Alamo Today, November 2011 by The Editors, Inc

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November 2011 Healing Hoof Beats: High on a Horse

Serving Alamo and Diablo By Jody Morgan

High on a horse, children who have never walked experience the empowerment and freedom of motion. The repetitive rhythm of hoof beats allays anxiety. Therapeutic riding makes miraculous moments happen for children and adults suffering from a variety of psychological, emotional and physical problems including ADHD/ADD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, BiPolar Disorder, Blindness, Brain Injury, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Depression, Developmental Delays, Down’s Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Scoliosis, Spinal Bifida, and Stroke. Hoisting a student with limited muscle control into the saddle and providing a safe experience takes at least four trained caregivers. In addition to the instructor who is responsible for determining the goals and plan of the lesson and Gary Cooper sits tall in the saddle with help left to right of the tack and horse to be Julie Burke, Peggy James and Kayla Sheppod leading. used, a handler is required to lead the horse, and two side walkers are needed to stabilize the rider. As strength improves, students graduate to managing their horses with less assistance. Games, toys, songs, and pounds of positive reinforcement elicit giggles from children who seldom smile in other situations. Reaching to put a ring over a pole is a demanding exercise for some. For others following a series of commands or verbalizing is the challenge. Some children utter their first words to encourage their horse to move. Peggy James, co-founder of ENN Reins in Motion, explains there is a muscle in the groin stimulated by riding that acts as a building block for improving core strength, which in turn permits the diaphragm to be raised. Without core strength, the rest of the body can’t function adequately. In place of a saddle, many students use a bareback pad permitting the heat of the horse to work on the rider’s muscles. Stirrups of any length can be added and adjusted to properly distribute the rider’s weight on the horse’s back. Therapy horses have to endure the Eliana works on words with Instructor Karena jouncing of unbalanced riders and require Smith far right and Volunteer Amber Decorano. regular chiropractic care. See Horse continued on page 26

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

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Christmas Memories at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley Start your celebration of the holidays with the opening of Christmas Memories at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley on Tuesday, November 15. This delightful exhibit runs through December 31. Christmas Memories is an annual tradition at the Museum and captures Christmas past with a display of a Christmas tree as it would have looked in the 1890’s. Nestled under the tree and in a Santa’s Workshop are toys and keepsakes from earlier generations, along with the Museum’s special model train. There will also be a beautiful outdoor tree with carolers. Activities include matching a picture with a Christmas Carol. There will also be a treasure hunt to match a popular toy, one that “everyone” had to have or give, with the year or era in which it was introduced.

See Memories continued on page 19

Don’t Let Your Guard Down By Sharon Burke Alamo is the envy of many communities for its high quality of living and its exceptionally low crime rates. Still, an analysis of crime statistics for Alamo for the past six months reveals that Alamo citizens can be crime victims like anyone else, especially when they let their guard down and don’t take simple crime prevention measures. Unfortunately, for residents on the Westside of Alamo, the easy access to the freeway and the Iron Horse Trail means Westside residents are more frequently the target of property crimes. The police jurisdiction responsible for Alamo is the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Alamo enjoys a certain extra measure of security because the Sheriff for many years has leased space in Alamo Plaza for the Valley Substation, which covers not just Alamo but all unincorporated territory beginning with the Pleasant Hill BART station area, then south to the county line, west to the Caldecott Tunnel, and east to Morgan Territory Road. This huge territory receives all its police services from officers based in Alamo. Since the Sheriff was forced to lay-off the crime statistics staff a few years back due to budget cuts, the Sheriff has used the www.crimereports. org website to report data on crime categories and locations in unincorporated areas of the county such as Alamo. An analysis of crime statistics in Alamo using this website as a source shows that in 2011, from May 1 to November 1, there were 16 burglaries in Alamo. Three were commercial burglaries in the downtown business district, and 13 were Volume XI - Number 11 residential burglaries. Of the 13 residential burglaries, 10 were on 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 the Westside and three were in the Fax (925) 406-0547 remainder of Alamo, one in Round Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Hill, one in the Alamo Country Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com subdivision, and one in Whitegate. Sharon Burke ~ Writer On June 18, an armed robbery sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com took place at the Alamo 7-11 on The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not Danville Boulevard. Suspects are not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor

See Guard cont. on pg. 27

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Page 2 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

Pre-Holiday Shopping & Dining Extravaganza

Downtown Danville ~ Danville Livery ~ Rose Garden Shops

Thursday, November 17th 5:00–9:00 p.m. $5 charity ticket redemption for wristband entitles wearer to:

Merchant Discounts ~ Live Music ~ Trolley Rides Free Commemorative Ornament* ~ Holiday Merriment & more! Purchase $5 Charity Tickets through charitable organizations & at these merchant locations: Cottage Jewel - 100 Prospect Ave. Danville Chocolates - 145 E. Prospect Ave. La Buena Vida - 606 Sycamore Valley Rd. W Sycamore Valley Chiropractic - 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. W The Studio - 730 Camino Ramon, Suite 200 ȝ Ƥ ͜͜͡ ͊͡ Ƥ SRV Education Foundation, Veterans Memorial Building of SRV, Blue Star Moms, Hospice of the East Bay, Role Players Ensemble, & Danville Alamo Garden Club For more information and a list of participating merchants visit www.DiscoverDanvilleCA.com

www.discoverdanvilleca.com

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Come join us for a family fun day to visit the horses and find out what Summit Ranch is all about! This event is open to the public, free admission. For more information please call the office at (925) 945-0267. Or visit our website www.summitranchequine.com 100 Summit Ranch Rd. Alamo, Ca

“Michel, Anne, vous travaillez? Euh, non, nous regardons la televsion. Pourquoi?....” I still remember that opening line from our junior high ALM textbook teaching us beginning French. The only other thing I remember from that class was connecting with a new French penpal, Michel Ouvrard. Through a class/teacher pairing, the junior high French students of Mme Amendola were matched with a class near Le Mans, France. Michel and I traded a couple letters, sent a few photos, and he created a handmade and colored map of France to show where he lived. I still have these momentos tucked in an old photo album. At the same time I was working on a Girl Scout Pen Pal badge and connected with a distant relative who was my age and living in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Eleanor was in Girl Guides, and thus we automatically had something in common. We exchanged quite a few letters and trinkets back and forth. Since this was way before the internet, each letter that arrived was an exciting surprise. My husband actually met her before I did, as he visited her in Zimbabwe when he was there on business and then again a few years later after she had moved to England with her husband. I finally got to meet her in person when she brought her husband and daughter to Oregon for a visit. Unfortunately, through her marriage and divorce, we lost track of each other. (Ironically two days before this paper went to press, and through internet sleuthing, I tracked her down again after a 20 year hiatus! I am excited to reconnect!) Penpals and chain letters used to be exciting ways to communicate with people who live far away. They were our connection to a wider world. In 1972 my grandparents were travelling through Europe. They were on a river trip on the Danube, traveling near Budapest, Hungary. There was a 17 year old Czechoslovakian boy named Pavel on the same boat with his brother and parents, and he heard my grandparents speaking English. Pavel wanted to speak to them but was very shy, because at that time he had only taken English courses for Amy and Pavel less than two years. He finally found the courage to speak to my grandfather Rudy. Pavel tried to speak English, and Rudy tried to speak Czech (which he had learned as a young boy before coming to America). Pavel and Rudy talked until the river trip ended. They exchanged addresses, and Rudy wrote Pavel a letter when he got home. Rudy and Pavel exchanged Christmas cards and another letter or two, but a short year later, Rudy suddenly passed away. My mother, Rudy’s daughter Angela, wrote and notified Pavel. However, she also told Pavel about our family and sent a photo. A new correspondence began! Pavel improved his English, and letters and packages criss-crossed the ocean. My parents were finally able to meet Pavel on a trip to the Czech Republic in 1999, and my daughter, Amy, was able to spend a few days in his “Bohemian Paradise” with him and his family this summer. When I was young, I can remember my mom always having samples of perfume, makeup, and little tubes of lipstick in a variety of colors. They came fairly regularly from someone we knew only by the name “Dorothy Fee.” Dorothy lived in England, and she had become “penfriends” with my mother when they were both teenagers. For 53 years their letters and packages crossed the Atlantic. A month ago they were finally able to meet for the first time when my mother visited England. They were overjoyed! Hopefully the instant-gratification of the internet will enhance rather than destroy the traditions of being “penpal” friends, because these friendships have brought me and my family so much joy and love over the years. It’s a great practice to encourage in our kids, and I hope that if you had a penpal, reading this Dorothy and Angela share a cake recreating will cause you to consider looking them up or write them a good, old-fashioned letter! their first letters to each other.

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 3

10 Years of Christmas with the Danville Community Band The 80+-piece, all-volunteer Danville Community Band presents 10 Years of Christmas with the Danville Community Band, a program of memorable and exciting holiday music on Sunday, December 4th, 3pm at the East Bay Fellowship, located at 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville. “Silent Night in Gotham,” “Rhapsody for Hanukkah,” “Fanfare and Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and the narrated “T’was the Night Before Christmas” are just some of the selections featured. A visitor from the North Pole may appear as well. Join us for our annual family event as the band celebrates the holidays and its 10th Anniversary Year. Concert admission and parking are FREE! For information see www.danvilleband.org or call 925-372-8420.

Spirit of Danville

Alamo Tree Lighting Festival PM

The Alamo Chamber of Commerce will present the 2011 Alamo Tree Lighting Festival at 5 on Sunday, December 4th. The festival signals the beginning of the Christmas holiday season for families with an evening of caroling, entertainment, beverages, and crafts. Guests are urged to come early and stay late. Students from local schools will be performing, and Santa’s entrance this year is “top secret”! Fun arts and crafts tables will be available from New Life Church in Alamo and from the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church. We will have a professional photographer who will be taking pictures with Santa, and there will also be light treats and beverages provided by local restaurants and civic groups. Barrels will be set up for the Contra Costa food Bank to collect non-perishable items such as canned or boxed goods. Also participating is a local community organization called Shelter, Inc. This amazing group is dedicated to helping prevent homelessness and promote self-sufficiency among Contra Costa residents. They will be collecting money to buy toys for families in our area who cannot afford such treats for the holidays. We encourage all to participate in supporting these organizations. If you are interested in helping with monetary donations or for more information, please log on to the Chamber website at www.AlamoChamberofCommerce.com. We look forward to seeing everyone out to celebrate and to making this a fabulous and memorable event!

San Ramon. Stunning home located in the prestigious Bridges Community. 5 bedͲ rooms, 4Ͳ1/2 baths. FeaͲ tures two suites on the main level. Gourmet kitchen. Large lot backs to open space. $1,200,000

Westside Alamo. Gorgeous floor plan, formal living/ dining/family rooms, large bonus room, 5 bedrooms, master suite. .35 acre lot with pool. Room off pool with kitchen & 1/2 bath. $1,350,000

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Alamo. Wonderful location. Fabulous 4 bedroom 3.5 bath home with over 3100sf. Vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, 3 fireplaces. Updated throughout. Gourmet kitchen, granite countͲ ers and classic white cabinets. Private backyard w/newly refinͲ ished pebble tech pool & outͲ door kitchen. Large game rm w/ pool table, plasma TV & more included in the sale . $1,250,000

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Thursday, November 17, 5pm - 9pm Get into the Spirit! With the holiday season fast approaching, Danville merchants have come together for an evening of holiday cheer that will save you money while benefiting local charities. Over 50 Danville merchants and restaurants will participate in this magical event to kick-start the holiday shopping season. Free trolley rides will shuttle shoppers between Downtown, Danville Livery, and the Rose Garden Shops. Take advantage of special money-saving offers, deep discounts on dining, gifts and a whole lot of holiday cheer. The event will be held rain or shine. To keep your spirit warm, some merchants will offer hot cider, cookies, holiday ornaments and gifts. Be sure to eat after shopping, as participating restaurants will give exclusive discounts to The Spirit of Danville ticket-holders. Tickets are $5, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the charity from which you purchase your ticket including the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, Hospice of the East Bay, Blue Star Moms, Role Players Ensemble and the Danville Alamo Garden Club. Purchase tickets through the charities or online at www.discoverdanvilleca.com.

Alamo. REDUCED! Wonderful estate like custom single story in tranquil setting. Gated flat 1/2 ac w/beautiful gardens & large pool/spa. Huge master suite w/fireplace & French doors opening to yard. EatͲin kitchen w/granite counters, top of the line appliances. Short Sale. $1,295,000

Gretchen Bryce 925.683.2477

Danville. Custom home tucked away in mature prvt. ct on level .46 lot. 5 bed, 3.5 ba., 3 car gar. 3900sf., lrg bonus rm w/ lovely foyer, formal living & dining rm. Prof. designer kitchen w/ oversized island & nook. Pool, spa & 5 burner BBQ bar. Family rm w/ builtͲin enter’t cntr, bookshelves, fireplace & bev. bar. 200sf. WalkͲin attic. $1,425,000

Joan Marx 925.683.7696

Page 4 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Alamo Women’s Club Where Women Come Together to Work Toward a Better Community for All

www.yourmonthlypaper.com 7 - Mah Jongg Alamo Holistic Healing Center 10:30-12:30PM Healthcare You Deserve 13 - Cards Club 9-12PM 13 - Let’sWalk! - 4-5PM, Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Massage, Craniosacral Therapy meet @ Clubhouse w w w. A l a m o H e a l i n g . c o m 14 - Business Meeting - 11:30AM, Hospice Tree Lighting & potluck 3200-A Danville Blvd, Suite 100 luncheon Alamo, CA 94507 27 - Let’s Walk! PM 4-5 , meet @ Clubhouse

In our continued efforts to support “STAND! For Families Free of Violence,” members of the Alamo Women’s Club attended the 19th annual Rebuilding Lives luncheon. Highlights of the event included a profound and moving story by actress and advocate, Erin Gray, celebrating survivors, advocates, local law enforcement, and the life-saving work of the “STAND! For Families Free of Violence” team. “STAND! For Families Fee of Violence” utilizes a holistic approach to ad- JANUARY dressing domestic violence through intervention, treatment, and prevention. 3 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5PM, meet @ Clubhouse For more information regarding the organization, visit www.standagain4 - Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30PM stdv.org. 5 - Executive Board Meeting - 4PM 10 - Cards Club -9-12PM NOVEMBER PM 10 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5PM, meet @ Clubhouse 1 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5 , meet @ Clubhouse PM 11 - Business Meeting - 11:30AM, hands-on project 2 - Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30 pm 17 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5PM, meet @ Clubhouse 7 - Executive Board Meeting - 4 PM 18 - Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30PM 8 - Cards Club - 9-12 PM 18 Book Club I - 1PM 8 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5 , meet @ Clubhouse 18 - Book Club II - 2PM 9 - Business Meeting - 11:30am, hands-on project 24 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5PM, meet @ Clubhouse Members Vicki Koc, Pamela Singh, PM 15 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5 , meet @ Clubhouse and Peggy Fleming attend the 25 - Program Meeting - 11:30AM, TBA STAND! luncheon. 16 - Mah Jongg - 10:30 - 12:30PM 28 Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser 16 - Book Club I - 1PM PM 31 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5 , meet @ Clubhouse 16 - Book Club II - 2PM 31 - See Academy Awards Nominated Movie & Munchies night, TBA PM 29 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5 , meet @ Clubhouse Want to become a member? Be our guest at our November luncheon to learn about 30 - Excursion - Filoli Gardens Holiday Tour & Lunch our Club’s philanthropies and mingle with the members. If you’ve been thinking about DECEMBER joining, our luncheons are the perfect occasion to join us at the Clubhouse located at 1 - Holiday Clubhouse Decorating! - All day 1401 Danville Blvd in Alamo. Please respond to Nancy Dommes, Membership Chair, 4 – Pancake Breakfast with Santa by calling 831-0111 or emailing ndommes@yahoo.com, and bring a friend, too! 5 - Executive Board Meeting - 4PM If you have any questions, please contact our President, Nancy Combs at 6 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5PM, meet @ Clubhouse NancyPCombs@TheCombsTeam.com.

Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 5

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Danville Library Presents Author Katherine Chiljan Author Katherine Chiljan will speak on William Shakespeare, the most celebrated and most read poet and dramatist in history. She will discuss her new book about him Shakespeare Suppressed. Her discussion will be held in the Mt. Diablo Room of the Danville Library on November 8th from 7-8pm, and she will include a look at his personal and artistic life and the controversy surrounding the man and his works. Ms. Chiljan is an independent scholar who has studied Shakespeare’s authorship for over 26 years. She has written articles for the newsletter of the Shakespeare-Oxford Society and is a former Society trustee. Registration is not required, but seating is available on a first-come, firstseated basis.

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The Candy Cane Boutique is here again! The public is invited to the FREE 19 Annual Candy Cane Boutique to be held at Creekside Community Church located at 1350 Danville Blvd in Alamo on Friday, November 11th from 4-8 pm and Saturday, November 12th from 9am – 3pm. Don’t miss this wonderful event. Do your Christmas shopping early and support The Macedonian Outreach! Committee members shown left to right are Mitzi Reid, Posie Derfler, Dee Thompson, Marie Adams, Frances Davis, Tracy Stracke, Betty Casale, Mary Zellhart, Sandy Hanson, Vula Rushdoony, and Diane Bishop.

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Page 6 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

AAUW Seneca Falls The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of American Association of University Women, the Contra Costa National Organization for Women and Contra Costa Commission for Women will be screening Seneca Falls - Celebrating Women’s Suffrage at 11AM on Saturday, November 5 at Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville. The film is being shown in honor of the 100th anniversary of California women’s suffrage, passage of the 19th amendment, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Birthday. Lunch will be followed by special guest Louise Vance, writer/director/producer of the award winning documentary who will speak on Knowing Your History Gives You Courage. Proceeds from the event will benefit girls and young women in Contra Costa County through education, philanthropy, and research. Cost of the event is $45, and reservations are required. For more information, go to http://www.aauw-daw.org/senecaFalls.

Holiday House Tour

AARP Tax-Aide Call for Volunteers Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Volunteers are trained by Tax-Aide and become IRS Certified tax counselors. Other volunteer positions are available. For information or to apply, call LaVerne Gordon, District Coordinator, at (925) 726-3199. Orientation is in November, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2012.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time residents to its monthly luncheon on November 17 at Faz Restaurant located at 600 Hartz Ave. in Danville. We meet from ll:30 to 2PM. The cost is $20. The speaker will be Jean Meredith, a representative of the 100 Club, which supports families of fallen fire fighters and policemen. Call Susan at (925) 718-5214 for reservations and information.

The AAUW presents its 7th Annual Holiday Home Tour, Friday and Saturday, December 9th and 10th from 10AM to 4PM. Tour five beautifully decorated homes in the Alamo, Diablo, and Danville area. Tickets are $30 per person if purchased by December 1st and $35 thereafter. Seniors 65+ tickets are $25 or $30 after December 1st. To order tickets, which include home locations and directions, please mail a check, payable to “Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW” along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: AAUW Holiday Home Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Tickets will also be available after November 7th at East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd W. in the Danville Livery (cash or checks only). Please, no children under 12. Profits from AAUW’s Holiday Home Tour fund local scholarships for women completing their undergraduate or graduate degrees and for Tech Trek camperships, a week long residential summer camp, held at local universities, for middle school girls with interest in math and science. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Email questions to holidaytour@aauw-da.org.

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The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The Club’s sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. Our one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. Price is $16 for members and first time guests and $20 for returning guests. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) VFW Post 75, San Ramon Valley, meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. The next meeting will be held Thursday, November 10th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Find out more about the VFW at www.vfw.org.

35th Annual Lighting of the Old Oak Tree Come one, come all as the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Danville presents the 35th annual Lighting of the Old Oak Tree on Friday, November 25 (the day after Thanksgiving), from 5:15-8:30PM along Diablo Road near the Old Oak Tree. The festivities begin at 5:15 with a gathering at the Old Oak Tree for holiday refreshments and a sing-along with the San Ramon Valley High School Chorus under the direction of Ken Abrams. Stay for the ceremonial lighting of the tree by Father Christmas and Snow Angel at 6:15. Then, follow Father Christmas and the Snow Angel in a merry parade down Prospect and Hartz Avenues. The magic continues throughout downtown Danville with holiday music, entertainment, and refreshments located at various boutiques and restaurants. Bring your family and friends to Danville to shop, dine, and celebrate this wonderful season! Please contact Martha Levison, Event Coordinator for the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, at 925-837-4400 x14 for more information.

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 7

Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area Walking the streets throughout our community, it would appear that most of our neighbors have embraced the ‘Plant A Tree, Save Our Planet’ campaign. Since we are graced by so many mature trees, perhaps we should credit the original ‘developers’ for planting the various species that shelter our yards. But no matter the origin, we all benefit from their existence in our community. Trees located strategically on a property can reduce the need for air conditioning within our homes and office buildings by thirty percent. Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from our air helping to reduce pollution. In fact, the USDA Forest Service has stated that one mature tree can remove up to 48lbs. of CO2 daily and also generate enough oxygen to support the needs of two human beings. The same study stated that over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates over $31,000 worth of oxygen and provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. That kind of savings could turn any of us into a tree lover! And no, I have never hugged a tree, but I do think we should show a little love and care for our trees. With so many mature trees in our community – to get an idea of how many mature tree there are count the number of trees over 25 ft. on your block – it’s worth it to learn how your trees grow and how you can keep them healthy. Hint: it’s not by topping a trees’ canopy! Learning some basics about tree care such as soil-water relations, nutrition, and when to prune will make for happy working trees for years to come. Thinking of your trees as family pets may further help you appreciate and protect the value of your trees. Remember it takes a lot of years for most trees to reach 25 or 30 ft. If you wouldn’t adopt a pet without finding a doctor to care for your ‘Spike’ or ‘Bella,’ perhaps you shouldn’t grow a tree without finding a good arborist. A certified arborist will guide you on tree species and placement for new trees, and an arborist will also help maintain your current trees. Whether it’s making the masterful pruning cut to guide your tree to a shapely form or trimming roots without sacrificing major water uptake and years of its life, an arborist can guide you on decisions that will protect your investment. Join Sustainable Danville Area for our November forum on Wednesday, November 16th at 6:15pm. We’ll meet in Room S3 in the Administrative Building (upstairs) at San Ramon Valley High School located at 501 Danville Blvd. in Danville. Our speaker, John Traverso, a certified arborist since 1986 and owner of Traverso Tree, has served as vice president and president of the California Arborist Association and will share his experience to help us understand our “Trees in a Nutshell.” The evening’s discussion is free and all are invited. To help with planning purposes, please register at www.sustainabledanville.com.

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One Warm Coat, 16th Season The San Ramon Valley Rotary invites the community to help those in need this winter with the 16th Anniversary of “One Warm Coat, Protection from the Cold,” from now until December 14th at various spots in our area. Donations are needed for men, women, children, and infants. Donations are being accepted at Edward Jones 100 Longbrook Way #3, Pleasant Hill, U.S. Bank 1655 N. Main Street, Walnut Creek, Dudum Real Estate Group 1910 Olympic Blvd #100, Walnut Creek, Crow Canyon Country Club 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, Diablo Country Club 1700 Club House Road, Diablo, Heritage Bank 387 Diablo Road, Danville, Pascal’s Café 155 Railroad Ave., Danville, Bulgary Jewelry 301 Hartz Avenue #107, Danville, and Sweeney Kovar Financial 3800 Blackhawk Road, Danville. On December 1st, come to the Bishop Ranch Holiday Tree Lighting with a coat, sweater, or blanket in good, clean condition to donate, and enjoy refreshments, Santa’s arrival, and more. The celebration will take place at 6111 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon from 5:30-7:30PM. To find out more about making a donation, visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary. com or call Dany at (925) 899-6771.

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Page 8 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

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Rancho Romero Elementary School

Alamo Elementary School

By Skye Larsh, Principal

Shake, Rattle, and Roll By Stan Hitomi, Principal

A little more than two months of the new school year have passed, and there is already so much evidence of student engagement and learning. One of the key strategies working for Rancho Romero is the ability to point all of the arrows in the same direction. With so many tasks, requirements, and interests, it would be very difficult to attain goals and have a clear sense of effectiveness without the school community working together. Teachers, School Site Council (SSC), Rancho Romero Education Fund (RREF), and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) continuously analyze various forms of data; review/discuss research and best practice, and collaborate to prioritize high expectations for student success. Beliefs, opinions, and experiences can and should differ, but the process to function as a professional learning community is helping us to find common ground. This year four teacher leadership teams were formed to guide the work of the school based on school data, goals, the San Ramon Valley USD Framework for Excellence, and specific guiding questions that get to the heart of what we expect from our students. A summarized description of each follows: • Guiding Question: Who are the students who represent the 20% lowest academically performing students? What intervention strategies are being implemented? Are they working? Who are the students most likely to move from proficient to advanced? What targeted strategies are being used with these students? Response to Intervention: The Response to Intervention Team and staff will develop a systematic, structured practice of providing high quality instruction and intervention matched to students’ needs. • Guiding Question: What is the status of the Reading Writing Project work? What strategies are being implemented? What support is needed? Writing Leadership Team: The Writing Leadership Team will collaborate in on-going professional development throughout the year to identify, apply, and share with grade levels elements of an effective writing program. • Guiding Question: What is the vision and action plan for increasing student engagement through the infusion of technology in the classrooms? Is there evidence that technology is being used in ways that align with the essential attributes or 5 C’s – collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity? Technology/21st Century Learning: The Technology/21st Century Learning Team will support the use of technology through staff training and integrated lesson design in all grades. • Guiding Questions: Has the school adopted a district approved character development program? Are the essential elements of the program actively promoted in all classrooms, shared with parents, and visible throughout the campus? Character Education and Climate: The Character Education and Climate Leadership Team will focus on the Comprehensive Safety Plan in order to enhance student learning that targets an orderly, caring, nurturing, and nondiscriminatory educational and social environment. Consistent and powerful research on schools reveals that the most promising strategy for sustained and substantive work is developing the capacity to function as a professional learning community. When we are able to simplify the complexities of our work into organizing ideas, we can focus attention and energy on the essentials. The essentials become the frame of reference for all decisions. We are so fortunate to work in an outstanding district with clear and supportive leadership, and with such dedicated and professional teachers, staff, and parents, without which this culture of collaboration would not be possible.

Upcoming Meetings and Events AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - November 9th , 7pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd. Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First and third Tuesdays 6pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park Hap Magee Ranch Joint Planning and Operations Committee December 1st - 5pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - November 7th , 4:30pm - Meets at Valley Station located at 150 Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - November 9th, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www. firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp

In the 22 years since the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck on October 17, 1989, an entire generation of students has grown up without experiencing or remembering the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that killed 63 people and injured nearly 4,000 others. Earthquake experts tell us that another major earthquake in California could occur at any time, and that everyone should be as prepared as possible. On October 20, students at Alamo School took part in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut. 2011 is the third year (statewide) of The Great California ShakeOut, a drill designed to educate the public about how to protect themselves during a large earthquake and how to get prepared. It was the largest earthquake drill to ever take place in the United States, with over 8 million participants. To add to the reality of the event, the drill took place right in the middle of morning recess and the Fall Book Fair “because earthquakes don’t always happen when students are in their classrooms ready for a drill.” 4th and 5th graders proceeded to “duck, cover, and hold” on the playground, as the K – 3rd graders did the same in the library, music room, and classrooms. When the simulated earthquake had subsided, the alarm sounded for teachers to organize their students and evacuate to the designated assembly area. It took just two minutes for the children to calmly make their way to the designated safety area. Teachers took roll, filled out accountability reports, and the district office was notified of Alamo’s status by emergency radio. All of this is part of an effort this year to improve the preparedness of both students and staff for emergencies and disasters at Alamo School. A staff committee will be re-writing the school’s Disaster Plan and preparing for a full-scale simulation in the spring. The effort will include the participation of parents and involvement of community safety agencies. Proof that practice makes perfect was demonstrated later in the afternoon on October 20th when a magnitude 4.0 earthquake (centered in Berkeley) struck, and students in Mrs. Flore’s 3rd grade classes immediately proceeded to “duck, cover, and hold,” Mrs. Flores said, “They knew exactly what to do.”

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 9

Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun McElroy, Principal Fall Fundraiser Hillbilly Heaven Certainly one of the most creative themed “Fun and Fund” raiser parties in recent memory was held at the home of Beth and Jeff Kaiser on October 15th. Party organizers Gail Mondloch and Lisa Miller went all out to make sure everyone had a great time. The 120 guests participated in the “terlit” seat toss, “critter shoot,” and a costume contest. Where else could you have Texas Toast for dinner, Ding Dongs and Ho Ho’s served in a wheelbarrow for dessert, and pork rind appetizers? “Overall” we raised several thousand dollars to support student learning at Stone Valley. Thanks to all of you who choose to participate.

Teaching Out of the Shadows and Into the Light If teaching is an art, why don’t we do more to exhibit great teachers? If teaching is a science, then why don’t we have more peer reviews and international awards? Imagine the marquee at the Dean Lesher Theater, “On exhibit for a limited time, watch Devrah Lawver teach the U.S. Constitution!” or “Teresa Butler-Doran unveils the mystery of the microscope!” And, how about this: “NY Times reports that Ron Hirschman received the Nobel Prize for Teaching for identifying the relationship between exercise and academic achievement.” Most of us hold teachers in high regard because teachers do what we can’t - teach large groups of children in a semi-controlled environment, foster high achievement, and deal with a range of social and emotional situations that mirror their development. Teaching is one of the most complicated and dynamic professions on earth, yet teachers get very little professional support or feedback on their practice. We are in the process of developing a feedback and observation model aimed at improving student achievement through teacher observation and feedback. Below are our plans for the immediate future.

At the School Level Quarter 1- All 10 members of the Stone Valley Staff development committee will team up with another teacher and visit a classroom(s) to observe and give feedback on instruction. It is worth noting that Teresa Butler-Doran and Jeff Hager collaborated on a “Lesson Study.” The lesson study process involves team planning, observation, feedback, and re-teaching the lesson to a new group. October 19th - Principals (and former math teachers) from Diablo Vista Middle School and Windemere Ranch Middle School visited Algebra I teacher Mike Dougherty’s classroom during “math projects day” where students work in groups to solve complex math problems. This is a mixed ability math class where all students are pushed to achieve at top levels. TBA - PTA President Pam Absher and I are in the planning stages of a site visitation day for parents to come and visit classrooms to see “live” teaching.

District Level SRVUSD begins to develop common assessment tools for Social Studies, Algebra, Geometry, Language Arts, and Science for grades 7-10. The assessment data will be shared amongst staff and used to inform instruction.

Outside SRVUSD November 10th - Palo Alto USD visits Stone Valley to interview teachers regarding their practice. November 15th - Stone Valley math team hits the road and visits math classrooms at Jordan L. Stanford Middle School in Palo Alto and Corte Madera Middle School in Portola Valley. The day will be mixed with observations, feedback, and collaboration between the two SRVUSD staffs. December 9th - Five members from SRVUSD will visit the Stanford University Design School to look at a world class method of problem solving. Stone Valley, Alamo School, San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, and a representative from the district office will be in attendance. These “home and away” viewing and dialoging sessions will improve our practice and hence improve student learning. We are embarking on a mission to uncover, affirm, and develop good teaching practices. If your plan is for one year, plant rice; If your plan is for ten years, plant trees; If your plan is for a hundred years, Educate children. Confucius

The Rotary Club of Alamo Salutes the Sponsors who were instrumental in making the 2011 Alamo Music Festival a Huge Success

Platinum Sponsors The R. Jean & James D. Taylor Foundation Gold Sponsors Tidewater, Inc. John Muir Health System Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Cline Cellars Silver Sponsors Alamo Capital Contra Costa Times Peet’s Coffee and Tea Union Bank

Donors

Raffle Donors

Benefactors

Don Morton Oak Tree Plaza Ostrosky Enterprises Registry Foundation RINA Accountancy Stone Valley Center

Alamo Bicycles Celebrations on the Bay Peppermill Casino & Resort Marnie Goodfriend Photography Bob Myhre Round Hill Country Club Bay Area News Group

A 1 Party Rentals Alamo Ace Hardware Alamo Chamber of Commerce Alamo Improvement Association Alamo Plaza Allied Waste Services Bach Group at Morgan Stanley East Bay BMW Waste Management

You helped us Support the Education of Alamo Students

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Page 10 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Monte Vista High School

San Ramon Valley High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal

The beginning of the school year has flown by, and amazingly the first quarter is almost over. As a school community we are very proud of our students and their successes thus far. Academically our students continue to excel in their coursework. From the core academic subjects to our wide array of elective classes, we encourage students to take the most rigorous courses for their individual needs. What I would like to highlight this month is the importance of school activities outside the classroom. Success in high school includes rigorous classes, but it also includes the willingness to move beyond the classroom and become involved in clubs, sports, music, drama, and community service. Studies show that the most successful high school students are those connected to the school community. While we are only 45 days into the school year, Monte Vista students have contributed hundreds of hours to our school and community. Our choral program performed Bach to School concerts, our drama department completed a Respect video that emphases one of the words in our character development program, and our bands have performed at football games, rallies, and community events. Under the direction of our leadership class we have had two successful rallies. Students, staff, and parents agreed that our rallies have more spirit and sense of community than ever before. Each week the leadership class produces a video bulletin that encourages school involvement. In late September they organized a club fair for over 70 clubs. Each clubs set up a table in the amphitheater encouraging students to join. Students can find clubs that range from the American Red Cross to Mountain Biking and Snowboarding to clubs that celebrate the diversity of our student body. If you have a student at Monte Vista that did not join a club, it is not too late. Meeting dates are advertised in our bulletin, and meeting dates and times are posted around campus. All students are welcome. Community service is another way to become involved in school. Leadership organized a trip to Verde Elementary School, our sister school, and brought with them school supplies donated by our students. Many of our clubs are service orientated encouraging students to give back to their community and beyond. Within our school we have service clubs such as Safe School Ambassadors and Peer Link that promote school safety and community. Successful high school students not only challenge themselves academically but are involved in their school and community. Whatever their interest, it is important for students to be connected and involved. If you would like more information about Monte Vista, please visit our website at www.mvhigh.org.

Alamo-Danville Newcomer's Club The Newcomers Club cordially invites all ladies new to the area or longtime residents to our November Luncheon and Silent Auction to be held at the Crow Canyon Country Club, November 8th. Come and enjoy the spirited bidding, lots of fun, great food and pick up some holiday gifts. Reservations are required. For further info, please call Marty 925-8388113 or email alamodanvillenewcomers@yahoo.com.

Jamie Coventry Presents: It’s in the Can! Recycling, reusing, and reducing? Yes! On November 8th at 4PM Jamie Coventry will cleverly explores these topics and more while he entertains with music, storytelling, juggling and you at the Danville Library! Jamie demonstrates his specialty, with endless fun for you, about how to find enjoyment with “leftovers” without spending lots of money. 8

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD

If you find her and your name is drawn!

Alamo Zoe is Missing We have a new dog, but now she has become lost in this paper... Keep your eyes out for Alamo Zoe! She is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find her.

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

November’s Winner Is Tom Rover

It is hard to believe that the first quarter of the 2010-2011 school year is over. For many this is a relief, but for others it is the realization that the school year is moving very quickly. This may be true, too, for our seniors. With the first quarter over, the awareness that graduation is in sight may be a difficult reality to cope with. Preparing to leave the confines of San Ramon Valley High School can be challenging; coping with the coming changes can bring stress to all. I would encourage you to talk with your students. It is of particular importance that senior parents talk about “endings” with their student(s). This is vital for you, as parents, as much as it is for them. Your child will be moving on to a world where they will truly be viewed as an adult (18 years old) even though you may feel differently. Enjoy this time – it will be a series of “last times,” and it is important to honor these events and enjoy them with your student.

Homecoming I would like to extend a big thank you to all who participated in our Homecoming Week and Alumni Celebrations! We had a wonderful week full of fun and anticipation for our Friday rally (first time in three years back in our Main Gym) where our SRVHS Homecoming Court was announced. The Court consisted of Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen. Our King Tim Aiken and Queen Kayla Eaton were crowned at halftime during the football game. Staff members Zach Pinkerton and Sandy Faust were honored as Mr. and Mrs. San Ramon. After the rally we were treated to a special Homecoming Parade led by the SRVHS Marching Wolves and Grand Marshals Vern and Barbara Anderson; she is a member of the Class of 1939. Mayor Karen Stepper was present as an honored dignitary representing the Town of Danville. San Ramon Valley High School graduates from the 1940’s to 2000’s were also a part of the festivities. The parade traveled through the streets of Danville drawing many viewers and members of our community, always cheering and applauding the efforts of SRVHS. The night was topped off by our All Class Alumni reunion which drew a large number of alumni from all over, and an exciting football game.

Red Ribbon Week We had a highly successful and educational Red Ribbon Week. The week’s activities about drug and alcohol awareness were many, including a discussion from Jeff Davis, one of our teachers who spoke of the issues associated with drug/alcohol abuse within the family system.

Quarter Grades The first quarter grades will be sent out this week. Quarter grades do not go on a student’s permanent record (transcript); they are an indication of how students are progressing. Please make sure that you discuss the quarter reports with your student. If there are questions or comments, please email your student’s teachers so you may gain clarity. As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to reflect on how thankful I am to be at San Ramon Valley High School. We have so many great things going on - from plays to performances (drama, vocal, and instrumental) to extra curricular activities to sports. Each one of these endeavors is successful because we, as the SRVHS community, make it so. We take great pride in each and every success! We have a wonderful community of learners who are passionate, excited (although not always about school), and are welcomed and integral parts of our school population. As principal, I am proud and thankful to be associated with this community and school family. Thank you to our parents for the students you send to us; I know that we share the same sense of pride as we watch them grow into young, responsible adults.

Collection for the Troops Delta Nu Psi is once again collecting goodies for our service people. We will be at CVS in Alamo on November 4th and Lunardi's in Danville on November 11th. Since the temperature has gone down we would love any chocolate Halloween candy that you might have left over. Or, buy some chocolate for our favorite service men and women! We have now sent 841 boxes weighing 21,751 pounds to our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please come to one of our collection sites, see photos and donate to our squads. For more information visit www.deltanupsi.org.

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Exploring Bluetooth By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 11

HAVE A SHORT SALE QUESTION? • Late on Your Mortgage Payments?

If you have a new cell phone or a laptop, you’ve probably seen • Tried a Remodification? a little symbol that looks like an edgy bow-tie on its edge. • Tried to Refinance? It helps to understand what Bluetooth is and where it came from. Bluetooth was developed in 1994, and quickly Contact Ed Ramos at 925-765-3179 adopted as a substitute for infrared senders and receivers. or eramos@rockcliff.com for The problem with the infrared senders and receivers is that ALL YOUR they can only be used in a line-of-sight manner. For instance, your television SHORT SALE QUESTIONS. remote is most likely infrared, and when something blocks the signal, you DRE#01043554 can’t change the channels. At my house, our dog likes to stand in front of the DVR at just the wrong times! Bluetooth uses a radio signal instead of line-of-sight. What makes Bluetooth so nifty is that the little radios can be installed in so many different devices. The radios are ultra low power and provide a signal range of about 30 feet. That means many people can use Bluetooth in a relatively small area without interfering with each other. There are many uses for Bluetooth. Some of my favorite uses have something to do with telephones, because I use my phones a lot. Many newer cars have built-in Bluetooth systems that can connect to my telephone. It’s convenient to use the car’s microphone and speakers to have a telephone call, and I like it when the system automatically turns down the music when a call comes in. At my office, I’m trying to eliminate the wires crisscrossing my desk by making better use of my Bluetooth headset. Being a bit of a tinkerer, I’m trying to cobble something together that integrates my PC’s audio output (music), my need for two-way communications (using Skype with my Webcam to talk to my kids), and my plain old analog telephone. Each piece individually works OK, but when the whole thing is put together, it’s a little rough. I’m sure either I’ll figure it out, or someone is going to invent a little box I can plug everything into at once, and it will sort out the connections so they work right when I need them. Bluetooth can also be used for light-duty data networking between PC’s or Mac’s. You may already be using a little Bluetooth sender/receiver for your keyboard and mouse. I just bought a new model made by Logitech, and the USB sender is smaller than a quarter and is barely noticeable when plugged into the side of my laptop. Game consoles, such as PS/3 and XBox are beginning to adopt Bluetooth for the communication between the controllers and the main console. We’ll even find Bluetooth at the doctor’s office, where some of the health measurement devices (blood pressure, temperature, heart rate) transmit their data back to a PC which is connected to the health records system. Needless to say, my iPad and iPhone have Bluetooth built in, and I like to use my headphones with them for listening to music or making a call. I have a Bluetooth enabled Jawbone handsfree headset I use when I’m on the phone and in my car, and also a lightweight Bluetooth stereo headset made by Motorola which is easy to use when listening to music or internet radio broadcasts. My only complaint is that the headsets run out of batteries sooner than I’d like, so recharging them is a pretty regular chore. If I forget, or I over-use the headset in a single day, I’m pretty much stuck without it until everything is recharged and back to full strength. Still, I think Bluetooth is a great technology, it’s here to stay, and it will only get better with time. I’m sure there will be devices designed with better battery life, and when that happens, they’ll have removed my only real complaint about using the technology. We’re very fortunate to live in an age of unimaginable technical creativity. If you have a need for Bluetooth technology and need help integrating it in your environment, give us a call at 925-552-7953 or email us at helpdesk@theportablecio.com. We’re happy to help. Advertorial

California Writers Club Best-Selling Author Jessica Barksdale Inclan will lead the next Mt. Diablo Branch, California Writers Club November Workshop. Her topic is “Who’s Telling the Story?” Workshop attendees will learn to work with one story told by three different characters and how to use tenses to play with time. Inclan is the author of twelve novels, including the best-selling Her Daughter’s Eyes. Her talk will take place on Saturday, November 12th. Check-in is from 9 to 9:30am, and the workshop will be held from 9:30 to 12:15 followed by a buffet luncheon. The cost is $35 for CWC members, $40 for guests. The workshop will be held at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Reservations are required, and they must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, November 9. Contact Betty Iverson at bjiverson@comcast.net or phone 925-376-3631. For more information, visit http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/.

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Page 12 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Ready for the Holidays? By Monica Chappell Uncork Thanksgiving! Wine adds a perfect festive touch to holiday meals, but selecting what to drink on Thanksgiving can be daunting. So how do you choose the right wine for the big dinner? Here's an easy answer: No single wine will work perfectly with your meal, so serve a few. Matching wine with roast turkey is pretty easy, but the side dishes are another story. These dishes usually range from sweet to savory and have different tastes that make selecting one wine difficult. So, what to do?

Serving Tips • Serve several types of wine with the meal. Try at least two, preferably a red and a white. • Serve approachable wines, that is to say, wines that are ready to drink now not next Thanksgiving. • Serve all the wines for the meal at the same time, and let family and friends choose what they want. • And in honor of this uniquely American holiday, serve wines from the US. With all 50 States producing wine (yes all 50), it shouldn't be too difficult to find something you like.

Wines to Try Riesling - Look for a dry or semi-dry style. These wines have a perfect balance of fruit and acidity that will complement sweeter Thanksgiving foods. Sauvignon Blanc - These wine work well due to their medium fruit and citrusy finish, making they a very versatile food wine. Chardonnay - I'd leave this one off my list, but I still want to be invited to Thanksgiving, so all I can say is, stay away from the big, oaky, highalcohol Chardonnays. They can easily overpower what should be the star of the show - the turkey. Pinot Noir - My first choice for a red wine. With most Pinots fruit is the dominant flavor with just enough acid and tannin to give the wine a nice balance. Zinfandel - This is the All-American grape and can be made into wines of varying styles. Go with a lighter, fruitier style of red Zinfandel. Stay away from the high-alcohol versions. Cabernet Sauvignon - For the Thanksgiving table look for a lighter version of this bold and often expensive wine. I would put Cabernet in the Chardonnay category as noted above. Regardless of which wine you choose, remember the style to look for is medium-bodied, fruity, and without a lot of oak.

Not Convinced Yet? Join us for an informative evening on Friday, November 17th, 6:30-8:30pm at the Lafayette Community Center. In our Entertaining with Wine class, you’ll discover some new and fun wines suitable for the holiday wine lineup. During class, we’ll also sample a few traditional holiday foods. You'll have less then two weeks until the big Thanksgiving meal, so get crack’n. To register on-line visit www.Lafayetterec.org. Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in Lafayette, Walnut Creek and Danville. For upcoming classes go to www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

Danville’s Candy Cane Stroll Explore the many new shops and seasonal treats throughout downtown Danville this holiday season. Shopping and dining will be extra sweet this season starting right after Thanksgiving. The Discover Danville Association merchants and restaurants will be distributing candy canes to customers who want a chance to win a Shop Danville First themed raffle basket valued at over $500. Event strolling maps will be available at the annual tree lighting on Friday, November 25th and at participating businesses through Saturday, December 17th. Stroll along the streets in Downtown Danville this holiday season, shop, dine, and earn stamps for your chance to win one of two $500 gift baskets filled with holiday goodies and gift cards from participating Danville merchants and restaurants. Shop and dine at ten or more of our participating shops and restaurants, and spend $10 or more at each location to earn a chance to win a Shop Danville First gift basket.

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 13

AmaWaterways Mekong River Cruise

By Mike Mullery, Alamo World Travel

My wife and I recently took a great cruise on the Mekong River from Cambodia to Vietnam. We first flew to Siem Riep, Cambodia - the home of Angor Wat - one of the archaeological Wonders of the World. We found a visit to this part of the world should include a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tuk Tukâ&#x20AC;? motorcycle cab ride. We left our modern hotel and took a Tuk Tuk to town for a great meal and inexpensive shopping. The next day we boarded our luxurious cruise ship, the MS La Marguerite. The MS La Marguerite was built in 2009 and has only 46 rooms. AmaWaterways also has an even newer Mekong ship, the 62 room MS AmaLotus built in 2011. These small ships are a great way to cruise. There are only outside cabins, and most have a small balcony and a window. There is always a view, the cabins are comfortable, shore excursions are included, drinks are included with dinner, and both local cuisine and Western food are served in the restaurant. With the smaller and more intimate ships, you have a chance to bond with more of the guests than you do on a large cruise ship. The itinerary is very interesting, it includes large cities such as Hanoi (an optional extension), Phnom Penh and Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City, and smaller cities such as Siem Riep. All of these places offer good cultural, eating, and shopping opportunities. In the villages, you can see silk weaving, rattan production, fish farming, candy manufacturing, lacquer box manufacturing, and much more. You get the opportunity to meet the local people and see how they live. We thought of our trip as not only travel but also adventure as we visited a part of the world that most Westerners have not yet seen. If you are not yet ready for the Mekong, AmaWaterways also has European cruises on the Rhine, Mosel, Danube (we loved it), Rhone, Saone, and Main rivers, and voyages from France and the Netherlands in the west to Turkey in the east. They also cruise Russia from Moscow to St Petersburg. On the European cruises they carry many good bicycles

that cruisers can use in towns or between ports. If you would like to know more about river cruising, visit www.alamoworld.com and click on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;River Cruiseâ&#x20AC;? link. You can also call us at (925) 837-8742, email info@alamoworld.com, or stop by our office - Alamo World Travel & Tours, 3201 Danville Blvd # 255 in Alamo (in Alamo Commons between Ace Hardware and the Peasants Courtyard Restaurant). Alamo World Travel is celebrating itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 30th year in Alamo. We offer individual, group, and corporate travel for cruises, tours, and hotels. Advertorial

COUPON Good for $50 off a Cruise or Tour totaling $1000 or more. Air only excluded. Only one coupon per order. Expires 2/29/2012

Nunset Boulevard Willows Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Dan Gogginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nunset Boulevard. This time, the nuns think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been invited to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. Instead, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re actually booked into the Hollywood Bowl-A-Rama. Lunacy ensues. Dan Goggin, creator of all seven Nunsense musicals, directs. The show will run November 14, 2011 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January 15, 2012 at the Willows Theatre mainstage, 1975 Diamond Boulevard in Concord (in The Willows Shopping Center.) Guaranteed fun for the Holidays! Tickets are $28-34 at www.willowstheatre.org or (925) 798-1300.

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Tassajara 4-H Youth Build Wind Energy Technologies on 4-H National Youth Science Day Tassajara 4-H club hosted the fourth annual 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD) recently. 4-H members from all over Contra Costa County attended. As part of the annual 4-H NYSD, youth participated in Wired for Wind: the 2011 National Science Experiment. The experiment was designed to demonstrate to young people how they are able to implement alternatives to traditional energy production and have a positive impact on their communities and ecosystems. At the event, Wired for Wind participants enhanced their engineering skills by designing, building, and testing two different wind turbine models. There was even a contest to see which team could generate the most power from their wind turbine model. The night included a 4-H Science Fair where 4H’ers displayed and explained science projects they brought to the event. “Our nation is falling behind other countries in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Carol Eldridge, Club Leader, Tassajara 4-H. “Participation in 4-H NYSD and other year-round 4-H science programming offers youth and adults the opportunity to engage in scientific exploration and to work together to build the next generation of our nation's scientists, Cameron Turner, Riley Arbuckle, and Elizabeth Trennery engineers, and mathematicians. Our clubs offers many science related projects such as Robotics, Engineering, Vet Science, and Pinball in addition to leadership, cooking, craft, carpentry and animal projects.” For more information, visit www.tassajara4h.org. 4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, The New York Life family is here to help you achieve your financial non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters goals through the products we offer. Whether you’re purchasing a located at the National Institute of Food and Agrifirst home, starting a family or business, accumulating funds for your culture (NIFA) within USDA. The 111 land-grant children’s education, or saving for retirement, we will work with you colleges and universities and the Cooperative Exto develop a financial strategy that’s right for you. tension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices implement 4-H programs across the country. Call our office today. (925) 552-7152 Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H.

From Our Family to Yours

Hospice of Tree of Lights

Group Photo Here

Pictured are agents of the Greater San Francisco General Office of New York Life Insurance Company in Alamo. From left to right: John Erwin "EJ" M. Magbitang, LUTCF (CA Ins. Lic. #0D37634), Emma M. Magbitang (CA Ins. Lic. #0710892), Julius Elmer "Joel" M. Magbitang, LUTCF (CA Ins. Lic. #0D35676) 3000 Danville Blvd., Suite L Alamo, CA 94507 Tel. (925) 552-7152 / Fax (925) 552-7127

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Hospice of the East Bay invites the public to participate in its 25th annual Tree of Lights ceremonies to be held throughout Contra Costa in November and December. Each light on every tree is symbolic of a life and will shine in honor or memory of a beloved friend or family member. Please join any of the commemorative ceremonies to enjoy music, poetry, remembrances by family members and friends of Hospice, and the special moment when the tree lights up. • WALNUT CREEK: 1511 Mt. Diablo Blvd., behind Va de Vi Restaurant ~ Saturday, November 12, 5PM (Holiday program begins at 3PM, reception following) ~ Dedicated to Paul Valle-Riestra • DANVILLE/SAN RAMON: Town Meeting Hall - 201 Front Street, Danville ~ Friday, November 18, 5:30PM (Reception to follow) • ROSSMOOR: Creekside Clubhouse,1010 Stanley Dollar Drive, Walnut Creek ~ Monday, November 28, 5PM (Reception to follow) ~ Dedicated to Erica Weingarten • BLACKHAWK: Blackhawk Rd. at Blackhawk Dr. ~ Friday, December 2, 5PM • ALAMO: Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo ~ Wednesday, December 14, 12:15PM Proceeds from Tree of Lights ceremonies benefit our communities and the patients and families in the care of Hospice of the East Bay. To sponsor a tree or to make a suggested donation of $25 per light, visit www.hospiceeastbay.org or send a tax-deductible check to Hospice of the East Bay, at 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Please note which tree you are choosing to buy a light for and the name of the person being remembered or honored. For further information, you can call (925) 887-5678.

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 15

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Mustang Lightning took third in the prestigious 2011 Santa Cruz Classic, by beating SASC 2-1 in the consolation final, avenging an earlier 5-1 loss to SASC in the tournament. Pictured are- Top Row: Shannon Newman, Jill Caple, Katie Price, Molly Kolander, Katie Peterson, Julia Wolford, and Sarah Aus. Middle Row: Gracie Westgate, Lauren Birnbaum, Lauren Wallace, and Riley Gray. Bottom Row: Maggie Hensley, Robbie Munk, Courtney Pulver, and Megan Bjeldanes. Coaches, Mark Westgate, Brad Peterson, Eric Wolford, and Sean Price .

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Mustang Tigers Division 3 U12 Girls NorCal Region 3 / 4 League Champions Mustang Tigers had an undefeated season with 7 wins, 1 tie, and only 2 goals against. From top left: Coach Mark Racioppo, Leah Dorst, Claire Whitten, Kayla Rivera, Sara Jimenez, Emily Allen, Coach Gary Reichhold, Head Coach Richard Northing, Madison Murphy, Erika Wheeler, Morgan Jamanti, Bailee Burke, Julia Racioppo, Hannah Connelly, Natalie Yates, Emily Ferbert, Amy Reichhold, Poppy Northing. Missing – Coach Randy Wheeler. Photo Courtesy of Carrie Rivera.

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Your Community Opportunity By Nathan Greene (USAF), Commander, VFW Post 75 YOU have the opportunity to make a difference by naming a portion of the Veterans Memorial building or donating towards a permanent plaque honoring your family or a Veteran. The 85-year-old building is being renovated and expanded for Veterans and community activities. The last surviving WWI Veteran, Frank Buckles, recently died at age 110. About 1,000 WWII Veterans pass away every day. Those from the Korean conflict and all conflicts since are also leaving us, many without the help available through Veterans’ services and the Veterans Administration. These services will now be available in the finished building. Veterans’ buildings throughout the United States were built with the commitment to serve Veterans in perpetuity. Most Veterans are either retired or on disability with limited incomes. Funding the Veterans portion of this over eight million dollar construction finds us presently short of our goal by about two million dollars. Please consider a sizable tax deductible donation towards this project. You can learn more and make a donation by visiting www. srvVeteransHall.org or by calling our Veterans office at (925) 362-9806. Thank you.

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Page 16 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Art in Everyday Life

So, where do you start looking for art to fill your gift list for family, friends, and favorite clients? The answer is simple. A thriving community of artist-run, and By Tony Michael Vecchio artist-supported galleries around our area exhibit an excellent selection of local, Already, the Halloween fun is over and it’s time to affordable, and creative artwork. From paintings to pottery, and from sculpture start thinking about the holiday season of Thanksgiving, and etchings to textile arts, the ideal gift of art is available, and it can fit your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and then the New Year. budget as well as add a touch local flavor to the home and office environment of For many of us, this is a favorite time of year, when we your intended recipient. I suggest you start your search locally, at any of several look forward to spending good times with family and excellent galleries in Danville, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek. If you want to expand friends, enjoying holiday foods and treats, and, of course, your search, then check out some of the many fine galleries in Napa, Benicia, sharing gifts with friends and family. When we give Emeryville, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. We live in an area rich with gifts to people we care about, everyone wants to give a dynamic variety of contemporary art and crafts that will give you a wonderful something unique, one-of-a-kind, and memorable. So, when it comes to finding a selection of functional and decorative artwork to choose from. personal gift for a special celebration during the holidays, a gift of art is a thoughtful I feel so passionate about the lasting memories of giving original art for special and lasting way to show that you care. And, whether your gift-giving budget is $20 occasions and the holidays, that I’ve put together a list of my favorite local galor $200 a person, you’ll be able to find an exclusive piece of artwork for them to leries where you can view a diverse collection of impressive art in order to find treasure every day of the year. When someone unwraps a gift of original art, they the ideal gift. If you email me at my address below, I’ll send you my list with the recognize immediately the time and effort you spent in choosing it, and they will gallery addresses and other informative comments. know that it comes from your heart. If you’re wondering exactly what kind of art to buy for someone, think about the personal interests, hobbies, and lifestyle of the person you are buying for. Everyone has favorite places and activities they enjoy and find comfort and pleasure in. That will help guide you to the appropriate medium and subject matter to look for. Consider, for example, a handmade scarf, hat, or jewelry for the fashionista, a painting of an iconic landscape for the traveler, some serving pottery for the party hostess, or a photograph of our country’s y’s natural n wonders for the hiker. It’s fairly easy, and fun, when you think about the many options available. I suggest that you establish a budget for each person you want to buy art for. Then, it’s just a matter of locating the appropriate artwork that fits your budget and your recipient’s personality. Most galleries list prices for all art, either alongside the art on the walls or on a separate gallery list at the counter. And, often, galleries will have additional pieces by any given artist on site and available, often in a range of price points. Along with the satisfaction of finding a truly personal gift, you can have the additional creative fun of making a little note, to go along with your gift, telling the person why you chose this particular gift for them. Or better yet, just like gifting a book, handwrite a small note on the back of the artwork. This will capture a moment in time, becoming a lasting, timeless memory of the occasion and year. Other local art happenings in November: The Village Theatre Art Gallery’s current exhibition “Surfaces: Selections from the California Fiber Artists Group,” opens Nov.10 and runs through Dec.15. There will be an Art Chat: Contemporary Fiber Practices on Nov. 16 7-9pm, and this presentation will include interesting slides, sample work, demos, and Q&A time. The Alamo-Danville Artists’ Society’s latest exhibition of all new work by member artists, “Artful Treasures,” continues through Jan. 08 at the Blackhawk Art Gallery in Blackhawk Plaza. Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 Sunday 11 to 5 Closed Monday Tony Michael Vecchio writes about visual art and style. If you have any comments, Danville 925.648.0293 Alamo 925.820.8492 contact him at tonymvecchio@gmail.com. View his collage and assemblage work at 3426 Camino Tassajara 3189 Danville Boulevard etsy.com/shop/WabiSabiDaddi.

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 17

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Page 18 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Life in the Alamo Garden Spruce Up the Tired Garden By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059 Let’s talk Tired Gardens! You know what I’m talking about. You look out into your Alamo garden with a huge sigh and see uninspired plantings that you have looked at for years. The gardener continues to prune plantings that are clinging to the edge of survival. Once glorious flowering shrubs and perennials have been reduced to woody stalks that seem to suffice because they are still alive. It may be a single small area or it could be the balance of your front and back yards, but something needs to be done. What do you do when your garden is tired? In some cases it is wise to design a new Master Plan and start anew, and in other cases it makes sense to “spruce up.” Instead of bulldozing the entire garden, you can “spruce up” what you have! The fundamental criteria for a “spruce up” are that you are happy with the basic functionality of your hardscape and garden layout. Maturity brings radical changes to landscapes that are often welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees finally provide shade cover and shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs have become overgrown, hiding the house and blocking good views. These changes give cause for a “spruce up” although the overall context of a “well-designed” landscape may still prevail.

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Within the life of your Alamo home, an owner’s uses will change for many reasons; kids grow-up or a family matures and changes. Lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families had no time to work in the garden but are now retired and have time to play. This brings a whole new reason for the landscape to be spruced up. These changes call for careful consideration and should be well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Updating landscape projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. In addition to our full spectrum of landscape design services, we offer garden consultations that cover a wide range of solutions for sprucing up an existing landscape. Our consultation service is intended to provide clients with simple and doable solutions that satisfy their need for a beautiful and inspiring garden without the need of a master plan. Our basic consultation includes a site visit to assess the condition of your garden; we provide practical recommendations for planting, irrigation, drainage and soil problems. Whether you are tired of a small planting bed or your whole yard, we can provide solutions to “spruce up” your tired garden. Especially in today’s economic climate, in many cases it makes sense to “spruce up” your tired Alamo garden instead of completely gutting it. Consultations for sprucing up may reach beyond just the planting and may include solutions for updating hardscape elements; sitting areas, benches and seat walls, arbors and trellises, play courts and kid zones, water features and sculptures, etc. Adding dramatic landscape lighting or adding colorful pots and décor around the entry for the holidays can make all the difference to inspire a tired garden. Like the design of a new landscape project, a garden “spruce up” should be well thought out and planned before executing. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Whether you are interested in a “spruce up” or Master Plan, now is a great time to design and execute your proj-

ect; while fall and winter set in think ahead to spring and be ready to implement your project so you can enjoy your yard during the summer months. G a r d e n ing Quote of the Month: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. - Melody Beattie If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

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Fall Pruning

Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 19

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Dawn King

Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them Bookkeeping Services against winter storms. There are three kinds of tree failure: Full-charge bookkeeping services. 20 years’ experience. branch, column, and entire tree. Judicious pruning reduces the • QuickBooks Setup • Cash Flow Planning likelihood of all three kinds of failure. Selective removal of • A/R, A/P, Bill Payment • Online Remote Services weight from leggy branches makes it much less likely that a • Bank Reconciliation • Paperless Office Solutions • Financial Statements branch would fall, causing injury or damage to property. It takes www.DawnKingBookkeeping.com a lot of “in tree” experience to identify branches with weak crotches and/or with unsafe weight 925.933.0553 distribution. Thinning the canopy to reduce friction from the wind greatly reduces the odds of a column breaking or of the entire tree falling over. When done correctly, a tree pruned for safety should still look natural, even after 30% of its foliage is removed. Many evergreens, such as cedars, cypresses, and redwoods, and many species of deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in this time of year. Late fall and early winter are by far the best times to prune pines. Unless there are compelling safety reasons, Monterey pines should only be pruned between October 15th and February 15th. The timing for pruning is restricted because sap from pruning cuts attracts bark beetles that are destructive to pines. These beetles become dormant during the fall and winter months. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly common fungal disease that disfigures pine trees, and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy, it probably suffers from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of a diseased tree, prune out the infected tips before February 15th. Now is also a good time, if you haven’t already, to make your landscape more fire safe. It is not uncommon for the East Bay to experience hot, dry, and gusty winds in the fall due to sinking air from the bay combining with inland high-pressure systems. The Oakland Hills fire of 1991 occurred on October 20th, and its precursor, the 1923 Berkeley Fire, started on September 27th. Removing dead wood, breaking up fire ladders, and limbing vegetation back from your home AT can greatly improve the chances of your home surviving a wildfire. Brende & Lamb knows how to fire prune your landscape in a way that improves fire safety, without sacrificing the natural aesthetic. Clearing some under-story trees and removing dead wood usually enhances the natural feel of a landscape by making it look more like a mature forest. Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant has a natural growth pattern, and our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape given the plant by nature. Within the bounds of what is healthy for each species, Brende & Lamb works to make trees as beautiful as possible. Our trimmers are well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic flow inherent in tree forms. One form is weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. In some species, such as the Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the Coast Live Oak bend and twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and flow. When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye; a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub has been reduced in this way, it’s difficult to detect the cuts or tell that the branches have been shortened. If your trees need TLC to protect them against winter winds, or if your property could use a little fire protection, give us a call for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before & after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb (510) 486-TREE (8733). Advertorial

Memories continued from front page Activities include matching a picture with a Christmas Carol. There will also be a treasure hunt to match a popular toy, one that “everyone” had to have or give, with the year or era it was introduced. Santa will be at the Museum on the Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Many other nostalgic items on display are on loan from local Valley residents and include a Winnie the Pooh collection, doll houses, and different Christmas Village scenes. Make Christmas Memories one of your family’s annual traditions. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley (in the restored Danville Train Depot) is located at 205 Railroad Avenue in Danville. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 1-4. Saturdays the Museum is open 10-1. Admission is only $3 for guests and free for Museum members. The Museum Store offers unique gifts, including Vintage Danville, a wonderful book chronicling the history of the San Ramon Valley for over 150 years. Please call (925) 837-3750 or go to www.museumsrv.org for additional information.

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Page 20 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Analyzing the Flows in Your Financial Plan Brought to you by Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron In conjunction with Waldron Wealth Advisors, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.

For most investors—even those with significant wealth—a secure financial future doesn’t simply happen. Instead, it must be carefully crafted to help meet your most important goals and leave nothing to chance. Of course, the future is unpredictable, and your own personal situation changes over time. That makes it all the more challenging to answer the most crucial of financial questions: Are you on track to achieve your financial objectives? As an investor looking to make the smartest possible decisions about your money, you need a comprehensive understanding of your current financial situation and a reliable roadmap of where you’re headed. The key lies in an important but often overlooked component of the financial planning process called cash-flow planning. In short, cash-flow planning helps you determine if you’ll accomplish your goals and live the life you desire. It can give you the knowledge to better control your financial destiny. At a basic level, cash-flow planning is the process of analyzing your annual income sources, such as salary and investment income, against your annual income uses, such as debt, living expenses and taxes—in short, “money in” versus “money out.”

Analyzing Your Personal Balance Sheet Working with your financial planner, you can employ advanced computer modeling to develop “what if” scenarios about your financial future by projecting your cash flow, asset growth potential, taxes, the size of your estate and other relevant financial data over the full length of your life expectancy. This will allow you to complete a series of ‘what if’ situations that are designed to assist you in making intelligent decisions regarding one or a series of objectives. Armed with such knowledge, you can analyze whether your current financial plan is adequate—or whether you and your financial planner need to make any changes to stay on course. You’ll also be well positioned to make financially sound decisions as new needs arise, such as financing an education for a child or grandchild, purchasing a vacation home, or disposing of a highly appreciated

Innocent Spouse Relief Might Protect You The problem with secrets is this: Secrets cause problems. That's especially true when you're married and file a joint tax return, because you may be liable for your spouse's secrets. The reason is something called "joint and several liability," which holds each of you responsible for the tax due on your federal income tax return, as well as any penalties and interest. What if you truly had no idea — and had no reason to know — that your spouse concealed something from you on a return you filed jointly? Are you still liable? In that case, the innocent spouse rule may provide protection. The rule is one of three exceptions to joint and several liability, and you can use it to apply for relief when you meet certain conditions. As an example, suppose your spouse withdrew money from a retirement plan and failed to report the distributions. When you can prove you had no knowledge of the omission of income, innocent spouse relief can reduce your liability for the resulting tax. You apply for innocent spouse relief, as well as the other exceptions to joint and several liability, on "Form 8857, Request for Innocent Spouse Relief." Please call for any assistance you need. It's no secret that we're here to help.

BonnFeeney, LLP Certified Public Accountants 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 150 • Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 314-1891 • Fax (925) 314-3097 www.BonnFeeney.com • Email: info@bonnfeeney.com

asset such as concentrated stock or real estate. Consider the ways cash-flow planning can enhance just a few elements of your overall financial plan: Retirement planning. Cash-flow planning analysis allows you to estimate the growth of your overall net worth each year, based on the specific financial strategies you use or are planning to use, as well as the impact of taxes and inflation. You and your financial planner can evaluate that information to assess if you’re saving and building wealth fast enough to help reach retirement on schedule and in the way that you envision. Likewise, cash-flow analysis will enable you to create the optimal retirement income distribution plan built around your specific needs to help ensure you don’t outlive your savings. Debt management. As the asset side of your balance sheet grows, so too may the liabilities side. Cash-flow planning analysis can help clarify the long-term impact of your debt and expenditures. This exercise can help lead you to new, more cost-effective strategies for managing your liabilities and freeing up cash for more effective and profitable uses. Estate planning. Without proper planning, estate taxes may significantly erode much of the estate you plan to leave to your heirs or to charities. But the cash-flow-planning process can help your heirs avoid unpleasant surprises in the future by estimating your estate tax burden and other related costs. Your financial planner can work with you to implement estate tax reduction strategies that give you maximum control over the disposition of your assets. Business succession planning. If you are an entrepreneur, the decision to keep or sell your firm can significantly affect the strength of your cash flow and overall net worth. By using techniques to develop multiple “what if” scenarios, you’ll be well positioned to make the most informed business-succession decision possible—one that reflects your needs, those of your family, and those of any partners or employees you wish to include in the process. Regardless of your goals, the process of cash-flow planning can provide you with the roadmap you need to make informed, confident decisions regarding your wealth and your financial plan. If you have previously reviewed your cash flow, consider conducting a new analysis based on updated information. If you haven’t yet, now is the time to run the analysis. Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, call 925-659-0383 or email peter.waldron@lfg.com. Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron Jr. are registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Waldron Wealth Advisors, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. . This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advertorial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CRN201105-2054273

George Komsky Performance to Support “The Fallen Heroes” On November 19th at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco at 8PM, local Bay Area tenor George Komsky will be performing his second solo concert in San Francisco. George is a graduate of Monte Vista High and UCLA, and he has toured worldwide with the smash-hit show Riverdance and The Twelve Irish Tenors and was a semi-finalist on the inaugural season of America’s Got Talent in 2006 where judge Piers Morgan called him “the best male singer in the competition.” He won UCLA’s vocal scholarship and is a protégé of the esteemed Seth Riggs, vocal coach to the late Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand. George Komsky Live in San Francisco will feature a night of Opera, Pop Opera, and Neapolitan songs, as well as a special musical tribute to our Fallen Heroes. The show will be a fundraiser for Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes, a non-profit corporation that supports the families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty in California. George is an ambassador for the organization and has also made his talents available for funeral services involving line-of-duty deaths. For information please visit www.georgekomsky.com and www.youTube.com/ georgekomsky. Learn more about The Fallen Heroes at http://thefallenheroes.org/Fallen/.

A Taste of France Books & Beaujolais, a Taste of France in Lafayette, will be held at the Lafayette Library Community Hall. It will begin with samples of Beaujolais wine and light appetizers, followed by a discussion with author Ellen Sussman about her new book, French Lessons, and book recommendations by Ron Shoop, a representative from Random House. There will be a drawing for prizes, including a bag of French-themed books. Tickets are $25 each, with proceeds benefitting Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library adult literacy program. Send a check payable to Project Second Chance, Inc., 1750 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 or for payment by credit card call (925) 938-7250.

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Case Study on Avoiding Unintended Consequences By Robert J. Silverman, Esq. This month’s article features the same hypothetical families as last month’s article. But this time, you’ll see how careful planning enables them to avoid the harsh unintended consequences that resulted from their poor planning.

Hypothetical families and facts: Family #1: Judy has two adult children, John and Jane. Judy’s primary assets are a $1 million home, with no mortgage; and a $200,000 bank account. Family #2: Bob has two adult children, Bill and Betty. Bob’s primary asset is his $1 million 401K. Judy and Bob married, lived in Judy’s home, and largely maintained separate assets. They download basic Will forms from the internet and signed them. Judy’s Will stated all her assets would go to her children, in equal shares, and Bob’s Will stated his assets would go to his children, in equal shares. A) Judy took out a home equity credit line, adding Bob to the title as a “joint tenant,” as required by the bank. B) For convenience, Judy added her son, John, as a signer on her bank account. C) Bill and Betty are the beneficiaries designated on Bob’s 401K.

Alamo Today ~ November 2011- Page 21 plan prudently. One such tool is life insurance. It can allow the desired amount and type of assets to be made available on the first spouse’s death so that both the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse’s children are taken care of. For example, Judy might prefer to leave Bob a “life estate” in her house (so he is not displaced by John and Jane, and he is not solely dependent on his 401K), but she may not want her children to wait until Bob dies to receive the bulk of their inheritance. If she purchases life insurance to go to her children, this creates an opportunity to accomplish both of her goals. Likewise, Bob might feel more comfortable leaving some or all of his 401K for Judy (in case she needs it to maintain her lifestyle without being forced to sell her house) if he owns a life insurance policy naming his children as beneficiaries. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Shapiro Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@sbllp.com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Please call for a free introductory consultation. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial

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Harsh unintended consequences: 1) Judy’s $1 million house. Joint tenancy titling’s “right of survivorship” (“R.O.S.”) feature trumps Judy’s Will. So, upon Judy’s death, Bob will become sole owner. 2) Judy’s $200,000 bank account. Joint accounts work like joint tenancy. Thus, John will became the sole owner on Judy’s death. 3) Bob’s $1 million 401K. ERISA (federal law governing 401Ks) requires a written spousal waiver for a non-spouse beneficiary designation to be valid. Since Judy never signed a waiver, she is entitled to all of it on Bob’s death.

With Them

my story Continues.

Alternative, efficient planning for Judy and Bob: 1) Judy’s $1 million house. Judy and Bob could work with their attorneys to establish a post-marital agreement, detailing their respective rights and obligations in connection with the house (e.g. regarding current and future occupancy, ownership, liability and expenses). The agreement might state that if Judy dies first, Bob can live in the house and pay all propertyrelated expenses until he moves out permanently or dies, but that he will have no equitable ownership interest; then when Bob moves out or dies, the home will be owned by John and Jane, as Judy wishes. Whether or not they establish a post-marital agreement, Judy and Bob could deed their respective legal interests in the home to a joint living trust (or separate living trusts, if they desired). The home will not be subject to probate in either Judy’s or Bob’s estate. The trust(s) can be drafted to customize Judy and Bob’s arrangements per their wishes. 2) Judy’s $200,000 bank account. By establishing a living trust, and retitling this account in the trust, a successor trustee (trust manager) can be chosen by Judy to quickly and easily access the account on Judy’s incapacity or death. And the trust would dictate that upon Judy’s death, the account will be distributed equally to John and Jane. 3) Bob’s $1 million 401K. Judy can choose to sign and submit a written waiver, and Bob can sign and submit to the institution administering the 401K a proper beneficiary designation (naming Bill and Betty, in equal shares). The above scenario also illustrates added complexity associated with blended family planning, but many tools are available to help such families

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Page 22 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Alamo Improvement Association By Roger Smith, President Great California Shakeout Thursday, October 24th at 10:20AM marked the “Great California Shakeout” practice drill of “Drop” (drop to the ground), “Cover” (take cover under a table or desk), and “Hold On” (hold on to it as if a major earthquake was happening). Nearly nine million Californians participated in this year’s event, the state’s biggest earthquake preparedness drill. Alamo residents had a real opportunity to practice as a series of 4.0 earthquakes occurred in our area at approximately 4PM later that very same day. Fred Turner, Seismic Engineer with the California Seismic Safety Commission states that these drills are important and that most Californians are still unprepared for a major quake. While many participated in these pre-arranged programs at school and at work, families and individuals need to consider an “At home” practice. At home, families should be discussing what might happen if an earthquake shakes the area where they live and have a Family Emergency Plan of action. Don’t be caught without your plan of action! Visit www.Ready. gov for more information.

Contra Costa County’s Community Warning System Contra Costa County’s Community Warning System is a partnership of government, industry, and new media to alert and inform citizens in case of an emergency. Their website advises that the best first protective action, no matter what the hazard or emergency, is to: 1) Shelter yourself, your family, and your pets (if possible) 2) Be prepared to be able to receive as much information as possible from various sources. 3) Listen for notifications on local radio stations (KCBS – 740 AM is one of

Tired and Depressed? It Might Be a Thyroid Problem. By Dr. Michael Ruscio Why do so many people have symptoms of low thyroid function (AKA hypothyroidism), yet their lab tests are normal? They know something is wrong but the doctor says it’s all in their head. A study published in Alternative Medicine Review sheds some light on this subject. (To view this study type ID# 10956378 into the search box at www.pubmed.com). The summary of this study reports there are a few, fairly common factors, that derange thyroid function but do so in such a way that will not be detectable on standard lab tests. Standard lab test usually miss common thyroid problems. This is because most standard tests are checking for major imbalance (think disease), but they miss the minor imbalances that chronically plague many women. The symptoms of low thyroid function are fatigue, high cholesterol, weight gain, cold hands and feet, depression, dry coarse skin and hair, forgetfulness, and always being cold.

Inflammation causes poor thyroid function. A direct relationship was found between inflammation and decreased levels of thyroid hormones. In fact, when healthy subjects were injected with inflammatory compounds they developed symptoms of hypothyroidism. Inflammation is now being recognized as a major contributor to many diseases.

Toxic metals decrease thyroid hormone. It is well know that people toxic with metals like lead or mercury have hypothyroid symptoms. In fact, in another study it was shown that a key thyroid enzyme can decrease in function by 90% after exposure to toxic metals. Heavy metal toxicity is also more common than you would think as power plants and industrial pollution have greatly increased environmental levels.

the best regional weather/news/traffic stations for our area), television broadcasts, and telephone notifications. 4) Purchase a weather radio (in advance). 5) Subscribe to “Alert Services” that send instant text alerts and emails about bad weather, road closing, local emergencies, and more.

Alert Registry You can register to receive alerts at http://cws.cccounty.us. Bookmark this website on your computer, laptop, and smart phone to see a map of current alerts. Follow Contra Costa County Community Warning System, and set your cell phone to receive a text alert. Sign up for Emergency Digital Information System by Email and receive alerts through email at http://edis-by-email.net.

Power Outages Earthquakes can occur at any time of the day or night. Be prepared for the possibility of either and for the possibility that electrical power may be unavailable, as can also happen when winter storms create damage to power lines. Southern California Edison’s website www.sce.com advises that to “stay safe” follow these tips during a power outage: 1) Always try to remain calm. Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy. Never use candles in a power outage. 2) Turn off or disconnect any appliances or electronics devices you were using when the power went out. 3) Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when your power returns. 4) Don’t light a fire indoors, use layers of clothing to stay warm 5) Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to preserve food. 6) Use your flashlight to check circuit breakers and fuses, reset if needed. 7) Use your flashlight to check outside, if you see a power line or utility pole down, STAY AWAY as live power lines can cause serious injury or even result in death. Not a member of AIA? Consider joining and “help us, help you” and the rest of the Alamo community. Visit www.AlamoCA.org for more information and a membership form.

Increased levels of liver toxicity cause hypothyroid symptoms As the toxic burden on the liver increased, less of the active form of thyroid hormone (T3) was made.

Soy may be causing your hypothyroid symptoms Healthy subjects who consumed a high soy diet for three months developed symptoms of hypothyroidism. After returning to a normal diet their symptoms returned to normal. Even as little as 128mg of soy per day caused hypothyroid symptoms in one study performed on a group of women

High levels of stress hormones also caused symptoms of hypothyroidism. This further reinforces what we have all noticed for decades. When some people are under high amount of stress, they tend to gain weight, partially due to the decreased function of the thyroid.

Low calorie diets decreased thyroid function Men who reduced calories a meager 15% below needed intake showed an unfavorable shift in thyroid hormone levels. How does this work? It’s a prehistoric survival mechanism. When food was scarce (AKA eating low calories) the body would slow down its metabolic rate to keep you alive. The slower your metabolism, the less fat you burn. So what can you do? Performing a cleanse is a great way to begin. I would recommend doing so under the supervision of a doctor so that you have the resources needed to address any of the above in more detail. In our office we have developed a fun and effective cleanse program, our award winning 28 Days to Health cleanse. I invite you to stop by the office to find out what approach is right for you. For more info, visit Dr. Ruscio’s YouTube page, www.youtube.com/michaelruscio, view his recent newsletter, http://conta.cc/oAVgXB, or email DrRuscio@movepastyourpain.com. Dr. Michael Ruscio is the director of Functional Medicine at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210. Advertorial

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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Diabetes Awareness Month Since November is national Diabetes Awareness Month, this is a good place and time to discuss a very difficult condition. Because diabetes is a vascular disorder (affecting blood vessels), it can affect every organ and tissue in the body including liver, kidneys, muscles, and eyes. Obviously, I will only discuss the eyes here, but keep in mind diabetes is a disease of the entire body. For many patients, a change in their vision is the first sign of poorly regulated blood sugar. As the blood sugar levels in the body rise and fall, the prescription usually follows. I often tell these patients that their blood sugar needs to be in a relatively confined zone to be able to accurately prescribe glasses for them. Assuming there is no bleeding in the retina, the main cause for this is a swelling of the lens. The lens swells in diabetics which causes it to change shape, and therefore it will cause a change the prescription. Normally, a patient will still be able to see 20/20, but there will be a large change in the prescription from the prior year. In patients where there is a large unexplained change in prescription without any other risk factors, the number one assumption is diabetes until proven otherwise. Since the eyes have the third highest oxygen requirement of all organs in the body (behind only the heart and brain), it has an extensive supply of blood vessels. In conditions like diabetes, these blood vessels can start to function poorly and leak blood and fluid into the retina. This fluid accumulation can lead to decreased vision, especially when it is located around the macula and/

Stress and Other Anxieties By Estee Goren, M.A. Many of us experience symptoms of tension and stress such as worry, insomnia, headaches, high blood pressure, depression, and anger. Some people who are unsuccessful at managing their stress and anxiety resort to drugs, food, or alcohol in order to soothe their pain. Others will take their frustration out on their family and friends. While there are a variety of approaches to dealing with stress and anxiety, it is important to recognize that it is possible to take charge over our life and learn how to calm our mind, relax our body, and turn around self-defeating behavior. Lasting recovery is achieved only when we are willing to make fundamental changes to our attitudes, habits, and commitments. Once we decide to deal with our situation, accepting full responsibility can be very empowering. If we accept that we are the one who is maintaining our condition, we recognize that we are also the one with the power to change it. This takes courage, dedication, and motivation. Are you willing to take on the challenge and step out of your comfort zone? Are you ready to be open to new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving? Both physical and emotional exercises can be used to decrease anxiety. Relaxation techniques include abdominal breathing, deep relaxation, coping affirmations, guided imagery, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and physical exercise. Some people have the tendency to suppress their feelings. However, it is imperative that we identify our feelings and needs, and learn to express and communicate them. It is also important that we practice setting limits, and learn to say “no” to unwanted demands and requests from others. Assertive behavior develops selfrespect and self-worth. It is also helpful to pay attention to negative self-talk such as worry, self criticism, and perfectionism, and to transform it into positive and supportive self-talk.

Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 23 or the optic nerve. Diabetic retinopathy (a diabetic altering of the retinal blood vessels) is the main condition that needs to be checked thoroughly at the annual examination. Because of this, diabetic patients should be dilated annually, regardless of age and medical control of the diabetes. Since the retina is the only place in the body where the blood vessels can be observed without an invasive procedure, it gives a very good indication on how well (or poorly) the blood sugar levels are being regulated. If the retina looks healthy, then for the most part you can assume the other organs in the body are also fine. If there is bleeding and/or fluid leaking in the retina, the blood sugar is not controlled as well as you thought or is poorly controlled. Depending on the location and severity of the bleeding, a retinal consult might be necessary. Regardless, a letter is always sent to your primary doctor outlining my findings and any further visits or treatment that is necessary. Diabetes is a very serious condition and should be treated as such. I always tell my patients to follow-up with their medical doctor and to adhere to all treatment prescribed by your doctor. Annual dilated eye exams should be conducted to monitor vision and eye health for all diabetics. Depending on the findings, further visits might be required, but a visit to the eye doctor needs to be done at least annually. For all of our diabetic patients, we look forward to seeing you for your next annual dilated exam to ensure good vision and eyes that are free from any diabetic complications. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at, www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Advertorial Alamo Optometry Facebook page. The realization that you are the one responsible for how you feel is freeing. It is one of the most important keys to living a happy, joyful, and fulfilling life. Once you identify the specific sources of stress in your life, you can use various techniques and develop your own stress-management strategy to deal with your specific situation. Happiness is a matter of choice, and that choice is yours. Estee Goren, M.A., is a Therapist and Coach working with teens, couples, and adults. She specializes in relationships, life transitions, marriage and family issues, and personal development. Her goal is to help others gain a new perspective, overcome personal challenges, and improve their overall well-being. For more information or to schedule a free introductory session, please visit www.EsteeCounseling.com or call (925) 399-1177. Advertorial

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Page 24 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

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Time to Winterize the Skin By Dr. Kelly Hood Along with the car and the house, we need to winterize the largest organ of the body, the skin. Here are some things to do to keep your skin at its’ best during the upcoming cold months.

Moisturize The most important skin care tip for winter is to moisturize. Cold air and dry room heaters combine to dry the skin. Itching can ensue. For Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette best results, apply moisturizer within three minutes of showering. New moisturizing rinses are now available that can be applied in the shower while you are still wet. The best moisturizers contain urea and lactic acid - they moisturize and exfoliate. Beware of deodorants and creams that contain alcohol, as they can be drying. Also avoid perfumed products, perfume contains alcohol.

Sunscreen Although there are fewer hours of sunlight during the winter, damage from the sun is still a concern. Sunscreen should have UVB and UVA protection with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month By Gigi Chen, MD This year, more than 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and nearly 38,000 will die of the disease. It is estimated that more than 200,000 patients worldwide die of pancreatic cancer each year. 95% of pancreatic cancers are exocrine tumors because they begin in the cells that produce enzymes for digestion. Less than 5% are endocrine tumors. This disease has claimed the lives of many public figures including actor Patrick Swayze, opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and recently, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Apple, Inc., Steve Jobs. Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to diagnose. Many patients tend to have vague abdominal pain or back pain for a few months before the diagnosis is made. Other symptoms include weight loss, jaundice (yellowness of skin), and blood clots. Risk factors can include smoking, physical inactivity, chronic pancreatitis, and family history. Selected mutations involving breast cancer such as BRCA mutation and hereditary pancreatitis have been associated with familial pancreatic cancer. For exocrine pancreatic cancer, once it is diagnosed, about 20-25% of cases can be removed with surgery. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment. Chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus radiation are considered after surgery. For pancreatic cancer that is localized but not able to be removed, chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation can be used. Radiation is helpful in controlling pain from tumor invasion. In metastatic disease, chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment. Supportive care, nutrition, and pain control are all important in treating pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor is a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Surgery to remove the cancer is a common treatment. At this time, there is not a standard treatment for advanced neuroendocrine tumor. Two targeted drugs, Affinitor and Sutent, were recently approved by FDA to treat advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. We would encourage clinical trial participation to help us find better treatment options for this rare tumor. Lifestyle modifications that can decrease pancreatic cancer risk include consuming diets rich in fruits and vegetables, keeping blood sugar under control, and maintaining a healthy body weight as well as being physically active. Gigi Chen, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek/ Rossmoor. For more information, call 925-677-5041 or go to www.DiabloValleyOncology.md where you will find Northern California’s most comprehensive online cancer library. Advertorial

Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 25 The perfect combination is a moisturizer with sunscreen and tint. Remember that the sun’s rays are reflected off the shiny surface of snow and ice and can be as harmful as the summer sun.

Remove Brown and Red Spots Now that it is not so hot and sunny, it is time to improve the appearance of your skin. Several modalities are available to treat brown and red discoloration. Rosiness and red lines (telangiectasias) are commonly treated with the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser. This laser specifically targets brown and Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo red pigment so as not to injure normal skin. Resurfacing laser treatments can improve tone and texture of brown areas by gently removing the top layer of affected skin. Cryosurgery (liquid nitrogen) can be used to spot treat brown marks. Chemical peels and prescription bleaching agents are also an option. To have your skin evaluated by a board certified dermatologist and have a treatment specifically designed for your skin, contact Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com or Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, Advertorial suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, shanny.derm@gmail.com.

Cancer Support Community The following events are held at the Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. The events are free to attend, but reservations are required. For information, call (925) 933-0107.

Frankly Speaking About Coping with the Cost of Cancer Care Saturday, November 5th from 10AM – 1PM This program addresses the psychological impact of navigating insurance and financial systems, and often, incurring debt. Learn about resources available to people in treatment for cancer to help them deal with the numerous and complex challenges of managing the cost of cancer care and negotiating through employment and disability issues. Facilitated by Anya Prince, Esq, a staff attorney with the Cancer Legal Resource Center. For cancer patients, their caregivers, and friends.

Ask the Doctor About Multiple Myeloma Tuesday, November 8th from 6PM – 8PM Learn about treatment options, and have your questions answered by a multiple myeloma specialist. A long-time multiple myeloma survivor will speak as well. Presented by Jeffrey Wolff, MD, a multiple myeloma specialist at UCSF Medical Center. For cancer patients, their families, and friends.

Frankly Speaking About Lung Cancer Tuesday, November 15th from 6PM – 8PM This workshop covers the latest treatments for lung cancer. Side effects, side effect management, and tools to overcome the social and emotional challenges of the diagnosis will be discussed. Your questions about lung cancer will be addressed to help you manage the disease more successfully. Presented by Wilson Tsai, MD, co-director of John Muir Cancer Institute’s Thoracic Oncology Program. For cancer patients, their families, and friends.

Frankly Speaking About Colorectal Cancer Tuesday, November 29th from 6PM – 8PM Learn about current colorectal cancer treatments, symptom/side effect management, strategies, the social and emotional challenges of the diagnosis, and survivorship issues specific to people with colorectal cancer. Presented by Piyush Srivastava, MD a medical oncologist with Kaiser Permanente.

The Many Faces of Ovarian Cancer Come and experience the Many Faces of Ovarian Cancer, an event focusing on one of the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers in women. Join an engaging panel of medical experts, as they offer insight into the latest information on treatment options, family history, and early detection. We we’ll also explore the unique needs and issues of ovarian cancer survivors. Cancer specific nutrition will be discussed with an emphasis on holiday cooking. The event will be held November 15 from 6-8PM at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Art and Science Room. To register, please call (925) 677-5041.

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Page 26 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

If You Can’t Tone It, Tan It! By Brandi Geiger MS, CMT I don’t know about you, but my cellulite looks better tan than pasty white. Yes, it’s true, I wasn’t born with perfect genes, and I have a little in my rear view. That’s what happens when I don’t follow my 80/20 rule of clean eating--it’s been more like 60/40. The overindulging this summer caused me to borrow my husband’s shoehorn to get into my “other” jeans... hhhmmm, I guess it wasn’t the dryer. Dang! So it’s back to living what I teach--eating clean, exercising harder, sweating my guts out in our new infrared sauna, and NOW getting a glowing organic tan that makes those dimples disappear. It’s like getting an instant bum lift! I love it. Dimples are suppose to be on my other cheeks. Did you know that on October 9, 2011 California Governor Edmund Brown signed a bill into law that will prohibit the use of indoor tanning devices for all Californians under the age of 18? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, on a daily basis more than one million people tan in a tanning salon. Nearly 28 million people tan indoors in the United States annually. Of these, 2.3 million are teens. “The short-term, bronzing effects of tanning bed use are simply not worth the long-term consequences of increased skin cancer risk and premature aging,” says noted dermatologist Dr. Joshua Fox. The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency of Research on Cancer has declared ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and artificial sources, including tanning beds and sun lamps, as known carcinogens (a cancer-causing agent). Studies have found a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma in those exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning. Evidence from studies has shown that exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as damages the DNA in the skin cells and can lead to premature skin aging, immune sup-

pression and eye damage. Funny how much money people spend to reverse premature aging when we are the ones causing some of it. But not to worry, you don’t have to be pasty white like me or cause yourself premature aging. My business partner, esthetician Jennifer Cross, and I are now offering natural and organic “Spray di Sole Sunless Tanning” which is odor-free, alcohol-free, perfume-free, preservative-free, paraben-free, oil-free, and vegan. It will leave you moisturized, bronzed, and glowing. Spray di Sole sunless tanning formula has no scent and dries quickly. It contains DHA, which is a natural tanning agent derived from sugar, that reacts with the amino acids in the skin to produce a rich, completely natural looking tan so you don’t come out looking like an Oompa Loompa. Ingredients such as the organic aloe vera soothes and repairs damaged skin. Organic jojoba seed oil is a great herbal skin rejuvenator, and organic green tea leaf extract is an antioxidant, authentic moisturizer, and anti-aging product with a proven history record. Algae extract softens and soothes skin by retaining moisture, and Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, possessing the ability to increase the moisture of the layer and thereby improve surface relief. Vitamin D, the sun vitamin, is added to provide smoother, healthier skin and natural radiance year-round. Hyaluronic acid plumps skin and enhances the volume to create that same firm yet soft and supple skin associated with youth. If you can’t tone it, tan it for your next holiday party, dance, vacation, special occasion, or just because. Gather your friends, and have a spray tan party. It’s fun to get toned and tan together! Call (925)984-9259 or email fitmindnbody@gmail.com for more information or to make an appointment. My office is located at 55 Oak Ct. #130 in Danville. You can find me on Facebook or Twitter at Fit Mind n Body for healthy tips and tricks. Give your friends a healthy glow for the holidays with a Spray di Sole Gift Certificate. We have many great services as gifts for your friends. Visit www. fitmindnbody.com for of all of my services or www.skinsavvydanville.com for Jennifer’s list of services. Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well Advertorial

Horse continued from front page

ADAS Meeting with Guest Artist Ruth Hussey

Suffering from spina bifida, Gary needed six people to hold him in place at first, but he now sits tall in the saddle. Gary laughs and raises both hands responding to a verse of “If you’re happy and you know it.” Peggy and co-founders Dave West and Katy Kempton talk with parents to review goals after each session. They share observations on each other’s students. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute their ideas. Owner Cathy Cerro’s generosity gives Reins in Motion a home at Rancho Cerro, a full-service equestrian center in Livermore. James, a PATH Certified Instructor, turned to therapeutic riding when traditional therapies failed to help her son. “As soon as I had him on a horse, I had his full attention.” Reins in Motion has been chosen as the 2011 Santa Charities Project (http://santascharities.org/). Founded in 1969, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) now the Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding (PATH) provides training and guidelines for equine-assisted programs around the globe. Knowledge essential to teaching therapeutic horsemanship runs the gamut from how to interact with the autistic brain to how to strengthen the core of a cerebral palsy patient. Excellent equestrian skills are only one of the many requirements. Caregiver for a bright, outgoing teenager confined to her wheelchair as a spastic quadriplegic, Crystal Marks believes five months of therapeutic riding did more for her charge than 15 years of physical therapy. Aileen was face down on the horse’s mane when she started riding at Hoof Prints on the Heart. Karena Smith, Aileen’s PATH Certified Instructor, reports: “After a few months, Aileen’s core strength has dramatically improved and she now sits upright and balanced on the horse, her legs have relaxed and stretched down and her muscle tone, breathing and stamina have improved. She rarely needs to rest over the 30 minute period and now carries on a conversation with her volunteers during her ride, interspersed with humor and laughter!” Five-year old Eliana was enchanted by the horses she encountered on the beach at Daly City. Her mother, who heard about Hoof Prints from friends, watches proudly as Eliana concentrates on using words to describe and choose objects from Karena’s basket. Donette Phillips, Executive Director, hopes someday Hoof Prints will be able to integrate a full range of therapies at the Hagemann Ranch

Ruth Hussey is the guest artist for the Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS) meeting on Tuesday, November 8th at 7:30PM. The meeting will be held at the Alamo Women’s Club located at 1401 Danville Boulevard, Alamo. The public is invited to attend at no charge. Ruth is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area and an artist since childhood. For more than forty years she has concentrated on perfecting her skills with pastels, specializing in portraiture, figure and still life paintings. Her demonstration will be a profile portrait of a very colorful lady with white hair and awesome blue eyes. She will discuss lighting the model and proceed to demonstrate the pastel painting process in an informative, illustrated lesson. The Alamo Danville Artists’ Society, founded in 1977, is a non-profit organization providing monetary contribution in support of art programs in the San Ramon Valley School District. Membership includes artists and patrons who appreciate the visual arts. ADAS hosts distinguished and nationally known guest artists at the monthly meetings. For more information visit adas4art.org.

See Horse continued on page 28

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Stroke Season By Dr. Michael Nelson The sky is different. The days are getting shorter. To a neurologist, this means that stroke season is approaching. You might think that I have lost my mind, but there are more strokes over the winter than there are over the summer. There are many reasons why this occurs. The way I think of it is people get sick with a cold or flu, get dehydrated, their blood becomes thick, and whoops, here comes a stroke. A stroke is a blockage of blood flow to part of the brain which then becomes permanently damaged. This can be a vessel closing on itself (thrombotic) or a tiny blood clot within the artery (embolic). For those of you who are familiar with someone who had a stroke, having a stroke can be more concerning than death itself. I have heard from many of my patients that they fear being a burden on the family or having a severe disability. There are a wide range of symptoms after a stroke from none to requiring nursing home care. This is because we do have vacant real estate in our brain. Sometimes I will tell the family it’s like a bomb going off in western Nebraska or downtown San Francisco; which one is going to do more damage? Fortunately, there are some treatments for stroke. The most important treatment for stroke is avoiding one in the first place. Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are the most important risk factors for stroke. Do these sound familiar? It’s the same for having a heart attack. Age is important too, but there’s only one alternative to continuing to age. As neurologists, we order additional tests for anyone who has a stroke when they are less than 60 years old. Diet and exercise are important too, but this is mainly due to reducing the cardiovascular risk factors listed above. Strokes are medical emergencies. I still have patients who do not go to the ER until they can’t make it to work on Monday morning. Or they thought their arm would just start working again. At the other extreme,

Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 27 I have had patients drive themselves to the ER when they were having a stroke. Please don’t do this. The other drivers going down Ygnacio Valley Road will appreciate it. Unfortunately, some patients are completely unaware that they have had a stroke. A stroke affecting the left body or causing vision loss commonly causes this phenomenon. Hopefully, there is someone around who can call 911. There is a medication called t-PA which is a clot buster that can be given within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. Stroke symptoms are rapid onset (seconds to minutes) and can include one sided weakness/numbness, language difficulty, dizziness, vision loss, incoordination, swallowing difficulty, and/or slurred speech. Please call 911 if these symptoms are present. The reason for hospital admission for stroke is to rapidly determine the cause and start appropriate treatment. If you were to stay home, then there is a very high chance of another stroke or TIA within six weeks of the first event. You will have multiple blood tests, heart tests, and scans of your head. In the age of modern medical care, patients and family members are always very interested in the appearance of the stroke on their brain scan. Neurology is complicated and I have to explain that the most helpful information is how the patient is actually doing. I have seen a very small stroke on the brain scan with a patient that is severely disabled, and I have seen huge strokes with virtually no clinical findings. You will also meet physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to make sure you are safe to go home, and if not, direct the most appropriate therapy. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about stroke. I hope everyone reading this article will escape stroke season all together. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for proper neurological care. Dr. Michael Nelson is a board certified adult neurologist who has been serving general neurology patients in the East Bay for the past nine years. His office is located at 970 Dewing Ave, Suite #300 in Lafayette. He can be reached at (925) 299-9022 to schedule and appointment and can also be found on the web at www.michaelnelsonmd.com. Advertorial

Guard continued from front page in custody for the armed robbery. The Sheriff’s office said that in many of the burglaries, the homes were either left unsecured, or there were no signs of forced entry. The Sheriff's Office would like to offer some crime prevention tips: Residents should always lock their doors, windows, garages and vehicles, consider using a home alarm system, and do not hesitate to call police if you see anyone suspicious. In September, an Alamo resident saw a suspicious person and notified the Sheriff's Office. A Deputy responded and arrested the person for drug offenses. He may be involved in one or more of the burglaries, and the investigation is continuing. Theft from a vehicle is the number one single category of crime in Alamo, with 17 thefts from vehicles reported in the past six months. Thefts were reported all over Alamo, with school parking lots being a frequent location for this crime as well as parking areas next to the trail. If you are parked in a school parking lot or at the trail, the presumption is that the car will be unattended for a certain period of time. Tell your teens who are driving to be sure and lock their cars. If you park at a school, don’t be lulled into complacency because you are so familiar with your child’s school. Lock your car doors, and keep valuables out of sight. In the category of theft, the crime statistics for Alamo show several categories of theft: petty and grand theft from buildings, shoplifting and bad checks to merchants, and new age crimes like credit card fraud and identity theft. The internet has made our lives so much easier in many ways, but it has also been responsible for the fact that a criminal overseas can victimize someone here in Alamo by stealing their identity or credit card. Five bicycles were reported stolen in the six month period. Take heed: make sure your bicycles are locked and secured to an immovable object. If you would like to stay abreast of crime statistics in Alamo, point your browser to www.crimereports.org. Type in your address on the address bar and a map will come up showing crimes near your address. You can go back six months by choosing a custom date range in the dropdown menu. You can register on the website to receive alerts and updates via email.

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Page 28 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Holiday Nutrition Survival Plan When we think about the holiday season, a few holiday parties with the family usually come to mind. In reality, the holidays are often a non-stop free-for-all of holiday parties where we often (over) indulge ourselves. As I tell my clients, we need to have a plan to deal with this madness, just as we need to have plans during the year. I work with my clients and walk them through holiday nutrition strategies. We often look at the schedule of events and role play as if we were in attendance at one. On the day of a party, I encourage my clients to get an extra 15 minutes of aerobic exercise so they can afford a 200 calorie splurge at the party and stay at the same weight. You need to pre-plan your party dining so you don’t arrive starving or unable to resist the urge to overeat. Before you go to a party I suggest you have a good snack such as a cup of hearty soup or cottage cheese to avoid arriving famished. Once you arrive at a party, check out all the offerings, from appetizers to desserts. This can be easily done by nonchalantly cruising through the kitchen and asking the chef or hostess what is planned. At that point you can come up with a strategy to survive this feast with little damage. Plan to have a few appetizers and a small dessert. If it is a sit-down dinner, pile your plate with extra veggies, and request a small portion of side and main dishes. If this is not possible, simply move food around the plate, take small bites, and savor each item slowly. This should not be a time to fill up and stuff yourself. Though we often get wrapped up in the food, holiday parties should be a time to visit and catch up with family members. Focus on “working the room” and having great conversations with each guest rather than just filling up. If there is a buffet, walk down the line one time and notice what’s offered, then decide how to tackle it. Do not just eat salads - eat foods you love, but take smaller portions, and leave room for dessert. Eliminate bread and butter and mashed potatoes; save those calories for brownies or pecan pie! Make sure that

Horse continued from page 26 Xenophon, a PATH Certified Center, was founded in 1993 by Judy Lazarus with one horse and two children. Xenophon moved to the land in Orinda it leases from PG&E in 1996. “Anyone who starts a program does everything,” Judy notes. In August, after three years of planning, the new covered arena opened. Donations of skilled labor and materials supplemented fundraising. Danielle Coburn, Program D i r e c t o r, hates to tell prospective families that the waiting list is two years long. Each year Xenophon holds a Ricky, 14, loves riding at Xenophon. horse show awarding all participants a trophy. “One boy slept with his under his pillow.” Student, Ricky age 14, loves riding at Xenophon. He was all floppy in the saddle when he began at age 6, and last year he managed to ride for the first time without side walkers! Mari Parino, Executive Director, outlines the process of training a therapy horse. Experienced riders evaluate the horse’s ability to bear unbalanced weight, tolerate multiple humans in their personal space and deal with strange objects before introducing them to a disabled rider. Therapy horses come from varied backgrounds. Some are donated. Others are rescued. Some are shared by owners involved with the programs. Volunteers are a huge part of the program at every center. Xeno-

www.yourmonthlypaper.com you eat at least four ounces of protein such as salmon, shrimp, filet, tri-tip, etc. to avoid coming home hungry and totally sabotaging your eating plan. If you chose to drink cocktails, I suggest you alternate consuming the drink with sips of sparkling water to cut your liquid caloric intake in half. What about those wonderful homemade goodies that appear at the office? Again, we have to have a quick plan in place. Consider this. Instead of having a sandwich with chips for lunch, substitute some sliced meat with coleslaw, pickles, or a hearty bowl of soup with a side salad topped by a lite vinaigrette dressing. Afterwards you can enjoy that delicious pumpkin bread someone brought in. If you eat too many goodies at work, the same restraint would apply for the evening meal. I’d suggest a grilled piece of meat with an artichoke and a large serving of asparagus. Essentially, decrease the fat and starch for the meals to make up for the dessert items. This is a sure-fire technique to keep your weight stable. Yes, you have to stay focused, and remember the “whoops” that you had during the day, but you can balance it out. Lastly, how can you serve your holiday guests without going off-track? It is my job to help you come up with delectable menus that will keep you in control with the endless meals you need to prepare for guests. I suggest you have on-hand a big pot of bean soup or chili. Roast some chicken and veggies. Do not overdo the desserts, and keep breads like bagels and loaves of french bread to a minimum. Prepare one or two dessert dishes that will serve your guests and leave no leftovers. You do not want to be left with quantities of foods that call your name! Definitely send home any extra goodies with your guests to remove any temptations. If the holiday season causes you to lose control, I am here to help you maintain your weight or help you continue your success with weight loss. I am glad to inform you that many clients are being reimbursed by their insurance companies for the services I offer. Linda is located in her office in Alamo. She welcomes your call to discuss your nutrition concerns. Please visit www.LindaRD.com for more information, past articles, helpful tips, recipes, and Linda’s blog or call (925) 855-0150. Advertorial phon provides training so that every team functions the same way. Consistency is critical for the horses as well as for the students. Horse handlers need extensive equestrian experience. Side walkers must have patience and strength. Opening March 29, 2011, Leaps & Bounds at Leap of Faith Farms in Walnut Creek is the newest program in our area. Mariah and Jim BradfordUrban realized their dream by purchasing the property. The response of their boarders to the concept of adding a therapeutic riding program was overwhelming. A single e-mail elicited $10,000 in donations. As Executive Director Steve Woods explains, “ If you go into a teenager’s room, the walls are covered with photographs of friends and activities. This program gives our kids photos to post on their walls.” Word-of-mouth alone netted 20 clients and 22 volunteers. SonRise Equestrian Foundation reflects founder Melanie Buerke’s personal experience with the healing power of the horse - as a child when her father deserted the family and as an adult when her mother was battling cancer. While all of the programs described above are non-profits offering scholarships and never turning away a client in need, only SonRise offers services free to every student. In the Saddle SonRise lessons occur at Charles Wilhelm Training in Castro Valley. Brushing, tacking up, and unsaddling their mounts, as they are able, connect the students with their horses. Charlie’s family applauds his success. When he contracted Cerebral Palsy as a baby, they were told he would not survive. “Every day is a gift,” says his father. Happy in the saddle, Charlie asks, “What’s next?” Melanie received both the Jefferson and Threads of Hope Awards in 2010 for her work. Read about additional SonRise programs addressing the needs of youth at risk and children in hospice care, hippotherapy at Xenophon and Leaps & Bounds, programs for veterans and other equineassisted activities at Reins in Motion next month. Websites to visit: ENN Reins in Motion: www.ennetwok.org/RIM, Hoof Prints on the Heart: www.hotharc.org/, Xenophon: www.xenophontrc. org, Leaps & Bounds: www.leapoffaithfarms.com, SonRise Equestrian Foundation: www.sonriseequestrianfoundation.org.

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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 29

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FAQ's on CranioSacral Therapy (CST) By Marchelle Milligan CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a healing modality that is becoming more well known. However, many people still have never heard of it and have many questions. I have provided below some of the top questions I get from clients. 1. What is CST? CST locates restrictions in the body and using a light touch helps to release them. Restrictions can be from compressed bones, tissues, muscle, and scar tissue, to name a few, that cause an imbalance in the body. The restrictions can be from an injury, trauma, overuse or something you were born with. Freeing up these restrictions can relieve headaches, backaches, TMJ, vertigo, anxiety, depression, and much more. 2. What does CST do for headaches? Headaches and migraines are some of the most common complaints we treat with CST. The success rate is upwards of 80-90%. We find the cause of the headache (which could be in any part of the body, not necessarily the head and neck). People can be completely headache free, or they can have a significant reduction in severity and frequency. 3. What about back pain? The success rate is very high for back pain using CST. We specifically work with releasing restrictions in the spine and sacrum to free up movement and decrease pain. 4. Can you help with fluid retention? CST enhances fluid mobility throughout the entire body, therefore it helps fluid retention whether it is due to heart problems, kidney problems, mineral imbalance, or another cause. 5. Why do some people feel worse after treatment? While most people feel better after a craniosacral treatment, there are a few times that the symptoms seem to feel worse. There are many reasons for this type of post-treatment discomfort. One is that the body is re-experiencing a previous trauma or injury as it is releasing from the tissues. Another reason is that the area is coming back to "life" after not having much feeling, and the area is more sensitive. Often, the body had adapted to a malfunction. When we remove

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the adaptation and we get closer to the cause of the problem, the suppressed pain comes back to the surface. In my experience, if people report feeling worse after a treatment, and we dissect the feelings, I usually find that there was some difference in the pain from before the treatment. Maybe it was the intensity of a headache or the duration. Maybe the pain felt a little bit different. I have also found that feeling worse often happens only one time, and subsequent treatments are an improvement in the problem. 6. How can you get results using such a light touch? With CST, we are trying to facilitate the body to make the correction. When you use more than a little force, you may recruit the patient's bodily defenses against your pressure. When the body defends itself, the tissues will tighten in an attempt to preserve the status quo. So, in CST we lighten up to allow the tissues to relax and self-correct without force. 7. Can it help with an injury from years ago? Yes. Because we are looking for the cause of a condition, it doesn't matter how long it has been there. We can still locate it and the allow the body to release it. Sometimes it takes a few more sessions because the body is so used to dealing with the restriction and has learned to function around it. However, I have had cases where pain was relieved on the first visit and never returned. 8. I don't really have a complaint, but can I still get CST? Yes, you can. We believe that CST is wonderful no matter how good you feel because we are helping to balance the central nervous system which enhances every system in your body. 9. How many sessions will I need? Because each person is unique, I cannot say how many sessions you may need. It varies from person to person. However, you will know if we are moving in the right direction within the first three sessions. 10. How much do you charge? The first session lasts one hour and is $75 (I give $15 off the first session). After that, you can choose from a 45minute session for $75, or a one hour session for $90. For more information about Marchelle Milligan and CranioSacral Therapy please visit www.therhythmwithin.org or call (925)286-6237. Marchelle is located at The Alamo Holistic Healing Center in Alamo. Advertorial

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Page 30 - November 2011 ~ Alamo Today

Lasers – A High Tech Approach to Radiant Skin! By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is the scientific definition of a laser, and it is the science that separates and distinguishes a laser’s use in medicine from its role in science fiction. Unlike other spa-type facial treatments or off-the-shelf products from the cosmetic counter, the use of a laser for facial rejuvenation is an FDA-approved and has been scientifically proven to achieve specific results. In fact, facial rejuvenation using laser technology is one of the fastest growing areas of skin care treatment. Everyday normal exposure to the sun, pollution, and other factors in our environment all contribute to the natural aging process. Some of us are also guilty of neglecting to care properly for our skin by forgetting to use a quality sunscreen or not taking the time to moisturize or care for our skin daily. All of these factors bring many patients (both female and male) to my practice for consultations on how to bring back a more youthful appearance along with a desire to repair damage that occurred to their skin. This month’s article will highlight some of the ways these technologies can help you achieve such goals. The Cutera Laser Genesis is a 1064 Nd:YAG laser that provides immediate and long-term results for the patient who suffers from sun damage, fine lines, age spots, hyper pigmentation, and redness (caused by spider veins, rosacea or acne). Laser Genesis improves the appearance of the skin by targeting heat to the sub-dermis, which stimulates collagen formation. This new collagen works to improve a patient’s tone and texture, both immediately and over the next few months. Because this laser targets the deeper dermis and not just the epidermis, it is also safe for darker skin types. A Laser Genesis treatment takes approximately 15 minutes. A series of 4-6 treatments, with one every 5-6 weeks, is recommended for optimal results. Photo-facial treatments, such as those delivered by the Cutera Limelight, an IPL (Intense Pulse Light), is a popular anti-aging regimen to treat fine lines and brown spots. IPL technology produces high intensity light that is pulsed deep into the skin, causing blood vessels in the epidermis to constrict and lessen the appearance of redness and fine lines. Like a laser treatment, IPL also stimulates the body’s natural production of collagen and results in skin that looks smooth and hydrated. IPL can reduce the appearance of pores, lighten brown spots, minimize tiny facial veins, and ease redness caused by acne and rosacea. Each treatment takes approximately 15 minutes, and most patients experience no downtime. The improvement in skin tone and textures becomes more evident over the course of several weeks. A series of 5-6 treatments every 3-4 weeks is indicated for optimal results. One of my favorite applications of the Cutera Limelight IPL is on the hands. Freckles, while cute as a child, as an adult become age spots and cause hands to look their age. The Limelight is effective in lightening the spots on the hands while firming the skin. The end result is a more youthful appearance. The Cutera Pro Wave 770 is a highly effective IPL technology for hair removal. This hair removal system uses a cooling tip for comfort. The larger tip size allows for rapid treatments, enabling each procedure to take about 1/3 the time of traditional technologies. Optimal results can be achieved in 4-6 treatments. The Fractionated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser remains the gold standard in ablative laser resurfacing. This more aggressive laser treatment is ideal for patients with significant sun damage and deep wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. For many patients, it is often suitable to incorporate the CO2 laser in conjunction with a facelift and/or blepharoplasty. The CO2 laser is ablative, which means it works by destroying the damaged or discolored skin and utilizes the body’s natural ability to regenerate skin cells to produce the desired results. The fractional part means that a microscopic pattern of resurfacing is applied. This leaves tiny areas of treated and untreated skin which allows faster healing. Accordingly, the What makes us Special… procedure requires two weeks of recovery time, but remarkable results are generally evident after the first of two recommended treatments. Laser treatments are not meant to be a substitute for facial surgery. At Persons Plastic Surgery we offer the entire spectrum of cosmetic services. From medical esthetician services with Brad King to laser services and WE ARE a community of plastic surgery with Dr. Persons, we can meet your needs extraordinary people, living at any stage of your life. extraordinary lives.... 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Alamo Today ~ November 2011 - Page 31

An American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey reveals that 92% of adult respondents say an attractive smile is an important social asset. 74% believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for a successful career. More than any other facial feature, a smile can reflect trust, comfort, confidence and the shortest path to reflecting your personality. Dr Rader is a graduate of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI), a renowned center for cosmetic,TMJ, and Neuromuscular dentistry. He is one of a few dentists nationwide to complete Full Mouth Reconstruction curriculum at LVI.

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C L A S S I F I E D CHURCH SERVICES ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Walnut Creek cordially invites you to join us for Christmas Service on December 24th at 4pm, 8pm, 10:30pm, and 11pm, and December 25th at11am in our Historical Chapel. www.stpaulswc.org.

TUTORING TREMENDOUS TUTOR – California credentialed teacher. Over 12 years teaching experience and 8 years tutoring experience. All subjects for students K-12. Your home or mine. Bilingual in Spanish. Stanford University Graduate in Child Psychology. References available upon request. Please contact Lynn Begert at 925-837-5779, 925-323-3370, or LBegert@yahoo.com.

FOR RENT CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. 925.381.7042 Alamomgt@usa.net

Actual patient, smile design by Alex Rader, DDS

Mended Hearts The John Muir Chapter of Mended Hearts will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, November 10 at 7PM in the Pleasant Hill Room at John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus located at 2540 East Avenue in Concord. The speaker will be Gwen Gates B.S., Sr. Community Health Programs Representative, U.C. Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Mended Hearts is a national organization providing support for cardiac patients, their families, and caregivers. For further information about Mended Hearts, contact Nancy Mitchell at (925) 943-7549.

Stroke Support Group The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its monthly meeting in the Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center- Walnut Creek Campus, located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek on Monday, November 14th from 7-9pm. The speakers will be David O’Grady Ph.D. and Susan O’Grady Ph.D. talking on a topic entitled “MarriageAfter Stroke: Protecting and StrengtheningYour Relationship.”After their talk, attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors. For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Alamo Today Classifieds R e a c h o ve r 6 , 3 0 0 h o m e s a n d b u s i n e s s e s i n A l a m o - H e l p Wa n t e d, Fo r S a l e, S e r v i c e s, Le s s o n s, Pe t s, R e n t a l s , Wa n t e d , Fr e e b i e s . . . $ 3 5 fo r u p t o 4 5 w o r d s . $ 5 fo r e a c h a d d i t i o n a l 1 5 w o r d s . R u n t h e s a m e c l a s s i f i e d ad in our sister papers“Lafayette Today”or“Danville Today News”at half off! Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthlyp a p e r. c o m . Pa y m e n t b y c h e c k m a d e o u t t o “ T h e E d i t o r s” m u s t b e r e c e i v e d b e f o r e a d w i l l p r i n t . Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ # of Words_______________ Phone________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________

Page 32 - November 2011 2 ~ Alamo Today

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The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On

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Joe

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925- 9 8 9 - 6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com of $1,099,000 and beating the second quarter’s average price by 8%. Even though price per square foot remained constant at $367 there is good news in the significantly higher average price of $1,233,805 paid in the third quarter. That good news is simply that more homes at higher price levels are selling. A total of 11 homes sold at prices greater than $1.9 million. If you happen to be sitting on a luxury home in Alamo that you would like to sell, please be encouraged. This is indeed a very positive development and perhaps a sign that confidence in high level real estate investment is gradually returning. In fairness, let me balance my optimism just a little bit. As of this writing 90 homes are listed for sale at an average list price of $1,764,863 and $422 per square foot and they have been on the market for 110 days. Also, there are 28 sales pending and their average pending price is $1,206,000 at $345 dollars per square foot. Nineteen of these pending sales or 68% are either short sales or bank owned properties which represents a significantly higher proportion of distressed sales than the full year sales which stand at 30 (distressed) of 140 (total sales) or 21% year to date. I suspect the current pending mix is distorted because normal sales tend to close in 30 days and distressed sales remain as pending sales for months. Of the current active listings, only 11 (12%)are at this time officially distressed sales although we can anticipate that a few more may slip into short sales as time goes on and list prices are adjusted downward to effect a sale. In summary our Alamo Market is active, prices are stable and inventory of homes priced to sell is critically low. I count only 39 of the 90 homes currently listed as market competitive and many of these homes are of a significantly less desirable nature. This month, two very nice properties listed in the Stonegate Community at a little more than $1 million in price each received multiple offers during their first week on the market. What this all adds up to is simply this. If you put a desirable property on the market at market competitive prices, it will sell and sell fast. That my friends is really good news! If you are thinking about selling your home and would like an honest opinion of its market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086, or send me an email joecombs@ thecombsteam.com Nancy and I will be happy to help.

Alamo Real Estate: Prices are Stable, Good Homes Sell Fast! With so little good economic news filtering our way these days, I would like to provide some uplift to the spirits of my readers by saying simply that prices in Alamo for the year are fairly stable. I think that is something to cheer about considering the last few years and hopefully 2011 results herald the beginning of the turnaround we have all been praying for. My overall optimism, while based upon very thin data, is supportable in the quarterly numbers presented here today. While I can’t promise that this is the bottom it appears for the moment that the Alamo market is at least resting on a solid shelf. 2011 Alamo Real Estate Sales by Quarter Q1 Unit Sales Median Price Average Price $$ Per Sq. Ft.

$ $ $

Q2 19 910,000 $ 969,259 $ 350 $

Q3 48 1,099,000 $ 1,140,541 $ 367 $

YTD thru Oct. 25 67 140 1,099,000 $ 1,065,000 1,233,805 $ 1,161,307 367 $ 365

First quarter Alamo sales were literally dampened by extremely wet weather. Buyers put off by the cold and the wet, for the most part, stayed home. This resulted in very low early season sales, dominated more by investors than home buyers. Only 19 units closed during the first quarter and they closed at unusually low prices, below $1 million dollars on average and in median price. Dollars paid per square foot were also low by Alamo standards sinking to $350 per square foot on average. Fortunately, this situation did not hold as the weather improved. During the second quarter sales improved significantly growing by 152% over the first quarter. And average price followed suit, increasing by 18% from the previous quarter. Dollars paid per square foot hit $367 which is on par with last year’s prices. O.K. it’s not an improvement over last year, but in a market that has been descending precipitously, you must agree that flat is good…no very good! The third quarter did not disappoint either, matching the second quarter’s median price

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Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

6 bedroom, 4.5 bath, on .6 acre. Two master bedrooms and apartment. Serene wooded setting. Lease available. $1,299,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526