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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!
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
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.
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PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
SaturDay, April 8th
12pm - 2pm
Easter Bunny Hops on the
Alamo Plaza Trail EasteR Bunny, scaVengeR hunT, musIc & morE! Don’t forGet to briNg youR camEra to takE picTures witH the Bunny!
First 150 kidS recEive a FREE gifT!
For more information visit: www.AlamoPlazaShoppingCenter.com Located at Danville Blvd. and Stone Valley Road, Alamo, CA 94507 (800) 762-1641
BOULEVARD VIEW
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Our family has been trying to get out and about more. After living in the area for 20 years, we have never really explored the “back side” of Mt. Diablo, and the area of Black Diamond Mines always intrigued me. I knew there was an old mine but not much more. What did they pull out of the ground? When was it in operation? Recently we loaded the dogs in the car and set out. The drive was stunning as the wildflowers are popping out and contrasting against the glorious shades of green on the hillside. We arrived to the park and were in line to pay our entrance fee when my husband realized he had left his wallet at home. He asked me if I had brought mine, but assuming he always has his, I had left mine at home as well. Our daughter who was with us didn’t have hers either. It appeared our 1/2 hour drive and afternoon plans were for naught. We raided the ashtrays and car cubbies for anything spare, but the two dollar bills and some coins weren’t going to get us to the nine dollars needed for the entrance fee, and they didn’t take I.O.U.s. The ranger was understanding and tried to be somewhat flexible, but we just didn’t have close to what we needed. We were assessing our predicament when my daughter said, “Mom, do you still have the money we found stored in the back of your phone case?” Eureka! She remembered something I had forgotten. Tucked between my phone and its carrying case, I occasionally stuff a note, a fortune cookie fortune, or other little items. What my daughter remembered was $10 I had found three or four years ago. The $10 came into my possession when my daughter and I had been browsing local thrift stores. We were inside a store, and I looked down and saw a yellow piece of paper on the ground. I picked it up and what I found was a note that said, “You found it - It’s yours. Happy money Thursday,” and
with that was $10 tucked inside. Analyzing the handwriting, I assumed the bounty was left by an elderly man. I looked around the store but didn’t see anyone looking at me like they had just dropped the bait and were waiting to see who had found it. On one hand it was great to find the money but on the other hand I thought another shopper at a thrift store may have needed it more than I did. I debated if I should just put it back on the floor and leave it for another customer but I decided the person had left it for the first to find and I tucked it away in the back of my phone, occasionally seeing it and saving it for the “right time.” Once realizing we had enough money for our park entrance fee, I went back to the entry gate and shared the note and $10 with the ranger who had seen us scrounging for our entry fee. She was touched by the story of the found money and I think wanted to help me find a way to keep the “special” bill. I reassured her that I would be keeping the note, and the right thing to do was to part with the crisp $10 bill. I believe the note dropper would have agreed. Our entry paid for our delightful afternoon at the park. While we didn’t have reservations for a mine tour, we learned that from 1850-1906 more than four million tons of coal were produced in 12 mines. Later, a mine on site produced high-quality silica sandstone that was sold to a company in Oakland for manufacturing glass containers and to a company in Pittsburg for steel casting. After that mine shut down, ranching took over the land, and in 1973 the area was acquired by the East Bay Regional Parks District. There are over 60 miles of hiking trails which offer beautiful views of the area and a cemetery where some of the pioneers are laid to rest. Embedded in a path we saw old fragments of glass and pottery. These were most likely from the mining towns dumping sites, and they had risen to the surface from our recent rains. We also saw some small pieces of coal on the side of the trail. When I think of coal, I think of Kentucky and West Virginia, not Mt. Diablo, but now my eyes are opened to the hidden secrets of the mountain in our backyards. We are excited to go back to take a mine tour and do more hiking. This time I’ll make sure we each have our wallets on hand!
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 3
ANOTHER LUXURY PROPERTY BY CAROLYN GWYNN
CAROLYN GWYNN Realtor®
| 925.336.7525
carolyn@thegwynngroup.com www.carolyngwynn.com
141 KELL COURT, ALAMO
141 Kell Court Alamo | 4 bedrooms, 2 baths | apx.2017sf .46 acre lot | Offered at $1,388,000
The Realtor you list your home with does make a difference. Is there anything more important to you than the highest possible price? Please contact me for an appointment.
NEWCOMERS WELCOME COFFEE
Are you new to the area or a long time resident, newly retired, or an empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club is a women’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. The next free Newcomers member coffee will be held on April 25th from 10AM to noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@ gmail.com.
Alamo Rotary Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Livorna Park
Saturday, April 15 ~ 9AM-11AM
SHEEP SHEARING DAY 2017
Sheep Shearing is one of the San Ramon Historic Foundations largest annual events, drawing over 1,000 people to the farm. It is an opportunity for community members of all ages to come together and enjoy a day on the farm while learning and having fun. This year’s Sheep Shearing Day will be held April 22 from 11AM - 3PM at Forest Home Farms Historic Park, located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd in San Ramon. Over 100 sheep will receive their annual haircut and provide an opportunity to demonstrate how sheep are sheared. You will see how their wool is removed, cleaned, and spun into yarn all while the sheep dogs are herding the next sheep in line to get their haircut. Help celebrate San Ramon’s 150th birthday, and join in a fun filled day on the oldest homestead in San Ramon which is open to the public. Forest Home Farms was built and settled in the early 1800s, and your attendance will make a difference in preserving this unique piece of San Ramon history. Learn * Explore * National Historical Landmark * Sheep Shearing * Wool Spinning Wood Carving And Turning * Blacksmith * Quilting * Games * Crafts * Tractor Museum * Farm Tours * 4-H Petting Zoo * Maypole * Gift Shoppe * Glass House Tours Order Early Bird Tickets at www.srhf.org/sheep-shearing-day-2017/: Early Bird (before April 20) tickets are $5 Adult, $3 Children (3-12), (under 3 free); and after April 20 and at the gate tickets are $7 Adult, $5 Child (3-12), (under 3 free).
Egg Hunt Easter Bunny Visit Carnival Games Balloons Face Painting Music
Brought to the community by Rotary Club of Alamo With Special Thanks to Egg Hunt Major Sponsors:
Bach Group at Morgan Stanley | Diablo Fine Jewelers | John Muir Health Spectrum Wealth Partners | Tidewater Inc. | Thompson Consulting
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
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FRIENDS OF THE DANVILLE LIBRARY
The Friends of the Danville Library will host another Large Book Sale at the end of April. Stop by during the following times for great deals! Friday, April 28 - FODL Members preview: 9am - 10am, Public hours: 10am - 5pm. Saturday, April 29 - Public hours:10am - 4pm. Sunday, April 30 - $5 Bag Sale. Public hours: 12:05pm - 3:45pm. Friday and Saturday all hardcover books, books on tape, and DVD’s are $2. All paperback books and CD’s are $1.
EASTER EGG HUNT AND FAMILY FUN DAY AT THE PARK
Calling all brides to be. Come to the Spring Bridal Show! There will be vendors showcasing everything that a bride needs to make her special day one to remember. The event is free of charge.
SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society invites you to attend their April 18th meeting from 10AM to noon. The program will be “Brick Wall Strategies,” given by Sharon Hoyt. The meeting will be held at the Danville Family History Center, located at 2949 Stone Valley Rd., Alamo. For more information, visit http://srvgensoc.org or email SRVGS@ SRVGenSoc.org.
A KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY
Join Hospice East Bay on Saturday, April 8 for a Kentucky Derby Party! The evening will include complimentary bourbon tastings, Kentucky bluegrass, horse races, auctions, and traditional derby cuisine. This event is Hospice East Bay’s opportunity to honor patients and their loved ones while celebrating those who contribute their time and resources to ensure that quality end-of-life care is available to everyone in the our community. The party will take place at the Diablo Country Club, located at 1700 Clubhouse Road in Diablo, and will run from 5:30PM to 11PM. Master of Ceremonies for the event will be ABC7’s Michael Finney. For tickets, please visit www. hospiceeastbay.org/celebration. Hospice East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, the organization accepts all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Since 1977, Hospice East Bay has served over 23,000 patients and their families. Proceeds from their thrift shoppes benefit patients and their families.
APRIL IN PARIS FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON
Friends of Blackhawk Museum is sponsoring the April in Paris Fashion Show Luncheon at the museum in Blackhawk Plaza Circle. This is a fundraising event to benefit the Children’s Education and Transportation Fund to enable Bay Area schoolchildren to visit the Blackhawk Museum’s International Automotive Treasures and “Spirit of the Old West” exhibitions. The event will take place on April 12 at 11AM. The cost is $75 per person.
The Rotary Club of Alamo will sponsor the Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 15th at Livorna Park. The event will begin at 9AM with games and music and end at 11AM. There will be over 6,000 eggs that will be hidden for the children to find. In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny, there will be children’s carnival games, balloon makers, face painting, and other fun activities. Live music will be provided by The East Bay Banjo Club, along with coffee, chocolate milk, water and donuts for sale. The Alamo Elementary School Chorus will also perform. The actual Easter Egg Hunt will take place this year at 10AM sharp. The egg hunt will be split in to three age groups. One for children three years of age and under (3-0); another for children ages four to seven (4-7); and finally for children ages eight to ten (8-10). Parents should allow ample time for their children to be on time to participate in this quick moving event! The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971 and has 46 members. The Club supports the various programs at Alamo and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools, Lucille Mauzy School, Stone Valley Middle School, Monte Vista and San Ramon High Schools; provides dictionaries to third grade students; sponsors two free medical clinics for uninsured and underserved adults with acute or chronic medical conditions, as well as other community and international projects. The Club will be meeting on Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Country Drive, Danville, until the end of 2017 while Round Hill Country Club in Alamo undergoes a remodeling project,
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 5
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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
VA L L E Y L E A D E R S H I P PRAYER BREAKFAST
Come hear speaker Mark Whitacre talk on “When Good Leaders Lose Their Way” at the 28 th Annual Good Friday Valley Leadership Prayer Breakfast to be held on Friday, April 14th from 7:30am - 9am at the San Ramon Marriott located at 2600 Bishop Drive in San Ramon. Mark Whitacre is an Ivy League Ph.D, best known for being the highest-ranked exVisit booths hosted by local business showcasing their company ecutive in U.S. history to become an FBI inspecialties. Local restaurants and wineries will be on hand providing Thursday, April 20 formant. His undercover work with the FBI delicious small bite samples. The $10 entrance fee includes a Danville 6PM to 9PM during the 14 billion dollar Archer Daniels shopping bag, wine glass, and sample plate. Midland (ADM) price fixing scandal was For information call the Danville the inspiration for the major motion picture, Danville Veteran’s Memorial Building The Informant starring Matt Damon. Despite Area Chamber of Commerce at (925) 837-4400 or visit 400 Hartz Ave, Danville his work with the FBI, he was charged with www.Danvilleareachamber.com. several white collar crimes, including fraud, VALLEY LEADERSHIP PRAYER that occurred during his tenure as President of the Fortune 500 company’s BioProducts BREAKFAST Division. He served over eight and a half years in federal prison. In prison Mark discovered new meaning for his life. ROLE PLAYERS ENSEMBLE PRESENTS LAUGHING STOCK Tickets are $35 or a table of 10 is $350. The Role Players Ensemble will present Laughing Stock, by Charles Morey and directed by Cynthia Please RSVP to Marsha Walker at 925-360Lagodzinski and Eric Fraisher Hayes, April 14 – 30 at the 3476, mcorbettwalker@sbcglobal.net, or Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street Lose in Danville. Friday Richard Ponder 925“When Good Leaders Their Way” and Saturday performances will be held at 8PM, and Sunday per389-0832, rponder@ formances will beMark heldWhitacre at 2PM.is an Ivy League Ph.D, best known for being the comcast.net. Director Gordon Paige executive is looking to save hisanstruggling highest-ranked in U.S. history to become FBI informant. Bring a friend and His undercover work with the FBI during the 14 billion dollar ADM summer stock theatre by producing Dracula, Hamlet, and Charbe encouraged by price fixing scandal was the inspiration for the major motion picture, lie’s Aunt in repertory. Being short of time, talent, and money this inspiring real life “The Informant”, starring Matt Damon. Despite his work with the FBI, aren’t obstacles. This ischarged the theatre! Mixing slapstick withfraud, sweethe was with several white collar crimes, including that story. occurred Laughing during his tenure as President of the Fortune 500 ness, Charles Morey’s company’s BioProducts Division. He served over eight and a half Stock celebrates all the things we love about theatre and everything thatprison. canIn prison Mark discovered new meaning years in federal for his life. go wrong in the making of it. A conversation with playwright Charles Morey will follow theCOME Sunday, WITH A FRIEND AND BE April 23 matinée. Tickets costing $20-28 can be purchased online at www. ENCOURAGED BY THIS INSPIRING Fifth RolePlayersEnsemble.com; at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, REAL LIFE STORY! Matt Damon Fifth Danville; or by calling (925) 314-3400. Anniversary
SPEAKER
SHARE YOUR COLORS
28th ANNUAL GOOD FRIDAY VALLEY LEADERSHIP PRAYER BREAKFAST
Anniversary Concert Concert
Crayons belong in children’s hands, Brahms, not landfills. The Crayon Initiative is Friday, April 14, 2017 Cherubini,Faure, Brahms, excited to share with you a chance to 7:30am - 9:00am Offenbach, Verdi, Cherubini,Faure, help brighten the day for thousands of San Ramon Marriott Mascagni, Whitacre, Offenbach, Verdi, kids in America’s hospitals and keep Garrop,Ticheli and Mascagni, Whitacre, waxy sludge out of landfills. Advance Reservations & Payment much more ----The inaugural #ShareYourColors Garrop,Ticheli and Tickets: $35 - Table of 10: $350 fundraising campaign kicks off in much more ----RSVP - Marsha Walker 925-360-3476 ● mcorbettwalker@sbcglobal.net April. This nationwide effort will unite the community in a mission to raiseor Richard Ponder 925-389-0832 ● rponder@comcast.net awareness for The Crayon Initiative. In the spirit of Earth Day, individuals and businesses alike will join forces in a collective effort to help keep crayons out of Sunday April 23 at 4pm Tickets are $20/ adults, our landfills and in the hands of hospitalized children. St. Perpetua Sunday April 23 at 4pm $10/ are students. As a community, if we each do our part, we can reach our fundraising goal Tickets $20/ adults, 3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette St. Perpetua of $250,000. How? $10/ students. 3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette Information and tickets Saturday April 29 at 7pm There are a variety of ways for corporate partners and individuals to participate Clayton Valley Presbyterian available at tickets Information and Saturday April 29 at 7pm in the #ShareYourColors campaign. Below are some of our current corporate 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton www.chromaticachorale.org Clayton Valley Presbyterian available at partners have donated in the past: or at the door. 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton www.chromaticachorale.org Sunday April 30 at 6pm • Realtors: Donate a percentage or flat dollar amount from each closing or at the door. Peace Lutheran • Car Dealers: Give a percentage or flat dollar amount from each car sale Sunday April 30 at 6pm 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville • Offices: Collect $1 - $5 employee donations, match employee funds Peace Lutheran 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville • Retail & Restaurants: Donate a percentage of sales on a given day(s) Danville These are just a few of the many ways you can support TCI during our April Danville #ShareYourColors campaign. Visit www.shareyourcolors.org to see more ways for you to get involved. Chromatica is a California non-profit benefit corporation and a 501(c)(3) To learn more about The Crayon Initiative visit http://thecrayoninitiative.org/. Chromatica is a California non-profit benefit corporation and a 501(c)(3)
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NE IGHBORHOOD WATCH W ITH YOUR SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Neighborhood Watch is a Community Action and Problem-Solving Program and one of the most effective means available for resolving issues within your community. Through organized problem-solving activities, your block can remove crime from your neighborhood and address any community issues that concern residents. Meetings can be held by a Crime Prevention Specialist who will share more information about the program. Please contact Christina Lind-Winters (925) 313-2682 or clind001@so.cccounty.us for more information.
TREATS FOR THE TROOPS
Service group Delta Nu Psi collects and sends “gourmet junk food” to servicemen and women in war zones. With your help, the group has sent 36,345 pounds of food in 1,483 boxes thus far. Other than snack food, the group has also collected and sent coffee, creamer, eye drops, chapstick, and wipes. Collections are currently scheduled at both Lunardi’s in Danville and CVS in Alamo. Group members will be collecting at CVS on April 7 and Lunardi’s on April 14 from 11:30 until 1:30. They would love to have the support of as many shoppers as possible. For more information, visit www. deltanupsi.org. Money for postage is also always appreciated.
BLUE STAR MOMS
APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 7
Huge Jewelry Sale Just in time for Mother's Day or any special occasion. All proceeds benefiting Youth Homes foster kids Alamo Women's Club 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo
May 4 ~11AM-7PM
Fine Mexican Dining
Blue Star Moms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit support and service group for families with sons/daughters in the military. The group’s mission is to support active military, veterans, and families who have lost sons/daughters while serving (Gold Star families) and wounded. These are events to support the group’s 4th of July care package drive over the next couple of months. Care Package community drop offs: • April 8 ~ 10AM to 3PM ~ Lunardi’s in Danville, 345 Railroad Ave. • May 6 ~ 10AM to 3PM ~ Walmart in Pleasanton, 4501 Rosewood Dr. • Care package packing/mailing: June 18 at 10AM at Camp Parks in Dublin For more information or to find out how to drop off other donations, contact Joan Jachowski at joan@pacificventures.net, or call (925) 7755084. Monetary donations are always appreciated to cover postage expense; checks can be made payable to and mailed to Blue Star Moms, PO Box 2537 San Ramon, CA 94538. For a list of items the group is looking for and for additional information, visit www.bluestarmoms.org.
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, bowling, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, bridge, reading, computers, and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. The group’s next monthly luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17th at AM 11 . Note that due to a Special Ladies Day function, no luncheon is scheduled for April. The May guest speaker will be Bryan Walley from Contra Costa County’s Search and Rescue unit. Bryan promises interesting stories for the group. The cost of $25 includes luncheon, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 170 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, please email the group by Thursday, May 11th at www.info@SIR128. com. The new meeting location for meetings is Bridges Golf Club, Gopher/Mole Removal The 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more No Poison information about this retirement branch and activities, please visit www.SIR128.com.
925-765-4209
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
DANVILLE FAMILY HISTORY CENTER
The Danville Family History Center has been open and serving the community for almost two decades. Everyone is welcome during library hours to use the resources available. There is a friendly and experienced staff who volunteer to help you to utilize the materials, including the Family Search web portal to over a dozen subscription-based genealogical research services, such as Ancestry.com. In addition, you may order online and have films or microfiche shipped from the main Salt Lake Library for viewing in our center. We are located inside the LDS building at 2949 Stone Valley Road. Enter the left side of the building. Hours are Monday 1-4pm, Tuesday 7-9pm, and Wednesday 10-4pm and 7-9pm. For questions, call 925-552-5920.
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PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
Serving the Bay Area with honesty and integrity since 1973
Since 1973
3191-JS Crow Canyon Pl San Ramon Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone (925) 866-2200 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com
In Loehmann’s Shopping Center (next to Lucky’s)
CONTR A COSTA COUNT Y’S SYSTEM FOR HELPING THE HOMELESS
By Supervisor Candace Andersen
Contra Costa County provides the “safety net” for those in need in our community. The Contra Costa Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) is currently designing and implementing a Coordinated Entry System (CES) to ensure that homeless individuals, and those at-risk of homelessness, receive the most appropriate services to meet their housing needs. The Coordinated Entry System is a collaboration of multiple community, government, and faith-based agencies that collectively provide services ranging from prevention to permanent housing placements. Homeless individuals are linked to the support needed to obtain and sustain housing. They move into the system by calling 211, by going to one of our Coordinated Assessment and Resource (CARE) Centers, or through our Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) teams. The 211 information line, operated by the Contra Costa Crisis Center, provides a phone portal for individuals and families needing to connect to homeless services. Callers will be connected to CORE Team and CARE Centers. 211 is in the process of implementing Prevention and Diversion Screening and Referral services, and in September it will begin a centralized reservation system for direct placement into emergency shelters. Our CORE outreach teams have begun to engage and stabilize homeless individuals living outside, help facilitate and deliver health and basic needs services, and locate permanent housing. Evening CORE teams can provide direct placement into shelter beds. CARE Centers located in Richmond, Concord, and Walnut Creek provide a walk-in option for individuals and families who need to connect to homeless services. Services offered at CARE Centers include help with basic needs, light case management, housing navigation services, and substance abuse
See HOMELESS continued on page 25
2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
CSL’S HEART OF THE HOME TOUR
The five striking homes open for the Children’s Support League’s (CSL) 29th annual Heart of the Home Tour are all starting their second century with stylish renovation and remodeling. Tickets are now on sale for the tour, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 28-29. The homes include a Mediterranean villa nestled in lush gardens, a grand dame on Piedmont’s historic row, a beautifully remodeled Santa Barbara Monterey, an ingeniously redesigned 1911 Cape Cod, and a French Normandy with vibrant new décor.
JULIE BARTON TO SPEAK AT TOUR VIP PROGRAM
Julie Barton, the New York Times bestselling author of Dog Medicine, How My Dog Saved Me from Myself, will be the speaker at a continental breakfast for VIP ticket holders on the morning of Friday, April 28. In addition to breakfast with Ms. Barton, those who purchase a VIP ticket get admission to the five tour houses, lunch on their own schedule at the Piedmont Community Center, and an invitation to the Wednesday evening tour kick-off party at a private home in Piedmont. Tickets are $45 in advance price (tour only) or $55 (tour + lunch). The VIP ticket, $125, includes the tour of five houses, Wednesday evening kickoff party at a sixth house, and a Friday morning continental breakfast with the special guest speaker. For tour details and tickets, visit www.ChildrensSupportLeague.org. Since 1988, CSL has raised over $3.5 million to provide grants to non-profit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties that support at-risk children. CSL is a voluntary, member-supported 501(C) (3) nonprofit that awards an average of 96% of the money it raises in grants.
ADAS PRESENTS PEGGY MAGOVERN
Come to the Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS) meeting on April 11 at 7:30PM, and hear from internationally recognized colored pencil artist Peggy Magovern. The meeting will take place at the Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo. Peggy Magovern is a fourth generation native Californian who has been teaching group and private classes for over 15 years in the Bay Area, plus a variety of workshops in Mendocino and in other locations around the state. She has won two international awards in the field of colored pencil,
See ADAS continued on page 31
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 9
ALAMO ELEMENTARY
LEARNING FROM THE PAST By Stan Hitomi, Principal
The heavy rains of winter have left us with ideal conditions for a spectacular spring. The gardens of Alamo have sprung to life and we are seeing more and more colors every day. If you haven’t already taken a walk through our campus, now is the time! At Alamo School you have your choice of gardens. “The Garden” as we call it, is our large terraced garden in the back of the campus. Also called the Teaching Garden, it is a source of pride for our entire school community. Planning for the garden began in 2011, the first plant beds were laid in 2012, and the terracing was completed in 2013. Lynn Hoaglin is our garden educator who works tirelessly on the garden as well as teaching classes and coordinating related programs in science, nutrition, and recycling. On the north side of the campus we have several gardens. There is a large planter box adjacent to the MPR that was built in 20072008 and decorated with hundreds of student tiles with character messages –
RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY
By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal
With only nine weeks remaining in the school year, it is a good time to recognize and celebrate the efforts of a few, out of many, of our outstanding employees and parents. These members of the school community demonstrate a relentless pursuit of excellence in the learning environment. Their significant contributions in bringing about collaboration and connectedness, engaging in a deep study of best practices, and/or securing resources to meet the unique needs of each child is exceptional.
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
including larger panels with the words responsibility, respect, and honesty. Two smaller planter boxes lay between the 300 and 400 classrooms. These gardens are often been used by our science classes for a variety of projects and experiments. Many of the surrounding classrooms have flower tubs that are in bloom and three large planter boxes ring the quad. A collection of drought-resistant California natives and succulents sits outside the computer lab. On the south side of campus, along the 5th grade porch, are planter boxes that originally made up our Colonial Gardens. They are still active, with a newly repaired drip system. Hidden near the Dapplegray entrance to our campus, in front of the “Bench of Dreams,” is a drought resistant garden planted by Alamo School alum Kody Wedell in 2011 as part of his Eagle Scout Project. In front of the school is a formal garden that welcomes students, parents, and guests each day. Currently it is filled with red and white tulips, irises, and sage. Kathy Finley, PTA Beautification Chair and her family, help to keep the gardens looking incredible!
DANVILLE-ALAMO GARDEN CLUB MEETING
The Danville-Alamo Garden Club meets on the 2nd Thursday of the months between September and June starting at 9:15AM at the Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo. The April 13th meeting will focus on Elizabeth Frances Gamble, a granddaughter of the co-founder of Proctor & Gamble who left her family home and garden to the City of Palo Alto upon her death in 1981. In 1985 the two-and-a-third acre property became the Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, a public garden supported by a non-profit horticultural foundation. Jane Stocklin and Susan Woodman, both longtime volunteers and contributors to the garden, will present the Gamble Garden story. They will share photos of early Palo Alto and information from a book written by Woodman, Gamble Garden, Landscape of Optimism. In the book, the garden is revealed as a quiet place to connect with nature and a vibrant hub of activity. The book will be available for purchase at the meeting. For questions, contact Susan at membershipvp@dagc.us or visit www.dagc.us.
Kathy Kawabata was nominated as our Classified School Employee of the Year. She is a true asset to the school and district organization. From the day she assumed the position of School Office Assistant, Kathy has demonstrated the highest of professional qualities. She is extremely dedicated and hard-working. Her willingness to learn is exemplary. She takes on all new tasks with utmost enthusiasm and strives for perfection, even in the tiniest details of her job. Kathy plays an incredibly important part of the office team and is an invaluable part of the Rancho family.
RANCHO ROMERO’S 2016/2017 SHINING STAR
Kim Kraft, kindergarten teacher, has been nominated as the 2016/2017 Rancho Romero Shining Star. Kim is a voice of reason in every sense of the word. Whether discussing programs and aligning resources, brainstorming solutions, collaborating with school teams or engaging with parents, Kim’s excellent interpersonal skills lead people to pause, think, and work toward common outcomes. In addition to receiving the Shining Star, Kim is on her way to receiving certification as an Integrated Learning Program Specialist. Required coursework for the certification focuses on using tools and strategies that provoke new thinking about the role of arts and education. Kim invests in each child within the classroom, with her grade level team and across the school. She contributes to fostering a school culture with a high degree of resilience and professional integrity.
RANCHO ROMERO EDUCATION FUND, PTA, AND SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL
Through the focused work of our key stakeholder groups, continual efforts are at play to maintain the motivation, resiliency, and energy needed to ensure that all students have access to high quality teaching and learning. In March the School Site Council approved a budget, aligning newly projected resources with actions and strategies for the 2017 2018 school year. These three entities read, listened, surveyed, reviewed data, and discussed top priorities for students and the school. The budget and subsequent school plan lays groundwork for targeted interventions in reading and social-emotional development, along with enrichments in the arts, technology and classroom supports. Thank you to all for your daily work to support each child.
PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
The long month of March is over and Monte Vista’s students and faculty are enjoying a well-deserved week off for spring break. There have been quite a few happenings on the MV campus during this time, and there is still a lot to come this month. Monte Vista kicked off the month of March by hosting a professional development day for our entire district. Over 2,500 SRVUSD certificated and classified employees heard Dr. Terrence Roberts share his message of self-mastery, choice, and living a meaningful life. This was followed by a day’s worth of professional learning and collaboration. It was a great day to share our campus with the district. A day earlier, Dr. Roberts presented this same powerful message to a group of SRVUSD middle and high school students, including 18 MV students. The first weekend in March saw MV’s Drama Department present their annual musical performance City of Angels and the following week MV presented the always entertaining Mr. Mustang contest. All performances provided great entertainment and were well attended. MV’s Drama program will be back on the stage on April 11th, 12th and 13th with three scene nights. We look forward to more great performances soon. In mid-March, Monte Vista celebrated its annual Junior Prom at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland. The weather was great and our students truly made it a memorable event. I would like to thank the many parent and faculty volunteers, our leadership class, and our activities director, Andrea Greco for all of their work putting together this amazing and classy event. Monte Vista’s Choir was also very busy in March. Our women’s choir claimed another consecutive Golden State Award, and the MV Trebleaires went on tour to Southern California. Monte Vista’s choir also performed three pops concerts to packed houses in the Monte Vista Theater. If March wasn’t busy enough, MV choir will be performing at an Oakland A’s game on April 14th and will go on another tour in late April. Monte Vista’s Instrumental Music program has also been very busy in March. On March 15th, MV hosted the Area Band Festival, where our community enjoyed musical performances by hundreds of middle school musicians, and MV’s Jazz ensemble enjoyed another successful trip to the Santa Cruz Music Festival. Monte Vista’s spring athletics are enjoying great success in the early season. MV Baseball is off to a great start including a huge EBAL win against De La Salle, and MV Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse are continuing to play well and win big. Lastly, Monte Vista’s PTSA sponsored a screening of Race to Nowhere on March 15 and Screenagers on March 28. The Race to Nowhere film was followed by a lively discussion with parents led by filmmaker Vicki Abeles. The dialogue will now continue by reading the accompanying book and a book club discussion in our monthly “Coffee with Kevin” meetings. I encourage everyone in our community to come out to Monte Vista and support our students’ endeavors on the field, court, or stage. 8
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STONE VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
By Jon Campopiano, Principal
The Stone Valley Community is excited to see significant progress on our construction project. Underground piping has been completed, and the foundation is taking shape. We are all enjoying observing the progress, and we’d love to have you come and see the work too. We were fortunate to host Teen Esteem and Sean Donohue for a parent education night (Screens and Teens) and a student assembly (Wise Clicks) focused on creating safe digital footprints. This year, Stone Valley has been honored with the Common-Sense Media Digital Citizenship award. This award recognized the work we have placed on developing lessons and programs focusing on building empathy, kindness, and respect in the cyber world we live in. If you are interested in reinforcing the curriculum with your family, please visit http:// www.digitalsrvusd.net for incredible resources. On March 3rd, along with our entire staff and school district, 10 of our students were able to listen and engage with an American Hero and member of the Little Rock 9, Terrence Roberts. Mr. Roberts made an indelible impression on each member of the audience and left us with some very strong words of wisdom: “If what you know does not change you, change what you know.” Additionally, on March 8th, we were honored to have a holocaust survivor, Ed Lictman, speak to our 8th grade students. Ed shared his experience, strength, and hope and inspired our students to be the change they want to see in the world. On March 14th, our Pledge to Humanity club prepared and delivered hundreds of sandwiches to help feed the homeless, and the month of service learning concluded with a field trip to Glide Memorial to work in the food kitchen. We have an incredible staff, and we had the following honored at the 3rd annual SRVEEA’s Excellence in Education Awards Night: Lisa Knebel, Sandy Kontilis, Chelsea Balough, Jon Campopiano, Alexandra Boitor, Allie Haas, Helen Kim, Eric Rasch and Greg Phillips. Helen Kim, who teaches AVID and 7th Grade Core, was the winner of the inspirational teacher award. Thank you to the entire Stone Valley faculty and staff for providing a rigorous, relevant, student centered, 21st century education and ensuring that all students learn at high levels. Recently, the state released the new school accountability dashboard. The dashboard contains reports that display the performance of local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, and student groups on a set of state and local measures to assist in identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas in need of improvement. You can visit the site and view the excellent results of Stone Valley. Our students met and exceeded all standards and performed significantly higher than state averages -- https://www.caschooldashboard.org
NEW ART EXHIBIT AND OPE N ING RECE P T ION AT BLACKHAWK GALLERY
Alamo Danville Artists’ Society will host the opening of Blackhawk Gallery’s new Exhibit ‘Syncopation.’ Gallery Gala Reception will be held on Saturday, April 29 from 5 to 7pm, with wine and hors d’oeuvres. The exhibit will be on view seven days a week from April 28 to July 9. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. The ‘Syncopation’ exhibit features one guest artist and 41 member artists. Guest artist Lutz Hornischer will be showing his sculptures. Members’ artworks include paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, and wearable art. Blackhawk Gallery is located at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, call (925) 648-8023, visit www. BlackhawkGallery.org, or check our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AlamoDanvilleArtistsSociety. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10AM-8 PM and Sunday 11AM-6 PM.
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 11
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SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
By Ruth Steele, Principal
The close of the school year is coming up quickly. Due to the calendar shift, SRVHS graduation will be held on Friday, June 2nd this year - a couple of weeks earlier than in previous years. Between now and then, we have a lot of work to do getting course offerings and staffing in place for next year. Earlier this spring, we surveyed students to see if there were any new electives that they were interested in as we are always trying to make sure that our course offerings match areas of student interest. We are hoping to be able to hold a new forensics course and some additional digital design and computer programming classes. One of the biggest projects at SRVHS is the construction of our new
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classroom building. Our district office team has done an amazing job working with the architects on the design and navigating all of the steps necessary to begin construction. Below is a timeline of past and present. • June/July/August 2016: Successful replacement and upgrade of all underground electrical and new main panels and distribution. This required a full shut down for the summer. • July/August 2016: Abatement of all existing buildings in preparation for demolition. • August/September 2016: Building demolition. • October/November 2016: Rough grading and building pad preparation and compaction. • December/March 2017: Scheduled timeframe that allowed for rain delays and for possible underground issues (like the four month delay for the SRVHS gym project). • March 2017: Complete Division of State Architect clearance. • April 2017: Bid opening and Board approval (award of contracts). • April 2017: Notice to Proceed, contractor(s) mobilization, footings and foundation work to begin. For regular project updates, check www.buildsrvschools.org. If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Hillman, Director of Facilities Development at dhillman@srvusd.net. We are really excited to see the work begin on the new building, and student/staff occupancy is tentatively slated for mid to late 2019. SRVHS owes a huge thank you to everyone involved in this process because it has JUNK & SINGLE been possible ITEM to maintain all REMOVAL of our programs SERVICES and continue to provide an unparalleled education for our students during (925) 895.4411 • DiamondCleaningNow.com this time.
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PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
SUPERVISORS HONOR MONTE VISTA STUDENT
By Sharon Burke
Diablo resident Paige Godvin was recently chosen by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as Student Humanitarian of the Year. Paige is a senior at Monte Vista High School and lives in Diablo with her parents, Marni and Chris Godvin. Paige was chosen for her deep commitment to philanthropic causes and community service. She serves as a Sunday School teacher for her church, Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian, and has participated in four church mission trips. At Monte Vista, she is a member of the Red Cross Club, the Blind Babies Awareness Foundation, and the Monte Vista Medical Club. Paige was the nomination committee’s unanimous choice for the humanitarian award because of the hours she has devoted to Flashes of Hope, a foundation that provides free professional photography services to families who have a child with cancer. Using the photography skills that led her to form her own photography business, Paige has photographed more than 30 families in order to preserve precious memories for these families forever. Because of the profound impact that Flashes of Hope has made on her, Paige plans to pursue a medical degree after college and become a pediatric oncologist. The award was presented to Paige in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers as part of the County’s commemoration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
By Linda Summers-Pirkle
“This is a very big deal,” my good friend Barb mentioned when she gave me a bit of history about the renowned Sensei Kayoko Fujimoto. Mrs. Fujimoto, an East Bay resident, was awarded “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Ray” by the Emperor of Japan in 2010 for her excellence in the field of Ikebana when the beloved instructor was 87 years old. Grand Master Fujumoto has been teaching Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, for over 60 years. Ikebana has been practiced in Japan for over 600 years and if you are familiar with this beautiful and artful plant and flower craft you know there are certain rules to follow within your arrangements. My friend Barb has had the good fortune to study under Sensei Mrs. Kayoko Fujimoto, Ohara Ikebana School Grand Master. Barb’s Oakland Hills home is always a place of beauty, peace and harmony, and her stunning arrangements never fail to amaze me. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival, which will take place in San Francisco’s Japantown on two weekends: April 8-9 and April 15-16. The free festival is organized by Sakura-Matsuri Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization to promote Japanese and Japanese American cultures. Thousands of people visit this festival every year which is second in size nationwide only to the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival. Since this is the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco event, you can expect even more crowds. But as Grace David, local resident who with her husband never misses the event, says, “It’s worth the crowds. There is so much to see and so much to do!” Some of the highlights are the Taiko Drum Performances, traditional Japanese music and dance, stations throughout the Festival to watch and learn about Chanoyu the Japanese Art Tea Ceremony, and a special area for children in the ever popular Sanrio Kids Corner. Grace mentioned that as much as she enjoys all the music, dance and crafts, her favorite part is definitely the food stalls. “The food is so great!” she added, “Tempura and Sukiyaki are my favorites.” One of the biggest highlights is the Grand Parade. This year it begins on Sunday, April 16, starting at City Hall at 1PM on Polk Street near McAllister. The grand marshal this year is the famous Konishiki, the former Sumo wrestler from Oahu, Hawaii.
Front row left to right: Sup. John Gioia, Sup. Diane Burgis, Chris, Paige, Marni and Grant Godvin. Back row left to right: Sup. Federal Glover, Sup. Karen Mitchoff, Sup. Candace Andersen.
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Alamo Elementary School 5th grade Cub Scouts were recently awarded their Arrow of Light ranks and bridged over to Boy Scouts. Back Row: Den Co-Leader Roger Long, Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, Den Co-Leader Charles Bouch. Front Row: Kane Powell, Trevor Bouch, Gabriel Dutra, Adam Sainio, Andrew Campos, and Hayden Long.
There will be 30 Ikebana designs at the Cherry Blossom Festival this year. These stunning floral creations will be displayed at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, located at 1840 Sutter Street inside the Issei Memorial Hall from 11AM-5PM on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9. My friend Barbara will showcase her Ikebana design (Hanamai style) which, in my opinion, is a very big deal. Parking spaces near the event are VERY limited during the festival. If you take BART from East Bay, take any Daly City/Millbrae bound train, and get off at Embarcadero Station. Take the #2-Clement bus at Steuart and Market Street (Ferry Plaza), and then get off at the Sutter and Laguna Street stop. To learn more, visit sfcherryblossom.org. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 13
THE CALL OF THE SEA
Business is Fantastic!
By Lisa Kallen, Alamo World Travel
Ours is a world with so much to see… and so many ways to experience its wonders. One of the most popular ways to travel, cruising, is as varied as the passions of our clients. Exploring Europe’s great capitols is always a highlight for art, history, and music aficionados. Visit family vineyards along the Rhine and Moselle. Enjoy the neighborhoods and nightlife in Paris. Wander the labyrinthine, cobblestoned streets of blueand-white Mykonos and Santorini. Look past the large ships, and you may discover your next adventure voyaging on a mid-size or small ship, visiting charming, intimate ports far from the crowds. Here are some of our favorites, from luxury lines to expedition ships, from sailing yachts to river cruises, and why. If you want to be pampered, we recommend one of the luxury cruise lines like Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, or Silversea, where you will explore the world’s great cultures, dine exquisitely, and sleep on linen clouds with nearly everything you could possibly want at your disposal. With once-in-a-lifetime experiences like dining with royalty or learning to make your own wine with master wine-makers, these cruise lines are, year after year, the top-rated in every category, from the most luxurious staterooms and attentive service to the finest cuisine at sea. Imagine dining on entrées created by Master Chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and French Laundry’s Thomas Keller—and all complimentary. Some of our clients prefer a more active vacation. For them, expeditionary cruise lines like Lindblad and UnCruise provide the “soft” adventure they crave in the Galapagos, the Arctic, Antarctica, Costa Rica, or Baja Mexico where they can experience animals up close and in their natural habitat, often with the guidance of National Geographic photographers and guest speakers right alongside you as you zodiac into shore. These are especially popular with families and multi-generational vacations. WindStar Cruises and Star Clippers offer distinctive itineraries off the beaten track on small ships (148-300 guests) that are elegant yet casual: never a suit or tie. You enjoy quiet, intimate ports that the huge ships can’t visit, so your day is uncrowded, your beaches are secluded, and your tours are with small groups. WindStar boasts more of a yachting experience with shore excursions that dig deep into the history and culture of a destination. And Star Clippers is ideal for people who love to sail, as they feature three clipper ships, the four- and five-masted sailing vessels where you can help raise the sails, chat with the captain, climb up to the crow’s nest, and clamber out to rest in the netting along the bowsprit. Both WindStar and Star Clippers’ ships feature a Marina Platform at the stern of each ship for kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, water-skiing, and even playing on a huge water trampoline. And on these smaller ships you will fall in love with your fellow passengers quickly, people who adore travel as much as you do. And speaking of yachts, Crystal’s new Esprit is a 62-guest yacht that combines the luxury that Crystal is famous for with small port itineraries and their own Marina Platform where you can snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, and play…plus a 32-foot Wider speedboat at your disposal and a deep-sea submersible for a once-in-a-lifetime undersea exploration experience: just two people, your pilot, and champagne. For those who are not sea-faring souls, river cruising can be the perfect vacation. Our favorite river cruise ships are elegant and intimate. They include Crystal Cruises, UniWorld, AmaWaterways and Tauck, offering spacious, luxurious staterooms for between 105 to 160 guests. Each day you can choose from a selection of fascinating shore excursions—all included—and when you return to your ship, you are already docked in the heart of villages and towns along some of the world’s most storied rivers. Your excursions can take you to visit a family vineyard for wine tasting in the French countryside, to the colorful tulip fields of Holland, to shop in the twinkling Christmas Markets of Germany and Austria, to floating markets along the Mekong, or on a safari in South Africa. We have cruises for nearly every taste and attractive offers to entice you to think outside the box for your next adventure. Take advantage of these specials offered for a limited time, and call us at (925) 837-8742 to find out more. Lisa Kallen is a Travel Consultant with Alamo World Travel, specializing in tours, cruises, and customized vacations around the world. Visiting family in La Bella Italia is a favorite vacation along with “soft adventures” just about anywhere in the world. You can reach her at (925) 837-8742 ext. 18 or lkallen@alamoworld.com. Advertorial
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SOLD PROPERTIES
295 Las Quebradas Lane, Alamo – SOLD | 297 Las Quebradas Lane, Alamo – SOLD 299 Las Quebradas Lane, Alamo – SOLD | Hickory Rail Way, Elk Grove – SOLD Colfax Theater, 49 South Main Street, Colfax – SOLD Historic Masonic Lodge, plus 27 acres, Dutch Flat – SOLD 918 Douglas Boulevard, Roseville – SOLD
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PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
WHAT’S UP?
You Know the Name of Your Doctor, Dentist & Hairdresser. BUT… Do you know your Realtors’ name? Don’t you think you should?!
By Jim Scala, Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS).
The Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS) Monthly Meeting will take place on April 25 at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience Auditorium located at 1931 1st Ave. in Walnut Creek. Doors open at 6:45PM and the formal meeting begins at 7:15PM with a member’s short talk. That’s followed by the featured lecture, Dark Matter and Energy, given by Dr. Holger Muller from UC Berkeley. Professor Muller will explain how Dark Matter and Dark Energy make up 95% of our universe. You’ll also learn how they hold galaxies together while at the same time they push our universe apart. It is arguably one of the most active and controversial topics in modern astronomy. Holger is known for his ability to make this complex subject come alive and easy to understand. Refreshments are always available. The meeting adjourns at 9:15PM. Mt. Diablo on May 20. The observing session begins formally at 7:30PM. It’s good to arrive at the lower summit parking lot by about 6:30PM. That will give you time to see the member’s telescopes, the MDAS observatory, and look at the sun which sets at 8:17PM. A short lecture at 7:30PM explains the evening’s feature, supernovas. Why do some stars explode and which star is next? You will see some supernovas, but there is much more to observe. Jupiter will be high in the sky. One of the most spectacular objects seen through a telescope is Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet. Besides seeing the unusual bands and enormous red spot on the planet’s active atmosphere, you can also see some of its four Galilean moons. The shadows of these large moons can sometimes be seen on the planet. When you see them, you’ll be witnessing a solar eclipse taking place about 4-million miles away. And since Jupiter rotates in about 10 hours, it’s marking will change during the evening. Deep sky objects are plentiful. During the evening, there will be galaxies, nebulas and star clusters shown through the member’s telescopes. When you look at a neighboring galaxy, such as M-51, you’re seeing how it was millions of years ago. In contrast, when observing a star cluster, such as M-13, you’re seeing an object nearby, as it is now. Nebula are usually where new stars are being born or hot gas that glows from a star that has exploded as a super-nova. You’ll see all that on May 20 and have much to discuss on your drive home. Questions? Email jscala2@comcast.net.
It’s time we met! Terri Silva CalBRE #01920415
925.519.0758 terri@terrisilva.com
ALAMO RESIDENT
©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real Estate Licensees affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.
3RD ANNUAL ALAMO WALKABOUT
Have you ever wondered about all the shops, businesses, and places around Alamo? Do you enjoy spending time with family and friends and even meeting a few new people too? If so, the Alamo Walkabout is is the event for YOU! Come enjoy a trolley ride down Danville Boulevard, exploring new places and new people while enjoying some coffee, a sip of wine, or a little treat. Learn about this amazing town while having a great time! The 3rd Annual Alamo Walkabout is being held on Thursday, May 18th, from 5pm-8pm. The event is organized by the Community Foundation of Alamo with a goal of bringing community members to the downtown to discover the variety of merchants and businesses located here, while having a fun time strolling or riding around the town. A trolley will be available to take participants to the various venues. Also, Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) will have a booth and barrels for Food Donations to the Contra Costa Food Bank will be located in Stone Valley Center. Ticket prices are $20 in advance or $25 at the event and include a wristband, a merchant participant map, an Alamo wine glass, an event tote bag filled with coupons and information, and transportation to the participating merchant sites where food, beverages, and music will be offered. Community neighbors are invited to purchase tickets on the Foundation website, www.CFAlamo.com. For more information or to become a participating merchant or event sponsor, contact the foundation at www.CFAlamo.com. Come spend time with your friends and neighbors at the event!
ALAMO GIRL SCOUTS INTERVIEW OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST\
Alamo Cadette Troop 32953 recently had the opportunity to talk with two time gold medal Olympic rower, Caroline Lind. The girls were working on their sportsmanship badge and spoke with Ms. Lind via Skype. Caroline is a graduate of Princeton University where she helped the women’s eight team win the NCAA championship in 2006. Competing in the Women’s eight Caroline won Gold for the US in the 2012 Olympics and 2008 Olympics. In additional to her Olympic titles Lind has won six World Championship titles. In 2014, Lind with her Women's eight teammates from the 2008 Olympics was inducted into the US Rowing Hall of Fame and she was also named Athlete of the Year by the New York Athletic Club. Caroline shared with the girls the importance of always displaying good sportsmanship. She talked about being a gracious winner and always thanking your opponent whether you win or lose. She stated "Always thank your opponent because they push you to be a better player, and without an opponent there is no game" She also reminded the girls to keep friendship first, particularly when your friend may be on the opposing side. She showed the girls her Olympic gold medals and before signing off offered words of wisdom to the girls to always be your best self in all you do. Pictured front row are Allie Huang, Allison Johnson, Mia Ferreira, Back row Pfifer Chastain, Madison Schapiro, Georgie Fields and Allison Davis.
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 15
ENERGY CURRENTS
THE MARKET, THE CORRECTION, THE FALLOUT, AND RISK MITIGATION By Mark Becker, GoSimple Solar
The solar industry is very similar to many other industries. Companies and individuals enter and exit markets based on market forces and real or perceived expectations for business success. Success, and therefore business growth, in a strong market is often assumed. That growth and success can be gained by the strength of the market, earned by excellent business and product offerings, or achieved simply by good timing. The intent of the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and the 30% Federal Tax Credit for solar were to fuel growth of a nascent industry until it matured so that it could eventually compete with Investor Owned Utilities such as PG&E. In our market, that goal has been achieved for most PG&E ratepayers. There is also plenty of room and financial incentive for continued customer growth in our market. It is a natural business process that competition in a strong market will increase. Recently, it has become clear that the solar market in California has been headed towards, or is already experiencing in finance terms, a “correction.” The law of supply and demand dictates that with high supply (service providers in this case) and lesser or equal demand (same number or fewer customers) comes lower pricing. Typically, for the consumer, lower pricing is good news. I agree, to an extent. A lower pricing may initially increase or simply protect a business’ market share, but it also has a tendency to push businesses into “survival mode.” An improperly managed survival mode oftentimes results in shortcuts in business practices, such as reduction in insurance coverage, product quality, installation practices, the list goes on. The result, of course, is that the consumer can suffer. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the fallout of the solar market correction in the Bay Area. Big and small box solar companies, and even regional players, have failed, or moved out of the market. The legacy of these companies now rests with the permanence of social media reviews and the literally millions of solar panels that they have installed. Shortcuts in a service-oriented business are not beneficial to the long-term interests of the business and are especially detrimental for the consumer. Prioritizing one over the other will be a destructive long-term business plan. As I’ve mentioned many times, a poorly installed and aesthetically unappealing solar PV system, consisting of mediocre products will certainly be appealing in price, but it risks the investment you have made in the long-term. Mitigating risk and maximizing aesthetic appeal are the best value the solar industry can bring to itself by providing proper service to the consumer. Proper design, proper installation, calculation of proper Return on Investment, etc., require a lot of effort. It’s the market (the consumer) that decides what they’ll pay for a service and a product. But ultimately, it’s the business that decides at what price they will sell that product and service. Pricing your own business into oblivion is NOT advantageous for any of the participants in the transaction. If you are considering solar, ask the providers this: What’s the long term plan for risk mitigation? Are the spec’d products compatible with other products? What are the contingency plans for equipment failure if the product is indeed proprietary and NOT compatible with other manufacturers products? Much like installers, there are plenty of equipment manufacturers that are no longer in business. Have or make a plan. If you are the owner of a solar PV system, and the solar PV installation company is no longer in business, make a plan for risk mitigation by establishing a relationship with a company that is prepared to perform whatever servicing your solar PV system may need. A safety and a performance inspection should be step one to determine if your solar PV system may need attention, now or in the future. Protect your investment, and protect your home. It can be done. My approach to solar projects is simply this -- a solar PV project, assuming it’s installed on a home that will financially benefit (and most will, significantly) must be designed with one consideration in mind, and one alone, and that is the project must be designed to remain relevant for 25 + years. GoSimpleSolar math. Solar PV relevance = aesthetics + longevity (compatibility of product selection) + performance. Summary. You can’t predict the future of a business’ success, but appropriate with research, you CAN be certain that the PRODUCTS a business offers and the qualification of the installation team that installs them CAN provide you with the greatest likelihood of long-term success, lowest risk, and ultimately, lowest LONG-TERM cost. Mark Becker is the President and business owner of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, CSLB 948715. GoSimpleSolar is one of the very few solar PV installers utilizing both licensed roofers and licensed electricians for installation work, project managed by a solar PV NABCEP professional. For more Advertorial information, call 925-331-8011, visit www.GoSimpleSolar.com, or stop by the showroom at 115 West Linda Mesa Avenue, Danville.
Solar
By Semper Fidelis Construction, Inc. CSLB 948715 NABCEP 110112-15
Is Your Solar PV System Performing as Promised?
The ONLY Way You’ll Know: A Third Party Safety Inspection and Performance Check
NABCEP Solar PV Certified: Performance Tests Licensed Roofer: Leak Checks, Roof Checks Licensed Electrician: Wiring and Safety Checks Repair of Existing Installations
Setting the Standard of Contracting Integrity in the I-680 and Route 24 Corridor See Our Showroom 115 West Linda Mesa Ave | Danville
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PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
EVERY CHOICE COUNTS
By Cynthia Ruzzi, Sustainable Danville Area
It was a rainy day in 2009 when I accepted an invitation for coffee to meet two women I didn’t know. Tracy Bauer, Darlene Gayler, and I came together because of our interest in helping our community adopt green principles to preserve the beauty that surrounds us. A few months later, we celebrated Earth Day 2010 by welcoming over forty local residents to an engaging evening at the Diablo Country Club. Encouraged by the interest of our neighbors, we launched Sustainable Danville Area www.sustainabledanville.com to encourage sustainable practices by facilitating eco-educational programs in the Danville Area. Along the way, we have made life-long friends like Cindy Egan, San Ramon Valley High School’s Environmental Science Teacher. We explored and learned how to live and work sustainably in our community—balancing what matters most to us (our families) with our responsibility to care for the future of this beautiful place that we call home. We never had all the answers, but along the way we have found great resources, made wonderful connections, and learned from our mistakes – hopefully making it easier for our neighbors to join us on the journey. Over the past six years we have expanded–and contracted–with treasured volunteers and brilliant interns joining us along the way. We shared evenings learning about everything from native gardens to sustainable travel. We rallied for green programs such as expanded bicycle parking, curbside composting, and the elimination of single use plastic bags. We were delighted and grateful for civic leaders that supported these ideas and more. Most importantly, we were and still are happy to call ourselves residents of Alamo, Danville, Diablo, and Blackhawk. Every time we receive a comment on Facebook (www.facebook. com/sustainabledanvillearea) sharing a green practice that you or your family has adopted, it fills our hearts with hope. As each of us move to another stage in our lives, it is time to pass the work of Sustainable Danville Area to you. We are fulfilled by a community of people (students, teachers, parents, business owners, civic leaders, and you) that have demonstrated their interest in sustainability by making Every Choice Count! We are buoyed by people who understand the importance of freeing their bodies, their homes, and their yards from chemicals and pesticides. While I wouldn’t call our ‘job’ done – since I always prefer a friend’s recommendation over something on the Internet – we are excited that there is a wealth of reliable information for those that are curious about learning more. So often we demonstrated that being green not only saves our environment for the families we’re raising, but it also saves our money, too. In this vein, I encourage you to learn about Community Choice Energy programs. These programs provide cities an alternative for sourcing and purchasing electricity. The Town of Danville has joined with 13 other cities and Contra Costa County to examine the feasibility of Community Choice Energy options for our community. The Town of Danville is hosting public workshops on the topic of Community Choice Energy (CCE). The final workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 13 from 6pm-7pm at the Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect Avenue in Danville. If you can’t attend the event, then you can provide your feedback online through the Town of Danville survey found at www.danville.ca.gov/communityenergy. For more information on the CCE options being considered, contact the Assistant to the Town Manager, Nat Rojanasathira at 925-314-3328 or nrojanasathira@danville.ca.gov. With much gratitude to our editor for the opportunity to share our sustainable tips for this many years and to our readers who made every column worthwhile—thank you for making Every Choice Count.
AAUW GARDEN TOUR
Come see five beautiful gardens at the 17th Annual Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) Garden Tour on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 from 10am- 4 pm. All gardens are in Danville and Alamo. Tickets are $35 through April 30 and $40 after. Tickets will be available starting April 8 at East Bay Flower Company, 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. West (Danville Livery) with cash or check only from 9-5, Monday-Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online by a credit card at daw-ca.aauw.net for a $2 fee/ticket, or mail a check postmarked by April 30 payable to AAUW Fund with a self-addressed business sized #10 envelope to AAUW Garden Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. No children under 12 or pets are allowed. For more information, visit http://daw-ca.aauw.net/ garden-tour-2017 or email daw.aauw@gmail.com.
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LIFE IN THE ALAMO GARDEN
HIATUS FOR JOHN! By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059
“Life in the Garden!” was the title of the first article I wrote in July 2002! I’ve been writing articles every month since then, and I have had a lot fun doing so. After fifteen years, I’ve decided it’s time to take a hiatus from my article writing. I remember the publisher of the first Alamo Today paper telling me to use a nice photo of myself with my article so people could put a face with the words. Now when I’m out, people look at me like “I know that guy,” or people wonder why my hat’s on backwards! Being recognized and talking to all of you in the grocery store about your gardens is one of my favorite things. Over the years while waiting in line, we’ve discussed various subjects from my articles. One of my favorite discussions is the sound made when walking on gravel pathways or how water should sound in a water feature. I’ve been asked a lot of interesting questions from how to get
rid of turkeys, to what is the best ground cover for my dogs to pee on? One of my favorite parts of writing each article was finding great garden quotes each month. Moving forward, there are wonderful things happening with my landscape architecture firm, so stand by! I’ve been paying close attention in-the-Safeway-line-chats, and I hear you when you say, “John you’re just too gosh darn expensive, and I am scared to call you!” Problem solved! I am currently expanding my team so we can offer a broader spectrum of cost-effective services. I will continue to focus on the major upscale projects with my team, as we’ve always done, and the new division will provide smaller scale design services and planting spruce-ups. This means if you want to update a small portion of your yard or simply update your entry pots, we can help you with that, too. It’s a wonderful thing having a growing team that can provide the kind of quality and customer service I like to deliver. I encourage you to contact us and let us know exactly the types of services you would love for us to provide. Call the office at 925-820-8884, or email us at contact@jm-la.com. I wanted to give you a heads-up about my hiatus from my articles so you don’t think for a minute that I am retiring. I truly love what I do and plan to do so for many years to come! After all, Frank Lloyd Wright is my idol, and God willing you’ll see me around town sporting my hat until I’m 110! After all, 110 is the new 80! Thank you all for reading my articles. I hope they have been helpful and interesting to you. I’ll be back later with further updates, so please stay in touch! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Remember that every square inch in your garden has a purpose; be creative and have fun! Life happens in your garden! Gardening Quote of the Month: Here’s one of my favorites: “I say, if your knees aren’t green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.” ~ Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes For design ideas visit www.jm-la.com or visit our Houzz page www. houzz.com/pro/jmla/ john-montgomery-landscape-architects.Advertorial
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 17
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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
TREE OF THE SEASON
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb JAPANESE MAPLES
Japanese maples have an elegance and sculptural quality that resembles dance. Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties. Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden afflictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some
CLIP NOTES
By Jody Morgan
Flipping through used books on gardening recently, I passed by all the ones with glossy photos promising certain garden success and cookie-cutter plans for no-fail planting. I already own more advice manuals on topics like pruning than most public libraries. Then I chanced to find a tome that grabbed my attention with a chapter headed “Speak Roughly to Your Little Plant.” As I read further, I realized that Sara Stein was sharing both the failures and successes of her hands-on gardening experiences in Planting Noah’s Garden. Her descriptions reflect the long-term experiences of the average gardener rather than the assurances of instant gratification that even vast sums of money rarely can achieve. The chapter begins: “I used to buy potted plants to dig into my garden. Big fat bushy ones; overfed, in fact. The soil, or whatever growers put in these pots, holds water like either a sponge or a sieve. There seems to be no middle ground. Sometimes in the garden I run into an old pot-shaped lump of whatever-it-is. Or whatever it was: the plant has long since died and rotted; only the ghost of its rootball is revealed in those nasty bits of white foam that ‘lighten’ soilless mixes and don’t decay.” Stein’s method of liberating pot-bound roots is exactly the technique I learned at Longwood Gardens. But when I practiced it during an Eagle Scout Project planting session, my fellow volunteers were horrified. Many shrubs in my own garden have grown well after being subjected to the same abuse Stein practices. Although she prefers now to buy bareroot specimens, she acknowledges that some species are only available already potted. Her solution for coping with potted bayberry plants? “I whacked them hard against a rock…It knocks the dirt out of them; it makes them bareroot. It reveals their true anatomy. The bottom of a bayberry is not shaped like a pot.” She untangled the roots that proved to be three times as long as the pot and heavily pruned the roots to stimulate new growth. In Hardy Californians, first published in 1936, Lester Rowntree writes: “And when you buy California natives from nurserymen, don’t pounce upon the largest plants, for they are very likely pot-bound. Your self-control in choosing smaller specimens will be rewarded in the end, for they usually outstrip their crippled fellows and always make handsome plants.” In Flowering Shrubs of California, Rowntree relates her own trials trying to domesticate cuttings and seeds taken from
trees succeed in fighting off the disease. You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating. Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant. Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned. Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size. It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial the wild. For years she tried to get Ceanothus prostrates, a species of California lilac that forms dense mats in its home habitat, to survive in her yard. “I have tried it in sandy soil, in humus, and grit, and in loam. And I have decided that the secret of its culture rests in the laps of the gods, and that they are keeping it there.” Rowntree realized that hovering over struggling plants didn’t help them learn to live with their garden neighbors. “More California flowers have been killed by coddling than by neglect. They are distinctly annoyed by too much attention.” Some plants are short-lived, and others never mange to settle in. In My Hillside Garden, Rowntree takes an optimistic view. “The disappointment of a plant’s death is always tempered by the realization that here is an empty spot in which to try a new plant.” In the introduction to the 2006 edition of Rowntree’s Hardy Californians, Judith Larner Lowry writes: “One of the most graceful gifts an experienced gardener can give to a novice is a way to think about failure.” As a docent at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, I found that expert gardeners as well as people who were daunted by the prospect of digging in the dirt all enjoyed hearing at least as much about the horticultural disasters Ruth encountered as admiring her obvious achievements. The first year Bancroft planted her extensive succulent collection in-ground, she lost 90% of her plants. Undaunted, she designed covers that went on each fall to protect tender specimens. Plants outgrowing their covers often suffered damage, but many recovered. After 10 years under protection, the Silk Floss/Kapok Tree (Ceiba speciosa) lost every branch over 8” in diameter in the 1990 freeze, but it The Kapok or Silk Floss Tree, almost lost in the 1990 freeze, is a favorite source of bounced back. Ruth challenged the limits of what stories for RBG visitors of all ages. experts claimed she could grow by experimenting with species not hardy as far north as Walnut Creek or supposedly unable to survive summer heat or winter rain. Repeatedly, Ruth celebrated success and learned from failure.
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 19
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TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
Today most people have a smartphone, use WiFi networks, and can navigate a computer without assistance. The baseline level of computer awareness in our society has risen dramatically since we started Portable CIO (PCIO) 16 years ago. During that same time, the number of ways your computer can be destroyed by internet threats has also dramatically risen. Few people do an excellent job of proactively keeping their computers safe. At PCIO, we have assembled a product which combines three world-class systems to address the security tasks that we’ve found people don’t handle well themselves. We call it Workstation Security Management (WSM). The premise behind our product is that being proactive is cheaper than recovering from disasters. An analogy is it is easier to change your car’s oil regularly than to replace a burned-up motor. WSM works on everything: PCs, Macs, laptops, desktops, servers, or workstations, as well as iPads and iPhones (Android is coming). We’re able to efficiently, and proactively, manage the health of your systems using our advanced suite of tools. Most maintenance can be performed remotely. In fact, we internally use the WSM toolset and methods to keep our own computers clean and healthy, which is why I’m confident about offering it to clients. Our toolset is like having a tiny IT technician inside of your system, always watching what’s happening and looking for opportunities to stop problems in their initial stages. Our systems run well: yours could, too. The first component of WSM is antivirus/antimalware software. The antivirus product is connected to our back-end monitoring system and alerts us when it sees virus or malware activity. Many threats can be addressed if you respond quickly, and that can save the expense of cleaning or rebuilding a computer. Our system attempts to auto-resolve the threat, then it flags our Helpdesk if more assistance is required to solve the problem. When we see an alert, we often solve issues before anyone even knows something was wrong. The next part of our suite provides network security. It has two roles: website security and content management. On the security side, our system maintains and protects you from a constantly updated list of millions of websites which are
known to be infected. The system prevents your computer or smartphone from reaching those websites which can harm you. This eliminates a large category of threats that most people don’t even know exist. The second part is content management, and it’s optional. It can be configured to prevent computers from reaching either an individual website or broad categories of websites based on the content they offer. Some of the categories we typically are asked to block include Hate/Discrimination, Weapons, Sexuality & Pornography, Hacking, Drugs, Politics, etc. For example, some employers use this system to prevent their company computers from reaching shopping or social networking sites. At home, we’ve had countless families ask us how we can prevent their children from accessing explicit content from their home computers. To block content properly, it needs to be done at the network level, not using “cyber-nanny” tools on a PC or Mac. The programs we use provide a powerful, professional-grade system for protecting you from infected sites. It puts the power in your hands, and you decide whatever may be appropriate for your audience. The third leg of WSM is proactive hardware-level monitoring and management. The purpose of this system is to monitor your computer hardware components, RAM, hardisks, and CPU; and also to help us automate regular software maintenance tasks. The monitoring tools check your hardisks to ensure they’re not filling up or for signs of incipient failure called “SMART” errors. Your CPU is monitored for unusual activity or for signs that a process is running amok, which causes slowness. It also checks your RAM to ensure you have enough and makes sure nothing is consuming too many resources. It provides an inventory of your system hardware and software, and performs regularly scheduled cleaning and defragmentation of your disks. If you wish, we can also have it perform custom tasks such as regular reboots of certain systems or emptying of certain folders of files given specific criteria, such as age or file size. Whatever maintenance you can do while sitting at the computer, we can automate. The WSM toolset allows us to make security and maintenance available and affordable for everyone no matter what sort of devices they use. Whether someone is commercial or residential, this is available for a flat fee per device. We’re excited to provide this world-class combination of proactive tools to our clients. If you think your systems are a candidate for Workstation Security Management, give our office a call at 925-552-7953, or email info@pcioit.com. Advertorial
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PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
PITFALLS OF INTRA-FAMILY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Many clients ask me to advise them about how to best structure a gift (or sale) to a loved one of all or a fractional interest in real estate. I enjoy helping clients strategize about how to structure, document, and implement such transactions. All too often, I hear about an intra-family gift or sale after it has already been completed. The owners sometime tell me they handled it themselves because it was “very straightforward.” Unfortunately, when I’m consulted “after the fact,” I frequently need to apprise such clients that they made costly strategic and/or procedural errors. Handling an intra-family real estate transaction without obtaining professional legal and tax advice is perilous. Even seemingly simple arrangements can have dramatic implications, many of which are not apparent to laypeople. Here, I’m able to only scratch the surface about common pitfalls. This piece is intended to serve as an overview of some of the many and varied components in this complex arena. In doing so, I hope that the reader will embrace the importance of obtaining comprehensive professional advice before entering into any intra-family real estate transactions. These transactions (which include the seemingly innocuous act of “adding someone to the title” of your property) may involve some or all of these important considerations, among others: Federal Gift Tax & Estate Tax - Gifting property of a value that exceeds certain threshold amounts can trigger tax reporting requirements. One can unwittingly use portions of one’s Federal Gift Tax and Estate Tax exemptions in an inefficient manner, and thus negatively affect potential future tax liability (under this specialized and complicated federal tax system). Income Tax - A gift of a full or partial interest in a property can have income tax consequences. Many elderly people gift real property to their children without understanding the future income tax consequences for the children (when the
By Roger Smith, Alamo Improvement Association FRESH STRAWBERRIES AT THE ALAMO FARMER’S MARKET
Watch for fresh strawberries and asparagus in April! Bill Harlow of the Bay Area Farmer’s Market Association is leading the effort to make our Alamo Farmer’s Market an important part of your Sunday. Bill’s family has been in our Alamo/Walnut Creek area since 1977. He has a genuine interest in the sustainability of small family farms, the “heart and soul” of California Agriculture, and the “Buy Fresh – Buy Local” movement that Alice Waters has supported and popularized. He has been the manager of several Bay Area Farmer’s Markets including sites in Alameda, Burlingame, and Cupertino and is enthusiastic, as are many Alamo residents, about the opportunity to have fresh produce from certified growers available to our community. It is all about quality. All produce is picked fresh and is at our local Farmer’s Markets within 24-48 hours versus a week or longer for chain grocery stores. What type of produce are you looking for? Organic or conventionally grown? Several vendors offer both - acquaint yourselves with those that do. Please remember that vendors are the best source of information about their own produce, so step up and ask them. Please also note that many vendors provide samples for tasting.
APRIL IS CALL BEFORE YOU DIG MONTH!
“Call Before You Dig” in April and all year long. You can learn more at www.Call811.com or www.usanorth811.org. What do 2014’s Kentucky Derby winner, California Chrome and his jockey, Victor Espinoza have in common with Contra Costa County and the National One-Call Center, “811” for locating underground utilities? The local side to this story is that our regional “811” call center (serving Northern California and Nevada and located in Concord) is responsible for initiating the idea to promote “811” by having jockey Victor Espinoza wear the “811” insignia logo on his uniform during the 2014 Kentucky Derby. The lucky circumstance of having California Chrome win both the Derby
children later sell the property). Many times, these income tax ramifications are such that an elder is better advised to retain the property until his or her death. Also, if the elderly person needs funds to maintain or enhance his or her lifestyle, alternative strategies may make more sense than gifting or selling (such as renting out the property, taking out a loan, or obtaining a reverse mortgage). Property Tax - Valuable property tax reassessment exclusions may apply, including those available for many parent-child real estate transfers. One should be advised about whether the particular transaction renders it eligible for reassessment exclusion, and certain forms must be completed in a timely manner and filed with the Assessor. If these rules and procedures are not strictly followed, the benefit may be forfeited. Living Trust/Will - When people gift property to one but not all of their loved ones, they’re often inclined to adjust (i.e. increase) how much their other loved ones (those not receiving the real estate gift) will receive on the owner’s death. When owners fail to work with their estate planning attorney to affirmatively make such formal estate planning document changes, troublesome unintended consequences can result. Mortgages - When a gifted property still has a mortgage, the transfer by gift or sale nearly always gives the lender the option to call the full loan balance due immediately. Fractional Interest Gifts - If a fractional interest in real estate is gifted, key decisions should be made, and steps should be taken, in addition to those set forth above. These include decisions and agreements among the co-owners about titling, management, respective rights and obligations, and succession of interests if a co-owner dies. Accordingly, it is generally wise to have an attorney draft a comprehensive “co-ownership” agreement. * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business Please contact the author to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group which is located at 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
(and the following Preakness Stakes race) resulted in national exposure for this important free service to property owners across the USA. “April means spring weather and more outdoor activity, including backyard excavation projects such as landscaping. That makes it a good month to remind everyone of the need to continue raising awareness about the potential dangers of excavation without first dialing the nationwide Call Before You Dig 811 number,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the American Gas Association (AGA).“Our membership works with the public on a daily basis, and we need to continue to raise the flag on this issue. Excavation damage remains the number one threat to pipeline safety and reliability all year long.” The 811 hotline is a free service that allows people to obtain information about what may be buried beneath the excavation surface area, including natural gas pipelines, electric power lines, and other infrastructure. Homeowners and professionals may not always be aware of the importance of marking utility lines before excavation, but calling before a digging job for even small projects such as planting trees and shrubs can help prevent undesired consequences. According to CGA, excavation damages for all underground facilities decreased by approximately 50% from 2004 to 2008, due in large part to the work done by the pipeline industry in promoting the use of Call Before You Dig 811-number.
AIA MEMBERSHIP
Now celebrating its 62nd year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live” Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” As Board President, I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. Watch for your upcoming AIA 2017 Annual Report, ballot and membership form, then complete and return it to AIA, PO Box 156, Alamo, CA 94507. Please visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo residents, membership forms, and more. Don’t be left out; now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA!
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 21
LIFE INSURANCE, A POTENTIAL HIDDEN GEM
Presented by Peter T. Waldron
Many people own Permanent life insurance policies and/or Term life insurance policies. While there are many differentiating factors associated with both, I want to share a couple of common themes with you.
TERM LIFE INSURANCE
Most people avoid buying insurance because they are worried about the cost. However, Term life insurance is fairly inexpensive, and for most Stop by young families, this type of insurance is an easy our new office in the way to solve survivor income needs. For some Alamo Courtyard people, a million dollar death benefit policy in a 3195 Danville Blvd #4, 10-year Term insurance format could be less than Alamo $500 per year. This means that if you were to die prematurely, your surviving family would receive a million dollars (tax-free). Over 10 years, that is $5,000 for a million dollars’ worth of coverage. By securing that 10 year (or potentially 15, 20 or 30 year) policy, you can also guarantee yourself insurability. Most Term insurance policies have what’s called a convertibility feature. If your health were to drastically change (e.g. you are diagnosed with cancer), you could potentially save your health rating from the current Term policy and convert to a Permanent policy without going through new underwriting requirements with regards to your health status. This gives you So l a rTech n o l og i es.co m the potential to have an insurance policy for the rest of your life.
YOUR LOCAL LEADER IN SOLAR
PERMANENT LIFE INSURANCE
Many people are sold Permanent life insurance policies for the internal cash value buildup. In many scenarios, we see Permanent insurance policies with hundreds of thousands of dollars in a tax-free bucket. Most people don’t know that you can take a loan from that cash value, or you can withdraw that cash value. When you withdraw that cash value, your basis comes out tax-free, and any gain would be taxed as ordinary income. You can also do what’s called a 1035 exchange. That’s where you take the cash value of that policy, and you transfer it into another life insurance policy, a linked benefit Long-Term Care policy, or an Annuity for a potential income stream through retirement. You could potentially stop paying your insurance premiums and allow the cash value to pay the costs of the insurance for the remaining term of the life insurance. Permanent insurance has a variety of different potential benefits.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Because of lowered interest rates, both Permanent and Term insurance policy rates are at historic lows. Therefore, it would be a good time to review your existing Term insurance and maybe re-underwrite it. Even if your health status has changed, it is a good time to review your coverage. A more urgent issue has to do with Permanent policies that were sold using illustrations with high interest rates (6-8%) and have performed at much lower rates (3-4%). This under performance can lead to insurance policies lapsing or the cost eating into the cash value. If you are not reviewing your coverage with a financial advisor annually, you may be missing out on multiple benefits. If you are interested in reviewing your insurance policies to potentially save thousands of dollars or increase the length of that insurance policy’s effectiveness, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation. Call (925) 786-7686 or visit 3201 Danville Blvd. Ste 190, Alamo. Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a
registered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker-dealer (member SIPC) and registered investment advisor, offering insurance through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances. Advertorial
FREE ENERGY ANALYSIS!
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MEALS ON WHEELS
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. We need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
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PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
TATTOO REMORSE
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
What is tattoo remorse? Many people have second thoughts about their tattoos. For some it is the memory of an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend, whereas others want a clean slate for a new tattoo. People may have thought a design was really cool years ago only to find it to be completely out of style or even silly. New moms sometimes feel that they don’t want their children to know they had a tattoo or see the design they chose. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with your decision forever. For many years we used the VersaPulse® laser to successfully lighten or remove tattoos by pulsing light on the ink particles. In 2016, we upgraded our technology to the PicoWay Laser. The PicoWay represents a giant leap forward in treating tattoos. This laser emits a beam of light that shatters the ink into tiny pieces that are absorbed harmlessly by the body. All this can be accomplished without damaging the surrounding tissue. The biggest advantages of the PicoWay laser is that it can remove tattoos in fewer treatments and with less risk of scarring than the older devices. The older devices, called nanosecond lasers, are still widely used because, in general, they are cheaper. The new devices cost much more than the older ones, but in general the per treatment cost is similar to older devices, so the treatment has become more cost effective. The advantage for the individual seeking tattoo removal is that oftentimes the picosecond lasers can remove tattoos in half the number of treatments compared to the old devices. Other lasers might emit a light beam of only one color. This means that doctors sometimes need as many as four different lasers to treat multicolored tattoos. The PicoWay Laser can be thought of as three lasers in one as it emits light of differing wavelengths targeting different color inks. It recently became available with a wavelength that can treat even the most stubborn green ink. The treatments are done in the office with either a topical anesthetic gel or local anesthesia or a combination of both to make you feel comfortable. When you leave the office, you will be given instructions on how to take care of the area. The number of treatments depends on the complexity of the individual’s
Individual results may vary
tattoo. We offer complimentary consultations to discuss each person’s needs. Laser tattoo removal is the most effective method of removing tattoos with the least amount of risk. If you are suffering tattoo regret, call us today. Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit www.Potozkin. com for more information. Advertorial
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY
The following classes are held at the Cancer Support Community which is located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Classes are free of charge. For more information and reservations, please call (925) 933-0107. Many Faces of Head & Neck Cancer ~ Monday, April 24, 6:30-8:30PM ~ A panel of medical experts will discuss current information regarding risk factors (including HPV), advances in treatment options, nutrition survivorship, and the unique issues of head and neck cancer patients. Held at the Walnut Creek Library. For cancer patients and caregivers. Ask the Oncology Pharmacist ~ Tuesday, April 25, 4-6PM ~ With Y. Tiffany Meng, Kaiser Walnut Creek. Learn about managing side effects of cancer treatment, minimizing drug interactions, and the role medications play in cancer treatment. For cancer patients and caregivers.
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PREVENT CHRONIC INJURIES: BE PROACTIVE!
By Michelle Brown
Have you ever had an achy neck or sore low back? Do your feet hurt? Does that hip or shoulder always feel a bit tight or stiff? Ignoring it won’t make it go away. It’s going to get worse unless you get proactive. Every joint and muscle in your body has a specific task that balances your complex alignment and functional movement. Most modern day lifestyles work against our bodies. The positions we encounter most at work or play pull us out of good posture. If left uncorrected, the tasks of the muscles and joints become unclear. This is the tipping point where symptoms show their signs and injuries begin. Forward head posture is a very common muscle imbalance. Anyone who drives, uses a smart phone, or a computer, or sits at a desk is at risk of injury from this habit. Activities that promote forward posture over-stretch the muscles that hold the head in proper alignment, as well as those that hold the shoulder blades flat on the back. The lengthening and weakening of these muscles inherently creates short, tight chest muscles. In order to prevent shoulder and neck injuries, be proactive. Note, stretching is most effective when muscles are warm. Even a few minutes of dynamic movement before you stretch is enough. Start with static stretching (60-90 seconds) of the chest to create length. It is important to work your way into the stretch, so that you feel it in the “belly” of the muscle, and not at it’s connection at the joints. Exercises that tighten the muscles to support shoulder blade and head position can be employed but are most effectively guided by a corrective exercise specialist. Recovery posture for up to 10 minutes daily - lying flat on the back with a neutral head position, arms in a T shape and legs elevated - will promote good posture. Any adjustments that can be made to computer screens to make them user friendly are an important part of the rebalancing process. No matter how great the design of a chair, it is simply not a position the human body evolved to do for prolonged periods. Sitting not only enforces forward head posture, but also creates problems with muscles that control stability in the knees and low back, and mobility of the hips. Focus on static stretching of the hip flexors and hamstrings to mobilize first, (don’t forget to warm up!) then add in a strength training routine for the gluteus and deep core muscles to help support the low back. Many of my clients sit a lot at work and travel often. I suggest a simple technique with a tennis or lacrosse ball, since “getting warm” isn’t always possible. Place the ball in the center of the hamstring (back of thigh) for 5-10 minutes on each side to create length. Repeat this multiple times on long trips. Though it can be tempting to stand up and touch your toes to relieve low back tension, beware! If your hamstrings are very tight, they need to be much warmer before you enter such a deep stretch. This ball technique, coupled with a few gentle torso twists, is a safer and more effective stretch when the body is cold. If you are experiencing chronic joint or muscle pain, it could be due to a very subtle imbalance that only a trained professional can see. A corrective exercise specialist can be trusted with the important task of giving you a personalized plan that will help you get balanced. Remember, ignoring any problem won’t make it go away! Be proactive. Tackle that imbalance before it creates more problems in your life! To your health. Michelle Brown is an ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist/Personal Trainer, Spartan SGX Coach, Martial Arts/Self Defense Expert, TRX Level 2 Certified Trainer, Certified Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, SCW Yoga Level 2 Instructor, and has been a competitive Vegan Athlete since 1999. Michelle has been helping her clients surpass their goals for 20 years. Her company Gumsaba offers a variety of fitness programs for all levels. Join Gumsaba for a FREE CLASS at one of our outdoor locations. Visit www.gumsaba.com and click get started to redeem your free class with Advertorial promo code PROACTIVE www.gumsaba.com.
APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 23
ACTION POOL REPAIR
Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979!
925.820.3640 www.actionpoolrepair.com Contractor Lic# 978033-C53
SPRINGTIME WINE GUIDE
By Monica Chappell
Around the start of spring, bottles of rosé start appearing on retail shelves like little soldiers ready for a season of barbecues. Rosé is delicious, yes, but if you only drink the pink stuff from now until the end of warm weather, you might quickly get bored. Fortunately, rosé is far from your only choice for interesting wine in the springtime. Get to know some of these wines, and try them next time you’re after just the right bottle for these sunny days and breezy nights.
GREEN WINES WITH SALAD
White wines with ‘green’ flavors such as gooseberry or bell pepper will shine with greens. Try Vinho Verde, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albariño. • Balancing Bitterness: Generally speaking, most leafy greens have a bitter note to them, so make sure your wine is lacking bitterness. • ThinkAcidity: The wine should have more acidity than the salad so it won’t taste flat.
SYRAH AND SPRING LAMB
Syrah and grilled lamb make a beautiful couple. In general, Syrah is great with red meats and the smoky flavors of the grill. • Where’s the Beef: So if you don’t like lamb, try beef or sausages with your Syrah.
FLORAL WINE WITH FRESH FRUIT
Wines with floral aromatics have an affinity to fruit. The floral aromas in the wine will be more present when you try them with foods that use fruit. • Acidity: Remember the tip above about wines having more acidity than the food? Keep this tip in mind with fruit as well. • The Wine Should be Sweeter: If your food is sweet, it’s smart to pick a wine that’s sweeter, as this will ensure the wine doesn’t get lost in the sweetness of the food. Keep this in mind especially if you’re having dessert. Perhaps try a Moscato, Riesling, or Gewürztraminer. Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator and can be reached at wineappreciation101@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
AIA - ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION - PLEASE VISIT WWW.ALAMOCA.ORG FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS - CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH -1350 DANVILLE BLVD. ALAMO MAC (MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE) - FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH 6PM - ALAMO WOMEN’S CLUB P2B - POLICE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE - FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, 5PM - MEETS AT SHERIFF SUBSTATION, 150 ALAMO PLAZA P5 - ROUND HILL POLICE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH, 7PM - MEETS AT ROUND HILL COUNTRY CLUB - LOWER LEVEL MEETING ROOM CERT CLASSES - COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM - VISIT WWW.FIREDEPARTMENT.ORG/COMMUNITY_OUTREACH/ CERT/UPCOMING_CLASSES.ASP
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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
LASER TREATMENTS FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS PAIN
By Dr. Kristin Moore, DC
Daylight savings is in full swing, and the major storms are (hopefully) over. It is finally time to get yourself, the family, and the dog out and about for walks on the Iron Horse Trail. Now is the time to come out of hibernation, knock off the rust, and break in those walking shoes! After months of gloomy weather and torrential rain storms, you won’t want anything holding you back from enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Don’t let the pain of plantar fasciitis hold you back from enjoying the BEST part of springtime in Alamo!
WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that can affect people of all ages and body types. Typically, it is defined as heel pain that is made worse upon standing, walking, or running for prolonged periods of time. The plantar fascia helps to attach your Achilles tendon to your heel bone, and if you have tight calf muscles, you will be more likely to develop plantar fasciitis. This is because your calf muscles attach to the Achilles tendon, and if the calf muscles are overly constricted, they will pull on the fascia and begin to cause irritation and pain in the heel of the foot.
CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
Stretching your calf muscles after walking or running is very important. Also, using a foam roller to release tension and adhesions in the calf can also be helpful in preventing the onset of plantar fasciitis. However, if you currently have plantar fasciitis, foam rolling alone will not fix the problem.
HOW DO YOU TREAT PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
I have developed a protocol that has proven to be highly effective in treating plantar fasciitis. It includes the following three steps: 1. Class IV Laser Therapy: This is a treatment modality that uses the light from a laser beam to penetrate your skin and power deep into your tissue to
the source of your pain. The beam stimulates an increase in blood flow along with an increased cellular ATP, which aids in cellular healing. Laser treatments are very relaxing and typically only take between 5 to 10 minutes. 2. Active Muscle Release: Next, I work on breaking up any adhesions in the muscles or ligaments that may be contributing to the irritation in the plantar fascia. I check the calf muscles, thigh muscles, and the ligaments in the feet, knees, and hips. This portion of the treatment can be a little uncomfortable if I find sore areas. However, I base this portion of the treatment on each patient’s tolerance level. Sometimes I will work deep to release restricted areas, whereas other times I will be more gentle with patients that are more tender and sore. 3. Kinesiotape Support: Lastly, I use Kinesiotape to help support your muscles and ligaments. This involves using flexible tape that is placed on the skin in order to stabilize specific muscles and ligaments. Depending on your condition, I may tape your arch, heel, calf, knee, thigh, hip, or lower back. This helps to support your body and hold your treatments long after you leave my office. Utilizing all three of these methods together has been shown to treat plantar fasciitis quickly and effectively!
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
It’s hard to say how many treatments are necessary in order to alleviate this condition. However, it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to see a full recovery. That being said, I have seen people get better in as little as 3-4 treatments, while others take longer. I will have a better idea of how long it will take for you to get better once I learn more about your specific condition. The great news is that there is hope for a pain-free life!!
WHERE DO I LEARN MORE?
The best way to find out if this form of non-invasive treatment is truly right for your plantar fasciitis is to set up a complimentary, 15-minute consultation. This will give me an opportunity to ask you specific questions about your condition and help me to determine if this type of care is right for you. To learn more, please visit www.alignhealingcenter.com. To schedule your complimentary consultation, please call our office at (925) 362-8283 or send me an email at drkristinmooredc@gmail.com. My office is located Advertorial at 125-G Railroad Ave., Danville.
CLOSET CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
college. Our family was a good fit, especially since three sisters could keep the organization going for many more years to come.” 1Closet partners with local high schools by holding clothing drives for gently used, current style teen basics; jeans, T-shirts, athletics, coats/ sweaters, and accessories. (They do not accept children’s clothing, shoes, accessories, bathing suits, or pajamas.) All donated garments are sorted, sized, and boxed for easy distribution to social service agencies throughout the East Bay and beyond such as DreamCatcher Youth Services Teen Homeless Shelter, Edgewood Center for Children and Families, and Youth Homes, Inc. The group has also partnered with Hyatt House to secure a permanent 24/7 drop-off location at 4545 Chabot Drive in Pleasanton. The Glassers also accept donations at their Alamo home. “We just ask donors to contact us first to set that up,” says Carly. Due to privacy and confidentiality issues, the Glassers and their volunteers usually do not meet the recipients of their largess. They simply deliver boxes of clothing to the organizations who then distribute the articles to their clients. “But the organizations do tell me stories about who receives them and why, and we get thank you cards from some of the teens,” says Carly. “The stories they tell me, although sometimes sad, give me joy that I was able to help them and make them happy despite their circumstances.” 1Closet has paired with the Rainbow Community Center (RCC) in Concord for the past three years. RCC is the sole provider of LGTBQ+ services in Contra Costa County. “The clothes afforded to RCC have helped more than 100 youth and young adults live and look better as often they are marginalized and forced out of their primary residences due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity expression,” says Tech Tran, Case Management Program Director at RCC. “Many of these youngsters are thrilled to receive clothes that they actually want to wear and that match their gender expression. The clothes are high quality and on-trend, and help to make them feel better about themselves.” Tran also works with the Mount Diablo Unified School District as a Social Work Specialist where she utilizes 1Closet for her most vulnerable students. “1Closet has provided MDUSD students with more than 30 boxes
Carly Glasser, current director of 1Closet.
of new to slightly used clothes that help to increase students’ overall sense of self-worth,” she says. “Grass roots organizations like 1Closet are a tremendous asset to the community,” says Candy Espino, CEO of Youth Homes, Inc. “Youth Homes is grateful to have developed these types of collaborative partnerships within the community and is inspired that more of these organizations are being spearheaded by youth themselves!” The Glasser girls and 1Closet are always open to working with new organizations. “We are open to giving boxes of teen clothes to any organization that works with teens,” says Carly. “Please contact us via our website at www.1-closet.com if interested.”
To reach Alamo Today call us at 925-405-6397
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FAILURE TO LAUNCH SYNDROME
By William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare
“Failure to launch” is the term used to describe a phenomenon that is far more common than most folks think. The term is used to describe young adults, usually males, that seem unable to take the next step in their lives and move into increasing independence and employment. The young adults often have a history of starting school or jobs and not following through and dropping out -- in more ways than one. They often have histories of substance abuse and addictive behaviors. By addictive behaviors, we don’t just mean the use of substances such as drugs and alcohol; we include in this area the over use of computer technology, video games, and Role Playing Games (RPG) such as World of Warcraft, Black Ops, and Diablo 3 to name but a few. When the term computer or internet addiction is used, it usually refers to this type of behavior. Often the teen or young adult will require more and more time gaming in a subconscious attempt to balance their mood and anxiety. Another area that parents are reluctant to talk about is when parents find that their child has been looking at internet pornography to excess. This is understandably disturbing for parents. We often find the child sneaking online to view more and more hardcore sites, often staying up until the wee hours to use the computer uninterrupted. This is far from the old sneak-a-peek at the Playboy Magazine at the barbershop. This is an inability to not look
ALAMO POLICE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 2017 REPORTS
Alamo police responded to 26 crimes which included missing adult, false alarm, battery, burglary, court order violation, driving under the influence, failure to obey a traffic officer, drug possession, theft, mentally ill hospitalization, juvenile runaway, found property, suspicious circumstances, identity theft, vandalism, and warrant arrest.
REPORTED INCIDENTS
• Alamo Square Dr., Misc. Burglary: Suspects entered what appeared to be an unsecured detached garage and stole a bicycle, golf clubs, a wallet, and a Fastrak transponder. The scene was processed for evidence. The case is currently ongoing. • Massoni Ct., Vandalism: Two unknown male suspects that appeared to be from the neighborhood set fire to a bag of dog feces on a private driveway. The incident was caught on the victim’s security camera. The incident is currently under investigation.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
• Two subjects have been identified through the use of DNA as being associated with the carjacking of a white Porsche that occurred in Alamo on 12/19/16. The investigation is currently ongoing in an effort to apprehend the responsibles for a conviction.
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 25
and fantasize, as this is a type of stimulation that affects an area of the brain that needs more and more stimulation to feel balanced. Teens and young adults that are involved in this type of behavior need assistance, not moralizing, as it has very little to do with conscious choice after a while. The pornography becomes a driven, even obsessive need that negatively impacts a large part of their life. If their computer time is restricted, the teen or young adult may experience a deep melancholy and become angry, irritable, and even aggressive towards caregivers or parents. They often avoid social encounters, homework, and other daily responsibilities that remind them of what they should be doing which raises their anxiety and plunges them back to the computer and the safety of the game and the fantasy world that is easier to contend with than the real world and its subsequent demands. Some of the characteristics that seem to contribute to this stuck life position are depression - which is usually reactive to their inability to move on, ADHD and the need for constant stimulation, and learning disabilities that not only effect schooling but reading and its impact on educational progress. Young adults with Asperger’s can be prone to this phenomenon as they can perseverate, meaning, get stuck on themes and ideas and not transition to what they need to be doing. All of these things contribute to low self-esteem, academic under achievement, and being unprepared for adulthood, leaving them dependent on their families. Most, if not all of these teens and young adults, have a great potential, even superior IQ’s for developing the awareness needed to move confidently towards a life free of dis-empowering perspectives and negative behaviors and their self-imposed limitations. This is where it “takes a village” to get them back on the right track. Usually, the more typical “how does that make you feel” therapy is a dead end. The village is the family, a guide, or therapist/ mentor to begin the transition to adulthood and a good and proper launch! If anyone you know falls into this category there are resources that address this issue and do it well. We are happy to schedule a phone consultation time to point you in the correct direction. For more information on any behavioral or developmental concern, call our office at (925) 648-4800, and we will take the time to answer your questions. To learn more about behavioral disorders, visit our website at www.behaviorquest.com. Our location is 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Suite 210, Danville. Advertorial
HOMELESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
treatment and support. The Concord CARE Center also serves as an after-hours Warming Center to offer much needed support in a safe environment overnight. CORE teams and law enforcement will be able to make warming center placements. CORE teams establish relationships with clients through regular communication and visits to camps and shelters, and they serve as a point of contact for many social services. A 2016 count showed that about 1,100 county residents are without shelter on any given night. Through CCHS, CORE teams connect clients to shelters, medical and mental health care, case managers, substance use disorder treatment and services, benefit counselors, housing, and other services. Most Contra Costa cities rely on their police departments to manage homelessness, leading to a drain on public safety resources as officers repeatedly respond to complaints about public disturbances, theft, and panhandling; often involving the same few people. Those booked for infractions such as public intoxication or urinating in public rarely remain in jail longer than a night. They are often released a few hours after booking at Martinez Detention Facility. To help alleviate the impact on their police, Martinez and Pleasant Hill will soon share a full-time outreach team to connect with homeless residents as part of a new Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) plan to more efficiently deliver services to the county’s homeless community. The cities agreed to fund the cost of a two-member team of CCHS outreach workers who will operate 40 hours a week within their boundaries. There is no one single solution to eradicating homelessness in our community. Through these programs the County has implemented in cooperation with our cities and many non-profit groups, I am hopeful that we can make a difference in the lives of individuals living on the street. For more information about Homeless Services in Contra Costa County and how you can help, go to cchealth.org/homeless. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap.
PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
PREGNANCY MATTERS
WEIGHT GAIN By Dr. Theresa Gipps
A woman’s health during pregnancy is important for her and her baby’s health long after her pregnancy ends. Last time we reviewed guidelines for exercising safely during and after pregnancy. Exercise and diet are key factors in a woman’s weight gain during her pregnancy. About half of American women gain more weight than recommended during pregnancy. Women who are overweight or obese before pregnancy are even more likely to gain excess weight in pregnancy. Twenty percent of women will not gain enough weight during pregnancy. This means only about 30% of women gain the recommended amount during pregnancy. Women who gain more than the recommended amount of weight are not only more likely to have trouble losing their pregnancy weight, but they are at increased risk of gestational diabetes, pregnancy related hypertension, cesarean delivery, and delivery of a large baby. Women who don’t gain enough weight during pregnancy are at risk of delivering a preterm baby or a baby that is small for its age.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD I GAIN DURING PREGNANCY?
It is important to know where you are starting from. Calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI (The CDC has an online adult BMI calculator). Women with a normal BMI of 18.5 - 24.9 before pregnancy should aim to gain 1-5 lbs in the first trimester (first 14 weeks) and about 1 pound per week for the duration of the pregnancy. This adds up to a total of 25-35 pounds total during the pregnancy. Underweight women should gain between 28-40 pounds while pregnant, and obese women should gain 11-20 pounds. Note your weight before pregnancy, and keep an eye on it as your pregnancy progresses. It is important to remember that all pregnancies are different. Women with twin pregnancies will need to gain more weight. Women on bedrest or with activity restrictions may have more of a challenge staying in the recommended range. Women with significant nausea will often have trouble gaining or maintaining weight in the beginning of pregnancy, but are usually able to catch up when nausea improves.
HOW DO I STAY ON TRACK?
Most people know the basics for maintaining a healthy weight. Remember that exercise is typically safe and healthy during pregnancy! Food choices are the second part of the equation: listen to your body - eat when you are hungry! But try to make most of your food choices healthy ones. Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy. Choose whole grains, brown or wild rice, and other grains like barley and quinoa. Fats are important for building your baby’s brain. Protein is necessary for building muscle, and minerals like calcium and iron are needed to make bones and blood. Babies born to women with a high fruit intake have improved cognitive development at one year of life. Whole fruits are healthier than juices. If you are struggling with food choices, ask for help. Nutritionists can help with meal planning, and physical trainers can help you plan a safe exercise program. Women with specific dietary needs or restrictions - like allergies, diabetes, or gastric bypass - may especially benefit from consulting with a nutritionist.
GETTING BACK TO YOUR PRE-PREGNANCY WEIGHT
The best way to lose your pregnancy weight is by eating healthy and getting active. Most new moms get back to their pre-pregnancy weight by about six months after delivery, but every woman is different. Many factors will affect your weight loss - including the amount of weight gained during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and breastfeeding. Women who breastfeed are more likely to lose their pregnancy weight faster than women who do not. Your progress will vary from week to week. Be patient - weight loss takes time. Remember, the healthy habits you develop now will improve your health and your family’s health for years to come. Dr Gripps practices at Leach OBGYN. For questions and information call 925-935-6952, email leachobgyn@gmail.com, or visit their NEW website www. leachobgyn.com for articles and other important health education information. Advertorial The office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek.
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YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
WHY AM I NOT LOSING WEIGHT WITH ALL OF THIS EXERCISE? By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
Springtime is the best time of year to embark on a weight loss regimen. As the weather warms up we require less food opposed to during the winter when we need food for fuel to keep us warm. I see many clients confusing hunger with feeling cold during the winter months. My favorite challenge is working with a client who is tracking calories, exercising, eating better, and still not losing weight. When a new client calls me and says they are doing all the right things to lose weight and not making progress, a list of possible scenarios runs through my head.
YOU ARE EATING BACK ALL THE CALORIES YOU BURN.
When you work out, you burn extra calories. That is why exercise is so important in the weight-loss equation. However, a lot of people overestimate how much they burn—and even use the “I exercised today” excuse to over eat and over drink. How many times have you faced a food temptation and thought, “Well, I worked out today, so it’s OK this time.” Or, “I’ll have this now, but work out extra hard tomorrow.” If that sounds all-too-familiar, this could be a major reason why you’re not losing weight. We often overestimate how many calories we actually burn and underestimate how many calories we actually consume. Workout trainers tell me that they think weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.
YOU’RE RELYING ON EXERCISE ALONE TO DO THE TRICK.
Exercising can help you lose weight because it helps you create the calorie deficit needed to lose weight. The real truth is exercise alone will not help you lose weight. Honestly, it takes a lot of time and effort to burn even a few calories. A full hour of intense exercise may only burn 400-500 calories for many people. On the flipside, it’s easy to eat hundreds or thousands of calories in even a few minutes. But it would take hours of exercise to offset those calories. If you are not changing your diet and reducing your calorie intake, exercise alone probably won’t help your weight-loss results.
YOU ARE NOT EATING AS HEALTHY AS YOU THINK.
We all think we eat pretty well. Even people who eat a pretty bad diet don’t think it’s that bad. Often I see people who exercise skimp on eating during the day after exercising and eating heavier at night. It should be the other way around. After you exercise your metabolism is sped up and calories are burned off at three times the rate compared to many hours later. Eating late night meals because of our busy schedules can also prevent weight loss. We enjoy alcohol, but these drinks are full of calories. A large glass of wine can easily equal 200 calories. I find many people eating too much cheese, nuts, olives, and avocados. These can be considered healthy fats, however they are often consumed in quantities that add an abundance of calories as well.
YOU ARE DOING THE WRONG KINDS OF EXERCISE.
When it comes to exercising there is much confusion. One day you hear that strength training is the best way to lose weight. The next day you’re told to focus on cardio. For my clients that walk for exercise, I tell them they must step it up and do interval training that will shock the metabolism. Cardio is the key for weight loss, and strength training is to keep your muscles looking toned and feeling strong.
YOU ARE NOT BEING CONSISTENT ENOUGH.
When struggling to lose those final 5-10 pounds, consistent efforts are important. Do you try to eat “perfectly” and exercise for a whole week, only to step on the scale to see that you haven’t lost an ounce? You may think, “What is the point?” and go on an all-out eating feast and skip the gym for a couple days. This is when clients call me and say they are having an emergency. It is my job to teach you how to enjoy birthday cake, drinks, and socializing with friends. You need a plan that includes your favorite foods and is enjoyable with no deprivation. My eight week Royal Treatment Program is my most popular plan for successful weight loss. It includes a weekly visit and coaching by text, phone, or email. Call me and I will tell you about the program and how it can work for you. Insurance companies such as Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield, Health Net, and Sutter Health cover nutritional counseling. Please visit www.LindaRD.com for more information about your nutritional concerns, call (925) 855-0150, or Advertorial e-mail me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 27
Local and Convenient
Accepting New Patients
Join us Friday, April 28 from 11AM - noon for a cosmetic talk on Sculptra - Dysport - Botox - Voluma - Restylane. Find out what is best for you. RSVP to 925-362-0992.
(925) 362-0992 | www.alamooaksderm.com Shanny A. Baughman, M.D.
3189 Danville Blvd, Suite 130, Alamo
CAN A VIRUS CAUSE CANCER?
By Arash Mohebati, MD
Sculptra Special for New Patients
The term “head and neck cancer” refers to a variety of tumors that occur in the mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), nose, and sinuses. Thyroid cancer usually belongs to a separate category of head and neck cancer and is treated differently. Excluding thyroid cancer, Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3% of all cancers in the United States and are nearly twice as common among men as they are among women. Alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco, sometimes called “chewing tobacco” or “snuff”) are historically the two most important causes of head and neck cancers. Treatment of head and neck cancer is dependent on the site where the tumor arises from. For instance, the recommended treatment of tumors that originate in the mouth is different than those arising in the larynx. Certain viruses have been known to play a significant role in the development of cancer for some time. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is known as a cause of cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in women; penile cancer in men; anal cancer, genital warts, and throat warts in both men and women. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma that is more common in southeast Asia. Over the past decade, we have been learning about the significance of HPV as a cause of head and neck cancer. HPV infection is a well-known cause of cervical cancer in women, and it is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly 80 million Americans are infected with HPV according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The same types of HPV that infect the genital areas can infect the mouth and throat. HPV infections often resolve before they cause any health problems. More than 15,000 HPV associated head and neck cancers are diagnosed annually. These cancers usually occur in the oropharyngeal region – mainly in the tonsils or the base of tongue. The incidence of HPV associated head and neck cancer has been rapidly rising since the 1990’s, while tobacco related cancers are declining. The incidence of HPV associated head and neck cancer will soon surpass the number of HPV related cervical cancer cases diagnosed per year in the United States. Historically, head and neck cancers occurred in heavy smokers and drinkers
and most frequently in the 5th through the 7th decade of life. HPV associated oropharyngeal cancers present in younger individuals, more often in white males, and often in non-smokers. HPV positive cancer often presents at a higher stage with metastatic lymph nodes in the neck, but this type of cancer is usually more responsive to treatment with better overall survival. The most widely used treatment regimen for the management of oropharyngeal cancers has been the combination of chemotherapy and radiation. Interest in surgical resection has been increasing use of new technology that will allow for removal of the tumor with lower complication and with good outcome. There are new trials in progress aiming to identify the optimal treatment modality with least amount of toxicity for HPV associated cancers without compromising the outcomes. Based on the current national cancer institute guidelines, recommendations for management of HPV associated and non-HPV cancers are similar. At this time, there are no reliable screening methods for HPV associated head and neck cancer. The only preventive method available is vaccination prior to becoming sexually active. The new HPV vaccines -- recommended for both boys and girls age 9 to 12 -- have been shown to protect against cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. The recommendations for vaccination to protect against head and neck cancer is extrapolated from this data, and further research is underway. Animal tests suggest that an HPV vaccine would be preventative, and all approved vaccines are active against HPV strains 16 and 18, the subtypes of the virus that cause more than 95% of head and neck cancers. Community adoption of the HPV vaccine in the United States remains lower than expected. One national survey suggests that less than half the girls and one third of boys receive the full recommended doses of vaccine. Decreasing the incidence of infection for now remains the only way of preventing future cancer development.
Join Dr. Mohebati and other medical experts on April 24 for a Head and Neck Cancer Seminar at the Walnut Creek Library. 6:30-8:30pm. Reservations are recommended, please call 925-677-5041 x272.
Dr. Arash Mohebati is a board certified general surgeon who completed additional fellowship training in head and neck oncologic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He practices with West Coast Surgical Associates -- offices in Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Concord. Dr. Mohebati is offering visual oral cavity screenings on April 13 & 20 in recognition of Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Call 925- 933-0984 to schedule your free screening appointment. Advertorial
PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
THE EYE OPENER
IS THE PRINT GETTING SMALLER OR ARE YOUR ARMS GETTING SHORTER? By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
As I am putting on my computer glasses to write this article, it is becoming more and more difficult to read and work on the computer. As much as we would all like to believe that the print is just getting smaller, deep down we know the difficulty we are experiencing is all about having more birthdays. For those of you who don’t buy the conspiracy theory that print is made smaller on purpose by your younger colleagues and children, you can direct your anger at your lens. The lens changes shape when acted upon by the muscles within the eye, and that allows the eye to focus at different objects at different distances. Since the lens continues to grow throughout life, it becomes thicker, denser, and less flexible as time goes on. Therefore, focusing ability is best when you are born and gradually declines from that point on. Presbyopia usually shows itself in your early 40’s when it comes to the point where patients at least start to notice things up close aren’t quite as easy to see as they used to be. Now for the good news: There are many options to help with the “short arm syndrome.” Depending on your distance and reading prescription, reading and computer requirements, and personality, we can attempt to tailor a solution to this problem. For glasses wearers, progressive lenses are usually the choice. These lenses allow for clear vision in the distant, intermediate, and reading areas; however, the area on the lens for each distance can be small depending on the type of lens used and the depth of the frame. The newer digital designs are allowing for wider corridors of usable vision, thereby making initial adaptation and vision much easier. Computer progressives are also great task-specific lenses that allow for vision at the computer and at near while reducing the need to search for the “sweet spot” for the intermediate area on the lenses for the computer. Since we need several different shoes for different styles and functions, that
www.yourmonthlypaper.com same need is why more than one pair of glasses is necessary; different visual tasks often require different lenses. It is possible to need full or occupational progressives, bifocals, computer bifocals, or single vision lenses to help achieve clear and comfortable vision at all near point activities. For those who are not interested or have been unable to get used to progressives, line bifocals or separate near and distance glasses are your option. Line bifocals give clear vision in the distance and near or computer and near, depending on the needs of the patient. The advantage of having separate glasses is that they can be tailored to your specific occupational and personal needs. In contrast, there are many contact lens wearers who believe that once presbyopia kicks in that they will no longer be able to wear contacts. While that might be an option for some, it definitely does not have to be. Recent advances in multifocal contact lenses allow for vision at all distances. However, they are not used in the same way as progressive glasses. Since glasses are stationary, you can lower or raise your eyes to utilize a different portion of the lens, depending on what you are viewing. With contacts that is not possible as the lens always moves with you, so you are always looking through the same part of the lens. Therefore, you are presented with both distance and near vision, and you just pay attention to the clearer image. It sounds difficult, but generally it is easier to get used to than monovision, in which one distance contact is on one eye and one reading lens on the other. Depending on the prescription and the person, this modality works for a lot of people, but it does require an initial adaptation period. Obviously this discussion was not all inclusive, as there are other options available including some that are a combination of the above. I enjoy working with patients to explore all available options to come up with the best solution to fit each person’s needs. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial
GARDEN CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
events with a built-in sound system for presentations. The utility kitchen originally envisioned is being upgraded to meet commercial prep specifications. The reception area provides space for garden-related merchandise and historical displays. Restrooms will allow visitor access from both inside and outside the building. The 1,000 square feet of office space is augmented by 1,700 square feet of loft area storage. Bistro tables on the patio outside the center invite taking time to savor the scenery. A lighted pavilion near the garden entrance promises to be the ideal location for staging large events, enhancing the plant sale experience and bringing groups together. The tile mosaic welcome wall bordering the pavilion and nursery will bear permanent testimony to the many supporters whose contributions are making the visions of artists, architects, and admirers Artist’s renderings by Robert Buckeroo IDF Global bring to life the plans for the RBG Visitor and Education of Ruth Bancroft’s achievements a reality. In August 2016, Donna Billick of Davis, CA and her Center. (Courtesy of the RBG) apprentice Amanda Larsen assisted by 17 clay artists associated with the Center for Community Arts in Walnut Creek, led over 200 volunteers of all ages from the Bay Area in a two-day workshop to create and paint tiles for the west side of the donor wall. Participants used over 700 pounds of clay. The east side of the wall will showcase tiles imprinted with donor names. Adding your name is still possible. Succulents were considered suitable only for containers by most Northern California gardeners when Ruth began planting them in-ground in 1972. Although an unexpected freeze killed 90% of her plants that first winter, Ruth persevered. Her daughter, Nina Bancroft Dickerson, describes Ruth’s dedication to expanding knowledge about gardening with drought-tolerant species: “She kept meticulous records of where each plant was planted, whether it survived, the conditions, etc. She was experimenting to see what would grow in the Walnut Creek climate.” Education always played an important part in Ruth’s dry garden. Ruth welcomed anyone seriously interested in learning from her experiments. Richard Turner, who became the RBG’s first Executive Director, stopped by unannounced in April 1979. He recalls that Ruth “rolled out the welcome mat.” Subsequently, while he was teaching plant identification courses at UC Berkeley, Dick received Ruth’s blessing to make her garden the field trip destination culminating each session. After moving to Walnut Creek in 1979, Tom Bassett, past President of the RBG Board, met Ruth out weeding and planting in her garden. As a guest lecturer at the UC Berkeley School of Landscape Architecture, Tom learned about the garden from a student from Lafayette. Ruth invited Tom to drop in whenever he wanted and was happy to have him bring clients to pique their interest in installing their own drought-tolerant gardens. Today, a packed schedule of monthly offerings includes classes in photography and painting as well as horticulture. Local school and scout groups enjoy Children’s Tours. Docent-led and self-guided tours with available audio support acquaint visitors with the stories behind the dramatic displays in each bed. Sharing their knowledge is a way of life for those associated with the garden as current RBG Executive Director Gretchen Bartzen notes:
See GARDEN continued on page 30
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APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 29
Alamo’s 1st & Only Pediatric Dentist! Alamo Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Welcomes Dr. Allan Pang Dr. Pang completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. After Tufts he completed a General Practice Residency at University of California, Los Angeles. Thereafter, Dr. Pang practiced general dentistry in the community of Los Gatos, California for two years. It was during this time that he realized how much he enjoyed working with his pediatric patients and returned to school to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. His residency in Pediatric Dentistry at New York University-Bellevue Hospital in New York City allowed for him to have extensive training in treating the well child and those with special healthcare needs such as children with craniofacial disorders and developmental disabilities. Dr. Pang has been in private practice since 2008. He is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, a Diplomate with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
(925) 831-8310
PAGE 30 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
IN PLASTIC SURGERY, IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
For most of us, the littlest things can have the biggest impact on our happiness. As a mother of three, nothing makes me happier than a pair of little arms from one of my kids wrapped around my neck. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, nothing is more precious to me than the big hug I get from a patient on whom I have operated after a difficult ordeal (like breast cancer) or performed a cosmetic procedure on that helps them get their ‘groove’ back. I think a lot about the little things as summer approaches and we begin to bare more of our skin. Many people panic about this level of exposure and we begin to focus on the parts of our body and face that feel less than perfect to us. What most people unfamiliar with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery do not know is that there are many little ways that we can address and improve how we look that can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. In many cases, my patients experience the most satisfying results when we take an incremental approach to improvements. For example, using fillers like Radiesse®, Juvéderm®, and Restylane® in strategic spots on the face can create a look of vibrancy and youth that is completely natural, budget-friendly, and results in no down-time. This is also the time of year when many of my patients choose to do more advanced procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) and breast augmentation or lifts. While these surgeries do require more healing time, the impact they have is quite remarkable. Here are a few of the procedures that we offer at Persons Plastic Surgery, Lafayette that can help you look and feel ready for summer: Fraxel® Laser is proven laser technology that can help reverse the visible effects of aging, naturally helping you look as young as you feel. Fraxel technology is proven, effective, and non-invasive.
GARDEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28
“Everyone involved with the RBG loves to learn. Everyone has different hobbies, but they are all connected by their love of plants, the beauty of the gardens, and the desire to help things grow.” Brian Kemble, RBG Curator, began working for Ruth in 1980, before all of the garden beds were developed. He helped her place new acquisitions, moving plants around in their pots until she was satisfied that their locations suited her aesthetic criteria. When Frank Cabot came to visit in the winter of 1988, Ruth was 80 years old. Realizing her children had no desire to tend the garden 12 hours a day as she did, she confessed she expected when she went, the garden would go as well. Cabot, knowing someday his own gardens in the Northeast might be similarly jeopardized, responded with a plan for a national organization dedicated to preserving exceptional American gardens. In 1989, the RBG became the first Garden Conservancy project. Ownership of the three-acre space containing the dry garden was transferred to the non-profit Ruth Bancroft Garden, Inc. The garden opened to the public in 1992. The Rotary Club in which Ruth’s late husband Philip served as past president donated a $10,000 grant to cover the design fee for a master plan including a visitor center and library. Initially, Ruth continued to maintain her garden as she always had. Daughter Nina recalls, “My mother gardened without gloves and never wore a hat or sunscreen.” The only time Nina saw her using tongs was when repotting a cactus. Nina’s sister Kathy Bancroft Hidalgo adds, “When she was 90, I couldn’t keep up with her. She was very active until she turned 100.” Becky Rice (Harrington) came to the RBG as an intern in 2002. “It was a quiet little garden, still very much Ruth’s garden, and she was out tending it every day. At that time, the garden was only open by appointment, so most days the only people in the garden were Ruth and her staff.” Becky stayed on as Education Director and accepted the post of Executive Director in 2005. She says, “After Ruth’s retirement, we found that it took several full-time staff members and a cadre of volunteers to do all the work she did.” Long-time docent Ersten Imaoka began volunteering in 2004. In 2006, he hosted Ruth at his own garden. He describes her that day: “a sprightly 98. The first thing I noticed about her was how she dressed for our get together. Talk about attention to detail: she was completely color coordinated – her shoes, purse, watch, pants, and blouse were all in shades of brown or gold. She was the perfect guest, only speaking compliments as I showed her around my garden.”
www.yourmonthlypaper.com Fraxel® Laser is the original fractional laser treatment that works below the skin’s surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, surface scarring, pigmentation (including age spots), and sun damage. Fractionated laser light energy stimulates your skin’s natural collagen, rejuvenating skin cells below the surface to help smooth the creases and pockets that cause wrinkles and scars. Patients can see results after a single Fraxel treatment and will continue to see softer, smoother, and more eventoned skin over the next 3-6 months. There are several types of Fraxel procedures to meet your specific needs. For most Fraxel Laser procedures, there are few side effects and low downtime. As with all procedures, a consultation with our expert staff will help you decide if Fraxel Laser or another laser treatment is right for you. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure for saggy eyelids. Eyelid surgery (upper and lower) is a great way to rejuvenate and refresh your appearance. This procedure targets the bulges, bags, and excess skin of the upper and lower eyelids that can make you look tired and droopy-eyed. While saggy eyelids may start as early as our 20’s, eventually, it affects everyone. Happily, no matter what your age, it can be surgically corrected to create a more youthful and vibrant-looking you. At Persons Plastic Surgery, we usually perform upper and lower lid surgery simultaneously. But we can address just upper or lower as needed, or in conjunction with face, neck, or brow lift surgery. What makes eyelid surgery such an excellent ‘quick fix’ procedure is that there is usually only mild discomfort and little downtime. You may see some discoloration, but this will improve after a week or two. And most patients can go back to work in 8 to 10 days. You will look like you, only better. As a Plastic Surgeon, I have a great passion to help my patients look and feel their best. At Persons Plastic Surgery, we take a holistic approach to helping you look and feel happy. We invite you to come in for a consultation. Even a minor procedure can have a major effect on your sense of well-being. Small can be the new big! Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial The RBG continues to grow friendships has readily as exotic plants. Bartzen writes, “I fell in love with the people before I ever stepped into the garden. Then Becky Rice (Har- Led by Donna Billik, more than 200 volunteers created tiles in August 2016 for the RBG Donor Wall. (Photo courtesy of the RBG) rington) took me on a tour, and I was amazed by the garden itself.” Becky explains, “As the staff and volunteers grew, the garden developed a palpable sense of excitement and energy, and there was a sense of community among the people who worked so hard to keep Ruth’s garden thriving.” Charlotte Blome, the RBG’s first Garden Manager, regularly consulted with Ruth on planting plans as Ruth became less able to get out in the garden by herself. Charlotte’s unpublished journal, A Year in Ruth’s Garden, contains many memorable quotes. Ruth Bancroft: “What I have learned most from gardening is patience.” Frank Cabot: “Emotion and sensuality are what a garden is all about.” The garden might not exist if Ruth Bancroft hadn’t seen an advertisement back in the 1950s for someone selling used furniture. At the residence, Ruth spotted an unusual plant. Instead of the antique furniture she intended to purchase, Ruth acquired her first succulent – a plant hybridized by the homeowner: Aeonium ‘Glenn Davidson.’ Johanna Silver relates the rest of the story in The Bold Dry Garden, published in 2016 and available at the RBG. Marion Brenner’s incomparable photographs capture the breath-taking beauty of the garden in every light and season. Canyon Design Build of Moraga is responsible for design and construction of the Visitor and Education Center with Lutsko and Associates of San Francisco doing landscaping. Arborist Joe McNeil surveyed existing RBG trees to ensure minimal impact. Construction completion is expected shortly after Ruth celebrates her 110th birthday in September 2018. Visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org for information on nursery hours, visiting and tour times, classes, volunteer opportunities, events, and how to contribute. The RBG is located at 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek.
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UNDERSTANDING ANEMIA
By Susan Kao, MD
Anemia in the older adult can be a challenging diagnosis to treat as up to 20-30% of patients may have unexplained anemia even after a thorough workup, and a good proportion of patients have multiple causes for their anemia. It’s important to address the cause of the anemia, and in many cases it’s also important to correct the anemia that can potentially cause a decline in one’s physical and mental functioning. Studies have shown an association between increased falls and frailty, and decreased attention span and executive function with even mild anemia. When we do a workup for anemia, our initial goal is to find an etiology that we can correct. We first rule out nutritional deficiencies such as iron, folate, or B12 deficiency. These account for about one-third of anemia in older adults. Another one-third of anemia is due to either chronic kidney disease or other chronic or inflammatory disorders such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, acute or chronic infections, or underlying cancer. Some patients with otherwise unexplained anemia can have a primary bone marrow disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which requires a bone marrow biopsy to diagnose. Less common causes are hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, hemolytic anemia, and other bone marrow disorders and defects in bone marrow function. If iron deficiency has been identified as the cause of the anemia, then it’s important to look for a site of blood loss, which usually involves evaluating the gastrointestinal tract with upper and lower endoscopies. This can identify not only malignant lesions but also benign lesions like ulcers, polyps, diverticuli, hemorrhoids, and vascular malformations. If there is no clear site of blood loss, then we may look for reasons for poor absorption of iron, such as poor dietary intake or poor absorption of iron due to celiac disease. If an underlying cause for the anemia is found, then we can hopefully correct the problem. However, even if we cannot find the cause, we can still treat the anemia and potentially improve the patient’s symptoms. We can give red blood cell transfusions, which carries some risks but can be of benefit especially in those with underlying cardiac disease. Or we can potentially use injectable medications that stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Part of the Hippocratic Oath I took when I became a doctor was to not just treat the disease but to care for the sick person. This includes palliation of symptoms and doing no harm. I hope to be a guide and a partner with my patients on their medical journey. Dr. Kao is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology and practices with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. Dr. Kao is accepting new patients at offices in Pleasant Hill and Rossmoor/Walnut Creek. To contact Dr. Kao, please Advertorial call (925) 677-5041.
ADAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
along with numerous awards for her work in illustration and commercial art. Her work had been published for clients that include The Smithsonian, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, and many other national outlets. Peggy’s fine art work can be seen in San Francisco and Mendocino, and she also accepts commissions generated from her website. Peggy will be demonstrating the versatility and exciting effects that can be achieved from using colored pencils. Focusing on portraiture, Peggy will render the human eye. She will emphasize the importance of contouring the area surrounding it, while adding the very important components of mood and expression. Peggy states: “I am a self-taught artist, but I’ll always consider myself a lifetime student of art. I hope to never deceive myself by thinking that I’ve reached a pinnacle or ultimate goal in my work. If I ever think that I have finally become all I can be as an artist, I will deny myself a future full of possibilities . . . I’m a visual messenger. I’ll begin the thought, but you’ll have to complete the story.” To see a gallery of her work, please visit Peggy’s website, www.PMagovern.com. For more information about ADAS, visit www.ADAS4art.org.
APRIL 2017 • ALAMO TODAY • PAGE 31
POPLAR SPECTACLES OPTOMETRY LOCATED IN THE SAFEWAY PLAZA
Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exams Cataract Evaluation, Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma Evaluations
Contact Lens Exams Daily, bi-weekly, monthly, colored
Prescription Glasses and Sunglasses In many cases, we are able to make your glasses in our office with our On-Site Lab
Adult & pediatric patients welcomed
OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY
Most vision insurance plans accepted
Monday -Thursday: 9am-6pm Friday - Saturday: 9am-4pm
(925) 202-2846 We invite you into our conveniently located office next to Peet’s Coffee & Katrina Rozelle
To learn more about our office visit WWW.POPLARSPECS.COM
IS FOOD A PROBLEM FOR YOU?
Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran
C L A S S I F I E D AUTOS WANTED
We will buy or consign your car. All cars displayed in our private and secure showroom. We are a locally family owned dealership serving the Lamorinda and San Ramon Valley for over 30 years in a very relaxed atmosphere. Free pick-up and delivery. 925-820-1188
COMPUTER HELP
ITkid Computer Help with any tech related issue for a low price. Computer Set-up & Repair •Email •Wifi •Smartphone •Home Theater - $40/hr. Contact Max Nunan, (925) 482-5488, maxnunan@gmail.com, www.itkid.co.
FOR RENT
CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, Alamomgt@usa.net
Alamo Today Classifieds
Reach over 6,500 homes and businesses in Alamo & Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies...$35 for up to 45 words.$5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117,Alamo,CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.
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PAGE 32 • ALAMO TODAY • APRIL 2017
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
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DANVILLE / ALAMO AREA REAL ESTATE: LUXURY HOME MARKET ANOTHER SOLID YEAR
Last year, 2016, was another solid year for Luxury Homes sales in our area. I have defined Luxury Homes to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger, sitting on a premium lot that is between ½ and 1 full acre, and equipped with a pool. This definition has been overlain on the geographies including Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, and Diablo, basically what in my personal view comprises the Danville Area. The Luxury Home market bottomed out in 2010 both in terms of average price and dollars paid per square foot. In 2010 you could have bought a 5,800 square foot home for an average price of about $1,900,000 with a value of $327 per square foot. Those prices were nearly 48% below the current market for a Luxury Home. During the Luxury Home market peak in 2007, only 14 homes sold, but they did so with an impressive average price of $2,920,833 and an average square foot price of $506. Technically speaking, the Luxury Home market in our area has yet to recover completely. In order to match the 2007 peak, the Luxury Home square foot price will need to increase on average another 4%. Although Luxury Home Market Dollars Per when you look at units sold and Square Foot $500 average sold price, there is a strong $450 argument that it may have already $400 recovered. $350 Although the line of ascent from the bottom in 2010 has not $300 been perfectly straight, it has for $250 the most part, been improving. In $200 2016 sales happened at a rate of $150 slightly more than two per month. $100 Days-on-market were at 95, which $50 was about three weeks longer than in 2015. That’s fewer than in 2012, $2010 11 12 13 14 15 16 but more than any year since then.
Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo Year-to- date in Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size 2017 two Luxury Homes have sold 2010 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 and one is cur- 11 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 rently pending. 12 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 This puts the 13 15 62 $ 2,464,961 $ 413 5968 Luxury Home 17 69 $ 2,571,767 $ 440 5844 market behind 14 15 24 75 $ 2,974,642 $ 492 6059 the sales pace of 16 25 95 $ 2,819,060 $ 455 5958 the last couple of Note: 5000 + Sq Ft. Home on .5-1.0 acre and Pool years and something to pay attention to. There are currently 15 Luxury Homes on the market. This is unchanged from 2016. Their total days-on-market range from five to 242 days. These active listings carry an average list price of $3,212,187 compared to last year’s list price of $3,643,617 and an average square foot price of $537 compared to $550 last year. It’s hard to know if this 3.5% decline signifies a change in market direction or if it is an anomaly. The good news for Luxury Home sellers is that the market has recovered significantly from the downturn and the market is not flooded. This market has moved very far, very fast, and may be taking a breather. Given the roughly 12% reduction in year-over-year list price, my personal view is I don’t expect Luxury Home prices to increase this year. They might even be lower than last year. When I write about the Luxury Home market next year, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Nancy and I have more than 3,000 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. You can add yourself to the list by sending me an email or signing up for it on our website www.thecombsteam.com. I assure you no spam will follow. You can also follow us on Facebook “Real Estate Services for Danville, Alamo and more.” Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to make your decisions? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. There will be no charge and no pressure, just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.
Alamo 10 Acre Estate
Alamo Jones Ranch
Award Winning Realtors
Beautiful custom home with views, gardens, huge master, 3 ensuite bedrooms, bonus room/au pair suite with private entrance. Price available upon request.
Executive home 6,521 sq. ft. with views of Mt. Diablo. Two master suites, au pair unit, office, exercise salon, wine room. Priced to sell $2,699,000
Top 5% in Sales Production
West Side Alamo Single Story
Coming Soon - Danville Sycamore
Alamo Oaks Custom Home
P
IN D N E
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Single Level 4 bedroom on .86 acres. Backs to the Iron Horse Trail. Priced to Sell $1,199,000
LD SO Lovely Updated 4 bedroom on beautiful level lot with pool. Call for Details!
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
D PEN
ING
The epitome of 21st century architecture. 4 bedroom and office First level master & 2 family rooms. Priced to Sell $2,089,000. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526