be improved by a change, and they might not have so good a time as at present.” It was a large state and many more resources were needed to make the women’s case. In the Bay Area, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa County voters opposed woman suffrage at the November election. Contra Costa’s tally was 1638 against and 1002 in favor. The results in the San Ramon Valley were: Yes No Alamo 27 25 Danville 45 72 San Ramon 38 32 Tassajara 21 29 Walnut Creek 48 45 Three other western states already supported woman suffrage, Washington, Colorado and Utah, but clearly California voters were not ready to take the step. The Contra Costa Gazette reported that women met almost immediately to analyze the vote. One article stated that the vote “showed that with a little more time and work we would have carried this county.” They rolled up their sleeves and began to plan for another effort. Sources: Contra Costa Gazette, October 10, November 21, 1896; Elinson, Elaine and Stan Yogi, Wherever There’s a Fight, How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California, Berkeley, California: Heyday Books, 2009; Silver, Mae, Women Claim the Vote in California, from FoundSF, 1995.
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley exhibit, Remember the Ladies, Celebrating the Centennial of California Woman Suffrage, 1911-2011, is open from May 14-July 16th. 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 10-4, and Saturday 10-1. For more information, visit www.museumsrv.org.
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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 13
Photo Scanning … Give New Life to Your Old Photos! By George Swan, Aberscan Imaging
EXTREME PIZZA 3227 Danville Blvd.
A typical household has thousands of photo prints and slides taken before Alamo the digital photographic age. They capture some of the greatest memories of your life, your relatives, your ancestors, and your family and friends. However, most lie forgotten and ignored in albums or boxes. Would you be upset if you lost them for good? Interested in viewing them on your TV WE DELIVER or computer alongside your newer digital photos? Want to share them with Order Online family and friends? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then it’s extremepizza.com A L A M time O PtoLtake A Zaction. A DScan E N TA G Rprints O Uand P slides today! yourLphoto If you only need to scan a small number of photos, then you can do this yourself or use scanning services provided by most local photo print retail Under New Ownership outlets. For all other situations, I would recommend using a professional scanning company. They typically scan at higher resolutions (600 dots-perinch for photos), handle other formats such as slides or negatives, and provide additional services such as image enhancement, photo restoration, and image tagging. The improvement in final image quality is noticeable! ($650 value with complete x-rays, exam, and cleaning)
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Scanning your photo and slide collection offers several valuable benefits. Once scanned, you can: Richard C. Evangelista, DDS • Protect your photo prints and slides: We all worry that photo prints or slides can be misplaced, damaged beyond repair, or destroyed in a catastrophic event. By having a digital archive of your originals, you have the comfort of Family, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry knowing your scanned images can be reprinted at any time. Invisalign • Veneers • Sedation Dentistry • Digital X-rays • Restore them back to their former beauty: All color photo prints fade over time, 220 Alamo Plaza, Suite E, Alamo | 925.831.8310 | www.alamoplazadentalgroup.com and images get washed out. Slides and negatives decay. Loose photos get scratched, bent, or ripped through years of mishandling. Have a close look at some of your older photo prints, and you will notice these changes. Professional tools such as Photoshop™ can reverse the years of decay and damage in your originals and make them look as clear and vibrant as the day they were taken. • Share them with friends and family: If you own a digital Fridays 6:00 6:00-- 8:00p.m. camera, you can make your pictures readily accessible through you phones, computers, and televisions. You can also email pictures to at Livorna Park Parks & Recreation (At the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo.) friends and family, post them to internet websites, make presents in the form of personalized photo albums, and much, much more. Admission is Free Now you can do the same with your scanned collection!
2011 Summer Concert Series
Scanning Options
Once you decide to scan your photo prints and slides, the next question is “How do I go about scanning them?” You have several options: • Do it yourself: If you have a scanner or an all-in-one printer, then you can scan your photos yourself. If you do not, then most retail photo print outlets offer basic photo scanning services. Typically, only photos are accepted and no image enhancement or repair services are offered. I’d only suggest this option if you have less than 100 photos, your photos are in good condition, and final scan quality is not that important. • Use an internet scanning company: If you search the internet, you will find a number of professional scanning companies. They can handle a large number of photos, and most handle non-standard originals such as slides, negatives, or albums. Scan quality is usually good. Most offer image enhancement and restoration services. Some offer image tagging. Prices vary greatly based on website and on services selected. These companies require you to ship your photos and slides to their location, which is often across the country or across the world to places like India. Turn-around time can be two to four weeks. • Use Aberscan Imaging: We can handle any number of photos or slides. We also offer great scan quality, image enhancement, restoration, image tagging, and support for non-standard originals. In fact, if it fits on a scanner, we can scan it: letters, scrapbooks, old documents, newspaper clippings, and much, much more. Since we are a local business, you get the comfort of knowing that your precious photos and slides stay close to home. Turnaround time is usually less than two days. Visit the Aberscan website at www.aberscan.com, call 925362-0801, or email custservice@aberscan.com. Contact us today and find out how easy and convenient scanning can be! We are Advertorial located in Alamo.
June 24: Moonalice
Inspiring audiences with an original blend of Rock, Swing and Blues music.
July 15: Diablo Road
Energizing and bold Country music fronted by the always dynamic Jewels Hanson of “Nashville Star” success.
July 29: Billy London and the Lucky Dice
Specializing in Pop, Swing, Classic Country, Roots Rock ‘n Roll and Rockabilly music.
August 12: The Sun Kings
Delivering driving energy that recalls the earliest Beatle shows with lively arrangements and harmonies.
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, friends and dancing shoes. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
Page 14 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Danville Fine Arts Faire Puts on the Dog
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The very best in art will be on display at the Danville Fine Arts Faire from 10am to 5pm June 18th and 19th along Hartz Avenue in downtown Danville. You could say these artists are putting on the dog with the theme the Doggies of Danville guiding some of the talented participants. The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce and Town of Danville are proud to present the 20th year of high-quality paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, and other media by more than 200 artists. These works are selected for their beauty, excellence, and professionalism, and the artists, who come from all over California and the western United States to participate, often present one-of-a-kind pieces. Six of these first-rate artists will invoke the traditions of Italy by creating 12x12-foot colored chalk Street Paintings along Prospect Avenue. Sponsored by Diablo Magazine, artists from Scotts Valley, San Diego, Oakland, Santa Clara and Camarillo will render images of our beloved canine companions. This unusual attraction is a must-see at the Faire, not just for the art but because, after all, we love our dogs in Danville. “I really like the fair for its level of artists,” says Shelby McNamara, new President of the
Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. “I’m very excited. It’s a great way to show off Danville to the entire Bay Area.” Serenading you as you stroll among the exhibits will be gifted street corner musicians. Sounds of Latin and Celtic music and, of course, the classics will smooth the way for appreciators of art. Listen to KC Jiang on the Irish whistle and Tremolo harmonica, the acoustic stylings of Vic Moraga, and the spicy sounds of Edgar Macchiavello. The Beverage Garden, hosted by the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, will serve wine and microbrews and offer a place to relax and listen to music. Enjoy the array of gourmet foods. The kids will also keep busy with face painting, a trackless train, and other activities. Admission to the Danville Fine Arts Faire is free, and parking is free in all city-owned lots and curbside spaces. For more information, call (925) 837-4400 or visit www.mlaproductions.com.
Maddie’s Fund Adoptathon
The White Kitty Foundation is participating in a blowout weekend adoption event to place all of our dogs and cats in qualified homes. Adoptions will be offered throughout the weekend at the following locations from noon to 3PM. • Saturday, June 4th at The Danville Hotel, 411 Hartz Way in Danville and PetCare Depot, 2004 Bishop Dr. in San Ramon. • Sunday, June 5th at The Danville Hotel, 411 Hartz Way in Danville. More than forty shelters and adoption guarantee groups in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties are participating in the second Maddie’s® Matchmaker Adoptathon. The event is sponsored by the Alameda-based Maddie’s Fund®, the largest pet foundation in the U.S. dedicated to saving dog and cat lives. Maddie’s® Matchmaker Adoptathon is being held to increase awareness of shelter animals and their need for loving homes and to shed light on the tireless efforts of the shelters and rescue organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties that work so hard to save the lives of countless dogs and cats. In addition, the adoption event honors the memory of the Foundation’s namesake, a miniature schnauzer named Maddie. If you’re available to help with the adoptathon, please call Cris at (925) 837-2411. Go to the White Kitty Foundation website www.whitekittyfoundation.org, the Maddie’s® Matchmaker Adoptathon website www.maddiesadoptation.org, and Facebook Page www.facebook.com/MaddiesPetAdoptaton to find out more information about locations, participating shelters, and the event.
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Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month By Cynthia Ruzzi
I know what you did last summer…but I promise not to tell anyone that the only salad you got close to had the word potato in front of it. It’s our secret that you said you’d stop at fifteen chips but only pulled your hand out of the bowl and away from your sixth handful because your second hamburger - on a white bread bun - was coming off the grill. How about considering a makeover this summer - for your diet? Summer in California is actually a perfect time to ‘re-up’ those long forgotten January resolutions. Not only is the temperate weather perfect for a long walk or a bike ride, but it’s easy to find delicious fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets Thursday through Sunday within ten miles of our community. Our family shifted our diet toward local, organic foods, and it has made a considerable change. Since January, we have been eating a ‘90lov’ diet – ninety percent local, organic, vegetarian diet. Without sacrifice – for me giving up meat or ice cream entirely –– I’ve lost twelve pounds. My husband’s results are even more dramatic as he’s down to his high school weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. The best news of all, we truly feel we have enhanced our lifestyles by eating with ‘lov.’ So why is eating local a big deal? According to the WorldWatch Institute, food consumed in the U.S. typically travels 1,500-2,500 miles to reach our plates. In fact, the energy used for food production accounts for about 20% of all fossil fuel used in the United States. Based on that, experts say that what you eat may be as important as what you drive. A local-eating pioneer, Joan Gussow, once pointed out that it takes 435 calories of fossil fuel to get a strawberry across the country to provide the eater with only 5 calories of nutrition. When you shift your diet toward local foods, you are protecting nearby farms, promoting sustainable agriculture, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting your local economy. Besides being better for the environment, local food generally tastes much better because it is picked when it is ripe and is much fresher when we eat it. Do you need to eat only organic food? If a conventional blueberry has the residue of 52 different pesticides1 to get to my table, then perhaps I do! Yeah I know scientists are doing tests on those pesticides, but are they testing all the combinations you might consume? Do they know how much your particular body can burden of Chlorothalonil, Iprodione, o-PhenylphenolI and more? I rather take a precautionary approach with my family’s food and choose organic whenever possible verses worry if my body build up of pesticides is ‘tipping my scale.’ However, eating organically can be a balance against the family budget. Since organic products can be more costly than conventional items, there may be a time to make a trade-off. We rely on the Dirty Dozen List from the Environmental Working Group. They offer a downloadable wallet sized list and an iPhone app www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php. Yes the ‘v’ is for vegetarian, but remember, the ‘90’ in front of the ‘lov’ part of our diet. While my husband has given up meat completely, my son and I still enjoy a grilled hormone and antibiotic free, organically grown, grassfed local chicken breast or ribeye on the grill. However, my dear husband is proud to point out his cholesterol is now lowering than mine. If you are interested in learning more about how our food choices affect ourselves, our family, and our community, then Sustainable Danville Area and Chow Danville invite you to our special Locavore’s dining event on Thursday, June 16th. Every ingredient, including the wine, will be locally farmed within a 150 mile radius of Danville. It is an occasion for our community to support our local farmers and Chow’s chefs who are creating a sustainable food system of great tasting, locally grown food. For complete list of speakers, menu, and to make reservations, please visit www. sustainabledanville.com. 1 WhatsOnMyFood website – test results obtained by the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program (PDP).
Aloha Golf Classic
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 15
The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite the public to the Aloha Golf Classic, Dinner, and Auction on Monday, July 25th at the historic Diablo Country Club. Check-in and Putting Contest begin at 9:30AM, Scramble Shot-Gun start at 11AM, Hole in One, Longest Drive contests, and box lunches are included. Silent and live auction, cocktail hour, and dinner are included in golf package and most sponsorships. Not a golfer? Join us for cocktails, appetizers, and networking at 4:30PM and dinner at 5:15PM. Support our local businesses through our silent and live auctions, and raffles. Sponsorships still available. Register online at www. danvilleareachamber.com or call the Chamber at 925-837-4400.
Summer Round-Up
It’s time to put on your cowboy boots, kick-up your heels, and head on out to the Danville Livery for some country western family fun! Summer Round-Up (formerly known as Summer Nights) promises some good ‘ol fashioned fun for the entire family. Mosey on down to the Livery every second Saturday in June, July, and August to enjoy some live music, horse and wagon rides, pony rides, balloon twisting, face painting, giveaways, and wild, western fun! The band lineup includes Lumberyard on June 11th, Dream Posse on July 9th, and The Jessica Caylyn Band on August 13th. Spend $75 in combined, same day receipts from any of the Livery merchants during the event dates, and receive a scrumptious caramel apple or giant lollipop FREE! “Like” the Danville Livery on Facebook, and receive a free gift, compliments of the Danville Livery. Stop by the redemption table in front of Forbes Mill Steakhouse to get your goodies! For more information about the Danville Livery’s Summer Round-Up and all of the Livery’s events, visit www.danvillelivery.com or call 800-762-1641. The Danville Livery is located at the intersection of Sycamore Valley Rd. and San Ramon Valley Blvd. in Danville.
San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club
The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time residents to its monthly luncheon on June 16th at Forbes Mill Restaurant located at 200 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. We meet from ll:30 to 2PM, and the charge is $19. The speaker will be Danville Mayor Karen Stepper. Please call Susan at (925) 718-5214 for information or reservations.
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Page 16 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
The Big Taboo – Talking to Your Parents About Estate Planning By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Reportedly, about 70% of Americans have no estate plan at all. For whatever reason - procrastination, denial of mortality, or otherwise - most people fail to establish a comprehensive estate plan (e.g. Wills, Trust, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives), even when they are in their 50’s and older. But why don’t more children discuss this with their parents and encourage their parents to do so? Based on nearly 20 years of discussions with clients about estate planning, I know very well how difficult it is for many people, across various ages and cultures, to plan for their death and/or incapacity. People who are “old school” tend to be very tight-lipped with their children about financial and estate planning issues. The reasons are many and varied, rational and irrational. Among others, it may be that they believe that it’s just not an appropriate subject for discussion with their children, fear that their children may make
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unwise choices if they learn about a significant prospective inheritance, are embarrassed that they don’t have more assets saved, or perhaps they believe that “as soon as I talk about dying, it will happen.” I have also listened to well meaning adult children express frustration that their parents have failed to put an estate plan in place (and/or have failed to have it reviewed and updated in many years, if not decades). Yet, many are hesitant to broach the subject with their parents. Interestingly, financial and estate planning are frequently as taboo in our society as the classic taboo topics such as sex, religion, and politics! Unfortunately, however, failure to visit periodically with a trust and estates lawyer can cause many unnecessary results such as extra costs, delay, inconvenience, additional tax, loss of family privacy, and court intervention. At worst, it can cause unintended consequences, including, but not limited to, distribution of assets in a manner that’s inconsistent with one’s wishes and intentions. Typically, neither children nor parents are anxious to think about the parents’ mortality. So, if you are a child, how do you get past the taboo and bring up the subject in a sensitive and appropriate manner? Usually, the best way is to convey directly that you have your parents’ best interest at heart. Explain that planning is a means of taking control of the assets they have worked so hard to acquire and save, and that by exercising such control, the government, courts and the IRS won’t control the administration of their estate by default. You may disarm them by telling them that you do not need to know any details about their estate plan until or unless they choose to share such details with you. If you have an estate plan in place yourself, and so inform your parents, sometimes that will resonate. Your parents might think that if their kids are old enough (and wise enough) to have an estate plan, they should too! A huge percentage of parents I meet, regardless of their age, say that their primary estate planning objective is to streamline things so as to minimize the burden on their children when they die. You can assure your parents that estate planning is sort of the ultimate protection of their children, grandchildren, and/or other loved ones. Just because your parents are older doesn’t mean that they’ve lost their parental instincts. Once the subject has been brought out into the open, you might refer them to an attorney in whom you have confidence to relate well and look out for their best interests. An experienced estate planning attorney will empower them with many useful alternative ways to provide for their legacy in precisely the manner they wish. Remarkably, no matter how difficult it is for people to initiate the process, they almost universally feel a great sense of relief and peace of mind when they take control by establishing a comprehensive estate plan. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Shapiro Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@sbllp. com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Please call for a free introductory consultation.
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial
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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 17
AT
Page 18 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
A Family Affair
By Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron Jr., Waldron Wealth Advisors
Talking about estate planning is hard for many people. Doing this with your children is especially difficult. On the bright side, parents who choose to be open with and include their children in the planning of their estates may avoid disputes after the parents’ deaths that might otherwise tear the family apart. In the New York Times article “Learning to Share,” author David Cay Johnson examines the process not only of planning for your children, but also of planning with your children and the positive results that follow. In our work with families, we have coached parents on how to approach these issues with their children. We also bring families together — parents with children (and in some cases, with spouses or with grandchildren) — to review the estate plan in a less emotional setting than the family Thanksgiving dinner. We encourage the families to ask questions about the plan, and we try to provide an open forum where opinions of the different family members can be expressed in a nonjudgmental environment. Without these types of guided discussions, the parents’ estate plan is most likely a mystery to the children, which may lead to some anxiety on their part. It is especially difficult for parents to discuss their estate plan when they have designed a plan that takes into account significant differences in their children’s respective abilities, needs, or other circumstances. Although it may be painful to discuss this plan with the children, avoiding the possibility of disharmony during the parents’ lifetimes should be weighed against the almost certain greater family rupture that will ensue after the parents’ deaths, when the children are left free to act out on their feelings of being treated unfairly. If the parents care about family harmony, they will have to risk some discomfort. Another problematic situation presents itself when parents decide to leave a
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large portion of their wealth to charity. This decision may stem solely from their charitable motives, or it may arise also from a wish not to deprive the children of the opportunity to achieve something on their own. The understandable resentment the children might feel when they learn that their expectations have been largely unmet may be avoided (or at least lessened) if they are informed of their parents’ reasoning in advance, and they have an opportunity to discuss the plan. One ameliorating way to deal with this situation is to provide each child with his or her own charitable trust, of which the child is the trustee and can determine to which charities the trust assets will be distributed. In doing so, the parents’ charitable intent is implemented, while still giving each child a lifetime income and a certain amount of control over the assets. Going a step further, parents may wish to create charitable trusts for the children while the parents are still alive. Where an estate contains a family-owned business, planning for the needs and capabilities of each child is especially crucial. Our experience in family business succession planning allows us to guide parents and their children through the process of determining the optimal structure to allow the business to remain successful and to benefit the family after the parents’ deaths. Depending on the children’s varying situations, that structure may be achieved through passing the management down to one or more of the next generation, or by providing for third party management of the company while directing the economic benefit to the children. The glue that holds all of these approaches together is open and honest communication about your family’s values and how the estate plan fits within that value matrix. While it may be harder in the short run, experience shows that being up front and honest with your children on how you plan to distribute your wealth is a key ingredient in avoiding family disharmony (or worse) over the long term. It also gives you the opportunity to explain your motivations in person rather than relying on a written document to express in cold words what you were thinking. The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances. If you are interested in a free one hour consultation please contact Peter Waldron at 925-659-0383 or e-mail peter.waldron@lfg.com. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. Copyright 2008 Gale Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved ASAP Copyright 2008 Mondaq Ltd. Mondaq Business Briefing. CRN200901-2025262 Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron Jr. are registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. Securities offered through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker-dealer (member SIPC). Investment advisory services offered through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. Advertorial
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At the Alamo Rotary club meeting on May 18th, the club recognized six outstanding San Ramon Valley educators and six outstanding students for their extraordinary achievements. Representing Stone Valley Middle School were educator Greg Phillips and student Austin Tobian. From Alamo Elementary School were educator Kathy Profumo and student Maddie Souza. Lucille Mauzy School was represented by educator Debbie Munoz and the family of student Michael Teare whose award was presented posthumously. From Rancho Romero Elementary School, the educator was Dorothy Keen and student was Molly Neach. Representing San Ramon Valley High School were educator Vivian Srouji and student Sunee Washom. And from Monte Vista High School were educator Cathy Haberl and student Shaun Chaudhuri. Congratulations to all! We are extremely blessed in the San Ramon School District to have so many outstanding teachers and administrators who have devoted their careers to shaping the future through nurturing and educating our young people. To see pictures from the presentations, go to www.alamorotary.org and click on Alamo Rotary Events/School Awards 2011.
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The Club’s sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. Our one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. Price is $16 for members and first time guests and $20 for returning guests. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
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Wines with Sparkle By Monica Chappell
June is wedding month, and love and sparkling wine have been natural partners since anyone can remember. No wonder this effervescent bit of heaven is an essential part of so many wedding festivities. Couples naturally want their wedding to be perfect, from the fit of the dress to the awe factor of the cake. Nevertheless, tasting and choosing the wine for a wedding is an important and challenging job. Many of today's brides and grooms seek more sophistication in the beverages they serve at their reception with wine playing an increasingly large role. When buying champagne for a crowd, the last thing you want to do is break the bank. Yet navigating between the budget sparklers that are drinkable, and those that are not, can be a hard task. Here are some helpful hints for demystifying the bubbly.
Sparkling Wine 101
Sparkling wines can cost less than $10 a bottle and as much as hundreds of dollars for premium Champagne. Champagne styles can vary greatly; the sweetest are doux, for a less sweet taste look for demi-sec (drier), sec (dry), extra sec (extra dry), or brut (bone dry). These food friendly wines aren't just for sipping on their own; most sparkling wines are a fine match throughout a meal and especially when served with shellfish, or with salty or spicy dishes.
Serving Tips
• A bottle (750 ml) of sparkling wine will serve 5-6 glasses. • The best glasses for sparkling wine are flutes or tulips. Specify either type when ordering wedding glassware. • Sparkling wine should be served well chilled--overnight in a refrigerator or one hour in ice. • Sparkling wine should be poured only as guests are ready to drink it. Pre-pouring will cause the wine to warm up too much. • Allow 1-1/2 to two glasses per person for an hour reception--more if
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 19
Danville Community Band Concert
The Danville Community Band completes its tenth performing season with a variety of tunes including a selection of marches, the Overture from Rossini’s “La Gazza Ladra,” music from Kalinnikov, Holst, Gershwin, and more on Sunday, June 12th at 3pm at Community Presbyterian Church located at 222 West El Pintado Road in Danville. For questions, please call 925-837-5525. The concert is free. For more information about the band or future performances, visit www.danvilleband.org. the guests love wine.
Consider All Sparklers
• French Champagne—that is, real Champagne—is produced only in the Champagne region of France. It’s effervescent and lively, and at the same time it offers tremendous complexity. Different producers, or “houses,” have different styles ranging from light and delicate to rich and full-flavored. • Italian Prosecco -Italy’s Prosecco is affordable and popular for its engaging foaminess and hint of sweetness on the finish. Produced from a late-ripening white grape of the same name, Prosecco is light, crisp and totally without pretension. It's one sparkling wine that doesn't require a special occasion. • Spanish Cava - Produced primarily in the Penedes region of Spain, Cavas are reasonably priced with refreshing flavor and fizz. The wine is fermented by the Champagne method, so it boasts similar complex flavors and tiny bubbles. • American Sparklers - Aficionados of French Champagne may be surprised to discover the tremendous break-through in quality made by top American producers. Some are creating sparkling wines that could be mistaken for their French counterparts, while others are making more generously fruity New World versions. Wine has been served at weddings since the beginning of time, so go ahead and let your love shine. Open a bottle of nature’s poetry and toast to the day. Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator. To see a full list of wine appreciation classes in Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Danville, visit us at www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
Page 20 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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How Much are Your Trees Really Worth?
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
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With the world in economic and ecological turmoil, it pays to take a deep breath and consider the real value of your assets. It’s best to start this exercise close to home because, for most Americans, their largest asset is their home. A surprisingly large contribution— between 8 and 19%1 — to the value of your home comes from your trees, shrubs, and other landscape plants. If your house is worth $500,000, that places the value of your plants at between $40,000 and $90,0000. Your trees deserve care commensurate with the value they add to your home’s portfolio. Trees, of course, have value far beyond real estate. Here’s a quick tour of values economists give for urban trees: Trees add to home values and thereby form part of the tax base. In so doing trees help fund schools, fire protection services, and police. Trees work to clean the air. In the process of photosynthesis, trees absorb pollutants, and even convert harmful chemicals, like nitrogen oxides and airborne ammonia, into benign forms. Trees act to reduce local tax rates by reducing infrastructure costs. Trees absorb rain and slow the speed at which storm water accumulates, thereby helping to prevent flooding and the need to install larger storm drains. Trees not only filter pollution, they help prevent it. Shade from trees can reduce air conditioning needs by as much as 30%, and trees planted to intercept prevailing winds can reduce heating needs significantly. “Projections suggest that 100 million additional mature trees in US cities (3 trees for every unshaded single family home) could save over $2 billion in energy costs per year.”2 Trees also help prevent car pollution. In the Sacramento area, an astounding 16% of air pollution comes from cars parked in the sun. Shade from trees greatly reduces the loss of gas, thereby reducing air pollution. Trees aid healing. When hospital rooms have views of trees, patients heal at a measurably faster rate. Trees help us fulfill Dorothy Day’s maxim, “Create a world in which it is easier to be nice to each other.” Studies find that trees in public housing neighborhoods reduce levels of fear and decrease aggressive behavior; and students with ADHD develop more self-discipline when they play in natural settings. Berkeley calculates that for every $1.00 the city spends on planting and pruning city trees, its citizens reap $1.40 in measurable benefits. For Sacramento the return is $1.80, and for New York City an astounding $5.00 return is gained for every dollar spent. The value added to pruning and planting trees on your own property is higher than that for street trees because trees have a real effect on real estate prices. Overestimating the value of trees to the entire planet is impossible. How can you put a price on the continuation of human life? If too many trees are stripped from the planet, then tipping points in the carbon cycle are crossed making global warming spin out of control… and making the world too hot for human life. Our Earth is small, and global warming makes it ever smaller. The easy division between what is global and what is local no longer holds. A ton of carbon dioxide from burning rainforests in Borneo heats the air as much as a ton of carbon dioxide from the tail pipes of commuter traffic on I580. We are all part of the problem. We are all part of the solution. Trees play a role in all three strategies to fight global warming. Trees help reduce energy use and may someday become a source of renewable biofuels. We can protect and restore rainforests and other carbon sinks. Through its work in the Borneo Project, Brende and Lamb works hard to leverage local support for the protection of rainforests. Closer to home we can all help with strategic planting of urban trees to sequester carbon, to reduce heat island effects, and to lower energy consumption. The dividends far outstrip the costs of caring for trees as a necessary part of the ‘green economy.’ Like other living beings, trees do require care. With people it costs less to avoid getting sick than to pay for a cure. The same is true with trees. Quality care improves the health of your trees, extends their lifespan and increases their beauty. Quality tree work pays dividends to you, and to the planet. 1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090119210532.htm 2. http://www.treefolks.org/store_biglist.asp
If your trees and shrubs need a little TLC - call us at 510-486-TREE (8733) or email bl@brendelamb.com to schedule a free estimate. For more Advertorial information visit our website at www.brendelamb.com.
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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 21
Life in the Alamo Garden
Design and Budget By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059
First, I want to personally thank you all so much for your participation in our 2nd Annual Garden Tour Fundraiser “Life in the Lafayette Garden.” I am very proud to announce we generated more than $16,000 in donations for the six charities that participated. The rain held off and we had a great time. It exceeded our expectations! I look forward to talking to you at our 3rd Annual Garden Tour next year! This year I had the delightful opportunity to greet and chat with folks about the five gardens on the tour. People commented on how distinctly different each garden was. While a lot of the questions were specific like “What kind of plant is this?”, some were about the design process. I found it intriguing
that many questions were about Design and Budget, so it inspired me to write about it. I want to dispel the myth that good creative design is expensive! First, expensive is relative to each family’s budget. Every project and client are different, therefore everybody’s design goals and budget are different. Budgets are purely client driven by their wants and scope of the project. Everyone has a list of what they want and desire. Some clients have BIG want lists and are willing to “invest” in the budget to HAVE what they want while others only want some simple advice to do it themselves. I work with my clientele hand-in-hand with Design and Budget. I am well aware that while design options are limitless, most budgets are not. Good creative design need not be expensive; good creative design needs to be executed within the budget parameters. I require my clients to make tough decisions about their wants and budget so as to meet their expectations. The last thing I want is to create a beautiful garden on paper that isn’t affordable; I am committed to having my clients living in them! When a client interviews me to do their project, they basically want to know two things, “How much are your fees going to be?” and “How much is my project going to cost?” To answer the first question, which is easier to answer, everyone, whether or not it is a small project or a big one are charged my fees which are by-the-hour, based on the scope of services I provide. I love working on all aspects of a garden. I have three basic services: consulting, design, and construction assistance. I have a two hour minimum for consulting on items like garden spruce ups, flower pots, and annual color borders, etc. My design services include conceptual master plans, construction documents and planting plans. Construction assistance includes helping you with contractor selection, bids, on-site decisions, and project observation. Project costs are driven by my client’s wants. People know what they want, but often times don’t know what it costs. The specific way I work gives you control of the budget because my fees aren’t based on how much your project costs. I am interested in identifying how much you are willing to “invest” into your home and what’s appropriate to the home and your family budget. Before I design anything, I evaluate your wants and desires and weigh it against your budget. Once these parameters are
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understood, I begin the design, and at every step of the process I provide a line-item budget so choices and decisions can be made regarding the design and budget. I love what I do! With more than 35 years in the garden, clients’ and my own, I understand the enjoyment we receive from our gardens, whether small or large. Not only am I a licensed landscape architect, but I am a passionate gardener! I am dedicated to designing garden environments that produce the feelings you wish to have when you are in them; inspiration, rejuvenation, relaxation, playful, peaceful… Good creative design doesn’t have to be expensive; it has to be good creative design within your budget! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Over the years I have observed that good design can save you money in the long run by doing it right the first time! Gardening Quote of the Month: “How much the making of a garden, no matter how small, adds to the joy of living, only those who practice the arts and the science can know.” - E. H. Wilson 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. Advertorial
Page 22 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Portable Printing
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Every now and then, a product comes out that catches my eye. Such is the case with a printer we recently purchased for a family event. It all started when my wife and her four sisters began planning a huge Mother’s Day tea party for her ninety-three year old grandmother and thirty of her best friends. The event warranted “party favors.” We didn’t want to pass out another knick-knack or dust collector. What we wanted to do was strike a thoughtful balance, showing care and respect and love, without burdening them with more junk to carry around. I’m uncertain where she got the inspiration, but my wife thought it would be a nice idea to send each of these lovely ladies home with a memory from the party. She thought if we could take cameo pictures of everyone at the party, hopefully with her grandmother in the picture, and process them quickly, she could send framed 4x6 pictures home with everyone as party favors. Of course, her idea presented the problem of how to process and print all of these pictures quickly. She researched small printers and came up with two to choose from: the Canon Selphy CP800 ($80/Amazon), and the Epson PictureMate Charm PM225 ($145/Amazon). After looking at both of them thoroughly, she determined the Selphy had every feature she needed, the ink was cheaper, and it cost almost half as much as the Epson. So she bought it. We received the printer a few days in advance of the party and set it up on my system. The software installed perfectly and quickly on my computer. I was impressed by how modular and easy to setup the printer is. There are four components: printer, paper tray, ink cartridge, and power supply. It comes with a trial pack of paper and an ink cartridge that will let you print five pictures. The printer has a slot for a compact flash memory card and also a USB port for inserting a thumb drive. There’s also a little screen on which you
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can see the pictures you want to print. We tried printing directly from a memory card, from a USB thumb drive, and also from the PC as a normal printer. In all modes, it worked perfectly and without any special tricks. It was unusually easy to use. On the day of the party we had three people taking pictures. I sat in a corner of the room and downloaded pictures off of the cameras every so often to find the good ones, adjust them as necessary, and print them. Everything went fine until I began processing a large quantity of pictures from the only real photographer in the group. He was taking pictures using a high-end SLR camera at very high density, and each of his pictures was over 35mb. When I queued up over ten of these huge pictures to print, something in the print queue on my laptop said “I quit,” and I ended up with a big traffic jam with nothing more coming out of the printer. To remedy the situation, we switched to plugging the memory card directly into the printer while we rebooted the computer to clear the print queue problem. Luckily, this feature of printing directly from the printer’s USB and memory card slot worked perfectly, and the production line resumed after only a short delay. Because there were so many pictures to print, and the tea party was only for an hour and a half, we fell short of having all the prints completed in time. Many guests took their picture souvenirs home with them, and the rest we finished up and delivered after we got home. All of the guests loved their special visual remembrances of the day. In the end, we were very impressed by this little printer, and we have subsequently used it for another quick-photo-print project for my daughter. It ends up being about $.34 a print, which isn’t cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either. Because the printer is so cheap to buy, so easy to use, and prints in such brilliant and correct color, I give the printer two thumbs up, and I heartily recommend it for anyone needing a convenient photo printer. What devices do you have lying around that you’d like to get working? Have you purchased a product and procrastinated setting it up? Just give your friends at Portable CIO a call, and we’ll help you get productive with your technology. Call us at 925-552-7953, or email us Advertorial at helpdesk@theportablecio.com.
An American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey reveals that 92% of adult respondents say an attractive smile is an important social asset. 74% believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for a successful career. More than any other facial feature, a smile can reflect trust, comfort, confidence and the shortest path to reflecting your personality. Dr Rader is a graduate of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI), a renowned center for cosmetic,TMJ, and Neuromuscular dentistry. He is one of a few dentists nationwide to complete Full Mouth Reconstruction curriculum at LVI.
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Rhinoplasty
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
Magnificent, My nose!...You pug, you knob, you button-head, Know that I glory in this nose of mine, For a great nose indicates a great man – Genial, courteous, intellectual, virile, courageous – as I am – and such As you – poor wretch – will never dare to be Even in imagination. (I. 336-342) Cyrano de Bergerac Rhinoplasty is the operation designed to improve the shape and function of the nose and generally to bring the nose into balance with the face. Cyrano de Bergerac was both proud of his infamous nose and terribly self-conscious about it. Should Cyrano have consulted a plastic surgeon about his options for rhinoplasty, his story may have turned out differently! Like most procedures performed by a plastic surgeon, patients seek a rhinoplasty for many different reasons. Patients seek this operation to repair a nose that is crooked from birth or due to injury, to repair asymmetries, to reduce or make more delicate certain nasal features, or to create a nose that is more harmonious with their face. Some patients know exactly what it is that they do not like about their nose, and some know only that they don’t like their nose. In almost all instances, it is my experience that surgical changes, where appropriate, can enhance the beauty of the face and make the patient happy to have sought the change. Rhinoplasty is often combined with the repair of the nasal septum, also known as septoplasty. The septum is the structure which should sit in the middle of the nose, separating one side from the other. Twists and deflections may obstruct breathing through the nose. A septoplasty can improve this problem and is sometimes covered by insurance. Resculpting the nose requires a careful analysis of the patient’s facial features. Forehead height, strength of the chin, and length of the lips all influence the appearance of the nose. The nose, in turn, influences the appearance of the whole face. It is sometimes necessary to create a stronger chin (mentoplasty) to correct what appears to be an excessively large nose or to shorten the lip. In short, the nose sits in the center of the face and is a focal spot for the beauty of the face. It cannot be viewed alone. My goal is to sculpt a nose that is in harmony with the rest of the face and, when viewed separately, gives the face a balanced appearance. I usually perform a closed rhinoplasty. This type of “nose job” requires no external incision and, therefore, creates no external scars. All the work is done from the inside of the nose. It seems amazing to be able to work inside such a small space, but it is often the appropriate approach. In certain instances an open rhinoplasty is appropriate and performed through an incision on the columella of the nose (the vertical portion between the nostrils). This incision can be practically invisible. Rhinoplasty is performed under Light Sleep Anesthesia. Surgery generally lasts about one and a half hours. The septum is straightened, the airway improved, the base of the nose narrowed, the dorsum or top of the nose is shaped to smooth the dip or hump and the tip is adjusted to be synchronous with the patient’s face. Rhinoplasty, when performed on a young adult or older person, may be beneficial to their social development and self-confidence. The aging process is reflected in many ways in the nose, and correcting the balance of the face can add freshness and youth to a patient’s appearance. The final result of a rhinoplasty takes a period of time to achieve. The healing process determines the final result. One can generally get a good idea of what the nose will look like when the nasal splint is removed a week after surgery. Patience is required though, because your nose will continue to improve over the next few months. Whether you are a “closet Cyrano” or just seeking a minor change, I would be happy to consult with you regarding the most prominent feature of your face, your nose. Barbara Persons MD owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd in Lafayette. Please call 925-283-8811 or email at drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 23
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Cinema Classics By Peggy Horn
This month’s film for review, Hands Across the Table, is from 1935 and stars Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. In this movie, beautiful Miss. Lombard plays the part of Regi Allen, a manicurist with a mission: to marry a wealthy man. She meets a fellow gold digger, Theodore Drew (III), played by Fred MacMurray, a ne’er do well who has the name, prestige, and reputation of having money, but in fact, he has none. Although the course of their romance bears some resemblance to the plot of It Happened One Night, with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, it has its own amusing situations that make this movie worth seeing. The funniest lines are delivered by handsome and vibrant Fred MacMurray, who as a young man seems nothing like his later grown up self that many of us remember from films like Double Indemnity and The Shaggy Dog. In the movie, Regi Allen’s best friend is a numerology devotee who advises her about the potential for success of various situations, based on the numbers, particularly in Regi’s quest to marry money. Ironically, Miss. Lombard’s real mother was a great believer in numerology and apparently predicted the possibility of an accident or death before their flight home from Indiana following a successful promotional tour to raise money for the United States government during the Second World War. Unfortunately, in 1942, Miss. Lombard and her mother were both killed in the crash of the plane they were in which was taking them home from the tour to reunite them with Miss. Lombard’s husband, Clark Gable. Although watching any movie with Carole Lombard is a little bit of a melancholy reminder of her fate, this is still a very funny movie that combines romance and comedy with gorgeous cinematography. Just as entertaining as the witty dialogue is the illustration of life during the forties, including the swanky manicure and beauty salon that is part of a hotel offering many lavish services to their clients and the elegant night clubs for dining and dancing that I wish were still available for present day attendees such as myself! This movie is available inexpensively on line and very much worth the effort to find.
Page 24 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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Exercise Therapy: From Pain to Performance By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.
At Johnson Chiropractic Group our therapeutic approach is not simply about pain relief and adjusting spinal fixations to restore spinal health. Our mission is to educate and transition our patients into an active, healthy lifestyle. We look to optimize our patients health by including them in our systematic program of care ranging from pain relief and rehabilitation to corrective exercise therapy. The transition from rehabilitation to physical fitness can be difficult when you are not familiar with the underlying principles of corrective exercise therapy. Ultimately our goal is to ensure that our patients can move correctly without pain, while maintaining proper mobility and stability before they take on more rigorous activity. Without optimal muscle balance and symmetry, patients suffer from a degree of compensation in their movements which only leads to further injury over time. I am often surprised by how few health care professionals actually use corrective exercise therapy in their practices. Many structural conditions currently treated with singular approaches by their doctors would greatly benefit from the inclusion of exercise therapy, as thousands of traumatic low back pain cases are successfully treated annually by exercises alone.
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 25 Many of you reading this article are currently suffering from an injury which is preventing you from fully enjoying spring. Too often I hear people say they’d love to run, swim, lift weights, or play their favorite sport again, but they can’t because they’ve got a chronic injury that is preventing them from enjoying one of their favorite activities. Don’t settle for mediocrity and the lackluster results that come from antiquated, singular approaches. Challenge yourself and the staff at Johnson Chiropractic Group to find a way to get you back participating in the activities you love this summer! We are ready to help you Move Past Your Pain and return to performing at your peak potential. For more info go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville. (925) 743-8210. Advertorial
What is Exercise Therapy?
Exercise Therapy is a form of exercise that strives to bring the body back into perfect postural position. As you know, the body is designed to perform at its most efficient level when it is in a position of ideal posture and bilateral symmetry. Exercise Therapy is designed to restore muscle balance and symmetry, thus guiding the body to work efficiently without pain. Through exercise therapy, you will be working toward re-educating the body to move as it was designed so it can function at its best, pain free. Specific movements are used to improve body mechanics and remove negative movement patterns which have led to dysfunction. Exercise Therapy reintroduces proper function, which restores correct posture. When the body stops compensating for imbalances, patients are able to move freely without restrictions and the pain eventually disappears. It all comes down to moving correctly! All muscle function is interconnected. One area of dysfunction will cause compensation and a myriad of symptoms somewhere else. Exercise Therapy effectively corrects the cumulative stress of life. Even small structural changes (i.e. long hours at your desk, commuting or exercising through pain) will alter the muscles’ and joints’ ability to perform properly. This is because no muscle works alone; each is connected to another part of the body. Because exercise therapy focuses on fixing the cause of pain, instead of just addressing the symptoms, it works where many other approaches fall short. So, even if you’ve tried everything else to feel better, now is the time to try our effective exercise therapy strategies for relief.
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Have You Tried Other Therapies?
You may have already tried to stretch and strengthen some weak, injured areas of your body with little to no success. The majority of muscle and joint pain syndromes are the result of repeated faulty movement patterns which leads to cumulative stress and pain. Over time, the body develops incorrect movement patterns as a way to compensate for tight, weak muscles and also as a way to avoid pain. Without exercise therapy protocols designed to teach the correct way of moving, patients continue from one approach to another, never improving, because they continue to move incorrectly. An example of this would be when a patient complains of chronic knee pain, most professionals are quick to incorporate a therapeutic approach which focuses on stretching and strengthening the knee. However, our approach utilizing exercise therapy would be to address movement in the entire kinetic chain from the ankle to the knee, hip, and spine. This more inclusive approach is what is required to effectively restore function and prevent future re-injury.
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Page 26 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Redistricting and You! By Roger Smith
You are touched by County Services more than you realize. If you live in an unincorporated area of Contra Costa County, such as Alamo, the County is your final authority on local laws and enforcement, including Transportation, Emergency Services, Public Safety Services, Planning Issues, and Park/Recreation. Quite an impressive list! Contra Costa County’s Explanation of Redistricting can be found at www. ccredistricting.org.
AIA’s report and official position on Redistricting is as follows:
At the AIA Board meeting held Thursday, May 12th, Mike Gibson presented a detailed review of all redistricting maps available. There was discussion about each map. The primary issues used for evaluation of the various maps included 1) Commonality of interests, 2) Common Political, Economic and Cultural Interests and 3) a History of Community Relationships. There was a discussion on similarities of Demographics and Socio-economic Characteristics that Alamo shares with various communities Alamo also has Services In-Common with various communities as follows: 1) Tri-Valley Transportation Council (TVTC) Alamo is governed by Contra Costa County, which is one of seven jurisdictions of the Tri-Valley Transportation Council. TVTC sets fees that developers pay for traffic mitigation projects and decides which projects those fees will pay for. Learn more by visiting www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/bcc/tvtc.htm. 2) Fire District/Emergency Medical Alamo shares Fire and Emergency services with Danville and San Ramon through the San Ramon Valley Fire District. The Fire District and Emergency Primary Service area includes the San Ramon Valley area of Contra Costa County and provides secondary or backup services to Lamorinda.
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agement, and public relations. KHN also helps nonprofits define the scope of their projects and provides coaching and support to both the volunteer and the nonprofit throughout the duration of the project. KHN volunteer Hal Bailey, an Alamo resident, has experience in planning, funding, and executing start-ups in the North American Pacific Rim, in Asia, and now in Europe. He takes management teams into a planned operation and market effort with a specific timeline for execution and achievement of goals. As a KHN volunteer, he is now doing the same for the new board of an established non-profit. He is taking the board through the planning process to establish TEAM assignments for current programs and operations and establishment of future program goals, expanded volunteer participation, and broader contribution sourcing. “My first volunteer experience is still in progress,” says Bailey, who notes that the non-profit for which he is volunteering very quickly understood his role as guide to their own decisions and planning. “This effort provides me a refreshing opportunity to use profit-oriented planning and marketing techniques in a very personally satisfying manner. With each step we take toward a business plan, funding prospectus and project plans, there is the satisfaction of working with people that give to our communities and care about real contribution to Contra Costa County.” NQR is the acronym that KHN volunteer Kathy Jakel uses to describe herself. It stands for “Not Quite Retired,” laughs Jakel, a Lafayette resident. A banking expert, Jakel wanted a non-profit volunteer job that would utilize her extensive experience as project and team manager. KHN provided the perfect match. “I was matched with Job Connections -- a Bay Area professional networking group out of Danville that meets weekly to support and encourage unemployed and underemployed while they navigate their search for a new career,” says Jakel, who oversees the Job Connections annual half-day Summit – an educational conference and networking requiring extensive planning and management, from fundraising to promoting to registering attendees. “Working on this event has been a great experience for me,” says Jakel.
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3) County Sherriff’s Substation Alamo shares public safety services with Danville and San Ramon through the County Sheriff’s Sub-Station. The County Sherriff’s primary patrolled area covers the San Ramon Valley area of Contra Costa County and provides secondary or backup services to Lamorinda. 4) Development During 1990’s, Alamo (AIA was the actual party) joined with Danville and San Ramon in a unified legal action for protection of common interests that involved the Dougherty Valley development. This legal action was successful and Contra Costa County had to reimburse the parties for their legal expenses. 5) Unified School District Alamo is included in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. 6) Parks/Recreation Alamo shares responsibilities for Hap Magee Park with Danville. As a result of this review, there was a board motion made, seconded and passed to support the Contra Costa Times Redistricting Map(s) that place Alamo with Danville, San Ramon and Lamorinda, along what is commonly known as the highway “24/680 Transportation Corridor.”
Why is all of this important?
Let’s look at one example. The Tri-Valley Transportation Council, which currently functions by unanimous vote, enabling EACH JURISDICTION REPRESENTED TO HAVE “VETO” POWER BY VOTING “NO” ON FUNDING A PROJECT. However, TVTC members are now suggesting they allow a vote to pass that is not unanimous – a super majority (6:1, or 5:2) or even a simple majority. BUT ANY VOTE THAT IS NOT UNANIMOUS WILL REMOVE THE PROTECTION ALAMO HAS HAD TO DATE FROM UNWANTED ROAD PROJECTS. This is because Alamo’s representative, Contra Costa County, could vote NO on a project, and the project would still pass if the other jurisdictions voted YES! THANKS TO ALL ALAMO CITIZENS responding to AIA’s recent call to action to retain TVTC’s unanimous vote for traffic mitigation project approval! County Supervisor Mary Piepho reported she received stacks of mail, mostly opposing a change from the unanimous vote rule. We invite you to continue to follow this issue and visit www.AlamoCA.org for ongoing details and updated information about the next meeting of the TVTC. “It reminds me that I have unique project and organization skills that are transferable to other businesses. I feel a sense of accomplishment and am proud to be volunteering for Job Connections. It seems to really make a difference for people who need support as they get on-track for a job search or career change, rebuild their confidence, and receive encouragement during these tough times.” Signing up as a volunteer is simple. After completing the enrollment form (found on their website), KHN will contact you to find out more about your skills, interests, and availability. They will let you know about projects that best match your needs, and they will participate with you and the nonprofit staff at an introductory meeting to obtain detailed information about the project. When you accept a volunteer opportunity, KHN assists in writing the Scope of Work, which defines the project and its outcomes and establishes roles and responsibilities, and they provide project management support and coaching during the execution of the project. Projects are flexible and usually stretch over a one to three month period, with an average of two to four hours per week. And, often the majority of work is done virtually. Carolyn Daly of Danville has a background in sales and marketing for seniors assisted living. She specializes in event coordination. When she found herself without a job, she sought volunteer opportunities to match her skills. Her search led her to KHN where she has been instrumental in event coordination for both KHN itself and for Hospice of the East Bay. “I spent 2 ½ months working with Hospice of the East Bay planning their annual Tree of Light fundraising ceremony,” says Daly. “I loved every minute of it – from lining up event speakers and entertainment, to helping procure 18 trees. It’s what I do. KHN is a great organization for those who are looking to fill some time and give back to the community. It feels good to use your talents to help others. It’s rewarding and does wonders for your self esteem.” For more information on the Know How Network, visit their website at www.knowhow@helpnow.org.
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Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 27
Life is a Cabernet!
By Jewel Johl, MD Medical Oncologist and Hematologist
Resveratrol is a substance that is produced by plants in response to stress. It is a phytoalexin, a major constituent of red wine, and abundant in the grape skin. The cardioprotective and chemopreventive activities have brought resveratrol to public and scientific attention. Several animal studies performed in the lab have shown that resveratrol prevents development of cancers of the skin, breast, esophagus, intestine, colon and prostate. Not only does red wine has properties that help prevent cancer, in moderation it has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and antioxidants in red wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of “good” cholesterol and protecting against artery damage. Research has shown that resveratrol might also help protect against obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease. However, those findings were reported only in mice, not in people. In addition, to get the same dose of resveratrol used in the mice studies, a person would have to drink over 60 liters of red wine every day, not recommended.
Resveratrol Content in Different Beverages and Foods
Food and Beverage Serving Size Total Resveratrol (mg) Muscadine wine 5 ounce glass 2.12-6 Red wine -Global 5 ounce glass 0.30-1.07 -Spanish 5 ounce glass 0.29-1.89 Red grape juice 5 ounce glass 0.17-1.30 Rose wine 5 ounce glass 0.06-0.53 Pinot noir 5 ounce glass 0.06-0.30 White wine 5 ounce glass 0.01-0.27 Peanuts -Raw 146 g 0.01-0.26 -Boiled 180 g 0.32-1.28 Peanut butter 258 g 0.04-0.13 Red grapes 160 g 0.24-1.25 While the news about red wine might sound great if you enjoy a glass of red wine with your evening meal, doctors are wary of encouraging anyone to start drinking alcohol. That's because too much alcohol can have many harmful effects on your body. Resveratrol supplements are currently widely available at health food stores, pharmacies, and online, however, the tablet doses are not standardized, side effects are unknown, and these supplements are not regulated by the FDA. For this reason, the supplements are not generally recommended. It is not known whether high intakes of resveratrol can help prevent cancer in humans. Clinical trials are currently underway to address this question and to also determine whether resveratrol might be beneficial in cancer treatment. Until more data is available, moderate red wine consumption is reasonable in terms of its health benefits. Advertorial Diablo Valley Oncology founded the California Cancer and Research Institute. Located in Pleasant Hill, the cancer center is the largest freestanding, non-hospital based facility in Contra Costa County. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, clinical trials, and supportive care services – all in one convenient location. The facility provides the latest in technology and therapies – to better serve patients in the community. 925-677-5041 www. DiabloValleyOncology.md
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Page 28 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
The Eye Opener
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Cataracts
Since June is cataract awareness month, I think it is appropriate to discuss this normal aging condition with my patients. The likelihood that you will experience some visual changes from cataracts increases as you get older. Assuming you live to normal life expectancy, most everyone will feel the effects, and most will need to have them removed. A cataract is the maturing of the lens which is inside of your eye; it cannot be seen just by looking at a person. The lens continues to grow throughout life. As the lens ages, it becomes thicker and denser. As this occurs, less light is able to pass through it, and thus decreases your vision. In addition, as the lens becomes more opaque, your vision generally takes on a dulling, foggy, or yellowing effect. The typical onset for early cataracts is in your 60’s to 70’s. Everyone develops them at different paces, but such things as long-term UV exposure, diabetes, prednisone (steroid) use, and trauma can cause the process to be sped-up. In the early stages, your distance prescription can sometimes shift to become more near-sighted. It is during these times that just a simple prescription change in your glasses can help restore or improve your vision. However, there comes a point as the cataract progresses that changing your glasses makes little or no improvement. It is at this time that the limiting factor in the visual system is the cataract itself, not your glasses. This is the point where I usually introduce the option of cataract surgery. Even though most people are scared or leery of surgery, cataract surgery is a very safe and quick procedure that restores most of your lost vision. Cataract
Bancroft continued from front page
combination of colorful succulent carpets with statuesque trees and flowering plants from around the world. Tactfully phrasing the question to his octogenarian hostess, Frank asked what would happen to the garden when she could no longer tend it. Having already addressed the issue with her offspring, Ruth replied, “When I go, the garden goes.” Appalled, Cabot promised he would not let that happen. Over the course of the next few years, he set up the Garden Conservancy. Giving her work of the past two decades to the public as the first property in Cabot’s non-profit organization permitted Ruth to preserve it. Ruth’s interest in succulents began in the early 1950’s when she set out to buy furniture at a yard sale and spotted a potted plant she craved. The lady of the house, Mrs. Glenn Davidson, happily sold Ruth an Aeonium that she’d hybridized herself. Having acquired one rosette shaped specimen reminiscent of a child’s sketch of a rose, Ruth wanted more. She had thousands of succulents by the time her husband, Philip, offered her space from which he was removing a grove of blighted walnut trees for her dry garden. Lester Hawkins of Western Hills Nursery was hired to design the layout for the winding paths. In 1972, Ruth dug her plants into the new beds and lost 90% to a freeze. Never daunted by disaster, Ruth devised covers to protect tender plants from winter wet and extreme cold and re-planted. Land containing Ruth’s collections of roses, irises, and herbs as well as her home remained family property when Bancroft transferred the three acres including her xeroscopic garden to the Conservancy. Angela Lansbury, accepting the role of honorary chair, attended the official opening of the Ruth Bancroft Garden in April 1992, extending the fame of the venture way beyond horticultural circles. For Ruth, the transition from private to public garden was simultaneously thrilling and chilling. Used to spending up to 12 hours a day working hatless and gloveless amongst her plants, Ruth found being spotted weeding by complete strangers a bit shocking. “Mom never wanted to be a tourist attraction,” comments her daughter Nina Dickerson. Always glad to share her horticultural haven with knowledgeable guests, Ruth enjoyed witnessing the impact her garden was having on visitors with diverse interests. Yet she was saddened by the sense that the garden was no longer her personal space. Initially the garden was open only for reserved docent tours on Friday and Saturday. Groups could arrange for tours on other days, but on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday the garden was closed to allow Ruth to re-mound beds, weed, and plant as she always had, never even breaking for lunch. Until she was no longer physical-
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surgery is the most widely done procedure in the United States, and the numbers will just continue to climb as the baby boomers continue to age. Keep in mind that even though it is done all of the time, there are potential side-effects that need to be discussed with your doctor and/or surgeon. The procedure itself takes less than 10 minutes, and you are not under general anesthesia. I tell my patients that it generally takes longer in the operating room to prep you for the surgery than it does to actually perform it. The incision is very small and does not require stitches, thus enabling a quicker recovery. The surgeon will go into your eye with a tool that breaks up the cataract into small pieces and then remove these smaller pieces from the eye. The clear implant that is put in folds up very small and can fit through the small incision. If both eyes need to be done, only one will be done at a time. The eye that is more advanced is generally done first, and after it is healed sufficiently, the other eye is done a few weeks later. Recently, there have been many new types of implantable lenses to choose from. There is your standard single vision lens, which can be done for distance vision only, or monovision, which is one eye distance and the other reading. If you have monovision in your contact lens wear, then going to this setup after surgery should work well. There are also multi-focal and accommodating lenses that help reduce your need for reading glasses. These lenses, just like anything else, do have their pros and cons and absolutely need to be discussed with your optometrist and surgeon. As always, we are here to answer any of your questions regarding surgical and non-surgical options. 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 become a fan on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial ly able to keep up the pace a few years prior to her 100th birthday, Ruth made all the decisions. Asked whether she knew where each plant would go before acquiring it, Ruth responded, “Oh, no! I fell in love first and then gave it home.” “Collecting drove the Curator Brian Kemble shares his knowledge. design,” notes Brian Kemble, Curator of the RBG, who began working for Ruth in 1980. Ruth had her own concept of what should go in each bed. When one became full, she added another. As Ruth turned more frequently to ordering from catalogues, Brian continued to bring plants and seeds back from his travels. He further augmented the collection by creating tens of thousands of hybrids to test grow in the garden. Only those with the most desirable characteristics were retained and named. Tom Bassett, President of the Board of Directors of the RBG, began visiting Ruth’s garden when he first moved to Walnut Creek in 1979 to teach as a visiting lecturer at UC Berkeley’s School of Landscape Architecture. Delighted by the depth of Tom’s interest, Ruth invited him to wander the garden whenever he liked. “To Ruth, the garden was a series of stories,” he remembers, telling, “Where each plant came from, how she had found it, how it had done in the garden.” Ruth allowed her plants to overgrow their borders so that the paths became ways leading through the wilderness rather than formal walkways. Ruth recognized that gardens change. Plants outgrow
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Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD Maintaining Weight Loss Forever
Alamo Today ~ June 2011 - Page 29
I have received numerous requests from readers to address how to maintain their weight after they have tried one of the faddish quick weight loss diets where they rapidly lost a lot of pounds in a short period of time. As a case study, let me tell you about my client Lisa who is an avid exerciser, mom of two teenagers, and who is constantly struggling with weight loss. Lisa frequently starts a new diet where she often sees fantastic results quickly. Her problem has always been maintaining the weight loss. Most of the diets she puts herself through are drastic and boring. She came to my office with a journal of her recent food intake. I could see that her intense workouts left her ravenous, and she struggled to maintain the 1,200 calories prescribed by her diet and then gorged on healthy foods. She often succumbed to cravings which would set off a binge attack. I observed that Lisa was ignoring her hunger signs completely, and she would eat on a preset schedule where hunger and fullness were not considered. During our discussion I could tell Lisa had very little knowledge about nutrition and what are considered balanced meals of protein, fiber, low fat, and low sugar. I taught her how to read food labels for important nutrition facts such as the percentage of fat per serving, grams of fiber per serving, and how to calculate grams of protein into ounces. Lisa did not realize that her food choices were high in fat and low in protein and fiber. Afterwards Lisa and I went on a supermarket tour where she discovered many of the great convenience foods available for a family of four. I set up a tasty meal plan for her based on her favorite foods, and I told her that her new friends are protein and fiber, which must be eaten at every meal and snack. I introduced Lisa to Greek yogurt, turkey jerky, fat free cottage cheese, homemade hummus, hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter with celery or an apple, oatmeal, and Kashi Go Lean cereal with a sprinkle of Craisins for snacks which could be easily taken with her during her outings. I thought long and hard about how to help her read her body better. I decided to probe a little more about her eating habits and responses. Was she always hungry when she was eating? Did she get too full after a meal? Did she taste the food or inhale it? Was she overeating at times because she was upset or very happy? I asked Lisa to keep a log where she recorded her level of hunger based on a scale from 1-10. After analyzing the log, we established a goal to eat when her hunger levels were a 6 to 7 and to stop when she was at 8 to 9. It took her a while to learn to listen to her body and begin to appreciate hunger signals. We also focused on her desire to be “perfect” everyday and making herself feel miserable when she wasn’t. I was adamant that she must begin treating herself more kindly, like she treated her children. Lisa learned that she could enjoy rich food at times as long as it was in small portions. Now Lisa delights in going to a restaurant and ordering two appetizers as her main dish like crab cakes and a delicious salad or an entrée like lamb chops with double veggies and a slice of bread. She was happy to learn that she can have choices that would never have been on her previous diet list where she typically ordered a small salad and simply grilled fish which wasn’t filling and left her feeling unsatisfied. After eating a meal like that, she would come home hungry and raid the refrigerator. I also introduced Lisa to fresh Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, as well as other local eateries that I believe offer great food for those who want to eat healthy. Lisa finished my eight week “Royal Treatment Program,” and she is a new woman. She has maintained a 15 lb weight loss and is confident about making great food choices each day. We still have scheduled meetings for support and discussion of family events that bring lots of food to the table to keep her on track. If you are interested in a topic that you would like me to discuss, please e-mail me and let me know. Linda’s office is located in Alamo. She welcomes your call to discuss your needs and personal diet challenges. Please visit www. LindaRD.com for more information, helpful tips, recipes, and Linda’s blog or call (925) 855-0150. Advertorial
Page 30 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Bedbugs - Good, Bad, and Ugly By Dr. Shanny Baughman
Bedbugs- they aren’t just in nursery rhymes. More people are being bitten, and it’s happening in more cities, towns, and colleges than a mere five years ago. This resurgence is due to the ban on DDT, close living conditions, and more frequent travel. The following information is for advice and prevention, not to provoke alarm. Think of this article as equivalent to a “disaster preparedness kit” in case you find bedbugs. THE GOOD - Bedbugs (Cimex lectularias) won’t Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo kill you. Bedbugs are a nuisance, but unlike fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, they are not known to transmit disease such as Lyme Disease, Malaria, Hepatitis, or HIV. Bedbugs aren’t an indication of poor housekeeping. They are an indication of close living conditions. They are adept at escaping detection, and by sneaking into laundry or suitcases where they can be transported far away. They have been found in hotels, apartments, houses, cruise ships, theater seats, and, most recently, college dormitories. THE BAD - Bedbug bites itch. Bites are often in clusters of three, think ‘breakfast, lunch, and dinner,’ or are in a line. If you are allergic to the bites, expect a stronger reaction. Some people have no symptoms. Bedbug bites are a nuisance. In addition to itching, bacterial infections can develop in open wounds. Bedbugs hitchhike in suitcases and clothing and can turn up after guests spend the night or kids come home from college. They crawl and do not jump, fly, or swim. THE UGLY - They are ugly. Really ugly. Adult bedbugs measure around ¼ inch, so they are visible to the eye. Smaller larvae are visible but are nearly translucent when young and darken as they molt and grow. They become brownish red, shield shaped, and have tiny vestigial wings. They dine in the dark, enjoying a blood meal at night, finding their victims by detection of carbon dioxide and warmth. Bedbugs are tough to get rid of. They can live for over a year without a meal. A cursory survey of a room may not show evidence of bedbugs. One needs to look carefully in crevices, along the seams of mattresses, behind headboards, in dresser drawers and closets, behind light plate covers, in drapery, and behind pictures. IF YOU SEE BEDBUG EVIDENCE IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM INSPECT your room before unpacking- remember to look in all the places mentioned above. Even if you don’t see an actual bedbug but find tell-tale signs such as dark specks (fecal droppings) or molted exoskeletons, don’t unpack.
Bancroft continued from page 28
their space, succumb to natural causes, or reseed themselves in unexpected places. Ruth continues to meet weekly with Garden Manager Charlotte Blome, but she has had to cede the daily work to staff members and volunteers. Hired in 1993 as the garden’s first Executive Director, Richard Turner met Ruth when he and a colleague dropped by unannounced in 1979. Dick recalls: “Ruth rolled out the welcome mat.” Over the next several years, Dick made Ruth’s garden the culminating destination field trip for students in the plant identification classes he was teaching at UC Berkeley. When he left his post at the RBG to become editor of Pacific Horticulture, he retained close ties with the garden. He currently serves on the Horticultural Advisory Committee formed five years ago to maintain Ruth’s criteria for design in a dynamic environment. “Gardens don’t just happen. They require attention, management, vision,” Turner explains. Sculptural is a word often applied to Ruth’s dry garden. “Anyone who worked in artistic fields was bowled over by the garden,” remarks Ruth’s daughter Kathy Hidalgo. The 17th annual Sculpture in the garden show opening on June 17th will include some 250 pieces by 49 artists. Staging art in the garden benefits everyone. Joe Bologna, Artist Coordinator for this invitational show, says, “This is a happy story.” Sculptors from all over Northern California consider exhibiting in the garden an exceptional opportunity and enthusiastically donate a substantial portion of their proceeds from sales to the RBG. “Quality attracts quality,” Bologna insists. The backdrop of dramatic foliage highlights the art. New artists are discovered by collectors coming to view pieces by familiar sculptors. David Mudgett, who has participated in the show for many years and currently coordinates the placement of art in the garden, explains the symbiotic relationship:
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Leave that room promptly, and request a different room. Better yet, request a different hotel. Even if you don’t find bedbugs, it is wise to avoid use of dresser drawers. If you choose to keep clothing in your suitcase, keep it closed at all times. A large garbage bag enclosing your suitcase will prevent bedbug transport if you are particularly concerned. Not all bites are caused by bedbugs as other insects, and spiders can attack you in the night. Avoid false alarms by searching for a live insect specimen. Bring it for identification if possible. IF YOUR CHILDREN BRING BEDBUGS Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette HOME FROM COLLEGE - Imagine a crowed dorm room, with clothes scattered around, an assortment of friends staying the night, and trips for Spring Break or job interviews involving stays in hotels or other dorms. This is the perfect environment for bedbugs to travel, invade that locale, and then hitchhike to the next destination. If you think your children brought home bedbugs in the dirty laundry, all clothes should be washed in hot water and dried at the highest setting of the dryer. If hot water will damage the clothes, you can dry them on the highest heat. If the bedbugs are already in your home, deep cleaning may be adequate to remove them. Scrubbing infested surfaces with a stiff brush will remove eggs. Sealing cracks in walls and floors will prevent reentry, and enclosing your mattress in a dust-mite proof bag may be enough. Think twice about hauling a mattress out for trash pickup. The mattress could leave a trail of eggs through your house and an unwise “dumpster diver” could get more than a free mattress. AVOID BRINGING HOME USED FURNITURE - Couches, mattresses, and upholstered chairs can contain bedbugs. Vacuuming can help reduce the pests, but cleaning needs to be repeated as eggs could hatch later. It’s safer to avoid these castoffs. LET THE EXPERTS EXTERMINATE - There are numerous reports of bedbugs resistant to readily available sprays and bug bombs. Exterminators use chemicals which are specifically targeted for bedbugs. Avoid the temptation to do-it-yourself and call the pros. For more information, take the Bedbug Quiz at www.medicinenet.com/ bed_bugs/article.htm. You can also meet Roscoe the Bed Bug Dog at www. roscoethebedbugdog.com/pages/tips.php. To schedule a consultation with one of us, contact Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, shanny.derm@gmail.com, or Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com . Advertorial “It’s all about aesthetics, the ultimate goal is to create a relationship between the garden and the art the public can both recognize and appreciate.” Executive Director Becky Rice Harrington notes that when she first came to the garden in 2002 it was still a very quiet place. “Now there is a buzz.” As Ruth nears her 103rd birthday in September, volunteers, staff members, and visitors enthusiastically support Ruth’s on-growing gift. To participate in events or review plant profiles and photographs, visit www. ruthbancroftgarden.org.
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Insomnia Can Be a Nightmare for Older Adults
By Joyce & Jim Newport, Owners, Right at Home of Mt. Diablo
As we mature, insomnia and general sleep disturbances become more common. With more than half of adults older than 64 years in the United States reporting that they have a sleep disorder, insomnia is the third most common reason for a medical visit, following Photo by www.JamieWestdal.com headaches and the common cold. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reports that 44 percent of older persons report experiencing one or more of the nighttime symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights per week. In the NSF’s Sleep in America poll, 65 percent of adults aged 55 to 84 report the need to get up to go to the bathroom a few nights a week or more (53 percent report the need is every or almost every night). Chronic insomnia (lasting more than six months is often related to any of a number of underlying causes including drinking coffee, chocolate, or sodas with caffeine, exercise or lack of exercise, and drinking alcohol. Biological changes associated with aging can alter how we metabolize medications, creating side effects which can contribute to insomnia. Some medical conditions linked with insomnia include high blood pressure, nocturnal asthma, sleep apnea, acid reflux disease (GERD), Fibromyalgia or other chronic pain syndromes, neurological conditions including depression, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder. According to insomnia.net, depression is the “big daddy” of insomnia causes. Depression suppresses your body’s natural drives, and one of those natural drives is sleep. Insomnia can quickly become chronic in elderly people and when it does, their lifestyle can be critically affected and results in: • A lack of concentration that can lead to accidents such as leaving the stove on and doors unlocked • Sudden mood swings, temper flare-ups, and irritability resulting in strained relationships • Increased clumsiness that can lead to falls • Constant tiredness that can lead to such problems as auto accidents Older adults who are prone to heartburn or gastric reflux should avoid eating three hours before bedtime. Older adults are also discouraged from drinking liquids two to four hours before going to bed, which can help relieve pressure on the bladder. In men, frequent urination at night may be related to a prostate condition requiring medical attention. The use of sleep medications by older adults can have the unintended effect of incontinence while asleep. Common home remedies for insomnia include maintaining good sleeping patterns by going to bed and getting up at the same time, taking a hot bath or reading before bedtime, and avoiding heavy meals late in the evening. Consider natural, homeopathic, and alternative therapies, including teas, herbal therapies, and acupuncture. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, has become widely
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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 ~ June 2011 - Page 31 used to treat many symptoms of insomnia and is especially useful for relieving chronic or severe insomnia symptoms. The therapy is non-pharmacological and combines behavioral, muscular, and psychological therapies into one holistic bundle that together help patients rewire their sleep psychology. Your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved one and dedicated to keeping you informed about home care, Right at Home of Mt Diablo offers in-home care and assistance so your loved one can continue living independently and enjoying a vibrant life. Our caregivers are our employees, and are screened, trained, bonded, and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one. For more information on Right at Home services -- or for our recommendation of a great Naturopathic Doctor to help you with your insomnia -- please Advertorial call (925) 256-4663.
Summer Classic to Fight Juvenile Diabetes
Back by popular demand, “Super Diamond,” will return to Wente Vineyards on Friday, August 19th for a concert and dinner benefit at the JDRF “Summer Classic.” This year’s event at Wente Vineyards will showcase the dinner and concert. It will include a live and silent auction to raise money to help kids battling diabetes. The fundraiser includes a separate, optional golf tournament earlier that day. “We are so excited for the ‘Summer Classic’ 2011,” said Kelly Craft of JDRF. “The money raised helps our treatment, education and prevention programs, aimed at kids and their families coping with juvenile diabetes.” For ticket and sponsor information see: www.JDRFbayarea.org/summer. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.5 billion to diabetes research, including more than $107 million last year. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. For more information, please visit www.JDRFbayarea.org.
Mended Hearts
The John Muir Chapter of Mended Hearts will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, June 9th at 7PM in the Lesher Auditorium at John Muir Medical CenterConcord Campus located at 2540 East Avenue in Concord. The speaker will be Dr. Oscar Fernandez, anesthesiologist. Mended Hearts is a national organization providing support for cardiac patients and their families. For further information about Mended Hearts, contact Nancy Mitchell at (925) 943-7549.
Stroke Support Group
The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its monthly meeting in the Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center-Walnut Creek Campus located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek on Monday, June 13th from 7-9PM. Speaking will be Roberta Elman, Ph.D.,CCC-SLP of The Aphasia Center of California. After the talk, attendees will break up into three coping groups each group led by a trained professional. For more information, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.
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Page 32 - June 2011 ~ Alamo Today
The Combs Team Nancy
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Joe
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Area Home Sales Approximately 60 Per Month
Home* Sales Alamo, Blackhawk Danville, Diablo (Jan1-May 22) Active Pending Sold DOM List Price Sold Price Sq. Foot Alamo 106 40 45 56 $ 1,496,038 $ 1,083,487 2,944 Blackhawk 59 17 32 96 $ 1,599,898 $ 1,106,476 3,373 Diablo 13 2 5 142 $ 2,388,599 $ 1,486,300 4,210 Danville 231 156 213 51 $ 788,079 $ 765,294 2,509
With about half of 2011 behind us I wanted to review the local Real Estate market in segments, and as the sum of its parts. I’ve included a chart for comparison. In our local market which includes Alamo, Danville, Diablo and Blackhawk, homes are selling at rate of about 60 homes per month through May 22nd. This is really good when you consider we still have high unemployment and the government stimulus programs are coming to an end. Approximately 33% of pending sales are distressed sales, either bank owned or short sales. No doubt, they are beginning to impact local pricing. Non-distressed, desirable homes priced right are selling fast. Yes, fast! Already this year Nancy and I have sold two homes with multiple offers in the first week of coming to market. What’s the secret? Very simple. Both are lovely single story homes which are nicely updated, freshly painted and well staged. Both homes were priced below $1.3 million which seems to be a price threshold that is difficult for today’s buyer to cross. Only about 10.5% of the 295 homes sold here this year were sold at a price above $1.3M. Tired looking homes in need of fix-up are sitting for a longer periods and are getting hammered in price, if they sell at all. Today’s buyers can pretty easily qualify for a first mortgage to buy a home. Getting a second mortgage to fix one up is not so easy, which makes even cosmetic fixers significantly less desirable to the average buyer. Generally speaking, sellers don’t sufficiently discount their homes to reflect the cost to the buyer of fixing them up. Otherwise, even more homes would be selling. The demand is there. That’s why average price and dollars per square foot figures in today’s market can be misleading when applied to an individual home. Those measures can serve well to inform us of the direction the market is headed when time periods are compared to one another. They can’t, however, tell us exactly what your home is worth. A careful
Westside Alamo Views!
visual inspection and tighter review of the most relevant comparative sales are required to discover a specific home’s respective market value range. To illustrate this point, let’s compare two of our larger market segments. The lowest priced home that sold in Danville sold at $126 per square foot. The highest sold at $526 per square foot. Lowest selling price was $135,000 the highest selling price $2,900,000. That’s quite a difference. The average square foot price in the town of Danville, which by the way, is the lowest for our area, is $305 per square foot. That’s roughly a $200 dollar swing from the midpoint to either the top or bottom. Alamo swung from $242 to $641 per square foot with an average of $368. Again, a very large difference and why my column trailer always emphasizes this point. The selling season is off to a late start this year and it seems like every agent I know, including myself, has at least one prospective buyer in tow looking for a nicely updated home in our area. There are so few available homes that are appropriately priced that the really good homes are attracting multiple offers. I had 20 buyers through an open house this weekend and it looks like I am about to receive offers on another of our listings. It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest no strings attached opinion of your home’s current market value and suggestions for getting it ready for market, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.
Bryan Ranch Single Story
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$ Sq. Foot $ 368 $ 328 $ 353 $ 305
South Walnut Creek 3 Bedroom
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This amazing westside custom 4 bedroom contemporary has amazing views. $1,399,000. Call for details.
Amazing 4 bedroom, 3 bath, single story with a pool. Granite kitchen. $1,199,000
This lovely 3 bedroom home is a perfect “10” and includes a pool of its’ own. $785,000. Call for details.
Danville Executive Home
Westside Alamo Single Level
Alamo French Country Home
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RE Magnificent 4 bedroom, 3 bath home on 1/2 acre lot with a pool and mature landscaping. $1,200,000
Entertainer’s Dream. Seamless integration of the kitchen, family and dining room into a spacious and open entertainment area. $882,000
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 and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
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6 bedroom, 4.5 bath, on .6 acre. Two master bedrooms and apartment. Serene wooded setting. $1,299,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526