2017 April Danville Today

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APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1

APRIL 2017

RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER COMING SOON

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 Visitor and Education Center on May 20th. While translating 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 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 of Ruth Bancroft’s achievements a reality.

LEND A HAND DAY

By Linda Summers Pirkle

“I felt badly, but I did say ‘I told you so!’” shared Gretchen Trinta.

She recounted a memory of her husband’s hedge cutting incident.

“It was too far for him to reach,” she recalled, and her husband of 45 years fell. “It was frightening and at the same time comical to see him on the ground with his legs sprawled out. Once I found out he was OK, I shared my thoughts on the error of his ways.” And Gretchen added, “He has never tried to cut that hedge since!”

Luckily for Gretchen and Larry Trinta and other Danville seniors, Lend a Hand Day is once again approaching. For 14 years the Town of Danville has been facilitating a spring garden clean-up day that brings out over 100 enthusiastic volunteers who are matched with

See LEND A HAND continued on page 16

LINDSAY WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE

By Fran Miller

Artist’s renderings by Robert Buckeroo IDF Global bring to life the plans for the RBG Visitor and Education Center. (Courtesy of the RBG).

In August 2016, Donna Billick of Davis, CA and her 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

See BANCROFT continued on page 20 Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA

ECRWSS

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Benjamin Franklin might have been referring to the philosophy of the Lindsay Wildlife Experience when he turned this wise phrase more than 200 years ago.

The Lindsay Wildlife Experience (formerly the Lindsay Wildlife Museum) and its Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital have always been more than the dictionary definition of its former ‘museum’ name implied – a building in which objects of interest are stored or exhibited. Lindsay’s live animals, its vibrant, hands-on displays and programs, and its real hospital care presentations are so much more than museum material, and thus, the Museum last year revealed its new, more apropos name.

Officially founded in 1955 by Alexander Lindsay, a local businessman who had studied ornithology and taught neighborhood children about nature, the Lindsay has

See LINDSAY cont. on page 28

Volume VIII - Number 6 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News.

Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

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PAGE 2 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

AAUW GARDEN TOUR

Come see five beautiful gardens at the 17 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. th

Visit booths hosted by local business showcasing their company specialties. Local restaurants and wineries will be on hand providing delicious small bite samples. The $10 entrance fee includes a Danville shopping bag, wine glass, and sample plate.

For information call the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce at (925) 837-4400 or visit www.Danvilleareachamber.com.

Thursday, April 20 6PM to 9PM Danville Veteran’s Memorial Building 400 Hartz Ave, Danville

CELEBRATE SAN RAMON RANCHO-VILLAGE-CITY

AN EXHIBIT COMING TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of San Ramon, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley is presenting an exhibit which celebrates San Ramon’s evolution from Rancho San Ramon to the vibrant city of today.

CELEBRATE SAN RAMON Rancho-Village-City features stories about San Ramon’s naming, its founders and first village, a century of agriculture, the San Ramon Fire Department, Bishop Ranch history, and the new city which incorporated in 1983.

The museum exhibit will also provide hands-on opportunities for young and older visitors alike including a history hunt, a saddle for children to try out, and an intriguing question and answer feature. Every Saturday from 10 to 11am, beginning on April 22, a speaker will tell stories about the city’s transformation from a rural community to modern San Ramon. Beginning a “First Friday” opening tradition, the museum will be open to all from 6pm 8pm on Fridays, May 2 and June 2 for free tours and refreshments.

Why 150 Years? By the mid-1800’s, San Ramon was recognizable and growing. Voters supported a new grammar school district and approved funds to build a school. One hundred and fifty years ago, in 1867, the classic San Ramon Grammar School opened, marking the beginning of San Ramon as a community. The school became the focus of a variety of events. When hardy farm boys removed a partition inside the large school house, the building hosted parties, graduations, May Day celebrations and political gatherings.

List of speakers and titles: April 22 ~ Remembering San Ramon Grammar School - Ginny Fereira April 29 ~ Jose Amador’s Fabulous Rancho San Ramon - Beverly Lane May 6 ~ Two Railroads and the San Ramon Village - Bill Clarkson May 13 ~ The Historic Harlan House: Has It Fallen Down Yet? - Bill Harlan May 20 ~ Ranching Life in San Ramon - Roxanne Lindsay May 27 ~ San Ramon Fire Department - The Story - Bill Fereira and Rick Probert June 3 ~ The Glass Family, Early San Ramon Founders - Claudia Nemir June 10 ~ Forest Home Farms Historic Park - Back to the Present - Pat Boone Spanning the history from its humble beginnings to today’s lively 21st century city is a truly amazing journey.

The exhibit will be at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley located at 205 Railroad Ave Danville from April 15 through June 11. Museum hours are Tuesday – Friday from 1pm – 4pm, Saturday from 10am – 1pm, and Sunday from noon – 3pm. Admission for members is free, adults are $5, children are $3 (under age 5 are free), students (K-12) are $3, and seniors (65+) are $3.

For more information, call 925-837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv.org.

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.

Friends of Blackhawk Museums is sponsoring APRIL IN PARIS FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON April 12, 2017 at 11:00am $75 per person APRIL IN PARIS FASHION SHOW Luncheon is a fundraising event sponsored by the Friends of Blackhawk Museums 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.

Friends of Blackhawk Museums contact: Joyce Tucker 925.736.9393 Tickets: 925.736.2277 Ext 221/ email: fashion@blackhawkmuseum.org BLACKHAWK MUSEUMS, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA 94506

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APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3

There Are Properties That I Can’t Sell

But Yours Is Not One Of Them!

Jared Higgins • (925) 487-2907 • jhiggins@rockcliff.com BRE# 01781054

Homes are selling with multiple offers. Contact Jared to find out your home’s true value. www.JaredHiggins.com

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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PAGE 4 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

GFWC Danville Women’s Club presents

“Puttin’ on the Ritz”

our 21st Annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show Thursday May 4, 2017, 11:00 am to 2:30 pm Blackhawk Country Club 48.00/person Net proceeds benefit

Hospice of the East Bay and other charities Fashions by

1386 North Main St. - Walnut Creek

Advance reservations only. Please contact Barbara at 925.838.0347.

Make checks payable to GFWC Danville Women’s Club and send to: Barbara Chavez 495 Old Farm Road - Danville, CA 94526.

GFWC Danville Women’s Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Member GFWC California Federation of Women’s Clubs and General Federation of Women’s Clubs International.

SHEEP SHEARING DAY 2017

GFWC DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB

Please join the GFWC Danville’ Women’s Club at our upcoming events.

On Thursday, April 20th the club will hold their monthly luncheon and enjoy theater veterans presenting “WOE - Women of Experience.” They will provide a slice-of-life-look at the lives of women of “a certain age.” Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/WOE-Women-of-Experience-218350701526937/. Socializing time begins at 11AM with lunch at 11:30AM and guest speakers at noon. Please contact Karen at (925) 831-9237 or e-mail danvillewc@gmail.com to sign up for this event (free for first-timers!).

Coming up on April 22nd is the “Shredding for Scholarships” event! For just $5 per banker’s box, you may bring any papers you want to have shredded to the Club. There will be a large truck on site with staff who will shred your unwanted papers. This fundraiser generates funds for the Patty Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund---scholarship awards to previously interviewed seniors on their way to college. Come support this worth cause!

The Club will also present a luncheon and fashion show on Thursday, May 4th at the Blackhawk Country Club Ballroom to benefit Hospice of the East Bay and other charities. Advance ticket purchase of $48 per person is required. Please contact Barbara at (925) 838-0347 to get more information and to make your reservations. This event is always extremely popular so buy your tickets now!

The Club is located at 242 Linda Mesa, Danville. To learn more, visit http:// www.danvillewomensclub.org.

BLUE STAR MOMS

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.

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 Calling all brides to be.

Adult, $3 Children (3-12), (under 3 free); and after April Come to the Spring Bridal Show!

20 and at the gate tickets are $7 Adult, $5 Child (3-12), There will be vendors showcasing (under 3 free). everything that a bride needs to make her special day one to remember.

The event is free of charge.

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APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5

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.

COMMISSION APPLICANTS SOUGHT

The Town of Danville is looking for public-minded individuals interested in serving on one of several commissions seeking new members. The following commissions are in the process of accepting applications.

• Parks and Leisure Services Commission – 3 regular vacancies, 1 alternate (4-year terms).

• Arts Commission – 4 regular vacancies (4-year terms) • Poet Laureate – 1 position (2-year term) • County Connection – 1 position (2-year term) • Contra Costa Transportation Authority– 1 position (2-year term) Applications are available on the Town website at www.danville.ca.gov.

The deadline to file an application is 4PM on Wednesday, May 17. Applicants will be invited to interview with the Town Council on one of the following dates: June 6 – evening, June 13 – morning, or June 20 – evening.

Commissioners will be appointed at the June 20 Town Council meeting.

For more information, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925) 314-3401 or msunseri@danville.ca.gov.

Fifth Fifth Anniversary Anniversary Concert Concert

Brahms, Cherubini,Faure, Brahms, Offenbach, Verdi, Cherubini,Faure, Mascagni, Whitacre, Offenbach, Verdi, Garrop,Ticheli and Mascagni, Whitacre, much more ----Garrop,Ticheli and much more -----

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.

Sunday April 23 at 4pm St. Perpetua Sunday April 23 at 4pm 3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette St. Perpetua

3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette Saturday April 29 at 7pm Clayton Valley Presbyterian Saturday April 29 at 7pm 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton Clayton Valley Presbyterian 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton Sunday April 30 at 6pm Peace Lutheran Sunday April 30 at 6pm 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville Peace Lutheran 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville Danville

Tickets are $20/ adults, $10/ are students.

Tickets $20/ adults, $10/ students.

Information and tickets available at tickets Information and www.chromaticachorale.org available at or at the door. www.chromaticachorale.org

or at the door.

Danville Chromatica is a California non-profit benefit corporation and a 501(c)(3)

Chromatica is a California non-profit benefit corporation and a 501(c)(3)

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PAGE 6 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

APRIL IN PARIS FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON

Friends of Blackhawk Museum is holding an April in Paris Fashion Show Luncheon at the museum in Blackhawk Plaza Circle. This fundraising event benefits 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 be held April 12 at 11AM. The cost is $75 per person. For tickets call 925-736-2277x221 or email fashion@blackhawkmuseum.org.

EARTH DAY RESTORATION AND CLEAN UP

California State Parks Foundation will be holding an Earth Day Restoration and Clean-up at multiple sites throughout the state on April 22 from 9AM - 12:30PM. The closest event will take place at Mount Diablo State Park. Check-in time is 8:30AM. Work will involve trail work, split rail fence installation, and weed removal.

Local project leader is Dan Stefinisko. Contact him at Dan.Stefinisko@parks.ca.gov or (925) 855-1730.

Stop by our new office in the Alamo Courtyard 3195 Danville Blvd #4, Alamo

ROLE PLAYERS ENSEMBLE PRESENTS LAUGHING STOCK

The Role Players Ensemble will present Laughing Stock, on April 14 – 30 at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Friday and Saturday performances will be held at 8PM, and Sunday performances will be held at 2PM. Director Gordon Paige is looking to save his struggling summer stock theatre by producing Dracula, Hamlet, and Charlie’s Aunt in repertory. Being short of time, talent, and money aren’t obstacles. This is the theatre! Mixing slapstick with sweetness, Charles Morey’s Laughing Stock celebrates all the things we love about theatre and everything that can go wrong in the making of it.

710 Highland Dr. in Danville The Gift Shop A conversation with playwright Charles Morey will follow the Sunday, www.sandamiano.org April 23 matinée. Tickets costing $20-28 can be purchased online at www. at San Damiano 925-837-9141 RolePlayersEnsemble.com; at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville; or by calling (925) 314-3400.

Your Local Christian Gift & Book Shop

BRW PRESENTS MIKE MADRID

The Blackhawk Republican Women (BRW) invite you to a luncheon with Mike Madrid speaking on “The Road to 2018: California State and Local Government.” The event will take place on Thursday, April 20 at the Blackhawk Country Club, Main Dining Room. Everyone is welcome. Check-in and a social will begin at 11:15AM followed by lunch and the speaker at noon. The cost is $30.

For over 15 years, Mike Madrid has changed the outcomes of political campaigns throughout the country.

Named one of America’s “Most Influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business Magazine, he is a regular commentator on Latino political issues in statewide and national 3” X 5”media publications. He has played a key role in pioneering Latino outreach and communications in his positions as Press Secretary to Danvillestrategies Today 190.00 the California Assembly Republican Leader and aswPolitical Director of the California Republican Party. discount 142.50 Madrid is a principal with Grassroots Lab and is the editor/publisher of California City News. Grassroots Lab is a California based public affairs firm withAlamo specialties in state and local government, technology, Today 155.00 and innovation. California City News is a news site dedicated to “the best politics, policy, and practices w discount 116.25 of local government in California.”

Please make your reservations by e-mailing orLafayette calling Jane Parish at janeparish@sbcglobal.net or 180.00 (925) 216-6663, then mailing a check made payable to “Blackhawk Republican Women” to her at 366 (925) w discount 135.00 Jacaranda Drive, Danville 94506-2125, to arrive by Tuesday, April 18th.

Special Easter Gifts for All Ages!

Open Daily JUNK & SINGLE ITEM REMOVAL SERVICES

JUNK HAULING

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD

$$$

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

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10.00 Bonus Coupon!

If you find him and your name is drawn!

He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.

To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507

Tim Donahue is our winner!

1 coupon per family. Not valid on previous purchases, other coupons and/or promotions.

No cash substitutes. May not be used on payment of account.

Excludes Pandora, Brighton, Alex and Ani, MacKenzie Childs Expires April 30, 2017

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He has become lost in this paper!

Present this coupon at point of purchase for 10.00 off your one-time purchase of 50.00 or more storewide*

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Danville Dog is Missing

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APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7

STUDENT RECOGNITION PROJECT COMES TO THE VILLAGE THEATRE

The Town of Danville, in conjunction with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and the Student Recognition Project (SRP), presents SRP Visual Artists Paintings and Drawings, an art exhibition opening on Saturday, April 22 at the Village Theatre & Art Gallery. The new exhibition features student works from California, Del Amigo, Dougherty Valley, San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista and Venture High Schools.

The Student Recognition Project partners with the San Ramon Valley business and arts community, and encourages students to gain 21st century skills and knowledge through projects that inspire creative exploration and learning that last a lifetime. There are 25 categories that showcase students’ skills both within and outside the curriculum. Project judging is done by professionals with expertise in the categories. Categories range from science and engineering to fashion design, culinary arts, music, and more. Artwork from the Visual Arts Category, which includes painting and drawings, will be on display at the Village Theatre & Art Gallery through May 6.

An Opening Reception for the Student Recognition Visual Arts exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 from 1PM to 3PM. This is a free family-friendly event which is sure to delight people of all ages. Complimentary refreshments will be served at the opening reception.

The Village Theatre and Art Gallery is located at 233 Front Street in Danville. The Gallery is open to visitors Wednesday through Friday from 12PM to 5PM, Saturday from 11AM to 3PM, and Monday and Tuesday by appointment only. The Gallery is always open one hour before performances in the Theatre. The Art Gallery is closed on Sundays. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mbleier@danville.ca.gov.

CSL’S HEART OF THE HOME TOUR RETURNS

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 tour 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

Gopher/Mole Removal No Poison

925-765-4209 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.

Julie Barton, the New York Times bestselling author of Dog Medicine, How My Dog Saved Me from Myself (Penguin 2016), will be the speaker at a continental breakfast for VIP ticket holders on the morning of Friday, April 28. Among other accolades, the book was named a 2016 best memoir by both Oprah.com and Huffington Post. An engaging speaker, Ms. Barton lives locally with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of pets.

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.

VALLEY LEADERSHIP PRAYER BREAKFAST

SPEAKER

SONS IN RETIREMENT SRV

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 andLeaders good fellowship. members “When Good LoseAdditionally, Their Way” NEW YEAR have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities in• CARPET NEW FLOORS! cluding golf, bowling, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, • HARDWOOD Mark bridge, reading, and much more. for Many other Whitacre is an computers, Ivy League Ph.D, best known being the activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, highest-ranked executive in U.S. history to become an FBI informant.

• CARPET RUGS and holiday spouses, and ADM guests.

His undercover workparties with theinclude FBI during the 14friends, billion dollar • HARDWOOD CUSTOM RUGS The group’s next monthly luncheon is scheduled price fixing scandal was the inspiration for the major motion picture, for th Wednesday, May 17Damon. at 11AM . Notehis that duewith to the a Special starring Matt Despite work FBI, • RUGS LINOLEUM “The Informant”, Ladies Day function, no luncheon is scheduled for April. he was charged with several white collar crimes, including fraud, that • LINOLEUM TILE The Mayhis guest speaker will beofBryan Walley from Contra occurred during tenure as President the Fortune 500 Costa County’s Search and Rescue unit.

Bryan company’s BioProducts Division. He served over eight and apromises half interesting stories for the group.

Family Owned Business years in federal prison. In prison Mark discovered new meaning Since 1989 for his life.The cost of $25 includes luncheon, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 170 other retirees from the 3344 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

SanCOME Ramon Valley. a space, please WITHToAreserve FRIEND AND BEemail the group Lafayette, CA byENCOURAGED Thursday, May 11thBY at www.info@SIR128.com.

THIS INSPIRING The new 925.284.4440 meeting location for meetings is The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 REAL LIFE STORY! www.LamorindaFloors.com S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more information about this retirement branch and activities, please visit www.SIR128.com.

License# 708486

VALLEY LEADERSHIP PRAYER BREAKFAST

Come hear speaker Mark Whitacre talk on “When Good Leaders Lose Their Way” at the 28th 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 executive in U.S. history to become an FBI informant. His undercover work with the FBI during the 14 billion dollar Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) price fixing scandal was the inspiration for the major motion picture, The Informant starring Matt Damon. Despite his work with the FBI, he was charged with several white collar crimes, including fraud, that occurred during his tenure as President of the Fortune 500 company’s BioProducts Division. He served over eight and a half years in federal prison. In prison Mark discovered new meaning for his life.

Tickets are $35 or a table of 10 is $350. Please RSVP to Marsha Walker at 925-360-3476, mcorbettwalker@sbcglobal.net, or Matt 925-389-0832, Damon Richard Ponder rponder@comcast.net.

Bring a friend and be encouraged by this inspiring real life story.

28th ANNUAL GOOD FRIDAY

PAGE 8 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

CHARLOTTE WOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

By Christopher George, Principal

We hope you are having a great Spring and are ready for the last few weeks of the school year. With the district calendar change this year, we are sure the end of the school year is going to come much more quickly than in years past! We are already planning end-of- the-year activities and looking forward to our celebrating our 8th graders’ promotion and meeting our incoming 6th graders. Along with Ms. Donovan and our CJSF students, we have already completed our introductory visits to all of our feeder elementary schools. It was great to see and meet with our new students, and we are excited to have them for the 2017- 2018 school year.

In addition to that, we continue to push hard to develop curriculum and intervention systems that allow all students to reach proficiency or better on all grade level standards. We are thrilled this year with our changes that have enabled us to put in more intervention and help time for students across our campus. We firmly believe that it has helped our struggling students to get the help that they need and deserve. It is also a testament to the hard work of our teachers that we have been able to provide this time.

This spring we were able to enjoy and learn from some great student climate opportunities. Thanks to the district, we were able to take some students and staff to see Terrance Roberts, member of the Little Rock Nine and hear and learn from his experiences. His discussions with the students was nothing short of inspiring and motivating for us to continue to create a safer and more equitable campus for all students in the service of learning.

We hope you will enjoy the end of the school year and all of the great activities we have that come with it. We have spoken with our 8th graders about expectations and prerequisites for the remainder of the year, and we look forward to their participation and to celebrating another great class that has come through Charlotte Wood.

LOS CERROS MIDDLE SCHOOL

By Evan Powell, Principal

During the month of April, students at Los Cerros will begin the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Last school year, students showed significant gains in math and English language arts, along with staying one of the highest middle schools for science. Teachers have been working with students all year in their curricular areas to help prepare students for the next grade and support their learning. The reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills used every day are helping our students become college and career ready. We look forward to another year of increased scores and students showing their proficiencies in education.

Around campus, you will see students engaged in a variety of activities this spring. Students get to participate in science labs outside, students in sixth grade are working with our teacher Librarian on a writing unit and students in math get to see how manipulative can engage and increase learning. Also, students in physical education are using their motor skills and coaching techniques during their circuit training.

As we get into May, we will have our Open House and 50th Year Celebration on Thursday, May 4th in the evening. Along with this event, our Booster organization is holding an online auction during the first week of May and a Casino Fiesta Night on Saturday, May 6th. Please visit our website at https://lcms.schoolloop.com/ for more information. All proceeds from these events help Los Cerros with class teaching sections.

SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

By Jamie Westgate, Principal

Every six years, our school participates in an accreditation review process. Last month we successfully completed this process for the sixth time, maintaining a standard of excellence with WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) as well as ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) for over 30 years.

Many Christian schools would not attempt to earn dual accreditation simply because it’s not an easy feat! Our school was pleased to receive glowing comments from this year’s visiting team. A summary of part of our noted commendations include the following: • SRVCA’s standardized test scores are consistently high. Their complete battery composite scores range from the 80th-90th percentile consistently for the past four years.

• Students’ needs are being met with high standards by staff members who are sensitive to the individual and special needs of students and their families.

• SRVCA has instituted state of the art security enhancements to protect students on campus and provide up to 72 hours of emergency supplies.

• SRVCA staff members nurture and disciple students by cultivating a school climate of Christ-like compassion.

• SRVCA offers unique and varied community involvement opportunities which result in building and strengthening the overall school environment.

• SRVCA is open and honest in their communication with their stakeholders.

Administrators are approachable and responsive to questions and concerns.

• Students are well prepared for writing expectations of the 21st century. The caliber of writing observed throughout the school was high quality.

• The use of technology for research, homework, and multi-media projects offers teachers and students alike the chance for greater innovation in presenting content and in assessing student learning.

Overall, I couldn’t have been more pleased that the WASC and ACSI teams caught a glimpse of the true nature of our program. One direct quote from the report provided great encouragement to our entire community:“From the beginning of the school day, until the end of the day, the faculty and staff continuously profess their belief in God’s loving presence in their lives. Students see their teachers as true disciples of Jesus, who act on and live out their faith joyfully.” I have experienced few school campuses where teachers so visibly care for the development of the whole child like they do at SRVCA. Each student has been uniquely gifted, and unpacking the academic, spiritual, and social giftedness of these young individuals is a bit like unwrapping a package. We love the opportunity to partner with parents to discover what God is preparing in the hearts, minds, and souls of our students. Although the accreditation process is laborious and intense, our recent results have proven to be an enormous encouragement and confirmation of the work God is doing at the San Ramon Valley Christian Academy.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9

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ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL

By Maria Ward, Principal ST. ISIDORE LOVES SPRING!

April brings the most important season in the Catholic faith: Easter.

Lent was a “Time for Change,” and Easter is a time to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. We take time to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us by dying on the cross. Our theme this year is “Living Lent with Love.” This month begins with the reenactment of the Living Stations of the Cross. Our students reenact this important journey of Christ’s passion. Third-graders live out the stations, while sixth-graders proclaim what happened at each Station of the Cross. This is one of the St. Isidore traditions that truly expresses our faith as Catholics. Both grades practice diligently for this beautiful event.

The entire school body spends the day going to each station, walking the steps as our Lord did so many years ago. We invite the priests, parents, parishioners and local community to join us. The Living Stations of the Cross begins at 10AM on Thursday, April 13. Please join us!

SERVICE IS KEY!

2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433

We are so fortunate to have a blessed and amazing community! What makes St. Isidore School such a special place is evident when you watch our students and the goodness they bring to our world by directly affecting those around us.

Student Leadership conducts several collections that benefit Loaves & Fishes, an organization that provides meals to the homeless in Contra Costa County. Once again, we are partnering with the Kids Against Hunger organization to make meals for the poor. The Kids Against Hunger organization aims to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the United States and to feed starving children throughout the world. They ship meals to starving children and families in over 60 countries. Our students will help package meals for shipment. We do this packaging during Holy Week as a way for us to serve others. Transitional Kindergarten through first-grade students will witness the meal making and decorate the packaging bags. Second through eighth-grade students will each have an opportunity

(Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)

to make package meals during the school day. Each package meal can feed up to six children and only requires boiling water for families to prepare it.

WE DO SCIENCE VERY WELL

Congratulations to our students who rocked at the Annual Diocese of Oakland Middle School Science Fair as well as the Contra Costa County Science Fair.

All our students placed in their categories. These events showcased the talents of some of the strongest middle-school science students and raised the bar for science teaching and learning across middle schools in and beyond the Diocese of Oakland. With the guidance of excellent teachers, especially our own science teacher Mrs. Gilchrist, our students are preparing to meet the scientific challenges of the future.

ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL: A WONDERFUL PLACE WITH A FABULOUS COMMUNITY

Each day we recognize how blessed we are to be a part of this school and parish. If you are interested in becoming part of the St. Isidore School, we would be happy to give you a personal tour of our amazing campus and show you what a Catholic education entails.

We hope you have a wonderful Easter.

Peace

TOWN OF DANVILLE HIRING FOR SUMMER JOBS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN AQUATICS/SUMMER CAMPS

Looking for a cool summer job? The Town of Danville is currently recruiting for a variety of part-time positions in the areas of aquatics and summer camps for Summer 2017. It is an incredible opportunity to gain valuable experience and skills while working in a strong team environment.

Come be a part of a team and serve the community this summer! Interested persons must complete a Town application via CalOpps and additional questionnaire. Applications will be reviewed and acted upon as received.

The most qualified applicants will be invited for a formal interview process.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 28, 2017.

PAGE 10 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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

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 Thank you for your continued and ongoing support of Stone Valley!

www.yourmonthlypaper.com 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.

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 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 been possible to maintain all of our programs and continue to provide an unparalleled education for our students during this time.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11

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PAGE 12 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Ro u n d H i l l C o u n t r y C l u b

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.

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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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.

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.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13

THE CALL OF THE SEA

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, Sowith l a rTech n o l og i es.co m the four- and five-masted sailing vessels where you can help raise the sails, chat 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.

FREE ENERGY ANALYSIS! · 3,000+ installs Our favorite river cruise ships are elegant and intimate. They include Crystal · Locally owned since 1998 Cruises, UniWorld, AmaWaterways and Tauck, offering spacious, luxurious staterooms for between 105 to 160 guests. Each day you can choose from a selection (888) SOLPOWER · Professional, exceptional service of fascinating shore excursions—all included—and when you return to your ship, · World’s most powerful panels 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 So l a rTech n o l og i es.co m 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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PAGE 14 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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.

SHARE YOUR COLORS

WHAT’S UP?

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 7:15 PM 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.

Crayons belong in children’s hands, not landfills. The Crayon Initiative is excited to share with you a chance to help brighten the day for thousands of kids in America’s hospitals and keep waxy sludge out of landfills.

The inaugural #ShareYourColors fundraising campaign kicks off in April. This nationwide effort will unite the community in a mission to raise 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 our landfills and in the hands of hospitalized children.

As a community, if we each do our part, we can reach our fundraising goal of $250,000. How? There are a variety of ways for corporate partners and individuals to participate in the #ShareYourColors campaign. Below are some of our current corporate partners have donated in the past: • Realtors: Donate a percentage or flat dollar amount from each closing • Car Dealers: Give a percentage or flat dollar amount from each car sale • Offices: Collect $1 - $5 employee donations, match employee funds • Retail & Resturants: Donate a percentage of sales on a given day(s) These are just a few of the many ways you can support TCI during our April #ShareYourColors campaign.

Visit www.shareyourcolors.org to see more ways for you to get involved.

To learn more about The Crayon Initiative visit http://thecrayoninitiative.org/.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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.

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PAGE 16 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

LEND A HAND CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

homes to do basic yardwork, pruning, weeding, mowing, and clean-up.

On Saturday, April 29th at 8AM, community members (age 16 and over) will assemble at the Danville Community Center, located at 420 Front Street, to get instructions and assignments before heading out to various homes in Danville. They will be armed with gloves, hand tools, sunscreen, and a snack, and they will work diligently until about 1PM. Comments such as, “Great turn out...well organized” are typical and well deserved for all the hours spent leading up to the big event. Julie Mason, Volunteer Program Specialist with the Town of Danville explained the schedule prior to Lend a Hand Day. “We start in January with planning and advertising for volunteers. Then in February, we begin the recruitment of volunteers.” Julie shared she has used social media, posters, and word of mouth to get the message out. “We are lucky to have participation from organizations such as the San Ramon Valley Rotary Club, the San Ramon Valley High School Interact Club, and youth clubs.”

Seniors with work tasks are asked to fill out an application describing their yard clean up needs. The next step, which happens in March, is an assessment of the work to be done at each senior’s home with a visit from a coordinator and a Town of Danville maintenance professional. As Lend a Hand Day approaches, packets are made with a description of the work, directions to the houses, and any special notes.

Julie mentioned that they have had volunteers who are part of businesses, book clubs, church groups, and whole families who look forward to the once-a-year event. Additionally, many of the volunteers have formed a bond with the people whom they have assisted over the years, and they look forward to Lend a Hand Day when they can catch up with the seniors.

Seniors requesting yard work assistance can turn in their application

by April 8, 2017. For more information, contact the Danville Community Center at 925-314-3400.

If you are over age 16 and interested in registering as a volunteer, you can do so at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LendaHand2017. If you would like to register a group or if you’re under the age of 16, please call Julie Mason, Volunteer Program Specialist at 925-314-3478 or email her at jmason@danville,ca.gov. For additional assistance, email seniors@danville. ca.gov or call 925-314-3430.

DANVILLE-ALAMO GARDEN CLUB MEETING

The Danville-Alamo Garden Club (DAGC) 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. Their presentation will include wonderful photos of early Palo Alto and information from a book written by Susan 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.

If you have any questions, contact Susan at membershipvp@dagc.us or visit www.dagc.us.

EARTH DAY RESTORATION AND CLEAN UP

California State Parks Foundation will be holding an Earth Day Restoration and Clean-up at multiple sites throughout the state on April 22 from 9AM - 12:30PM. The closest event will take place at Mount Diablo State Park.Check-in time is 8:30AM. Work will involve trail work, split rail fence installation, and weed removal.

Project leader for the Mount Diablo site is Dan Stefinisko, who can be contacted at Dan.Stefinisko@parks.ca.gov or (925) 855-1730.

To reach Danville Today News email editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

LIFE IN THE DANVILLE 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

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17

PAGE 18 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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

www.yourmonthlypaper.com 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.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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

PAGE 20 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

NEW ART EXHIBIT AND OPENING RECEPTION 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 forty-one 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 their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/AlamoDanvilleArtistsSociety.

Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10AM-8 PM and Sunday 11AM-6 PM.

FREE GALLERY SHOWING OF ROCK AND ENTERTAINMENT LEGEND PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA

Everyone is invited to “A Fan’s Point of View,” a free night of rock and roll memories to be held Wednesday, April 12, 7-9pm, at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville.

Alamo resident Donna Paula will present her collection of rock stars and music legends photographed as they appeared onstage and backstage during the 1960’s and 1970's. Paula has been taking photos of entertainment legends since she was 12 years old.

Legends photographed in her private collection include the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendricks, Led Zepplin, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, and many others including jazz and blues artists.

The event is hosted by the Crow Canyon Country Club Crow’s Men’s Club and is open to all. There will be a no-host bar and live music. Photos will be available for purchase in the main ballroom, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville.

Paula has been both an amateur and professional photographer. Many of the photos on exhibit were taken during her days as a determined fan with an intense passion for rock music. The exhibit also includes some rock era memorabilia including tickets, posters, drum sticks, and others items.

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 as well. She has won two international awards in the field of colored pencil, 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 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.

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BANCROFT CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

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 Ruth Bancroft and Brian Kemble discuss The Bold Dry Garden gardens. published in 2016. (Photo courtesy of the RBG) 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: “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

See BANCROFT continued on page 30

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APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21

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

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PAGE 22 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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 compo-

CINEMA CLASSICS THE VERDICT

By Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classic is The Verdict, (1982) starring Paul Newman, Jack Warden, James Mason, and Charlotte Rampling. It was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Actor in a leading role (Paul Newman), Best Actor in a supporting role (James Mason), Best Director (Sidney Lumet), Best Picture (This movie lost to Ghandi), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Writer’s Guild of America rated The Verdict, 91st out of the top 101 screenplays ever written. David Mamet adapted the screenplay from a novel by Barry Reed also entitled, The Verdict. Bruce Willis made one of his first film appearances as an extra in the final courtroom scene.

The movie is a sort of David and Goliath story in which Paul Newman appears as a down-on-his-luck attorney (Frank Galvin) who has been given a case by a friend. This case is supposed to be a slam-dunk, a straight forward settlement case and easy money for Frank. The case involves a young woman who was giving birth and was rendered in a vegetative state by a negligent doctor having given her the wrong anesthetic.

After Frank turns down an offer to settle, everything about the case goes spiraling downward. Positive he is going to lose and completely demoralized, he tries to resist the beckoning drunkenness. His expert witness assures him that sometimes people have a great capacity to hear the truth, but Frank can only hope for that outcome.

The Verdict is a wonderful movie, deeply engrossing, thought provoking, and surprisingly inspirational. Paul Newman is superb in his role as he wrestles with what is right…and wrong! And the jury does indeed display a great capacity to hear the truth, even though the very cunning defense attorney does his best to cover it up.

nents 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 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

MUSICAL NOTES

This film is difficult and involves struggle, so I am recommending music from the past that is vigorous and spirited and uplifting. Joseph Hayden’s “Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major” fits the bill. It was composed in 1796 for Joseph Haydn’s close friend, Anton Weidinger, when Joseph was 64 years old. It has three movements: I. Allegro (sonata), II. Andante, and III. Allegro (rondo). There is a 1983 Grammy award winning version by the phenomenal Wynton Marsalis available.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Seniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and 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.

The “Good Old Days” are now!

Rates are better than 50-60 years ago (see proof above)

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BUYING REAL ESTATE IN YOUR IRA

By Robert Cucchiaro

Every so often I will get a call from a prospective client who hates the stock market and wants to know if they can buy real estate inside of their IRA. While this is not something most Advisors would recommend (for reasons you shall see), yes it is possible.

For starters, this is not something you can do with an IRA at Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard or any of the major custodians. You must establish what’s called a self-directed IRA and there are only a few custodians that offer these.

Second, you have to be very careful in how you handle this account because any violation of the rules could lead to the entire IRA losing its tax-exempt status, which would mean a huge and unnecessary tax bill.

One such example would be buying a property inside of your IRA and then renting it out to your family members or to a business that you also have an ownership stake in. If at any time in the life of the self-directed account you rent to a related party, the retirement account will lose its tax-exempt status.

Another consideration has to do with how you pay for property expenses (repairs, insurance, taxes) when your IRA owns real estate. Since you are not the owner, your IRA is, all payments associated with the property must be made from the IRA itself. This means that if you hold $1,000,000 in your IRA, you cannot buy a property for $1,000,000 (unless you take on a mortgage which is the next issue) because you must set aside a reserve fund to cover these expenses. If you pay for these expenses out of your own pocket then they are deemed as an excess IRA contribution for that year.

The final complication here has to do with holding a mortgage on a property owned inside of an IRA. When you borrow money inside of an IRA the earnings on that part of the property are no longer tax-exempt. This is called UBTI, or unrelated business taxable income. This would mean you have to pay tax on a portion of the income received and yet cannot depreciate the property because its owned inside of your IRA, thus eliminating one of the primary tax benefits of real estate as an investment.

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23

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Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979!

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Finally, self-directed IRA custodians make their money off of fees that you must pay for each transaction that takes place inside of your IRA. And because there is not a lot of competition in this space, the fees can add up to thousands of dollars per year.

Despite all of this, if you hate the stock market and are set on owning real estate inside of your IRA, consider buying a property with a triple net (NNN) lease. This means the tenants pay the insurance, property taxes and maintenance. If you can do this without a mortgage and secure a good tenant with a long lease, you can at least avoid a lot of the headaches I mentioned above.

Now is the time to get started on building your long-term retirement plan. Whether you are already retired or 10 years away, Summit Wealth & Retirement can help.

Summit Wealth & Retirement is now conveniently located in Danville at 55 Oak Ct. Call us to make a complimentary appointment at (925)927-1900 or visit our website at www.summitwealthandretirement.com. Advertorial

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY’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 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, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.

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PAGE 24 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

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

SAVE MOUNT DIABLO’S NEW FREE PUBLIC HIKE SERIES PROGRAM

Discover Diablo is Save Mount Diablo’s (SMD) new free public hike series, offering an annual schedule of guided walks, hikes, and interpretive tours open to any and all trail blazers. Generously sponsored by the Shell Martinez Refinery, the Discover Diablo Free Public Hike Series has launched. Discover Diablo will offer two events per month for the entire year – one taking place and focusing on a SMD property and one designed for families in other public parks.

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.

Hikers enjoy the trails on Save Mount Diablo’s Four Days Diablo Group Camping Trip, a 30-mile trek along the Diablo Trail over 4 day leading you on an adventure through rarely seen Mount Diablo landscapes. Photo by: Scott Hein, Save Mount Diablo Board President.

Hosted by SMD, the new Discover Diablo program seeks to build awareness of local land conservation efforts and to convey the importance of protecting open space for habitat and recreation. With the launch of Discover Diablo, the group intends to reach new audiences; build their membership base of adventurers, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts; and spark a passion for the Diablo Range.

You are invited to join in exploring the Bay Area’s beautiful wild lands and open spaces. It is hoped that with two events per month in various locations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. SMD’s Family walks are for hikers of all skill levels and will take place on other portions of open space on and around the mountain. SMD’s Property tours will illustrate the importance of preserving wildlife habitat, building corridors between existing parks, and of course, enjoying all the beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer.

To complete the land conservation picture in the Diablo Range and pay homage to collaborating agencies, the group will also host monthly outings on Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, and Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation lands. SMD’s new hike series, Discover Diablo, ties these outings together by offering an annual schedule of free public hikes to explore these diverse lands - with the added bonus of being guided by staff and experienced volunteer hike leaders.

There is something for everyone to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo. Please join SMD on the trails to find your own individual inspiration! Visit Eventbrite to see the full schedule of upcoming hikes: Discover-Diablo.eventbrite.com. RSVP required.

To learn more and support Save Mount Diablo, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

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.

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MANAGING YOUR STRESS CAN HELP YOU LIVE LONGER

By Joree Rosenblatt, MA, LMFT

We live in a fast-paced, super-sized, “more is better” society. Especially in the Bay Area, it seems as if many are competing to keep up with the Jones’ to do more, have more, and get more. If this lifestyle sounds familiar to you, I ask you this – have you ever slowed down to ask yourself, “When is enough, enough? When will I know when I will have reached that elusive there?”

It seems as if being constantly stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, overworked, overtired, or behind on your inbox, bills, laundry, taxes, and self-care is a baseline for normal. I bet if you walked into a dinner party and started rattling off all the things that you felt behind or stressed about, you’d get a lot of people commiserating and identifying with you. Conversely, if you walked into that same dinner party and told your friends how calm, caught up, rested and peaceful you felt, you may get a negative response because people may not want to hear how you’ve got it all figured out; it may even come across as bragging.

What we don’t realize is that this crazed, nonstop lifestyle is affecting us in ways that I am not sure that many even realize.

I’m curious…

How long has it been since you’ve been relaxed?

What would you do if you had free time (without the use of a digital device)?

When was the last time you spent a meal with your family where there were no phones on the table?

When you are on vacation, are you able to unplug so you can recharge?

What do you do for self-care? FYI…watching Netflix is not actually self-care.

Part of the problem is that self-care can feel selfish (or viewed by others as selfish). It can feel indulgent to take time for ourselves when there are people to be taken care of and a huge to-do list that needs to get done. And the worst part is once you cross a few items off that to-do list, more always appear. It’s a game we can never win. The laundry will always keep coming, even when you finally get it all put away. It’s a certainty, like death and taxes, that more laundry will arrive!

So, knowing that this to-do list is ever-present and ongoing, along with the myriad of commitments both personally and professionally that we all manage on a dayto-day basis, how is it that any of us can find time to achieve peace and calm?

What if I told you that your life actually depended on you finding a way to manage the craze of everyday life? Would you believe me?

It’s common knowledge that stress and anxiety are common factors that contribute to heart disease and can lead to an overall decrease in your health and well-being. What isn’t common knowledge are some new scientific discoveries of how you can actually take small (and easy!) steps to not only decrease stress and anxiety, but also actually reverse the aging process of your cells, benefiting your mind and body.

Telomeres are the protective sheaths at the end of DNA strands that protect our chromosomes. Think of the aglet on the end of your shoelace – that tiny piece of plastic protects the small strands of strings from fraying. This is the same thing that telomeres do; without telomeres, the DNA strands can become damaged, and the cells aren’t able to properly do their job. Here’s the thing – long term chronic stress can damage the telomeres, which contributes to the speeding up of the degeneration process of your cells, leading to early onset of aging. Recent scientific research has proven that through some very simple practices, you can not only learn how to slow down, de-stress your life, and unclutter your overactive mind, but you can actually lengthen your telomeres, which in turn slows the degeneration process of your cells allowing you a longer, healthier, less stressed, and overall happier life.

Ever wonder why two different people (let’s say 50 years old) could look so dramatically different in age? How come one person looks young and healthy while the other looks much more aged? Telomeres play a key factor in this (of course along with your genetics and lifestyle habits). While you can’t alter the genetic code you were born with, you can learn tools to empower your cells to help you live a longer, healthier, more balanced life.

Are you interested in learning some of these tools? If so, I’m holding a workshop on Sunday May 21, from 1-5pm, at the Bay Area Mindfulness and Therapy Center in Danville. This four-hour experiential workshop will offer hands-on, simple techniques to integrate tools that have been scientifically proven to benefit your overall health and wellness. For more information, please visit www.mindfulnessandtherapycenter.com or contact Joree Rosenblatt at joree@comcast.net.

Joree Rosenblatt is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of The Bay Area Mindfulness and Therapy Center in Danville. License #93545 Advertorial

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25

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.

PAGE 26 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

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888-694-5250 THE HIKE FOR HOPE

Gather your family, friends and co-workers, or come solo for Hope Hospice’s www.thefallenheroes.org seventh annual The Hike for Hope on Saturday, May 6 at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore. Participants can check-in and start their hike from 8:30 to 10AM. The event ends at noon.

The Hike for Hope is a memorial hike and fundraiser. All net proceeds from this worthy event enable Hope Hospice to continue a 35-year tradition of providing comfort and compassion to patients and their families at the end of life. Hope Hospice relies on the generous support of the event hikers and the community to make this fundraising effort a success.

Two trail options are available for The Hike for Hope participants. One is an easy 2.6 mile roundtrip route (which is easily shortened) traveling along the lake and turning around at the Hetch Hetchy Group Camp. The other route is a 4.4 mile hike with a moderate incline. It follows along the Ridgeline and Hetch Hetchy trails, providing spectacular views of the valley, lake, and surrounding hills.

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Hikers can form teams for fun, to build camaraderie, or to engage in a spirited competition with other organizations and businesses.

Early registration fee for The Hike for Hope is $39 through April 22 and $45 on or after April 23. Hikers can easily sign up by going to TheHikeForHope.com or by calling Hope Hospice at (925) 829-8770 for a printed registration form.

FallenHeroes2x3_11-27-13.indd “The hike is an opportunity to celebrate the joy our loved ones brought us, and we encourage hikers to bring photos or mementos of their special person with them,” says Bob Boehm, CEO of Hope Hospice. “The event also raises funds for Hope Hospice. All of the hike’s net proceeds are used to care for the more than 2,000 area residents we serve each year. I’m hoping community members will join me for this deeply rewarding event as a hiker or donor.”

Sign up today at TheHikeforHope.com, and learn more about the event.

ABOUT HOPE HOSPICE

Hope Hospice helps patients and their families live each day to the fullest by providing quality end-of-life hospice care, home health care, grief support, and community education. As a community-led, non-profit organization, Hope Hospice offers services regardless of insurance, income status, nation of origin, or religion. Staff is available 24/7. Hope Hospice is accredited by the Joint Commission, licensed by the State of California Department of Health Services and certified by Medicare/Medi-Cal. Learn more at HopeHospice.com or call (925) 829-8770.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

CAN A VIRUS CAUSE CANCER?

By Arash Mohebati, MD

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.

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editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27

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.

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

Individual results may vary

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 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 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 call (925) 677-5041.

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CARING HANDS REACHING OUT TO SENIORS ONE AT A TIME

Life at any age involves challenges, but these intensify as we age. The first concern may be that it becomes too difficult to drive to the doctor, the grocery, or to just get a haircut. Support systems change, neighbors and friends may not help as expected, and loneliness may put a damper on daily routine.

Caring Hands volunteers offer friendship which makes an extraordinary difference in the quality of life for many of our seniors.

Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program, a collaborative community outreach program between John Muir Health, social service agencies, congregations of various faiths and the community-at-large, creates finely-tuned one-onone matches. The Caring Hands Program is dedicated to helping aging adults in Contra Costa County remain independent as long as safely possible. Isolation and loneliness shorten lives and may make health problems worse.

If making time to volunteer is on your to-do list, consider joining Caring Hands as a caregiver or even as an occasional driver. Enriching matches are created; loving friendships and deep relationships are formed.

Care receivers treasure a friendly visit, a walk in the park or other social outing. Reading mail, letter writing, or providing respite care to give a break to a family member are thoughtful services which can make a big difference to a frail or isolated senior.

Since so many older adults need transportation to doctor’s appointments or stores, the best volunteer for Caring Hands is someone who is available once a week for 1-3 hours on a weekday, and who can provide transportation.

Volunteers receive ongoing education, support and recognition of their efforts.

Perhaps you can be that friend who gives a waiting senior hope and help.

For a volunteer application or for more information about Caring Hands please contact Stacy Appel, Volunteer Coordinator, at (925) 952-2999.

PAGE 28 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • 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.

LINDSAY CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

www.yourmonthlypaper.com Since we need several different shoes for different styles and functions, that 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.

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experienced a number of name changes over the years. Originally housed in an elementary school, the Lindsay Junior Museum moved in 1965 to a water pump house in Larkey Park where it housed non-releasable native wildlife and natural history objects. In 1987, the ‘Junior’ was dropped in order to reflect its appeal to all age groups, and in 1996, the word ‘Wildlife’ was added.

Lindsay is the living embodiment of Franklin’s “Involve me and I learn” tenet. More than 100,000 visitors each year, including 40,000 school children, experience Lindsay with hands-on, on-site, and in-school programs such as the Petting Circle where one can learn about and touch a rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster. The Raptors! exhibit allows for a true bird’s eye view of flight, as participants soar over a simulated local landscape a la Disney’s Soarin’ Over California. “Educating children about wildlife and connecting them with charismatic animal ambassadors such as great horned owls, golden eagles, and king snakes is the best way I know to instill a passion for wildlife conservation,” says Lindsay’s executive director Cheryl McCormick. “If children develop deep connections to wildlife while they’re very young, they’ll still care when they become consumers, voters, and policy makers. Lindsay plants seeds of inspiration and wonder that, over time, grow into mighty trees of actions and ideas. When I see a group of schoolchildren enrapt by one of our animal ambassadors, I can’t help but wonder, ‘Is this the next E.O. Wilson, Jane Goodall, Jacques Cousteau, or Sylvia Earle?”

McCormick is an ecologist whose worry about the fate of native wildlife brought her to Lindsay – a place she feels is the premiere destination for children’s educational programs about wildlife. “I realized that I wasn’t going to make a difference by publishing research papers, writing species management plans, or training graduate-level ecologists,” she says. “The fate of wildlife and the ecosystems on which they rely is now in the hands of children.”

Lindsay is unique its approach to forging an indelible bond between people and wildlife. Their Rehabilitation Hospital is a pioneer in wildlife rehabilitation and is one of the oldest and largest rehab centers in the country, with a team of veterinarians, staff, and approximately 500 volunteers treating more than 5,500 injured, sick, or orphaned wild animals each year. When veterinarians and vet techs assess an animal’s chance of recovery and whether it can be released successfully back into its natural habitat, quality of life is paramount. While release is the goal, some of those who cannot ultimately fend for themselves in the wild find a home at Lindsay.

When full permanent residency capacity is reached, the Museum’s nationwide network is tapped to find homes for those in need.

Lindsay’s Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes presentations allow for a real time peek at animal exams and treatment that prepare patients for healthy release back to the wild. It is this behind-the-scenes hospital work that is the backbone of Lindsay’s existence. During this springtime ‘Baby Busy Season,’ as Hospital Manager Eugenie Riberi calls it, the number of creatures treated increases dramatically. “Birds are falling out of nests, or succumbing to predators,” says Riberi as she walks through the busy halls of the hospital where approximately 350 volunteers donate 60,000 hours of service each year, including home care for creatures requiring round-the-clock attention. Seventy-five percent of patients are birds, and the rest are mammals. Lindsay’s Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Guthrum Purdin recalls the red-tail hawk caught in barbed wire and the albatross with a fishhook stuck in its beak.

About 95% of animals treated are admitted due to collision with human activity.

Dr. Purdin believes that every creature deserves a second chance. When treating an animal, he projects himself onto the animal. He asks himself, ‘How would I feel?’ “Every creature has a story,” he says. “Look at a flock of 1,000 snow geese; each has a life history. Their life is all they have.”

“When you see the relief in a child’s face when she learns that the injured baby bird she found in her yard will be nurtured back to health and released back in the wild by caring people, it brings a great sense of joy to our work,” says McCormick. “Connecting with wildlife and nature has that impact on humans – it’s in our DNA. When you’ve experienced that deep connection, you become better stewards of the environment and are more likely to make choices in your life that lessen human impacts – whether it’s through consumer choices, voting, or advocating for policies that protect wildlife and their habitats.”

All hospital services are free of charge. The Lindsay Wildlife Experience and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital are maintained largely through donations. For more information and to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.wildlife-museum.org.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

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.

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 even-toned 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@personsplasAdvertorial ticsurgery.com.

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 29

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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GIVE IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN THE GIFT OF ART

Students in Michelle Traynor-Stephanos’ California High and Diana Govnik’s Monte Vista High art classes recently participated in the Memory Project.

The Memory Project collects photographs of children living in impoverished conditions in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and elsewhere. The photographs are distributed to middle and high school art programs around the US. The US artists draw portraits of each child. The Memory Project presents the finished portraits to the overseas children.

A video is made of the presentations and shared with the US artists. The overseas children, many of whom live in orphanages and refugee camps, learn that they are valued. The artists learn kindness and global awareness.

The Memory Project is a non-profit based in Middleton, WI. In the past 13 years, it has delivered over 100,000 portraits in 43 countries.

The Alamo Danville Artists’ Society sponsored the two local schools with a $900 donation to the Memory Project. You can learn more about the Artists’ Society and the Memory Project by visiting www.adas4art.org.

A recent Memory Project presentation

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PAGE 30 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

ALLERGY RELIEF WITH CHIROPRACTIC CARE

By Dr. Melissa Ko, D.C., Sycamore Valley Chiropractic

Spring is a beautiful time in the Danville area with our gorgeous surroundings to enjoy. However, many people spend this time of year suffering from seasonal allergies. This year allergies are particularly challenging because of the frequent rains we have been getting in the Bay Area. For most people it is a minor annoyance.

But for some, allergy season can be a debilitating time where sufferers may prefer to lock themselves indoors to avoid congestion, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, headaches, asthma, and other symptoms.

Many allergy sufferers use medications such as anti-histamines, nasal sprays, and inhalers to relieve their symptoms. However, these can cause side effects like drowsiness. People are now turning to alternative and natural remedies to not only keep their allergies at bay but also to boost their immunity.

Here are some tips to having clearer days.

1. Get plenty of sleep and water: Lack of sleep stresses your immune system and makes you more sensitive to allergens. Proper hydration will loosen mucus and help drainage of congestion…drink half of your body weight in ounces each day as a general rule. (eg. 150lbs=75oz of water) 2. Wash your hair frequently: Hair traps pollen and other particles that cause allergies even when you’re inside. Washing your hair in the evening will rinse these particles out. Pillowcases and sheets should also be washed and replaced often.

3. Use natural remedies, herbs, and supplements: Go to your local health food store and ask them to recommend remedies for allergies.

BANCROFT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

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 fulltime staff members and a cadre of volunteers to do all the work she did.”

There’ll be aisles full of them. Different herbs like stinging nettle leaf tea as well as vitamin C are natural anti-histamines and are effective at reducing allergy symptoms without the side-effects of medications. A Neti Pot is an ancient method of gently clearing out the sinuses of allergenic particles using warm saline water.

4. Take a spoonful of honey: Many people have had great results by taking a daily spoonful of honey (make sure it’s local!) to introduce small amounts of pollen from your area into your body so that your immune system can build up a tolerance. You can find some local honey the next time you visit your farmers market.

5. Try chiropractic care: Most people think of back pain when they think of their chiropractor, but misalignments and tension in the neck and upper back worsen congestion by slowing down the drainage of fluids out of your sinuses and chest. Chiropractic adjustments do not cure or treat allergies, but by correcting these misalignments, our patients get great relief from allergy symptoms. They feel less congestion from better drainage, the airways are more open, and there’s less tension in their bodies. Chiropractic care is great for all ages, from babies to adults, and is a great option for kids.

With so many options for natural allergy relief, these tips can be used as an alternative or in addition to any medications you are taking. Our office is certainly a resource for you to have your spine checked and aligned!

Spring is a season bursting with life, and it can be enjoyed by all, allergy sufferers included!

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www.sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call (925)837-5595 for more information or to schedule an Advertorial appointment.

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.

Led by Donna Billik, more than 200 volunteers created tiles in August 2016 for the RBG Donor Wall. (Photo courtesy of the RBG)

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.”

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 (Harrington) 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.”

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

HOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY ESTATE SALE SERVICE

After the death of a loved one, dealing with the entire contents of a home and a lifetime of possessions can be overwhelming.

Hospice of the East Bay (HEB) Estate Sales, formally known as Diablo Appraisal and Estate Sales, is an estate sale and liquidation service that manages and coordinates your entire estate and provides you with a tax benefit by sharing the profits from the sale with HEB. We provide caring and trained professionals that can help you handle the entire process, making the seemingly impossible attainable.

We will assess each item’s value, advertise the sale through multiple channels, organize and display your estate items, provide security before, during, and after the sale, run the estate sale smoothly and professionally, take unsold items to HEB thrift stores and provide with a tax deductible receipt for those items, clear out the house at the end of the sale, and leave the house empty and ready for cleaning. Everything will be handled for you, and best of all you won’t even need to be present! Families are provided with a guaranteed honest, efficient, and reliable service.

HEB Estate Sales was established in 2001 for families requesting help in selling the contents of their homes. Funds generated from the sale help benefit the patients and families in the care of HEB. Please call Patricia Wright at (925) 887-5678 or email patriciaw@hospiceeastbay.org for more information.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

BOOKS FOR THE HOMEBOUND

If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.

APRIL 2017 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 31

HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION

Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or 925-264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.

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.

Danville Today Classifieds

Reach over 15,000 homes and businesses in Danville - 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 “Alamo Today” or “Lafayette Today” 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 • DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • APRIL 2017

The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

This is Rockcliff Country

Joe

Call the Combs Team

®

92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com

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 $300 from the bottom in 2010 has not $250 been perfectly straight, it has for 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

Alamo 10 Acre Estate

Alamo Oaks Custom Home

PE Beautiful custom home with views, gardens, huge master, 3 ensuite bedrooms, bonus room/au pair suite with private entrance. Price available upon request.

Coming Soon - Danville Sycamore

S

D OL

Lovely Updated 4 bedroom on beautiful level lot with pool. Call for Details!

Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo but more than any Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size year since then.

Year-to- date in 2010 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 2017 two Luxury 11 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 Homes have sold 12 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 and one is cur13 15 62 $ 2,464,961 $ 413 5968 rently pending.

17 69 $ 2,571,767 $ 440 5844 T h i s p u t s t h e 14 15 24 75 $ 2,974,642 $ 492 6059 Luxury Home 16 25 95 $ 2,819,060 $ 455 5958 market behind Note: 5000 + Sq Ft. Home on .5-1.0 acre and Pool the sales pace of the last couple of 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.

N

Alamo Jones Ranch

G N I D

The epitome of 21st century architecture. 4 bedroom and office First level master & 2 family rooms.

Priced to Sell $2,089,000.

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

West Side Alamo Single Story

Award Winning Realtors

PE

IN ND

G

Single Level 4 bedroom on .86 acres.

Backs to the Iron Horse Trail.

Priced to Sell $1,199,000

Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources.

Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

Top 5% in Sales Production J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526