editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
June 2012
Serving Alamo and Diablo 211
By Fran Miller Most people know to call 411 for phone information. Nearly everyone knows to call 911 to register a life-threatening emergency. Not so commonly known is the purpose of a 211 call – to receive information about emergencies declared in one’s town and outlying area. Taking it one step further is the Contra Costa County Community Warning System, which allows Contra Costa residents to register and, in turn, personally receive emergency information for their area. The Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) allows residents to receive alerts on cell phones, via email or via Twitter. CWS is recognized as one of the nation’s most modern and effective all-hazard public warning systems and is a partnership of the Office of the Sheriff, the Health Services Department, other government agencies, industry, news media, and the non-profit Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CAER) organization – all of whom strive to deliver time-sensitive and potentially life saving information to the people of Contra Costa County. CWS alerts come in various forms: through a countywide telephone notification system, via sirens near major industrial facilities, and in other special safety zones, through a cell phone voice notification service, via NOAA weather radios, via radio, TV and cable, via the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and now through Twitter and Facebook alerts. (Radio and television broadcasts are still usually the best source of ongoing information about emergencies, but it is important to recognize that different stations and channels serve distinct areas, and information might not be entirely applicable to particular locations.) The Community Warning System (CWS) has averaged about one to two activa- CHP Steps Up Speeding Citations in Alamo tions per month over the last four to five years in various communities throughout By Sharon Burke the County, according to Katherine Hern, manager of CWS. “We have activated If you got a speeding ticket in Alamo in April, you had lots of company. At for active shooters in a neighborhood, downed power lines, missing persons, fire May’s meeting of the Alamo Police Services Committee, Officer Eric Brewer warnings, etc.,” says Hern. “We don't operate based on a list of specific events; of the CHP’s Community Response Team reported that the California Highway instead, we use the criteria of imminent threat to life or safety, for which there is a Patrol had increased traffic enforcement in Alamo this spring with particular recommended protective action authorities advise you to take.” emphasis on speeders. The increased enforcement came in response to citizen Hern provides the following example of a recent activation - one that was re- complaints from Alamo residents about speeding in Alamo. From April 1st to quested by Lafayette’s Police Chief. “An extremely high voltage power line was May 7th of this year, the CHP handed out over 100 speeding tickets in Alamo. down in an area between Highway 4 and Mt. Diablo Blvd in Lafayette,” says Hern. Enforcement was concentrated on Danville Boulevard between St. Alphonsus “The impact of this power line was not just that power would be out, but that due Way and Orchard Court, and on Livorna Road in front of Alamo School. These to the voltage, anyone coming near could suffer serious consequences, even death. two stretches of Alamo roads are where the CHP receives the most complaints See 211 continued on page 22 of speeders, Officer Brewer told members of the Police Services Committee. At St. Alphonsus Way, Danville Boulevard becomes a 25 mile per hour speed Welcome Aboard the Diablo Valley Lines! zone in the downtown business district, changing from the 35 mile per hour limit By Fran Miller in more residential sections of the Boulevard. The County lowered the speed The mention of a model railway likely evokes the mental limit downtown a few years ago due to the large number of entrances and exits image of a parent and child gathered ‘round the Christmas tree onto the Boulevard in the downtown stretch and the number of pedestrians that as their electric toy train chugs along on its circuitous route. cross in that block, rendering a 35 mph speed dangerous. However, a trip to the Diablo Valley Lines Railroad layout At Alamo School, in accordance with state law governing roads where schools of the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) are located, the speed limit changes from 35 miles per hour elsewhere on Livorna in Walnut Creek’s Larkey Park will quickly terminate that Road, going down to 25 miles per hour in front of Alamo School while children image. “We are not playing with toys here; we are operating a model railroad,” says are present. It can be difficult to determine when children are present; however, member Ted Moreland modern day schools are in use almost continually, with after school activities til late at night, summer school operating in the summer and sports activities held with a wink. A survey of the on weekends, all of these meaning children are present outside normal school Society’sapproximately hours, which are generally 8am to 3pm. Officer Brewer stated that he had personally inspected all 100 citations and 1,800 square foot layout in their own building, that 99% of them were issued to drivers with an Alamo residential address. This specially designed surprised some in the room, as one perception in town is that commuters coming and constructed by off the freeway are responsible for speeding. Although the majority of the tickets WCMRS members, were for excessive speed, some were also confirms that this past issued for Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian, time is indeed more than particularly in the downtown area. A group watches trains go by at the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society. child’s play. Featuring Volume XII - Number 6 Officer Brewer also noted that the CHP 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, nostalgic steam locomotives, modern diesels, a narrow gauge logging road, and had received counter complaints from Alamo, CA 94507 electric traction lines on 4,300 feet of hand laid track with 175,000 individual ties Alamo citizens about the increased enforce- Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 See Trains continued on page 18 ment, but that this would not affect CHP Fax (925) 406-0547 efforts to enforce traffic laws in Alamo. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PRSRT STD In accordance with California state law, Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com U.S. Postage the CHP is primarily responsible for traffic Sharon Burke ~ Writer PAID Local enforcement in Alamo due to Alamo’s unsburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 Postal Customer opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA incorporated status. Contra Costa Sheriff’s The not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today deputies may also issue citations, but it is is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. not their primary responsibility.
Page 2 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Pillar Wealth Management might be right for you IF, Hutch Ashoo, CEOo
You worry about managing your wealth to outlast you and your loved ones
Chris Snyder, Principal, SR. VP
You currently have $3+ million cash and/or investments for deployment You demand a different type of Wealth Management advice to help you increase the probability of reaching your life-goals You believe what is best for Wall Street/Brokerage firms isn’t necessarily best for YOU Aree To discover if we are right for each other and to start the process of an honest evaluation, call Hutch or Chris at (925) 407-0320 to schedule a FREE 20 minute telephone meeting. Pillar Wealth Management is proud of the high caliber, 100% fee-based customized wealth management advice we deliver to a limited number of affluent families. We are not all things to all investors. Pillar Wealth Management, LLC. is fully owned by Mr. Hutch Ashoo and Mr. Chris Snyder, they are book authors, financial columnists and nationwide radio guests. They have been providing customized financial solutions to affluent families for a combined 47 years. Pillar’s only product is unbiased advice. Call (925) 407-0320 to schedule a FREE 20 minute telephone meeting now.
Visit www.PillarWM.com for a short video affluent families should watch. Pillar Wealth Management, LLC. | 1600 South Main Street, Suite 335 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Information about Pillar Wealth Management, LLC., as a Registered Investment Advisor, CRD number 147837, is available at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor Another graduation season is upon us and students are moving on from elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. Hopefully they will have gained knowledge, values, and skills that will last a lifetime. Our oldest son, Alex, just graduated from San Jose State and is continuing his learning and employment with a large networking company in Mountain View. The path to his job stemmed from his education, hard work, and a little luck. That, combined with his good communication skills, his methodical approach, and his interest in technology, led to where he is now. He laid a foundation of entrepreneurship from an early age with his version of a lemonade stand, AKA Cardboard Cafe, that he set up on the Iron Horse Trail, followed by a successful eBay business. His success is summarized in a quote my daughter shared with me after her UC Davis Women’s Club Lacrosse team placed first in the nation beating, 300 other teams from across the country for the top prize. The quote noted, “We are what we repeatedly do. EXCELLENCE is therefore not an act but a habit.” The UC Davis lacrosse team roster included many girls who graduated from local high schools including Casey Bowles and Amy Corstorphine - San Ramon Valley, Ming Richie - Northgate, Jennifer Hofmann - Campolindo, Lisa Kritikos - Piedmont, and Jessica Dresser and Samantha Fannin - Las Lomas. Their season was not an easy one. There was tough competition from many California teams in their Western Conference League. Unlike early sports days when the score was always “fun to fun” with no win-
ners or losers, these girls had seven regular season losses where they only were defeated by one point. Many losses came in overtime and double overtime. “The losses sucked,” my daughter said. However, the team was able to pull out a tenth seed going into the national tournament which led the girls to come up with the motto of “The Perfect 10.” During most of the games at Nationals, they were down by multiple goals at points during the game. They started out down 5-0 against UC Santa Barbara, 4-0 against Michigan, and 6-2 against Colorado State, but they never lost focus. Two of their final games were decided in overtime, and their team came out victorious, realizing their vision by truly becoming the Perfect 10. Since their win was in Colorado Springs, they followed up their day with an inspiring trip to the US Olympic Training center. They were awed by the facilities and by the athletes they observed getting ready to reach the tops of their games to take home the gold with their perfect scores. On their tour they came across a poster that held much relevance. It said, “I learned to win by learning to lose - that means not being afraid of losing.” It reflected the girls’ path perfectly. The path to the top is usually not a straight line. There are lots of zigs and zags. Our son spent a few years in community college and took the “six-year plan” towards graduation, but his path worked for him. It was his persistence, like the persistence of the lacrosse team that helped each rise to the top of their game. What makes individuals and teams rise to the top is their dedication, passion, drive, detail, and teamwork. It is time to honor, celebrate, and share the accomplishments of all our local graduates and athletes. Congratulations Class of 2012!
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 3
Danville Community Band Season Finale Concert
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club
The Danville Community Band concludes its 10th Anniversary season Traveling the World by Song at their free concert on Sunday, June 17th at 3pm. The band will take you on an armchair tour of songs from around the world, including Barroso’s samba “Brazil,” Karrick’s “Bayou Breakdown,” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” Come join the band at Community Presbyterian Church located at 222 W. El Pintado Rd., in Danville as we chart the world with music. For more information about the band or future performances, visit www.danvilleband.org or call 925-837-5525.
The Newcomers Club cordially invites all ladies new to the area or long-time residents to a Welcome Coffee. This will be a casual get-together to learn about the many facets of the Club while enjoying coffee and some treats with friends. Please join us June 28th at 10AM to noon. For further information, please call (925) 281-1307, email us at alamodanvillenewcomers@yahoo.com, or visit our website www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com.
Summer Labyrinth Walk On Friday, June 22nd celebrate the Summer Solstice with a walk on a sacred labyrinth. Music will be playing as participants walk the Chartres style labyrinth. The Chapel at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church located at 49 Knox Drive in Lafayette will be open for prayers, and there will be ongoing readings. You are invited to meander freely between the labyrinth and the Chapel. Guides for walking the labyrinth will be available if desired. Labyrinths are an ancient tool which are undergoing a revival of interest and use. Walk in gratitude, reflection, or prayer. Everyone is welcome between 7 and 8pm. For questions, call 925-283-8722.
Come Enjoy Tennessee on the Farm The San Ramon Historic Foundation and Danville’s Role Players Ensemble invite you to a unique theatrical event of Tennessee on the Farm. Charming, light-hearted, intense, gritty, silly, and off-the-wall describe the three short one-act plays by Tennessee Williams. The Pretty Trap, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, and The Case of the Crushed Petunias will be performed in various locations on the farm grounds. Enjoy wine, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert before and in between each performance. The plays will be held June 23rd at 5pm and June 24th at 2pm at Forest Home Farms located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd in San Ramon. Tickets are $50 and will benefit The San Ramon Historic Foundation and Danville’s Role Players Ensemble. For more information, call 925-820-1278 or email mail@danvilletheatre.com.
Girl Scouts Need Your Help! It’s the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts! We are looking for a flatbed trailer/truck so we can put together a Girl Scout float for the Danville 4th of July parade, and we can advertise any company donation! The parade theme is “Small Town, Big Heart.” If you can help, please contact Magret Nunes at magretnunes@yahoo.com.
Families Helping Families Summer Camps Once again, Families Helping Families (FHF) will be hosting fun-filled summer camp days for children aged 3 to 6. FHF Summer Camps are a substantial part of our fundraising in support of the educational needs of children cared for by relative (Kinship) caregivers. Each day of the FHF Summer Camps will feature a different theme. Camp runs from 9am to Noon. The cost is $30 per day per child. Daily themes are: July 16th – Sports, July 17th – Safari, July 18th – Carnival, July 19th – Under-the-Sea. Camp will be held at the Aungle Residence at 1001 Ironwood Place, Alamo. Enroll at www.fhfcommunities.org or by contacting tanya_aungle@yahoo.com.
WE BUILD PONDS • Pond Services •
Consulting, Building, Design, Installing, Fixing, Cleaning (415)781-9608 Free In-Home Estimates • Serving the Bay Area • License #969053 • Over 30 Years Experience
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 4 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Despite E-mails and Phone Calls from Alamo Citizens,
THE ULTIMATE CONFIGURATION* REMAINS IN THE COUNTY ROADS PLAN** The County Public Works project diagram shows the Ultimate Configuration would add, for indeterminate distances, one new through-lane on Danville Blvd (west side of the road) and one new through lane on Stone Valley Rd (Round Hill side), sending 50% more freeway traffic through north, south, and east residential Alamo.
Q: Why is the Ultimate Configuration in the County roads plan? A: The project is funded with fees local governments collect from developers, and projects funded with developer fees must be named in the plan. While the plan doesn’t allocate the County’s Alamo AOB developer fee fund (over $2 M accrued) to the project, if the project is in the plan, the County can make the allocation in the future.
Q: Are other funds of developer fees allocated to the Ultimate Configuration? A: Yes. The County is co-participant in the Southern Contra Costa Regional (developer) Fee Fund, which allocates $.8 M to the Ultimate Configuration.
Q: What does it take for the County to implement the Ultimate Configuration? A: Allocation of AOB funds to the project named in the County roads plan; accrual of sufficient funds from other sources; and a public hearing, at which the County could justify the Ultimate Configuration as traffic mitigation authorized by voters who passed our local transportation sales tax in 2004.
Q: What can Alamo do to stop the Ultimate Configuration? A: Show up! The Board of Supervisors is set to approve the roads plan, with the project in it, on Tuesday, June 5, our local election day. Be there before the meeting starts, and ask to speak on the roads plan (CRIPP) on the BOS consent agenda – 9AM, 651 Pine Street, Martinez. Tell the Supervisors “NO” to the Ultimate Configuration!
VOTE TWICE ON ELECTION DAY! Cast Your Second Vote Against the Ultimate Configuration at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors on June 5th. *Contra Costa County’s project, “Stone Valley Rd/Danville Blvd Intersection Improvements,” to increase capacity for freeway traffic in Alamo by widening our downtown intersection to resemble the Sycamore Valley Rd/San Ramon Valley Blvd intersection in Danville.**Capital Roads Improvement & Preservation Program, or CRIPP.
Assistance League Seeks Members
Delta Nu Psi
Assistance League® of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives through hands on programs. We are actively pursuing members who would enjoy helping with needs of school age children and seniors. A Prospective Member Coffee will be held on Wednesday, June 20, at 9:30AM in Walnut Creek. If you are interested in spending quality time while helping those who are vulnerable, call 925-934-0901or visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.
Delta Nu Psi will be collecting donations from 11am until 2pm at CVS in Alamo on June 1st and at Lunardi's on June 8th. Items in demand are individual packets of powdered drink mix and individual eye drops. We appreciate all of the help from the shoppers of Alamo and Danville. For more information, visit deltanupsi.org.
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. The 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.
Drop Zone for Blue Star Moms The East Bay Chapter 101 Blue Star Moms is having a Drop Zone to collect donations for their upcoming “Star-Spangled Thank You” care package mailing to our Troops. The event will take place Saturday, June 2nd from 10AM to 3PM at Safeway located at 200 Alamo Plaza. While you are out shopping, please consider picking up some extra items to donate. Come say hello, sponsor a care package mailing ($12.60), make a postcard or two, or drop off a donation to show your gratitude for what our brave troops do for all Americans each and every day. Go to www.bluestarmoms.org, and click on Care Packages for more information, including a list of our donation items. We will packing up all are donations to send to the Troops on Saturday, June 16th from 10AM to 2PM at Camp Parks located in Dublin. If you are interested in coming out and helping, please go to beavolunteer@bluestarmoms.org.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, located on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. The June meeting will be held on June 20th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org. Sand Cree Sand Crossing Cree k Cros sing k
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 5
Walnut Creek ~ One of a kind magnificient home conveniently located to 24/680 and downtown Walnut Creek. This 5300+ 5 bderoom 5 bath home with a separate office or 6th bedroom has VIEWS from almost every room. Gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors, 3 car garage, & more. Wonderful private deck with built in spa to enjoy the view. Vineyard A must see Call today for your private showing! Listed at $2,350,000
Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 ~ gretchenbryce@msn.com
Alamo Oakes Lovers ~ This Classic Alamo Ranch is MAGNIFICENT! 2.34 Acres, Regional Views, Privacy, Seclusion awaits you! Over 5000 sq. ft. SINGLE LEVEL. Redwood Lodge, Yosemite meets Tahoe. 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, Tall ceilings of 9-12 ft, Ballroom, wide halls, Country kitchen, family room, Awesome Hardwoods, Deep large sprawling pool. Listed at $1,395,000
Jay Weymouth 925.915.1100 www.TeamWeymouth.com
Alamo ~ JUST LISTED in White Gate! This sharp remodeled single story 3500+ sq. ft. home has 4 bdrms & 4 baths. Large flat backyard totally private with newly plastered pool/spa. Charming gazebo. Wonderful large gourmet kitchen with huge island, breakfast bar plus additional eating area, all open to family room. Private Master suite. Listed at $1,448,000
Gretchen Bryce 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com
Alamo ~ RARE OPPORTUNITY to own this family friendly entertainers dream in Alamo! Flat 1 acre lot backing to open space w/pool, vineyard, custom casita, bocce ball court, & that’s just the outside‌ This quality built 2 story 5 bdrms, 4.5 bath, 5200+ sq. ft. home w/separate office & game room has many new upgrades & improvements. Call today for your private showing, Listed at $2,998,000
Gretchen Bryce 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 6 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Alamo Police Services District P-2, Zone B Deputy Mike Carson, Alamo Resident Deputy, activities for April 2012
Deputy Carson Completed: 6 moving citations • 2 non-moving citations • 3 field interview cards • 11 reports
Purveyors of classic, exotic, and high-performance cars for more than 30 years. California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer Over 200 vehicles in inventory!
Deputy Carson Responded to or Conducted 3 alarm calls • 9 patrol requests/security checks • 4 suspicious vehicles • 1 suspicious subject • 1 found property • 1 suspicious circumstance • 1 civil issue • 2 service to citizens • 2 disturbances • 1 vandalism • 1 auto burglary • 1 receiving stolen property • 1 unlicensed driver • 1 drunk in public • 1 outside assist
If I Were a Thief Program (Crime awareness and prevention) 165 streets covered • 58 flyers distributed • 22 vehicles in Alamo Plaza flagged Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield.
www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 San Ramon Valley Pioneers -- and Gold! Part 2
By Beverly Lane
In 1848 Joel Harlan and his cousin Jacob were partners in a thriving livery business in San Francisco. According to Jacob’s account, Peter Wimmer’s letter arrived in April and urged them to come immediately to mine. In his book California ‘46 - ‘68, Jacob said, “It upset all my business plans. I caught gold fever at once, and I notified my wife and my partner Joel that it was time to give up livery stable keeping and go to the mines.” So that spring Joel and Jacob left their livery business in San Francisco to set up a store in Coloma. According to Jacob, Joel put their horses to pasture at Squire Elam Brown’s ranch (in Lafayette) while he got a stock of goods “suitable for a store or trading post at the mines.” Jacob wrote that Joel was a doubting Thomas at first, wondering how “they would start a store with $500, which was our whole money capital.” William Leidesdorff, a prominent landowner and civic leader in San Francisco, knew the Harlans and agreed to advance them the money. Jacob wrote, “My purchases that day amounted to $4,500 for all of which Leidesdorff made himself responsible.” They took Capt. John Sutter’s launch up the Sacramento River and hired two ox teams in Sacramento to get to Coloma. Jacob wrote that he turned down an opportunity to be a partner with Sam Brannan “being already in partnership with Joel.” Their uncle Peter, who was still working on the saw mill, put them up at Coloma until they built a cabin. According to Jacob, they found that miners would pay whatever “we demanded for our goods.” Flour cost $1 a pound, coffee $1.50, and whiskey $8 a bottle. Jacob made money selling colorful cloth as sarapes to Indians. He said, “They had much fine gold which they carried in vulture or good quills” and were not stingy. In one day, two bolts brought $1,200 to the young merchant. José Maria Amador of the Rancho San Ramon went up in June and July of 1848, netting by his account $13,500 from mining and merchandise during one trip and $10,000 more in another. He took cattle and food to sell and brought 25 Indians with him from his Rancho to work for the gold. The Harlan boys weren’t the only ones to leave for the mines. Writers tell about the deserted streets and unfinished jobs in San Francisco, San Jose, and Monterey. Miners came from all over the world – China, Mexico, Europe, and the East Coast. Felix Coats, who settled in Tassajara Valley, wrote, “Hearing so many tales of the rich mines in California, which caused such wild excitement over the whole country, my father and I, having caught the ‘Gold Fever,’ were anxious to try our luck.” They came in 1849. Brothers R. O. and John Baldwin came from Ohio to try their luck in the Gold Rush as well, arriving in Hangtown (Placerville) in July 1850. John’s diary about crossing the country is typical of many journeys although their small group of men on horseback brought a different perspective. The Harlan cousins sold their store in Coloma and returned to San Francisco. Joel and Minerva Fowler were married in 1849. In 1852 Joel used his earnings to purchase land from Amador and Norris. His family house which was built in 1858, El Nido, still sits at 19251 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Jane Wimmer claimed Marshall had given her back the original gold piece, and for years she kept it in a soft buckskin bag around her neck. According to Mary Ann Harlan Smith (Joel’s sister), Peter Wimmer sold it for $500 after her death. Mary Ann thought the honor of finding the first gold belonged to both Marshall and Wimmer. It is said that gold started California, perhaps too quickly. Some historians suggest that the abrupt beginnings of the state, with a practically all-male cast of characters, was not the best foundation for statehood. J. P. Munro, in his 1883 History of Contra Costa County, called the first pioneers “birds of passage” who had been to the mines, felt the blessings of the “glorious climate of California,” and returned to settle. They may not have planned it, but these pioneers joined others and became the backbone of the new state.
Reported Incidents 1) Danville Boulevard – Deputy Carson responded to a reported Miscellaneous Burglary. The detached garage was entered and items were taken, also a bottle of alcohol and two pairs of shoes were stolen from the backyard area. Two possible suspects were seen leaving the area in a white Suburban. 2) Lunada Lane – Lieutenant Grottkau spotted a suspicious vehicle traveling on Cervato Drive. Lt. Grottkau contacted the driver of the vehicle and Deputy Carson responded to assist. While speaking with the suspect, it was discovered that he was in possession of stolen property. He admitted that he was in the area looking for packages on front porches of homes in the area to steal. Deputy Carson arrested the suspect and transported him to the main jail, where he was booked on the listed offense. 3) Danville Boulevard – While on routine patrol, Deputy Carson saw a subject who appeared unstable on his feet. Deputy Carson contacted the subject to check his welfare. While speaking with the subject, Deputy Carson could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, along with other objective signs of intoxication. Due to the suspect’s level of intoxication, Deputy Carson placed the suspect under arrest and transported him to the main jail, where he was booked for being drunk in public.
Items of Interest 1) In March Deputy Carson successfully completed the Prescription Drug Abuse Training Course and the Patrol Bike Class. Deputy Mike Carson is Alamo’s full time resident deputy. His position is funded by Alamo’s P-2B police services district, which includes approximately 60% of Alamo household. District households pay an $18 annual parcel tax plus a portion of the 1% property tax. The Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee advises Sheriff David Livingston on the resident deputy and his services. The Committee is composed of Alamo residents within the district and it meets on the first Monday of each month at 5p.m. in the offices of the Alamo Chamber of Commerce, located at 120B Alamo Plaza. Alamo citizens are welcome to attend the meetings.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
FOOD: Local, FreeRange or Organic? By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area Doesn’t it seem like feeding ourselves and our families has gotten a lot more complex in the last few years? Deciding on the best food options at the grocery store is time consuming and sometimes difficult. Is the fresh, organic broccoli trucked from thousands of miles away better for you than the conventional broccoli grown and frozen 200 miles from your home? We want to feed ourselves and our families well. We want to do right by our farmers and their workers, our environment, and our local economy. Yet, if we’re going to spend more of our paycheck on food, then don’t we want to make sure that there’s a payback in taste and nutrition? Hence the dilemma: When shopping, should you buy local, free-range, or organic food? So why is eating local a big deal? According to the World Watch 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. A local-eating pioneer, Joan Gussow, once said that shipping a strawberry from California to New York requires 435 calories of fossil fuel but provides the eater with only five calories of nutrition. Based on that, what you eat may be as important as what you drive. When you shift your diet toward local foods, you are protecting nearby farms, 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. Eating fresh, local food allows you to capture nutrients that will have otherwise diminished over the many miles conventional foods normally take to reach your plate. However, it seems to me that if the ‘fresh, local food’ is grown conventionally using chemical pesticides (or in the case of meat - antibiotics and hormones), it defeats the benefits of buying ‘fresh.’ When I shop at local farmers market, I ask vendors, “How do you grow your vegetables (or raise your meat)?” These open-ended questions (instead of “Do you spray pesticides on your crop?”) usually reveal which farms are passionate about sustainable, healthy growing practices. And let’s face it, if I’m going to pay more for farmers’ market products, then I want to make sure I’m not just paying for atmosphere. Is free-range the ‘Wild West’ of eating? The term ‘free range’ implies that the animal is allowed to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner. However, USDA regulations apply only to poultry and indicate that the animal has been ‘allowed access to’ the outside. The USDA regulations do not specify the quality or size of the outside range, nor the duration of time that an animal must have access to the outside. So cowboy, free-range isn’t a guarantee that your chick has ever left the hen house – where they have been trained to find food and water. Hence, that grass stomping hen may only be more nutritious for you when the term free-range is partnered with ‘no antibiotics, no hormones, organically-fed and/or grass-fed.’ Do you need to eat only organic food? Did you know that if your food doesn’t say 100% organic it can contain unhealthy chemicals? If a product label says ‘Made with Organic Products’ it means that only 70% of the products need to be organic in that food item. However, organic products can be twice as expensive as conventional items, so if you must make a trade-off between which products to buy organic, then use a resource like the Dirty Dozen List from the Environmental Working Group. They offer a downloadable list for your wallet and you can find the complete list at www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/. In the end, it’s pretty basic. The more you know about your food sources and the more you eat whole, unprocessed foods, the healthier you’ll be. If you are interested in learning more about how our food choices affect ourselves, our families, and our community, then please join us Thursday, June 21st 6:30pm. The Danville Library is sponsoring this month’s Sustainable Danville Area Forum with two special speakers. Linda Riebel, author of The Green Foodprint will talk about the main guidelines to environmentally wiser food and share many options, so you can tailor earth-friendly eating to your own lifestyle. Also, Danville Area Sustainable Business leader Joey Mazzera from Green Apple Acupuncture (www.greenappleacupuncture.com) will reveal the ten most important herbs to integrate into your diet for a holistic approach to healthy living. Joey is a licensed Acupuncturist and received her Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. For more information, visit us at www.sustainabledanville.com and www.facebook.com/SustainableDanvilleArea.
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 7
John Fischer Presents... • Beautifully remodeled 7962 Tamarack Dr • Dublin • Move-in condition • 3 bed/2 bath • Kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances • New baths with tile floors • Big family room with wood burning stove • Large RV/boat parking $475,000 • Great corner lot • Stunning custom estate on 133 Canada Via • Diablo Diablo CC's 4th fairway • Nearly 6000sf, 4 bed/5 bath • Elegant kitchen with large island and nook • Great room with adjacent bar and workout room • Detached loggia with built in BBQ, fireplace, TV, heaters, and pool/spa $2,795,000 • Beautiful amenities throughout • Beautifully Decorated 102 Stowbridge Ct • Danville with Brazilian Cherrywood Floors • Granite kitchen with stainless steel appliances. • Private backyard with views of Mt. Diablo • Close to downtown Danville on cul-de-sac. $899,000 • 4 bedrooms/2.5 bath
Exclusive Listing …
John Fischer Broker Associate 925-855-4146 (Direct) jfischer@rockcliff.com
DRE#00695958
Fine Mexican Dining
743-8997 In Stone Valley Shopping Center
Enjoy Our Patio Dining Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner Sunday: Dinner only We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty
Page 8 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Rancho Romero Elementary School
Where Women Come Together to Work Toward a Better Community for All
By Skye Larsh, Principal
JUNE 05 - Cards Club - 9-12pm AND Let’s Walk! 4-5pm, meet at Clubhouse 06 - Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm 08 - Community Garage & Craft Sale set up - All Day 09 - Community Garage & Craft Sale - 9-4pm 12 - Let’s Walk! 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse 13 - Installation Luncheon - 11:30am, Outgoing & Incoming Board, Member of the Year Award, Federated Awards 30 - AWC end of fiscal year For questions, contact President Nancy Combs at NancyPCombs@ TheCombsTeam.com.
Alamo Women's Club Scholarship Recipients The following students were recipients of scholarships given by the Alamo Women’s Club for 2012. • Rebecca Herman from Monta Vista; instrumental scholar, $500 • Courtney Cheng from San Ramon Valley; violin scholar, $500 • Raquel Royal from San Ramon Valley; art scholar, $500 • Katharine Friedman from DVC; $1875 • Sandra Kane from DVC; $1875 • Jessica Schaffer from Youth Homes; $1125 • LaTasha Johnson from Youth Homes; $1125 • Emily Gebhardt from Del Amigo; $750
Danville Girls Chorus Presenting Music through the Decades The Danville Girls Chorus will perform their final concert of the 2011-2012 season with a musical journey through the last hundred years of popular music. The performance will take place on Saturday, June 9th at 11AM at the East Bay Fellowship Church, located at 2615 Camino Tassajara Road in Danville. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 14 and under. They can be purchased in advance by calling 837-2624 or at the door just prior to the concert.
Come Sing With Us! Danville Girls Chorus Placement Auditions for the 2012-2013 season are being held on Tuesday, June 12th in Danville. Girls in grades 3-8 are invited to join the fun singing, performing, and learning how to read and appreciate music of all types. No experience is required. For more information or an appointment, please call the chorus line at (925) 837-2624.
Upcoming Meetings and Events AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - June 19th , 7pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd. Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office 120-B, Alamo Plaza P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm Meets at Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office located at 120 -B, Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www. firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp
8
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Women’s Club
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
Elaine Yee is our winner
The Big Test is over. The long weekend is over. The end of the school year always seems to arrive too quickly. However, great learning events and projects are still occurring at Rancho up to the very end. Two big events that recently occurred and deserve recognition are Pledge for a Smile Walk-a-Thon and Camp Rancho. I mention these in particular because of the student connectedness to school and the positive school climate that was created, two factors that support academic performance and behavior. Rancho Romero Student Council in conjunction with Pledge to Humanity was pleased to present Pledge for a Smile 2012 Walk-a-Thon on Friday, May 25. Each grade level had the opportunity to walk the track around the school during a scheduled 45 minute period. Students were supported by sponsors for an amount per lap or a direct donation . All proceeds helped fund cleft palate surgeries for children in Mexico. We are very proud of our Student Council and truly value the contributions they make to the school. Their leadership has made a difference to the lives of many. Camp Rancho was a smashing success thanks to the coordination of parents, Shannon Neach and Melissa Snellgrove, and our staff. Over 250 students checked in for the evening and set off for pre-selected camps, which included football, kindergarten tea, garage band, cheer camp, mad science, CSI, Kung Fu, and more. Many students ended their camp experience with a group bingo game and dessert, however, seventy students continued with a sleep over in the park. Upcoming Events: June 7 Spring Instrumental Concert June 13 5th Grade Promotion June 14 Last Day of School (minimum day) and PE Presidential Awards
Rotary Honors Rancho Educator and Student By Sharon Maybaum - Rancho Romero 5th grade teacher Each year the Rotary Club of Alamo honors one educator and one student from each of the local schools. This year Catherine Powell was selected as Rancho Student of the Year, and Skye Larsh-Faraghan was selected as Rancho Educator of the Year. Catherine is a kind, compassionate young lady. If a student is sad or upset, Catherine will check in with them and make sure they are okay or offer support. If a student is left out, Catherine will strive to include them. When working in a group, Catherine works effectively with her classmates and together they produce exceptional work. As a student Catherine’s work is always of the highest quality. Catherine participates enthusiastically in discussions, and she is respectful to adults and her fellow students. As a leader Catherine serves on the student council as secretary, and she willingly takes on extra assignments outside her responsibilities. Recently she helped to organize the Pledge for a Smile fundraiser by setting fundraising goals and working on the bulletin board outlining the reasons for supporting the walk-a-thon. Catherine is also a committed athlete. She puts the same hardworking ethic into practice, whether it is on the soccer field or running the mile. The staff at Rancho overwhelmingly selected our principal Skye Larsh for the Educator of the Year. As a fellow admirer of Skye, and as a teacher at Rancho, I collected the thoughts and sentiments of the staff and students to share with the Alamo Rotary Club. As I organized my notes, the quality that continued to stand out about Mrs. Larsh was her genuine caring and respect for the students, teachers, support staff, and parents. But how does she demonstrate that characteristic so fully as to have it resonate with the community? The Rancho students voice it so clearly: “Mrs. Larsh is everywhere. I see her in the hallways talking to students, playing with us on the playground, working in my classroom all the time, and asking what I am working on and how I feel about the work I am doing.” “Mrs. Larsh makes everyone feel important. She involves us in opportunities to show leadership by being responsible for projects, such as the bulletin board that describes and announces activities and events at school.” The staff also had glowing remarks to share about Skye: “Skye listens to the staff and helps find solutions to challenges. She inspires the staff with meaningful staff development and encouragement.” “She shows professionalism by asking for staff input in decision making, and she is everywhere on campus making sure the school runs smoothly. Skye is a wonderful fit for Rancho. She has the respect of the students, parents, and staff as she encourages strong relationships, builds trust, and fosters a school culture that values each individual in a positive learning community.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Elementary School
By Stan Hitomi, Principal All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 9
INVESTMENT PARTNERS WANTED
Foreclosed Real Estate Partnerships Schools, like so many other things in life, are cyclic. So even as we close out the current school year, the cycle for the next year has already begun. Last High Return Requires a Minimum Cash month our incoming kindergartners attended one of two “Getting to Know You” Investment With No Experience in days in preparation for the start of school in August. But the kindergarten they Real Estate or Construction. will attend is not the same as what we remember. Contact: Adamsson Associates Inc. Many of us remember naps and snack time as part of the kindergarten ritual. The 925-575-2057 snacks are still here, but the naps are gone. Today’s kindergarten program at Alamo www.adamsson.com School (AS) includes math, reading, writing, science, social studies, art, music, computers, and library. And yes, there is homework. The kindergarten classrooms at AS are equipped with state-of-the-art technology including video projector, document camera, and a Sound Enhancement System that fills each classroom with clear, even sound so that every child hears every word. Next fall, thanks to our EdFund, kindergarten students will learn to use iPads and student response systems (clickers). Despite the enhanced curriculum and technology, the primary goal for our kindergarten program remains the same as it has been for decades. Our goal is to have every student feel good about school. We hang on dearly to this goal. Several special programs support our work toward this goal through a “whole child” approach to developing healthy minds and bodies. Every week our kindergartners attend Perceptual Motor Training (PMT), an innovative program that is run by parent volunteers and is designed to improve sensory-motor, perceptual-motor, and cognitive functioning. The program features movement activities that are often combined with cognitive skills such as math or vocabulary. The kids just love it! And so do the adults. Another favorite program in kindergarten is the Buddy Program. Every kindergarten student at AS is assigned a 5th grader as their Buddy. They meet with their Buddies throughout the year in activities that range from character development to music and dance. Music is another strong program for kindergarten. The program culminates in an annual spring concert in front of the whole school. For students who find they struggle in kindergarten, we have a comprehensive program for assessment, intervention, and monitoring. The intervention program at AS includes Reading, Math, and the Rainbow Room that uses small group and one-on-one sessions with children to teach empathy, social problem solving, and emotion management. Students receiving intervention are monitored to determine if they are improving, or if additional services are required. The single most important part of our kindergarten program is our talented and dedicated teaching team. Nicki Scott, Michelle Beem, and Cathy Garrett (Alamo Rotary Educator of the Year - 2012) make up our veteran team that combines experience with a commitment towards continuously improving their craft. Linda Henderson is our classroom para-educator who supports both kindergarten classrooms. So what really happens during a year of kindergarten at AS? Most students loose a few teeth, grow a lot taller, and learn to tie their shoes. They also learn how to wait and walk in a line, sit and listen, and raise their hands when they have a question. They are writing stories about their own lives in their own words. Some are reading chapter books. They are counting to 100 by 10’s, 5’s, and 2’s. But most of all, they have learned all they really need to know for First Grade. spill, Loma Prieta Earthquake, hurricanes Andrew and Hugo. Stone Valley Middle School • Linda Buschmeyer – Continuing Service Award, Rancho Romero PTA By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal Executive Board 3 years, lunch supervision, PTA Cross county chair, PTA ReflecPTA Honorary Service Awards tions Chair, Parliamentarian, 8th grade promotions chair. As part of our spring Open House event, the PTA Alamo Rotary Teacher and Student of the Year hosted a reception for our Honorary Service Award reJeff Hager was busy completing his 6th year as a science teacher at SV and probably cipients. The recipients below received repeated ovations never saw the Teacher of the Year and the Honorary Service Award coming his way. from nearly 900 parents, students, and staff. Jeff is humble and hardworking, and his love of science and his enthusiasm for the • Janis Dewar – Honorary Service Award - Regional natural world is contagious amongst the student body. Jeff is the “Pied Piper” on the Director SF Bay Region Odyssey of the Mind since 2004, SV campus. When Jeff started coaching cross country, 75 students were seen running increased the number of competitive teams by 66%. down Miranda Avenue at 7AM following him to Starbucks. Jeff’s following continued Member California Odyssey of the Mind Board, served on the PTA Executive to build as he created new opportunities for students through sports, science, video Board at Stone Valley for 7 years. production classes and working in the community garden. Jeff also created the award • PamAbsher – Continuing ServiceAward - SV 2011-12 PTAPresident, three major winning video seen here www.nextvista.org/bohr-model-of-the-atom. accomplishments – 1) parent classroom visitation day, 2) providing blue tooth audio sysThe 2011-12 Student of the Year was chosen by teachers representing every grade tems to all academic classrooms, 3) doubling the attendance at Open House and creating level and subject discipline. The intent of the group was to insure that Mackenzie Loar a grand community event for the Honorary Service Awards ceremony. Five years service was chosen. “Mac,” as she’s known, has touched the lives of adults and students through her academic efforts, achieving the Principals Honor Roll status for five straight semesto both to lunch time supervision and office support, Ed Fund Assistant secretary. • Jeff Hager – Honorary Service Award - Coaches after school sports (cross ters, appearances on SVTV, WEB leader to 6th graders and as a teaching assistant. Jeff Hager presented Mac at the Rotary Awards luncheon, and noted, “Many country, ultimate Frisbee), Started two new classes in the past two years, Video Production and Environmental Marine Science, member of the field day and staff students seem to begin a dark descent as they navigate the middle school years, but development committees. Co-created the SV community garden. Won the National Mac has continued to soar, starting out as an amazing and thoughtful 6th grader, and growing and blossoming each subsequent year. She is the type of student that Educational video competition. • Cecilia Reyes – Very Special Person Award -14 years at Stone Valley as Coun- makes her teachers proud and excited to be teachers, not just through her classroom achievement, but through positive attitude and willingness to make the world a better selor Tech, eight years as Registrar. We wish Cecelia good luck in her retirement. • Denise True – Golden Oak Award – Nearly 20 years of service to the Alamo place, and she truly deserves this recognition as Rotary Student of the Year.” community, classroom volunteer, two term PTA President, PE Assistant, Library Math Counts Team Wins National Video Competition Coach Rebecca Herman worked with the team of Joel Herman, Jake Horne, Aide, Office support, Parent Education Program, SV Attendance Secretary, and Jake Perry, and Alec Zhang to create a video that received national recognition. current Office Manager. • M’Lu Knauss – Continuing Service Award - Boy Scout Unit Commissioner, The title of the video was Probability, Counting & Combinatorics. The problem Para Educator Alamo School, math intervention specialist, Noon Duty supervision, the students dealt with was how to create 120 combinations of clothing using a minimal amount of garments and accessories. Go to http://video.reelmath.org/ CCD teacher at St. Mary’s of Walnut Creek, math tutor. • Fred Hofsterter – Honorary Service Award – Leader Boy Scout Troop 216, home.aspx?vid=wZRnmEjM6Ww%253d to see how they did it. Rebecca Herman is this years’ recipient of the PTA Alumni Scholarship. Re8 years, Scout Master Award of Merit 2009. Served 21 years in the US Army in the following venues Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Exxon Valdez oil becca will attend UC Berkeley in the fall.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 10 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Monte Vista High School
SAT/ACT - Start Planning for College Now
By Janet Terranova, Principal
By Susan Sokat, Director, Club Z Tutoring!
We are in the middle of end-of-the-year activities, planning for next year and thinking about summer plans. Many of the culminating activities include award ceremonies for our students who excel in a variety of different arenas. Last week I had the opportunity go to the annual ROP Students of Excellence Awards Ceremony which honored 38 students from around the area and two of our own Monte Vista students. You may not be familiar with ROP (Regional Occupational Program), but you may have students and friends who participate in ROP programs. The Contra Costa County ROP serves nearly 12,000 students with classes in 34 high schools throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The high school program has a variety of academically focused career classes, many of which meet the UC requirements. Monte Vista is fortunate to be able to offer many ROP courses including Engineering, Culinary Arts, Advance Placement Environmental Science, Developmental Psychology of Children, Sports Medicine, and many more. Some of the programs articulate with Diablo Valley College, and our students’ high school coursework allows the student to move beyond introductory courses at DVC. Great news for the next year – We will have limited bus service from the Diablo Middle School area to Monte Vista through TRAFFIX. TRAFFIX is a congestion relief program in the San Ramon Valley which utilizes a fleet of school buses to help alleviate traffic congestion. TRAFFIX has been serving three schools in Danville since the Fall of 2009, and it is now expanding service on a one-year trial basis providing student shuttle bus service to Monte Vista High School for the 2012-2013 school year. The TRAFFIX shuttle bus will pick-up and drop-off at two locations: • Existing County Connection bus stop outside the Tassajara Crossing Shopping Center on Camino Tassajara • Blackhawk Plaza in the Draeger’s parking lot *Exact shuttle stop locations will be provided on the Monte Vista High School page of the TRAFFIX website prior to the start of the 2012-13 school year. Please note the following: • TRAFFIX only has resources to serve students attending first period (not A period) • The TRAFFIX shuttle bus has a maximum capacity of 50 students • Seats will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis TRAFFIX 2012-203 season passes are now on sale at a discounted rate. Register between today and June 14 and you’ll save $75 and get an annual pass for only $200 for the entire school year. The regular price is $275, still a bargain compared to what other student transportation program cost and still cheaper than driving. You can log-on to the TRAFFIX website at www.ridetraffix.com to create an account, register, and secure a seat for your student for the upcoming school year. We anticipate that this route will fill up quickly, so buy your pass today. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the TRAFFIX Program Manager, Alex Weis at manager@ridetraffix.com or call (925) 866-TRFX (8739) Monday through Friday between 8AM and 4PM.
YOUR CHILD CAN GET AHEAD THIS SUMMER
*Call for details.
925-786-7149
2012 Summer Concert Series Fridays 6:30 6:30-- 8:30p.m. at Livorna Park (At the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo.)
Admission is Free
June 22: Moonalice Inspiring audiences with an original blend of Rock, Country and Blues music.
July 6: The Sun Kings Delivering driving energy that recalls the earliest Beatle shows with lively arrangements and harmonies.
Loving the classic and contemporary American Rock and Roll of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? If so, then you will love PETTY THEFT!
s !LL !GES !LL 3UBJECTS s 2EADING 7RITING AND -ATH %NRICHMENT s +INDERGARTEN 2EADINESS s 2E s !LL (IGH 3CHOOL #URRICULUM )NCLUDING !LGEBRA #ALCULUS s 3TUDY /RGANIZATIONAL 3KILLS s 3!4 !#4 0REP s 3TART )N !UGUST &OR /CTOBER 3!4 4EST
w www.clubztutoring.com
Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the
July 20: Petty Theft
With One One-On-One Tutoring...In Your Home!
ONE HOUR FREE!
For some students, thoughts and plans for higher education only begin as high school graduation nears. But, as the competition to get into college grows more fierce with every year, it’s important for students to make plans sooner rather than later. Wait too long and your spot at the college of your choice just may go to your neighbor in Chemistry class. If students want a competitive edge in today’s market, it’s critical to consider college placement exams such as the SAT and ACT well before your Senior year of high school. Start by researching your school of choice to see which test is preferred and to find out about minimum and average scores on either test that will be accepted for incoming freshmen. Knowing this will allow you to set goals for a successful score. If your school of choice accepts both the SAT and ACT as acceptable placement exams, consider taking both tests as part of your college preparation plans. You may find that you score higher on one test versus the other, depending on your aptitude for the various subject knowledge they measure. It is important to know the differences between the two exams, and you may want to take either of them multiple times in an effort to increase your score. Both tests contain math, reading, and writing, however the SAT has a focus on vocabulary, and the ACT has a section on scientific reasoning. SAT gives you a score for Reading, Writing, and Math. You can obtain a possible 800 on each subtest. ACT gives you an average score of the subject tests on a 36 point scale. SAT may tend to have “trickier� questions. On the SAT, wrong answers may be used against you, and in some cases, it may be better to skip a question than to guess. You will want to know these facts about the tests in order to prepare. You will also want to know when each test is being offered and when to sign up for that date. To give yourself a better chance of increasing your scores on either exam, consider working with a private tutor. Taking sample practice tests and practicing on your specific areas of weakness is the best strategy for improving your scores. You will also want to memorize concepts and mathematical formulas, and practice your writing. For information on SAT and ACT individualized tutoring, contact Club Z! at 786-7149. Please find test dates and important information about the SAT and ACT tests at www.clubztutoring.com/danville. Start planning now for the college of your dreams!
R
August 3: The Fabulous CruiseTones Enjoy a wide variety of songs of the 1930s to the hits of today.
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, friends and dancing shoes. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 11
San Ramon Valley High School
3198 Danville Blvd. • Alamo
By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal It is hard to believe, but it is true - the school year is almost over! We have finals and 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. New Administrative Changes: Change can be unsettling, especially when it involves a Principal and Assistant Principal who have been here for quite some time. Questions include: Who will the new principal be? What changes will they make? Will the change benefit my student? And, how will the change affect my student’s learning? Some questions will be answered very quickly, and others will take more time. The important thing to remember is to dialogue with and support each other through this time of change. While it can be anxiety producing, it is also a wonderful opportunity to develop new relationships and enhance an already incredible educational experience. As for me, I have loved my time at San Ramon Valley High School. You have given so much to me – your time, your financial support, and most importantly, your sons and daughters. I truly hope their high school experiences have been positive ones under my tenure. Wolftracks, the magazine: We published our second edition of our SRVHS magazine (Wolftracks), 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), or stop by school to pick up a copy. Sports: We are winding down yet another phenomenal season with our Spring Athletic Teams reaching great heights. ~ Women’s Swimming & Diving • EBAL Champions! • NCS Champions – SRVHS won by an impressive 92 points at the NCS Meet ~ Men’s Swimming & Diving • EBAL Champions! • 3rd Place at NCS Championships, missing out on 2nd by a few points ~ Women’s Track & Field • EBAL Champions! • 4th Place at NCS Qualifying Meet • 7 Athletes (Kaitlyn Eklem, Emily Evans, Alina Sinclair, Sammi Kruger, Sarah Herron, Christine Bayliss and Sydney Biekert) to move onto the Meet of Champions at UC Berkeley ~ Men’s Track & Field • 6th Place at NCS Qualifying Meet over the weekend
925.984.2660
Over 35 years of experienced care and personal service.
• Prescription glasses and sunglasses • Lab on premises for replacement lenses • Prescription sportswear for cyclists • Contacts replaced in 1-2 business days • Designer and affordable eyewear for the
entire family
Monday-Friday - 10AM - 5:30PM • Saturday -10AM - 1PM • 8 Athletes (Parker Deuel, David Griffith, Trevor Holmgren, Declan Rosdahl, Wade Wilson, Colin Barber, Kevin Tuckness, and Mark Roullier) will move on to the Meet of Champions at UC Berkeley ~ Men’s Lacrosse • EBAL Champions with an 18-3 record! • #1 Seed in the NCS Playoffs ~ Baseball • Tied for 2nd Place in EBAL • #4 Seed going into NCS playoffs ~ Men’s Golf • 3rd Place NCS Tournament of Champions • Competing at the Nor Cal Championships in Chico, CA ~ Men’s Volleyball • Advanced to the 2nd round of NCS as a #5 Seed ~ Men’s Tennis • Overall 12-4 record and seeded #7 in NCS • Beat Castro Valley in first round of NCS and lost to #2 seed and eventual NCS Champion Miramonte Thank you to Academic Boosters who support our academic programs through their financial contributions. They provide funding to support 18 classes! In addition to class size reduction and purchasing 70 iPads, they also fund our Career Center, after school tutoring, the student directory, and much more. As the year ends, we have staff members who are concluding their careers at SRVHS and going on to enjoy the benefits of retirement or new adventures. Retiring are Teresa Roeder and Phil Childress. Jesse Hansen will move to Martinez Junior High School as an administrator, John Walker will take over as principal of Campolindo High School and I will become principal at Del Amigo High School.
Serving the Bay Area with honesty and integrity since 1973
Since 1973
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)
2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
Page 12 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Privacy By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents
2012 Movie Under the Stars Friday, July 27th Movie starts at 8:45 p.m. at Livorna Park in Alamo (Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
In March 2011 I wrote about privacy, at least the illusion of it we all subscribe to, and how much things have changed over the last twenty years. I described how the common individual has no concept of how little privacy they retain and how much information anyone with computer skills can dig up on their lives. I’m sure it upset a lot of people to realize they live far from anonymously, and how much they’ve lost control over their anonymity. Sometimes even I am caught off-guard. I have a simple anecdote to describe just such an incident. A young friend of our family turned 21 recently. As is customary, he invited a handful of his closest friends to meet him at a local bar for a night of over-imbibing to mark his ascension into the world of “grown-ups.” I suppose it’s necessary at this point to explain that I’m 48, not in my 20’s, so I’m pretty unfamiliar with the bar scene. Anyway, my wife and I showed up, and a young man was stationed in front of the bar checking ID’s. Ok, I figured his job is to ensure nobody under 21 finds their way into the bar. It makes sense in this ever-regulated world for a small business to protect itself by ensuring there is no way an under-age drinker makes their way into the bar. But it was more than that. I sensed something was different when we approached the front of the line and the young man held his hand out to signal us to s.t.o.p. and wait “there” before we went any further to enter the bar. As he finished with the person ahead of us, the young man asked for our ID’s. At first I felt complimented, because being salt and pepper (probably a little heavier on the salt!), I thought it was a formality that he wanted to see our ID’s. I even pointed to my grey hair and said, “Really? You’re kidding, right?,” in an effort to relieve him of this formality. Maybe he was just checking to make us feel good; maybe we still looked young enough to pass for someone under 21? All of these thoughts were quickly erased when in a tone reminiscent of my last traffic stop, he asked me to take my license out of my wallet, not just show it to him. That surprised me. Should I keep my hands where he could see them, too? At this point, the cuteness of the situation receded, and I was pretty irritated. Yes, he was doing his job, but what the heck was this? I was just looking to go into a bar and have a drink with a young friend. How does ensuring drinking age devolve into this? After a brief exchange that left my wife completely irritated with me “for causing trouble,” we entered the bar and proceeded to revel in the celebration with our friend. But the incident stuck with me, because I felt like I had been unexpectedly poked by the horns of the privacy dilemma. I wasn’t satisfied or settled with the way our entry into the bar had gone, so I made my way to a friendly face behind the bar, and I asked her what was with this third-degree at the front door, and why was someone so very obviously over 21 being treated like this? What she said made sense but made me sad. Yes, she said, they check ID’s to ensure people are 21. But when they ask you to take your ID out of your wallet and scan it, it’s because they store the information contained on your driver’s license in their own little ID database. They do this, she said, to hold onto a list of everyone who entered the bar in case of fights or other problems, where it’s necessary to give information to the police about who was in the establishment. I don’t know if this is a condition of their business license for that type of establishment in that city, but it may be. She went on to explain that felons often don’t have licenses, and that by asking for an ID they are excluding those who’ve just been released from state accommodations, which seems to further reduce the possibility for trouble. The bottom line? You cannot be anonymous if you want to go to that bar. All of this made enough sense for me to go to the young man at the front door and apologize for giving him a hard time. But this loss of anonymity bothers me, and I find it unsettling. I don’t like being tracked, and I bristle when someone tells me in an officious tone to take my license out of my wallet and hand it to them. It is an element of control and intrusion over me that I didn’t bargain for when I agreed to come out and have a drink with a friend. I live a low-key life, fairly anonymously, and when I am unexpectedly yanked out of that anonymity, I react. Our kids don’t know any different and think I’m making a big deal. Am I just old and cranky? I’ll let you be the judge. It seems like one more unexpected corner of our lives where our privacy has been sacrificed for the “greater good.” Welcome to the new age. Your papers, please? Computers, networks, and of course privacy require a steady hand from seasoned professionals. Coincidentally, some of those professionals reside at Portable CIO, a great local IT consulting firm that can be reached by emailing helpdesk@ theportablecio.com or calling 925-552-7953 for a consultation. Advertorial
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 13
The Car Guy By Paul Matthew Peterson, Specialty Sales Classics Confessions of a Certified Old Car Nut My mother was the first to notice my condition soon after I got my first car, a light blue metallic ’65 Mustang convertible. It was hands-down the coolest (pedal) car on the block, and it was just like my uncle Phil’s REAL Mustang...except his was a coupe. Back in 1966, Uncle Phil drove an auto transport for Ford, delivering new Fords to Denver from the assembly plant in St. Paul. The day after I got the ‘Stang, Mom snapped a photo of me towing the convertible up the driveway with my trike. My older brother, Burt, helped me park the back wheels up on a couple 2x4s, and Mom had another photo-op of my legs sticking out from under the car while I ‘fixed the u-joints.’ After we moved to Idaho and got an old farm with some space around it, Dad drug home a non-running 1950 Buick Roadmaster for Burt and me to tinker with. Burt was about 12 years old, and I was around nine. The car arrived at noon, and by the time Burt got home from school at 3:30, I had removed everything on the car that was held on by Phillips head screws. On a 1950 Buick, that’s 50% of the outside trim and lights and ALL the interior trim. I remember Burt and me struggling to open the hood for months, only to find out it opened sideways! A few years later we ended up back in Minnesota, and, with Dad’s passing, I started hanging out in Uncle Butch’s garage after school working on the cars he was repairing for family members and friends. Uncle Butch taught me the lion’s share of what I know about cars. I was changing clutches on 454 Super Sport Chevelles by age 13 and helping swap engines by 14. I studied the section of those old Motor’s Repair Manuals that showed the grills of all the different years and models so the mechanic could tell what he was repairing, and I could tell the makes of oncoming cars at 100 yards. I lusted after my Aunt Peggy’s maroon ’66 Pontiac Lemans 326 four speed…badly...daily. Another move back to Idaho at 14 put me in the driver’s seat with a daylightonly license designed for farm kids, which was the answer to this city kid’s prayers. I drove Mom’s Nova and had some junkers in the driveway from 14 on…but at 16 I bought MY FIRST REAL CAR! For $850 of Dad’s life insurance money I bought a dark copper 1966 Oldsmobile 442 four speed, showing an honest 80,000 miles on the odometer from the original owner. At the time I was working at J.C. Penny’s Auto Center. I had lied about being 18 to get the job as a tire technician, and the Olds had belonged to a customer. Two hours after I got the stone-stock 442 home, I immediately cut off the mufflers and tailpipes, welded on some ‘Purple Hornies’ glass-pack mufflers, and tossed the stock whitewalls and hubcaps in exchange for some Radial T/As and smooth center chrome wheels. The Craig ‘Powerplay’ 8-Track floor mount stereo packed a whopping 12 watts per channel, so I seat-belted my Radio Shack 12” house speakers in the back seat with 20 feet of speaker wire, and I was the king of the high school keggers, with the speakers on the roof, and my Boston 8-Track wailing away. The ‘66 was pretty fast for being a stock engine. For fun, I could raise the idle to 1000 RPM, pop the clutch, and get a ‘chirp in all four gears, never raising the idle. By the time I was 19, my friends and I figured out I had bought and sold approximately 17 cars. I had two jobs, two cars (a 1973 VW ‘Sport Beetle’ and a 1970 W-30 442), and two insurance payments. My condition was becoming critical, so I found a temporary solution. I took a job selling used cars, but I only did it because they let me drive a different car home every night. I obviously needed help. Now at age 52, I’ve had some 350 cars pass through my hands. A fair number have been cars I ‘turned,’ but at least 200 have been my daily drivers. My favorite one? Well...the NEXT one is always my favorite one, of course. Now seriously, working at a place like Specialty Sales Classics is just what the doctor ordered for this certified old car nut. With over 200 collector and exotic cars in our four locations, I get my fix daily. Last Friday I sold a spectacular 1976 Corvette for less than $11,000, then Saturday I delivered a cool ’37 Ford Street Rod, and consigned a customized 1966 Mustang Convertible that won ‘Best Of Show’ at the National Mustang meet in Fairfield…..Yes, I’m car crazy, and Specialty Sales Classics is my daily therapy. Check out our inventory at www.SpecialtySales.com. Feel free to email me at TheCarGuy@SpecialtySales.com with any questions or comments, or call 800-600-2262. Advertorial
From the authors of
The Westside Report
THANK YOU ALAMO! For Making the
First Annual Westside Alamo Yard Sale A Huge Success! Please Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, May 4, 2013
Sold in 4 Days
Sold in 5 Days
Coming Soon—
Over Asking!
Over Asking!
Westside Alamo
Would You Like Results Like These? Call Andrea to Learn How!
Andrea Scott Alain Pinel Realtors 925.788.9374 FindAndreaScott.com DRE#01400374 Andrea@apr.com
Jason Brown Stonecastle Financial 925.785.4200 FindJasonBrown.com DRE#01327738 NMLS#280803
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 14 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Financial Planning Issues for Women
some savings in low-risk investments (such as money market accounts) where the money is easily accessible. For long-term goals, consider investments that have more earning potential, such as stocks and bonds, and funds that invest in these securities. Another smart investment move is to join a tax-deferred retirement plan if you can. It’s a smart and convenient way to invest for the future - especially if your employer matches a portion of your contributions. Investing doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a few basic strategies and build up your knowledge as you go. Choosing a portfolio of investments and following your progress will be a learning experience. For help, talk with a professional financial planner. He or she can work with you to develop a plan that helps meet your needs. Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, call 925-659-0383, or email peter.waldron@lfg.com.
Brought to you by Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron In conjunction with Spectrum Wealth Partners, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.
Women face a number of challenges when it comes to money. On average, they earn less than men but live longer. Women are also more likely to leave the work place for a period of time, forfeiting wages and benefits. The result? Many women have to make ends meet with limited financial resources. It’s no surprise, then, that a recent survey found that many women are not doing enough to plan for the future.
Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron Jr. are registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. Advertorial
Time for a Reality Check Developing good financial management skills is a matter of taking time to learn the fundamentals and establish a working financial plan. For women who are juggling a variety of responsibilities, however, finding that time can be a challenge. If you’d like to have better control of your finances, here are some suggestions.
Adopt a Budget Coming up with a budget is a key factor in taking control of your finances, especially if you’re usually out of money by the time payday rolls around. A budget doesn’t have to be about depriving yourself; it’s about seeing how you’re spending your money and deciding where to cut back. Start by keeping a list of everything you spend for a month or two. Then, divide the list into categories, add the numbers up, and go over the results carefully. You may be shocked at how quickly “little” expenses — a gourmet coffee on the way to work every morning, a movie every Friday night — add up. And you may be pleasantly surprised at how easily you can cut back on spending and boost your savings.
SUMMER SALE
Exp. 6/30/12
Make Saving a Habit It’s very likely that you have several financial goals you’d like to accomplish. So, you’ll want to put money away regularly. Arranging for a direct deposit from your paycheck into your savings account is an ideal way to make your goals a top priority. One important goal you should add to your list is to build up an “emergency fund.” Ideally, you want to have a savings account with enough money to cover three to six months’ worth of expenses. Other goals might be saving for new furniture, a car, or the down payment on a house. If you have children, you may want to save so you can help them with their education expenses.
Protect Your Income
200 OFF
$
Any Purchase of $1995 or more
300 OFF
$
Any Purchase of $2995 or more
Make sure you have adequate life insurance coverage, especially if your family relies on your income or you stay home to provide care for children or relatives. You may also want to consider disability income insurance to provide needed income in case you’re unable to work.
Invest for Your Future Investing your money wisely can help you reach your goals. You’ll want to keep
400 OFF
$
Any Purchase of $3995 or more
500 OFF
$
Any Purchase of $4995 or more
Danville 925.648.0293 3426 Camino Tassajara Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 Sunday 11 to 5 • Closed Monday
Alamo 925.820.8492
3189 Danville Boulevard
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 15
Hanes 100% Cotton White Tee Shirts
Celebrate The 4th of July! Flags 50% off
Kids Sizes: Small-Large Adult Sizes: Med. - XLarge
Bunting 36” - $4.49 reg. $8.99 48” - $9.99 reg. $19.99
Tie Dye Kits NOW $11.99
3 for $10
reg. $19.99. Tie Dyes 10-15 Shirts. Included DVD provides techniques for great results every time!
Aromatherapy Candles
All Indoor/Outdoor Lanterns
30-40% off
by Essential Design
Foam Brush Sets 6 per set
70% off Flame Pots
Flags
Add ambiance to your outdoor patio decor
3’ x 5’ - $6.49 reg. $12.99
$7.50 to $15.00 reg. $24.99-$49.99 Fuel Gel Available
Jewelry Kits by Cousins Choice of 6 kits Create beautiful custom jewelry with these easy kits – includes beads, tool, project book and more for a professional result
$17.88 reg. $24.99
Now 3 for $5 reg. $4.99 $5.99
88¢ reg. $3.49
Summer Party Planning at Richards Reading Glasses Sidewalk Sale 50% Off Craft N Doodle 2 for $5 $77.00 Going on Now
Enclose candles in a window-walled lantern, fitted with a hinged door. Originally $14.99 to $74.99. Variety of sizes, colors, and finishes.
All Spring Floral
Values to $12.99
reg. $299
Up to
A truly portable system for crafters to use wherever they go
Discount off regular price
80% off regular prices
VALUABLE COUPON
50% off
Any One Regular Priced Item
Sign up for our e-mail list and enter a monthly drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate! ____________________________________E-Mail Address *Alamo
I’m already on the list!
*Livermore
One coupon per family per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. Excludes custom framing and prior sales, Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Willow Tree, Wilton, Games, Weird California Book, Martha Stewart, Meri Meri, Copic Markers, Pillow Pets and Webkinz. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken off regular price
CLIP ‘N SAVE!
Valid Through 7/18/12
AT
Our Entire Selection of Floral Stems ◆ Floral Bushes Greens ◆ Vines & Swags Dried Flowers Floral Garlands ◆ Fruits Orchids ◆ Succulents ◆ Grapes
Alamo Store 820-4731 Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Stone Valley Rd. Exit West off Hwy 680 to Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block.
Livermore Store 447-0471 Plaza 580 Shopping Center 4502 Las Positas Rd., 1st St. Exit off Hwy 580, 1 Block
Mon.-Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30
Mon.-Sat. 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 Ad prices effective through 7/18/12
www.ShopRichards.com
Thank You For Supporting Local Family Business
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 16 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Tax Tips By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent, H&R Block, Danville Office Automated IRS System Helps College-Bound Students with Financial Aid Application Process College-bound students and their parents typically want to make every dollar and every minute of the college experience count including money spent on tuition and time spent on the college financial aid application process. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is helping minimize the time spent on the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by automating access to federal tax returns with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This tool provides the opportunity for applicants to automatically transfer the required tax data onto the FAFSA form. Here are some tips on using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool: • Benefits - The IRS Data Retrieval tool is an easy and secure way to access and transfer tax return information directly onto the FAFSA form, saving time and improving accuracy. Also, the increased accuracy reduces the likelihood of being Bob Shalon, EA selected for verification by the school’s financial aid office. Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent • Eligibility Criteria - Taxpayers who wish to use the tool to complete their 2012 FAFSA form must 1) Have filed a 2011 tax return 2) Possess a valid Social Security Number 3) Have a Federal Student 925.820.9570 Aid PIN (individuals who don’t have a PIN, will be given the option to apply for one through the FAFSA 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville application process) and 4) Have not changed marital status since Dec. 31, 2011. Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com • Exceptions - If any of the following conditions apply to the student or parents, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool cannot be used for the 2012 FAFSA application: 1) An amended tax return was filed for 2011 2) No federal tax return for 2011 has been filed 3) The federal tax filing status on the 2011 return is married filing separately or a Puerto Rican or other foreign tax return has been filed. • Alternatives - If the IRS Data Retrieval Tool cannot be used and if the college requests verification documenThe New York Life family is here to help you achieve your financial tation, it may be necessary to obtain an official transcript goals through the products we offer. Whether you’re purchasing a from the IRS. To order tax return or tax account tranfirst home, starting a family or business, accumulating funds for your scripts, visit www.irs.gov and select “Order a Transcript” children’s education, or saving for retirement, we will work with you or call the Transcript toll-free line at 1-800-908-9946. to develop a financial strategy that’s right for you. In addition to helping reduce the time and effort involved in completing and submitting the FAFSA form Call our office today. (925) 552-7152 through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, the IRS offers money-saving information to college students and their parents. Important information regarding tax credits and deductions for qualifying tuition, materials and fees is available at the IRS Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center and in IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education both of which are available at www.IRS.gov.
From Our Family to Yours
Links • IRS Data Retrieval Tool/FAFSA - http://studentaid. ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp • IRS Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center - www.irs.gov/newsroom/ article/0,,id=213044,00.html • IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education - www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf • Order a Transcript - www.irs.gov/individuals/ article/0,,id=232168,00.html In many cases it is the parents’tax returns that determine if your child gets financial aid. I hope that you find these links useful. Remember that the Danville office of H&R Block is now open all year on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will be returning at the end of June. Please call me with Advertorial any questions at 925-820-9570.
Group Photo Here
Blackhawk Republican Women Present John Hanson John Hanson, Chair of the Monterey County Romney Campaign, will be speaking on “The European Financial Crisis” at the June 6th meeting of the Blackhawk Republican Women. The event will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. Check-in and social will begin at 11:15AM followed by lunch and the speaker at 11:30AM. Cost for the event is $25. Come hear what’s going on in the Euro zone and how it affects the U.S. from a successful conservative businessman who knows! Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Monday, June 4th . Contact marebradley@aol.com or (925)828-2360.
Pictured are agents of the Greater San Francisco General Office of New York Life Insurance Company in Alamo. From left to right: John Erwin "EJ" M. Magbitang, LUTCF (CA Ins. Lic. #0D37634), Emma M. Magbitang (CA Ins. Lic. #0710892), Julius Elmer "Joel" M. Magbitang, LUTCF (CA Ins. Lic. #0D35676) 3000 Danville Blvd., Suite L Alamo, CA 94507 Tel. (925) 552-7152 / Fax (925) 552-7127
www.MagbitangFinancialGroup.com
© 2011 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. SMRU00454979CV (Exp. 08/25/13)
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 17
Blended Families – Careful Planning is Critical
SAVE 40%-80%
By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
Last month, I presented a case study illustrating how poor planning by blended OFF Brand Names! families can cause severe financial and personal harm to their loved ones. This month, I’ll describe some ways in which a blended family can avoid this damage Tremendous Discounts on by establishing a thoughtful, customized estate plan. Barbecues, Smokers & Accessories First, both spouses need to acknowledge conflicting interests. Then, they Direct from the National Hardware Show should identify specific conflicts and explore constructive ways to reconcile Many models in stock Qty’s limited. No rainchecks. them. While there are no “one size fits all” solutions, an experienced estate planning attorney can share invaluable tools and give meaningful counsel and assistance. Below is the most common type of conflict and a description of a few practical approaches to resolving the conflict successfully. Conflict: How do you provide for the potential needs of the surviving spouse while ensuring an inheritance is received by the children of the spouse who dies first? First, it’s critical for each spouse to consider how he or she generally wishes to provide for his or her spouse and children (and potentially step-children) if he or she is the first spouse to die (“deceased spouse”). Many factors can come into play, including the length of the marriage and each spouse’s: personal feel$25.00 OFF any purchase over $150.00 YTMSD AT With Ad. Exp. 7/6/12 ings, age, financial resources, current and potential health needs, lifestyle, number of children (or, if none, Products shown are examples of what you may find in stores primary loved ones), children’s ages, children’s needs, and children’s financial resources. www.rickspicks.biz The best tool to codify the plan is a revocable living trust, which can be structured so that, upon the Downtown Danville • 375 Hartz Avenue • 925.837.DEAL (3325) death of the first spouse, the assets are split up into two separate sub-trusts. For the purpose of this article, Downtown Pleasanton • 719 Main Street • 925.426.SAVE (7283) I’ll refer to them as the “Survivor’s Trust” and “Deceased Spouse’s Trust.” The Survivor’s Trust contains the survivor’s assets (50% of the community Sell Your Used Car or Furniture! property and all of the survivor’s separate property) and remains revocable. Naturally, the survivor can do absolutely anything he or she wishes with these assets and can change who will receive the assets on his or her death. The Deceased Spouse’s Trust contains the deceased spouse’s assets (50% of the community property and all of the deceased spouse’s separate property) and is irrevocable. Typically, the surviving spouse is entitled to some distribution of funds from the Deceased Spouse’s Trust; however, the survivor cannot give away I handle all the details and deliver a check when your items sell. the assets, spend the assets frivolously, or change who is to receive whatever is Hard-working local college student with lots of experience. left in the Deceased Spouse’s Trust, if anything, when the survivor dies. Call today to discuss items you’d like to consign and sell! Depending on the circumstances, the Deceased Spouse’s Trust might provide Tato Corcoran • 925.858.7282 • tatocorcoran@yahoo.com that the surviving spouse will receive only income. This ensures that the principal of the deceased spouse’s assets (hopefully adjusted upward by appreciation during the survivor’s life) is preserved so that the deceased spouse’s children receive them upon the death of the surviving spouse. Alternatively, the Deceased Spouse’s Trust can not only pay the surviving spouse income but also principal, if any, for the needs of the survivor’s needs. Of course, this makes it less likely that the children of the deceased spouse will receive a substantial, or any, inheritance on the death of the surviving spouse. CONVENIENT SHUTTLE SERVICE TO Yet another possibility is to state that the survivor can withdraw income HOME, THE OFFICE, BART AND BACK. and only a limited percentage or a set dollar amount of principal each year. An infinite number of other variations of a Deceased Spouse’s Trust are possible, limited only by the couple’s imagination and the drafter’s experience and skills. ` For those who have substantial wealth, important Federal Estate and Gift Tax ECONOMIC LUBE, OIL DIAGNOSIS/ STIMULUS & FILTER CHECK ENGINE ramifications must also be considered. SPECIAL LIGHT INSPECTION Another approach is to distribute certain assets to the surviving spouse (either Multi-Point Performance Boost your savings with Let our trained experts perform an Inspection this great discount. initial inspection and diagnosis. We’ll outright or to a Deceased Spouse’s Trust) and other assets to the children. For Drain and Replace All Engine Oil also provide you with the exact cost Install Genuine Factory Oil Filter example, the Deceased Spouse could designate his or her children as beneficiaries to perform the repair. No obligation, % nothing to buy. OFF of a life insurance policy and/or retirement account (e.g. 401K or IRA). The home 95 $ + OUTLET PRICES TAX and other assets can then be made available to the surviving spouse. The benefit ON YOUR ENTIRE BILL Synthetic oil extra. of doing this is that upon the death of the deceased spouse, his or her children REGULAR PRICES receive at least some significant inheritance immediately, rather than potentially For Acura, Honda, Lexus, and Toyota vehicles only. Valid only at THE SERVICE OUTLET on the day of service. Please present coupon when service order is written. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, offers or discounts. Synthetic oil extra. waiting many years until the surviving spouse dies to receive any inheritance. Furthermore, it helps minimize or avoid ongoing conflicts between the children of the deceased spouse and their step-parent concerning how the Deceased Spouse’s Trust is administered. All assets should be considered, various competing needs identified, and goals of each spouse established and discussed, and a customized, comprehensive, and practical estate plan should be drafted to accomplish the couple’s objectives. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with 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, LAFAYETTE SAN RAMON SINCE Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation. 3340 Mt. Diablo Blvd. 2151 San Ramon Valley Blvd. 1993
M y L i s t Sa l e s
www.mylistsales.com
GREAT SERVICE. EVEN BETTER VALUE.
20
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
29
925.283.3133
FREE
925.837.3000
THESERVICEOUTLET.COM
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 18 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Community Affairs/Senior Services By Roger Smith
Active Participation Matters in Rental Real Estate How active are you? Staying active is good for your health — and for reducing your tax bill. Here's how: Actively participating in your real estate rentals can help maximize your deductions. As you may know, rental real estate is considered a "passive" activity. Passive activities are those in which you're not involved on a regular and substantial basis, and they're subject to passive loss rules. Those rules generally limit losses on your rentals to the amount of your income from other passive activities. But when you actively participate in your rentals, you may qualify for an exception to the general rules. In that case, you can deduct up to $25,000 of losses from your rentals even if you have no passive income. That means you can use rental losses to reduce other income on your federal tax return, including wages and interest. What's the definition of an active participant? You may be thinking of an hourly requirement, such as spending 500 hours or 750 hours on your rental properties during the year. Those tests do not apply to the active participant exception. Instead, to be an active participant you have to own at least 10% of the rental and genuinely participate in management decisions such as approving amounts spent on upgrades and repairs. To claim the full $25,000 allowance, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be less than $100,000 ($50,000 when you're married filing separately). The allowance disappears completely when your MAGI exceeds $150,000. Do you have questions about the tax treatment of rentals? Take action and give us a call. We'll run the numbers to make sure you get the most benefit available.
Feeney McClaskey and Associates, Inc Certified Public Accountants 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 150 • Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 314-1891 • Fax (925) 309-2462 www.fmacpa.com • Email: info@fmacpa.com
Trains continued from front page over 54 x 32 feet, 400 working switches or turnouts, and several miles of electrical wire, the WCMRS layout operation requires a dispatcher to communicate with several engineers who are provided a high-above-the-track bird’s eye view. The WCMRS layout is believed to be the most mountainous model railroad of its kind anywhere. A train’s complete single circuit of the mainline takes 45 minutes. But, even though skill and know-how are integral, many members readily acknowledge that their interest stems from fond childhood memories. “I’ve always loved trains,” says Moreland, who has been involved with WCMRS for 36 years and is currently Chairman of the WCMRS Board. “I’m old enough to remember real steam locomotives. When my dad returned from the Korean War, he brought back two footlockers full of model train engines and track. We moved so often while he was in the service, that we never had a chance to set-up the whole thing. Finally, we moved to a home where we could build the layout in the garage…and then I left for college.” Was it a subliminal need to finish what he started? Perhaps; but Moreland cites the simple and majestic strength and power of large locomotives as the allure. “Trains are just kind of cool,” he says. “I can’t really explain it.” While the engineers may seem to have all the fun, successful operation and maintenance of the railway requires skills and cooperation of all types: carpenters and cabinet makers to construct the sound baseboard, artisans to paint and craft the scenery, and electricians to install wiring. There are tasks for all members who are interested in learning, sharing, and growing the ever-changing layout. The society currently boasts a membership of 60, ranging in age from 18 to 90. Work-nights are Fridays and Tuesdays. The layout is open for public viewing the last Friday of each month from 8 – 10pm and the third Sunday in January, March, May, and September. The annual holiday show takes place two weekends in November. New members are invited to help out for three months, at which time one becomes a
See Trains cont.on pg. 20
I spent an interesting hour with long time Alamo resident, Elaine Welch. She is the Executive Director of Senior Helpline Services, a local non-profit organization dedicated to enabling seniors to age in place safely and comfortably by providing transportation services, telephone relationships, information, and referrals and also offers opportunities for seniors and others who care about aging issues to become agents of change for our communities. Elaine started her career as an RN, and she then earned her MBA from St. Mary’s College and devoted her next 25 years to Kaiser’s corporate offices with responsibility for Kaiser’s Medicare compliance in all regions throughout the US. After retiring the first time in 1998, and blessed with high energy along with a focus on helping seniors and with the public speaking skills set to match, Elaine became the Executive Director for Senior Helpline Services. Adept at securing funding in an era of tight budgets, she now often describes her job as having another MBA, that would be a Master’s with a little Begging and a lot of Advocacy (for Seniors). Today her staff, which includes her husband Dale, are involved in “Giving Back” to our local communities through programs, such as “Rides for Seniors.” Started in 2005, the “Rides for Seniors” program provides seniors, who no longer drive or cannot access other forms of public transportation, with their “mobility” to remain “independent” and to remain in their own home, and not be forced into a nursing home or other institutional residence. Rides are provided free of charge with donations accepted but not required. More than 130 screened and trained volunteer drivers provide their time and compassion along with their automobiles to assist seniors in need and located within the driver’s local area with one-on-one, door-through-door transportation services. Rides provided are primarily for the purpose of routine medical and dental care, and shopping for groceries and other basic necessities, enabling seniors to remain independent and to “age in place” - their own home. Using a personalized approach to matching seniors with drivers, Dale oftentimes works seven days a week coordinating the rides for dozens of seniors with the availability of the many (and many more needed!) volunteer drivers on their roster. If you’d like more information on this valuable service for a senior you may know or if you would like to devote time each week to become a volunteer driver, visit www.seniorhelpline.net or call (925) 284-6161. They want to hear from you!
AIA’s Annual Membership Drive Now in its 57th year, AIA, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live!” Alamo residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” As Board President, I want to thank our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the last 57 years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. I want to thank all Alamo residents for their interest in AIA and encourage each of you to become members. Please complete the AIA membership form below, include a check for $50, and return it to AIA at P.O. Box 156, Alamo, CA. 94507.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 19
Life in the Alamo Garden Design and Budget By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect First, I want to personally thank you all so much for your participation in our 3rd Annual Garden Tour Fundraiser “Life in the Walnut Creek Garden.” I am very proud to announce we generated donations close to $10K for three charities that participated. The weather was perfect, and we all had a great time. It exceeded our expectations! I look forward to talking to you at our 4th 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 is different. Therefore, everybody’s design goals and budget is 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 yourself. 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!
M. E. L A N D O L F A R C H I T E C T U R E Custom Houses . Remodels . Additions
Make the most of your investment by starting with a quality design that adds value to your home. OFFE R ING: Over twenty years of home design experience. Complete service from concept to completion. Simple additions, complete remodels and custom homes. Beautiful curb appeal, excellent layouts and structural economy. Complimentary initial design consultations.
CONTACT: Mark Landolf Email: mark@melarchitect.com
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, for everyone, whether or not it is a small project or a big one, my fees 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, 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. In answer to the second question, 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
925.8 37.3434
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 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, my 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 20 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
The Art Of Screening By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Trees and shrubs provide many valuable services in the urban ecosystem. One of the most important, from the perspective of homeowners, is screening for privacy and to hide undesired objects. Well-placed foliage can keep out prying eyes and enhance personal safety, and a view of beautiful leaves and branches gives more pleasure than the view of a neighbor’s garage. Over the long run, preserving a living screen requires planning and judicious pruning. Plants grow toward the sun; they maximize foliage where there is most light. As trees mature, the density of the canopy can act as an umbrella and shade out the interior lower branches, which causes them to die. To see a clear example of this, look at a mature oak in the forest. The majority of foliage is in the outer shell; the interior is bare. This natural phenomenon works well for plants in the wild, but it may not succeed well for your screening needs. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this loss of valuable screening. All strategies for maintaining screen involve keeping sunlight flowing to interior branches. Sufficient light on the leaves reduces dieback. It is best to act before the screen is compromised (an ounce of pruning is better than a ton of replanting). In plants with latent buds, English laurels for example, trunks can re-sprout even after interior branches have withered. However, many species lack latent buds and are incapable of re-sprouting, and for those species preventative medicine is the only medicine. Even for species with latent buds, keeping branches healthy is much easier, and more effective, than reinvigorating them. • Eliminate light competition from surrounding plants. Evaluate the plants growing near your screen plants to see if they are casting a shadow on branches critical to screening. Plants shading out important screen plants can be removed, or they can be thinned and shaped to increase illumination of screening branches. • Thin the screen plants themselves. This may seem counterintuitive, but the exterior of the screen plant may be shading its interior. It is not uncommon to see 40-foot pittosporums that look like balloons, with the only green occurring in the canopy. To revitalize, it is generally best to remove all dead wood, thin the top heavily, and even thin the screen area. The goal is to maintain layers of green from the edge of the canopy through the interior. A thick, multi-layered screen is less prone to failure. If it is not acceptable to lose any bottom screen, even temporar-
Clip Notes
By Jody Morgan
The bride carried an exquisite bouquet of garlic fashionably intertwined with herbs whose powers promised longevity, ensured fertility, and provided sufficient fragrance to keep the offensive odors emanating from the unwashed guests at bay. Not the choice for even the most tradition-minded of 21st century brides, perhaps, but it was quite the rage in medieval Europe. Garlic kept the evil spirits as well as the Black Plague away. This pungent member of the onion family was believed by ancient Egyptians to have similar magical properties. The Chinese have been using it since 3,000 BC for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Modern research indicates that garlic is an antibiotic and an antifungal agent. Stakes infused with garlic oil are available to ward off the fourlegged evildoers tunneling into our gardens. Moles and gophers be gone! June being a favorite month for weddings (I confess to having chosen it so I could be photographed before my mother’s spectacular rhododendron hedge), I decided to research historical horticultural contributions to weddings through the ages. Most interesting of my findings is that brides for thousands of years have borrowed freely from foreign customs to make their own celebrations distinctive. Although Queen Victoria’s impact on social mores is generally viewed as a bit staid, stuffy and even repressive, she daringly broke with expectations when she marched to the alter as a bride in 1840. Rebellious Victoria rejected the dress interwoven with metallic threads favored by generations of her royal family. She audaciously wore instead a simple gown of white. The snowdrops she carried for her bouquet (well it was February in England) were her groom’s favorite. Did being queen encourage her to reverse the chivalrous custom whereby knights of old wore a flower representing the colors of their bride’s family? (That tradition came down to modern times as the suggestion that a groom should wear one of the flowers chosen by his bride for her bouquet.) Shockingly, Victoria exchanged the jeweled tiara her royal predecessors favored for the garland of orange blossoms traditionally worn by Saracen brides. The Cru-
Trains
www.yourmonthlypaper.com continued from page 18
switchman. Advancement (and increased responsibility) includes the further ranks of brakeman, conductor, engineer, and finally, the top spot of senior engineer. It takes about 1 ½ years to move through the ranks and earn “keys to the building” privileges as well as priority for any committee chair position. Concord resident Rosa Marie Delgman is one of two women members. After six months of membership, she is a brakeman and has learned to take apart and service the engines, change the wheels, add weights for traction, and change couplers. “I watch and learn in anticipation of one day operating the engines,” says Delgman. Like any organization in which participants share a passion, WCMRS inspires strong and lasting friendships. Many work-nights begin with dinner at a local restaurant, and it is not uncommon for members to organize rail related field trips and outings, such as to the Western Railway Museum in Rio Vista or a train ride to the Rail Museum in Sacramento. “After 36 years, you get to know some of these folks fairly well,” says Moreland. “They’re like family.” For more information visit www.wcmrs.org. ily, a good compromise is to thin those portions above the screen area. Thinning only one portion of the tree is an aesthetic challenge, but it can be done. • Shape the tops of screen plants. It is sometimes possible to shape back the tops of screen plants to allow more light to reach the lower branches. Our philosophy of pruning requires that the overall beauty of the plants be considered in all pruning cuts. Because health and beauty are often synonymous, we have found that bringing light into the interior usually enhances tree aesthetics. What do you do if you have already lost the screen? It is difficult to get branches to grow back once they have died, but radically thinning or lowering the plant may induce growth in lower foliage. Unfortunately, this is hard to achieve without sacrificing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs. Sometimes it is possible to fill the gap with shade-loving plants. Other times the only solution might be to remove the plant and start over. Each case is different. If you need help, do not hesitate to give us a call, for advice or to do the work. At Brende and Lamb, we have 20 years of experience balancing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs and maintaining your screening needs. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www. brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial saders apparently first introduced the custom to Spain where imported citrus trees flourished and from there it migrated to France and England where an enclosed orangery was required to preserve the plants through the winter. The ability of the species to produce both flowers and fruit simultaneously throughout the year accounts for its legendary connection to fertility. For Victoria and Albert, the superstition proved efficacious as the couple welcomed nine royal offspring. Queen Victoria’s use of orange blossoms, while a break from royal custom, had sufficient precedent in Western weddings that the Saracen connection probably went unremarked. Married in France in 1780, the Marquise de La Tour du Pin writes of her wedding day in her Memoirs that her floral adornments included “a bouquet of orange blossoms on my head and one to my side.” In 1828 an American bride, daughter-in-law of President John Quincy Adams, decorated both her gown and veil with orange blossoms. Highly collectible are the alternatives fashion-conscious brides utilized in climates where orange blossoms were not available. Wax replicas once less expensive in colder climates than the exotic flowers are now vastly more valuable than actual blossoms. Possibly echoing the time in which genuine flowers faded, superstition suggested artificial orange blossoms had to be discarded within one month of the nuptials. The myrtle carried by Victoria’s daughters in their bouquets and by royal British brides thereafter came from a posy given to Victoria by Albert’s grandmother when the couple visited Germany in 1845. Her majesty planted a sprig from the posy at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight where it still thrives. Evergreen myrtle has legendary significance as a symbol of both love and immortality. According to ancient Greek mythology, myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Demeter held power over the cycle of life and death. Greek brides and grooms wore garlands of myrtle and other greens. Romans added flowers to the garlands. Whatever wildflowers were in season were employed. The custom of tossing the bridal bouquet began sometime around the 14th century as a defense mechanism. Grabbing a piece of the bride’s clothing was considered to be good luck. Imagine having your gown torn to shreds by your guests! To escape their clutches, brides began throwing everything at hand including their garters and their bouquets at the crowds. Eventually catching the bouquet was accepted as a substitute symbol of favorable fortune.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012- Page 21
Page 22 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Portable CIO Computer Service
Serving Bay Area businesses and residents since 2002
How Can We Help You?
PC / Mac/ Laptops/ Desktops/ Tablets/ Smartphones/ iPads|Repairs Upgrades| Maintenance|Office Moves and Networking | Data Recovery Virus/Spyware/Adware Removal|Back-up Solutions|Internet/ Cloud Computing Email Solutions|Remote Phone Support |Free Recycling
Great People. Great Service.
925.552.7953 www.ThePortableCIO.com
Join Portable CIO, Inc. on Facebook!
ACTION POOL REPAIR SERVING ALAMO & DANVILLE SINCE 1979!
Still Have That Same Old Noisy Filter Pump? Want to Save $900 a Year? Call us and ask about Pentair’s IntelliFlo pump which qualifies for a $100 PG&E rebate! Want Soft Sparkling Algae Free Pool Water ? Ask about the IntelliChlor salt chlorine generator
925.820.3640
Visit our website at www.actionpoolrepair.com
211 continued from front page Although a relatively small area, it was a denser population due to the mix of apartments and business. The CWS used phone lines, cell phones, and media to notify the public of the incident and issue a Shelter in Place. “Additionally, very recently, we notified the residents of Diablo of an at-risk missing juvenile girl and requested any information on her whereabouts,” adds Hern. Citizens need only register to receive the voice alerts on their personal cell phones or any other landline on which receptivity to Telephone Emergency Notification System calls might be problematic. (Emergency warnings come from a caller ID of 00000000.) “But more and more, the CWS has the capability of using devices that people can access at a more personal level,” says Hern. “Just as we recommend having an emergency ‘go kit’ with flashlights, batteries, water, etc., we now recommend people prepare with an ‘Emergency Alert System’ which includes: a) purchasing a weather radio, which provides a simple,
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
What Does Having Good or Bad Posture Really Mean? By Dr. Angela McCraken, Kenny Family Chiropractic Posture is the window to the spine. This is the cornerstone statement of why it is important to have good posture throughout your life. First, good posture has to be defined in order to truly understand its importance. Good posture consists of having your ears align with your shoulders and your shoulders align with your pelvis when you are looked at from a side view. When you are looking at someone from the front, their ears, shoulders, and pelvis should be level. When someone is sitting, good posture consists of the legs being at a 90-degree angle with the back straight and the shoulders back. Every day we see bad posture in the population. You can watch someone walk down the street and see their shoulders and head sit forward in comparison to the hips and the feet. When posture is incorrect, there are many side effects that can happen. When there is bad posture in one area of the body, there is also normally compensation somewhere else in order to center the person in space. One of the main problems is that incorrect posture becomes a repetitive stress on the spine. This repetitive stress can go on to cause changes in spine health, and a person can start to show symptoms if the stress is continuous. The symptoms can include headaches, TMJ pain/dysfunction, neck pain, mid back pain, low back pain, and symptoms going down into the buttock and legs. There can be more systemic dysfunctions such as gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux) and constipation. There can also be changes to someones gait or walking biomechanics when there is a change in posture. A change in normal gait can be just as harmful as the bad posture. These changes can go on to commonly cause plantar fasciitis, foot pain, and knee pain. The next step would be the correction of bad posture to alleviate any symptoms and to prevent further problems. Most people these days are sitting while they are at work. Whether they are typing, answering phones, or driving for long periods of time, there is always a way to instill proper posture. Lumbar supports should always be used when someone is sitting in a chair. This allows for the proper curves of the spine to be supported. Next when using a phone, a headset should be used so that the hands are free and the neck can remain in a neutral position. The next step would be doing specific exercises and stretches. The exercises are to strengthen the muscles that have been neglected and core strengthening in order to stabilize the spine. The stretches are to elongate and relax the muscles that have been over used. These stretches and exercises used in combination allow for the body to realign and function properly. Lastly, how does chiropractic fit into the rehabilitation of the bad posture? Our job is first to adjust the spine of any subluxations that may be present. This is done to help bring motion back into the segments that have been stuck. When motion has been restored, it allows for the spine to have the proper biomechanics to function properly. On top of the adjustments, we prescribe the stretches and exercises to help correct posture and we demonstrate the proper way that each exercise is performed to the patient. We act as the inspiration to our patients to keep with their corrective treatment in order for them to have optimum health. Our team at Kenny Family Chiropractic specializes in correcting and maintaining posture through Chiropractic Care and Posture Rehabilitation. Call today for a Complimentary Consultation and a Complete Assessment of your posture and spine with all Diagnostic Testing (x-rays included if necessary). Mention Alamo Today and receive this complete exam for $17 for the first 17 callers. Visit us at our Open House on June 9th. Call today to RSVP. Kenny Family Chiropractic - Dr. Angela McCraken, Dr. Jerry Kenny, Dr. Malia Kenny and our dedicated Kenny Chiropractic Team are located at 185 Front St. Suite 107 in downtown Danville. To schedule an appointment call 925-838-9355. Please also visit our website at kennychiro.com. Advertorial inexpensive personal siren providing alert and full information on an incident, b) bookmarking www.cococws.us on your computer and registering at http:// cws.cccounty.us to receive alerts on your cell phone, c) registering for text and email notifications at http://edis-by-mail.net , and d) ‘liking’ CWS on Facebook, and following CoCoCWS on Twitter.” For further information on the Contra Costa County Community Warning System, visit www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=161.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 23
Your Personal Nutritionist
Bishop Ranch Wellness and Safety Fair
By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Can’t Lose Weight Despite Healthy Eating and Exercise
This is one event sure to leave you feeling great! On Thursday, June 7th, from 11:30am – 2pm Sunset Development is kicking off the Bishop Ranch Wellness and Safety Fair. This free event will be staged at Bishop Ranch Eleven’s courtyard and parking lot located at 2301 Camino Ramon in San Ramon. Over 40 vendors will be on-site to share the very latest on health, diet and exercise, present interactive demos, and offer free cholesterol screenings, bone density tests, and blood pressure checks. Look for the San Ramon Fire Department, who will be presenting life-saving tips and advice, and stop by Jamba Juice and buy a fresh fruit smoothie to benefit the American Heart Association! At the end of the event there will be a raffle for a Wii, Wii Fit, and a set of Wii Fitness games! For more information, call 925-866-0100.
I frequently get people coming up to me during my 24 Hour Fitness Club classes saying they are exercising five days a week and eating healthy but not losing weight. The following case study is typical. Carolyn, a nurse, exercises early at the gym at least five times a week. For breakfast she had a Lara Bar, and for a mid-morning snack she had a cup of granola with plain Greek yogurt mixed in. For lunch she always ate low fat cottage cheese with two pieces of fruit. For her 4PM snack she would buy a bag of Baked Lays. Carolyn would come home starved, and she would snack on baked pita chips with hummus or several handfuls of nuts where later she would have the traditional high protein-veggie-starch dinner with her family. Carolyn fit the pattern of having frequent snacks during the day and a large dinner at night. Given her age and size, I told her that in order to lose weight she needed to keep her calories to 1,500 on days she did not exercise and 1,800 for when she did. In spite of good exercising habits, she was nonetheless sabotaging herself. After an intense 45 minute exercise regimen, her metabolism is revved up to five times the rate as before the exercise. We discussed the need for her to have a large part of her daily calories closer to the period after exercise rather than her practice of eating the bulk of calories later in the day which culminated with a 1,000 calorie dinner. I recommended some dietary changes for Carolyn. At this time the Lara Bar seems to help get her thru the morning exercise routine, especially since she was still full from the heavy dinner meal. However, as she lightens up her dinner, we discussed how she will be more hungry in the morning where she needs to eat more. Great breakfasts before the gym are those with protein and fiber like a hard-boiled egg or cottage cheese which she loves with a toasted whole wheat English muffin. For mid-morning Carolyn can have some oatmeal along with toppings of her choice such as brown sugar and raisins. I find oatmeal is too heavy before the gym but a great choice afterwards. Her Greek yogurt and granola is a great snack, but the ratio needs to be reversed - one cup of Greek yogurt is a wonderful source of protein, and a sprinkle of granola is great for crunch. Carolyn also decided to try peanut butter with an apple or celery at this time as well. We discussed why Carolyn’s cottage cheese and fruit is a poor choice for lunch and only provides two ounces of protein. She needs to have at least 4-6 oz of protein for lunch. For instance, she could choose leftover meat from the previous night with a cup of veggies, or a salad and a cup of whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat pasta or couscous, barley, faro, or even a sweet potato. We even included her fruit as dessert. At first Carolyn thought this was too much food, but I suggested that she take it all to work, eat the protein and veggies first, and keep the grains and veggies for mid-afternoon snacks rather than her usual potato chips. Carolyn is now arriving home without being famished. She no longer needs the after work snack and can enjoy a cup of Good Earth tea, which is so sweet and pungent it is referred to as dessert tea. For dinner she is no longer having a large portion of protein since she would have eaten enough during the day to keep her blood sugar in balance and avoid hunger. After determining her favorite foods, Carolyn keeps her dinner calories to 500 which may include a 6 oz. baked potato (200 calories) with butter or sour cream (100 calories) and sauteed veggies or a salad with dressing (100 calories for the dressing or oil and minimal for veggies). She then has 100 calories left for such desserts as a fruit juice bar or two, a half a cup of lowfat ice cream, or even a slice of white cake with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream. I am thrilled to tell you that after working with Carolyn for one session she instantly began losing weight. I have continued to counsel Carolyn for two months via phone and e-mail, and she has lost 15 pounds. By the way, she has Aetna PPO insurance which is covering her weight loss program. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@ yahoo.com and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and nutrition tips. Advertorial
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 24 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
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.
925.932.1855 Alex Rader DDS General, Cosmetic, and Neuromuscular Dentistry 1855 San Miguel Dr, Suite 12 • Walnut Creek, CA
www.alexraderdds.com
The Eye Opener By Gregory and Laura Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry A Different Perspective Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Laura, Dr. K’s wife. As our children have grown, I have become much more involved in the day-to-day business at Alamo Optometry. I thought it might be interesting to give our readers a new perspective for the month. Since Dr. K began writing this column, I have often suggested topics that I, as a layperson, think are interesting, relevant, or helpful. So now I would like to share my thoughts on Dr. K and our office. I am a pediatric Occupational Therapist by profession. However, I have been hearing about all things eye-related since the early days of our relationship, when Dr. K decided to follow his heart into Optometry. As he applied to and decided on an Optometry school to attend, worked hard throughout the program, and graduated proudly, I watched him happily take his place in his profession. For seven years, he worked for up to three different practices at any given time, up to six days a week, all the while hoping to find a practice he could call his own--a practice to give his heart and soul to, to grow and develop according to his own beliefs and capabilities. In 2007, we got the opportunity to buy Alamo Optometry. Getting the key and walking through the door on that Sunday, July 1st was completely surreal! Knowing that the next day he would go to work and have to pick up where the previous owner left off was incredibly daunting and exciting at the same time. He jumped right in and has never looked back. We are so proud to be celebrating our five year anniversary this July! We are grateful for our wonderful patients who keep trusting us with their eye care and referring us to their family and friends. We simply could not be here without them. Just like anything worthwhile, tending to the business has been stressful and frustrating at times, but it’s also been truly rewarding. With a small staff, I am often the “fill-in” person when needed. As I sit at the front desk, I have had patients say to me, not knowing that the doctor is my husband, “We just love Dr. K! We love it here.” These times make my day! It means that he is
Actual patient, smile design by Alex Rader, DDS
doing what he set out to do, creating a practice that is personable and caring. When our patients take the time to tell a friend or write a favorable review of our practice online, we are not only thankful because of how it helps our business grow, but it also makes us happy that we are providing the kind of care we believe in, the level of care that we want to receive from other doctor’s offices that our family visits. I am well aware that no business or person can be perfect or suit everyone’s needs. However, I am confident in knowing that my husband values every patient, and that he works very hard to prove it. A few months ago, Dr. K wrote about what it meant to him to be a small business owner in our local community. He mentioned that owning a business has made him more aware of the importance of our support of other local businesses, and I couldn’t agree more. We are thankful to live and own our business in this Valley where I grew up, and we want to show other local businesses that we appreciate their contribution and value here as well. Especially in this economy, when even large, well-established franchises are going out of business at every turn, we recognize that our reputation depends on giving our patients great value for their money, with an emphasis on honest and caring customer service. Thanks for letting me share my sentimentality as we approach this milestone in our journey. We are so excited to be celebrating five years in this community! To celebrate our anniversary next month, we will be having an Open House in the evening on Thursday, July 12th. We would love for you to stop by and say hi! 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 newly updated website at, www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Advertorial Alamo Optometry Facebook page.
Hearing Loss Association Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations accepted. Assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv. org or 925-264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 25
Healing with Minimal Scarring By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY
With Them
my story Continues.
As summer approaches, I find that my practice is busier than ever. Most people would think that plastic surgeons become busy in the summer because that’s the time of year when people want to look better in a bathing suit. While it’s true that summer does bring people into my office looking to enhance their appearance through cosmetic surgery, summer is also the time of year when I see more patients after being involved in an accident. Local emergency rooms are packed in the summertime with people who have been involved in accidents while participating in warm weather activities such as swimming, hiking, and biking. I have spent years during my training in trauma centers and emergency rooms, working in highpressure situations and focusing my attention on saving lives, and ensuring that patients are not at risk of serious illness or infection. My advanced training in aesthetics is an added benefit my patients receive. For example, repairs to facial lacerations from a biking accident can be done in a way that leaves minimal scarring. Please use me as a resource and give me a call, especially when kids are involved. I would be happy to help. This past week, my patient’s sister was involved in a car accident. She was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where they made sure she had no major injuries and AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing WALNUT CREEK the highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment evaluated for a number of horrible lacerations SAN RAMON programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized on her forearm. My staff and I told our patient CONCORD oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing to call us if there was anything we could do ROSSMOOR the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns for her sister. Two days later we were asked to and challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated DANVILLE take a look at her sister’s arm because it was levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the painful and oozing. The woman had baseball contracostaoncology.com utmost support, compassion, and respect. 925.939.9610 type stitches in the largest laceration and 17 centimeters of cuts in a star-like pattern on her forearm. During my fellowship in hand and microsurgery, and other advanced training in cosmetic and maxillofacial the need for future scar revision. An additional note - It is a common misconception that lacerations must be surgery, I repaired countless traumatic injuries very similar to this woman’s. I consulted with her, and we agreed on a course of treatment that involved repaired immediately. In some cases, if the laceration is cleaned well and kept replacing the baseball stitches with 100 finer carefully placed sutures that moist, excellent results can be achieved days after the initial injury. Common sense must prevail with all bites, cuts, scrapes, or burns. Elevate will result in a more aesthetically pleasing and less painful repair. The result for this began with a consultation that allowed me to improve her situation and apply pressure for bleeding, ensure safety of the environment, and call 911 if and offer her a more aesthetically pleasing result in my office … away from there is a life-threatening emergency. The paramedics in our area are fantastic! Keep in mind that our office accepts most insurance plans and even on a cash the long lines and crowds of the typical ER. As a mother I know first hand that the emotions involved when your child payment basis treatment at our office is likely to be a less expensive option. As is injured are amplified on an exponential scale. The injury (especially facial always, it is my pleasure to offer my expertise and I look forward to consulting laceration) itself is traumatic enough, but add to that a lengthy wait time in an with you soon. Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer season. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified unfamiliar environment and what is already a scary experience can become almost unbearable. I treasure my involvement in this community, and I want Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surto be used as a primary resource for these types of injuries. Please call me and gery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in I will ensure that it will be a calm and comfortable experience for your child. Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or Most importantly, the injury will be optimally repaired the first time, avoiding drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Page 26 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
Retinoids The Ultimate Product for Flawless Skin By Dr. Shanny Baughman
skin is a bit oily, begin every night, but if you have dry areas, begin applying three nights weekly. A pea size amount is the usual recommended amount, but for sensitive skin a split pea, lentil, or sesame seed amount is plenty at first. Dab it onto your forehead, nose, mid-cheeks, and chin, and then spread it out. You don’t want a thick application, just a light coating is enough. Remember you will be using this for months, so start out slowly. After a month, or sooner if your skin tolerates it, you can increase the quantity and the frequency. Retinoids may cause dryness, flaking, burning, and irritation at first, but most peoples’ skin adapts rapidly. By Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette starting out slowly, and with small amounts, most irritation can be avoided. Avoid retinoids if you are pregnant. Your skin will be more sensitive to the sun. Remember to protect daily with a hat and sunscreen.
Retinoids are topical products derived from Vitamin A. They are beneficial for many skin conditions from acne, to warts, to sundamaged skin, to keratosis pilaris - those annoying bumps on the backs of your arms. Prescription strength products containing adapalene, tretinoin, or tazaratene are best, while over-the-counter, products containing retinol, retinal, or retinylpalmitate Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo have very limited effect on the skin. The rest of this article is about prescription strength retinoids. Retinoids work by helping the skin shed more quickly so that oil plugs don’t form in hair follicles. Insider Tips and the Bottom Line They also lighten dark spots on the skin, and they ‘plump up’ the skin, making It typically takes eight to twelve weeks to see initial improvement, but the results large pores and fine wrinkles less obvious. are well worth it. Common Brands of Prescription Retinoids Planning a trip to the beach or the mountains? Leave your retinoids at home. Higher Brand Name Generic Name Strength altitude means more ultraviolet sun exposure and less humidity. Your skin will dry out DIFFERIN Adapalene 0.1%, 0.3% lotion, gel, cream and become sunburned more easily. Both of these will result in more irritation from EPIDUO Adapalene & Benzoyl Peroxide 0.1% + benzoyl peroxide the retinoids. It’s more simple to take a break, and resume use when you get back ATRALIN Tretinoin 0.05% gel home. Trips to beaches mean more water time, reflection from sand and water, and REFISSA Tretinoin 0.05% cream more sun time. Unless you are super conscientious about sun protection, follow the RENOVA Tretinoin 0.02% cream advice above, take a break, and resume when you are home. RETIN A Tretinoin 0.025%, 0.05%. 0.1% cream, 0.01% gel Retinoids offer a time-proven benefit for acne, fine wrinkles, dull splotchy skin, RETIN A MICRO Tretinoin 0.04%, 0.01% gel some warts, and keratosis pilaris. Results take a few months, and although irritation TRETIN X Tretinoin 0.0375% cream may occur initially, over time most peoples’skin adjusts. Retinoids deliver the benefits ZIANA Tretinoin & Clindamycin 0.025% + clindamycin gel they claim, and the benefits are worth the adjustment time. Do not use while pregnant, TAZORAC Tarazotene 0.05%, 0.1% cream, gel and take extra care to protect your skin from the sun while using retinoids. Generic retinoids provide outstanding value, so if money is a consideration, To have your skin evaluated by a board certified dermatologist and have a they are hard to beat. Brand name products tend to be in a more elegant prepa- treatment specifically designed for your skin, contact Dr. Shanny Baughman at ration. They may be less irritating and may degrade less quickly in the sun. Are Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, they worth the cost difference? It is debatable. Generics are what I recommend shanny.derm@gmail.com or Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, the majority of the time. Advertorial 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com. To use a retinoid product you apply a very small amount to clean skin at night. If your
Celebrate Father’s Day Early at Pints for Prostates! By Sachin Kamath, MD
• About 28,170 men will die of prostate cancer About 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men. Nearly two thirds are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 67. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 36 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 2.5 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. Dr. Kamath is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology in Pleasant Hill. He can be reached at (925) 825-8878.
June is the month we celebrate the dads in our lives. Perhaps that is why June is also Men’s Health Month. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems, and to encourage early detection and the treatment of disease among men and boys. Another program aimed at creating awareness for men’s health was founded by Rick Lyke, a prostate cancer survivor diagnosed at a young age. He felt a deep desire to get the conversation going with friends about the importance of prostate cancer screening. He started with one-on-one conversations, usually while sharing a pint of beer. Rick’s passion led A New Level of Medical Care him to establish the ‘Pints for Prostates’nonprofit organization – with the goal of raising awareness Personalized and Responsive and preventing prostate cancer. s 0RACTICE LIMITED TO PATIENTS (traditional practices have 2000+ patients) On June 13th, Diablo Valley Oncology and s %XTENDED UNHURRIED OFlCE VISITS Pacific Urology sponsor their annual ‘Pints for s ACCESS TO $R 0ARSONS VIA PERSONAL CELL PHONE Prostates’ event at Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut s 3AME DAY OR NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS Creek. The guest of honor and keynote speaker s #OMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL EVALUATION will be Rick Lyke! A $20 donation Pints Packs $EDICATED SUPPORT STAFF age includes beer, beer glass, hors d’oeuvres, and s -EDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED raffle ticket. Space is limited, so reserve your spot by calling (925)677-5041. What are the key statistics about prostate DONALD S. PARSONS, M.D. cancer? Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The lat925-855-3780 est American Cancer Society estimates for pros400 El Cerro Blvd., Suite 102, Danville tate cancer in the United States are for 2012: www.danvillemd.com • About 241,740 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed
CONCIERGE MEDICINE
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Alamo Today ~ June 2012 - Page 27
Is Food a Problem for You? Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www. how-oa.org for more information.
Our mission is to provide personalized care, help maintain independence and enhance our client’s quality of life on a daily basis. • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits ensure the right care plan • Hourly care for you • Live-in care • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. • Elder referral and placement
Heartfelt & Supportive At All Times...
3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Lafayette, CA 94549
www.excellentcareathome.com
(beside Trader Joe’s)
925-284-1213
Family, Cosmetic, and Full Mouth Rehabilitation Dentistry • General Dentistry • Implants • Endodontics • Veneers • Periodontics • Oral Surgery • Orthodontics • FREE CUSTOM WHITENING FOR LIFE • Spa-like Anxiety-Free Sedation Dentistry
Dr. Evangelista • Dr Wong. • Dr. Wilson
925-831-8310 220 Alamo Plaza, Suite E, Alamo www.alamoplazadentalgroup.com
$89
APD is proud to introduce Dr. Amanda Wilson for your complete Orthodontic care. We are excited to bring in traditional braces as well as porcelain tooth colored braces. Please call today for a FREE consultation.
C
L
Exam, Cleaning & X-Ray
A
S
S
$500 OFF &GPVCN
$500 OFF
+ORNCPVU
I
F
(Invisible braces)
I
E
D
YOUTH PROGRAMS
FOR RENT CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042 Alamomgt@usa.net
GOT KIDS? Fun, interactive, youth programs for toddlers to high school students. www.StPaulsWC.org. Located in downtown Walnut Creek.
WORK WANTED HOUSE SITTING, PET SITTING, PROJECTS, TO-DO-LISTS, ERRANDS, ORGANIZING, and MORE. Reliable, punctual, UC Davis Sophomore, San Ramon Valley High Grad, looking for part-time, summer-time work. Call Amy at 925-487-4356 or email amy.corstor@gmail.com.
Alamo Today Classifieds Reach over 6,300 homes and businesses in Alamo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” at half off! Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad. Name_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ # of Words_______________ Phone________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________
Page 28 - June 2012 ~ Alamo Today
www.yourmonthlypaper.com nthlyp ypap yp ap per er.c .com om
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
®
925- 9 8 9 - 6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com Alamo Real Estate Sales Swing Upward
home that paid for his cost many times over. In the week just passed, we were in a multiple offer situation on a multi-million dollar home. Yes, even demand for the big boys is picking up. We are currently working with two couples looking for multi-million dollar homes and we are not finding the ones they want. This past week we put three additional buyers in contract. Nancy and I are accustomed to selling many homes each year, but the flurry of buying activity we are experiencing right now is greater than anything we have seen since 2004-2005. For the moment demand is there, but the inventory of acceptable homes is not high enough to meet it. Let me attempt to explain why I think this increased activity is happening. From the buyer’s perspective: First, I think people are tired of being afraid; it’s not in our nature. Secondly there is five years of pent-up buyer demand sitting on the sidelines ready to make a move. Third, mortgage rates keep falling; this week the rate was the lowest yet at 3.75%. Fourth, banks are once again loaning “Big, Big Money” and at great rates. Lastly, the “Bubble Maker” 80/10/10 is back again. If you are thinking about selling your Alamo home, here is what I can tell you about today’s buyers. They want perfection and they are willing to pay for it. They won’t pay for peeling paint, dirty carpets, or ten years of deferred maintenance. They love “real” hardwood flooring. They hate any appliance that isn’t stainless steel. They love white windows. The only blue they want to see is in the sky. They are less concerned about the color of your granite, but it better be granite. Oak is just O.K. for flooring. It is definitely not an acceptable cabinet material. A “ bummer” bathroom is a $25k deduction. Bad roof, deduct $50k. Kitchen not up to scratch, figure $100k less. No lawn, no sale. Today’s buyers don’t seem to have the time or the temperament to fix up a home. In their 2012 %Chg minds the cost of fixing will be double the actual price of the improvements involved. A tired, shop worn, thirty year old house in original condition is going $$/Sq. Ft. to bring $250-$270 per square foot depending on its location. It’s worth even $ 366 -1% less to a “Flipper.” A little well placed investment can make a huge difference $ 367 5% to the seller in today’s market. $ 356 10% If you are thinking about selling your home and would like an honest opinion $ 365 2% of its market value and some ideas on how to improve it, please give me a call $ 374 -4% 925-989-6086, or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com. Nancy and I will be happy to help.
Last month I reported that million dollar Alamo home sales were on the upswing. Even better news is available now and I have included a chart which compares 2011-2012 year to date through May 14th. While every number on the chart isn’t bright green, the overall picture is extremely positive. So far this year, home sales have more than doubled from the previous year. Last year at this time only 42 Alamo homes had sold. This year 109 homes have sold. Mathematically that is a 259% increase in sales, which sounds more like the market for iPads than Alamo homes. Still, it is a bullish number for Alamo. Another key development that should be mentioned is price paid per square foot. Except for a goofy number in March of 2011, this number has consistently remained above $350 and currently sits at $374 for the month of May 2012. While not nearly as bullish as the unit sales number, it argues strongly that a bottom has been hit. Sounds trite, but the market can’t recover until a bottom has been reached. I think maybe it has. Rather than pour through the numbers which I have placed on the page for you to see, I would like to pass on some anecdotal information and personal opinion that might illustrate the market change we are currently experiencing. Two weeks ago on a Tuesday, Nancy and I listed a property. By Friday we received three offers and the home pended at greater than list price. On the following Thursday we listed a property and reviewed offers on Monday. We received 40 offers and our seller selected the highest all cash offer with no appraisal contingency. Needless to say it went well over the asking price. We helped the seller make selected improvements to the 2011 2012 Units Units Jan 9 11 Feb 3 16 March 7 22 April 15 25 May* 8 35 * May 1-May 14
% Chg 22% 433% 214% 67% 338%
$ $ $ $ $
2011 Price 1,000,000 1,143,000 855,000 1,064,000 1,400,000
West Side Country Charm
$ $ $ $ $
2012 Price 1,109,000 1,293,000 1,097,000 1,235,000 1,204,000
%Chg 11% 13% 28% 16% -14%
2011 $$/Sq. Ft. $ 370 $ 351 $ 324 $ 358 $ 389
Westside Alamo Single Story
Alamo Custom Luxury Home
NG
DI N E P Four bedroom country charmer on ½ acre with pool and spa. Granite and stainless kitchen. Beautiful! $1,299,000.
Perfect throughout. 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Huge outdoor entertainment area and pool. $1,450,000.
Exquisite 5 bedroom 4.5 bath custom luxury home on level .5 acre lot. Custom pool and spa! Eye popping, mouth dropping, Wow! Appeal. $2,240,000.
Custom Luxury Contemporary
Downsize in Style
Golf Course Single Story
D SOL Dramatic, one-of-a-kind luxury home with amazing views! $1,599,000
2 bedroom 2 bath townhome with great views in a gated community. Updated granite and stainless kitchen, patio, attached garage. $540,000
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.
ING
D PEN
Completely renovated single story on Golf Course. $1,399,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526