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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 1
APRIL 2017
LIVORNA BOCCE BALL COURTS TO OPEN SOON
RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER
By Sharon Burke
Despite the record rainy season, new construction has been humming steadily along through the winter and spring and Alamo citizens will soon enjoy new bocce ball courts at Livorna Park.
By Jody Morgan
The Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG), the horticultural treasure that inspired the creation of the Garden Conservancy, celebrates breaking ground for a long-awaited Ruth Bancroft and Brian Kemble discuss The Visitor andth Education Center Bold Dry Garden published in 2016. (Photo on May 20 . While translating courtesy of the RBG) decades of dreaming into practical plans, the RBG has raised more than two-thirds of the estimated $2.9 million required to complete construction. Gathering spaces within the building will benefit the entire community. Exterior features will extend options for welcoming visitors, volunteers, and private events to one of America’s premiere public gardens. Amenities within the new facility include a multi-purpose Great Room, seating 85-100 for workshops, seminars, corporate retreats and social
Livorna Park bocce ball courts will open soon.
Livorna Park is undergoing a major renovation with the addition of bocce ball courts, replacing the rarely used sand volleyball court. A town-wide survey in 2011 revealed bocce ball courts were the number one amenity desired by Alamo residents. The courts are budgeted to cost around $600,000 at finish and are 100% funded with Measure WW funds from the East Bay Regional Park District, so no Alamo taxpayer funds have gone into their construction (aside from the Measure WW parcel tax paid by all homeowners of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties). Bocce ball courts project manager Jaemin Park reported at the March MAC meeting: “The bocce court surface contractor is getting ready to install the surface. The contractor notes it will take approximately 10 days to get the surface finished. It will take several coats with cure times in between. The general contractor is finishing up the brick veneer for the walls and the electricians will be out shortly to install the lights. The shade structure is complete and all of the benches are on site. Once the court surfaces are completed, contractors will finish the concrete approaches to the courts and then finish landscaping. All of the irrigation should now be finished. At this point, we believe we should be done by early April.” Since the Alamo Parks and Recreation District has no staff, there will be no formal reservation system for the two courts. Use of the courts will be first come, first served on the honor system. Players will need to supply their own bocce ball equipment. Hours of use will be limited to the park’s opening hours from 6AM to 10PM. There is no overhead lighting at the courts in deference to neighbors. The courts are intended for casual recreational use and not regular league play as they are just short of official league length. Bocce anyone? Round up some neighbors and buddies and show up with some equipment. Squint a little and you’ll imagine you are in Tuscany!
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See GARDEN continued on page 28
HELPING TO CLOTHE TEENS IN NEED
By Fran Miller
It was 2011 when Laura Graham, then a student at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, decided to help change the lives of local needy teens. With the assistance of her mom, she started 1Closet, an organization that has since helped to clothe thousands of young people living in foster care and shelters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. When Graham left for college in 2014, she handed the 1Closet reigns to the Glasser family of Alamo whose three sisters, Riley, Carly, and Bella, Volunteers help to sort teen clothing at have led, and will continue to lead the a 1Closet sorting event. organization through the next several years. Riley served as director until leaving for college in August, 2015. Carly, a student at San Ramon Valley Volume XVII - Number 4 High School, now serves as director, 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, and Bella, also a student at SRVHS Alamo, CA 94507 serves as executive director and will Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 have her turn at the helm when Carly Fax (925) 406-0547 departs for college in 2019. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher “Laura found us through a National Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Charity League connection,” says Sharon Burke ~ Writer Carly. “She was looking for someone The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today to take over 1Closet once she left for is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising
See CLOSET cont. on pg. 24
herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.