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May 2011 Alamo Parks Spending Limit Election Set for June By Sharon Burke
Contra Costa County Supervisors have placed Measure F on the June 7 ballot, meaning Alamo voters will head to the polls that day where they will be asked to vote on approving an appropriations limit increase for Alamo Parks and Recreation (County Service Area R-7, Zone A). R-7, Zone A, includes all of Alamo except Round Hill Country Club and Round Hill North. Voters will receive their sample ballots the first week in May. A majority of those voting is required for approval. Every four years, the State Constitution allows special district voters (such as Alamo Parks) to adjust the appropriations limit to match tax revenues. These elections are sometimes called “Gann limit” elections after California taxpayer advocate Paul Gann, who championed the proposition that created Gann limits. This is the fourth Gann limit election for Alamo parks in the past ten years. The last one was in November, 2005 when the Gann limit was increased to $990,000. The approval percentage far exceeded the majority required, with 67% voting “yes.” A “yes” vote on Measure F means Alamo Parks will be able to keep its revenue in Alamo for the maintenance and improvement of Alamo parks. It is not a tax increase and will not raise homeowners’ taxes. Gann limits were designed to limit tax jurisdictions to spending no more than allowed by their growth in population and cost of living. Gann limit elections have become rarer in recent years due to declining property tax revenues to jurisdictions and the fact that many jurisdictions in California have grown so rapidly they will never exceed their Gann limit. For instance, the Town of Danville Gann limit is currently $28 million and their budget is around $17 million, leaving a comfortable margin before they would need to hold a Gann limit election. Alamo’s parks property tax revenues grew steadily in the 2000’s necessitating the many Gann limit elections. Although R-7A revenue declined 6% from 2010 to 2011 due to downward property tax reassessments, property tax revenues still grew 22% from 2005 (the last Gann limit election) until now.
See Vote continued on page 25
Diablo Valley Quilters By Fran Miller
Serving Alamo and Diablo A Fresh Start By Fran Miller
Fresh Start, a respite and service center for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, is growing and expanding. For most enterprises, this would signify progression and success. But for Fresh Start, expansion is indicative of trying times. “Fresh Start has changed for the better over the last few years, and for better or worse it has grown,” says Executive Director Bill Lunghi. “In other words, Fresh Start serves more participants due to the Great Recession. As more and more Americans are losing their jobs and/or their homes, more people are requiring our services. Moreover, worker/consumer income continues to decline, and the social safety net is simply falling apart.”
A huge thank you card for Abi, (Abi 4th from left) successfully obtained donations of personal care items, over 150 personal care packs she put together for participants at Fresh Start. This was part of her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts. Pictured l-r, Geoffrey, Bill, Robin, Abi, Billy, Polly.
Lunghi’s wife, Susan Prather, founded Fresh Start in Walnut Creek In today’s society, where instant gratification is the desired norm and ‘faster sixteen years ago. Her compassion, charisma, and unconventional style is always better’ is the reigning philosophy, can a genteel activity requiring skill, served to change the lives of everyone she met. She, in essence, was patience, and artistic creativity survive? If that activity happens to be quilting, the Fresh Start, and when she passed away unexpectedly a few years ago, answer appears to be ‘yes.’ See DVQ continued on page 23 Lunghi took the reigns and has successfully navigated the non-profit through one of the worst economic downturns in recent history. Fresh Start continues to thrive, thanks in large part to its volunteer staff management, administrators and case counselors - who dedicate their lives to helping those less fortunate. A “who’s who” list of Bay Area businesses and individuals provide both financial and meal assistance; Loaves and Fishes, for instance, offers the midday meal free of charge. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, on Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek, provides the office and communal space. A $250,000 donation, willed to the city of Walnut Creek in 1999 by the late Elizabeth Martin of Rossmoor, allowed Fresh Start Volume XI - Number 5 to operate for 2 ½ years before 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 it became a private non-profit. Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Velda Newman workshop To this day, Fresh Start has Fax (925) 406-0547 never operated on government Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PRSRT STD funding. “We operate on the Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com U.S. Postage kindness of both friends and Sharon Burke ~ Writer PAID strangers,” says Lunghi. sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 At Fresh Start, clients find a The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not safe and peaceful atmosphere not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor
See Start cont. on page 29
does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
It’s sad to go to an antique store and see so many old family photos with no names, dates, or other forms of identification. Many things have little extrinsic value unless you know the story behind the objects. Without a story, a family heirloom is just a dust collector. When my in-laws were alive, I once sat with them and took pictures of all of their important family possessions. I cataloged them and made brief notations of how the possession came to be. There were wedding presents given to their parents and great-grandparents. The glass-fronted bookcase near my office desk is noted as a “cheap stained pine or redwood” unit that used to be part of the furniture at the family vineyard in Woodside. Tucked inside the bookcase were two empty wine bottles from the last production year of the La Questa vineyard, Rixford family wines. The notes go on to say, “the premium Cabernet wines were from the legendary La Questa vines, planted by E.H. Rixford in 1884.” Some silver plated trivets from my in-laws possessions were noted as being obtained from redeeming the old S&H Green Stamps. According to Wikipedia, “S&H Green Stamps were trading stamps popular in the United States from the 1930s until the late 1980s. Customers would receive stamps at the checkout counter of supermarkets, department stores, and gasoline stations among other retailers, which could be redeemed for products in the catalog.” I fondly remember my sisters and me filling up books and then going to the redemption center for “prizes.” Another family member undertook a similar project cataloging their possessions. In the catalog a small ornament from a Mayan temple is pictured. The caption goes on to say “Found in Mexico in about 1930 by Mr. & Mrs. Dudderar.” My aunt noted, “We paid a small boy to run up the steps of a temple and chip off this ornament for us.” The piece probably dates back to 300-600AD. Another entry shows a wooden napkin ring. The text says, “John collected this napkin ring from his great, great, Aunt Florence. It had been purchased by her hus-
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band Albert on his European trip of 1900. The carved word “OBERAMEGAU” identifies it as being from the German town of Oberammergau. Albert’s expense journal indicated that he purchased it on August 11, 1900 for 25 cents. Also pictured are two decks of playing cards purchased by a relative in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1925. Next to it is a piece that appears to be a broken dagger handle. The handle was found by a relative living in Czechoslovakia in the 1960’s. It is believed the piece dates back to the 7th or 8th centuries. Without documentation, this ribbed lump of metal has much less of a story. There is also a hand-forged iron ring dated 1775. A note, passed down by the family, says “This iron is part of an old linchpin wagon of colonial times; used to convey household goods of early settlers to Indiana. The iron was used to FINE hold the hownds of the wagon to the coupling pole.” My next project is to start attaching tags to special possessions in our house so the pieces will have a story to travel with them through the years. Do you have belongings with a story? Make sure to take the time to let that story be told. ekend
JEWELRY
& CRAFT SHOW
Day s ’ r e h t Mo
We
Saturday 10 - 6 Sunday 10 - 5
Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Stone Valley Rd West and Danville Blvd.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 3
Diablo Country Club Custom Estate. 1.56 acres. 11,256 sq. ft., 7 bed, 6 bath, 2 offices, 2 game rms., Sep. 2 bed guest suite, 5 car garage., horse property, and much more. $6,875,000
Westside Alamo. GorͲ geous floor plan, formal living/dining/family rm, lrg bonus rm, 5 bdrms, master suite. .35 acre lot w/pool. Room off pool w/kitchen &1/2 bth. $1,489,000
Joan Marx 925.683.7696 www.JoanMarx.com
Rick Fiset 925.362.0415 www.101LaSerenaAve.com
Orinda home w/gated entry, western hill views and secluded location. 3333 sf, 4 bd/4bth. Lavish master suite w/library. RemodͲ eled bath/kitchen. 3 frplces, pool & sauna. $1,425,000
Beautifully located charming 4 bd/3.5bth Alamo home w/ landscaped yard, open floor plan, formal living, dining and family rms. 2 master bdrms on sepaͲ rate floors. $1,189,000
Updated 4bd/3bth single story in Whitegate. Lrg kitchen w/classic white cabinets & huge center island open to fmly rm. Hardwood flrs. Pebble tec pool, basketball ct, patio. CulͲdeͲsac. $1,099,000
5bd/4.5bth, 3915 sqft Livermore custom home in the Vineyards. 20,074 sqft lot. Pool, spa & pool house. Lrg driveway + sideyard access. DownͲ stairs office is 5th bdrm. High ranking schools. $1,090,000
Beverly Wilson 925.963.3178
Nazee Ranker 925.788.5685 www.NazeeRanker.com
Gretchen Bryce 925.683.2477 www.GretchenBryce.com
Judi Irwin 925.519.4922 www.2079Pulsar.com
Hard to find single story in Danville. Walk to top rated schools. Easy comͲ mute. 4 bd/3bth, formal living, dining, family rms. Updated kitchen w/ granite, SS appl. Flat 1/2 ac lot. Pebble tech pool. $998,000
White Gate culͲdeͲsac. Freeform pool & spa. Backs to open space. 4bd/2.5bth w/3 car garage. $989,000
Bixby model by Shapell in the Bridges. Lrg. master suite downͲ stairs, 2740 sf, 4bd/2.5bth. Lrg. flat lot. Hardwood cherry flrs, kitchen open to family rm. Excellent schools. $965,000
Newly listed 4bd/3bth updated single story Danville home. Terraced backyard w/pool & spa. Newer dual pane winͲ dows, newer roof, hardͲ wood flrs, new gar. door. Close to schools & hwys. $879,000
John Lopes 925.998.8262 www.JohnLopes.com
Gretchen Bryce 925.683.2477 www.GretchenBryce.com
Mira Goetsch 925.216.1145 www.MiraHomes.com
Gretchen Bryce 925.683.2477 www.GretchenBryce.com
Alamo. Beautiful JapaͲ nese gardens, free form pool & koi pond, at the foot of Mt. Stephens, manͲmade waterfall. Pvt. setting, vintage 3bd/2bth, 1800sqft. 1/2 acre lot. . $845,000
Custom home w/ stunning views. GourͲ met kitchen w/slab granite counters, cusͲ tom cabinetry & center island. Hardwood flrs. Pvt. lot, rear deck w/ pool. $839,000
Unbeatable Westide Alamo setting on .65 flat acres. Vintage 3bd/2bth home. Quiet tree linedͲ court & babbling brook. Oozing charm & opporͲ tunity . Open 5/7 and 5/8 from 1pmͲ4pm. $750,000
Lot for sale in Alamo! .99 acres near Roundhill CC. Views, in area of multiͲmillion dollar homes. Fronts to pvt. st. Horse allowed. Utilities available. $400,000
Jackie C. Hoyt 925.989.6964 www.JackieCHoyt.com
Diana Korpi 925.830.4764 www.DianaHomes.com
Jackie C. Hoyt 925.989.6964 www.JackieCHoyt.com
Pam Berce 925.699.8090 www.PamBerce.com
Page 4 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
AAUW Garden Tour
Under New Ownership
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($650 value with complete exam, x-rays, and cleaning) Richard C. Evangelista, DDS
Family, Cosmetic,
and Implant Dentistry
Invisalign • Veneers • Sedation Dentistry • Digital X-rays
220 Alamo Plaza, Suite E, Alamo | 925.831.8310 | www.alamoplazadentalgroup.com
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Alamo Women’s Club Semi-ANNUAL
ARTS, CRAFTS and Garage sale!
Saturday, May 21st - Rain or Shine Reserve your space now! Outside, 16’ x 18’ $45, Inside $60 To reserve call Anita at 925-837-1242
Alamo Capital is a full service investment firm that has specialized in TAX FREE investing since 1987
Our Specialties are: - Municipal Tax Free, Government, Corporate, Agency & Foreign Bonds - Wealth Management Programs - Money Markets with checks - Certificates of Deposit - Mutual Funds - College Savings Plans - 401(K), IRA’s, Roth - Annuities (Fixed & Variable) - Health, Life and Long Term Care Insurance
Call today to speak to an investment specialist!
(877) 68-ALAMO (877) 682-5266
website: www.alamocapital.com email: information@alamocapital.com 201 N. Civic Drive , Suite 145 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 This advertisement was prepared for general circulation and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or service. Investing involves risk. Please consult a Financial Professional to determine what investments are right for you. Alamo Capital is a Broker Dealer Member: FINRA , SIPC / Ca Insurance# 0G3313
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The 11th Annual Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of AAUW Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th from 10AM - 4PM. Seven delightful gardens located in Alamo, Danville, and Walnut Creek will be showcased. Various landscape designers as well as expert gardeners will be on hand to share their knowledge. The cost is $35, $30 for seniors 65+. No children under 12 please. Tickets (cash or check only) are available at East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Road West (Danville Livery), Danville. For more information, email gardentour@aauw.daw.org or call Tena at (925) 837-0826. In addition, the Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW Holiday Home Tour needs homes that would be festive for our 2011 tour on Friday, December 9th and Saturday, December 10th. If you have a suggestion, please call Tena at 837-0826 ASAP. To learn more about our branch, check our website at www.aauw-daw.org. All proceeds benefit AAUW’s funds that support aspiring female scholars.
Have you Seen this Dog?
“Coby,” 10 months old Black/Tan German Shepherd/ Cattle Dog mix. Missing since March 1st. Spotted all over Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Alamo. Shy but friendly. Not known to bite. Please help us catch him and bring him home! Had a name tag and red print collar. Generous REWARD for his return. Please call or text Julie 415-806-0658 ANY TIME with info.
Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art & Craft Show, May 7 & 8
Painters, jewelers, sculptors and other artisans will be gathering on Mother’s Day weekend at Alamo Plaza Shopping Center for the annual “Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art, and Craft Show.” This popular two-day event will be held Saturday, and Sunday, May 7th and 8th from 10AM to 6PM. This year’s show features 50 artists exhibiting original works of art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, glass, woodwork, mixed media, photography, and more. The gold and silver jewelry of Fran and Jerry Harr represents the exceptional quality of artistry presented at the Alamo festival. This popular husband and wife team has been fabricating and selling their original gold, silver, and gemstone jewelry for more than 20 years. Each piece of jewelry is one-of-a-kind and is completely hand constructed. Also featured will be the pottery of David Yager. His pottery is known for its classic shapes and high-fire cobalt blue glazes. “This celebration of Art offers a great opportunity for art lovers to meet with and purchase directly from some of the West Coast’s most talented artists and artisans,” said festival director John Holland. Admission to the festival is free. Additional show information and maps are available online at www.jhfestivals.com.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 5
Creative Learning Center
Alamo’s 3RD Annual
Native American Indian Art Show and Sale
The Creative Learning Center in Alamo will again open its doors for their annual Western Day Mayfest on Saturday, May 14th from 11AM - 2PM. The community is welcome to join in the day of fun which will include game and good booths, races, balloons, entertainment, pony rides, a petting zoo, and much more! No admission will be charged, and no reservation is required. Hope to see you there in your western clothes!
Friday, May 13th (preview) 3-7pm Saturday, May 14th 10-6pm Sunday, May 15th 10-4pm
Poll Workers Needed for June 7 Special Election
The Contra Costa County Elections Department is seeking people to serve as poll workers for the June th 7 special election. The department is looking for people willing to work as clerks or inspectors in Alamo. Applicants for the positions must be registered to vote in California. No prior experience is necessary. Training for clerks can be completed online, or applicants can attend a class that will be offered in Richmond. Inspectors receive a $100 stipend and clerks receive an $80 stipend for working on Election Day. Other stipends range from $5 to $20 for duties such as attending class, picking up supplies, delivering ballots, and providing bilingual assistance. For information about applying for the positions, call the elections department at 925-335-7873.
Document Shredding Fundraiser
Safeguard your personal information and protect against identity theft while recycling for our planet and helping people fighting cancer in our community. Bring old tax returns, business records, bank statements, cancelled checks, credit card statements, bills, receipts, and other documents containing personal information to our event, make a charitable donation, and ShredWorks will shred your documents on the spot! The event will be held at the California Cancer and Research Institute, located at 400 Taylor Blvd in Pleasant Hill, on Saturday, June 4th from 10AM to 12PM. Cost is $20 for first box and $5 for each additional box (standard record size storage box). All proceeds will benefit Cancer Support Community, a nonprofit organization supporting cancer patients.
Association for the Preservation of Danville Blvd.
Meetings of the Association for the Preservation of Danville Boulevard will be held Saturday, May 14st, Saturday, August 13th, and Saturday, November 12th. All meetings are open to the public and begin at 9am. Meetings are held in the conference room at Safeway in Alamo For questions or information, please call Lillian Burns at 925-837-7720.
Alamo Women’s Club
1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo Free Parking Adults - $5 Children - Free
ALAMO PLAZA
ALAMO PLAZA
Page 6 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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Life in the Lafayette Garden Tour
The public is cordially invited to step into the enchantment and delight of five Lafayette gardens designed by John Montgomery on Saturday, May l4th from 11AM to 4PM. The cost is $25 per person. This second annual event is a fundraiser with proceeds to benefit Hospice of the East Bay, the Tech Trek program sponsored by the Orinda-MoragaLafayette Branch of The American Association of University Women, and other local charities. John Montgomery, whose gardens are famous, believes the function of the garden is to rejuvenate, inspire, and relax one’s spirit. Come chat with John, nibble goodies during an outdoor cooking demonstration by A Loveable Feast, participate in a lively presentation by The Urban Farmers, and enjoy serene live music by the Danville Community Band as you stroll through all five of these distinctive gardens. To purchase tickets, please contact Pat Lopker at (925) 376-5l55 or signup on John Montgomery’s website www.jm-la.com and click on “Garden Tour.” For questions, contact Debbie at dblumhardt@jm-la.com.
Danville Community Band Concert
The Danville Community Band completes its tenth performing season with a variety of tunes including a selection of marches, the Overture from Rossini’s “La Gazza Ladra,” music from Kalinnikov, Holst, Gershwin, and more on Sunday, June 12th at 3pm at Community Presbyterian Church located at 222 West El Pintado Road in Danville. For questions, please call 925-837-5525. The concert is free. For more information about the band or future performances, visit www.danvilleband.org.
Trapped in a Rumor’s Improv Comedy Show
Trapped in a Rumor improv group will perform their next show on May 14th at 7PM at the Village Theatre Art Gallery in Danville. Those in the audience will enjoy this eight-person ensemble of talented and eclectic personalities. These individuals have the natural ability to take a blank “canvas” and create a brilliant improv. The June show is scheduled for Saturday, June 11th. Space is limited, so purchase your $10 tickets today! Visit www.villagetheatreshows.com or call (925) 314-3400 to purchase tickets.
The Willows Presents Chicago, the Musical
The Willows Theatre Company will stage its production of the musical Chicago, the epic tale of murder, mayhem, and courtroom chicanery in America’s most famous Prohibition Era city. The show is based on a true story from the Roaring 20s. The musical is a satire on corruption and the concept of the “celebrity criminal.” Chicago runs May 14th through June 12th at the Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward Street in Martinez. For tickets or information call 925-798-1300 or visit www.willowstheatre.com.
Spring into Summer
Join the Alamo Plaza merchants for four Thursday nights in May for loads of fun for the entire family during our Adopted Schools fundraiser. Alamo Plaza has adopted Rancho Romero and Alamo Elementary schools to assist them in fundraising opportunities. The goal is to provide the schools with support in areas needed to assist with recent budget cutbacks. The first fundraiser will be Spring into Summer, an event that will provide a fun night of music, bounce house, face painter, balloon twisting, a fun train ride for kids, a live DJ, a band, and merchant offers and special events. The event will be held May 5th from 6 - 8PM. Thursdays, May 5th and May 19th will benefit Alamo Elementary, and Thursdays, May 12th and 26th will benefit Rancho Romero Elementary. 100% of the donations received will go directly to the schools. For more information, go to www.alamoplazashoppingcenter.com.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 7
Delta Nu Psi Collection for the Troops
On April 22nd Delta Nu Psi passed the 20,000 pound mark! The group has sent TEN TONS of “gourmet junk food” to our service people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks to the fantastic shoppers at CVS in Alamo and Lunardi's in Danville who donate much of the goods. The group will be collecting at CVS in Alamo on May 6th and Lunardi's on May 13th from 11AM to 2PM. Please stop by and help us send more packages to our troops. Visit www.deltanupsi.org for photos and emails from the War Zone.
Celebrate Mom
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
VFW Post 75, San Ramon Valley, meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. The next meeting will be held Thursday, May 12th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Find out more about the VFW at www.vfw.org.
Blue Star Moms
on Mother’s Day!
The East Bay Chapter 101 Blue Star Moms is collecting donations for their upcoming “Star-Spangled Thank You” care package mailing to our Troops. While you are out shopping, please consider picking up some extra items to donate and drop-off at Safeway located at 200 Alamo Plaza in Alamo on May 21st from 10AM to 3PM. All donations will be mailed to our brave men and women serving our country overseas. Come say hello, sponsor a care package mailing ($12.50), 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.
Remember the Ladies
The Danville Library Presents Remember the Ladies as a Centennial Celebration of California’s Women’s Suffrage on Thursday, May 12th at 7PM in the Danville Library, Mt. Diablo Room. The event will celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage in the state of California with an engaging and spirited historical re-enactment. In 1911, California was the sixth and largest Western state to approve women suffrage, nearly a decade before it was approved nationally. Learn more about the hard-fought campaign to win women the franchise in California and re-live the women’s civil rights movement with an engaging historical re-enactment. Also, find out more about the upcoming Remember the Ladies exhibit opening on May 14th at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley.
925.837.3262
3202 Danville Boulevard Alamo, California
(Across the street from Ace Hardware)
Jewelry & Watch Repair |Appraising | Engraving | Estate Jewelry | We Buy Gold
Alamo Women’s Club
On Wednesday, May 25th from noon until 1:30pm the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Blvd in Alamo, will be presenting checks to the winners of the 2011 Scholarship Awards. A buffet luncheon for the winners, their teachers, family members, and the community will be held. Each scholarship winner will perform or display their work for all to enjoy! Awards of $1,000 are going to: San Ramon Valley High School - Tara Power and Regina Rose Spranger, and to Monte Vista High School - Kelly Morello and Madeleine Partridge. Awards of $1,750 are going to Diablo Valley College students Jin No and Shera Macciocchi. A grant of $500 is going to Del Amigo High School. The Club will also be holding a “Community Craft and Garage Sale” on Saturday, May 21st, from 9AM - 4PM. Come find a treasure, and help support our Club which supports many local philanthropies. For more information about The Alamo Women’s Club, please visit www. alamowomensclub.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. Our one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. Price is $16 for members and first time guests and $20 for returning guests. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
Page 8 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Rancho Romero Elementary School By Skye Larsh, Principal Thank You Mrs. Keen
Experiencing the warmth of spring and longer days reminds us that the end of school is not too far off. It is an exciting time of year when students come to realize how much they have learned over the course of eight months. Wonderfully, enduring friendships have been forged and are now cherished. Teachers can hardly believe the students arriving to their class late April are the same ones from September. Adults and students alike start to reflect on the year and wonder what they might do once it comes to an end. For many, the end of the school year portends a temporary shift in dayto-day events, responsibilities and thinking; it’s a chance to unwind, renew, reinvent, and feel inspired, knowing that a return to the classroom will occur in the fall. For a few, however, the end of the year is much more than a shift. It is a seminal moment, a transformation from one state to another. It is a retreat from the working life and into the glorious phase of retirement. After 26 years of service to students, Dorothy Keen, 4th/5th grade teacher at Rancho Romero, has announced her retirement effective the end of this school year. While I have known Dorothy for only a short duration, it has become impressively clear the impact she has on students. Dorothy is a person of integrity, dedication, and passion for ensuring all students reach their highest potential. She possesses an unequivocal love of teaching, evidenced by every student who she has helped guide, push, and empower. At 7AM, when Dorothy, as usual, had already been at school for a half an hour, we sat down for a brief reflective conversation about her professional career. Dorothy began by sharing that she has been teaching for twenty-six years, with twenty-four years at Rancho Romero. If we just multiplied the number of years by an average class of thirty, Dorothy would have directly taught 725 students during her tenure at Rancho. She has worked with six principals and countless families. As we talk, her eyes well with tears as she thinks of the unbelievable kids she has watched grow academically and socially. “That is why I love this profession and will miss it more than you know,” she says.
Fine Mexican Dining
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Tell me about your family? I have my husband, John, who retired December 31, 2010. I have three children, one daughter and two sons, and six grandchildren, with one on the way in August. What made you decide to go into teaching? Kids! I came from a very large family, eight brothers and sisters, so you might think I would choose something a little more passive, but I have always loved kids. I graduated from a Catholic High School in Marin, attended College of Notre Dame in Belmont, and took my first teaching position in Shafter outside Bakersfield. At that time it was really difficult to find a teaching job. What has been your greatest source of inspiration all these years? Witnessing the successes of kids, both short and long term. Hearing that one of my former students, who struggled in school, was hired by a top company after graduating from college was priceless. How has teaching and learning changed since you first began your career? In some ways I feel that creativity has been compromised because we place so much emphasis on accountability mandates. You have to really think about how and when to imbed creativity and carefully select the right tasks and projects. Reading materials, literature, and knowledge of good instructional practices has definitely improved, along with the use of technology and emphasis on student collaboration. What do you think students need to know and be able to do in 2011? Students need to have effective listening skills, and it starts with the adults. We don’t spend enough time actively listening to understand one another. I also believe that students need strong collaboration and communication skills. The jobs of today require these strong skill sets. How might you summarize your professional career? Fulfilled. Successful. Satisfying. Rewarding. What opportunities and joys are you looking forward to in your retirement? Traveling outside of the summer months. It’s amazing how easy it is to make plans when kids are in school. Also, I really want to spend time with my grandkids while they’re young. Finally, I have to make mention of the great staff at Rancho Romero who I will miss them very much. They have made my career so meaningful. I plan to come back to visit. Maybe, I will substitute…but, probably not right away. Dorothy, may your retirement allow you to live your life and pursue all that you never had the time do. Follow your dreams, and take this chance to discover new and interesting things. Thank you for all of the years you have spent making a difference in the lives of children.
Alamo Elementary School By Stan Hitomi, Principal
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
When we think of spring, change usually comes to mind. That has certainly been the case at Alamo School. This spring has brought about many new programs and facilities improvements to our school. In April, our students started a new six-week art program taught by Beverly Terlap. Beverly comes to us with a strong background in art, including teaching art in grades K-6 at St. Raymonds. Later this spring, our 4th and 5th graders will be introduced to lacrosse. The Alamo EdFund has generously provided $1,500 to bring the Bay Area Sticks-2-Schools program to Alamo. The program was started by the Stealth professional lacrosse team. The program will provide training for our PE Specialist (Lori Poulleau) and the equipment needed for the playing lacrosse. Needless to say the students are very excited! On April 14th our students participated in a Fitness Run, which raised over $8,000 for a new canopy to cover our outdoor amphitheater. The run was sponsored by the Alamo Education Fund and coordinated by parents Jen Cole and Jen Abbott. The new canopy will compliment our new outdoor stage which was completed in March by Alamo School alum Jeff Bromley as his Eagle Scout Project. The week of April 11 – 15 Alamo School celebrated Earth Week, coordinated by PTA members Melanie Volk and Lisa Gartland Dempster. Activities for the week included a bike/walk/carpool to school day, a zero waste day, and information about recycling and energy conservation. The bike/walk/carpool to school event saw a decrease of our use of cars to commute to school by 35%, a 160% increase in walkers, and 56 times more bikers than normal. Students were able to reduce food waste by 30% and garbage waste by 50%, which reduces how much waste we sent to landfill/garbage. These are significant results if you multiply that by the week, month, year, and across schools making the same effort!
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Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun McElroy, Principal
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 9
Come Join the Backpack Brigade
Stone Valley class of 2011 is collecting gently used backpacks and school supplies that can be donated to our sister school, Coronado Elementary School, in Richmond. The 8th grade class will fill the backpacks as part of their community service day on June 9th. Backpacks loaded with school supplies will be delivered to Coronado this summer so that Coronado students will start the year well prepared. All backpacks and school supplies can be taken directly to the stage in the MPR. Our 8th graders will spend most of their last day at Stone Valley performing acts of community service. The students will begin the day listening to a member of the Monte Vista High School Interact club talk about the importance of volunteerism. Eighth graders are currently scheduled to complete the following: letter to service men and women serving overseas, planting seeds for the Bounty Garden Project at Hap Magee Park, backpack brigade, and setting up chairs for the promotion ceremony. Need more info? Contact Shaun McElroy smcelro@srvusd.net.
Science for the Future
Computer Programming & Robotics Summer Camp for kids 8-12 years old
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Camp founder and instructor: Ph.D. in Computer Science, UC Berkeley.
2011 Fitness Challenge is an “11th hour” Success
Stone Valley’s Ed Fund Annual Fitness Challenge received a late save this year. The event ran on Thursday, April 14th. So far we had received $3,500 in pledges toward our fundraising goal of $15,000. The day of the event we had a surge when a grandfather of one our 8th graders pledged $2,500, but that still left us only one third of the way toward our goal. The days unfolded, kids ran, parents and teachers cheered, the music played, and by Thursday evening we were closing in at about 80% of our goal. By the following Monday we EXCEEDED our goal by nearly $1,000. Thanks to all for you who participated as a runner, donor, or helper. Special thanks to our event Co-Chairs Heather Cavage Johnson and Annette Lance. The proceeds of this event will be used to better equip our student with tools for 21st century learning. Join us for our next for next Ed Fund Event “Ladies Luncheon” on Friday May 20th. Contact Susan McNeil at 925-837-5337 or susan@mcneilinsurance. com, or Malia Kenny at 707-246-279 or maliakenny@yahoo.com for info.
SPARK PE = Higher Grades
We are all probably aware of the compendium of research that supports the theory of the positive effect exercise has on academic achievement. Students in Stone Valley’s new SPARK PE class, taught by Ron Hirschman, will tell you it’s true. We compared the semester report cards of SPARK PE students for the past two semesters, spring semester 2010 vs. fall semester 2010, and 45% of students SPARK PE had a measurable increase in Grade Point Average (GPA). I realize this is far from scientific data, but anytime we can see student achievement for any reason we’ll take it. Our next step is to look at changes in STAR test scores for this group of students.
Community Invitation: Join us for our Open House May 12th
This is a welcome message for the entire Alamo Today readership; please join us on Thursday May 12th for our annual Open House. Open House is a short but sweet event. Dinner is served between 6pm and 6:45pm. We will announce the PTA Honorary Service Award winners and then visit the classrooms till 7:30pm. Open House is the one last time for us to come together as a community before we break away for summer plans. It’s also a time to thank a teacher for the hard work they do in educations our children.
Remember the 50s? The 60s? Rock Around The Clock? Up On The Roof? Stand By Me?
The Blackhawk Chorus rocks out…. Be there! Saturday, May 7, 2011, 8PM
Dean Lesher Center • 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek For tickets, $25 for adults, $17 for children 12 and under, visit www.lesherarts.org
Saturday, May 14, 2011, 8PM
Resurrection Lutheran Church 7557 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin For tickets, $20 for adults, $15 for students, call 925-828-1580
Friday, May 20, 2011, 6:30PM
Blackhawk Country Club, Danville $47 per person for Concert & Dinner For tickets call 925-736-6500
Stone Valley Television (SVTV) Introduces a New STAR
In fall of 2011, there will be a new face behind the camera for SVTV. Teacher Kathleen Arbulu successfully introduced our student and staff to our first ever broadcast television this year. SVTV was so successful that we have now created a video productions class, and sign-ups are through the roof! The new director is Science teacher Jeff Hager. Welcome to the director’s chair Jeff!
Audition for the Danville Girls Chorus
The Danville Girls Chorus (DCC) will be holding auditions for the upcoming 2011-2012 season which begins in September. Girls in grades 3-8 are invited to join the fun group for singing, performing, and learning how to read and appreciate music of all types. No musical experience is required. Auditions will be held on June 7th in the San Ramon Valley High School chorus room in Danville from 4-6PM. To arrange for an audition appointment, call (925) 837-2624 or e-mail Danville_girls_chorus@hotmail.com . There will be a $25 fee due the day of the audition. The DCC is made up of 150 girls from 3rd – 8th grades from over 30 local Tri-Valley schools. The primary goal is music education. Under the direction of Ken Abrams, girls are taught the basics of vocal production and learn the fundamentals of musicianship and note reading. They are also introduced to a variety of musical styles, ranging from classical to contemporary, folk tunes and pop music. Studies have shown how music can affect learning in math and the sciences, and we know that performing in public promotes self-esteem, which can only be a positive influence on children. The DCC is a great representation of what the studies now prove. For more information about the DCC, please call (925) 837-2624 or visit our website at www.danvillegirlschorus.com.
Page 10 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
San Ramon Valley High School By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal
It is hard to believe that there are only four more weeks left in the school year. Where did the time go? As I look back over the year, I realize just how quickly time has come and gone. At this point at SRVHS we are beginning to focus on endings. Before the summer vacation is upon us…there are a few things to remember: • The third quarter has ended, and 4th quarter progress reports are due…and, it is never too late to work to improve your grade. • Continue to dialogue with your student about the importance of academic success, social involvement, hard work, and dedication to the educational process. • Check the website for the many upcoming events at SRVHS. This site
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is our primary source of communication and is updated regularly (www.srvhs.net). • Construction is complete (for now)! All fencing has been removed, and students can access the entire campus. This summer we will begin the next phase, which consists of installing solar in the senior parking lot, and a new marquee and completing the stadium restroom/snack shack. • STAR testing is complete and was highly successful. Of the over 1,600 students who tested, very few were absent! This is a tribute to our entire community, your effort, and emphasis on this testing which has been remarkable. • The first two weeks of May consist of AP testing for many of our Juniors and Seniors. Most importantly, we have had a wonderful year filled with challenges and celebrations that will continue to keep us engaged for the next four weeks. Your support of San Ramon Valley High School is what helps keep students and staff engaged in this phenomenal institution. Thank you for all you do to keep SRVHS a great place to be.
Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal
During the month of April we began rolling out the Naviance program to our 9-11th graders. Family Connection from Naviance Inc. is designed to help students make decisions about courses, colleges, and careers. Family Connection allows students to get involved in planning their future college and career path. Through this program, students can build resumes, complete on-line interest surveys, and manage time lines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers. This is a powerful tool for students to research colleges, scholarships, and financial aid. In the near future, students will be able to compare their GPA, standardized test scores, and other statistical information to the admission data of former Monte Vista High School students who were accepted to the same universities our current students are considering. Naviance acts a bridge between students and counselors. With this program students can access information from the Counseling Department and College and Career Center such as up-coming meetings and events, local scholarship opportunities, and other web resources for college. With Family Connection, students can sign up for college visits and communicate with counselors via email, all within the Naviance website. This program will help students develop a more comprehensive plan for their post high school education and allow them to investigate more thoroughly their interests and talents. Another exciting project at Monte Vista involves the installation of solar panels. Monte Vista is one of six schools within the District involved in this solar project. This system will generate about 2/3 of the electricity required to run these schools. While some preliminary work is being done this spring, construction will begin on June 13th and will involve closing the Humphrey lot (otherwise known as the “junior” parking lot) across the street from Monte Vista. The project is scheduled to be completed by August 24th, in time for the first day of school. If you are interested in learning more about this project, please visit the SRVUSD website at www.srvusd.net/solar. For more information about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at www.mvhigh.org.
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club
Please join us on May 10th as we celebrate the last luncheon of the 2010-2011 Newcomer's calendar. We will bid farewell to the current Board of Directors and welcome the new Board of 2011-2012. This casual get together is the perfect opportunity to hear about the many facets of the Newcomers club while enjoying coffee and some treats. If you are new to the area or a long-time resident of Alamo, Danville, and the surrounding area, please join us. Please call 925-775-3233 or visit our website www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com for details.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 11
Much Ado About Nothing
EXTREME PIZZA
Much applause for the Advanced Play Productions class at Monte Vista High School for selecting a Shakespearean play to end their dramatic season. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a “merry war.” They both talk a mile a minute and proclaim their scorn for love, marriage, and each other. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another. By means of “noting” (which sounds the same as “nothing,” and which is gossip, rumor, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into
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rejecting Hero at the altar. However, Dogberry, a Constable who is a master of malapropisms, discovers - unbeknownst to himself - the evil trickery of the villain, Don John, brother to the Prince, Don Pedro. In the end, Don John is captured, and everyone else joins in a dance celebrating the marriages of the two couples. Much Ado About Nothing premiers on Wednesday, May 18th and continues until Friday, May 20th at 7pm in the Monte Vista Al Gentile Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children/ students with ASB. Tickets may be purchased at the door or call the Monte Vista Drama Room at 925-552-2878.
Matthew Wallace Honored with Eagle Scout Award
On April 17, Boy Scout Matthew Wallace, a member of Troop 236 in Danville, was honored for achieving the Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouting’s highest honor. To become an Eagle Scout, Matthew earned 33 merit badges and served his troop in a variety of leadership roles, including Senior Patrol Leader. He continues his involvement as an Assistant Scoutmaster, mentoring younger Scouts and managing online communications for the Troop. He also completed a major community service project, collecting $22,000 in baseball equipment for the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters), which is an organization that has provided a home for thousands of orphans and abandoned children since 1954 throughout Central and South America. Matthew is a junior at De La Salle High School. Matthew wants to study law and use his leadership skills to drive positive change in the world around him.
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2011 Movies Under the Stars Parks & Recreation
Gates open at 8:00 p.m. Alamo Elementary School Field (100 Wilson Avenue in Alamo)
Admission is Free June 10: DESPICABLE ME
In a happy suburban neighborhood Gru is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon, until the day he encounters the immense will of three orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. Rated PG; 95 minutes
July 22: IRON MAN 2
After confessing his identity as Iron Man to the world, Tony Stark comes under fire from the U.S. Government which demands he hand over the powerful weapon that is the Iron Man suit. Meanwhile, a dangerous foe emerges to seek revenge on the Stark family and destroy Iron Man. Rated PG-13; 124 minutes
August 19: THE SOCIAL NETWORK
This film tells the story of the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. Adapted from Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal. Rated PG-13; 120 minutes
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
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Page 12 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
The West Took the Lead and Gave Women the Vote By Beverly Lane
Thank You
to our sponsors for contributing to the success of the Kiwanis - Alamo Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament. Presented by
Monies raised from this tournament are used to support local community charities. Diamond Sponsors
Laird Enterprises ALAMO
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Mark Kahn Jewelers
World of Sound & Vision www.kiwanis-srv.org
Most histories of America’s woman suffrage movement focus on the East Coast, but it was Western men who initially supported women’s right to vote. In 1890, the new state of Wyoming was the first. After the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, black men received suffrage. Disappointed that women did not receive the vote at the same time, former abolitionists and women’s rights advocates accelerated their suffrage efforts. In 1869, the first Woman Suffrage organizations were founded in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elmer and Livia Cox of Danville were early members of the Woman Suffrage Association in Contra Costa County. With five daughters, they evidently felt women could handle voting. Mary Ann Jones of Alamo was widowed in 1870, and, with her nine children, she struggled to continue farming. She joined the Danville Grange # 85 in 1873 when it was founded, one of ten women and twenty men charter members. Her autobiography shows she was a strong pioneer woman. In 1887, she brought up woman suffrage in a Grange meeting. The minute books of March 6 state: The question of Womans Suffrage was discussed at considerable length. Very interesting remarks were made pro and con by Sister Jones, Sister Howard, Bro. W. Z. Stone and others…Sister Jones made a motion as follows: How many are in favor of Womans Suffrage? Ayes 11, Noes 12. Mrs. A. J. Young, Sec. Californians in support of suffrage made their mark back East early. Ellen Clark Sargent, an articulate suffrage supporter, went to Washington, DC when her husband Aaron A. Sargent, was elected to the U. S. Senate from California in 1873. There they met and became firm friends with Susan B. Anthony. Senator Sargent introduced the 29-word “suffrage amendment” to the U. S. Constitution in 1878. The success of western woman suffrage reflected a flexible political system and acknowledgment by men that women were essential partners in frontier life. This issue sparked concerns across the country because it meant that there might be changes in women’s accepted roles. Some opponents feared that voting, a non-domestic action, would diminish women’s moral superiority and taint their purity. Others thought that, if women voted, political corruption would be eradicated. Most advocates made the simple argument that giving women votes would give them full rights as citizens. By the time California male voters supported women voting in 1911, five other states had taken the step: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. Nine more states soon joined California. The West led the way, and, by 1920, the 19th amendment to the constitution, the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment,” was passed by Congress and ratified by 36 states.
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~ Sources for this article are available at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and include the Danville Grange #85 minute books, the Contra Costa Gazette and a new Heyday book by Elaine Elinson and Stan Yogi Wherever There’s a Fight.
On May 14th, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley located at 205 Railroad Ave in Danville will open its new exhibit, Remember the Ladies, Celebrating the Centennial of California Woman Suffrage, 1911-2011. Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday 10am4pm, and Saturday 10am-1pm. For more information, visit www.museumsrv.org.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - May 11h , 7pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd. Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First and third Tuesdays 6pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park Hap Magee Ranch Joint Planning and Operations Committee - June 23rd - 5pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - June 6th , 4:30pm - Meets at Valley Station located at 150 Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - May 11th, 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
Five women in suffrage clothes show the western states which approved women's vote.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 13
Fundraising for Japan Relief Aid
St. Isidore School 7th grade girls put their baking talents to work and raised $844 towards relief efforts for Japan. The girls decided that they wanted to do something to aid those who have been hurt by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. They rolled up their sleeves, pulled the flour out, and baked in preparation for selling their homemade goodies after masses at St. Isidore Church. The girls were overwhelmed by the positive responses and generosity that they received. Many parishioners made straight donations to the relief efforts and expected nothing in return.
2011 Summer Concert Series Parks & Recreation
Fridays 6:00 6:00-- 8:00p.m. at Livorna Park
(At the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo.)
Admission is Free
June 24: Moonalice
Inspiring audiences with an original blend of Rock, Swing and Blues music.
July 15: Diablo Road
Energizing and bold Country music fronted by the always dynamic Jewels Hanson of “Nashville Star” success.
The girls left to right: Emma Walsh, Marina Gee, Lauren Torres, Nicole Bustamante, Megan McSweeney, Erin Schwarz, Kara Baldyga, Mackenzie Baker, and Gabriella Rebata.
Student Emma Walsh said,“I know that there are teens in Japan who would do the same thing for us if we were put in their place.” Both Kara Baldyga and Mackenzie Baker shared similar thoughts on the success of the bake sale and the girl’s genuine desire to help out those in need. “I was happy to see firsthand so many people willing to help by supporting our bake sale and, more importantly, the people of Japan,” said Baldyga. Adding to her thoughts, Mackenzie agreed, “It really was a lot of fun and rewarding helping the people in Japan! I couldn't imagine if something like that happened to my family and friends...I would be devastated. But, I would also be relieved and comforted knowing that there are people out there trying to make things better. That’s what I would like to do...try to make things better.”
July 29: Billy London and the Lucky Dice
Specializing in Pop, Swing, Classic Country, Roots Rock ‘n Roll and Rockabilly music.
August 12: The Sun Kings
Delivering driving energy that recalls the earliest Beatle shows with lively arrangements and harmonies.
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, friends and dancing shoes. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
Alamo Rotary Easter Egg Hunt
The weatherman cooperated, and it was a great day for the Easter Egg hunt at Alamo’s Livorna Park. About 400 children from Alamo and the surrounding communities showed up to hunt for the 2,500 eggs filled with goodies supplied by the Alamo Rotary Club. Rotary members and their families got all the eggs hidden just in time for a glimpse of the Easter Bunny and the start of the hunt.
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The children were outstanding hunters as the four years and under bunch found all their eggs in about two minutes, the 4 to 7 years group took all of three minutes, and the over 7 group, who had a lot of ground to cover, found all their eggs in about five minutes! After the hunt, everyone had an opportunity to visit, and have their picture taken with, the Easter Bunny. Pictures of the egg hunt can be seen at www.alamorotary.org or on Facebook under Rotary Club of Alamo. TM Get the return on on your investment System, featuring SolarWorld Sunmodule panels. GetBEST t BEST the retturn your investmentwith withour ourSimpleSolar Sim mpleSolar Sy ystem, featu uring SolarW World Sunmod dule™ panels s. Alamo Rotary would like to thank everyone who came to the park to enjoy the day. Special thanks to JP Furber, the Club Chairman for the event, as well as his team, and the group that turned out for the egg stuffing party at JP’s. For more information on the Rotary Club of Alamo, or to attend one of our meetings, please visit our website at www.alamorotary.org.
Page 14 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Experience how we care… The Stratford is deeply committed to providing the very best care…..
CARE TO SHARE
The Stratford honors National Nurses Week during the month of May
Nominate your choice for Nurse of the Year by posting a “CARE TO SHARE” story on our FACEBOOK wall. Tell us why your nominee should win one of three $700.00 prize contributions to the charity of their choice. Post your nomination on The Stratford’s Facebook page by May 27 and help us recognize the dedication of all nurses and the care they give to others...
Link to our FACEBOOK PAGE @ www.StratfordSeniorLiving.com and learn all about our Care to Share efforts and read the heartwarming stories of the best nurses!
Independent Living ƒ Assisted Living ƒ Memory Care 1545 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette, CA 94549 ŀ (925) 932-9910 www.StratfordSeniorLiving.com License # 07560132
At The Hop
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The Blackhawk Chorus, under the direction of founder Diane Gilfether, will present At The Hop, a concert featuring the full 140 member Blackhawk Chorus accompanied by an instrumental ensemble. The concert will be presented at two public performances. The first show will be held at 8PM on Saturday, May 7th at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, and the second show will be held at 8PM on Saturday, May 14th at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin. The chorus will also perform At The Hop at the Blackhawk Country Club on Friday, May 20th at 6.30PM. This third event will be open to non-members and includes dinner. The late 1950s and early 1960s were a time of dramatic change in popular music as styles like doo-wop, and early rock and roll began to take over the top of the music popularity charts. The Blackhawk Chorus program will include songs like the “Four Freshmen’s Graduation Day,” which looks back at the standards of the 30s and the 40s, Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” “Moon River” (who can forget Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s?), and James Taylor’s “Up On The Roof.” It also looks forward to the Beach Boys and the Jersey Boys with two dazzling medleys and includes Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” and, of course, “At The Hop.” Rock music includes “Rock Around The Clock,” and “I Dig Rock and Roll.” A medley of Beatles’ love songs shows how music continued to develop as the 60s grew towards the end of the decade. Tickets for the Lesher Center concert on May 7th are available through the Center’s website www.lesherartscenter.org, or by calling 925-943-7469. Tickets are $25 for adults and $17 for children 12 and under. For tickets for the performance at Resurrection Lutheran Church, call the church office at 925-828-1580, Monday – Friday, 9AM to 1PM. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. For the Blackhawk Country Club performance tickets are $47 and include dinner. Please call the Blackhawk Country Club for reservations (credit card sales only) at 925-736-6500.
About The Blackhawk Chorus:
The Blackhawk Chorus began in 1991 with 12 women whose dedication to and fondness for music was exemplary. Under the direction of former opera star and voice coach Diane Gilfether, word spread of the success of the group, and in the following year, men were invited to participate. Now the 140-strong chorus performs regularly in the East San Francisco Bay Area. For more information about the chorus, please visit our website at www.blackhawkchorus.com.
Alamo Rotary 40th Anniversary
On Wednesday, May 11th, the Alamo Rotary Club will be celebrating it's 40th anniversary of serving the Alamo community, the greater Contra Costa area, and the International community. The celebration will take place during the regular lunch meeting for that date. Some of the many activities the club supports include: • Alamo Music Festival • Annual Rotary Easter Egg Hunt • Third Grade Dictionary Program • Rotacare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic • 680/Stone Valley Interchange Beautification Project • Swami School in India • Providing wheelchairs around the world • Providing prosthetic hands and cleft palate surgery in underdeveloped counties • Supporting Meals on Wheels • And many more activities benefiting local and distant communities. To learn more about Alamo Rotary, visit www.alamorotary.org.
Danville Girls Chorus Presents Disney Dazzle
The Danville Girls Chorus will perform their final concert of the season Disney Dazzle, celebrating the magical music of Disney. Be swept away as the characters come to life taking you on an enchanted journey, revisiting all your favorite Disney songs and memories. The performance will take place on Saturday, June 4 th at 11 AM at the East Bay Fellowship Church located at 2615 Camino Tassajara in Danville. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 14 and under and can be purchased in advance by calling 925-837-2624. They may also be purchased at the door just prior to the concert.
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Technical Relationships
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 15
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Every month I look forward to the opportunity to write this column and connect with the community. There are so many developments in the computer industry, that it can be challenging to narrow down and choose what to write about. At the same time, there are only 700 words with which to either convey or convince you of whatever strikes my fancy; pithy writing is simultaneously coveted and elusive. Whomever takes the time to ask will learn that ours is a people-business first; a major in relationships with a minor in technology. This was demonstrated to me yet again this past weekend, when I learned that one of our dear customers, Don Mann, passed away shortly before Easter. It really hit me hard, as he was one of the first people willing to take a risk on this brand new little computer company we started ten years ago, and he was always such a friendly, self-effacing guy. I saw him a few months ago after he became aware of a relapse in his illness, and he was as positive and cheerful as always, despite the anxiety and concern he must have been hiding. I think it takes a hell of a man to stare his mortality in the eye without blinking. I guess I related to Don, who left a beautiful wife and two lovely daughters, as he was the consummate family man trying to earn a living and trying to do his best. A guy’s guy. He’ll be missed by everyone who knew him. If we were just a team of nerdy guys running around with pocket protectors and screwdrivers, we probably (in the Clock Tower) wouldn’t notice when a guy like Don crosses our path. We’d be too interested in the gadgetry and arcane inanities 925-83-SWEET of the computer world to realize it was a human we were really working with, not a computer. The best part of our business is the people we get to work with, hands down. Sure, we run into difficult people just like anyone else, CONTESTS ~ PRIZES but we know those are just the 1% who exist to remind us why we love to work with the other 99% so much. We’ve been keeping in touch with people a little better lately, beginning to try out Facebook and Twitter for the company. It’s a slow process. I must admit publishing helpful little tidbits and other info on a regular basis is a habit that must be acquired. I’ve always been of the opinion that it’s best to be thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. And, relating that to Facebook, I think it takes practice to feel comfortable updating people about your likes, dislikes, or goings-on multiple times daily. There’s so much garbage. There’s a fine line between keeping people up-to-date with relevant info and the constant blathering din we find on the public forum. Our plans are perhaps a little more pedestrian, planning to post these articles, alerts, and updates we think will be helpful to anyone who chooses to “follow” us (Portable CIO). I promise if you give following us a try, we’ll do our best to keep our contributions as concise and relevant as possible. Time is valuable, and words matter. Home Improvement and Design Recently I visited one of our customers when one of our guys fell ill. I had a great time discussing the customer’s business while attending to her list, and I Remodel / Addition noticed along the way she was using an iPhone. Having adopted an iPhone last New Construction year, and having subsequently purchased an iPad, I was curious about which Exterior Structures applications she was using and how she liked using the phone. She liked it a lot, Design & Drafting and it turns out we have similar tastes in pastimes; she also plays the ubiquitous Solar PV Systems “Words With Friends” game with her kids and friends. Words With Friends is based on the game of Scrabble. We “added” each other, and she’s certainly a worthy opponent! Do you want to play with me? If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, look me up and lets play! My ID is ‘ecorstor.’ www.DanvilleConstructionCompany.net At Portable CIO we have over 75 years of experience across our team you might General Contractor Lic. 938401 meet when you or your company need assistance. Chances are good that we have an answer for your question, or we can direct you to someone who does. When you think “Help!”, email us at info@theportablecio.com, or give our friendly staff a call 8 Advertorial at 925-552-7953.
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Alamo Danville Artist Society
May Meeting Features Guest Artist Julia Munger Seelos
Julia Munger Seelos is the Guest Artist for the Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS) meeting on Tuesday May 10, at 7:30PM. The meeting will be held at our new meeting location at the Alamo Women’s Club, at 1401 Danville Boulevard, Alamo. The public is invited to attend at no charge. Julia is a Plein Air artist. The demonstration will cover oil painting materials and their use, basics of composition and color theory. Julia will demonstrate, explaining her methods as she works from a photograph indoors. She’ll cover equipment and materials to make the plein air experience easier. You’ll learn about subject selection and composition, how to simplify for a dramatic and do-able painting. You will learn how to apply paint thin to thick, dark to light to capture the quickly changing light.
New Exhibit opening in May at Blackhawk Gallery
$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
May’s Winner Is Joyce Kinton
The Summer Visions exhibit at the Blackhawk Gallery, in Blackhawk Plaza, opens on May 12th and will continue through July 10th. The public is invited to meet the 45 artists at our wine and appetizer Artist’s Reception on May 8th from 5 to 7PM. All new art will be on exhibit and for sale. Blackhawk Gallery, featuring outstanding value and quality of art, is operated by ADAS, with local professional member artists exhibiting paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel; photography, sculpture, wearable art, jewelry and notecards. The Alamo Danville Artists’ Society, founded in 1977, is a non-profit organization providing monetary contribution in support of art programs in the San Ramon Valley School District. Membership includes artists and patrons who appreciate the visual arts. ADAS hosts distinguished and nationally known guest artists at the monthly meetings.
Page 16 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month
By Cynthia Ruzzi
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Most days you can find 11 year-old Ella riding her bike to school with her six year-old sister, Honor, accompanied by mom, Shannon. Prompted by a particularly beautiful spring day, Ella asked her mom, “Why don’t more kids ride to school?” The three discussed the issue along their morning ride, over dinner that evening, and into the following day. In fact, the conversation provided the inspiration to find ways to encourage others to take advantage of the lovely and mostly flat terrain of our community. These three charming bicyclists are reaching out across our community to share the advantages of commuting on two wheels citing that almost half the trips we make from our homes are within two miles, and that fifty percent of the working population commutes five miles or less to work. Ella was quick to add that, “Most of us have a pollution-free vehicle sitting right in our garage that can reduce traffic, improve our health, and really be a lot of fun.” Besides working on starting a ‘bicycle train’ (a group of children and adult leaders riding together to and from school), the girls wanted to encourage Moms and Dads in our community to get bikes and use them. With the help of mom Shannon and local businesses, we’ll all be able to ‘Get the Right Fit, Without Spinning Honor and Ella Our Wheels’ at Danville’s First Bike Fit Clinic on Sunday, May 22nd from 1pm – 4pm at The Studio in the Rose Garden in Danville. The Bike Fit Clinic host The Studio is teaming with Danville Bike, the Town of Danville Street Smarts program, and Sustainable Danville Area to provide a free community event to learn how to get the right bike for your needs. Danville Bikes will provide professional custom fittings, as well as demonstrations on clipless pedals, advice on bike saddles, and helmet fittings for comfort and safety. Ten percent of the proceeds from your purchases at the Bike Fit Clinic will go to the local school of your choice or to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Team ClubSport will be on hand to provide information about local training and racing for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Visitors will also benefit from meeting Giant Bike Representative and USA Cycling Coach, Kelli Poindexter, who will be available to answer our most perplexing cycling questions. In addition, don’t miss the 2011 kickoff of the Cruising Tuesday’s Bike Ride, hosted by Norm’s Place. This group celebrates their seventh year of weekly family-friendly rides with this year’s first event on May 5th. Join the Cinco de Mustache ride, and wear a sombrero for a free beverage. For more information, visit www.normsgrill.com. If you still need more reasons to get on your bike, May12th is Bike-to-Work Day. This nationwide event in its 17th year and is meant to encourage new bikers to try commuting on two wheels. To give those intrepid riders some extra encouragement, the Town of Danville and the San Ramon Valley Street Smart Program will host a morning Energizer Station on the Iron Horse Trail (behind Lunardi’s in Danville 6:30am – 9am) offering refreshments and giveaways. Danville Area Sustainable Businesses Norm’s Place, La Boulange Bakery, and Jules Thin Crust will encourage safe bicycle riding by offering Bike-to-Lunch specials for two wheeling customers who visit with their bike helmet on Bike-toWork Day, Thursday, May 12th and before the Bike Fit Clinic on May 22nd. Want company? Check out one of the upcoming family-friendly bike rides. Sustainable Danville Area invites the entire family Buy 1-Patio Furniture to follow the Iron Horse Trail to the Bike Fit Table with 5 or more Clinic on Sunday May 22nd. Meandering Dining Chairs and from San Ramon Valley High School on the get 1-Free Dining Chair trail starting at 11:30am, we’ll arrive at The Offer Good Thru 5/30/2011 Rose Garden by 1pm to check out all the fun. Take a detour and wander into town for lunch and catch up with us at The Studio. OPEN TUES THRU SAT 10 TO 6 SUNDAY 11 TO 5 CLOSED MONDAY Not ready to ride yet? Don’t worry. Kelli and Danville Bike plan to offer additional family-friendly rides throughout the summer. Visit www.sustainabledanville.com for more information, and remember, please ride safely.
1 Free Patio Dining Chair Value $99 to $799
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Alamo 925.820.8492 3189 Danville Boulevard
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 17
AT
Page 18 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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The Tree of the Season: Coast Live Oak By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
If you have a coast live oak in your yard, you will understand that its Latin name, Quercus agrifolia, is appropriate. Agrifolia means spiny leaves. And though the tree retains green leaves throughout the year, it also sheds dead leaves, many dead leaves, and they are less than friendly on bare feet. If you are lucky enough to have a mature coast live oak in your garden, you are well aware that its sculptural qualities more than compensate for the ongoing maintenance this big beast requires. I find comfort in the manner wherein old trees twist into their strangely beautiful form, their rugged bark accentuating, in counterpoint, their grace and openness. The generous shade offered by their broad crowns seems to invite one to lounge against their trunks and think about things that are never on TV. Agrifolia became the dominant tree of the costal plain, not because it’s Portable CIO is an information systems consulting firm, beautiful, but because it’s tough. Though plagued by several diseases and focused on implementing stable, reliable, and efficient solutions, pests, the continuing ubiquity of live oaks over the millennia is testament intelligent investment in technology, and building long to their ability to resist diseases and fight off pests. Several fungal diseases, term relationships. How can we help you? with the generic names “twig blights” and “oak branch dieback,” attack the crowns of live oaks. Brown patches in your oak’s canopy are most likely from these fungal diseases. An aesthetic debit, they rarely pose a serious threat to the life of the tree. Unsightly deadwood can be pruned out. Though these diseases come from water-borne fungi, they often occur in oaks weakened by drought stress. It is common knowledge that over-watering coast live oaks is a good way to kill the tree. Too much summer water promotes the growth of oak root fungus, a common soil fungus that can turn lethal in soggy soils. Less widely appreciated is that summer watering of oaks can make them more disease and insect-resistant IF, and it is a big IF, they are watered correctly. Correct summer watering of coast live oaks requires placing a soaker hose in a circle around the tree at least ten feet from the trunk and running the water for about two hours–sunset is a good time. It is important to water the tree not more than once a month: once in July, once in August, once in • PC or Mac • Repairs • Upgrades • Office Moves and Networking • September, and once in October. Over-watering can kill oaks by stimulating • Virus/Spyware/Adware Removal • Internet/ Cloud Computing • parasitic fungi. Judicious watering during dry summers gives the tree a boost • Data Recovery • Back-up Solutions • Maintenance • but doesn’t encourage root diseases. It’s better not to water oaks at all than • Email Solutions • Remote Phone Support • Free Recycling • to over-water them, and lawns, grown under the canopy of the oaks, are a common cause of over-watering. One way to make your oak–and the many creatures it supports–happy is to turn lawn under the canopy over to native, drought-tolerant plants. This saves water and reduces the likelihood your oak will get a root disease. Oaks also appreciate a layer of mulch. Mulch helps www.ThePortableCIO.com aerate the soil and improves the environment for beneficial soil creatures. Given that the current stewards of the coastal plain seldom burn the Join Portable CIO, Inc. on Facebook! woodlands, most of our oak forests have built up a significant load of dead wood. To prevent a crown fire, like the one that ravaged the East Bay in 1991, it is important to make all landscape trees and shrubs more fire safe. At Brende and Lamb it is our fervent hope that all current players in the ongoing drama of the oak woodlands act to maintain a healthy ecosystem Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979! in which coast live oaks, and the many creatures that depend on them, continue to appear center stage. There is No Better Time to Unfortunately we a starting to see a few cases of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in the East Bay, concentrated mostly in forested parklands. The SOD Remodel Your Pool Than Now! pathogen infects susceptible oaks during spring rainstorms. It is difficult to Call and Find Out Why. prevent an oak from being infected, but there are steps to reduce the probability of infection. California bay trees are an alternate host to SOD, where Plaster • Tile • Coping it occurs as a leaf disease. Infected bays don’t die, but they can spread the Featuring WetEdge Technologies spores to oaks. Studies show that pruning back Bay trees to give a 10 foot separation from your oaks can significantly lower the infection rate. At this Don’t miss out on time, preventative action is the only way of treating the disease. It takes two PG&E rebates ofyears for an infected tree to show any sign of infection, and once infected fered for installathere is no way to cure the disease. tion of an energy The best place to find current information on SOD is the California Sudsaving den Oak Task Force: www.suddenoakdeath.org. If your trees and shrubs need a little TLC - call us at 510-486-TREE (8733) or email bl@brendelamb.com to schedule a free estimate. For more Visit our website at www.actionpoolrepair.com information visit our website at www.brendelamb.com. Advertorial
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Life in the Alamo Garden
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 19
A Garden Makeover By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect
Everyone knows that good design is “maintenance free” and “lasts forever.” Right! This is why there are so many beautiful gardens existing from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Ratty looking junipers and Monterrey pines; you get the picture. You wouldn’t keep your carpet for 30 years, right? So, your Alamo garden needs a good makeover as well! There are three basic reasons for a garden makeover; to respond to the changing site conditions which normally occur as a landscape site matures (i.e. stuff gets overgrown), to respond to changing needs of the users of the landscape (i.e. families grow and change), and to re-adapt a site for a new owner (i.e. a new set of uses.) New home sites are generally sunny with bright light and are more exposed to wind, sun, and more harsh conditions. Maturity brings radical changes that are often welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees finally provide shade cover and shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs have become overgrown hiding the house and blocking good views. These changes give cause for redesign although the overall context of a “well-designed” landscape may still prevail. Within the life of your Alamo home, an owner’s uses will change as kids growup or a family matures and changes. Lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families had no time to work in the garden and are now retired and have time to “putz.” This brings a whole new reason for the landscape. Children learn to swim, and a swimming pool is now a requirement. These changes call for careful consideration and should be well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Garden makeover projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. I enjoy working with my clients creating a new vision for their yard while using a lot of the existing conditions that work like large established trees, established privacy screening shrubs that are in tact, and specimen plants that would cost thousands to replace. These dramatic changes to a home warrant a garden makeover. As older families move from the neighborhood, new ones move in. When a new family moves in it changes the needs of the landscape. The landscape needs to be redesigned to re-adapt it to the new family or the new home. Rarely does a landscaped site meet all the needs and expectations of the new owner. Re-adapting a site must be clearly articulated and solved as a design problem using an organized design process. Also, some sites are badly neglected and need drastic measures taken to redesign the landscape. Thorough documentation of all existing conditions such as soil, micro-climates, drainage, and shade and wind patterns should be considered. All existing plants, trees, shrubs, and constructed features that are to be considered to remain should be well documented. A creative design solution, which meets the new need and is sensitive to the existing features and conditions of the site, must be developed. Construction of the new landscape must include all necessary measures to protect and preserve all of the worthwhile existing site features and landscape. Potential additions to the makeover will include updated hardscape elements; paved areas of use, benches and seat walls, retaining walls, steps to make site usable or gain new space, dramatic landscape lighting, swimming pools, play courts and kid zones, and sculptures. Times have changed with the recent economical downturn; we are looking at our homes a little differently. We might be more inclined to make incremental or phased investments, and a garden makeover makes more financial sense. Like the design of a new landscape project, a garden makeover should adhere to the design process. Design and budget go hand in hand! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Executing a garden makeover for tired gardens can be a challenge. It can also make all the difference in the appeal of your home. Take time to walk your garden and note what you like and what you dislike. Consider the term of how long you will stay in your home as a basis for planning your garden.
Consider Taxes in your Investment Strategy
So you've filed your income tax return or your extension. Either way, you went through your taxable transactions for the year and they're fresh on your mind — meaning now is the ideal time to review your investing decisions. Even though the tax impact is just one part of your asset management strategy, a glance through your return can highlight areas where making changes could mean saving money. Here are two suggestions. • Plan your trading. Are you an active trader? Schedule D, "Capital Gains and Losses," shows your sales activity for the year, separated into short-term and long-term. You probably already know the difference: Short-term sales are taxed at your ordinary income rate, while sales of stocks you owned longer than a year are taxed at rates ranging from zero to 15%. One method of generating tax savings is to hold investments for a year before you sell, long enough to qualify for the better rates. Another idea: Make profitable short-term trades in your retirement accounts. Gains grow tax-deferred until you start taking withdrawals. • Watch your tax bracket. Knowing the upper limit of your tax bracket may seem like too much information. Yet it can be valuable to realize your taxable income can be as high as $34,500 ($69,000 if you're married) before you'll owe any capital gain tax on your 2011 trades. Consider selling enough investments to utilize the zero tax bracket on capital gains. For more tax-efficient investment recommendations, contact our office for a portfolio review.
BonnFeeney, LLP
Certified Public Accountants
3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 150 • Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 314-1891 • Fax (925) 314-3097 www.BonnFeeney.com • Email: info@bonnfeeney.com
Gardening Quote of the Month: “Despite the gardener’s best intentions, Nature will improvise.” ~Michael P. Garafalo 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 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for Alamo By Roger Smith, AIA President
This is the first of a series of articles on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for our Alamo Community. Alamo, as part of Contra Costa County, currently has a Sheriff’s Substation and, as part of the San Ramon Fire District, has one Fire Station with EMT services. These facilities perform very well in responding to our communities daily needs. However, the recent 8.9 earthquake centered near the east coast of Japan resulted in a tsunami with 30-foot walls of water leveling many communities, leaving 14,300 confirmed dead with almost 12,000 people still missing, the recent PG&E pipeline explosion and fire in San Bruno which left hundreds of residents displaced from their homes, and the 6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 which left 63 dead, injured 3,757 and left between 3,000 and 12,000 people homeless have heightened everyone’s awareness about safety and emergency preparedness. The lesson learned is each of these (and other) disasters is that citizens need to be prepared, and that neighborhoods have to come to together to effectively respond during the period of time following the event before local medical, fire and law enforcement services can become available. The standard time frame recommendation of three days food and water provisions is being reviewed and may too short. Some officials, including the mayor of San Francisco, are now recommending expanding this to four days provisions or more. The State of California has an emergency plan structure that is designed to address the mid-term and long-term impact of a major disaster. The State of California Emergency Plan states, “Community Based Organizations (CBOs), or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), provide valuable resources before, during, and after a disaster. These resources can be effective assets at any level.” It also states, “Much of the state’s critical infrastructure is owned or
Cracking the Code: Wine Labels, Part 2 By Monica Chappell
Say you’re in the wine store, and you want to buy something new. You have nothing to go by outside of the label. Will the label tell you anything you should know? Welcome to the second part of a two-part series exploring the news you can use on a label of wine. Here are a few helpful definitions: Vintage Date: This is the year in which all or most of the grapes in the wine were harvested. Some vintages are better than others within a given region, and the best age at which to drink a wine can vary by grape, region, and production method. Not all wines are vintage dated. Old vines or vieilles vignes: Theoretically, older vines produce fewer, but more flavorful, grapes, but the problem is that no one has defined what an “old vine” is, so anyone can put this on the label. Brand Name: The winery that produces and sells the wine, called a chateau in France. Since total unknowns may offer undiscovered treasures and even the most revered wineries can turn out flops, brand name alone is not necessarily enough to judge a wine. Quality Level: European Union labels usually indicate the wine’s status within the country’s quality hierarchy. On a French label, the term “reserve” generally tells you that the bottle in your hand has been aged a bit longer, while on an American label the word’s meaning depends upon the winery’s whim. High-quality producers take it seriously and put their best grapes into reserve bottlings. Varietal Designation: The dominant grape or grapes in the wine, and in the U.S., one of the first places to look for the sort of flavors to expect. Varietal designations are rare on French labels. Appellation of Origin: The more specific the better; this is the name of the place where the grapes in the wine were grown, which can be a country, state, county, region, or viticultural area. Alcohol Content: Just like it sounds. Most wines are 7-14 percent alcohol by volume.
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maintained by businesses and must be protected during a response to ensure a quick and complete recovery from an emergency. These same businesses provide valuable resources before, during and after an emergency and play a critical role in meeting the needs of those impacted by an emergency.” Further information on this plan can be located at the State of California’s Office of Emergency Services website www.oes.ca.gov. There are many opportunities for our community to become more involved in both Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The “Neighborhood Watch” program is coming to Alamo with training sessions for volunteers to began soon. The San Ramon Fire District offers Emergency Preparedness classes and neighborhood programs for Earthquake and other natural disasters. Two of Alamo’s neighborhoods, Alamo Oaks and Valley Oaks, are already participating in these programs. The National Office of Citizen Corps – FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division states, “FEMA encourages all Councils and CERT Programs to register in the new National Citizens Corps Council and CERT Program registries.” The registries collect and display contact information for each Program and Council making it easier for individuals to learn more about Safety and Security in their community and get involved in local activities. The following local Citizen Corp Councils are listed for Contra Costa County: City of San Ramon, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Orinda, San Ramon Valley Emergency Preparedness, Town of Danville, and Walnut Creek. Alamo needs to do the same for its residents Join AIA in a discussion about our communities Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness at our May 12th meeting. Visit our website www.AlamoCA.org for more information. AIA plans to act as a focal point to initiate emergency preparedness planning for Alamo residents. Join our discussion at our next meeting! Estate Bottled: Indicates that the wine was continuously under the control of one winery in one location. One hundred percent of the grapes were grown, crushed, fermented, finished, aged, and bottled on the property. These “artisan” wines likely to emphasize the unique properties of the grapes, the vintage, and the winemaker’s vision are the common practice in most regions of France, while stateside, estate bottling is seen mostly in boutique wineries. Trade Name: The name of the bottler or importer. The more discerning importers’ names are considered an important indication of quality - and when buying wines from tiny French estates might be just about all you have to go on. Wines made outside of but sold within the U.S. must list the importer on the label. Once you speak a label’s language, it’s impressive how much you can learn about a bottle of wine just by looking at it. Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville and Pleasant Hill. For a list of classes go to www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
Come Taste Our Award Winning Wines! 510-861-2722 5700 Greenville Rd, Livermore http://www.redfeatherwinery.com
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 21
New York Life congratulates Julius "Joel" M. Magbitang, LUTCF
as an MDRT* member. photo here
To help secure your family’s financial future, contact me today. Julius "Joel" M. Magbitang, LUTCF Registered Representative, Agent CA License #0D35676, NY #LA-1131723 New York Life Insurance Company 3000 Danville Blvd., Suite L Alamo, CA 94507 Tel. (925) 552-7152 magbitangjm@ft.nyl.com www.MagbitangFinancialGroup.com
NEW YORK LIFE. THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.® *Million Dollar Round Table is The Premier Association of Financial Professionals.® © 2011 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 SMRU 00434715CV (Exp. 04/01/12)
Library’s 2011 Summer Reading Festival
The Contra Costa County Library celebrates reading and adventure all summer long during the 2011 Summer Reading Festival, “One World, Many Stories,” and is pleased to announce its Festival author, noted travel writer and expert, Rick Steves. Acclaimed for his best-selling guidebook series, public television series, and public radio shows, Rick Steves will share all the latest in smart European travel in “Europe through the Back Door,” at 7PM on Thursday, June 16th at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Whether you are actually planning to travel or dream of doing so, this event is sure to delight and inspire with travel tips and stories from other lands. “Every year, the Summer Reading Festival focuses on the importance and the joy of reading. This year, we’re highlighting the way in which books and libraries can deliver the world to people in so many different ways,” said Barbara Flynn, County Librarian. The Festival begins Saturday, June 11 and runs through August 20. People of all ages are encouraged to read for fun and prizes and to enjoy the exciting programs and entertainment being held in all Contra Costa County libraries and online at www.ccclib.org throughout the summer. With musical performances and storytellers from around the world, henna tattoo, a digital photography contest for teens with the theme “You Are Here,” and much more, the library will be the place to celebrate culture and your place in the world – here in Contra Costa County and beyond. Rick Steves studied at the University of Washington where he received degrees in Business Administration and European History. But his real education came in Europe. Since 1973, he’s spent 120 days a year in Europe. Having spent a third of his adult life living out of a suitcase in Europe has shaped his thinking. Today he employs 72 people at his Edmonds-based company, Europe Through the Back Door, where he produces over 50 books on European travel, the popular “Rick Steves’ s Europe” public television series, a weekly hour-long public radio show, and a weekly column syndicated by the Chicago Tribune. Tickets to Rich Steves’s show are $10. For ticket information, please visit www.ccclib.org or contact the Lesher Center for the Arts at 925.943.SHOW (7469) or www.lesherartscenter.org. For more detail on the Summer Reading Festival, please visit the Summer Reading Festival website at http://guides.ccclib.org/srf.
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Page 22 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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St. Vincent de Paul Receives “Challenge Grant” 1009074-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1
9/15/10 11:07:47 AM
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, (SVdP) of Contra Costa County has received a $50,000 “Challenge Grant” from the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation. “The funds will be utilized to purchase a new truck in order to update the efficiency and operation of the SVdP truck fleet which supports the pick-up, delivery and transportation of all goods sold or given to the needy from the two SVdP Thrift Stores,” said Ron Weston, executive director of SVdP. Additional uses of the truck fleet include distribution of 14,000 warm coats each winter in the “One Warm Coat Program” and distribution of food/meals to the needy. The SVdP Thrift Stores support the economically marginalized in Contra Costa County by providing free and low-cost clothing, furniture, and appliances. Over $100,000 in free clothing/furniture was provided by SVdP of Contra Costa to over 25,000 families in 2010. Over the past five years, our truck driver employee development program has successfully transitioned 12 employees from post-incarceration and successful parole completion to productive employment. SVdP of Contra Costa County looks to strengthen vulnerable families by providing not only clothing, furniture, and appliances, but by also providing nutritional support, (free meals and food pantries/distributions), rental assistance, immigration and legal services, job training, medical care to uninsured adults with acute or chronic health conditions, and shelter for the homeless. Please help us meet the challenge of this generous Grant from the Lesher Foundation by making your donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Truck Fund by calling (925) 439-5060 or at www.svdp-cc.org.
Secret Marriage – An Ugly Twist On Elder Financial Abuse By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
The confluence of an aging population, longer life expectancies, and a plethora of con- artists has resulted in an explosion of elder financial abuse in the last few decades. The perpetrators are caregivers, financial service providers, neighbors, and “friends.” Fortunately, California has responded by enacting more aggressive civil legislation. Relevant statutes have, among other things, loosened plaintiff “standing” requirements, enabling more third parties to bring a case, expanded damages that can be ordered, and, in some instances, allowed attorneys’ fees to be recovered. Unfortunately, however, it is still difficult to combat elder financial abuse. Sometimes it isn’t recognized or at least not until it’s too late – the abuser or the money disappears. Other times, the elder victim and/or family is embarrassed or just wants to move on. Sadly, even when a civil complaint (lawsuit) is filed, the accused perpetrator often argues that the victim voluntarily gifted him or her the absconded funds, and evidence may not satisfy the required standard of proof that the perpetrator should be held liable. Naturally, the most effective means of fighting elder abuse is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Elder abuse clinics and other outreach programs sponsored by professional, judicial, and other non-profit organizations help build awareness and offer useful tools. Close relatives or friends of the elder citizen are often in a position to keep an eye out for signs of potential abuse. Sadly, “secret marriage” is an ugly twist on elder financial abuse that’s extraordinarily difficult to defend against, particularly after the elder victim dies. Secret marriage, a version of which is called “deathbed marriage,” is when a financial abuser secretly marries an elderly person. Frequently, the marriage stays secret because the elder victim is incapacitated or has significant enough mental deficits that he or she doesn’t recall that the marriage ever took place. More problematic yet is that a wise abuser can arrange to enter into a “confidential marriage” with the victim. This process, which is perfectly legal when one meets the easy requirements, blocks the marriage certificate from being accessible via public records, as it otherwise would be. Absent a court order, the only people who can access the record are the parties to the marriage themselves. Of course, once married, the abuser manipulates the defenseless elder into making gifts to the abuser and/or turning over access to the elder’s assets. The abuser often also persuades the elder to change the elder’s Will or Living Trust so that the abuser spouse becomes the sole or major beneficiary. If not, on the elder’s death the abuser spouse can claim a share of the elder’s estate as an “omitted spouse” (or if the victim had no Will or Trust, by intestate succession). Marriage is profoundly personal and favored by public policy – without restrictions. The government can’t practically decide or second guess who marries for the right reasons. Nevertheless, some kind of legislative recourse would seem to be rightfully available to victims of deathbed marriages and their families. But, only a few states, including Florida (not California), have enacted protective statutes. In fact, a substantial minority of states in our country have laws prohibiting heirs from challenging deathbed marriages! Laws such as Florida’s can be crafted to narrowly separate the (constitutional) right to marry from the spouses respective property rights. Media coverage of this issue should help, as should politicians who increasingly address needs of the growing elderly electorate. Hopefully, this will lead to the development of a reasonable legal framework to mitigate this kind of emotional and financial devastation. Meanwhile, what can you do personally? Most importantly, watch and communicate regularly with your elderly loved ones and friends to detect signs of potential financial elder abuse. Whether you are elderly yourself or a child of parents of advanced age (who may be starting to lose some mental faculties), you should seek appropriate trust and estates legal advice. Proper professional planning can help prevent this kind of fraud and deception. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Shapiro Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 9449700; rsilverman@sbllp.com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Please call for a free introductory consultation.
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial
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A Trust Made for Marriages
By Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron
In conjunction with Waldron Wealth Advisors, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.
One of the things that made the now iconic TV show The Brady Bunch stand out when it first hit the airwaves in the late 1960s was that it depicted what was, at least at the time, a very unusual family dynamic: a second marriage bringing together six children—three from each parent—under one roof. These days it’s hard to imagine a show like The Brady Bunch even raising an eyebrow. Indeed, with upwards of half of all marriages ending in divorce, households full of brothers and sisters who don’t share the same biological parents are hardly out of the norm. The increasing prevalence of this sort of mixed-family situation, whether due to divorce or the death of a spouse, poses some estate planning challenges. How, for instance, can you ensure that your children from a first marriage aren’t disinherited should you pass away and your second spouse remarry and start a new family? One of the tools available to estate planning with these increasingly common, and complex, family situations is the Qualified Terminable Interest Property trust, or QTIP. A QTIP can be a powerful way to ensure that assets built up over a lifetime end up where you want. When the assets are from a decedent and they’re transferred to a trust that is irrevocable on their death, the assets are generally protected from creditors and bankruptcies and second and third marriages. So it’s a way to help protect the surviving spouse, number one, and it’s also a way to protect the remaining children, so that the surviving spouse could remarry and not redirect the assets away from the decedent’s children.
Securing Your Wishes
The way a QTIP accomplishes both of these important goals is fairly straightforward. Sticking with The Brady Bunch analogy, here’s how the QTIP, which is a type of a marital trust, works: Let’s say Carol Brady, the mother, brought several million dollars with her into her marriage to Mike. Taking the hypothetical case a bit further, assume that Carol wanted to ensure that, should she die first, not only would her widowed husband be taken
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“Besides being an artistic expression, quilting also answers the basic human need for comfort and warmth,” says Dianne Barnett, past president and current parliamentarian of Diablo Valley Quilters. “I don’t think quilting is merely a passing fad like macrame, for example. It is a huge multi-million dollar business that does not seem to be waning. Although there may not be many young people making their own clothing these days, I think there will always be some who like to work with their hands to create something truly individual and unique.” Diablo Valley Quilters (DVQ) was founded in 1983 with the goal of preserving and continuing the traditions, culture, and history of quilting. Through their sponsorship and support of quilting activities, DVQ promotes friendship among those interested in quilting and contributes to the knowledge and appreciation of quilts. There are currently 273 active members, ranging in age from 12 to 90. Barnett has been an active member for the past 25 years, since she moved to Danville in 1986. “For me, the guild has become my major social network,” says Barnett. “Most of the friends I’ve made since moving here are fellow guild members.” DVQ was initially formed as a group of about 30 women and several of these members are still active. Guild members are entitled to attend the monthly programs, receive the monthly newsletter and annual member directory, enroll in the discounted workshops, check-out quilt books from the extended library, attend the annual retreat and holiday party, and participate in any other organized events. “But I think the most important aspect of guild membership is the camaraderie of those who share a common interest in quilting.” says Barnett. Because the guild is so large, DVQ has encouraged the formation of smaller, less formalized groups of about a dozen or so members who live near each other which enables members to more easily get together to work on projects and learn from each other. In its efforts to promote the art of quilting, DVQ contracts with nationally known quilt artists to present programs to the general membership each month. These guest speakers also conduct hands-on workshops where they can teach their innovative techniques to members for a nominal fee. “We have some truly accomplished quilters in the guild,” says Barnett, “and we all get together to showcase about 200
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 23 care of, but also that her three daughters would ultimately inherit the bulk of her estate. One option would be for Carol to take advantage of the unlimited marital deduction, which allows a husband or wife to pass their entire estate, no matter how large, to their spouse without getting hit by the estate tax— which, in 2009, kicks in when assets total more than $3.5 million. It would be understandable if Carol was leery about handing over her estate and its eventual disposition entirely to Mike; he had been married before, after all, and who knows what his future circumstances might hold? A QTIP trust would provide the perfect solution. When Carol died, her assets would go into the QTIP, which she would have established as part of her will, and would generate income for Mike to take care of his living necessities. Upon Mike’s death, the remainder of the estate would then go to the three Brady girls, just as Carol wished.
Estate Planning/Asset Protection and Tax Issues
While important, ensuring that children from a prior marriage get an inheritance isn’t the only reason to use a QTIP. Indeed, the core purpose of a marital trust like a QTIP is to provide support to the surviving spouse. Let’s take the case of a couple in which the surviving spouse— the wife—was a physician. Understanding that in the reality of today’s world of medicine that the doctor, an OB-GYN, would always be threatened by the possibility of litigation, the couple drafted a QTIP trust. It was a move that ultimately eliminated what could have been a lot of anxiety after the doctor’s husband died and the husband’s assets were left to the wife in a QTIP trust. Why? The doctor was named in a lawsuit against the hospital where she had worked. But no matter what had come of the litigation, the assets in the marital trust were protected from that kind of claim. An equally important reason to utilize a QTIP is for the estate tax advantages it can provide. Because it’s a tax-deferral technique, it allows for the entire estate from the decedent’s spouse to be untaxed until the surviving spouse’s death. Overall, a QTIP is an effective strategy for estate planning/asset protection, as well as deferment or reduction of estate taxes. Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, 925-659-0383 or peter.waldron@lfg.com. 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, Waldron Wealth Advisors, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. Advertorial
quilts in a big quilt show, which we hold every other year. This year we are very excited to be moving to a new venue, the Tice Valley Gym in Walnut Creek. Look for us there on the third weekend in September this year.” Probably the most popular DVQ activity is their annual quilting retreat at Sonoma State University in early summer where members stay in dorm rooms and gather together to work on their own projects and enjoy the company of other quilters. Barnett has noticed that, due to the easily accessible abundance of quilt shops in the Bay Area, with excellent teachers available to demonstrate the latest techniques, there has been a move away from bigger, utilitarian quilts to smaller, more intricate and detailed quilts. “There are so many more beautiful fabrics available now in every color from soft and subtle to bold and bright,” says Barnett, who notes that one of the top publishers of quilt books, C&T Publishing, is right here in the East Bay. When asked what she likes most about quilting, Barnett cites a philanthropic aspect. “I personally like to make simple quilts to give away to bring comfort to someone or to make someone happy, especially children,” says Barnett. “DVQ has a Community Outreach group that makes quilts for various organizations in the community. Our Outreach Co-chairmen, Linda Patridge and Maryann Maiorana, have done an amazing job in the past few years, making up kits for our members to work on at home. We have given hundreds of quilts to Rotaplast, an organization of plastic surgeons sponsored by Rotary International, who provide surgery for children with cleft palates. Recently we gave several quilts to The Down Syndrome Connection in Danville. We have also made many hundreds of colorful pillowcases for Conkerr Cancer, which distributes them to local pediatric oncology wards. I have found quilters to be among the most generous, caring people there are - quick to comfort a friend or provide help.” DVQ annual dues are $30 per year and $20 for Seniors (65 and older). DVQ offers free junior membership for those in grades 6 -12 in an effort to promote an appreciation of quilting among area youth. Junior members must be sponsored by a paid member. Meetings are held at 7pm on the third Wednesday of each month at the Danville Congregational Church located at 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd in Danville. For more information about Diablo Valley Quilters, visit www.diablovalleyquilters.org.
Page 24 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
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Revitalize Your Eyes
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
“The eyes are the mirror of the soul.” The clarity and sparkle of the eyes are a measure of health and vitality. As we age, however, the appearance of our eyes, these amazing portals to who we are, can be diminished due to excess skin and bags around them. A furrowed, drooping brow can further alter the alert, interested look of the eyes. The competitive work environment leads many professionals to consult me regarding their options for enhancing the youthfulness of their eyes. This month I will discuss the ways a plastic surgeon can revitalize your eyes. An eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) can restore the youthful appearance of the eyes by removing fatty tissue and excess skin and tightening the lax muscles that develop around the eyes and in some cases even improve the field of vision. The bulging fatty eyelid tissue can occur prematurely, as early as the twenties, and will appear in most people by age 50. The upper blepharoplasty procedure involves making a small incision in the natural crease of the upper eyelid. If the muscles are lax, creating a droopy eyelid, the muscles may be tightened. Small amounts of fat are removed, and fat grafting may be used fill areas which have hollowed such as the tear troughs. For a lower eyelid tightening, a small incision is made just below the lower eye lash or inside the lower eyelid. The upper and lower eyelid lift may be done separately or at the same time. Fine sutures close the incisions and are usually barely noticeable after healing. This procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation and takes approximately one hour. Recovery time is about seven to ten days. In consultation with a plastic surgeon, the patient looking for eyelid surgery may learn that to gain the full benefit of a blepharoplasty, it
Vote continued from front page
Alamo parks revenues pay for maintenance and improvements to Livorna Park, Hap Magee Ranch Park (50% shared with Town of Danville), Alamo School Batting Cages and Field, and Rancho Romero School Park (the two schools are public parks open to the public during non-school hours). The fifth park maintained by Alamo Parks is the Andrew H. Young Park, a gateway park and welcome patch of beauty in downtown Alamo where the annual holiday tree lighting is held. In addition, Alamo Parks sponsors or makes contributions to special events in town such as the popular Livorna Park concerts, the annual tree lighting, and the children’s jump house at the Wine and Music Festival. “Pro” ballot arguments for the June 7 election have been signed by David Bowlby and Nancy Dommes, members of the Alamo Municipal Council (MAC) which has responsibility to advise the county on expenditure of R-7A funds. They make the strong case that Alamo parks and events have enhanced property values in Alamo and should continue to be maintained at current levels. They point out that a survey of R-7A residents was just conducted to identify areas of improvement for Alamo parks to be in line with residents’ needs. There were no “con” arguments filed. Because of the cost of holding elections, the County has generally overestimated the limit amount to put in the ballot measure to allow for future revenue growth. For instance, R-7A has never even come close to the $990,000 limit set in 2005. Measure F asks for an appropriations limit of $1,650,000 to accommodate the growth in tax revenue as well as the expenditure of other funding to be received by the parks district, such as Measure WW funds from East Bay Park District. Alamo is slated to receive nearly $900,000 in Measure WW funds, which may need to be expended all in one year as parks are developed. Did I say “head to the polls” above? This is only a figure of speech in our town. Most Alamo voters vote by mail and not in person. In the last Alamo-only election, the 2009 incorporation election, 64% of votes were by mail ballot. It’s important for Alamo residents to remember that voting for Measure F will not cause taxes to be raised. It just allows your parks to benefit from being able to use the funds that are already collected.
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 25
should be done with a brow lift. Horizontal forehead lines, sagging eyebrows, and wrinkles between the eyebrows (glabellar) can cause us to look tired, sad, or even angry. Botox relaxes the muscles that cause the previous symptoms. As we get older, a brow lift is required to achieve the desired brow position. I most commonly use the endoscopic approach, which involves a few small incisions hidden in the hairline through which the brow is lifted. The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation and takes approximately one hour. Recovery time is about 3-5 days. A rhytydectomy (full facelift) is designed to re-sculpt the face by removing the loose skin and repositioning tissues on the face and neck to return them to a more youthful, natural looking position. A facelift procedure involves incisions made in the hairline above the forehead and ears to reposition facial muscles and tighten the skin. As the volume of the face affects appearance as much as the muscles and skin, a complete rejuvenating facelift would include fat grafting to fill areas of low volume in the face, lips and cheeks. Recovery time is approximately two weeks. The general rule is that the procedure takes 10 years off of one’s appearance. When contemplating any procedure to enhance your face, it is vital to consult a plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon. Be wary of centers offering relatively inexpensive lunchtime lifts with minimal downtime. These cannot match the facelifts performed by a plastic surgeon with years of training who provides quality care to her patients. With a well done face lift, you notice that your friend looks much better, but you would never know that she has had anything done. I would be pleased to consult with you about the best options for achieving your goals based in this regard. Barbara Persons MD owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd in Lafayette. Please call 925-283-8811 or email at drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
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Page 26 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Follow The Plan to Conquer Your Back Pain
By Bridget Scott, D.C., Johnson Chiropractic Group
Do you suffer from back pain? You can conquer it. You can get back to enjoying many of the things you love: exercising, playing with the kids, or simply working and living without pain. But you have to follow The Plan. Perhaps you’ve tried one or more treatments to mask or minimize your back pain in the past: physical therapy, ultrasound, stretching, massage, cortisone shots, chiropractic care, decompression, or rest. And perhaps, worst of all, you’ve spent lots of money looking for relief. Whether your back pain is subtle, chronic, or downright debilitating…it can be conquered! Which brings us back to The Plan. All of the aforementioned treatments, on their own, can provide short periods of relief for certain symptoms of your back pain. However, I know from ten years of experience as a chiropractor that you want real results: pain relief that lasts! And the key to your recovery – the key to pain relief that lasts – is following The Plan.
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restrict the normal movement of the muscles and nerves. This creates inflammation and irritation. Other symptoms that can be a result of muscle/tendon adhesions are aching, tingling, numbness, burning, stiffness, immobility, and loss of strength.
How McKenzie Method (Low-Back) Exercises Work
A mechanical diagnosis identifies the location of joint and soft tissue involvement in your injury. Extension and flexion are taught to help effectively relieve disc or nerve involvement in that area. These McKenzie exercises help retrain the muscles and joints to their optional position and correct structural changes affecting the injured area. Thousands of our patients have seen significant reduction in their pain and sustained improvements in their condition due to these exercises.
How VAX-D (lumbar decompression therapy) Works
VAX-D has proven effective in relieving the pain secondary to herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and sciatica. VAX-D therapy allows for the safe, controlled distraction or decompression of the lumbar spine. We provide each patient with a personalized decompression treatment, by using a computerized program to administer an exact treatment. Your treatment is determined after reviewing your medical history, examination findings, and diagnostic reports. Then, the repetitive stretching or “decompression” of your lowered back creates relief by physically decreasing pressure on the lumbar discs and spinal nerves. Most patients experience significant relief with VAX-D therapy within How The Plan Works 6 to 8 sessions, and they are able to effectively transition into the exercises and The Plan is a unique, four-part approach to back pain relief. Each part is stretches necessary for sustained lumbar spine health. reasonably effective on its own, yet when combined, the treatments and therapies How Chiropractic Adjustments Work will catapult you toward recovery and long-term pain relief. The Plan consists The goal of a chiropractic adjustment is to correct a misalignment in the of the following: Neuromuscular Re-education (NMR), McKenzie Method spine or at a specific joint. The adjustment relieves pain by reducing abnormal Exercises, Decompression Therapy (VAX-D), and chiropractic adjustments. pressure/stress on the soft tissue, joints, and nerves involved.
How Neuromuscular Re-education (NMR) Works
Johnson Chiropractic Group is the only office in the East Bay offering The Plan, this unique combination of four progressive treatments for back pain, bundled into one visit, for one price. I’m so confident these treatments will help you move past your pain…that I will guarantee my professional services and your improved condition! If you’re not satisfied with your improvement within three visits, I guarantee a full refund. So call and make an appointment today, and get your life back, pain-free. For more info go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Bridget Scott at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Advertorial Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210.
Actors and Artists at Tao House in May
about the quick, free shuttle van up to the site will be provided at the time tickets ($25) are purchased. Artist Days, now in its 14th year, offers artists a place to create works for extended periods of time. All artists are invited to come to the O’Neill Historic Site for five hours per day for three consecutive days. There is a nominal facilities charge of $5 per day. This spring’s Artist Days are May 5th, 6th, and 7th. More information for events, can be found at www.eugeneoneill.org or by calling 925-820-1818.
NMR is a dynamic technique focused on soft tissue rehabilitation. It is a noninvasive treatment designed to restore proper muscle function and movement enabling the body to heal and perform at its most efficient level. NMR combines the use of pressure, tension, and motion to force the layers of the muscle and tissue to work together properly. There are very few chiropractors that incorporate a focus on soft tissue into their practice. However, many injuries to the low back should not be immediately treated with chiropractic manipulation until the adhesions in the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.) have been treated. Specifically for low back injuries, muscles and tendons often initially heal incorrectly, with adhesions that Tao House, up in the hills above Danville, will host a staged reading for the public of Eugene O’Neill plays and three days of open house for artists who would like to be inspired by the historic site. Playwright’s Theater, in its 16th season, presents a play in which O’Neill materializes ghosts onstage who are co-conspirators in both murder and plans to retrieve buried treasure from a tropical island. The performance stars Ken Ruta and feature a cast of professional Bay Area actors. On May 22nd, O’Neill’s full-length play, Gold, will be directed by Daren A.C. Carollo. The performance, in the Old Barn, will begin at 3PM. Details
SRV Kiwanis Awards $22,000 in Grants
The San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation has awarded over $22,000 in grants to 31 area non-profit agencies. The grants will be presented at the club’s annual grants ceremony, held May 26th at Round Hill Country Club. Representatives of the recipient organizations will make brief presentations on the programs the Kiwanis grants support. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $1,000, and additionally, the San Ramon Valley Educational Foundation will receive a check for $2,500 for distribution to worthy school projects that the Foundation identifies. Top grants were awarded to Bay Area Crisis Nursery, Cancer Support Community (formerly Wellness Community), CASA, Down Syndrome Connection, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Loaves & Fishes, Senior Helpline Services, Shelter Inc of CCC, STAND! Against Domestic Violence, and The Taylor Family Foundation. Other recipients include: Blue Star Moms Chapter 101, Camp Camelot, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Discovery Counseling Center of SRV, Friends of the Danville Library, Gardens at Heather Farms, Hope Hospice, Inc., Hospice of the East Bay, Moment by Moment, Monument Crisis Center, Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Nayali Faith Foundation, Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Rehab Services of Northern CA, San Ramon Library Founda-
See Kiwanis continued on page 30
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Your Personal Nutritionist
By Linda Michaelis, RD No More Heartburn with Good Nutrition
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 27
Do you experience heartburn several times per week? Have you confirmed your symptoms with your physician? I often hear clients, both young and old, complain about a burning chest pain behind the breastbone. This is the most common symptom used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disorder, commonly known as GERD. Other symptoms may be tightness in the chest that may wake you up at night, regurgitation of stomach fluids into the mouth, nausea, recurring sour or bitter taste in the mouth, hoarseness especially in the morning, and coughing to clear your throat. Without getting too technical, there is a valve (known as the sphincter) that separates the stomach from the esophagus, and when it fails to close properly, the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus. Normally, the valve opens when you swallow and allows food into your stomach where the rest of the time it is supposed to squeeze tight to prevent food and acid in the stomach from backing up into the esophagus. Let me tell you about my recent client Tom who was having a terrible time with pain due to his GERD. He found over-the-counter medications did not work very well. His doctor told him that he could prevent his symptoms if he worked with me and began to make lifestyle changes. Being overweight is highly associated with GERD. I find that when my clients lose 10 pounds their symptoms lessen as the weight loss helps to make it easier for the sphincter to close. Certainly Tom was enjoying the good life eating high fat meals that were often on the spicy side. Fatty foods are a true culprit when it comes to GERD symptoms. In addition to fat, there are many foods that relax the esophageal sphincter during their digestion. These include coffee, chocolate, alcohol, peppermint, spearmint, citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, raw garlic and onions, and carbonated beverages. After interviewing Tom about his typical eating habits, I almost did not know where to begin. Tom always started his day with several cups of coffee topped off with half and half. He went out to lunch each day where he ate hamburgers, greasy Chinese entrees, tacos, burritos, and his favorite Italian subway sandwich. When he came home from work he would eat spicy salsa and chips. For dinner he often enjoyed pasta with his wife’s homemade fresh tomato marinara sauce. Though dinner would often include a veggie or a salad, these two items were non-existent at lunch. I took a great deal of time to educate Tom on how to read a food label for calories per serving, fat, protein, and fiber. I showed him how to enjoy his beloved high fat foods such as a hamburger and balance it with eating a salad with a light vinaigrette dressing. His beef consumption twice a day had to be reduced to one every other day to allow his body the chance to digest it. We talked about how he could add more chicken, fish, and legumes to his diet and still enjoy his meals. He could snack on turkey jerky, fat-free cottage cheese, tuna salad made with lite mayo, and even homemade hummus. Tom committed to begin eating smaller, more frequent meals which is very important to prevent GERD symptoms. I asked him to eat a lighter dinner that contained a few ounces of protein, lots of veggies and a salad. I noted how important it was to not eat 3-4 hours before bed and to never lie down right after eating. I also suggested that he cut his alcohol consumption in half. We talked about reducing all tomato based products, due to their acidity, and substituting them with other spices and seasonings. I am glad to say that after working with Tom for two months he has lost 10 pounds, and his symptoms have almost disappeared. It has been a truly rewarding experience working with Tom. Please feel free to call me and let me help you. Linda is located in her office in Alamo. She welcomes your call to discuss your needs and personal diet challenges. Please visit www. LindaRD.com for more information, helpful tips, recipes and Linda’s blog or call (925) Advertorial 855-0150.
Page 28 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Summer Skin Problems By Dr. Kelly Hood
I think we are all ready for some heat and sun, but there are a few skin problems to be reminded of as we enter the summer months. Intense sunlight, hot and humid temperatures, poisonous plants, and biting insects can cause a host of skin problems.
Heat Rash
Heat rash occurs when sweat ducts become plugged and trap perspiration beneath the skin. The rash appears as clusters of red spots or small, blister-like bumps that are extremely itchy or prickly. Heat rash usually develops in skin folds or where clothing causes friction. Treatment: Reducing sweat and keeping skin cool helps clear the rash. Cool water compresses, Calamine lotion, and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can help reduce itching. Avoid heavy creams and powders as these can block pores. Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette
Polymorphous Light Eruption
This rash begins within hours of exposure to UVB light-either from the sun or tanning beds. It appears as itchy red spots in the exposed areas. People with fair skin and limited exposure to sun in the winter are particularly susceptible. With increasing sun exposure, this type of light sensitivity usually decreases. The same rash may occur the next year. Treatment: Cool compresses, hydrocortisone cream, and anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Motrin, Aspirin) can help symptoms. The rash usually resolves within 7-10 days. If the symptoms do not improve quickly, the rash may represent another condition or allergy.
Poison Oak
Contact with poison oak leaves, stems, or roots causes red, swollen skin, blisters, and severe itching within days or weeks of exposure. These plants produce an oily substance called urushiol, which causes an allergic reaction in most people. The toxin is not spread by scratching. Urushiol can stick to almost anything, in-
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cluding clothes, pet fur, and even gardening tools. Treatment: Avoidance is the best prevention. Remember, “Leaves of three, beware of the.” For patients who are highly sensitive or involved in high-risk activities such as hiking and camping, some dermatologists recommend an over-the-counter skin product that contains bentoquatam, which prevents the urushiol from penetrating the skin. When exposed, the skin should be washed immediately with soap and water. Try to wash within 10 minutes. For mild rash, cool showers, Calamine Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo lotion, or hydrocortisone cream can help. For severe rashes, prescription medicines are necessary.
Chigger and tick bites:
Chiggers, tiny red mites found in grass and weeds attach to the skin and feed on fluids in the skin cells. They fall off in a few days, leaving behind itchy red welts where they were attached. Redness and intense itching can last for weeks. Ticks, most often found in grassy or wooded areas, are dark in color. They range from the size of a poppy seed to a pencil eraser. They leave behind red bumps or skin reactions. They can transmit Lyme disease. Treatment: Protective clothing such as long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks and shoes can keep bugs at bay. Insect repellents containing DEET offer protection. After a person is outdoors, a shower can wash away chiggers or unattach ticks. When ticks have burrowed into the skin, they need to be pulled off carefully with tweezers. Over the counter hydrodrocortisone can relieve itching from chigger bites. For rashes that spread or seem to be infected, a doctor’s care is needed for bites. To schedule a consultation with one of us, contact Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, shanny.derm@gmail.com, or Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, Advertorial 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com .
An American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey reveals that 92% of adult respondents say an attractive smile is an important social asset. 74% believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for a successful career. More than any other facial feature, a smile can reflect trust, comfort, confidence and the shortest path to reflecting your personality. Dr Rader is a graduate of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI), a renowned center for cosmetic,TMJ, and Neuromuscular dentistry. He is one of a few dentists nationwide to complete Full Mouth Reconstruction curriculum at LVI.
925.932.1855 Alex Rader DDS
General, Cosmetic, and Neuromuscular Dentistry 1855 San Miguel Dr, Suite 12 • Walnut Creek, CA
www.alexraderdds.com
Actual patient, smile design by Alex Rader, DDS
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The Eye Opener
Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 29
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Here Comes the Sun
Now that the summer months are coming, it is time to make sure you have a good pair of UV-blocking polarized sunglasses. To help my patients in this regard, we are having a month-long sunglass sale for May. Every pair of sunglasses in the office is going to be 15% off in May. We have many different brands to choose from including Maui Jim, Oakley, Kate Spade, Coach, Gucci, and Juicy Couture. Most of the frames can also be made with prescription including single vision, bifocals, and progressives. If you are not currently a patient in the office, we invite you to come and look at our selection, and bring your prescription with you. We look forward to seeing everyone to help ramp up your eye protection for the summer months. A question I often get at the office is regarding sun protection and what is the best way to protect the eyes. My answer is always to have a good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses to be worn year round. The important fact to remember is that the tint of the lenses makes absolutely no difference for sun protection, and in some cases clear lenses can block as much ultraviolet light as sunglasses. The UV filter is a clear coating that is applied to the lenses and does not impact the appearance and light transmission to the eye. For people that do not like the dark lenses of sunglasses, clear lenses will also work if they are made of polycarbonate, which is a lighter, impact-resistant material that comes with a scratch and UV coating. For those of you who are outdoor enthusiasts or just enjoy being outside, you will definitely enjoy the clarity and contrast that polarized lenses offer. Most prescription and non-prescription polarized lenses come in gray or brown. However, several companies have come out with single vision polarized lenses in yellow, pink, green, orange, etc. to help tailor your lenses to a specific outdoor activity or activities that you enjoy. Some of the activities that can be helped with these lenses include golf, fishing, skiing, and shooting. In addition, Maui Jim has come out with a new high-definition lens that comes polarized and increases contrast. A good example for these lenses is for golfers who will be able to pick up the undulations in the greens a little better due to the tint of the lenses. We have some samples and information guides that can help us aid you in deciding the lens or lenses needed for all of your activities. The effects of ultraviolet exposure are generally long-term, but in some circumstances they can be quick and painful. For anyone who has had a UV-flash burn from welding or from receiving a lot of glare from the water or snow will know how painful this can be. However, most exposure causes premature cataracts, skin melanomas, freckles, and pingueculas (those yellowish bumps on the white part of the area that often get irritated in dry or windy conditions). Studies have shown that we receive almost 75% of our total UV radiation by the time we are 18 years old; therefore it is important that our kids have sun protection. Obviously there is no need to spend a lot on these glasses, but keep in mind if your child wears glasses, as long as the lenses are made of polycarbonate and/or have transitions lenses, they have all of the protection they need. If not, most over-the-counter glasses come with the UV filter in the lenses. Regardless of age, race, sex, or activity level, we all need proper sun wear to help combat the harmful rays from the sun. We look forward to helping you look good, see good, and protect yourself this summer and beyond. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at: www.alamooptometry.com and become a fan on our Advertorial Alamo Optometry Facebook page.
Stroke Support Group
The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its monthly meeting in the Concord Room at John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus, 2540 East Avenue, Concord on Monday, May 9 from 7-9PM. The speaker will be Gerald Starr, a stroke survivor who recently completed a 5K walk with his cane. His topic will be “Setting and Achieving Your Rehabilitation Goals.” After his talk, attendees will break-up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and family members of stroke survivors, each group led by a trained professional. For more information, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.
Hearing Loss Association
Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1 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 are available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact: HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or 925.264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org. st
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. Meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The fellowship is free. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. See the website for additional meetings and more information at www.how-oa.org.
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where they can receive a healthy meal, a hot shower, laundry services, use of a phone, and clothing. Fresh Start provides personalized case management, as well as advocacy and assistance in accessing county, state, and federal benefits. They also provide legal and medical assistance. Clients may include those experiencing declining earnings, lost jobs, foreclosed homes, unaffordable rental units, or wiped-out retirement funds. People flock to Fresh Start, not only for the plentiful help, but also for a sense of togetherness and ongoing support. At Fresh Start everyone is equal, and all are respected. There is no time limit or restriction on most services. The average participant stays with the program off and on for about two years. Some stay even longer – as employees. Billy Lewis, who describes himself as “residentially challenged,” was a client for about one year, before being hired by Prather as her personal assistant. “Susan described Fresh Start as community; I call it family,” says Lewis who is now Fresh Start’s operations manager. “We’re doing the best we can, and we’re doing pretty well. Bill really knows this organization in and out, and he’s doing a great job.” “Over the years, it has become apparent that one of Fresh Start’s major reasons for success is our consistency in providing services,” says Lunghi. “Participants are relieved that they do not have to tell their story over and over again to strangers, dredging up a lot of pain in order to get help. At Fresh Start, no one is blamed or judged.” For information on getting involved with the Fresh Start organization, visit www.freshstartwc.org. Current need is cash donations, in order to maintain their valued programs. In addition, a “wish list” of items can be found on their website.
Page 30 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
Local Physicians Receive Patients’ Choice Award By Sandy Goldberg
Diablo Valley Oncology physicians Matthew Sirott, Robert Robles, Tiffany Svahn, and Sachin Kamath of Contra Costa County are recipients of the latest 2010 “Patients’ Choice Award” from the popular rate-your-doctor website Vitals.com. “The honor is bestowed to physicians who have received near-perfect scores as voted by patients,” the website says. The annual award is based on more than 1 million patient reviews nationwide and goes only to doctors who earn four-star ratings on the site. Out of the nation’s 720,000 active physicians, fewer than six percent receive this honor. Dr. Svahn, the group’s breast cancer specialist, has received the award three years in a row.
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Doctors Sirott, Robles, and Svahn specialize in medical oncology and hematology. Dr. Kamath is a radiation oncologist. In April, Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group celebrated their 10 year anniversary. They also recently became one of the first oncology practices in the nation to receive the Quality Oncology Practice Certificate from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Advertorial Diablo Valley Oncology founded the California Cancer and Research Institute. Located in Pleasant Hill, the cancer center is the largest freestanding, non-hospital based facility in Contra Costa County. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, clinical trials, and supportive care services – all in one convenient location. The facility provides the latest in technology and therapies – to better serve patients in the community. www.DiabloValleyOncology.md
Hospice of the East Bay Offers Support
Hospice of the East Bay is pleased to offer a variety of support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one, offered at Hospice's administrative offices: 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill.
Adult Support Groups/Classes: Dr. Sirott, Dr. Svahn, Dr. Robles, Dr. Kamath
Every month, tens of thousands of patients across the United States provide online feedback on Vitals.com about doctors’ quality of care, postappointment follow-up, bedside manner, and office staff courtesy. While physicians generally receive positive feedback from their patients, only a select few consistently receive rave reviews.
Adults Who Have Lost a Parent: Tuesdays, 6 - 8pm, May 31st - July 26th Widow and Widowers' Support: (Evening) Thursdays, 6 - 8pm, May 19th - July 7th (Daytime) Thursdays, 1 - 3pm, June 16th - August 4th
Adult Grief Classes:
Understanding Grief: Wednesday, 7 - 9pm, June 22nd
Children and Teens Support Group:
Footsteps: Tuesdays, 5:15 - 6:30pm, September 20 - October 25th Groups and classes require pre-registration. For further information and/ or to register, please call: (925) 887-5681. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life care by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more, or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Seniors Wanted for Friendly Visitors Program
Stephanie Ross - Certified Pet Dog Trainer
www.pawsitive-reinforcement.com
925.383.9292
If you are a senior, or know a senior family member, neighbor, or fellow church member who could use a friend, please consider contacting the Friendly Visitors program. Friendly Visitors are volunteers from the community who are dependable, caring, and have a positive outlook. They are screened, trained, and then matched with seniors who share similar interests for weekly one-hour companionship visits. Volunteers are currently available in your area, so if you call now you could be matched with your new friend within a couple of weeks! The Friendly Visitors Program is operated through Meals on Wheels by Senior Outreach Services, a private, non-profit agency that has supported seniors in Contra Costa County since 1968. To learn more, please contact Susannah Meyer at (925) 937-8311 ext. 130 or at smeyer@mowsos.org or visit our website at www.mowsos.org.
Kiwanis continued from page 30
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
tion, SonRise Equestrian Foundation, Teen Esteem, The Lucille Glass Mauzy Foundation, Vestia, Inc, and We Care Services for Children. Funds for the annual grants program are raised by the San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation, through several fundraising projects, including organizing and conducting the annual Kiwanis Danville 4th of July Parade and an annual golf tournament. Grant applications are awarded with an additional several thousand dollars held in reserve to provide emergency grants and fund Kiwanis community projects throughout the year. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Additional information about the Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Valley may be obtained at www.kiwanis-srv.org. The club holds weekly luncheon meetings at noon on Thursdays at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. Please join the club for lunch and find out more about the organization.
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Are You in a Sandwich?
By Joyce & Jim Newport, Owners, Right at Home of Mt. Diablo
And how did you get here? Looking back, it started when mom asked for a minor home repair. Then your folks asked you to pick up a few groceries. Then dad asked for a ride to his doctor because mom can no longer drive, and he isn’t feeling up to it. Now you’re making weekly grocery trips, spending hours on your weekends preparing meals in small portions Photo by www.JamieWestdal.com that they can easily heat up, and making sure that their bills are being paid on time, all the while musing about when you will squeeze in time to do your own laundry. Eventually, you may find yourself assisting in ways you never anticipated, such as with grooming and hygiene. You are far from alone. According to Caring.com, nearly one household out of every four provides care in some form for an older family member. Oh, and are you also taking care of children of your own? Then welcome to the “Sandwich Generation!” Of course, you hope that your family members stay physically and mentally healthy and are able to live in their own home for the rest of their lives. In many cases, the loss of independence is gradual, and the need for assistance is not always clear. Maybe you and your spouse have talked about eventually moving mom into your home. The very best thing you can do for yourself and your elderly loved ones is to act now to find out what they would want should they need assistance, and put a care plan in place. More often than not, decisions about long term care are made during crisis situations. It is so much more effective if you can have a series of family meetings before an emergency occurs so you can calmly discuss potential scenarios and develop a plan for when dad will need long term care services. Sit with your elderly loved ones, ask them about their needs and preferences, and consider all of the alternative levels of care including enhanced services within their own home. Involve all family members in the process, and make a long term care plan that everyone is comfortable with. Ensuring that everyone in the family is in agreement now will save incalculable grief in the future. During your family meetings, some of the key areas you will need to discuss will be the costs of the various living options and your loved ones’ financial resources, proximity to family members and sources of assistance, and how the family will assign various roles such as arranging for care if the time comes. You’ll want to look at the kinds of insurance coverage they have and what services are paid for and what services are not paid for. Whether your parent ultimately decides that they want to age in place in their own home, or they prefer to move into a community that will provide the assistance they will need long term, the sooner you have that family meeting to prepare for this process, the better the transition will be. Without a plan, it is difficult to determine at what point to intervene, and you will most likely face resistance from mom who is not accustomed to having her
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Alamo Today ~ May 2011 - Page 31 child tell her what to do. Your family members who live on the other side of the country will want to share their opinions about what steps should be taken. And while you all struggle over these issues, mom or dad might suffer a fall, and the crisis has begun. Wouldn’t you like to know that you can pull out a map to lead the way? For tips on starting the conversation, visit our blog at www.rah-md.net. About Right at Home - Right at Home is a non-medical home care agency. We directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured. For more information on Right at Home services, please call 925.256.4663. Advertorial
Senior Health Fitness Day
The Town of Danville will be promoting physical fitness, nutrition and preventative care at this year’s Senior Health Fitness Day. It will take place on May 26 from 9AM - 1PM at Oak Hill Park Community Center. The first 50 people will receive a FREE pedometer. The morning begins with a fitness walk, free breakfast, and coffee. Enjoy fitness demonstrations, free massages, putting contests, free health screenings, door prizes, great exhibitors, and exciting presentations throughout the day. Come learn ways to improve your health, and meet the experts who can make your life healthier and happier. For a full complete schedule of activities, exhibitors, and sponsors, go to www.danville.ca.gov. The fitness walk begins at 9AM, and health screenings will be held from 9AM – noon. Box lunches costing $3 will be served at noon. To register for the fitness walk and memory screening, call (925) 314-3490. To register and pay $3 for box lunch, call (925) 314-3400. Oak Hill Park Community Center is located at 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville.
Senior Buzz Sessions
Buzz Sessions are the buzz on topics and issues facing today’s older adults. Join us to talk with the experts. Buzz Sessions are held at the Town Meeting Hall in Danville, and they are free! For more information, call 925-314-3400 or visit www.danville.ca.gov. Keeping You Upright: Fall Prevention ~ Tuesday, May 10 ~ 9AM – 10AM Injuries due to falls are the single major reason for hospital admissions. Learn how you can take control and stop yourself from becoming a statistic. All it takes is the willingness to change, just a little. The presentation will highlight incidences of falls, some tips to prevent falls, and what to do if you fall. In addition, we provide tools for remaining independent in your home, including an emergency response system. Why Meditation? ~ Tuesday, May 24 ~ 9AM – 10:30AM Meditation has been long been known to promote improved health and well being, increased self-awareness and growth, and a deeper spiritual connection. In this class, we will learn to release tension, quiet the mind, heal the body, visual success, and connect with our spiritual nature. Presented by Mary Bruns, Meditation Practitioner for over 25 years.
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CAR FOR COLLEGE STUDENT Looking for a cheap car for a college student. Preferably a Honda or Toyota. Manual transmission OK. Please call 925.216.1089
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 32 - May 2011 ~ Alamo Today
The Combs Team
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Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
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Alamo Real Estate Review: Distressed Sales are 38% of Declining Market
The selling season has begun in earnest, and I thought it might be useful to look at the sales data year to date through April 23, 2010 and compare it with previous selling seasons going back to the market peak in 2006. This should give us some insight into whether the Alamo Market has reached a bottom or yet darker days lie ahead. As of this writing, 86 homes are for sale in Alamo. The average list price is $1,775,749. The average sold price is $1,043,837 or 41% less than asking price. Pending sales are solid with a total of 47. The pending square foot price is sitting at $359 per square foot or only slightly higher than properties just sold. Eighteen or 38% of these homes are pending “Subject to Bank Approval.” It is not clear to me whether this number will increase, decrease or stay the same in the months ahead. Only the banks know. I do believe, however, that the very presence of distressed sales in our market at this elevated level will continue to have a dampening effect on prices. Changes in this number in either direction will most likely dictate the future of home prices in Alamo. Looking at the chart, we can see that sold price is down -30% from the peak in 2006 and down -4% from this time last year. Dollars paid per square foot tells a slightly grimmer story, down -32% from the peak but up 4% from the same time period last year. Please note that the average price decline from Sales 2009Sold to 2010 Alamo Home Price was about $300,000, and the average price decline from 2010-2011 was roughly $45,000. This Alamo Home Sales Sold Price number suggests a decelerating rate of price $1,800,000 decline moving forward and while still mind $1,600,000 $1,800,000 bogglingly large is not declining faster. $1,400,000 $1,600,000 Very interesting is the change in the Sq. $1,200,000 $1,400,000 Ft. column which shows that the imputed size $1,000,000 $1,200,000 of homes that are selling is declining to 2957 $800,000 $1,000,000 sq. ft. compared to 3212 sq. ft. last year. This $600,000 $800,000 is a striking change, significantly lower than $400,000 $600,000 any previous year, and I believe one can infer $200,000 $400,000 from this data point that fewer larger homes $$200,000 Peak 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 are selling in the current market, and this is $2006 Peak 2006
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Westside Alamo Views!
Peak 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 % Chg. from '06-'11 % Chg. from '10-'11
Alamo Home Sales Jan.1-April 23 2006-2011 Units Sold Days on Mkt. List Price Sold Price 50 19 $ 1,761,648 $ 1,726,628 45 36 $ 1,701,063 $ 1,655,244 30 66 $ 1,658,496 $ 1,556,148 26 121 $ 1,644,721 $ 1,376,615 43 91 $ 1,182,798 $ 1,088,776 25 55 $ 1,085,214 $ 1,043,837 -50% 289% -38% -30% -42% -45% -8% -4%
$ Sq. Foot $ 516 $ 489 $ 455 $ 409 $ 339 $ 353 -32% 4%
Sq. Ft. 3346 3385 3420 3366 3212 2957 -12% -8%
reflected in the huge price differential between the price of Active Listings and properties that have actually sold. It appears that buyers are either unwilling or unable to buy High End Homes, and Sellers are unwilling or unable to cut the price to obtain a sale. This has created a market impasse. And, this rightly begs the question, “Who is going to budge first, the buyers or the sellers?” Further, “Will the retiring Baby Boom generation find an adequate number of High End buyers for their “McMansions” built during the past 20 years of the housing boom in sufficient supply to maintain price stability? Or, will they ultimately capitulate, slash prices, and trigger a tsunami of larger homes flooding the market, leading ultimately to even steeper price declines for all properties?” Another interesting thing to think about is inventory supply. When looking at the 86 homes currently for sale in Alamo and comparing it to the roughly 6 homes that are selling per month, Alamo is sitting with about a 14 month inventory supply. This is more than double the 3-6 months inventory which some experts hold to be a normal market. This cannot be viewed as a positive for pushing prices higher. Additionally, the absolute number of sales year on year has slipped by -42% from last year, perhaps due to the termination of the first time homebuyer tax credit which definitely had the market hopping last year. If sales volume continues to slip, this will not be a good sign. It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest no strings attached opinion of your home’s current market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@ thecombsteam.com.
Bryan Ranch Single Story
South Walnut Creek 3 Bedroom
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Amazing 4 bedroom, 3 bath, single story with a pool. Granite kitchen. $1,199,000
This lovely 3 bedroom home is a perfect “10” and includes a pool of its’ own. $785,000. Call for details.
Danville Executive Home
Danville 4 Bedroom
Alamo French Country Home
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This 4 bedroom Danville home has a huge backyard. Pool, pool house, green house, fruit trees, RV and boat parking. $849,000
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
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6 bedroom, 4.5 bath, on .6 acre. Two master bedrooms and apartment. Serene wooded setting. $1,299,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526